In today's Washington Post, Zbigniew Brzezinski former National Security Advisor to President Carter, scholar, author, and 'foreign policy realist' has a don't miss Op-Ed:
A Partner For Dealing With Iran?
The Lessons of U.S.-China Cooperation on Pyongyang
By Zbigniew Brzezinski   Friday, November 30, 2007

       I've been seeing endless books for sale urging us to attack Iran by people like Ledeen and Swiftboat author Jerome Corsi, and watching Benjamin Netanyahu on that despicable Glen Beck's show with the same 'mushroom cloud' arguments we heard about Iraq (worthy of a diary itself).
      And then hearing the Dem candidates spinning their tough talk about Iran...I have been in despair about any rational discussion, decency, or wisdom on the subject. (Heh, except at dkos and other blogs of our ilk.)
   Thank you Mr. Brzezinski!
   

I'm going to describe the recent drama unfolding in CA-24, which contains portions of Ventura and Santa Barbara Counties, north west of Los Angeles.

    Well, here's the play so far:

1. Rep Elton Gallegly announced withdrawl from the race for CA-24, on Mar 10,2006, at the very last `minute' for filing candidacy papers.

2. Brett Wagner, the Dem candidate from 2004,with 34% of the vote, withdrew from the race the day after being cleared and vindicated by the state party officials who were looking into `allegations' against him, this on Mar 3, 2006.

3. Mary Pallant has emailed people that she is out, not filed,quit, as of Mar 12, 2006. See hekebolo's diary on it.

4. Questions:
   

Who filed in time?
Are the two announced Democratic Party candidates filed and running?
What's the buzz?
Inquiring minds want to know!
    Read on for more facts, links, rumor, speculation and raw career ruining innuendo...
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CA-24 candidate Brett Wagner dropped out of the race against Elton Gallegly in his own style and on his own terms announcing his new quest to recall a local county supervisor  because of this Republican rancher's less than wonderful environmental record.
      Wagner quit a day after it was announced that a series of complaints that were brought against him by some local dems were totally discredited. The effort to force him out of the race started last October. Scandal or wise politics, I don't know.           This all by the way of introduction, read all the way through to the end, thanks.

   

    College Republicans! The concept kinda makes your teeth itch doesn't it?
    On KCAL 9 news on tues nite, feb 28, 2006 there was a report about the College Republicans hosting a 'panel discussion' on the Muslim cartoons and free speech.
      The breeding grounds of future Jack Abramoffs and Karl Roves, they are praticing their deadly sophistry in San Diego and ..guess what, they were protested by Muslims, and a big shouting match ensued.
      There are three articles in the San Diego Union here and here and here

      The hatefulness of it just makes me want to bite someone and chew vigorously.
     

 Russell Tice was on Caterine Crier Live. This is a very good thing. Tonight while you were all watching Keith, I watched Catherine Crier Live where she talked to  NSA whistleblower Russell Tice and author James Banford about the NSA domestic spying scandal. Having James Bamford there to explain things was a perfect way to do this, as then Russell Tice couldn't be claimed to be spilling the beans. Russ Tice looked great and was well spoken, a little like Scott Ritter imho.
    Russell Tice told of his history (see this diary), of how he was demoted and abused after he had questioned the wisdom(?) of having a person born in China with the level of top secret clearances that were afforded her in this most secret of our Intelligence agencies. This is the first I've of seen him on TV and out in public. This is huge to me because of the "dozen or so" people who have been talking to the NYT, and the problem of govt. whistleblowers with top secret clearances, and my outrage from the treatment of Amb. and Mrs. Wilson. Read on...