DESERT WILDFLOWERS HIKE SATURDAY MARCH 5
March 4, 2016 (Ocotillo) – The Jacumba Hikers and Walkers will lead a Desert Wild Flowers hike this Saturday, March 5th. Meet at 8 am at the Imperial Valley Desert Museum (11 W. Frontage Road, Ocotillo). The hike begins at the trailhead to Mountain Palm Spring off S2, then traveling to a Palm Oases and along the you may encounter wild flowers: Ocotillo, Blooming Creosote Bush, Salton Milk-Vetch, Poppies, Mariposa Lilly, Pink Phlox, Primrose, Desert Paint Brush, Verbena, Dasies and Yellow Cups just to name a few. This hike is rated easy at approximately 4 miles. Please! For more information call hikelLeaders: Bill-(619) 766-4927 & Greg (619) 459-3037 View hiking safety tips. View full hiking schedule for March.
WILL PARTY DUMP TRUMP? MORE PROMINENT REPUBLICANS SPEAK OUT
84 Republican national security and foreign policy leaders say they won’t back Trump if nominated By Miriam Raftery March 3, 2016 (Washington D.C.) – An open letter signed by 84 Republican foreign policy and national security leaders condemned Donald Trump, stating, “We are unable to support a Party ticket with Mr. Trump at its head.” The leaders’ letter comes on the heels of former CIA director and ex-National Security Agency director Michael Hayden stating that if Trump ordered torture which violates the Geneva Convention or ordered the killing of family members of suspected terrorists, the military would disobey his orders. Hayden told Bill Maher, “If he were to order that once in government, the American armed forces would refuse to act.” The 84 Republican letter signers included Michael Chertoff, former Homeland Security director under George W. Bush and former Under Secretary of Defense Policy Eric Edelman who served under the senior George Bush. “His vision of American influence and power in the world is wildly inconsistent and unmoored in principle,” the leaders warned. “He swings from isolationism to military adventurism within the space of one sentence.” They slammed his support for “expansive use of torture”, making inflammatory statements on immigration,promoting trade wars, and voicing admiration for dictators such as Russian president Vladimir Putin. They also condemned Trump’s “hateful, anti-Muslim rhetoric” that the signers said could alienate partners in the Islamic world and endanger the safety and Constitutionally guaranteed freedoms of American Muslims. “He is fundamentally dishonest,” they went on, citing Trump’s false statements about his past support of the 2003 Iraq War and Libyan conflict in2011. “Mr. Trump’s own statements lead us to conclude that as president, he would use the authority of his office to act in ways that make America less safe, and which would diminish our standing n the world.” The experts on national security and foreign policy also cited Trump failures in business, adding, “his equation of business acumen with foreign policy experience is false. Not all lethal conflicts can be resolved as a real estate deal might, and there is no recourse to bankruptcy court in international affairs.” They also voiced alarm over Trump’s view of how presidential power should be wielded against his detractors, adding that it “poses a distinct threat to civil liberty in the United States.” Trump responded by denigrating his detractors. “They’re chopping off people’s heads in the Middle East and we’re afraid to waterboard,” he said on ABC’s “Good Morning America,” adding, “General Douglas MacArthur and General Patton are in their graves right now spinning…They don’t believe what they’re seeing.” Both Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and House Speaker Paul Ryan issued strongly wording statements critical of Trump for failing to denounce the backing of Ku Klux Klan leader David Duke, indicating that bigotry has no place in the Republican party though both left the door open to support Trump if nominated, the New York Times reports. Trump claimed he needed to “research” the KKK first. Trump’s father was once arrested at a KKK riot and was also the target of a successful Civil Rights action by the Justice Department that resulted in a consent decree to force racial integration of housing projects owned by Trump Sr., the Village Voice reported.Trump’s ex-wife, Ivanka, has told the press he kept a book of Hitler speeches by his bedside and regularly read them. Business Insider reports that Trump denied this but a friend confirmed giving him the Hitler speech book, My New Order. While many GOP leaders are taking steps to distance themselves from Trump, others have not. New Jersey Governor Chris Christie endorsed Trump after ending his own presidential campaign. San Diego Congressman Duncan D. Hunter has also endorsed Trump, calling him a “strong leader.” At tonight’s Republican debate, Trump opponents Marco Rubio, Ted Cruz and John Kasich all indicated they would reluctantly support Trump if he wins the Republican nomination, despite their harsh criticism of him during the campaign. (Ben Carson did not participate in the debate, announcing shortly before the event that he sees “no path forward” for his campaign after failing to win any primaries or caucuses.) Though Trump has won numerous primary and caucus states, he has not received a majority of Republican votes in even a single state. He could well reach the Republican National Convention without a majority of delegates. Media outlets including National Public Radio are now suggesting Republicans may resort to a brokered convention to try and block a Trump does not secure the nomination. Such an action might or might not succeed in handing over the nomination to one of Trump’s rivals or a last minute entry such as Romney. But such a move could also anger and alienate Trump’s sizeable voting block, potentially splintering the party. Trump’s supporters have been drawn to his “make America great” message in part due to simmering dissatisfaction with the party, as well as to his perceived business acumen and hardline stances on immigration. There are also third party candidates talking about entering the race, including independent Minnesota Governor and former wrestling champion Jesse Ventura, who has said he will run if Trump and Hillary Clinton are the respective nominees for the Republican and Democratic parties, or former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg, who has criticized Trump and progressive Democratic candidate Bernie Sanders and told CNN he may enter the fray. If Trump loses the Republican nomination, the reality show host known for his “You’re fired” line may not go gracefully into the night. He has previously threatened repeatedly to launch an independent run for the presidency if Republican delegates choose another candidate, though in the latest debate, indicated after a pause that he would support the party nominee.
KIERA LARSEN REMEMBERED AS “BEAUTIFUL AND HEROIC GIRL”
East County News Service March 3, 2016 (Lakeside) — A child who climbed into a vehicle accidentally shifted it into neutral, the Medical Examiner’s report reveals. Kiera Larsen, 10, of Lakeside was playing nearby and saw the vehicle rolling down a driveway on Highway 8 business in El Cajon. She ran behind the vehicle and pushed another child out of the way, but was run over. Paramedics performed CPR and transported her to Sharp Grossmont Hospital, where she was pronounced dead in the emergency room of a head injury. Senator Joel Anderson asked that the State Senate be adjourned in Kiera’s memory, praising her as a “beautiful and heroic girl.”
IDENTITY OF MOTEL FIRE VICTIM RELEASED
By Miriam Raftery March 3, 2016 (El Cajon) — The Medical Examiner’s office has identified Drake Lou Pappas, 61, as the victim found dead after a fire at the Villa Embasadora motel in El Cajon early yesterday morning. Pappas was staying at the motel with his wife, a nurse who left for work on the evening of March 1st. Around 3 a.m., guests at the motel saw smoke coming from Pappas’ room and called 911 from a payphone in front of the motel. El Cajon Police officers, Heartland Fire Department and the San Diego Sheriff’s Bomb/Arson personnel responded to the scene. The body was discovered during fire suppression efforts. Cause of death has not yet been confirmed by the County Medical Examiner. According to CW6, neighbors said Pappas smokes and was on oxygen, indicating that he and his wife had been staying at the motel since June.
DRIVER WITHOUT SEATBELT KILLED IN ROLLOVER ON HIGHWAY 94
East County News Service March 3, 2016 (Spring Valley) – A 32-year-old Spring Valley man driving a 2002 Acura at a high rate of speed on State Route 94 eastbound at Spring Street yesterday morning struck a center divider wall, then veered to the right and hit a guard rail. The vehicle overturned and the driver, who was not wearing a seat belt, died at the scene of his injuries. A woman, 29, in the passenger seat had a cut lip. Alcohol and drugs were not factors in the collision, said Officer Kevin Pearlstein with the California Highway Patrol. The identity of the driver has not yet been released pending notification of family.
ROMNEY BLASTS TRUMP AS UNFIT FOR PRESIDENCY
East County News Service “His domestic policies would lead to recession. His foreign policies would make America and the world less safe. He has neither the temperament nor the judgment to be president. And his personal qualities would mean that America would cease to be a shining city on a hill.” – Mitt Romney March 3, 2016 (San Diego)—Mitt Romney, the 2012 Republican presidential nominee, today issued an extensive statement urging Republicans not to support Donald Trump’s candidacy. Romney blasted Trump for his “bullying” personal style, racist remarks, failed business ventures, and “reckless” foreign policy, concluding he lacks the temperament needed in a president. Trump responded by denigrating Romney as a “loser” and a “failed candidate.” Below are the full remarks delivered by Romney on the presidential race at theHinckley Institute of Politics at the University of Utah. Click here to watch the video of this speech Text of Romney speech I am not here to announce my candidacy for office. I am not going to endorse a candidate today. Instead, I would like to offer my perspective on the nominating process of my party. In 1964, days before the presidential election which, incidentally, we lost, Ronald Reagan went on national television and challenged America saying that it was a “Time for Choosing.” He saw two paths for America, one that embraced conservative principles dedicated to lifting people out of poverty and helping create opportunity for all, and the other, an oppressive government that would lead America down a darker, less free path. I’m no Ronald Reagan and this is a different moment but I believe with all my heart and soul that we face another time for choosing, one that will have profound consequences for the Republican Party and more importantly, for the country. I say this in part because of my conviction that America is poised to lead the world for another century. Our technology engines, our innovation dynamic, and the ambition and skill of our people will propel our economy and raise our standard of living. America will remain as it is today, the envy of the world. Warren Buffett was 100% right when he said last week that “the babies being born in America today are the luckiest crop in history.” That doesn’t mean we don’t have real problems and serious challenges. At home, poverty persists and wages are stagnant. The horrific massacres of Paris and San Bernardino, the nuclear ambitions of the Iranian mullahs, the aggressions of Putin, the growing assertiveness of China and the nuclear tests of North Korea confirm that we live in troubled and dangerous times. But if we make the right choices, America’s future will be even better than our past and better than our present. On the other hand, if we make improvident choices, the bright horizon I foresee will never materialize. Let me put it plainly, if we Republicans choose Donald Trump as our nominee, the prospects for a safe and prosperous future are greatly diminished. Let me explain why. First, the economy: If Donald Trump’s plans were ever implemented, the country would sink into a prolonged recession. A few examples: His proposed 35% tariff-like penalties would instigate a trade war that would raise prices for consumers, kill export jobs, and lead entrepreneurs and businesses to flee America. His tax plan, in combination with his refusal to reform entitlements and to honestly address spending would balloon the deficit and the national debt. So even as Donald Trump has offered very few specific economic plans, what little he has said is enough to know that he would be very bad for American workers and for American families. But wait, you say, isn’t he a huge business success that knows what he’s talking about? No he isn’t. His bankruptcies have crushed small businesses and the men and women who worked for them. He inherited his business, he didn’t create it. And what ever happened to Trump Airlines? How about Trump University? And then there’s Trump Magazine and Trump Vodka and Trump Steaks, and Trump Mortgage? A business genius he is not. Now not every policy Donald Trump has floated is bad. He wants to repeal and replace Obamacare. He wants to bring jobs home from China and Japan. But his prescriptions to do these things are flimsy at best. At the last debate, all he could remember about his healthcare plan was to remove insurance boundaries between states. Successfully bringing jobs home requires serious policy and reforms that make America the place businesses want to plant and grow. You can’t punish business into doing the things you want. Frankly, the only serious policy proposals that deal with the broad range of national challenges we confront, come today from Ted Cruz, Marco Rubio, and John Kasich. One of these men should be our nominee. I know that some people want the race to be over. They look at history and say a trend like Mr. Trump’s isn’t going to be stopped. Perhaps. But the rules of political history have pretty much all been shredded during this campaign. If the other candidates can find common ground, I believe we can nominate a person who can win the general election and who will represent the values and policies of conservatism. Given the current delegate selection process, this means that I would vote for Marco Rubio in Florida, for John Kasich in Ohio, and for Ted Cruz or whichever one of the other two contenders has the best chance of beating Mr. Trump in a given state. Let me turn to national security and the safety of our homes and loved ones. Trump’s bombast is already alarming our allies and fueling the enmity of our enemies. Insulting all Muslims will keep many of them from fully engaging with us in the urgent fight against ISIS. And for what purpose? Muslim terrorists would only have to lie about their religion to enter the country. What he said on “60 Minutes” about Syria and ISIS
February Hit Satellite Temperatures Out of the Ballpark!
The sum of a strong El Nino and the effect of man’s greenhouse gas emissions drove February 2016 global land and sea Troposphere temperatures to a 37-year record. Remote Sensing Systems reports a February land and sea monthly reading from the lower Troposphere of 0.974K, significantly higher than any other reading on the 37-year and 2-month long data set. The extreme upper right of the graph below represents the February record. https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=1090948190958028&set=a.121574941228696.24612.100001285716909&type=3 These data are at: http://data.remss.com/msu/monthly_time_series/RSS_Monthly_MSU_AMSU_Channel_TLT_Anomalies_Land_and_Ocean_v03_3.txt An explanation of how satellites take our planet’s temperature is at: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Satellite_temperature_measurements