The media has largely ignored the history of blatant overreach and outright prevarication from the Obama administration until its own ox was gored when the DOJ (another “independent” agency, big O?) tapped the Associated Press’s phones without following proper procedures. Gee, isn’t the avoidance of “proper procedures” akin to breaking the law?

What a hoot. Obama’s Justice Department is going to investigate that notoriously “independent” agency, the IRS. Apparently, when Obama (the Magnificent) checked into the White House he didn’t thoroughly read the owner’s manual. Had he done so, he might have noticed the IRS is a division of the Department of the Treasury, the Secretary of which reports directly to Big O.

Though the faux Hotel Petaluma controversy has pretty much faded from the daily discourse, the example set by those chronically outraged by nearly everything, but who apparently can make no greater contribution to the common weal than to “occupy” somebody else’s space, lumbers on.

A particularly ironic oxymoron of the ever-growing Progressive Entitlement-topia is the demand for cradle-to-grave provision and the desire for selective anonymity.

Last week – along with about 25 other involved citizens – I completed the 10-week Citizen’s Academy course offered by the Petaluma Police Department. It was informative, fascinating and occasionally disturbing as when the instructors would tell the class about emerging trends in criminal behavior or the recent State of California policies that are pushing violent criminals down into already-overcrowded county facilities. Here’s a drawing of the 2013 PPD-CA presenters. God Bless the cops!

I’ve never viewed my blog as a marketing tool, except for perhaps advancing ideas, but I feel that the subject of trauma – especially Post Trauma Stress Disorder – is too important to ignore. I have personal experience with PTSD, both in growing up with a disabled WW2 vet and as a result of my own military service. I’m currently working with Petaluma People Services Center to establish a prototype program to treat vets and others who suffer from trauma’s debilitating – and even life-threatening – effects. In this effort, I’d like to call attention to what I feel is an important new book. Trauma: Healing the Hidden Epidemic has just been published by local author Peter M. Bernstein, PhD. I’ve known Dr. Bernstein for more than thirty years and I can attest that he is an authority on all forms of trauma – its causes and more importantly, how trauma can be treated and healed. The book has its origin in Dr Bernstein’s observations of the pervasive effects on both active duty service personnel and veterans of the recent wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, and the consequences of the severely deflated economy of the last five or so years – what many are calling the Great Recession – on the country’s population in general. This book is highly accessible and written in clear, direct prose. It’s full of useful diagnostic tools and offers tips on how to help friends, loved ones and even oneself recognize and deal with the effects of severe emotional trauma. You can purchase a copy from Amazon’s Createspace at this link: https://www.createspace.com/4154673 For more information on Dr Bernstein and his treatment center, visit www.bernsteininstitute.com.

Historically, when the word “growth” has been uttered in the local cloisters of power, it’s usually been coupled with other words such as “surgical removal,” or “over our dead bodies.” Lip service is given plenty to “increasing revenues,” but given the progressive bias for regressive taxation, intrusive regulation and hectoring as the main duties of government, one wonders what the City Burghers are up to.  

Clearly Obama the Magnificent paid close attention to his anarchist tutors when he was coming up in the Windy City. Or did you really think the ex-Weathermen who coached the young OTM had renounced their beliefs just because their hair got gray? The lesson being: If you can make things bad enough through hard-nail Federal policies, Utopian pipe dreams and benighted fiscal tinkering, the beleaguered and bedraggled will be left with no choice but to cling to Big Brother’s pants cuffs.

I did a ride-along in a Petaluma Police cruiser last night. Watched as Petaluma’s finest dealt with a smorgasbord of stupid people tricks, bad judgement and very poor choices in a manner that was not just professional, but amazingly patient and (when appropriate) very kind. I’m very proud of our boys and girls in blue.

With each passing day, East Washington Place becomes more and more evident. A growing testament to the determination of many to prevail over the obstructions, lies and legal shenanigans of a few who claimed to represent the interests of our community as a whole but, in the end, stood only for their selfish goals and ignorant biases.