67 Comments
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Polly Frost's avatar

Thank you, Cole. I've been in Santa Barbara since 1961 and while I also dislike the way it and the state are now governed, I still love it. I've also seen it go through enough political changes to not despair. I'm also a fan of Thomas Sowell and “The Vision of the Anointed” sums up what you describe at the No Kings. And I'm quite certain the Dems will have their gerrymandering way with Prop 50 — only I think it's going to backfire on them. My heroine of the moment is Katie Porter because she is singlehandedly showing how psycho the Democratic Party has become. And in a way you or I would never be able to because she embodies it as a Democrat! Yay, Katie! Let your Borderline Personality Disorder flow! You go, girl. You will turn every gerrymandered district so red it'll light up the skies!

GM's avatar

I agree. I think that Prop 50 will backfire on the libs in California and when they see that Newsom can take away their power and not care an iota about them but only about who he can use and manipulate to further his agenda.

I will sit back and wonder why they didn't listen,again.

Scott Wenz's avatar

It is supposed to be temporary. Want to bet the next move will be to make it permanent?

GM's avatar
Oct 29Edited

Once power is given to a politician,they will not give it back.

Newsom is a known liar and doesn't lead in good faith.

Happened with many Props and fees that are now permanent and we're only temporary.

evansila's avatar

Do you really not see the hypocrisy in your argument? POTUS has more power than ever, was voted out and refused to accept the results and fanned the flames of Jan 6.

He is now assassinating people without due process and filing retaliatory lawsuits his own appointees wont prosecute, but you are worried about a state Governor doing what TX GOV ALREADY DID!

Russia found America's weak spot... gullible, unskilled, uneducated, ignorant fools who get their news and "facts" from SM.

GM's avatar

You have a bad case of TDS.

Texas was a result of a lawsuit from the Biden admin about Minority districts. Texas didn't follow the court order that was handed down during the Biden Admin. Trump admin reminded them off it and they did their due diligence and changed the maps according to that lawsuit.You can search it it's real.

Newsom and Dems never liked the Independent Commission or the law that appointed them. Records show he's been planning this power gramp since Jan '25 and not August. Newsome and Padilla are authors of this bill also.

You can throw out insults but you have no proof and just opinions based on your brainwashed mentality.

Do your research before calling out others for the same and food the Mainstream news without using critical thinking.

GM's avatar

What is SM anyway? I don't watch news. I read and gather information from many different sources.

Polly Frost's avatar

Perfectly put, GM.

Earl Brown's avatar

Whaddya talking about GM? Newsom taking away the power of the libs? That’s his constituency!

The only way Prop 50 might be flushed is thru the courts _after it passes_, and it will.

GM's avatar
Oct 29Edited

I meant with this prop and future endeavors of Newsom.You give him an inch and he'll take a foot. But yes it will be fought in court and cost taxpayers more $$$$ and Newscum will lose .

Earl Brown's avatar

I love this Katie Porter broad - can't you see her and Mamdani as the Commie-Dem 1-2 punch - a match made in heaven!

GM's avatar
Oct 29Edited

I hear the Dem party is imploding and these characters are helping with that.

User's avatar
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Oct 29Edited
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Polly Frost's avatar

Um, with all due respect to Katie … she's batshit proof that elite degrees mean nothing.

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Oct 29Edited
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Earl Brown's avatar

Really like your take on this elce but kinda don’t get this - “ . . . Just sticking it to the Democrat Machine, . . .” Could the Commie-Dems be stupid enough to think this loser is going anywhere?

Earl Brown's avatar

cartoon harridan -   “ . .an exaggerated, shrill, unpleasant woman—basically a caricature of nastiness or superficiality.”

Graduated with honors from those schools ? Of course - when you’re that butt-fugly and couldn’t get laid with a pillowcase of $100 bills, what else is there to do but study?

Daniel  Cerf's avatar

Very well thought out article, nice of you to take the time to voice your opinion. I never thought of the No Taxation without representation when it comes to illegals working and paying taxes. I also agree that Trump was fairly elected and most of the country does not think the same as the majority of Californians do. Please keep writing,

User's avatar
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Oct 29Edited
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Earl Brown's avatar

Union's caring about who's gonna pay for future benefits? Ha! Rember their motto - "Devil take the hindmost."

Emmett's avatar

No Kings are purposefully manipulating districts to shut out 40% of CA population that are conservative voters.

Authoritarian? They openly admit they are shutting out almost half the state.

Yes they need to look in a mirror.

However, they are too ignorant and brainwashed to understand what they are doing. Much like a self entitled child with a silver spoon.

The CA Kings impose the highest taxes in the nation upon the people so they can support illegal aliens, $31 Billion each year or $2,000 per tax payer each year to support illegals.

Illegals are supposed to be cheap labor. They’re “cheap” bec the taxpayer is subsidizing them so corporates can increase their profit margin by passing along employment costs to you.

Meanwhile they use threats to keep them compliant. They don’t pay them a fair market wage and they do not pay them overtime.

The No Kings admit they need slave labor to pick their crops, clean their homes and do the remedial jobs that no American will do at the DUs punted wages offered. However, if Americans received the subsidies in addition to the poor pay and did not pay taxes more Americans would do the work.

Notice how only Americans and legal entrants to the US had to be vaccinated.

Yep, illegals were not required to be vaccinated.

No Kings do not believe in humanity, fair , blind justice.

GM's avatar

Yet they continue to oppress these folks so they can't get out of the system.

They only care about illegals as indentured servants. That's the first things the libs shouted"who will clean my house' and cut my grass."

It's not about their well being as always it's about them.

As stated the companies also treat illegals terribly. I think they should be punished also for their part on this.

I know that's the goal to keep them reliant on the party so they will do everything to keep them in power.

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Oct 29
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Emmett's avatar

Unskilled illegal agriculture workers true hourly wage is about $35/hour.

Factor in the $31 Billion in tax payer subsidies.

Plus the $13,000/ year they do not pay in taxes.

Not cheap labor.

Tracy's avatar

Well said, I really appreciate your point of view. I am so confused where my pussy hat protesting friends and family were when Biden was mandating businesses closed, shots taken, masks worn and mouths silenced..... strange times

Al X. Griz's avatar

ACLU was crickets.

User's avatar
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Oct 29Edited
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Cate's avatar
Oct 29Edited

… the ankle deep litter and defaced monuments the ‘me2’ cartel left in their trail through the US capitol district was sad beyond measure. FUTURE ‘protests and marches’ (in order to get a permit) must accept liability to reimburse taxpayers for the cleanup/repair.

LT's avatar
Oct 29Edited

Thank you Cole, for your compelling argument. Last night, I watched our President meeting with Asian leaders and today meeting with the Chinese president. It was amazing watching his skills and diplomacy as a world leader and businessman.

I couldn’t help but think of the embarrassing mess he has back at home. So, Trump has apparently won over Asian leaders, the EU, the Middle East, even Hamas, but can’t even get a simple CR signed by minority leader, Chuck Schumer? What message is this sending to China, North Korea and Iran?

Quite obviously, the message being sent to the rest of the world is that half of our country has lost their collective minds. What a disgrace the Democratic Party has become. All while rebranding and embracing itself into a new Democratic-Socialist party.

Clearly, what the Democrats have evolved into and doubling down on, is an angry, hate America clan, that opposes success at all levels, and wallows in a depressive state of failure and despair. All while our Stock Market continues to soar to new levels, this despite the continued embarrassing derangement of the Left.

Aaron Pa's avatar

What part those meetings showed off skills and diplomacy? I may have missed it—I’ve only seen a few clips and read some transcripts.

LT's avatar

Seriously Pa? How about settling a Hundred Years’ War between Thailand and Cambodia for starters? Then meeting with XI, overseeing massive trade deals in the trillions, overtures to Kim and S. Korea, not to mention Trump hit it outa the park with the Japanese.

IDK, maybe change your news source if you missed all that? Still pissed about the impact of the “No Kings” parade on world events?

Aaron Pa's avatar

Strange response since I didn’t bring up any parades, and I’m not sure what has upset you with my question. I’m always interested in civil discourse, but this site often turns to name calling and sound bites over substance.

I watch and read many different news sources across the political spectrum. The Thailand-Cambodia agreement is encouraging, and I hope it sticks. I haven’t seen any “deals” that have been signed and implemented. I guess I was wondering what concrete results you are seeing aside from just blustery truth social posts or “we’ll have an agreement very soon” type language. Agreeing in theory to something is different than signed agreements that are being acted on.

LT's avatar
Oct 31Edited

Not “upset,” just fatigued how people can never, ever seem to give Trump credit for all his efforts. Did you know after all that, and a 23 hour flight he still had the energy to pass out candy to kids?

Seriously, can you imagine the buffoonery if Kamala or Sleepy Joe would have been there instead, trying to incompetently negotiate with Xi?

Montecito93108's avatar

The “amazing mess back home” is a national security risk. Our embassy staffers are stranded without revenues. C-SPAN has been covering dangers reported to House Foreign Affairs and to State Demot.

Earl Brown's avatar

Remember LT, the Commie-Dems couldn't be implementing their ridiculous agenda without overwhelming support from the average dope on the street. If I could get people to buy my act I'd propose Golden Retrievers to run our country.

SUZANNE PETRIE's avatar

Excellent take on this whole nonsensical protest! I like your ideas and totally agree. It’s embarrassing to see our fellow otherwise lovely folks acting as toddlers who are just upset since they lost the election. Oh my grow up!! And here Trump our amazing President is now in Asia doing all these great deal for US the American people and they just complain yes like little babies. 🙄

DLDawson's avatar

‘No Kings’ is laughable to me, because those of us who watch Trump’s movements, here at home & (importantly) abroad, realize that Trump is now King of The World!

Current betting on the boards, which hoax will be revealed & understood to the American populous (and lead to the destruction of the [D] Party con):

J6 Pipe Bomb

J6 Committee Hoax

Russia, Russia, Russia

C19

Vaccines

Fake Elections

heavy betting on Russia, Russia, Russia hoax & more exposure of the players involved…gonna be lit when we begin to see their secret comms…

PS…Ayn Rand and George Orwell were right about everything.

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Oct 29
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Earl Brown's avatar

I love Trumpy's motto - "Enough with the nice."

DLDawson's avatar

Trump is Master Communicator…good read, ‘Win Bigly’ by Scott Adams

According to Scott Adams, Trump’s talent stack made him very persuasive even when he wasn’t notably brilliant in any one field. Trump had the combination of (Publicity | Reputation | Strategy | Negotiating | Persuasion | Public speaking | Sense of humor | Quick on his feet | Thick skinned | High-energy | Size and appearance | Intelligence).

Bella Grace's avatar

Finally! Finally someone is telling the truth about the issue of illegal immigration. It’s always been about numbers…Census numbers, that is.

Bill Russell's avatar

I believe Trump's ability to do so many positive things are what drives the Dems crazy. The Dems really envy Trump but don't want to admit it because he's a Republican. If Trump was a Democrat, he would be loved by all the Democrats. But Trump isn't a Democrat, so the Dems will try to take him apart. But Trump's good will overcome the evil.

Chas McClure's avatar

I am dismayed by the strong reality that party affiliation supersedes logic in so many cases/so much of the time. It's not about working to solve issues, but just winning for the team regardless of the topic.

Scott Wenz's avatar

I like the comparison of slave counting, similar to the use of illegals or non-citizens to swing the House! Honestly I remember reading about it as a history major but had put it aside. Everyone should have that brought to their mindset.

This quote ", Thomas Sowell has pointed out, minimum-wage laws often harm low-skilled workers by pricing them out of the job market ...." is very true. What you have are people working "side-jobs" to make ends meet since the regular job cannot afford more full time workers, or what used to be overtime because again the owner cannot afford it.

Shrinking the size of government with a really bigoted Chuckie the Clown refusing to have a clean CR. This is a major point. A clean CR then allows open discussion of an issue, makes the point. We are now seeing very clearly what the Left has done to expand government and peoples reliance on government instead of a free market place.

With the current administration the open invitation for lunch without paying for it is now being shut down.

Yes the no kings really need to look in the mirror. Most of us do not want expanding government and more rules and regulations. But again that is what the mirror shows.

Good article.

Pamela Peterson's avatar

Beautifully written and explained!! Thank you!

Steve Johnson's avatar

If the current administration were serious about deportations, they would enforce fines against employers for hiring the undocumented. Please cite one single case the current administration has filed against a large employer.

GM's avatar

Glass House Farms

Dan O. Seibert's avatar

Careful, you would be surprised who has employed illegal aliens in our community.

GM's avatar

I'm not puting anyone. But it is public knowledge about Glass House

Dan O. Seibert's avatar

Funny you say that, just today I bought some "Super Silver Haze,' grown by Glass Houses. This blend is wonderful as it promotes creativity.

GM's avatar
Oct 30Edited

Wow. You know kids were working there and we're unaccompanied.

And Newsom a big donor to that pot farm.

And Farrar gave money to all the Dema in Cali for their relection,including Salud who was there for a photo op at the raid and sizes an Agent.

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Oct 29Edited
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Steve Johnson's avatar

Any chance that citizen thugs and wife beaters might also get deported?

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Oct 30
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Steve Johnson's avatar

The latter. But perhaps just use the Navy to blow them up.

Dan O. Seibert's avatar

Cole, I was there too. I didn't want to go to hear speeches and to go walking in marches. I went because my mother was going. She's 94 and my sister pushed her in the wheelchair in the city in Texas they live in.

So I went and spent an hour in the park. I didn't hear or see anything that would cause a 3 or 5 year old ask the questions your kids did.

My mother's sign, on cardboard, "You know things are bad when grandma marches."

Julia Gonzales's avatar

It’s not trumps immigration policies, it’s how they’re being executed. I’ve never heard anyone say “orange man bad”. It should be “the orange man is bad”. The people are correct but I don’t think they would use bad grammar.

It looks like you missed a teachable moment. By the way there were no news reports about angry protesters. If they were angry, why did you have your five and three year olds there? You could have simply explained that we live in a great country, but we don’t anl agree with what our leaders say, and do. That we also have the right to protest peacefully, and from what I saw and heard all the protests were peaceful all across the nation. As for the “no kings” poster, I was amazed that your five and three year olds could read, excellent. You could have explained that our country is so great that many people want to come here. Unfortunately, some don’t have the financial means or know how as to how to do it correctly. So unfortunately, they have to be returned to their home countries, and that the protesters do not agree with the way it is being handled.

If you try to explain what’s going on to your young children, try to stay away from words like Republicans, Democrats, illegal immigrants, criminals. Let them make up their own minds as they grow.

I haven’t heard anyone question the election. There wasn’t a mandate though, as the votes were almost equal. Also, no one has claimed that the election was stolen, like certain people were crying about when he lost. I looked up the word, kingship, I didn’t like the definition, how does the American context differ? You are aware that undocumented people are not allowed and don’t vote, so I don’t see how you figure Democrats want them here to help with their elections?

It would be great if people were paid their worth, especially by big corporations, the ones that get big beautiful tax breaks in the millions, but the tax shortfall is paid by the hardworking citizens. Musk , Bezos, and they’re cohorts need to pay their fair share. They need to pay their employees and living wage plus benefits.

trump wants a lean mean federal government. Fine, but don’t do it like a bull in a China shop. Go and figure out who is essential and who is not. His move was authoritarian, plus his administration is now full of trump loyalist, they are for trump, not for the United States of America. His immigration policy isn’t cruel or authoritarians. It’s inhumane, cruel, and tyrannical. Enforcing the law should be lawful.

You’re right, trump doesn’t want to be king, he wants to be the ultimate ruler. His administration should be known as the trump family crime syndicate, consisting of judge, jury and executioner’s.

Michael Callahan's avatar

Donald Trump is not a King… yet. A king would possess wealth beyond belief. A King would have a luxurious gold palace where he could invite his nobility to grand balls. He would have a luxury palace for an airplane. If a King gave someone the “Thumbs down,” his military would have a drone drop bombs on their boat. If a King didn’t like you, you’d be deported or charged with crimes and jailed. If a King liked you, he’d pardon you for any crimes you committed. A King would have a loyal court of sycophants to praise his every edict. He’d control the press. He’d have secret police to keep track of his subjects.