OB Rag

Do you carry a credit card balance? You suck. Don’t worry, I do too, and so does my girlfriend, my mom, my sister…but hopefully you’re trying to stop your spending and are hacking away at that balance with the rare nickel and dime left over from the shrinking paychecks …

by Rocky Neptune

Mexico last week, in an historic, enlightened, humane move, legalized personal drug use throughout the country. The government also announced that drug addiction would be treated as a medical problem rather than a criminal offense.

by Anna Daniels

Over 700 people in yesterday’s town hall meeting with Susan Davis chanted “Health Care for All,” while another 300 people chanted “Just Say No!”

Doesn’t that say it all—that the majority of people want health care coverage extended to all citizens? President elect Obama campaigned on this issue, was elected for his position and is now addressing it. That’s called moving forward.

The “Just Say No” minority is frozen in time, …

by Frank Gormlie

SPRING VALLEY, CA. I knew I was in trouble with that phone call from ace OB Rag reporter Doug Porter. It was noon. “Where are you?” he asked impatiently. I stumbled for words. We were finishing up our morning business when he called, and I felt like a busted teenager. “We’ll be there real soon,” I mumbled, trying to brush away my hang-over.

Your OB Rag news blog had planned to send our troops to the Spring Valley Town Hall meeting, …

Photos by Patty Jones

SPRING VALLEY, CA. Throngs came out to chant, yell, wave signs and discuss health care reform. Both the left-wing and the right-wing sent their legions to fill the auditorium in Spring Valley. Congresswoman Susan Davis had called the town hall meeting – the only event of its kind in Southern California.

These photos were taken by Patty Jones.

Originally posted August 24, 2009
By OB Rag Staffer

“From out of a cave at the foot of Sunset Cliffs, the thundering hoof beats pound, with a hearty ‘Hi Yo Sylvia, away!’ The OB Ranger rides again.”

The OB Ranger was a radio series that aired on “HIS Radio, FM stereo ninety” in 1971 and 72. It was a spoof of the old “Lone Ranger” radio show, but a lot more fun. Ranger fans tuned in every week to find out what new trouble the OB Ranger would stumble his way into.

He introduced himself with “Far out, groovy and outta sight, I am the OB Ranger!”

by Dan Allemeier

It has been well over a year since we started this effort to slow down traffic on Sunset Cliffs Boulevard, but we are still here and working to get something done to calm the traffic and provide more safety to all OB residents that try to cross Sunset Cliffs whether by foot or car.

A retired Navy petty officer in Escondido is organizing weekly rallies for next month during which people are encouraged to bring unloaded guns to highlight the right to openly carry the firearms.

Gerald Reaster, 69, said he is asserting his Second Amendment rights …

A small but vocal group of local Republicans is accusing county party leaders of conspiring to rig Central Committee elections and abusing office powers.

UPDATE: Late Wed. afternoon: Cal Fire is monitoring a brush fire that is about a half-mile inside Mexico near the U.S.-Mexico border. The blaze is about a half-acre in size and is burning east of Potrero, south of state Route 94 below Bell Valley, a Cal Fire spokesman said.

Firefighters said the fire appears to be burning away from the border.

by Anna Daniels

What goes through your mind when you see some wahoo standing outside of a town hall meeting about health care with a gun strapped to his body, and the president of the United States is inside that meeting hall?

What do you think when a woman sobs “I want my country baaaaaack!” inside yet another town hall meeting? Did you catch the commercial about how Gramps is going to be denied health care because he’s an expendable old duffer, but that YOUR TAX DOLLARS will pay for abortions? How did you respond to the signs showing our President with a mustache a la Hitler?

How about WTF????? That’s what I’m thinking.

During eight years of Bush, progressives and those on the left (and, after a while, many in the center too) protested vigorously, passionately, determinedly, and-whoa, get this!-peacefully.

But seven meager months into the Obama administration, and right-wing extremists are talking secession, fabricating lies to induce fear and are stockpiling ammunition. They are apoplectic and want you to know it. Are you frightened? You should be.