The Democratic Party fighting cocks have come home to roost, with their spurs covered with fresh blood.

Today, House Majority Whip Steve Scalise was shot by a staunch Bernie Sanders supporter who was out to kill Republicans. I'm sick of the Liberal media blaming conservatives for the violence taking place all over America. I'm waiting for the Liberals to launch their typical attack on lawful gun owners now, and firearms in general. It's all a vicious lie to cover Liberal naiveté.

Trump's unprecedented electoral win has caused the Democrat Left to slip into pathological instability, and a state of political civil war now exists.

This description is not hyperbolic. One has only to review the thousands of psychotic expressions of searing personal hatred of Donald Trump to understand this. Trump's win has set off an emotional tectonic movement within the ranks of the Liberal-Left. This is an historic demonstration of Liberal-Left cerebral rot, an intense Antisocial Personality Disorder. This explains Stephen Colbert, Jimmy Kimmel, Kathy Griffin, all of the cable news programs excepting FOX, nearly all of Hollywood, nearly all of academia, and Never-Trumpers.

This is a snapshot of reality today in the United States. It's a picture of free-floating, irrational, self-sustaining hate, the core of a radical Liberal-Democrat. Its only justification - to destroy the product of American Constitutional democracy.

This white hot Liberal political degeneracy will very soon morph into an in-your-face, bloody conflagration. We are headed from a true political civil war to a physical civil war.

Just think of the huge amount of time and expense wasted on false news reports of alleged Russian collusion with the Trump camp. Nothing whatever has been uncovered. But watch the Liberal cable stations to see this determination to get Trump thrown out of office, or completely interfere with his agenda. Nothing on this scale has ever happened in American politics before.

Former FBI Director Comey should have been fired long ago. Actually, he should never have been allowed to come into the Trump administration from the Obama team. When he refused to indict Hillary Clinton on any of the numerous felonies she committed his status as a dirty cop became obvious.

The Democrat Party is bringing our nation down, at a time of maximum military peril. I believe our political system is falling apart. Our courts, and most of our judicial system is corrupt, particularly the Circuit Courts of Appeal - which handles most of our trials.

America may be distracted at the present time, but Russia, China, North Korea, and Iran are focused like lasers. The Bard would describe them as having lean and hungry looks.

 


 

I attended the regular Fillmore School District meeting last night. I think I have one black shirt to my name, which I wore to that meeting. Unbeknownst to me at the time, the plan by the teachers attending the meeting en mass was to wear black, signifying solidarity.

I mention this not to criticize others wearing black to the meeting, only to explain that I had no part to play in the confrontation between teachers, the teacher's union, and the school board.

That said, confrontation it was. As usual, the issue centered on money, salaries. The school calendar, tentatively approved at the meeting, was attacked by teachers for eliminating the October break. A full week off during Thanksgiving is up for negotiation instead.

I confess that I've gotten behind in my understanding of current school politics. I'm trying to catch up.

Frankly, I left the meeting after 45 minutes due to what I deemed as overkill in abusive attacks on our Superintendent, Dr. Adrian Palazuelos. I want to hear both sides fairly and clearly. Excessive, quasi-disorderly expressions of disagreement only fog my vision. Teachers attending the meeting (about 50) made their disapproval of the Superintendent loud and clear by reading a letter of no confidence, which followed a vote of the teachers reaching the same conclusion.

The problem I face, entering this confrontation so late, is a lack of recent historical information. I've been dealing with some serious distractions which I hope to correct starting this week.

Having witnessed past years of serious scandal in both school district operations and teacher's union activities (well documented) for objectivity's sake I enter the fray cautiously.

I know how hard our teachers work to educate our children; I am also aware of the diligence with which our Superintendent pursues his job, and the many improvements he continually achieves.

In the midst of the "no confidence" beat-down Dr. Palazuelos endured at last night's meeting, I have to note that Board Member Virginia de la Piedra made it very clear that the entire Board has strong confidence in the Superintendent. I wish meetings like this could provide an organized pro and con format to avoid such a one-sided avalanche of opinion.

In the interest of full disclosure, I must admit that following Dr. Palazuelos' work ethic, accomplishments, and vision for our District, I also hold him in high esteem. His integrity is obvious. He expressed true happiness when he purchased a home in Fillmore and moved his family here. His intentions have always been to improve District functions by reforming them. District functions have been in need of reformation for a long time - but such action always brings pain to those who cling to the status quo. I heard a loud "ouch!" from teachers last night.

I don't for a moment wish to ignore the honest concerns of our teachers as expressed at last night's meeting. What would be most welcome, however, is a little more formal respect in voicing those demands. I think teachers, parents, and students alike would be much better served by more civility. Let's have a clear expression of specific demands and a clear response to the same - with a little more patience, a little more reciprocity.

 


 

A SPECIAL BIRTHDAY!

I want to wish Happy Birthday to one of the most beautiful persons I have known - Floreine Data, who will be celebrating her 100th birthday on June 8. Floreine's husband, Henry James "Hank" Data, passed away in 2012. Hank and Floreine were married for 72 years.

I first met Floreine and Hank in 1989 when the Gazette was first published. I think Floreine and Hank were the kindest, most thoughtful couple it has ever been my pleasure to know.

Happy Birthday and God bless you Floreine. I know Hank is smiling down upon you on this very special day.

****

I thoroughly enjoyed attending the Special City Council and Board of Education Joint meeting Tuesday at the Fillmore High School Farm. My thanks to all those responsible for serving that delicious BBQ meal. Many thanks also to the Future Farmers of America members who did such a great job as servers. These occasional joint meetings give these two groups a chance to discuss important issues relating to both while having a little fun.

****

On to less pleasant issues from the DRUDGE REPORT.

CNN has fired Kathy Griffin from their annual New Year’s Eve program, which she co-hosted with anchor Anderson Cooper. Griffin is among the several foul-mouthed radical liberals who populate the liberal left media. I'm surprised that CNN did the right thing by firing her for appearing in a video where she pretends to present the president's bloody, severed head to the public. Griffin is vile and disgusting, like so much of the Never Trump media.

****

" LA law enforcement high alert after gangs threaten officers..."
It's time to deal with this country's criminal gangs the way we treat foreign and domestic terrorists - directly and violently. They constitute a clear and present threat to American safety. They are violent predators who have no respect for human life and property. They share the absence of human conscience that Islamic terrorist groups exhibit.

It will take large, cooperating units of police and military, specially trained for urban warfare to get the job done effectively. Our police forces have enough crime to tackle without taking on large-scale anti-gang movements. After all, gangs like the metastasizing MS-13 are no different from ISIS, except in scale. They need to be exterminated.

Chicago, and elsewhere, report an increase in the use of long guns in gang activity. This escalates the danger to such an extent that new, harsher laws are needed mandating extremely long sentences even for possession of long guns. Where anyone is killed with such weapons, the death penalty should also be mandated. Law-abiding citizens of sound mind should not have their Constitutional right to keep and bear such arms "infringed".

The clear language of our Constitution declares "A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed."

The Founding Fathers also declared this, and all other rights announced by our Constitution, to be God-given, not merely government-sanctioned privileges. Criminal gangs steal our freedoms. The Second Amendment defends American citizens against such crimes.

Our professional defenders of freedom are American police and military organizations, whom we must always strongly support. Inextricable with this honorable group, and the primary recipients of this protection, are American citizens themselves, standing ready to assure that their God-given rights do not become mere privileges. These are the fundamental issues of the American way of life, which make us truly exceptional in this world.

 

I might as well start out with some happy news - our Swimming Pool Opens Monday, May 29 at 6:30 AM. Join in the fun!

Dog lovers will also be happy to learn that Fillmore will soon have that long-awaited DOG PARK.

****

Our city has made incredible progress, which can be seen in our new 2017-18 budget. See it in full at fillmoregazette.com. Our City Council and City Manager, David Rowlands, can be proud of their work.

****

Like him or not, much credit has to be given to President Trump for his successful trip to the Middle East and Europe. The Arabs show great respect for him and have a new commitment to work with him to defeat radical Islamic terror. One of the largest trade deals ever made can be attributed to Trump's influence. The world has come to know Donald Trump as a true, strong leader - everything that Barack Obama never was. The Arabs feel stronger and more confident facing the likes of Iran.

Let's give credit where it's due!

Now, it's time to tone-down the politics and pass a health bill and a new federal budget. It's also time to catch those, Republicans and Democrats, who are committing felonies by leaking national secrets. I'm astonished by the most recent leaking of private conversations by the President. We may just run out of secrets to leak. DOJ, FBI - get moving!

North Korea's missile and atomic weapons capabilities must, soon, be destroyed. It would be a horrendous undertaking, placing South Korea and Japan in tremendous jeopardy, but it must be done to defend the U.S. as well as our allies.

Iran should also be on the front sight. Since North Korea and Iran have shared atomic secrets for years, it's naive to think North Korea has not shared its atomic bomb technology with Iran. Therefore we should assume Iran has the same bomb know-how as North Korea, i.e. has the bomb. Both countries have advanced missiles.

Russia and China have both contributed to Iran's and North Korea's nuclear capabilities, for years. So, with this nest of vipers frantically developing their ability to make war, we should expect to be in a new war very soon.
Will the Senate and House see to it that our military is prepared? Our military is so dangerously depleted of men, ships, aircraft and necessary defensive technology, we are extraordinarily vulnerable. One quick example: We have no mobile electromagnetic pulse weapon to counter Russia's, and probably China's. Do a search - this is huge. Again, I'm sorry to be in such a hurry this week.

 

I'm so fed-up with the fraudulent attacks upon President Trump by the radical Left, I'm down to watching what's left of FOX news, exclusively. I witnessed the media feeding frenzy against Nixon and watched the same sort of thing when Judge Bork was going through his confirmation hearing, and Judge Thomas with Anita Hill. They were all incessantly bloody. These attacks exemplify historical Democratic Party tactics.

This time the attacks come from every side. It's as though Trump walked into a hornets' nest. Every leak is like a sting and every sting is designed to cripple the President. The country has never seen anything like this before, with Democrats, Republicans (Rep. Justin Amash (R-Mich., Sen. John McCain, Az), the media, academia (for what it's worth), and the judiciary, undermining the presidency.

Jay Sekulow, Chief Counsel for American Center for Liberty & Justice, describes this activity as: "It's a manufactured crisis that puts our national security at stake.

The deep state shadow government once again leaked highly classified information, but even worse, created a crisis out of whole cloth. It's called fake news.

The President of the United States met with the Russian Foreign Minister about radical Islam terrorism. Someone in the shadow government selectively leaked false and misleading information. The biased news media blew up the story because it fit their narrative.

First, the President has the absolute authority to share counterterrorism information with other nations. Second, the leaker violated federal law. Third, the media was all too happy to manipulate the truth. "

The United States is at the present time, literally, in a state of political civil war. It is the radical Left against the Right, with the presidency, and our security at risk.

The only cable news I can trust now is what's left of FOX. It's time for patriotic conservatives to strike back.
All this talk of impeachment, at a time of imminent threats from our most determined enemies is not much short of treason itself.

Speaking of treason: "She [Chelsea Manning] was freed 28 years early because President Barack Obama, in one of his final acts, commuted the bulk of her remaining sentence. Ms. Manning was known as Pvt. Bradley Manning in 2010 when she was arrested on suspicion of having copied hundreds of thousands of secret military and diplomatic files from a classified computer network, to which she had access as a low-level intelligence analyst at a forward operating base in Iraq."

But God knows him as Pvt. Bradley Manning. Private Manning should have been executed for his treason, and no one can be forced to ignore reality.

 

I had to miss an opportunity last week to rant against the KB Home plan to build 104 housing units at the southern end of Central Avenue - including 77 three-story condos. It maddens me that our Planning Commission would approve such a structural nightmare for our city.

The 3-story condominium concept will always be a loser. Three stories-worth of stairs is a substantial inconvenience, and more of a challenge to our emergency departments. Climbing three flights of stairs with fire department equipment is much more difficult than fighting a fire on the first or second floor.

377 residents are projected to live in the 144 units, but it's unrealistic to believe this number will not be exceeded. And as for the estimated 233 new cars for those 377 new residents - does anyone believe this number will not be exceeded? And what about motorcycles and motor homes? Just imagine how hectic the traffic will be, especially on Central Avenue and River Streets, already too narrow. We can count on anger-inducing parking wars for the next 75 years!

Frankly, I have always questioned the wisdom of building any structure in the Riverbed as KB plans to do. In the 28 years I have lived in Fillmore, I have recorded two floods in particular which filled the Santa Clara River to the very top - with whitecaps! Nothing in nature has anything quite like the bulldozing power of water. I know, the engineers have it all worked out, and we know they never make mistakes. It's a little late to warn against building in riverbeds.

In short, the KB plan is a monstrous insult to Fillmore's historical Craftsman look, far too crowded, cluttered, and out of place. I predict we will be dealing with tenements within 20 years. How many of us would like to run up and down 3 flights of stairs every day?

Contact our City Council members! Urge them to demand major changes in the number of 3-story condos. With the proposed sand trucks this will be a perfect storm for decades to come.

****

A few thoughts from DRUDGE.

Good riddance to FBI Director Comey. Trump should have fired him months ago. When I heard Comey's reasons for not indicting Hillary Clinton I knew he was a phony. Any first-year law school student would have failed his criminal law class for daring to answer questions on Hillary's email issues with Comey's excuses. Hillary Clinton has turned out to be the most prolific felon in all of American history. In failing to indict her Comey has disgraced his profession and demonstrated to the American people that "equal justice under (constitutional) law" has become a farce.

In Eastern Europe, the Middle East, and the Far East, enemies of America are staged and trigger-ready to strike our interests. Russia, Iran, China, and North Korea, have been building-up their offensive military weapons for years. Under the Obama administration America's military forces have been greatly diminished. If we have some advantage in quality (even that questionable now) our enemies have a large advantage in numbers.

The most immediate threat is both atomic and by electromagnetic pulse, derived by atomic means. Each of our enemies has atomic weapons (if North Korea has atomic weapons, assume Iran does also) and each is capable of attacking by means of electromagnetic pulse.

Russia has already used this EMP on American warships: "...a single Russian war plane flew several times around American destroyer the USS Donald Cook in the Black Sea several years ago, disabling its systems and leaving it helpless. The report also claims they are capable to creating electronic jamming domes over their bases that make them invisible on radar screens."Russia claims its 'electronic bomb' can wipe out entire US Navy...

North Korea has launched two satellites. The recent explosion of one of its missiles at an altitude of 72 kilometers was not, as reported, a failure. It is now claimed that that is the altitude at which an atomic explosion could paralyze America's electronics through EMP.

So, common sense tells us we are near to a world war that America is less than fully prepared to defend against. We have some EMP capability as well but it is not deployed, as Russia's is.

And the Democrat Party has qualms about more funding for our military?

 

I can't let go of the fact that KB Homes is insisting on building 104 condo units, including 77 3-story units. 375 people are expected to be crammed into this mini-town with their 233 new cars. This monstrosity of a plan will immediately change Fillmore's small, friendly character FOREVER.

We can see how crowded River Street is already with insufficient parking and heavy traffic. Planners may love narrow streets to slow traffic, but homeowners and drivers see that this makes things more crowded. I can only imagine what a beehive of traffic and mis-parked cars this proposed housing development will be.

It's zoned high density, but there should be reasonable limits to this density, which this plan seems to ignore. I ask how low can "high density" go and still comply with the city's housing element. We are talking about 77 3-story condos here!

I find it remarkable that this plan cleared the Planning Commission. It's so obviously terrible and destructive of our town's housing character. Just imagine a few family celebrations in that mini-town. Where would guests park? What about traffic and parking during national holidays? This plan is a looming nightmare.

The plan itself lacks imagination. As the Council points out, the colors are drab, the architecture not in keeping with Fillmore's existing housing. The structures are a hodgepodge of sameness, a confused conglomeration of small, undesirable 3-story condos - that's a lot of steps! The plan would be undesirable for Fillmore if all units were 2-story. It's just too congested.

The city should meet KB in court over the profound unreasonableness of the plan. It will be expensive (no doubt that's what KB is counting on). But the alternative is having to deal with this ugly, crowded, out-of-place "collection" of condo units - for generations.

The issue here is reasonableness - of an unacceptable plan, on such a small site, in such a small town. If ugliness were a recognized tort I would sue KB. At the very least this plan needs major deconstruction.

Remember: We're talking about 77 3-story condos!

 

In a pinch for time as usual.

It looks like Bill O’Reilly is out at FOX. I will miss his opinions, but he brought it upon himself. FOX will never be the same. How many warnings does it take?

****

The world has not been this close to all-out war since Japan attacked Pearl Harbor. Our enemies will assist each other in going after America. Thanks to that pathetic fool, former President Obama, we can no longer take our superpower status for granted.

Russia is now an immediate, clear and present threat. Putin's statement that he could wipe-out the entire US Navy with his electromagnetic pulse "bomb", may be close to the truth. This capacity was demonstrated against one of our best Destroyers in the Black Sea a couple of years ago. Two Russian fighter-bombers flew round our ship twice which shut down all electronics on-board. No radar left, nothing.

This weapon has already been widely distributed throughout the Russian military. Last I heard, we had one "under development". Maybe our enemies will wait to make it a fair fight?

With North Korea to deal with, and Russia threatening the US, this places America in grave danger. And, I'm not crying "wolf." World peace has never, in my life, been so threatened with massive destabilization as now.

 

KB Homes has waited for a number of years to begin building on its property south of Central Avenue and River Street. From what I heard of the conversation between KB Homes representatives and the Fillmore City Council last night, it may take longer still before any concrete is poured.

The entire Council is unhappy with KB's project design. Most object to the parking availability, color scheme, the "boxy", collection appearance, 3-story units, etc. It just doesn't fit the Fillmore "look".

The fact that the Council learned that KB had filed a lawsuit that day against the city didn't help the situation. It appeared to many that KB seeks to "blackmail" the city - approve the modifications we seek or meet us in court. KB denies this, but their denials don't carry much weight. KB's lawsuit is, of course, entirely legal, but it tends to poison the relationship.

I agree with the Council. The project stinks, particularly the parking and traffic issues. This would create a traffic nightmare on River Street. The project would fit perfectly in some place like Santa Clarita, but not Fillmore. And, who can like 3-story housing projects?

****

An ironic natural phenomenon happened this week in Malibu. That same City of Malibu which is seeking to "renourish" its Broad Beach dunes with thousands of truckloads of sand from the Grimes Canyon quarry. Here's a link: Mountain collapses in Malibu....

I suggested that they find the needed sand in their own back yard. Nature seem to agree with me. And, as that beach continues to erode with the waves and tide, as it naturally will, all Malibu has to do is dig away in its own back yard. But they should hurry because "Time and tide wait for no man."

****

I think there is a real chance for us to go to war again. Instead of Hitler, Tojo, and Mussolini, we now have Putin, Kim Jong-un, and whomever now runs Iran. Virtually all of America's enemies are now nuclear-armed, and each is eager to show off its weaponry.

Of these current foes, war with Iran and North Korea is inevitable. With Iran, because it is a true believer in historic Islam's goal to kill or conquer all non-believers in the world, and it says the time has come. North Korea, because the beloved leader is completely crazy.

At least we now have a president who is unafraid to confront our enemies and is determined to rebuild our military capabilities.

He is also unabashed about his belief in God. I just wonder if he's got the time to bring it all together.

 

Every citizen of Fillmore should be alerted to the attempt by the City of Moorpark and the City of Malibu to funnel more than 400 new daily truckloads of sand from the Grimes Canyon quarry, through Fillmore, and down to Malibu.

This is an extraordinary abuse of truck traffic norms on Highway 23 through our city. Fillmore has joined the County of Ventura to halt the trucking agreement. Please refer to story on Front Page.

It's time to call your Congressman.

****

I just had to watch some of the Democrat Party filibuster because it is the first time in American history that this ploy has been used to prevent the confirmation of a Supreme Court nominee. But this filibuster was just a last minute tantrum by Dem. Senators because it was a known futile effort. It forces the Republican Senators to ignite the "nuclear option", which guarantees Judge Neil Gorsuch will be confirmed as our newest Supreme Court Justice in a few days.

We have never had a more worthy nominee for the Supreme Court than Neil Gorsuch. His qualifications, character, and judicial record are impeccable. In scoring his 2,700 decisions during his 10-years on the 10th Circuit Court of Appeals, 97 percent were in the majority. And Dems. question whether he is in the "mainstream"?

The Dem. Senators have behaved disgracefully during the Judge's hearing. Gorsuch's professional stature is so far above his mediocre, craven critics the comparison is ridiculous.

The contest between Republican winners and Democrat losers is so hectic and heated, the business of normal governance has become a dangerous blur.

President Trump looks better every day. The Democratic Party is in a state of self-inflicted collapse.

I say hurray for the nuclear option. A simple up-or-down vote, with simple majority deciding the winner is what the Constitution calls for.

God bless Judge Neil Gorsuch for enduring months of defamation. He will be a superb Justice.

 

The City of Fillmore and Ventura County are appealing a court ruling that approved a contract between Moorpark and the Broad Beach Geologic Hazard Abatement District to haul sand from Grimes Canyon to Malibu to resurrect a vanished beach.

Grimes Canyon has apparently not been finalized as the source for the sand, but the stage is set. This idea of replenishing the sand on Broad Beach by this means is preposterous, dangerous, and about as anti-environmental as one could imagine.

"The plan, officially known as a “beach nourishment project,” is designed to replace sand after a dramatic shrinking of the beach due to erosion since 2008." The scale of the plan is Homeric. An estimated 43,000 truck trips over the course of the first stage in the project, or 420 trips per day on Highway 126 from the City of Moorpark [Grimes Canyon] through Fillmore." And, of course, those trucks have to return for more sand.

Highway 23 to Fillmore is one of the most winding roadways in the county, with hairpin turns and 300-foot cliffs. "The 10-year plan, approved by the California Coastal Commission earlier this month, will allow residents to import 300,000 cubic yards of sand every five years to rebuild sand dunes lost over the years due to pounding storms and high tides."

The $31-million Broad Beach renewal project would have trucks transporting sand to Malibu by way of 43,000 one-way trips through Fillmore and Santa Paula for three to five months at a time for up to 20 years. The plan is dangerously ridiculous in many ways.

First, the entire effort will most likely be futile. Erosion will continue to occur. Malibu has plenty of money (enough to change the tides?) to pay for such nonsense, and the quarry won't run out of sand; but everything related to this transfer will suffer enormous damage and cause great danger. Running hundreds of double-belly-dump rigs over Grimes Canyon would nearly shut down this important corridor to normal traffic. Traffic would be constantly backed-up. I witnessed one such truck overturn at Hwy. 23 and Hwy. 126 when the driver took the left turn too fast.

One solution to avoid this disastrous idea might be to reestablish the beach by dredging off- shore. After all, that's where the sand went. Dredges aren't pretty, but they work. Or maybe Malibu could start chewing away at the cliffs behind the beach front. It's the same kind of stuff that Grimes Canyon has, and it would be immediately available. Even if this unlikely plan succeeded that success would be swept away with the first big storm - that's what waves and tides do.

I try to visualize that constant train of hundreds of truckloads of sand traveling down Grimes Canyon, through Fillmore, Santa Paula, Ventura, Oxnard, down Hwy. 101 to Malibu - for years. There would be an exponential increase of traffic accidents and massive breakdown of roadways.

Find the man who concocted this nightmarish idea, and FIRE HIM!

That's just a beach too far.

 

The Fillmore Flashes are celebrating the arrival of their new head football coach, Corey Cole! You can read part of his many achievements on page one.

Welcome, Corey. We're looking forward to your first season with the Flashes.

****

I haven't had time to check out DRUDGE today. At a glance, however, I see too much really bad news.
The rape of that 14-year-old girl by two recently arrived illegal aliens makes me furious. That poor girl will never completely recover from that outrageous attack. Our schools fail to the extent they are run by liberal operators. Liberalism is the face of social and economic disaster.

The remedy in this case? I recall a solution offered by the late-great William F. Buckley, Jr. in another rape case: "...sever the offending member."

President Trump is facing the same liberal-Left enemies of the state. We are truly in a Constitutional war. It's been going on for more than 60 years. The crux of the problem can be stated very simply: Is the Constitution to be understood by the close reading of its plain language? Or are the words so weak and flexible as to conform to any judge's personal ideology? The Second Amendment is the clearest example of Leftist targeting. Its language is as clear as any one of the Ten Commandments.

The next two appointments to the Supreme Court will determine America's future. Today, the failed Democrat Party will pay any price to bring that future down to its level. We are watching years of liberal government disintegrate our traditions.

Our justice system is collapsing under the weight of hundreds of fraudelent judges and their hedonistic liberal decisions.

Listening to Senator Whitehouse yesterday during the Gorsuch hearings exemplified the problem for me. He is a true ideological fool; all politics. Hearing Judge Gorsch's response was the antidote to Whitehouse's blather. Whitehouse is a true swamp creature.

Congress must institute term limits to truly flush-out the swamp.

 

This is a very sad week for Fillmore, A 3-year-old girl was struck and killed in Piru by her father. The accident is under investigation. Our condolences to the family

****

Snoop Dogg? I've heard this name on the media from time to time for years but never really knew who he was or what he did to become, apparently, rich and famous. Now I see he used to be some kind of pop artist, popular with the ignorant, Leftist dead-enders.

He' made a video, Snoop Dogg shooting a clown-faced Trump stand-in with a toy gun. This goes beyond the protections of our First Amendment because he is actually inciting the assignation of the President of the United States. He is part of the cancerous Left wing liberal remains of the Democrat Party. That Party needs to be disinfected.

****

I watched Rachel Maddow on MSNBC last night. I watch that channel for amusement from time to time. She kept teasing the audience with what she planned to spring later in the show. The whole staff seemed to be in a tizzy. Then it happened! Rachel thrust her prize towards the camera - two pages of Donald Trump's 1040 tax returns. she was apparently ignorant of the fact that the Wall Street Journal had published them a couple of years ago, without the fanfare.

The two stolen pages revealed that Trump had paid $38 million on income of $150 million that year. That's more than MSNBC COMCAST [24%]... MUCH HIGHER THAN OBAMA [19%]... AND BERNIE [13%]!. reat favor by showing that MSNBC and the rest of the Leftist media are liars. Who wants to watch habitual liars - sounds too much like Clinton again.

****

Maddow, touted as a major brain in the Leftist media, lost her mind at that moment. But she did Donald Trump a big favor by showing, again, what liars most of the media are.

****

It's past time for the Never-Trumpers and the Republican traitors in Congress, to let go. Time to give the President the opportunity to get his work done. These are extraordinarily dangerous times to be sabotaging our Commander-in-Chief.

 

The distrust between Republicans and Democrats today is at an historic high. Since the Democrats, unwittingly determined to obliterate the remains of their party, embrace the toxic demons of the far Left to assist in the fray, the nation is under a dark cloud. That cloud obscures our enemy's obvious agenda. It is a deadly distraction. The Democratic Party's blind, hate-driven, Never Trump attacks make it a clear and present danger to national security. Members of the DNC are in need of psychiatric assistance.

This political war has had one beneficial effect. It has clearly revealed the extent of government surveillance mechanisms, created by Congress, to spy on American citizens - all American citizens. Our NSA, etc. now provides relief for old-fashioned paranoiacs. Maybe a cure, since their fears are now proven justified. But for most Americans these revelations only stimulate anger, frustration, and a demands to regulate the system, if possible. The thing to remember is that these secret agencies have been tracking, recording, and storing every key-stroke and conversation of every citizen, for years. The power for that task alone is nearly unbelievable. Reasonable people may also believe that this information, gathered from all government agencies as well as citizens, is also available to our enemies. Secretary Clinton (still un-chastened) let the world know our secrets through her illegal bathroom server, for 4 years. so the secret is out - there are none left. WikiLeaks tells us that less than 10 percent of its cash of information has been revealed to date.

Our domestic-political turmoil is observed by our four principal enemies, Russia, China, North Korea, and Iran. Each is a nuclear-armed nation (with Iran soon to be) enthralled by the prospect of attacking America. Our military leaders tell us that defense assets are smaller today than at any time since pre-WWI. (That's a one, not a two). We cannot fix our deficiencies with a snap of our Commander-in-Chief's finger. For example, our newest aircraft carrier (the Ford) will not be ready for two more years! All ground-fighting services are severely undermanned, while the Air Force has to repair its planes with used parts. Eight years with Barak Obama as Commander-in-Chief has placed the United States in serious peril.

A recent DRUDGE headline: " Russian Military Expert: Quietly Seeding U.S. Shoreline With Nuke 'Mole' Missiles... I wish they wouldn't do that.

Let's look at a few other interesting notices. " COULD NKOREA STRIKE HAWAII? The answer is, of course, yes. Though the Empire of Japan tried this once, with temporary success, we were, again, unprepared. And another: " China urges deal to avert 'head-on collision'... Preposterous as it may seem, China is well on its way to claiming the entire South China Sea as its own. Who is expected to defend against this offensive? China is spoiling for a fight, but it will settle for a successful intimidating threat.

I fear that President Trump does not have enough time to prepare our defenses. Democrats won't even let him fill cabinet positions in a timely fashion. We are approaching a time when each of our enemies can join together to trounce our fleet in Southeast Asia. Without using atomic weapons we could not defend against swarms of missile attacks.

As always, I wish I had more time.

 

I watched President Trump's first address to the joint session of Congress. Like most Americans, I was very impressed. I also agree that it was his best speech yet. He knows what he's doing and is determined to keep his promises to make America great again.

My expectations of more Democrat Party cluelessness were fulfilled. Members of that Party made me feel ashamed of their presence. Today, Democrats are unable to put the bitter reaction to their election loss behind them. They can only revel in any opportunity to disrupt and delay the work of our new Commander-in-Chief. They are a disgrace to their party and a threat to orderly government.

The President's speech was uplifting and positive. Even his liberal-Leftist opponents recognize that Donald Trump is for them now the real thing; he's indisputably President of our nation - no more weasely comments about legitimacy. The Obama misadministration is dead, rotten, and forgotten. It's time to fire-off that 7 tons-worth of Clinton fireworks.

Watching Mrs. Owens responding to the thunderous applause for her fallen husband and SEAL hero was a heartbreaking moment. "The SEAL's widow Carryn Owens sat beside Ivanka Trump and cried as the divided Congress united for the longest ovation of the evening" God bless her and her family. Without such men America could not have been created and cannot survive. They deserve the solid leadership of men like Donald Trump.

Now, we need Congress to do its duty to fill all cabinet vacancies and approve Judge Neil M. Gorsuch as a Justice of the Supreme Court.

I have to say that I am awestruck at the President's accomplishments during his first month in office.

 

I had never heard of Milo Yiannopoulos before Leftist radicals rioted recently at UC Berkley. Now I understand that he has identified himself as sexual predator from age 14. A very aggressive pedophile at that. Today, at age 33, he "condones statutory rape and sexual relationships between boys and men." His most recent comments on this subject caused Breitbart News, where he was a senior editor, to fire him. Why Breitbart hired him in the first place is a mystery. Though he is an articulate proponent of the conservative Right, Mussolini was also a booster for timely train schedules. Mussolini left office abruptly, for cause. Breitbart News tossed Milo under the bus for cause - many Christian conservatives wish it were a train instead of a bus. And, it was a disgusting sight to view Milo as a pin-up for sexual predators on DRUDGE - twice.

Looking further into DRUDGE, "Leftists in Germany Want to Give Refugees Right to Vote...

European nations, all of them, haven't a clue to the danger of opening their borders to anyone who wants to come in. Take Sweden, for example.

We're getting another look into Putin's soul: ” Russian military continues massive upgrade..."

Another trading partner prepares to ante-up: China finishing South Sea buildings that could house missiles...

More peace residue from Obama Mid-East policy: IRAN READY TO GIVE USA 'SLAP IN FACE'...

Well folks, it looks like peace in our time - again.

 

I was determined to write something completely positive today. So, I'm still sitting here....

OK, I've got something. The rain has been great! Our drought is ending. Our water wells are up by 30 feet. And, we're even getting some beautiful sunny days!

Whew!

But that's not all. Our Sespe Creek is flowing, bringing back the snowy egrets and night heron, maybe even our phenomenal great blue heron. We got used to seeing these beautiful birds before the drought settled in for the past 5 years. Now I'm glad to see them back, making their circuit from the wilds of the Sespe to the pond near the fish hatchery.

Yes, I know, this conversation is probably very boring for most readers, but it's refreshing for me, who is tired of thinking about the explosive mess our world is in. Today I'm thinking of all the good and peaceful things we have in America, especially in our small town of Fillmore. We are blessed, but rarely think of how blessed we truly are. So, I'm taking a little time to think about it now.

I'll just say thank you Lord.

***

It's great to see Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warmly welcomed to our White House again. Welcome, Bibi! God bless Israel. Your great nation has been disparaged and insulted by our previous president, Obama, for 8 years. No more. We're with you again.

I'm out of time and space. So, everyone have a great day.

 

Congratulations to all employees of the Fillmore Unified School District who were given special recognition by the School Board at Tuesday's meeting. We should recognize, especially, John Wilber for his extraordinary 32 years of service as teacher and principal at all of our schools. Thanks, John, for a job very well done.

****

It's great to see so much rain during the past month or so. Very gratifying to see Sespe Creek beginning to roar again after 5 years of draught. It may not be exactly roaring again, but it is flowing fast. I couldn't resist traveling up Grand Avenue to the beginning of Sespe access. As I slowly parked next to the County's newly constructed cable fence, I caught a snowy egret take off from the water. I haven't seen an egret for a long time. They feed of frogs and small fish while standing motionless in shallow water. It was a beautiful thing to see.

****

Two things that were not so beautiful to see were illegal signs prohibiting public access, and the County's new fence. The home owner at the first house at the end of Grand, adjacent to the Creek, thinks he owns the access property and continues to threaten anyone attempting to hike north up the Sespe. For years he has physically threatened such hikers, throwing rocks, at them, etc. The Sheriff's Department has tried to intervene more than once but the perpetrator doesn't answer.

His illegal use of threats and force to keep the public out of the Sespe Creek state and federal protected area must be stopped. I urge the public to assist in seeing this unlawful conduct prosecuted or otherwise corrected. While I was taking photos of the area this week a young man, serving in the Air Force, a resident of Fillmore on leave, asked me how to get to Devil's Gate and Swallow's Nest. I told him he would have to hike about a mile or so up the Sespe. I'm sure I'm not the only one who would like to make that hike again.

Recent rains have bowed back the willow thickets at the Creek entrance area. When things dry out a little I will attempt that hike again. Sespe Creek not only marks off the Condor Refuge but is "formed by one of more than 30 tributary streams before it empties into the Santa Clara River...." "Sespe Creek is indisputable the finest wilderness run south of the Sierra Nevada." "Class 1V and 1V+ rapids become common place, and a couple of challenging portages await all but the most brazen of boaters.”

In 2000 I sought the assistance of the American Whitewater group in Virginia. They provided substantial legal information concerning the obstruction of public access on Sespe Creek. In short they stated:
California's Constitution and accompanying case law are clear and unambiguous in regard to the matter of navigation. The simple fact if that California's state laws define all state waterways as navigable. The non-commercial public has an essentially unlimited right to float and recreate within the high water mark on any rivers..." "NO INDIVIDUAL...shall be permitted to exclude the right of way to such water whenever it is required for any public purpose, nor to destroy or obstruct the free navigation of such water..."

And that's all I have to say about that - for now.

****

Please refer to today's letter from our District Attorney, Greg Totten, concerning the danger of licensing any commercial marijuana activities within city limits. He lists the dangers clearly.

****

I'm short on space and haven't gotten to the politics stuff yet. A few short comments.

I hate to be seen as an alarmist, but, I think we will be in a shooting war very shortly. Iran will give us no choice. If it again harasses our war ships with its "fast boats" those boats should be blown out of the water. I'm assuming that Iran has been given notice to that effect.

Major problem: None of our carrier battle groups are deployed anywhere near the Middle East. We have little back-up. The USS Cole may finally have a chance at revenge; but it too needs back-up. Remember United States Navy guided-missile destroyer USS Cole on 12 October 2000, was bombed in Yemen's Aden harbor. Seventeen American sailors were killed and 39 injured in the terrorist attack. Shamefully, no counter action was ever taken.

****

The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals has always been recognized as the most liberal-radical federal court in the nation. The recent hearing on Trump's immigration pause is just repeating this history. The AG's office has represented the President in pathetic fashion. More next week. We are entering a Constitutional crisis. Trump should pull an Andrew Jackson, and ignore any negative 9th Circuit opinion. "Let them enforce".

 

Want to be heard on the issue of fees for permits to grow legal marijuana in Fillmore? Attend the February14 Public Hearing at city hall.

Proposition 64, which recently legalized recreational marijuana throughout California, will cause social havoc for generations to come. This ubiquitous weed will undermine law and order in thousands of different ways, mostly through stimulating crime, corrupting the morals of our youth, and seriously impacting their health. The deleterious effects, especially upon the mental development of young people, are absolutely indisputable.

The liberal Left can once again take credit for the wholesale popularization of this gateway drug. I think it will be many generations before the profoundly noxious consequences of this horrendous mistake can be remedied. Generations to come will suffer for our wanton stupidity. For true medical uses marijuana has a serious place. For general "recreation" it should have no place at all.

****

President Donald Trump keeps his word. No one should be surprised that he is doing what he said he would do during the primaries and up through the election. But the Democrats seem shocked at his early success and are determined to slow that progress for no purpose but to annoy the President.

Trump's cabinet picks are superb. Why Republicans should pay any attention at all to lectures by liberal Democrats about "mainstream" nominees, of their choice, should be obvious. Trump is now dealing with the new mainstream, the Middle American mainstream. The mainstream of forgotten Americans. The Dems have had 8 long years to diminish America using their "mainstream" politicians, media, and president. Now it's time for an infusion of common sense and traditional conservative actors and policies. It's time once again to reintroduce our traditional Judeo-Christian ethics and policies. The President is off to a great start with his nomination of Judge Neil Gorsuch for the Supreme Court. I can just hope that this will prove to be just one of at least 3 such nominations. He is surrounding himself with the very best people.

I wish him health and continuous success as he leads our nation back to strength and greatness. We should pay no attention to those Lefties behind the curtain.

 

I think most of you already know Bob Crum, long time friend and photographer for the Gazette. I'm happy to announce that Bob will now be writing a weekly column, and seeking photographs from our readers, as well as taking some himself. He has a free hand in organizing his space and is a true photo pro. Enjoy his introduction this week which includes a little autobiography.
Welcome Bob!

****
Congratulations to our police department (Ventura County Sheriff's Department) for another safe and peaceful year.

Fillmore Sheriff's Captain Dave Wareham told the Fillmore City Council last night that, once again, we our crime statistics are low, even lower than last year. He told us that last year Fillmore was credited with being the 17th safest city in the country.

Several arson fires were reported but they were attributed to a homeless man living near the riverbed. Wareham told the Council that response time on a 911 call was averaging about 6 minutes. That's fast!

Again, congratulations to the Department for a job well done.

****

Well, we have more good news concerning our new $9-million county firehouse. The steel structure is going up without problems, except for the rain, which I dare not call a problem

I took a few photos yesterday when the architect, manager, and contractor were touring the site. I was told the project would be complete around the end of the year.

****

Donald Trump is proving to be a man of his word. I have to be impressed with his energy and directness. For those who hate him I can only say, at least he is bold, clear, and truthful about his actions; he's keeping his campaign promises. He is not mousing around like Obama did for 8 years. I have to love it.

He has appointed the very best cabinet, possibly in the nation's history. They are, to the man (and woman) bright, energetic, and loyal. For conservatives, whose ideas have languished for so many decades in that swamp of Political Correctness -we're finally free to make America great again! Trump gives hope to our faithful friends, like Israel, and fear to our enemies.

I am especially hopeful and thankful for that Trump has acknowledged Almighty God in America; from his inaugural address to his first statements as our new President, he continues to acknowledge God as the foundation of our hope, protection, and success. He said it, "God will protect us." This is a primary reason the Liberal Left is acting so insanely. They hate the fact that America, from its beginning, has always acknowledge God. Our motto is "In God We Trust". As long as we stay on that track America will be blessed and victorious over its enemies.

We should remember that in speaking of enemies, our President's oath of office requires that he defend against "...all enemies, foreign and domestic" It's the domestic ones who now challenge our peace and tranquility. The Liberal Left is coiled and ready to strike. It demands abortion, and hates the privacy and safety little girls were once afforded when accessing their bathrooms. It's enough to acknowledge that Leftist-Liberals simply hate America's Judeo Christian tradition.

God bless America - pray for Donald Trump's health, safety, and continued success.