The Fresno Bee said Republicans are fighting for valley water - splitting the groups into east and west sides. Republicans blame President Obama for the fallow fields, but it was President Bush and valley congressional representatives that ignored the valley for over ten years. Now, there is a last-minute quickie ridiculous $11.1 billion dollar bond proposal to repair past neglect. Republicans want to tax ordinary people, well into the lives of our children and great-grandchildren for their water blunders and greed. Selfish farm businesses want to own our public waters, and sell the water for private wealth. I love the valley farms; my family has been into farming for generations. I love salmon and I grew up eating smelt - just as fish do for nourishment. I want the valley farms to be green and fruitful for my family and the nation in general for generations to come. The water discussions have become so politicized, that the public can not find out the real story and the real concerns. I helped organize the Madera area Regional Water Management Group and I feel water, a vital resource, deserves a more intelligent and truthful discussion. I will have a listening meeting with valley farmers within the next two weeks. I support clean, safe and healthy air, water and food. Huge tax increases for Californians is not the answer.

Past leaders of Haiti incurred large loans and used them selfishly for their lavish desires. The people did not benefit by these monies. As we can see, things that were built were constructed poorly. Haiti led by keeping its people in ignorance and extreme poverty. Now, after the 200,000+ earthquake deaths, our eyes are open and the devastated state of Haiti calls out for total reform and improvement. The world banks must forgive Haiti's past $1.5 billion dollars in loans. Debt repayment would be too much for the country. The banks could go in and latch onto some of the possessions that the past leaders purchased with the loans. Haiti will need rebuilding from the ground up and education for all will have to be emphasized, along with health and safety.

Our prayers to the people of Haiti who are suffering after the earthquake. Communication was destroyed and the hospitals devastated. Roads blocked, so just getting to victims is very difficult.

Banks are giving big bonuses to executives - $700,000 and secretaries are even getting $200,000 in bonus pay. This is a form of financial terrorism. This is not "normal" pay and is extortion.

I am shocked by the lack of justice for the 13 year-old girl who was molested by Oakhurst Harry Baker in 2007. The court says Baker had sex with the youth and VIDEOTAPED it. Baker said he was feeling for lumps. The court allows Baker to stay at home. Justice fails. The child suffers. Prisons have great medical care and I think Baker should take advantage of that government health care as soon as possible. Protest to the Fresno Superior Court. Raping our youth for internet porn OUT!

County supervisors certified Madera as a Tourist Destination, which requires an extra tax on overnight stays. Valley citizens must realize that as a tourist destination we are closely bound to our environment and the value of natural valley resources.

Have you heard of HERF guns? Me either - but, now I know a bit about them and they could disrupt the government, schools and other intelligence sites in the future - plus alter street lights - posing safety threats and cause power outages and severe power fluctuations. Potentially, they could also disrupt security systems and they are known to disable individuals by causing pain and disorientation. This device is currently being used by gangs in the Central Valley...and probably worldwide.

From the internet: "A HERF blast is a very high type of electromagnetic radiation that can do a considerable amount of damage to a PC. It can completely erase a hard disk, crash the PC and could even fuse the silicon barriers on the chips in the computer rendering it useless. Most electrical appliances are at risk to this type of attack, it is even possible to stall a car at a set of traffic ligths with a herf gun."

Republican Michelle Bachman hosted a T.E.A. Party and laughed wildly as persons impersonating President Obama, Rep. Nancy Pelosi and Sen Harry Reid were whipped and covered with "blood." Republicans now beating minorities, women, seniors. Are the Republicans trying to go back to slave days?

Past VP Dick Cheney is fighting hard to preserve his place and that of past Pres. George Bush in the history books. He fights like a snarling bulldog whenever he feels President Obama in any ways seems to "correct' the ills of the Bush era. President Bush sits quietly at home, probably with a beer or two, and Dick Cheney goes out and does the "dirty" media work. Dick Cheney is off-base and we can not accept the Cheney water-boarding tactics. Cheney says that President Obama is not fit because he does not want to attack the Muslim world. Cheney had no exit strategy from his war - and his war costs use billions in dollars and more in lives lost and anger generated in the foreign countries. Sure, there are always people who will hate the United States, but it was not until Bush-Cheney, that the Muslims were able to unite against our country, recruit heavily, and create a suicidal army. I saw the military building houses for servicemen in Iraq and Afghanistan. I guess that is where we can find our future construction jobs. The Middle East loves the war because it brings them great wealth, validation and business. We have to stop the war.

As I listen to the media "talking heads" discuss national security and the Christmas episode where a Nigerian tried to explode his underpants on an airplane, I am more and more convinced that they do not understand the scope of national security and future problems we are likely to see.

oDemocratic Senators Byron Dorgan, a moderate who has stood up for the working class family for thirty years and Chris Dodd, 5 terms, say they will NOT seek re-election. Stats showed Dorgan 20 points behind a Republican candidate. This will be a loss for all AmeriCANS who valued these fighters for middle-class working people. It is also a real loss for President Obama who could use as much sage wisdom in the Congress as he can get.

California borrowed $6 billion from the Department of Labor for just unemployment benefits. Double-digit unemployment continues as businesses are either leaving the area or just delaying hiring. 9 million Americans are underemployed and are working part-time only. The early part of 2010 will see a lot of additional home foreclosures. Many banks postponed foreclosure sales until after the holidays. Now many more will lose their homes and security and be tossed onto the streets. JOBS, JOBS, JOBS.

Congressional Democrats decide Republicans are just obstructionists and decide to reconcile the final health care bill quickly and away from Republican stalling and name-calling.