Archive By Section - Columnists
We should not 'stay the course'
Bush's recent speech to the G20 was mostly a plea to stay the course and avoid the temptation of too much government intervention in the economy.
Pick the smartest guy at the BBQ
Oh, boy. Monday's stock market crash signaled a resounding kiss goodbye to the Great Lipstick Debate. The worst day in finance since 9-11. A 500-point crash on top of a real estate and mortgage meltdown of epic and unprecedented proportions.
Reflection on the election
This presidential election is one for the history books. Around-the-clock political analyzing and second-guessing had as its downsize the tendency for pundits to misconstrue or blow out of proportion every word, gesture, deed, acquaintance and faux pas of politicians. Whether the commentators appear malicious or simply attention-grabbing, the influence of the news organizations played a pivotal role in America's democratic journey.
Don’t let them fool you with their lies
With less than two months until the election, I believe we are on the verge of some significant and very-much-needed change.
Spending cuts and tax increases
Well, here we go again with another version of the Sacramento budget crisis. Californians were given a heads-up that the state is in deep trouble when, on Oct. 2, the governor sent a letter to the House of Representatives on the eve of the vote regarding the bailout of financial institutions. Schwarzenegger wrote: "Absent a clear resolution to this financial crisis that restores confidence and liquidity to the credit markets, California and other states may ...
Welcome Ian Lamont
We're edging up on the middle of September - already! Wasn't it just yesterday that SCV children were heading back to school? Yet, here it is, its been nearly a month! Welcome Ian Lamont
A solution for top notch high schools
We are seven weeks and one day away from what is the most important election in American history. Of particular importance to Santa Clarita Valley residents is an item at the end of a very lengthy ballot. It is Measure SA, the William S. Hart Union High School District bond.
Mr. SCV: Obama wants my cowboy shirts
My Dearest Sister-like substance Lisa, Delighted to get your e-mail earlier in the week about the family Christmas drawing and happy that you are recovering after what you called "your November 4th accidental Prestone antifreeze overdose and wrist-slashing suicide attempt whilst hysterically sobbing." Honey. Share your feelings. Are you sad? I'm guessing you're sad because of You-Know-Who getting elected, not because of the passage of Proposition 8. Not to insinuate you're gay, like our brother ...
Obamicans, come out, come out wherever you are
I will present a numerical fact. Barack Obama crushed John McCain in a most nasty way, beating the Republican by in excess of 7.5 million actual votes.
SCV veterans will always be remembered
I've long viewed Veterans Day through misty eyes. As the offspring of a proud, disabled World War II Navy vet, I couldn't have turned out any differently.
Project Lifesaver: bringing them home safely
High on every parent's "worst fear" list is the worry that his or her child will get lost, especially if the youngster has a disorder that would prevent him from communicating with others.
What is a Ponzi scheme anyway?
So news broke hot and heavy at last week's end on all local media concerning an alleged financial fraud involving Celia Gallardo and her various Gold Feather companies. I swear, only coincidence led me to write a column on Sept. 7 regarding Vital Express.
Plugging in to the teen psyche
Raising teenagers is one of the most challenging experiences that a parent will ever go through.
Hands off our proposition
Proposition 8 sought to undo a recent court order that overturned the will of the people on the issue of gay marriage.
We must find more young Republicans
Face it, Republicans, we lost. This is, however, no time to bury our collective heads in the sand. Our wake-up call should be the fact that the only voter demographic we won overwhelmingly was the religious, white male, over-50 category. Hmmm! Sen. Barack Obama is the next president of the United States. As Republicans, we need to congratulate our new president and respectfully allow him to present his plan of action. He has been duly ...
Articles by Section - Columnists
Charlie Vignola: A scandal is only a scandal when it happens to Democrats
Imagine for a moment a President of the United States who ignored warnings about an imminent terrorist threat that resulted in an attack that killed American citizens, then argued that we didn't need an investigation to figure out what went wrong.
Tom Purcell: Advice from the master
ill Clinton, wearing a white toga and a crown of gold, sat in a garden while attractive women fed him grapes. President Obama, having just suffered the most devastating week of his presidency, sat nearby, seeking advice in the art of telling whoppers. Using the Socratic method of teaching, Clinton began to tutor his new student.
Frank Ferry: Live from City Hall
May is Building Safety Month and the ideal time to tackle all of those home-improvement projects on your "to do" list before summer is in full swing.
David Hegg: Of progress and purpose
There is no debate that time marches on. The sun rises, shines, and sets, and then does it all over again, day after day. And each day we encounter the unknown components of a whole new 24-hour set of life experience.
Tim Myers: Where respect for private property ends
As a Midwesterner and a Lutheran, I must admit to a great love of irony, and there is nothing more entertaining and ironic than the practical behavior of an elected official, particularly a locally elected official, when their ideology runs straight into the practicalities of the moment.
Phil Kerpen: Government can't be trusted with our health
"We have a large government," political consultant David Axelrod offered as a plea of ignorance to all of the scandals swirling around his boss. "Part of being president is there's so much beneath you that you can't know because the government is so vast."
The Village Idiot: Why I hate my Facebook friends
When I first signed up for Facebook, I was thrilled to get back in touch with old friends, distant relatives, high school classmates and old co-workers. I'd check in to find out that they had new children, new spouses, new lives, new hobbies, new kitchens, new news.
Gary Horton" Why can't California be more like Texas?
I just returned from a three-day business trip to Austin, Texas. This was my third visit to Austin in 18 months. Each time, my visit has focused on business opportunities stemming from Austin's robust population growth.
Jonathan Kraut: Domestic violence advocates needed
My firm was contacted last year to support a domestic case involving a young woman and her year-old baby. She needed help keeping legal custody of her child. The baby's father, a volunteer counselor with a drug rehab program, had claimed the mother of his child was unfit and a drug user.
Tom Purcell: Speech to the best graduating class ever
Students, faculty, family members and friends, it is my great honor to deliver your commencement speech today.
Jason Stanford: What Rick Perry can learn from California
The faux pas bordered on sedition. The Texas Association of Dairymen sent blocks of mild cheddar to state senate offices "in appreciation for your hard work this legislative session on behalf of the people of Texas." Legislative offices often get free-and perfectly legal-swag from special interests. The problem arose when someone read the label. The company that made the cheese was based in California.
Cliff Schecter: The United States really needs to grow up already
This country needs an enema. I paraphrase, of course, from Jack Nicholson's take on Gotham City in his turn at The Joker.
Maria Gutzeit: Cycling is not all about Lance
Recently, people asked me with sincerity in their eyes if I am reconsidering my involvement in cycling because of the Lance Armstrong scandal. My response: Pftttt.
Byron York: Winning Hispanic vote not enough for GOP
After six months of mulling over November's election results, many Republicans remain convinced that the party's only path to future victory is to improve the GOP's appeal to Hispanic voters.
Michael Berger: Bill helps colleges meet student needs
Higher education is undergoing significant changes such as we've never seen before. And while we're charging forward to integrate technology in the classroom, offer online learning, and enhance the academic support available to students outside of the classroom, we find ourselves being held back by a relic of the past.
