Quick Update

For the last week and a half, sales have been a little off. I believe it is mostly due to the construction, and may be due to the weather getting hot. Summer has arrived... Today, though, sales bounced back from the mid-500 range up to almost $700 for the day. I'm all for $700 and up, forever and always...

Construction seems to be going painfully slow. They originally told me the new facade construction, less stucco application, would be complete by May 23. There is no chance of that. They are making progress, but it is at a snail's pace...

I try not to comment on politics here too much, but I just can't help myself today. I feel pretty strongly about the media reaction to Ted Kennedy's startling news that he has inoperable, malignant brain cancer. First of all, the Kennedy's have had way more trauma in their family over the last four or five decades than ANYONE I can think of. They have had traumatic death after death after death, including assasinations, skiing accidents, plane crashes, etc. As a human being, my heart and my prayers go out to Ted Kennedy, and his family. I hope he responds well to treatment and that he is able to beat this disease.

Now, on to the part that I don't like. The media is treating him like he is already a martyr, a new national hero. I have seen/heard one sappy soundbite after another, coming from both conservative and liberal sides. Everyone is acting like Ted Kennedy is one of the greatest Americans to ever live. I don't mean to be harsh, but I think he has done a horrible dis-service to America. Here are some items from his voting record:

Voted NO on recommending constitutional ban on flag desecration. (Jun 2006)

Voted NO on constitutional ban of same-sex marriage. (Jun 2006)

Voted YES on adding sexual orientation to definition of hate crimes. (Jun 2002)

Voted YES on loosening restrictions on cell phone wiretapping. (Oct 2001)

Voted YES on expanding hate crimes to include sexual orientation. (Jun 2000)

Voted YES on setting aside 10% of highway funds for minorities & women. (Mar 1998)

Voted YES on prohibiting job discrimination by sexual orientation. (Sep 1996)

Voted NO on Amendment to prohibit flag burning. (Dec 1995)

Voted NO on banning affirmative action hiring with federal funds. (Jul 1995)

Voted NO on declaring English the official language of the US government. (Jun 2007)

Voted YES on allowing illegals to participate in Social Security.(May 2006) ontheissues.org

Ted Kennedy was a strong supporter of the 1965 Hart-Celler Act — signed into law by President Lyndon B. Johnson — which dramatically changed US immigration policy. This legislation replaced the Immigration Act of 1924, which favored immigrants from northern and western Europe. Proponents of the 1965 bill argued that immigration laws and quotas were discriminatory, and that American immigration policy should accept people not on the basis of their nationality.

Ted Kennedy has been a staunch supporter of gun control initiatives. In 2006 he was one of the 16 senators who voted against the Vitter Amendment, which prohibited the confiscation of legally-possessed firearms during a disaster.

Kennedy is one of only five senators who have publicly announced support for same-sex marriage.

He voted against the Partial-Birth Abortion Ban Act.

Senator Kennedy introduced legislation to prohibit employment discrimination based on sexual orientation.

Across the board, I believe that Senator Kennedy's stance on most major issues has caused harm to our country. To honor him as a life long member of the Senate, sure. To honor him in a difficult time, when he and his family have endured too many hard situations over the years, sure. To wish him well in his battle against cancer, absolutely.

To honor him as a great American...
I just can't stomach that. Sorry if you are offended, but these issues are destroying America from within, and he supports all of them. I can't honor that.

Gotta get to work.
JD