Why Comerica Bank Sucks!

There's a company here in Norwalk called Norwalk Furniture. You may have heard of them since they are one of the largest custom furniture companies in the United States. They have been one of the largest employers in the city. Hundreds of people and families work there. Since 1902, generations of people have called Norwalk Furniture their work and family.

Comerica Bank, the same company that spent millions for naming rights to the Detroit Tigers Stadium, have now found themselves in the middle of a storm. See, Comerica is one of those banking companies that just shelled out loans to everyone regardless of credit history. Now, with record foreclosures, Comerica is feeling the pinch. The stock is dropping and they're losing money. They recently closed the last Comerica branch in Ohio. Before they completely leave Ohio though, they demanded Norwalk Furniture immediately pay their $11million loan and line of credit. This was for no other reason other than they didn't want to have any accounts left in Ohio. In fact, Norwalk Furniture was Comerica's first Ohio customer.

Most companies don't just have $11M sitting around for the heck of it. Neither did Norwalk Furniture. Comerica demanded the company close and liquidate all assets. That means thousands of employees without a job in Norwalk, Ohio, plants in Tennessee, Mississippi, and at the retail stores all over the United States. That's exactly what has happened. Norwalk Furniture has been trying to communicate with Comerica, and so have potential investors seeking to pay Comerica $9M instead of liquidating the company. Comerica has refused to accept the calls. Yes, Comerica was refusing to even discuss the matter with Norwalk Furniture or investors.

Now, the state steps in and offers the company a low-interest loan, the story has made it all the way to the UK, Rep. Sherrod Brown is involved and the Dept of Labor has been contacted. Former Ohio Attorney General & current Lt. Gov. Lee Fisher recently toured the plant to get an idea of what was happening. Thursday, a group of 50 Norwalk Furniture employees went to Detroit to protest in front of the company headquarters and were met by private security and Detroit Police.

Guess what? Comerica has finally decided that it's not in their best interest to keep screwing over customers. The bad publicity has hit them hard and they have finally agreed to sit down with the company. Norwalk Furniture was allowed to open temporarily to complete and ship current orders.

But, it shouldn't end there. This company would not "rethink" their position unless there was public outcry and bad publicity. They would have forced thousands of people into unemployment causing a tremendous drain on local governments. I don't believe they should be able to slink away without any repercussions.

 

***UPDATE***

Friday, July 25th, Norwalk Furniture issued a press release. It's the biggest bunch of ass-kissing I've ever seen. I'm sure this was Comerica's #1 demand before renegotiating the loan.

NORWALK, Ohio, July 25 /PRNewswire/ -- Comerica Inc. is offering its assistance to Norwalk Furniture to continue operations and help save the jobs of as many as 2,000 workers across Ohio, Mississippi, North Carolina and Tennessee.

Financial issues forced a shutdown of Norwalk Furniture operations on July 21. Since the shutdown, a number of private equity firms and state governments have come forward with investment and loan proposals to allow the company to resume operations and pursue its restructuring plan. Friday, Comerica extended its help as well to resolve debt issues related to the company.

"On behalf of Norwalk Furniture, its employees and their families, we'd like to thank Comerica for its willingness to work through a tough situation on a tight schedule," said Domenic Aversa, acting CEO of Norwalk Furniture. "We are grateful that Comerica understands the importance of helping save these jobs and keeping this 106-year-old company in business."

This is sickening. This bank was had no problems whatsoever in shutting down this business. The financial issues were caused by Comerica demanding an immediate repayment of an $11M loan for no other reason besides they didn't want any Ohio customers.

The Gospel According To Obama

I seen the headline on Drudge, but didn't have time to click over and read it until tonight. This has to be one of the most brilliant pieces of journalism ever. The headline is enough to get you in the mood, "He ventured forth to bring light to the world".

And it came to pass, in the eighth year of the reign of the evil Bush the Younger (The Ignorant), when the whole land from the Arabian desert to the shores of the Great Lakes had been laid barren, that a Child appeared in the wilderness.

The Child was blessed in looks and intellect. Scion of a simple family, offspring of a miraculous union, grandson of a typical white person and an African peasant. And yea, as he grew, the Child walked in the path of righteousness, with only the occasional detour into the odd weed and a little blow.

When he was twelve years old, they found him in the temple in the City of Chicago, arguing the finer points of community organisation with the Prophet Jeremiah and the Elders. And the Elders were astonished at what they heard and said among themselves: “Verily, who is this Child that he opens our hearts and minds to the audacity of hope?”

Please, please, read the rest.

Immigration & Customs Rounds up 58 Illegals At Local Restaurants

This will come as no surprise to anyone who lives in the same cities as these restaurants were located. What is surprising is that there were only 58 arrested. I avoid Mexican restaurants, mostly because I'm not a fan of authentic Mexican food.

Special agents with U. S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) shut down the Casa Fiesta restaurant in Norwalk about lunch time Wednesday. Simultaneously, ICE authorities used nine search warrants to arrest 58 people on immigration violations at eight restaurants in the chain and the owner’s home in Norwalk.

About 12:45 p.m., ICE agents escorted at least two men from the Norwalk restaurant in plastic handcuffs into an unmarked, white conversion van parked outside the restaurant entrance. ICE spokesman Greg Palmore wouldn’t say exactly why authorities were there, but said the people taken into custody may be facing criminal or immigration violations.

This is the restaurant that was raided in my city. It used to be a Ponderosa.

Just in case any I.C.E. agents are reading this, please go to WILLARD, OHIO! I think about 70% of the population is people born outside the United States. While you're at it, swing up to Huron too.

I Was Going To Post About John Edwards 2AM Rendezvous

But I decided against it. If he wants to cheat on his cancer-stricken wife, that's his prerogative, I just hope he takes care of that kid.

More From The Dayton Air Show, Interesting Things

I said I was going to post this Sunday, but the more I looked at my pictures, I decided they needed to be enhanced using my photo editing program. I just brightened up the pictures a little.

During the air show, they were offering Huey rides for $50. It was tax deductible so I assume it was going to some kind of good use. I prefer to keep my feet on the ground. However; my brother jumped on the chance. The thing about my brother is, while other kids were acting stupid and whatnot, he spent his time studying aircraft. It's his passion. For him, going to an air show is like going to the Playboy mansion. He can tell you everything you ever wanted to know about anything that flies.

He is planning to enlist next year. He hasn't decided between Air Force or Navy. He doesn't want to be a hot shot pilot, he wants to be a gunner on an AC-130.

But back to his Huey ride:

Everybody boarding  

That's him in the white shirt in the gunner seat  

And away they go.  

This was his first flight of any kind. He said it was the best $50 he ever spent. I'm surprised he got out voluntarily, I was sure security would have to drag him out.

They were operating two Hueys at a time. I think each one carried 10 people. They ran these Hueys until after the show was over to ensure everyone who wanted a ride, got it. There was no shortage of people wanting rides, the line went on forever.

 

This was my favorite of all the aircraft:

It's a B-25. Everywhere they could put a gun, they did. I think the reason I liked it so much was because it was shiny. I tend to get distracted by shiny objects.

As I said before, the flight crew stayed in the same hotel, and ate breakfast at the table behind us.

 

Out off all the amazing things at the air show, this was definitely the best:

 

This Hummer is awesome just to look at, but there's more to why I like it so much Take a look at what's in the trunk.  

Flat screen HDTV, Xbox 360, & a sound system that bumps so hard it vibrates your nether-regions.

 

Of course; they had many souvenirs you could purchase, and I picked a up a few, but my favorite is my coconut cup. For $12 I got a coconut cup with a non-alcoholic lemon daiquiri. It was actually just frozen lemonade.

 

I have to take a moment and tell everyone about the hotel. We stayed in the Dayton Airport Hotel. We got a room with 2 queen beds for $79. The room wasn't spectacular, but it was nice. The most important thing was the people at the desk were very friendly. It made a great impression and should we decide to go to Dayton next year, we will definitely stay at that Hotel. The restaurant in the hotel, Wilbur's Bar & Grille, served me the best bacon cheeseburger I've ever had. It was delicious and not some happy meal cheeseburger either, it was hefty.

Vectren Dayton Air Show 2008

I took about 300 pics at the show and my new camera is much better than my old one. It's nothing fancy. Just a Kodak Z812 IS. It's 8.1MP with a 12x optical zoom. It takes pictures and records video in HD. Pretty good for $249.

During the air show, they were offering Huey rides for $50. It was tax deductible so I assume it was going to some kind of good use. I prefer to keep my feet on the ground. However; my brother jumped on the chance. The thing about my brother is, while other kids were acting stupid and whatnot, he spent his time studying aircraft. It's his passion. For him, going to an air show is like going to the Playboy mansion. He can tell you everything you ever wanted to know about anything that flies.

But back to his Huey ride:

Everybody boarding

That's him in the white shirt in the gunner seat

And away they go.

This was his first flight of any kind. He said it was the best $50 he ever spent. I'm surprised he got out voluntarily, I was sure security would have to drag him out.

They were operating two Hueys at a time. I think each one carried 10 people. They ran these Hueys until after the show was over to ensure everyone who wanted a ride, got it. There was no shortage of people wanting rides, the line went on forever.

This was my favorite of all the aircraft:

It's a B-25. Everywhere they could put a gun, they did. I think the reason I liked it so much was because it was shiny. I tend to get distracted by shiny objects.

As I said before, the flight crew stayed in the same hotel, and ate breakfast at the table behind us.

Out off all the amazing things at the air show, this was definitely the best:

This Hummer is awesome just to look at, but there's more to why I like it so much

Take a look at what's in the trunk.

Flat screen HDTV, Xbox 360, & a sound system that bumps so hard it vibrates your nether-regions.

Of course; they had many souvenirs you could purchase, and I picked a up a few, but my favorite is my coconut cup. For $12 I got a coconut cup with a non-alcoholic lemon daiquiri. It was actually just frozen lemonade.

I have to take a moment and tell everyone about the hotel. We stayed in the Dayton Airport Hotel. We got a room with 2 queen beds for $79. The room wasn't spectacular, but it was nice. The most important thing was the people at the desk were very friendly. It made a great impression and should we decide to go to Dayton next year, we will definitely stay at that hotel. The restaurant in the hotel, Wilbur's Bar & Grille, served me the best bacon cheeseburger I've ever had. It was delicious and not some happy meal cheeseburger either, it was hefty.

I will post some pictures here and include a link at the bottom for the entire album. I will go right down the schedule.

First off was the flag drop by the Misty Blues all-woman skydiving team.

 

The Collaborators aerobatic demonstration

 

US Army AH-64D Apache Attack Helicopter

 

The B-25 "Panchito". The flight crew stayed in the same hotel as I did and sat at the table behind us during breakfast.

 

USAF F-16 Fighting Falcon

 

Ohio Air National Guard C-130H Hercules

 

F-104 Starfighters. These things were FAST. I was only able to get 3 pics of them, one of which turned out good.

 

Sean D. Tucker aerobatic demo

 

US Navy F-18 Super Hornet w/Corsair legacy flight

 

AeroShell aerobatic team

 

USAF C-17 Globemaster

 

USAF F-22 Raptor

 

F-22, F-16, P-51 Mustang heritage flight

 

Video of the F-22

 

All the pics, including aerial demos and static aircraft

2008 Dayton Air Show

Last Post Until Monday

My postings have been sporadic at best the last couple weeks, but that's because I have been working so much.

But tomorrow, I get some time off. I will heading down to Dayton (Vandalia actually) to watch the Dayton Air Show on Saturday. There's no big military acts this year such as the Blue Angels or Thunderbirds, but they will have the new F-22 Raptor. It will keep me happy until I go to the Cleveland Air Show Saturday August 30th, which will feature the Blue Angels.

I did buy a new camera, not the greatest, but the pics should be a lot better than the ones I took last year at Cleveland.

Liberals Vs. Conservatives

I received this email today and thought I would share.

 

Liberals vs. Conservatives

Humans originally existed as members of small bands of nomadic hunters/gatherers. They lived on deer in the mountains during the summer and would go to the coast and live on fish and lobster in the winter.

The two most important events in all of history were the invention of beer and the invention of the wheel. The wheel was invented to get man to the beer. These were the foundations of modern civilization and together were the catalyst for the splitting of humanity into two distinct subgroups:

1. Liberals, and

2. Conservatives.

Once beer was discovered, it required grain and that was the beginning of agriculture. Neither the glass bottle nor the aluminum can had been invented yet, so while our early ancestors were sitting around waiting for them to be invented, they just stayed close to the brewery. That's how villages were formed.

Some men spent their days tracking and killing animals to BBQ at night while they were drinking beer. This was the beginning of what is now known as the Conservative movement. Other men who were weaker and less skilled at hunting learned to live off the conservatives by showing up for the nightly BBQ's and doing the sewing, fetching, and hair dressing. This was the beginning of the Liberal movement.

Some of these Liberal men eventually evolved into women. The rest became known as girlie-men. Some noteworthy liberal achievements include the domestication of cats, the invention of group therapy, group hugs, and the concept of Democratic voting to decide how to divide the meat and beer that Conservatives provided.

Over the years Conservatives came to be symbolized by the largest, most powerful land animal on earth, the elephant. Liberals are symbolized by the jackass.

Modern Liberals like imported beer (with lime added), but most prefer white wine or imported bottled water. They eat raw fish but like their beef well done. Sushi, tofu, and French food are standard liberal fare. Another interesting evolutionary side note: most of their women have higher testosterone levels than their men. Most are social workers, personal injury lawyers, journalists or dreamers in Hollywood

Conservatives drink domestic beer, mostly Bud. They eat red meat and still provide for their women. Conservatives are big-game hunters, rodeo cowboys, lumberjacks, construction workers, firemen, medical doctors, police officers, corporate executives, athletes, Marines, and generally anyone who works productively. Conservatives who own companies hire other Conservatives who want to work for a living.

Liberals produce little or nothing. They like to govern the producers and decide what to do with the production. Liberals believe Europeans are more enlightened than Americans. That is why most of the Liberals remained in Europe when conservatives were coming to America . They crept in after the Wild West was tamed and created a business of trying to get something for nothing.

Here ends today's lesson in world history:

It should be noted that a Liberal may have a momentary urge to angrily respond to the above before forwarding it. A Conservative will simply laugh and be so convinced of the absolute truth of this history that it will be forwarded immediately to other true believers and to more Liberals just to piss them off. And there you have it. Let your next action reveal your true self.

San Francisco Condemns Catholic Church

The most useless city in the most useless state has condemned the Catholic Church for insulting them with it's moral teachings against homosexuality. The church is now suing the city for violating the Constitution's prohibition of gov't hostility toward religion.

A San Francisco city and county board resolution that officially labeled the Catholic church's moral teachings on homosexuality as "insulting to all San Franciscans," "hateful," "defamatory," "insensitive" and "ignorant" will be challenged tomorrow in court for violating the Constitution's prohibition of government hostility toward religion.

Resolution 168-08, passed unanimously by the City and County of San Francisco Board of Supervisors two years ago, also accused the Vatican of being a "foreign country" meddling with and attempting to "negatively influence (San Francisco's) existing and established customs."

It said of the church's teaching on homosexuality, "Such hateful and discriminatory rhetoric is both insulting and callous, and shows a level of insensitivity and ignorance which has seldom been encountered by this Board of Supervisors."

I can't think of a single reason I would ever want to go to SF or anywhere in the entire state of California. I had wanted to go see the Chuck Norris star on the walk of fame, but my friends' brother already went and took a picture. I do know people who live in California, and I feel bad for them.

Sorry About Not Posting

...but real life is getting in the way of online life. I work in a tourist area, and the tourists are flocking in larger numbers than any other year. A horrible economy will do that ya know.

Speaking of tourists, I do have some suggestions for anyone who plans to visit Cedar Point.

1. Despite what you may think, the speed limit is not merely a suggestion. So find the damn gas pedal and go. I'm sick of driving behind you people going 45 in a 55 when there is nothing around that you may find even the slightest bit interesting.

2. Red lights mean stop. This especially goes for the guy from Michigan driving the dark blue F-250 with the sheet of plastic side window. This piece of shit almost hit me because he thought red meant go...and by almost I mean inches.

3. Do not change lanes just because you feel like it when there is a person less than 5ft from you in the other lane. Another Michigan driver

4. When turning on to  a 4 lane highway, you turn on to the nearest lane. You don't go into the second lane, especially when someone is driving in that lane. Another Michigan driver.

5. Orange barrels are not roadside bombs. You need not fear them. It's okay to drive past them at a speed of more than 25mph.

Please use these suggestions the next time you travel.

July 4th Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest

...is now over. I'm glad I was able to catch it on ESPN. I would have to say that was the most exciting thing I've seen in weeks.

Forget the NHRA Powerade World Nationals that were at Norwalk Raceway Park (Summit Motorsports Park for you out-of-towners) last weekend.

For those of you who missed it, the Mustard Belt is staying in America. After finishing with a 59-59 tie, Joey Chestnut beat Takeru Kobayashi in sudden death.

Kobayashi possibly could've won it had he not mishandled his wiener in overtime.

Happy Independence Day

[originally posted July 4th, 2007]

It's not just another excuse to drink.

The total loss of life resulting from the American Revolutionary War is unknown. As was typical in the wars of the era, disease claimed more lives than battle. Historian Joseph Ellis suggests that Washington's decision to have his troops inoculated against the smallpox epidemic was one of his most important decisions.

An estimated 25,000 American Revolutionaries died during active military service. About 8,000 of these deaths were in battle; the other 17,000 deaths were from disease, including about 8,000 who died while prisoners of war. The number of Revolutionaries seriously wounded or disabled by the war has been estimated from 8,500 to 25,000. The total American military casualty figure was therefore as high as 50,000.

About 171,000 seamen served for the British during the war; about 25 to 50 percent of them had been pressed into service. About 1,240 were killed in battle, while 18,500 died from disease. The greatest killer was scurvy, a disease known at the time to be easily preventable by issuing lemon juice to sailors. About 42,000 British seamen deserted during the war.

Approximately 1,200 Germans were killed in action and 6,354 died from illness or accident. About 16,000 of the remaining German troops returned home, but roughly 5,500 remained in the United States after the war for various reasons, many eventually becoming American citizens. No reliable statistics exist for the number of casualties among other groups, including Loyalists, British regulars, Native Americans, French and Spanish troops, and civilians.

 

 

IN CONGRESS, July 4, 1776.

The unanimous Declaration of the thirteen united States of America,

When in the Course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another, and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.--That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, --That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness. Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shewn, that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security.--Such has been the patient sufferance of these Colonies; and such is now the necessity which constrains them to alter their former Systems of Government. The history of the present King of Great Britain is a history of repeated injuries and usurpations, all having in direct object the establishment of an absolute Tyranny over these States. To prove this, let Facts be submitted to a candid world.

He has refused his Assent to Laws, the most wholesome and necessary for the public good.
He has forbidden his Governors to pass Laws of immediate and pressing importance, unless suspended in their operation till his Assent should be obtained; and when so suspended, he has utterly neglected to attend to them.
He has refused to pass other Laws for the accommodation of large districts of people, unless those people would relinquish the right of Representation in the Legislature, a right inestimable to them and formidable to tyrants only.
He has called together legislative bodies at places unusual, uncomfortable, and distant from the depository of their public Records, for the sole purpose of fatiguing them into compliance with his measures.
He has dissolved Representative Houses repeatedly, for opposing with manly firmness his invasions on the rights of the people.
He has refused for a long time, after such dissolutions, to cause others to be elected; whereby the Legislative powers, incapable of Annihilation, have returned to the People at large for their exercise; the State remaining in the mean time exposed to all the dangers of invasion from without, and convulsions within.
He has endeavoured to prevent the population of these States; for that purpose obstructing the Laws for Naturalization of Foreigners; refusing to pass others to encourage their migrations hither, and raising the conditions of new Appropriations of Lands.
He has obstructed the Administration of Justice, by refusing his Assent to Laws for establishing Judiciary powers.
He has made Judges dependent on his Will alone, for the tenure of their offices, and the amount and payment of their salaries.
He has erected a multitude of New Offices, and sent hither swarms of Officers to harrass our people, and eat out their substance.
He has kept among us, in times of peace, Standing Armies without the Consent of our legislatures.
He has affected to render the Military independent of and superior to the Civil power.
He has combined with others to subject us to a jurisdiction foreign to our constitution, and unacknowledged by our laws; giving his Assent to their Acts of pretended Legislation:
For Quartering large bodies of armed troops among us:
For protecting them, by a mock Trial, from punishment for any Murders which they should commit on the Inhabitants of these States:
For cutting off our Trade with all parts of the world:
For imposing Taxes on us without our Consent:
For depriving us in many cases, of the benefits of Trial by Jury:
For transporting us beyond Seas to be tried for pretended offences
For abolishing the free System of English Laws in a neighbouring Province, establishing therein an Arbitrary government, and enlarging its Boundaries so as to render it at once an example and fit instrument for introducing the same absolute rule into these Colonies:
For taking away our Charters, abolishing our most valuable Laws, and altering fundamentally the Forms of our Governments:
For suspending our own Legislatures, and declaring themselves invested with power to legislate for us in all cases whatsoever.
He has abdicated Government here, by declaring us out of his Protection and waging War against us.
He has plundered our seas, ravaged our Coasts, burnt our towns, and destroyed the lives of our people.
He is at this time transporting large Armies of foreign Mercenaries to compleat the works of death, desolation and tyranny, already begun with circumstances of Cruelty & perfidy scarcely paralleled in the most barbarous ages, and totally unworthy the Head of a civilized nation.
He has constrained our fellow Citizens taken Captive on the high Seas to bear Arms against their Country, to become the executioners of their friends and Brethren, or to fall themselves by their Hands.
He has excited domestic insurrections amongst us, and has endeavoured to bring on the inhabitants of our frontiers, the merciless Indian Savages, whose known rule of warfare, is an undistinguished destruction of all ages, sexes and conditions.

In every stage of these Oppressions We have Petitioned for Redress in the most humble terms: Our repeated Petitions have been answered only by repeated injury. A Prince whose character is thus marked by every act which may define a Tyrant, is unfit to be the ruler of a free people.

Nor have We been wanting in attentions to our Brittish brethren. We have warned them from time to time of attempts by their legislature to extend an unwarrantable jurisdiction over us. We have reminded them of the circumstances of our emigration and settlement here. We have appealed to their native justice and magnanimity, and we have conjured them by the ties of our common kindred to disavow these usurpations, which, would inevitably interrupt our connections and correspondence. They too have been deaf to the voice of justice and of consanguinity. We must, therefore, acquiesce in the necessity, which denounces our Separation, and hold them, as we hold the rest of mankind, Enemies in War, in Peace Friends.

We, therefore, the Representatives of the united States of America, in General Congress, Assembled, appealing to the Supreme Judge of the world for the rectitude of our intentions, do, in the Name, and by Authority of the good People of these Colonies, solemnly publish and declare, That these United Colonies are, and of Right ought to be Free and Independent States; that they are Absolved from all Allegiance to the British Crown, and that all political connection between them and the State of Great Britain, is and ought to be totally dissolved; and that as Free and Independent States, they have full Power to levy War, conclude Peace, contract Alliances, establish Commerce, and to do all other Acts and Things which Independent States may of right do. And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes and our sacred Honor.

 

Now for the customary fireworks display

 

Denver & The Black "National Anthem"

I seen the headline about this debacle and refused to read it. There's some stories that I know will just infuriate me and is often better to just ignore it. I had been successful until tonight. John Kasich was filling in for Blowhard O'Reilly on Fox News tonight. So I figured I would watch the O'Reilly factor for probably the only time this year, and they just so happened to cover the story.

The city asked local jazz singer Rene Marie to sing the Star Spangled Banner before Tuesday’s speech.

But she performed a different version of the national anthem. She took the music from the Star Spangled Banner and sang lyrics from the Black National Anthem instead.

My first thought was this woman should've been shot where she stood. My second thought was she should be shot several times. My third thought, public execution.

The Fox poll says 96% of the people agree with me. It's totally believable that the 4% who would support this hooker are retarded.

She also said that she never felt like an American. Um, Ms. Dipshit, insulting millions of Americans isn't likely to make you feel "more American". I hope this woman is never able to get a "gig" ever again, becomes homeless, and has to eat out of dumpster's. Then she will have a real reason to hate America.

I would like to know why a pathetic jackass named James Weldon Johnson felt that "black America" needed a bastardized version of the National Anthem. In the early 1900's, he was quite a successful man, I couldn't imagine how horrible it must've been. He was a lawyer, professor, and author. He accomplished all of this despite the racism that present. But apparently that wasn't enough for him. I guess he felt working for his accomplishments was too much...work, and it should've been handed to him. Oh...woe is us, whitey is keeping us down.

Lack of motivation and discipline is what keeps people of all colors from succeeding. Suck it up, get a job, stop having litters of kids and do something with your life instead of complaining.

Nobody owes anybody anything. It doesn't matter that hundreds of years ago, African tribal leaders sold their fellow countrymen to slave traders, (yes, you read that right. The people most responsible for the slave trade was Africans) you're not going to get special treatment.

Back to the issue at hand. I found the last line of this mess of a song interesting:

True to our native land

This is another subject that gets me fired up. If you love your native land so much, then move back! I fully support using tax dollars for a one-way ticket to your "native land" and revocation of your citizenship. This is not Africa, Mexico, Saudi Arabia or whatever. This is America. Love it or leave it.

Sen. Webb Decides To Jump On The Bandwagon And Criticize McCain

First we had Weasel Clark criticizing McCain's military service and how within the past 4 years, it is now unacceptable to use military service as prerequisite for becoming president. Now we have the pervert Sen. Webb saying McCain needs to "calm down" on using his military service in politics.

"I think what we really need to work on over the next four, five months, and it goes back to the speech that Sen. Obama gave [Tuesday] and this little fight that I've been watching and that is, we need to make sure that we take politics out of service," Webb said. "People don't serve their country for political issues."

He continued: "And John McCain's my long-time friend, if that is one area that I would ask him to calm down on, it's that, don't be standing up and uttering your political views and implying that all the people in the military support them because they don't, any more than when the Democrats have political issues during the Vietnam War. Let's get the politics out of the military, take care of our military people, or have our political arguments in other areas."

I'm no fan of McCain, but others are making a bigger deal about his service than he is. The Democrat's hypocrisy is never more evident. I heard about Kerry receiving the purple heart not once, not twice, but thrice! so much that it's pretty much burned into my brain. All you heard about was Kerry's service and how GWB only served in the Nat'l Guard and because of Kerry's service, he was more fit to be president. In 4 short years, you have a Democratic candidate with no military service (and limited public service) and a "Republican" candidate with military service (and lengthy public service) and it's now taboo to discuss military service.

I think I hear the "thump, thump" of another person thrown under the bus.

***UPDATE***

I missed Race-baiter Rangel's comments.

Rangel, on Fox News, said that McCain's service in Vietnam was "admirable"

"And we should spend the rest of our lives thanking people for doing that," Rangel said. "It doesn't have any connection at all in being a good senator, as being a good president."

[...]

"I could have done so many things in life that probably could have been more productive in terms of being able to resolve legislative and other type of things," he said. "I think my training in law school better prepared me to be a lawmaker than getting shot in Korea, as I did in 1950. But I think that people who serve should be treated differently. I think people put their lives in harm's way."

Another "thump, thump" under the wheels coming

 

***Update***

It just keeps getting better, an Obama advisor said "McCain was "sadly limited" during his POW years.

Here's the quote:

“Sadly, Sen. McCain was not available during those times, and I say that with all due respect to him," said informal Obama adviser Rand Beers. "I think that the notion that the members of the Senate who were in the ground forces or who were ashore in Vietnam have a very different view of Vietnam  and the cost that you described than John McCain does because he was in isolation essentially for many of those years and did not experience the turmoil here or the challenges that were involved for those of us who served in Vietnam during the Vietnam war."

"So I think," he continued, "to some extent his national security experience in that regard is sadly limited and I think it is reflected in some of the ways that he thinks about how U.S. forces might be committed to conflicts around the world."

Here's the video

 

"thump, thump"

Hezbollah Training "Militiamen" In Iraq

According to the AP, I can only use 4 words without being charged, so I guess I will interpret the article about the terrorist group Hezbollah training militiamen in Iraq.

Lebanese members of Hezbollah crossed into Southern Iraq from Iran and started training Shi'ite militiamen to conduct attacks on U.S. Military and Iraqi citizens. According to the article, some of the training will be conducted in Iran.

Iran preferred the Arab speaking Lebanese Hezbollah over the Farsi-speaking Iranians because they can communicate better with Shi'ite Iraqis.

 

***UPDATE***

[This space will be left blank until the DoD issue a press release about Lebanese Hezbollah members (or Special Groups, as they're called) killed in Coalition raid in Southern Iraq]