Igor Birman for Congress

George Rebane

This morning Jo Ann and I drove to Folsom to attend Igor Birman’s announcement of his candidacy for Congress from California’s 7th congressional district.  We were not the only Nevada County residents to make the trek.  Even though we can’t vote for him, many of us who live up here see Igor’s candidacy as adding to the conservative cohort from our state that can help bring our country back on course.  (Igor’s website)

Igor Birman has been Congressman Tom McClintock’s chief of staff, and is one of the youngest to hold such an important job in Washington.  Igor was born in the USSR and got out when his parents took advantage of the window that President Reagan created with the agreement to let Russian Jews emigrate from a land in which they have been third class citizens for generations.  While I have a definite affinity with Igor’s odyssey – my parents also escaped communism when I was a youngster (cf My Story) – we support Igor’s candidacy because he is very smart, has high moral standards, and recognizes way better than most the tragedy that socialism cum collectivism brings into human lives.

Some years back Tom McClintock introduced us to Igor, and since then he has become our friend, often spending meal times at our house during which we have delved into some very interesting topics of state and national interest.  Igor’s job in Washington has always brought perspectives to bear on the topic that are accessible only to one who knows and operates in the belly of the beast.  Igor’s understanding of the nation’s problems, especially in public education and its contribution to systemic unemployment in a shrinking workforce, is thorough and deep.  His overall ideology and politics also make him a desirable candidate for the tea party faction of the Republican party.

Congressman McClintock delivered an eloquently bittersweet introduction to Igor, acknowledging the loss of an extremely valuable aide while celebrating his promising and needed candidacy for Congress.  I am heartened by the potential of adding Igor Birman to the team of conservative northern Californians comprised of Doug LaMalfa, Tom McClintock, and Dan Logue (who is running for the 3rd congressional district seat) – the four horsemen of socialism's apocalypse.

Comments

[Russ Steele]

I had multiple opportunities to met and talked with Igor and communicate with him by e-mail when there was an issue I thought Congressman Tom McClintock should know about, specifically global warming and climate change issues. I was impressed with his responses to my questions and e-mails.

My vision was that Igor would someday be the Governor of California. Perhaps long after I am gone, but he has the leadership potential to be a Governor. Baby steps first, now we need to get him elected in the 7th Congressional District. He will be running against the old boy crowd in the primary, and I hope the Tea Party takes notice and supports Igor. We need the kind of fresh think and leadership that Igor can bring to the representation of Northern California.

[Todd Juvinall]

I must say I am holding back. I have others who may join the race so I am waiting.

[Douglas Keachie]

So Dr. Ami Bera, is not very smart, has low moral standards, and doesn't recognizes way better than most the tragedy that socialism cum collectivism brings into human lives" ?

I think the third quality is the ONLY one you can make a case for. The other two are totally bogus, as Bera, on the staff at UC Davis Medical center, and a happy family man, is obviously very smart, and has high moral standards, and also, I might add, made the decision to let our daughter into UC Davis Medical School. As she is now in her 4th year of residency as a neurosurgeon, I think he showed good judgement.

So you and the Tea Party are going to support a political hack, with no other achievements in life, against an MD, a professor, and an established contributing member of society? Good luck, we backed Bera last time instead of spending a dime on Obama, and intend to do the same this time. The ugly ads using slowed motion to suggest just the opposite of the mind he is, are a sorry sordid reminder of how low you folks will go when confronted with real talent.

By not even mentioning Bera in this little fluffer piece of yours, you seem to be continuing on the same low road.

[fish]

....we support Igor’s candidacy because he is very smart, has high moral standards, and recognizes way better than most the tragedy that socialism cum collectivism brings into human lives.

and

So Dr. Ami Bera, is not very smart, has low moral standards, and doesn't recognizes way better than most the tragedy that socialism cum collectivism brings into human lives" ?

Peachie you argue like a twelve year old girl suffering her first period.

[Ian Random]

Well, Igor being a victim of leftism should hopefully avoid it more than some Demoncrat.

[Douglas Keachie]

Fish, your ad hominem shows you have yet to evolve to a land dweller, not unusual for Boston Bay Teeper Creature. What are the qualification of your potential candidate that you wish to list? Other than being a PR man for a politician, where is the there, there?

[fish]

I don't have to defend Mr. Birman or his qualifications. My comment referred to your simple negation of Georges endorsement....weak sauce old man.... a debate technique my 12 year old step daughter employs routinely.

[George Rebane]

re DougK 1225am - Mr fish (810am) already picked up on the heady logic used by Doug Keachie in analysing this post. My only contribution here is that this kind of thinking is seminal to the liberal mind, and why many scholars are putting more effort into and enjoying success in finding clinically discoverable differences in the brains of such people. This helps confirm the portents for productive dialogue on literally any topic of contention with folks like that, and has ramifications for the political cohesion of our country that is much discussed in these pages.

[Douglas Keachie]

OK, I endorse Dr. Bera, and you endorse Mr. Birman. I listed my reasons, and I'm still waiting for you to explain yours, and to back up your statement that: "he is very smart, has high moral standards, and recognizes way better than most the tragedy that socialism cum collectivism brings into human lives." What evidence do you wish to present of the first two? I could care less about the third. Did he graduate with some sort of degree from an university on Greg Goodknight's "A" list? How many kittens has he rescued from trees? Basically all I see is "rah rah rah, he's believes as we do!"

[Douglas Keachie]

BTW, a sure sign that you have no case, you begin arguing about how the arguments are being carried out, with plenty of ad hominems for seasoning. Yes, I will deliberately ignore such garbage.

[Russ Steele]

Douglas,

Have you ever sat down with Igor for a one on one discussion of the issues? If you had you should have come aways with a better understanding of the issues facing the nation. His understanding comes from working on those issues every day, not from some university lecture on what could be done or should be done, but what is actually being done in the trenches.

I must admit, I have not sat down with Dr. Bera. My impressions of him came from the ads he ran against his opponent, we seldom heard about what Dr. Bera stood for, only how bad his opponent was. That was not a display of leadership.

[Douglas Keachie]

You might go to his page, and see what he is doing now, that he has won the job. bera.house.gov/‎ As for the issues that confront us daily, George's "Great Divide" I see no solutions from any of you, except, "let the peons starve." I prefer instead the consideration of the issues offerred by Bill Moyers and Robert Reich. A sample: http://billmoyers.com/2013/09/03/before-the-battle-resumes-in-washington-a-reminder-about-whats-at-stake/

That's about it for me today, other things to do and comment on elsewhere, have fun.

[Douglas Keachie]

Just in on Yubanet: http://yubanet.com/california/UC-Davis-Children-39-s-Hospital-saves-the-life-of-14-year-old-Bishop-Calif-teen-infected-with-hantavirus.php#.UioWDT-6Sq0 I think this pretty well debunks the "university lecture" remark made by Russ. Teaching and being an active physician in a major university medical center is in no way, an "ivory tower" experience, detached from the real world, as Russ implied.

[fish]

So Dr. Ami Bera, is not very smart, has low moral standards, and doesn't recognizes way better than most the tragedy that socialism cum collectivism brings into human lives" ?

Already dealt with above....Doug as twelve year old girl and all that...

I think the third quality is the ONLY one you can make a case for. The other two are totally bogus, as Bera, on the staff at UC Davis Medical center, and a happy family man, is obviously very smart, and has high moral standards, and also, I might add, made the decision to let our daughter into UC Davis Medical School. As she is now in her 4th year of residency as a neurosurgeon, I think he showed good judgement.

You appear to arguing against your own argument but for clarification; are you saying that Dr. Bera understands that socialisms track record is abysmal? Or are you saying that Georges endorsement of Mr. Birman because he understands this is what....?

So you and the Tea Party are going to support a political hack, with no other achievements in life, against an MD, a professor, and an established contributing member of society? Good luck, we backed Bera last time instead of spending a dime on Obama, and intend to do the same this time. The ugly ads using slowed motion to suggest just the opposite of the mind he is, are a sorry sordid reminder of how low you folks will go when confronted with real talent.

Not a tea party member. Sympathetic to many of their complaints.

Actually Peach this is the only area where your argument even comes close to working. Dr. Bera is an accomplished member of the medical profession...one would think that his experience would be of some benefit in dealing with issues like health care. Reviewing his voting record to this point I don't see much difference between him and most of the other "hacks" on TEAM BLUE. I think Dr. Bera might have benefitted society more had he simply continued practicing medicine.

By not even mentioning Bera in this little fluffer piece of yours, you seem to be continuing on the same low road.

Why? This isn't political advertising...there is no equal time here! Start your own blog if you want to "fluff" Dr. Bera!

[George Rebane]

DouglasK 956am - Gracian #279 (Fischer translation)
http://www.amazon.com/Gracians-Manual-Truth-Telling-Worldly-Wisdom/dp/0398066868

[fish]

BTW, a sure sign that you have no case, you begin arguing about how the arguments are being carried out, with plenty of ad hominems for seasoning. Yes, I will deliberately ignore such garbage.

Deliberately mis-stating Georges position to open your argument is hardly arguing in good faith Peach. Will you ignore my garbage? I'm sure you will....no sense ruining the script playing out between your ears...no reason at all!

Just in on Yubanet: http://yubanet.com/california/UC-Davis-Children-39-s-Hospital-saves-the-life-of-14-year-old-Bishop-Calif-teen-infected-with-hantavirus.php#.UioWDT-6Sq0 I think this pretty well debunks the "university lecture" remark made by Russ. Teaching and being an active physician in a major university medical center is in no way, an "ivory tower" experience, detached from the real world, as Russ implied.

Was Dr. Bera in attendance during the episode? If not, how does is UC Davis participation in the treatment that saved that kids life even remotely germane to the topic at hand. Mr. Birmans congressional candidacy.

You're not very bright are you Doug.

[Douglas Keachie]

You're doing a beautiful job on yourselves, keep up the good work, thank-you!

[Douglas Keachie]

How very convenient! That danged old TypePad screener chewed up another Keachie post. So that my dear readers do not miss a beat, here's another approximate copy:

"Keep it up, you're doing great, I couldn't do better myself, laying out who you really are, and what you stand for, thanks!"

[Douglas Keachie]

Dang, my latest repeat doesn't show on other computers, even though it appears to show on this one!

How very convenient! That danged old TypePad screener chewed up another Keachie post. So that my dear readers do not miss a beat, here's another approximate copy:

"Keep it up, you're doing great, I couldn't do better myself, laying out who you really are, and what you stand for, thanks!"

[Douglas Keachie]

Well how about that! Taking pictures of the screens and times seems to have worked its magic on the recalcitrant TypePad screener. The last one finally made it through to the greater world. I guess the TypePad got scared that the evidence would be a bit too effective, demonstrating TypePad's clear censorship. Don't you agree, George?

[George Rebane]

DougK 207pm - just got back, and rescued two of your comments from 'spam'. Didn't delete anything already posted.

[Walt]

"So you and the Tea Party are going to support a political hack, with no other achievements in life."

I don't recall the Tea Party supporting "O"...." Political hack",,, and "no other achievements in life". He DID vote "present" for most of his career, and still does so today.

I know,,,, I know..... How dare I use ones words against them....

[Account Deleted]

from Doug's 10:35 - 'I see no solutions from any of you, except, "let the peons starve".'
Typical leftie. 'if you don't agree with my solution, then I won't even consider your solution and then I'll accuse you of wanting (poor, minority, women, children - usually) to (starve, be poisoned, die, etc).

[fish]

Typical leftie. 'if you don't agree with my solution, then I won't even consider your solution and then I'll accuse you of wanting (poor, minority, women, children - usually) to (starve, be poisoned, die, etc).

In Peachies defense....the strawman overpopulation problem has really improved due to his tireless efforts.

[Todd Juvinall]

Funny how the left always goes overboard in claiming we don't care about the poor when it is our money that actually is confiscated to feed and clothe them. Liberals use government to take our money and spread their cheer. Also, liberals are historically tightwads with their own money and when compared to those on the right, should be ashamed. A liberal gives a miniscule amount of charitable dollars and the right gives much, much more in addition to that confiscated and redistributed. I recall Al Gore's giving was something like $100 on his return and Bush and Cheney were millions.

[Joe Koyote]

" our money that actually is confiscated to feed and clothe them. " -- that's right Todd.. liberals don't pay taxes..

I recall Al Gore's giving was something like $100 on his return and Bush and Cheney were millions."

Prove it Todd! show me the facts Todd. Otherwise you are just spouting righty BS propaganda.

[Todd Juvinall]

JoeK, just google and read. Lazy? Biden is the same and so is Kerry. Hell, your lib pal Kerry parked his mufti-million dollar new yacht in Rhode Island to dodge the Massachusetts tax bite. You libs are to predictable.

I take it you never were to involved in the race for the presidency eh?

[Steve Frisch]

Perhaps Joe was not too involved but I bet Joe knows the difference between "too" and "to". :)

[DC Keachie]

R Tu, D too? Rode Island is a much more desirable place to keep a yacht. If it cost 7 million, you don't need to park it next to your house, It's bigger than any of Todd's houses:

BOSTON (AP) -- Massachusetts Sen. John Kerry is docking his family's new $7 million yacht in neighboring Rhode Island, allowing him to avoid paying roughly $500,000 in taxes to the cash-strapped Bay State.

If the "Isabel" were kept at the 2004 Democratic presidential nominee's summer vacation home on Nantucket, or in Boston Harbor near his city residence, he would be liable for $437,500 in one-time sales tax. He would also have to pay $70,000 in annual excise taxes.

Rhode Island repealed those taxes in 1993. That has made the state something of a nautical tax haven.

Kerry spokesman David Wade said Friday the boat is being kept at Newport Shipyard not to evade taxes, but "for long-term maintenance, upkeep and charter purposes."

Wade noted the vessel was designed by Rhode Island boat designer Ted Fontaine and purchased in the state. It was built in New Zealand by Friendship Yachts.

A Department of Revenue spokesman said Kerry would be liable for Massachusetts taxes if he berthed the boat in the Bay State within six months of its purchase. If the "Isabel" were brought to Massachusetts after that period, the state would have to decide if it wanted to pursue the taxes.

[DC Keachie]

"Rhode" Island, which is largely surrounded by MA: https://www.google.com/search?as_q=rode+island&as_epq=&as_oq=&as_eq=&as_nlo=&as_nhi=&lr=&cr=&as_qdr=all&as_sitesearch=&as_occt=any&safe=images&tbs=&as_filetype=&as_rights=

[Joe Koyote]

Where are your facts Todd? I bet you just made this all up. No proof = BS.

[Gregory]

I thought it was pronounced "Eye-gor", but then I've watched too many Mel Brooks movies. I can't remember the last time I had a problem with typepad; Keachie, as a former teacher of something he thought related to computer science must be terribly embarrassed to have so many problems with something even the unwashed Republicans don't seem to have problems with.

Keachie seems to think I put Cal on a B or C list; perish the thought. Cal is an A list school, it's anthro that's a C list major, especially if one is professing to be a former teacher of computer science.

Why folks would be terribly interested, to the point of 'endorsing' folks running for an office in another district seems entirely bound up in partisan politics. Not having bothered to read up on Bera, before now, it does appear he's a standard Blue when it comes to being green.

Todays interesting news is that in the Australian elections just held, the greenish Labor party just had it's lowest vote percentage in a century and their Coalition, having vowed to suspend carbon taxes as their first order of business (first by immediate administrative action, then by legislation).

Based on that, it would behoove Beri to figure out how to weasel his way out of his climate change positions so as to not piss off the annointed in his party.

[Gregory]

That should have read "and their Coalition, having vowed to suspend carbon taxes as their first order of business (first by immediate administrative action, then by legislation) was swept into power."

Climate changers should note, you don't need a climatologist to tell which way the wind is blowing.

[Ken Jones]

I am heartened by the potential of adding Igor Birman to the team of conservative northern Californians comprised of Doug LaMalfa, Tom McClintock, and Dan Logue (who is running for the 3rd congressional district seat) – the four horsemen of socialism's apocalypse.

Actually a better description would be the Insane Clown Posse.

[Douglas Keachie]

Seems to me Bill Gates does not have a degree in Computer Science, at least not one achieved by going through four years of college. Funny how the man with the engineering background in the hard sciences is moaning about the cost of the hanger for his single engine prop driven plane. I'm no Bill Gates, but having the degree in the "A" departments doesn't seem to define a person as well as Sheldon all grown up thinks it should, and the Grumpy Cat is no Bill Gates either.

Not being privy to exactly how this blog is set up, I can't give a definitive answer as to why my comments trigger the capricious SPAM filter. I do know FB just shut down my messaging capability for a week, for no apparent reasons of redeeming social significance. So I just started responding to people's messages in the middle of the groups I share with them, where there's a will, there's a way.

[George Rebane]

DougK 1241am - For your comfort in the matter, TypePad can't figure out either why their spam filter is capricious. They've been going around the problem for about a year now (as they report in their emails). By the number of comments I have to fish out of the spam file, I do note that they have been doing better lately.

[fish]

I can't give a definitive answer as to why my comments trigger the capricious SPAM filter.

Maybe it's set to reject comments that don't meet certain requirements....lack of coherent thought, presence of too many non-sequiturs.....a comment quality filter if you will.

[Ken Jones]

Probably not fish, you already disproved that theory

[fish]

I don't know Ken....TypePad doesn't drop my comments. But by all means you keep working on your hypothesis.

[Gerry Fedor]

I find it rather "interesting" that Todd wants to try to tell us about how "Funny how the left always goes overboard in claiming we don't care about the poor when it is our money that actually is confiscated to feed and clothe them. Liberals use government to take our money and spread their cheer."

Just who's money are we speaking about?

Well Todd, didn't a big chunk of OUR money get used covering the investment property that YOU sent into the foreclosure abyss? This was my money too, so maybe it's time to look in the mirror as you call all of us hypocrites, or are you going to "man up" and pay for your own mistake?

It's call being a hypocrite, so it's time to either pay exactly what you cost the American people, or maybe it's time to re-evaluate that high and might position you are trying to preach from?

[Todd Juvinall]

Gerri Fedor, I have no idea what you are talking about, But like every good leachy liberal you never answer for your hypocrisy. You libs are sponges for the rights money and you use force to take it and give it to your friends. Obama is now your momma . Tell us all Gerri what your business is so we can determine your veracity. Also, tell us your true dollar giving to the poor. Let us see what a really good liberal actually does instead of just yapping like a big shot. Too funny.

[Gerry Fedor]

You have no idea about the investment property that you walked away from and cost all us true conservatives almost a hundred thousand dollars thru the TARP program?

Come on now I know that you're getting old, but this memory "lapse" is ridiculous!

I am in no way a liberal, and I believe that you should live by the values you preach while you my friend, say one thing and do another so long as they benefit your own individual pocket book! Screw the true American's (like my own) who's money you took.

As for my qualifications, I am now retired after building a company from nothing (in 1983) to a company that (when I sold it to a major Japanese manufacturing firm) had over 400 employees and was doing @$350 million a year in business. I am still a minority owner and the company is still one of the largest manufacturing firms of it's kind, and even with the downturn in the economy is still doing very well!

Again, are you going to "MAN UP" and pay for your mistakes (rather than letting the American taxpayer - such as myself pay for your financial mistakes), otherwise this discussion it pointless and hypocritical!

It's time to either write a check or be quiet!

[Douglas Keachie]

Yup, sure is funny how junior birdman can get so upset about a poorly worded story problem, forever, and yet lets Todd's $100,000 Limekiln MisAdventure completely go un-reviewed or even analysed.

[Todd Juvinall]

Gerri Fedor, you are talking about someone else and perhaps you should review libel and slander laws before proceeding. You are just BSing us about your socalled business. No proof just BS. If you actually had one and sold it to the Japanese then you are part of the problem of capital and jobs overseas aren't you? (tax evasion eh?) I would suggest you are the hypocrite. You write like a liberal so in my experience, well you know, walks like a duck. I would suggest you do some soul searching about your selling out your own country for a quick profit from other countries. Too funny Gerri.

[George Rebane]

Gentlemen - this little tete a tete with ToddJ is another conversation irrelevant to the subject of my post, and would better be carried out on Todd's blog, link below.
http://sierradragonsbreathe.blogspot.com/

[Todd Juvinall]

Gerri Fedor, aren't you the person who gave us all the bogus solar power numbers? Yep you are, you have no credibility on any topics here.

http://rebaneruminations.typepad.com/rebanes_ruminations/2013/07/bb4-on-climate-change.html

[Todd Juvinall]

Oops didn't see you post before I hit send. Sorry George. You see these nuts just delete them and send them to my blog.