Wearing my Republican hat, it is embarrassing to witness how shabbily Michael has been treated by the local Republican party. He has every right to challenge an incumbent as do other Republicans in the area. I have less respect for those that sit on their thumbs until they getting the blessing to campaign.

I urge Michael to proceed because I think voters always deserve a choice. We are a Republic with representational government. If we can't make a choice, it is more like a dictatorship.

I will always support choices. It keeps our government healthy.

While Michael is free to run, I want to know why I should vote for him. He hasnt done anything in the community (other than grow up here). He hasnt been involved in local politics or performed any real volunteerism. Being a judge pro tem and volunteer prosecutor involve very little committment for anyone in the know about these. So is Tenenbaum running solely because he thinks he is smarter than everyone? I would really like to know what he has done for the public good versus just wanting to feed his own ego by being a congressman and what he wants to accomplish. I got his mail piece and it is the same old political garbage (picutre of police, military, firefighters). Everyone supports public safety, let's get to the real issues.

I support choices too, but I agree with Francis that Tenenbaum has not made a compelling case for us to vote for him yet, except as an "alternative" to a long-term Congressman, which, to me, is not a good enough reason by itself.

I agree that we need to know more about what he had done for the community in the way of volunteerism and community activity over the years.

Glad to hear you support choices as well. It is up to the candidates to make a compelling case for the voter to support them. It is not up to the party to try to thwart this process.

Katie, but wouldn't you agree that it's up to the Party to endorse a candidate? This is one of their primary responsibilities, in fact, and one that voters often rely heavily on to help them make a good decision.

I would be interested to know what "professional" degree program or school Michael enrolled in at "Columbia University In The City Of New York" from 1991-1992. I have not seen or heard Michael make reference to this educational experience at Columbia U.

He also writes that he attended Harvard Law School from 1992-1994 getting a degree in 1994. I would like to know how Michael completed a three year fulltime law program in two years.

Just curious.

I would be interested to know what "professional" degree program or school Michael enrolled in at "Columbia University In The City Of New York" from 1991-1992. I have not seen or heard Michael make reference to this educational experience at Columbia U.

He also writes that he attended Harvard Law School from 1992-1994 getting a degree in 1994. I would like to know how Michael completed a three year fulltime law program in two years.

Just curious.

Mongo,

Is Rep. Gallegly a career politician?

Brian, although you'll probably roll your eyes at this response, I think there's a difference between a career politician (someone addicted to being in office) and someone who enjoys representing the interests of people as an elec6ed official. I think Elton falls in the latter category, actually.

A career politican, hmmmm, Jerry Brown comes to mind. I think one could effectively argue that Tom McClintock might fit into this category as well.

Can you list a few times that Gallegly represented the "interests of people"?

gs,

Here's one: there was that legislation making it a Federal offense to transport a rooster accross state lines for immoral purposes!

Apparently, he authored that just this year. In fact, according to a statement written by Gallegly and read by Greg Totten at the CAPC "debate" with our absent Representative, it was a landmark piece of legislation.

I know I will sleep better now.

Another odd bit of animal legislation occurred in one of our neighboring states, where farm interests worked to defeat a bill that would outlaw sex with farm animals. The farmers' reasoning: that they don't want govt telling farmers what they could and couldn't do with their own animals. I guess in the next election a few rural reps will have some explaining to do.

Mongo,

It isn't mutually exclusive to say someone is addicted to being in office and they think they are helping people.

John Flynn comes to mind. You might not agree that he is actually helping people but his passion for his job and his goal of helping people is really impressive. That doesn't mean he has always been effective, but he enjoys helping people.

But is he a career politician? Of course he is at this point.

Brian, I would agree with you on Flynn. For some, maybe the helping part is what's so appealing about public office, and, for others, perhaps it's the notoriety and the ego strokes that come with being an elected official.

Of course, you have to be able to take your lumps too. I think that part gets easier the longer you're in office - Flynn would be a classic example.

Mongo,

Rep. Gallegly after 22 years if office he is a career politician.

You can choose if that is a good or bad thing but it is a basic fact.

Bria, he obviously enjoys being a politician. I don't think anyone would argue that point. But, one could also argue that he's a very effective (read: responsive) politician too.

You have to look at that side of the equation too. He keeps getting reelected. That's a basic fact as well.

Mongo,

It is true that winning many elections has enabled him to continue to be a career politician.

Brian, I agree. But, it's kind of a chicken or the egg kind of argument.

As long as you agree he is a career politician. I mean, he does qualify for retirement benefits from the House already, not that they are that hard to get.

Has anyone seen Tenenbaum's lovely signs adorning Victoria Ave? I guess the picture is a testimony to nobody knowing who he is.

Oh Tenenbaum, Oh Tenenbaum, prepare to get your butt kicked!

Do you think his win or loss has anything to do with the great issues facing our nation? Do voters even know the difference between the candidates?

I think the voters know that Gallegly has a solid record he can point to, whereas, Tenenbaum is a completely unknown quantity who has no record of public service or community involvement to speak of. He needs to start smaller and work his way up.

Yes Mongo, Gallegly has a solid record he can point to. Funny though, he is just pointing to an empty bowl.

Bob Huber wrote an excellent opinion piece that was published in Tuesday's Star that highlighted some of Elton's many legislative and funding accomplishments, including the widening of the 23 Freeway, blocking the closure of Naval Base Ventura County, designating the Port of Hueneme as a deep-water point, to name just a few.

He has also been a tireless supporter of tougher measures to secure our borders and pass tougher laws to discourage "illegal" immigration. He has been endorsed by every elected law enforcement officer and organization in the County, not to mention practically every city, county, and special district official who has endorsed a candidate in this race.

You'd better check your facts before popping off again, Elftin. You obviously don't know what you're talking about.

Do you mean to say Elton Gallegly went against the choice made by our military to preserve local jobs?

Is he an expert on what the military needs?

What are you talking about, dude? He worked hard to prevent Naval Base Ventura County from closing down, which was on the hit list at one time. This position was supported by every local chamber of commerce, economic development association, and business in the County because of the negative economic impacts it would have.

Bob Huber is the campaign treasurer for Elton and the piece he wrote appeared in the "community pages". Elton is not the "end all be all" that Greg Totten et al would lead one to believe.

The question wasn't about the local economic impact but instead about the military.

The military came up with a list to help them accomplish their goal and Elton Gallegly fought to stop them because of local jobs. Why was the military wrong?

By, like any good representative of the people he's elected to serve, Gallegly looked at the broader impact of the base closure on the community, as opposed to blindly agreeing to a budget reduction the Department of Defense was recommending.

Bureaucrats make recommendations all the time for budget reductions, which tend to look at things in a very narrow perspective, as opposed to examining the bigger picture. That is what we rely on our elected officials to do and Gallegly did exactly what he was elected to do in this situation.

Indeed Mongo, those three items sure do justify more than twenty years in office. Add the rooster legislation and you have the mark of one of the greatest legislators of the century in our own backyard.

The Animal Fighting Prohibition Enforcement Act that Elton sponsored, which I presume is what Elftin is talking about, covers a lot more than roosters. Money laundering, gang activity, gambling, illegal immigration, and a whole host of other crimes are associated with animal fighting. It is hardly a nonsense bill, as Elftin implies.

In addition to the list of accomplishments I provided, Elton also serves on the prestigious Judiciary Committee where tons of bills are considered and acted upon daily. He also served on a committee that first held hearings on the 9/11 Commission's report and was responsible for 10 provisions on the 9/11 bill that were ultimately passed into law by Congress.

Now, Elftin, you can start listing Tenenbaum's similar accomplishments. I anxiously await your response.

Mongo,
Elton may have widened the freeway but that comes at the cost of trading rediculous earmarks with other congressman. Thats how we got into this 3 trillion dollars a year debt that we can thank Elton and the rest of congress for. Tenenbaum has promised to vote no on all these earmarks. Leave it up to the states to take care of these types of issues.
As for the Animal Fighting Prohibition Enforcement Act, its a joke! It was already a crime in 48 states and at the Federal Level. Its an example of Elton trying to grab some spotlight from the Vic case. (hence why at the candidate forum Tottens speach reffered to this case.) They claim that this type of activity is linked to gang activity, illigel immigration and other crimes only to justify wasting time on this bill. If hes worried about those issues then forget animal fighting and work on securing the border.
Oh wait in the 2006 editorial board Elon said the boarder is not the problem. This guy is an embarassment to Congress. There is a reason he has been passed up 11 times for committee chair poisitions.
Let's do some research and make an informed vote for once!
I called the Tenenbaum campaign and found out that he was the Chair of the Civic Arts Plaza, volunteered in the DA office and as a judge. He may not have a ton of volunteer experience but did Elton when he got elected? I don't think so he wont a popularity contest by bein ginvolved in local politics.
Last I want to say how biased this paper is when it comes to Gallegly. The headlines they run are all pro Gallegly, and at their forum they let someone get up and speak about Elton like he was some sort of God. The whole point of a forum is to hear from the candidate and let them answer questions. Its a complete joke and Totten should have never been allowed to speak at the forum.
When Gallegly wants to show his face in the district and talk about the issues with Tenenbaum then I can consider voting for him. Otherwise I can't say he represents me at all!