Donna Prenta forwarded me an invite to holiday parties for local kids with disabilities living in group homes.

Click on continue reading to find out all the details.

With Christmas around the corner it seems right to share news about local charities and groups doing the right thing. If your group has news to share let us all know.

By the way, I posted a few weeks back asking where there is a Toy drop off for the Foy Toy drive* but I haven't heard anything back. Does anyone know a local Simi Valley Toy Drop off?

Mary Pallant has declared she is running for the Democratic nomination for US House CA-24 ( Currently Rep. Elton Gallegly).

In her e-mail she admits it will be a tough battle but declaring early gives her an advantage over other potential democratic candidates.

For the past several months she has done an outstanding job bringing progressive speakers to Ventura County and elevating the discourse.

To win she is going to need support from not just Democrats. If you normally vote Republican is there anything she could do to earn your vote?

To read her announcement e-mail click on continue reading.

Credit goes to The Star's Editorial cartoonist Stan Greenberg.

Looks like the SSFL and Runkle Canyon are morphing into the same issue.

With all the news about the state getting involved with Runkle Canyon or RunkleDyne as the Radiation Rangers have labeled it I am wondering if this issue will ever be used as a candidate to win votes in an upcoming election. We know Jim Dantona will use it but what exactly has he done to claim a bit of credit? What about Audra and Tony Strickland? Have they said much about it?

City leaders are against building on it and want the best science available. Of course, but who doesn't? Who is the rush to judgment candidate? ( Sidenote: I have observed cattle grazing within Boeing land at the SSFL and at Runkle Canyon. Don't worry though I bet the "best" science says it is fine to consume cattle grazing on land high in a variety of toxins.)

I was also curious what is the easiest way to track local candidates financial statements to disapprove or back up the Radiation Rangers allegation that the city council took money from developers involved? Is there a way we can check this online?

The Young progressive Democrats have morphed into a local Drinking Liberally group.

You can see their myspace account here or click on continue reading for upcoming events.

Maybe they should have some bar games like Tic Tac Toe...

The music is really quiet so make sure to turn up the speakers first.

How about we take a break from the political food fight and give your fellow bloggers some tips on your favorite places to eat.

Name is fine, but name and directions is better.

Now Updated: Click here to find out the latest inspection results from your favorite dining spots.

My top 3 all had repeat visits and serious violations so don't feel bad.

Is this the proper role of government in a free economy? Should consumers educate ourselves or should the government help inform us?

I personally favor this disclosure as I don't see places without it posting their results.

Waste Management's application has been deemed complete and know the proposed dump expansion can move onto the next step. Read the article on The Star's website for more details.

The quote that stands out the most to me?

"The application also included plans on establishing sewage treatment at the site."

I also need an explanation on how it can double in size but not raise its daily cap. What would that do to truck traffic?

Leave a message for WM on the fridge.

( This is the second dispatch from my friend and blog contributer Owen who is from Simi Valley but has moved to Iowa to campaign for John McCain. Owen, if California gets a chance to cast a meaningful vote for McCain it will be because of people like you. Happy Thanksgiving.)

Iowa Caucuses Dispatch #2
by Owen Paun

In order to select a party’s candidate for president, each state has a certain number of delegates who cast votes at the party convention, which usually takes place the summer before the election. Most states have primary elections to determine who that state will support at the convention. That is, the population votes as normal, by going to an election site, and the winner will receive the support of that states’ delegates. There are a few states, however, who have Caucus, which are much more complicated that a simple vote.
Iowa has the very first primary in the country, and it happens to be a caucus. Instead of going at your leisure to a polling place, caucuses are scheduled events. They usually begin around seven in the evening, and last for one to two hours. They are held in all sorts of locations, from churches and schools to government buildings and living rooms. These meeting have several agenda items, the main ones being the selection of delegates, the creation of a party platform, and a straw poll for presidential preference.

All in all, I like the caucus process. It’s a little quirky, but I think it’s a lot closer to the town halls that were the foundation of our democracy and our country.

Since everyone wants to talk about Mike Gibson on the Jim Dantona entry here is an open thread devoted to Mike Gibson, The City of Ventura, and any other Ventura news.

I came across this story of some shady signature gathering practices and I figured it would be a good lead in for us to talk about local signature gathering. When you see signature gatherers in our community find out who they are working for and send in a report including where they were and what they were doing. This way all of us interested political watchers can keep up.

Thanks,

Brian

PS- A bunch of people allege there are still signs in Ventura but I haven't seen a single picture.

There is a competitive primary for the nomination to take on Tony Strickland ( most likely) in CA-19. The two Democrats at this point are Hannah Beth Jackson ( here is a link about her until she has an official website.) and Jim Dantona.

Here is an article about Jim Dantona and where he stands on a variety of issues.

Here is a recent e-mail from Barbra Williamson she wanted to have posted to start a discussion.

Bar-Hum bug
By Barbra Williamson

I have decided that at this time in my life, little and big things make a difference in how we go about our daily life. One of the most joyous times has been during the holiday season with everyone going about their business, shopping, meeting up with friends for that “hot totty� and of course, gathering at their place of worship. When I was growing up, you could sense the excitement in the air, and how happy people were, and I think it all stems back to people being free to be who they are and not afraid of perhaps insulting them by merely wishing them a very Merry Christmas…now its Happy Holidays to be politically correct…well I say no more! I am going back to saying Merry Christmas and hope it will be received in the spirit in which it was given.

Local Democratic activists Richard and Susan lebeck are throwing an anti-war party this weekend with guest Mary Pallant ( Running for the Democratic nomination for CA-24 currently Gallegly). If you are interested in going click on continue reading for details.

Richard, which of the presidential candidates plans do you like best for Iraq? Is Barack Obama's or Hillary Clinton's draw down plans good enough for you?

( Note from Brian: John McCain just ensured if he is the nominee the gender gap will grow. )

A friend of mine and a reader is in Iowa campaigning for John McCain. Owen is going to be writing a few pieces for us about the Iowa caucus system and about McCain's campaign. Owen, you better get a picture of you and McCain for us. If my readers have questions put them here and Owen can answer them if he gets free time.

Here is the intro installment:

Dispatches from Iowa
By Owen

So, here I am, a few days in and volunteering on a race for a candidate I strongly believe in. Stay tuned for dispatches from the underbelly of a presidential campaign in a primary state, by a Californian trying to help Iowans pick the next President of the United States of America.

County Supervisor Peter Foy is starting his annual Toy Drive. I will be donating by dropping a present in a local drop box. if you are involved and have a drop off box please post where and what hours we can stop by.

So far Elton Gallegly has not endorsed a Republican for president. I always assumed he would endorse John McCain being that he sent out a mailer with McCain's picture on it in 2000. You can call his campaign office at (805) 522-4487 and e-mail at info@galleglyforcongress.com .

Lois Capps I didn't see on the list either. I don't know where her loyalties are although I sort of remember her going to a Bill Clinton fund raiser in 2000. You can call Lois Capp's campaign office at (805) 884-0202 and e-mail at capps@silcom.com .

Anyways, if you are a local supporter of an '08 candidate have you contacted your local representative? Better then putting a sign in your yard or donating a few bucks an endorsement would put you on the map as an effective organizer.

Here is a list of who has endorsed who thus far.

Let me know what response their offices give you.

Buck McKeon has already endorsed Mitt Romney. Also The CRA ( a conservative Republican group) has endorsed Mittens too.

Hey, If you see a sign still up take a photo with the address and I will post it.

Congrats to the winners and better luck in the future for many of the losers.

Now take down your signs before you get shamed into doing it.

Congressional candidate Mary Pallant continues to bring progressive speakers from across the country to Ventura County. In the past she has brought people like Fmr. Ambassador Joe Wilson. This time around she is bringing in radio talk show host Thom Hartmann.

In related news I haven't seen any campaign activity from past candidate Jill Martinez so I can't tell you if she is planning a serious run for the nomination.

The Democratic Women's Council is having a holiday party which might infuriate Bill O'Reilly for not calling it a Christmas Party.

Happy Holidays. If you see other political holiday parties e-mail them in and I will post them.

If you are interested in the details click on continue reading.

Normally this blog is about politics but some things move me to plug a cause around town.

A team of great students I know have created a charity to honor one of their own who we all lost in the prime of his life. Tyler Broberg was a treasure to his family and friends. When he died last summer our community lost out. Tyler's friends don't want people to forget what Tyler was about and the values he stood for. To that end they created a new charity to honor his memory. They are trying to raise $50,000 to help Habitat for Humanity to build a home locally in his honor.

You can read all about it with the press release from one of his friends by clicking on continue reading.

To help out you can donate money to the cause. You can also help by asking local media to report on this uplifting story about local teens coming together.

But you can start helping now. Leave a comment and a link back to his website and you can quickly build up the search results. Go to their website and tell us something from it that inspires you.

You can also leave a pledge amount and tell us you are sending it in. Their website even allows you to donate with a credit card.

I will start the pledge drive.

Emilie, come see me next week and pick up a check.

If you have a check, I will come pick it up or you can send it in to 1l2l.org yourself.

I will post how much our pledge drive has raised weekly for the next few months.

We can all dwell on the negative reports about teens or we can help them out when they do something that should be a beacon to all of us. We can all agree that teens helping to raise $50,000 is an audacious goal. Let's support them.

Barbra Williamson has been shut out from helping out at the VCRCC booth handing out Giuliani information.

Click on continue reading to find out more from her directly.

Has the central committee endorsed any candidate or do they hand out info for all candidates including Ron Paul?

Barbra, even after you have donated money to the central committee and you have been an early endorser of Rudy they still don't want you?

Rep. Dennis Kucinich wants to start a debate over impeaching VP Cheney as an attempt to avert a war with Iran.

I am not as interested in this debate because of the small odds it has but I am interested in who you guys would like to see removed from local office? What local politician has the lowest approval ratings in your book?

A local McCain supporter has written an article to engage Republican primary voters. Read it and discuss the merits of the arguments put forth.

Barack Obama's campaign is putting on a local event to organize the area. Click on continue reading to find out more.

The power of being an incumbent is more powerful then an energetic campaign or spending large sums of money as the results from Ventura show.

Here is an article from The Star that recaps the election.

Is it true the VCRCC stood by and didn't get involved in this race after all the talk about membership communications and building a back bench?

Are the final campaign finance reports almost in yet?

It might be easy to kick a guy when he is down but try not to kick too hard.

This is a lesson on how to screen comments if you are a politician and you are going to create a myspace page for your campaign. If you go down the right side of the page there is a big ad to buy a pound of "Legal" Marijuana online.

Myspace has plenty of options including an option that allows you to prescreen your comments. Have a kid show you.

Also, if you use someone else's images learn from McCain's mistakes first.

The Star has a great article on the end of non-partisan races locally. Before you comment click here to read it.

I am wondering how the new tools of membership communications and the like are working out in Ventura city elections and other races locally. The article said Republicans are involved but it didn't say what, if anything, they were doing for the Ventura City elections.

The Democrats also have said they plan to be involved but not until next year. Why did Democrats skip out on the Ventura City elections?

There is a Climate Change awareness rally in Ventura on Saturday.

Click on continue reading for details.

We have all heard wild rumors from time to time about how much the local school boards or city councils gets paid. Is there a quick way of checking online how much your local city council gets paid?

I have been a long time fan of John McCain for his efforts to fight against the current earmark or pork barrel spending problem that so many legislators are addicted to. He is the first person that turned me onto reading Citizens Against Government Waste and the reports they issue about where our money ends up.

Some people argue that just because it is an earmark, it doesn't mean that it is by definition waste. At time they can be right. But to restore trust in government we need to have a fair and open budgeting process.

I think that member of congress should release their earmarks that they are pushing for so we can be the judge of it is waste or not. This greater transparency will help restore some of the publics lack of faith in our representatives.

What do you folks think? Should members of congress be open with what earmarks they are looking to get money spent on?