John McCain was willing to risk his campaign over his support for the surge in Iraq. He said that he would rather loose a campaign than loose the war. John McCain supported immigration reform when it was not popular with the Republican Party. He reached across the aisle to support campaign reform.  

John McCain is not afraid to do what is right for the country, even if it goes against the Washington establishment. The economy is suffering. John McCain understands you cannot raise taxes when the economy has slowed. Cutting taxes for individuals and businesses will stimulate the economy and create jobs. The Congress, Republicans and Democrats must stop the out of control spending. 

John McCain’s decision to select Governor Sarah Palin showed his Maverick streak. Palin is the future of the Republican Party. She understands what the average middle class family is going through when it comes to paying their bills and meeting the daily challenges in life. While not an expert on all the issues, she has the management and decision making skills to lead our country. She is also a Maverick. She took on the Republican Party in Alaska and ended the corruption. She will take on the Washington establishment and represent us when she is elected in November.

While John McCain puts country first, Senator Obama puts himself first. He is more concerned with his political career than putting country first. 

McCain wanted to conduct town hall meetings with Obama starting last July. This would of given the country an opportunity to see both candidates side-by-side in a less formal setting than the debates. Obama refused. When you take the teleprompter away from Obama he struggles. 

Governor Palin has been criticized by the liberal media as not being qualified to be President. Does being a community organizer make you qualified to be President? Obama served in the Illinois legislature and voted 138 times as “Present.” In 138 votes, he demonstrated that he would not take a stand on controversial issues. Is that the type of decision-making we want in the White House? Obama said he did not support the war with Iraq. Lets not forget he made those comments while he was voting “Present” in the Illinois legislature. He was not in the United States Senate at that time. It is very easy to take a stand when you do not have a vote. If he was in the Senate, he would of probably voted “Present.”

Lets not forget Obama’s rock star tour of Europe. Remember Obama’s speech in Germany? He told the German people that he was a citizen of the world. I want my President to put the interests of the United States first. Obama also said he would sit down with the worst dictators of the world with no pre-conditions. Is that how we want our President to represent the United States?

Obama is going to raise your taxes. He is telling us that your taxes will only be raised if you make more than $250,000. He is not telling you that he is going to raise taxes on small businesses that earn more than $250,000. How do you think he is going to pay for his almost $600 billion in new spending? He already voted to tax singles making $40,000 a year.    

With the help of Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Obama will turn our country into a socialist society. He supports class warfare and the redistribution of wealth. Obama and Biden believe that if you work hard and become successful, they have the right to take more money out of your pocket. That goes against the American dream.

Lets not forget the liberal media. They have been in Obama’s corner from the beginning. He has been treated like a celebrity. He is never asked the difficult questions. Journalism is dead in our country. The mainstream media continues to insert their liberal bias into their reporting. 

The American people need to wake up and not listen to the empty suits and empty skirts in the mainstream media. We need John McCain and Sarah Palin in the White House to fix our economy, stand up to the rogue dictators around the world, and take on the special interests in Washington. The Obama/Biden ticket will raise your taxes, sit down with rogue dictators, begin a redistribution of wealth, create a socialist society, and will side the special interest groups in Washington.

Below is part of an article that came out of the Wall Street Journal.

Lets move the country forward – VOTE FOR JOHN MCCAIN AND SARAH PALIN.                

What the City Council and the Rocklin School Board have ignored, is the potential for Rocklin to become the region’s educational Mecca. With a foundation of William Jessup University, Sierra College, Rocklin Academy, and the soon to be opened Western Sierra Collegiate Academy, Rocklin has a rare opportunity to leverage these assets that were basically handed to them on a silver platter, and make a move to a position of strength in the region. Instead, these small minded simpletons ignore Sierra College, try to decimate Rocklin Academy, and fight to prevent the opening of Western Sierra Collegiate Academy. Why, because Rocklin officials cannot see beyond their own noses. Their cronies don’t control any of these entities nor can they take credit for the vision and hard work that led to their creation. They would rather drive past the many vacant strip malls in town that they blindly approved for their developer cronies without any consideration of a strategic plan.

Rocklin is a great place for families and deserves much better. Voters should consider the mess that currently exists because of the incompetent elected officials that currently occupy City Hall. Rocklin shouldn’t be a road sign that is passed on the way to somewhere else; it should be THE DESTINATION for families in the region.

I do not plan to endorse any of the candidates. However, the political phrase of throw the bums out of office, does apply this November.

After Mr. Paul and Mr. Lowell received the Central Committee’s endorsement in September of 2006, they accepted almost $15,000 in teacher union campaign donations.

Earlier this month, the Placer County Republican Central Committee corrected the mistake they made 2 years ago by not supporting the RINO, Rocklin School Board incumbent Greg Daley. The Central Committee demonstrated real leadership when they decided not to endorse Mr. Daley.

The Placer County Republican Central Committee got it right again when they failed to endorse the tax and spend Rocklin City Councilman Peter Hill and Rocklin City Councilman George Magnuson. If re-elected, Mr. Hill and Mr. Magnuson will raise your taxes. They want to raise the sales tax in Placer County, they want to establish an occupancy tax, and they supported the park tax.

Mr. Hill and Mr. Magnuson failed to support the Western Sierra Collegiate Academy, high school charter school. Parents should have the right to select which school best meets the needs of their children. Mr. Hill should be reminded that Rocklin residents have paid the taxes to build the schools in Rocklin. Mr. Hill led the Rocklin City Council’s opposition to the charter school. One member of the City Council has a family member attending a charter school in Rocklin. These so-called city leaders think they are better than the people of Rocklin. They can send their family member to a charter school, but they oppose charter schools for Rocklin families.

It is time to vote Mr. Hill and Mr. Magnuson off the Rocklin City Council. Lets also not re-elect Mr. Daley to the Rocklin School Board.      

Lets not forget that all the members on the Rocklin School Board have taken approximately $20,000 in campaign donations from the teacher’s union. The school board sure pulled a fast one on the teachers. The 5 school board members told the teachers that if you give us money for our campaigns, we would represent you. The only thing that these board members represent is their own interest. They will do anything and say anything to stay in power.

The Rocklin School Board and the teacher’s union are now using the students as pawns in their little game of chess. The Rocklin School Board says they do not have the money to give the teachers a raise. The teacher’s union says that they have the money and have already given Superintendent Kevin Brown a 23% raise. While the war of words is taking place, the students are left out in the cold.

The teacher’s union has told the teachers not to work past the 25 minutes they are required to stay after school. Many teachers are dedicated and go the extra mile to help their students. I am happy to report that many teachers are ignoring this union directive. They have put the interests of their students above the politics of negotiations. According to the September 12^th edition of the Sacramento Bee, many students that need extra help are not getting it. Teachers are no longer involved in after school clubs.

All Superintendent Kevin Brown can say is he sympathizes with the students. Kevin Brown gets paid to make sure the students have all the necessary means to be successful in school. The school board is elected to represent the children of the district and the teachers. They have both been negligent in their jobs. 

This is a message to all the Rocklin teachers. Do not use the students as pawns while you deal with a school board that does not support teachers. You will start to loose the support of Rocklin parents.

You should consider a recall of Board President Steve Paul, Todd Lowell, and Wendy Lang. These are the board members that took around $16,000 of your money, in 2006, with a promise of treating you fairly. To qualify for a recall, you will need to gather around 5,000 signatures. That should not be a problem because you have over 500 teachers and the parents on your side. Assuming Greg Daley and Camille Maben are re-elected, you can recall them 120 days after the November election.

Once again, do not take out your frustrations on your students. They have done nothing wrong. All they are asking for is help with some of their classes after school and teachers to lead their clubs.     

Regarding his comments on Charlie Brown. I know Charlie and Charlie is an honest guy and I am proud to know him. Mr. Paul would not understand what service to one’s country means. Mr. Paul thinks he is high and mighty because he is the President of the Rocklin School Board. If that compares to being a Search and Rescue helicopter pilot during wartime and winning the Air Force Distinguished Flying Cross, our country is truly going down hill. Maybe I can get Charlie to sit down with Mr. Paul and explain real sacrifice. Just to inform Mr. Paul, I am a supporter of Tom McClintock for Congress. 

Mr. Paul, I do not believe you support all Rocklin families. In fact, you only support the people that believe the way you do. That is not the role of a member of the school board. With that said, I never supported your recall and there has never been a movement to recall you. 

Speaking about being a Republican. Mr. Paul fooled Assemblyman Ted Gaines and the Placer County Republican Party by saying he supports charter schools. Last March, Mr. Paul voted against the charter for the Western Sierra Collegiate Academy. Mr. Paul also voted against giving Rocklin families the right to send their children to Rocklin Academy, a K-6 charter school that shares the campus with a Rocklin Unified Elementary School. Mr. Paul has given that right to families outside Rocklin. Families outside Rocklin can send their children to Rocklin Academy but hundreds of Rocklin families on the waiting list cannot. Lets not forget that those families paid the taxes to build the school. 

Steve Paul told the Republican Party that the California Teacher’s Association (CTA) is a “radical group.” After calling them a radical group, he took thousands of dollars in campaign contributions for his 2006 campaign. I guess he fooled the Republican Party and the CTA. A true politician, he is able to talk out of both sides of his mouth and shake your hand at the same time.     

I agree with Mr. Paul on one issue. The Rocklin City Council does not support charter schools. This is strange, because one member of the council sends a family member to a charter school. I would like to hear from the Rocklin City Council to see if they actually called Joe and me “ding dongs.” I do not believe they would use those types of words. This type of behavior is how the Rocklin School Board President operates. He is unable to use intelligent words when he communicates. 

One final comment – Greg Daley and Camille Maben are up for re-election. They both have voted the same way Mr. Paul has on charter schools. They have taken parent’s rights away when it comes to selecting which school is best for their children. They will tell you, they know what is best for your child. Daley and Maben have also collected thousands of dollars from the CTA. In fact the entire school board has been bankrolled by the CTA.

Special note to Mary Dick, President of the Rocklin Teacher’s Union, Mary, you spent over $20,000 during the last 2 campaigns to take control of the Rocklin School Board and now your teachers are threatening to go out on strike this fall. Looks like you were deceived just like the Republican Party.

This shows poor leadership by the school board and Superintendent Kevin Brown. You have a school board that is bought and paid for by the CTA and you cannot even come to an agreement that supports the teachers.

Good Morning Boys,

Hope you're both doing great this morning.

Just wanted to give you an update about last night.

Didn't see any TV Stations or Newspapers.  Sorry Rocket Doc- Guess you don't have the Juice you think you do.

Oh Mark, your new pal Charlie Brown didn't make it either.  Oh well.

Rocket Doc, I'm assuming when you say that all elected's in Rocklin support WSCA, you're talking about the City Council.  I didn't know you were in so tight with those guys.  Last time I checked they think both of you are ding dongs.

You two make it a great day ok?

Steve

Oh by the way.....How's the recall coming along?

This was a corruption case about a program that provided money to community-based organizations from 1995 - 2000. The money was used to teach English and citizenship to recent immigrants. Some of the schools that received grant money did not even exist. Where did that money go? Did Delaine Eastin and her senior advisors hide the money? Why are we not being told how the money was spent?   

State workers told Delaine Eastin that $11 million was being misappropriated. She ignored that information. She even transferred one of them to a job with no duties. This worker and one other brought a lawsuit against the California Department of Education. The state lost 2 trials. As a result, this corruption case cost the California taxpayers over $8.6 million. Current Superintendent of Schools Jack O’Connell’s spokeswomen, Hillary McLean, said the current settlement is a benefit to the taxpayer because it would cost more if there were another trial. What a joke. These so-called educators are the problem with public education.  

We wonder why our schools do not have enough money and why many of them are failing. How many teachers could we have hired for $8.6 million? How many books could have been bought for $8.6 million dollars? The California Teacher’s Union complains there is never enough money for schools. Where is the outcry from the CTA?

What happened to the people that wasted your $8.6 million? I believe Delaine Eastin is a high paid education consultant. What about her senior advisor at the time, Camille Maben? What did Camille Maben know and when did she know it? Was Camille Maben involved with this program? What is Mrs. Maben doing today? She has gone on to another $100K+ job with the Department of Education and serves on the Rocklin School Board.

WSCA is a public tuition-free charter school of choice for students in Rocklin and Placer County.

In the July 10 edition of the Placer Herald, Superintendent Kevin Brown said the Rocklin School board is not anti-charter. They are very anti-charter along with their buddies on the Rocklin City Council. For example, the Rocklin School Board forced Rocklin Academy (a K-6 charter school) into a possible illegal agreement that requires Rocklin Academy to accept 20% of their enrollment from outside Rocklin. We have hundreds of families on the waiting list who want to send their children to the Academy. We pay taxes to build elementary schools in Rocklin. While we pay the taxes and the Rocklin School Board will not allow Rocklin residents to attend a school they built. They have placed a very large tax on many Rocklin families. The Rocklin City Council has supported this tax. 

WSCA will provide parents in Rocklin and the surrounding communities with another choice on how they want their children educated. The Rocklin School Board, like the Rocklin City Council wants you to believe they know what is best for you and your family. I believe the individual family knows what is best for them and not the politicians.

This is not a Republican or Democrat issue. Republican Congressional Candidate Tom McClintock and Democrat Congressional Candidate Charlie Brown both support the WSCA. 

I have blogged on how the Rocklin School Board is anti-charter. I hope I am wrong, but they will probably vote against the WSCA charter again on July 16. We all know the California Teacher’s Association (CTA) is against charter schools. Let’s not forget the current members of the Rocklin School Board have accepted over $20,000 in campaign donations from the CTA during the last 2 elections. We have a school board that marches to the tune of the CTA. Remember the teacher that choked a student last year? The CTA came in and cut a deal with the school board. The teacher is still teaching in Rocklin.

The Rocklin City Council had a chance to show some real leadership and publicly support the WSCA. Not one member of the city council showed up at the public hearing last March. Let’s not forget Mr. “Resume Builder,” Scott Yuill is an advisor to the WSCA. He would not even make a public statement supporting the charter. Are these the types of leaders we want in Rocklin? School Board President Steve Paul likes to brag about the good relationship between the Rocklin School Board and the Rocklin City Council. 

This November we have an opportunity to change the imperial nature of both the Rocklin School Board and the Rocklin City Council. The voters of Rocklin can take back their city by not re-electing Peter Hill, George Magnuson, and Brett Storey. We can also stop the CTA from running our school district be not re-electing Greg Daley and Camille Maben.

Mark Klang

Rocklin Resident

In the July 3 edition of the Placer Herald, reporter Michael Althouse interviewed Rocklin City Councilman Scott Yuill and Councilman George Magnuson about the group called “Rocklin Citizens for Council Change.” This group is looking to replace all the incumbents up for re-election this November. The incumbents are Peter Hill, George Magnuson, and Brett Storey.  

Rocklin Citizens for Council Change believes the Rocklin City Council is out of touch with the people of Rocklin. I agree with them. Hill has been on the council for 15 years, Magnuson has been on for 17 years and Storey has been on for 8 years. In the past, the council has done a good job and listened to the voters of Rocklin. Just like other politicians this group has lost touch. This group feels so secure in their positions on the council; they believe they no longer need to listen to the voters.

Councilman Scott Yuill, who was elected in 2006, said the council is not out of touch. This is a perfect example of how strong the good ole boys network is in Rocklin.

The Rocklin City Council is protecting each other. They all tried to raise our taxes with the park tax. They wanted to increase our sales tax. They spent almost 1 million dollars at Rocklin Road and I-80 moving rocks around, while not helping the flow of traffic. They want to impose an occupancy tax. Does this sound like they are in touch with Rocklin voters?

The Rocklin City Council would not support the Western Sierra Collegiate Academy (WSCA). WSCA is a public tuition-free charter school of choice for students in Rocklin and Placer County. This charter school would bring additional jobs to Rocklin. That would help our slumping housing market. Have you noticed all the vacant office and retail space? The families that would attend this school would be spending their money in our restaurants, our drycleaners, and other retail establishments in Rocklin. 

For the record, Councilman Scott Yuill is an advisor for the WSCA. He would not even voice his support for the school when the WSCA leadership team presented their charter to the Rocklin School Board. Why bother to be an advisor when you will not support the cause? Is Mr. Yuill trying to build his resume for a higher office? Mr. Yuill has been on the council for less than 2 years and he is already out of touch with people of Rocklin.

Let’s not forget that Magnuson, Hill, and Storey supported taking thousands of cars off I-80 and Highway 65 and bringing those cars through the center of Rocklin. Sure seems like that vote was out of touch with the majority of Rocklin voters.

These are just a few issues that demonstrate the Rocklin City Council governs with imperial authority. On a local scale, they have become what our elected officials in Washington have become, out of touch with the average citizen.

Lets thank Magnuson, Hill, and Storey for their service to our community. Over the next 4 weeks you will see at least 3 candidates identify themselves as leaders with a vision. It is time to change the imperial nature of the Rocklin City Council to one that will listen to the voters.

Mark Klang

Rocklin Resident          

Besides the Presidential election this November, we have a very important election right here in Rocklin. Three members of the Rocklin City Council are up for re-election, Peter Hill, Brett Storey, and George Magnuson. There are a lot of good things happening in Rocklin. However, these 3 individuals have lost touch with the average Rocklin citizen.

If re-elected, Mr. Hill, Mr. Storey, and Mr. Magnuson will raise or try to raise our taxes. They tried to do this with the park tax. The voters of Rocklin are smart. They voted down the tax. By trying to continue the park tax, the City Council demonstrated that they have not been fiscally conservative with our tax dollars. The City Council supported an initiative to raise the sales tax in Placer County. They all backed down when they knew it would be defeated. They are now talking about an occupancy tax in Rocklin.

We are paying over $4 a gallon for gas and the Rocklin City Council wanted to raise the sales tax. They want an occupancy tax and they wanted the park tax. With today’s economy why would they want to raise our taxes? These men have spent decades on the Rocklin City Council and they no longer feel they need to answer to the Rocklin voters.  

Let’s not forget Peter Hill, Brett Storey, and George Magnuson spent almost one million dollars of our tax money to move some big rocks around at Rocklin Road and Interstate 80. Moving those rocks around did nothing to help the flow of traffic. This amount of money would of paid for over 3 years of park maintenance. 

These are just a few of the issues that must be discussed during the campaign for city council. I will continue to blog on the race for the Rocklin City Council. Rocklin needs a new vision and Peter Hill, Brett Storey, and George Magnuson do not have that vision.      

While Senator Obama says he supports the Second Amendment, the truth is, every American should fear his possible election for President this November. 

While campaigning in Pennsylvania, Obama’s true colors came through when he told a newspaper that the Right-to-Carry poses a threat to innocent people. “I am not in favor of concealed weapons,” he told the Pittsburg Tribune-Review. “I think that creates a potential atmosphere where more innocent people could (get shot during) altercations.”

If you read the data, the Right-to Carry has been a success and has saved lives. Lets not forget that Obama has had Secret Service protection for almost a year. Obama has continued his elitist views when he wants to take away our right to protect our families, but allows armed protection of him and his family.  

Obama believes that local jurisdictions can pass their own gun laws. He fails to realize that the Second Amendment gives the right to bear arms to every American. 

Obama will provide more support for the criminal than for the law-biding citizen. In 1999, while in the Illinois state senate, a bill came up for a vote on whether to try teenage gang-bangers as adults when they fire a gun on or near school grounds. Obama voted “present.” That is actually a “No” vote. Obama has a history of voting “Present” on difficult issues. 

In 2001, the Illinois legislature tried to control gang violence by making gang members eligible for the death penalty when they commit murder. Obama voted against the bill.

It gets worse. If those gang members or any criminal attacks you, Obama opposes your right to defend yourself. He opposes your Right to Carry. According to the Chicago Tribune, Obama supports legislation to ban the Right to Carry for everyone but police officers. 

Obama does not even support your right to defend yourself with a gun if someone enters your house to cause harm to your family. Don’t forget that Obama says it is all right for his family to be protected, but not yours.

If elected, Senator Obama will eliminate your right to defend yourself and your family. He opposes the Second Amendment.

Join me and lets make sure Senator John McCain is elected as our next President in November.   

According to the February 14^th addition of the Placer Herald, Rocklin Mayor Brett Storey is NOW calling for a meeting with the Clover Valley Developer and the Indian casino. Can you believe this? After almost 1 million dollars was spent to deceive Rocklin voters into voting to develop Clover Valley and to build a major road that would run through the center of Rocklin direct to the Thunder Valley Casino, Mayor Brett Storey and the Rocklin City Council now want to talk about the specifics for the project.

The 5 members of the Rocklin City Council were elected to make sure they would make represent the people of Rocklin and not the developers, Indian casinos, or any other special interest groups.  Looks like the people lost out to the developers and the Indian casino. 

Mayor Brett Storey said that he wants to make sure the legal documentation was correct regarding the casino buying the 65 acres and the bike path they agreed to pay for. Once again, how could the City Council convince us to vote for something that they did not even know was legally binding? This is worse than Rocklin School Board President Steve Paul, the “Grand Poobah,” coming to board meetings without ever reading his board package.  

We cannot blame the voters of Rocklin for supporting Measure H.  Almost 1 million dollars was spent and the measure passed with less than 800 votes. This outcome sends a message that the people of Rocklin want a change this November. It is time to start to thinking about these changes. The Rocklin City Council has 3 seats up for re-election in November. I have heard a rumor that there is talk of re-calling Scott “empty suit’ Yuill and Kathy Lund. Lets not forget that “Empty Suit” Yuill is still an official advisor to the Western Sierra Collegiate Academy. This Empty Suit did not have the guts to show his face at either the Rocklin School District's public hearing or the actual vote for the charter school. On a side note, the leadership of the Western Sierra Collegiate Academy needs to wake up and throw this empty suit of their committee. Lets not forget that Lund and Yuill supported raising the sales tax in Placer County. They also supported the park tax. 

If the recall of Yuill and Lund does happen, we could be looking at the possibility of 5 new Rocklin City Council members this November. This would be a welcomed change for the people of Rocklin