Archive By Section - Columnists
Tim Myers: Top 10 stories for this year
In my humble opinion no exercise promotes general boredom and yawning more than the annual top 10 lists. At the end of the year the media punishes ordinary souls with mind numbing listings of the top 10 films, songs, news events, what have you for the year just ended, nearly always biasing their choices to the safe and still memorable events of the last half and in some cases even the last quarter of the year.
Bob Kellar: Live from City Hall
Earlier this month, the United States Congress restored a commuter tax benefit that will help millions of public transportation users save money.
Right Here, Right Now: We already have gun control
Vice President Joe Biden said, "I guarantee you, we'll get [gun control] done by the end of January."
Kevin Bayona: End of the Chavez era
With all the trouble and intrigue brewing in Europe and Asia, little attention is being paid to the looming crisis unfolding in Latin America. Venezuela's fiery leader, Hugo Chavez, is reportedly on the brink of death after recovering from surgery related to an undisclosed form of pelvic cancer.Chavez has been fighting a severe lung infection in a hospital in Cuba, while the future of Venezuela hangs in the balance.
A bad day for good taste in Santa Clarita
Thursday, Dec. 13, 2012 is a date that shall go down in Santa Clarita epicurean infamy. That day, after a glorious gourmet run spanning over a decade, Chef Jason Park and Maru Sushi served their last meals to an appreciative and saddened Santa Clarita clientele. Jason's Maru Sushi story isn't just about food. More, it's a story of perseverance, commitment to principle, and the personal pursuit of perfection. Unfortunately, this story also exposes the sadder ...
Washington is a reflection of the national soul
Washington, D.C. - There was a young man - 23 at most - quietly saying his morning prayers on Capitol Hill on the third day of 2013, and it seemed for a moment like a warm ray of light in the midst of a blistering cold spell.
In the new year Congress should ring out the old
n early December, a CBS News poll found the 112th Congress' approval rating was 9 percent. That's the lowest rating since CBS began measuring Congress' approval in 1977. That 9 percent is so close to the margin of error that it might not be possible to sink lower without a shovel. On New Year's Day, Congress jumped over the fiscal cliff, trying to pull the nation with it. Like ...
Tom Purcell: Real issues lie ahead of U.S. in 2013
Washington's self-created "fiscal cliff" crisis has been somewhat resolved, which means we can continue ignoring the real fiscal crises that are dead ahead.
Protect and serve
ar is hell. But when it's justified, I suppose it must occur. Our country, however, has been in perpetual war since World War II; perhaps out of some silly notion that constant war keeps us away from economic depression. It certainly does keep some military industrialists very rich. Have you heard? We're renewing our troop efforts in Africa in 2013. Is every other nation out there "evil" in some way? Are we just "fixing" everyone ...
Steve Lunetta: Letters ask the questions of the year
Here at the Vast Right Wing Conspiracy, we get numerous letters that scream to be published. Some are profane, some are funny and some are thoughtful. However, they never fail to entertain.
Tom Campbell: Castaic Lake Water Agency looks back at 2012
Well, you could say we saved the biggest news for last, and in any case 2012 will go down as a landmark year in the history of the Castaic Lake Water Agency, with the purchase of the Valencia Water Co. - a move that consolidates 84 percent of the Santa Clarita Valley's retail water connections under the agency's umbrella.
David Hegg: Essential values to live an ethical life today
Someone has said "if you don't stand for something you'll fall for anything." In the wake of a long list of human-initiated tragedies in the past year, it is time for us all to think about what we believe in and are willing to stand for. That evil exists in this world is a given. The idea that evil can be prevented underlies every code by which societies have attempted to order themselves. We have ...
Tim Myers: Resolve to swear off false equivalence
"False equivalence is a logical fallacy which describes a situation where there is a logical and apparent equivalence, but when in fact there is none." - Wikipedia
Frank Ferry: Canyon Country community center to open
The city of Santa Clarita works hard to increase and improve the quality and quantity of recreation, community services and sports programs for residents. This effort has taken many forms, including building new parks, trails and facilities, creating partnerships among public and private entities, offering high quality, accessible programming, classes, events and sports teams for youth, special needs, and adults.
Scott Wilk: Don’t be fooled, California is still broke
On Jan. 10, Gov, Jerry Brown will release his 2013-14 budget proposal. Brown has made pronouncements that he will be pursuing a "robust" agenda that reflects his interest in creating a legacy for his administration on issues such as high-speed rail and addressing the state's capacity to store and deliver water. While advocating for about $100 billion in new spending for these stated projects, Gov. Brown has called for fiscal restraint from his own party ...
Articles by Section - Columnists
Kevin Bayona: China's rise is challenge to U.S.
The start of the 21st century has brought with it an avalanche of international problems such as war, economic recession, nuclear proliferation, and rising global competitors. Although all these issues merit individual attention and consideration, I think the unrelenting rise of China presents the largest and most significant global challenge to the United States.
Gary Horton: Life can be a sound track by the B-52’s
It's sometime in the late 1980s and our family and friends are piled inside our Ford cruiser van heading off to a family ski trip to Lake Tahoe - or to a Boy Scout boating trip at Lake Mead - or some other fun teen-friendly vacation destination.
Kevin Buck: Straw men live in glass houses
Webster's dictionary has several different definitions for the word socialism. The one conservative fear and loathe the most is:
Tom Purcell: A nail in the coffin of Americans' rights
oy, do I feel sorry for smokers these days.
David Hegg: Ethically Speaking
Sometimes it turns out that famous clichés are just plain wrong, or at least wrong in enough important situations to make them suspect. One with which I particularly disagree is "Familiarity breeds contempt." I know what it is supposed to identify, and I flatly disagree. Familiarity, with the right people, in the right way, and for the right reasons, actually breeds contentment.
Steve and Cokie Roberts: Fixing Fox and the GOP
Roger Ailes, the head of Fox News Channel, is a very smart man. And he knows how to count, a skill that has apparently eluded many of his fellow conservatives.
Edward Headington: In honor of Presidents' Day 2013
Presidents' Day is a time set aside to celebrate the legacies of George Washington and Abraham Lincoln and also remember all of the Presidents of the United States (POTUS) that have made our nation great.
Steve Lunetta: The case against Democrats
A friend of mine recently sent me one of those political emails that screams for fact-checking. You know the ones I mean - "Obama is really a space alien and we have proof!" or "Hilary Clinton Smokes Pot with Harry Reid."
Michael Reagan: Making Sense
Our failure in chief gave us his annual blurred vision of America again Tuesday night.
Diana West: Why aren't feathers flying over Brennan nomination?
We all know what happens when the fox guards the chicken coop - or do we?
