( Ventura City Council Member Christy Weir from a campaign video)

The Ventura County Reporter has announced their best of people awards.

Politicians

1ST PLACE (TIE)
Elton Gallegly
Hannah- Beth Jackson

2ND PLACE
Christy Weir

3RD PLACE
Lois Capps

Click here to see the award winners in other categories .

A tie between Rep. Elton Gallegly and State Senate candidate Hannah-Beth Jackson? Watching the partisans spin that tie will be entertaining!

In other Hannah-Beth Jackson news she will be debating Tony Strickland this Sunday morning. Click on continue reading for 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?

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.

It seems John McCain is anxious over Barack Obama's ability to connect with voters and make news. Check out these events from the last few days:

Here is Barack Obama, in church on Father's Day, calling on fathers, especially African American fathers, to be there for their children.

( it already has close to 40,000 views on Youtube.)

Here is Barack Obama calling for help on behalf of the victims of the midwest funding. He also flew in, helped out , and used his campaign organization to get people to help:

And on his front page you see this:

And what is John McCain up to? On his front page it has a long list of Finance Events. He is also hosting town hall Meetings with the campaign helping to select audience members, which isn't what they were claiming it was going to be. Even Fox News called them on it.

So, is it in Barack Obama's best interest to be at every meeting that John McCain wants to hold? Most likely not. But it might be in our nation's best interest to watch them debate each other many times.

I think both campaigns should compromise. Barack Obama's campaign has already agreed to a total of 5 events between here and the election in November. Maybe he should add in one or two more events. Having a weekly event over this summer is a little too much and it is an attempt to get Barack Obama out of the type of campaigning he has been very effective at thus far.

Now that I have said all of that let's take this to the local level.

Of course Rep. Elton Gallegly is the heavy favorite to win. But wouldn't it be great if he participated in at least 1 event with his opponent that was focused just on their race this summer? A town hall forum where the audience could ask questions of them and a recording would be broadcast on cable?

What about Hannah Beth Jackson and Tony Strickland? What excuse do they have for not meeting at least once a month to answer questions from the audience or a panel? Do you think it would be good for democracy to watch them debate their different visions across our district?

To make the events fair I don't care who they ask to moderate them. The Acorn? The Star? League Of Women Voters? A Rotary Club? What about other elected officials? Maybe even no moderator at all but instead a Lincoln Douglas type event where each candidate gets a few minutes to talk and they switch back and forth for an hour?

If enough people show their interest I will invite both campaigns to debate and report back which campaign refuses to debate.

I like the no host format so neither campaign can argue they don't think the moderator in unfair.

I haven't seen Hannah Beth Jackson in a debate or speak before a large audience but I have seen Tony Strickland do it a few times and he seems well practiced at it. I know his critics doubt him but his public speaking skills are pretty good. He can read an audience better than many local politicians.

What do you think? Should they do monthly debates across the district?

( An old video of Rep. Gallegly talking about his support for the troop surge and a long term presence of US troops in Iraq.)

I am pleased that Rep. Elton Gallegly will be sending out a newsletter to keep us updated on what he is doing in congress. I want it to be more specific then his print edition newsletters. Maybe he can put in links to a bill tracker that allows us to see where his legislation currently is being considered?

Anyways, sign up by clicking here.

Make sure to use a fun name. Make it esoteric so that you get added. Maybe Russian authors? Disgraced colleagues of his ( You can be bipartisan)? 19th century Vice Presidents?

Let me know when you get your newsletters.

The person with the best name that Gallegly sends a newsletter too wins a prize. Prize not actually worth almost anything.

( A video of Rep. Gallegly explaining his support for the surge and maintaining a commitment of troops in Iraq.)

Former candidate for the Democratic nomination Mary Pallant emailed me this message about a rally outside of Rep. Gallegly's office this Wednesday.

I post information from candidates as it comes in. If your campaign is having an event email it to me and it will be posted.

Here is the message from Mary Pallant:

Emergency Rally in support of Rep. Dennis Kucinich's Resolution presented to Congress on June 9th, at 8:40pm Eastern time, asking for the Impeachment of George W. Bush and listing 35 articles of Impeachable offenses.

For the love of our Country and Constitution let us show support and solidarity for this resolution. Impeachment is not a partisan issue, but a fundamental constitutional issue. The charges described in the Resolution clearly represent what our Founding Fathers intended in addressing acts of treason, high crimes and misdemeanors. It is time for our legislatures to take a stand, stand up for the rule of law and stand firm with upholding their constitutional oath "to preserve and protect." Thank you to Rep. Kucinich. These charges are now a part of the Congressional record.


Date: Wednesday, June 11th, 2008
Location: Corner of Westlake Blvd. and Townsgate in Westlake Village (near Rep. Gallegly's office, member of the House Judiciary Committee)
Time: 6pm to 7pm

Please forward this notice to your email lists.

Regardless of Mary Pallant's positions you must admit she is in this for a cause larger than herself. I expect her to keep organizing locally and run again in the future.

UPDATE: Mary Pallant also emailed out an end of campaign season message. Click on continue reading to read it.

( This video featuring John McCain talking about his support and then him clarifying his remarks doesn't fully explain his view. If you have a link to a concise and fair explanation of the candidates views please post it.)

The front page of The Star currently has an unscientific poll about Same Sex Marriage.

Here is the wording and the results last I checked:

Would you favor a state constitutional amendment that defines marriage as only involving a man and a woman?

Yes 42% 220 votes
No 57% 297 votes
517 total votes

Have you polled about any local or state politics in the past? I was once polled about Proposition 5 which expanded tribal gaming. I expressed my concern that it would cause a massive expansion of gaming in California, although I supported the tribes being able to life themselves up. The pollster said I didn't know what I was talking about.

Go vote and update us on the results!

If you want to write up a guest editorial about any local candidates positions on gay rights I will post it on the front page under your name. Leave a comment on who you are researching. It expect it will include your opinion but please also include facts, links, and a voting record.

Anyone want to research the following candidates and get back to us? Choose just one.

Hannah Beth Jackson
Elton Gallegly
Tony Strickland
Marta Jorgensen

And any others.

It might not have the cache of a Superdelegate but Republican Michael Tenenbaum has earned the endorsement of a former local elected official that represented Simi Valley for many years at the local and state level.

Can you guess who it is before you click on continue reading for a picture and press release?

UPDATE: Tenenbaum was out walking precincts as he ridiculed Rep. Gallegly's record on the environment.

( Rep. Gallegly arguing on behalf of the troop surge.)

There is a new Ventura County based blog devoted to ending the war in Iraq. The war is not very popular in public opinion polls but yet the level of activism against the war has been pretty subdued.

Has your position on the war shifted since the start or run up to the war in 2003?

Click here to see their blog.

Click on continue reading to see details about their next event.

If you plan on going please send in a brief write up and a few photos afterwards.

On a related note watch this John McCain campaign ad:

Did you catch what shirt the woman at the end was wearing? Watch it again before you click here.

Did you see it the first time? Do you think it is really what it looks like?

( A friend of mine had his car vandalized in Simi Valley for putting a Barack Obama sticker on his Prius. Whatever the desired impact of messing with his car I am pretty sure you increased his level of support for Barack Obama!)

I am interested in hearing the details in this story.

What have you heard?