July 18, 2012 – Daily Brief

Bill: So conservatives constitute only 19% of the population? (That was Cheney’s approval rating when he left office.) Also, his quip when asked about not serving in Vietnam was borderline disrespectful. (“I had other things to do.”) Much like Mitt Romney about his sons lack of military service in 2008. (“They serve the country by working on my campaign.”) In our recent trip to Hawaii a cab driver who was a veteran asked why I had not served in the military. I gave him the following answer: “It was an all volunteer army by the time I was old enough to serve and because people like you were willing to volunteer it let me and others like me off the hook. So thank you for your service.” The cab driver thought that was a good answer.

Hey Tim, we conservatives appreciate VP Dick Cheney.

Well, yeah Bill, but do Hawaiian cabbies like him? That’s the real question.

Not likely – LOL.

Well, he joins a long list of Americans who chose education, raising a family or high tailing it to Canada. Cheney served America with honor and integrity as far as I’m concerned… even with heart disease.

Others of us might differ on that whole integrity thing….just sayin’

You’re entitled…

Cheney draft dodges, John Kerry earns a purple heart serving alongside Bill R in Vietnam, and who does Bill R defend as having “honor and integrity”? Cheney. Pretty incredible.

Hey Jeff, Hanoi John F’n Kerry avoided the draft by joining the Navy and then he dissed Vietnam Veterans like no one ever has. He supposedly threw his medals away. As far as I’m concerned, he’s a despicable human being…. same goes for Hanoi Jane. Try reading “Unfit For Command” by John E. O’Neill.

“Avoided the draft by joining the Navy” Nice. Ask John McCain how “avoiding the draft” worked out for him.

John McCain’s family tradition was joining the Navy and McCain wanted to be a pilot…. study up. As info, guys my age did many things to avoid the draft back then due to a fear of infantry service in combat, hence many joined the National Guard, Coast Guard, Air Force, and Navy…. many fled to Canada.

Right, more honorable because of stuff that happened before he was born. Also, because he’s a Republican.

So much for having the back of a fellow vet.

So much for your intelligence…

If we are talking about those that didn’t serve, Jeff, don’t you think that you should add Clinton to the mix?

And AlGore’s Dad made sure he had a cushy “Stars & Stripes” gig….

Another vet getting thrown under the bus.

Are you not aware of Hanoi John F’n Kerry’s degradation of Vietnam Veterans to Congress when he was still supposedly serving in the Navy looking like a grungy hippie? Wise up son…

Yeah sure, whatever, Clinton was a draft dodger too. Geez reading the blog today feels like a rehash of the 1960s. Vietnam ended almost forty years ago, two years before I was born. How Vietnam is viewed is a fight that’s been defined by my parent’s generation, not mine. Your generation and your parent’s generation created the Vietnam war and the resulting counter-culture movement and for as long as I remember, it’s been important to frame a President’s character in light of what he did during those crazy, tumultuous years. It was refreshing to me as a 30-something to understand that our current president is somewhat of a post-Vietnam president in that he’s not really a boomer and was a child during Vietnam. He’s being challenged by a baby boomer who, like fellow boomers Clinton and Cheney, also avoided service in Vietnam . If he wins, I wonder if Romney will be the last boomer President who came of age during Vietnam. I won’t be sad to see the “President X did Y during Vietnam and that’s shameful/controversial etc” debates end.

Did Romney inhale?

Definitely not. Equally scary- has Romney ever had a good hot cup of coffee? Or an ice-cold coca cola?

There is evidence that Romney has enjoyed a Coca-Cola from time to time. I understand that caffeinated soda is not forbidden, though many Mormons do not drink it. Among my Mormon friends, nearly all avoid coffee, but many will consume concentrated energy drinks with enough caffeine stimulative chemicals to power a stage of the Tour de France. If I’m not mistaken, decaffeinated coffee is off limits, too.

yeah Mike, I think the prohibition isn’t so much on caffeinated drinks (to put it in a Catholic context, consuming caffeine is a venal sin) but rather on hot liquids (mortal sin). So I guess coca cola is okay, but Intelligentsia wouldn’t be, unless it was iced and the consumer was feeling somewhat rebellious. Maybe CC, our resident “Jack Mormon” can pop in here and speculate on orthodox beverage consumption practices in the LDS faith.

I looked it up. Mormons are divided on decaf coffee and soft drinks. Caffeinated coffee and tea, at any temperature are off-limits. All other non-alcoholic hot drinks are OK, even hot chocolate, which is both hot and caffeinated.

Similar to other religions that ban pork or beef on Friday it has more to archaic knowledge of these things that were perceived to be bad for you. As time goes on, these religions will either hold onto tradition or change with the times. Frankly, sugary soda and smoking is still pretty bad for you, but you will take my hot cup of poor over organic coffee from my cold dead hands!

pour not poor…duh

Jeff he would have had coffee but it looked like it came from the local 7 Eleven

Looking at the posts above it appears that Tim, you & Dave brought up Vietnam & now you’re bemoaning the subject. Whot tha….

I agree.

You’ve jumped the shark here, Bill

I’m pretty sure that Bill considers Barry Goldwater to be a liberal and a socialist at this point.

I’m pretty sure that Todd doesn’t know what he’s talking about…. again.

So, then, tell us Bill, have you always supported Barry Goldwater, even as he began to support Democrats as he approached the end of his life?

Hey Todd, I recall appreciating JFK (“It’s not what your country can do for you, but what you can do for your country”) and despising LBJ for starting the Vietnam War & quitting when the going got tough. Goldwater was not on my radar….

Left wingers despise Dick Cheney….

Many of us taxpayers who got stuck with the $800 BILLION tab for Iraq aren’t too enthralled with him either.

Freedom is not free…

Obviously

Bill thanks for paying my tab.

But should not be paid for with higher taxes, right?

Would love to hear details on how LBJ “started the Vietnam War”.

I have an extra DVD documentary that illustrates exactly what happened…. in a nutshell, LBJ sent CIA operatives into North Vietnam to blow up their infrasturcture which caused them to retaliate. Thus the Gulf of Tonkin incident whereby the North Vietnamese supposedly fired torpedoes at the USS Maddox. This incident is highly questionable, but nevertheless LBJ retaliated and thus began his huge war machine…. all in name of the domino theory.

Worrying about Romney’s caffine intake is akin to knowing the color of his socks. Hello….

LBJ may have esalated the war, but JFK certainly had a big hand in it. Just Google JFK and Vietnam

The first person whose name is on the Vietnam Memorial wall died on Eisenhower’s watch. Ike, JFK, LBJ, Nixon, Ford all had part of it.

Annette: I agree that was a non-answer answer, but that was in keeping with the political genius of Marsha McLean. People will recall that Marsha McLean had to run (nearly) as much as Joe Messina to get elected to office. Since then she has embraced the built in advantages of incumbency but ALSO made sure that low information voters know that she has never really done anything offensive. This is why she tends to come first when she runs for reelection. Incumbency gets one reelected but the fact you have given little offense gets one number one.

Genius? Really Tim. Doing nothing daring to keep ones job is not genius, it is pathetic.

One person’s pathetic action is another person’s strategy for long term employment.

But she can tap dance!

So funny, SCV Sage!

But can she tap dance into re-election, again?

Isn’t that the M of O for most of the council ….tap dancing ? LOL

Annette, I do not have a Facebook account so here is my response to Irene Kirk’s letter, which is full of factual errors, she writes: “A recess was called to discuss Councilman TimBen Boydston’s appointments to be passed. Why?” Ms. Kirk, a recess was called so that council members, city staff, and we the public in attendance could have a BATHROOM break! Council members do not get together and chat as you state, the Brown Act specifically prohibits it. I personally spoke with Marsha McLean in the ladies restroom during the break and she was the only other person in there at the time, so there goes your conspiracy theory. Ms. Kirk further states: “Alan Ferdman is a well-respected and qualified leader in the community. His efforts have kept Canyon Country residents safer and deterred crime. He has given, free of charge, his time and money to us, has made the public aware of local problems and impacted solutions.” You make it sound like Al Ferdman is out there armed and patrolling our streets. Al is not a law enforcement agent or council member where credit for our local safety rightfully belongs. I could argue that not only has Al not kept us safe but also he has been a deterrent to keeping us safer. A few years ago, the City approached me about volunteering my time to participate in a gang suppression group to deter gangs in our neighborhood. Mr. Ferdman, falsely claiming he spoke for all of us, told the City no dice since “WE” did not want folks thinking we have a gang problem, which would lower our property values. Fast forward a couple of years and we now have had drive-by shootings, knife attacks, drug dealing, etc so thanks so much Al for “protecting” us. Mr. Ferdman also continues to fight the City’s efforts to clean up our neighborhoods and tells folks who will listen to his one sided rants that “… Canyon Country being singled out for selective enforcement” by the City but fails to mention that it is those of us who live in this community who want our neighborhoods kept clean, safe, and well maintained so that we enjoy a good quality of life and have increased property values. Al is apparently more concerned with the removal of garage sale signs etc than with getting folks to clean up their properties or comply with building codes and local ordinances. I guess he has not heard of the “broken window syndrome”. He never asks “us” our opinion on matters before he gives leaders his opinion and specifically keeps those of us who disagree with his views out of the discussion. He continues to claim falsely that he speaks on behalf of the entire community when he does not even ask the few who attend monthly CCAC meetings what we want. The other council members correctly refused to second Mr. Boydston’s appointment of Mr. Ferdman to a city commission where he would presumably advise them and represent us. Al Ferdman is not well respected, nor do I believe he has their/our confidence or trust to work selflessly on behalf of all the residents. He has his own agenda. Of the four people who spoke to the Council on Al’s behalf, one resides in Agua Dulce, one in Castaic both of which are outside of the City, and two are residents of Valencia, NO ONE from Canyon Country lauded Al. What continues to amaze me is how misinformed some folks are and yet they do nothing to get their facts straight before rushing to defend Al. Al is not the instrument of positive accomplishment for Canyon Country, but rather a power hungry dude who gets in the way of positive change for our community. Al is an obstructionist to improvements he does not personally like, in part by discouraging genuine citizen involvement, particularly if you disagree with his anti city biases, and unfairly criticizing nearly everything the city tries to do to improve Canyon Country. The Council has better choices for public servant commissioner positions.

Don’t waste you time TBB will never do wrong in Annette’s eyes.

*your

Two questions Berta, How do you know it was a “bathroom” break did Frank tell you that? Frank was the one person who knew because he called the recess IMHO! “A few years ago, the City approached me about volunteering my time to participate in a gang suppression group to deter gangs in our neighborhood.” Berta,you like me, speak you mind, Why didn’t YOU take the responsibility to form the gang suppression group?

You are correct Annette; I speak my mind. I also do not follow leaders whom for cogent reasons I do not respect. Your two things Annette: 1. I do not need Frank or anyone else to tell me that it is a bathroom break since that is usually the case at Council meetings and that is what at least Marsha and I did with most of our break time. 2. It was to be a city/sheriff’s sponsored local neighborhood group never formed because our community, according to Al, supposedly did not support it. There already exists a Blue Ribbon and Anti-Gang Task Force for citywide issues and I already have many other committees and groups I participate in but that does not change the fact that Al falsely said there was no interest in OUR community, he never asked us. He unilaterally made the decision and said no to the city, typical Al Ferdman style. If a sponsored group had been formed, I would have made the time to participate.

Annette Berta #2 story = totally untrue fabrication

Al are you publicly stating that you did not tell Cruz Caldera and Hope Horner that “we” did not have a gang problem in Canyon County, demanded statistics, and did not want any information disseminated or group formed indicating a gang problem, thereby killing the idea? Because if that is what you are saying, you are a bold-faced liar. You yourself bragged to me about killing the idea and confirmed the conversation when I confronted you about this very issue a couple of years ago.

Berta Neither members of the Anti-gang Task Force or the Sherriff Department were able to produce any statistics or data to justify the statements posted in the Anti-gang Task Force yearend newsletter relating to the Lower North Oaks area. As a result, Rick Gould and Adel then removed the statements from the City’s Web Site.

Berta, It may have been a bathroom break for you and you may have seen Marsha in the bathroom but as I said you do not know what FF did with his break time. Another fact is it does not take all of the break time to use the restroom and so what did Marsha do with the rest of her break time…were you with her?

Quite a conspiracy they cooked up during their break that they stumbled all over Val’s vote.

OK Annette you cling to your conspiracy theory, there is no reasoning with you. Do you honestly believe no one anticipated Ferdman and Thomas would be offered some position for their years of loyalty to TBB? Especially given Harrison Katz was not vying for a position anymore. If they all talked about refusing nominees at the break, then why would Laurene originally abstain with all of that confusion instead of just voting no? I would ask you why TBB offered folks he knew are controversial, are very critical of Council/City, are not good team players, and would most likely not be acceptable by the majority. I think TBB offers us all enough divisiveness and drama, thanks. If I were you, I would advise TBB to vet all of his nominees in future instead of putting all of his eggs foolishly in one basket and be prepared to offer alternate nominees for these important positions.

Berta, I follow no one, and am in no position to tell TB what he should or should not do. Controversial (people) is in the eye of the beholder and your opinion may/does differ from other, that’s all. I can’t answer why Laurene abstained. Laurene did not share that information with me. Be honest, do you really think the 3 of them never talk over issues amongst themselves?

Berta, It may have been a bathroom break for you and you may have seen Marsha in the bathroom but as I said you do not know what FF did with his break time. Another fact is it does not take all of the break time to use the restroom and so what did Marsha do with the rest of her break time…were you with her?

No Annette I was collecting signatures on a petition to derail High Speed Rail, but thanks for asking.

I’m simply trying to find out why Marsha thought Trautman was first a great selection, and then was not a great selection, but now a great selection again. Huh? Enquiring minds need to know.

I had forgotten that one. Thanks for the memory Bill! Reason Marsha did not support Diane Trautman before was because she had the audacity to support Gauny and TimBen when they ran up against them in the previous election cycle. But, when Ender went down, I guess Marsha decided it was time for a change. Someone must have spoken to her — Frank, Bob, Laurene? Who knows — they do speak to each other as I have personally witnessed them at breakfast, etc.

Marsha was a bit fickle concerning Diane. First she voted to eliminate term limits for commissioners citing the “experience” factor. But the “experience” factor wasn’t enough for Marsha to nominate her for another term because she didn’t think she would be affirmed for reasons mentioned above. But now Marsha and others seem to think Diane is fit for the post. The political winds are a blowin’.

There’s nothing like a nature trail to bring out the gang mentality in people. A knife fight between some combination of entitled horseback riders, reckless trail runners, speed-demon mountain bikers, trail-hogging youth groups, trail-fouling dog walkers, oblivious gear-head photographers, and obnoxious nature parkour people can’t be too far off. As a birdwatcher myself, I’d like to see all of them go away.

. . .and take those damn pigeons with them

The reality is that the State owns the park and the County is, in effect, its tenant. Between the two of them, if unsafe conditions occur on trails at the park, and someone is injured or killed, it will be the State and the County which will end up liable to write a check for damages in a personal injury case. Over the years, L.A. County and the State have settled a lot of negligence cases relating to safe/unsafe conditions at local beaches. The bottom line is that the opinions of hikers, horseback riders and mountain bikers on “proper use of the trails” simply do not matter at the Placerita Canyon Nature Center or anywhere else. The State Parks’ and the County’s relatively anonymous risk management officers will make a decision about the level of economic risk they face from negligence claims which arise by mixing these three types of trail users, and their decision will likely be the determining factor on who is allowed to use any particular trail regardless of the merits of arguments put forth by any particular interest group.

Question: If Kanye and Kim stopped at Hamburger Hill and Kanye went to Taco Bell and Kim went to McDonalds, what happened to Yeezy at Taco Bell and what did Kim order at McDonalds?

Yeezy’s friend gives him free food, leading to the termination of that friend’s employment with Taco Bell one week later (the manager noticed a discrepancy in the churro count…nonsensical because Taco Bell sells cinnamon twists, not churros, but oh well). Kim, fish filet.

You win the prize* So fast, so thorough. I had no idea. *TBD

I hate to apostrophe check you like this, but for my prize: can I have McDonald’s instead of McDonalds?

I am terribly embarrassed.

Me too. Nobody else seems to like this string. *shame*

I’m terribly entertained and I thank you for being local grammar cop and catching Devlin on that. He’s usually the one whose been catching other’s

You guys should should get a room.

Lori, my unit served in the Mekong Delta with the Navy and I know how brave and dedicated those sailors were. I’m just saying that many young guys chose other branches to avoid the US Army and Infantry duty. And, a lot of people did not realize early on there would be a Brown Water Navy operation that placed them harms way. BTW, there are youtube videos of Sailors spraying agent orange everyone just as you stated.

Yes, but JFK was a firm believer in the domino theory and had he not been assassinated, I believe that he would have taking the same direction as did LBJ. Everything he did pointed that way. Sending in advisors is certainly not sitting on the fence. America should have listened to the French on Viret Nam. And LBJ’s involvement was criminal. I am not going to opine on the merits of whether we should have been there or not, but once the decision had been made, LBJ had an obligation to see that our troops were armed with weapons that operated and were provided proper backup in the field.

Phil, sending in advisors does not equate to LBJ’s 500,000 troop build up by a long shot. LBJ purposely agitated North Vietnam into the highly questionable Gulf of Tonkin incident. I listened to numerous LBJ phone converstaions (via the internet) and I studied numerous documentariies to know this is true. The major I problem I have with LBJ is that he picked the fight and then ran. People have wondered for years how JFK would have handled Vietnam and that is something that we’ll never know.

Let’s not argue over a matter of degree. Both supported the domino theory and both got us involved in Viet Nam. I don’t think that “LBJ’s War” would have come about without JFK involving us in Viet Nam.

I fault LBJ because it happened big time on his watch, but obvioulsy we’re both entitled to our opinions. And actually, our Vietnam involvement started prior to JFK, but you already know that.

Yes. It started under Ike.

That’s hard to say for sure has Truman offered help to the French in Viet Nam. Ike was astute enough to give JFK a warning about involvement their.

Butt out Res…

I expected that you’d correct me on my suggestion that Tour riders would rely on such inelegant performance-enhancing techniques. As for McGriddles, you just gave me an idea.

No worries Mike is having the hot foodie from last week write his yelp reviews now…

Mitt Romney built this blog retroactively.

LOL

That would be Algore.

Ha! Depends on what the meaning of “build” is. I didn’t build WordPress, the free, open-source engine that powers the blog, nor did I build PHP (the programming language) or MySQL (the Dataase server). It’s all free software that runs on a free operating system named Linux, which was built by a guy named Linus in the socialist country of Finland. Nor did I build the theme, which is also free. I just made the banner pic because I’m terrible with design. The server is based in Texas, and I merely bought hosting from the hosting company. I then put up the files and configured everything myself, so your source isn’t entirely correct. My wife and I came up with the name ourselves and the rest is history. SCVTalk.com/oldsite was version 1 from March 2006 to about mid 2007 SCVTalk.com/v2a was version 2 was from 2007 to September 2009, when the site was hacked. I successfully restored it to a new database and made it read only for archive purposes.

Jeff, are you suggesting that you didn’t build the Internet?

Hmmm, explaining this away, eh. Where have I heard this excuse before?

I knew it! Jeff = Al Gore! Breaking NEWS! Or wind ..

Berta Ever since that incident in 2009 we have been asking for the Anti-Gang Task Force to present at a CCAC meeting and discuss our communities wants and needs. They have continually stonewalled and put off visiting the CCAC. Most all of these requests and responses are documented in email and have been presented at CCAC meetings. I intentionally do it that way to avoid “she said he said” discussions like this one.

Presenting at a CCAC meeting would not offer an opportunity for “OUR’ community’s views to be expressed anyway. Especially since many of the 25 or so regular attendees are not even Canyon Country residents but Saugus, Newhall, and Valencia residents instead. Any genuine outreach would need to bypass the CCAC in order to really gauge our community’s needs.