James Joseph Stehly passed into eternal life yesterday. I will remember him always as a great man because he was such a good man. I will miss his kindly, joyful presence.

When I first came to Fillmore some 26 years ago I quickly recognized that name and presence. I could hardly believe it. Mr. Stehly was in charge of my platoon at St. Catherine's Military School in Anaheim, (then, the most pristine little town I can ever recall) when I was in the sixth and seventh grades. What memories that reawakened; Major Schmidt, parade grounds, demerits, and measles in the infirmary. This in the years 1951 and '52.

Mr. Stehly was highly respected as the young "civilian" man responsible for keeping order in our ranks. As I grew to know Jim since coming to Fillmore I have to smile when I think back to those days long ago. With all the attempted shenanigans amongst the cadets, we did not get by with much when "Mr. Stehly" was in charge. It was a privilege to be reacquainted with this gentle, upright man almost 60 years later.
Rest in peace, Jim. You are greatly missed.

We are rightly preoccupied with all the growing terrorist threats to our country. And maybe, just maybe, the president will tell us all tomorrow that he has awakened to the clear and present danger that ISIS represents to America.

It would be too much to expect him to admit that behind all of the murderous global terror movements is Islam. Not "radical" Islam, there is no such thing. Islam, according to its founding book, the Koran, was created in the seventh century to subdue the entire world by force. A Muslim must believe every word of the Koran (without change) as the direct, inerrant, absolute word of god, or he is deemed apostate, and must be killed. "Moderate Islam" is a non sequitur, the two words contradict each other, since Islam is about submission of all unbelievers to the dictates of the Koran. It is a religious-socio-political system of perpetual struggle (until the End of Days). Even the intra -Islamic disagreements (Sunni, Shi'ite, and others) can never end without the complete annihilation of heretics, apostates, and unbelievers, as defined by the surviving sect. Outsiders see it as a perpetual murder mechanism.

Therefore, peace, according to Jihadist Islam, will only come when the non-Muslim world of some 6 billion souls is "subdued" by the likes of ISIS.

Mr. President, your job, and highest moral duty, is to launch a military force sufficient to annihilate ISIS to the last of its baby killers.

The leader of the free world, the President of the United States, the Commander in Chief of all vaunted American armed forces, met with our NATO allies in Eastern Europe this week. He sought to assure them of American strength and assistance against ISIS which now plays varsity instead of JVs.

It's certain that his fearless rhetoric struck terror into the hearts of Satan's army, and gave the headhunters pause, while our allies were reassured of our superpower abilities. Here's a sample of his thinking: "We know that if we are joined by the international community, we can continue to shrink ISIL's sphere of influence, its effectiveness, its financing, its military capabilities to the point where it is a manageable problem". And, "... the question is going to be making sure we've got the right strategy" [admittedly he has no strategy]. "This is something that is a continuation of a problem we've seen certainly since 9/11..." Actually since about 632 A.D. We should act "before it [ISIS] continues to metastasize..." You're too late. It already has, globally. [And we must organize]... "the Arab world, the Middle East, the Muslim world, along with the international community to isolate this cancer". The object at hand is not to "isolate" these roaches. The object is to KILL them all. Why? Read: http://www.satyablog.org/2014/08/26/isis-beheading-children-and-women-af...

What fool can believe there is no Satan? Except for innocent men and women, there is solid precedence for justice here: 1 Samuel 15:3

There is so much bad news to deal with every day, much of it directly related to the startling and dangerous incompetence of the Obama administration, that I'm becoming tired of commenting on it. Despite his flood of lies, misrepresentations, and betrayals of trust, one campaign promise our Commander in Chief has assiduously kept was to "fundamentally" change America.

Six years ago most of us couldn't conceive of what this transformation would involve. With Obama's absolute absence of experience and achievement even remotely relevant to running the nation's foreign and domestic affairs, who knew the kind of mischief he had in mind. Who knew what a provocative collection of equally incompetent clowns were to gather around POTUS's cabinet table?

Chuck Hagel at Defense?! Joined at the hip to Obama with bonds of cluelessness. Someone just recently surprised to learn that ISIS is a clear and present danger to US security. He learned that fact from Fox News. He sees an urgent need to recruit Transgenders into our military. To hell with the 99.99 percent of our military members who espouse normal, traditional Judeo-Christian morals. He wants more psychologically troubled "Warrior Princesses". See statements from Dr. Paul R. McHugh, former psychiatrist-in-chief for Johns Hopkins Hospital and its current Distinguished Service Professor of Psychiatry.

John Kerry at State?! Another denier of the fact that the Muslim Brotherhood is a primary Muslim enemy of the US. and someone who believes Islam is a religion of peace. Another naive dud.

Eric Holder as AG?! A serial liar and generally acknowledged to be the greatest crook ever to occupy that powerful office. He refuses to execute the law. Like Obama, a hater of our Constitution.

As Secretary of Homeland Security, Jeh Johnson, another obsequious toady of Obama's. This is a man in charge of the most diverse number of the nation's most important departments, including our Coast Guard. Just another Obama Leftist ideologue. Leftist ideology is the strongest tie that binds the whole Obama administration together.

I'm out of space. It's not ISIS and all its satanic, bloodthirsty Muslim Jihadi associates that presents America's most dangerous enemy today. That distinction belongs to our own Leftist president, Barack Obama. I predict we shall learn just how dangerous he and his Leftist ideologues will prove to be before December of 2016.

America's "fundamentals" lie in her Judeo-Christian heart, which needs protection against the foreign degeneracy of the Obama Left.

We want to welcome back Assistant Fire Chief Bill Herrera after his near-death encounter with a rattlesnake during the search for a missing camper in June. See story on page one.

* * *

Our new school Superintendent, Dr. Adrian E. Palazuelos, already has things well in hand. This was obvious to me after participating in last night's board meeting. He has a clear plan for improving student academic achievement, and a strong sense of the importance of lively communications between teachers, staff, parents, students, and the city at large. I also got a sense of Dr. Palazuelos' enthusiastic determination to see things through.

As for care of school grounds, I have to make a sad recommendation. One of the two large trees directly in front of the District office has apparently died from past neglect. The tree should be removed soon because the heavy branches pose a serious danger.

* * *

The slaughter in Iraq continues but Obama says we've done enough and that America is tired of war. Really? America, you haven't seen anything yet. If I may borrow some Biblical terminology, Satan's army has recently captured a large part of both Syria and Iraq. The demons claim statehood; they call it a Caliphate. Their stated mission is to conquer the entire non-Muslim world, killing all Jews and Christians, and other "Infidels" who refuse to convert to Islam. The women and children are being sold into sex slavery, the men murdered. James Foley, journalist captured by ISIL, was beheaded yesterday with threats for more. Putin "spits" in Obama's face; http://nypost.com/tag/james-wright-foley/China, North Korea, Iran, and, with a lean and hungry eye, the entire Muslim Middle East mock our Commander in Chief for his weakness. This seems to be one community Obama cannot seem to organize.

Aren't you liberal Democrats proud to have elected this gutless, clueless "man" to "lead" our nation?

In attending last night's council meeting I was struck with the professionalism, courteous atmosphere, and businesslike agenda accomplishments. Even the decades-long confrontation concerning Equestrian Park issues were resolved amicably to the applause of many in attendance.

It's great to have adults running city business once again.

***

World affairs are now so maniacally violent and out of control, ironically, only sudden and massively greater violence can prevent the wholesale disruption of Western Civilization.

Those of us who were able to avoid government education and expensive private liberal university educations can still recall what Western Civ. was all about. In large part we studied the history of the human race and how, what started with Greece and Rome, eventually changed mankind from a state of devil-worshiping barbarism to Judeo-Christian civilization, which grew in wisdom and freedom.

It was not all smooth sailing. The transition was slow and painful, suffering much brutal opposition. During what historians now refer to as "late antiquity", around the time of the fall of the Roman Empire, civilization's greatest enemy arose from the sterile desert sands of Arabia. This enemy of civilization was eventually called Islam and it's single goal was to subdue all mankind by the sword. Join, pay a tax, or die.

It was very easy to join the group, but if you decided to leave you would be killed. In essence, the purpose of this organization was to kill all human beings who refused to join their ranks, which it has been doing since the 7th Century. Seeking booty in gold and slaves Islam became the bloody scourge of all who saw in it implacable evil. Some (incorrectly) see Islam as a variant of Judeo-Christian beliefs. Properly understood, however, its teachings are diametrically opposed to those of both Old and New Testaments, despite the fact that the Koran is filled with names and historical references from the Bible.

The Judeo-Christian God is omnipotent (all powerful) but also a personal and loving God. It is otherwise in Islam. Muslim believers are commanded to convert, enslave, or kill "non-believers" without distinction of age, sex, or any other characteristic. Very many practices in Islam are strictly forbidden to Christians and Jews under penalty of eternal damnation to hell. Christians and Jews, for example, cannot kidnap women and girls and sell them into sex slavery, or behead children, which Muslim believers do every day. The Devil demands these things, but the Judeo-Christian God forbids these things.

So, whether we fight Boco Harem, Hamas, the so-called Islamic Caliphate, or Muslim Brotherhood murderers, we fight to defend the blessings of freedom in Western Civilization. If we don't fight these satanic killers we abandon millions of innocent "non-believers" to a gruesome and bloody fate - which is un-Judeo-Christian.
America had better get over its alleged "war-weary" sentiments, if only for its own survival.

It's time for an all-out, sustained aerial war against these child rapists and slavers in Iraq. Time to lay down the golf clubs Obama. Time to come out and fight, for God's sake!

With friends like Obama, Israel has no need of other enemies.

Following his lifelong pro-Muslim, anti-Jewish agenda, our fearless leader has finally succeeded in truly endangering America's ONLY Middle Eastern friend and sole democracy.

Barack Obama has repeatedly shown himself as friend of our enemies and enemy of our friends. He has set the tone (and example) for reinvigorated, murderous anti-Semitism worldwide. So it doesn't surprise me to hear reports of a recent telephone conversation between Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and President Obama (or Secretary Kerry) which ended abruptly with one side slamming down the phone. I hope and trust it was "Bibi" who unceremoniously ended the call.

The White House, and its troupe of Hamas flying monkey abettors, deserve nothing less than that contemptuous reply. Make no mistake about it, Obama has switched sides in the middle of the war, much like the deserter Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl, so warmly received by our Commander in Chief at the White House.

I've said before that Obama's actions and failures to act, in crucial foreign and domestic affairs, clearly indicate his hatred for America as it has functioned for the past 200-plus years. The fundamental changes he has repeatedly promised to inflict upon our country are quickly bringing America to her knees in the face of an implacable, satanic jihadist enemy. If America had a parliamentary system rather than a democratic republican one, Obama would have been thrown out of office shortly after the beginning of his second term. It takes a long time for the American electorate to wake up and smell the lies and betrayals.

America should thank God Israel is our friend - and act like it! Let's all assist in crushing this newly awakened, vile anti-Semitism. Peace will only come with the utter crushing of Hamas and its Devilish cohorts.

The most recent example of America's fallen status as a respected super power occurred in Egypt. It is reported that our hapless Secretary of State, John Kerry, had to undergo a metal detector screening before being admitted into the presence of Egypt's President, Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi at the Egyptian presidential palace. I guess if Obama ever pays another visit to the palace he may have to undergo the flea powder treatment. How many billions does America give to Egypt every year? National humiliation is the Obama hallmark.

* * *

ISIS now runs the city of Mosul, Iraq. This is the mad dog Sharia-Jihadist terrorist group demanding total allegiance from some billion-plus Muslim people throughout the world.

While the rest of the world, particularly the Western world, sits idly by, ISIS is murdering tens of thousands of Christians in lands that were Christian for thousands of years. The Sharia battle cry is convert to Islam or die. They just burned a Catholic church which has survived since the year 200, the oldest Christian church in the world, founded by the earliest disciples of Jesus.

The plague of Jihadist Islam can also be seen all over north Africa. The Islamic butchery there is inflicted by a group known as Boco Haram in northern Nigeria founded by Mohammed Yusuf. They kidnap hundreds of Christian girls, sell them into sex slavery, force them to convert to Islam, or murder them.

But this sort of mayhem has been common to nearly all Islamic countries for fourteen hundred years.

Islam and its bloody Jihadists are on the march once again. Not since the eighth century has it wrought such devastation. It is permitted to do so today only because the civilized world is, once again, led by weaklings; Christians do not defend themselves, under a mistaken belief that they must forgive and "turn the other cheek" - even if reason and respect for the dignity of humanity demand defense. God help the innocent Christian and Jewish populations being slaughtered and enslaved in Africa and the Middle East - no one else seems to want to.

The free people of the West are morally responsible for the Islamic slaughter in the East, while we recline in comfort. We have the military power, but lack the will to act. There is no such thing as moderate Islam! It has always been, and remains, a struggle to the death. Read their Koran before rejecting this conclusion.

The most recent example of America's fallen status as a respected super power occurred in Egypt. It is reported that our hapless Secretary of State, John Kerry, had to undergo a metal detector screening before being admitted into the presence of Egypt's President, Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi at the Egyptian presidential palace. I guess if Obama ever pays another visit to the palace he may have to undergo the flea powder treatment. How many billions does America give to Egypt every year? National humiliation is the Obama hallmark.

***

ISIS now runs the city of Mosul, Iraq. This is the mad dog Sharia-Jihadist terrorist group demanding total allegiance from some billion-plus Muslim people throughout the world.

While the rest of the world, particularly the Western world, sits idly by, ISIS is murdering tens of thousands of Christians in lands that were Christian for thousands of years. The Sharia battle cry is convert to Islam or die. They just burned a Catholic church which has survived since the year 200, the oldest Christian church in the world, founded by the earliest disciples of Jesus.

The plague of Jihadist Islam can also be seen all over north Africa. The Islamic butchery there is inflicted by a group known as Boco Haram in northern Nigeria founded by Mohammed Yusuf. They kidnap hundreds of Christian girls, sell them into sex slavery, force them to convert to Islam, or murder them.

But this sort of mayhem has been common to nearly all Islamic countries for fourteen hundred years.

Islam and its bloody Jihadists are on the march once again. Not since the eighth century has it wrought such devastation. It is permitted to do so today only because the civilized world is, once again, led by weaklings; Christians do not defend themselves, under a mistaken belief that they must forgive and "turn the other cheek" - even if reason and respect for the dignity of humanity demand defense. God help the innocent Christian and Jewish populations being slaughtered and enslaved in Africa and the Middle East - no one else seems to want to.
The free people of the West are morally responsible for the Islamic slaughter in the East, while we recline in comfort. We have the military power, but lack the will to act. There is no such thing as moderate Islam! It has always been, and remains, a struggle to the death. Read their Koran before rejecting this conclusion.

If you haven't seen the movie "America, Imagine a World Without Her" you owe it to yourself and to your family to go see it. For those of us who love this beautiful, exceptional country it will make you stand up and cheer (as has been reported of audiences across the country).

Dinesh D'Souza has produced a masterpiece of easily digested historical truth. Viewing the movie or reading his book by the same title is a quick, colorful way to expose the false history taught for decades in virtually every American public school. Let your children learn just how deceitful the Liberal Leftist curriculum has been, and just how exceptional America truly is among the nations of the world.

While most viewers will have never heard the name Saul Alinsky or the title of his infamous book, Rules for Radicals, they will learn how he taught Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton, and thousands of others, their radical socialist trade and their contempt for traditional America.

Skeptics of American "Exceptionalism" should see the movie to understand why they are wrong. True believers should see it to confirm the truth of their beliefs. I'll see it again soon because it was just so good.

***

Pat Buchanan has long believed America is breaking-up. In a recent column (America: No longer 1 nation, 1 people - see DRUDGE)

he states, "The real issue: Will America remain one nation, or are we on the road to Balkanization and the breakup of America into ethnic enclaves? For, as Ronald Reagan said, a nation that cannot control its borders isn’t really a nation anymore."

In Federalist No. 2, John Jay wrote, “Providence has been pleased to give this one connected country to one united people – a people descended from the same ancestors, speaking the same language, professing the same religion, attached to the same principles of government, very similar in their manners and customs. … ”
He called Americans a “band of brethren, united to each other by the strongest ties.” The republic of the founders for whom Jay spoke did not give a fig for diversity. They cherished our unity, commonality and sameness of ancestry, culture, faith and traditions."

I agree. So-called multiculturalism is a Trojan horse. It's anti-American. It's killing the Union.

Read more at http://www.wnd.com/2014/07/america-no-longer-1-nation-1-people/#Pm1Jyto0...

Tuesday's council meeting was standing room only. A vocal, loud-clapping crowd attended.

Three issues dominated the public comment periods, the end of the railroad era for Fillmore, our Equestrian Center, and the Chevron Super Fund clean-up east of town.

Passionate regrets were expressed for the loss of the Fillmore railroad. The city council was blamed for failing to support the railroad in its dispute with transit authority. This was an unfair criticism. The main issue in this dispute relates to significant costs of maintaining the line from Piru to Santa Paula. The court has ruled against the Fillmore railroad several times. If, in all the years of arguing over this particular issue, the railroad has been unable to win at court, that failure has to be attributed to un-persuasive legal and business advice, professional or amateur. It's sad to see the railroad go, but over the years the city has bent over backwards to facilitate this project. The blame does not lie with city council.

***

Our southern border continues to fester and our president obviously cares nothing about this unprecedented, clear and present danger to America's health, safety, and defense. Why should he, he's the one who deliberately pushed border security over the cliff. I no longer see Obama as president; I see him as a foreign agent cooperating with a growing number of our most deadly enemies.

His ultra Leftist policies are setting the world on fire. Three things he could do to at least dampen the flames: heavy air attack on American military assets captured by the so-called Caliphate in Iraq; give Israel all the material assistance it can use (Israel is America's only Middle East friend!); do the same to strengthen Jordan - immediately. Oh, - one other thing, bring a heavy military presence to our southern border - also immediately.

It's alleged that America has become weary of war. Bad news bulletin: war has only begun to engage America.

I hope everyone enjoys a happy and safe Independence Day. Remember that the use of illegal fireworks comes with an $1,100 fine. Keep it safe and sane.

***

So many things are going so badly for our country at this time that a reasonable man can conclude that the causes must be intentional. We are dealing with a perfect storm of crises, most caused by our commander in chief. That Obama doesn't know what he is doing is dangerous enough, but the incompetence of those he has appointed to advise him invites catastrophe. And, catastrophe is upon us.

The huddled masses bursting through our southern border excite chaos, disease, crime, and threats to national defense. The sovereignty and safety of our nation trumps sentimental assistance. This torrent of illegal immigration is an attack every bit as dangerous to America's health and safety as a violent jihadist attack, just quieter. And government agencies seek to keep the seriousness of this attack as quiet as possible. "A Health and Human Services official refused to allow a member of Congress to enter a facility in his district where some of the unaccompanied immigrant children are being housed.... ““What are they trying to hide?” [Congressman] Bridenstine said after the incident. ”Do they not want the children to speak with Members of Congress? As a Navy pilot, I have been involved in operations countering illicit human trafficking. I would like to know to whom these children are being released.”

The Department of Homeland Security, and its underling departments, are out of control - just like our royal president. Let's bring order to the border with military presence.

The Gazette would like to recognize Nick Johnson for his work as cartoonist these past 5 years. He graduated Fillmore High School this year and also distinguished himself as Student of the Year.

Nick will be starting his studies at Cal Poly, in crop science. His cartoon, which he actually began before graduating from 8th grade, reflects his strong interest in farming.

We know Nick will continue to excel in his studies but we wish him the best of luck just the same. His cartoon, Life of Lulu (his beloved beagle) will also be missed.

Go for it Nick!

***

Barack Obama continues to corrupt the country and scandalize the world with his utter incompetence. Any good work accomplished in the Middle East before he became our Commander in Chief has been scrambled, lost for at least a generation. Our enemies are greatly strengthened and our friends betrayed by his weakness and naiveté. It is maddening to watch the ISSI capture all of those Iraqi cities and towns so quickly after our warriors paid such a high price in blood and treasure for that territory - and see the Iraqi troops cut and run.

It's difficult to make sense out of the complex mess Obama and his clueless clones have made of world affairs during these past 5 years. Victor Davis Hanson explains the nature of this mess in his June 24 column, "Obama's World Disorder". It would be time well spent to Google this short historical review. It puts Obama's roll in accelerating the coming world war (my opinion) in clear perspective.

Obama is a man who simply doesn't know what he is doing - and nearly everything he is doing is wrong. In my opinion America will suffer a terrorist attack many times worse than what we sustained on 9/11. I think that our Muslim enemies will not waste the incredible vulnerability offered by Obama's presidency. Whatever will happen (nuclear, biological, radiological, or conventional attack - or a combination) will occur before the end of Obama's term. Since we are woefully unprepared (despite Homeland Security's unenlightened efforts) chaos will prevail and martial law will provoke violent resistance. DHS is a hugely funded, over staffed, over armed proto national police force. We should be reminded, as in John W. Whitehead's great June 16 column (The Rutherford Institute) that, “A standing military force, with an overgrown Executive, will not long be safe companions to liberty.”—James Madison.

I think it's too late for Iraq. We should at least have cluster-bombed the ISIS columns retreating into Syria with so much abandoned American equipment and munitions; 40 tanks (Abrams?) Bradley fighting vehicles, hundreds of armored humves and artillary - and manpads. It should have looked like the Highway of Death in Kuwait (remember that?).

We can always pray. Obama has humbled himself before our enemies by bowing. Maybe he can humble himself on behalf of America before our God - and I don't mean Allah.

A great victory for public education was handed down Tuesday by Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge Rolf M. Treu. Judge Treu who ruled that tenure for California teachers was unconstitutional. "If the preliminary ruling becomes final and is upheld, the effect will be sweeping across California and possibly the nation."

Tenure for teachers, a perk no other professional organization enjoys, has meant that our public educational system has been virtually unable to fire incompetent teachers. "Judge Treu stated that tenure protections ‘impose a real and appreciable impact on students' fundamental right to equality of education the evidence is compelling. Indeed, it [effect of bad teachers] shocks the conscience."

"The laws governing job security were unconstitutional because they harmed predominantly low-income, minority students by allowing incompetent instructors to remain in the classroom."
Thank you Judge Treu!

* * *

By now even the dullest member of the electorate must see that Barack Obama's "leadership" is a clear and present danger to American freedom. The degree and frequency of his decisions, both domestic and foreign, are a cause of alarm. His mistakes are so egregious thoughtful citizens have begun to question his motivations, even his mental state. He has turned the already chaotic condition of the Middle East into an almost incomprehensible mess.

We now have Iranians defending Iraq. No one yet dare admit a civil war was broken out. We are evacuating many of the 5000-plus employees from our largest embassy. It appears to be Vietnam all over again.

Iraq has been overrun by the Al-Qaida. One third of that country is under enemy control. Al Qaida is stealing US armaments, including shoulder fired ground-to-air missiles and thousands of vehicles, thousands of tons of munitions, helicopters (Blackhawks?) and other heavy weapons. Most headed to Syria on flatbed trucks. We aren't even able to attack these huge enemy convoys with cluster bombs, but there are reports of Sunni Iranian fighter aircraft in action against Sunni- Al-Qaida in the north.

As for our own southern border, more utter chaos without a remedy from the White House. What remedy can there be for an insane president, a criminal Attorney General, and the cloud of yes-men doing their bidding.

Take a look at Andrew C. McCarthy's new book, Faithless Execution, Building the political case for Obama's Impeachment. The votes are there in the House; maybe the obviousness of our dire situation could assure the votes in the Senate.

The flag has dropped and the balloon has gone up. Barack Obama's campaign promise to change America has become apparent. But all the changes he commanded or facilitated are killing the nation.

Obama was voted-in by a narrow majority of the electorate because of his race. No thought was given to his accomplishments - he had none. He simply had no experience at running a government, was completely ignorant about military affairs, and had never dealt with foreign affairs, yet he was to become an American President, Commander in Chief of our armed forces, and assumed the most influential position among world leaders. That's how frightfully uninformed the American electorate has become.

Because of Obama's lack of leadership, incredible incompetence and invincible pro-Islamic mindset, the entire Middle East is on the verge of war. We learn today that Iraq (remember that war?) is about to be overtaken by Jihadists. When you hear "Fighters for the al Qaeda-linked Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) took Mosul today, giving the militant group control of Iraq’s second largest city and setting the country on a path toward chaos." 'Mass beheadings' by al-Qaeda forces in Mosul and Tikrit..." you should know the game is about up. When you hear that the Iraqi army (American trained for a decade) fled the city, leaving all their weapons behind, I don't wish them well. Afghanistan is nearing the same state. Thousands of American lives sacrificed - for what? Two trillion (that's 2,000 billion) given for what?

Everything Obama has undertaken has turned to rot. Our southern border is in chaos: "Central American newspapers tout Obama amnesty..." "Border Agent Issues Plea for Help...’. Crisis leaves border unprotected, cartels 'in control'...’No president in American has done more damage to this country than Barack Obama. From Obamacare to Fast and Furious federal gun-running, we have been put in jeopardy. He's slashed our military in time of war and released five of the most dangerous terrorists in exchange for a traitor.

How can we rid ourselves of a dangerous president? Impeachment - soon!

Debra Heine, on Breitbart has it right:

"It's not like she had any more credibility to lose, but [United States National Security Advisor, Susan Rice] told some whoppers, yesterday, possibly as Allahpundit notes at Hot Air, in a calculated attempt to set a false narrative...." "Even as the truth was gushing out about the deserter, Bergdahl, Susan Rice was on ABC News telling George Stephanopoulos that he was captured "on the battlefield" and that he had "served with honor and distinction." "As Ace quipped, Susan Rice, like Ron Burgundy, will literally read whatever is put on a card in front of her."

Ms. Rice exemplifies everything that is so disastrously bad about the Obama administration. United States National Security Advisor, Susan Rice - sounds impressive. But like the rest of Obama's minions she's ill-equipped for the job, except for the fact that, like the rest, she will do her master's bidding; she follows orders without question. Also like the rest, she shares in the administration's tacit guarantee of bulletproof tenure. Regardless of the outcome she will never be fired; will certainly never have to face a warrant from our imbedded attorney general. She's a protected co-conspirator in the Obama cabal.

This Bergdahl exchange is yet another monstrous betrayal of national defense by the guy sworn to defend and protect our Constitution, and faithfully enforce our laws. I refuse to suspend my sense of reality any longer in some hope that the national nightmare will soon disappear. I can't find a single member of this administration I can trust. They're all liars, crooks, thieves, gross incompetents, or worse

Just look at who the president has placed in charge of our nation and its defense, the most radical Leftist-liberals and incompetents ever to have been assembled in our government's history. All of them are slick, obsequious toadies, including half of our generals.

There's a great book just out entitled "Faithless Execution, building the political case for Obama's impeachment", by Andrew C. McCarthy. The exchange for Sgt. Bergdahl, involving the release of 5 of the most dangerous killers in the world (think crimes against humanity) for what clearly appears to be an Army deserter and a traitor, is almost inconceivably foolish . The evidence is clearly there to apply both words to Bergdahl.
Obama should be impeached for many good reasons, none more important than the release of the 5 Islamic butchers from Guantanamo Bay.

My disgust and alarm over the Obama gang's activities has reached the overflow point. If we were able to impeach Clinton we should be able to both impeach Obama and convict him. He is the Great Destroyer.

Congratulations to all those responsible for organizing Monday's Memorial Day ceremonies. This was perhaps the best one I have seen in many years. The fly-over by four WWII Mustangs was a special touch.

* * *

The Gazette has had several "special" challenges this week so I have to keep my comments short.

A quick sample of the attitude which requires that our website can no longer be offered free of charge after 8 years. This from "Dennis" in northern California.

"As a former resident of Fillmore and now living in northern Calif, I often go to your Web site to catch up on Fillmore news. With you making Internet users pay to read your small town once a week piddling paper points to your "money is the bottom line attitude" You've taken the low road, just like the Ventura Star & LA Times. Shame on you.
Dennis Adams.”

Thanks, Dennis. Spoken like an archetypical liberal. Do you work for free? If so, we have a lot of odd jobs around here you could help us with. I wish I had the time to provide the answer your letter deserves.

I hope that everyone would read the May 14, 2014 Final Report of the Ventura County Grand Jury on “Firefighting Air Assets: The Camarillo Springs Fire.” We don’t hear much about the availability of our firefighting air assets these days. In view of the predicted “worst ever” fire season, this issue is a matter of life and death. The complete report can be viewed below.

***

Speaking of the website, we’ve notified everyone of the new “pay-wall” system. No doubt many long-time viewers will be irritated to find that the news we have worked so hard to gather online each week for the past 8 years or so can no longer be offered free of charge. We are dealing with the same problem every newspaper in the country is dealing with, that is: how is it possible to print a newspaper to sell at a small price, while at the same time giving away the product of our 7-day-per-week efforts FREE of charge online? Answer: It’s not possible. The great difficulty is designing a system to sell the news online and make the process as easy to use as a print subscription.

We have finally done that. All subscribers to the Gazette’s print edition will continue to receive the printed newspaper as usual, and have access online as well. Online readers can access our online edition by subscribing by the month or by the year with our quick and easy subscription system. Just subscribe once and you’re good to go.

The online edition of the Gazette, www.fillmoregazette.com, has become such an important means of providing news of our city, instantly when necessary, that we want to keep it healthy. That means that it can only continue as a subscriber-funded medium – just like the paper. We hope all of our readers understand and continue to support it.

Ventura County Grand Jury Report: Firefighting Air Assets: The Camarillo Springs Fire by TheFillmoreGazette

Congratulations to our Future Farmers of America who are celebrating their 75th anniversary this Thursday. I have thoroughly enjoyed playing a small part in reporting on their various activities these past 25 years. The tractor events, especially, bring back many happy memories of my first 18 years living and working on the family ranch. Sadly, today we all live in an utterly different world, controlled by an anti-traditional culture and a domineering government. How simple things were in the 40s and 50s when citizens still controlled the government, and our culture was unabashedly Judeo-Christian in character.

FFA, keep strong. You are among the few remaining bastions of America at its traditional best.

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I just heard that our California Legislature is about to pass a bill authorizing birth certificates to be signed by a father as the mother, and the mother as the father. Confusing? It’s meant to be. Just another example of legislation produced by our degenerate state Senate and Assembly. These depraved Leftists are legion in our state government. These are the people who recently passed a law permitting men and boys to use girls’ bathroom and locker room facilities in all public school campuses. Time to flush Sacramento.

This a response to Bob Morris’ letter appearing in this week’s paper.

Thanks for your opinions Bob. Wish more readers would do the same.

About the gas pump caper, your numbers are too close for me to dispute. I don’t know exactly how many gallons are involved in what appeared to be a little more than an eighth of a tank. Had to be at least 10 gallons. However, to keep the peace I’ll concede your point.

About the two other issues: You wish the Gazette would “spend a little more time on some of the real issues that impact Fillmore” “like school issues and the Transportation Commission vs Fillmore Western Railriad.” Interesting questions.

No other newspaper, or website for that matter, has covered Fillmore like the Gazette has for the past 25 years. I have personally attended about 600 school board meetings as the District has gone through a half-dozen or so superintendents. The Gazette has covered scandals, disruptions, debates, fights between teachers and the board, unions and the board, and parents and the board, teachers, and superintendents.

We always have a photographer and reporter in attendance, for many important meetings a videographer as well. Most recently the Gazette participated in exposing the seriously improper hiring of one principal and the seriously wrongful behavior of a board member. The board member was chastised by the Ventura County District Attorney, and the principal will be leaving.

A great deal of money has been spent creating, maintaining and promoting our popular website, fillmoregazette.com. I emphasize the word “great”. The site was designed to provide (take note) a special page for each teacher in the Fillmore school district, also for the board, free of charge for the past 8 years or so. All that was required of these beneficiaries was to email stories, photos, or notices to the Gazette for publication. This service was greeted with much joy. To my recollection during that time two teachers took advantage of this free service; I traveled to her classroom to photograph one occasion for publication. With about two exceptions – silence. These, remarkable exceptions, were Ms. Jan Marholin at San Cayetano School, and Principal John Wilber. I may have missed a few others, but you get the idea. I am positively embarrassed to think of the cost of the website adventure.

Yes, Bob, we’ve been there – for 25 years.

As for troubles with the “Transportation Commission vs. Fillmore Western Railroad” like other news sources, we cover what is available. The confrontation is long-standing. The railroad has lost all of its appeals regarding the cancellation of the contract for use of the track and we have received no information of any new progress. Allegations of Commission incompetence, even if true, would be irrelevant to the findings of the court.

So, Bob, I regret your disapproval with Gazette coverage. You might keep in mind that there are large newspapers, medium-sized newspapers, and small newspapers. With a staff of three (and one on the website) the Gazette might be characterized as a nano-newspaper. We are the last traditional weekly community newspaper in Ventura County that I am aware of.

I am proud of what we have been doing for the City of Fillmore for the past 25 years, under extraordinary challenges.