Is it 3 or 5 points difference in party registration?

You go Jim! Take the future back from the political mafia and bring it home to us!!

A man who will get things done for the District, Dantona goes beyond talking the rhetoric and party dogma. He will get us needed funding for our schools and roads. He will protect our beaches from offshore oil drilling. He will clean up our contaminated soils and help us to keep Los Angeles garbage outside of Ventura County. Dantona will not be an isolated out of the mainstream party idealogue who can't get anything done. He will be a mainstream member of the Senate who can move California forward.

Jim, I know you will be very busy in the year ahead, but always know you have a waxed board ready for you to catch a few waves with Gidg and the Doggie.

It should be an excellent race. The wild card will be Hannah-Beth - she is too liberal to win in Ventura County. Jim Dantona is pretty well positioned to win the general. As a Republican, do I vote for the Republican because he is the same party or do I vote outside of the party box? Hmmmm.....

Come on Katie, of course you don't vote the party line. You vote for who will represent your ideals. You vote for who will do the best for the residents of our Senate District. Katie, you could be blindfolded and I believe you will still vote for Dantona when he runs head to head with the once wounded right wing fanatical nut Tony, the once tiger.

I'm a long-time Hannah Beth fan. She may be perceived as liberal, but she has a great track record for getting things done, unlike the Stricklands of the world.

My daughter was one of the kids who was sickened by the spraying of Lorsban at a field near Mound School in Ventura in 2000. A toxic cloud drifted over the whole school and the farmer was later fined big time. Hannah Beth got a bill passed to help protect schools and those living near agricultural fields from this kind of negligence.

You go Hannah Beth!

No surprise here. Dantona touts his "strong opposition to Simi Valley Landfill’s planned mega-dump expansion" and that he "serves on a citizens’ task force monitoring Waste Management's plans to expand the Simi Valley Landfill." Of course it brings into question the purpose of having Dantona on this task force when he has already gone on record as having been against the proposed landfill expansion from the beginning.

This is just another demonstration of the political motives behind having Dantona and several of his cult members strategically appointed to the anti-landfill task farce. Now they can use their scare tactics in order to re-package their guy as a champion against the local evildoers.

I'm thrilled to see Jim Dantona formally announce his candidacy and move forward confidently and aggressively with his campaign. He's the right candidate for this District and will make a great Senator.

He has tremendous support in the tri-county area and Sacramento, and I look forward to a hard fought and exciting campaign against Strickland.

He has my support and endorsement, and I'll be working very hard towards a November '08 victory!

You know what Bubba? Pretty soon no one is going to listen to you because you are a big turn off...soooooooooooo negative.........I think you need counseling, and perhaps some meds

Gee whiz! Dantona's taking on the landfill issue AND he's running for office!!!! The nerve of that guy. Just who the heck does he think he is actually doing things FOR this community and speaking out FOR our families that are most affected by a mega dump. Why can't he just do like the rest of our local political mafia have done in the past: attend dinners, take campaign checks and keep their mouths shut. This district's done pretty well for a well-connected few, because of a dearth of public servants and a surplus of self-serving savants and many of these same political mafia foot soldiers see no reason to change things now.

I'm biased...in favor of Dantona but I sure wouldn't give the time of day to a bunch of politicos that are happy to see things continue as they have at the landfill, at Rocketdyne and elsewhere throughout SD 19.

I think it is great that Dantona is running! Maybe we will finally get some real representation in Ventura County!

Hey Bubba! Does Strickland's acceptance of big tribal monies, his support of gambling and his decision to run for SD19 also fall under your definition of politically motivated?

Somehow none of Strickland's efforts have ever intended to help any of the families in this community, yet Dantona's efforts have. Why is that?

Let's see, Dantona can't win a Supervisor's race against a candidate that had 0 name id yet you folks think he will win against Strickland.

You've got to be dreaming. In Santa Barbara and Ventura counties Strickland out polled Chiang, a better financed candidate, by 1.2% and 10% respectively, so how do you justify a Dantona win? The last election in the 19th SD was won by the Republican by 21 points, in fact I'll bet most of you don't even remember the name of the Democrat.

It will be very interesting and exciting story when Dantona wins.

I think there are huge movie rights in this story! (I am working on the book and screenplay now.)

Currently in Sacramento they are looking at a Bill that would prohibit politicians from hiring their spouses, if this passes the Strickland's will no longer be able to launder money from campaign accounts to private accounts. My early prediction is Dantona 54% and Strickland 44%.

As Saddam Hussein said "who needs an opposition party, you have me". Seems a few other politicians have taken this stance in the past. So you see, Ron, for those of us who don't value the great accomplishments that the Stricklands have made, we do see a purpose in an opposition candidate. It just appears that the gopher who cometh out from under the rock and you, Ron, just don't see value in a contested election when you have a right wing nut in office. Ron, my friend, it just ain't gonna happen. Dantona is strongly against the mega dump expansion insofar at it will be a dump for garbage from Los Angeles and beyond. Dantona will bring up local issues that Chiang did not. Dantona has a huge name recognition that Chaing did not. Dantona is a fighter, than Chaing was not. And with all that, Strickland still almost lost the District to Chaing, whoever he/she is. So you see, Ron, Strickland is going to be recognized as a critter living off the public trough, shuttling money from one account to the other to enrich his own bank account, selling out to gambling interests at the expense of jobs and the environment, bankrolling offshore drilling along our coast and a deplorable history of anti-women rights. He will be more than an unattractive male with a goofy smile and better known for who he is and what special interests he represents.

Yes, Ron, I can see why you and the gopher are not in favor of Dantona running for the Senate.

Ron, usually I look forward to catching a wave with a fellow blogger. In your case, I will pass at this time. Surf's up.

Ron-
Strickland had name recognition over Chiang since he's been a candidate or legislator in the district for many years. The fact that he barely out-polled Chiang in a Republican district was an embarrassment, and a good indicator that he would have trouble in a general election.
Strickland's negatives are very high. He will have trouble getting votes in Buellton and Solvang, etc. when the voters learn he is in the gaming casino's pocket.

Sorry Barbra, but if Dantona is the best that the dems have to offer for SD19 then the future doesn't look to bright for the party. And his participation on your private anti-landfill task farce still won't give him the political cover he needs. I'll bet he has a real difficult time raising money since even the party doesn't consider him to be a viable candidate for that office.

My recommendation is that you guys cut down on the carbs being served at your task farce meeting.

Gopher out, get your traps.

Yep, your right, you win, the Task Farce will not accomplish anything. Dantona will not raise a dime. Yep, your right, no question about it. PS: Pass it on to Strickland. Dantona will be a wimp without funds and no support from the Dems in Sacto. Strickland need not worry. No need to even run a campaign. It will be a slam dunk.

Fellow Dantona supporters, fellow moderate Republicans, get out your traps and poison. Gopher out from under rock.

Let's check the headlines folks as this time it relates to Tony the PUSSYcat Strickland. Conservative, Married, GOP senator Larry Craig admitted that he had solicitied sex in the toilet stall of a bathroom at the Minneapolis Airport. Craig who claims to be anti-homosexual was seen peering into the other mans stall, he then got into the stall next door and placed a large bag to block the door, he then put his foot under the partition and started playing footsies. The stakeout was going on because of homosexual activity in the stalls. How does this relate to Strickland? Craig was the state contact for Mitt Romney, as was Vitter in Louisiana (the senator who was seeing hookers) and guess who the state guy for Romney is here? You got it, Tony Strickland. It shows that Romney has terrible judgement when it comes to picking people, pray he never becomes President and that Tony Strickland never gets elected to anything except village idiot!

Since the Repubs have offered a classic example of a party looking non-too bright you and the VCRCC must know. However, you're right in that it all comes down to money, so we'll just have to wait and see if Dantona can secure the support needed to win SD 19. My guess is that his star's on the upswing in a year where the GOP's is on a meteoric fall and that he'll secure that support. If he does it will be a good indication of a major political sea change amongst the voters and a notable indictment of the VCRCC's leadership. Let's wait and see.

Does Strickland still rent a room to his staff member?
ie The state pays Audra with taxpayer dollars. Audra pays a staffer with taxpayer dollars. Staffer pays Tony rent.
You gotta admit, the Stricklands are creative about sucking every dollar out of the taxpayer.

Jim Dantona has been a very valuable member of the Landfill Expansion Task Force and he will be a formidable candidate for the State Senate. It has been a pleasure to call Jim a friend. Having been registered and fairly active Republican for thirty-five years, my wife and I recently began moving away from the far right segment of the party for several reasons. The Party, in our estimation, has made a mistake in putting all its eggs in this one basket and it has been paying the price at the polls. While we have always supported the Party in its views on jobs, taxation and free market economics, its two faced mantra for purported "values" has been a negative voice to moderate reason.

In the forthcoming State Senate race, assuming that the candidates are Strickland and Jim Dantona, our candidate is clear. Jim Dantona's positive attributes far outway any negatives. He understands the working middle class, unstands the working and nonworking poor, and has been successful in working with the wealthy. On job growth, economics, womens rights and the environment, Jim Dantona stands alone between the two candidates.

It will be a rough and tubble campaign to be sure. It will be good for the Senate District. It will be good for voters.

I see the Dantona haters and GOP vipers are coming out in force. Very entertaining stuff.

What I like about Jim Dantona is that he will be able to help our district. Currently, because we only have minority republicans representing us, they get very little for the voters here in Ventura County. Because of that, they raise little money here and are forced to go to outside special interests to raise their campaign funds, often their votes reflect their payback to these groups at our expense. Dantona has my vote!

The democrat who ran against McClintock in 2004 was Paul Graber of Santa Clarita.

Secretary of State stats as of Feb. 10, 2007:
19th Senatorial District
Total voters in district (3 counties) 474,096
GOP 193,020 40.71%
Dem 171,108 36.09%
Decline to State (DTS) 86,960 18.34%
The other 5% includes "other," Green Party and American Independent - some of whom thought they were registering to be independent (with a small "i") and should have checked the Undeclared box.

Machiavelli, you may recall as a boy in San Casciano in Val di Pesa your Dad Bernardo tought you lessons in politics. In those tumultuous years, Popes were leading armies and wealthy city-states were falling one after another into the hands of foreign powers. It was a time of constantly shifting alliances, condottieri who changed sides without warning, and governments rising and falling in the space of a few weeks. Today you gave your support to Jim Dantona. I trust you will share your knowledge as well and guide Jim through his campaign. Mach, you are very old and wise. Your gift of support to Dantona is beyond measured value. I'm sure it is his honor to be in receipt.

Mach, surf's up, please join me this evening and you will appreciate a sport of which you have no history, my friend.

moonpuppy,

If you're going to plagiarize you might want to find a more obscure reference than Wikipedia.

Moondoggie, You are wise. I always vote for the best man or woman regardless of party. In this case I believe Jim Dantona is the best man for the job. In terms of parties, I do believe the republican party is in its death throws. It is sad to see that the party of Reagan has fallen so far and so fast.

Steve, opps, I mean Ron, thanks for the tip. But then again, I didn't realize blogs needed to post references. I'll footnote in the future, where appropriate, to meet your standard of journalism.

PS: That's Moondoggie, Ronnie.

What is going to happened with Mike Osborn if the wonder boy loses?

Mike Osborn will slither off to Barstow or somewhere! Under his watch Ventura County is going from Red to Blue! People are tired of the extremist policies of people like Osborn, Foy, Dunn, Matthews, Strickland, Valenzana, Kunicki, etc.

I'm going to vote for Jim Dantona, I like his attitude and wish him success.
I just cannot tell you how thrilled I am to have heard this, absolutely fantastic news!

I couldn't believe my eyes this morning when I read the article. It would be so good for this district to have a leader like Jim in office. Count me in as another Republican for Dantona.

I think we can all agree that tomorrow is the first day of school and there'll be plenty of young'uns crossing the streets, so be extra careful when driving, please!

I wonder if Foy would be game for a repeat. Even if he isn't, any old no-namer will do, I suppose.

Bon Homme Jim:

Cest magnifique!

Vive la guerre politique!
Vive la libertie, eglatarie i fraternie!
Vive la Dantona!

Agustin Pinchard

Wonderful news!

Jim Dantona came to my door during the campaign for Supervisor last year. He answered all of my questions directly, never dodging the hard ones, and believe me, I asked him some very hard questions. He earned my respect and vote.

I have been a life-long Republican ever since I became a citizen of this great country after escaping the clutches of Stalinist Communism, in Hungary, the country of my birth.

But after witnessing first-hand the sickening perversion of American values of honesty, integrity and respect for the rule of law by Bush, Cheney, Gonzales, and now Larry Craig, this former Cold-Warrior will be voting for Jim Dantona for State Senate next year.

Edvard Radetzky

Dantona for State Senator..

Hell, Dantona for Governor, that's even sweeter music to my ears!

Chuck Norris

Jill Dominique - is this your real name? I'm pretty familiar with Ventura and your name is not familiar at all.

I'm glad that Jim has decided to run. The small margin of error that Jim lost by in the '06 election in a majority Republic district shows that not only is Jim capable of getting out the vote for his party, but more importantly, Jim appeals to a broad audience of Democrats, Independents, and Republicans. Based on what I saw from his campaign, Jim truly is a representative in the sense that he has everyones' best interests in mind.

Jill Dominique was mooning over Mike Gibson and called him "a dream" on another thread. I sure hope it wasn't Mike Osborn....

Check out Leslie Conejo's voter registration numbers in the 19th. Looks to me like it's Tony's race to lose.

Chuck Norris is behind Dantona? How cool. He has all the quick moves. A kick here and a chop there, the once wounded tiger is out cold and it is the first day of the campaign. Go Chuck!

Tonight I ran into Dantona at the gym. He was pumping iron and running miles. He looked like a million bucks. Everyone who came by was giving him thumbs up and calling out "go Jim". There was so much energy in the air. When I walked by, I gave my standard "see you at the beach, surf's up". Jim looked at me, gave a big smile, and said "I just might take you up on that offer". This man is a class act. I've never felt strong about a candidate than I do in this case. California is growing in a new direction. Dantona will be a great steward of that new direction.

Surf's up. Look forward to see you at the pier, Jim.

For the record, here is my prediction:

The voters will pass an amendment to the term limits law in February and Tom McClintock will seek and be easily re-elected to a 3rd term. Dantona will quietly drop out once the term limit extension is passed since he knows he has no chance against McClintock.

Fellow voters, get out your traps and poison. Gopher out from under rock. Set all traps and bait poison stations. Gopher eradication program in this area.

BK, if the term limits pass - there are a few Dems that will also stay in office and there is much teeth gnashing over the amendment right now.

What will be interesting is what Tony Strickland will do should McClintock decide to run for a third term. Elton's seat?

Total coin toss on what Dantona will do should McClintock decide to run again. Right now it is one of the few if not the only senate seats that is up for grabs but an incumbent is hard to beat. McClintock has alienated a lot of voters with the recent budget fiasco. The Dems may decide to try to steamroll him.

Bubba you erred in your guess on the "term limits" law. People are too cynical about politics today and want their electeds for the allowed terms and then out. It will look like politicians trying to extend their cushy jobs, even though I think our vote is our term limit, the general public will not and the vote will go down in flames.

But if you were correct and the term limit passed, of course Dantona would drop out, because even though we have a cynical population they keep checking the incumbent - except if you are really, really incompetent or have broken the law. So yes Tom McClintock would be easily reelected, Audra Strickland would be easily reelected, Jerry Brown would be easily reelected, Howard Waxman would be easily reelected - even though these people have done very little to be reelected, they are incumbents. Incumbents win - so you didn't go very far out on a limb to predict that McClintock would win, because Dantona wouldn't challenge McClintock.

Besides being an incumbent Tom doesn't have the negatives a Tony Strickland does - loophole to get paid by wife, hand off of seat to wife, stabbing fellow Republicans in the back on his way to the top, the list goes on and on...

Dantona has an uphill battle, but at least he has the guts Bubba to put himself out there and win or lose state his opinion and challenge the establishment/good ol' boys club. Good luck Jim, I know you will work hard for this and Ventura/Santa Barbara/Los Angeles County deserves you up in the State.

Schwarznegger may be pushing on that steam roller, too.

I agree Heaven. After all, he's got zero in common with Strickland. There is also a family connection via Maria that just might be very favorable for Dantona.

Way to go Jim Dantona!

Several years ago Jim was kind enough to contribute some of his hard-earned dollars towards the construction of the Veteran's Memorial in Simi Valley. My Dad, who served in WWII and Korea was very grateful for Jim's contribution. He asked me never to forget those who supported our veterans. My Dad's gone now, but I'll keep my promise to him by remembering Jim's generosity to veterans come election day.

Karl La Fong

Running against Tony but gives money to Audra?

The Stricklands are just as bad as McClinktock!

http://www.electiontrack.com/lookup.php?committee=1250941

He must have known the true way to Audra's heart...

Congratulations and Best Wishes Jim!

I've had the pleasure of knowing Jim for fifteen years. Successfully raising his three kids as single father, at the same time that he was caring for his wonderful parents, demonstrated Jim's committment to real family values by heartfelt deeds not by idle words. Over the years, Jim's love of Baseball inspired him to help countless kids stay on the straight and narrow through his award-winning organization, Baseballers Against Drugs. And, finally, he's always contributed generously in time, energy, and dollars, towards the constant betterment of the community he calls home, Simi Valley. With that kind of proven track record, Simi Valley, and indeed the bulk of Ventura County, could have no better representative in the California State Senate. Jim you can count on four votes from our household.

Gerard Kapuscik

Jim:

Glad to see your announcement for State Senator. Two of my kids participated in your great baseball clinics and they were so thrilled. I'll never forget the look on their faces when they got to see and talk to professional baseball players face to face. You can bet that all ten voters in my family will be voting for Dantona for State Senator!

Francesco Pasquale

I actually think Dantona would have an easier time beating McClintock than Strickland. McClintock has the stench of loser all over him, he ran for governor and lost, Lt. Governor and lost, people know he is a lifelong politician living off the public and he cares nothing about this District, he doesn't even live in the District anymore according to reports. McClintock also lost a lot of support by selling out to big tobacco and by not supporting a law to say you should not smoke in a car with a child, the soccer moms will kill him in the next election!

Hey Moondoggie, Why do you think so many of these GOP Conservative males are turning out to be gay? I mean come on, Huffington, Haggart, Foley, Craig, who do you think is next? Any of the Conservatives locally? Why do you think these guys always acted so anti-gay? Do you think it is self hatred? Do you think conservative males are more likely to be in the closet than moderate republican men? Did you see Senator Craig's press conference? He actually started by saying "I would like to thank you all for coming out today". LOL!

I take offense that you directed this question to me, Not Mitt Romney. I'm no expert on gay males. My guess is that they are so repressed by their conservative upbringing, or otherwise right wing fanatical views, that they go overboard to attacked gay rights in order to compensate for what they consider to be deviant social behavior. In other words. they can't come to grips with their own sexuality, try to repress it and attack what they are by going after third parties or people speaking up for the rights of these third parties who are, in fact, of the same sexual proclivity as the subject. Summarizing further, and in laymen terms, they are sick puppies in need of psychiatric treatment. Apparenty, while perhaps 2-7% of the population is gay, 2-7% of the religious right is also gay, however in this case they are repressed, polical frauds and not to be trusted to any degree.

Moondoggie, I meant no offense and I don't think you are an expert. I asked because you tend to be level headed and non partisan. Which Ventura County Conservative do you think is most likely to be in the 2-7%?

Don't think we have enough to generate a statistically significant finding. We had our candidate Huffington several years ago. I don't have a candidate at this time.

Moondoggie, What do you think of Mitt Romney's decision making? He had Vitter in charge of his Louisiana operation and then it comes out that the guy was using hookers and Romney dropped him. Then he had Craig running his Idaho campaign and Craig has the gay allegation and Romney dropped him. It seems Romney has only chosen losers so far, if he was President he might make Heide Fleiss the Secretary of State and make Larry Flynt the head of the Justice department. So for the record do you think that 2-7% of the members of the Ventura County Republican Central Committee are gay?

Not Mitt Romney - maybe Brian can devote a thread to some of your questions - they will just get lost on this one.

Moondoggie - do you think Jim Dantona should remove himself from the Landfill Task Force? He can still ask the questions that need to be asked but it might be better if he does it as a declared candidate. I'd like to see him take an actual position regarding the WM expansion and force the other candidate(s) to do the same.

Katie, There is a direct connection here because Romney has hired Tony Strickland, the likely candidate who will run against Dantona, along with Strickland, Romney hired Vitter and Craig. Don't you think this shows poor judgement by Romney to have hired these three? Do you think that Craig and Vitter situations will reflect badly on Strickland? Do you think 2-7% of the Ventura County Republcian Central Committee members are gay? If so, should they admit it, or stay in the closet? I personally would have more respect for Craig if he just came out and told the truth, because if you believe Craig, then you must believe the police officer is a liar, if that is the case the GOP will lose the support of law enforcement. What do you think Katie?

Katie
Jim will be announcing his resignation from the Task Force in the very near future. That is all I have to say on the subject at this time, as I am sure Jim will be releasing a statement shortly.

Katie, I would actually prefer Jim Dantona to stay on the Task Force. He offers so much knowledge of Waste Mgt. and is a senior member of the team who is very helpful in charting our direction from month to month. My guess is that he will be too busy to do us justice and will take a leave or resign. For me, it will be a sad day. He has become a close friend and I'm sure the dump expansion will stay in his focus as a part of his understanding of the issues facing our local community as he moves into his new assignment.

Not Mitt, statistics are just that. You need a rather large population to apply my 2 - 7% rule. We can calculate the size of the population vs. standard error of estimate or other statistical analyses as your needs dictate. For now, I wouldn't spend too much time studying it though. What people do in their bedroom should be private.

Not Mitt/Katie, surf's up and weather is warm. See you at the beach this evening at 6:00 PM.

Moondoggie, McCain just called on Senator Craig to resign, he said if you plead guilty to a crime you should not serve. So I get what you are saying, according to stats for a small group, the Ventura County Republican Central Committe male members could be anywhere from 1-100% gay. If they are they should come out of the closet and not hide it like Craig did.

Not Mitt, don't focus on it too much. They can be gay and not come out. That is fine. What they can't do is try to solicit sex in a public bathroom; straight or gay. Your understanding of the statistical analyses is correct, however.

Enough of this, let's move on. Surf's up and weather is great. Meet me at the pier, Not Mitt, my friend.

All the Democrats need to win is for the Republicans to put Republican on their campaign signs and let every Republican know they have been made a member of the VCRCC without their consent.

As a life long Republican I had the opportunity to meet Jim Dantona in his race for supervisor. At first I was going to vote for Peter Foy because he was a Republican. But after speaking with Mr. Dantona he impressed as a man who understood the issues and had the experience to serve our district. I as a moderate Republican want a Senator who addresses the issues that effect the middle class no matter what party. Jim Dantona I believe is that candidate. He talks about issues that effect mainstream voters. I wish Jim Dantona only the best and I hope other moderate Republicans will join with me in voting for Mr.Dantona

John,
Also as a lifetime republican I agree with you. I spoke to Jim Dantona believe or not after Tony Strickland told me at a republican club meeting to support Jim. He told me he had endorsed Jim and that Mr. Dantona had done so much for our community. So this should be an interesting campaign since Tony himself told me how good Mr. Dantona was. Because of this I called Mr. Dantona who took my call and I was impressed by he's honesty. Sorry Tony I will be voting for Jim Dantona. You were right he is the best.

I am going to vote for Jim Dantona for Senate because he was the one who brought the Waste Management Expansion issue to the public.
My husband and I bought a beautiful home in Big Sky and I apppreciate that he and Barbra Williamson are searching for the truth.

Just curious, do you people ALLLLL live in Simi Valley?

Hey, Gerard Kapuscik, weren't you the one who illegally tapped into the retirement fund when you were running the Channel Islands Community Services District? I think your buddy, John Flynn, tried to come to your aid, as I recall, but to no avail.

We need someone cuter than Dantona for this race, c'mon girls in the 19th, is this the best we can do?

Tapped into the retirement fund? Did he go to jail? Was he prosecuted? Is he still working for the County? Ah, come on Pro Voter, Osborne knows this isn't true. But then again, better go after the messenger when you can't go after the message.

12:06 am post by Pro Voter - anti-Dantona and sleezy

12:11 am post by Jill Dominique - anti-Dantona and sounds like it is written by a male misogynist

Same poster?

Kind of fun to watch Dantona load up people to post their support on the blog to make him seem less of a local polarizing figure.

My guess is he wants to get the state democratic party to take notice and get their funds for his campaign.

A vote for Dantona is a vote for the state party who have destroyed this state. I don't care for Strickland, but would never hand over the keys to the likes of Fabian Nunez or Don Perata.

I do look forward to the Dantona slime machine again. Just think, right now someone somewhere is doing op research. They are sitting in a library somewhere digging up dirt for next year.

I think Jill is a guy, too, but trying to confuse us. No self-respecting woman would post that.

Brian. When will dantona do a guest blog? He get's more coverage than any other candidate or cause on this blog, yet never posts. What's the deal?

Didn't Dantona work for Tony Strickland?

Is Dantona trying to clear the democratic field for Strickland?

I hope Hannah Beth Jackson runs.

I've never met Jim Dantona. Why would a life-long semi-conservative Republican like me want to vote for him versus a conservative Republican like Tony? I've seen a lot of moderate Republicans express their support for Dantona. Will Jim Dantona represent his constituency or the people who fill his coffers? I have been called a bad Republican because I'm not conservative enough but I am pro-life and I am anti-gun control. I'm just not religious. Who should I and people like me support?

Katie,
On an earlier thread, I was complaining that most people just don't fit neatly into Republican or Democratic molds. Obviously you don't either. And that's just one of the reasons I find our existing party system so restrictive and destructive. Look at the earlier post from Leslie, 18 percent of our county voters are DTS. I think that figure will grow as people get fed up with politics.

Katie, there are so many reasons why you should support Dantona over Strickland. Most are evident to you. The one you may have not realized, however, is that we will be on the same team and can spend more time catching waves together. Jim will support his constituency and his own beliefs. He is that kind of guy, unlike the once tiger. That said, my dear, get your organization behind Jim and Gidg and I will see you at the beach over this long, hot, weekend.

Surf's up

Dantona Playbook, I built the "slime machine", research is complete, and I'm coming after you, Osborn, and the once wounded tiger Tony. Get ready, Playbook, I'm coming for YOU!

Does Jill Dominique (even if he is a man) really think that Tony the tiger is the best looking?
Batting his eyelashes and pretending to be a cute college kid may work for the Republican blue hair ladies (brings out the grandmother in them) but not for women under 50 who care about health care, the environment and education.

Remember, even Tony & Audra Strickland supported Jim Dantona! What better endorsement can you fence-sitters & DTSs have?

And remember, Dantona supported Tony and Audra, and in fact gave money to both of them.

What better endorsement for the Stricklands.

Ron, er, Mike,
We all know your sole purpose in life is to support the Stricklands at all costs.
Get a real life. Being a political groupee is unbecoming.

Yep the Dantona team is busy doing op-research, though most of us just call it reading the newspaper. Tony Strickland is not a candidate you need to do opposition research on - he puts enough of it out there for the world to know already...

And hey John, Elaine and Keith imagine if you did some research for yourself you may have been able to see that Foy and Dantona were going to knock your candidate out... You'd be doing real work rather than just sitting on the sidelines now concocting crap to talk about.

Use lots of mouthwash Ron/Mike. Licking all those diapers clean can leave quite an aftertaste.

Great campaign shaping up. Strickland endorses Dantona. Dantona endorses Strickland. Larkin shoves handbills under hotel doors. Osborn comes out of the closet. Audra's campaign hires Tony as babysitter. Freeman once again applies for seat on State Transportation Commission. Voters pass new extended term limits. Larkin shoves more handbills. Stricklands play fast and free with funds. Osborn busted in restroom stall. Dantona drafted by the Chicago Cubs. Larkin pickets stadium. Fun times ahead. Keep lickin those diapers.

To Hannah Beth Fan,

I understand your support for Ms. Jackson and I think Hannah Beth could do some very valuable work for this state. Unfortunately, this seat would not be a viable option for Hannah Beth. Most of the Dems in this area are moderate Dems and the DTS are moderate to conservative leaning and the Reps are conservative to extremely conservative.

With that landscape a liberal like Hannah Beth won't be able to win this race, it is going to take a moderate to conservative leaning Democrat to represent this area. Again I view Hannah Beth as good legislator, but this area would not work for her. Simi, TO, Santa Clarita and Santa Barbara are all moderate to conservative areas that Dantona has some chance of convincing. Unfortunately, the uphill battle for a Democrat becomes an impossible incline for someone like Hannah Beth.

Let's stick together on this one and get behind Dantona, because he is our real chance to get representation in the Senate for this district.

I'm a retired teacher living in Ventura, but I taught in Camarillo for years. I know how conservative people are in Camarillo, but many hate the Stricklands. However, they also would never go for someone as liberal as Ms. Hannah Beth. Jim Dantona seems like a good compromise for this district. I can't afford to donate to a campaign, but he'll have my vote.

Hannah Beth jackson was chewed up and spit out by her own party during the last re-districting as part of a deal to make the district lean slightly Republican...just enough to keep her from running for State Senate when she was termed out of the Assembly. That's how McClintock got it. Ask Jim Brulte and Tony Strickland, who did the negotiating for the Republicans.

Hannah Beth Jackson did a fantastic job in the state assembly. Just think, while she was up in Sacramento fighting for progressive causes in the assembly, Jim Dantona was working with Tony Strickland.

The choice is obvious. Hannah Beth Jackson is perfect to replace Tom McClintock.

It would be great to have some more chioices. I for one would like to see Linda Parks consider running.

David Pollock would make a great choice as well.

My wife thinks Hannah Beth Jackson was great in the Assembly. I concur. This coming election though, we need to take the Senate seat back from the right wing fanatics and put it in the hands of someone who represents the majority of our residents. As I look at the demographics in the District, I see absolutely no chance that either Linda Parks or Hanna Beth Jackson can pull it off against the political machine operated by the right wing nuts and the rather conservative views of a majority of voters in the southeast portion of the District. This brings us back to Jim Dantona. He speaks the Strickland language. He know how to run a good campaign in a conservative Republican area, and he has the political contacts to keep the campaign going strong. I sure do support both Parks and Jackson, but in this particular race my money is on Dantona to win in the 19th.

Surf's up. And boy is it hot today.

HBJ Fan are you saying that Hannah Beth never worked WITH Tony Strickland on bills, items, etc. If not, then that is not the kind of representative we need. We need someone that can cross the aisle and work with all sides. But it is more likely that Hannah Beth, of course, worked WITH Tony Strickland on legislation, the budget, etc. The same as Jim Dantona who worked WITH Tony Strickland on bills, budget items, etc.

So, again, there is no reason to attack Dantona on being able to work with Republicans, Democrats and Independents alike, but it is important that we get behind Dantona who can win with bipartisan support.

Jill,
Give me a break! Tony Strickland looks like Frankenstein! McClintock looks like a backwoods freak from Deliverance! At least Jim looks like a normal human!

Hannah Beth Jackson would be a welcome change for this district. She's done a great job in the assembly. Democrats have grown more powerful not by adopting republican-like talk , but for standing on our democratic party principles.

It's time to run the table in this district by voting for someone with experience in Sacramento working as a legislator.

Hannah Beth Jackson is a fighter for those principles. She deserves our vote and support.

John T. I like Hannah, but she could never carry Ventura County, Dantona can.

It's so obvious that the Republicans are trying to create friction within the Democratic Party between Dantona and Jackson. Anyone who knows the score knows that there is no bad blood between these two. Jackson is a smart woman and she's competitive. She knows that she could do well in a Primary, but would get wiped out in the General. I can't believe she would want to spoil a chance to elect a real moderate in Dantona, that would serve the district well. She would never let ego stand in the way of the greater good. Jackson will make the smart decision, the right decision, and sit this one out. I'm sure that there will be something else that she can run for down the line, after she recovers more fully from her recent, serious bout with cancer.

Where is the evidence that Dantona can carry Ventura County? He most recently lost to a new-comer. He runs for every political position that comes along. He strikes me as the most political of all the local politicians. Run, Jim, Run.

The best question is what will Jim run for after this one?

He can't even complete service on the Landfill expansion task force without jumping ship for personal ambition.

If elected to state senate, he'll most likely run for secretary of state or some other office within a year.

It's pretty scary.

At least if Strickland were going to run for secretary of state we would KNOW he would lose.

Dear Permanent, don't even go there. Audra and Tony were knocking people over in their 11th hour attempt to run for Elton's seat. It was a circus in the Ventura County Elections office at 4:30 pm on the last day to file. And here they both were running for other offices.

What volunteer doesn't operate out of ambition, Permanent? Dantona is still on the Landfill Expansion Task Force and the majority of the members want him to stay just that way. Truth is, Jim doesn't want to add fuel to the fire to those who have accused the Task Force of being a political organization and he expressed interest in stepping down.

If you think Dantona made the decision to run for State Senate alone, you are as foolish as I think you are. He probably sought the consultation of more than one hundred elected officials, friends and family before agreeing to do so. He has the appreciation of each and every one of these early supporters for putting himself on the front line. Thank you Jim for running and taking the abuse for numbskulls like Pemanent.

Coastal Eddy - Jim Dantona pulled a rabbit out of a very conversative hat. He lost by 900 votes in a district that is heavily weighted Republican. Too bad he didn't have the extra $50K or so that the local Republican committee funneled Foy's way.

I think it's pretty evident just from this blog that people respect and admire Hannah Beth Jackson's service. It seems Dantona doesn't seem to have the same type of following.

Sorry to break this to you, we like Hannabeth, but Dantona has the following because he can win the seat, that is why the VCRCC is scared sh*tless!

Well, Hannah Beth Jackson Fan, aka Strickland groupie, how wrong you are. Hannah Beth made so many enemies in her own party that it went along with redistricting to get rid of her. She was so stubborn for devisive far left issues that Democratic leaders turned on her. She is smart, wealthy and committed. The problem is she couldn't get elected in the 19th nor can she get the support of the State Party. She has never been a team player in her own party and you can't make believe she has been. The only thing that is pretty evident is that Strickland would do anything to run against Hanna Beth and not Jim Dantona. So go home and tell him, Jackson Fan, that you were figured out to be the man behind the curtain.

I bet $100 bucks that John T. is not a registered Democrat. They are Strickland Republicans that want to concern troll Dantona not to run.

Kind of obvious guys when you don't use your real names but pretend to be life long Democrats.

Why don't you stick up for your leader Strickland instead of attacking people? You and your ilk are why people hate politics.

Boy Seymor, you sure did hit the nail on the head. Tony can't be feeling too good at the moment. Lack of sleep because of the new kid and Dantona getting ready to snap at this heals. It wasn't supposed to be like this. What did he do wrong? He tried to do what McClintock told him, though not always at the level hoped for, he prayed, he sinned, he had a couple of kids, he played foot loose and fancy free with taxpayer and campaign money, he made backroom deals with Indian gambling interests, he was against the environment, for offshore drilling, against women's rights and . . . Gee, Tony sure did blow it. Right on Seymor Butts.

Surf's up Seymor. See you Saturday at the pier.

There are 113 posts on this thread and not one of them is someone who uses a real name in support of Strickland - unless Jill Dominique is using a real name but so far she/he hasn't confirmed it.

Sorry Statement:

That seems the MO of the Strickland Camp and too many of elected Republicans: they hide who they really are and focus on attacking.

Just like the Craigs and the Foleys who are finally caught, many on the VCRCC's self-deception distort their judgment and so much of their effort is put into deflect others from detecting it, they focus on attacking and setting policy to punish those they villify.

If Jill is a male Republican, worse, a leader in the VCRCC, she is either full of self-loathing or he is full of loathing.

The NIXON STRAIN still runs deep.

I had no idea HBJ was ill. I hope she recovers quickly! Maybe she can run for Lois Capps' seat if she retires. I have heard she had a strident manner in the Assembly, but she passed some significant bills which protect kids and she will always have my vote.

P.S. I wish you all would use your real names!

Boy, there's no short supply of vitriol and hate among all you Democrats on this thread - and you're calling me Nixon? That's the thing I love so much about Democrats. They are all for diversity and brotherhood and helping mankind, except if you disagree them, then you better look out. BTW, I am a lifelong Republican girl, who is proud of her party and looking forward to a Strickland victory in the 19th - go Tony & Audra!!!

Again, being the brutish chauvanist pretending to be a female, Jill gives himself up as a man. "Lifelong Republican girl" - is "she" 12 pr even old enough to register to vote? We are women not "girls"!!!

A lot of people think Ann Coulter is a man, too. Look at her adam's apple some time.

Tony was a good Assemblyman. Jim will be a better Senator. Go Jim. Let the force be with you!

"That's the thing I love so much about Democrats. They are all for diversity and brotherhood and helping mankind, except if you disagree them, then you better look out."
Jill
Jill,
I was rather strong in my criticism. This is what I really meant:

When Republicans disagree with Democrats, it is usually because Democrats are trying to protect people the Republicans are harming with their policies or those who are villified during their wedge-issue campaigns.

They are the working poor, the homeless, the uninsured, undocumented mothers , gay and lesbians, the unemployed, students from low-income families, environmentalists, NON-fundamentalists-right-wing-white-Republican-males and their girls, and others that do not fit into the Republican Party line of
Enron-loving,
War-profiterring,
Gay-bashing,
Hetero-male-dominating,
Female-infantilizing,
Torture-approving,
Culture-War-mongering,
Double-speaking,
Constitution-dismantling, and
America's-international-goodwill-ruining
Politics.

Yes, Republicans look out for Democrats to fight back.

Heaven, well said. I've been a Republican all my adult life. The right wing nuts have destroyed the Republican party. They are oftentimes two faced, wear the bible on their sleeves, look at women not too much differently than did the Taliban, place little value on the environment and believe science is the curse of the devil. These are true nuts. Putting too many McClintocks or Stricklands in public office will ultimately be the end of a free society as we have known it for hundreds of years. One or two of them are a joke. Too many of them are a danger.

Jim Dantona offers a future for the 19th District. Other fine people could also be valuable public servants. Tony Strickland, however,is not good for our State Senate and not good for California.

Heaven and Dribble, you both just made my point for me exquisitely. Thank you so much. You're both so angry. Two angry Democrats, my, my, my. Chill pills all around. I'm in Heaven with so much Dribble.

Heaven and Dribble, you both just made my point for me exquisitely. Thank you so much. You're both so angry. Two angry Democrats, my, my, my. Chill pills all around. I'm in Heaven with so much Dribble.

Oh Jill, why do you see anger in my words? I too am full of love. I wrote of facts and my opinion on right wing political nuts. No anger, my dear, just facts and opinion. Why do you see anger when we speak negatively about Osborn and Strickland? I may pity you, dear Jill, but not in anger. I wish you had a better life. One in which you could have more love, more sex, more happiness. Heaven will have Dems and Reps. You don't have a monopoly on Jesus simply because you preach the loudest. Dantona will forgive you Jill, for you do not know from where you have come or to where you go.

Please extend my warmest regards to Osborn.

1) I am by no means sold on Hanna Beth or Dantona, but I am a Democrat and DO have the courage to post under my real name.

2) Apparently, referring to Hanna Beth fan as a Strickland groupie is pretty much barking up the wrong tree, since DANTONA apparently donated $1500 to Audra's campaign for Assembly last time around.

3) And again are you all from Simi Valley? Jeez...it seems as if you are all A) hung up on Simi issues that no-one in the rest of the 19th Senate District even know about and B) posting under fake aliases about how much of a Saint Jim is, which makes me think you are really one of the inside-campaign people -- something inside campaign people all the time.

Let's talk about the real issues. Rather than slandering Hanna Beth about redistricting being done around her (which is absolutely not true, by the way -- Hanna Beth is frikkin beloved by the Democrats), and rather than moaning about this Simi Waste Management thing again, and calling people Strickland groupies when Jim got endorsed for Supervisor by his now-opponent and gave money to prego, let's talk about what qualifies either of them to run for State Senate...like, maybe, some state issues? Like, maybe, the voter numbers for the 19th State Senate District or the voting trends in past years in the 19th State Senate District? I've got a good one, why don't we talk about what the Republicans are doing to retain the seat and what the Democrats are doing to try and take it...

Talking about how much of a hero one guy is or how much baggage another person may have does not win a race. That is the only thing you guys are doing that makes me believe you are Democrats... ... ...talk about things that have absolutely nothing to do with the race and absolutely nothing to the average voter.

Jill, e-mail me at KatieTeague@verizon.net. I'm always interested in meeting other Republican women and I'd love to talk about the upcoming Ventura City Council race and get your opinion on the various incumbents and candidates.

No Heather not all of the posters are from Simi Valley. Many of them are not. For example, I believe Jill Dominique is from Ventura. So is Marie. Leslie Cornejo is from Oxnard. And Katie Teague is from Camarillo.

The comment about HB Fan being a Strickland groupie was by someone that didn't believe that poster was a real Democrat, but instead a Strickland supporter trying to stir up a divided primary.

But, regardless of which candidate you like I think it is proven that negative campaigning actually works and although voters complain about it they reward it just the same.

What local issues outside of Simi Valley and the region impacted by the landfill should the candidates and their supporters talk about?

How about breaking the obstructionist deadlock in the state senate, for one? All it would need is for the Repubs to lose a couple of seats and their ability to hold up senate business disappears.

Heather, you are trying to make it too highbrow and detailed. You are also not accurate in your assessment of the State Democratic Party. Nevertheless, I know you have a good heart and work hard for your Party. The fact is, Hanna Beth can't get elected in the conservative 19th District against the once wounded tiger. He would love to be running against her instead of Dantona. Democrats have been weak for a long time as exemplified by their inability to unite behind a platform or a candidate. While the Reps are united behind the once wounded tiger, Dems are still trying to drum up a multitude of candidates; certainly their right, but not too good for winning a general election.

Surf's up. Let's campaign for Dems this long weekend, Heather. I'll bring the Boards. Surfers do vote.

Hannah Beth Jackson has always been a strong supporter of women's issues. She has proudly been endorsed by planned parenthood in her past campaigns. This state senate seat desperately needs someone that understands these issues.

We don't even know whether Jim Dantona is pro-choice or not.

I hope Hannah Beth Jackson runs.

Brian, I'd like to hear about traffic congestion, water distribution, health care, education, etc. Isn't this what our representatives in Sacramento are supposed to be addressing? Seems like most of this is being ignored here in Ventura County.

Re: Pro-Choice

I don't want a candidate whose claim to fame is his or her stance on the pro-choice/pro-life issue. This has been used as a polarizing issue for too long and really isn't a gauge of how good a candidate is in representing his or her constiuency.

Heather Schmit, if you're an example of what the Democrat Party is doing to take the seat by trashing your declared candidate and others from the Democrat Party, then this election should be easy for Strickland. Aren't you supposed to be some sort of local Democrat leader? You show how much you know about state politics when you make statements like hanna beth is frikkin beloved by the Democrat party. She was so frikkin beloved that she was drawn right out of the district. That is a fact.

You show exactly what kind of disrespectful and inmature person you are for calling Assemblywoman Audra Strickland prego. Why should anyone pay attention to what you say at all? I suggest you apologize.

Moondoggie, you do raise some important points; however, LOCAL Democrats do talk about things completely irrelevant to the race and ignore the voter registration numbers and the details of the district that are important. I have watched them do this for three years. The reason why we haven't seen Hannah Beth declare and the reason why no big Democrats have been in this area is because the State Democratic Party is still looking at the statistics landscape...without the right numbers they won't get involved in this race...without their support and money, the Republican machine will womp any Democrat because --I agree-- it is a very conservative district.

I think I agree with Katie that the candidate's stance about pro-choice / pro-life issues, but would expand that to all single issues. I'm more of a moderate than I think I let on and I think that it is very limiting for people to vote on one issue when someone is completely unqualified on all of the others. Like radical liberals that would vote for Dennis Kucinich because of impeachment and wacked out conservatives that would come out and vote just to vote for the person against impeachment -- neither of which candidate would be qualified AT ALL to be president.

I would like to know Dantona's and Hannah Beth's various stances on the state issues that you work on when you are in state senate -- education, health care (does they both support universal health care and Kuehl's bill), the environment.

And "Elaine,"

If you want to know how beloved Hannah Beth is by the Democrats, just go to the local Democratic Labor Day picnic here in Ventura and in Santa Barbara and you will see how much the Democrats really do FRIKKIN LOVE her.

I am not disrespectful and I do not believe I ever "trashed" the one declared candidate in a potential Democratic primary. Nor did "trash" the Democrats....Local Democrats often talk about things completely irrelavent to the race...just because I am in the Democratic Party doesn't mean I can't admit that. I want to hear about issues other than Simi Valley Waste Management -- issues that people in the 19th State Senate will vote on like education and health care.

Please grow up.

Heather, I think you will be pleasantly surprised when you learn Dantona's position on those issues dear to your heart. I do think your comparison should be between Dantona and Strickland, however. Lastly, it appears you may not be aware of the State Party's view of our local election for the 19th. A lot happens before you read about it in the newspaper. I suggest you believe Dantona when he tells you that it will be the most costly Senate race in the State. Strickland isn't bringing in $100,000 per month to wallpaper his kids new bedroom. If you haven't met Dantona, you should. You will recognize him as the nice looking, hard as iron, tough as nails, sharp as a tack, lean, mean, fighting machine with a smile from ear to ear at the picnics to which you spoke. I'm sure he and Hanna Beth have a deep mutual respect for one another and each will do what is best for the Party and the residents of the 19th. Dems will go with either one of these fine folks against the once wounded tiger. The question is which one of these two Dems will be able to grab the respect of moderate Reps. Dantona has shown he can do so. Gidg and I are behind him 100% for this very reason.

Don't ever apologize for anything you said. Elaine can sit on it until the sun don't shine.

Surf's up kiddo. Let's catch a few between picnics.

I got off track with Jill.

While Dantona will get 99% of the Democrats, it seems we are too confident about him taking on Strickland. D. did do well against Foy. That may well be an anomaly.

Foy was a relative unknown and had to do some catch-up. Strickland is not. That Dantona and Strickland have worked together gives Tony the edge.

The distinctions between the two are then blurred. Strickland can argue that he can and wants to work with Democrats. He's just more conservative than Dantona in a few areas, not so much that Republicans will cross their Party line to vote for a moderate Dem.

That means Dantona will have to get a very large majority of independents. An attack campaign against Strickland is not going to work. Dantona is going to have to convince independents that he will do a better job than Strickland.

Instead of op research on Strickland, local Dem leaders and the CDP leaders need to be focusing on the issues that independents care about and target them. There is where
Strickland's biggest challenge lies.

What about Strickland's Club for Growth? Do you think their ideas and policy goals have traction with independents?

Sorry HBJ fan, choice is going to be a non-issue this election.

With a substantial Dem majority in both houses, there will be no danger to choice if either man gets elected. That is totally off voters' radar this year.

The issues?

The environment tied to ecoonomic development tied to education. It's going to be about housing, transportation (and other infrastrcture issues) and how we pay for those.

Most know about Strickland's ultra-conservative views on social issues. Voters will get bored if that becomes the focus of a campaign against him. That's retread.

The main question: Who has what it takes to contribute anything on making California better in the new FLAT world?

Strickland is still stuck with a 1950s mind.

Is that good enough as we enter the 21st century's 2nd decade?

Both the Democratic and Republican Parties support candidates and elected officials that are despised by the general voting populace and sabbataogue those that they feel they can't "control" even though there may be strong support for them within the unwashed voting masses. This is part of the reason why the Decline to State voting blocking is the fastest growing block in California.

The Strickland/Dantona race promises to be a "perfect storm". If Hannah Beth enters, it will be business as usual. The 19th district has a 4 point Rep advantage as of February. New numbers should be coming out in September. My prediction is that the DTS block has grown and eroded into the bases of both parties.

"Heather"

You grow up you. You can start by apologizing for referring to Assemblywoman Audra Strickland as "prego". That was very disrespectful in the context you used.

I wouldn't be caught dead at a Democrat picnic so you can go fall over your frikkin beloved hannabeth by yourself. I hope the Democrat party does run her. She's great. She has a record of supporting gay marriage, late term abortion and never met a gun control bill she didn't love. The conservative voters in this district will love her.

Absolutely, Katie. My sense is that people are fed up with the extremist ends of both parties. The Democrats made great inroads across the nation last fall by putting up moderate candidates. After all I've read here, I agree that Dantona is the better choice to pit against Strickland.

I just had very personal reasons for my loyalty to HBJ.

Heather, are you from Ventura? After the election, there will likely be a new blog on the Star's web site which will deal primarily with Ventura issues.

Elaine, such anger. It is as if Democrats have the plague. I'm a lifelong Republican, but sometimes I vote for a Democrat. I can only imagine why you have so much anger inside. Were you molested as a child? I hope not. Did your Dad lose a union job when you were a small child and you lost your home? I hope not. Did a Democratic Senator block your appointment to something? Perhaps. Oh Elaine, Heather need not say anything about her reference to Strickland as prego. Here are a few more targets for your rage. PREGO, PREGO, PREGO, PREGO, PREGO!!!! Now sit on that and spin while others enjoy the picnics.

Come on people...let's find some other choices.

Moderates need to unite and support an outstanding candidate, with strong character and integrity, IMHO that person has not surfaced.

Where is the humility and service that we look for in our public servants.

We need someone who is NOT in public office because of a Napolean complex.

How about someone who is self sacrificing for the betterment of others and will not benefit personally or financially off the taxpayers.

I just may need to develop my own stealth candidate and IEC, the Strickland's have taught me how the REAL game is played. Time to take the gloves off.

I want my children and their children to have a better world to live in, time to clean house.

A little advice to all bloggers, especially those whose anonymous entries are absolutely dripping with venomous diatribes about others. Remember, hatred is a banquet until you recognize you are the main course!

Herbert Benson

Choices, you have to be kidding right? Do you think Abraham Lincoln or George Washington or FDR or Winston Churchill all did it because they were doing what they did because they were self sacrificing and doing it for the betterment of others? Come on pull your head out of the clouds. They did it because they wanted to do great things, but all of them had egos, power trips and wanted a job. Our thoughts grow more rosey for them over time, but in the end they were human, just like the people we elect today are human. I'd love to elect the omnipotent savior you are looking for, but maybe we should deal in reality.

The elected officials today are doing some good things, some great things, but also doing it as a job. Yes, they are going to want to get paid. Sorry, that's just the way our capitalist system works. And we as taxpayers pay the bill because we put the people there to represent us and if we don't want to pay them anymore we vote them out.

Or maybe you want a billionaire running who doesn't need to make this their full-time job? Problem with that is they don't usually understand or have forgotten the problems and concerns of those who actually have to work for a living or those even less fortunate. Turns out some of them are even more corrupt than those who didn't come from that finacially secure background.

We elect humans "Choices", sorry sometimes they have flaws. Our job should be to see what good they want to do and try to do. It's so simple to by cynical and sarcastic, but maybe you should try to run for office and see how a hostile public treats you or how hard it is to meet the bars set by people who are looking for the fabled "George Washington", note not the actual one, because you would probably be disgusted with that one, to come and run for Assembly, Senate, Congress or President without having ever held office before and after his one term of solving every problem in the world, go back to the workforce and/or retire.

Maybe it's time to take a realistic look at our elected officials, whether they get paid through their spouse's campaign account or not, and see the good they are trying to do and not the easy to spot faults.

Hallucinating-looks like I struck a nerve. Stealth cnadidate IEC sounds like the way to go to purge self centered politicians.

Thank you to the Strickland's for teaching me the way the game is played.

It may be hard for you to understand but there are people out there that serve the public out of the goodness of their hearts and dedication to mankind.

Actions speak louder than words...

All for the sake of our children's future.

There are definitely people out there who serve out of the goodness of their hearts. And I have worked with them.

NEWS FLASH- GOP SENATOR LARRY CRAIG WILL ANNOUNCE HE IS RESIGNING TOMORROW. In a prepared statement he will say "I wish to spend less time in public life and more time in public restrooms playing footsies with my fellow conservatives."

Another right wing nut bites the dust. Watch your feet in the public stall, tiger, you never know who is playing touch the foot on the other side of the wall.

Choices and Marie, So you are saying there is some elected official somewhere who is serving and not taking a salary and once they are finished they go to back to an industry where their skills and knowledge obtained do not benefit them financially? That to me would be out of the goodness of their heart. I would have to say that is probably not the case.

You folks would have run Abraham Lincoln away because you would have criticized him for running for office 8 different times and losing every time. You would have sat there and said look he can't make it out in the real world so he wants to feed at the public trough. Is it true that Lincoln thought the only way he could make money is as Congressman, Senator and/or President? Probably not, he probably just felt he had something to offer the country. And hey, turns out he did.

The bulk of people running for office or elected officials want to do good things or have good things - turns out they need to be paid in order to live. To me that doesn't make them an evil person, I see nothing wrong with that.

Hey Dribbly Chin, you seem do have some morbid fascination with the Sen. Larry Craig incident in the public restroom. I think you've made several post on it already. Usually, people with an obsession that strong have some sort of guilt complex. Coming soon to an airport restroom near you - Mr. Dribble, himself.

C - HBH,

I think you're extrapolating this out too far. I have no issues with politicians who are being paid and are doing good things and who are in it for the right reasons.

But my point was I absolutely do know folks in local elected offices such as school board and city council who are paid almost nothing through their offices and are really in it for the public good. It's not for power or prestige or business connections or ego. Altruism does exist. I have seen it.

Pro Voter, I don't have a facination, just watching out for my kids when perverts, perhaps like you, invade our public restrooms for their purient sexual gratification, then go back to work bashing gays. Sounds kind of sick to me. Glad the fruit cake is resigning tomorrow.

"Purient", Dribbler? You me "prurient', of course, don't you? Learn the English language a little better before you start tossing out lame comments. BTW, in one breath, you seem to voice displeasure at Senator Craig bashing gays and then, in the next breath, you call him a "fruit cake" (a derogatory term for gays). Give me a break, you homophobic hyprocrite.

Careful "pro voter" when you sling stones at someone's spelling make sure you spell everything correctly and don't make any typos... Oops!

Hi Marie, I am referencing Choices comments, "How about someone who is self sacrificing for the betterment of others and will not benefit personally or financially off the taxpayers." Every person that serves unless they don't take a salary benefits financially and personally. Choices also commented that neither of the people who have come forward are "an outstanding candidate, with strong character and integrity" because of his criteria above. I think his assumptions are simple and unfounded.

Choices wants to paint every candidate that has presented themselves as a self-serving, egotistical and greedy. I am betting that neither candidate (who could make more money in the private sector) is doing this for the great money they make as a Senator. In fact, they put themselves out there and subjected themselves to the crosshairs of a cynical public knowing they are about to be pummeled for wanting to do something good. I have a problem with people making these simple, general statements because it is easy.

Oh and by the way, Choices would seem to be an inside player in his use of IEC. How many Average Joe citizens know what that is?

C-HBH,
This average Joe has no idea what IEC means.... :-)

I see your point. I guess I was responding to the part in Choice's post about people who serve the public out of the goodness of their hearts and dedication to mankind. It does exist on the local levels, but the further up the totem pole you go I think it gets lost.

I think we're all frustrated at the process right now. Good people who could really make a difference often don't run for higher office because they don't have the stomach for how negative campaigns have become. Colin Powell is a good example there.

One reason Barack Obama has such traction now is that people are responding to the sense of idealism he brings.

Hi Marie,

You sound very much like you do care and want to care. I think it is great that you see it on the local level, but I assure you that for the majority it does exist on the state and national levels. The problem, as always, is with the reports from media. We don't get to here about all the attempts at legislation that doesn't make it or does make it and we don't hear about it because it is not controversial or headline making. All the press wants to report is conflict, on the right and left. So you get to hear about Mr. Craig or we focus on Bill Clinton's escapades rather than attempts to help people.

Your local representatives you see at the market or you see on TV some night of the week or you actually attend their meetings. The problem is that you don't get to see your state rep or federal rep, but the rare event. They are at least 300 miles away if not 3000 miles away. And unless you watch C-SPAN or some other government channel we don't see them. So you see your local people and see they care, but unless you have a direct issue with your state or federal person you never get to hear from them. The local person represents 100,000 people. Your state person represents 350,000 people or more and your federal representative represents over 500,000 people. So by nature they are spread that much thinner.

I hope people can give people the benefit of the doubt. Why attack them personally, not necessarily you - Choices and others, when you really don't know anything about them. Do some research. If you don't like their stance on policy, attack that. If you don't like their votes, attack that, but more and more you hear people taking a cynical view of government and without real substance, except to say they are all crooked.

PS - Of course, you don't know what IEC is, you are the general public. It stands for Independent Expenditure Committee. It's a political group that spends money outside of a candidate's campaign to promote an issue - or more often than not attack the opponent of a candidate without having fingerprints of that candidate on them.

C-HBH,

Thank you for the very thoughtful response. I really appreciate it. Yes, I do care.

I agree that there are good people out there on the state and national level but I also think that the whole system needs top-to-bottom reform. Lobbyists, negative campaigning, the two-party system, media coverage, everything. To exist and be successful in this kind of world, you have to compromise your principals somehow.

Unfortunately human nature is such that we seem to thrive on the negative and sensational. For proof, look at the posts on this blog. Here we are having a thoughtful dialogue and we are sandwiched between these two guys fighting over Craig's antics.

Pro Voter, brace yourself. Strickland is going down. Three other right wing Republican nuts went down this year for sex crimes. Toilet stalls, Pages, hookers, the once wounded tiger is going down. Strickland's idea of government is self enrichment. Strickland is going down, Pro Voter.

This blog has really taken off. Look at the number of posts on this thing! People sure do seem to be passionate about Dantona, one way or the other.

One thing I know Jim wouldn't care for are attacks on Hannah Beth Jackson. He has the utmost respect for her and her public service. We all do.

I also think the comments about a donation Jim made to Audra Strickland's campaign are much ado about nothing. Tony and Audra endorsed Jim when he was running for Supervisor. As someone who lives in the area and does business in the legislative arena, it would be unusual if he wasn't approached for a donation. He has worked with people from both parties for 30+ years. That's part of what makes him well qualified to represent this district, and why he has so much support from not only Dems, but Reps too. He has proven ability to connect across the aisle, and that's what's going to be needed to win in this distict. Sacramento knows about the donation and they consider it a non-issue. It was made when he was running for a non-partisan office, when he held no office or position as a Democrat. End of story.

Now as Heather has wisely suggested, can we move on to discussing real issues?

Does Jim Dantona have a website up yet?

I don't think he does, katie, but he has a myspace....link to it by clicking my name.

That's very cool - very 21st Century. These times - they are a'changing.

Real issues, Laura? As Dribble might say, we are the issue. Protection of the environment, our beaches, our streams, our mountains; education, immigration, job growth, taxes, Iraq; special interests, health insurance, crime; expansion of the Simi Valley dump. Dantona is on the side of the majority of our residents. The once wounded tiger is on the side of those who pay him the most. Laura, it isn't much of a question to decide who to support in this race for State Senate. The once wounded tiger is going down, down, down and Dantona is going to Sacramento

Laura, a special invitation to you, Katie and Heather. It is hot as an oven. Surf's up and Gidg & I are heading to the beach. We have our just made "Surfers for Dantona" wet suits. See you there.

Heather -

Just a response to, as you put it, "hung up on Simi issues that no-one in the rest of the 19th Senate District even know about". The rest of the 19th may not know about it, but it shows action on issues that effect the environment.

We could talk about Rocketdyne and his opposition and work on that, where you would again say that is a southern 19th district issue that no one in the north knows about, but again it shows action on an issue affecting the environment. So what you need to do is look at the specific topic and see how it relates to the bigger issue.

In the state, they just don't do bills that say I am pro-environment or anti-environment, you have to extrapolate their position from actions on specific items. Now the problem will be that they probably both are able to point to specific items where they are protectors of the environment - so that's a wash.

As a leader of, the young progressives is it? One thing you are going to have to learn is to moderate yourself, because you are no longer just an average citizen making comments you are now representing an organization that might have to come out and rally for Dantona in about 4 months. Your leanings are clear and you can certainly have a favorite, but Democrats can't be kicking Democrats when it comes down to it, because it is going to take all of the Dems, a lot of DTS and independent parties, plus a small amount of Republicans to win this seat.

C-HBH

You are only upset because someone exposed your campaign tactics and strategy to have TS elected. Why else would you be so defensive.

If I am given only two choices Dantona or Strickland I will support Dantona. I think Jim is an OK fellow but I would like more choices.

I have been a Rep my entire life, I perfer to switch to DTS but instead I will stay registered as a Rep so Mike Osborn will use VCRCC $ to mail me membership communications which I can line the cat box with and alert me on who NOT to vote for!!!!!!!!!!!!

IEC example

Receipts and Expenditures of Team 2006,
sponsored by California Sovereign Indian Nations:

The Team 2006 coffers were built with funds from:
Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians, $2.85 million
Pechanga Band of Luiseño Indians, $2.8 million
San Manuel Band of Mission Indians, $685,715
Soboba Band of Luiseño Indians, $125,000
Sycuan Band of Kumeyaay Indians, $2.8 million

Team 2006 made independent expenditures to help:
Tony Strickland, candidate for Controller: $958,480
Assemblywoman Bonnie Garcia, R-Cathedral City: $370,333
Sen. Jeff Denham, R-Atwater: $494,346
Assemblywoman Shirley Horton, R-Chula Vista: $281,396
Assemblyman Guy Houston, R-San Ramon: $186,727
Assemblywoman Jenny Oropeza, D-Long Beach: $51,007
Assemblywoman Nicole Parra, D-Hanford: $437,875
Assemblywoman Nell Soto, D-Pomona: $36,490
Assemblywoman Audra Strickland, R-Moorpark: $121,520

While the Team 2006 press release lists its supporters as the Agua Caliente, Sycuan, Pechanga and San Manuel Band, the group's filing with the secretary of state also includes Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians of Santa Ynez and the Soboba Band of Luiseno Indians of San Jacinto.

All but the Sycuan are members of Tribal Alliance of Sovereign Indian Nations, or TASIN, made up of Southern California tribes of which many operate casinos.

Katie:

Your conscise and cogent posts always interest me and as a Republican woman, I have the greatest respect for your political courage and tactical independence, even while you remain true to your core political principles. I have heard from a reliable "deep-throat" source in the Strickland campaign, that Mike Osborn and Tony Stickland are increasingly concerned with the growing number of Republican women who express independent thoughts publicly on a variety of Party issues rather than mindlessly hewing the Party-line in Stepford-wives like fashion. If true, this seems to me a palpable manifestation of great electoral insecurity amongst the local, male-dominated, hierarchical leadership who are now calling the shots at the VCRCC. What say you about this development?

Madeline La Farge

Heather:

Take a deep breadth, partake in Yoga, chant a soothing mantra, listen to you favorite music and be patient.

If there is one thing that I am certain of, there will be plenty of opportunities between now and both the 2008 Primary and General elections for a slew of issues to be hashed-out by the candidates from both parties in the 19th SD.

Perhaps, after you've mellowed-out a bit, and give it some thought, you might find an innovative, and productive way for the YPD in Ventura County to facilitate and encourage discussion and dialogue amongst the candidates of issues of importance to YPD members.

Who knows? If you put your mind to it, you might come up with an idea that is so creative and compelling that candidates will come, two-by-two, to just such a YPD hosted-event or venue??

Carlton Lavoissier

Madeline,

Thank you for pointing out the demographics that I will target my IEC campaign to.

Dragging small children around on the campaign trail does not demonstrate to me that someone values their childhood and cherishes the important role and privilege of parenting.

I would never delgate my "representation" to a Nanny.

Priorities speak volumes to me.

Dribble Baby, I refer you again to the 19th Senate District's voter registration numbers, as provided by Leslie Cornejo when this whole debate started. Mr. Dantona will attract many Democrat voters, no question about that. But, according to these numbers, he will also have to swing quite a few Republicans over as well to pull out a victory. History clearly shows that Republicans come out in higher numbers to support their candidates, so you tell me how Dantona is going to defeat Tony Strickland based on this data. Republicans are not going to allow what happened to some obscure senator from Idaho affect their support of a local "golden boy".

Pro Voter:

In political history, past is not necessarily prologue.

Further your statement that Senator Craig is an "obscure senator from Idaho," is a convenient, but not convincing one, since he loyally and mindlessly provided knee-jerk support for years in the Senate for the Bush-Cheney-Rove agit-prop politics of "divide and conquer," versus "unite and progress."

Finally, your annoitment of Tony Strickland as a local "golden boy," has a certain self-absorbed, Napoleonic aspect to it. And, at best it is arguable.

What is not arguable is the growing list of GOP political heavyweights who for one reason or another, either acts of commission or omission, have or are deserting the listing Republican ship of state.

Beginning last year with the poster boys for the "Culture of Corruption," that terrible trio of DeLay, Foley, & Ney, whose terms were limited by the intelligent and rightously angry voters of their respective districts. Not to mention Republican Congressman Randy "Duke" Cunningham, who's resignation followed an indictment triggered by the investigation of a courageous U.S. Attorney in San Diego who paid the price of her independence by being fired from her job by DofJ central in D.C.

This year, the list, for various reasons, is growing geometrically. Topping the list of voluntary retirements include: Denny Hastert, former Speaker of the House, Deborah Pryce, top ranking Republican woman in the House, and recently John Warner, Ranking Republican and former Chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee.

Add to that the embarrassing revelations of hyperbolic hypocrisy by those self-proclaimed defenders of family values and arbiters of American morals, and constitutional rights Republican Senators David Vitter of Louisiana and now Larry Craig from Idaho, and the now infamous Attorney General, Alberto Gonzales, who's also just resigned.

And finally, topping the list of Republicans who are becomming the target of Republican political cannibalism, right here in California, we have John Doolittle, who barely won the most Republican Congressional district in the State last year to a Democrat. He's being challenged by not just one, but two Republicans. 11th Commandment anyone?

Get the picture Pro Voter?

It's more like the picture of Dorian Grey than a portrait of Morning in America articulated and painted by that Great American, Ronald Reagan. Deal with it!

Imre Hotepak

I don't want to take the wind out the sails of Mr. Chutzpak, but Jim Dantona will win because he is the best man for the job. It will have little to do with any of the Republicans mentioned nor will past transgressions by Democrats (how short are our voting memories) burden him.

Jim Dantona is a man who can truly represent this district and as an advocate of centrist policies, he can work with both parties - including the state Democratic leadership (are you reading this Tony Strickland?) - to affect real action and influence in and from our quiet little Senate district.

Strickland simply cannot deliver.

Madeline La Farge - thank you for your very nice post. All I can say with direct knowledge is that there is tremendous pressure to stand with the "party" and that by its very structure - women are disenfranchised from any decision making or analytical process. I am referring specically to what are called the Women's Federated groups - which Republican women are encouraged to join. Federated clubs are booster clubs for the Republican party - where women are encouraged to stuff envelopes and volunteer but aren't allowed to endorse candidates. Federated membership has been dropping and Republican women are left handing. The Central Committees don't want them and they don't want the Federated groups.

The few women that have been elected are managed by male handlers. Thus Joel Angeles is the one that talks to the paper instead of Audra.

Most of the Republican women I have met want to help and participate but aren't interested in being a "stepford wife". Unfortunately, these women are considered bad Republicans because they can't be controlled. Sounds like you might be one of those bad Republicans!

I disagree with both of you (Lack of Chutzpa & American Independent), for very different reasons, of course. First of all, Chutzpa, Republicans will do just fine in this coming election and in the future as well. That's because they know how to win, which is more than I can say about the Democrat Party, which hasn't won a presidential election since 1996 (need I remind you). If Billary is the best the Dems can offer in 08', serve it up, folks. The Republicans will be happy to slam it back over the net.

With regard to American Independent's comments, I presume Dantona will be running as a Democrat, no? This means he will be relying on key Democrat support and votes in the election, right? Thus, the Republicans will be doing their best to beat the pants off him. This is quite different from the Supervisorial race that he just lost, which was non-partisan. So, I think he's going to have a much tougher time against a name Republican (Tony Strickland) than he did against a no-name, non-partisan candidate, Peter Foy. Do the math, folks. Do the math.

Pro Voter - I think the Dems have done the math. If it turns out to be Tony Stickland versus Jim Dantona - it's going to be a right wing conservative against a guy who is positioning himself as a moderate. The district itself is pretty evenly split with a huge DTS block. I suspect the numbers will be even closer by election time. I wouldn't be betting any money on this race.

Katie, I agree it will be a close race. But, I think name recognition and Republican turnout should tilt the balance in Tony's favor. What do you think about a McClintock - Dantona race? I think it's less likely, but do think Tom would fare better?

Hard to say. I used to be a huge Tom McClintock supporter till I started looking at who he supported. He has not surrounded himself with quality people nor do I like the way he sucked up to Arnold during the V6 elections and now is dissing him at every opportunity for not being a good Republican. Tom is widely regarded as a kook but I do like his fiscal conservatism - however, he does need to learn the meaning of the word compromise. He also needs to visit his district more and get rid of some of his baggage.

That being said, it would be hard to dislodge an incumbent. It is possibly that Jim Dantona will still make a go of it but only if he has a lot of support in Sacramento as well as locally.

Just because there wasn't party labels on the ballot in the supervisors campaign doesn't make it non-partisan. Every Republican seemed to get a whole stack of flyers from Foy making sure they knew Foy was a Republican and Dantona was a Democrat.

Add to that Foy is a conservative with fund raising connections from his years of activism including with the Christian Coalition and the non-partisan idea goes away.

This race will be partisan and will be nasty.

Amateur Voter - I clicked on your name and saw that it supported Archie the Dog over at Casa Pacifica. I sent in a donation for his surgery and I hope everyone else does as well.

And you are right - the Foy/Dantona BOS race was a partisan fiasco - too bad the Dems didn't support Dantona but then maybe they were more mindful of the spirit of the law.

Pro-voter said: "Thus, the Republicans will be doing their best to beat the pants off him."

Dropping trou and taking a wide stance seems to be a Republican specialty these days, but I wouldn't call it much of a campaign strategy. You guys couldn't beat Dantona's pants off with a blowtorch and a truckload of TNT.

That card coming underneath the stall says DEMOCRAT, and your time playing peekaboo and footsie with the voters of this district is coming to an end.

Hey "Strickland, Keep Your Feet, etc.", I do recall in the not too distant past, one William Jefferson Clinton was banging interns in the White House. Last time I checked, he was in the Democrat Party. So, can your cheesy, low class comments and tell me, realistically, how is Dantona going to beat someone with the political skills and name recognition as a Tony Strickland.

The Supervisor race is indicative that this isn't Orange County and people are much more INDEPENDENT thinking than that indoctrinated region.

It is true, Pro-Voter, that Tony Strickland has a name in this district. But except for the far right, it isn't a very well-respected name these days.

Katie:

Thanks for your honest answer and thoughtful insights. Once again, you "speak truth to male-dominated Republican power," and if Mike Osborn and Tony Strickland really had the courage of their convictions, let alone the wisdom of the ages, they'd realize that the truth, above all else, is the only thing that sets us all free! God Bless you Katie.

Madeline La Farge

And God bless America too. Gag.

You think that stumbling, bumbling, Strickland with a baby huey mug, has political skills? Bahahahahahahahaha.

Dantona is the one with real political skills and backing that is going to make "shock and awe" pale in comparison. He's also articulate, intelligent and, using Jill Dominique's criteria to assess, Dantona is hot. grrrrrrrr a REAL tiger for a change.

You think that stumbling, bumbling, Strickland with a baby huey mug, has political skills? Bahahahahahahahaha.

Dantona is the one with real political skills and backing that is going to make "shock and awe" pale in comparison. He's also articulate, intelligent and, using Jill Dominique's criteria to assess, Dantona is hot. grrrrrrrr a REAL tiger for a change.

Back from the USC game and glad to see the Dantona thread is still breaking records. First poll is in and Dantona wins by 2%. Rumor has it that the once wounded tiger is hanging out in the stalls meeting with Osborn. Idaho couldn't score last night; apparently too upset over their Senator giving up.

Strickland should save Indian gambling money and just not run. Indians can hire him as a lobbyist and Dantona can be a great Senator. Don't humiliate yourself and embarrass your children, Tony, just back out and leave the election to the pros. Isn't this a better option than making a fool of yourself?

Pro Voter:

My my... your most recent post of "..And God Bless America too. Gag," on the eve of Sunday, makes me wonder whether your cynicism reflects an acquired trait, or simply congenital predisposition. Either way, rather unseemly, it seems to me.

Katie, it looks like my sincere sororital bestowing of God's blessing on you triggered a very cynical response from Pro-Voter. In fact, Pro-Voter's posts remind me of Oscar Wilde's definition of a cynic, "..Someone who knows the price of everything, but the value of nothing."

Oh well. I guess the male GOP Elephants are just gonna have to get used to a new world order - sooner or later.

Madeline La Farge

It's funny the way that certain poster portray Foy as a no-name. Your right in that he had never run before, but he immediately got the VCRCC machine behind him and had been involved with the extreme right-wing machine for quite awhile. So the machine that elects Gallegly and Strickland were mobilized. So point 1 is that he had the well experienced political group running him.

Point 2 is that his no-name status worked for him because nobody knew who he was. Nobody had anything to say about him, because he didn't have a record to look at.

So he had the best of both worlds - so stop trying to point that Dantona lost to a no-name. Dantona lost to somebody who had never had a record to look at, with an experienced machine giving him advice.

I am not saying that is was unfair, only that calling him a rube or no-name simplifies the issue. Dantona faced that same machine that handled Foy and will be handling Strickland. The good news is, is that Strickland most definitely has a record and a lot of people already have a pre-determined idea about both men. Now how do those in the middle see both, that is where the race is won.

So please save the Foy was a nobody bit.

The other point about Foy is that he was well-financed (from his won pocket). I believe I read that he put up $250,000 of his own money for this race.

That's why Foy may want to consider entering the race. He may be able to win again in the 19th. I would think he & Tony Strickland could cut a deal on this.

Pro Voter, the difference this time is Foy has a record. One that I'm sure Dantona would love to be up against. Hey Mr. Supervisor any other seniors you want to leave homeless?

I want Peter Foy to run. He is a reformer with results. Within a few short months he has put term limits for supervisors on the ballot, moves services to east County, and met with Knolls residents.

We need conservative reform like that in Sacramento!

We can have someone that talks about changing government or we can have someone that has actually done it.

Besides, didn't Tony Strickland vote for Drivers' licenses for illegal immigrants?

Peter Foy are you listening?

Peter Foy has gotten high marks from across the community. That is more than can be said for Strickland. Peter Foy isn't a career politician. He isn't always looking for yet another office. Compare that to Tony Strickland! The only problem is that Foy would rather focus on actual problems and then retire to his ranch. We need to draft Foy for Supervisor.

I want to thank Tony Strickland for supporting my plan to double Gitmo even though it further divides us from our allies like the UK.

Tony knows that allies are over rated!

Peter Foy can't run because Tony Strickland has already got the commitment from various Central Committees that they would pledge their ($$$$) support. No Republican other than Tony will run. End of story. Or were you trying to derail the thread?

Foy was the one dissenting vote to turn 8 foster youths 17-18 on to the streets when Interface annouced they would close the facility.

Foy seems to have the County hospital in his crosshairs, every time I hear him speak he talks about the fact that we are one of the few counties to have a hospital and that we should not "compete" with private enterprise. Of course coming from an insurance salesman we may know where his loyalties lie.

I am unsure if it is prudent for Ventura County to have their own hospital, I would welcome discussion on this matter.

Foy clearly is not in support of the many services of the HSA. There is certainly room to trim some fat in that department although I do not agree that it is all or nothing, he seems incredibly underinformed about anything other that law enforcement.

He claims that we are the 2nd safest County in the Country, In his own words he does not want the public to know that fact because he does not want anyone to think we can cut the public safety budget. Foy is highly dirven by Totten and Brooks who cost the taxpayers millions in legal fees when the sued for an ever expanding pience of the pie.

Turn foster youth out on the streets resulting in cutting social services and transfer the savings to safety and you end up housing the foster youth in the jails. 80% of emanicipated foster youth end up in the justicce system, drug addicts or prostitution.

Would any one of us expect our own 18 year old to throw them out and fend entirely by themselves with absolutely no extended family support. An ounce of prevention goes a long ways.

Peter Foy has promised to do something about illegal immigration whereas Strickland voted to give them ID's!

Peter Foy doesn't need Central Committee support. He has his own money to seed a campaign, something Strickland who has spent his life in government does not.

I am trying to derail this thread away from giving the seat to Strickland instead of talking about all of the potential candidates.

I would vote for Foy over Strickland. If had a choice of one of the supervisors to run it would be Linda Parks.

I'd support Pete Foy over the once wounded tiger Strickland any day of the week. Foy isn't a phony and doesn't rip off the taxpayers or his dedicated financial supporters. Foy is in government to make changes. Stricklands are in government to take, take and take for themselves.

Give me Dantona any day over Foy. But I'll take Foy any day over the phony.

Surf's up Pete. Hope to see you on a wave.

Peter Foy is the better candidate and almost every local Republican knows it. They are just closing ranks behind Strickland, but if given a choice they would vote for Peter Foy.

The problem is that Peter Foy gets things done and would be frustrated sitting in the state senate but Tony Strickland has the patience to do nothing for 8 years or more.

I actually like Peter Foy a lot too. If he threw his hat in the ring, which he very well might, it would stimulate a good debate between 2 extremely credible candidates for the Republican nomination (Foy & Strickland).

To weigh in on whether Ventura County needs a government-run hospital, I would say definitely not! We already have two highly regarded private hospitals on the west end of Ventura County - St. John's & Community Memorial. Ventura County should go with the Santa Barbara County model, where the County contracts with private doctors and health care providers and saves a bundle for taxpayers in the process, while reducing competition with the private sector. As a general rule, I feel that government should not be in a business that the private sector can provide more effectively, because they tend to create artificial competition and usually make a mess of it.

HA! That would be great for Foy to get in - 100% unlikely - but funny. The bulk of the money, besides his own, that Foy got came from Strickland's main backers... Ergo, why Tony had to unendorse Dantona... Foy couldn't win without the Strickland backers/machine.

Foy is nothing without the machine and the machine mobilized because they wanted Mikels out and couldn't let Dantona take it. They will never back Foy for the Senate race - Foy is one term Sup and then bye-bye...

Congratulations Brian! I think this is the first thread that has topped 200 posts. And it stayed on track for most of the thread. Not sure why people are talking about Peter Foy - he isn't part of the equation. It's Dantona and Strickland with Hannah Beth being the wild card.

Take government out of everything, Jill Dominique. Who needs it for anything. We could have a private military as well. General Foy could command it. How about private prisons? Strickland could run that one. Forget the public schools. Let Kunicki run them privately. How about Social Security? Judy Mikels could be resurrected for that one. Post office? Shut it down. Roads? Far better toll and private. Let's do away with government. What a waste of money and effort. Dictator Jill Dominique, you could be director of national private enterprise. This would be so kool.

Surf's up tomorrow. Katie, see you at the pier. I'll bring the boards, you bring the wine.

If not mistaken the county's hospital is making a profit. If that's the case it's doing better than most private hospitals.

Pro Voter, Choices, Peter Foy for State Senate, Katie Teague and Jill Dominique:

Fascinating series of posts from all you Republicans - Foy vs. Strickland. Just a sporting question, if you please. Is this the trimuph of Republican internecine cannibalism or just practical politics?

Nothing better than to see a group of crazed Elephants running in a circle and tripping over each other to avoid the rifle shots.

Gregor Mendel

Sorry Katie, but I think I topped 247..so Jimmy still has a way to go...before he sleeps...LOL

Well, Barbra, the fact of the matter is that Jim Dantona reached the 200 mark in record time (under a week), and judging from the interest in this blog thread, will surpass your record mark of 251.

Gregor, I suggest we exclude Katie from the list of numbskulls you reference. Foy vs Strickland is a joke; nothing more. I for one would much rather have Foy in public office than Strickland. Foy has made it in the private sector. Strickland doesn't know what the private sector is. He has been sucking up from the public trough his entire life.

But if the two of them really did ever go head to head, I'd join Dribble in urging Barbra Williamson to join the "team".

Republicans only, please answer the question.

Is Tony Strickland really your first choice? Admit it, if you could you would prefer to vote for Foy for Senate.

Dr. Ruth...I am counting on Jim really breaking the record...he's the man!

I would vote for Foy.

To "gs" - You are mistaken. The County hospital is not allowed to make a profit, since it is a government run enterprise. It receives State & federal funds, which have some very stringent rules attached to them (i.e., the money has to be used for ongoing operating costs).

To "Vote Counter" - Count me in for Foy too.

Vote Counter, I'd vote for Barbra Williamson 1st and Foy 2nd. Sorry wouldn't vote for Strickland.

I would vote Foy first.

I'd vote for Dantona first, a ham sandwich second, Peter Foy third and Strickland, never.

I understand that there are very partisan people on here and this is really mostly just a spot for political insiders to throw up flak, but really Foy? Come on that guy is going nowhere. That is an empty shirt.

I have real reasons to dislike Mr. Strickland, but seriously if you were going to send someone to Sacramento, don't you want someone who knows what they are doing? Somebody that isn't going to have to sit at the back of the room for 2 years and figure out what the hell he is doing? Strickland at least brings some understanding of the system and could help deliver for the community.

Now all that said, Dantona brings that same knowledge without the baggage of Strickland. So Dantona is the clear choice, a moderate that will be on the right side of the power in Sacramento to help deliver for our community. Here is a guy that works with Schwarznegger and Democrats - Dantona clear choice, Strickland not good, but Foy is a monkey throwing poo...

Compare Peter Foy's less than 1st year on office and what he has gotten done to Tony Strickland's 6 years in the state assembly and tell me who would get more done if elected to state senate.

Besides voting for Driver's licenses for illegal aliens what did Tony Strickland get done?

Peter Foy has moved county services closer to Simi Valley, held a county supervisors' meeting at Simi Valley City Hall, and put term limits on the ballot.

You have a 6 year record to pour through. Tell me what he got done that is concrete?

If you want results you want Foy.

Yesterday I asked someone who was talking about supporting the troops overseas, what had they done besides talk, to support the troops? That person, who was adamant, admitted that he had not done much and committed to me that he would go out and actually do something to help.
I challenge all of you who have said that they would like to see Jim Dantona elected to actually work to this end and help him get elected.
I therefore will offer my services on what ever level is needed to get Jim Dantona elected.

Dantona's the most qualified, no question about it.
Foy would be an OK candidate with lots of training and only if he learns to think without Bob Brooks talking in his ear.
Strickland isn't qualified to shine Foy's shoes.

Serious,

What Foy has put on the ballot is not Term Limits, it's like a cooling off period. You can run 3 times is it and then you have to take a break for one term before running again? How is that term limits? That's one of his successes?

Held a Supervisor's meeting at Simi City Hall? That's an accomplishment? WOW, and that's what he's done with his first year. We should maybe elect this guy president. In his first year he could put some fake term limit bill on the ballot and hold a meeting in another area of the local jurisdiction.

Don't forget to tout his property rights vote to kick those seniors out of their affordable housing on behalf of the developer.

By the way has Mr. Foy finally noticed that the Supervisors can't do anything about illegal immigration - his main plank he ran on? Thanks for confirming you are a political insider.

I guess you don't like Foy because you work for Strickland. That's fine but why don't you first tell us what Tony has ever gotten done besides vote for illegal alien drivers' licenses?

You should also not distort Peter Foy's record. let's go over carefully what he has done.

1. Term Limits.
He has put them on the ballot. The supervisor who serves three terms then waits at least one term to come back is going to be highly unlikely. The end effect is term limits will be on the ballot. Start complaining in 16 years if an old supervisor runs, steps down, and runs again.

2. East County Services.
Read this link:
http://www.venturacountystar.com/news/2007/jul/18/foy-wants-satellite-offices-in-east-county/
As a resident of Simi Valley I am looking forward to more and more county services here. Peter Foy isn't finished, but he has done something.

What is the name of the big bill Strickland passed in 6 years? Oh, that's right he "advocates" ( code for can't get things done) for change. I'm sorry but we don't need 8 years of advocating as he plots his next run. If you are so upset about term limits why in the world would you support career politicians like Tony Strickland?

Speaking of career politicians, let us not overlook the fact that Jim Dantona has made his living as a paid consultant to politicians and now is trying for the State Senate after losing to an unknown in a County Supervisor's District where he had some high-powered endorsements and an insider's advantage. If Strickland is a career politician, then this guy certainly is as well.

Was that "high powered" endorsement Tony Strickland?

Because Foy had the backing of the Simi Valley City Council, both Assembly members, the state senator, and sheriff, the DA, and the member of the house.

Either way all the more reason to elect Foy.

It worries me that Foy questions the efficacy of our County Hospital. It is respected for its UCLA Medical intern and residency training programs and its prematurely born baby care unit, just to name a couple of programs.

Our County Hospital and health care services prevent the kind of high costs attributed to patients without access to preventative medical care. Our County Hospital and health agencies fill the gaps that for-profit hospitals can't or won't.

Is there room for VC Free Market advocates to recognize or consider how government and commerce working well together provide greater opportunities to improve quality of life and to "promote the general welfare"?

From my experiences, there seems to be little difference between policies Foy or the Stricklands would advocate.

In terms of health care or insurance reform, what do the Stricklands have to offer?

Where does Dantona stand on healthcare? Closer to Kuehl's or Schwarznegger's plan?

I am genuinely curious: How do Republicans who are socially moderate and fiscally pragmatic, who lean conservative, view the Club for Growth's objectives?

My problem isn't that Strickland advocates for the wrong things it is that he can't get them done.

Except drivers licenses for illegal aliens. Something Foy would not do.

Kind of funny the Strickland sycophants don't have an answer to the driver's license issue.

Must make Multiple Choice Mitt Romney proud.

I think it is great that local Republicans want to send someone to the capital to advocate for all of us regardless if we are legal or illegal.

It is better that illegal aliens have a form of ID that we can trust and verify then the current catch and release.

Tony Strickland is a humanitarian for voting for this bill.

He isn't like the rest of the GOP who attacks immigrants every few years.

Okay, Serious yes you figured me out, I do work for Strickland. You can tell that by my preference for Dantona in a previous post and the comment "I have real reasons to dislike Mr. Strickland". Wow, no wonder you believe that getting that thing on the ballot is a real accomplishment. It's a head nod to term limits to say I did something - why not put real term limits on a ballot? He couldn't get support for something real like that?

I think term limits are bad as somebody else wrote earlier, I think our vote is our term limit, but if you are going to do something why not actually try for what you are proposing before watering it down. Why? To leave Mr. Foy an opening in case he needs to come back - after everybody else turns down Mr. Foy for the next offices he wants to run for.

Why not tackle something difficult rather than pick the low hanging fruit and not even do that well? Because Foy is an empty shirt.

Dantona takes on big challenges Rocketdyne, Waste Management, and protecting Fire Fighters - Dantona heads and shoulders above both, but really, really far above Mr. Foy. Have fun with your insider spin, Serious.

ML - I'll give you my take on Club for Growth.

Club for Growth has two agendas. One is fiscal responsibility in government. I applaud this because not enough care is taken with our hard-earned tax dollars.

However, if you watch carefully you will see their unwritten right wing anti-civil rights social agenda. Why else would they have spent so much money to try and take out ranking Republican Senator Arlen Spector in the Pennsylvania primary? It's because he is a moderate (horror!) and Chairman of the Judiciary Committee. Club for Growth feared Spector might be able to control the review process for selection of Supreme Court Justices, and they (Club for G.) want Roe v. Wade overturned.

Club for Growth is a right wing organization that uses attractive catch phrases to entice Republicans to send it money. Less Taxes being one of them. Economic Vitality is another.

Locally, the California Club for Growth has been more active sending out slate mailers than it has in effecting any change in Sacramento. I'm looking at its newspaper right now from last year and I see that it supports Dean Kunicki from the County Board of Education and Jennifer Miller, Patty Lerner and Ron Speakman from the Pleasant Valley School District. And of course Audra Strickland and Tony Strickland and Tom McClintock.

if you have reasons not to like Strickland and you think Foy isn't up for it which local Republican do you prefer?

Leslie and Katie,

So do you think from moderate Republicans' view that the Club for Growth really is for a far-right social agenda rather than sound fiscal policies?

Is there an example where (any city, county or state) the Club for Growth have affected economic policies? If so, what were the effects? Who in Congress are members of the Club for Growth?

What legislation have the Stricklands supported or sponsored that reflects the economic policies advocated by the Club for Growth?

It seems that one of the underlying notions some members of Club for Growth supports is that if there were lower taxes than people of faith would have more money to tithe more to their places of worship. This has been the rationale I have heard more than once.

Is that widespread among Club for Growth members?

Does Strickland advocate shrinking government so places of worship can grow to provide welfare programs to the poor in our local communities?

Let me be the first to say, "Jim Dantona, State Senator!"

Serious,

I don't know of any moderate Republicans in this area that I could support. The VCRCC has done a great job of cutting them up and spitting them out. The VCRCC has done so well, that the moderate Republican is extinct.

Dantona is a centrist Democrat who will be able to grab the right-leaning Republicans and Independents and then all of the Dems. Congrats VCRCC you put the 19th Senate seat in play.

You know what we are going to find out? Democrats aren't inherently evil, some of them actually have good ideas and Dantona is going to be the one to show it. Simi and Moorpark already know it and Thousand Oaks and Santa Barbara are about to find out. A moderate Democrat and/or Republican can make serious change, just too bad the VCRCC has killed any chance at the latter.

ML - my guess is that the average moderate Republican would buy into the soundbites - which sound great and which work very well - that's why they are used. I think Brian has an earlier Repork Card post that lists some of the congressional people who might be members or are highly rated by fellow Club for Growthers. I can't think of any local legislation that was enacted under the Club for Growth banner. In fact, I believe their mission is to get people elected, not enact legislation.

I have no clue about the tithing argument. I would expect Club for Growth wouldn't touch that with a 10 foot pole. But then maybe you know more than me. I'm not a member, I have never contributed money and I'm not sure why I am on the mailing list for their slate mailers - other than I'm a Republican with a high-propensity to vote.

ML- Does it have to be: advocating fiscally sound practices OR far right social agenda? From all I have seen, Club for Growth is both. And for them fiscally sound does mean advocating for elimination of Federal and state Departments of Education.

Anytime I see an endorsement or support from Club for Growth, the candidates are consistently social conservatives. I ask what does that have to do will being fiscally responsible? And why does their support require both?

Clarification for ML: I would classify myself as a conservative Republican - not a moderate Republican

I am wondering why Katie calls herself a conservative Republican but yet keeps supporting moderates. Katie, shouldn't you support the choice of conservatives, Tony Strickland? And if not him, Peter Foy?

Republicans all, Rhinos, Moderates, and Conservatives:

Remember what Abraham Lincoln, the first Republican presidential candidate said during the Lincoln-Douglas debates, "..a house divided against itself can't stand.."

While all you Elephants are busy fighting over who's got the whitest ivory and the biggest tusks, the Donkeys are busy loading-up their electoral packs quietly working towards the biggest upset you've seen since your political ancestors proudly but mistakenly believed the headline, "Dewey Defeats Truman."

Cicero Jackson

"The big top gets the crowd, the sideshow get the overflow." -- P.T. Barnum.

Moderates believe that the elephants belong under the big top.

Stop using the terms "fiscal reponsibility" and "republican" in the same sentence. It has been a long time since anyone in the GOP can do that with a straight face.

gs, I don't recall anyone from the Democrat Party ever being able to make this claim. I think, for the Dems, "fiscal" and "responsibility" are mutually exclusive terms.

Buzz words aside, about 1/3 of moderate Republicans will go with Dantona over Strickland. Nope, Strickland is no Arnold or Ronnie. He is a nut who has lived off the public trough his entire life. How funny it will be to see Strickland go out and have to apply for a job. Better start up on that resume. Stricklands are on their way to the soup kitchen.

Surf's up. How about catching a few with me, Cicero?

Great events yesterday and today for Dems and the Dantona campaign. Dantona was in SFV (for the Santa Clarita part of the district) yesterday, and Ventura and Santa Barbara today for Labor Day picnics. Great response, donations, endorsements and press coverage. Moving right along....

Pro Voter you talk like a man who listens to far too much talk radio, thereby taking all the indoctrinization and demonization to heart as fact and making it very very personal.

Talk radio is cheap entertainment, like the tabloid magazines that feature old stars getting fat and Britney without her panties. It prays on the knee-jerk emotional response from easy targets like you and makes a lot of money in advertisement - which is its primary purpose.

It has made sheep of my former Republican party.

RINO Alert - I am a conservative Republican and I also think for myself.

proVoter,

The Office of Management & Budget maintains a wide range of info about economic performance and the picture is pretty clear: in almost every category since the late 1950s the GOP has not done as well, fiscally, as Dems. Here's one tidbit: ignoring the current White House, a comparison of the past 28 years of each party's control of the presidency results in some striking deficit numbers. The average annual rise in the Deficit under Dems has been about 4%. Under Repubs its been over 22%.

Laura, sounds like the Party is very strongly united behind Jim Dantona. This guy is on the track and, like a long freight train, will gain momentum, climb the grade, and run through the district to victory.

This Dantona fellow has more motivation than anyone I've ever met. He studies the issues, talks to the man and woman on the street, then comes up with a solution. I recently ran into him at the gym. By the time I left, I had signed up as a block captain. Finally, we will have vision in our Senate District instead of dogma. Finally, we will have a Senator who has the contacts, friends and mutual respect to get things done for our District. Dantona is a man who will never forget his roots. Go Jim, go!

What you are saying, gs, is that based on government stastics, Republicans are two faced phonies. They run the deficit up, but claim they want less government. They milk government budgets for their corporations and military machine, then cut, cut, cut for the people who need government the most. Yep, these Reps are phony. How sad that is indeed!

Surf's up gs. See you this afternoon. I've got new wax.

I've decided to vote for Jim Dantona, Jim Dantona for State Senate!

Jim Dantona knocked their socks off yesterday! He is the man! Go Jim! At last we will have some real representation in Sacramento!

Dantona ran all across 19th District gaining endorsements and getting early contributions over the long, hot, weekend. Go Jim! Your Mom would be so proud to see you running against Strickland. We are all behind you in her memory.

Go Jim!

Why do you want to cut funds for the military Moondoggie?

Surf's up. Meet you at the ACLU meeting.

Listen to all these Democratic cheerleaders. How pathetic is that? Go, Jim, go! Gag me. And Ms. Independent, stop lecturing me about listening to talk radio. You're so independent that you let yourself be lead around by the nose by your Democratic heroes. What a huge phony!!!

Why cut the military budget? How about because of waste and fraud? Do you really think the budget should be unlimited? When is enough, enough? Can you maintain an economy off a military budget? I don't think so.

Securing endorsements and preaching to the choir will not win the election...again, only if the numbers are right and Sacramento brings in the money will a Democrat win. I do not dispute that this will be the most expensive race for State Senate and I am definitely not against the Democrats, but as the President of a club that loses a lot of of membership because they get disappointed and disallusioned every time these candidates in Ventura County lose because they spent all their time preaching to the choir, I want to see some realism show its face in the Democratic Party. If it was a great weekend for the Democrats, can we talk about how great it was monetarally?

Without the money, Strickland and the Republican machine will crush the Democrats. Talking to other Democrats about why you are a Democrat does not win you elections.

Is there any polling as to whether or not the Democrats are solidly behind Dantona as the challenger just yet? Has there been polling done of Dantona v Strickland AND Jackson v Strickland?

Also, I was out for a few days and missed about 100 comments (which is ridiculous)...did we talk about positions on health care and education...you know, state issues you deal with in the state senate?

Does Dantona have a website yet?

I am a Democrat and somewhat of a "leader" in the Democratic Party (thank you again, "Elaine," for your kind words last week. Do you have a real name?), and have a lot of questions still. My club members have a lot of questions still. Are there young people working on Dantona's campaign and are they doing anything other than holding flyers?

Heather, so many good questions. Yes, yes, by the end of this week,n/a,yes, yes. Hope that helps.

Dantona is generating excitement. You will soon see a number of fundraisers across the District with wide spread Party support. As a "leader" in the Party, you should get on board ASAP and make your needs known. Gidg and I signed up last night. Our organization, Surfers for Clean Beaches and Cool Government will be very active in the Jim's campaign. Hope to see you on a wave.

Pro Voter has a big crush on Jim Dantona!

I agree with you Pro Voter=VCRCC. Pro has a crush on Dantona, feels rejected and is compensating by going negative. Most likely Pro was a not too pretty teen who has known rejection for many years. Pro needs to put on some make-up, go tht gym and tone up, take an anger management class or two, and then go see Dantona and ask him to dinner.

We will all be there for you Pro Voter.

Drip, Drip, Drip.....
The last thing our candidate needs is to be distracted from the Senate Race.....once he's famous, all the girls are going to want to be on his arm....so lets concentrate and focus on the ball and stop playing match maker....

Hey Heather,

You are starting to get there and once you understand how voting works you will start to understand why Dantona is talking to the choir right now.

You see the State first holds a Democratic Primary, whoever wins that election gets to go on to the General Election and face the winner of the Republican Primary. Right now Mr. Strickland can go talk to whoever he wants on both sides (not that he would talk to Dems, who wouldn't vote for him anyway). Since Ms. Jackson has not officially said she will not run, Mr. Dantona has to talk to Dems so that they see why it's important to support Dantona - the only one of Dantona and Jackson who can win.

If you are volunteering to help get Ms. Jackson to commit to be out of the race so that we can move forward with Dantona talking to the moderate and right-leaning wings of the Republican Party/Independents that would be great for all Democrats.

Young and old & men and women have come out for Dantona because he fits their beliefs. A very moderate representative who has common sense thoughts and ideas, the same as the rest of us.

To the real issues, Dantona wouldn't have announced without talking to Dem Leadership - they must want him and see this District in play. The leadership sees the numbers and knows that a moderate like Dantona can win against an extremist like Strickland. They also know that a liberal like Jackson against an extremist like Strickland favors Strickland. So as soon as we settle the Dem issues one way or the other, we can be on our way to a win or on our way to a loss.

Just a note, I have no problem with Hannah Beth and she, I am sure, would be a good representative, but this is not an area that she can win in and her nomination/loss will only move to , as Heather put it, "disappoint and disallusion" Democratic voters.

I can only say that it is always entertaining to watch all the hardcore lefties on this blog. These are the ones who routinely accuse everyone who doesn't subscribe to their far-left views of being "extremists". It it hilarious to watch them talk to each other, whipping themselves into a hysteria while once again trying to masquerade their liberal candidate as a "moderate". The one that always makes me laugh out loud are the posts that talk about Dantona working out at the gym as if he's Rocky Balboa or something. The only thing that Dantona is pounding down is Twinkies. You guys are totally delusional if you think this garbage plays well outside of your own little cult group. Above all, I love the fact that you guys always feel the need to make fake posts from alleged republicans who are voting for the "moderate" Jim Dantona. Funny how all the scores of secret republicans on this blog only seem to post in Jim Dantona threads.

Save your propaganda for the campaign cause in this blog you are only preaching to yourselves. I have yet to read anything of substance from any of the Danona faithful, nothing on the issues just the usual hate attacks against everyone else. If this is all Dantona has to offer then he is not a credible candidate since winning SD19 will be a lot tougher than the Supervisor's race. So far I'm unimpressed.

Economically, politically, environmentally and socially this great state is heading into uncharted waters and the last thing it needs is a legislative minority determined to thwart every new idea and hold up every course change...simply due to political spite and extremist ideals. The Dems need to take away a couple of far right senate seats to break the minority roadblock and give California the maneuvering room it needs to weather these uncertain times. Dantona's the only candidate that can take away one of those far right seats.

Don't let another election pass by without rolling up your sleeves and getting some political callouses on your hands. Join Team Dantona and help guide California to a big win!

Gopher out. Set your traps. Gopher from under rock. Put down your poison. Gopher alert. Set your traps. (This is a Bubba alert)

Bubba Kidd I think you also have a crush on Jim, love and hate are very close emotions, everytime you attack Jim we will know you are really saying "I love you Jim, I love you so much!"

Are all you Democrats so locked in to your Kool-Aid that you can't remember the Gray Davis years?

Dem legislature, Dem Governor, California disaster. Right now the Democrats are holding up crime prevention bills, releasing prisoners, worrying more about the delta smelt and fairy shrimp than farmers, and you want to make it easier for them to further their agenda?

The Democrat agenda is anything but progressive. Higher taxes, higher fuel prices, higher health care costs, more government and less freedom. Sounds like utopia all right.

You believe in Dantona? Let's see his position on any of the crime bills. Let's see his position on any of the spending bills. My guess is that we won't hear a word from him on any of these issues.

I do look forward to the day that he posts on this blog his positions.

Higher taxes, higher fuel prices, higher health care costs, more government and less freedom? Boy, Ron, you have done a good job describing the Bush Administration!

I remember the Davis years. Those were the years the Bush energy cabal colluded to drive NatGas prices through the roof, causing the state's worst energy price spikes ever, giving conservatives the excuse they needed for a recall. Those were also the years conservatives took almost $4.5B from counties by convincing voters that Sacramento was riding high on the hog on vehicle registration & sales taxes and subsequently used that as an excuse to get rid of Davis. Coincidentally, our Education System soon took a $4.5B hit.

I suppose you prefer the present years, were state taxpayers are handing New York investment companies tens of BILLIONS$$$$ in perks, bonuses and hedge fund-sized salaries due to the credit card orgy of our present governor. But don't worry, you ficsally responsible conservatives don't have to worry about the interest payments...your kids will.

When the right wing nuts make crazy statements, they do so with a conviction that they alone have the devine inpiration. When you present the facts, gs, they would have you believe you are speaking with a forked tongue.

Nevertheless, gs, your facts are right on and Ron/Osborne is blowing smoke to hype a failed theory that Jerry Falwell and the gang of thugs have been bastardizing for 40 years.

I guess gs doesn't want to talk about the Davis energy contracts that he refused to divulge to the public. In fact Strickland had to sue Davis to get the facts that the Democrats were trying to hide.

Add to this Davis' campaign contributions from big energy companies, his hiring of former staffers for the very companies he was in bed with and you have the recipe for corruption that you all love to pin on the Republicans.

The facts are that Grey Davis was a Democrat, was corrupt and was recalled.

gs you can try and blame the Lindberg kidnapping on the Republicans, but you'll never be able to spin the Grey Davis debacle onto them. I don't expect your fellow lemmings to listen to this, but it makes me feel better to point out the do nothing Democrat Congress, the do nothing Democrat legislature and your blind subservience to ask for more.

By the way, if all you Democrats want to find something productive to do with your time you might be on the lookout for Norman Hsu, another one of your squeaky clean Democrat fund raisers.

Seems he's jumped bail again.

Don't spread those legs too far to the sides in the toilet stall, Ron. Tony is a large fellow and said you keep tapping his foot. Leave the paper on the dirty floor. No need to pick it up. The bottom of the partial stall walls is dirty so no need to keep rubbing your hand back and forth.

Good luck with your airport travels. Wouldn't want a smart Republican family values anti-gay fellow like you Ron to get in any trouble.

Ron, you mean the contracts that were being negotiated to try and save the rate payers $9B, that state GOP leaders tried to stop, and the negotiations that were being conducted to try and avoid suing the power and NatGas companies, which resulted in a return of an additional $9B to ratepayers...until Arnie took office and put the squash on those lawsuits? Now I know you're referring to those suits because you carefully worded your post to make it seem like Davis himself had some secret contracts with with the same energy companies he was trying to force to return almost $22B in illicit overcharges (it was all proven when Duke & El Paso energy execs spilled the beans on the stand). That's called "grabbing the dialogue" and it's designed to divert the discussion into terms more favorable to your own side, yours beign a sly maneuver to make it seem like davis was profitting from secret deals. Good try but it didn't work. Fact is, I never supported Davis but I did follow the events leading up to his recall and the key issues used against him were all fabricated by national & state conservatives working together.

Ron, you should study your Bible:

Matthew 15:17-20: "Do not ye yet understand, that whatsoever entereth in at the mouth goeth into the belly, and is cast out into the draught?
18 But those things which proceed out of the mouth come forth from the heart; and they defile the man.
19 For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies:
20 These are the things which defile a man: but to eat with unwashen hands defileth not a man."

Surf's up, but your not invited, Ron!

Bubba Kidd,

I have a few clarifying questions.

1. Do you really believe the Dantona supporters are "hard core" lefties?

Does that make them Stalinist communist agents or something? How would you define that term?

2. Is there any local Democrat you would support for state senate? Who ?

Brian,

"Methinks the lady doth protest too much."

Such venom from Bubba regarding Dantona has to be a personal - and not political - issue.

So much venom that I think some dollars must be at stake. Could it be an Simi Valley resident that doesn't want the Waste Management issue explored?

Poor gal/guy still can't get over what happened years ago with the State Transportation Commission. Will never move beyond it. Hates Dantona. It is not political to any degree. Just hate. Sick puppy!

We know where Dantona stands on WM's expansion, Boeing's cleanup failures, his support for county fire presonnel and other local issues but where does Strickland stand on any of these? Where do each stand on issues farther afield, within SD19?

In the past I've discussed why I supported (and will continue tosupport) Dantona. Are there any Strickland supporters who can offer their reasons for supporting him? I'm not trying to set anyone up for a verbal attack...I'd really like to know.

Sure gs. They have been able to take only limited education and turn it into annual income in excess of $350,000 per year between government salaries and campaign kickbacks from one to the other. They have taken a position that Thomas Jefferson didn't know what he was doing with separation of Church from State, he has tried to set women back over 100 years to when they were mere property like Afro Americans and cattle, and he tried to pollute our coast line, rivers and mountains for the benefit of multinational corporations. And you have the nerve to support Dantona? Get with it GS. My vote is for the Stricklands.

Harold, I look at some comments on a different screen to filter out spam messages and the like. Sometimes I see the e-mail addresses that people type in. I don't often look as many of them are fake but I wanted to let you know the last one you put in made me chuckle.

As always Dantona blog items rack up massive interest. Talk about a noteworthy figure. Congrats Jim on making news by just entering races, one might actually say you are a leader.

By the way, Ron you have to be out of your mind to believe Dantona will come here and have anonymous people, like you, cast their venom. That will be the day - I hope Dantona would never really consider it. It seems over 50% of the people who post here are insiders, not just regular citizens.

Stricklands need to reread the Bible to learn from their errors.

MAT 23:25 "Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you
hypocrites! You clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside
they are full of greed and self-indulgence.

MAR 7:22 greed, malice, deceit, lewdness, envy, slander,
arrogance and folly.

LUK 11:39 Then the Lord said to him, "Now then, you Pharisees
clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside you are full of
greed and wickedness.

Oh how the Stricklands have used their Country, their community, to better themselves at the expense of their neighbors.

Surf's up. Hope to share a wave with you one day, Brian.

Congratulations on moving the Rocketdyne Cleanup Bill to the Gov's desk. It's been a long time coming and, for those who have an issue with citizen groups taking on such problems while their local officials sit on their hands, it took over 20 years of local activism to get the real truth behind what happened during the nation's worst nuclear accident. A big success for local watchdog groups!!

Jim Dantona is a man of strength to his convictions, not a phony like the alternative. As Rocky Balboa once said;

"The world ain't all sunshine and rainbows. It is a very mean and nasty place. It will beat you to your knees and keep you there permanently if you let it. You, me or nobody is going to hit as hard as life. But it ain't about how hard you hit, it is about how hard you can get hit and keep moving forward, how much can you take and keep moving forward. That's how winning is done!"

Go Jim and keep on fighting. We are behind you!

Shall we have a moment of silence for the New Jersey Democrats.

Score: 11 arrested and counting.

Legislators, mayors, an under sheriff, a couple of councilmen and I think even a water board member.

What do they all have in common? All Democrats.

Ah shucks, Ron/Osborn. A few crooked New Jersey boys busted. That tells us a lot about the 19th District. Keep those diapers clean and your feet close together in the stall.

Surf's up, but you are on diaper duty. Another day, my friend.

As an independent it seems to me that a very large portion of Dem voters are equally disgusted whenever a politico from either party gets busted while a lesser portion of Rep voters feel the same way when its own of their own that gets caught. I could be way off base since I've been hanging around with more and more Dems lately and actually get to have lengthy discussions with them but does anyone else feel this way?

gs,

I'm not sure where you get that perception. Barney Frank fixes tickets for the male prostitute running a business out of Frank's house and he is celebrated to this day. Gary Studds seduces an underage page, pleads guilty and retains his seat in Congress and is given an award by the Democrats. Jefferson has $90,000 in marked bills in his freezer and barely misses being a Democrat Committee Chairman.

I could go on, but the difference is that the Republicans are dealing harshly with the corruption in their party, while the Democrats seem to be reveling in theirs. Patrick Kennedy refusing to give back the Hsu donations, no rush to investigate the hundreds of thousands of dollars in bundled campaign cash from the tiny San Francisco house owned by the Postal employee, this behavior speaks volumes.

It speaks nothing Ron/Osborn. What speaks, is the Bible:

"6 For the fool speaks folly, his mind is busy with evil: He practices ungodliness and spreads error concerning the LORD; the hungry he leaves empty and from the thirsty he withholds water."

Stricklands take for self enrichment, yet would withhold minimal services to those most in need.

Just my perception, that's all. There's plenty of corruption spread around both parties...I've never denied that. Comparing the fixing of parking tickets with giving a gay prostitute unfettered and un-logged access to the White House at all hours isn't even close. Jefferson's got some real problems to deal with and if he's guilty he should spend the next 25 years in jail but we also need to find out who's got the tens of billions of dollars that were lost in the account books of Halliburton and other war mongering firms. They deserve trial at The Hague and life imprisonment, many times over. And let's face it, the Reps are pursuing these latest GOP scandals, not out of the goodness of their hearts but because they're worried about the political fallout.

YMCA is having its annual fundraiser Saturday night. It is always a fun event. Gidg and I will be attending as guest of a great friend banker gal in town. I saw Jim Dantona on the list of ticket holders. He is always a big supporter of the YMCA. I don't think I know of anyone who contributes more to local charities than Dantona. Hope to see everyone at the event!

Surf's up. See you at the pier by 6:00 A.M.

I saw Dantona last night at the gym. He had just left a meeting of the Democratic Club in Camarillo. He was double pumped with both the iron he was pumping and the meeting he had just attended. Boy, is this guy on top of the issues facing Southern California. Is is so refreshing to hear someone talk about the very issues that we face every day. Even better, he has solutions in mind to address them. This guy will really make a difference in Sacramento. He will get government back where it should be and out of our bedroom, faith, privacy and pocketbook. There is no question about it. He is my candidate for the 19th.

Just over a week since Dantona announced his candidacy and great things are happening. Very exciting about the fundraiser on the 18th with Kathleen Kennedy & other special guests.

Great story in the L.A. Times today about how the Ca GOP hired an illegal alien to be their CFO and the guy just quit, even though he was supposed to be deported back in 2001, the State GOP basically provided "sanctuary" for an illegal at their hq and paid the guy over 100k a year even though they are so broke they are using money set aside for wack jobs like Tony S for his upcoming failure of a campaign against Dantona.

To be clear when i said:

I am not contesting if it is legal to post a candidates home address and the names of his family members. I am arguing that you can make the same point without that information.

I did not mean to imply CW posted anything more than the address of a candidate and the names of his family members ( but not any other address) and their party affiliation.

Posted by: Brian at September 7, 2007 07:33 AM
Dear Brian,

The law makes YOU an adult at age 18. Your parents can NOT answer for you when you are of legal age.

Since the adults of the Gibson Family were posted without their address, YOU had to do something, even guess, to make your determination as you did. That was wrong as wrong can be.

Posted by: Carroll Dean Williams at September 7, 2007 08:45 AM

The Bible says, "16 I will lead the blind by ways they have not known, along unfamiliar paths I will guide them; I will turn the darkness into light before them and make the rough places smooth. These are the things I will do; I will not forsake them."

Jim Dantona, learn from these wise words. Our State needs leadership. Our families need a leader to govern our society in a manner that protects our family values, safety in our neighborhoods, our clean water and air and our freedoms to worship as well as those other freedoms granted by our Constitution. There is no place for dogma, for unjust prosecution, for an immoral war. Jim, learn from these words and bring them into your heart. You will be a great leader in the State Senate. I know you to be a great man.

Surf's up, my buddy. See you at 3:00 P.M. for a few great waves before our Chinese dinner with Ms. "B".

After that hard-hitting OpEd piece today I nominate Louis Pandolfi as a candidate for office....the higher the better!!! I've never known any three people to work as hard as they do for the well being of their community as Barbra, Jim & Louis!

Wow, comparing Dantona to God. Is this our daily blasphemy? Which "family values" do you think the Democrats are best at protecting?

Owen in terms of family values why do you think it is whenever a dem male is involved in a sex scandal it is with a woman, but when rep men are caught in a sex scandal it is usually with another man? Are those the kind of family values you and Craig and Haggart and Foley practice and protect?

My, you have a short memory. Gerry Studds, who never apologized after sleeping with a 17-year old male page, and was reelected to Congress numerous times after it was made public. Compare that with Foley, who never actually slept with the page and immediately resigned. Barney Frank, who had a male prostitution ring run from his flat.

Though I'm not sure what you mean by the second part. Do you mean that it's ok to cheat, as long as it's heterosexual sex?

GS, I'd add one more person to your list, that is Susana Knolls resident Gary Selvagio. He does his homework, and calls it like he sees it.

One interesting note in reference to the OpEd piece today, we have been saying that Waste Mgt. is a criminal enterprise according to the District Attorney and State Courts. Waste Mgt. has previously said that "they had problems with criminal convictions in the very early 1980's, but it was cleaned up and is all different now". Today in The Acorn, a Waste Mgt. official is quoted as saying that "in the mid-1990's, we were concerned and embarrassed when many top officials in Waste Mangement were criminally prosecuted." We are pleased that Waste Mgt. now agrees that its criminal conspiracy went "to the mid-1990's" and didn't stop in the early 1980's. That acknowledgement of an additional fifteen or so years does give Waste Mgt. a bit more credibility. Waste is going in the right direction in telling the truth, but its baby steps need to continue. For you see, Mike Smith of Waste Mgt. just isn't telling our community the truth. Please note, as just one example, current criminal activities of Waste Mgt.

"Washington, D.C., March 26, 2002 — The Securities and Exchange Commission filed suit today against the founder and five other former top officers of Waste Management Inc., charging them with perpetrating a massive financial fraud lasting more than five years. The complaint, filed in U.S. District Court in Chicago, charges that defendants engaged in a systematic scheme to falsify and misrepresent Waste Management's financial results."

The fraud resulted in losses of six billion dollars to shareholders.

Dantona, go after these criminal gumbas and their local bosses trying to perpetrate a massive fraud on Simi Valley residents and Ventura County government.

My, you have a short memory. Gerry Studds, who never apologized after sleeping with a 17-year old male page, and was reelected to Congress numerous times after it was made public. Compare that with Foley, who never actually slept with the page and immediately resigned. Barney Frank, who had a male prostitution ring run from his flat.

Though I'm not sure what you mean by the second part. Do you mean that it's ok to cheat, as long as it's heterosexual sex? And you wonder why people identify Dems as opposing family values...

And how could we forget Jim McGreevy?

Owen you try to act like republicans have family values and democrats don't, even though more and more republican conservative males are coming out of the closet and doing things like Larry Craig, in other words, drop the hypocrisy crap, reps and dems both have family values and both parties have slime balls.

Owen, don't read too much into it. What you conclude just isn't so. No one compared a mortal to the devine. It can't happen. A passage was referenced which described a path that I suggested should, and is, followed by Dantona. After all, shouldn't we all learn lessons from our faith?

As to family values, I suggest you don't have a clue to the values of the extended Dantona family. All fact, no fiction. This clan is committed to each other, to their church and to our nation beyond expectations. I've never met a more family value oriented group of individual in my life. I was furtunate to get to know Jim Dantona's Mother in the last year of her life. She was an inspiraton to all that we love in family values. None of the political hype, just the real values of love of God, love of life and love of Country.

Owen, you may need a day on the water. Surf's up. Let's meet at the pier this afternoon for an hour with the Doggie.

Its not the sex or the cheating it's the hypocrisy of one group claiming the moral high ground so as better to gain votes by persecuting the another group who does in the open what the first group does secretly. That's indefensibly wrong on so many levels.

Owen, must we hold our legislators to the lowest standard, which is just above the worst the "other guy" does?
Is this a competition to see who is the worser of the worst?
No wonder the public says "a pox on them all!"

When have I ever defended the actions of these people? Quite the opposite, I've been pretty forceful in my denunciation of them. The difference is that Democrats actively advocate for the abolition of traditional family values. The nuclear family is an oppressive tool of the patriarchy, children don't need a mother and a father - any combination of number and gender will do, random sex outside of marriage is fun and good for personal development, unwanted pregnancies are an inconvenience to be medically rectified, pornography and the hyper-sexualization of women is a form of feminist empowerment, women who stay home to raise their children are brainwashed and ignorant, "boys will be boys" and all men cheat, etc. But wait, how dare I say that Democrats don't promote "family values!!" Has "famliy values" become such a diluted term that it means anything to anyone?

If Dantona is so conservative, why is he a Democrat? Why would he support a party and a caucus that works against conservative family values?

Owen, if you can't tell the truth, I'm going to have to withdraw my surfing offer. Dantona doesn't work against any family values. You threw in the word "conservative". I think the Taliban held similar values to those you may be referencing. Women don't have to "stay in the home". The newest poster boy for the conservative right, Fred Thompson, knocked up a child of 17 years of age outside of wedlock. Enough of your "free pass" born again nonsense. Where were Tompson's conservative family values? Rudy goes through three wives. Where is his? How about Supervisor Foy and his ex-spouse(s)? Come on Owen, we will not let the far right define family values. I'm a life long moderate Republican and have maintained my marriage for thirty-one years. Our daughter is just entering medical school. My wife always worked, took off thirty days when our daughter was born, and she supports Planned Parenthood. My aged Mother lives with us and my wife cares for her aged parents. We have strong family values, Owen. But we will not let you define your politically selfserving Jerry Falwell "family values" as being the right family values. They are certainly not our values and I hope they are not the values of Jim Dantona. You see, Owen, we have mainstream family values. And we will not sit silently while you define yours as being the family values of God. You, Owen, are either a phony or a nut. Either way, your "values" are not the family values and they are most certainly not ours.

Surf's up. My offer is still to you, my friend, Owen. Hope to ride a wave together.

Give me a definition, why hide behind obfuscation? What are "family values?"

Owen, you must be a cop or a political hack. How can't you come to grips with something that isn't in a rule book? You start with the ten commandments. That is a good starting point. You do everything you can to not break up your family. You give your kids a good religious background. You educate your children to the best of your economic ability. You don't cheat your business partners. You donate your time and money to those less fortunate. You are faithful to your spouse. You respect all races and religions. You love your Country.

Come on Owen, this isn't rocket science. The neoconservatives have created this definition mess only 40 years ago. For 2,000 years it wasn't an issue. You run your family and I'll run mine. I hope you share my family values as I'm sure you do as well.

Come on Owen, my friend. You got my blood boiling. What is wrong with my family's values?

Owen there is a vast difference between having values and legislating them. You cannot legislate "family values," yet the GOP - the party of "smaller" government - continually seeks to do just that.

Regarding personal issues, those that government has no business legislating, there are many Democrats and Republicans alike who have more libertarian views on the subject.

You throw out the term "family values" like a Frisbee, defend it, then ask others to define it.

How about endorsing American values - those of our founding fathers to live and let live...for life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.

"It is going to take conservatism a while to recuperate from becoming associated with such people."

George Will
"Now, Defining Decency Down"
Newsweek, Sept. 2007

Owen,
You are so full of crap! Democrats advocate for the destruction of the family and family values? What bullsh*t. Guilliani has been married and divorced and had affairs, etc. Was GOP conservative Senator Craig trying to pump some family values into that cop he was asking for sex from? Democrats tend to have better family values and more stable marriages because so many of you conservatives are in the closet and living a lie.

Easy baby!

I think there is enough blame to go around to both parties. The problem with the Republican Party manifesto is that it professes to values and qualities, which in fact, they do not practice in their daily or government life. Even their rhetoric of spending less has been shot to hell by the Bush administration and a Republican controlled House and Senate that have bankrupted our nation. Bankrupt of real values, bankrupt of our tax dollars.

The Democratic Party leaders - party of the Limousine Liberals who attack the rich and argue for the poor, often wouldn't be caught anywhere near the "underclass." Throw money at the problem and it will go away...

I have always counseled the GOP to stay away from bragging about being the party of family values. I even deleted it out of a three-fold flyer that the county party put out a few years ago. (Probably one of the reasons they decided I must be ousted!!) I told them someday it would come back and bite them hard. Guess what?

I was a soccer mom for 14 seasons in Oxnard, and knowing that 2/3 of the parents were probably Democratic (notice I didn't say Democrat!), it always bothered me that they are accused of not having family values.

Can we talk about the things I believe our legislators SHOULD do? - like handle our tax dollars properly, limit legislation to the essential things that protect us and give us the most freedom possible, and care for those who genuinely cannot care for themselves.

Leslie, you ae an OK gal. The neo's ran off a great many Reps to the other side for just that reason. Falwell pulled it off 40 years ago and they started to believe it themselves. Religion on the sleeve just doesn't cut it for the masses over time. Not for Christianity as we know it anyway.

Leslie, I look forward to catching a wave or two with you one of these days. I hope you will give Jim Dantona a fair review. He is one honest guy who I bet shares many of your ideals.

Doggie-
Believe it or not - I have my own wetsuit so just might take you up on that!

Leslie, always heard very nice things about you. It will be my pleasure. Hang ten and have a great weekend.

As I predicted, the new voter registration numbers are posted and the gap for the 19th District has narrowed:

Oct 2006

Rep: 40.99%
Dem: 36.04%
DTS: 18.15%

Feb 2007

Rep: 40.71%
Dem: 36.09%
DTS: 18.34%

Yep, closing and closing some more. Put in the DTS and the once wounded Tiger better start drafting a resume. The Stricklands aren't qualified for much and the soup line at the Rescue Mission may be a good stop gap bet. With young children, you even get an indoor cot. Stricklands weren't ever big on charitable giving, but the Mission will still be there for them.

Dantona was the first person to break the story about Waste Mgt. planning a mega dump expansion last year when all others were saying it just wasn't so. I read the OpEd piece in The Star yesterday about the dumps General Manager. This guy Smith sure does dodge the questions and mumble a lot of PR bunk. I hope Dantona makes this dump expansion a major part of his campaign here in the southern portion of the District. I know Strickland will not. He and the dump people are far too tight.

Go Dantona!

Sorry, the figures and link I provided are from February 2007. Am waiting anxiously for the most recent figures and I jumped the gun.

Well get with it Katie. We don't grant too many go overs on this blog. LOL

Jumping the gun is so much better than sitting quiet and not getting involved. I know you are a mover and shaker. Keep moving and shaking. You will make a difference. Go Katie!

What "'free pass' born again nonsense?" When have I ever said anything except that I do not support those actions? When did I ever define the "values of God?" Stop projecting onto me views and ideas that I have never suggested or advocated. You know, liberals on here talk about and bring up God way more than the conservatives. Y'all must have some sort of God-issue. What's with the ten commandments, why are you trying to push the Judeo-Christian worldview on people who don't believe? Why don't you believe in the separation of church and state? Why indoctrinate your kids into organized religion? You should let them be free-thinkers and find their own way in this world, instead of the oppressive patriarcichal guilt-tripping church. If two people have stopped enjoying spending time together, why torture yourself, just move on, divorce. In fact, why get married in the first place? It's just a stamp. What about all those other issues that I brought up before? These are the family values that I have heard consistently from the many democrats I have interacted with, and it's what we see from the legislation that they push. When you say "neocons" what on earth are you talking about??? Why are you a Democrat?

Katie,
When will the new numbers for Reg. come out????
Thanks

Ah shucks Owen. Get a grip on life. I'm a lifelong, surfing, fun loving Repulican as is my wife. In the Senate race, however, we are voting for Dantona assuming Strickland is the other candidate. Dantona represents moderate Republican views to a far greater extent than does Strickland. Strickland purports to want less government, but instead wants government to come into our homes, even our bedrooms, and legislate. I say keep that in the church and keep government out of our homes. I say the neoconservatives are two faced. I keep my bible in my home and in my church. I keep our Constitution in my government. This is not how the Stricklands see it. This is why we are supporting Jim Dantona.

Surfs up Owen my friend. See you at the pier for a few before heading off to the YMCA barn dance.

Dear John, Well I think they should come out every six months (it's been six months) but I was just told that it won't be until voter registration is closed for this election period. So mid October? But I'll keep checking.....

Republican's All:

Nationally, the odds are growing every day that the Republican minority in the Senate will grow smaller and smaller. Statistically, 22 of the 34 Senate seats up for grab in the 2008 election are currently held by Republicans. Under normal circumstances the odds are against the Republicans successfully defending them all, let alone adding Senate seats

But these are not normal times. Recent retirement announcements by Republican Senators John Warner of Virgina and Wayne Allard of Colorado moved those seats from “safe Republican� to the “competitive,� column. Now today’s announcement by two-term Republican Senator Chuck Hagel of Nebraska that he will not seek reelection puts a third safe Republican seat into play.

Beyond that, incumbent Republican Senators in New Hampshire, Oregon, Minnesota and Maine all face fierce competition in their respective races. If you’re counting, that’s seven out of 22 Republican Senate seats now up for grabs. And, we haven’t even got to the wild-card prospects caused by flip-flopping Republican Senator Larry Craig’s salacious dalliances, let alone the results of the federal corruption investigation into Republican Senator Ted “Highway to Nowhere� Stevens from Alaska. If you loose seven of those seats, you’ll see a 2/3’s reduction in the Republican ranks in the U.S. Senate.

Moving from the nation to the State, how fares the electoral prospect of the GOP in CA? Well, attend to the following words of wisdom delivered by Governor Schwarznegger the Republican State Convention yesterday.

"..Our party has lost the middle, and will not regain true political power in California until we get it back.."

Referring to declining Republican voter registration in the State, he said, "..We are dying at the box office.."

And what perhaps was the most telling quote of all, Governor Arnold advises his Republican colleagues, the party wins election and grows by, “including, not excluding.�

Having said all that, how did the party’s knee-jerk ultra-conservative wing react to the Governor’s sagacious advice? Well, none other than Mike Spence, President of the conservative California Republican Assembly said this in response to the Governor’s convention speech yesterday, “..He wasn’t stressing issues that unite us; he was stressing issues that divide us.�

Poor Arnold. After hearing Mr. Spence’s comments and learning that he was being called the “Austrian pretender,� in numerous ultra-conservative blogs, he surely was reminded of Schiller’s plaintive advice. “..Mit dem dumheit, kampfen Gotter selbst vergebens.�

Swifty Lazar

Swifty - you don't need to rub it in! Mike Spence should go pound sand along with the rest of the CRA. The Republicans need to respond to the majority of its party - not just the right wingers. This county is poised to go blue - which is personally sad but deserved.

Katie,
As a lifelong republican I agree with you this district is going blue. I refuse to support the right wing nuts anymore. I'm going to vote for Jim Dantona for Senate because I agree with him more on policy than my own party. Moderate Republicans should make themselves heard by voting for Dantona also. He is a centrist who will listen to the mainstream. Go Katie!!

Katie,
I'm a Mitt Romney supporter and I like Jim Dantona for Senate because he's speaking to middle America. Tony Strickland supports Romey but he is so far out of the mainstream it isn't funny. Sorry Tony.

I'm a Rudy supporter myself. As a conservative Republican, I can't say I agree with him very much but he is a good leader and I think he represents the values of most Americans. Mitt is probably closer to what I believe, but I think Rudy will be less divisive.

Arnold summed it up well in his speech last night to the California GOP. We are a box office disaster right now - primarily because the right wing nuts have taken over the party. I'm pretty right wing but nothing like who is in charge right now.

Rudy G.'s the man to beat in '08. Oh, please, let it be Hillary he's running against, please....................

Last night I was at the Simi Valley YMCA Barn-Burning Fundraiser and saw Jim Dantona work the predominantly Republcan crowd like a pro. He was so well received cause the folks there understood and related to his common sense, mainstream views on the issues. And scores of them embraced him warmly and expressed great appreciation for his years of hard work and financial support for local kids programs sponsored by the YMCA.

Heck, he was so good that he and his team managed, good-naturedly, to manuever Mike Smith, the local Waste Management guy, into paying nearly $3800 for a community BBQ put on the by Y's-Men during the live auction. This was all time bidding record for this item, which last year went for about a $1,000. The kids at the YMCA will really appreciate this financial support. Way to go Jim!

Jacques LaVoissier

Jacques, you may have thought it was all in good fun, but I was put in jail last night on an arrest warrant signed by Smith and his Waste Mgt. cronies and I didn't think it was all in good fun. I had to post bail and I left that event in a hurry before my bondsman wouldn't post bail again. I was very upset by this event.

Surf's up, but I'm staying home. I'm still depressed. By the way, I agree with you that Dantona was a star at the event. He is a great guy.

Moondoggie, I don't understand. Were you really put in jail? Or was this a fund-raising type "jail".

Katie,
It was a fund raising jail and Moondoggie had a lot more fun than he's willing to let on. Dantona was well received because the Dantona families in this town have supported the underdog Y in this city for years. The Y does outstanding work for kids in our community, thanks to help from people all across the political and business spectrum like Jim Dantona, Barbra Williamson, Michelle Foster, Bill Morris, Countrywide (to name just a few) and now - Waste Management can be thanked as well.

Nice to see them all united for one truly great cause. Now, if they were equally united on altering Waste Management's expansion plans, the entire city would thank them.

Thanks - I'm a worry wart!