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February 16, 2011 – Daily Brief

By Jeff — Jeff Wilson

  • Sharon Runner defeated Darren Parker 63.6-36.4 yesterday in the race for the 17th State Senate seat. SIGNAL
  • College of the Canyons students, some wearing black “Keep Education Alive” T-Shirts, protests Governor Brown’s proposed budget cuts. COC could lose an additional $3.7 million in funding, though it’s not clear if it would be even worse if tax increases aren’t extended for another five years. Also, the students will pay $10 more per unit for a total of $36 per unit. SIGNAL
  • City Attorney Joe Montes says the City Council will likely appoint a library Board of Trustees “within the next few meetings.” This in reaction to Save Our Libriaries’ new lawsuit alleging that the City’s contract with LSSI is not legal because the City never appointed a Board of Trustees. Montes also says he’s not sure whether LSSI’s contracts in other cities are with the city councils or appointed library boards. SOL Attorney Don Ricketts says the law clearly states that “no monies could be expended except by a board of trustees.” KHTS
  • Congressman Buck McKeon tells Politico that Tea Party-backed freshmen Republicans have Speaker John Boehner “in a box right now.” He told the site that between his advocacy of higher defense spending and the freshmen’s demands for further cuts, Boehner is trying to find some middle ground for a deal. Meanwhile, Obama has them right where he wants them. POLITICO
  • The last article in the Signal’s three part series on SCV real estate is interesting. The paper outlines the history of the housing bubble and talks a bit about financing options in the wake of the crash. Unsurprisingly realtors say now is a good time to buy (is there ever a bad time to buy if you’re talking to a realtor?) SIGNAL
  • Rain is possible in the SCV for the rest of the week. Will it threaten the SCV Food Truck festival at Central Park? SIGNAL
  • City planning commission holds off on designating several properties as “historic landmarks” after property owners say the designation would harm their property/building values SIGNAL
  • Melissa Brown, the woman who ran a red light, collided with another vehicle and slammed into Matilda Garnica and her family, killing the mom, will be arraigned today in court in San Fernando LA TIMES
  • City Manager Ken Pulskamp wins good government/management award from League of California Cities in wake of his management of the fallout from the City of Bell scandals (Pulskamp spoke on behalf of California City Managers last year) PUBLIC CEO
  • More info on that “vote of no confidence” Mayo physicians held last week on the Roger Seaver administration at HMNMH SIGNAL
  • Speaking of hospitals, Olive View, the former sanitarium over the hill in Sylmar, has been expanded. Supe Antonovich showed up at the county facility yesterday with giant novelty scissors in hand to open the $53 million expansion. The facility has increasingly served unemployed and uninsured people in the SCV and SFV according to the DAILY NEWS
  • It’s official, Borders books is filing for bankruptcy and will close 193 stores. There’s a list up at the NY TIMES and it looks as if our store is not affected. But I could use a second set of eyes. UPDATE : Yes the Valencia Borders is closing.
  • I guess that’s that: Lance Armstrong is officially retired and won’t be competing this year. It doesn’t say specifically but that means he won’t be in the Tour of California LA TIMES
  • “Atlas Shrugged,” Ayn Rand’s homage to supercapitalism and selfishness, has been adapted to film and will be in movie theaters on April 15. Of course they had to debut on Tax day. Tea Party is already lining up for tickets LA TIMES
  • Gary Horton expertly tackles the controversial Obamacare “insurance mandate” in his column this week. He talks to a local doctor who says if people aren’t compelled to purchase insurance, they’ll eventually show up at an ER and we’ll all pick up the tab. Good column SIGNAL

Comments (87)

  1. MikeFebruary 16, 2011 at 8:17 am
    Valencia store is closing: Store 297, halfway down the second page of the list.
  2. MoneyFebruary 16, 2011 at 10:35 am
    Well CT Stone, I guess Jeff’s information was indeed accurate. Borders is closing. I think it is time for an apology.
  3. CT StoneFebruary 16, 2011 at 10:43 am
    As Jeff pointed out, it was based on rumor and not a source. He said that in an earlier post. The post also mentioned Johnny Rockets closing and that as far as I know is not happening.
  4. NateFebruary 16, 2011 at 10:55 am
    Yes but you were wrong and the “rumor” which wasn’t a “rumor” was right. Have a problem admitting your were wrong?
  5. CT StoneFebruary 16, 2011 at 11:29 am
    No problem admitting I was wrong. End result is that its closing but the rumor being circulated had no source at the time and that is what I was griping about.
  6. MoneyFebruary 16, 2011 at 11:43 am
    All rumors have a source. And this rumor turned out to be true just two days later. I’m just saying…
  7. ThomasFebruary 16, 2011 at 5:29 pm
    But he still wont talk about his rumor about the Apple store.
  8. MikeFebruary 17, 2011 at 9:02 am
    Confirmed by two independent sources prior to going in the brief. When it opens, you owe SCVtalk an iPad.
  9. DonRickettsFebruary 16, 2011 at 8:39 am
    Once the Board of Trustees is appointed it will have to start over. Mr. Pulskamp could not contract with LSSI. I don’t see where delaying withdrawal for a year does any harm. Everyone can take a deep breath and give the issue the thorough, serious study and consideration that it deserves and which it failed to receive when the City suddenly sprang this on everyone last year. As to other cities and their libraries, the procedure for general-law cities and charter cities is different. Santa Clarita is a general law city and bound by the state laws regarding libraries (and everything else). With some limits, a charter city can define its own powers.
  10. Coastal SageFebruary 16, 2011 at 9:19 pm
    By the way, having convinced the small town rubes in Santa Clarita to sign up for management of their local libraries, LSSI and its leader Frank Pezzanite have bigger goals in sight: A contract to manage 400 public libraries in Great Britain. Apparently, the contract was being championed by Britain’s embattled Prime Minister David Cameron and his Cabinet. See: http://www.independent.co.uk/opinion/leading-articles/leading-article-david-camerons-political-mission-is-in-jeopardy-2215111.html
  11. SusanFebruary 16, 2011 at 8:46 am
    Yep, I saw the Borders closing too. Bummer.
  12. JakeFebruary 16, 2011 at 8:54 am
    Too bad about Borders, but they’re just another victim of Obama’s America. We have two more years of this at the very least.
  13. spineflower2February 16, 2011 at 9:01 am
    Yup, Borders closing is Obama’s fault! Hilarious!
  14. NateFebruary 16, 2011 at 9:42 am
    Hahahaha. I love this game! I see your borders closing and raise you a Katrina and 9-11 are W’s fault*. Sharp as a bowling ball. *I don’t believe they are Bush’s fault. Unwad those undies.
  15. No longer interestedFebruary 16, 2011 at 9:53 am
    If anything, the “Bush is a War Criminal” cottage publishing industry followed by the “Obama is a secret Muslim dictator” cottage publishing industry kept big box bookstores afloat for the past ten years.
  16. JakeFebruary 16, 2011 at 10:21 am
    Yuck it up Nate. I’m sure the employees at Valencia Borders will love to join in on your hilarious take on the economy.
  17. Your Web GuruFebruary 16, 2011 at 10:43 am
    That’s like blaming that crazy, progressive interloper Teddy Roosevelt for destroying the horse and buggy industry rather than accepting the fact that time and technology march on. Borders holds less than 15% of the industry marketshare as opposed to Barnes and Noble holding almost 30%. Borders also ineptly allowed Amazon.com to handle their e-commerce for them (who knew that?). Sounds like a good old case of bad planning under the best of capitalist conditions to me.
  18. NateFebruary 16, 2011 at 10:59 am
    What was borders e-book read again?
  19. JakeFebruary 16, 2011 at 11:08 am
    Guru, your “bad planning” point is important. Another perfect example of that point is Blockbuster. But take a short walk down Town Center drive or through any shopping center in SCV to witness the amount of empty retail space that now exists. Are all the previous occupants guilty of bad planning too? Even if every single one of them is guilty, you cannot discount that the terrible economic climate, unnecessarily prolonged by Obama and democrat majorities in the House and Senate, was the nail in the coffin.
  20. Joe GrandeFebruary 16, 2011 at 11:40 am
    How about putting in new sidewalks and adding parking when busnesses are closing left and right. Is that bad planning?
  21. spineflower2February 16, 2011 at 2:32 pm
    I got a flat tire last week. It was Obama’s fault.
  22. Jeff (But not the one that runs this blogFebruary 16, 2011 at 5:19 pm
    You sir, are absurd. The ball was rolling on this economic climate long before Mr. Obama took the oath of office… but hey, don’t let facts get in the way of a finger pointing rant.
  23. NateFebruary 16, 2011 at 10:58 am
    Oh but they would be smart enough to know I was making fun of you… not them.
  24. NateFebruary 16, 2011 at 11:09 am
    oh and Jake it seems Borders problems were happening before the secret kenyan muslim stole away america from white america. http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=newsarchive&sid=aFRf7iV1bMIE&refer=us
  25. Your Web GuruFebruary 16, 2011 at 10:05 am
    Borders is merely a victim of being an oversized brick and mortar operation with too much overhead in a world of conveniently downloadable music and books.
  26. Joe GrandeFebruary 16, 2011 at 10:17 am
    Much like the $25M Newhall library.
  27. Your Web GuruFebruary 16, 2011 at 10:28 am
    ZING!
  28. EricFebruary 16, 2011 at 12:31 pm
    This is a trend that will certainly impact public libraries as well, and my concern is that our city is not responding to this pro-actively as we establish our city library system. I understand that libraries will not face all the same challenges of “for profit” retailers, but I have to believe that the demand for e-book lending will grow exponentially, while the demand for hard copy books will diminish. Will we need 3 branches 5 years from now? If not, should we be spending millions to buy the Valencia Branch? Will longer hours really be necessary when we have access to a 24/7 virtual library? Is LSSI in a position to provide consultation on this issue without a conflict of interest? If communities can get by with less shelf space in libraries 5 or 10 years from now, what does that do to LSSI’s business model? Certainly less income operating 2 branches instead of 3. And that will also eliminate some of the free retail space LSSI is provided in our libraries. For those that have seen the library survey, you will note almost no attention paid to the most significant change in the book business since the invention of the printing press (save for one question about downloading audio books or e-books).
  29. Joe GrandeFebruary 16, 2011 at 12:50 pm
    No need to wait 5 or 10 years. We have all of that with the county system now, and will continue to have all of that with the county system after July 1.
  30. Samuel AdamsFebruary 16, 2011 at 1:18 pm
    Moving “public” libraries towards management by “private” companies could be their “nail” in the coffin. Netflix was to Blockbuster what Amazon is to Borders.
  31. Your Web GuruFebruary 16, 2011 at 2:08 pm
    …As iTunes was to Tower and Virgin Records, as Facebook is to Chambers of Commerce and Networking groups everywhere.
  32. OccassionalPosterFebruary 16, 2011 at 10:51 am
    Because after Al Gore invented the Internet, Obama began working on the Kindle, the iPad and e-books at his madrassa in Malaysia. RIDICULOUS.
  33. CCFebruary 16, 2011 at 1:43 pm
    It always amazes me how much ignorance there is on how the economy ACTUALLY works.
  34. spineflower2February 16, 2011 at 2:36 pm
    We do not teach it in our schools, and the boomer parents are just as clueless, so there you go. Anyone remember the survey about 15 years ago of incoming college freshmen, showing that 80% of them could not balance a checkbook? It’s been building for some time. Couple that with the political timidity in our schools, where we can’t discuss anything “controversial” or “too political” (i.e., anything of actual meaning), and you have a population of dysfunctional idiots.
  35. spineflower2February 16, 2011 at 9:02 am
    Once again we see that the City Attorney’s office exists merely to rationalize bad decisions by our elected Council, and to cover their rears after the fact.
  36. Samuel AdamsFebruary 16, 2011 at 1:20 pm
    Sort of like being city attorney for Bell….
  37. Joe GrandeFebruary 16, 2011 at 1:31 pm
    Big difference. In Bell they were caught/
  38. Coastal SageFebruary 17, 2011 at 7:21 pm
    But so far the Bell City Attorney, Edward Lee, has escaped prosecution. My bet is that the Bell City Manager and Council members will use an “advice of legal counsel” defense.
  39. Jim FarleyFebruary 16, 2011 at 9:16 am
    Horton implies the government ‘mandating’ lifestyle choices. That’s one scary slippery slope to erode liberty.
  40. NateFebruary 16, 2011 at 9:52 am
    The Health Insurance mandate was a Republican idea, when Clinton was president.
  41. Your Web GuruFebruary 16, 2011 at 10:20 am
    I’m more concerned about that good old mandate “The Patriot Act” eroding my liberties as opposed to the government suggesting I adhere to a healty diet.
  42. Leon WordenFebruary 16, 2011 at 9:18 am
    The Planning Commission rejected the draft historic preservation ordinance that would have replaced the moratorium currently in effect. At present, under city code, there is a moratorium prohibiting the demolition of all 45 properties on the “list.” The replacement ordinance would have removed 18 of the 45 properties from the list, and would have set forth guidelines for preserving (and/or demolishing) the other 27. I’m not sure the property owners who objected to the draft ordinance knew this — it wasn’t directly addressed in the Planning Commission’s discussion last night — but without a new ordinance, the moratorium remains in effect and continues to apply to all 45 properties.
  43. cashFebruary 16, 2011 at 9:35 am
    This issue is a clear example of a few do gooders (in their mind) over stepping the boundaries. We have more than enough historical buildings at Hart Park.
  44. spineflower2February 16, 2011 at 10:09 am
    Reagan once said, “…you know, a tree is a tree, how many more do you need to look at?”
  45. TimBen BoydstonFebruary 16, 2011 at 9:41 am
    The Planning Commission continued the ordinance to a “date uncertain” (a future unamed date) so that the ordinance could be changed to respond to the concerns of the people who are the owners of the properties that they want to put on the list. Specifically the Commission instructed staff to have an “opt out clause” added, as well as economic incentives for owners who put their properties on the list. They also instucted staff to create a group of people who have expertise in historic designations which would advise the Commission on what is truly historic. This was a rare victory for the private property rights of individuals.
  46. cashFebruary 16, 2011 at 9:57 am
    I think last nights meeting was the first time I have witnessed the woman on the council taking such an animated position on an issue. The generally have little to ad to the debate. I hope they continue to ask questions and speak to the various matters they will face down the road.
  47. cashFebruary 16, 2011 at 10:06 am
    Women on the commission!
  48. gregory molineriFebruary 16, 2011 at 11:38 am
    Boy, are you right about that! She went from her usual sketchy to a moment of impassioned common sense. It was good to see this proposal go down in flames.
  49. navigatorFebruary 16, 2011 at 12:11 pm
    It was more like a tantrum.
  50. cashFebruary 16, 2011 at 2:21 pm
    Do we have a instability issue?
  51. Leon WordenFebruary 16, 2011 at 10:20 am
    Sure, but continuing it to date uncertain takes it off calendar and puts it in limbo. If it comes back, it comes back. If it doesn’t, it doesn’t.
  52. TimBen BoydstonFebruary 16, 2011 at 10:49 am
    It will come back as a better ordinance. Staff was given these concerns at a community outreach meeting. 100% of the owners at that meeting were opposed to the ordinance as written. No major changes were made. Thanks to the Commission for listening to the people and not “governing by consultant”. Now if we could just get the Council to reconsider the Library process….
  53. Leon WordenFebruary 16, 2011 at 10:58 am
    Not much incentive for staff to come back and try again with ANY ordinance, knowing that it is impossible to appease the critics — even after they’re removed from the list!
  54. cashFebruary 16, 2011 at 12:25 pm
    By critics do you mean the owners of the property of which you feel justified in stealing. Is everything a freebie to those on the take?
  55. Leon WordenFebruary 16, 2011 at 12:48 pm
    Cash – no. Most of the harshest critics (such as Frank Maga) were set to be removed from the list last night. Without an ordinance, they remain on the list and they can’t demolish their buildings. I feel bad for Newhall property owners who were robbed of the opportunity to have a historic designation. Properties with a historic designation pay lower property taxes. More importantly, properties with a historic designation escape the regular California building codes. With the new FEMA codes that come into play with a regular (non-historic) property, nobody in downtown Newhall can make any major improvements to his or her property because it is now in a flood zone. The city can’t and won’t allow it. That’s why the new Newhall library had to be raised 3 feet. Good luck adding onto your home or business in downtown Newhall if it doesn’t have a historic designation. Ain’t gonna happen.
  56. Leon WordenFebruary 16, 2011 at 12:55 pm
    Oh and good luck trying to SELL your property in downtown Newhall, now that it’s all in a flood zone. At least with a historic designation, you’d be able to make improvements.
  57. cashFebruary 16, 2011 at 2:24 pm
    The issue for me is forcing property owners to be on the list. They should have never been on the list without their approval. Flood zone, that’s great! Let’s spend more taxpayer money trying to save the mess called OTN!
  58. Coastal SageFebruary 16, 2011 at 5:01 pm
    TimBen, your comment points out an example of what is wrong with the City’s planning staff members.
  59. Huh?February 16, 2011 at 10:04 pm
    So….the city planning department doesn’t have an expert with regard to Historical Preservation…..they hire an expert to help provide the Council with what they asked for….then present a potential ordinance in a public hearing that can be attended by any of the affected property owners. Is that “an example of what is wrong with the City’s planning staff”? Costal Sage…clearly, you have no idea.
  60. Coastal SageFebruary 17, 2011 at 7:25 pm
    The point is that these out-of-town planning consultants and the city’s planning staff never listen to the affected community members while these plans are being written. Instead the concerns of affected community members are ignored, leaving them to have to fight for their rights and interests at Planning Commission and City Council hearings. The relationship between the public and the Council would not have to be so adversarial if the planning staff and planning consultants would listen and realize that it isn’t just “their” city. It’s every taxpayer’s city.
  61. Leon WordenFebruary 17, 2011 at 8:17 pm
    What’s interesting is that most of the people who spoke against the ordinance wouldn’t have been affected by it. They were set to be removed from the list, if they were ever on it in the first place. The few who were on the list and spoke against it would have been removed. Apparently some people think they know what’s best for others, even if it doesn’t affect them.
  62. Jeff (But not the one that runs this blogFebruary 16, 2011 at 5:37 pm
    I’m guessing it would be better (aka more effective) to discuss one specific issue without taking a swipe at the city council over another, entirely unrelated issue, but that’s just my opinion.
  63. cashFebruary 17, 2011 at 6:47 pm
    TimBen was merely celebrating a breakthrough. It is not often our elected officials or their appointed representatives listen to the will of the general taxpayers. Special interests, which are defined in many ways in this valley, generally get their way. The trail of special interest is easy to follow.
  64. cashFebruary 16, 2011 at 9:31 am
    Let’s build a library, books are in! Bookseller Borders, which helped pioneer superstores that put countless mom-and-pop bookshops out of business, filed for bankruptcy protection Wednesday, sunk by crushing debt and sluggishness in adapting to a rapidly changing industry. The 40-year-old company plans to close about 200 of its 642 stores over the next few weeks, including locations in Sherman Oaks, West Los Angeles and Westchester. Other Los Angeles County stores on the closure list include Glendale, Valencia, Pasadena, Long Beach, Cerritos, Rolling Hills Estates and Pico Rivera.
  65. Joe GrandeFebruary 16, 2011 at 9:37 am
    Oh no! Borders is closing? Where will I go to get the latest Tom Clancy until Ender’s library is built? Oh well, there’s always Walmart.
  66. Need for Involved CitizenryFebruary 16, 2011 at 9:49 am
    And the Planning Commission approved the Vista Canyon Ranch development as staff recommended. Staff and Commissioners Ostrom and Jacobson deserve failing grades for allowing the conversion of 250,000 sf of commercial space to residential in the approval which the developer said they would do if there is no demand for the Commercial. So much for the OVOV promise of 2 jobs for every residential unit built. While City Staff realizes the Jobs\Housing balance is way out of whack, they are so conflicted by the developers and political process that they continue to do the wrong thing. Hats off to Lisa Eichmann who voted against approving this project!
  67. cashFebruary 16, 2011 at 10:03 am
    We saw the good ol boy network at its best last night. Jim Backer is buddies with everyone on the staff, the commission and the council. Not to work, these are desperate times for developers and unless the economy turns, the VSR project will sit idle for a long time. Backer is sitting on various properties that are vacant or underutilized. The bankers must be concerned.
  68. cashFebruary 16, 2011 at 10:20 am
    Has anyone asked from where the 500,000 cubic yards of fill will be hauled? That’s a lot of dirt and lots of truck trips to haul it. What ridge line is the developer planning to cut? I assume they must plan to haul the fill from the proposed “turnkey school” site?
  69. Need for Involved CitizenryFebruary 16, 2011 at 10:50 am
    I had heard they had shown Centre Point and the Activities Center but those projects are all done. Maybe the’ll get it from the new CEMEX mine that our boy Buck couldn’t stop!
  70. cashFebruary 16, 2011 at 12:05 pm
    You can bet the dirt will be moved from a location that will support a buddies pet project. Quid pro quo!
  71. navigatorFebruary 16, 2011 at 12:15 pm
    NFIC – the Activities Center/Sports Complex still has a lot of dirt to move. Of course it won’t happen until we can afford to process Phase 4.
  72. spineflower2February 16, 2011 at 3:40 pm
    Fill for Castaic High School?
  73. FJJFebruary 16, 2011 at 10:22 am
    From Ken Pulskamp’s Award: Ken was awarded the inaugural Wes McClure Award from the League of California Cities, recognizing his decades of achievement for leadership, mentoring, transparency, and dedication to the field of professional city management. Ken demonstrated by example how City Managers could move forward through transparency and openness. Is this the same Ken Pulskamp that we know?
  74. cashFebruary 16, 2011 at 10:42 am
    You mean Kenny the Skamp? Besides, this award, in a way, comes from the Skamp’s peers, not from the taxpayers the pay his bloated salary! Not a bid deal is it?
  75. Joe GrandeFebruary 16, 2011 at 11:44 am
    When you count your award and ignore your critics, what chance is there to improve?
  76. Coastal SageFebruary 16, 2011 at 5:04 pm
    The award I’d like to see Ken Pulskamp and his senior management team receive is severance pay.
  77. NickelDimeFebruary 16, 2011 at 11:20 am
    RE: Atlas Shrugged You will recognize scenes from the upcoming film as the railroad bridges in Piru. A good excuse for our old buddies connected with SaveOurState in Fillmore to (re)join forces with the SCV Tea Party Patriots on April 15 for a good ol’ fashioned flag-on-a-Funnoodle rally? They can screen the film and make their stand at the soon-to-be-closed Borders! Symmetric poetry!
  78. KevitivityFebruary 16, 2011 at 1:39 pm
    I have a question about Obama Care (which really should be referred to as Peloci Care since she, along with the left wing side of the House, actually drafted it): If people will be guaranteed health coverage in spite of pre-existing conditions, why would anyone buy health care until they actually need it?
  79. MikeFebruary 16, 2011 at 2:06 pm
    And thus the mandate. One doesn’t work without the other.
  80. JeffFebruary 16, 2011 at 2:50 pm
    Hence the individual mandate. The government coerces people into buying health care insurance. If you can’t afford it, the government subsidizes you. This is necessary because forbidding Insurance Co from discriminating on preexisting conditions creates the moral hazard you just laid out. And insurance companies say the only way they can insure more sick people is by expanding the pool of insured, thus spreading the risk. That means young healthy people need insurance too. This idea was first proposed by Orrin Hatch and several other Republicans in 1993. Mitt Romney used the individual mandate in massachusetts to boost coverage to more than 90% of the population. Insurance companies sure love it too; we’re handing them 30+ million new customers. It’s not the best solution. A true public option (or medicare for all) would have been the best, but that was shot down by the right, Joe Lieberman and gutless dems
  81. CastaicClayFebruary 16, 2011 at 5:07 pm
    30 million new customers and everyones rate goes up? It just doesn’t jive. Here come the record profits.
  82. spineflower2February 17, 2011 at 1:58 pm
    The insurance companies don’t want to be regulated. So they are crying and raising their rates to punish Congress into repealing, so they can go on with their profits. The independent CBO says it saves money, yet rates go up? Profiteering and politics, plain and simple. It has nothing to do with true costs. When challenged, these companies can’t provide evidence that the reform is to blame for all, most, or even a significant portion of their requested increases.
  83. KevitivityFebruary 16, 2011 at 4:11 pm
    What is the fine for ignoring the mandate? Would it be worth it to simply pay the fine, as opposed to pay for insurance?
  84. spineflower2February 16, 2011 at 2:38 pm
    Where are the Minutemen when we really need them to secure our Borders?
  85. Your Web GuruFebruary 16, 2011 at 3:13 pm
    Perhaps Jan Brewer can add it to her existing lawsuit against the Feds.
  86. Coastal SageFebruary 16, 2011 at 5:19 pm
    Spineflower2: I get the joke, but really, the USA needs the modern day equivalent of “Minutemen” to guard our southern border. See, for example, video on the most recent incursion of armed military members (Federales or Zetas unclear) across our border: http://www.krgv.com/news/local/story/Possible-Mexican-Military-Incursion-On-U-S-Soil/x_-oXhrE3Um61ytja1xnKg.cspx The story above is just one of a long list of incursions across our border by armed people from Mexico. Like the armed military group which engaged in a shoot out with the Phoenix police, a story which was hushed up. Like U.S. citizens constantly seeing foreign military vehicles on and south of Route 8 as it parallels the border on the U.S. side. Like the fact that ICE and the National Guard have established what amounts to a 20 mile no-mans-land at the South end of New Mexico and Arizona where they are not anxious to engage any defensive fire play. Like camping on one’s family land 40 miles south of Tucson, and being told by the Border Patrol to “get out” because the drug cartel coyotes find it offensive that Americans interfere with their well established smuggling routes through the back country. As the granddaughter of an Austrian citizen whose birthplace in Austrian territory was permanently seized by the Soviet Red Army, I predict that within 5 years the southern border states will be awash in refugees from Mexico and the U.S. government will be desperately trying to “seal” the entirety of our southern border. See: http://www.usnews.com/news/washington-whispers/articles/2011/02/16/border-patrol-controls-just-44-percent-of-south My family’s been there, done that, and it’s far from pleasant.
  87. BrianFebruary 16, 2011 at 5:33 pm
    Why do we need a bigger defense budget? Buck forgets our other armies, the CIA and private contractors. We have armies people don’t know we’re paying for. Yet Budget Bustin’ Buck wants more. WHY? Get a clue Buck!

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