I'll be the first to jump in here. Since I have no ties to the local Dems, I won't make anybody cranky if I say "Go Hannah-Beth!"

I've been an admirer for a long time.

This is going to be fun to watch.

My prediction: Dantona will probably throw in the towel rather than face a primary.

I must say, she has bloody good timing, right before Dantona's big fundraiser on Thursday. Of course it is doubtful that this will have any effect whatsoever on Dantona's ability to gather cash at the event, but it does not give him quite the spotlight he'd like.

My concern is that Jackson is too, how shall I say this, progressive for this district and too much of a known quantity. It's a narrowly contested area and in a political campaign, image is everything. Can she appeal to voters in Reagan country? I'm not sure.

What is clear is that many voters here have had it with Bush, McClintock, Strickland, and the like, all of whom are cut from the same cloth.

Most voters think global warming is real and caused by human activity, unlike McClintock and probably Bush. Most value integrity, the source of Strickland's image problem.

Both Dantona and Jackson would make good antidotes to the out-of-touch extremism of the GOP. Now the race gets interesting.

Mark Gage
http://conejovalleydemocrat.wordpress.com

I look forward to a fair primary and hope that at the end the Dems can unite to take down the Strickland-machine...I'm excited to be on the sidelines now so that I can really watch the action.

I bet dollars-to-donuts, if Dantona drops out he's gonna go for another race in 2008, though........

It is an early Christmas for Strickland to have HBJ jump in. She has no backing from her own State party and is so far to the left that she could not get elected to anything in a district that comes down the coast to T.O. and Simi Valley. She has a history of not being able to raise any money and is a rich Montecito socialite who is totally out of touch with the working families of Ventura County.

Indeed it is a gift to Strickland beyond his expectations. Way to go Jackson. You did just what Dems are known to do. Eat their own young and lose to a right wing nut.

What's an unfair primary, Heather?

Jim Dantona is my pick for the Senate Seat. He has been working in Ventura for many years to make this a better community. Nothing against Hanna Beth but I have never seen her in Ventura County.
Hanna Beth is a former Assembly person and I think people want change from the old guard, my support and many in Camarillo are going to support Jim Dantona.

Jim Dantona came to the City of Ventura with his organization Baseballers Against Drugs a couple of years ago. My son and daughter both went to it and my hats off to Jim for caring about kids and drugs. I have never heard of Hanna Beth, and I'm a lifelong Democrat. Count this Ventura Democrat for Dantona.

Brian,
I supported Jim Dantona in the Supervisors Race and he is quite a Campaigner, and I don't think you will see the blood you gave as headlines. Dantona has done alot for Democrats in Simi and Moorpark
like give us hope he can win. According to what I've been reading Jim has the Majority of Democratic support. I have no idea who this Jackson person is and I have never seen her in Simi.
GO JIM DANTONA*********

Well, we've got a horse race! Democrats aren't afraid of a little competition. In fact, I think Dantona thrives on it. That's one of many things that he and Don Perata have in common.

I'm looking forward to a spirited competition and wish both candidates well. As an elected member and local leader in the Dem party, I look forward to supporting the winner of the primary in their quest to defeat Strickland.

It's no secret that as an individual, I'm supporting Dantona. I'm sure Hannah Beth also has many supporters. I have great respect for her. As a survivor of breast cancer myself, I wish her continued health and recovery from her recent bout with the disease. It's a debilitating experience.

A fair Democratic primary is one in which the candidates focus on debating the issues rather than resorting to smear tactics and picking each other to pieces.

A fair Democratic primary is one in which the Democratic party understands that this is not a pissing contest and that in the end the Democrats must all unite behind whoever the general electorate has chosen to be the candidate, hard feelings aside.

To clarify the "blood in the water" would be Republican weakness or perceived weakness in this district that would attract more candidates. It was not a slam at HBJ or Dantona.

Nor was it an attack on Strickland because as of now I would say he is favored to win. I'd rather have a close race myself so we have something to talk about and issues to debate.

Sounds like a rather boring campaign that the majority of voters will not be interested in. But since issues are proposed, how about asking Jackson why she favors third trimester abortions where the baby is taken out at eight months and slammed on the edge of the table to crack its skull? How about asking her what she did in the Assembly to alienate her party leadership? Did she ever see a proposed tax increase that she didn't like? Just a debate of the issues; no smear tactics intended. Jackson is too extreme for me. I'm going with Dantona. No question about it!

Surf's up Jackson, but I'm not catching a wave with you.

Yeah, that's good. Let Dantona & Jackson duke it out. Strickland, no doubt, will be the beneficiary.

Dear Laura Winchester,

Interesting post. In a few short sentences you note...
a. Dantona "thrives" on competition. (i.e. "tough")
b. HBJ's "recent bout" with Breast Cancer, a "debilitating disease". (i.e. "weak")
c. Dantona's has support from Perata.

What a talented operative you are...

What it all comes down to is that the Dems will fight it out to see who goes up against Strickland. Money will be spent on the primary and that would normally be a big factor except that the State party leaders understand the value of SD 19 this time around and will likely make good on any deficits for the winner's general election campaign. The real issue is whether or not the two Dems wound each other so much that they give Repub & DTS voters reasons NOT to vote for them in the general. THAT outcome will be up to the two candidates, themselves.

Say what you want about the viability of this dedicated woman in a district with a slight Republican edge. But you can't ignore her stellar record of getting legislation passed which protects kids, the environment AND your beloved beaches, Moondoggie.

Go catch a wave by yourself, buddy. This wahine will go surfing with Hannah-Beth.

Brian,

I think this race could be important for the future of California Republicans. A lose would continue the downward trend of national Republican support and it would be a severe blow to the state Republicans, who's only real superstar is Governor Schwarzenegger, whom they hate.

A lose will prove that a new direction is needed for the party. Continuing voter discontent should not happen. Republicans should be able to stand strong in their district, instead they are on the verge of losing it.

Until Republicans decide to stop dragging their knuckles, this trend will continue across the nation until we are a county under the control of Democrats.

HBJ is hated by the Republicans in Santa Barbara County, and that would help turn them out to vote in the General Election, thus benefitting Tony Strickland.

While I like HBJ, I don't think she can win the open election, as I do not think she can win East Ventura County. I think HBJ also knows this deep down and she really should not run because Dantona can win this race, because people are sick of Tony Strickland and his under handed ways. My vote goes to Dantona!

Strickland is jumping up and down with joy! Dantona and Hannah Beth Jackson will have to spend a ton of money in the primary, while Strickland stockpiles his. Whoever wins the Democratic Primary will start out with a disadvantage financially. HBJ was encouraged to run and I wouldn't doubt that this "encouragement" was somehow initiated by the strategists who could care less about Hannah Beth, but care deeply about depleting Dantona's cash. This is not a new strategy in any way. Can't wait to see what happens.

Congrats HBJ - nice work... I used to have a positive view of you, but you don't stand a chance in the general and Dantona did and you know it. You can't take a seat away from the old guard, when the new guard fights with each other.

The left extreme will hijack the primary, the way the right does and we'll be left with two extremists that no one wants to vote for. Congrats HBJ - nice strategy. You should have just asked for a deal so you could get your kushy job and let the real candidate run against Strickland.

Jackson is a spoiler. She will rip the Dems apart and get Strickland elected. Her husband is a smart man, but apparently she is now an idiot ideologue who needs to satisfy her ego with one last attempt at recognition. What a fool! She is great for Santa Barbara or even Santa Monica, but Ventura County will not give her the time of day. Too bad for the Dems.

Marie, Jackson may be the nicest gal in Montecito, but she just isn't going to make a dent in the moderate Republican base that is needed to get elected. She is an extreme liberal; as extreme as Strickland is to the far right. Voters will be turned off and Strickand will win unless Dantona whips her radical liberal butt and he will! The sad thing is that Strickland will sit back counting his money from the Indian gambling, insurance and petroleum industries while Jackson and Dantona duke it out. She let her ego get in the way of her Party. What a fool.

Moondoggie, I think it is even sadder that no republican in VC has the guts to run against Strickland because the VCRCC made it very clear that any republican who dares to run will get the Tennenbaum/Cornejo treatment. If Tony Strickland is the best republicans have in VC than it is truly a sad day and republicans should be ashamed to be so gutless as to not run because they are afraid of their own central committee, how undemocratic, it seems more like Germany in the 1930's then modern day America! Did you get the taxpayer paid for announcement of the Strickland's latest child? They spend taxpayer money to announce the birth of their child and they both supported Bush's veto of child healthcare funding, go figure!

It is indeed a sad day for Reps that all we can come up with is Strickland. He is a taker from the system and out to enrich himself at the taxpayer trough. Term limits are just for a guy like Strickland.

Moondoggie, I agree. How can some clown like Tony Strickland represent people when he has never done an honest days work in his life? He lives off the taxpayer like a tick on a dog.

I find it ironic that the VCRCC is critisized by liberals for only running a single candidate, accused by The King of being "gutless", "undemocratic", and "like Germany in the 1930's". Yet at the same liberals bemoan that Dantona is being forced to compete in a primary against another candidate. If you truly believed in setting a higher standard then you would welcome a primary challenge instead of complaining about it. You can't have it both ways.

It would be great to see Linda Parks jump in to take on Strickland for the primaries.

I've heard it through the grape vine that Donna Prenta and her supporters have been trying to persuade Parks to run.

The Republicans need a viable, honest candidate who cares about the constituents and is hands on and accessible in the community that they represent.

Parks has an outstanding reputation and positive track record. She would make a great moderate to Represent Republicans.

Moondoggie, I usually agree with you on this forum. And I do agree with you on your point about the conservative voters not taking a particular liking to her. Absolutely.

But I didn't like your late-term abortion reference. That's something Republicans like to throw out there as a red herring. You can do better than that.

The fact is that many of us in West County are very loyal to her for the excellent work she's done for us. To give you just one example, I was one of the Mound Elementary parents whose child walked through the toxic cloud of Lorsban which blew over the campus from a neighboring field. My daughter got sick. HBJ was incredibly responsive to this situation. She passed important legislation protecting our kids and brought people together to work on this issue who had never come to the same table before. So yeah, I like the woman.

In her short Assembly career, she passed 60 pieces of important legislation. That's remarkable.

In the end it may be that she doesn't stand the best chance for beating Strickland. But she still deserves our respect. And that's all I'm asking for here.

Marie-
But did any of her legislation have to do with cute fuzzy animals? If not, Stickland wins.

Bubba,

We'll be more than happy to have a contested primary, just make sure it's just as contested on the other side. That way in the end we can have an equal discussion about issues, without having a lopsided mail blitz because one candidate got to take a cake walk through the primary.

So let's draft Glen Becerra to take on Tony Strickland or Brooks Firestone to take on Tony and then the best two that come out of the primary meet up in the general... But I congratulate the VCRCC for clearing the field with backroom deals for Tony it allows him to cruise in to the general. The Dem leadership is obviously not smart enough or strong enough to get HBJ or Dantona out of the race to ensure a competitive general.

I never said HBJ should not run, I just said I think Dantona can win the seat, but I have doubts about HBJ. Meanwhile the VCRCC has told republicans that if they run against their chosen boy Tony that they will be punished and receive the Cornejo treatment. Word on the street is that likely candidates have already struck deals with Strickland and the VCRCC not to run, word also is that Bubba Kidd struck a deal with Tony and if Tony wins Bubba will be named Court Jestor.

Any rumors of a Republican challenger to Strickland for the seat?

I have it from inside that Becerra will not run...he was approached.

Unlike the Strickland's; Becerra wants to be around to raise his kids instead of using them as an accessory for campaign flyers.

Unfortunately, given a choice Becerra will support the Republican ie: the Strickland's.

Who is the favored Republican to unseat Audra?

Does it still hold true that if you hold office for ten years you have lifetime health benefits for yourself and your family..let's make sure neither Strickland racks up 10 years and the taxpayers pay for theirs and their child's health care while they vote against other children having health care, shame on them!!!!!!

Well said Marie. I apologize for that comment. I do agree that she served well and should be, and is, respected.

I would be happy to see a challenger on the republican side. If Becerra decided to run I think that would be just fine and would make for a good primary. The voters should have a choice. It just seems to me that the Dantona supporters around here complain about the VCRCC clearing the field, yet they desire to do the same for their candidate. If Dantona is as good as you say then there should be no fear of a primary and giving voters a choice. That is what a democracy is suppose to be about.

BK, speaking as a VCRCC insider, the VCRCC did clear the field for Strickland(s). Now some of the likely Republicans feel they were lied to - well what did they expect? The Stricklands lie and cheat.

Bubba,

The Dantona supporters already know, what you clearly know, that a clear field on both sides allows both campaigns to start at approximately the same level as the competing party.

While someone that has to run opposed in a Primary has to spend a ton more money early and has to compete to share the spotlight, which someone running uncontested doesn't. They can save their money for the General election.

Dantona supporters are not scared of any competitor, but they understand, as you do, that to take on Hannah Beth is going to waste time and energy that should be spent defining the issues with the pre-ordained Senator, by the top Reps, Tony Strickland.

But of course, you know all of this and you just love to post something to attack Dantona.

Ideally we should have a primary on both sides and I would love to see both Dantona and Strickland have to fight for the nomination. Then again, all of this is moot if the proposed term limit law is passed. If McClintock is able to run for a third term both Strickland and Dantona will drop out since neither will have any realistic chance of beating him.

But I will admit that I enjoy seeing Dantona being challenged. His supporters have greatly overstated his support and it appears that even among democrats there are many who would like another alternative. Maybe it will give Dantona a chance to actually come out and define where he stands on important issues rather than hiding behind cliches and taglines, like being a "bi-partisan moderate". I get the impression that many democrats want Jim Dantona to be more specific on what he would actually do if elected. He needs to do a better job defining himself instead of just attacking the other guy.

Besides, if Dantona is so wonderful and in such great fighting shape he should be able to take on all comers. I guess we will know soon enough.

Moondoggie,
Apology accepted. Now get back out there on those waves.

As a Republican, I would like to have a choice in this Senate election.

Couple of points:

Dantona has attacked neither Strickland nor Jackson. Some of the posters here have but Dantona hasn't. So let's not see that comment be used as a premise, as similar comments have in the past, that he has.

Secondly, as the Supervisor race clearly showed, being specific on what a candidate would do if elected is too easily trumped by the refusal of the opposition to discuss those issues. Case in point: the landfill expansion issue became moot as soon as Mr Foy announced that WMI told him there were no plans for an expansion. How the truth of that matter would have affected the outcome of the race won't be known but a 400 vote swing wasn't out of the realm of possibility. Another: the SSFL mess never became an issue for most voters last election, in large part because the strategy of local leaders was to deliberately avoid addressing the problem, in hopes it would not become an issue of concern to voters.

The plain political fact is that when the voters hear only one candidate talking about an issue they go deaf. Being specific on issues is great for the voters but if your opponent won't show up to discuss those issues(which I don't believe Strickland will) then you have to drag him out into the open by his heels.

Bubba,

Oh he can take on HBJ, not an issue. The problem with the Dem primary is that Dantona is a moderate and will the base have the foresight, to not do what Republicans do on the other side statewide, and hijack the primary and put an extremist on the ticket?

When do they pull papers and how long do we have to put pressure on HBJ to get out of the race? The Dem clubs need to get active and convince HBJ to get out if we want to stand a chance in the general.

The VCRCC doesn't control the Santa Barbara Republicans someone should get Brooks Firestone or some other SB County Republican to challenge.

But the state party does have the control and they must have been smarter then the Dems to make sure no one jumps in either - the fair haired child Strickland must be given a clear path.

Prediction Fro State Senate. Primary Dantona 59% HBJ 39%
General Election Dantona 54% Strickland 45%

Prediction for Court Jestor. Bubba Kidd 94% Osborn 6%

Prediction For State Senate. Primary Dantona 59% HBJ 39%
General Election Dantona 54% Strickland 45%

Prediction for Court Jestor. Bubba Kidd 94% Osborn 6%

You guys are really going to have to give up the KoolAid.

Here's a prediction: HBJ crushes Dantona

Here's another: Strickland wins SD19

Thanks to Ms. Jackson, Strickland could win the 19th - you are right on that Ron.

Here is another prediction. Strickland and Ron busted in public restroom.

I just love watching the Dantona cult members run in little circles like a dog chasing its own tail. You guys sure seem nervous over this whole primary thing. I guess Dantona needs to lay off the twinkies and work out a little more in the gym to get into fighting shape.

As usual, the Dantona gang is all talk but still afraid of its own shadow. The King has no clothes.

New Prediction, During the Dantona event, Ron, Bubba, Osborn and Strickland will pool their resources and they will have the winning bid on e bay to buy the stall that Craig was caught in. I also predict that after being elected that Dantona will hire Ron and Bubba to do his yardwork while he is working up in Sacramento.

The King needs to stop wearing a banana hammock while he blogs because it is putting too much pressure on his brain.

The King needs to stop wearing a banana hammock while he blogs because it is putting too much pressure on his brain.

Yes Bubba I am a man, you need no banana Hammock because you got nothing swinging to hold in, you feel better wearing a thong.

So nice for you Bubba to talk about someone who is afraid of their own shadow - while you sit there behind your fake name. We all know if you actually printed your name, that you would be outed as an insider who is trying to constantly muddy Dantona's waters.

Someone on this page is right about you being a gopher... Come out just to annoy and then go hiding right back under the rock.

Once again we have the Dantona cult members who blast others for not posting under their real name while giving a free pass to their buddies who do the same. You can't really expect to be taken seriously with that kind of double standard.

Besides, it's not me you have to worry about since I'm not running in this election. I certainly hope that Dantona has some supporters that are more intellectually gifted than the ones on this blog, otherwise he's already in serious trouble.

Anyone consider that a Dem primary will help cement Dantona's credentials as a centrist candidate, thus removing that issue from contention when he goes up against Strickland? By using the primary to firmly establish himself as the centrist alternative to Strickland, Dantona's far right opponent may have a hard time using the Left/Right debate to avoid the issues that really matter to SD 19, the State & the Nation.

Bubba - I am not giving them a free pass, but they didn't call you out "as scared of your own shadow", which you must be because you never use your real name.

I'm going to have to agree with Gary on this one. Dantona and his supporters should look at a primary challenge as an opportunity to generate publicity and to get out his message. If he is the better candidate he should win and be able to carry his momentum into the general election.

My comment about Dantona supporters being scared of their own shadow was in response to all their hand-wringing about being challenged by another democrat. If you really believe in your candidate and his message then there would be no reason to be afraid. What I have seen so far is Dantona supporters who critisize the VCRCC for allegedly clearing the field for Strickland, while simultaneously asking their own party to do the same for their candidate. You can't have it both ways folks.

Gopher alert. Get your traps and poison. Gopher out from under rock. This is an official gopher alert.

Moondoggie, We smoked out the gopher and the Viilage Idiot is now entertaining us as we commanded him to do. At the Dantona event we did not have a jackass so we played pin the tail on the Bubba on a picture we have of him.

Moondoggie, We smoked out the gopher and the Village Idiot is now entertaining us as we commanded him to do. At the Dantona event we did not have a jackass so we played pin the tail on the Bubba on a picture we have of him.

Tony Strickland was a member of the Assembly when deals were being struck between the Democrats and Republicans in the 2001 redistricting of California. Hanna Beth Jackson was particularly disliked by the Republicans as being way too far left. And because of her sometimes caustic behavior with her own Democrats, Senate District 19 was carved in a way to give a slight edge to Republicans. So when HBJ was termed out, she found herself in a Republican leaning district facing incumbent Tom McClintock. She didn't have a chance.
Tony Strickland, having a 10 year plan and being the eternal opportunist, made sure he had access to the 19th SD by "helping" carve out the district.
The only difference now, is that the district has lost a number of Republicans who have re-registered Decline-to-State. They will vote for a Repubican if the Democrat is seen as too far left. They will vote for a moderate Democrat if the Republican is seen as too far right. Whoever appeals to the swing vote in the General Election will win.

Pardon any mis-spellings...

Well said Leslie. You hit the nail on the head. Jackson can't win against Strickland in the 19th. Dantona can win, however. Jackson, living the high life in her tree covered mansion in the Montecito hills, will do well in Santa Barbara, less well, but still good, in Ventura, but will tank moving southeast from there. If she is trying to get even with the Dems, she is going in the right direction.

Pandolfi's put on a great event; give credit where it is due. It was Dantona that drew the supporters and VIP's for that he deserves credit. Constituents will ask themselves what Dantona will have to do in return for those endorsements, is he loyal to the VIP's and their political agenda's or the constituents in SD19.

The Pandolfi's have been unsung hereo's in this community and have a long history of supporting the best candidate across the aisle. I have attended several events at their home and their sincerity is apparent.

I have deep respect for Cindy Pandolfi, Esq., she is a true hero in my humble opinion for all that she does as a Ventura County Public Defender and her advocacy for helping troubled youth. She could easily earn a tremendous amount of money in the private sector but chooses to be a public servant. She is kind, compassionate and humble.

That being said. It's great that Dantona has VIP supporters, don't lose sight of the fact that he needs to win over the consituents of SD19 not VIP's from outside of the district. Some of his VIP supporters may very well lose him votes.

It's all about getting the individual VOTES not endorsements, believe me, I understand this intimately. Of course once elected and subsequently governing, those endorsements will assist him in being effective in his pursuits and making a difference.

Don't become blindsighted by the VIP's... people are currently skeptical about career politicians and LOBBYISTS. The important thing Jim should focus on is grass roots and DTS. He should also be pursuing college students UCSB, SBCC CLU, CSUCI, VCCCD, etc. When Senator Barack Obama was at the SBCC there were thousands in attendance. People on that side of the district have no idea who Dantona is. Dantona needs to do his research and find out who are

I for one am undecided...I need to be convinced, so far I am not in favor of any of the candidates. The lesser of two evils in my mind would be Dantona, I would never vote for a crook like Strickland, that doesn't make me thrilled with voting for Dantona. I have not forgotten some of the tactics that Dantona used in his last campaign. The Supervisors campaign left me feeling sorry for our community, it tainted people's thoughts about what means politicians will go to, to become elected. It was a low point in Simi Valley politics and it pitted neighbors and friends against each other, it still does. Dantona needs to redeem hiself in my eyes.

Dear Love Child, unfortunately, college students are hard to motivate and are unlikely to vote. It is a waste of a candidate's time to spend too much time at the colleges. Obama had a huge turn out but it wasn't because of the SBBC students.

You are right about the DTS vote - that will be critical in this election. Whatever Dem candidate is left standing will have to play the "moderate" card to win the election. I think Strickland will make a weak attempt to paint himself as a moderate but it won't fly.

King,

If Dantona does not heed the advice of the swing vote he will lose. His supporters need to grow up and learn the talking points instead of alienating voters.

What are the issues that Dantona wants to address? How will he tackle the issues and gain bi-partisan support?

What is it King & Moondoggie that you see in Dantona as being able to ACCOMPLISH TO MAKE REFORM! Or do you only like him because "he is nice and you get to go to great parties and meet VIP's that you otherwise would never have access to.

Let's talk serious issues, I am tired of the banter.

One thing that I admire about Dantona are his family values, his Mother won many votes for, including mine and my entire extended families for a total of five votes.

What will Dantona do about:

The alarming rate of HS dropouts
The alarming rate of young people 15-24 with STD's
The effects of global warming for whatever reason.
The proposal for LNG off our shores
Preventative measures for wildfires
The alarming retirement benefits for public employees
Replenishing the labor force when baby boomers retire
Affordable housing and the inability of our young people to afford to live in our community.
The increasing EPA restrictions and workman's compensation that is driving manufacturing overseas
WATER RESOURCES
Our elderly that are under prepared to care for themselves physically and financially
Disabled individuals and the lack of caregivers to care for them and the high burn out they endure.
NIMBYs' who do not want group homes for the disabled our troubled teens in their neighborhoods
A tax system that is driving the most wealthy to leave CA and list their homes here as secondary in an effort to avoid state income taxes
Making incentives to motivate businesses to relocate to CA
Drug addiction and the smuggling of illegal substances across the border
How about LAX having a 75% failure rate in detecting bombs at airports when undercover agents tested them
What about the housing market and American's obsession with debt and the negative savings rate among citizens
The lack of workers in the trades to replace aging carpenters, electricians, plumbers and so on
The fact that we have dismal vocational trade opportunities for HS students and Ventura County only receives 25% of what other Counties receive

That's just to get started! Will Jim come online and answer my questions?

I know Strickland won't.

Jim can redeem himself in my eyes if he can answer my questions and not rhetoric actual plans to accomplish his goal.

Love Child, I believe Dantona knows how to run a campaign. Like preparing for a trial, though, posting your campaign strategy on a blog isn't wise. I suggest you will have to wait for him to run his campaign on his playing field, including timing. You make good points for on-line discussion by the voters, but I would hate to see Dantona fall for this and start debating issues on the blog with a serious election coming up.

Love Child, all great questions. All questions that deserve to be answered. Dantona would be a fool to come on here and answer them though. I hope his mail, letters and public events will flush those answers out.

This blog is filled with people like Bubba and Ron (who are insiders using fake names) that will twist whatever Dantona says. I've been at places and heard him talk about some of those issues (especially jobs in the area, the state and the US) and was personally impressed, but you will have to make that judgement for yourself.

The VIPs are now important because Dantona is going to need a lot of money to get through the Primary and still have enough to take on the Tiger. VIPs don't get you votes, but they do help show that wide range of support that donors look for - also as Dantona locks up endorsements it may become clear to HBJ that she shouldn't file to run in the Primary.

FYI - Bubba, Dantona supporters don't need to have it both ways, but it should be one way or the other so we get an equal explanation of the message from Reps and Dems to make a decision. Instead of Primary fight in the Dems and cake walk for the Reps. Come on Bubba call out the Rep you want to see challenge Tony Strickland and build a website to draft that candidate. Start a petition proposal to get that needed candidate on the ballot, lets have some choices on both sides. Why not?

At the risk of being "taken down" again on this blog, I have a question........

Did Senator Perata and the other peops on the inside of that invitation for Dantona's fundraiser that I got have a chance to talk ....on Mark Gage's blog there is nothing about it....(which is strange because I have never contributed to a political campaign nor have I ever signed up with the Dantona-crowd to get info....so, where they got my address is an interesting thing to try and figure out in my newly-acquired spare time... ... ... ...)???????

Sorry, should have been more clear...that's what I get for posting on a blog at 4 in the morning.

Q: Did S Perata and other State Senators and Assemblypeople inside Dantona's fundraising invitation get to speak at his event because there was nothing on Gage's blog about them?

Now, I don't know how I got an invite....that was my other point.....I've actually successfully avoided most mailing lists, despite my former "leadership" role.

I think it's great Hannah Beth is running. We actually will have someone with a record rather than someone who was working for Strickland a few years ago.

Go Hannah Go!!!

Is Dantona pro-choice or pro-life?

I know Strickland is pro-life and Jackson is pro-choice. What's Dantona's position?

Those are the choices, pro-choice or pro-life? How about pro-women and their right to protect their bodies? How about support for the life of children? How about a position where the women can protect her body and her life and the law can protect the life of a child? How about some legal sanity to a moral question? No, it isn't so simple as Strickland thinking women are chattle and Jackson having no respect for a baby at eight month gestation. Somewhere in the middle you will find Jim Dantona. You don't like grey? That's too bad. That is where sane people are.

I think all of the life long "Republicans" around here that support Dantona should get together with all the Hannah-Beth is my BFF and I am a "Democrat" and have a fake name fan club.

I am copying Bill Maher. New rule: If you post under a fake name supporting Hannah-Beth Jackson entering the primary we will all assume you are a Republican until at least a few of you use your real name.

As for Heather clearly she doesn't like Jim Dantona. What's new? She pretends she is just curious but have you ever heard a tough question out of her mouth about Jackson?

Oh no the horror of horrors a local Democratic leader is on a Democratic fundraising list of some sorts. Call the FBI. I smell mail fraud. How dare they think she might support a Democrat or like to be invited to an event.

Oh, Mr. Fake Name -- you sound angry! My point is that I do not give out my address to anyone --it is NOT on public record, even with my filing with the VCDCC because I have a 3 year old daughter and don't want wack-jobs disturbing that. In fact, the only people that have been confidentially given my address are the organizations I am a member of, like the VCDCC, and I know that pre-primary they wouldn't be giving out my address to candidates... unless someone working on their campaign has access to it.

And, yes, skirt around answering my good questions in a discussion about Dantona and HBJ by saying that CLEARLY I don't like Dantona.

Skirting? Maybe because I don't know.

But still waiting for your tough HBJ questions.

At least Hannah Beth didn't take marching orders from Tony Strickland.

Nope, Jackson certainly doesn't take marching orders from Strickland. She doesn't even get along with Democratic leadership in Sacto. She is too far removed from main stream Dems to get along. Yep, like Strickland, she is a member of the fanatic club. Just as far from center, and just as nuts, though one is north and the other is south.

As for Heather and her address and mailing lists, ah shucks Heather. You claim to have a two year old. Isn't it time you grow up and get a life?

Heather my dear you are a registered voter... Candidates everywhere can get your address if they want it... All of us are available that way - weren't you part of political organization?

Political Novice, go easy on her. She is just low on the learning curve and in a conspiracy phase of her young life.

Dantona a "serious" Democrat??? You have GOT to be kidding me!

Well Joe Jr. the VCRCC seem to believe he is...

Mailing address, guys -- mailing address is available via the voter roles. It's also not supposed to be used for fundraising, but the point is that it came to my home.

CAP-608, if HBJ is out of tune with the Dems in Sacramento, then why was Senator Sheila Kuehl at her announcement?

And Larry, as much as I appreciate you commenting on my personal life I'd appreciate it if you would save your bitterness for someone else.

This just demonstrates that the Dantona fanatics on this blog will turn on anybody who does accept their propaganda at face value, whether democrat or republican. They refuse to answer any specific questions about their candidate and his position on important issues, but still demand that we accept him as a "bi-partisan moderate" just because they say so. They are either uwilling or unable to engage in a rational conversation on the issues and routine resort to smear attacks against anyone who they perceive to be a threat to their candidate.

These guys truly fit the definition of a cult and, in the long run, their actions will do damage to Dantona' credibility and will cost him any realistic chance at winning this election. Attacking anyone who asks questions will alienate the DTS and moderate voters that Dantona and his supporters claim to be reaching out toward.

Heather, I didn't realize that Sheila is a leader in the Senate. The leadership, in control of the Senate purse strings, are moderate Dems and not the far left small fringe element as I understand it. But contrats to Jackson for having Sheila as her friend. Both appear to be nice ladies.

Gopher alert. Grab your traps and poison. Gopher is out from under rock. This is an official gopher alert.

Jim Dantona

Pro-life or Pro-choice?

Tony Strickland = Pro-life.

Hannah-Beth Jackson = Pro-choice.

Jim Dantona = ????

Do you think if you're running for state senate, you'd have a position?

I heard Dantona say where he is on this issue. If you want a simply answer, take a hike. Dantona isn't far right or far left as those two are. One would not permit a raped girl of seventeen to take the morning after pill. The other one would abort at eight months a twenty-five year old woman who "changes her mind". I hope, and know, that Dantona isn't at either end of this hot issue. So, Real Simple, sit and stew.

How in the hell can you be a DTS these days anyway?

Decline to states sound like wishy washy idiots that probably vote for no position Dantona style candidates.

Snap-on-tool has a new gopher eradication tool, endorsed by the Concrete Pumping Association, and it works. Get your gopher eradication tool and keep it handy with your other traps and poison for your next Gopher Alert. DTS = Idiots falls within the definition of a gopher.

CAP-608,

Get some answers before you come back to the grown up table. Take a hint, Jackson and Strickland actually have records and positions on issues that voters care about.

You may want to tell Dantona to think about it and come back when he figures it out.

Snap-on-tool has a new gopher eradication tool, endorsed by the Concrete Pumping Association, and it works. Get your gopher eradication tool and keep it handy with your other traps and poison for your next Gopher Alert. Real Simple fall within the definition of a gopher.

Moondoggie fits into the definition of wishy washy idiots. Maybe you and Dantona should think about some issues and actually take positions before you come on and act like you are above the crowd.

Surf up know nothing...

No Heather it is not the mailing address, it is the home address that is available via the voter roles. Wow the Young Progressives need some new leadership someone who has done this before.

Ever walked precincts Heather? Do you end up walking to PO Boxes? No you end up at their house, you know why? Voter roles.

Like me I am looking for a candidate who doesn't have a simple answer to the question of their stance on abortion. The other two seem to have a simple answer - yes and no... I'd prefer someone who says that there are a lot of things to consider on that issue. In fact, I hope he is pro-life and pro-choice.

But if you really care about any of this, why are you asking on this blog? Why don't you call the candidate or walk up to him at an event and identify yourself and ask him? Because you are not looking for the answer to help you understand the candidate, you want to paint the candidate one way or another and that is just worthless for all of us.

I hope Dantona takes no positions. Like a good lobbyist, voters really don't need to know.

I think DTS's are the most rational people - if we define a DTS as someone who doesn't vote straight Dem or Rep issues. Because if you whole heartedly agree with every plank/issue of your party then you stopped thinking a long time ago.

I don't agree with every plank as a Dem. There are issues where I fall on the Republican side. I am going to stick with the label Democrat, but just because I am a Dem doesn't mean I agree with Dems on all or maybe any of the fiscal issues.

So those who before they go to bed every night recite the plank of their party are fanatics and stopped thinking a long time ago. I'll take a DTS over someone who says that there isn't one thing they disagree with their party on.

Hey, if you can't figure out whether you are pro-life or pro-choice and you don't know whether you support or are against the war it might be a problem.... You seem unable to determine whether you like taxes or not. Sometimes you want government health care and sometimes you don't.... You like illegal immigrants on sunday, but on monday you want them out of the country...

Maybe, you shouldn't be voting, or maybe you should just vote for Dantona. He doesn't know either.

You can change your phony name all day long, DTS=Idiots, but in my book you will always be a gopher.

Gopher alert. Get your traps and poison. Gopher out from under rock. This is an official gopher alert.

No surf's up for you. Gophers are afraid of water. It drowns them in their hole.

I agree with DTS = Idiots. I don't know what's worse. Someone who doesn't know, but votes or someone who knows and is running for office, but is hiding his positions.

I'd prefer Hannah Beth Jackson and Tony Strickland in the general because at least you know where they stand.

It's pretty clear his supporters here can't even tell us if he is pro-choice or pro-life without gobbly gook egg-head spin.

In the primary, that might be a problem.

Obviously you are a black and white person - no grey for you, huh DTS = idiots?

All abortions are okay or all abortions are murder, right? It's not that easy or simple.

You don't have any problems with the war in Iraq or you think we should pull out in one fail swoop? Definitely not that simple.

You either believe we should be a socialist state with 75% taxes or we should have no taxes at all? Not that simple.

But clearly you see it that simple and if so, maybe you are the one who shouldn't be voting. In the end though that is why this country still exists in this form, because you do get to vote and you get to elect Sam Brownback or Howard Dean - I'm not going to and neither are the DTSs. We are going to elect someone, like Dantona, who took more than 3 seconds to make up their mind and actually weighed out all of the parts of an issue.

Hannah Beth bullies people to support her or else. She is extreme in her views but slick in her votes. However, I am troubled that on an issue that---face it---- is black or white---- women's right to have an abortion, within the current legal limits---Dantona dances around? That will bounce him from the race faster than anything else, Hannah beth or no hannah beth.

What about gay marriage or civil unions? What's Dantona's position. That is very much a 'yes or no' answer here in Calif.

What about driver's licenses for undocumented workers?

Let's hear some answers from Dantona. We know where Hannah beth stands from her assembly history.

Moondoggie still can't respond with any clear answers. Probably doesn't even know if Dantona is pro-choice or pro-life either.

You're a disgrace to the rest of us who actually can make decisions and vote.

None of us here are going to tell you what Dantona's position is because none of us are him or his political staff.

He told me, but could I relay it word for word to you and not do disservice to him? No. So Santa Barbara Dem I think it's great if you call him and ask him. He has an absolute position on all of the issues, I just don't think it's fair to have us put it out because we aren't him.

I think political novice says it best. Call Dantona and ask him his positions. Then, that gives him the leeway to tell the public whatever they need to hear to think he's a moderate.

Political Novice is funny. The novice knows Dantona's position and admits to know them, but is afraid to release them because it might do a disservice to Dantona.

Are his positions that bad you can't even release them to the public? That is hysterical.

Yeah, you wouldn't want to actually hear it from the candidate you'd want to hear it from a bunch of people who are home on a Saturday night blogging.

Give it a rest. No matter what position he has you'll attack it, so interacting with you is not the point "Lobbyists only", "Moondoggie stew", "Save money" or "DTS=Idiots" (all or most being the same person).

But those who care about voting for the best candidate will have no problem calling the candidate and they will find a candidate, Dantona, who has no problem talking with them... Another rarity in government.

I do want to hear his positions. That is the point. You know them. What are they?

And Ivory Tower is the exact reason that no candidate will ever come to a blog. I didn't say, by saying his position I would be doing a disservice to him, but that I don't remember the fantastic answer he gave me word for word to post it here for you - well not really for you because you don't really care about the position only slinging mud.

"Save Money" feel free to click the URL and contact the candidate.

Political Novice boo hoo,

Dantona would never do a guest blog anyway. So again, what are his positions?

Again

His positions, please???

Tony Strickland and Hannah Beth both have positions I can look up. Dantona, no we get the call the candidate spin.

Maybe, if he is running for state senate he should be more available to public concerns.

Did you click the link above and ask him? If not, I included the link again. Feel free to click the link and ask him, because I am not the candidate he is.

But you said you knew them and won't tell us. If you are his mouthpiece I'd want my money back.

Why not just put them out for everyone to see?

It's easy, Hannah Beth is pro-choice and Strickland is pro-life. What is Dantona's position?

Oh and by the way Save Money, he has been available to the public concerns - you just aren't interested in actually hearing them, because you haven't attended the many events he has been at over the past several months talking to people. You are probably someone just trying to sling mud. An actual interested voter would want to hear from the candidate not me, which you clearly don't.

And his position is?

I have said over and over "Save Money", "Moondoggie Stew", "DTS=Idiots" and all your other aliases, I am not Dantona's mouthpiece I remember he told me his position - I remember I agreed with him on that, jobs, the war and many other topics.

The part you are probably so mad at is the fact that his positions are where the rest of us who see the intricate areas of life vote and you know that means death for your black and white candidate. Because you clearly have an agenda based on your posts.

Save money, you are hilarious!!! They can't even answer basic questions anonymously, which means Dantona probably knows who these people are. Too funny.

Political Novice

Just keep digging buddy.

So you know his positions? You won't share them, but you agree with them.

Are you pro-life or pro-choice so we can figure out what dantona is?

Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

I guess that sums up the Dantona campaign. Night, night.

ProLife, ProChoice? ProLife, ProChoice? ProLife, ProChoice?

Want an answer? You are better off solving the question "what happens when two black holes collide"?

Strickland wouldn't allow the morning after pill.
Jackson puts no value on an eight month old fetus.
Two real middle of the road people or two wild out of the mainstream wackos?

You wacked out zeolots all need to be put in the gopher category.

That said, Gopher alert. Get your traps and poison. Gopher out from under rock. This is an official gopher alert.

whoa.............I went to Dantona's website, thinking SURELY I would find some position statements, since he has no voting record or prior elected office trail----but nothing about the issues.....................strange......hopefully that will change soon

This thread says it all. Dantona and his supporters keep trying to spin him as a "bi-partisan moderate", yet they are unwilling to answer simple questions about the position of thier candidate on important issues. A "moderate" is not defined as having no position at all or having positions that are kept secret from the public. For some reason Dantona seems afraid of revealing his true beliefs.

The entire Dantona campaign seems to be based on smearing everyone else while hiding in the shadows. Say what you want about Strickland or Jackson, but at least voters know what they are voting for. It is ridiculous to expect that voters must contact Dantona directly to get answers to simple questions. It seems more likely that Dantona will simply say whatever that individual wants to hear so that he can flip-flop to both sides of an issue whenever convenient. Team Dantona knows Dantona's true beliefs but won't share them with anyone else because their candidate is trying to masqerade as something he is not.

Readers of this blog should note how Team Dantona is evansive and openly hostile to anyone who asks questions. They have attacked both republican and democrat voters, republican and democratic political candidates, college students, as well as the undecided and DTS voters that they claim are important to their campaign. These are angry, spiteful, evasive individuals who have a blind loyalty to a guy that the public apparently knows nothing about.

Been there, heard that. More of the same from the Strickland groupie.

Gopher alert. Get your traps and poison. Gopher out from under rock. This is an official gopher alert.

So, there are voters who would pigeon-hole a candidate's entire platform on the basis of what a few wild bloggers happen to say. And I'm talking about all THREE sides. That's not only stupid...it's what's so wrong about our system. It's the best system money can buy...or screaming can destroy.

How difficult can it be to explain Dantona's position on abortion? His supporters claim that the other candidates are at the opposite extremes and, of course, he is the moderate in between. But when asked for specifics they once again become evasive, stating that his position is apparently too complex for ordinary folks to understand. It seems that anyone who wants answers must contact Dantona himself so he can explain it to them personally. Of course this also allows Dantona to say different thing to different people without anybody knowing that he is playing both sides of the fence in order to pander for votes. Real leaders stand for something and aren't afraid to make their positions known.

Funny, you would think that after 127 posts in a single thread that Team Dantona could summarize in a nutshell his, apparently, complex position on a basic issue like abortion. It can't really be that difficult. I think people can grasp that somebody may, for example, oppose abortion with certain exceptions, or, by contrast, support a woman's right to choose except for certain exceptions. How difficult is it to state something like that? Obviously his supporters understand his views but seem concerned about sharing them with the rest of us.

So why should anybody accept Dantona as a moderate when he refuses to state his views on fundamental issues? How can his supporters blast other candidates as being extremists because of their views, yet shield their own candidate from any kind of scrutiny? His cult members think that we should support Dantona because he can throw a good party that includes a few well known democrats. But if Dantona refuses to stand for anything then he is nothing but a fraud.

The fact that his supporters cannot respond to simple questions and instead respond with stupidity like "gopher alerts" demonstrates that their candidate is just an empty suit.

There you go with the idiot's logic, BK. You've now made the leap from cornering a few zealous bloggers who refuse to speak for a candidate into your own phony personal factoid: that Dantona has personally refused to answer any questions.

Bubba,

Do you think the morning after pill is an abortion? I know you are not the candidate, but certainly you can tell me your position.

I will not be voting for a candidate that doesn't address the issues. That being said I think it is early to ask about all of the issues.

I am more interested in issues besides abortion being that the state senate has a limited role in regulating abortion.

I am interested in taxes, education funding, Native American casino expansion, the state budget, regulating global warming gases, crime, and traffic.

Brian,

Clearly you are correct. The State Senate has almost no authority in this issue and in fact. even with a stacked pro-life Supreme Court nothing is coming forward because no one is going to touch this issue.. But it's the biggest wedge issue that nobody will do anything about.

I hope we expand all the Native American casinos - let's put one closer to SB than Chumash and have the tribes pay more in to City/County budget. Let's not steal all the transportation money to fund the holes in our budget gap. Let's fix the workers comp system because it is broken and it is costing us all of the new businesses who would relocate to this state.

Gophers are to be trapped or killed and not negotiated with. They serve no known good purpose. That said, when BK attempts to grunt, it is alert time:

Gopher alert. Get your traps and poison. Gopher out from under rock. This is an official gopher alert.

BK should be aware of another post by Moondoggie -

"Snap-on-tool has a new gopher eradication tool, endorsed by the Concrete Pumping Association, and it works. Get your gopher eradication tool and keep it handy with your other traps and poison for your next Gopher Alert."

Thanks CAP, I forgot to include that eradication tool and appreciate your abortion position. BK has been after Dantona since this blog was introduced and clearly has a lot of hate internalized and resulting from some prior dealing with Dantona many years ago. I started my gopher alerts because BK never says anything new and continually just attacks and attacks without any substance. That said, gopher alerts are public benefit announcements and shall continue.

Surf's up, CAP. Wind is creating some big waves. See you at the pier this afternoon.

We appear to still not have an answer on whether Dantona is pro-life or pro-choice just more rope a dope and spin. For Dantona bloggers taking a position whether pro-life or pro-choice is radical, so here is a list of dantona blogger-defined radicals that have taken a position:

Elton Gallegly has a position
Keith Richman has a position
Hannah Beth Jackson has a position
Tony Strickland has a position
Audra Strickland has a position
Cameron Smyth has a position
Abel Maldonado has a position
Lois Capps has a position
Brad Sherman has a position
Jack O'Connell has a position
Tom McClintock has a position

Dantona does have a position: Voters don't need to know.

Keep it coming.

Gopher alert. Get your traps and poison. Gopher out from under rock. This is an official gopher alert.

Keep it coming.

Gopher alert. Get your traps and poison. Gopher out from under rock. This is an official gopher alert.

Move along little hate monger, move along. I'm sure Dantona is pleased with the laws as we have them now. Abortion is a federally legislated issue. Move along little hate monger, move along.

I'll second that gopher alert.

The Dantona cult regularly beats up on conservative politicians for not supporting a woman's right to choose. But now when asked the very same question about the position of their candidate they refuse to answer the question and proclaim that it is a federal issue. When it is convenient for them it is either an issue or not an issue, so once again we have double standard on display from Team Dantona. Interestingly enough, the Dantona supporters were quick to label Jackson and Strickland as extremists on the abortion issue, but when the question is asked to their guy is is now suddenly an irrelevant question.

But this doesn't just concern the issue of abortion, it covers a wide range of topics where Dantona refuses to take a stand. Instead he hides behind his charity organization that he uses to employ family members, of which he also refuses to provide details. And if he can hide behind things being federal or state issues then he can do the same for Indian gaming, taxation, education, the environment, or any other question he wishes to avoid.

Dantona and his supporters come off as slimy opportunists who smear everyone else while trying to trick us into voting for someone we know nothing about.

As the saying goes:

Keep it coming.

Gopher alert. Get your traps and poison. Gopher out from under rock. This is an official gopher alert.

Another's POV on the abortion issue.

Personally I don't care about the candidates' POVs inre abortion, for this race. The winner's opinion will have only a marginal affect on the issue, either way. But since Strickland & Jackson are being described as extremists at different ends of the spectrum I'm curious as to HOW extreme those views really are. Since the Dantona bloggers can only offer a deep bias can any of Strickland's and Jackson's supporters. WHO ACTUALLY KNOW, provide some real info about those views?

This isn't a trick question. I really don't know what their views are.

Didn't Strickland support Dantona for the 4th District Supervisor Race? Then he changed his mind. Think Hanna Beth can kill TWO birds with one stone?

Oh No!: Nudged me to rethink this whole Dantona v. Jackson debate. Can Democrats really trust a candidate that was endorsed by Strickland? Does Dantona just want to be in an elected position just to play politics?

Brian - You did us a great favor when you posted Strickland's praises for Romney: you showed that Strickland doesn't really have conviction. Wasn't he for licenses for undocumented workers when he was in the Assembly and now he supports Romney because he was against it?

I have to ask myself, "Which Democratic candidate has conviction? Which Democratic candidate has a record that supports what Ventura County values?"

Ventura County Values: The Environment , Publci Safety and Education, and not becoming another L.A.

What do we need from the state legislature and who knows how to get that for our county? Who can help Ventura County get the funding it needs to advance our priorities for the environment, education, and public safety?

Dantona has shown that he can run hard but can he win? Jackson and Strickland have shown they can run hard and win. Can they win in the 19th?

Democrats: Let's work to make sure the 19th becomes Democratic. We have too much at stake to allow an out-of-touch, marginally competent legislator to take that seat.

What ever the outcome of the Democratic pirmarry, we need to defeat the Repubican candidate!

Let's keep our eye on the prize! Democrats unite and don't let our primary
interfere with what is at stake: a Democrat for the 19th!

Funny how the Dantona regulars around here suddenly claim that the abortion issue is a "federal issue" and not relevant to the SD19 campaign. But that certainly wasn't their view during the Supervisor's campaign between Jim Dantona and Peter Foy. Why was this issue relevant for a County Supervisor but for a State Senator?

Gary now claims that he doesn't care about candidate views in a local election with regard to the abortion issue. However, that contradicts his view during the County Supervisors race where Gary stated, "As for morally corrupt, have you ever asked Mr Foy what his positions are on homosexuality and abortion? His fellow church goers all think he's against both. But if he doesn't want to explain then maybe his paid consultants will. I once said that there's nothing worse than a hypocrite."

"You see, I've tried asking Mr Foy some of these questions but he hasn't responded. Neither would he respond to similar questions when asked in person by one of our friends two weekends ago. And we know Mr Foy won't talk to the Voters and, like George Bush, only appears before screened audiences."

Posted by: gs at October 6, 2006 11:38 AM

Interesting how Dantona supporters claim that abortion is a relevant issue when asking questions about other candidates, but not when people ask questions about Jim Dantona. As you can see above, while they blast other candidates for not answering questions they give their own guy a free pass when he does the same. But I would argue that Dantona is worse. At least we know where Jackson and Strickland stand on basic issues, like abortion. Yet Dantona and his followers refuse to answer even the most basic questions.

So where does Strickland stand on abortion? He is opposed to abortion for the purposes of infant gender selection, opposes taxpayer funded abortions, and supports parental consent for minors seeking abortions.
http://www.californiaprolife.org/legislation/2006election.html

Where does Hannah Beth Jackson stand on abortion? She staunchly opposes any limitation on a woman's right to reproductive choice.
http://www.smartvoter.org/2002/11/05/ca/state/vote/jackson_h/bio.html

Where does Jim Dantona stand on abortion....????

Get some sleep, sicko!
Gopher alert. Get your traps and poison. Gopher out from under rock. This is an official gopher alert.

In the context of the Radical Christian Right creating a political beachhead and incubator for like-minded bible thumping politicians here in Ventura County, yes, I did say those things. At the time those issues were crucial to my involvement in the race. After a year's hindsight I admit I was wrong,there's been no indication that that was Mr Foy & Company's purpose and I would agree that my words were harsh.

In the SD 19 race I don't believe Strickland is involved in anyway in some RCR agenda and for that reason his views on abortion don't matter to me. Jackson's views also don't concern me since she's not apt to try and force them on anyone through legislation.

Fools like Strickland and Bubba/Love Child oppose a womans right to choose and at the same time they fight any attempt to give healthcare to children, that is why it is no longer cool to be a republican, because they have become a big joke! The republican party is rapidly dying off and I for to will be happy to dance a jig on their grave and I will allow my dog to relieve itself on their headstone "Here lies the GOP, there tent became smaller and smaller and their anger and hatred of everyone and everything finally lead to their demise".

Wow, Love, I thought I was wild. You are event better. Relieve the dog? How about on BK's pillow as well as the headstone?

...and I for to will be happy to dance a jig on their grave and will allow my dog to relieve itself on their headstone...." sounds like the pot calling the kettle black when you speak of "agner and hatred" Love Child=Bubba Kidd. Just a thought...

That was a very honest response Gary and I'm very impressed that you were willing to set the record straight on Foy. BTW, I happen to agree with you that the abortion issue is not relevant to this race. However I still believe that Dantona is being evasive and ducking the issues. Personally I could care less about his views on abortion, but I think that we need to be consistent in how these standards are applied to political candidates.

The real reason Bubba cannot stop talking about Dantona is because he secretly worships the ground Jim walks on and I suspect he actually voted for Jim! Get on the Dantona express Bubba because the next stop is Sacramento!

Thank you, BK. But I still think you're trying to make a case against Dantona based on the responses of a few off-the-wall bloggers rather than allow the candidate to explain his positions, himself. There's plenty of time to find out where all three candidates stand on all the issues of interest.

BK has less to say that I do, and that says something.

Gopher alert. Get your traps and poison. Gopher out from under rock. This is an official gopher alert.

Dantona has more heart than both of the other candidates put together. He knows the issues and has strong positions on every issue of importance to the 19th Senate District. Better than that, he recognizes BK for who he is and will never take the bait. BK is a hate monger with far too much baggage. Soon, BK's name will be released. Until then, how about a contest "Who is BK"? The person with the correct answer will get a French dinner for two at my home.

I'll put in the first entry. BK is a gopher named "Digger".

Surf's up. See you at Rincon tonight.

Come now, anybody who doesn't accept Team Dantona propaganda at face value is labelled as a "hate monger". LMAO!! Is that all you've got? Dantona would be wise to distance himself from these clowns.

Funny, how moondoggie and his buddies gleefully declare that they would like to dance a jig on a few graves while their dogs piss on the headstones, yet they have the nerve to call anyone who disagrees with them "hate mongers".

I think it is clear who are the real hate mongers.

Gopher alert. Get your traps and poison. Gopher out from under rock. This is an official gopher alert.

I don't think you are a hate monger Bubba, I just think you are stupid and lame, get your facts straight! Moondoggie, I think gophers are a higher form of life than Bubba Kidd, maybe it should be a "green slime" alert.

Bubba,

It seems like you have been providing campaign advice and/or commentary on this site to a number of candidates in the last couple of years so including Judy Mikels, Peter Foy, Jim Dantona and now Tony Strickland and Hannah-Beth Jackson.

Have you ever thought about actually running a campaign for someone? Or better yet (so you can have the perfect candidate) run your own campaign for office? Of course, you would have to use your real name, but it would be interesting to see if you would take your own extremely copious advice and what the final results would be.

Harold I think BK is all talk, no action!

Rodents can't run for public office, silly.

Sticks and stones boys. Your petty personal attacks won't stop me and others from exposing Jim Dantona as an empty suit. Dantona's evasiveness on the issues and the sleazy smear tactics employed by the zealot extremists who support him only prove that Dantona is an opportunist who is all talk and no substance.

BK,

It's so much easier to tear something down than support it, isn't it?

In fact that's all you've done, you've not promoted one thing. So thanks for all your input, but it amounts to nothing more than tearing down what others courageously try to build. People put themselves out there to try and do something better and you shoot it down - so easy. You don't even go out and promote Mikels, Foy, Strickland, Becerra, Firestone, Jackson, Nava and certainly not Dantona.

Why don't you try something productive? Why, because you are one of those people who sits on the couch and just complains. It seems the only thing you are pro is anti-Dantona - how did he hurt you? Because clearly he must have (or is it just a group of insiders using a common name who hate Dantona) or you have some leadership post which some know about and you can't go around promoting anything, just being an attack dog. Either way you do nothing productive on this blog except attack - how about promoting something?

Didn't someone ask you who you wanted to step in from the Republican side to run? You just ignored that question. Didn't someone ask you your position on the morning after pill? You just ignored that question. Again, you simply come out and take pot shots then go hide again, which is your right, but clearly does nothing to advance our community.

So I guess thanks for nothing.

Dantona is an empty suit?

Dantona came out and exposed Waste Management's plans for expansion which were going to make a stealth landing in the County Supervisor's office if nobody brought it up. Even the Simi City Council was basically took a new deal up on consent.

Dantona wanted to clean up the SSFL. He was on the issue before Foy, congrats to the State and Foy for at least moving on these things.

Dantona went out and opposed the huge development out in Moorpark spending his own time and money to support the cause - talking about smart development and traffic.

Dantona has cared about children's and drug issues and actually went out and formed a non-profit group to talk to kids about trying to stay on the right path.

Empty suit? Yeah, I don't think so. Evasive on position? Yeah, I don't think so. More tearing down what others try to build up.

The point, Bubba:

It takes a courage of sorts to put yourself out there and run for public office whether you are Dantona or Strickland or Jackson or anyone else.

Those of us who sit on the sidelines of the race and pontificate need to do a personal gut check or - at the very least - allow those who have the courage to take the heat and run a bit of leeway in making their own decisions on the basics of the strategy and tactics of their own campaigns including timing of announcements, etc.

Not to do is hypocrisy and cowardice of the first order when we are shielded by anonymity. So drop the passive-aggressive tactics, they are unflatteringly immature and - in case you do not realize it - also extremely ineffective in gathering sympathy from most readers who can see through them.

Harold,

Didn't you die in 1066?

What was it Mark Twain said about the reports of his death?

Say, did anyone hear the radio ads for Tony Strickland for Senate that just started playing on the local stations (I think KTYD is the one I heard it on). He talks about how he's on the leading edge regarding better health care coverage and addressing global warming and environmental issues. Sounds like he's stealing a page from Schwartznegger's "How a Republican Can Appeal to Democrats" book.

Either that or he is planning to run for Congress . . .

The Stricklands have always been phonies. They will do anything to keep the cash flowing from the public trough. Did we expect anything else? Now he is an environmentalist. What a two bit phony.

Well I guess is takes Tim Herdt to tell us why the Dantona group has been so vague and evasive about the attendance at the event.

His article today explains why all the nebulous references to "vip's" were necessary..........no one showed.

That is no one of consequence. No Perata, no Padilla, in fact no Senators or Assembly members at all. The best they could do was Cardenas, an L.A. councilman who is also Dantona Jr.'s employer.

The truth was bound to come out, you guys should have just owned up to it instead of getting your covers pulled,

It's a bad start boys.

More Kunicki, opps Strickland, bull. Anytime you get 130 people to pay $250 or more for a ticket to a local political event you are doing well and Dantona's event was over the top in terms of success. It is no wonder these extremists are so afraid of Jim Dantona. He will make a far better Senator and put to bed the right wing zeolot hold that these nuts have enjoyed in our community for far too long.

It is obvious both Voter and BK work for the VCRCC, I have never seen them so scared of a democrat before, they are shaking and crying like babies, pathetic! They don't even try and promote Tony "The Fake" Strickland because they know he is a bad candidate, all they can try and do is tear down Dantona, how sad they have become!

You got that right, voter and bk=VCRCC. It is all one and the same. A hate monger, right wing, fanatic who would go after Dantona for chewing gum on the wrong side of his mouth. Strickland, the new environmentalist, sits quiet while his lacky comes out of his hole and attacks. A true badge of courage.

Go Tony, Go! Go Tony, Go! Attack, attack attack! Dantona has the ugly man on the ropes and is smashing him to a pulp. What else can he do but have his flunky jump on Jim's back and wack him with a shovel. Nevertheless, the professional boxer will knock the flunky out of the ring with a broken neck, then finish pulverizing the gravely wounded Tony.

Go Tony, Go! You're headed for either the box or the jail. So Go Tony, Go!

I am sick and tired of you guys picking on my very very very good friend Bubba! You are bad bad boys, maybe even dirty bad bad boys. Leave my Bubba alone!

Larry, we appreciate you standing up for your friend. Nevertheless, locally he is a rather warped fellow, deeply in need of psychiatric treatment, and remains a varmin to the free election and sane society processes. We have labelled him a gopher, although a new species of gopher. We are making every effort to exterminate him. Larry, best of luck with your ongoing situation. My advice; stay our of the public bathrooms.

I too wish you would leave Bubba alone! He is a good and good looking guy! By the way, if I get back in congress would you like to be a Paige for me Bubba?

Bubba would not make a good page, Tom. Bubba has very long toe nails and two very large front teeth. Bubba can not see in strong light and prefers the dark. Bubba is afraid of water. Bubba is covered with a thick coat of hair. It will take a very, very kinky Legislator to enjoy Bubba as a Paige. Then again, Tom, perhaps you would enjoy a gopher in the sack. Who knows better than you.

You guys make me laugh! When asked basic questions about Dantona's views on important issues Team Dantona repeatedly punts, refusing to provide real information to voters. The only thing I see is the typical slimy attacks against others that permeated the previous Dantona campaign. So far in this campaign Dantona has offered nothing of substance and his supporters have sunk to making personal attacks against anonymous bloggers. LMAO!! Get a clue, your guy is already outmatched and outclassed, and I'm beginning to have my doubts that he'll even survive the primary.

BTW, where are all those political heavyweights that were suppose to come out and endorse Dantona? LOL! So far I don't see anything. Attack me all you want but your real problem is that Dantona is having a hard time getting high-profile democrats to endorse him and he is not raising nearly enough money to run a competitive campaign. All the "gopher alerts" in the world won't change the fact that Dantona is an empty suit and his supporters are extremists who are doing nothing but dragging his entire campaign into the gutter just like last time. Dantona's public image has already been tarnished by his slime tactics and more of the same will not bail out this sinking ship.

Good luck in the primary, you'll need it. LMAO!!

Same old underground rodent chatter. Never anything new. Runs through dark tunnels, grunting has he goes. Pops up from under a rock, in the dark of night, and grunts more gopher speak.

Gopher alert. Get your traps and poison. Gopher out from under rock. This is an official gopher alert.

CAP, thanks for sounding the gopher alert. I was asleep at the wheel. It is amazing how this rodent can write two paragraphs and never say anything new. One has to wonder just what Dantona did to this gopher to have caused such hate. It has to do with either the Transportation Commission issue, taking Mikels out or simply kissing up to Strickland. To watch a human transform into a gopher is sad, yet amazing. Please keep the alerts going, in case I am tardy. I'll sound another just for the heck of it.

Gopher alert. Get your traps and poison. Gopher out from under rock. This is an official gopher alert.

a gopher, what is it!

not something that really listens to music
not something that really wears clothes
not something who tends the grass altho it appreciates the tending of grass
akin to a woodchuck, akin to a stoat, akin to a mink, akin to a squirrel

this is gopher

A gopher hybrid. It lives in the dark, it eats roots, it is blind in the sunlight, it hates Dantona.

Trap it, kill it, wack it with a shovel, poison it, drown it, wack it with a rock.

Gopher alert. Get your traps and poison. Gopher out from under rock. This is an official gopher alert.

From the Bible, “Make thee an ark of gopher wood; rooms shalt thou make in the ark, and shalt pitch it within and without with pitch.”

But bring no gopher upon the ark.

Voter, wrong as usual. Tony Cardenas, a former Assemblyman, was there to speak for Senators Alex Padilla and Gil Cedillo who have both endorsed Dantona. They're both members of the powerful rules committee with Perata.

What is all the screaming about Perata? There's no way he's going to formally endorse someone this early in a primary situation. It's a no brainer.

That Perata couldn't make the event was unfortunate, but he does have a busy schedule and things do come up. Maybe next time. Jim did have a Kennedy hosting, who flew out from Maryland for the event. Then the former pro tem David Roberti, who has also endorsed Dantona, was at the event and spoke. You remember Roberti - the longest sitting pro tem in California history. I guess that's not enough star power for you.

I believe the final guest count was over 130. Since the event was originally planned for 100, I'd say that's a big success. This was just the first event and I hear that there are several others in the planning stages throughout the district.

I also noticed that Strickland's events have gotten zero coverage so far. Maybe that's because the real buzz and action in this campaign is with Dantona.

BK, you're going to eat your words when you see Dantona's endorsement list. Then you're going to choke on them when you see his campaign finance filings at the end of December.

All of you screaming for Jim or someone advising his campaign to come on here and answer your questions immediately, need to calm down. These people are busy. I just don't think Sandi Polka or Bill Cavalla have time to blog here.

Say, is the Ventura Democratic Central Committee endorsing any candidates in the Ventura City Council race? Just curious, since the Republican Central Committee endorsed Mike Gibson and "Sweet" Lou Cunningham. Laura Winchester are you out there?

I had heard they're endorsing Bill Fulton and Jerry Martin, but not Carl Morehouse (who is expected to lose).

Choke,

So let me see if I've got this right, you say it doesn't matter that nobody of consequence attended the Dantona event since Cardenas, long time pal and son's employer, brought greetings from everybody that was supposed to be there?

Hmmmmm, and then it's your position that if Kathleen Kennedy, a politician that was too far left for even Massachusetts, and another far left whack job, who is probably thrilled if anyone even remembers his name, Roberti, shows it's a rousing endorsement for the supposed "moderate" Dantona?

Well you folks have to grab at whatever straws are out there, so good luck. I just hope Dantona stays in the Primary race long enough for the yucks to continue to come, you guys make me giggle.

I was thinking the same thing. What is this supposed "moderate" doing hanging out with all these far left liberals? I can't wait to see Dantona's campaign finance filing and list of endorsements. So far the only "heavyweight" democract attending his events is Dantona himself. LMAO!!! This gets more entertaining by the minute.

You show what right wing nut jobs you are whe you refer to Roberti and Kennedy as far left. Do your homework you idiots, Osborn and Kunicki. Oh I mean voter & bubba.

That's right, the lefties on this blog get to call any conservative a "far right extremist", but heaven forbid that a Kennedy is called a "far left liberal". According to your playbook all conservatives are "extremists" and all liberals are "bi-partisan moderates", just like your boy Dantona.

You guys just keep the laughs coming!