Dear SCV Democrats:
Did you know that there are way more than 36,000 registered Democrats in the Santa Clarita Valley?
Did you know that if we Democrats got just a few percentage points of the so called “decline to state”, or “independent” voters to vote our way, we would outnumber Republicans in Santa Clarita, and could elect Democrats to every office?!?!
This is just one of the many issues we will touch upon at the first meeting of 2011 of the Democratic Club of Santa Clarita Valley, Santa Clarita’s oldest Democratic grass roots organization. I am honored to have been elected President for the next two years.
Elected along with me is an outstanding team of officers, including Vice President Minerva Williams Hoover, Treasurer Rick Drew, Corresponding Sectretary Todd Hoover, and interim Recording Secretary Mike Cruz. Look for a press conference and event announement about what we will be doing in a few days. There is an even more important pressing event for all of us in Santa Clarita, however. There is a special election set for most of us on Tuesday, February 15!! This election will determine who will represent us in the California State Senate 17th District, which covers much of Santa Clarita Valley!!
Republican George Runner resigned this seat to move on to the State Board of Equalization, leaving much of his term to still be served. George Runner left the seat at the last possible moment, leaving only a few days for any candidates to file for a special election to choose a new Senator. George’s wife Sharron Runner was the only Candidate to file.
Until!!
Until, until, until, A FANTASTIC CANDIDATE, AN OUTSTANDING DEMOCRAT, did file, making this a two person only race. The man is Darren Parker, and he is so good, you will be dazzeled!!! Darren Parker has a chance to WIN THIS SEAT, because of all the unusual circumstances in this race for the State Senate. Darren will be our guest speaker at our Thursday meeting. Please come and see one of the most dynamic, dedicated individuals you will ever be fortunate enough to meet this Thursday at Caruso’s in Canyon Country at 6:30pm. Please open the flyer attached to this email, and place this meeting on your agenda!
(Caruso’s II is about 200 feet north of Soledad Canyon Road, on Sierra Highway, on the East side of the street. Go all the way to your right when you enter the restaurant, to the Banquet Room) Please RSVP. Come join us!!
Sincerely, Allan Cameron, President elect, Democratic Club of Santa Clarita Valley
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Darren is a great guy.
Runner will “run away” with this election. Not even a close election, but hopefully a nice Italian meal for my Dem friends.
Good luck sailing aboard the S.S. Socialist Jeff. Today’s Democrat Party (which is worlds more liberal than it was when Clinton was President) will continue to earn a smaller and smaller portion of the electorate as long as they keep moving towards Socialism. So you guys go have your most excellent (and as far as I know authentic) Italian food.
KK:
Is that why SO many Republicans were elected to statewide office?
Just can’t take this guy serious… No comment
With the stellar job democrats have done steering the state to a low taxed, business friendly Shangri-La, I am 100% certain that they will soon have a stronghold in the SCV.
JA:
Will your head explode when Brad Sherman becomes the next Representative of the Santa Clarita Valley?
Nah he is perfect!
The people of Nevada need him leading the way in Calif. Leadership in Nevada is already working on plans to build studios around the Vegas valley to intice hollywood to start productions. Just heard a guy on the radio this past weekend talking about the low cost-low tax carrot being dangled in front of Studio executives. They talked about the reasons the studios do so much filming in canada and other places.
Yeah I think the policies of people like Sherman are perfect!
Yeah ask the guys who built the un used studio in castaic… Outside the TMZ means it won’t be used for anything but porn.
Bahahaha! The race to the bottom! Stand in line behind Michigan and Georgia to hand out the cheese!
By the time the states figure out the math doesn’t work, you can add yet another ghost town to your barren wasteland.
Nice.
Allan’s math is a LITTLE off.
Q: Mathematically, how does one define his quantity of “way more than 36,000″?
Cards on the table. What Allan is referencing is the fact that one could probably win this election with 36,000 votes, so the dreamy math works this way. Get EVERY Democrat to turn out for Parker while the Repubs have their normal turnout, PLUS get a majority of the decline to states at a reasonable turnout.
Two problems with this in “real life.” “Big” spreads in turnout based on party affiliation are measured in less than ten percentage points. In other words, in a district where about 60% of registered voters turn out one is not suddenly going to see an 80% Democrat turnout vs. a 60% Repub turnout. Second, decline to states tend to favor the incumbent (or quasi-incumbent in the case of Sharon Runner) probably due to name recognition.
LOL Tim!
Yeah, I appreciate enthusiasm as much as the next guy, but elections are mathematical, as you know.
Saying a Democrat has a chance in the 17th as currently configured is about like saying the Dems will decline over time (statewide or nationally).
Non-Cuban Hispanics tend Democrat by 20+ percentage points.
Non-black minorities will account for the majority (50+%) of the population growth in the United States from now to the end of time.
The United States (currently 16% Hispanic) will be 25 percent (US Census) to 29 percent (Pew Research) Hispanic by 2050.
Is the Republican Party going to wake up and take an interest in Hispanic issues? If not, how are the Dems going to earn a “smaller and smaller portion of the electorate”?
Got that right. Republicans have been burning that bridge. The reason Cubans vote Republican is because they are still holding a grudge over Kennedy calling off the air strike during the bay of pigs invasion.
Not predicating a Parker win (the Runner name is very strong), but isn’t the 17th now marginally Democratic?
I’ve met Darren, and I think he’s going places, especially if re-districting nudges the district.
Never mind, it’s 39/37 R to D
I’m not a partisan (we have two parties, the stupid one and the dangerous one). I’m liberal when it comes to social issues, conservative on fiscal issues. But what I really don’t understand is why anyone (accept maybe someone who was die-hard about abortion rights or gay marriage) would get excited about a Democratic politician these days. Consider what democrats have done for California – we have some of the highest taxes in the nation, and we’re STILL broke? To make matters worse, the Democrats are owned by the public employee unions and trial lawyers… add this together with the tax and spend nanny state view of how government is supposed to rule and it’s made for a sort of economic “perfect storm” disaster scenario.
What does this Democrat bring to the table?
Want a good laugh? google Brad Sherman and read his writing from 2 years ago promoting the stimulus bill… Comedy Gold!
“What does this Democrat bring to the table?”
Entitlements for illegals and non achievers, i.e., socialism.
Billiam, obsessed with “them mexicans” till the cows come home.
Gung Fung, doth not what he speakth. I love hispanics, especially legal ones.
} Non achievers (Gung Fung), well that’s a whole different story.
Got you on my hook, and that’s achievement enough.
I consider Allan Cameron a friend and congratulate him on his new position. As he knows, I recently left the Democratic Party in large part due to the party leadership’s position on illegal immigration.
While Mr. Parker seems like a nice person, he is on record as supporting amnesty and the Dream Act which if passed would have given AMNESTY to any illegal alien brought here as a child, who is up to THIRTY-FIVE YEARS OLD, goes to college or joins the military. Amnesty for anyone opens the door to amnesty for all, something I will never support.
These “children” have had many years to apply for a green card, etc and did not do so. While I understand that they had no choice in the fact that their parents broke the law bringing them here, I do not agree that they should be rewarded for that circumstance either. Those who have served honorably in the military already are given extra consideration in attaining citizenship, and I support that. If they are willing to die for my country, they have earned citizenship and I welcome them.
In my opinion, the rest need to return to their country of origin and under who’s “authority they are subject to” and citizens of. You see, they are documented just not in the USA. They can apply for legal entry like anyone else or take their chances they will be deported and not allowed to return for at least 10 years. The choice is theirs.
After they return to their country of origin, I would support expediting legal entry (granting green cards, student/work visas, etc) for those applicants meeting ALL criteria as set forth by law. It also aids in creating jobs too since we would need to hire more Americans to expedite the legal immigration process, and I support that aspect, creating more good paying jobs for Americans.
I will not vote for Mr. Parker because he is not part of the solution and in fact encourages more of the same regarding illegal immigration.
$5 says the next person to comment here didn’t read more than the first and last line of Berta’s comments above.
I’ll take your $5.
Double or nothing says you barely skimmed her ramblings, read my comment, and THEN went back and read the whole thing in a valiant act of defiant protest.
What if I pretended I did all that, can I get a hot tub?
I’ll take your $10.
Do you have a point?
That will be $10, moron!
Ok Berta, I know a guy who tried to join the Army. He came here as a small child and always thought he was a Permanent Resident with a wonderful lil I-551 aka Green Card.
Come to find out Daddy bought the family said Green Cards down on 26th Street in Chicago unbeknownest to he and his siblings. So now he gets deported to Mexico and doesnt even speak Spanish.
Aint that some $hit!
We always say what we think is right and how things should be done but just imagine for a minute we have to be in their shoes or $1 flip flops.
Deporting all the illegals isnt going to get done anymore then a Republican President is going to get legal abortion repealed.
There are no shades of gray on this issue for Berta.
That’s not intended as a slam, btw, it just is.
Well stated. That hot tub is yours.
I do think back to the Rorshach tests and how we all view the same item in many different ways, with most leading back to how we were raised.
Shades of gray + Nuance = liberalism (failure)
Shades of grey are necessary in alot of situations, not everything is cut and dry.
@ SFC Perez while I am sure there are situations that are unfortunate, I do not believe it is anyone’s responsibility but the parents who chose to come illegally and bring innocent children along for the ride. If the child winds up paying the penalty and is expulsed, it is the parent’s fault not the United States of America’s fault. Parents from foreign countries need to understand that the USA is serious about enforcing immigration law and approving those who enter as guests and who is denied that PRIVILEGE.
The parents could have respected our laws and entered legally. Even with the example you site, it could have been rectified before his attempt to join the military. The parents could have legalized their status here, as have many others during the last 25 years since the last “amnesty” debacle occurred. I personally know several families who came here illegally, and later paid an attorney and got their papers in order. If the young man has a beef, it is with “daddy” not the US.
The young man’s parents should be ashamed they put such a burden on their child. There are many ways they could have avoided the problem. Perhaps one lesson for all young people is that they need to take responsibility for knowing their legal status and pushing their parents to make it right if it is not. E verify would have helped in this case too.
As I said, I would support streamlining and expediting the legal immigration process for anyone who is eligible and meets all of the criteria as set forth by law. We allow more legal immigrations into the USA than any other country on the planet. The waiting time for some people to emigrate legally is 5-10 years, which I think is unacceptable although I understand that the annual numbers have to be limited in order for it to remain an orderly process.
If we trained and hired more immigration employees to speed up the process, I would support that. However, I find it patently unfair that while the person with job skills, money in the bank, no criminal antecedents, who learned English while waiting, and goes through the entire approval process, waits their turn for years. This while someone else simply enters illegally, does not speak English, has limited or no job skills, no money, and becomes a drain on society, and is rewarded with amnesty. It is unfair and promotes more of the same. I will never support amnesty.
You are correct in that it’s entirely the parents fault. But how do we penalize someone who has more then likely been a productive contributor to our county?
I like certain aspects of the DREAM Act and certain others I don’t. I see it has having the ability to address those who were brought here and now are part of our fabric. Just compare it to a baby who is born to a crack addict. They come out of the womb and have to detox. They cant just go cold turkey and we cant just send someone back to a country they have never known because Mom n Dad were illegals and committed a crime.
Making someone serve their Nation in some capacity should be a requirement for ALL citizens, not just those wanting to become citizens.
I’ve said before that we need a mandatory service system like they have in Germany. It doesnt have to be just military service but also other social work programs that cause you to give back and develop a greater pride in this country.
Germany just recently eliminated military conscription, though they will replace it with some type of non-military community service.
When I was stationed in Germany you either were going into the military, ambulance service, or forest/land service. Either way you were giving back just under 2 years in voluntary work.
@ SFC Perez you are assuming that these “children” are productive members of society. I make no such assumption, as I know many of our gang members and other criminals who prey on legal immigrants and citizens belong to this demographic which is another reason why we need to adhere to the law, deport them and make them go through the lawfully approved screening process. If and when they are able to meet all criteria, with more immigration employees hired, you can then fast track their return as legal immigrants on student/work visas who must prove themselves before they apply for and are granted citizenship. Just because they have lived in this country many years does not automatically make them entitled to all of the rights and responsibilities of citizenship.
Following our laws will send a strong signal to all, parents, children, singles, etc that this country is serious about screening guests before they are invited in.
As to requiring people to serve in the military, I disagree with you. My older brother was drafted and served in Vietnam. A disproportionate number of minority young men were drafted and died. If your parents had enough money or influence, you escaped being drafted. I much prefer a voluntary military where the candidate chooses to serve even if it is for economic reasons.
Those of us legally in this country have plenty of pride in the USA. You must be speaking to those who have no allegiance to the USA, are waving the flags of foreign nations, and demanding rights that they are not entitled. Service to YOUR country is more than spending unpaid time working.
Most the gangbangers that I grew up with back in Chicago were born and raised pieces of crap that came from all ethnic backgrounds, not specifically immigrant’s children.
Fast Track and Immigration are oxymorons unfortunately. While it all sounds nice in theory, what happens if Joe Son O’Illegal Immigrants is deported back to a country where he has no ties and he doesnt speak the language?
Like I said before, I have no problem putting boot to arse of his parents(even though that isnt happening) since they made the decision to come here. But I have to look at the humanity aspect involved. Maybe I’m wrong for doing that. Maybe its something I learned as a Soldier. Or maybe something I acquired in my religious belief, but to me setting someone else up for failure is never acceptable.
And the path I mentioned with Mandatory Service is not a Draft and actually something that is on the books, just not pushed though. It doesnt have to be military, even though that could be an option. It could involve a multitude of different options of Community Service. In fact, alot of High Schools are making it part of their curriculum but just not to the degree I am talking about.
And I appreciate those who have pride in our country and live her legally. But there are alot who simply wave the flag or put a yellow magnet ribbon on their SUV and define that as service to country.
There is an assumption that liberals dont back our military and arent patriotic. But what I found as a Recruiter in a highly conservative Republican area shocked me to the core.
Most of the parents, relatives, and friends of kids we tried to recruit attempted to dissuade them from joining, even though they supported President Bush and the current wars. They just didnt want to support it with their loved ones enlisting.
So to me, as a Soldier who has fought in multiple theatres of combat, if someone wants to serve whether they be gay, straight, Christian, Muslims, Atheist, born citizen, or whatever, I want them on my team.
And that old argument of minorities being drafted into combat arms may have been a valid point back in Vietnam but not today.
The repeated observation that Berta’s tangents have a stream of consciousness run on quality to them and seem to never come up for air and just seem to go on and on and re-hash the same old “arguments” using as many “quotes” and “CAPS” as possible after which someone will undoubtedly get under her self described tough skin after which she will unleash the full onslaught of CAPS and “quotations” and presenting herself as being under personal attack and that she is a STRONG WOMAN WHO WON’T SHUT UP…….
Is kinda my point. CAPISCE?
Says “next person to comment”, putting you out of the race Billy sweetie. Who’s the moron now? But if you’re that desperate for the $10, I know a few lonely truckers who pay double that for a night with a bear like you.
@Gang Fang the fact that you and I disagree on almost everything is actually a source of pride for me so thanks!
Right back at you, Berta! But let your source of pride be your lovely grandkids.
So Gang Fang knows a few lonely truckers and knows what they are willing to pay for his …ahem…”services”…
Why am I not surprised?
Baby, them boys don’t need to pay me! I just slap a mask of Billy’s sweet silver goatee over their mugs and get to work! Cute of you to pay particular attention, Herman. I know the details keep you up at night….
Clearly the details keep you up.
@Berta From one person who hates illegal immigration to another: Rounding up millions of people, placing them in concentration camps (this is in effect what you are advocating) and then busing them to the boarder is *NEVER* going to happen. Not only would this be a humanitarian disaster, no politician in their right mind would want to be associated with anything remotely like this.
The only humane way to deal with those who are already here is some form of amnesty (we can debate on what that would actually mean) as well as getting tougher about boarder security.
@Kevitivity I have never said “round them up”. I have said multiple times: remove all of the incentives: jobs (by serious fines against employers who hire), government benefits, subsidized housing, etc and secure the borders if necessary by calling up the National Guard. Announce via all communication methods available a 90-day moratorium on deportations, for all but criminals, to allow those in this country illegally to arrange their affairs and voluntarily leave and apply for reentry. If they have children born here, they can take them with or leave them with relatives legally here. Without jobs, benefits and housing many will self deport. Those remaining take their chances of being caught, deported, and denied entry for at least 10 years currently. Expand visas for any employment needs that verifiably cannot be filled by legal citizens/residents and make the process quicker so that legal entrants do not wait years.
The United States of America needs to take a strong stand and communicate to the regents of foreign nations who keep sending us there poor and uneducated that we are not accepting them without first going through our lawful immigration process and gaining permission to enter.
Mexico does not allow foreigners to enter their country and then agree to support them. Félipe Calderón should be ashamed of himself and his policies. How dare he come here and lecture us about how “Mexican” citizens are treated in the USA! If they were treated better in there own country they would not be flocking to mine. President Obama should have mentioned that the USA welcomes those who follow our immigration laws and expects foreign heads of state to respect them as well.
I agree with your end result Berta but I think the methods would scare most away and we would be right back to square one.
The real answer is to seriously penalize employers – we agree there.
No sane politician would ever associate herself with the harsh methed you describe in you various posts, NEVER.
Instead these illegals need to be integrated into the US, pay a fine, enroll in citizenship classes, learn English, etc.
We simply need the workers too. That point can’t be overlooked.
@ Kevitivity I don’t think we have any elected officials who would do what I propose or come up with something else that would actually resolve this problem once and for all. That is one reason I think we need to elect people who have a backbone and understand that they work for the American people, not Félipe Calderón or illegal immigrants.
As to the workforce issue, there are plenty of able bodied persons collecting taxpayer paid for benefits via their American born kids of all races and ethnic groups who could be required to work at industries needing employees and only receive a check if they work a set amount of hours per month. An added benefit is that perhaps this segment of the population would stop producing children if they actually had to work to support them. Any jobs still going unfilled, you open up more visas in that discipline.
BGH what are your thoughts on the letter written on city letterhead that calls for comprehensive immigration reform?
@Sam if you are truly interested in my thoughts on the matter, scvtv.com
has video of the last Council meeting. I publicly stated my “thoughts” for my full 3 minutes (which I rarely use up) as did many others. I believe I speak during “part 2”. Thank you for asking.
Here’s the big liberal in me coming out… I’d love to see a program requiring service for participating in federal college loan programs, and even the chance at loan forgiveness if you participate at a higher level.
What type of service, military?
@ SFC Perez it is obvious you and I are not going to agree on this issue. Although you claim to agree with the end result, you do not agree with how we get there. My response is that with your methods, we do not get there.
Amnesty, in any form, breeds more illegal immigration. It is easier to take your chances on getting caught and being granted amnesty than going through the process and waiting your turn. Human nature is what it is. Unless there are serious consequences for unacceptable behavior, yes even deporting people to a country they are actually citizens of whether they speak the language or not, human beings will do whatever they want.
Most of the gangbangers I have had the misfortune to encounter are illegals from El Salvador, Mexico, and Guatemala. They would just as soon kill you as look at you.
So then how do you feel about people who commit murder in the USA, such as the guy who murdered his infant daughter this week, and then flees to HIS country of origin, in this case Mexico, for protection by THEIR government from potentially facing the death penalty here. Just like the guy who murdered Deputy March. So he wants the benefits of living in the USA but is not willing to abide by or face the consequences of breaking our laws?
As I said, we are not going to agree sir. There is a lawful process involved in legal immigration to screen out the freeloaders and criminals. We need to abide by it, no exceptions. We have enough homegrown jerks; we do not need to import a single one more.
@Berta, I see your point and at times in my life, I agreed with you. Maybe if it was easier for people to get into the US through current law and rules I would be all for deporting any illegals and have them reprocess for entry and citizenship.
But I know how bureaucratic and slow our system is, especially ICE. I know of a Soldier who is currently serving and is a Permanent Resident. He has been applying for Naturalization for the past 3-4 years but they are dragging their feet on his application because he has one of those funny- unpopular names in America right now. The process is supposed to take 12-24 months max for Active Duty Servicemembers so his situation is a red flag of how broken that agency really is.
I do think that employers should be held liable for hiring illegals, and denial of their citizenship status is no excuse. I remember an incident back in Illinois where a dry cleaning company was protested by their local union because that company was demanding citizenship verification and wouldnt continue employing anyone illegal. At that point I lost alot of respect for that union and what they stand for in today’s world.
And my feelings on proven murderers is that you take them out with 2 shots, 1 just to validate they are dead. If they were sexual predators, it’s a slow process. And if a country doesn’t want to return someone to us that fled after committing a crime, cut off aid.
@ SFC Perez I do not believe it should be EASIER to enter legally, but I do believe the process should be more efficient and faster.
The soldier you mention is a good example. The process he goes through should meet the same criteria but regardless of his surname it should not take 4 years for someone in the active military who has been presumably vetted before being given a gun and told go defend the USA, to conclude his paperwork and be granted the next step in his citizenship application.
That is why I keep insisting more immigration and border patrol personnel need to be hired, putting more Americans to work and allowing decent folks from other countries who meet all of the requirements to immigrate legally into the USA in a more reasonable timeframe. If decent folks who meet all of the requirements did not have to wait so long, and those ATTEMPTING to enter illegally were unsuccessful and not rewarded (given amnesty) when they manage to circumvent the law, our government would encourage legal immigration and discourage illegal immigration.
I would have no problem with a huge fine for a first offense and government seizure of a business and all assets on a conviction for a second offense of hiring illegal aliens. It would only take a few examples to stop the practice entirely. If we can do it to drug dealers, we can do it to other lawbreakers.
I do agree with your position on convicted murderers which is why I suggested shooting them on site when they illegally enter again like Armando Garcia or this guy, http://www.startribune.com/local/stpaul/114029809.html?elr=KArks:DCiUHc3E7_V_nDaycUiD3aPc:_Yyc:aUoD3aPc:_27EQU Mario Montalban-Rámirez since México will not extradite killers but has no problem with their citizens murdering innocent Americans.
Okay so no one here supports people taking money for nothing, then how do you support the Runners? They have been feeding off the taxpayers for what, 15 years now?
Sharon Runner said dhe supports a path to citisenship for illegals. Listen to Darren Parker and Sharon Runner on Joe Messina’s show The Real Side. Download the Jan 17 podcast. http://www.hometownstation.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=23218:the-real-side-january-17-2011&catid=181:the-real-side&Itemid=615
@pattisoul 1/17/2011 email sent to me, which directly contradicts your comments:
“Hi Berta, thank you for contacting me. I view the problems caused by illegal immigration to be very serious. The strain on the budget is costing us billions every year. Illegal immigration negatively impacts every aspect of the budget.
I support cutting off all discretionary benefits to illegal aliens, including in-state tuition rates, opposing the so-called Dream Act and anything else the state has the authority to cut off. Anyone here illegally should be deported to their country of origin. While some officials choose to pass responsibility onto the federal government, as an Assembly Member I supported the creation of the California Border Police to protect our borders. Unfortunately, Democrats were able to stop the legislation and prevent it from coming to the ballot.
Again, thank you for contacting me on this important issue.
Sincerely,
Sharon Runner”
What does Darren Parker bring to the table? Years of leadership in the Antelope Valley. http://www.darrenwparker.com
Training and Expertise
Equity Training
Violence in the Workplace
Hate Crimes and Diversity Training
Problem Resolution Mediation
Contract Bargaining/ Negotiations
Arbitrations
group conflict
Current Appointments
Elected Chairman, Antelope Valley College Citizens Oversight Board
Re-elected President, Antelope Valley Human Relations Task Force
President and CEO, Antelope Valley Human Relations (non-profit) President, Antelope Valley Mentoring Partnership
Board of Directors, Antelope Valley Partners for Health President, Quartz Hill Youth Action Committee
Board of Advisors, REACH (LA County Sheriff Advisory board) Board of Directors, Boy Scouts of America of the Greater Antelope Valley
Deputy Commissioner, Los Angeles County Recorder Office
Past Appointments
Chairman, City of Lancaster Architectural Design Commission Executive Board Treasurer, Quartz Hill Town Council
Chairman, Eugene Mays Committee CWA National Minority Caucus Board of Directors, Antelope Valley Community College Foundation
President and Vice President, NAACP Antelope Valley Chapter Board of Directors/Officer , Antelope Valley Hispanic Chamber Commerce
CWA International Staff (Communication Workers of America, Southern CA)
Board of Directors, 50th Agricultural Assoc. State of California Antelope Valley Fair
Commissioner and Vice Chair, Department Children & Families, Los Angeles County
Let us not seek the Republican answer or the Democratic answer, but the right answer. Let us not seek to fix the blame for the past. Let us accept our own responsibility for the future.
-John F. Kennedy
LIKE WHAT YOU SEE? http://www.darrenwparker.com
Re: Jan 5 “Congrats to Buck McKeon”, Jeff said, “We should be the only ones allowed to criticize him, ….. (though it) may not be the right thing to do since he’s so powerful now yet hails from my neighborhood. ” I don’t think so. It’s absolutely the right thing to do since he’s so powerful, He may be a homeboy but we all have the right and responsibility to speak truth to power. Now that Buck is Chair of the House Armed Services Committee, he’s opened the door to criticism from all sides, when merited.
Guantanomo, a bipartisan debacle, Buck wants in even bigger: http://www.mcclatchydc.com/2011/01/22/107255/how-congress-helped-thwart-obamas.html#ixzz1BxQfe5ji
…… the (Guantanomo)prison camps remain open, and the prospects of their closure appear dim. Prosecutors are poised to ramp up the military trials that Obama once condemned, and “the new Republican chairman of the House Armed Services Committee, Rep. Buck McKeon of California, last week said the U.S. should grow the (Guantanomo) population to perhaps 800 from the current 173.”
Read more: http://www.mcclatchydc.com/2011/01/22/107255/how-congress-helped-thwart-obamas.html#ixzz1BxQfe5ji