Ken Starr is coming to Simi Valley. Since he was an apolitical investigator I expect he will be speaking at The Jimmy Carter Mueseum next.

Audra and Tony Strickland are now proud parents.

Congrats!

What would be a perfect gift for a political family? Leave your suggestions here.

Tony Strickland has made good use of the internet to campaign. On his website you can sign up to write letters to the editor of papers across California. Too bad he doesn't list Thousand Oaks or Simi Valley ( But in fairness The Star is listed under Ventura).

Over all his website is great. It tells you what the State Controller does, why he is fit for the job and a little biography. Regardless of political party, people should check it out to see a well put together site.

I was reading through the list of endorsements on Jim Dantona's website today. It made me wonder how he is getting endorsements from across the political spectrum. Is there one big issue in this race?

What makes someone like Tony Strickland what to help a Democrat when he is running in a Republican primary in a few months?

Thoughts?

I read this article today from The Star. It is an opinion piece, but it seems like The Star Newspaper doesn't like Blogs. Kind of strange.

News from the front on The War against Christmas...

Big Government.

The Moorpark City Council has updated their policy on people holding signs on corners and they have banned them! I guess of all the pressing issues, people twirling signs have got to be stopped. The people that do this type of work have got to be pleased that the government has deemed them a threat to the civilized world and therefore took away their ability to make money.

If any study comes out proving they are dangerous, should I apologize? Maybe. But how about we instead give tickets to any driver that can't concentrate because someone is spinning a sign?

If one veteran goes cold this winter and we as a nation do nothing, there is not a civilian patriot amongst us.

Project Censored is coming to the Ventura County Area. Project Censored based at CSU Sonoma puts together an annual book with the most censored stories of the year.

I have read a few editions and they can be interesting. Stories can be censored for a number of reasons including large corporations and their lawyers, nasty governments, and a percieved lack of interest among the American people.

What were the most censored ( hard to spread the word about ) stories of the year for Ventura County?

I was at Ferial Masry's website and checking her links section. She has a link to John Kerry's website but not me. I was going to complain, but the more I looked around, none of the local campaigns link to me.

So, the first campaign that links to this blog I have a prize package for you!

Brett Wagner has a campaign blog. Updates are needed, but campaign blogs are going to be a trend of local campaigns. I am hoping future blogs will allow readers to ask questions.

Do you know of any other candidate's that have a blog? If so, leave a link in the comments section.

Seems like there is a shortage of soccer fields in town according to The Star today. But, some developers are still looking at building golf courses, if the chance arises. I don't blame the developers. They need to make money as we all do.

But, will we look back when our community is finished being transformed into Westlake Village, and wonder how our middleclass town with our middleclass values was traded for something else?

Follow this link only if you dare. It goes straight to the Official California College Republican Website.

The story is very funny. To get their message out on college campuses, California Republicans have been streaking. Really.

I guess this is what it takes to get college students' attention. Good thing we lowered the voting age to 18, eh?

In the extended entry there is a story about The Rocketdyne facility being ordered to stop dumping polluted water into local streams. My question: What streams? Are these the same streams that go through potential housing tracts.

I hope somebody that represents us is looking into this before thirty years from now the city is involved in a massive lawsuit/cleanup because homes were approved in that watershed.

Oh well, maybe it drains towards Agoura Hills. They won't mind.

Karl Rove is going down for this scandal. He is set to be sentenced before Sunday.

Hey, is it just me or is this Tony Strickland?

I didn't see this in The Star, but The Daily News has a new story about Smiley Face Hill.

Have you read Elias Banales' Blog? Elias is a soldier from Oxnard who is currently in Iraq. His blog is the most important blog from this area. He writes about day to day stuff and major events ( check out his coverage of the Iraqi elections!) from the perspective of the average grunt.

Show some appreciation for his fighting and writing. Visit his blog and say a simple thank you! No issue in America is more important to me than this war. Let's make sure every soldier knows they are in our thoughts and prayers.

Brian Dennert here with another guest blogger. If you want to write about a local topic for this blog, send me an e-mail. I will post it regardless of your political background. It doesn't matter if you are liberal or conservative, as long as you are informative and entertaining.

With that being said, let me introduce this guest blogger with some qualifiers. I don't follow Thousand Oaks politics much. I don't know their city council and have not met any of them. I also have never met Cathy Carlson. She is not from the same political party as me. I doubt we agree on much. The opinions stated here are hers, not mine. If she makes any factual errors, or doesn't paint a full picture, leave your thoughts under comments.

In the Star today there was an article that average rent prices have come down for apartments to 2003 levels. At the same time city officials are worried as there are not enough new units around.

Wouldn't the free market dicate that low prices equal low supply? And that for supply to increase, price needs to increase? So, is the city going to provide subsidies for developers? Or allow prices to increase, therefore providing an incentive to build more?

Maybe we should ask what would Reagan do?

Brian Dennert here. I just recieved a flyer from Chris Robson about an upcoming debate between the three Democratic candidates for congress. ( Mary Pallant, Brett Wagner, Jill Martinez)

What questions should be asked? What issues are critical for our area and our country? Are there any litmus test questions that would make or break your choice for this office?

Do any of them stand a chance to beat Gallegly?

Will the past issues about Brett Wagner resurface?

For event information click on continue reading.

I admit I have a conflict of interest, as I do bike ride, but it looks like Simi Valley will be getting more bike lanes. I really wish they would of planned on fixing the arroyo path. It currently has too many points where a bike rider has to stop.

But this will be an improvement. Some roads in new neighborhoods are being changed ( Long Canyon) and car lanes are being closed. Does this mean the city messed up by not forcing the developer to build lanes when they first built the new neighborhood? Or was there a good reason not to of had the builder make bike lanes in the first place.

Bob Novak the reporter that started the leak story by revealing Valerie Plame's identity says President Bush knows who leaked her identity.

Should somebody ask George W. Bush if this is true? And why does Bon Novak know more about this than the President? Could this all be solved if George W. Bush just called and asked him?

Full Story here.

From The Los Angeles Times...

Is this a great issue for a challenger to the local office holders?

This story from The Daily News shows that Gallegly is open to a guest worker program that some critics call amnesty.

I wonder if he will get attacked from the right even though he has worked against illegal immigrants for so many years.

Did you see this article in The Daily News?

The city has ended a lawsuit before it becomes more expensive. I didn't follow it the whole way so, I am not an expert and can't really comment on it.

But I doubt it will become a political issue in any campaign. Because beyond everything else, Simi Valley loves our Police Officers.

Any new local blogs of interest? If you know of any, please leave a link in the comments section. Meanwhile, enjoy this blog listed on the Star's website.

http://meowvictoria.blogspot.com/

Enjoy!

This story from the Daily News today was funny. It is about a proposed development of homes in the Knolls area. There are many arguments such as affordability, density, property rights (of both sides), county services, and infrastructure. But forget all of that and let's dwell on this quote...

"...provide work-force, affordable and some component of farm worker housing," Gorian said.

Farm worker housing? In the Knolls? I have lived in Simi Valley for most of my life, and I don't see many "farms" around. Maybe they are behind the new mall or something. Sure, there are some farms, but enough to make farm worker housing a public policy priority? Sorry, but most of the farms have been paved over long ago.

Moveon.org has been collecting petitions to hand over to Elton Gallegly about a timetable for withdrawing troops from Iraq. The event is scheduled for this Wednesday, December 14th.

Moveon.org said last time his staff refused to accept them. I don't know how true that is, but if true that is disturbing. I thought the 1st amendment protected our rights to petition for a redress of grievances. Oh well, my mistake.

Wow, I just looked at this site again for the first time in awhile. Someone has done their research. I challenge you to find one nice thing about him on it. I have met him several times ( Home Depot, Ventura County Fair, Simi Valley Days, etc) and he NEVER looks that mean in public. Why not put a nice photo of him on there? They could find one at Elton Gallegly's campaign website. Nice pictures of him with a horse, as a kid, and as a young man.

You can also google him for a sweet pic with a rockin' mustache.

Brett Wagner has an updated endorsement list. Which one do you think he is most proud of?

While watching television (cable) my wife thought she saw a new Jim Dantona campaign spot. Did anybody else see it or hear about it? If so, give us your thoughts and summary.

Brett Wagner just sent out a long explanation of his views of the Iraq war. Read it here.

Glen Becerra running for higher office? Glen was chosen as Mayor Pro-Tem. The article states that it is largely a ceremonial post, but it has a nice ring to it, doesn't it? Expect to see that one in your mailbox come primary time.

I am not hinting, rather I am saying I fully expect him to run. But against who is the question? I expect he will run if Tom McClintock wins, or if Elton Gallegly retires soon.

Brian

This article got me thinking today from The Star:

Revised 38-unit project to go back to Simi council
By Teresa Rochester,

A housing project that failed to secure the Simi Valley City Council's approval in January will go back for a second attempt Monday night.

Brian Dennert here. I want to see my site stats. Does anyone have access to them? Who should I contact? I know most readers don't leave messages. That being said I am trying to see how many readers I have. I think I might of made it over the 10 people hump. Haha.