I'm sure some PR person somewhere thought this was a good idea. Yeah, he's getting press for it. But between this silly photo and the mere fact that all this basketball is surely taking his time away from the important business of the state, this is a big blunder.

This is soooooo wrong!!! Makes you wonder if he is being sabotagued politically from the inside or if he truly doesn't have a grasp of what is good PR versus bad PR. Or maybe it is a diversion for some truly awful decisions made in the past.

Phony Tony looks a little out of shape. I guess it is better to have him out playing bball then being in Sacramento doing the job he is payed to do by taxpayers. We have almost a 10% unemployment rate in VC and Phony Tony could careless!

It's comical to watch people suggest that legislators don't get a Saturday night off every once in a while. Imagine, for a second, that HBJ was a state legislator and as an ex-tennis player she got the opportunity to play a big match against a famous professional on a Saturday evening. Instead of labeling it a "blunder", Marie would likely be handing out flyers and enjoying a courtside seat.

Strickland is a basketball player and had a unique opportunity to participate in a few practices and a game as his schedule allowed. To suggest this is some sort of proof that he doesn't care about CA or his constituents exposes the pettiness of the previous commenters. I guess I shouldn't expect anything different.

As for Brian's comment about the legislators, I have been told that the Strickland's are scheduled to meet with the superintendents next week. Someone I know received a notification about this. Again, misleading BS from one of the local bloggers.

Maybe we should check to see what all the other legislators and superintendents are up to tonight. None of them better have the nerve to do something recreational on non-work related like enjoying dinner with their family, watching a few movies or playing some board games. If anyone finds out they they are, we should ask people to comment on how big of a slap in the face it is to local residents.

Well said, Amused. I've long ago ignored any comments by Marie Lakin and Katie Teague. These two are avowed Strickland haters and Hannah-Beth Jackson supporters, who can't seem to accept the fact that she lost the election six months ago. They'll do everything in their power to undermine or cast aspersions on anything the Stricklands do. Time to move on, gals.

Amused and Marie's and Katie's Drumbeat:

Couldn't agree with you more..

Before either HBJ or Tony Strickland became partisan legends in the minds of some of their die-hard supporters, they were and are human beings, each entitled to their own simple sport pleasures, be they basketball or tennis, plain and simple.

As anyone who follows Brian Dennert's blog knows, I did not support either HBJ or Tony in the 19th SD, so I had no dog in that political hunt. But even I recognize the need for balancing political wars with sports, leisure and libations, of one's own choice..

As Seneca was fond of saying, "Bibamus, morriendum est."

On the other hand, from a strictly sporting point of view, I gotta hand it to Tony for laying down the Basketball challenge to President Obama..

It was a slick, public relations, media grabbing gambit, and it has started a political buzz in bars and on sports benches wherever I've gone..

Now, for obvious reasons, the Democratic President of the United States is not likely to accept a challenge from a Republican State Senator from California, but I agree, it would be great political theater if he did.

Besides, from all the photos of him appearing in the news magazines and tabloids, he appears to be in great shape, and thoroughly enjoys the sport.

On the other hand, he might consider bringing former Democratic U.S. Senator from New Jersey and Basketball Star Bill Bradley out of retirement to take on Tony the Tiger mano-i-mano, on the courts.

Not only would that be an interesting match-up of Democrat vs. Republican, it would be an interesting, bi-coastal, and generational match-up as well.

And besides, a lot of political junkies, on either side of the aisle, would pay big-bucks to see that match. It would be a great fundraiser for a needy charity, especially in these bleak economic times in California.

Who knows, perhaps even Arnold, our Girly-man Governator, might be willing to dress-up as a Referee and join in the good-natured fun as well.

NostraDemus

Amused,

I said: "He hasn't gotten around to meeting with the superintendents of education from this area but he is set to play Saturday night at CLU."

Even if the meeting happens next week that statement is true. I write it with nothing announced. I want my legislators to be informed on budget consequences before they vote and take public stands.

If the meeting is happening next week post the details. It is open to the public I assume.

Oh please. I've long gotten over the election. I'm looking at this from a purely PR standpoint. It just makes him look silly, that's all. You have to admit that photo is funny. Absolutely everyone I know is rolling their eyes over this.

I'm an unabashed progressive blogger. Poking fun at the Stricklands is great sport. Please don't ruin my fun. I won't ruin yours when you make Jerry Brown jokes.

Here's a bit from top political writers Jerry Roberts and Phil Trounstine. They like to have fun, too:

Visual scoop of the week: Shane Goldmacher, who runs the Bee’s terrific Capitol Alert online feature, seems like the hardest working man in show business. His best coup this week was scoring that color photo of GOP senator Tony Strickland suited up to join the L.A. Lightning of the International Basketball League for their season opener. At 6’5” Strickland was a serious baller at Whittier College, Big Dick Nixon’s alma mater where he played small forward (Strickland, not Nixon) and broke the school’s single game scoring record. But this posed photo looks like a '50s dork in the high school yearbook, who's in critical need of a sun lamp. As for those jiggly arms, where’s Michelle Obama when you need her? . . .

Nost et al - give me a break. It is a horrible photo and it is bad timing and bad PR. I stand by my earlier post. And obviously, I'm not the only one who thinks it is a ridiculous picture.

I went to the Gene Autry museum today - I challange any of you to ride with the Lone Ranger and Tonto as well as I did. If you have been there, you know what I'm talking about.

How about Marie - we keep getting lumped together anyway? Afterall, the fact that you have worked on several sucessful political campaigns locally couldn't possibly mean you are a judge of good PR versus bad PR. Better leave that to people who use fake names.

Well, there they go again - Tweedle Dee (Marie) & Tweedle Dumb (Katie). Their constant partisan attacks on anything Strickland just make them look silly.

The only ones who don't see it, obviously, is them.

Well isn't that interesting - I just visited the blog of a dentist in East County. He fancies himself a friend of Elton and of Tony and he has quoted Marie and my posts regarding the ridiculous PR move of Strickland as examples of BAD posts. Of course, he is spinning TS's "first professional game" into something positive. That's what friends and wanna-be friends do. Couldn't be one of our fake name posters could it???????

Hey, if you are reading Brian's blog again, be sure to quote my challenge to run with the Lone Ranger and Tonto! How's it going with Joel Angeles's trail? Maybe you should have a nice post of him. I'm sure Audra could use the good PR.

By the way, my two kids and two of their buddies went to a Laker game a couple of weeks ago - they couldn't get over HOW GIANT everyone was - and this is coming from a guy who is 6'4" and plays basketball all the time. I guess a lot of the players are over 7'0 and in the upper 200 lbs - all muscle.

You must be talking about Flab's blog; he had something nasty about the California Association of Political Centrists right around the time Strickland refused to debate Hannah-Beth Jackson. I think he is a Steven Frank wanna-be who is a flashreport wanna-be who is a matters to humanity wanna-be......

By the way Brian, your thread is quoted yet there is no mention of your blog, your name or the name of the paper. I am refered to as being "left" when I am a lifelong conservative Republican. AND I don't need to tell you this, but he was very active in shooting down the rights of gays on Prop 8 and very pro Miss California.

Hi Mike! Well, at least I'm the "Dee." Does that stand for Democrat? Maybe Delightful? This is a political blog. We all are partisan. But you wouldn't EVER make a partisan attack, would you?

Katie, are you OK with being the "dumb"?

Sorry, but that photo is just plain silly. If my own husband had posed for it, I would tell him the same thing.

I don't frequent the dentistry blog, but I'm always pleased to hear that one of my posts or blogs has made it into the dark side of the blogosphere. An entire post of mine was once quoted verbatim in a bottom-feeding OC blog. That means they are paying attention. Yay!

Well, I think he wishes I were dumb. He would love it if I was mute - but I'm not and I'm not going to say the picture or the B-Ball is a good idea - now that would be really DUMB!!!!

I was waiting in line at the grocery store and I saw Tony Strickland on the cover of "People Magazine".

Did anybody read the article?

http://thumbsnap.com/v/OPnxuB3H.jpg

Methinks this is getting a bit juvenile. Looks like someone with slightly less venom in the veins and a little more creativity is getting in on the act here. Well, I guess we can be thankful for small favors.

The VCDCC's own version of Mutt and Jeff would have probably tried to put the Stricklands kids in compromising positions given their past behavior.

The Star today said Phony Tony will be practicing with this team several times a week for the next 14 weeks and playing with them for the next 14 weeks. TIME TO RECALL PHONY TONY STRICKLAND SO HE CAN PLAY BBALL FULLTIME! HE IS NOT DOING THE JOB TAXPAYERS PAID HIM TO TO!!!!! NO WONDER ARNOLD WANTS TO CUT HIS STATE PAY BY 10%!

Katie:

Settle down...

You miss my point entirely..

I made no reference to Tony Strickland’s picture in a basketball uniform, which some may like and others don't... After all, as the Old Italian proverb says, "...Taste is a personal choice.."

The Political PR-Buzz creativity I was referring to was in Tony Strickland’s basketball game challenge to Barrack Obama, nothing more nor less. After all, as Shakespeare said, “..All the world is a stage..”

The political theater, let alone the sports performance, would be magnificent. Can’t you just visualize the one-on-one on the court between Tony Strickland, a Club-for-Growth, Hyper-Conservative, Republican State-Senator from a suburban, State Senate swing-district in California versus Barrack Obama, the currently very popular Democratic President of the United States, who also once was a State Senator representing an inner-city district on the South-side of Chicago, who also loves basketball, and by all press accounts is a fairly aggressive player on the court. It would be awesome.

After all, the first rule in politics is getting yourself noticed and separating yourself from the pack.

Surely you remember President Harry S. Truman's response when he was asked how he reacted to the press saying bad things about him. Give 'em Hell Harry quipped, "..Hell, I don't care what they say about me, as along as they spell my name right.."

Having said that, I do find it very amusing that some folks on this blog are getting so wrapped-up around Strickland's attempt at getting his name in the papers or his photo on the cover of news magazines...

Do you know of any politician, Democratic or Republican, or DTS for that matter, who wouldn't give their eye-teeth for the same type of media hype and coverage?

I say again, if the President, or former New Jersey Democratic Senator and Basketball star Bill Bradley, as his stand-in, accepted Mr. Strickland's challenge, it would be great political theater. Further, it would be good-natured sports fun, and one hell of chance to raise big-bucks for one or more needy charities during this time of economic stress, uncertainty, and pain.

Surely, that's something that all good natured, warm-hearted, sports-fun loving Americans, be they Democrats, Republican or Independents could get behind. Can we say "Compassionate Bi-Partisan Sportsmanship," everyone??

Hell, who knows. All those rich AIG Financial Services Group millionaires who received so-called "Bonus Payments" courtesy of the American taxpayer might be able to put some of that money to better use rather than in enriching their own personal bank accounts.

I can see it now; top-dollar box seats at the LA Coliseum purchased by the AIG-boys and girls and donated to Boys and Girls members from throughout Southern California. Imagine the media-exculpation that photo-opportunity would buy all those taxpayer-funded Bonus Payment recipients who live in luxurious mansions in Connecticut.

Ciao Commendatora

NostraDemus

One would like to think the voters look at you for legislative accomplishments and not publicity stunts. Sorry Tony you took your eye off the ball on this one.

Nostrademus,

What's the purpose of discussing this when we all know President Barack Obama isn't going to play basketball or take seriously a partisan that hangs out at tea parties with people that call his wife trash?

He couldn't even get into a town hall forum at this time!

Because ND likes to argue with Hannah-Beth Jackson supporters, that's why. It doesn't matter what the topic is.

Hannah-Beth Jackson supporters, you say? Supporters for what? Didn't she just get thrashed in the last election?

Maybe the Dems will be smarter this time and field better candidates than the usual stale ones they come up with: Hannah-Beth Jackson, Marta Jorgensen, and Jill Martinez, et al.

Jill Martinez could do more in one term than Misrepresentative Elton Gallegly could do in his twenty year term in Office.

What type of governmental terrain do we have laying before us?

Democratic.

Please explain how a Bush loving Karl Rove butt kissing Republican like "Elton Gallegly" is going to get our district attention? His real estate salesmanship?

.

MEOW:

Simple, the possibility, remote as it may be, of seeing Obama vs Strickland on a basketball court being watched by Boys and Girls club members sitting in top-dollar box seats paid for by taxpayer-funded bonus payment recipients who work for AIG's Financial Services Group appeals to the Camus in me.. No more no less..

Ciao Gato!

WoofWoof

See above..

NostraDemus

So are the haters here saying that a man, on his evenings and days off can not play on a basketball team...regardless if he is an elected official or not? TOny has played BB his entire life, are you saying that just because he is an elected official he should not be able to play on a real team? This is the silliest thread posted here yet! Of course he can play, and yeah he will get publicity from it..SO WHAT?!?!

Flowerszzz,

Why, course not. If Tony Strickland didn't do perfectly normal things in his life, Katie & Marie would have nothing to blog about.

I don't here them complaining when Obama gets a new dog, goes to a burger joint with Joe "Foot in the Mouth" Biden, or goes for an evening stroll with Skeletor.

It just looks bad when Tony Strickland is playing basketball but our school children are getting their sports programs cut.

One would think if a Senator had all this spare time he would be working on givng school children their sports programs back.

Obama carefully crafts his media message. Photos are calculated. I can't see anyone in the White House letting Obama pose for a dorky shot like this.

I bet it's nice for Tony to blow off steam after working so hard. After all, he has made a lot of progress on getting those green jobs he promised during his campaign. He must be up day and night explaining to the oil companies that he really didn't mean that. That's GOT to be tough. I'd need a little bball on Saturday night if I was him too.
Unfortunately, bball isn't in the near future. I was laid off a while ago. Now I work FOUR jobs to keep my family up and running. I did get to drive by CLU on my way to my Saturday night job. Looked like they were having fun. I hope he had fun because it's tough to always have to say no all the time like he does. I remember those days, when I was a supervisor. Especially Christmas time. Sorry employees. No bonus. No raises. At least I haven't been used like a personal ATM like Tony said I'd be if one of the earlier budget proposals passed. The 50 cents they would have withdrawn would have killed that half load of laundry. Again, I'm so glad Tony could relax a bit. That's what Saturday nights are for, right? Everything is really kicking but. Jobs a plenty. Wine and cheese for all. I'll probably be serving to you. I'll deliver your drinks on my Masters degree that is now useless.

Yes, this is Tony's Marie Antoinette moment. Who cares what happens to my constituents? I want to dress up like a shepherdess and romp in my garden!

Oh, friggin' boo-hoo! What a bunch of whiners! Especially you, Rick. Tony Strickland certainly didn't cause your situation. So, stop pinning it on him.

Snap out of it, get your butt off your computer, and go out and find another job, or do whatever you have to do to provide for your family.

This is typical liberal behavior. Blame everyone else for your problems and expect the government to jump in and resolve them.

Hey BOW,
Did you miss the part where I said I was working 4 jobs? There are no real jobs. Get a clue. In fact your answer in insulting and lacks any credibility whatsoever.
I am lucky to have the 4 jobs I have BOW. Others are not so lucky. And I don't remember asking the government for a dime. Don't put words in my mouth. All I want at this point is just a little accountability from our elected officials.

Saturday night BBall games in this environment. What a complete idiot.

I wonder what excuse he had for only winning the most right leaning district outside of Orange County by less than 1000 votes.

Keep playing BBall Tony, and you keep kicking people when they are down BOW. The next thing to be kicked will be Tony's rear out of office.

No class. No clue. That's your California republican.

Rick,

Answer me this. What do you think of Obama's little b-ball games? What do you think about his soirees onto the talk show circuit? I guess these little indulgences are OK because he's a member of the right party. Am I right?

Face it. This is just an excuse to bash Strickland. You're no different than the other sore losers who cannot get over the fact that Taxin' Jackson lost the election over six months ago.

Get a grip!

You got me there BOW. I did take advantage of a chance to bash Strickland while letting the President off the hook. Would you like to know why? Of course you would.

Because Strickland deserves bashing for doing NOTHING while this President has worked harder and done more in his first 100 days than most politicians have in my time on this earth. For that, you get some slack. Plus I don't think Tony gets many invites for talk shows. You don't need him to watch paint dry.

For voting no on everything strictly because of an ancient ideology that few in this state subscribe to, you get bashing.

And BOW. You don't know me. Please stop lumping me in with the masses. I am living a nightmare. I work my arse off for every penny I earn to provide for my family. Meanwhile, I have watched Tony rise thru the ranks of the republican party by kissing the tails of big biz, and then pissing on the teachers union. Yes BOW, he has left his mark on this crap hole of situation we have here. He will get his blame, just like everyone else. Democrat, Independent, Green or whatever party he or she belongs to. But Tony is my State Senator. I know his track record. And it sucks. He is an empty shirt. Oops, sorry. He is an empty basketball jersey.
Have a nice day.

Tony Strickland needs to stop wasting time playing basketball and taking pictures for the Ventura County Star and fix state issues; like School and Social Services funding, also fix the Counties crumbling infrastructure and following up on his campaign promise of bring independent.

I know funding School and Social Services is not something the GOP likes to do. Well I say too damn bad that is YOUR job, Tony Strickland you want to be our State Senator, then you need to start funding School and Social Services .

And for any Government hating, uneducated anti-American people who think I or others here in Ventura County need an excuse to bash Strickland, He is all the excuse needed. Strickland and the GOP You are no different, then the devil himself. They are the losers who cannot get over the fact that that need to lie, cheat and call people nasty and childish names “Taxin' Jackson” just to win an election.

The California GOP needs to grow and work for Middle Class Families,.

George W. Bush's "mission accomplished" uniform was a air force uniform.

Tony Strickland's "mission accomplished" uniform is a basketball uniform. Tony Strickland's war over the future of California is over. Victory! No more long nights. No more worrying about things. Mission accomplished.

Rick,

You sure got it right on Obama working hard during his first 100 days. I've never seen anyone spend more money in 100 days than this guy has (with the exception of my wife maybe).

Seriously though, the dude not only has our children and children footing the bill for his endless bailouts and social experiments, but our great-great grandchildren as well. This should be very scary for all taxpayers.

BTW, I don't mean to lump you in with the masses. Sorry if it came across that way. You sound like a real hard-working guy and I appreciate the fact that you are busting your butt to try to make ends meet. I only wish everyone had the same attitude as you.

Too many out there seem overjoyed at Obama's rapid foray into Socialism. Unfortunately, people like you and I will be paying increased taxes to support these programs.

Tony Strickland's basketball uniform is akin to George W. Bush's airforce uniform on the aircraft carrier. Tony Strickland's "Mission Accomplished" is gettig elected.

http://img16.imageshack.us/img16/6153/stricklandsmissionaccom.png

Tony Strickland's "Mission Accomplished" was getting elected.

Pro B-Baller, part time senator. He's third string in Sac.

Not a game

State Sen. Tony Strickland disrespects his constituents. Instead of trying to solve government problems, he is playing basketball. I guess he figures people dumb enough to vote for him deserve no respect. He will do what most Republican lawmakers do. Be a yes man.

The problem is that dictators are self-serving, no matter what kind of government they represent. King George a monarchy, Nikita Khrushchev a communist, Ayatollah Khamenei a theocracy, Adi Amin a strongman, or Newt Gingrich who lined up the House Republicans on the Capitol steps and made them promise to vote the way he told them to vote.

Strickland is following in the steps of today’s Republicans of slander and slogan. Today, Republicans want people to believe they are God’s party. What a lie. They do this based on one issue, which they do nothing about, abortion. Now, I am against abortion, but I am not so dumb as to believe making it illegal will stop it. We already have laws against murder, robbery and many other things that continue to exist.

President Barack Obama said the way to stop abortion is to support pregnant women with compassion and viable alternatives.

Compassion is something Republicans do not have. They always want to balance the budget on the backs of the poor and the helpless. Oh, is that the Christian way?

The state quietly reduced its contribution to Social Security Income by 16 percent starting in May. Notice that all of Strickland’s rhetoric about reducing spending never says anything specific.

From the time of Abraham Lincoln to the time of Lyndon Johnson, the South was solid Democratic. After Johnson supported and signed the civil rights legislation, he said, “I am handing the South over to the Republicans.” Almost overnight, the South went Republican. Many of today’s Republican “values” come from that racism: state’s rights, big government is bad, school vouchers and conservatism (means no change).

No disrespect, just butt-kicking those tax-and-spenders in the Legislature and representing his district the way voters expect him to. If Jackson had been elected, we'd all be in the poorhouse by now. Thank God for Tony!

Jackson's election would not have tipped the budget vote one way or another. But maybe we'd have one less piece of Republican pork embedded in the budget and a legislator who can actually get something done. Now we have a dolt who fritters his time away on a basketball court.

Yeah, she'd get something done alright. She'd convince her fellow Democratic legislators to forestall approving the budget so they could get some political mileage out of it. Just like the last time she "served" in the Legislature.

LMAO!!! Bwah-hah-hah-hah-hah-hah-hah!!!!!! ROFL!!!

Looking at the picture I bet Phony Tony could fit a basketball in his freakishly large mouth. What a total clown Phony Tony is! The guy should resign! If Phony Tony is playing bball you can bet he has an angle to once again line his own pocket with our tax dollars, just like the scandal with the Ventura County School Board!

What the...? I saw this short article in another webpage, why don't you at least add a link in the end to show some appreciation for their work?