I took a few photos of last night’s city council meeting. I stayed for a while, as long as I could stand it. Our new mayor, Patti Walker, and Councilman Brooks (especially Brooks) set quite a precedent for themselves. If this is the way city business will be conducted for the next 4 years, this city is headed over a cliff.

Thank God former Mayor Steve Conaway was reelected. Without his civility, common sense and experience Fillmore
would be in big trouble – maybe it is now anyway.

I urge the residents of Fillmore to view the meeting on Channel 10 and witness the embarrassing pomposity, ignorance and arrogance of our new Councilman, Jamey Brooks. “I want...I want...I want...” he reiterated his demands like a grinning, mischievous three-year-old, or little Caesar. This, after serving in his new position less than an hour!

Conaway was correct in telling Brooks that, being new to the council, and unfamiliar with procedures, “It’s best
to get your feet on the ground before you start running.” This, after Brooks demanded reports on “all written and
unwritten [you know, those secret ones] council procedures”. I clearly recall Brooks’ dramatic pre-election warning: “I have not come to bring peace, but a sword.” Seems I’ve heard that before. I guess this was his first swing of the blade.

My advice: Don’t cut yourself with that thing, Jamey.

Fillmore has elected two new members to its council. With now Mayor Walker a true agenda unfolds: fire experienced staff (especially former City Manager Roy Payne), and fool around with successful, on-going projects
like the treatment plant and business park.

The Katzenjammer Kids have taken over city hall!

This is a response to “Elias Fillmore’s” vigorous objections to information I placed on the Gazette website (fillmoregazette.com) a few weeks ago. It was an excerpt from a book entitled Slavery, Terrorism and Islam:.., by Dr. Peter Hammond.

This can also be found on the outstanding website WWW.FRONTPAGEMAG.COM. Robert Spencer, is an internationally recognized expert on the Muslim Jihadist movement. Among his numerous (two best selling) books is the splendid Politically Incorrect Guide to Islam (and the Crusades) the best introduction to the subject I have read to date.

Elias’ comment, as well as the excerpt from Hammond’s book that he so vehemently objects to, can be found on the Gazette’s website (after being accidentally obliterated by my clumsy attempts to respond).

Elias wrongfully accuses me of “hate crimes”, “blatant bigotry”, “akin to posting Hitler’s ramblings or the Klan doctrine.” He also accuses me of “religious or racial profiling” and intends to “forward [the matter] to authorities.” Elias will also refer me to the “Ventura City Attorney for investigation.” Finally, he believes that “Fillmore should be disgusted and stop this paper from posting such utter nonsense.”

Elias - surprise – you are living in The United States of America. We are a representative democratic republic. The citizens of this nation created a Constitution by which they have secured their freedom by strictly limiting the power of government. A unique part of this Constitution’s several amendments is known as our Bill of Rights. Among these rights are those expressed in Amendment number one:

“Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.”

The relatively short length of this Constitution belies its power and uniqueness among the governing documents of the world; it has preserved our freedom amidst constant attack for more than two centuries. More specifically, it assures my freedom, at this time, to publish the truth as I see it in this little newspaper.

I originally intended to respond to your ill-founded attack with a detailed refutation of your allegations. However, your obvious ignorance of American history and the laws of this nation caused me to believe such an effort would be a futile waste of time.

I have a deep respect for the well-intended religious beliefs of others. Unfortunately, Islam, today in particular, is divided into two dramatically different camps; those hundreds of millions of believers demanding strict adherence to the words of the Quran and traditions of the Hadith, and those millions who are inclined to find a more temperate, less violent interpretation. But the contents of both Muslim sacred books are officially defined as categorical moral imperatives. Islam is a “complete” and “completed” religion. It is no longer open to liberal interpretation.

No one has a problem with peaceful interpretation, but the non-Muslim world must defend itself from the millions of Muslim believers who take, for example, the violent verses of the ninth sura (especially 9:5, The Verse of the Sword) seriously.

I challenge “Elias Fillmore” to cite any specific falsehoods in Dr. Hammond’s or, for that matter, in Robert Spencer’s work.

When I hear President Elect Obama announce nominations for the country’s most important jobs, when he does so from behind his freshly painted “Office of the President Elect” sign (there is no such office), I confess I get the shivers – shivers of fear. I see an utterly clueless and inexperienced little boy, who has just been elevated to the positions of Commander in Chief and Chief Executive Officer of the greatest and most powerful nation on earth.
His first duty as head of our armed forces is to defend America against attacks by its numerous deadly and determined enemies. His second (arguably first) most important duty, as chief executive, is to preserve and defend the Constitution of the United States.
But Mr. Obama is without military experience of any kind. I don’t think he was even in the Boy Scouts. Neither has he had executive experience; he has never participated in a business enterprise of any kind. He needs many experienced people to point to the decisions he should take, for example, after we experience a conventional, nuclear, biological, radiological, or combination of same, terrorist attack.
So who does he nominate to be America’s Secretary of State? Hillary Clinton – who has no background whatever in dealing with foreign nations (that will be Bill’s job). Who does he nominate to be Secretary of Homeland Security? Janet Napolitano – who, as Governor of Arizona, is just now learning the importance of border control (which will be abandoned anyway).
It’s past time for Americans to double-check their emergency supplies – you know, water, food, radio, flashlight – and maybe a little cash if you can find some.

Well the elections are over. Conservatives were pretty much wiped out on both the federal and local level. I am resigned to what I believe will be a chaotic, if not catastrophic outcome.
Slightly more than 51 percent of the American electorate voted for Barack Obama, assuring that the next four years will see the virtual destruction of what remains of our traditional Judeo-Christian foundation.
At the most fundamental level, our Constitution with its clear limitations on governmental power will be ignored. New, unprecedented “rights” will be created by liberal jurists, Supreme Court justices in particular, which will loose the most infamous and diabolical influence against traditional American mores ever before witnessed. Decades of painstaking effort by traditionalist individuals and organizations to preserve the moral character of our society will be dashed out.
Increased attacks against the Christian religion will be encouraged in the courts. Protection for millions more of unborn children will be stifled. Within the first four years of Obama’s presidency another five to six million unborn infants will be butchered.
I predict Obama’s first four years will bring this nation to its knees. Our military strength will be further degraded through the radical, politically correct agenda of the Obama administration. No segment of our society will escape the unfettered desires of the most radically liberal administration in this nation’s history.
First Amendment rights, especially with talk radio, will be buried. Second Amendment rights will again be attacked, despite recent court decisions finding the keeping and bearing of arms to be a personal rather than collective right.
Illegal immigration will be anointed with amnesty, adding multiple millions of new Democratic voters to the lists. This will have the effect of completely destroying our two-party system.
“Change” is indeed upon us. We have chosen to change Gods, from a Judeo-Christian God who has blessed this nation above all, to the gods of Mammon, sexual deviancy, racial hatred, and all that naturally follows this course.
I sincerely believe nothing now will avert the chaos which will inevitably follow – and soon.

Anger is an acidic thing. Brush up against it and you can be burned, as I was last week.

A funny thing happened on the way to the office. Returning from the bank where elementary school trick-or-treaters had gathered to have their pictures taken, I was ambushed by a former Fillmore mayor with our newly elected city clerk in tow.

As I was about to step into the office a small white pickup nosed into a parallel parking space in front of the Gazette’s front entrance. Out jumped Gary Creagle, leaving his truck nosed into the curb and driver’s door open.
Rushing towards me, yelling at the top of his considerable lung capacity, it took a few moments to figure out what he was trying to say. “Don’t you vet your letters?!” he bellowed. “I wasn’t thrown out of office, I decided not to run again!” he continued yelling, while closing in on me.

Still not understanding what the former mayor was howling about, I asked what his problem was. Raising his volume to a level that caught the attention of many others in the building, he sputtered something about an advertisement from five former mayors which had run in the Gazette the previous Wednesday, three days earlier. The letter he referred to was a paid political ad, paid for by five (highly regarded) retired mayors of the City of Fillmore: Scott Lee, Mike McMahan, Don Gunderson, Roger Campbell and Evaristo Barajas.

The advertisement was titled “A Message From 5 Retired Mayors”. It was dismissive of Creagle’s dysfunctional tenure as mayor, citing his support for extreme growth, an airport, and a gaming casino. The statements were true, but not to Creagle’s liking now that he apparently honchos Fillmore’s new extreme green coalition.
Among the few short but furious statements from Creagle’s loud mouth was a reference to the ad’s comment: "...the voters threw out Gary and his cronies...” which was in error. Creagle roared that the voters did not throw him out. He declined to run for city council the following term.

Creagle walked up to me, bumped into me with clenched fists, and continued to bellow. This whole sorry, embarrassing, threatening performance was witnessed by several persons, and Mr. Creagle was cited by a Sheriff’s deputy.

The following Monday Mr. Creagle performed Act II, Scene II at city hall. With sidekick, and newly elected City Clerk, Clay Westling again in tow, Creagle entered the upstairs area of city hall. A number of witnesses heard him, with offensive, officious tone, demand to know the location of the city clerk’s desk. Informed of that, he then demanded to know how many offices were located in the area. Following this, he asked one staff member: “What’s your name?” “What do you do?” Receiving answers to both questions, he had the audacity to tell that staff member, “O.K., your job is safe.”

Message to Gary Creagle – you were not elected to any office in the City of Fillmore. Your conduct in these matters is obnoxious, and has cast a dark political shadow over several important staff positions. Are you seeking to be appointed to the position of City Manager?

For what it’s worth, Gary, you have become, in my estimation, Fillmore’s very own Yosemite Sam – but you aren’t funny.

Barack Obama is winner in the 2008 American elections. The losers for the next four years are clearly set out in a recent Human Events piece by Pat Buchanan entitled “Obama’s First 100 Days (10-28-08):
”What does the triumvirate of Obama-Pelosi-Reid offer?
Rep. Barney Frank is calling for new tax hikes on the most successful and a 25 percent across-the-board slash in national defense. Sen. John Kerry is talking up new and massive federal spending, a la FDR's New Deal. Specifically, we can almost surely expect:
-- Swift amnesty for 12 million to 20 million illegal aliens and a drive to make them citizens and register them, as in the Bill Clinton years. This will mean that Nevada, Colorado, New Mexico and Arizona will soon move out of reach for GOP presidential candidates, as has California.
-- Border security will go on the backburner, and America will have a virtual open border with a Mexico of 110 million.
-- Taxes will be raised on the top 5 percent of wage-earners, who now carry 60 percent of the U.S. income tax burden, and tens of millions of checks will be sent out to the 40 percent of wage-earners who pay no federal income tax. Like the man said, redistribute the wealth, spread it around.
-- Social Security taxes will be raised on the most successful among us, and capital gains taxes will be raised from 15 percent to 20 percent. The Bush tax cuts will be repealed, and death taxes reimposed.
-- Two or three more liberal activists of the Ruth Bader Ginsberg-John Paul Stevens stripe will be named to the Supreme Court. U.S. district and appellate courts will be stacked with "progressives."
-- Special protections for homosexuals will be written into all civil rights laws, and gays and lesbians in the military will be invited to come out of the closet. "Don't ask, don't tell" will be dead.
-- The homosexual marriages that state judges have forced California, Massachusetts and Connecticut to recognize, an Obama Congress or Obama court will require all 50 states to recognize.
-- A "Freedom of Choice Act" nullifying all state restrictions on abortions will be enacted. America will become the most pro-abortion nation on earth.
-- Affirmative action -- hiring and promotions based on race, sex and sexual orientation until specified quotas are reached -- will be rigorously enforced throughout the U.S. government and private sector.
-- Universal health insurance will be enacted, covering legal and illegal immigrants, providing another powerful magnet for the world to come to America, if necessary by breaching her borders.
-- A federal bailout of states and municipalities to keep state and local governments spending up could come in December or early next year.
-- The first trillion-dollar deficit will be run in the first year of an Obama presidency. It will be the first of many.”
America is being led into a deep, perilous, and Godless darkness.

This is the last opportunity I will have to endorse particular Measures before Election Day. My primary concern is focused on two issues: the killing of unborn babies through abortion (48 million since the abominable Supreme Court decision of Roe v. Wade) and the preservation of the sanctity and dignity of marriage, which can only be between one man and one woman in a Judeo-Christian culture. The first recognizes the universal truth that human life begins at conception; the second simply seeks to defend the definition of the word “marriage” as it has been recognized from time immemorial.
Both of these issues affect the very foundation of human life and society.
In recent years homosexuals enjoy virtually the same legal rights as married couples. Extending legal recognition of these relationships to be indistinguishable and equivalent to the traditional heterosexual married state corrupts and destroys the latter. It will force churches, for example, to perform marriage ceremonies which would be blasphemous – not unlike forcing a Christian church to offer sacrifice to a pagan idol. Schools would also be subject to treating homosexual “marriages” as protected and normal educational material for the education of our children (as has already happened in Massachusetts, where a father was recently arrested for attempting to protect his five-year-old son from exposure to a same-sex school book). California has already approved this Measure by an overwhelming number, only to be (once again) overturned by our corrupt California Supreme Court. Vote YES on 8. Make the sanctity of marriage a part of our constitution.
Also, vote Yes on Measure 9, to give warning to victims of crime.
***
I had hoped to write a longer column in support of Senator McCain. Regretfully, it must be shorter.
My reasons for voting for Senator McCain can be expressed in short order: He is a man of strong and proven good character. He has always put his country ahead of personal ambition. And, he is the only man in the world today who can save America from the most powerful, seductive, and insidious evil we have ever encountered – namely, Barack Obama and the cloud of deceitful, hateful, and dangerously anti-American mentors, friends, and subversives that surround him.
There is no doubt about Obama’s oratorical skills. He is a poised, talented speaker. He is also the product of lifelong associations with Islamists, communists, socialists, terrorists, convicted felons, and racists. This is not conjecture, this is historical fact. Unfortunately, the American voter is just now discovering these facts which have been so adroitly concealed by Barack Obama and his stealthy associates.
Writing something, at this late date, about the imminent disaster that awaits this nation if Obama is elected president, is a little like walking into the main control room of a nuclear power plant and finding Homer Simpson alone at the steaming controls. Does one shout out a warning – or just run like hell?
Let me shout: ACORN! William Ayers! Rashid Khalidi! Bernardine Dohrn! Weathermen – and 300 bombings! Muhammad Hasan Chandoo and Wahid Hamid (from Pakistan)! Felon “Tony” Rezko, seed money (of Syria)! Nadhmi Auchi (Iraqi-born)! Robert Malley (Hamas)! Valerie Jarrett, advisor (Shiraz, Iran)!
Barack (changed name from Barry) refers to Christians as “People of the Book” – an Arab reference. He slips about “My Muslim faith...” For 20 years he has attended a church that preaches the most virulent racism and black nationalism, headed-up by the “Reverend” Jeremiah Wright.
There is nothing in the background of Barack Obama that does not spell danger for this nation. The thought of voting him in as Commander In Chief of the American armed forces is frightening. The thought of having Obama make 3,000 federal appointments is as well. If Obama names two or three Supreme Court Justices, and controls both houses of Congress – it is game over.
Pray that this most liberal of all Senators, most aggressive of pro-abortion members, and most pro-Islamic of candidates fails in his attempt to become President of the United States. As they should say in Chicago, pray early and often!

Congratulations are due to our Sheriff’s deputies for the exceptional success they have had during the past two weeks. Two particular incidents are noteworthy: the arrest of a 17-year-old house burglar in north Fillmore and the arrest, following a lengthy foot pursuit, of another burglar and his accomplice. In both cases very quick response at multiple levels made the difference. Fillmore is lucky indeed to have such a dedicated force on hand.
***
Many thanks to the League of Women Voters for another of their typically professional candidate forums. The Gazette was pleased to have been a small part of Tuesday evening’s event. A great effort was also undertaken by Bill Bartels, Bill Herrera, and Patrick Maynard, with sound and camera details.
***
After observing Tuesday’s candidate forum I have to add two more endorsements to the Gazette’s endorsement of Mayor Steve Conaway. All candidates are good citizens, and most are capable of undertaking the duties of a city council member. I mean that sincerely.
However, at a time in Fillmore’s history, when it is involved in multiple and very costly and complex projects, we must have council members with business experience and a clear understanding of immediate and long term goals.
Despite my many condemnations and objections to actions taken by Cecilia Cuevas over the years, and because of the unusual number of office-seekers this year (which will inevitably make a tight race even more unpredictable) I have to endorse her for another term on the council. I also think that Norris Pennington’s experience makes him another best choice.
I still believe strongly in slow growth and remain opposed to high density, three-story dwellings, and narrow streets. However (there’s that “however” again) it is a fact that Measures ‘H’ and ‘I’ are much too late and too poorly drafted to save north Fillmore in the way they were designed to do.
I also have to accept the professional legal opinion of city counsel when it warns that approval of Measures ‘H’ and ‘I’ will trigger multiple lawsuits against the city – suits that the city will lose, costing the general fund many millions of dollars. For these reasons I must endorse Mayor Steve Conaway, Council Member Cecilia Cuevas, and candidate Norris Pennington – and vote NO on Measures ‘H’ and ‘I’. Any other vote on the Measures would be dangerously irresponsible.
In the interest of full disclosure, I am bound to inform readers that my endorsements, and $2.50, will get you an Americano at Starbucks.
With less than two weeks remaining until Election Day things look pretty grim for Senator McCain.
This nation has, in an unprecedented way, lurched to the Left – so far to the Left in fact that it is in danger of collapse. I truly believe that McCain can still win, but it will take a miracle, which is always possible, with enough persistent prayer.
The media (with the exception of talk radio and FOX News) in a most shameful way has lost all credibility. They had almost nothing to begin with, but what they had is now lost. I agree that 2008 was the year the media died as a source of objective information. They have become nothing short of a cheerleading crew for the liberal Democratic Party.
The word “prayer” always sparks cynical response in the media, but for a Christian there can be no other intelligible way to go – especially when, as this year, the foundations of this Judeo-Christian nation are being undermined.
I confess that I have trouble determining just what “Christian” is today, with more than 40,000 denominations each claiming to hold the exclusive truth. Next week, all I can do is appeal to the broadest segment of this billion and a half member body, to adhere to basic guidelines like the 10 Commandments and the Gospels.
Next week I will try to make my argument as to why a Barack Obama and his legion of radical Lefties will bring this nation to its knees.
In the few words left to me this week I will just say:
Obama wants women to register for Selective Service; Refuses to protect the lives of babies who survive abortions; but most serious of all, Barack Obama has had only the most vicious, racist, anti-American mentors since he was 12-years-old – and what he didn’t learn earlier, he soaked-up in the criminal Chicago environment, which the media refers to as “the capital of Black America,” the haunt of Louis Farrickan.
Yeah, I know, it all sounds so terribly racist, doesn’t it? But, I have to ask, what would you call a phenomenon where 98 percent of the American black electorate will vote for Obama?

Well, once again, I’ve been bullied into a 180-word space on page 2.
The only Fillmore City Council candidate I can wholeheartedly endorse is our Mayor, Steve Conaway. Although I have strongly disagreed with several of his decisions, in my opinion his presence on the Council is necessary to preserve a common sense approach to city government.
Steve has a good business head, a solid understanding of the issues, and has proven to be fair, open-minded, honest, and decisive. He is also a great communicator. You may disagree with some of his votes, but no one has trouble understanding his reasons. Steve is the glue holding the Council together during fractious times.
On the other hand, his vocal opposition is often outrageously disrespectful and grossly misleading in its criticism – as it often is towards our former City Manager, Roy Payne.
Though I supported Measure H and I in the beginning, I now see they were (as previous Measures) carelessly drafted and, if passed, will cost Fillmore many millions of dollars in lawsuit damages. Vote NO on Measures H and I.

Congratulations to Chappy Morris and Wm. L. Morris Chevrolet entering the 80th year of service to the Fillmore community. Parts and service for Chrysler, Dodge and Jeep vehicles are now available at the Ventura Street facility. Stop by the Mr. Goodlunch Cafe while you’re there.
***
The financial catastrophe America is going through will hurt most of us for years to come. What I find outrageous, besides the Wall Street thieves and their multi-billion dollar (continuing) perks, is the way Obama is blaming McCain and the Republicans for this fiscal debacle. While both parties are to blame, McCain and other responsible Republicans tried repeatedly to warn of the sub-prime threat and offered bills to correct the problem.
Ironically, those Democrats affecting absolute denial of responsibility for the calamity are the very ones most guilty. Senator Chris Dodd, and (Massachusetts’ most celebrated sodomite, SEE http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/politics/special/clinton/frenzy/fra...) Barney Frank, have profited for years from Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, and stopped remedial action. Frank even had an affair with some Fannie Mae guy in years past. Talk about a conflict of interest!
However, the facts are finally being made available in the media for all to hear and understand. Even President Clinton has now come clean about who bears most responsibility for the sub-prime scandal, which triggered the Wall Street and credit collapse.
The nation is finally beginning to ask “Who is this guy Barack Obama, anyway?” We are learning he is a dangerous man with decidedly dangerous and subversive friends.

Several months ago I wrote in defense of two of our police officers who had to kill two pit bulls. They had gotten out of their fenced yard, ran wild in the streets, chasing at least three people, including a young girl and an elderly man (who narrowly escaped into his house before one of the dogs charged at his front door).
One deputy was charged and had to shoot the dogs. I was criticized for that opinion.
This week I read that a 5-year-old Simi Valley girl was killed in a pit bull attack.
I know there are many fine, gentle, trustworthy pit bulls around, but their propensity to attack is beyond dispute. The problem lies with criminal breeders, often breeding fighting dogs, and completely irresponsible owners who breed them to sell the pups to anyone. The breed has been ruined.
Grief at learning of such a beautiful little girl so savagely killed is beyond expression. Special, draconian laws need to be passed to control this dangerous animal. Owners and breeders of these dogs should be treated by the law as though they have charge of wolves, which can attack without warning.
***
I have to confess that I see Barack Obama as the greatest interior threat to American security ever in my lifetime.
His reputation for a close, life-long association with the most vicious racists like the “reverends” Louis Farrakhan and “Father Phlegm” Pfleger, with admitted (and unrepentant) terrorist Bill Ayers, and anarchists, communists and a long string of other dangerous people, precedes his status as the single most extreme liberal in the US Senate. He is to me like a packaged product straight from the smoky prophesies of the Book of Revelation. We are just beginning to learn about whom he really is, and he is, for all we know to date, a very scary person with many equally scary friends.
I am so thoroughly disgusted with American politicians and politics that I’m beginning to believe that, should he actually win the presidency, this country is well deserving of the political horror he will certainly unveil.
Psychotic Jihadists, Chinese Communists, Russian criminals, Muslim terrorists, and home-grown racists, traitors and anarchists, will coalesce into a perfect storm of military, civil, and financial chaos if President Obama becomes an historical fact.
Yeah, I know. Sounds pretty wild, doesn’t it? But that doesn’t make it less true.
God save our Supreme Court! But, He won’t without your vote for John McCain.

The two Fillmore residents who fled from police before being apprehended for suspicion of theft; the ones who left their 4-year-old daughter rolling through the parking lot in a shopping cart (which was nearly struck by a car), should get 10 years in prison. Where do such people come from?
***
On another negative topic, it’s about time somebody did something about reckless truck drivers coming and going from the water treatment construction site. The stretch of C Street from River to Hwy. 126 has become a dusty speedway. I watched a belly dump driver shoot through a red light at the intersection of C and 126 this a.m. (Wednesday) while a CHP vehicle was stopped on 126 at C. I don’t know whether the truck driver was cited or not, but the foreman I later spoke with on the site refused to give me his card, his name, or the company he worked for (W.M. Lyles Co.?) telling me that he wasn’t about to “throw his sub-contractors [cowboys from Bakersfield I’m told] under the bus” for doing what “everyone else does”. This is a serious public health and safety issue, i.e. speeding trucks and a filthy, dusty road. This is the first complaint I have ever had against anything going on at the construction site.

My thanks go out to the Veterans of Foreign Wars Fillmore Post 9637 for honoring me at a fine Tuesday evening dinner at the Memorial Building. I was presented with a plaque thanking me for support and dedication to the VFW.
I was both flattered and surprised with the recognition. Fillmore has a very distinguished group of heroes who count themselves members of Post 9637. From WWII, the Korean War, and Vietnam, these men have many tales of special heroism to tell.
Once again, thank you very much for the honor.
***
Two weeks ago I attended a 50-year class reunion for Santa Clara High School. It was superbly organized by Ellen Friedrich-Devericks, Paul Yenney, and several others.
Saturday, the Class of ’58 visited the Oxnard campus. What a fantastic transformation the school has undergone. Just a few years ago it was close to being closed. Today, it’s a star performer with the latest in everything. I was deeply impressed. Later we were treated to a great dinner at the Saticoy Country Club. Sunday we all gathered at the Devericks’ beautiful Saticoy Country Club mountain-top home for another get-together.
I have promised to write a little summary of the event, soon. I’ll probably put it on fillmoregazette.com.
In short, it was truly great to see so many of my classmates after 50 years. My best to all of you, and I hope we see each other in five years.
***
I regret there is so much to write about and so little time and space this week.
I hope our readers enjoy the new Downtown Fillmore section. Support our local businesses.

If I had space for 2000 words instead of the 250 allotted to me this week I might do justice to the many things worth commenting on. But 250 will have to do. And, I’ve just wasted 46 words telling you this.
Keith Olbermann and Chris Matthews have been canned by MSNBC as political anchors. I leaped for joy when I heard the news. These are the only two propagandists I could never stand. I could never bear to watch the impudent Olbermann, with his infantile ego, for more than a few minutes. It was like watching a really naughty second-grader pulling the pigtails of the girl sitting at the desk in front of him. The spectacle made me recoil. I’m amazed that corporate didn’t see his program for the huge failure it was, instead of facilitating his tantrums for so long. With Matthews – he’s just a jerk, with (once again) a lugubriously and unjustifiably obese ego. They were both program-killers turned loose for too long.
MSNBC needs to put both of these pariahs on a new program – how about something like “Bedtime for Bozos”? It has a nice ring to it.
***
Hurray for Sarah Palin! It’s a new day for political, fiscal, ethical, and religious conservatives. She loves hunting, guns, and fishing, like all true Americans! She hates big government! She loves children (at every stage of life and condition)! She is smart! She is courageous! Most of all, her lifestyle and philosophy are pleasing to God, as He is revealed to Christians. And, Olbermann is no longer there to disparage her achievements.

Warm congratulations for Candi Tovar on her retirement. She organized a great reunion of old friends and VONS co-workers in City Park two weeks ago. What a great lady! Her work with foster kids and abused kids is truly commendable. I hope VONS recognizes what a great person they have lost. The best of luck to you, Candi, in your continuing work with children.
***
The more I think about it, the more I’m convinced that the school district should permit members of the public to use the new all-weather track. Liability risk is no greater now than it has been over the years. Responsible persons should be permitted on the track (by admittance cards). Having the track in use during later hours will only enhance security.
Most of all, the people of Fillmore have contributed greatly to the field complex. They purchased the state-of-the-art scoreboard. They also (by great personal, volunteer effort) replaced the bleachers. For years the old dirt track was repaired with volunteer assistance.
In other words, although the school district does in fact own the sports complex, it is, and has always been, a public facility in fact. That should be recognized and respected.
No harm will come to the new track by responsible adults who wish to continue to use it. And, again, any threat from vandals will be reduced by the presence of those responsible adults who will guard the facility jealously.
I can understand the school district’s thinking. It’s similar to the mindset of someone who has just purchased an expensive new car and doesn’t want anyone parking too near its space in a public lot. But, that new owner doesn’t go so far as to keep that new car in the protective custody of a locked garage forever. He wants to take it out for a drive.
It’s new. It’s beautiful. It’s expensive. It needs to be used by the owners – the taxpayers.
***
Alaska’s Governor Sarah Palin’s name, when announced as Senator McCain’s Vice Presidential choice, came as unwelcome news to me, at first. However, the more I listen to her, and learn of her background, the more I like that choice. Like me, she’s an NRA life member, a true conservative, Pro-Life, and she’s energy knowledgeable.
That she chose to keep and love her new Down syndrome child is heartwarming and refreshing. What she doesn’t know about foreign policy she will learn. She’s a quick study. McCain was surely not my choice for President. But, with Sarah, I will support him. Besides, the thought of Obama appointing two or three Supreme Court Justices just scares Hell out of me.
Leave it to The Great Land to give us a great vice-president.

America has finally gotten around to providing a little emergency assistance for Georgia.
We have airlifted some medical and food supplies into the capital city of Tbilisi, and one guided missile destroyer has just entered the Black Sea port of Batumi.
Other US warships are reported to be entering the Black Sea as part of the relief operation. We need a much stronger presence.
The America response is both late and weak. NATO has proven itself to be helpless in the face of Russian control over 40 percent of Europe’s energy supply.

In the preliminary budget, city salary raises were approved by Mayor Conaway and Councilman Lee, with Patti Walker voting no, Councilwoman Hernandez absent – and Councilwoman Cuevas leaving the meeting before the vote. In a matter of such importance, I would think Cuevas should have had the agenda item moved-up before her departure to enable her vote. Was this an attempt to avoid going on record?
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Goodbye Georgia - Hello cold war II
“NATO’s foreign ministers reiterate their support for Georgia” says one newspaper. Isn’t that special!
Others report that NATO discusses the “situation” in Georgia. How thoughtful.
“The North Atlantic Council (NAC) met in a special foreign ministerial session on 19 August 2008 to discuss the situation in Georgia and its implications for Euro-Atlantic stability and security.”
The UN, of course, flaunts its normal state of corrupted impotence by failing to do anything to help save Georgia. How different is today’s UN from the old League of Nations? Answer: It’s much worse, actually. Today’s UN entices predator nations like neo-Communist Russia to strike small, defenseless nations like Georgia because it knows very well nothing will be done to restrain its aggression. It all reminds me of Haile Selassie begging for help after Ethiopia was overrun by Fascist Italy in 1935.
So, “Russia was dismissive of the stepped-up Western pressure. Its envoys called the emergency Security Council “a waste of time” and NATO’s statement irrelevant. “The mountain gave birth to a mouse,” said Dmitry Rogozin, Russia’s envoy to NATO.”
America hears little about the Russian outrage in Georgia because we don’t take it seriously enough. Also, we have no will to send assistance to Georgia, not even to her capital city. We do nothing but send “Condi” over to scold Russia, and sign papers proposing a future anti-missile site in Poland, the missiles which are still on the drawing board. In the meantime, Russia continues to grind across all of Georgia, destroying key bridges, sinking its small navy, kidnapping Georgian soldiers, and facilitating Chechen criminals, imported by Russia, to destroy all villages in their path of occupation.
More than 150,000 innocent Georgians have been driven from their homes and businesses. American equipment is taken by the Russian military, airfields and ports are methodically destroyed by the invaders, while Russian generals laugh at NATO’s impotence, and NATO sits on its hands.
NATO refuses to come out and fight. America fumbles and makes embarrassing, idle threats of financial retribution, while Russia rumbles through the sovereign would-be NATO member nation of Georgia.
Russia has fired its first shot straight through the bow of NATO’s flag ship. Like the USS Cole in 2000, the survival of the Baltic States and Ukraine, Georgia, even Poland will be determined upon whether NATO, and especially America, will defend these newly free nations by moving military forces up against the Russian aggressors, daring it to cross the line. To date, old, free Europe as well as America seems to lack the will to act.
America should send a credible number of its missile ships into Ukraine, right into the Crimean peninsula. We should also send a serious military contingent into Tbilisi, with Predator units to back it up. That’s the only way to stop Russia, for the time being.
Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to WWIII, with a cast of millions of psychopathic Juhadists, North Koreans, Chinese, Iranians, Syrians, and the ever popular neo-Communist Russia. And we chose this time in history to abandon God?
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Weakness has a savor no predator can resist - and America’s leadership reeks with that stench.
Russia has finally discarded the sheep’s clothing it has worn since the Soviet Union collapsed in the 1990s. The Soviet bitch is in heat again, aroused by ringmaster Vladmir Putin, who has set his dogs of war against the tiny new country of Georgia. Like a demonically resurrected corpse from some horror movie, Putin leads the pack while his lickspittle sidekick, President Medvedev, pretends to power. You can take the boy out of the KGB, but you can’t take the KGB out of the boy, as the saying goes.
Once again, as if on queue, American leadership has been surprised by a deadly evil attack. Our fool president, our clueless “intelligence” services, our naive military, have all been caught with their pants down, again. The president was in China, kowtowing to our most dangerous and determined enemy, the Chinese communists, telling the press how important it is to maintain cordial relations with those thugs.
Our almost wholly worthless news media was busy covering various and sundry sexual scandals, some political, some routinely Hollywoodesque, virtually ignoring this new war.
However, our dauntlessly dainty Secretary of State, “Condi” was able to make several scolding gestures toward the Russian beast (sad but true, active, warring dictators like Putin, Kim Jon Il, Hu Jintao, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and all of our freedom hating Juhadists, have only contempt for brilliant, talented, educated women like Condi Rice – largely because that’s the way their societies have always viewed women). But in America, political correctness must be served, and Georgia is being overrun.
Putin is in full command of the new Russian threat. The oil money tsunami has reinvigorated the toothless beast of the recent past. Now it seeks to recapture all of its old slave “republics”, and is showing the will, intent, and power to do so - because the west shows itself to be impotent, indecisive, and in the grips of political inertia.
Why didn’t (doesn’t) NATO move quickly to include Georgia within its ranks? America and the West certainly encouraged it to join-up and side with democracy. But, America, in particular, has developed an infamous history of falsely encouraging weaker states to rebel against their despotic masters, and then abandoning them to a terrible fate. We ignored Hitler’s move into Sudetenland, then all of Czechoslovakia, as did Chamberlain, appeasing the beast to preserve neutrality. We promised to help Hungary in 1956, and South Vietnam, which we abandoned ignominiously. We failed to follow through in helping Cuba. American leadership has made Americans appear to be untrustworthy friends.
Russia has just declared war on a small, neutral independent and democratic nation once again. This will have disastrous global consequences. Russia’s disastrous misadventure in Afghanistan failed to drive the stake deeply enough into the communist heart to kill the beast. It’s alive!
Regardless of our ongoing commitment in Afghanistan and Iraq, America must act now to throw back the Russian invasion of Georgia. At least provide the tools to do the job – like Stinger anti-aircraft missiles. Where is NATO? Where is that most vaunted darling of the Liberal Left, the United Nations? Our present weakness is due to decades of military cut-backs, and further proof of our need for a military twice the size – as it was under President Reagan.
This latest undeclared war lays bare America’s need for strong, resolute, experienced LEADERSHIP. The world is a more dangerous place than ever before in history. Is the Left’s most notorious lovechild, Barack Obama, the leader we need to defend our friends – and this nation? You bet your life he is not. We need a leader with a complete set of male equipment, and the proven ability to lead. This is not the time for on-the-job training for the position of Commander in Chief!
Let’s forget about the communist Olympic theater. Let’s forget about the fraudulent hysteria of global warming. It’s time to help the innocent men, women and children being murdered in Georgia by invading Russian forces. It’s time to give Russia a lesson in unified, determined democracy. It’s time for righteous anger and action.
It’s past time for America to regain its manhood. It’s time to fight – for our friends, for our nation, for our sovereign borders, and for our Judeo-Christian heritage. Those who are not with us are against us, and we should proceed accordingly.
Immediate action must be taken to counter the Russian attack, and to strengthen our ties with the other ex-Soviet countries at risk, such as Ukraine.
Ukraine is critical to the security of Western Europe. It is also the host port for Russia’s Crimean fleet, including atomic submarines. The Ukraine is immediately threatened. Here are some obligations NATO agreed to 11 years ago: Charter on a Distinctive Partnership between the North Atlantic Treaty Organization and Ukraine "Madrid, 9 July 1997. V. Cooperation for a More Secure Europe
14. NATO Allies will continue to support Ukrainian sovereignty and independence, territorial integrity, democratic development, economic prosperity and its status as a non-nuclear weapon state, and the principle of inviolability of frontiers, as key factors of stability and security in Central and Eastern Europe and in the continent as a whole.
15. NATO and Ukraine will develop a crisis consultative mechanism to consult together whenever Ukraine perceives a direct threat to its territorial integrity, political independence, or security."
Too bad nothing like this exists for Georgia. We will soon learn if these commitments will be kept for Ukraine, which is the most important target.
This declaration of war by Russia had obviously been planned for a long time. Everything was carefully staged. We can also be sure that similar planning includes the overthrow of other newly free nations. This calls for immediate counter action. We should all be concerned about President Bush’s, now notorious, lack of will. However, if he does not act resolutely to assist Georgia the consequences will be more serious than a failure in Iraq and will embolden all of our enemies.
Our enemies have taken the measure of American leaders; they have been weighed on the scale and been found wanting in terms of courage, intelligence, and integrity.
We need to counter Russian aggression which is killing innocent women and children and destroying their property. We need our President to at least appear to be stronger than France’s top man, who trembled like a frightened mouse while complaining to Russia’s president (what’s his name?) you know, that young guy who pimps for Putin.

While the school board has not yet decided whether or not to grant public access to our new, multi-million dollar sports complex, the public will probably be excluded.
The many challenges facing maintenance and administration of the track and football field were enumerated at Tuesday’s regular board meeting. They are numerous and serious. What we have today is a beautiful, very expensive, and very fragile sports complex. This evens the playing field with many other schools and districts which have also up-graded to artificial turf and all-weather track.
The track can be quickly and seriously damaged by anyone wearing conventional baseball or soccer shoes – which has already happened by two trespassers who ran across the track from the baseball field. While minor damage can be repaired by local staff, the manufacturers of the track and turf have a minimum charge of $3,000 to correct greater damage. Great care and vigilance will be needed to preserve this expensive new facility.
The field lighting is a huge improvement. For 20 years, shooting night football photos under the old lights has been a challenge, often requiring the photographer to creep onto the field. No more. The new lighting turns night into day, making video and photography easy.
The big question: will the residents of Fillmore respect and preserve this fragile new jewel of a sports complex? How fragile? Only water will be permitted on the field; no Gatorade, no gum, no food, no sand, no more huddle for an emergency whiz, etc. The players themselves will have to walk to the field on a special covering to avoid damaging the track.
I certainly hope all goes well. But, (sniff) I will always miss the grass, the mud, the dust, and the grass stains of a real football field – but I won’t miss those old lights.
Preserving the new field will be a test of community pride and character.
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Parking remains a huge and growing problem. Considering the new swimming pool complex, the Boys & Girls Club, normal school and residential traffic and all the new anticipated contests (often simultaneous) adequate parking is a looming nightmare of chaotic proportions. First Street between “A” and Central will soon become Fillmore’s busiest foot and vehicle traffic area – and remain so for decades. It’s a little late now, but the pool complex should have been located elsewhere. It is now possible (and probable) to have a track and field event, softball and baseball games, a swim meet, and Boys & Girls Club event all at the same time. Carmel corn and cotton candy vendors should get rich. I would like to be buzzing the crowds in my ultralight machine, 100 feet above the fray, with camera in hand on those special days!

We’ve been getting some inquiries about the new high school football field and track facilities. Some concern has been expressed about the possibility the school district may not permit public access to the track.
A number of residents have been using the track to exercise for many years, especially in the evening. I spoke with Michael Bush briefly on Monday (Assistant Superintendent-financial services). Mr. Bush told me that the issue of public access to the track will be presented to the school board at its next, August 5, meeting. The board is expected to decide at that time.
The reason this has become an issue is the fact that the district is laying down a new, expensive, all-weather track. Other high schools with similar tracks have been contacted to see how they deal with the question. Some have open access, others jealously guard the track and permit no public access.
The new rubberized track surface can be damaged easily by persons wearing hard-soled shoes. Also, vandalism is always a threat.
Mr. Bush invites anyone having a concern about this issue to attend the August 5 board meeting in the school district building.
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Just an observation: It might be a good idea to remove the stop sign at the intersection of Central Avenue and Main Street. Since construction is complete at that location, it’s no longer needed, and unnecessarily impedes traffic.
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The fire department reported only two incidents of damage caused by Tuesday’s earthquake. A couple of tiles fell from VONS ceiling, and a crack appeared on the old packinghouse at ‘A’ Street. I’m sure someone else had a dish or two fall, but we haven’t heard of anything else.
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