Posted on 04/23/2008 5:03:30 PM PDT by strongconservative4cal
With the television writers strike over, many people here in Ventura County may have tuned into the TV show Brothers and Sisters when it resumed airing last night to complete its last 4 episodes of the season. With much of the show set here, in our very own Ojai, the intense Republican primary race of the fictional character Senator McAllister plays can easily distract us from the politics facing us in reality.
It is the similarities to this campaign that a primary challenger, Michael Tenenbaum faces as he runs for congress. Equally as handsome as Rob Lowe who plays a fictional candidate on the television- we should pay equal or more attention to the real candidate Michael Tenenbaum as challenges Gallegly for his seat for Congress. And why should we tune in to the Republican primary? Not because Tenenbaum is a handsome candidate not so unlike the one on TV-- but because his candidacy actually will have an effect on all of us here, in the real Ojai, the real Ventura County.
Tenenbaum's candidacy for Congress should be both be applauded and watched closely. He is challenging a do-nothing Congressman (Gallegly) who has sat in Washington, D.C. for 22 years and has grown out of touch with the needs of his constituency. In 2006 when Gallegly first threatened the citizens with retirement- he was saved by party backing and Rove's encouragement. The Republicans are very afraid of losing their incumbents. Gallegly however with his record of little accomplishment should have been given his gold watch and farewell party years ago. Unfortunately the people of Ventura County will probably have to continue to suffer his intolerable reign in Washington, where he will continue to do nothing for a couple more terms as he grows further detached from his district's constituency. It is this attitude, and politicians like Gallegly that have contributed to the Republican party's loss of seats in 2006, and most likely their continued loss of seats. Instead of retiring candidates when they get so entrenched that they no longer work to shrink the government, taxes and spending- they are too busy trying to hang on to power. It is with these attitudes that not only causes the party to lose seats -- but swallow their young and destroy the party's potential. It would be in the best interest of all Republicans to reconsider candidates that have become so entrenched that they no longer live to their parties ideals but instead have the voting records of a Democrat-- voting for government spending and time wasting bills.
In Gallegly's past term, his major accomplishment was sponsoring a resolution, making it against federal law to transport roosters across state lines for the purpose of cock-fighting. While this may seem like a fine bill- transporting roosters for cockfighting was already illegal in 49 states. Laws like this are not only pointless - but have the potential to cause damage to the court system by taking up valuable federal resources for what can and should be handled by the states. The Constitution is clear that some laws SHOULD be delegated to the states and that the law making power of Congress should be used for pressing matters only! Why should our federal courts be clogged up with cases about cock-fighting roosters? Isn't there anything else more important that our judges should be doing? When Congress can barely get our Federal budget passed on time, or reauthorize the FISA bill to allow intelligence agencies to continue monitoring possible terrorists, Congressmen like Gallegly are using their position to pass nonsense bills that may seem harmless but are really just a waste of time and valuable recourses. It is with bills like these- whether cock-fighting bills, or the constant renaming of post offices that entrenched politicians use to distract their constituents from their downright incompetence.
Unfortunately for Gallegly he didn't start cosponsoring or sponsoring pointless bill just after he was highly entrenched. Back in 1987 he cosponsored a resolution for, "National Asparagus Month". My last question for everyone in Ventura County is if anyone celebrated, "National Asparagus Month?" Did you even know that there was one? Did Gallegly even follow up this vote with a PR campaign about the many uses of asparagus?
Also, look as his record. In the last quarter of 2006, Gallegly missed 81% of his votes. In the first quarter of 2008 he missed over 8% of votes which is well over the 2-3% average. Many Congressmen have 0% quarters too. It is time for Gallegly to tell us constituents what exactly he is doing in DC and it is time for Ventura County to really consider a young, vigorous candidate like Tenenbaum to replace him.
Go Tenenbaum!!!!
“tone down personal attacks”
Coming from someone railing on Gallegly for his hairspray usage, that’s pretty funny. Trust me, I am no fan of the Gallegster either. The only “love notes” I see are to Tanenbaum in this puff piece, likely planted by someone from his camp under a pseudonym (Ed Ventura???). I was hoping for a campaign with a bit more substance is all. Since Gallegly is hardly Mr. Substance, who are we left with?
“Hairspray usage,” what are you talking about? Why don’t you cancel your week-old account and prowl back to moveon.org.
I must apologize. I didn’t realize this forum was closed to new people/ideas/questions and that dissent was not tolerated. I will sheepishly retreat and leave you amongst yourselves then — all 7 of you, no problem.
Hahaha! Look who’s calling you a newbie!
Listen you gotta learn to respect those old timers.
pretty interesting article. Elton Gallegly has gone away from some fundamental conservative principles so I will be voting for Tenenbaum this June.
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