LEAP on the Hill: Stories from the week of February 13, 2009

When preparation meets opportunity: Due to crazy scheduling, on Thursday morning Karen (my better half) dropped me off at the Metro at 06:45. Thus I was talking to the Capitol Police Officers at 08:00, when a tall gentleman walked around the metal detector which only Congressmen can do. I had been chatting with the officers about my issue and the Congressman made a comment on what I had just said. The next words out of my mouth were: "Ellsworth. Indiana. Former sheriff." Though my words were stilted and awkward, the Congressman did not mind and we had a 4 minute LEAP conversation. At the end he asked me to contact his office to set up a longer chat. Note: I have made an extra effort to know all the former police, prosecutors and judges in the Congress. FAMM produces a Congress Directory which has a foto of each Member. It is my Bible that I consult daily. It sure paid off this week. At the donut shop: The last of 8 meetings on Thursday was more important than the previous 7 combined. The aide represented one of the most powerful members of Congress. As I introduced myself, he said he had been a county deputy sheriff for several years. Two minutes later it was like we were colleagues back at the donut shop, swapping stories. Forty-five minutes later, he said he would ask his boss about the feasibility of ending Modern Prohibition. I have shared this information in more detail with my colleagues in DC. Striking Gold: Each week I send out 7-8 one minute emails to reporters and columnists whose article did touch or could touch Modern Prohibition. The response rate is about 25%, usually just saying thanks for the note. Last week I sent such a note to Kathleen Parker, after she wrote One Toke Over the Line about Michael Phelps and 'The Bong.' She wrote back thanking me and asking for a conversation. A few minutes after my chance encounter with the Congressman, she and I chatted for 45 minutes. The next day this chat resulted in the column she wrote that was read by XX millions of Americans, as she appears in 350 major newspapers across the country. To put this in perspective, about 12 million people heard or read or saw Misty and I go across America to help bring an end to prohibition. This took 7 months. I accomplished roughly the same # of contacts with one 45 minute interview! BONUS: A few hours later Ms. Parker was on Air Force One with three liberal columnists, flying with President Obama to Chicago. I have good information that Mr. Obama read her column. It was a double crown and double Swiss chocolate celebration at our house.