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Polly Frost's avatar

Love these letters. To Thomas Cole: I was outraged by the smear campaign held against you when you ran. It wasn't because I voted for you, it was because it was like the smear campaign against Chris Mitchum, absolutely non-Democratic warfare by Democrats who label anyone who disagrees with them as an enemy of Democracy. I would have respect for these creeps if just one of them came forward and said “I want to win this election and think I'm the better candidate, but I can't go along with the smear campaign my party is waging against my opponent.”

Lois Capps played the BS “decent” role by doing nothing. Hannah-Beth and Salud play the “we have to win at all costs because we are right” role.

How dare Salud use our money to fight Trump? How dare he encourage resistance and protests? How dare he behave as though this is him doing the right thing by us?

What this is really about is Salud, Laura and co. trying to get as many raises and as make as much money as possible off us before they go down - which they know they will be under DOGE.

When will we who oppose this have our public protest? This is a great county with a lot of criminals exploiting it who must go to jail and be stripped of all the illegal profits they've made off it.

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J. Livingston's avatar

Voices are gathering right here, and right now. Think about where we were only one year ago - cut adrift in our own silos, not knowing there were so many kindred souls already existing amongst us. Good to have you back and on the mend, Polly.

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Brent's Journal's avatar

Thanks, Jim, for sharing those informative letters.

Salud's complaining about the USAID being audited exceeds my vocabulary for bizarreness. Bet he voted for an additional 87,000 IRS agents to audit us. Wonder how many of the estimated thousand attendees were USAID recipients?

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Polly Frost's avatar

I truly think Salud is a Biden, maneuvered about by his party and hopelessly dimwitted. All he has going for him is having been an illegal immigrant. As though a sensible, sane (non-Dem) person looks at him and says “Trump is wrong! We should flood the country with millions of Salud grifters!”

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LT's avatar

Yes Polly, totally agree. Maybe SB Conservatives can hold our next MAGA rally at the Unitarian Church! After all, certainly they’re open to all points of view, right?

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Polly Frost's avatar

Lol, when I was a teen here the Unitarian Church was terminally liberal, although they did host interesting events. Now it's all BLM.

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Monica Bond's avatar

Well said. Polly! It may take Santa Barbara a little longer but we may get there eventually. You can't win against Karma.

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Paul Aijian MD's avatar

Pandora’s box cannot be resealed. Darkness hates the light for what it reveals. Those screaming the loudest likely have the most to hide. I’m looking forward to what Anna Paulina Luna’s committee turns up. It would not surprise me to discover that those most vocally fighting Big Balls and his DOGE buddies are going to be on some list of evil doers. I may need to find some popcorn. Every day since the inauguration has been another source of joy, encouragement, and not a little humor, watching cockroaches scurry. Plenty of people in our blue gulag share these views, I have discovered.

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Robert Ludwick's avatar

Sometimes--seemingly too often these days--my computer becomes slow, wonky, and unable/unwilling to perform some of the basic functions upon which I have come to rely. In these moments, after some cleaning and tweaking of the hard-drive fails to restore order, I am forced to hit the RESTART button...and sometimes even that is a reluctant process, which further forces what has become known in laymans terms to be "a hard restart." I think the DOGE maneuver uderway in Washington is a similar hard restart, not only for our administrative agencies, but apparently for our society. We need several such resets, in my opinion. Perhaps this current financial/political drama will trigger the spiritual "restart" we so desperately need in order to reframe the WHY we do WHAT we do as a collective people.

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Howard Walther's avatar

I read this Letter to the Editor called "DOGE Corruption"

I propose a follow-up title "DOGE Santa Barbara Corruption"

I quote from Jim Buckley's very good article as follows:

"The team – DOGE – is determined to get to the bottom of the spending."

"The Trump administration, barring some unforeseen disaster, is well positioned to go down in history as the regime that saved the country from secret and systemic pillaging that has been going on without a check for years." and "Congressman Carbajal spread a lot of fear about the ICE raids locally. Why would anyone want to protect murderers, rapists, and gang members?"

That said I have been very direct to SB Currentor's about "get to the bottom of spending"

The FBI and it's agents first came into Santa Barbara in the spring of 2015. They first

audited the Hospitals and SB County Health Dept and found MASSIVE Medicare and

Medicare Fraud. I provide the weblinks of that Health-Care FRAUD below>

https://tinyurl.com/63s6e3mt (CENCAL, Sansum, CHC and Cottage $68 Million Billing Fraud)

The FBI did not stop there by a long shot but dug much deeper like DOGE is doing now.

That FBI Deep Dive went into the entire Santa Barbara City and County …. EVERTHING

I and my family have been waiting now since 2022 for a Press Release from the DOJ.

Accountability and Transparency is the center of the United States Constitution

https://www.democracyweb.org/study-guide/accountability/essential-principles

The People of Santa Barbara have a Constitutional Right, and I quote from above>

"In order to hold officials accountable, the principle of transparency requires that the decisions and actions of those in government be open to public scrutiny and that the public has a right to access information about how government decisions are made and carried out."

Howard Walther, Member of a Military Family

PS 1 - Pursuant to the ASA "Three Health Care Providers Agree to Pay $22.5 Million"

https://www.justice.gov/archives/opa/pr/three-health-care-providers-agree-pay-225-million-alleged-false-claims-california-s-medicaid

Just one such ASA > https://www.justice.gov/archives/opa/media/1263911/dl

PS2 - Three more Coastal Health Care Providers Caught In Fraud -Ventura >

https://www.justice.gov/archives/opa/pr/california-county-organized-health-system-and-three-health-care-providers-agree-pay-707

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J. Livingston's avatar

Thank you Michael Self for your very clear, legal and historic explanation of the underpinings for DOGE operations today. Critical is the understanding the "backdoor" access to all 400 plus government agencies has already been pre-approved by Obama, of all people.

This may well be Obama's one best legacy accomplishment. Government operational transparency - what the Founders cherished more than anything 250 years ago.

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Brian MacIsaac's avatar

Go DOGE Go !!!

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J. Livingston's avatar

The WayBackMachine re-visits the first 2017 community gathering of astro-turf SANTA BARBARA INDIVISIBLE, the local chapter created by interested parties (colored tee shirt wearing with pre-printed signs) to combat the surprise 2016 election of Donald J. Trump.

They admitted they would use the "same tactics as The Tea Party" to recruit, protest and obstruct. This claim is deliciously ironic, since the Tea Party was truly formed as a grass roots movement to bring fiscal sanity and this country back to its founding principles -small government and more direct connections with the voters, without the layers of multiple government agencies, bureaucrats and government employee unions.

It is a fun read to re-visit their 2017 goals, when this notorious nationally organized astro-turf SB INDIVISIBLE was huffing and puffing about even before Trump was in office. And now in retrospect, where were they most effective short-term as Trump obstructionists, primarily stopping the building of Wall. And pushing for universal "health care"........ funded by someone else. Cui bono?

Yet here we are today, back to finally building the Wall, cutting the massive government bureaucracy, stopping out of control and unaccountable demands on taxpayers, and recognizing government-run Obamacare is a proven shambles. While our 250th anniversary brings us back to our founding ideals.

After 2017, SB INDIVISIBLE did win a few short term battles. But by 2024 they in fact did lose the entire war. Today they are The Charge of the Light Brigade, with corrupt leadership and a duty to do or die, but not ask the reason why.

To be forewarned, is to be forearmed from 2017: https://indivisiblesb.org/large-crowd-attends-indivisible-santa-barbaras-first-public-meeting-in-santa-barbara/

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LT's avatar

Cui bono indeed Counselor! It would be very interesting to know what and how much USAID was circulated here locally, especially to NGO’s and “media” outlets. Sure would explain a lot. We know Media Matters and Politico, who else was paid for carrying the water and feeding us propaganda at the behest of the liberal machine?

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J. Livingston's avatar

Gee, we could ask Salud Carbajal's office for a full accounting. Ya think?

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Cate wilkins's avatar

A sensible turnabout as taxpayers audit the systems that set, collect and spend tax revenues.

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LT's avatar
Feb 15Edited

Had a good laugh this morning reading Jerry Roberts “Newsmakers.” Roberts this morning teams up with fellow liar, Hanna Beth “Taxin’”Jackson. Yes, Jacko is definitely wacko! Maybe Roberts ought to rename his piece “Newsfakers?” Yes, both lefty lunatics seem to be in meltdown mode and simultaneously lighting their hair on fire! Calling Trumps first weeks in office as; “savagery” and the “indifference to the constitution.” What drama! Yes, Roberts claims there were 3,000 fellow justice warriors at the “Stop The Coup” town hall hosted by Santa Barbara Indivisible by voicing their displeasure and “Standing up to Gangster Government.”

Oh well, Roberts trashy piece wasn’t a complete waste of time as he did call out the SB BOS for their outrageous proposed pay raises! I guess even a washed up “journalist” and lefty cheerleader like Roberts can’t even hold his nose and sign off on this fleecing of taxpayers?

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J. Livingston's avatar

Considering this is such a government employee town with plenty of government pension beneficiaries too, suspected by the gathering's visual demographics, it should be no surprise this crowd gathered with pitchforks raised. They most likely very much have skin in this game.

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Ben Thrusamshit's avatar

These comments in genuine support baffle me. This publication and these articles are confirmation that the MAGA Kult is just a bunch of racist, smooth-brained, dipshits. This is written at a 3rd grade level because the audience comprehends at the 3rd grade level.

Like you, Paul Aijian, commending a junior engineer inside doge (the same organization that launched doge.gov which was immediately defaced because these "experts" can't launch a website). You, Paul, are encouraging attacks on civilian public employees that have been doing their jobs, working on programs funded by Congress to protect American interests overseas. You're comparing people in your community who contribute to the public good through civic service as: "cockroaches."

"Darkness hates the light for what it reveals."

I'm in total agreement here, however, you have misdirected hostility towards the average public servant. You're being duped by Elon just like you were duped by Trump. YES there is room for improvement and even dramatic disruption, however, we see through your distractions: Elon is the enemy. Billionaires are our enemy, not your dedicated local public servants.

I'll be snacking on some kale chips and drinking fascist tears while you convince your new customer base that your approach is aligned with God.

You lack perspective, Paul. You are not at the level of Galileo. You are not a human mind-expanding force for the world. You are a privileged bitch with an avocado farm in Santa Barbara, now please shut the fuck up.

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Brent's Journal's avatar

Salud was a "Me too, Nancy" as his voting record mirrored hers. A good laugh was his interview where he said he was on the congressional committee for bi-partisanship.

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Peter Scott's avatar

Salud Carbajal got BIPARTISAN cosponsors on the 23rd most bills compared to House Democrats (tied with 4 others) in 2024.

21 of Carbajal’s 29 bills and resolutions had a cosponsor from a different political party than the party Carbajal caucused with in the 118th Congress.

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J. Livingston's avatar

Please direct us to those "bi-partisan"bills, Peter. Numbers are meaningless. National Sea Otter Day just might be at the top gaining this bi-partisan support. Looking forward to getting bi-partisan support to start oil drilling locally, stop the stupid offshore wind farm, and reign in the over-reach of Chumash Marine Sanctuary. Are they on his list?

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Thomas John's avatar

Thanks for the link Peter.

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J. Livingston's avatar

Very odd collection but well within Carbajal's known skill set. I can see why you just touted the numbers first, and not the content .Glad to also learn there is bipartisan support for Home Grown Flowers - esp in his district where ...this bud is for you...... an now the decorative floral ones too garnering bi-partisan resolution support.. More proof of the need to discard 10 regulations for every new one passed.

Did I miss his budget reduction resolutions? His border security resolutions, his government efficiently resolutions, his pubic debt reduction resolutions .... if we are going to talk honestly about bi-partisan efforts?

Does he offer anything truly across the aisle on his own (see above), or does he just dragoon in a few willing participants for innocuous resolution so they too can brag about their "bi-partisan" effort for their next re-elections.

This was political theater creating a re-election score card, Peter. Nothing of substance.

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Patricia A Ottoboni's avatar

Thank you Michael for your informative comment!

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Julia Gonzales's avatar

It would have been nice if tired old grandpa had at least looked at the books before he had musk start hacking away. Can they give us an outline of where everything was found and where everything is going and where is it now and what do they intend to do with it?

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Feb 15
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Brian MacIsaac's avatar

S:2. Your mouse droppings are the typical response to anything the right does to shine a light on government corruption. You instantly start calling for an investigation into who is doing the investigating to try and deflect the light somewhere else. You will have to pedal this crap someplace else because the good people here at the SB current certainly aren’t buying it, nor apparently the majority of US citizens who are seeing through the left and the medias.(but I repeat myself.) lies, and distortions. Please feel free to bite me!

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L. Angel's avatar

In S 2's defense, they've been more on the 'right' than many people on this publication, including the authors of articles. Just yesterday Bonnie wrote an article in which she asserted that TikTok is should be banned from the US! That is communism and the opposite of what the Right has been fighting for since covid. Free speech, anti censorship, and anti "misinformation" labels have been a huge platform of the right. So maybe you should go after her. I haven't seen S. 2 do that. In fact, most of what I've read S. 2 comment on is deep state, globalist, neocon and zio filth. So while "mouse droppings" might have been a witty metaphor, the rest of your comment is unfair and untrue. I can't speak to the details of this particular comment, but it is true that Elon is a transhumanist. He has met with Bibi to bring AI to the world. That alone is suspect. Even the mainstream media reported on it. I didn't know about the animal abuse, but it doesn't surprise me. Elon does not embody conservative values nor human virtue.

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Polly Frost's avatar

Bonnie did not write that Tik Tok should be banned. Where do you get this bs?

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L. Angel's avatar

From her article in which she strongly implied it, combined with my comment and her response to it. Go read it - her paragraph about TikTok in her article as well as the thread that ensued between us. I even asked her for clarification and she clarified that she did. I agree it is BS, but it's not BS of me to state her BS. Don't shoot the messenger.

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Polly Frost's avatar

I took Bonnie's response to be a good reporter question. Asking why shouldn't we ban Tik Tok is not the same thing as “Tik Tok should be banned.” Bonnie is a really good reporter who asks provocative questions to see how the other person really thinks.

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L. Angel's avatar

You are absolutely wrong here. I directly asked her to correct me if she does not support the ban. Did you read the comment thread between me and her? A "good reporter" would never write what she did in the thread that ensued between the two of us. She wouldn't even answer a question that I kept repeating, which was relevant to TikTok.

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Bill Russell's avatar

These mystery people are planted to drive people like you crazy, S. 2. What Elon is hiding is the fact these engineers cracking the government computer systems are all from the planet Kazzuupi located in another solar system. They've been on a long journey, planned 37 light-years ago just for this event for Trump. Kazzuupi's are very, very intelligent and can literally read the mind of anyone! They can tell Trump who is good and who is bad and who gets the axe. There is no hiding now.

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Feb 15
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Bill Russell's avatar

Transparency is defined as "the quality of being open to public scrutiny." Let me ask you how many decades has it been the Feds have been deceiving us as to where the taxpayer money has been going? And NOW you are all of a sudden asking about "where's the transparency." Holy Moly ... I think for now from what we have recently learned is a real shocker to most people and "transparency" has never been experienced to even evaluate the meaning of the word. We've been lied to. Probably most people in politics are in it for the money, there's your "transparency."

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Feb 16
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Bill Russell's avatar

Elon is their representative and he talks. Are you concerned there are horns coming out of the heads of the hackers <g>. Funny, most people are more interested in the results than who is making it. Maybe the workers don't care to go public. What difference does it make to you to see a face. Could the appearance of a face invalidate their work? If a person stutters, does that invalidate the work? Maybe really long hair and a beard that touches the floor, then does that matter?

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Feb 16
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LT's avatar

Wow S.2, Musk wants to implant a microchip in our skulls? Ummmm, maybe some old fashioned psycho therapy instead?

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LamedVav disavows all vaxes.'s avatar

S. 2 - Musk did not fire the FAA chief. Look it up.

That lie originated with Hillary Clinton.

The FAA chief resigned in November of his own volition as soon as President Trump won the election, he was not fired.

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