( As a test of your political geek skill, who is the woman standing next to Marta Jorgenson?)

Marta Jorgenson is having a fundraiser in Simi Valley in her effort to take on Elton Gallegly.

Click on continue reading for details.

( Rep. Gallegly talking about the surge.)

Democratic nominee to take on Rep. Elton Gallegly has some new events scheduled. Click on continue reading to see them.

I called Rep. Gallegly's office but he isn't doing any public events in the next few months. If he announces an event I will post it.

Also, his website continues not to mention the war in Iraq. Is he really afraid of Marta Jorgenson? Is the issue not important enough for him to post his position?

I would think Elton Gallegly, who is in the district often, would schedule something not behind closed doors or unannounced.

( A pro-impeachment attack on Rep. Nancy Pelosi)

Mary Pallant, former candidate for the Democratic nomination, ( CA 24 Currently Gallegly ) is hosting infamous, famous, well known peace activist Cindy Sheehan, who is running against Rep. Nancy Pelosi.

Who is a Republican to cheer for?

I am surprised that Mary Pallant would bring in somebody that divides local Democrats.

Why is it she has a more impressive presence on the local political stage than the actual Democratic nominee against Rep. Gallegly?

Who's going?

( Another blog called Hannah-Beth Jackson out for having her picture taken with Firefighters in uniform and then using it on her campaign website . That other blog said that laws were broken. I wonder where the outrage will be over this photo from Elton Gallegly's campaign website? This photo or the other photo isn't a top concern for me. I understand it was just a political attack. The state budget seems much more important.)

Both Rep. Lois Capps and Rep. Elton Gallegly have not turned in their political courage test to Project Vote Smart. Call their offices and ask them to answer the questions.

Here are the phone numbers:

Elton Gallegly: (805) 497-2224
Lois Capps: (805)985-6807

Neither of them has a tough competitor thus far so it shouldn't take to much courage to return it. After you call post what their response is to your request.

Call me a cynic but if Rep. Gallegly doesn't address the Iraq war on his campaign website I doubt he is interested in answering other questions. Maybe somebody will stop by the Ventura County Fair booth and film him as they ask questions...

Is Rep. Gallegly really afraid of giving Marta Jorgenson an opening to attack him or is he just not interested in discussing Iraq?

To view the questions click here.

Click on continue reading for more details.

I am done trying to come up with a better title. If you have a better title leave a suggestion as a comment and I will fix it.

The Barack Obama card board stand up in front of the Democrats' booth at the Ventura County Fair was ripped up by a man yelling profanities including a racial slur. Click on continue reading for details.

In 2004, the George W. Bush stand up at the Republican Party's Headquarters was stolen by someone that ran out with it. I don't recall fi they ever got it back but if I remember correctly the thief took it back to the San Fernando Valley where the police didn't do much for such a petty offense.

Read through the comments on Dailykos about this story. An keep your cardboard stand ups safe!

Sandy, do you have signs and bumper stickers for Barack Obama at the booth?

I called Rep. Gallegly's office to find out when his next public event was but they don't have a schedule. They did say he was attending the fair sometimes but didn't say when. If you go to the fair you might get lucky enough to ask a question.

Are there any other candidates at the fair?

In her continuing speaker series Mary Pallant and CLU's Political Science Dept. are hosting a screening and then a discussion with the producer/director of a film about the integrity of our elections, including a case study of Ohio during the 2004 presidential election.

Click on continue reading to see more details.

In other news what have you seen from the Marta Jorgenson campaign recently?

( A local Barack Obama supporter with local Barack Obama organizer Sandy Emberland. He said he bought the shirt at Urban Outfitters I think.)

I attended an organizational meeting of Barack Obama supporters tonight at the UFCW Union Hall in Camarillo. By my count there was about one hundred supporters there from across the 24th congressional district and beyond.

The focus of the meeting was to train volunteers to register voters and to organize voter registration events. If you are interested in getting involved you can leave your name and email address here as a comment or you can go to the campaign's website and search for local events to help with.

The Ventura County Fair is coming up and the Barack Obama supporters have many plans to make it exciting for this year. They are looking for a few more volunteers to work in the booth if you are interested.

The amount and intensity of volunteers this long before the election is inspiring. The only local John McCain news I have to share is that there is a high priced fundraiser in Los Angeles in late August. If you see anything from local John McCain supporters let me know.

I have heard that Republicans are out there registering voters. Has anyone seen this recently? If you do send in photos to post.

Thanks to the great volunteers who organized this event. I am looking forward to reports from the fair.

Sandy, will you email me some photos of the registration events your group is running?

Local Barack Obama supporters are putting together a great organization. I was surprised I didn't see more Democratic leaders at the event but I the UFCW hall was full of supporters. There will be Barack Obama signs, stickers, and magnetic bumper stickers at this meeting. Here is a video from the last meeting:

Here is the meeting information from the local Barack Obama campaign volunteers:

Obama Monthly Meetup for the 24th Congressional District - Wednesday, July 23, 7 - 9 PM, UFCW Orchid Room in Camarillo

On June 17 we had a terrific meeting in Camarillo with about 190 supporters attending. We covered the basics on what to expect moving forward; hosting events; developing city groups; phonebanking; canvassing and traveling to other states.

On July 23 we have scheduled the second monthly meetup. This event will be co-hosted by Deborah Dent, CD 24 Obama for America Coordinator and Roni Flowers, Obama for America Volunteer. This will be an opportunity for Obama supporters and city group members to meet together, welcome new volunteers, participate in a brief Q & A and receive information on the campaign's general election plans for California . Also, Roni Flowers will conduct a workshop on voter registration.

Please RSVP for this event at

http://my.barackobama.com/page/event/detail/4gysq

If you are a Democrat running for local office you should be there. I will bring a camera to get photos of the candidates that make it.

The last few weeks political blogs have been dominated by the talk about FISA , Barack Obama's supporters being upset by his position on FISA/ Telecom Immunity, and the differences between the senate and house versions.

The Barack Obama campaign has a feature where you can sign up, volunteer, carry out tasks, and earn points. If you read Timm Herdt's recent article you will see that it is really innovative. Recently, supporters of Barack Obama's campaign have been using these tools to lobby the senator to support retroactive immunity in the senate version of the bill.

If you click on continue reading there is an email from Mary Pallant ( a Democrat that ran for the nomination of her party this year) discussing her views on the bill that was passed today which included retroactive immunity.

I was talking the other night to a local political operative who told me they were a policy wonk. They impressed me with their wonky talk. But this issue seems to be the wonkiest of all the issues going on.

So, do you care? Have you been following the arguments?

Leave a comment explaining the issue more of what you feel about it. You don't have to use your real name and you don't need to register to leave comments. I don't have any warrants asking for IP addresses, so your identity is safe. I don't share IP addresses with other Star blogs.

Thanks for reading and thanks for leaving comments.

Click on continue reading for details.

( A video critical of Sen. Chris Dodd for his favorable home loan that has raised ethics questions. For more reading on this issue click here. A friend thought I wouldn't talk about it as I am too partisan. Well, I finally found a local tie in.)

Looks like Rep. Gallegly refunded a recent contribution from CountryWide CEO Angelo Mizilo but it doesn't say why. Scroll down to the very bottom of the page to see it. I had the wrong link in there earlier. Thanks for pointing it out I have corrected it.

It might be completely meaningless or explainable but if the Democrats were organized you would expect to hear about it more. A campaign, not a blogger, would have discovered it.

Have you heard from his Democratic opponent? If you see an email from her send it my way.

If you see her at an event, send in pictures.

Through the last reporting period Marta Jorgensen spent $1,375. That's correct! She won her primary without spending almost any money and according to the last filed FEC report no contributions from individuals.

She is a zen master at campaigning. Rep. Gallegly better be prepared. She doesn't need to spend money to win. I am trying here. If you have your own spin to add let me know. What would you suggest to Marta Jorgensen to do to overcome Rep. Gallegly's name ID and massive war chest?

Seriously, Elton we know you are heavily favored to win. We know Republicans nation wide are afraid to talk about Iraq. But are you that afraid of Marta Jorgensen?

Why not talk about Iraq on your issues page?

Is it some DC consultant that chose to leave talking about Iraq off your issues page?

Take a chance. Talk about Iraq on your issues page.

I know you need to run a campaign but representing us is your job. Don't run away from it. If it was an oversight done by some staff members remind them about what is important to voters.

In related news Moorpark city council member Keith Millhouse is considering running for the seat when Rep. Gallegly retires.

There are many names being mentioned as potential candidate but over the weekend I heard a dark horse candidacy mentioned. The Republican primary to replace Rep. Gallegly could be really exciting. What names have you heard or what candidates would you like to see in that primary?

I also heard a rumor that Audra Strickland plans to run for County Supervisor. I assume she is intending to run for Peter Foy's seat since I have heard he isn't running again for that seat. Maybe he is planning to run for congress too?

Have fun sifting through campaign finance reports.

The Democrats are putting more and more resources into Ventura County in a way I haven't seen before.

This Saturday a Barack Obama group is going to start registering voters in Moorpark once a week. Click here to get involved.

Also, a group called Work for Change is hiring many people to register voters across the county. Click on continue reading to see the details or go to the craigslist ad.

I recently posted Tony Strickland's ad to hire people too if you lean to the right more.

This campaign season is going to be the biggest battle in Ventura County history as far as I remember.

Do you remember this much intensity this long before any other election?