This is a strange one out of DC.
John Spagnola seems to be making a pitch for money. Or something.
He sends out an email with vague generalities about his activities, obviously afraid to name a single person he is dealing with on these “vital issues,” but apparently hoping to create the impression that he is changing the world somehow.
Credit where credit is due — at least this is not the typical “I gave $$$$$ and am proud to be a humanitarian/dragonslayer/patron magnificence/champion of the universe/diamond studded donkey dong….” He appears to be trying to gain his status the old fashioned way — by talking about it. I think this is a pitch for money money, but it’s too subtle to compete with the vultures from the Ideal Orgs/IAS/Planetary Dissemination/CCHR/ABLE/Human Rights Campaign/ASI/Pubs Library Campaign/COB Birthday Fund…. He probably needs to attend one of the Incredible Gavin Wonderstone’s Freewinds seminars at a local mission, or perhaps give Quinn the Eskimo a call for some tips on “how to ask for it.”
And is he really “opening a line with a Harvard psychiatrist”? Careful Spag, that is almost certainly harmful to your spiritual wellbeing. That person IS a wholetrack implanter and enslaver of men.
Is Spag a freelancer? Somehow connected to the church? A new type of hybrid staff/FSM/fundraiser/PR? When Arte Maren seminars are promoted on org lines and Patrick Valtin is a featured speaker for a week of paid regging on the Freewinds, anything is possible.
This one goes in the “weird file”. If anyone can translate what Spag is doing or is trying to do perhaps they can help us out here….
Date: Fri, 11 Jul 2014
From: John Spagnola <spag@gte.net>
Subject: DC Update and Wins!Dear Friends,
I wanted to send you an update on my activities in Washington, DC.
There has been so many new contacts and allies that that I it’s difficult to try to recall all of them. But here are some I do recall.
I met with a top aide for the chairman of a powerful US Congressional committee that wants to help me on legislation that I’m working on to protect soldiers.
I had lunch with an executive of a national law firm who has agreed to work with me on my issues.
I have made a strong ally of the Chairman of a national mental health group who is very much against the drugging of our soldiers. He has provided his aide in charge of military matters to work with me.
I had the pleasure of meeting with 3 US State Attorney Generals and provided each with a request for an investigation – that I won’t stipulate here.
I spent about two hours with a Health & Human Services staff person in the Office of Inspector General who has agreed to look into issues that I have provided.
I met with a Federal Drug Enforcement Agency Executive as well as a state Meth and Pharmaceutical Task Force member.
I provided draft legislation to 5 US Congressmen who understood its importance and were quite positive.
I have another US Congressman’s office that asked me to provide wording that he can include in his Congressman’s legislation.
I also met with a former US Congresswomen and 2 US Senators who are interested in my issues. The staff of both these Senators are looking at possible implementation of the crux of the bills I’m working on.
An executive with The Partnership at DrugFree.org agreed to work together.
I made an ally at a state bureau of narcotics and dangerous drugs control.
I opened a line with a psychiatrist at Harvard Medical School, as well as with a state drug control program Epidemiologist.
A CEO of a group that writes drug legislation on a state, local and federal level has taking his time to provide valuable direction to me.
A VP of a national anti prescription drug treatment program, with over 1,000 facilities, has become a very good ally.
I was called by staff from two US Senate offices to provide them needed resources and coordinate a conference call on the issue of suicide in the military. The call included an active military officer as well as psychologists and other notables.
There are very positive activities and expansion continuing to occur and I’m very fortunate to be able to meet such distinguished and caring individuals.
Thank you to those that support and/or appreciate my work 🙂
Best,
John Spagnola
President/CEO
DC Strategic Solutions, Inc
727-446-0200
shaggy says
http://192.185.142.13/~dcstrate/ thats his website. He is a lobbyist and does some PR.
Hiatus57 says
Well he isn’t asking for donations for the IAS and anyone who is interested in preventing drug use can’t be all bad as drugs it makes auditing impossible in many cases.
Mike Leopold says
Purely conjecture, but Spag may have been outed as a Scientologist, and this may be his fall back strategy for having been exposed.
Transporter says
I have a relative who works in Congressman David Jolly’s office in D.C. One of Jolly’s most important committees in Veteran Affairs. He carries weight. If Spag is talking to Congressmen about the
V.A. Jolly’s office would be a mandatory stop. I just e-mailed my relative in D.C. They say Spag has been no where near that office. I want to pass this observation along.
pedrofcuk says
The lack of specifics is a red flag.
Odd Thomas says
Perhaps it is pedro — I also think it’s a cry for help. Someone walking that fine line between the RCS and maintaining their own integrity, tends to be drawn into that uneasy middle space where static and cognitive dissonance runs high. Like trying to make a cell phone call standing next to high voltage wires. Everything gets confused and jumbled and normal communication sounds unnatural. I remember John from my days in the G.O. and am inclined to believe his intentions are real.There are people out there who can and do make a difference. I’m hoping he’s one of them.
Odd
Hush Hush says
I’ve been under the radar for a few years and know and support JS in his efforts to bring to light the side effects of psych drugs. He has a CCHR business card but really works on his own. He comes to the DC area regularly with a strict focus on helping others understand the big pharma lobby. He worked to block mandatory psych testing of children in schools without parental consent and to what I understand does not mention LRH or any part of Scientology.
He does not crush regg because he doesn’t have to. I suppose he’ll have to report to OSA now, but to Declare him will only cause the most level headed of us to leave publicly and to take as many as we can with us. Anyways he knows how to play the game.
gorillavee says
Spag may be an honest person trying to improve conditions. Prima facie, I have no reason to believe otherwise. But I am certain that somewhere in the not too distant future, expect mandatory attendance at briefings by Spag, and well, you know that drill.
Shannon says
I read Spag’s email twice, trying to make some sense out of it, and came to the conclusion he’s full of his own baloney. I knew him back in the 90’s. Evidently nothing’s changed. Yes, he’s pleasant enough but so what; so are a lot of people.
I don’t for a minute believe he’s in DC as a one-man band following his heart with his own causes. Nope, he’s got to be very well connected to OSA or whatever.
When I googled DC Strategic Solutions, Inc., other than a Linkedin entry, I only saw one other and that listed him as being in Clearwater. It doesn’t take a genius to connect those dots.
Good Old Boy says
He’s gunning to be a Freedom Medal winner and after he gets it, then he will be done-in.
theholedoesnotexist says
I’ve seen begging emails from Nigerian princes that had more detail.
zana says
LOL. Still laughing.
Sammy says
Mark said:
” “…look into issues that I have provided.” You don’t provide issues, Spag – you indicate them or point them out. ”
He said that, because he’s providing anti-psych boilerplate to them from OSA.
If he’s doing these activities, he reports to OSA. No matter how sweetie-pie he seems, if you cut him any slack, you’re a frog on a road to a slow boil.
Fuck OSA. I’m sure Hitler’s dogs thought he was awesome every time he fed them.
Leonore says
To those of you who commented on the positives on John Spagnola, thank you. It’s nice to hear some balance. It sounds as though John has more or less taken the high road and is living the life of “What We Expect of a Scientologist.” In other words, he is living a positive public life doing good things in areas he is interested in, bypassing the madness.
Carry on…
4a says
If he is doing what he says he is doing, which according to Sara and Moonshot he is, while still in the church as it is being run, unbelievable, this guy deserves our support!! For those of us who still consider ourselves Scientologists, what amongst what he has to say is to be disagreed with?
Foolproof says
I think it is quite correct to give this guy the benefit of the doubt, which is something that would never occur in the usurped Church. There is nothing really controversial in what he says and if he is doing what he says he is doing then good luck to him. The feeling I get about him from his letter and other’s comments is that he is making the most of a bad situation (in the Church I mean) and is probably operating “in broad daylight but under the radar” which, one could say, is another way of being “independent”. Probably due to his seeming political connections DM cannot bust him or investigate him heavily as the fallout and backlash from the guy would not be cool if he is upset too much. I also have the idea that DM doesn’t like this type of guy around and would love to crush him like a worm as he is not compliant enough to DM’s mind. Anyway, the fact that people have commented on him positively probably means that he is not such a bad lad. What I find refreshing in all this is that people on this site can debate this issue and rationally look at the data on the guy etc. whereas in the Church he would just be thrown to the wolves. The unfortunate thing is, is now that he has been “looked at” here no doubt DM will “investigate” him and try to get him busted somehow, probably just out of spite or jealousy. If so then it is yet another added to our ranks.
War Horse says
Old Surfer Dude,
You wrote ALMOST EXACTLY what I was about to write.
Except yours was probably better.
Now you must be destroyed.
Leland Imler says
Curious, is this the same John Spagnola that was the PR Spokesman for Flag in what, the 1980s? Is this the same Spagnola that was on staff at FCDC in the 70s? Is this the same Spagnola that married Judy Cranford and moved from Flag to Washington DC, to be with his new wife. (did he route out of the SO?) Judy had built up a successful Real Estate company that is still in business today. I can’t believe that anyone here would say what Spagnola is saying in his letter is not scientology oriented. It sounds like someone that learned the entire party line of scientology, and has now graduated to implementing that know how and using contacts to further that line.
Sara says
No, not the same guy. John has never been in the SO and the only person he has ever been married to is the one he’s married to now and has been since around 1990. He was PR in Miami in the late 70’s.
SILVIA says
My first thought is he is dealing with ‘drugs programs’ and as long as he doesn’t get Narconon involved he could do well.
John P. Capitalist says
Wasn’t there something somewhere that somebody said about “exact time, place, form and event” and how that’s essential? In other words, I smell serious bullshit on this one.
Other commenters above have said that this guy sounds sincere. But it sure sounds to me like he’s a grifter, raising money to get people to think that he might actually be doing something that will make a difference, but making up most of the stuff on his list. I highly doubt that he actually got draft legislation into the hands of actual Congressmen and had them actually read it. He might have mailed it to their staffs and gotten a generic thank you note mailed back. But you have to have some extremely serious clout like ALEC or the Heritage Foundation to get people to take seriously any independently-drafted laws.
And finally, I wonder what happens if Miscavige gets the idea that this guy is doing “independent” fundraising against Scientology causes and not giving the IAS or anybody else their fair share (which in DM’s view will be 100.00% of the money Spag takes in).
LDW says
Pretty accurate, JP.
He’s not going to directly ask for money because miscavige will massacre him.
He’s basically a good hearted guy who believes in what he’s doing. He doesn’t realize that unless his actions make miscavige look good, or bring in a pile of cash to miscavige…well, Dave just isn’t interested in supporting him in any way.
Gus Cox says
I like to think I’m at least somewhat literate, but I can’t make anything out of that. It comes across sort of like “I met a chick whose sister gave a blow job to Jonny Lang’s bass player.” Um, OK.
Though I must say that it’s much more pleasant to read than anything from that douchebag Grant Cafone.
Mark says
I think he’s suffering from some form of Miscavige-induced Shermanspeak brain-rot:
“I wanted to send you an update on my activities in Washington, DC.” Well, you just did that, Spag, so why waste even more time telling us you have?
“There has been so many new contacts…” No, there have been, Spag: they’re plural.
“…a request for an investigation – that I won’t stipulate here.” I’d guess the word you were looking for here was specify, not stipulate?
“…look into issues that I have provided.” You don’t provide issues, Spag – you indicate them or point them out.
“I have another US Congressman’s office…” It’s not your office to have, Spag. Maybe you have contacts in that office?
“An executive with The Partnership at DrugFree.org agreed to work together.” Together with whom? Himself?
“…has taking his time…” Let’s be charitable and assume this is a typo.
Perhaps one thing this incoherent series of vague boasts does prove is just how far the calibre of Miscavige’s few remaining followers has fallen, if this analphabet was the best Davy could find to send to Washington. Maybe Spaghetti-for-brains needs to go back down the Bridge and re-take one of those oh-so-effective communication courses?
zana says
Good catch. Or maybe re-do a grammar course. Or word-checking course.
I felt the same way… however I don’t know him. It was a lot of gobbledygook and hocus locus, look-at-me kind of weird stuff. I respect those who know him and say he’s a nice guy. He is just incoherent.
GTBO says
It reads like the “success video” script for an event. Post titles with no names (probably demand that their names are NOT associated with anything remotely connected to RCo$).
It’s all fluff, just like event videos.
Anyone can claim all sorts of successes if they never have to substantiate them….. Sound familiar ? (All of RCo $)
Jose Chung says
OH GOODIE, World Peace.
Paul J Salerno says
Sound like more, vague, ” war on drugs” doubletalk government has been using on people for years but cult specific with the added psych spin. If he parlays this hustle into enough IAS donations I predict a fine bowling trophy in somebody’s future.
Roy Macgregor says
John Spagnola raises money for anti-psych lobby activities. This email is not as crass as the stuff coming from the radical CofS, probably because Spag himself is a very well mannered individual who sincerely believes in what he is doing. However, this is a “progress report” to his donors and would-be donors. Sadly, John Spagnola, who has spent years on Washington DC lobbying for CCHR and anti-drug causes, is not worthy of an IAS grant because……hmm, just check any of the rejection boxes. Or all of them. Or none of them. The IAS is much too busy spending millions trying to keep DM out of deposition.
Mike Rinder says
Hmm, good point about the IAS grant…
Sara says
What Roy says is absolutely true about John. I’ve known John since the late 70’s and I know what he has done to help CCHR personally. John does have important comm lines in Washington and he is respected. I have known him to be a sincere and honest, caring person. He is nothing like corporate Scientology. He is the one who worked for years to fund the one and only lobbyist that CCHR had in DC to help fight against suppressive psych legislation. IAS would never give him any funds towards that. In fact, anything that John worked on with CCHR he always had to raise the funds himself, as well as raise funds for CCHR.
Old Surfer Dude says
I went surfing today and met several other surfers. We all got along swimmingly! Maybe some deal with come out of the ocean meeting.
My band, Catalina Eddy, played a 4 hour show last Saturday night. Very important people came into the club and listen to us. This could lead to something.
I sat in my backyard sipping some fine Merlot and listening to my waterfall. It completely cleared my mind of any and all emgrams. I’m pretty sure I’m super human now and no longer raw meat.
I laid out in my backyard today and got some rays. As everyone knows, it’s quite important to be tan in a beach city. People in power notice these things. People approached me as I walked around my town and commented on my tan. This could lead to huge things happening.
I got out of scientology in 1982. That was THE best thing I could have ever, ever done. Now that I’m out, my life has expanded in ways I never knew possible. I can now go to the movies. Theaters. Rock concerts. Road trips. And many other things I couldn’t do when I was in. Other people are now talking with simply I am out. These are very important people that are talking to me.
I post on Mike Rinder’s Blog. This is very important as I learn a lot from Mike as well as the other posters. I do this on a regular basis. I think because of this, people are starting to notice me. When I drop Mike’s name, people respect me more. Important people.
I’m going to head up to Big Bear tomorrow. There are people up in the mountains that I may meet. It will be important. I will move forward because of this trip. Maybe I’ll even get great advice from them.
To all of you who support my actions, , I thank you. I’ll try to live up to what you expect of me., But, I’m not promising anything. Or, maybe I will. Who knows…
Mike Rinder says
🙂 🙂 🙂
Cooper Kessel says
And I’m thinking of getting onto my OT VI Part B and maybe this will help with my MAA cycle.
Cindy says
Funny OSD! You totally duplicated and emulated John Spagnola’s email. Ha ha ha. You’ll probably get more money donated to you than he does, and you were just joshing.
Old Surfer Dude says
I was? I mean, yes, I was just joshing.
Joe Pendleton says
Surfer Dude ….. where can I send the check? (Would it count toward a status increase?)
Old Surfer Dude says
In care of: Aging Surfer Dude. Bolsa Chica State Beach. It’ll get to me…
And yes, Joe, if you send that check I’ll gain the status of Big Kahuna! In surfing circles, that’s one hell of a status!
zana says
Wow! I think you BOTH deserve Gold Stars on your forehead. ! And an extra chocolate milk for lunch.
Ms.P says
OMG – surfer dude – thanks for the belly laugh of the day!
petlover1948 says
yes! a great laugh! love you surfer dude!
Mreppen says
Smells of politics, and we know politicians cannot be trusted. Do not pass!
Sara says
I know Spag very well. He is a freelancer. He is not doing this work for the Church. The work he is doing here in DC is what he personally believes in and he is working on his own. Spag was in PR at Miami Org in the old GO long ago. Currently he is doing his own thing. He has a lot of comm lines in D.C. and helps connect people up on their causes that he can align with. Like like the over drugging of military men and the suicides in the military. There are Scientologists who believe in what he’s doing and help him in his cause and fund his activities. This is just a letter updating those interested in his cause. Many of those who get his updates give him funds. He does not get money from the Church and gives them no money on what he does here. In addition to this, John has been a major fundraiser for CCHR but this activity is not connected. John is one of the few stellar individuals who actually do get things done and try to improve conditions for the better.
Mike Rinder says
Hmm, thanks for clarifying. He seems like he doesnt really fit today’s RCS culture. Sort of a lone Japanese soldier still out there and nobody has told him we don’t do things this way any more….
Moonshot says
I know Spag as well…What Sara said is spot on. He was my ex-2D’s fsm for many years and he always let us know what he was doing in DC. Usually involving working with, supporting, or hiring Lobbyists or their clients where it aligned with LRH betterment ideals.
He was never hard or crush sell about it. And never a single make-wrong when we didn’t contribute, which was most of the time. Frankly, I always admired him for what he was doing and still do. I have never seen him try to use his efforts and good works either for self-enrichment or “look-at-me” status with the Church or its membership.
Sara says
Absolutely Mike and Moonshot. Spag is like the lone Japanese soldier. He is not in it for a “look-at-me” status. He has always been a sincere and caring person. BTW, he is also OTVIII and has all his L’s. So he isn’t doing this for brownie points to get MAA/OSA approved for his next level.
Mike Rinder says
Hmmm, well if he really doesnt have any “look-at-me” thing going on, why is he sending out the email?
Pepper says
I know a few Scientologists like John who do good works on their own without any tie to the CoS. It’s true that there are some freelancers out there who do not fit into the culture of the RCS. They operate on their own vision and yes, this would be seem weird if you never knew someone like this intimately.
I know one guy in particular who’s been asked many times to be interviewed and taped for events and he always says no. This person has done his own good works with raw public for well over 15 years now and prefers to be low-key about it and never “puts it out there”. Not on his social media pages or elsewhere. He considers it his contribution and has never asked for a penny from anyone either, funding his work himself.
Mr. Spagnola likes social media and enjoys his following, which is okay by me. I give him credit in that he details his activities and is actually going out there in the real world and talking to and meeting people. Little of that going on inside the RCS today, which has a cannibalistic culture. I don’t think John is money motivated either and believes in what he’s doing.
Pepper says
It is a paradox that someone could be like what I described above and be in the RCS at the same time. You would think that these are independent thinkers, therefore how could they be in the Miscavige cult? I don’t know, it is strange.