kentguy2007's Blog

Well, Jesse Helms a former Republican U.S. Senator from North Carolina has died. Those close to Helms think it is really neat that he went out on July 4th...just like Thomas Jefferson! The problem with this July 4th tribute to Helms is that Jefferson actually showed a real commitment to individual and human rights. Jesse Helms did not. He was a self-proclaimed bigot. He worked against extending help to minorities and supported discrimination against gays even as America approached the 21st Century. Helm's death on July 4th is perhaps a divine intervention to remind all of us to think about many of the ideals contained in our founding documents and how Helms worked against those ideals.
And how does our beloved President honor this bigot?
"Laura and I are deeply saddened by the passing of our good friend and a great American," President George W. Bush said in a statement. "Jesse Helms was a kind, decent, and humble man and a passionate defender of what he called 'the Miracle of America.'" Kind? Decent? The guy who openly discriminated aganist fellow Americans?
Republican leader Bob did point out that Helms was really nice to the Senate pages and bought them ice cream...gee, I guess that does make up for years of opposing civil rights legislation...does anyone Bye, Bye in Washington, D.C. have a brain?
Helm's bigoted, hate-filled, hysterical ideas will not be missed...and neither will we miss the end of the brain-dead administration we currently have....1/20/09- The End of an Error!!!

Once again we see in the newspaper a story of a trigger happy cop killing a family's pet. In this case, a police officer who was allegedly threatened by a dog. ( (Akron Beacon Journal, Fri June 13th, pg.B5) No, I do not want a police officer to suffer a dog attack without defending themself. But, I DO think that police officer's are sometimes too quick to brutality and gun fire...against people and animals. Why couldn't this police officer have used mace? A stun gun? Why lethal force? Do you really want this officer pulling a gun and firing it in your neighborhood unless it is absolutely necessary? . Police Chief Dennis Hanwell should take some action against this officer before she kills again.
Will he? No, because this will get swept under the rug like everything else does. But, the officer doesnt get all the blame: if this dog was not contained, the family has to take some responsibility for the dog's death. Again, an innocent animal has suffered because of the stupidity and carelessness of two sets of people who should have acted more prudently.
kentguy2007

The Ravenna Habitat for Humanity is sponsoring one of the most inhumane practices: the circus. The modern day circus is a horrific example of animal abuse as these poor creatures are dragged from city to city to entertain popcorn and pop guzzling crowds. Here's a quote from the PETA website:


PETA's undercover investigators have obtained disturbing video footage of the horrific abuse inflicted on animals in circuses. In the footage, Tim Frisco—an animal care director in the Carson & Barnes Circus—instructs would-be trainers to use steel&-tipped bullhooks to force elephants to perform tricks. Frisco embeds the sharp metal hook into an elephant's sensitive skin, causing her to bellow in pain, as he says, "Sink that hook into 'em. When you hear that screaming, then you know you got their attention!" ( Yes, this is the SAME circus coming to Ravenna)

If you don't believe PETA, check out the video for yourself...or go to other websites to further your education on the lousy life these animals have to endure for our "entertainment"

The businesses who sponsor this circus by selling tickets get an F in humane practices: First Place Bank, Home Savings Bank, Portage Community Bank, Triangle Pharmacy, Davey Tree, Fifth Third Bank, Portage Path Title Agency.

Don't help the Habitat for Humanity pay for houses with the blood of helpless animals.

Congratulations to the people of California who have the pleasure of living in a state where the equal rights of people are actually upheld in the state courts. This is in reference to the Calif court decision allowing gays the basic, human, fundamental right to marry. While Ohio has voted to limit and restrict individual rights ( i.e. the constitutional amendment against gay marriage), California is progressive enough to realize that fools like Ohio's Ken Blackwell ( former losing candidate for governor)are a throwback to a time when blacks, poor whites, women, labor organizers,gays, etc. were all looked down upon and threatened with violence or ostracism to keep them in subservient positions or out of sight.Calif. gives me hope that someday even Ohio might become progressive enough to live up to the expectations, hopes, and ideals of our Founding Fathers & Mothers.

The Pope's visit to America is historic for all the wrong reasons. While people in this country suffer with the loss of jobs, high gasoline and food prices, and an economy that is unstable, I am stunned to see our federal, state, and local governments spending millions of dollars to host this visit. What a spectacle!
First, why should taxpayers foot the bill for thousands of police officers ( most on overtime pay)to line the streets in American cities to protect a religious leader? What happened to the separation of church and state?
Second, how much energy was wasted on the assorted vehicles -limos, trucks, security vehicles, clean up trucks, etc.-while the "Popemobile" paraded down the street. It's almost all like a bad "B" movie.
I was really struck by how ironic a story was that I heard on the news today...In Harlem, the schools are so bad that a lottery is held to see which residents get into the best school. According to the story the vast majority of Harlem residents will go to very ineffective schools. Too bad the money NYC WASTED on the Pope's visit couldn't have gone to the residents of Harlem (American citizens) instead of a religious leader's visit. Once the Pope is gone, the money is gone and wasted. Money put into the schools and students would have been a much better use of the funds. The Pope's visit was fine..but, it should have been paid for ( including all the ridiculous security) by the Catholic Church not American taxpayers.

Robert Duvall is in too many movies. When you watch a movie you need to suspend belief and imagine that the people are for real...when actors are in too many movies over many decades it makes it more difficult to do this...can't Robert just become a Wal Mart greeter or something? I mean, there are plenty of actors out there...can't Hollywood give some other people a chance to act????????? ( and, no it's not just Duvall who is in too many movies...same thing goes for a lot of other actors).

Well, when the Republicans were seeking election in 2000 and 2004, they distracted many of the less intelligent voters by making the fear of gay marriage a number one concern. Pro-Republican religious leaders told their congregations -and anyone else who would listen- that The United States would come to a virtual end if gay people got married! God would strike us down! Hurricanes and tornados would ravage areas where there were lots of gay people...vote Republican and end the threat of gay marriage!! Ohioans did their part and passed a Constitutional amendment protecting the state from the immense threat....good 'ole Republican leaders like Ken Blackwell rode in on a white horse and saved the day for Ohio.. so now the United States is faced with a financial crisis unseen since the Great Depression...foreclosures are at all time recent highs.... Ohio has lost hundreds of thousands of jobs..oil has gone from $20 a barrel in 2002 to over $100 a barrel, food prices are out of this world, the war in Iraq has costs thousands of lives and trillions of dollars...but..at least we don't have gay marriage!!!!!!!
Sounds like a smart move, huh?
Kentguy2007

Congratulations to the Humane Society of the United States for its groundbreaking investigation into the unbelivable cruelty at the meatpacking plant in California that has resulted in the largest beef recall in United States History. I would hope that we all condemn the the heartless manner in which animals are brutally treated at many of thse meatpacking plants. I call upon the United States Congress, the President of the United States, and the United States Department of Agriculture to halt this holocaust by passing the Downed Animal Act now introduced into Congress. Please call your member of Congress and ask them to support this law.
kentguy2007

Mike, Mike, Mike...just when I thought you couldn't get any stranger you told the story of cooking squirrels in your popcorn popper in the college dorm room . ( CNN's Larry King Live.) "It (the squirrel) didn't taste good"- according to Huckelberry Mike- but since hunting squirrels is a southern tradition "I had to do something with them." This is the same Huckelberry Mike who gleefully talked of shooting birds a few weeks ago..uh, Mike...couldn't you just let the wildlife live?? You and Dick Cheney both need to relax and put away your guns...just work on solving America's problems without shooting everything in site..can the authorities in Ohio please disarm this nut when he tries to cross into Ohio??? (For God's sake don't anyone tell him about the black squirrels in Kent- he might find them a tempting delicacy)
Kentguy2007

There is a tremendous rise in documented cases of animal abuse in Portage County. Today's Record Courier ( Mon Feb 4th) details the ugly, horrendous, holocaust of animals that is taking place in the farms and houses of your neighbors. Horses that are left to starve when their owners leave or simply decide not to take care of them; household animals left behind in the house when people move who slowly starve to death. Diane Cutrufello of Deerfield ( 9923 U.S. 224) was charged with animal cruelty (Jan 23, 2008 Record Courier) when dozens of animals and a dead horse were found on property she was renting.
I called my representative in the Ohio legislature today asking for stronger laws to protect these animals from the devients who prey on them...Diane Cutrufello was charged with a misdemeanor for her horrific crime aganist nature.
Please CALL your representative or the governor's office and ask for stronger laws. Support your local police and prosecutors who go after these slim who abuse innocent animals. They only deserve to burn in hell or die in a way the animals died. Support your local animal welfare agencies that end up caring for many of these poor, deserted animals.
If Diane Cutrufello is found guilty, ostracize her from the community and tell the owners of the property at 9923 U.S. 224 in Deerfield to not rent to those who torture animals- they need to be more careful of their rentors. We don't need the Adolph Hitlers of the world in Portage County.

Mike Huckabee is a fake right up there with Mitt Romney. He is another guy who wants the religious right to help elect him so he can change the U.S. Constitution to fit a religious document of questionable origin.Don't be fooled by his "gee, golly, I'm such a nice guy" behavior. Those who adhere to The Bible have no business usibg this book to interfere with how the U.S. government is run in the 21st Century. "huckelberry Mike" will only be too glad to take rights away from non-religoius Americans, gays, blacks, and women. Huckelberry Mike was only to glad to send a well received message to a white supremacist group in 1993...and he's only too happy to take away more rights from you that feed into his fanatical ideas.
"The extent of Huckabee's interaction with the racist group is unclear, but this much is known: he accepted an invitation to speak at the group's annual conference in 1993 and ultimately delivered a videotaped address that was "extremely well received by the audience." (THe Huffington post)
And, he's also no friends to the animal kingdom with his awful jokes about shooting animals...
We dont need Huckelberry Mike to dictate our morals, and we don't need Huckelberry Mike in the White House..
kentguy2007

A Presidential candidate who wants to take away any Americans rights should be viewed as dangerous. Mitt Romney wants a Constitutionl amendment against gay marriage. Whether you are for gay marriage or against it, ask yourself whether you really want the Constitution used as an instrument of prejudice and hate. Do you really want the Constitution to begin targeting groups of people that religious zealots want to deny their inalienable rights promised in the Constitution- life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness? If Romnney wants to protect marriage, why not make it illegal to obtain a divorce?
America has always prided itself on providing minority rights. Yet, many "leaders" in this country have failed to provide fundamental rights to blacks, women, Indians, gays, etc. without long, hard-fought battles. Many leaders have worked against individual rights. And, each of these groups who some politicians have worked against still have not yet achieved full equality. This snake-oil salesman named Mitt Romeny is ready to set the country back on a reverse course...don't we need to move forward? Isn't it time that this country's leaders actually put their put "money where there mouth is" and upheld rights for ALL Americans? It's time for politicians to put up or shut up. I believe that gay people have the same fundamental right as anyone else to form a relationship with another person and to have all the legal protections that all other Americans are entitled to receive. Why would Mitt Romney advocate denying anyone this fundamental right? Answer: because he is a liar. Everytime he has taken an oath to uphold the Constitution, he has lied. Don't buy his snake oil. And, finally, ask yourself this: is gay marriage the real problem in society that we should focus on..why not focus on the thousands of dead U.S. soldiers in the war, the $9 billion a month we are spending, all of the corruption in Washington, D.C., the billions of "missing" dollars in Iraq...Mitt: take your snake oil sales routine to some other suckers..we've wised up...kentguy2007

OJ is a celebrity. As a celebrity, I think he has special rights.He is entitled to rob people, bust into hotel rooms and take whatever he pleases.Why should sports stars, movie and TV stars, rock stars, etc. have to obey laws like common people? They bring joy to our lives and thus they should never face more than an hour in jail no matter who they kill, rape, or rob. It is a price society pays for having the celebrities allow us to view them, listen to them, etc. We- the average folk- are privileged to have their magnificence within our midst- no matter what damage they bring. We can live vicarioulsy through them and thus we are all blessed by people like OJ, Paris Hilton, Mike Vick,Lindsey Lohan, etc.
(Yes, I'm kidding) Sometimes I think this is the way many Americans actually think...

What nerve of Michael Vick to say today that "we all make mistakes" and he showed some "bad judgment." Did Hitler and Stalin show bad judgment? Gee whiz, Hitler just made a mistake, right? Lee Harvey Oswald? oh gee, that was really bad judgment, huh Mike? (No, I am not equating people with dogs- I am just trying to show how stupid Vick is...)
This guy- Vick- couldn't find Jesus fast enough...I thought he would at least wait until the Oprah appearance to cry and
say he found God. He should be stripped of everything this society has provided to him- including his million dollar compound that became a death chamber for countless dogs.
Vick: you have not fooled anybody with your performance today..you are a joke as a human and deserve everything you get. Too bad he didn't apologize to the dogs he hideously tortured.
A totally disgusted, Kentguy2007

On July 24, a 1-year-old female kangaroo at the Cleveland Zoo was struck by the train that runs through the animals' exhibit. She suffered severe injuries and was euthanized. This is at least the fifth kangaroo or wallaby who has been injured or killed by the train since the exhibit opened in 2000. The last accident occurred on May 18 and resulted in the partial amputation of a kangaroo's tail.

These incidents are the latest in a series of deaths and injuries at the Cleveland Zoo. In May, a female wolf was killed by other members of her pack. In 2005, three wallabies died after eating a toxic plant that an employee put in their enclosure, a Grant's zebra died from a ruptured aorta after being kicked by another zebra, and a gorilla died after he was anesthetized for an examination. In 2003, a lion died after being attacked by another lion.

The Cleveland Zoo's three most recent U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) inspection reports reveal that the zoo has consistently failed to provide animals with adequate shelter—locking as many as 17 species of animals outside for up to 10 hours per day without access to shelter from the sun, cold, rain, and snow.

What You Can Do
Please politely urge the USDA to conduct a thorough investigation of the Cleveland Zoo's animal care and handling practices and to pursue harsh penalties against the zoo for any violations of federal law:

Dr. Elizabeth Goldentyer, Eastern Regional Director
USDA, APHIS, AC
920 Main Campus Dr., Ste. 200, Unit 3040
Raleigh, NC 27606
919-855-7100

Please note: this information was provided by People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals.