Der Parson's rant

Someone in 1967 must have been able to forsee the future when George W. Bush would be President.

Clinton: It'd be 'terrible mistake' to pick McCain over Obama - CNN.com:

"Despite her campaign being more than $20 million in the red, Clinton confirmed she plans to keep going.

'I'm not going anywhere except to Kentucky and Oregon and Montana and South Dakota and Puerto Rico,' she said."

I'm surprised she didn't give that YEEEEEEEAAAAAAAAA!!! scream after that.

Clinton teared up as she described what she called "one of the most incredibly gratifying experiences" of her life -- having her 28-year-old daughter, Chelsea, campaigning for her.

If all else fails use the tears again. Because that's what we need in a President. I guess instead of reading "My pet goat" during a national crisis she can take a moment to shed some tears.

U.N. 'furious' as Myanmar aid 'seized' - CNN.com:

"BANGKOK, Thailand (CNN) -- Aid agencies are furious over the Myanmar government's refusal to let them distribute food and supplies flown in for victims of the cyclone that is estimated to have killed up to 100,000 people."

Make sure you read the article. It's just plan sad they won't let anyone distribute relief aid mostly because they are from the west. I thought about air drops like we used at the end of WWII to get aid into Germany. I'm sure the Myanmar government would find a way to block or take anything that was drop. Then there is a problem of getting stuff into the right areas. I pretty bad when you would rather watch your own people suffer and die then to accept aid from foreigners.

I found this on CNN.com about a report that had sneak in and around Myanmar to see how bad things really are.

(CNN) -- Hiding under a blanket in the back of a car at a police checkpoint. Hopping on boats instead of staying on a road. Constantly looking over your shoulder, knowing that at any moment you -- and those with you -- face the possibility of imprisonment, torture, even death.

It sounds like a spy movie. But CNN's Dan Rivers, who sneaked into storm-ravaged Myanmar without the knowledge of the nation's secretive ruling junta, says the reality is even more frightening than it appears on the silver screen.

I think part sums up things pretty well. They are so afraid of outside influence they won't accept aid for a natural disaster.

He is concerned, he said, that many more may die as a result of the government's self-imposed isolation. Earlier in the week, he said, his crew was able to videotape government workers dumping bodies of the dead into a river. A government not engaged in such activities, which amount to a kind of cover-up, should have nothing to hide, Rivers noted. "Why should they be trying to hide a natural disaster? It's not their fault. It just illustrates the mentality of the regime. It's so suspicious of the outside world."

They are dumping bodies in rivers, they already don't have drinking water, so they make things worse.

Long Thompson declares victory in governor race; Schellinger unwilling to concede | The Journal Gazette

Long Thompson declares victory in governor race; Schellinger unwilling to concede
By Niki Kelly
The Journal Gazette

Democrat Jill Long Thompson finally got to declare victory Wednesday morning in the state’s Democrat gubernatorial primary even if her opponent isn’t ready to give her the nomination.

After a late night of tallying votes, Long Thompson was leading by about 7,100 votes and six precincts remained to be counted around the state.

“It was a little bit of a roller coaster,” she said, noting she stayed up later than usual but it was well worth it to win.

“I believe I’m clearly the winner and I’m looking forward to the race against (Republican incumbent Gov.) Mitch Daniels in the fall,” Long Thompson said.

But her opponent Jim Schellinger has refused to concede.

Tim Jeffers, campaign manager for Schellinger, said the race is still too close to call.

Looks like the Indiana democrats are playing the same drag everything out game the national democrats are playing. This state leans republican so it's going to be hard to for anyone to win against "Their bitch Mitch". (The gov's campaign uses the slogan "My Man Mitch") But they want to keep the in-party fighting going instead of going after the real threat.


Fight will go on

Indiana keeps Clinton alive; Obama wins N. Carolina
By Sylvia A. Smith
Washington editor

Hillary Rodham Clinton won the Indiana primary Tuesday night, running up a victory that gave her bragging rights to being a powerhouse in a Republican-leaning state.

Although her victory was slim, she told an Indianapolis crowd, “It’s full speed on to the White House.”

That is just silly, "being a powerhouse in a Republican-leaning state" she only won by like 2%. That is not a "powerhouse" that is winning by a nose. I don't understand why she is bragging about winning in a Republican-leaning state, she was against another democrat. If it would have been Hillary vs. McCain. McCain would have won it easy. (sad but true)


I know before I said I would vote for McCain if Hillary won, after the last few months I don't think that is still the case.
I will support Hillary if she is nominated. I just like Obama better.

Interviewed at random, dozens of people in the audiences said they were there – and supported Hillary Clinton – out of gratitude for the better economic times during the Clinton administration of the 1990s.

“I love Bill Clinton. I think Hillary’s going to be just as good,” said Lana Hendrey of Columbia City. “Jobs were plentiful.”

People seem to think by electing Hillary they are re-electing Bill Clinton. Do we really need another meat puppet in the Whitehouse? We already have Chaney with his hand up George Bush's ass pulling the stings. It doesn't seem Hillary is doing much to discourage that type of thinking either, at least not that I have seen.

"I'm not going to put my lot in with economists because I know if we did it right...we would design it in such a way that it would be implemented effectively."
-- Hillary Clinton, asked if any economists support the gas tax holiday proposal

Wow, this sounds like it could have came right out of George W. Bush's mouth. Don't listen to the economists because they might be right and we know Washington wouldn't want to implement something effectively.

Bush pays price for 'Mission Accomplished' sign - The White House- msnbc.com:

"WASHINGTON - The White House said Wednesday that President Bush has paid a price for the “Mission Accomplished” banner that was flown in triumph five years ago but later became a symbol of U.S. misjudgments and mistakes in the long and costly war in Iraq.

Thursday is the fifth anniversary of Bush’s dramatic landing in a Navy jet on an aircraft carrier homebound from the war. The USS Abraham Lincoln had launched thousands of airstrikes on Iraq."

Ah yes, my favorite Bush photo. Nothing shows what a moron Bush is better then the picture of him giving a speech telling us “Major combat operations in Iraq have ended,” Bush said at the time. “The battle of Iraq is one victory in a war on terror that began on Sept. 11, 2001, and still goes on.” Where are we today? We are still fighting major combat operations in Iraq.

This Saturday is another Fort Wayne for Peace rally. I wish I would have thought ahead enough to have been able to make that picture into a sign to take down there.

I think I might go to some conservative blogs and wish them "Happy Mission Accomplished day".

Apparently our Indiana Bureau motor vehicles is now in charge of making sure no illegal aliens are getting past our borders and buying motor vehicles. If you look Hispanic, they make you show prove of citizenship to get title work done. Funny thing though they don't ask white or black people to show anything. All they do is ask for Social Security number. Here is what the BMV web site says you need to get a title on a vehicle.

For used vehicles:

* Application for Certificate of Title - State Form 44049
* Conforming Odometer Statement (generally found on the Certificate of Origin)
* Bill of Sale
* Vehicle Inspection Number (VIN) Inspection (if the vehicle was not purchased in Indiana)
* Social Security number or Federal Employer Identification number

Any vehicle coming into Indiana from another state, including those assigned to an Indiana resident on a manufacturer's certificate of origin, must receive a VIN inspection. This inspection may be done at any Indiana license branch for no charge, or may be completed by a law enforcement officer who may charge up to $5. The officer must fill out an Affidavit of Police Officer/Physical Inspection of an Indiana Resident's Vehicle/Watercraft - State Form 39530 when completing a VIN inspection.

No place does it even say you need a drivers license or any other ID, but if your Hispanic they ask for ID. Even if that person has a social security number (the same SS number used to pay state and federal taxes BTW). I just don't understand this system. Why does it matter? The State is collecting sales tax and charging a title fee. What does a drivers license have to do with getting a TITLE for a vehicle? The title just proves ownership, that really has nothing to do with operating it.

The reason I bring this up is because my Hispanic friend purchased a car and can't get the title transferred to her name or even get a license plate because the BMV people have decided they need some extra power. The dealer already filled out the title with her name and information, she can't even sell the car to someone else without getting the title in her name to transfer it again. There is limited space on the back of the title for transfers and it's filled up. I'm going to try and go to the BMV tomorrow and see if what they say when I ask them some question about what can be done. If you don't hear from me for a while, it might have something to do with me being in jail for causing a scene at the local BMV branch.

Clinton rally moves to park | The Journal Gazette

Clinton rally moves to park
The Journal Gazette

Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton will make her second stop in the Summit City on Saturday, but the location has changed, her campaign announced Tuesday.

The Democratic presidential hopeful, originally slated to visit Thursday, then to speak at Grand Wayne Center, is now scheduled to speak at 10 a.m. at the Headwaters Park Lincoln Pavilion. Gates open at 8 a.m. at the South Clinton Street entrance.

The stop is part of Clinton’s “Solutions for the American Economy” tour, which is also heading to Bloomington, Gary, East Chicago and South Bend this weekend.

On joy, here she comes again... This is her 2nd. trip to Fort Wayne, Bill was here a while back and last week Chelsea was here. If I wake up in time I may drive down there and see what kind of crowd there is, the Headwaters Park Pavilion is a pretty nice place for them to have this if the weather is nice. The forecast for Saturday looks pretty good for Fort Wayne. I see Clinton won the Penn. primary. Hopefully Obama will do some more campaigning around here so we can stop Clinton from helping McConjob win the presidency.

MoveOn.org Opens voting for their Obama In 30 seconds contest.

Local blogger Robert Rouse from Left of Centrist has a video in the contest staring is children.



You can follow this link to vote

Governor hopefuls joust | The Journal Gazette

With everyone focusing so much attention on the Presidential race. Seems we are forgetting that there is a Governor race going on in Indiana this year.

The most interesting exchanges of the night surrounded ethics and negative attacks. Long Thompson’s were direct, while Schellinger employed a more subtle approach.

Long Thompson started by questioning the use of Trident Air, a limited liability corporation formed by Schellinger and his business partners, three days before Schellinger announced he would run for governor.

It seems the democratic candidates are taking lessons from the presidential candidates with the attacks and such. If these people can't learn to get along we are going to loose so much instead of gaining anything.

"Will make Cheney look like Gandhi."
-- Pat Buchanan on McCain as president

I think that pretty much says it all.

Movie Giant Charlton Heston Dies

Los Angeles (E! Online) - Charlton Heston did not do small.

Heston, the Oscar-winning actor who, as the biggest male star of Hollywood's outsize epic era of the 1950s and 1960s, parted the Red Sea, raced chariots and battled gorilla tyranny, died Saturday at his Beverly Hills home.

He was 84, his family said. He had been battling Alzheimer's disease for years.

Heston left cinematic, political mark

Better known in recent years as a fierce gun-rights advocate who headed the National Rifle Association, Heston played legendary leaders and ordinary men hurled into heroic struggles.

"In taking on epic and commanding roles, he showed himself to be one of our nation's most gifted actors, and his legacy will forever be a part of our cinema," Republican presidential candidate McCain said in a statement that also noted Heston's involvement in the civil-rights movement and his stand against gun control.

Heston's jutting jaw, regal bearing and booming voice served him well as Marc Antony in "Julius Caesar" and "Antony and Cleopatra," Michelangelo in "The Agony and the Ecstasy," John the Baptist in "The Greatest Story Ever Told" and an astronaut on a topsy-turvy world where simians rule in "Planet of the Apes."

"Charlton Heston was seen by the world as larger than life," Heston's family said in a statement. "We knew him as an adoring husband, a kind and devoted father, and a gentle grandfather with an infectious sense of humor. He served these far greater roles with tremendous faith, courage and dignity."

The actor died at his home in Beverly Hills with his wife, Lydia, at his side, family spokesman Bill Powers said. He declined to comment on the cause of death or provide further details Sunday.

One of the biggest box-office draws of the 1950s, '60s and '70s, Heston's work dwindled largely to small parts and narration and other voice roles from the 1980s on, including an uncredited cameo as an ape in Tim Burton's 2001 remake of "Planet of the Apes."

I don't exactly agree with his politics but I dont' think anyone could argue that
Mr. Heston made some of the greatest movies we have ever seen. I doubt anyone will ever forget the line "get you hands off me you damn dirty ape".

Here is the text from the speech Obama gave in Fort Wayne today.

Obama: Let’s bend that arc toward prosperity for all | The Journal Gazette

There is also are article from The Journal Gazette which has a video of the speech.

I didn't get to go, because the tickets were gone before I could get on the website to get one.

Obama to visit city on Friday

Presidential hopeful Barack Obama plans to visit Wayne High School, 9100 Winchester Road, at 11 a.m. Friday, Fort Wayne Community Schools spokeswoman Krista Stockman said Thursday morning.

The doors will open at 9 a.m.

The event is free and open to the public, but tickets are required. For tickets, visit in.barackobama.com

By the time I heard about this and went to the website to get tickets it said they are no longer available. I signed up for the waiting list just in case.

STLtoday - Wal-Mart drops $400,000 reimbursement claim against injured former worker

WASHINGTON — Wal-Mart is backing off its attempts to collect nearly half a million dollars from the family of a Missouri woman injured in a traffic accident eight years ago.

The company said Tuesday it would no longer ask the family of Debbie Shank to reimburse $469,217 in medical expenses incurred after her car collided with a tractor-trailer in southeast Missouri.

Wow, someone at Walmart actually has a soul. That or the bad publicity was really getting to them. It's great to finally hear some good news about this case.

Just when you though Hollywood made some pretty bad movies.

Guess who's coming to diner | The Journal Gazette

Owner Nabi Faghihi realizes using his small diner on the city's southwest side as a venue for Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton's visit to Fort Wayne today is somewhat odd.

“The menu's three times bigger than the restaurant,” Faghihi joked Thursday.

Inside the front door of Sara's Family Restaurant, a smiling picture of George W. Bush greets customers above a list of specials - the Reuben sandwich platter and French onion and vegetable beef soups Thursday.

Hillary comes to Fort Wayne, probably to make sure Bill didn't leave any stains behind when he was here a few weeks ago.

On another note, The Obama campaign is openining a office here in Fort Wayne on Saturday around 10am. (I couldn't find links for more info though) I might try to get up and drive down there a take some pictures and maybe see what kind of information they have.

Mixing Memory : Defending Hillary Clinton From a Memory Researcher's Perspective

Let's look at what might have happened. In Germany, Clinton got on a plane that was used specifically because of its ability to maneuver during landings to avoid incoming fire. Undoubtedly, they were told that this was the reason for using the plane. They had flak jackets and Clinton was put into the armored cockpit for the descent, again as a precaution against incoming fire. Add to this the fact that there were credible threats, meaning she was probably rather anxious, and we all know that stress doesn't make for better overall memory, even if it makes us remember perceptual details better. Hell, maybe even Clinton and her entourage were rushed, after the meeting on the tarmac, to their cars because they were on a tight schedule (not because of the threats), and you get a situation that's easily distorted by the reconstructive processes of memory into something like the version that Clinton told. In fact, I'd bet that they even told Clinton or someone on her team that in the case of incoming fire, they would have to be rush to their cars with their heads down, instead of having the scheduled ceremony on the tarmac. All this could easily add up to a memory in which the threat, the fear, the flak jackets, etc., add up to a difficulty in remembering what actually happened and what she was afraid might happened. And the fact that Clinton seems to remember it so vividly, contrary to being evidence that she's lying, is likely just a product of her brain filling in the gaps and building a coherent representation of the episode, just like it's supposed to do.

This is a interesting post that defends Clinton's "memory". The complete article is pretty interesting. It's still doesn't exactly make it ok for her to bend the truth so much.

I don't mean a Burger King whopper either. Seems there are some memory lapses I would expect that from the 71 year old running for president.
Cafferty File:Why would Clinton not tell the truth about her 1996 Bosnia trip?

On two different occasions, Senator Hillary Clinton has described a trip she took as first lady to Bosnia in March of 1996.

To hear her tell it, she was lucky to escape with her life, landing in a hail of sniper fire. She said they were forced to cut short the greeting ceremony at the airport and, “run with our heads down to get into the vehicles to get to our base.”

But apparently there was time to stop and visit at the airport with an 8-year-old girl who greeted Mrs. Clinton on the tarmac when she landed and read her a poem.

The military commander on hand to greet Clinton at the time, Major General William Nash, told the Washington Post he was unaware of any sniper threat to Clinton during her 8-hour stay.

This is from the Washington Post

Hillary Clinton has been regaling supporters on the campaign trail with hair-raising tales of a trip she made to Bosnia in March 1996. In her retelling, she was sent to places that her husband, President Clinton, could not go because they were "too dangerous." When her account was challenged by one of her traveling companions, the comedian Sinbad, she upped the ante and injected even more drama into the story. In a speech earlier this week, she talked about "landing under sniper fire" and running for safety with "our heads down."

There are numerous problems with Clinton's version of events.

There is video on YouTube, apparently it wasn't too dangerous for that little girl to read a poem and give Hillary some flowers.


Haven't politicians figure out yet they need to stick closer to the facts? With all the other people on the flight, the internet and sites like Youtube. Just the fact that MSM is going to have archived footage that is easily dug up and put on the internet. Why stretch the truth like this? Are we suppose to think she some great war hero? If it was so dangerous why did she take her daughter in the first place? Maybe when Chelsea runs for senate or president she can use the same "courage under fire" story.

I think I have to agree with this,

The Pinocchio Test
Clinton's tale of landing at Tuzla airport "under sniper fire" and then running for cover is simply not credible. Photographs and video of the arrival ceremony, combined with contemporaneous news reports, tell a very different story. Four Pinocchios.

You can read more fun facts about Hillary's foreign policy experience here, FactCheck.org

City of Fort Wayne - Report a Pothole

If your driving in Fort Wayne and see a bad pot hole you can go to the above website and fill out a form with a few question to get it fixed. I've been lucky enough never to have hit a pot hole that did any damage to my vehicle, but I've I have seen story in the newspapers about some bad tire damage this past year.