Hannah-Beth Jackson definitely has been acting like lately, with all her hit pieces and desperation commercials. It's clear she's losing badly and she will do anything, including herself to any special interest that will listen, to try and win this election.

But, alas, it's too late for her. She's so done, it's not funny.

I am disgusted with this post and with the commenter above me. We are scraping the very bottom of the barrel and it invites vile commentary. Nothing good can come of this for anyone.

HBJ is not the one engaging in hit pieces - TS is - and by all accounts this is a tight race with neither candidate "losing" badly. I suspect the election is over and the money coming in now is benefitting the printers, TV and radio station and not the candidates.

I'm surpised John and Ken aren't stumping for Strickland - I thought they were really conservative. They used to have Tom McClintock on the show all the time.

Phony-Tony is pulling out all the stops to try to win this election. After all, his wave energy gig isn't going to bring in the money that he is used to getting from government. All the millions he is spending would be better spent helping the homeless. He is seen as a pimp for big business who doesn't give a darn for the working men and women in the District. GO HANNAH-BETH!

Brian, I don't think anyone should be using this kind of language. I am not happy to see it posted by our bloggers on either side or repeated here by you in a post, either.

There are plenty of issues to talk about without appealing to the lowest common denominator.

I am feeling really good about the race. The Los Angeles Times endorsed Hannah-Beth today!

Marie,

Since you feel so good about the LA Times endorsement of Jackson then you should at least acknowledge their assessment of Tony Strickland. About him they write, "We like Strickland. He's an honest, straightforward lawmaker who also served in the Assembly with distinction. We just disagree with him."

Based on the editorial it seems that the decisive issue for the LA Times was Strickland's no-tax pledge. Otherwise they seemed to have nothing but praise for him.

Marie- I can't believe that a conservative, upstanding publication like the L.A Times would buck it's long history of supporting conservative candidates and endorse HBJ. This is exciting!

No need to parse words BK, the endorsement can be found below.

ENDORSEMENTS 2008
Hannah-Beth Jackson in state Senate District 19
The liberal Democrat is the better choice for Californians.
October 24, 2008

...snip

After reveling in the matchup, though, The Times has no problem making its choice. We wholeheartedly back Jackson. The environmental and education credentials she built up as a member of the Assembly will be put to good use in the Senate, and we're counting on her to help work through California's budget mess.

We like Strickland. He's an honest, straightforward lawmaker who also served in the Assembly with distinction. We just disagree with him. The last thing the Legislature needs is another member who signed a no-tax pledge and simply will not engage with Democrats in the give-and-take negotiations necessary to get through the state's budget crisis. We are not wedded to taxes as a solution, but everything must be on the table. With Strickland, they're not. That makes Jackson the better choice for California's future.

As much as it pains me to say this, Katie is right. This election is over. The additional last minute ads and radio/TV spots are just benefiting the printers & the stations.

Strickland has proven himself to be the better candidate throughout. Both in terms of effective campaigning and providing a clear choice to the voters during these tough economic times. People are scared to death of additional financial impacts on their lives right now and the "Taxin' Jackson" message has gained considerable traction with the voters (It's the economy stupid).

Damien has invited me to his place to celebrate on the evening of the 4th. I have stocked up on the champagne and party whistles. It's going to be like New Year's folks.

I am not seeing this out there at all. What I have heard is the extreme disgust at the Republican brand name right now and the Stricklands represent the worst of the worst.

Hannah-Beth voted for $26 billion worth of tax cuts and she has only spoken of oil extraction taxes, as Sarah Palin has done in Alaska. McCain has tried to paint Obama with the tax brush, too. And it isn't sticking.

I spent last Saturday with a bunch of local moms at a birthday party. Most were Republican. And they all universally told me they were turned off and sickened at Strickland's commercials. They are all voting yes on Prop. 8, by the way.

I really do think you and Damien will need those drinks. I don't drink, so I'll stock up on my Pellegrino. :-)

Mongo-Gibson, I wish you the very best with the campaign and a joyous election night party. For all of us, it has been a long contest and we both respect our issues and our candidates. For me, I've never known a more intense, sharp thinking, caring person than Hannah-Beth Jackson. If it costs me a few more dollars to live in the greatest State in the Nation, then so be it. As you know, I have nothing good to say about Phony-Tony. You, however, have fought a great battle for your candidate and I do indeed wish you the best. Should we one day meet, it will be enjoyable to toast a cocktail together. Good health, my friend.

Good! Now that the election's a done deal, what are we gonna do about the landfill expansion, about the perchlorate plume flowing towards First Street and about making SV a mecca for new business and jobs?

Best wishes to you too, CAP-834. I never let politics interfere with my utmost respect and appreciation for those like you who have the intelligence and devotion to take an interest in the American political process. We're so lucky to have the opportunity to freely express our opinions in this great country of ours. Kudos to Brian for helping to afford us this opportunity.

Hats off to you too, Marie. You're a class act.

elephantpower, Hannah-Beth hasn't practiced law in over 10 years.

But it's a good piece of fiction you're spinning. Maybe you could get a job as a screenwriter when you're not blogging.

While we're looking into that case, elephantpower. let's take a closer look at WHY Strickland wrote a bill that would allow sex predators into our kids classrooms. Could he have done it under pressure from his charter school campaign donors, one of whom might have had a family member who otherwise couldn't be employed in one of those charter schools....unless the law was changed? Maybe someone could start matching up felon records with Strickland's clients and see if there's a connection.

You are one sick puppy, elephantpower, and I'm not going to justify this absolute fiction with any more responses. Your story doesn't even make sense.

Have a nice evening.

Hey, wait a minute. Can this be true? Our infamous blog smear master, Mongo Flamo, getting all teary-eyed on us? Will wonders never cease?

I'm sorry for ignoring you Mongo. Yes, that was sweet. Thank you. I'm not minding my manners.

Have you been drinking again or is the Prozac just now kicking in? :-)

No, I'm off Prozac now. Too many side effects...

I like Timm Herdt's blog today on using a sense of humor to capture voter's attention. HBJ's kidnapping Elvis and Taxing Puppies is very amusing.

I liked the one Tony just sent out with the big microphone on the front (in reference to HBJ's infamous "stall the budget" discussion). Pretty good and a lot more accurate than Jackson's Elvis/Puppies weirdness.

I see our nutty pachyderm conspiracy theorist from last night had posts deleted.

Mongo, attending a caucus meeting on the budget is no big deal. The whole meeting was transcripted so if Hannah-Beth had said anything wrong, you can bet the Strickies would have released it.

Did we all see the big ad on the front of B-1 today?

What they are saying about Tony Strickland:
"I don't think he's in this for anything other than Tony Strickland."
-- Joe Giardello, Strickland's former campaign manager

Marie, the very fact that she was in attendance at this meeting and, no doubt, supported the ideas being discussed, says something about her and whether the voters can trust her to look out for their best interests.

Regarding the ad on B-1, I'm sure you're aware that politics can be a nasty business sometimes and often people will say things that are extremely self-serving and partisan to advance their own agendas. Well, Joe is no exception to this rule. Enough said on that though.

I'm sure you've seen the quotes from Travis Armstrong, Santa Barbara News-Press Opinion editor, regarding Hannah-Beth's reputation as a taxer-and-spender when she was in the Assembly. This view is echoed, by the way, by many folks that I've spoken with in the Santa Barbara area, particularly business people. So, she definitely doesn't have a lock on the Santa Barbara vote to put her over the top in this election.

Please provide evidence of what was said at the meeting to back up your claims. There was no group more obstructionist to the budget process than the Republicans this year. How many "secret meetings" did they hold?

State taxes went down when both Hannah-Beth and Tony were in office. She voted for $26 billion in tax cuts. Why don't you ever, ever mention that?

We've already determined that Travis Armstrong's editorials are not taken even slightly seriously by anyone up there. I have lots of friends in S.B., too. The paper endorsed her before it was taken over by a right-wing billionaire.

http://citizenmccaw.com/spotlight/

But the guy who was Tony's best man at his wedding and his former campaign manager has this to say about him? To the press? It was in Timm Herdt's article. Now that's damning. Are they going to smear him now, too?

To Both HBJ and TS political-apparatchiks, why all the feigned indignation over John and Ken's cogent observation that both candidates are like ladies of the evening, hawking their political wares and haggling over the special-interest price?

One look at the litany of hundreds of contributors who ponied-up $4+ Million in political contributions to TS, and nearly $3 Million to HBJ, should give any discerning voter sufficient pause to doubt that this is anything other than a high-stake political control contest funded by salacious special interest suitors..

Since I have no dog in this hunt, I wish Marie, CAP (Random 3 Numbers), and GS on the Left, and Bubba Kidd, Mongo Flamo, and Elephantpower on the Right the best of luck.

Just remember this little piece of inconvenient truth from George Bernard Shaw, "..There are two tragedies in life. One is not to get your heart's desire. The other is to get it..."

Ciao Commendatori!

NostraDemus

NostraDemus,

You forget I was her constituent. Mr. Flamo was not. She was one of the best legislators I have ever known. She is honest to a fault and works harder than anyone. She isn't in it for money or fame or power. She gets things done.

Why else would I be here defending her since last fall? I am not on her staff. I am barely getting paid by the Star for my own blog. (Right, Bruce?)

I have sat through two onslaughts here. First by your friends the Dantona folks and now by the Strickies. (Rhymes with icky) I even still have my sense of humor.

I need to get something else done now.

Have a great day.

Marie:

First of all, I have no ability to read your mind, nor have a window into your soul, so it is impossible for me to know why you do or do not do anything.

Further, I've never questioned your motive in supporting HBJ's candidacy. And, in fact, I have expressed respect for your loyalty to her as a candidate.

As for waving the bloody-shirt about your lack of payments from the Star for your own blog, or sitting through two onslaughts here - Pluheeze!!! The cyber-self righthousness is unbecomming a self-described, "..writer and community activist.."

To the best of my knowledge, metaphorically speaking, no one held a gun to your head and forced you to either support a given candidate or create a blog-site.

Finally, as to your comment about enduring onslaughts from the Dantona folks, surely by now, you know full-well that (CAP Random 3 Numbers), your fellow HBJ Cyber-Blogging comrade-in-arms, was more culpable in that area than most.

And, now look at the two of you, locked, arm-in-arm, Kumbaya-style, take turns playing cyber-good cop/cyber bad cop, regarding HBJ's candidacy, almost by the minute, each day on various blogs. As they say, "..Politics makes strange cyber-bedfellows.."

So, if you can "Make Cyber Love not Cyber War" with him, you can get off your high cyber-horse regarding those who choose to have and express a different opinion about your candidate.

Finally, chill-out and don't take all this political stuff so seriously.

Remember the wisdom of Kinky Friedman, the Texas musician/humorist/author and 2006 independent gubernatorial candidate, who said:

“..Politics is the only field in which the more experience you have, the worse you get...�

Ciao Commendatora

NostraDemus

NostraDemus,

CAP is too over the top for me. I have no control over that one.

This is all pretty silly stuff, if you ask me. Adults behaving badly. But I made a promise to a friend to hang in here and keep correcting bad information and I will continue to do so.

Why are you here?

NostraDemus,

I have to say, I've always appreciated your perspective. Just when all of us are climbing high up on our horses, waving our swords at the sun, acting like we're modern-day Edward R. Murrow's, along comes NostraDemus to bring us back down to earth. I love that.

I know I have a tendency to get prickly at times, but I don't believe I've ever had reason to get that way with you. I think that would be impossible for me to do.

Keep up the good thoughts, my friend. I'm hoping at the end of this marathon election, we can all look at each other with respect and admiration. Politics is politics, but people are what really matter.

NEITHER of these candidates has proven anything except they will stoop to anything to keep direct mail marketers in business.

Tony Strickland is a shameless whore but HBJ (the better of these 2 poor candidates) is on the defensive - BADLY on the defensive. You do not remind voters in a mail piece (received today) that your opponent has accused you of trying to weaken Prop 13 and then attempt to explain to voters about an "obscure jurisdictional county assessors and the Board of Equalization over assessing electrical utility plants" that he is actually referring to.

SAY WHAT???

Tony has run a better campaign of hitting Jackson with sewer mud, pushing her up against the ropes while she desperately tries to defend herself. This isn't a campaign, it is schoolyard bully overmatching his naive opponent while equipped with every weapon and dirty trick he can find, egged on by his party of amoral Rove-loving mercenaries who are laughing behind him over their elitist Country Club appetizers and drinks.

To her credit, the Tony Strickland Toxic Record mailer was the best political mailer of the season, and the cartoon piece was a competitive 2nd. More of those, and none of her embarrassingly defensive mailers would have gone much further to pull out a win.

Respected Marie - Mongo Flaming Gibbo is just a sideshow on this blog. Why bother with him or Blubber Kidd? But your cut at the "Dantona folks" was unprovoked but appropriately, and overly, defensive. Are you creating these mailers?

Dantona bowed out from the race long ago, leaving the way clear for Jackson. She may be a better fit for the State Senate than Strickland, but she is clearly not a fit campaigner - and you have to win an election to serve. Campaigning is a lesson you should have learned from your fellow Dem, and his supporters, whom you foolishly deride (while making nice with Mongo).

You have been respected by all here, because you have shown respect - unlike the "onslaught" of some rookie HBJ supporters (are you out there Heather?) whose egos were easily seduced by these right wing pariah. Don't you change course now.

I hope, for our district's sake, that the inspired Obama-Biden Democratic turnout trumps the Mccain-Palin pathological fear machine and Jacksons' mixed message campaign of defense finds away to sneak by the overconfident and phony Strickies (rhymes with pricky).

Marie,

I didn't think I'd ever hear you spewing a McCainism -- "that one." But, whatever works.

I also wanted to make a little correction to one of your previous comments. You said I never lived in HBJ's district. That is incorrect. I did, in fact, live in Santa Barbara for about a year-and-a-half while she was serving in the Assembly (2000 to 2002). I also had interactions with her office, which were less than cordial (which I've mentioned before as well).

I delete posts for many reasons but the primary reasons are when someone sends me an email that explains why a post is over the top.

If a post from GS offended you, and was unfair to the extreme, I would expect that you would stand up to it by sending me an email.

I have your IP address and if I cared I could try to look up who is posting. So, why not email me?

As far as the case you are referring to it sounds like she should contact law enforcement or an attorney. But posting such a colorful story under a pen name isn't going to help much. I agree it all sounds serious and that's why I urge you to treat it serious by going to a reporter with your story or law enforcement.

This sounds like it could be borderline libel. If you don't think so then ask a conservative blogger to post it.

I have explained these rules to all of the major campaigns and candidates and they all acknowledged that if something was over the top they would let me know to protect their families and their staff.

EP,

If this is serious and important to you, collect your information and give it to a reporter to look into. I think that way we could all learn more about it if you think it is needed.

"Nice choices," you seem much more defensive than I. Exactly when did I deride a supporter? NostraDemus is not supporting either candidate. I merely disagreed with his assessment that I should be careful about what I wished for. And I've explained my reason for being here.

Purely altruistic and rather masochistic, too, I think.

Yet you, a Democrat, are deriding both me and the Democratic candidate. Why exactly? I don't see the Strickland folks doing this stuff.

All I did was mention that I have endured two onslaughts of blog attacks here from two different camps over a period of a year. But because I said the word "Dantona" you popped up and got snarky.

The Strickland bloggers must love this. They are reading this and getting their big chuckles over the Democrats fighting again.

But that's not my style. I have tried very hard to be polite, reasoned and honest. My criticisms of her opponent have been relegated to his record and the fact that I find his campaign very disingenuous.

I blog with my own name and am here because I care about my candidate and her family and I know these blog comments pain her family sometimes.

I can't wait until Nov. 5.

And elephantpower, something is very wrong with you.

I'm too am tired of the sniping comments about Dantona and his supporters. Just what is the point?

Ciao Nosta, good to see you. Tutto bene?

Marie:

Of course you can't control CAP, or as you put it, "..that one.." Although I thought that Mongo Flamo's cyber-gottcha over your freudian-slip use of a McCainism, was really slick. Cyber-Busted, Marie...

Regarding your claim that you blog because of "purely altruistic and masochistic," reasons. Well, all I can say is the same thing that Maurice Chevalier used to say, "..Vive la difference!.."

And, as to why I choose to blog here. Well, Marie, that's simple. It's fun...it's interesting...and I believe that you can't create a cyber-political-pearl, without irritating the cyber-political-oysters.

Also, as to your repeated references to having endured two onslaughts on this blog for defending HBJ, the first from Dantona supporters, and the second from TS supporters. Marie, perhaps you should learn about politics from Harry Truman, who said, "..If you can't stand the heat, get out of the kitchen."

And, as to your self-selected role as HBJ's cyber-defender because you think that some blog-comments might offend her. Well Marie, is HBJ a seasoned political fighter or a passive, petulant prima donna?

If she's half the candidate you say she is, she better have a tougher skin than you appear to give her credit for, or else she'll never survive the snake-pit that is the State Legislature in Sacramento. Even one controlled by her own party!

Mongo-Flamo:

Thanks for the kind words, although based on my recollection, we've gone at it cyber-hammer and nail on this blog quite vehemently over a number of candidates and issues in the past. Which is perfectly fine with me. I'm an adult.

However, I must say that I totally agree with the spirit and content of your last sentence. People, not politics matter.

As President John F. Kennedy reminded us all when he gave his memorable American University speech after signing the Nuclear Test Ban Treaty in June 1963, "So let us not be blind to our differences, but let us also direct attention to our common interests and the means by which those differences can be resolved. And if we cannot end now our differences, at least we can help make the world safe for diversity. For in the final analysis, our most basic common link is that we all inhabit this small planet. We all breathe the same air. We all cherish our children's futures. And we are all mortal."

Ciao Cyber-Blogging Commendatori

NostraDemus

I agree it is not your style, and yet you are doing it - again. It is telling that of all the things I wrote about - you chose to comment on that one comment re: JD. He isn't even in the campaign so please get over it.

I AM defensive about this campaign. I want the Stricklands out. I am disappointed in Jackson's campaign. This is a blog where I am free to express that. Yes, the Stricklands indeed chuckle. They chuckle whenever they see you responding to the crap they through at the wall. That is exactly what they wanted - to through you guys off message - and you sadly obliged.

What we say here doesn't matter one bit to the average voter because the average voter isn't here. All of us made up our minds long ago and we are here to debate that with each other, sometimes calmly - sometimes not so calmly... especially when personal comments are made about someone one of us respects (JD) but yet you expect the utmost respect and civility regarding someone you respect (HBJ). It goes both ways - just like debate - just like democracy.

THROW not through - nice typing by nice choice.

I haven't lost my sense of humor either.

LW and NC: You have completely lost me. I don't understand how saying I was attacked on this blog by Dantona supporters last winter is a "personal comment" about him.

It is a fact. It in no way reflects on the candidate, it reflects on THE BLOGGERS.

People are responsible for their own behavior in cyberspace and I don't blame any candidate for what their supporters do here.

I haven't responded to your ill-advised criticisms about the campaign because I vehemently disagree with you. You had your mind made up a long time ago and nothing I do or say here will make a difference.

But if it makes you feel better to sit on your computer and beat up on me, go ahead. I get beat up on my own blog all the time. I get beat up here.

I'm not "Nice Choices" so be careful that you don't imply that I've made criticisms about anyones campaign on this blog.

I'm clearly not the only one that has read snide comments about "mean Dantona supporters" over the past several months. I'm not saying they all came from you, but some did, and that's why people are reacting.

I'm simply tired of it and added my two cents.

Marie, I'm deeply offended that you don't believe I am under your control. I am your public servant. As for over the top, it is oftentimes you who climbs the wall higher that I, with my excess weight keeping me from going over the top. Yet, as you well know, when I am given a responsibility by the campaign for which I dedicate myself, I do my job to the best of my abilities. My friend Dantona would have made a great candidate and exceptional State Senator. My new friend Hannah-Beth Jackson, will make a fantastic State Senator and has been a great candidate. Many of my friends from the Dantona campaign work with me today. I wish all of us had remained together. As to Phony-Tony, I have nothing good to say about this mass of protoplasm.

LW - that is my point exactly.

Marie you are so stuck on the "mean JD supporters" BS, you overlooked the fact that I said I wanted Jackson to win.

I criticized the campaign materials - not the candidate - not her supporters (OK except for one "mean HBJ supporter").

Meanwhile Mongo is all kissy-faced this week so is all forgiven for his regularly scheduled character smears alongside Bubba?

And um - this a blog... about political debate... If you can't talk about what you disagree with - exactly why are you here?

NostraDemus is right - thin skin must be in.

NC, LW: I made exactly one offhand comment about blogging attacks last winter and you've gone off the deep end about it. Please go back through the archives and find where I've said one negative thing about Mr. Dantona.

I am just dismayed that we can't pull together any better than this.

Oops, didn't phrase that well and then hit the submit button. I'm tired. My point was that I have never said anything negative about Mr. Dantona, his campaign or his campaign materials. And I wish you would give me credit for that.

Marie, I was one of those Dantona supporters. If well funded, he would have kicked Phony-Tony all over the District. But like a good marriage gone bad, life goes on. Today we are married to Hannah-Beth and it is a good marriage. Our campaign is well funded and our candidate is respected by many for so many reasons. Hannah-Beth has pulled together the Party. She has included nearly all of the Dantona supporters other than a few I can count on one hand. No one could have done better. This accomplishment goes to people like you. With just a week to go, we can smell the election night victory. Do well, my friend in Ventura, and keep the torch burning. Don't get too serious about this blog.

As I said before Marie - it is NOT your style. And I share the loyalty to JD that you do with HBJ, which is (one reason) why I respect you.

If you read everything I wrote you'll see you are respected - as you are by most sane individuals here. I read all of HBJ's mailers. That is why I believe she has sent some of the best and some of weakest.

I am still holding out hope for something better than I perceive. I hope you are right and I am wrong. Fair enough?

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