Archive By Section - Columnists
The rocks in a lake of oil
An allegory: Pretend you're a lucky duck and live at - say, Lake Tahoe. You have a wonderful cabin, perched right on the shore of that crystal-clear lake. Your enchanting backyard features a cool green lawn sloping down to your own sandy beach. The lake's renowned cool water laps with small wavelets on your shore, as your own motorboat bobs playfully on the water, secured to your very own mooring just off shore. Your lakeside ...
Celebrities mocking celebrities
I opened my last two columns with my thoughts on this being the best presidential election ever.
California Democrats: job assassins
As my loyal fans (all two of them - thanks mom and dad!) are aware, when I'm not writing for The Mighty Signal I work as a labor and employment attorney, almost exclusively on the part of management.
Zonta tribute dinner taps Harte
One of our favorite folks in the SCV, Duane Harte has been named the 2008 Zonta Club of SCV Tribute honoree. The event will be held Nov. 7 at the Odyssey Restaurant in Mission Hills (a refreshing change from the Hyatt). Duane is an Un-Zon (the husband of a Zonta member) and the 2003 SCV Man of the Year. I'm sure the evening's tributes will feature Harte's 23 years of service with the U.S. Naval ...
This Labor Day, enjoy ‘staycation’ in Santa Clarita
Remember the good ol' days of summer when spending time with family and friends was the ultimate escape? Children filled the streets until after dark playing hide-and-seek, neighbors came together for potluck block parties, and Friday and Saturday nights included the faint whispers and laughter of kids camping in their backyards.
Republicans set themselves up for Obama’s rise to power
In certain far corners of the right, it is a near matter of patriotism to be a come-hell-or-high-water hyper-critic of the Clintons. Tales of the former president gallivanting about like an unzipped frat boy, and the seamless Clinton truth-bending, have empowered Republicans to do their part raising partisanship and spin to dizzying heights.
Pledges: Leadership or ideology?
Candidates for public office must demonstrate they deserve the public's trust, and if elected, they must maintain that trust if they expect to stay in office. Or at least, that's the theory.
Proactive versus reactive
Reactive 1: of, relating to, or marked by reaction or reactance 2a: readily responsive to a stimulus b: occurring as a result of stress or emotional upset (reactive depression) Proactive 2 (pro- + reactive): acting in anticipation of future problems, needs, or changes - Merriam Webster Online Dictionary Two stories stand out in my memory regarding development during our family's 12-plus years in the Santa Clarita Valley. The first came from a former city editor ...
The night the lights went out
Last Friday, Aug. 1, U.S. House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi and House Democrats ended debate on energy issues by abruptly adjourning.
County’s green building rules will benefit us
As a lifelong outdoor lover, as well as a person who works in the environmental compliance arena, I've watched "Being Green" go through cycles of popularity. Sometimes caring for the planet is all the rage, and a few years later it's an afterthought.
Everyone wants our babies
When you're single, everyone asks when you're going to get a steady dating partner. When you're in a serious relationship, they ask when you're going to get married.
The one who’s too light
I had lunch with a very frustrated Republican the other day. The gentleman is a construction bond agent.
Republican platform: A sinking ship
For some of you who have just returned from an alternate universe, we are holding our national elections this coming November.
Days of whines and roses
Whine: To complain peevishly; to utter something in a high-pitched sound. A nation of whiners.
Letters to the Vast Right Wing Conspiracy office
We here at the Vast Right Wing Conspiracy get numerous letters in the course of a political season. Some are kind and some are profane, but all of them are worthy of review and reflection.
Articles by Section - Columnists
Killing me with kisses
In some countries, greeting friends with a kiss is the common custom. France, Italy, Greece and Hollywood come to mind.
Repeal, don’t expand, ethanol mandate
Sometimes big government becomes so big that even good conservatives find themselves unwittingly advocating expansions of government in response to its failures.
Jonathan Kraut: Outraged by fake outrage
The U.S. Supreme Court will be announcing in a few weeks, or perhaps in just a few days, its ruling regarding the constitutionality of California's Proposition 8.
Donna Brazile: Governor Chris Christie outbluffs himself
In Washington, D.C., every sentence has a subtext, every question hides another question, and you have to know how to read between the lines. Thus, in Washington-speak, "Sen. Frank Lautenberg passed away at the age of 89" also means, "Who's replacing Lautenberg?"
Steve Lunetta: Dept. of Dumb Ideas
It happened when my son and I went to L.A. City Hall to take care of a parking ticket. My oldest boy has a hard time remembering that cars parked illegally in the city of Los Angeles get a small piece of paper that represents a fine.
Kathryn Lopez: People connect while not connecting
Maybe it's different for you, especially if you're reading this in an actual newspaper. But if you're online with me right now (trust me, I am at the computer as you're reading - that's what I do), you're probably in need of some silence.
Doug Patton: Congressman with guts takes on Obama
New members of the United States Congress are willing to risk their careers to state the truth to the American people. Michele Bachmann of Minnesota is one, but unfortunately she has announced she is calling it quits after four terms in the House.
David Hegg:Information is the not same as knowledge
With another graduation season upon us, educational institutions across our great land are once again forcing students to endure a final, boring "rite of passage" known as the commencement address. Tradition has it that the very best address ever delivered was by Winston Churchill, who is remembered as declaring "Never, never, never give up", and then sitting down to thunderous applause. Whether the cheers were for his sentiment or brevity I leave you to decide.
Don’t call me Peter, call me Mr. Funt
Here's a little game I invented the other day after phoning the water company to complain about my bill and hearing an overly chipper woman say, "Hi, Peter. How may I help you?"
Marsha McLean: Live from City Hall
If you are looking to create a few new memories with your family and friends this summer, plan a trip using public transportation. Santa Clarita Transit is everywhere you want to be, from Santa Monica Beach and Hollywood to Main Street in Old Town Newhall.
Timothy Myers: It’s better to be appointed than elected in the SCV
By the time this column runs, the knowledgeable of the Santa Clarita Valley will know who the four elected members of the William S. Hart Union High School District board selected to fill out the (short) remainder of Paul Strickland's term, made vacant when he moved to Florida.
Byron York: Looking to 2016, Iowa GOP excited about Walker
When Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker visited Iowa recently to speak at a well-attended Republican dinner, only one national political reporter (NBC's Alex Moe) showed up.
Kevin Korenthal: IRS scandal is a witch-hunt against liberty
Scandal seems to be dogging the Obama administration as of late. Though a few of these purported scandals either appear to be much ado about nothing, at least two are fairly serious.
Cher Gilmore: California doesn’t need fracking
On May 16, the Obama administration approved a model bill for disclosing the chemical fluids used in fracking on public lands.
Donna Brazile: Be prepared
When my father was alive, he left New Orleans only two times in his life.
