I'm so fed-up with the fraudulent attacks upon President Trump by the radical Left, I'm down to watching what's left of FOX news, exclusively. I witnessed the media feeding frenzy against Nixon and watched the same sort of thing when Judge Bork was going through his confirmation hearing, and Judge Thomas with Anita Hill. They were all incessantly bloody. These attacks exemplify historical Democratic Party tactics.

This time the attacks come from every side. It's as though Trump walked into a hornets' nest. Every leak is like a sting and every sting is designed to cripple the President. The country has never seen anything like this before, with Democrats, Republicans (Rep. Justin Amash (R-Mich., Sen. John McCain, Az), the media, academia (for what it's worth), and the judiciary, undermining the presidency.

Jay Sekulow, Chief Counsel for American Center for Liberty & Justice, describes this activity as: "It's a manufactured crisis that puts our national security at stake.

The deep state shadow government once again leaked highly classified information, but even worse, created a crisis out of whole cloth. It's called fake news.

The President of the United States met with the Russian Foreign Minister about radical Islam terrorism. Someone in the shadow government selectively leaked false and misleading information. The biased news media blew up the story because it fit their narrative.

First, the President has the absolute authority to share counterterrorism information with other nations. Second, the leaker violated federal law. Third, the media was all too happy to manipulate the truth. "

The United States is at the present time, literally, in a state of political civil war. It is the radical Left against the Right, with the presidency, and our security at risk.

The only cable news I can trust now is what's left of FOX. It's time for patriotic conservatives to strike back.
All this talk of impeachment, at a time of imminent threats from our most determined enemies is not much short of treason itself.

Speaking of treason: "She [Chelsea Manning] was freed 28 years early because President Barack Obama, in one of his final acts, commuted the bulk of her remaining sentence. Ms. Manning was known as Pvt. Bradley Manning in 2010 when she was arrested on suspicion of having copied hundreds of thousands of secret military and diplomatic files from a classified computer network, to which she had access as a low-level intelligence analyst at a forward operating base in Iraq."

But God knows him as Pvt. Bradley Manning. Private Manning should have been executed for his treason, and no one can be forced to ignore reality.

I had to miss an opportunity last week to rant against the KB Home plan to build 104 housing units at the southern end of Central Avenue - including 77 three-story condos. It maddens me that our Planning Commission would approve such a structural nightmare for our city.

The 3-story condominium concept will always be a loser. Three stories-worth of stairs is a substantial inconvenience, and more of a challenge to our emergency departments. Climbing three flights of stairs with fire department equipment is much more difficult than fighting a fire on the first or second floor.

377 residents are projected to live in the 144 units, but it's unrealistic to believe this number will not be exceeded. And as for the estimated 233 new cars for those 377 new residents - does anyone believe this number will not be exceeded? And what about motorcycles and motor homes? Just imagine how hectic the traffic will be, especially on Central Avenue and River Streets, already too narrow. We can count on anger-inducing parking wars for the next 75 years!

Frankly, I have always questioned the wisdom of building any structure in the Riverbed as KB plans to do. In the 28 years I have lived in Fillmore, I have recorded two floods in particular which filled the Santa Clara River to the very top - with whitecaps! Nothing in nature has anything quite like the bulldozing power of water. I know, the engineers have it all worked out, and we know they never make mistakes. It's a little late to warn against building in riverbeds.

In short, the KB plan is a monstrous insult to Fillmore's historical Craftsman look, far too crowded, cluttered, and out of place. I predict we will be dealing with tenements within 20 years. How many of us would like to run up and down 3 flights of stairs every day?

Contact our City Council members! Urge them to demand major changes in the number of 3-story condos. With the proposed sand trucks this will be a perfect storm for decades to come.

****

A few thoughts from DRUDGE.

Good riddance to FBI Director Comey. Trump should have fired him months ago. When I heard Comey's reasons for not indicting Hillary Clinton I knew he was a phony. Any first-year law school student would have failed his criminal law class for daring to answer questions on Hillary's email issues with Comey's excuses. Hillary Clinton has turned out to be the most prolific felon in all of American history. In failing to indict her Comey has disgraced his profession and demonstrated to the American people that "equal justice under (constitutional) law" has become a farce.

In Eastern Europe, the Middle East, and the Far East, enemies of America are staged and trigger-ready to strike our interests. Russia, Iran, China, and North Korea, have been building-up their offensive military weapons for years. Under the Obama administration America's military forces have been greatly diminished. If we have some advantage in quality (even that questionable now) our enemies have a large advantage in numbers.

The most immediate threat is both atomic and by electromagnetic pulse, derived by atomic means. Each of our enemies has atomic weapons (if North Korea has atomic weapons, assume Iran does also) and each is capable of attacking by means of electromagnetic pulse.

Russia has already used this EMP on American warships: "...a single Russian war plane flew several times around American destroyer the USS Donald Cook in the Black Sea several years ago, disabling its systems and leaving it helpless. The report also claims they are capable to creating electronic jamming domes over their bases that make them invisible on radar screens."Russia claims its 'electronic bomb' can wipe out entire US Navy...

North Korea has launched two satellites. The recent explosion of one of its missiles at an altitude of 72 kilometers was not, as reported, a failure. It is now claimed that that is the altitude at which an atomic explosion could paralyze America's electronics through EMP.

So, common sense tells us we are near to a world war that America is less than fully prepared to defend against. We have some EMP capability as well but it is not deployed, as Russia's is.

And the Democrat Party has qualms about more funding for our military?

I can't let go of the fact that KB Homes is insisting on building 104 condo units, including 77 3-story units. 375 people are expected to be crammed into this mini-town with their 233 new cars. This monstrosity of a plan will immediately change Fillmore's small, friendly character FOREVER.

We can see how crowded River Street is already with insufficient parking and heavy traffic. Planners may love narrow streets to slow traffic, but homeowners and drivers see that this makes things more crowded. I can only imagine what a beehive of traffic and mis-parked cars this proposed housing development will be.

It's zoned high density, but there should be reasonable limits to this density, which this plan seems to ignore. I ask how low can "high density" go and still comply with the city's housing element. We are talking about 77 3-story condos here!

I find it remarkable that this plan cleared the Planning Commission. It's so obviously terrible and destructive of our town's housing character. Just imagine a few family celebrations in that mini-town. Where would guests park? What about traffic and parking during national holidays? This plan is a looming nightmare.

The plan itself lacks imagination. As the Council points out, the colors are drab, the architecture not in keeping with Fillmore's existing housing. The structures are a hodgepodge of sameness, a confused conglomeration of small, undesirable 3-story condos - that's a lot of steps! The plan would be undesirable for Fillmore if all units were 2-story. It's just too congested.

The city should meet KB in court over the profound unreasonableness of the plan. It will be expensive (no doubt that's what KB is counting on). But the alternative is having to deal with this ugly, crowded, out-of-place "collection" of condo units - for generations.

The issue here is reasonableness - of an unacceptable plan, on such a small site, in such a small town. If ugliness were a recognized tort I would sue KB. At the very least this plan needs major deconstruction.

Remember: We're talking about 77 3-story condos!

In a pinch for time as usual.

It looks like Bill O’Reilly is out at FOX. I will miss his opinions, but he brought it upon himself. FOX will never be the same. How many warnings does it take?

****

The world has not been this close to all-out war since Japan attacked Pearl Harbor. Our enemies will assist each other in going after America. Thanks to that pathetic fool, former President Obama, we can no longer take our superpower status for granted.

Russia is now an immediate, clear and present threat. Putin's statement that he could wipe-out the entire US Navy with his electromagnetic pulse "bomb", may be close to the truth. This capacity was demonstrated against one of our best Destroyers in the Black Sea a couple of years ago. Two Russian fighter-bombers flew round our ship twice which shut down all electronics on-board. No radar left, nothing.

This weapon has already been widely distributed throughout the Russian military. Last I heard, we had one "under development". Maybe our enemies will wait to make it a fair fight?

With North Korea to deal with, and Russia threatening the US, this places America in grave danger. And, I'm not crying "wolf." World peace has never, in my life, been so threatened with massive destabilization as now.

KB Homes has waited for a number of years to begin building on its property south of Central Avenue and River Street. From what I heard of the conversation between KB Homes representatives and the Fillmore City Council last night, it may take longer still before any concrete is poured.

The entire Council is unhappy with KB's project design. Most object to the parking availability, color scheme, the "boxy", collection appearance, 3-story units, etc. It just doesn't fit the Fillmore "look".

The fact that the Council learned that KB had filed a lawsuit that day against the city didn't help the situation. It appeared to many that KB seeks to "blackmail" the city - approve the modifications we seek or meet us in court. KB denies this, but their denials don't carry much weight. KB's lawsuit is, of course, entirely legal, but it tends to poison the relationship.

I agree with the Council. The project stinks, particularly the parking and traffic issues. This would create a traffic nightmare on River Street. The project would fit perfectly in some place like Santa Clarita, but not Fillmore. And, who can like 3-story housing projects?

****

An ironic natural phenomenon happened this week in Malibu. That same City of Malibu which is seeking to "renourish" its Broad Beach dunes with thousands of truckloads of sand from the Grimes Canyon quarry. Here's a link: Mountain collapses in Malibu....

I suggested that they find the needed sand in their own back yard. Nature seem to agree with me. And, as that beach continues to erode with the waves and tide, as it naturally will, all Malibu has to do is dig away in its own back yard. But they should hurry because "Time and tide wait for no man."

****

I think there is a real chance for us to go to war again. Instead of Hitler, Tojo, and Mussolini, we now have Putin, Kim Jong-un, and whomever now runs Iran. Virtually all of America's enemies are now nuclear-armed, and each is eager to show off its weaponry.

Of these current foes, war with Iran and North Korea is inevitable. With Iran, because it is a true believer in historic Islam's goal to kill or conquer all non-believers in the world, and it says the time has come. North Korea, because the beloved leader is completely crazy.

At least we now have a president who is unafraid to confront our enemies and is determined to rebuild our military capabilities.

He is also unabashed about his belief in God. I just wonder if he's got the time to bring it all together.

Every citizen of Fillmore should be alerted to the attempt by the City of Moorpark and the City of Malibu to funnel more than 400 new daily truckloads of sand from the Grimes Canyon quarry, through Fillmore, and down to Malibu.

This is an extraordinary abuse of truck traffic norms on Highway 23 through our city. Fillmore has joined the County of Ventura to halt the trucking agreement. Please refer to story on Front Page.

It's time to call your Congressman.

****

I just had to watch some of the Democrat Party filibuster because it is the first time in American history that this ploy has been used to prevent the confirmation of a Supreme Court nominee. But this filibuster was just a last minute tantrum by Dem. Senators because it was a known futile effort. It forces the Republican Senators to ignite the "nuclear option", which guarantees Judge Neil Gorsuch will be confirmed as our newest Supreme Court Justice in a few days.

We have never had a more worthy nominee for the Supreme Court than Neil Gorsuch. His qualifications, character, and judicial record are impeccable. In scoring his 2,700 decisions during his 10-years on the 10th Circuit Court of Appeals, 97 percent were in the majority. And Dems. question whether he is in the "mainstream"?

The Dem. Senators have behaved disgracefully during the Judge's hearing. Gorsuch's professional stature is so far above his mediocre, craven critics the comparison is ridiculous.

The contest between Republican winners and Democrat losers is so hectic and heated, the business of normal governance has become a dangerous blur.

President Trump looks better every day. The Democratic Party is in a state of self-inflicted collapse.

I say hurray for the nuclear option. A simple up-or-down vote, with simple majority deciding the winner is what the Constitution calls for.

God bless Judge Neil Gorsuch for enduring months of defamation. He will be a superb Justice.

The City of Fillmore and Ventura County are appealing a court ruling that approved a contract between Moorpark and the Broad Beach Geologic Hazard Abatement District to haul sand from Grimes Canyon to Malibu to resurrect a vanished beach.

Grimes Canyon has apparently not been finalized as the source for the sand, but the stage is set. This idea of replenishing the sand on Broad Beach by this means is preposterous, dangerous, and about as anti-environmental as one could imagine.

"The plan, officially known as a “beach nourishment project,” is designed to replace sand after a dramatic shrinking of the beach due to erosion since 2008." The scale of the plan is Homeric. An estimated 43,000 truck trips over the course of the first stage in the project, or 420 trips per day on Highway 126 from the City of Moorpark [Grimes Canyon] through Fillmore." And, of course, those trucks have to return for more sand.

Highway 23 to Fillmore is one of the most winding roadways in the county, with hairpin turns and 300-foot cliffs. "The 10-year plan, approved by the California Coastal Commission earlier this month, will allow residents to import 300,000 cubic yards of sand every five years to rebuild sand dunes lost over the years due to pounding storms and high tides."

The $31-million Broad Beach renewal project would have trucks transporting sand to Malibu by way of 43,000 one-way trips through Fillmore and Santa Paula for three to five months at a time for up to 20 years. The plan is dangerously ridiculous in many ways.

First, the entire effort will most likely be futile. Erosion will continue to occur. Malibu has plenty of money (enough to change the tides?) to pay for such nonsense, and the quarry won't run out of sand; but everything related to this transfer will suffer enormous damage and cause great danger. Running hundreds of double-belly-dump rigs over Grimes Canyon would nearly shut down this important corridor to normal traffic. Traffic would be constantly backed-up. I witnessed one such truck overturn at Hwy. 23 and Hwy. 126 when the driver took the left turn too fast.

One solution to avoid this disastrous idea might be to reestablish the beach by dredging off- shore. After all, that's where the sand went. Dredges aren't pretty, but they work. Or maybe Malibu could start chewing away at the cliffs behind the beach front. It's the same kind of stuff that Grimes Canyon has, and it would be immediately available. Even if this unlikely plan succeeded that success would be swept away with the first big storm - that's what waves and tides do.

I try to visualize that constant train of hundreds of truckloads of sand traveling down Grimes Canyon, through Fillmore, Santa Paula, Ventura, Oxnard, down Hwy. 101 to Malibu - for years. There would be an exponential increase of traffic accidents and massive breakdown of roadways.

Find the man who concocted this nightmarish idea, and FIRE HIM!

That's just a beach too far.

The Fillmore Flashes are celebrating the arrival of their new head football coach, Corey Cole! You can read part of his many achievements on page one.

Welcome, Corey. We're looking forward to your first season with the Flashes.

****

I haven't had time to check out DRUDGE today. At a glance, however, I see too much really bad news.
The rape of that 14-year-old girl by two recently arrived illegal aliens makes me furious. That poor girl will never completely recover from that outrageous attack. Our schools fail to the extent they are run by liberal operators. Liberalism is the face of social and economic disaster.

The remedy in this case? I recall a solution offered by the late-great William F. Buckley, Jr. in another rape case: "...sever the offending member."

President Trump is facing the same liberal-Left enemies of the state. We are truly in a Constitutional war. It's been going on for more than 60 years. The crux of the problem can be stated very simply: Is the Constitution to be understood by the close reading of its plain language? Or are the words so weak and flexible as to conform to any judge's personal ideology? The Second Amendment is the clearest example of Leftist targeting. Its language is as clear as any one of the Ten Commandments.

The next two appointments to the Supreme Court will determine America's future. Today, the failed Democrat Party will pay any price to bring that future down to its level. We are watching years of liberal government disintegrate our traditions.

Our justice system is collapsing under the weight of hundreds of fraudelent judges and their hedonistic liberal decisions.

Listening to Senator Whitehouse yesterday during the Gorsuch hearings exemplified the problem for me. He is a true ideological fool; all politics. Hearing Judge Gorsch's response was the antidote to Whitehouse's blather. Whitehouse is a true swamp creature.

Congress must institute term limits to truly flush-out the swamp.

This is a very sad week for Fillmore, A 3-year-old girl was struck and killed in Piru by her father. The accident is under investigation. Our condolences to the family

****

Snoop Dogg? I've heard this name on the media from time to time for years but never really knew who he was or what he did to become, apparently, rich and famous. Now I see he used to be some kind of pop artist, popular with the ignorant, Leftist dead-enders.

He' made a video, Snoop Dogg shooting a clown-faced Trump stand-in with a toy gun. This goes beyond the protections of our First Amendment because he is actually inciting the assignation of the President of the United States. He is part of the cancerous Left wing liberal remains of the Democrat Party. That Party needs to be disinfected.

****

I watched Rachel Maddow on MSNBC last night. I watch that channel for amusement from time to time. She kept teasing the audience with what she planned to spring later in the show. The whole staff seemed to be in a tizzy. Then it happened! Rachel thrust her prize towards the camera - two pages of Donald Trump's 1040 tax returns. she was apparently ignorant of the fact that the Wall Street Journal had published them a couple of years ago, without the fanfare.

The two stolen pages revealed that Trump had paid $38 million on income of $150 million that year. That's more than MSNBC COMCAST [24%]... MUCH HIGHER THAN OBAMA [19%]... AND BERNIE [13%]!. reat favor by showing that MSNBC and the rest of the Leftist media are liars. Who wants to watch habitual liars - sounds too much like Clinton again.

****

Maddow, touted as a major brain in the Leftist media, lost her mind at that moment. But she did Donald Trump a big favor by showing, again, what liars most of the media are.

****

It's past time for the Never-Trumpers and the Republican traitors in Congress, to let go. Time to give the President the opportunity to get his work done. These are extraordinarily dangerous times to be sabotaging our Commander-in-Chief.

The distrust between Republicans and Democrats today is at an historic high. Since the Democrats, unwittingly determined to obliterate the remains of their party, embrace the toxic demons of the far Left to assist in the fray, the nation is under a dark cloud. That cloud obscures our enemy's obvious agenda. It is a deadly distraction. The Democratic Party's blind, hate-driven, Never Trump attacks make it a clear and present danger to national security. Members of the DNC are in need of psychiatric assistance.

This political war has had one beneficial effect. It has clearly revealed the extent of government surveillance mechanisms, created by Congress, to spy on American citizens - all American citizens. Our NSA, etc. now provides relief for old-fashioned paranoiacs. Maybe a cure, since their fears are now proven justified. But for most Americans these revelations only stimulate anger, frustration, and a demands to regulate the system, if possible. The thing to remember is that these secret agencies have been tracking, recording, and storing every key-stroke and conversation of every citizen, for years. The power for that task alone is nearly unbelievable. Reasonable people may also believe that this information, gathered from all government agencies as well as citizens, is also available to our enemies. Secretary Clinton (still un-chastened) let the world know our secrets through her illegal bathroom server, for 4 years. so the secret is out - there are none left. WikiLeaks tells us that less than 10 percent of its cash of information has been revealed to date.

Our domestic-political turmoil is observed by our four principal enemies, Russia, China, North Korea, and Iran. Each is a nuclear-armed nation (with Iran soon to be) enthralled by the prospect of attacking America. Our military leaders tell us that defense assets are smaller today than at any time since pre-WWI. (That's a one, not a two). We cannot fix our deficiencies with a snap of our Commander-in-Chief's finger. For example, our newest aircraft carrier (the Ford) will not be ready for two more years! All ground-fighting services are severely undermanned, while the Air Force has to repair its planes with used parts. Eight years with Barak Obama as Commander-in-Chief has placed the United States in serious peril.

A recent DRUDGE headline: " Russian Military Expert: Quietly Seeding U.S. Shoreline With Nuke 'Mole' Missiles... I wish they wouldn't do that.

Let's look at a few other interesting notices. " COULD NKOREA STRIKE HAWAII? The answer is, of course, yes. Though the Empire of Japan tried this once, with temporary success, we were, again, unprepared. And another: " China urges deal to avert 'head-on collision'... Preposterous as it may seem, China is well on its way to claiming the entire South China Sea as its own. Who is expected to defend against this offensive? China is spoiling for a fight, but it will settle for a successful intimidating threat.

I fear that President Trump does not have enough time to prepare our defenses. Democrats won't even let him fill cabinet positions in a timely fashion. We are approaching a time when each of our enemies can join together to trounce our fleet in Southeast Asia. Without using atomic weapons we could not defend against swarms of missile attacks.

As always, I wish I had more time.

I watched President Trump's first address to the joint session of Congress. Like most Americans, I was very impressed. I also agree that it was his best speech yet. He knows what he's doing and is determined to keep his promises to make America great again.

My expectations of more Democrat Party cluelessness were fulfilled. Members of that Party made me feel ashamed of their presence. Today, Democrats are unable to put the bitter reaction to their election loss behind them. They can only revel in any opportunity to disrupt and delay the work of our new Commander-in-Chief. They are a disgrace to their party and a threat to orderly government.

The President's speech was uplifting and positive. Even his liberal-Leftist opponents recognize that Donald Trump is for them now the real thing; he's indisputably President of our nation - no more weasely comments about legitimacy. The Obama misadministration is dead, rotten, and forgotten. It's time to fire-off that 7 tons-worth of Clinton fireworks.

Watching Mrs. Owens responding to the thunderous applause for her fallen husband and SEAL hero was a heartbreaking moment. "The SEAL's widow Carryn Owens sat beside Ivanka Trump and cried as the divided Congress united for the longest ovation of the evening" God bless her and her family. Without such men America could not have been created and cannot survive. They deserve the solid leadership of men like Donald Trump.

Now, we need Congress to do its duty to fill all cabinet vacancies and approve Judge Neil M. Gorsuch as a Justice of the Supreme Court.

I have to say that I am awestruck at the President's accomplishments during his first month in office.

I had never heard of Milo Yiannopoulos before Leftist radicals rioted recently at UC Berkley. Now I understand that he has identified himself as sexual predator from age 14. A very aggressive pedophile at that. Today, at age 33, he "condones statutory rape and sexual relationships between boys and men." His most recent comments on this subject caused Breitbart News, where he was a senior editor, to fire him. Why Breitbart hired him in the first place is a mystery. Though he is an articulate proponent of the conservative Right, Mussolini was also a booster for timely train schedules. Mussolini left office abruptly, for cause. Breitbart News tossed Milo under the bus for cause - many Christian conservatives wish it were a train instead of a bus. And, it was a disgusting sight to view Milo as a pin-up for sexual predators on DRUDGE - twice.

Looking further into DRUDGE, "Leftists in Germany Want to Give Refugees Right to Vote...

European nations, all of them, haven't a clue to the danger of opening their borders to anyone who wants to come in. Take Sweden, for example.

We're getting another look into Putin's soul: ” Russian military continues massive upgrade..."

Another trading partner prepares to ante-up: China finishing South Sea buildings that could house missiles...

More peace residue from Obama Mid-East policy: IRAN READY TO GIVE USA 'SLAP IN FACE'...

Well folks, it looks like peace in our time - again.

I was determined to write something completely positive today. So, I'm still sitting here....

OK, I've got something. The rain has been great! Our drought is ending. Our water wells are up by 30 feet. And, we're even getting some beautiful sunny days!

Whew!

But that's not all. Our Sespe Creek is flowing, bringing back the snowy egrets and night heron, maybe even our phenomenal great blue heron. We got used to seeing these beautiful birds before the drought settled in for the past 5 years. Now I'm glad to see them back, making their circuit from the wilds of the Sespe to the pond near the fish hatchery.

Yes, I know, this conversation is probably very boring for most readers, but it's refreshing for me, who is tired of thinking about the explosive mess our world is in. Today I'm thinking of all the good and peaceful things we have in America, especially in our small town of Fillmore. We are blessed, but rarely think of how blessed we truly are. So, I'm taking a little time to think about it now.

I'll just say thank you Lord.

***

It's great to see Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warmly welcomed to our White House again. Welcome, Bibi! God bless Israel. Your great nation has been disparaged and insulted by our previous president, Obama, for 8 years. No more. We're with you again.

I'm out of time and space. So, everyone have a great day.

Congratulations to all employees of the Fillmore Unified School District who were given special recognition by the School Board at Tuesday's meeting. We should recognize, especially, John Wilber for his extraordinary 32 years of service as teacher and principal at all of our schools. Thanks, John, for a job very well done.

****

It's great to see so much rain during the past month or so. Very gratifying to see Sespe Creek beginning to roar again after 5 years of draught. It may not be exactly roaring again, but it is flowing fast. I couldn't resist traveling up Grand Avenue to the beginning of Sespe access. As I slowly parked next to the County's newly constructed cable fence, I caught a snowy egret take off from the water. I haven't seen an egret for a long time. They feed of frogs and small fish while standing motionless in shallow water. It was a beautiful thing to see.

****

Two things that were not so beautiful to see were illegal signs prohibiting public access, and the County's new fence. The home owner at the first house at the end of Grand, adjacent to the Creek, thinks he owns the access property and continues to threaten anyone attempting to hike north up the Sespe. For years he has physically threatened such hikers, throwing rocks, at them, etc. The Sheriff's Department has tried to intervene more than once but the perpetrator doesn't answer.

His illegal use of threats and force to keep the public out of the Sespe Creek state and federal protected area must be stopped. I urge the public to assist in seeing this unlawful conduct prosecuted or otherwise corrected. While I was taking photos of the area this week a young man, serving in the Air Force, a resident of Fillmore on leave, asked me how to get to Devil's Gate and Swallow's Nest. I told him he would have to hike about a mile or so up the Sespe. I'm sure I'm not the only one who would like to make that hike again.

Recent rains have bowed back the willow thickets at the Creek entrance area. When things dry out a little I will attempt that hike again. Sespe Creek not only marks off the Condor Refuge but is "formed by one of more than 30 tributary streams before it empties into the Santa Clara River...." "Sespe Creek is indisputable the finest wilderness run south of the Sierra Nevada." "Class 1V and 1V+ rapids become common place, and a couple of challenging portages await all but the most brazen of boaters.”

In 2000 I sought the assistance of the American Whitewater group in Virginia. They provided substantial legal information concerning the obstruction of public access on Sespe Creek. In short they stated:
California's Constitution and accompanying case law are clear and unambiguous in regard to the matter of navigation. The simple fact if that California's state laws define all state waterways as navigable. The non-commercial public has an essentially unlimited right to float and recreate within the high water mark on any rivers..." "NO INDIVIDUAL...shall be permitted to exclude the right of way to such water whenever it is required for any public purpose, nor to destroy or obstruct the free navigation of such water..."

And that's all I have to say about that - for now.

****

Please refer to today's letter from our District Attorney, Greg Totten, concerning the danger of licensing any commercial marijuana activities within city limits. He lists the dangers clearly.

****

I'm short on space and haven't gotten to the politics stuff yet. A few short comments.

I hate to be seen as an alarmist, but, I think we will be in a shooting war very shortly. Iran will give us no choice. If it again harasses our war ships with its "fast boats" those boats should be blown out of the water. I'm assuming that Iran has been given notice to that effect.

Major problem: None of our carrier battle groups are deployed anywhere near the Middle East. We have little back-up. The USS Cole may finally have a chance at revenge; but it too needs back-up. Remember United States Navy guided-missile destroyer USS Cole on 12 October 2000, was bombed in Yemen's Aden harbor. Seventeen American sailors were killed and 39 injured in the terrorist attack. Shamefully, no counter action was ever taken.

****

The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals has always been recognized as the most liberal-radical federal court in the nation. The recent hearing on Trump's immigration pause is just repeating this history. The AG's office has represented the President in pathetic fashion. More next week. We are entering a Constitutional crisis. Trump should pull an Andrew Jackson, and ignore any negative 9th Circuit opinion. "Let them enforce".

Want to be heard on the issue of fees for permits to grow legal marijuana in Fillmore? Attend the February14 Public Hearing at city hall.

Proposition 64, which recently legalized recreational marijuana throughout California, will cause social havoc for generations to come. This ubiquitous weed will undermine law and order in thousands of different ways, mostly through stimulating crime, corrupting the morals of our youth, and seriously impacting their health. The deleterious effects, especially upon the mental development of young people, are absolutely indisputable.

The liberal Left can once again take credit for the wholesale popularization of this gateway drug. I think it will be many generations before the profoundly noxious consequences of this horrendous mistake can be remedied. Generations to come will suffer for our wanton stupidity. For true medical uses marijuana has a serious place. For general "recreation" it should have no place at all.

****

President Donald Trump keeps his word. No one should be surprised that he is doing what he said he would do during the primaries and up through the election. But the Democrats seem shocked at his early success and are determined to slow that progress for no purpose but to annoy the President.

Trump's cabinet picks are superb. Why Republicans should pay any attention at all to lectures by liberal Democrats about "mainstream" nominees, of their choice, should be obvious. Trump is now dealing with the new mainstream, the Middle American mainstream. The mainstream of forgotten Americans. The Dems have had 8 long years to diminish America using their "mainstream" politicians, media, and president. Now it's time for an infusion of common sense and traditional conservative actors and policies. It's time once again to reintroduce our traditional Judeo-Christian ethics and policies. The President is off to a great start with his nomination of Judge Neil Gorsuch for the Supreme Court. I can just hope that this will prove to be just one of at least 3 such nominations. He is surrounding himself with the very best people.

I wish him health and continuous success as he leads our nation back to strength and greatness. We should pay no attention to those Lefties behind the curtain.

I think most of you already know Bob Crum, long time friend and photographer for the Gazette. I'm happy to announce that Bob will now be writing a weekly column, and seeking photographs from our readers, as well as taking some himself. He has a free hand in organizing his space and is a true photo pro. Enjoy his introduction this week which includes a little autobiography.
Welcome Bob!

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Congratulations to our police department (Ventura County Sheriff's Department) for another safe and peaceful year.

Fillmore Sheriff's Captain Dave Wareham told the Fillmore City Council last night that, once again, we our crime statistics are low, even lower than last year. He told us that last year Fillmore was credited with being the 17th safest city in the country.

Several arson fires were reported but they were attributed to a homeless man living near the riverbed. Wareham told the Council that response time on a 911 call was averaging about 6 minutes. That's fast!

Again, congratulations to the Department for a job well done.

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Well, we have more good news concerning our new $9-million county firehouse. The steel structure is going up without problems, except for the rain, which I dare not call a problem

I took a few photos yesterday when the architect, manager, and contractor were touring the site. I was told the project would be complete around the end of the year.

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Donald Trump is proving to be a man of his word. I have to be impressed with his energy and directness. For those who hate him I can only say, at least he is bold, clear, and truthful about his actions; he's keeping his campaign promises. He is not mousing around like Obama did for 8 years. I have to love it.

He has appointed the very best cabinet, possibly in the nation's history. They are, to the man (and woman) bright, energetic, and loyal. For conservatives, whose ideas have languished for so many decades in that swamp of Political Correctness -we're finally free to make America great again! Trump gives hope to our faithful friends, like Israel, and fear to our enemies.

I am especially hopeful and thankful for that Trump has acknowledged Almighty God in America; from his inaugural address to his first statements as our new President, he continues to acknowledge God as the foundation of our hope, protection, and success. He said it, "God will protect us." This is a primary reason the Liberal Left is acting so insanely. They hate the fact that America, from its beginning, has always acknowledge God. Our motto is "In God We Trust". As long as we stay on that track America will be blessed and victorious over its enemies.

We should remember that in speaking of enemies, our President's oath of office requires that he defend against "...all enemies, foreign and domestic" It's the domestic ones who now challenge our peace and tranquility. The Liberal Left is coiled and ready to strike. It demands abortion, and hates the privacy and safety little girls were once afforded when accessing their bathrooms. It's enough to acknowledge that Leftist-Liberals simply hate America's Judeo Christian tradition.

God bless America - pray for Donald Trump's health, safety, and continued success.

I had to laugh at DRUDG's banner photo of 20 White House staffers frowning at the camera, below a huge headline reading "Party's Over".

Indeed it will be this Friday. The eight-year nightmare is finally over. It's time for Christians and all true believers to celebrate America's Constitution and her foundational Judeo-Christian traditions again.

Long live our democratic republic; may she always know freedom through strength by proclaiming that In God Is Our Trust, and E Pluribus Unum (From Many, One - our first motto).

As Constitutionalists rejoice for the end of Barack Obama's misadministration, they face extraordinary threats from recalcitrant Democrat Party members and their radical Leftist anarchists.

Nothing tells more about the divide in national politics than the behavior of this large group of dissenters who loudly proclaim President-Elect Donald Trump's election victory to be illegitimate.

This claim that Trump's election victory is somehow flawed by the alleged hacking by Russia of Hillary Clinton's campaign Chairman John Podesta's private emails, is absurd. But the length to which the anti-Trump camp is willing to go in order to disrupt the inauguration is dangerous. They openly admit their intent to take numerous actions, including illegal, forceful activity to disrupt the peaceful transition of power from the Democrat Party to the Republican Party.

Law enforcement is taking them at their word and anticipates violence, possibly to Trump himself. This anti-inauguration group is determined to violate a fundamental part of our Constitution (elections) by falsely using another part of our Constitution (the Fourth Amendment) to cause disruption.

This wide-spread violent threat to a peaceful transition of power is creating a national crisis. It also clearly identifies the groups and individuals involved. These are the people composing the Clinton sympathizers. They are the scum that has to be removed from the swamp. That swamp is not confined to Washington D.C. This swamp fever has infected the whole nation. We might see ourselves as half swamp and half free- shades of our Civil War.

The Obama-Clinton establishment seeks to entangle our nation in oppressive laws and restrictions, regulations, overreaching departmental "legislations" etc. California and New York are prime examples of oppressive states which continue to impose extraordinary, intrusive laws and regulations which violate our Constitutional rights.

With a President Trump we have a good chance to de-regulate and reestablish those lost Constitutional rights. I have in mind especially the recent draconian, unconstitutional laws passed through Propositions, which violate Second Amendment rights. These sorts of unlawful restrictions (takings) came through a tactic called incrementalism - taking a right by increments rather than with all-out bans and restrictions. Even though the taking was done by state propositions, here it is still unconstitutional. A state (or its residents) cannot violate the clear wording of Constitutional rights to suit its whim. Using an ignorant electorate to do so does not change the result - it's still unconstitutional.

California cannot pass a law prohibiting free speech, for example.

It will take the full force of a new Supreme Court to set things straight here. Thank God we will soon have a new Constitution-respecting Court, another distinguished Antonin Scalia Court, an "originalist " Court which respects the clear meaning of Constitutional wording.

So there is great hope that violations of our basic law will be corrected by a new Court, and the Second Amendment will get full respect.

Thank God for our soon-to-be President Donald Trump.

I seem to recall that King George III made an entry in his diary, on July 4, 1776, which read "Nothing happened today". True or not, it seems that something similar could be noted this past week, except for the tragic house fire which destroyed the Ortega residence.

The new year has begun and, as is often the case, the news channels are slow. So slow that I might as well agree with that old monarch. Well, maybe next week things will pick up.

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Ironically another historical fact can be appropriately used this week. When the Continental Army had won our Revolutionary War, the surrendering British troops played a popular tune of that day entitled "The World Turned Up-Side-Down". I believe that world is again Up-Side-Down.

I'm concerned that some world-shaking event will occur concerning President-Elect Trump and the transition of power from Democrats to Republicans. There are many who share the same worry, many more who are afraid to speak openly about it. This concern is that something will intervene, shortly before, during, or soon after the inauguration which might seek to invalidate the proceeding by declaring the election invalid.

This is an extraordinary belief to be sure, but hundreds of thousands of informed conservative thinkers agree that such a threat is possible.

Their concern is based upon the behavior of powerful members of the radical Left who hate Donald Trump with an unnatural, unholy intensity and who will never accept that he won the election. Leftist billionaires like George Soros, and his string of globalist anarchists have suffered such a brutal disruption of their agendas that they are psychologically incapable of accepting the results. - without attempting revenge. They have been absolutely flummoxed.

They reason, how could this be? We had the perfect scheme to plunge America into another eight years of Obamaculture, another eight years of socialism, military weakness, anti-Christian government, suicidal economics, and the forcing of little girls to share their bathrooms with perverted adult males. They thought they had the perfect governmental plan to obliterate our Judeo-Christian tradition and destroy our Constitution. They had that lean and hungry look for our Supreme Court, the key to their complete Leftist agenda.

But they didn't get it! And they are crazy angry. Just listen to the psychopathic lamentations of the Hollywood Glitterettes. (my word) and the "important" liberal people. The establishment took it in the chops, and I say Yippy!

So, like so many Americans today, I am anxious about the coming inaugural; the watchword should be "Beware".

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Liberal Democrats cling to the notion that the election outcome is suspicious at best, and somehow invalid due to allegations that Russians hacked John Podesta's emails. The emails just exposed the outright corruption in the Democrat national organizations. But if this hacking is true, and it's disputed, the resulting embarrassment is well deserved. But such allegations have nothing to do with the validity of the election itself. If there was hacking it changed nothing at all.

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Liberal-Progressives rant on about Global Warming incessantly. The "science" they tout to prove their fearful belief is contrary to the mass of contrary information. Global warming, they say, will end up destroying the world as we know it. They are talking not about normal climate change, without which we would really be in trouble, but alleged man-made climate change, which is what has made Al Gore a millionaire through his preaching. Now it is reported that scientists believe we could be entering a new Ice Age, following temperature reading below 80 degrees Fahrenheit in Russia. The Global Warming story is one of the greatest hoaxes ever perpetrated on mankind.

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Drudge has reported that President Obama's farewell address to the nation was longer than the good-bye speeches of Ronald Reagan, Bill Clinton and George W. Bush combined. He referred to himself 75 times. It's that pathetic legacy. His farewell could last until after the inauguration. Maybe he will take some free time to revisit all the heads of state he bowed to during his first unforgettable year in office.

The Gazette is a little smaller this week. We are working on some changes for 2017 as we enter our 28th year. Not only is the Gazette entering its 28th year, the publisher is also 27-years older.

The new year begs some historical reflection. The changes, at every newspaper level, have been extraordinary. Starting out with 3 Apple Mac Plus machines which could print-out a justified column of text on ordinary paper, then to be trimmed to fit on layout sheets, we left the hot wax and X-acto knives behind and advanced into the digital age. What was laboriously crafted and delivered by hand has evolved to screen composition and electronic transfer. No more "boards" to transport to the press room. No more need to develop film.

The Gazette survived the great Northridge earthquake of 1994. It devastated Fillmore, as well as much of Southern California, and drove the paper out of its original office at 400 Central Avenue, the old Masonic Temple.

Confusion reigned for the next five or six years. We worked out of a half-dozen places at first; our editor's residence, and 3 other homes, for 3 months. Then the city generously provided trailers and other work places. We were in the trailers for several years because so much office space was destroyed by the quake. The Gazette office later moved 3 times due to quake disruption. We have been at our current location for more than 10 years.

Very many challenges were met successfully by the Gazette.

The town has changed dramatically since the Gazette appeared. Most of Fillmore was pretty well camouflaged by groves of orange trees, so much so that traffic on Highway 126 could barely notice the town. Now, in every direction, homes and businesses have sprung-up and the groves are mostly gone. City development has been dramatic during the past 27 years, but it has been a struggle.

Today the Gazette has the best equipment that science has provided for newspaper publication. Compared to those days of film and hot wax, the transition has been extraordinary. I don't miss those days.

One important part of the newspaper is the Gazette online. I do regret it has not been utilized more by our schools. Special attention was paid to the design of our website in providing a page for each and every school and each classroom. There have been few takers of those free opportunities.

For all of our readers and viewers I wish a Happy New Year!

Pray for the success of our new President-elect!

This is the last edition of the Gazette for the year 2016. The old year is worn down, as is this publisher.

We have dealt with a considerable amount of negative things this past year, overcoming most of them.

Have a happy New Year.