I understand that Strickland had a previously scheduled event with the mayor of a city in his district (which required a permit) at the same time as the the superintendents meeting. I also called Strickland's office and was informed that they offered to send a staff member in his place but were informed that this was not a valid option.

These criticisms are totally false and unfair. It's really too bad it keeps being repeated.

No excuses. This was an extremely important meeting with every district superintendent in the county and the county superintendent, too. I'm sure they would've loved to have talked to anyone even remotely associated with holding our budget up.

I stand by my blog entry. All three Republicans failed to show up. Tony instead chose tabling in the rain and talked to maybe 12 constituents; more than half were Democratic activists.

He also could've moved his table to the lunch hour of 11-1 easily and talked to more constituents and made his meeting, too.

They were all asked three weeks prior to attend the superintendents' meeting. The press release notifying the public of Tony's table event was dated the day before the event.

No excuses.

Where was Audra? Where was George Runner?

That meeting was a stunt. If any, or all, of the superintendents wanted to talk to any of the three they could have made an appointment, just like I did. Of course they wouldn't have had any press there to chronicle their rantings.

This was an ambush pure and simple. They were smart to avoid it.

Voter can be an apologist all day. The bottom line is representitives should have shown up to hear what these educators had to say.

Have any of them tried to contact Mr. Mantooth or other sups for input?

My guess is no.

Phony Tony Strickland wants big cuts to education in order to prevent his ultra rich supporters in the tobacco, Oil and Gambling industries and his ultra rich donors who control his every move from having to pay their fair share. Tony could care less if you lose your job or if your kid can get an affordable education, he only cares about staying in power so he can find new ways of getting campaign funds funneled into his provate accounts. It is creeps like Strickland who bankrupted the country and put us in this economic mess. I hope 10,000 people show up to this protest, of course be careful because Tony and Audra will most likely send their thugs out again to beat up on war veterans and children.

Voter, I find it appalling that you would consider a legitimate meeting with high-placed education folks "ranting." These superintendents represent thousands of families concerned that their children's teachers will be laid off and that arts, music, P.E., and programs for gifted students will disappear. Then there are bus drivers, cafeteria workers, health aides, library staff, and many others who may lose their jobs.

Parents don't want class-size reduction programs to be dismantled. Eighty percent of voters recently polled said spare education as much as you can in cuts.

If the Republicans had attended, perhaps they would've heard our superintendent here talk about ideas she has to free up restricted funds and give them more options. These and other ideas would not increase taxes.

Their absence begs the question: Why don't they want the voters to know how they feel about education? What are they hiding from?

All three Republicans have been given another chance to attend another meeting. I will report back and let everyone know if they show up this time.

Marie- You are an absolute joke. If they wanted to have a productive meeting with Tony why would they invite the media? There plan was to ambush him. Why would anyone walk into that? The fact is Tony would gladly meet with any or all of the superintendents. If they truly wanted to have a productive meeting they wouldn't need to grand stand in front of the press.

Glad that you find my passion for public education so amusing, JD.

What are the three Republicans hiding from? What could they possibly say to the press that could hurt them?

JD,
The American people have ran into the meat grinder of war time and time again and Tony Strickland can't suck it up and face the Mother's of the children he swore to serve?

Tell Tony Strickland anytime you're dealing with children you always error on the side of safety. The Mothers of these children have something to say. It is not safe to ignore the Mothers of America's children politically or otherwise.

I agree with JD that Phony Tony Strickland is just too dimwitted to think on his feet. Basically anytime he is asked a question he is being ambushed because he is dense. Phony Tony is George Bush light!

JD,

You just admitted that you agree Strickland didn't want to be there because it was going to be a tough meeting.

I would appreciate it if his supporters would stop claiming he really wanted to be there but couldn't fit it in.

Marie- Why if they are so concerned about Senator Strickland's position haven't they personally reached out to him? I called his office today and they confirmed that not one superintendent has put a call into him. Also, have you tried to reach out to Tony and voice your concerns? Is your M.O. just to blast him on blogs without speaking personally with him?

nobody- Melodramatic much?

Not Tony- He is a State Senator...You like to write on blogs....I'll take his resume over yours.

GG- I don't know him personally so I can't tell you how legit the scheduling conflict was, but I think it's pretty transparent that he didn't feel like being ambushed in front of the media from a room full of people who disagree with him philosophically.

JD,

I agree with you that he didn't want to go because they were going to push him towards policies and positions he didn't agree with.

Do you agree that if he really wanted to go he would have been there?

JD - have you ever tried to get a Alternative Energy Executive on the phone? It's almost impossible.

Nobody,

Your comments used to annoy me at times, but lately you have had some great zingers!

Even though it poured, the rally was a success. There were quite a few people there. I would like to point out, 12th district PTA invited the teachers to join our rally. I was unaware that the democratic party had been asked - PTA is non-partisan and we merely wanted to ask our legislators to pass a budget now and invest in the education of our children. None of the PTA members brought negative signs and all people who showed up at the rally were told to call or email their state legislator no matter what party they belong to. NONE of our state legislators seems to be budging and we cannot plan for the cuts that are coming unless we know what they are. We picked Senator Strickland's office because it was local and has a sidewalk.

An elected official that ducks out on a meeting vital to the future of education, simply because he's afraid of facing tough questions, should resign. Strickland's fear of facing his constituents should disqualify him from office.

This is nothing but a continuation of sour grapes by the die-hardiest of Jackson supporters, with Marie Lakin at the top of the list.

Strickland had a previous appointment and couldn't attend (simple as that), just as Jackson did when she bugged out on the debate with Strickland in Buellton back in September.

If you all are going to continue to hold grudges and keep the whining machine humming, I guess I may as well join in the party.

Oh, and for the record, Nobody, you still annoy me...

Flamo,

Do you think Senator Strickland should work with the superintendents to reschedule the meeting?

As Marie has explained in the past, it's pointless to meet a dozen people in the rain, especially if some are democratic activists so I hope they realized the futility of the gathering.

No. It's clearly a partisan, bullying effort orchestrated by the school officials & union representatives, egged on by Democratic activists and malcontents from the last election.

Why aren't they protesting in front of Pedro Nava's office? He's just as responsible for passing the State budget as Strickland.

Flamo,

Thanks for proving my point. If this is really an issue over schedules you would support him working out at a time to meet.

Why were Conejo teachers and parents protesting in front of their local legislator's office and not a legislator from another district? Because that's where they live and work! They are the group that called the rally. Also, State Senator Pedro Nava went to the meeting with school district officials.

The Tony Strickland I know isn't afraid of tough questions. You should encourage him to meet with his constituents and you should stop making excuses for him.

Brian- Why does this keep getting sidestepped? I've never heard Tony turn down a meeting with his constituents. He was simply turning down an ambush from a hostile group IN FRONT of the media. You are smarter than this.

I called today and asked his staff...He would make time for anyone in his SD and especially superintendents whose job it is to represent the voice of many.

NOT ONE of them have called him personally for a meeting. This is absolutely ridiculous to be calling Tony out for this.

25 people showed up....hardly a "rally".

Let's stop this insane slanted logic. If they want to really meet and voice their opinions and maybe influence a compromise....why make it a circus? Makes no sense.

Tony is a seasoned politician and he knows his values. He should make every attempt to show up and explain his positions.

I am not interested in private meetings or private conversation, I'd rather see him take questions and explain himself in a public setting.

They should be able to meet with the Ventura County delegation together.

Brian- You don't really believe this? He has stated his positions....time and time and time and time again. He ran and got elected on a platform of not raising taxes and making spending cuts. Why would he go in front of an almost 100% group of HBJ supporters and people who disagree with him philosophicaly (IN FRONT OF THE MEDIA). Not a level playing field. What is to gain out of this? You are not being fair here. This would be a dumb move for anyone on either side of the aisle

I watched the protest. Peggy Buckles, the organizer, calls it a "rally". But the Press Release says "Protest".

There were only 37 people there, including about 5 kids. There were 3 reporters. I was taking pictures for my own use. I'll be sure to share them when I'm at the Republican Convention in Sacramento in a couple of weeks. We will have a meeting with education activists. I will update them on the partisan anti-Republican political activities of the PTA in Southern California.

There were signs saying "Phony Tony hates kids", "Phony Tony hates Education" and more.

I do not work for Senator Strickland or the State. However, a very loud, short, heavy set woman all in red kept yelling at me, saying "You are a government worker, go back to work", or "You work for a terrible person", or "Go back up to Strickland's office", and other strange angry things.

I asked some of the people what their signs meant, and they wouldn't explain their positions, just that "You know what it means". Why weren't they prepared with talking points for their positions?

I understand the budget crisis, but I doubt many of them had ever listened to the CFO of their local school board to comprehend the situation. CVUSD will have a rerun at 7pm on Channel 20 on Friday. The CFO, Dr. Baarstad, speaks for 30 minutes on the budget, and how the district and the CVUSD Board cannot complain about a 10% cut during this national financial crisis. Peggy Buckles was sitting as a trustee at this same meeting. She obviously chose NOT to take his wise advice about complaining.

California will soon be $40B in the hole. Education has 40% of the budget and gets LOTS of money. Education funding doesn't all go to K-12. It goes to pre-school with lots of layers of redundant adminstrators and reports. It goes to research at the University system. It goes to lawsuits. It goes for the worthless Distinguished School Program. It goes for travel and conventions and dues for private organizations like the lobbying group, the CSBA. It goes for bedrooms at the Hotel Del Coronado for 3 days every other year, and SF every other year while board members live it up, wine and dine on OUR money. It goes for salaries of Superintendents who make $178K plus $500 a month for gas. Managers make $64-$86K plus $360 a month for gas.

The 10% cut can come out of that fat. But if you keep electing trustees that enjoy those perks, it's your own fault.

Back to the demonstration:

The behavior of that loud woman seemed to make some of the moms uncomfortable. They looked like first-timers and 2 actually looked scared at the situation. They stayed put at the curb with their signs. Several did not walk the picket line with the CTA union people and the members of the Democratic Club of the Conejo. I recognized at least half a dozen regulars. And they knew me.

When the picket line broke up, I went over to the large, short,rude woman. She had taken my picture several times with her cell phone, inches from my face. I guess she thought it would intimidate me. Hardly, since I'm on TV almost every week, and I'm well known.

I politely told her she must be mistaken, as I was a private person, and did not work for Senator Strickland. She said, "Oh, I can see you now. You looked like that woman at Elton Gallegly's. But I can tell you are a right-wing whacko fanatic!" I just kept smiling, since this was so absurd from a stranger, it struck me as borderline asperger's syndrome behavior, or ODD, Oppositional Defiance Disorder.

I had been about to tell her sincerely that I admired her for coming out in the rain, and using her 1st amendment rights. I firmly believe that democracy is NOT a spectator sport. I like to see people standing up for what they believe. I'm often out in public speaking to people about politics at the library, grocery stores, etc.

I have an affinity for other political wonks. But wonks are people with "inside baseball" knowledge of politics. This woman was coming across as simply a radical ideologue, not an expert. She couldn't put 2 sentences together to cogently defend her position. But good for her any how for coming out in the rain and being a loyal foot soldier for her side. Anyway, she turned away before I could add that compliment to our conversation. Her loss.

The teacher who was next to us started to leave, and I left with her, politely exchanging ideas as we went to the parking lot. She was very passionate about her position while still being very courteous to me. A classy lady. I had seen her cringe when that other woman hurled insults at me.

If the Conejo PTA organized this, as Peggy wrote at 5:11 calling it "our rally", then who the heck sent Brian Dennert this phony "press release"? Who hijacked Peggy's Party? Was it someone in the CTA? Or was it a fellow PTA person? The Press Release is very damaging, if it came from PTA people. They are officially forbidden to make partisan attacks.

Brian, write to me off-line if you want to share where you got that press release. I'd love to know! Or it can always be subpoenaed later, if needed as evidence.

Peggy Buckles had NO control over the demonstration. She should have gotten a permit from the City, and passed out armbands for her people. That was the drill last year, and she knew it.

When the DEMS crashed it, Peggy should have told them that they could take their rude signs and rude behavior, and go to City Hall and get a permit for their own demonstration. She should have told them they couldn't make partisan and personal attacks on the Senator at a PTA sponsored event. I wouldn't EVER have allowed such a hijacking at any event under my name.

But because she failed to do this, Peggy Buckles mixed partisan politics in with a PTA event, thus jeopardizing PTA District 12's 501(c)(3) tax exempt status. She knows this is serious. That's an entire District!! Nearly all of Ventura County, which represents a big chunk of the entire State PTA budget and membership.

She knew that I was watching, and she even spoke with me in the lobby where I waited out of the rain. She posted her comment as soon as she could after the demonstration, to try to excuse the situation. Too bad. The damage was done.

When I went to the Republican Central Committee HQs this evening to volunteer, I brought a copy of this blog, with the Press Release and Peggy's note trying to explain away the mess. They already knew about it. They have an RSS "stream" from Brian's blog with instantaneous updates. Peggy, I know you mean well and you do this for the sake of kids, but gosh, you screwed up. You let your "non-partisan rally" get out of control.

Peggy Buckles is a new Trustee on the CVUSD Board. She is a Republican, and a member of the Republican Women Federated. She is also a PTA District 12 Officer, and the Legislative Chair.

She did not get endorsed by the VCRCC when she ran for school board because, among other sins, she publicly opposed the Gov's educational reforms 4 years ago, in a pro-union proclamation she hand-carried to the CVUSD Board during a televised broadcast. And her current behavior is also frequently regarded as working at cross purposes to GOP goals. Elephants never forget.

It was just last Tuesday that I told her and others on the CVUSD Board about violations of the political activity policy of the local PTA. I reported that the Thousand Oaks High School PTSA website had posted an alert with 8 slams against the California Republican Party on the school website, specifically blaming the Republican Party 8 separate times for the budget mess. That constitutes using government/district resources for partisan politics. It also is a purposeful violation of the PTA's own regulations. Busted!

And now, 2 days later, Peggy Buckles leads the Conejo PTA in a public demonstration on Thousand Oaks Boulevard with people holding signs attacking a local politician, singling him out as a Republican in a Press Release. Not good publicity for the supposedly "non-partisan" PTA. The reporters will have the story and the photos in the Star tomorrow.

Last year, Peggy Buckles led the 12th District PTA in a similar demonstration in front of the same building, which was then Senator McClintock's office. She also protested in front of Audra Strickland's office. But, significantly, the 12th District PTA did not bother to protest in front of the office of any Democrat Senator or Assemblymember in the area, and there were 3 of them. That fact will be of importance.

Cathy Carlson

Brian,

Not sure what point you think I proved. I think you're confusing two different meetings here. The one I was referring to was the first meeting that everyone keeps harping about, which he couldn't make because of his previously scheduled card table meet-and-greet in Goleta.

Thanks for the opportunity to clarify though.

Cathy,

I have been around protests for years and it is not uncommon for groups that have a similar interest ( passing a state budget ) to join a protest. All you do is add the details to your own announcement and then forward it on. I don't think it is likely any group can tell another group of people standing there peacefully that they called the entire sidewalk and they need to leave. Especially when crowd control on a rainy day wasn't an issue. If someone else holding a sign constitutes a violation then anyone would have veto power by showing up with a sign their events.

I know you have been a critic of your district for many years, but have you seen some improvements in the last few years? Not everything in your district can be negative. What school districts in Ventura County do you think are well run? With all the bad news over budgets and schools share with us something upbeat.

Thanks for reminding me the VCRCC has a RSS feed of my blog. Let them know to keep sending me in their events and I will post them.

Cathy, I talked to you out there and I let you ramble on, but you are so woefully misinformed about so many things, there was no point in trying to correct you. But I'm going to do it now:

The Democrats just joined the already planned protest, that's all. There was absolutely no coordination between the PTA and the Democratic activists. They heard about it and issued the press release Brian posted.

I came up with Venturans who had heard about it as well. I watched you count heads out there. A lot of people came and stayed just a little while because it was raining really hard. I counted 58 between comings and goings.

I watched the Star/CAPC forum with all the Conejo candidates, the one that both Stricklands were invited to and declined to attend. I was very impressed with Ms. Buckles. She will be a fine asset to CVUSD.

You also need to know something about 501 (c) 3 status organizations. You are allowed to do advocacy for issues, even ballot measures, but it can't constitute more than 50 percent of your activity. One little rally to ask for a budget to be passed is a small fraction of what the PTA Council does.

58 people out at the "rally"???????? Another lie by Marie.....shocking!

I saw people coming and going a lot and that's the figure I came up with, to the best of my ability. I could be off a bit. It was a pouring, driving rain. I saw Ms. Carlson standing inside the building most of the time hiding next to a security guard. She came out toward the end to count.

Oh, and "JD," point of order on an earlier conversation: The press was not invited to the superintendent's meeting from the outset. This was our educators' attempt to communicate with all their legislators in an efficient way in one place and share their concerns. The superintendents meet regularly in this manner.

The press found out about it later and asked to come, as press are inclined to do. It was a public meeting that anyone could've come to.

So your "ambush" theory doesn't hold up, either.

As usual Marie is wrong again.

Suggest you follow the link to the IRS guide to 501(c)3 organizations.

Action that favors one group (Republicans) over another (Democrats) is prohibited.

Holding a "pass the budget rally" out in front of your elected representative's office does not constitute partisan activity.

Now Strickland's a victim of a ruthless group of concerned parents & teachers who are lobbying for better public education? Oh, come on!

If he feels so victimized when his constituents participate in an act of democratic free speech, then maybe he should resign and take a job as PR man for the Zimbabwe regime.

By the way, as much as some of you still yearn for an abridged version of the Bill of Rights, the IRS does NOT forbid non-profits from participating in public issue debates, despite one party being on the losing side of those debates.

After reading the rambling, incoherent, hate filled, overly long and boring post by this Cathy Carlson person I now firmly believe we need to recall Tony the Phony Strickland if these are the kind of extremists who support him!

"It was a public meeting that anyone could've come to."

Then do you care to explain why staff members of legislators were apparently told that they weren't an acceptable alternative to the elected official they represent?

right.........

Marie, you lose a lot of credibility. I was not hiding. I am 5' tall. I was staying warm and talking to the 6'4" CHP officer, not a security guard! Turning to cough or blow my nose isn't "hiding"! You are a piece of work.

I didn't have a storm coat on, just the new light weight suit jacket I was wearing on my way to get it tailored. The skirt was in the car. That's why I was mismatched with black pants and shoes and a glen plaid beige and brown jacket. Horrors! You could blackmail me and turn in my photo to the Republican fashion police on what NOT to wear to document an Education Budget Protest. Thank my lucky stars that I had my coordinating scarf and cloisonne beads to save me and identify me as Right wing Whacko, my identity per that woman in a red storm parka. In case you lost any sleep over it, I had another warmer coat in the car to wear later that night.

By the way, my tailor is great--a petite Italian immigrant on TO Blvd. She has lots of photos of Republican actors who are her clients. She knows what looks good on short women. She is a Republican who came to America 47 years ago. She has a lot to say about illegal immigrants, so I'm sure you wouldn't want to do business with her. You'd rather use an illegal. But once in a while you should patronize a law-abiding taxpayer whose services cost more. Remember, their money is taken by the government to keep all your free social programs rolling for illegals, so you need to support the small business owner, even though you hate us capitalists.

Marie, you don't pay attention to important details, do you? That "security guard" was a senior officer in the CHP. Maybe you don't know that CHP means California Highway Patrol. It was in huge letters on his raincoat. It is the duty of the CHP as the State Police, to guard members of the Senate. I am friendly with all the CHP who get assigned to the local legislators. I was telling who was who, and the background of the event. I carry the Captain's business card in my wallet with his personal cell phone number he wrote on it so I can reach him anytime.

Public demonstrations can turn violent. That's why there was an armed Highway Patrol officer watching you, sent by the Sargent-at-Arms of the Senate, and making regular reports about the demonstrators to the Moorpark headquarters and to Sacramento. There were several CHP cars on alert in the area. You should have come in and introduced yourself to him and made a friend. Or do you have issues with authority figures?

But then again, you dismissed him as a lowly security guard. Nice show of discrimination and falsely placed intellectual elitism on your part. I thought you people were protectors of the proletariat, the poor laborer who scrapes by with jobs such as a security guard. Don't they have value in your eyes? What do you want to bet that most security guards are Republicans, since they are all about protecting private property, instead of "spreading the wealth", like Lord Obama is preaching.

Marie, you need to stifle yourself. The more you say, the dumber you sound.

People did NOT come and go by the dozens! I was there at 4 and left at 5. I saw the first 2 women come, the tall young blonds holding red and white umbrellas, and a dark haired man in a dark baseball jacket. We watched more people come while I was visiting in the Wells Fargo Office. I had business upstairs with the building owner for 20 minutes, came down, chatted with the CHP officer, came out and took pictures of the signs. I had no interest in any one's face, but several people tried to hide. I started playing with the Lady in Red with my camera because she was so weird, sticking her cell phone in my face. I'm taking your picture, not I'm taking YOUR picture. I was mocking her. But I quickly tired of that and didn't want to waste my film. I just wanted photos of the signs, not people. I only really took 10 pictures. I did not want to interfere with the demonstration, and anyone's first amendment rights.

You are so weird in your blog. You are a drama queen, and exaggerate like crazy. Did you WANT someone to come out and give you a hard time? Were you looking for a confrontation? That woman in red sure was spoiling for a fight. I took photos, asked a couple of questions of the picketers, and spoke with you after I asked if you were from the Star. You said yes. I figured something was up when you said you only were taking pictures of the kids who were so cute! I only went out to the curb for a few minutes and it ruined my hair! Damn!

I don't believe 20 people came and went during the short time I was upstairs. You never did a head count, did you? I counted twice. You left early. I left when only 3 were on the sidewalk at 5. One of them was the die-hard woman in red who was still yelling as I drove by.

You are a very silly person to exaggerate. I guess habits are hard to break.

Don't bother asking me any more questions. I am SO done with this website. It's like throwing pearls before swine. Plenty of political information from experts is out there. You side asks for it, we give it to you, and this website disregards and dismisses the experts on the subject.

You liberals can keep talking in circles to yourselves, and never expand your horizons. That's because you are convinced that your amateur pundits like Marie, have all the answers you need. I gave her plenty of hard facts, and sources, and she didn't absorb any of it. And that's why you side gets bozos like Al Franken from Minnesota as liberal candidates! What a shallow pool of wisdom is that guy! You get what you deserve. ACORN gave you the election. What a low class criminal organization, birthed in the city of corruption, Chicago, home of your communist labor organizer, your hero Saul Alinsky.

I'm posting one more long comment to answer Brian, and then I'm signing off for ever.

Once again our friend Mongo is wrong. Pedro Nava is and has voted to pass a budget along with the majority of Representatives who represent the majority of California citizens. It is Strickland and a handful of minority representatives who represent a minority of California citizens who are holding the budget hostage for political grandstanding. The Republicans and those who support them need to wake up and smell the coffee.

Cathy, you seem to be apologizing a lot for your ensemble yesterday. Maybe it was not a CHP officer at all but rather the fashion police?

I appreciate your kind words for my prose.

No, we don't agree on education funding. But give me some credit for being polite and not arguing with you out there.

I counted around 40 folks when I got there and added in 18 who I saw coming later.

Sorry about your hair, Cathy. I was drenched. My hair was soaking, my feet were soaking and I survived.

But even though you ended up drier than I did, I still think you're all wet...

Adios.

Now, now, JD. Cathy and I are just very passionate about our opposite points of view. And we are both likely a bit flamboyant. We had a very civil discussion yesterday.

But Cathy evidently has a better tailor than I do...

When a Senator takes money from tobacco companies and meth addict Republicans it makes the people worried about how that Senator is going to care for the district's children.

The people deserve to know:

What is Tony Strickland's plan in regards to protecting the education of the children in his district?

If Tony Strickland is afraid to answer that question in public he should resign immediately.

Brian,

This is mostly just for you. If other people want to "eavesdrop", then they shouldn't complain about its length. I'm not twisting their arms to read this. This is my last correspondence to you.

I want you to get a better picture of where people were standing yesterday. I want to make sure readers understand that I was NOT harassing protesters at this demonstration, impeding progress, touching anyone,or holding any signs of my own. I was there to document the event for my own purposes.

For a few minutes I was standing under the overhang near the door, and about 10 to 15 feet away from the picketers. The woman in red was next to me, out of the rain, and started yelling at me out of the blue, repeatedly put her cell phone within inches of my face. I protected my face with my little disposable camera. I don't even think I took her picture. I had done nothing to provoke her outburst. But she had already been yelling for several minutes, and her adrenaline was up. I refused to engage with her, Later this angry woman called me a right-wing whacko nut, incorrectly told me I was a government worker and screamed at me to get back to work. I could she was disturbed, so I calmly walked over to the other side of the door, still under the overhang, away from the demonstration.

I found myself standing next to a woman with a camera, near the plants, and about the same 10-15 foot distance from the picketers. It turned out to be Marie and we chatted a bit while we watched the groups move. Neither of us knew each other. We were both polite and it wasn't strained at all, even though we had a different take on the real reason for the demonstration.

Then I braved the light rain, walked over to a few people, asked what their signs meant, didn't really get a decent answer from anyone, took photos, and left.

Brian, you asked me some questions. If you really want the answers, I'll give them to you. Please take notes, because this is going to cover a lot, and I'll never repeat this. This is my last blog comment ever on your website.

The person who sent you the press release took the liberty of putting names on there as sponsors, without Peggy's permission. Now it looks like it was supposed to be just a Conejo Council event, but the officers of the 12th district took the liberty of inviting the CTA. And then someone added the DCCV. That was misrepresenting Peggy's event and exploiting your blog using false information. That is hijacking an event. It was unethical.

If the PTA had done as they had done last year, they would have-- as a courtesy-- contacted Thousand Oaks City Hall, filled out a form, and said who the participants were and an estimated number of attendees. Then that's who the police and the CHP would have expected. The building owner then gets notified of the event, and the expected crowd. Anyone else showing up and causing trouble could be removed by the police as an outsider, if Peggy complained that they were disturbing the peace.

Actually, the party crashers did disturb the peace at the Wells Fargo office by yelling, and the people yelling slogans disrupted their business for a short time. But it wasn't terrible. That loud mouth woman in red, though, is a loose cannon. She is a lawsuit waiting to happen.

Brian, it is NOT alright in Thousand Oaks and Westlake to have people "drop in" without being invited by the organizer, and crash an event and carry signs that offend the organization that put together the event. There are rules and conventions here in our town to encourage civil behavior.

I know that is hard for some people to understand, especially those with ADD, or ODD, who like their politics loosey-goosey, a la Move-On.org. or ACORN.

The State PTA also has certain internal rules, and IRS laws they must obey. Party crashers are problem makers.

The owner of the building was not happy when the DEMs showed up. He was told that the PTA agreed not to park in his parking lot. But people did. I was in his office when the his senior assistant looked out the window and saw the sign that read "Strickland hates kids". That didn't make any points with her. People going in the elevator made negative remarks when they found out it was the CTA complaining about cuts. Not much sympathy these days.

Brian, you are incorrect that this location was picked as the closest legislator's location, despite what Peggy is now saying, after the fact. She is tap dancing like crazy, so as not to get into trouble with the IRS. Peggy could have told you that the 12th headquarters are at 560 Airport Way at the Camarillo Airport. Pedro Nava's office and Sen Fran Pavley's office are both much closer to the PTA center than Tony Strickland's district office in TO. The PTA's 12th District covers all of Ventura County, not just the remote East County. But what is the truth? Was Peggy the organizer on behalf of the Conejo, or was it the 12th District? Peggy defends herself, saying it was her event, and the 12th started taking over and THEY invited the teachers (i.e., the union). Then who invited the Democratic Club of the Conejo? That detail will be important to the IRS. Let them sort it out. Regardless, Peggy allowed offensive partisan signs to be carried at her event.

As Marie wrote, people drove in from the City of Ventura to attend. But as Marie let slip, this wasn't about complaining to the closest legislator about the budget; it was an attack on Tony Strickland.

Marie told me that the rally was staged to get back at Tony for not going to the Supt's meeting. She tried to say how important that meeting was. How would she know what ed issues were important and what was a re-hash? She's just repeating what someone told her. Did she go to that small meeting? No. What important news was shared? Apparently nothing. Nothing new.

If it was vital, then an aide would have been asked to come, which is the usual practice. Thousand of people in Ventura County who attend Leg/Gov meetings from City Hall to The Chamber of Commerce to Water Districts knows this. And now you and Marie and the 3 people reading my comments also know this.

For the voyeurs who have read my comments this far, I'm warning you now. You only have yourselves to blame if you complain that you read all the way to the bottom, and you thought it wasn't worth your time. You will look pretty foolish to others if you claim you were "coerced" into reading my comments that you will surely dismiss as garbage. For those of you who are braver, read on. But if you are fans of Marie's, this isn't going to be your favorite flavor of politics. Stop now before you gag yourself. But we all know you can't stop yourselves, so you will read this, and then blame me for making your eyes go all the way to the bottom. Always playing the victim. Poor, poor, little downtrodden liberals. Big bully Cathy made me read the whole thing. And now I'm damaged. And now I'm going to sue, or I'll just throw ad hominem insults her way to validate my pathetic choices.

You think I'm insulting to Marie? Guess what. I was more than civil to her, and I reached out to give her info time and time again. Then she insulted and misrepresented me on her blog. Elephants never forget. And we have big feet to stomp on those who cross us. I won't be blogging after today. I am moving on. But I'm not going to forget the disingenuous Marie Lakin of Ventura.

I am not doubting her passion for education. Of course, she will say, its for the children and they are our future. I don't doubt her motives or her sincerity, but this is a financial matter during a severe crisis.

I tried to help Marie understand the issue at hand. She has very superficial knowledge of education issues, and even less of the workings of the huge Dept of Ed and the various funds. She didn't know any details of the 10% cuts proposed by the Governor, which were acceptable to the rest of the Ed Coalition last week. She didn't know who the Ed Coalition was! I started to rattle off the 9 member groups, but she got glassy eyed.

But she was darn sure that Tony was a low-lifer because he didn't cancel his reservations for a personal outreach event which had required a permit. Instead, little Miss Know-nothing Marie thought Tony should have gone instead to a bitch-fest at the County Ed offices with the same old complaints going round and round. After seeing the rude behavior of these local ed folks, I'm surprised that ANY rep ever goes to their meetings.

It is not smart to cross me, EVER. I'm extremely loyal to my friends, and I try to be friendly and cordial with my acquaintances of either party. But once you insult me, you've crossed a line and you are banished to the realm of the Unforgiveables. This streamlines my life.

I'm Lutheran. From the Old School Augustana branch. We aren't big on forgiveness. We are big on guilt and shame and personal responsibility, with no tolerance for slackers who play the victim and blame others. Lots of liberals live their lives without shame and personal responsibility, don't they? Lots of gang members do, too. I reject that lifestyle.

Marie made her choice when she slammed me. There are consequences for every action and decision you make. Some consequences don't surface for years. Watch for the political consequences from yesterday's mess to show up in about 6 months.

Tony and Audra Strickland and their staffs are professionals who are extremely well versed in all the different categories of Ed funding, class size reduction funding, union rights, other labor law rights. They offered to send an aide to the meeting with the County school superintendents, which was refused!!

The County School Sups have these meetings all the time. Have they asked SD 19 to attend before? No. But now they wanted attention. They could have had a rep there but that was rejected. How rude and disrepectful to the reps was that? Tony's chief of staff from Sacramento has been SD19's top man for 13 years, and he could have attended, given enough notice. These aides are highly, highly qualified to attend these meetings.

No, the unions wanted Tony's body there to shoot arrows into. Otherwise an aide could have been given the invitation to come to speak, and bring back all the information in a report. And in the weeks since that "important" meeting, NO Supts have called to ask for a personal meeting or even a phone interview, or a letter. None have asked the Stricklands to speak at a School Board meeting. I checked. And have they included Tony in their next meeting? I'm guessing, no. Because the drama is over.

Getting back to Marie, I had to explain to her that the PTA and CTA split from the other 7 on the Ed Coalition last week, arguing over categorical funding. It was too much "inside baseball" for her to follow. I explained that this was about jobs for teachers. And I agreed that this was a legitimate reason to picket. The union is worried that the change the Governor is proposing will have administrators robbing from teachers salary funds, and eliminating positions that are surplus when class sizes increase.

She didn't get it. I told her that "education" doesn't just mean K-12. She knew nothing about the rift between CTA/PTA and the rest of the powerful Education Coalition. I knew then she wasn't a reporter. I mentioned the SacBee reporter Dan Walters article the day before in the Star. She was blank. I knew then she wasn't a political wonk.

I told her that the demonstration by the PTA was for solidarity for teachers who don't want to lose their jobs. I can appreciate that. But it's an exaggeration to say that kids will have lousy educations because of a reversal in class size, or because of a shorter year, or because the conference and travel budgets are eliminated.

She countered by implying that the "rally" was to punish Tony for missing the Superintendent's meeting. I said I understood that the Democratic Club of the Conejo and The CTA had different reasons for being there, and yes, it probably came from an on-going beef regarding their demands for attendance at the Superintendent's meeting. The revised press release from the mystery writer, attacked him for being a Republican, however. Did Marie write that notice? Is she the guilty party who invited the gate crashers?

Marie can believe what she wants, but it seems she only wants to take the side of the CTA. Her attitude was: don't confuse me with the facts. Whether she gets it or not, the truth is that the other 7 groups in the Ed Coalition DID get it. They like the Governor's idea of getting rid of the categorical funding. It is the only way a district can stay afloat.

If the CTA and the PTA continue to protest about the cuts, it comes across as selfish, and really not about the kids. Cuts are being made everywhere: for services for the blind, for the elderly, for the mentally ill. Life is rough now. The rest of the Education community are acting like grownups and are dealing with this crisis. But the PTA and the CTA are going to hold their breath til they turn blue. What do you expect? They live in a world surrounded by immature humans. It is an occupational risk that they might just revert to the juvenile behavior they see all day.

Let's be frank; it's not about the kids--its about paychecks. And that's a darn good reason for someone to get mad. I do understand these people need to support their families. However, it is not very becoming to them to use the kids as a front for their demonstrations. The public is not sympathizing with them, since the rest of the Ed Coalition has resolved to move on, and have gotten on board with the Governor's education proposal. Lots of people are losing their jobs. It's not like you can say you didn't see this coming.

The CTA and PTA left themselves literally out in the rain, by leaving the Ed Coalition negotiations.

Cuts must be made everywhere in California's budget. It is ludicrous and disrespectful to parade kids out in front of a Senator's office with signs saying that Tony hates kids, or Tony kills education. What kind of poor behavior does that model?

Brian, as far as the good things at CVUSD, you should have come to CVUSD board meetings for the past 10 years to hear them. You've declined. And then you recently said you didn't really understand the role of the President of a school board. Come and learn. Go to your own district board meetings. The president is powerful, and choses the agendas.

I do compliment the district frequently. Conejo did improve over the past 7 years on their API. 7 years ago there were 11 schools out of 29 that failed to make the state minimum of 800 API points, or 75%. That is more than 30%. Yes, it is shocking for an "excellent" district that a third of their schools were subpar, even by loose California standards.

The Excellent label was just bull from the spin doctors and the realtors in the Conejo. The bought tons of awards. Yes, bought with money to pay clerks to type, and substitutes to babysit kids while real teachers wrote the fluff. Rich districts can afford the time and money it takes to garner awards.

Rich districts can also make up fake awards by going to Signature Sign Company and ordering wooden signs that claim "A California Top 100 School" and put them on 10 schools, even though there is no such State award. I got all of them removed, but it took 7 years. The owner of a similar award told me "What are they doing using my name, changing the name of my award. I have no record of ever giving any award to a school in the Conejo Valley, let alone 10 awards. Send me everything." Lilian Clancey's awards cost $1,000 by the way. Yep, the signs finally came down. The State of California Legal Dept sent me a letter that there was no such State award, and a copy was sent to Supt Jerry Gross, and County Supt Chuck Weis. Chuck Weis sent me and Jerry Gross a letter saying that his opinion was that no school's merit should be judged by this "California Top 100 Sign" since there was no such award with such a name, official or private.

The CVUSD had 3 real estate investors on its Board. The president of the Personnel Commission is a big time realtor, with his face on the Vons shopping carts. The spin worked. Conejo had a great reputation, and realtors made a killing. And those stupid made up Top 100 signs made people proud. Reminds you of the Emperor's New Clothes, doesn't it?

That was then, this is now. Now 2 schools are closing, we have 4 Title I poor schools, with one at risk of going into PI, and having the State takeover. That is Glenwood Elementary which missed an API subgroup--English learners--this year. If they miss their target next year, they are at risk of having the State take over. No wonder the MATES Charter school refuses to be placed there.

10 years ago, all 3 high schools in the Conejo Valley were under the state minimum of 75%, or 800 points. They all failed to hit the mediocre target of a C, or 75%. Now they come in at a B- or B. A couple of our four Title I schools got above the minimum last year, and I made sure to give them credit for moving from a D- to a C range on their API.

I always congratulate the National Merit Scholars, the athletes, and the psychologists with their work with special ed kids. The Thinking Cap kids and their dedicated mentor have been state champions for nearly 10 years, and they get special notice from me.

I always shake hands with the Eagle Scouts. I compliment the CFO, Dr. Jeff Baarstadt on his financial reports, and he knows it is sincere since I don't flatter people lightly. I give him specific feedback on what was clear in his complicated presentations, and I've told him he has excellent communications skills. He is the best budget guy we've ever had. He managed to scrape together over $3M in savings this year by implementing an austerity program. He is amazing.

Brian, you don't seem to appreciate that community members play a vital role in monitoring government. From your comments, the only people you want to see get involved are those on the left. Maybe you need to open up a little and give us some credit for the good work conservatives do. Look in your heart and ask yourself if you've been fair to us.

City and School Board politics is local government at the closest level and has the quickest results. Brian, I know you enjoy politics in the abstract sense, but you aren't in the trenches with us. You aren't moving and changing things in a visible way, as we are.

The kind of political work we do takes years of networking, and years of cultivating knowledge of not only personalities, but the nuts and bolts of local government. Who are "we"? We keep our list of friends confidential, with a few of us sticking our necks out publicly when appropriate, like I do. This role isn't for everyone. Most of the networking is behind the scenes. This is the same for your operatives on the left. Maybe you aren't aware of this, since you don't work at that level.

I'm spelling this out for the benefit of the "newbies", the high school kids, the PTA moms, and the other shut-ins. This is the "sausage making" that politicians refer to. It is better off unseen.

In a healthy relationship between local government and taxpayers, a school district or City government does respond positively to community input.

Certain members from both our organized and loose watchdog groups are experts who are taken very seriously and are very well respected by the people who count inside the government. You are unaware of the emails and phone calls from them to us. They know we do our homework and we are committed volunteers.

Our conservative members have served on boards, and commissions, and as ombudsmen. We also have strong credibility and very good relations with the District Attorney's office. When we discover a conflict of interest with a vendor and an employee, we take action, and have saved local government a lot of grief and a lot of money.

Whistleblowers know how to come to us. There are many, many such cases we have helped. We have also been advocates for individuals who have been hurt. We don't look for the glory, and we put up with the criticism. Most of our work is invisible, and a lot of it is done anonymously. We have a rapid response team and we can mobilize quickly. Only we know how many people we've helped and how much we've done. And we know how many calls we get for help as ombudsmen. City Hall employees have also unofficially referred people to us.

It is not just parents or students, or business we've helped. Lots of employees turn to us when they don't find support from their unions. And that list of employees has even included principals over the years.

We are vigilantes against corruption, graft, and waste. We are pro individual rights.

We are guided by this principle: follow the law, but the best government is the least government. We also believe that individual rights and parental rights trump government intervention. And we believe that throwing more money at a problem is usually the worst answer. And throwing government money at a problem is nearly always the WORST answer.

California is in a critical position. The State is on the verge of self-destructing. It is time for triage. I'm not going to be sweating the small stuff. I'm saving my energies to make changes at a bigger level.

The Ed Coalition is disintegrating after 20 years of corrupt power in Sacramento. The CTA will soon be implode.

And the PTA will be replaced by individual non-political PFAs and PCOs. The PTA will be rejected and die in California as it has in the rest of America because of its liberal agenda and lousy track record of improving California schools. 75% of American schools have shown the PTA the door and replaced them with independent parent groups. The national PTA is now unpopular. It has only 1 M members throughout all the other 49 States, and only 5 M members in California.

Are we a better state for having the most PTA charters in America, or is California the worst in the nation in education? The PTA is distracted with partisan political lobbying, to the detriment of education. The record shows that they overwhelmingly oppose Republican bills, and support Democrat sponsored bills. It is a stretch as to whether some of these bills are even slightly within the scope of their concern as education advocates. This record is on their state website, and the PTA's leftist socialist Nanny agenda is clear to even a blind man. The PTA gets its marching orders from the CTA and the NEA. That was clear yesterday.

The old guard will be gone in 20 years. All the struggles for power by the various education unions will be for naught with a broken school system. Parents will opt out and join charter schools, or home school or use private schools. There won't be ADA money, and the taxpayers won't vote for bonds, because the middle class will be crippled by the stupid bailouts. The unions will have no power over those families. It will all have been in vain

Brian, thanks for a final opportunity to educate some readers today. Hope some young people have their eyes opened. It is too late, though, for stubborn old leftist ideologues.

If I struck a chord with some young people, that's what I was hoping to do. Please contact the Ventura County Central Committee across from the Lakes in TO at 805-557-1240.

There is a grassroots high school group calling themselves "Reclaim" that is meeting in TO at the Republican Headquarters. These kids are rejecting the leftist easy way out, they are rejecting the Progressive Club nonsense at the high schools. No government Nanny state for them. If you are a maverick and not a "sheeple", come and join tomorrow's leaders.

2219 E. Thousand Oaks Blvd., Suite 103
Thousand Oaks, CA 91362
info@vcrcc.org

Brian, others are going to continue to monitor the stream from your blog. But it won't be me.

I'm moving on. I believe this was pretty thorough. Don't ask me any more questions. I'm done. I used my real name and I've been honest with you. I'm sure that there will be nasty trolls slamming me after today. So be it. I'll never see them. I've lost interest in this website. I've posted all I'm ever going to post on here ever again.

Cathy "Bulldog" Carlson

If all these extraneous "liberal" groups were unexpected event crashers, as you say, then how did Strickland and the other no-see-ums know that they'd be there? And if Team Strickland didn't know they'd be there, why are they now being used as an excuse for the anti-ed politicians to avoid the event?

Wouldn't it be better to get your stories straight when making excuses for your no-shows leadership?

Good Lord. A blogger who rivals James Michener in unbridled verbosity. And I thought "The Kidd" was bad.

No, Cathy I didn't tell you it was staged to get back at Tony Strickland for not attending the meeting. I asked you if you thought it was. I think he made a big mistake skipping out on it, quite frankly.

I know the folks from Ventura came up because they want a budget and they don't want excessive cuts to education. I don't know anybody in the Conejo PTA so I would be unable to question their already stated motives.

You wonder why I looked glassy eyed? Your post above sort of explains why. You went on and on and didn't let me get a word in edgewise, so I just nodded and smiled, injected a few "Oh, OKs" in there and extricated myself from the conversation. It was obvious we weren't going to agree, so why bother to argue?

I know exactly what is going on in the Department of Education and our state. I am extremely well read and very involved in school issues here in Ventura. I have no trouble whatsoever with loosening the restrictions on categorical funding.

I helped raise over $100,000 for Ventura schools last year. What have you done for education lately besides getting signs removed?

You did indeed tell me that budget cuts, which you pegged as 10 percent -- but which I have been told by our superintendent are closer to 16 percent -- were not a big deal. You slammed preschool programs, too. Do you deny that? You also told me you were out there to talk to the media and present your side of things. You're awfully thin skinned for somebody who is involved in politics. Go ahead and vent at me. Everybody else does, too. No big deal.

Look, I was having a little fun in my last few posts. You need to lighten up. Blogs are places to exchange information but I don't take it all that seriously. Take a deep breath, Cathy. Go hug your kids. Life is precious and wonderful.

So did anyone learn anything except to attack eachother's comments?

We learned that Cathi needs a straitjacket?

Well, well, well - look who's back from her latest vacation on the Isle of 5150.

The comments Cathy Carlson made about Marie sound like she was looking in the mirror when she was composing her mini unabomber-esque manifesto:

"You are a drama queen,and exaggerate like crazy"

"You need to stifle yourself. The more you say, the dumber you sound."

"You are a very silly person to exaggerate. I guess habits are hard to break."

"I'm signing off for ever." (how many times have we read that promise?)

"If you really want the answers, I'll give them to you. Please take notes, because this is going to cover a lot, and I'll never repeat this. This is my last blog comment ever on your website." (there it is again - promises, promises.)

All political parties have their share of, shall we say, colorful characters. With Carlson, I really do offer my sympathy to the Republicans for having her around.

The attack dogs come out everytime Stricklands get caught in deep doodoo. Did you read the long editorial by the Las Virgenes superintendent taking the Stricklands to task? You going to attack him next?

OMFG that conservative lady has finally lost her grip on reality. I think we've witnessed a complete nervous breakdown right here live on the Brian Dennert show!

It's amazing that a few protesters who aren't going to follow all her 'rules of polite demonstrations' with their pinkys in the air would cause Miss Bulldog's unravelling. Maybe its because all her clandestine little networks of Republican obstructionist 'sausage makers' have been exposed as the corrupt central reason for the collapse of our state and its educational infrastructure.

Sorry if the protest upset you, but, there'll be a few more. Take a deep breath. It's a new day.

Quo Vadis California???

Once again, far-right and far-left tribalism abound in the 19th SD.

What we desperately need in California, and particularly in the 19th SD, are political leaders of the caliber of United States Senators Arlen Specter, Olympia Snow, Ben Nelson, Susan Collins, and Joe Lieberman.

United States Senators, Democrats and Republican both, who in unprecedented times of national crisis, put people above politics, principle above partisanship, and performance above platitudes.

Once again, when America desperately needed it, these centrist leaders acted with the courage of their convictions. And thank God they did..

By so doing, they provided President Obama with the critical votes necessary to pass the much needed stimulus package in the Senate, albeit one which is more sensible, bi-partisan, and sustainable than the version they got from the House.

Further, they demonstrated that in times of great need, Democratic and Republican Senators of good faith and possessing political courage will work together in the interest of America, rather than the narrow interests of their hyper-partisan caucus masters and contribution bundlers.

You can bet that President Obama appreciates their political courage, and so should all of us.

Unfortunately, what do we California voters have to look forward to in the 19th Senate District? The never ending battle between Hannah Beth Jackson and Tony Strickland, and their blog-attack dog minions carping at each other while the State comes crashing down around their all too deaf ears..

By any measure, their brand of hyper-partisan political tribalism has been a disaster in this State. No State budget, countless people suffering, and now, the worst bond rating of all 50 States!

What we now have in California is dysfunctional government, decaying infrastructure, ad deflating State economy and disrespectful political discourse. All of which combine to cause an unprecedented outflow of entreprenaurial brain-power, business-sense, and investment capital to other parts of the country and the world.

We can be sure of one thing. Leaders the like of Pat Brown, Earl Warren, Jess Unruh, Ronald Reagan, Bob Moretti and Leo McCarthy are surely weeping with the Angels as to what is happening to our Golden State.

And as long as we California voters reward hyper-partisan politicians like HBJ and Tony Strickland with countless re-election to the State Legislature, we are ultimately to blame for the mess we are in.

As Cassius so aptly stated, "..The fault, dear Brutus, lies not in the stars, but in ourselves.."

NostraDemus

The election is over and Hannah-Beth Jackson is not a candidate for office. You should focus your attention on our actual elected officials. What did you think of all of the Republicans skipping the education meeting?

The Count:

You could have fooled me given Marie's persistent passionate advocacy of HBJ for 19th SD, Round II in 2012 on many blogs, including her’s and Brian’s. But as the French say, “…Cest la guerre, politique!..�

I did focus my attention on actual elected officials, HBJ and Tony Strickland both were elected officials, serving together in the Assembly at one time, and Mr. Strickland is now our State Senator.

In fact, perhaps you should focus your attention on Governing Magazine's periodic report card grading the relative performance of State government amongst the 50 states.

If you do, you'll find that the last time that both HBJ and Tony were in the State Legislature together (2004) Governing Magazine gave the State a lower grade (C-) then the (C) grade issued during the most recent grading period (2008) when NEITHER were in the State Legislature. Of note though, California has never received a grade higher than a C from Governing, since they first started issuing these report cards in 2001.

What does that tell you? It tells me that based on their legislative track records in the Assembly, neither HBJ nor Tony Strickland was deserving of matriculation to the State Senate.

Regarding the Republican legislators, particularly the Stricklands, skipping the recent meeting with Superintendents, in my view, politically understandable, but also politically cowardly.

Understandable because if you remember, during the last campaign for 19th SD, HBJ and her chief supporters trumpeted on this blog that she had received the endorsement of virtually all of the Superintendents in the Ventura County portion of the District.

As hard as it is sometimes for the Superintendents to swallow, even they are not immune from the political consequences of their own endorsement actions. What do they think is gonna happen when the guy they all publicly opposed gets elected? He's gonna show-up for tea and crumpets with them the very first time he's invited? Give me break..

Having said that, I still think it was politically stupid for the Stricklands, particularly Tony, to not show-up for that meeting. He should have showed up for the meeting, listened to the Superintendents’ ideas, and then when it was his turn to talk, he should have given them all a homework assignment.

Produce an auditable report documenting whether or not their executive leadership resulted in strategic outcomes based performance measure results commensurate with the amount of State-taxpayer funded investment of State General Fund dollars given to their respective school districts. Remember, the FY 2008-09 adopted State-budget allocated $42.2 Billion of General Fund money to K-12 public education.

State-taxpayers have a right to see how well the $42.2 Billion in State General Fund monies are being used in each school district, high-performing Superintendents would have an opportunity to show case successful business strategies thereby adding value to the body of school administration practioner knowledge, and such a report would provide transparent professional peer pressure amongst the Superintendents to improve school administration and outcomes based performance overall.

And, no, I'm not talking about statistically neutered No Child Left Behind bogus test scores, I'm talking about true strategic, outcome based performance measures such as: graduation rates, the effectiveness of high-performing teacher engagement and retention incentives, measurable evidence of high parental involvement in school-site governance, verifiable cost savings and measurable evidence that they were successful in inculcating a continuous process improvement culture in their school district business office.

In short, the kind of outcomes based performance measures that successful organizations, be they public, private or non-governmental, embrace and proudly display to the world on the Internet, as the key to their value-added, long-term, and sustainable organizational success. And BTW, Barrack Obama embraced just such an outcomes based performance standard for public education during his tenure as Chair of the Annenberg Foundations’ Educational Excellence Project for Chicago public schools.

You can bet that such a homework assignment would have raised the Superintendents' eyebrows. And you can also bet it would have made some nervous. But that is how successful decision-makers achieve transformational progress in highly bureaucratic organizations. And there is nothing as bureaucratic as a school district’s business office.

If I had been Tony, I would have reminded the learned Superintendents of the wisdom of the old saw, “..You can’t create an educational pearl without irritating the school administration oyster..�

In any event, all California voters, Democrats, Republicans, DTSers' and Independents, MUST keep our eye on the ball. The single, largest, most important existential challenge facing the State Legislature is the lack of a balanced, fiscally sound, and realistic State budget.

Without it, too many people, schools, businesses, local governments and non-governmental organizations in this State will suffer unnecessarily. Nothing else matters until we have a State Budget..

NostraDemus

The spokesperson for the Republican Party locally brought the following up in a discussion on education policy:

1. ACORN
2. Illegal Alien custom clothes designers
3. Her enemies list

I would really like to see that enemies list. Maybe the VCRCC should post it!

I'm Katty Karlson and I am going to explain to all you crazy liberals why my idols Tony and Audra Strickland are the best things to happen to this world since the virgin Mary and Jesus H. Christ. So what if the Strickland's hate children and public education because so do I, and anyone who agrees with me must be godlike people. Speaking of God, did you know God only loves republcian extremists like myself and the Stricklands? It's true, god told me. So all you crazy democrats and evil people who actually want children educated better change your evil ways, otherwise I will take your picture and then I will make a voodoo doll that looks like you and Tony and Audra and I will stick pins in it! Also at the last meeting of the VCRCC we spoke with God and he told us we are the chosen ones and everyone else, especially these so-called moderate republicans are evil, God even told us who actually killed Kennedy and also he gave me the numbers to win the lottery and I will give all that money to my friends on the VCRCC so we can make sure only Christians are elected to public office, that will teach you all a lesson! I might use a little of the money however to buy some new matching clothes, so there!

Please lord let Cathy Carlson keep her promise of never posting here again. I promise not to call Tony, the ligor Hunter, a weasel faced bonehead any more. I will never refer to Audra as a nincompoop incompetant. And I will continue my respect for ronald Ragan.

My God, the latest I heard Mike Gibson is running for City Council again. Using his sweet wife this time to break the news to the public. Brilliant strategy, I must say. Gotta give it to him. He didn't spend all that time with the Stricklands and learn nothing about tag-team strategy and how they can manipulate the public throughout a campaign run this way.

Just watch those campaign financial reports. If I start seeing big fat checks appearing from David Saperstein and Dean Kunicki, this is going to start looking like Strickland all over again. Rove Osborn and Gibby are pretty tight, so we'll have to watch this one real carefully.

Hold Strong Tony Strickland! No Tax Increases! None! Get out the scissors and cut, cut, cut!

RH,

On your blog you posted that you think 25% or more of California are illegal aliens. You also think property taxes are "sky high". Do you even know what property taxes are like in other states?

Get your basic facts straight before you post policy objectives. It is nice you can afford private school tuition and maybe that is why you support massive cuts to public schools.

Maybe you should ask Tony Strickland to cut the cost of his office by 10% and to give up the per diem pay he and his wife take from the state. I agree he should cut spending, starting with himself first.