As Election Day approaches I'm glad to see the candidates have closed neck-to-neck. I'm not worried about who may win to become our next president though. Old men, like myself, can take the long view of history because we have experienced more than younger voters.

Occasionally I will hear a Republican scoff at Trump, disgusted with a word or two he said, especially at the start of the season. Trump certainly had to learn that running for office is much different than negotiating a contract or constructing a hotel. He is new to the game of politics, but he's a fast learner.

Hillary, on the other hand, has been hanging around the governor's house, the White House, the Senate chambers for nearly 40 years. Her reputation has always left the stench of untrustworthiness, remarkable greed, and an insatiable lust for power. As First Lady to Bill Clinton, it is recorded that she threw a vase at the then President, striking him on the head, leaving him bloodied and with a black eye. That's a sample of her true temperament.

As a Senator from New York she accomplished nothing. As Secretary of State, her policies, with Obama, caused the US to essentially lose Iraq by pulling all troops out without a status of forces agreement, inviting the Taliban to storm back in with Iran's blessing. Hillary also decided to replace Lybia's dictator with no back-up plan, plunging the country into civil war, together with Syria. She urged the coup against Egypt's president Mubarak (a loyal friend to both the US and Israel for 30 years) and moved a Muslim Brotherhood leader into his place, who had to be removed by violence. Hillary also pushed for the utter disastrous "treaty" with Iran, which has destabilized the entire Middle East, gaining the US nothing, and guarantying a future nuclear confrontation.

Anyone who is able to read current history must recognize that Hillary has betrayed America in a profoundly unique way - she brought-in the Trojan Horse filled with Russians, Chinese, North Koreans, and Iranian Jihadists. She did this by deliberately ignoring traditional means of transmitting top secret communications from the White House, the Pentagon, the State Department, and virtually every other government source - FOR FOUR YEARS!

Hillary Clinton is a political floozy striving for her greatest score yet, the presidency - to be Commander in Chief.

The whole world can see her deadly incompetency through her policy disasters in the Middle East. Bengasi, as criminally negligent as it is now proven to be (not a single effort was ever made to answer the many frantic calls for help by our ambassador and others in the embassy) also exposed her blatant, repeated lies about the video she told the American people sparked that attack.

Hillary Clinton will forever be the spiritual daughter of Saul Alinsky, author of "Reveille for Radicals" on how to bring America down. She would later describe Alinsky as a “great seducer” of young minds. Marrying Bill shows that Hillary had a malignant desire to be seduced a second time.

We have the facts on Hillary. If America goes down on November 8, America can blame itself for electing Hillary. Ignorance can be erased, but stupidity is indelible. And, truthful history is written with indelible ink for future generations to read.

Make sure your pen marks Donald Trump for president so those generations will not condemn us to infamy.

I'm short of time this morning so I have published a piece from Charlie Johnston on issues I agree with, in place of my Realities column.
Martin Farrell

Farewell to the NFL
Posted on September 10,
2016 by charliej373

By Charlie Johnston
I love football. I fell in love with the game during the Chicago Bears 1985 Superbowl season and have been a fan ever since. Alas, no more.

I am not a purist on the matter of boycotts. I well know that in toxic times in a toxic culture, everything is affected – and even some of the best institutions are tainted for a time by the disorders of the age. But those institutions that take the lead into assaulting the culture deserve special attention. Ever since Target Stores decided it would take the lead in forcing women, even little girls, to share the washrooms with grown men, never mind how many perverts are in the mix, I have not set foot in a Target Store – and gave away two gift cards I had to the store. Since I preferred Target to Walmart, it meant something – at least to me. I doubt it meant anything to the store.

I grew agitated when Bob Costas and other NFL announcers, bearing lots of attitude and no data or knowledge, began using halftime shows to lecture about social issues they can’t be bothered to actually learn anything about. Then in the last year, Curt Schilling was fired from ESPN for noting on his private account that a few committed Jihadists can do a lot of damage and we need to take radical Islam seriously. Another employee was dropped for suggesting transgenderism isn’t the idyllic paradise progressive clowns make it out to be. A few years back, when some of the St. Louis Rams came onto the field in the “Hands up, don’t shoot” pose lie that arose from the Michael Brown shooting in Ferguson, I quit watching any game involving the Rams. (That’s what Black Lives Matter, BLM, made the narrative…but witnesses and forensics showed the reality was that Brown had just robbed a store – and had charged the cop who stopped him and tried to take his gun when he was shot.) The NFL has forbidden the Dallas Cowboys to do anything to honor the police officers slain by radicals from BLM in a massacre earlier this year. Meantime, San Francisco backup quarterback Colin Kaepernick won’t stand for the national anthem. He says it is in solidarity with BLM – and wears practice socks with pigs wearing police hats. Brandon Marshal of the Denver Broncos takes a knee for the national anthem and the entire Seattle Seahawks squad talks of boycotting the anthem. The NFL says that is their right of free expression (but God help them if they try to freely express disagreement with that attitude). Aside from the hilarity of modern sons of privilege telling me to check my privilege, I realize that the NFL and many of its players have become the spiritual heir of Bull Connor – the racist, thuggish Jim Crow enforcer of another generation.

If the NFL is determined to express solidarity with racist cop killers and people who enable the destruction of already vulnerable communities, I can’t stop it. But I sure won’t patronize it.

Bull Connor did not care if black people were around, provided they busied themselves getting his coffee or carrying his bags and kept to their “place.” The NFL doesn’t mind – actually prefers – cops to protect them and their venues…so long as those cops keep to their “place” – as children of a lesser god. Bull Connor, with a wink and a nod, would say HE was not actually killing black folks, even as he provided cover and encouragement for those who did. The NFL and some of its players, similarly, with a wink and a nod say they do not encourage the actual killing of cops or white people, even as they provide cover and encouragement to those who do – while shutting up or firing those who actively oppose it. It is the new Jim Crow.

I guess when you have completely lost sight of God or commitment to a principle of universal humanity, you don’t judge people by the content of their character, but by the color of their skin or uniform. All the progressive left seems to have learned from the terrible stain of racism, which we had largely overcome, is to shuffle the deck of who will be victim and who, victimizer. You flunked the test, guys, and in future generations will be viewed with as much contempt as Bull Connor and the racist thugs of his generation.

I will not patronize a league that hates me, disciplines anyone who dissents, and enables people who think killing cops is great sport. I won’t leave someone’s house if a pro football game is on, I don’t expect or care that others won’t choose to boycott the same way as I do. In this toxic culture, we all ingest some poisons – and it does not bother me that others choose different poisons than I do. But I won’t choose pro football anymore, nor will I buy anything that has an NFL logo on it or go to a pro football party. If I have to have a fix, I will watch a college game (yeah, I know they have their own problems). I know it won’t make any difference to the ugly men who operate the NFL. But I would not have gone to a football game with Bull Connor – and I will not patronize a league and players who have channeled his spirit.

*******

California is trying to pass a law that would send whistle-blowers to jail and significantly chill free speech – and it is particularly aimed at pro-lifers. I guess the good news is that David Daleiden’s undercover investigation, which has put Planned Parenthood in a ticklish spot, has rattled its fellow travelers in government. The bad news is that, like ideological supremacists throughout history, they seek to solve the problem by jailing their critics rather than reforming their behavior. America, America, God shed His grace on thee.

*******

Meanwhile, President Obama is determined to transfer control of the Internet away from America to some undetermined international body on September 30. Senator Ted Cruz (R-Texas) and Representative Sean Duffy (R-Wisconsin) are trying to stop this transfer. If they fail, some international body like the United Nations will end up deciding what you can and cannot say online – and hate speech will be defined as being Christian, conservative, and pro-life. The rush to get it done later this month is so that a new leader would have a hard time reversing it.

*******

One could be depressed at the daily evidence of our culture’s degeneration. W.B. Yeats ominous poem, “The Second Coming,” seems terribly prescient these days, especially the first stanza:

“Turning and turning in the widening gyre The falcon cannot hear the falconer; Things fall apart; the centre cannot hold; Mere anarchy is loosed upon the world, The blood-dimmed tide is loosed, and everywhere The ceremony of innocence is drowned; The best lack all conviction, while the worst Are full of passionate intensity.”

But God does have a plan – and all these things I covered today are merely aspects of the death rattle of an exhausted old order.

Charlie Johnston

I haven't forgotten about the Sespe Creek easement. I will be contacting various legal and government agencies in the near future. I'm confident that all barriers to public access will eventually be removed, voluntarily or by legal process. I'll keep readers informed of the progress.

***

I listened to part of Donald Trump's public address on national defense this morning. I was delighted to hear him speak in a clear, distinct, and specific way about what America needs immediately for military defense.

I believe Trump has the right answers and attitude to lead our country as Commander in Chief in these perilous times. It remains to be seen if he has the time to provide at least the highest defense priorities to defend against China, Russia, North Korea, and Iran. As we are often reminded, we can't just snap our fingers to produce and deploy the needed weapons and personnel. But our enemies are ready now. The so-called congressional sequester cut-off financing of defense readiness to a pre-WWII level, making us more susceptible to catastrophic enemy attack than at any other time in American history.

Because of this sort of infamous criminal negligence on the part of our politically correct Congress, and a politically treacherous President Obama, at this time of immediate need we do not have the men or munitions to successfully defend our country against a surprise attack. That is a fact.

Even our nuclear weapons, the ultimate deterrence against such an attack, are in deplorable condition. We continue to disarm, honoring an inconceivably foolish old treaty with Russia, while Putin brags about doubling its numbers and capabilities.

Examples of American atomic defense personnel negligence are legion. "After a string of appalling reports of negligence in their maintenance, we hear about this: "Nuclear commander lost job after being caught playing fake poker chips" Most egregious, the story (Nov 23, 2014) of Vice-Admiral Timothy Giardina, "known as Navy Tim, a heavy gambler who was accused of making his own $500 poker chips and eventually banned ... America's nuclear weapons general sacked." He was second in command of our Minutemen missiles.

Then we have reports of Russia's Electromagnetic weapons, land and airborne, have been deployed for several years. The US has none deployed, if we have any. "Our most sophisticated destroyer, USS Donald Cook, was posted to the Black Sea to monitor Russia's aggression against the Ukraine. The Cook has our most up-to-date electronic surveillance equipment. A Russian fighter-bomber approached the Cook, was warned off but ignored the warning. It then circled the Cook at very low altitude, causing all of the Cook's radar and other tracking equipment to go black. In the words of witnesses, it was deaf and blind. This was due to the unarmed Russian plane's jamming equipment. The Cook had to put-put back to port with its rudder between its legs.

The American military has no such equipment deployed today. "The State Department acknowledged that the crew of the destroyer USS Donald Cook has been gravely demoralized ever since their vessel was flown over in the Black Sea by a Russian Sukhoi-24 fighter jet which carried neither bombs nor missiles but only an electronic warfare [EMP] device." This happened two years ago!

These examples are only a small fraction of what can be shown as deadly American military vulnerabilities today.

Note that it was the State Department that acknowledged our weakness, during the Obama-Clinton administration.

The extraordinary extent of Hillary Clinton's betrayal of America's top secrets to the enemy has never before been exceeded by any foreign spy. It is truly phenomenal! And the Democratic Party wants her to be COMMANDER in CHIEF??

Whatever negative view you may have had about Donald Trump before (as I had) - in conscience, you can't endanger our nation's future by voting for the Bitch Goddess of Untruth.

I'm scrambling to get this column out today. I've been concerned about the new fence at the end of Grand Avenue. When combined with the obsession the land owner at the Sespe Creek entry has to halt all public access to the Creek, these two challenges become serious.

The land owner in question has been informed that he cannot prevent the public from accessing the creek but he has ignored many notices, including my own, for years. Maybe he's thinking of issuing his own Wilderness Passes or Permits to enter the National Forrest, or possibly stopping all traffic coming down from the northern access, some kind of pay to leave scheme? In any event his "No Trespassing" signs have to come down, with the "No Parking" sign and his creek fence - voluntarily or by legal process - and soon.

***

I wish I could be positive about America's near future, but world events don't call for that. Most people have an opinion on the issue of America's status today and so do I.

I sense something uniquely bad will accompany the November elections, as something wicked this way comes. Our country is almost perfectly divided between the Right and the Left, with the Left in control for the past 8 years. I have no choice but to vote for Trump. Hillary Clinton is a uniquely evil person. She and her alleged rapist husband Bill, have been a plague upon the nation for 30 years. If by any unfortunate circumstance she is elected Commander-in-Chief of the United States, I will know that God has finally had enough of the US and has condemned us to destruction.

I know, sounds crazy doesn't it? But no crazier than trusting a President Hillary to lead our troops into battle.

Enlarge Photo

Enlarge Photo

Well, my safari into darkest Sespe Creek turned out to be without drama.

I departed my truck at approximately 3 p.m. Saturday under clear skies, with temperature about 90 degrees.
With my pith hat, boots, walking staff, full water bottles, and machete, I left the security of the truck and stepped into a weed infested area leading to the edge of Sespe Creek.

After about a 5-minute trek to the willow thicket surrounding the creek, I paused to listen for any sign of predators. No beasts were to be heard, not even a barking dog, so I cautiously stepped further into the willows. It then appeared that nothing was to be seen in the creek but willows, millions of them. There were so many willows that it was impossible to see more than a few feet into the uninhabited wilds of Sespe Creek.

I understand that the Sespe is a "navigable" river by legal fiat, but it will take about 15 inches of rain to prove it. Dry as a desert bone, the drought has made the southern part of the creek practically inaccessible to hikers, or large beasts for that matter. The creek's southern entry area is choked with willows and other wild growth. Even a mosquito would have a hard time of it.

However, the present physical condition of the creek does not change its legal status as a constitutionally protected public recreation area. No one is permitted to prohibit or block access to the public, at any time.

Authorities have notified me that Ventura County is responsible for the new steel cable fence. From a legal point of view it matters not at all who is responsible for putting it up. Anything prohibiting or blocking access to Sespe Creek is unlawful and must be removed. I will continue to research the remedies for barrier removal.

The fence was created in order to prevent the historic problem of discarded trash. That has always been a serious problem. I don't, however, see how the fence improves the situation. I noticed all 5 trash barrels were full to overflowing, though the grounds did seem cleaner than usual. But the fence does not reduce the trash problem which is caused by slobs who do not care for this environment; but cameras and fines might do the job without obstructing access. Restricted fire truck access now becomes an issue as well.

The fence does cause other problems. It forces all vehicles to park onto the roadway, where before they could park onto the gravel area facing the creek. This also makes it more difficult for vehicles to turn around, and seriously limits the number of cars that can conveniently use the space. Parking should also be facilitated for those wishing to hike overnight, or for trailers. The fence congests the area which will be used by more visitors every year.

Well, I emerged unharmed from darkest Sespe about 100 yards from my entry - which was minimal. The problem of public access to Sespe Creek remains. But like MacArthur, I shall return, until the issue is resolved - probably with the first heavy rainstorm.

I'm looking at the cover of a great book, Freedom's Forge, how American business produced Victory in World War II" by Arthur Herman.

Though that war ended when I was only 7-years-old, I remember the activity of the time. I also recall the enormous quantity of military surplus which came flooding back into America. I tried to get Dad to buy a surplus jeep, but he said they lost too much oil. Try to buy a good one now!

When I look around today, at our culture and industry, without a dramatic and immediate change I have to say we could never accomplish what we did in the 1940s. Today, the malignant Left, the liberal-socialist radicals, and the environment of Political Correctness, would make such cooperation for victory impossible.

For one, leaders seem nowhere to be found; certainly not enough. The Bible tells us that without leadership a nation falls. And I'm old-fashioned, My ultimate trust lies only in the Bible. America has lived for nearly 8 years under the treacherous (I believe treasonous) "leadership" of Obama, who has only weakened and undermined American military forces. Very soon we will understand just how successful he has been.

Freedom's Forge recalls, in great detail, the phenomenon of the American defense system at a time of great peril. We seem blessed then with the energy, ingenuity, and determination which caused our Revolution to be successful after 1776. This book "...takes us back to that time [1940s] , revealing how two extraordinary American businessmen - automobile magnate William Knudsen and shipbuilder Henry J. Kaiser - helped corral, cajole, and inspire business leaders across the country to mobilize the "arsenal of democracy" that propelled the Allies to victory in World War II."

These are among the forgotten heroes of the Second World War. They perfected armament construction to incredible degree; we built ships faster than the German Navy could sink them. The same proficiency held true with our planes, guns, and at every level of defensive need.

"Then it was Henry Kaiser's turn "Here beside us is this great craft," ..."only ten days from keel laying to launching; and in a few days she will be on the ocean bearing cargo to our allies and our soldiers. it is a miracle, no less - a miracle of God and the genius of free American workmen."

I wonder if such a miracle could be worked today. Could the call go out to GOOGLE, or Amazon, or Facebook, to help save us from defeat?

This is a wonderful book that should be read by all. It will give you a fresh understanding on just how far we have fallen.

Americans shouldn't have to be prodded into recognizing the fact that we have entered the preliminary rounds of WWIII. But, because of the absence of honest news coverage throughout eight years of the Obama administration, the nation slumbers. It's no exaggeration to observe that our politically correct country has drifted into a mine field prepared by our four deadliest and most determined enemies. China, Russia, Iran, North Korea, (all nuclear-armed except Iran) have each announced their intent to destroy America.

They brag about the sophistication of their new weapons and burgeoning stockpiles of missiles, planes, artillery, tanks, and electronics. America must scrounge for used parts to repair its planes. NKorea fires intercontinental missiles into Japanese waters, with impunity. Russia simply walks-in and takes over the Crimea, after invading Ukraine, again with impunity. Russia has recently moved more heavy armaments into eastern Ukraine, and threatens the Baltic states, showing only contempt for weak NATO defenses - daring the West to act.

China is the greatest threat, with the largest military (army, navy, and air force), and an eagerness to fight for its stolen South China Sea properties. Should a fight over the South China Sea break out, China has the on-sight military ability to sink our aircraft carriers, check our submarines, and swarm our few aircraft. We have lost our back-up abilities to carry on such a war. Where would reinforcements come from? This because Obama (and a feckless US Congress) have abandoned America by leaving it defenseless relative to the proliferating forces of our enemies. An inadequate defense is no defense. Obama has castrated US defense forces; we are weaker than at any time before WWII, and we no longer have that famous industrial might which overwhelmed Germany and Japan in the 1940s.

Well, what's the plan? Obama says he's never had a strategy, and without a strategy a plan is useless. In the words of our street philosopher, Mike Tyson, "Everyone has a plan - until you're hit in the face". We are about to get hit in the face.

China also holds US military readiness in contempt. How could it do otherwise knowing that America now sends its women into combat? Today we learn that the chain of Chinese "island" bases have been equipped with numerous fighter aircraft and hangers. China cannot be permitted to close the world's most important commercial route through the South China Sea, but it is determined to do so - this means inevitable war - at any time of China's choosing. Ask how would we, how could we, respond?

If Iran doesn't already have a nuclear weapon, it soon will. Iran lives only to cause death and destruction, as its Islamic doctrine commands against Kafirs, all 6-billion of them.

North Korea is a wild card. Its mentally unstable dictator can be expected to do anything, including launching nuclear weapons - which he constantly threatens to do. Korea's recent launching of a submarine missile demonstrates a high degree of progress in weapons development.

Now - with NATO a flaccid force of undisciplined, little experienced, sunshine soldiers responsible for defending Europe and the Middle East, what are we to do? In the very real probability that multiple wars will break-out America has far too little to work with; and in the case of China and Russia, we will be far too slow to respond. Talk about a stress test!

Remember also the hyenas of Islamic terror who will disperse in the fray to chew on the sinews of a bloodied Western defense carcass. It will be a chaotic bloodbath of phenomenal proportions. If we survive, history will reveal the pathetic truth: America sought only an easy peace while neglecting preparations for war. This is losing by naiveté and cowardice.

But, maybe America can be saved by a conniving Bitch Goddess of Untruth, outfitted in camouflaged pants suit, leading a platoon of quadrasexual SEALS.

After all, she's experienced landing under withering sniper fire in Bosnia!

I'm glad to report that Fillmore, at least according to the majority of voices at the special medical marijuana meeting, want nothing to do with the weeds.

The recent confiscation of some $7million-worth of marijuana plants at the weed co-op above Grand Ave. creates a sense of relief. Medical marijuana certainly has its place - once workable controls are feasible. The product is needed to treat certain serious painful conditions. The problem is that as soon as the product becomes available, everyone seems to have painful conditions which allegedly require medical marijuana.

***

I know the Pope is a holy man; I only wish holiness always included common sense, which the present Pope clearly lacks.

Pope Francis lacks the ability to refrain from "off-the-cuff" statements which are clearly wrong, creating confusion, anger, and bewilderment in the ranks of the faithful, and not-so-faithful. Perhaps his "cuffs" should be clipped.

His ability to startle traditional Catholics with false or confusing statements reminds me of Donald Trump's worst idiotic pronouncements, like Senator John McCain is not a hero because his plane was shot down and he was captured. Absurd.

Recently, Pope Francis stated that the "Koran And Holy Bible Are The Same" and that Islam is a religion of peace. What madness is this?

The Koran and Bible are diametrical, absolute, opposites in the doctrines they announce. The Koran demands submission of all "Kafirs", or non Muslims. There are only three choices for Kafirs in Islamic doctrine, conversion, dimitude (slavery), or death. Traditional Islam seeks death or conversion for all non-believers, as we see in today's terrorist attacks. The Koran, Hadith, and Sira are explicit about this, and all statements to the contrary are, by the doctrine of "abrogation" not applicable. So, by valid, traditional Islamic standards, being a Kafir is dangerous.

Christianity, on the other hand, preaches a personal, loving God Who seeks peace and salvation through free will. Christianity has certainly failed to meet its goals sometimes throughout history, but it has been the greatest single factor in the creation and preservation of Western civilization, and world civilization most of the time.
The West is utterly ignorant of Islamic history, its expansion and the horrific suffering it has caused civilization for the last 1400 years.

A great place to begin learning about the doctrine of Islam is to view any one of Dr. Bill Warner's videos or read any of his many books. He tells the whole story from a scientist's perspective, after 30-years of study. Warner has a PhD in physics and mathematics, and is a superb speaker. He only addresses the doctrine of Islam. He cares nothing about the religion. See: ”Why We Are Afraid, A 1400 Year Secret, by Dr Bill Warner".

I regret sounding a little disrespectful, but the Pope needs to put a sock in it. On matters of faith and morals he is great; on personal political opinion, he's dangerous.

p.s. I speak as a faithful, practicing Roman Catholic, fellow Kafir to most of you.

It has been a tumultuous past two weeks at the Gazette.

My Editor, and best friend at the paper for the past 28 years, Wanda Castel de Oro, was recently hospitalized for a serious illness.

She is doing better now but has some challenges ahead. Without her steadfast management things run a little slower. We miss her at the Gazette. Our prayers are with her for a speedy recovery.

In the meantime, the Gazette is blessed to have Tenea Golson to take over many of the most important duties in Wanda's absence. Tenea has done great work for the Gazette in the recent past. She is the daughter of Susan Golson who also did great work for us for more than 10 years. We have a great team while looking forward to Wanda's recovery.

***

A special meeting of the Fillmore City Council was held at city hall last night. I regret I was unable to attend. The question presented concerns the most important issue facing Fillmore in its history - should the city permit a large medical marijuana co-op to move into our new Business Park?

This co-op wants to build a 9-acre medical marijuana farm and dispensary. Fillmore would then house the largest such dispensary in the entire state. Tax revenue to the city is anticipated to be $3-8 million per year.

That's a lot of money. It could be spent to revitalize the city. We could get our motorcycle cop back, put in an intense anti-drug program in our schools, etc.

But, there is another, dark, side to the question, as Sheriff Geoff Dean and Police Chief Dave Wareham told the standing-room-only crown at city hall last night. The flip-side of these tempting millions is crime; crime as we have never known it before. Marijuana attracts criminals like cheese attracts rats.

Captain Wareham just returned from an investigative trip to Colorado, Oregon, and Washington, where marijuana has been legalized. In short, most of the counties want nothing to do with legal medical marijuana, and others regret legalizing it. His report last night awakened the crowd to the salient facts. The costs to remedy the damage marijuana has caused (crime cartel murders) school problems, serious medical problems due to the huge increase in potency of marijuana today, and the edible products (cookies, candies, brownies, etc.) which trick children into overdosing, exceeds any financial benefits by more than twice. In other words, it costs twice the millions we might get to overcome the problems. It changes whole communities quickly, for worse. And it would scar Fillmore's reputation forever.

Legal medical marijuana growing and dispensing is a town-killing proposition. Our City Council has been placed on notice, by the huge turnout last night, that the citizens of this small town do not want to have anything to do with bringing marijuana production and sales to Fillmore.

I'm sure the message got through.

It seems that every week for several months now some outrageous breach of the peace, attack by some murderous Islamic monstrosity, or exposure of more federal government rot, drove me to say something, but I didn't. I'll say a few words now.

Obama and his hoard of fifth column comrades has successfully infected our Republic for seven and a half years. He has kept his promise to "fundamentally change" our country. But his changes have inflicted what may well prove to be mortal wounds to the nation.

Obama is a moral reprobate. I first knew this was true when I heard that he approved of partial-birth abortion. This told me he had no soul. That procedure, for those who may have forgotten, permits the abortionist the "right" to kill the infant who survived the abortion, by severing its spinal cord, drowning the child, suffocating it, or merely leaving it to die in a cabinet, opposing Born Alive legislation.

The nation is suffering the effects of Obama's empty soul. It suffers for his lack of support for our Law Enforcement men and women, part of his efforts to inflame racial division.

He has used federal departments as weapons to control the people. He has created the most corrupt Justice Department in the nation's history by appointing people like Eric Holder and Loretta Lynch, names that will live in infamy for their Constitutional manipulations. He provides cover for every governmental crime.

As Commander-in-Chief, he has subverted the moral character of our armed forces, diminished our defense capabilities, and given aid and comfort to our country's most lethal enemies.

He is an active enemy of America's traditional Christian base, and a vocal defender of Islam, "radical" or not. (There is only one Islam, and that is defined only by the Koran, Hadith (Muhammad's traditions), and Sira, (Muhammad's biography) - all condensed in Sharia law. Muslim jihadists continue to fight to the death seeking to prove which sect is purest - as they have done for 1,400 years - and to this day). The target of the Islamist demand for "submission" is all non-Muslims - Kaffirs. Read it all in the above books, which contain the entirety of Islamic doctrine. It is not merely a religion, it is a total way of life.

Obama has largely accomplished the mission he announced in his inaugural address nearly 8 years ago. Those fundamental changes infect every part of our government, from drafting women and opening women's bathrooms to the lecherous Left, to inviting an invasion of undocumented foreigners. Many of his changes can never be cured, and the nation is obviously weakened for it.

I cannot point to a single major foreign policy decision by this odious man that has secured a benefit for America. But the list of extraordinary and outrageous wounds he has inflicted upon our Republic is long.

The nation is weaker militarily, morally, socially, and financially due to the Obama administration. America will have been leaderless for eight years at the end of his term.

America is ill prepared to survive the immediate dangers we now face, yet this charlatan endorses Hillary Clinton (Bitch Goddess of untruth and proven untrustworthiness).

If, the ignorant unwashed 51percent manages, once again, to slither into office another misbegotten charlatan, Hillary Clinton, our Republic is finished.

The City of Fillmore is about to be attacked by the most outrageous "public works" scheme ever inflicted upon a California municipality in state history. The big shots in the City of Malibu, CA, are about to launch a 10-year project transporting sand from Grimes Canyon, through Fillmore, to Malibu beach in an effort to restore the shoreline.

It's hard to contemplate the extent of this uniquely devastating plan. Imagine up to 100 belly dump trucks PER DAY traveling from the mine, down Hwy 23 to Highway 126 and through to Hwy 1 and Malibu. Think of what the coast highway will be like - for the next 10 years.

Daily traffic from the mine through Fillmore is already very heavy; this plan is almost too audacious to contemplate. Think of the traffic disruption, (100 trucks per day), destruction of our highway, dust, noise, potential accidents.

The City of Moorpark sued to keep this traffic out of their town, though it is located closer to Malibu than Fillmore.

But the entire plan is audaciously impractical. Where are all those green environmental heroes when we need them? Where is the Environmental Protection Agency when we need it? Why weren't we alerted to this threat in time to take serious defensive action?

The Gazette will do its best to report on these events and determine what can be done at the state and federal level.

For those who might be curious, I've been gone for about two months due to a back injury. I'm getting around again but it will take a while longer before reaching 100 percent. Thanks for your patience and concern.

***

It's hard to exaggerate the peril the nation is in, domestically and overseas. America is seriously unprepared to deal with her enemies, foreign and domestic, because our Commander in Chief has never shown a desire to lead the nation in its defense. In this he has betrayed our trust and his oath of office. Should Hillary Clinton become our next president, the eight years Obama has spent under-cutting our nation will produce a military-social collapse, the likes of which we have never before experienced.

Only a fervent Christian revival can save this nation at this late date. We should acknowledge God and the unique blessings He has showered upon America since her founding, or face defeat at the hands of multiple, implacable enemies. Time to humble ourselves and pray.

Sometimes, when we are faced with an obvious injustice, we come to conclusions driven more by emotion than reality.

As someone with a public platform to express my opinion, as I did in last week’s editorial, it is my responsibility to get it right. Last week, I got it wrong.

The majority of my editorial dealt with the alleged bullying of Fillmore Fire Chief Rigo Landeros by two city council members. That would have been a good place to stop.

However, I went on to draw an erroneous conclusion that the other three council members knew of the bullying and did nothing to stop it.

A day late, I sat down with two of the three council members, a grief counselor, and two witnesses. I was able to ask the questions I should have asked in the first place, and settle the dust I had stirred up.

If a complete retraction of a single accusation was ever in order, it is now. My apologies to our majority council for misguidedly causing more pain in an already painful situation.

As information continues to flow in, details concerning the tragic death of former Fillmore Fire Chief Rigo Landeros becomes clearer.

Statements by some city officials and many others who were close to Chief Landeros, allege a lengthy practice of bullying, threats, and intimidation by two councilmen against the Chief, including threats to have him fired were contributing factors.

Anger by those who knew and greatly admired Landeros is palpable. Investigations to determine the factors leading to his death, official and unofficial, are underway.

The intimidation of Landeros is alleged to have occurred for at least 3 years.

The time for a recall of two council members, or resignations, is here.

The passing of Fire Chief Rigo Linderos, a friend to so many, leaves a void in our lives. He was always such an important part of the community that maybe we took him for granted, as though he would always be here. Now that he is no longer with us it makes me think about the importance of friendship, especially those of long standing.

I recall a framed exert from Hamlet which hung on a hallway wall at home when I was a boy. I have no idea where it came from and don’t know where it has gone. But I appreciate those words now much more than I did as a child. The words read, “Those friends thou hast, and their adoption tried, Grapple them to thy soul with hoops of steel;” These are the words of William Shakespeare, the greatest genius who ever lived. He illuminated the deepest parts of the human condition as no one else has ever been able to do. He’s attesting to the unique, irreplaceable value of friendship.

I wish I had taken a little more time to express my appreciation for the care Rigo took in going about his work. He was always giving of himself and yet never neglected to say thank you to us.

So I will say thank you for the last time my friend. We all miss you. Rest in peace.

Rigo Linderos, a Man For All Seasons.

I knew him for most of the 28 years I have lived in Fillmore. I saw him almost every day during his duties as our Fire Chief, when he stopped by the office to say hello or to deliver a request.

No matter how heartfelt our attempts to recognize Rigo's importance to the community, we must fail. He was such an integral part of Fillmore that it requires us to pause and reflect on the scope of his contributions, not only as Fire Chief but as a critical influence on city government and a major volunteer for many charitable causes. Rigo was one-of-a-kind. His heart was in his work. He brought order from confusion and goodwill in times of conflict.

He was always there with a warm greeting and a helping hand in good times and in bad. He will be remembered by thousands as Fillmore's Man For All Seasons. I will miss him as a true friend.

Rest in peace Rigo. Thank you for giving so much of your life to assist others.

I'm late to the keyboard this week so I'm just going to drop a few DRUDGE headlines in the hope you will all check out these links. They tell the story of the state of the nation and of the world - in real old fashioned reality.

"Elementary Students To Stop Reciting God Bless America" thanks to lawsuit by ACLU.
"Most Americans are one paycheck away from the street."
"Crusading former Pentagon chief says nuke danger is growing"
"Islamic State okays taking organs of living non-Muslims"
"A study by Pew Research showed that the only gun crimes on the rise over the last two decades have been mass shootings in gun-free zones or so-called “soft targets.”
"US Pacific Fleet smaller, even as China's military grows."

Evil: ISIS fighters have been given new rules to live by when it comes to sex slaves

The new rules:

1. It is not permissible for the owner of a female captive to have intercourse with her until after she has had menstrual cycle and becomes clean.

2. If she does not menstruate and is pregnant, he is not allowed to have intercourse with her until after she has given birth.

3. It is not permissible to cause her to abort if she is pregnant.

4. If the owner of a female captive releases her, only he can have intercourse with her and he cannot allow someone else to have intercourse with her.

5. If the owner of a female captive, who has a daughter suitable for intercourse, has sexual relations with the latter, he is not permitted to have intercourse with her mother and she is permanently off limits to him. Should he have intercourse with her mother then he is not permitted to have intercourse with her daughter and she is to be off-limits to him.

6. The owner of two sisters is not allowed to have intercourse with both of them; rather he may only have intercourse with just one. The other sister is to be had by him, if he were to relinquish ownership of the first sister by selling her, giving her away or releasing her.

7. If the female captive is owned by a father, his son cannot have intercourse with her and vice-versa. Moreover, intercourse with his wife’s female captive is also not permissible.

8. If a father had intercourse with his female captive then gave her away or sold her to his son, he is no longer permitted to have intercourse with her.

9. If the female captive becomes pregnant by her owner, he cannot sell her and she is released after his death.

10. If the owner releases his female captive then he is not permitted to have intercourse with her afterwards because she has become free and is no longer his property.

11. If two or more individuals are involved in purchasing a female captive, none of them are permitted to have sex with her because she is part of a joint ownership.

12. It is not permissible to have intercourse with a female captive during her menstrual cycle.

13. It is not permissible top have anal sex with a female captive.

14. The owner of a female captive should show compassion towards her, be kind to her, not humiliate her and not assign her work she is unable to perform.

15. The owner of a female captive should not sell her to an individual whom he knows will treat her badly or do unto her what Allah has forbidden.

Well, in another day the year 2015 will be no more. All of us at the Gazette wish all of you a very happy and productive new year.

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One issue to be dealt with in 2016 is of extraordinary importance to Fillmore and many other Ventura County cities. It is the plan to transport sand from the mine on Hwy. 23 to restore the beach at Malibu. It's hard to exaggerate the extent to which this outrageous proposal (nearly completely approved) will negatively impact our city. This should be fought with all the resources we have. See the story on page one.

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I have mixed emotions about the coming New Year. I feel a sense of relief and foreboding. The relief comes from knowing that Obama has only 11 months more to finish the job of wrecking the nation. My foreboding comes from understanding just how much he has already succeeded in diminishing America's strength, prosperity, and security. It will take a decade to repair the damage, assuming everything doesn't come off the rails before the Obama administration breaths it last.

It could be worse however, if a criminally stupid electorate actually votes-in another Clinton. That's a horror beyond my ability to contemplate. It is possible. I shudder to recall that same electorate (Democrat Party) voted Obama in for a second term. The second witch in Macbeth voices my trepidation, "Something wicked this way comes.” America faces the wickedness of fundamental Islam and its plan to subdue the world. We can forget "the good Muslims" - they are almost irrelevant. It's the Islam which has bedeviled the Western world since the year 632 with its demand that all non-Muslim peoples "submit" by conversion, taxation, or death.

These are the facts, this is the truth, and America is about to discover this truth, inconvenient or otherwise.
Let's not forget Barack Obama's gift of aid and comfort to the enemy (Iran) in the amount of $150 BILLION. That is the legacy he has sought, that is the American demise he has brought.

From all of us at the Gazette to all of our readers Happy, holy, and peaceful Christmas!

***

It's a beautiful day today especially after the nice soaking rain we had a short time ago. I don't feel like talking politics or commenting on the Islamic murder wave we are facing. It seems more fitting to contemplate the many blessings we continue to receive from the Father.

Despite the absence of political leadership America has experienced these past seven years and the moral misdirection urging us towards the cliff, we still live in the strongest, freest nation in the world. We are, however, in desperate need of remembering the source of our strength and freedom. So, in this Christmas season let's give thanks to God.

Last night's Republican debate: An engineered waste of time.

Our Commander-in-Chief has decreed that all combat positions in all military branches are now open to women, for the first time in history. This is a sort of ultimate insult and injury to our fighting men, and an ultimate victory for political correctness and the feminist Left.

In a sane world guided by traditional Judeo-Christian principles and morals no explanation would be necessary for the virtually timeless, universal prohibition against the use of women in combat. Common sense and natural law dictate that men protect women against harm, especially from evil men. This is deeply engrained, almost genetically inscribed on the male psyche. It is a principle that helps assure the existence of humanity's next generation. The statement "Women and children first" should always be honored in practice. They are our nation's future.

Obama and his lickspittle Leftist minions, like his new Secretary of Defense, have struck another blow against Judeo-Christian normalcy with this new policy. The arguments against this new law are so profound and numerous that they can only be addressed in a book. One such book, among many, should be read by everyone who values the special position of honor and dignity women have always enjoyed throughout the civilized world (I don't include fundamental Islam in that world). That book is entitled "CO-ED COMBAT, the new evidence that women shouldn't fight the nation's wars", by Kingsley Browne.

It is a outrageous fraud to pretend, as Obama does, that women are as capable of engaging in combat as men. Women are absolutely equal to men in dignity, but not combat. I dare even the most virulent feminist to refute the data in this book.

Women have always contributed to the defense of our country in most valuable ways, from the Revolutionary War to date. There is no question or doubt about that. And women have engaged in combat (in very small numbers) in the Soviet Union - even in Israel, for short periods of time, in dire circumstances - and served heroically. But that is not the point.

Co-Ed Combat is meticulously researched, utterly objective, heavily noted, with comments from both sides of the issue. Conclusion: Women should not be allowed in combat;

"The climate of political correctness is so strong that revealing reservations about the performance of women in the military is likely to be a career-terminating event."

"The military can force men to "accept" integration in the sense that soldiers must "accept" virtually anything their superiors impose upon them, but it cannot force men to trust women, and the absence of trust in battle can be deadly."

"In 1971 alone, there were 333 confirmed incidents [of fragging] and another 158 possible ones." "...The objections that many men have to women are of a kind that would create a potential for fragging." "Two of the most frequently heard complaints about women in the military are that women obtain favored treatment from superiors and that they are less combat capable and will not pull their weight in combat, thereby endangering the lives of male soldiers."

These arguments are only the tip of the iceberg. Women in combat, as now ordered, is wildly immoral and deadly impractical.

Read the book before yelling misogynist!