Posted by jammin1 (anonymous) on October 28, 2008 at 11:52 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Now how do they know that the teenager did this? Sounds like they are jumping to conclusions!

Posted by diamonds4u71 (anonymous) on October 29, 2008 at 1:01 a.m. (Suggest removal)

read what it said obama sucks tell me who would use that word sucks

Posted by muffinrules (anonymous) on October 29, 2008 at 4:11 a.m. (Suggest removal)

ALTHOUGH I WOULDN'T GO ABOUT IT THIS MANNER, THE VANDELS DO HAVE A VALID POINT,,HE DOES SUCK....BIG TIME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Posted by charliesangel2008 (anonymous) on October 29, 2008 at 6:56 a.m.

(This comment was removed by the site staff.)

Posted by lookingout (anonymous) on October 29, 2008 at 7 a.m. (Suggest removal)

people like charliesangel2008 make me laugh al ways trying to correct someone on spelling and misspells things them self just like she/he misspelt democrats

Posted by kpage1 (anonymous) on October 29, 2008 at 7:50 a.m. (Suggest removal)

THis isn't a racist thing! BOTH sides of the presidential race have been nasty. That's all it is and it ain't no more to it. It's not racist to vote for your choice for President.

I don't appreciate graffiti anymore than yall do. It's tasteless, vile, and nasties up my visual. I don't care if it says Obama sucks, Crips rule, or Mexican Mafia lives. It's trashy no matter the content.

Posted by SIOUXLADY (anonymous) on October 29, 2008 at 8:56 a.m. (Suggest removal)

WE ALL KNOW THAT MUFFINRULES IS IGNORANT, SO THE BEST THINGS TO DO IS TO IGNORE COMMENTS MADE BY THIS INDIVIDUAL.
WHAT IF SOMEONE PRAY PAINTED YOUR HOME? WRONG IS WRONG!
BAKE SOME COOKIES OR SOMETHING AT 4AM.

Posted by MsM (anonymous) on October 29, 2008 at 9:08 a.m. (Suggest removal)

To muffinrules:

He's "sucking" all the way to the WHITEHOUSE!!!! OBAMA/ BIDEN '08...GET USED TO IT!!!!!

Posted by Christian (anonymous) on October 29, 2008 at 9:10 a.m. (Suggest removal)

You know, for whatever party you vote for it is not right to destroy other people property. The thing of it is, we have a choice of who we want to vote for. Stealing signs, painting graffiti, nasty phone calls, it does not matter. The main thing we all need to do and that is exercise our right to vote. Make sure you go out and VOTE on Tuesday. Most of the time the ones that are kicking up so much fuss are the ones who are not even a registered voter. WE ALL HAVE A CHOICE. JUST MAKE IT COUNT.

Posted by GEMINI (anonymous) on October 29, 2008 at 9:16 a.m. (Suggest removal)

These people need to understand it doesn't matter if they spray paint the town, they still can't stop folks from voting for the candidate of their choice.

Posted by time4change (anonymous) on October 29, 2008 at 9:20 a.m. (Suggest removal)

This is a result of parents speaking their political views in front of their children. Not only are the teens bickering over politics, the elementary children are as well. Some children are repeating what their parents are saying...like Obama is a Muslim and wants to close down all of the churches in America and Christians will have to go to underground churches<<<lies, Obama is a Christian. Plus none of the Muslim people I have ever known have ever said one thing about closing down churches, and as a matter of fact, some Muslims will attend church when invited. Perhaps you should invite your Muslim neighbors to your church and get to know them instead of spreading fear about them in your homes and online. Preachers and parents saying these things in front of children should realize that lying is against the 10 commandments. Neither McCain nor Palin have shown themselves to be above lying either. Thou shalt not bear false witness. (Exodus 20:1-17) http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?sea...

Posted by pbnj (anonymous) on October 29, 2008 at 9:36 a.m. (Suggest removal)

It wouldn't surprise me if it were teenagers. They have probably been told if Obama wins, their parents will be giving so much money in taxes to the poor that their allowances and gas money will be decreased.

Someone stole my Obama sign too, Oh wait, no they didn't I am voting for McCain!

Posted by NTZglasshouses (anonymous) on October 29, 2008 at 10:07 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Charliesangel
"HERE YOU ARE AGAIN; THE SIMPLE-MINDED, SHALLOW REPUBLICAN PARTY! " - In all caps mind you.

And, unfortunately you are right. We, the republican party, had a super secret meeting. (there were thousands there). And we brainstormed on ways to get McCain into office. The best we could come up with, was to spray paint the front of the democratic headquarters in Natchez, MS (population +/- 25,000). Yep, that should do it.

Actually, it was probably some LSU fan, since Alabama is #2 they meant "Oh! Bama Sucks!" (but they forgot the "h" in "oh"...it is an LSU fan after all.

Posted by aak1972 (anonymous) on October 29, 2008 at 10:24 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Just remember if you do or say anything to disagree with someone who is black you are a racist. There is no way we could be smart enough to come up with other reasons to support Mcain. We just hate hate hate so vote Mcain!

Posted by drawpaintsing (anonymous) on October 29, 2008 at 10:34 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Nobody has anything nice to say about the children of Kyle's House? Hmm.....go figure.

Posted by Dilbert (anonymous) on October 29, 2008 at 11:29 a.m. (Suggest removal)

charliesangel2008,

First, how do you know the person who did this is a Republican? I know many Democrats who think "Obama sucks" and will not vote for him. So maybe it is not Republican's that are being shallow minded, but maybe it is you.

Second, "BUT YOU HAVEN'T HEARD OF ANY DEMOCRATA "SPRAY PAINTING" OR REMOVING SIGNS FROM CITIZENS PERSONAL PROPERTY OR BUILDINGS"
You know why you haven't heard about people removing signs from personal property or buildings? Because you don't want to. It has been all over the news. People being caught on video stealing McCain/Palin signs. Once again maybe you are being shallow minded.

Third, "I THINK THE SIMPLE NARROW-MINDED SUPPORTERS OF MCCAIN THAT GET ON THIS WEB-SITE TO DISPERSE THEIR PERSONAL OPINIONS ABOUT OBAMA ARE VERY LOW-CLASS, UNSECURE, JUDGEMENTAL RACIST"
So, just so I understand. If you have a personal opinion about someone who is of a different race than you are, then you are considered to be a racist? Your words on this may not be the most ignorant thing I have ever heard, but it is close. What if you have a personal opinion about someone who is the same race that you are? What does that make you? I mean I don't like Joe Biden either. OH!! What if you don't like them because their stance on abortion, you don't agree with his tax plan, health care, stance on guns, liberal voting record or many other things? Are you still racist? I think this opinion of yours is extremely shallow minded.

Fourth, "OH AND TO YOU 'MUFFINRULES' VANDELS IS CORRECTLY SPELLED VANDALS. INSTEAD OF POSTING IGNORANT COMMENTS AT 04:11A.M, YOU SHOULD BE UP LEARING HOW TO USE CORRECT SPELLING, OR LEARNING HOW TO USE YOUR SPELL CHECK ON YOUR COMPUTER!"
Again, here we go with the shallow minded thing. In your attempt to get onto someone for misspelling words, in this quote alone you misspelled 'learning' as you spelled it "LEARING". You also misspelled Democrat earlier by spelling it "DEMOCRATA". Very shallow minded of you.

Posted by time4change (anonymous) on October 29, 2008 at 11:35 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Vote for Peace08
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nvpZAppUX...

The Beatles Revolution
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uKHgVN7Bj...

Want a Revolution? Just go vote! Let your voice help take back control of the government of the people, by the people, and for the people! Voting is the best way for your voice to be heard, even if it's a small voice...1 vote added to many other votes can become a huge voice. If you don't vote, and 60% of the population don't, you, along with them, will be the reason that our government could become no longer a government of the people, by the people, and for the people. Just go vote!

Posted by Geaux_Tigers (anonymous) on October 29, 2008 at 12:13 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Putting spray point on a storefront is indecent and cowardly and a childish. If you have a political preference, then vote for that candidate. Put a sign in your yard. Have a discussion with someone and explain your views. But, please, be respectful of the great democratic system that we have here.

Posted by natchezsouthside (anonymous) on October 29, 2008 at 12:41 p.m. (Suggest removal)

I was going to vote for Obama. Then I saw that "Obama Sucks". So I have changed my mind and am voting for McCain.

Gee, good thing that person painted that on the window or I would have voted for Obama.

Posted by MSviaTN (anonymous) on October 29, 2008 at 12:54 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Want to talk about simple-minded shallow? How about Palin being on a noose for "halloween decorations" - point is they are both stupid immature acts and BOTH PARTIES have people who behave in that manner - get over it.

Posted by fidleng (anonymous) on October 29, 2008 at 1:18 p.m. (Suggest removal)

TYPICAL CONCORDIA PARISH/ADAMS COUNTY MENTALITY!
Y'all go ahead and vote against your best interests again!
How do you like where you are right now after 8 years of your Republicans??? BOTTOM OF THE BARREL, RIGHT?!
You go ahead and vote yourself some more of that! haha

Posted by rattlesnake (anonymous) on October 29, 2008 at 1:21 p.m. (Suggest removal)

I just thought great finally truth in advertisement and politics. Now as far Palin being hung from a noose where is the outrage? Nooses hung from a tree in Jena La. brought that racist Sharpton, Jackson and all of their troops from all over to march on that little town.

Posted by ace6593 (anonymous) on October 29, 2008 at 1:21 p.m. (Suggest removal)

blah, blah, blah, blah, yaddah, yaddah, yaddah, yaddah... democrats this, republicans that... I'm tired of hearing excuses be made on both sides of the aisle for bad behavior

Posted by freedom42 (anonymous) on October 29, 2008 at 1:34 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Muffin you are right, he does suck. But wrong is wrong no matter who does it, and it is definately wrong to destroy or deface other peoples property. Peacetime, I see you learned how to use Biblegateway, good for you! It's a good site. But why shouldn't parents talk about their preferences around the dinner table? At least they are having conversation with their kids.

Posted by humorme (anonymous) on October 29, 2008 at 1:45 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Obama 08! It took an idiot eight years to help bring something I never thought would happen.

Posted by rushinghjr (anonymous) on October 29, 2008 at 2:02 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Owhampy is a "wanna be" who will never BE! Just another George McGovern and Jimmy Carter! Vote McCain/palin/08 for the good OLE' USA!

Posted by MSviaTN (anonymous) on October 29, 2008 at 2:04 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Rattlesnake - the FBI are not even labeling it as a hate crime - just a prank done in bad taste! Could you imagine what would happen if Obama were portrayed in this manner!!! It might would have even made the ND news.

Posted by natchezsouthside (anonymous) on October 29, 2008 at 2:17 p.m. (Suggest removal)

There was a report today of an Obama effigy hanged at Univ of Kentucky. Sickos abound.

And can someone tell me what an owhampy is???

Posted by MSviaTN (anonymous) on October 29, 2008 at 2:25 p.m. (Suggest removal)

The difference southside is that once police found it it was immediately removed and apologies were issued to the Obama family and of course I agree that is how it should be handled.

Posted by wrck4ever (anonymous) on October 29, 2008 at 3:13 p.m. (Suggest removal)

I think the whole thing is disgusting, spray painting anyones property should be prosecuted to the fullest extent. I think it is a crime so I hope they find the persons responsible. That should be the end of it. But you got everyone spouting their opinions sounding so childish. The future of our great country is up in the air right now. Every one is going to vote for who they vote for and no childish pranks or I know you are but what am I tactics is gonna matter. God Bless this great country and everyone in it were gonna need it.

Posted by ITSME (anonymous) on October 29, 2008 at 3:28 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Agreed sucks sucks sucks. Guess i must be racist for voting McCAIN so be it.

Posted by ITSME (anonymous) on October 29, 2008 at 3:29 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Agreed sucks sucks sucks. Guess i must be racist for voting McCAIN so be it. Only reason u would vote for Obama is for that very reason.

Posted by lowrider (anonymous) on October 29, 2008 at 3:32 p.m. (Suggest removal)

I think they're both idiots, either way they will always do something that you dislike once elected.

Posted by MissMagnolia (anonymous) on October 29, 2008 at 4:39 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Reading some of the posts on this site really lets me see the true identity of the SOUTH. You guys need to leave the state and see what the world has to offer besides bigotry. It does not matter which party gets into office, Bush already has the country in such much debt that taxes will have to be raised no matter what McCain or Obama state during their campaign.
But I guess the thing I have a problem with is NATCHEZ is not growing...oops, I'm sorry. I came home this past weekend and to my belief some growth is there. I saw several hotels that were built. So I guess that some jobs have been created through this structure. That is great. But the State of MS is still in a state of proverty being paid only minimum wages and very basic health care if any.
I see nothing that warrants the white race to feel anymore almighty that than any other race in Natchez and vice versa.
To be at the bottom of the education (49 out of 50), healthcare, economics issues of America. And you have the nerve to bicker about Republican and Democrats parties. Hell neither party is helping the south.
I do see a racial undertone across America regarding Obama and it is sad to witness. Hell this is not the 60's. But the old have passed on that behavior to their children and it will continue until someone realizes that it is morally wrong.
It is great that we stay in a world that has choices and one can vote for whomever but dont be angry about your selection and have to justify your actions. I'm white so I'm voting McCain. I'm Black so I'm voting Obama. It should be more than that. If you made your selection because of that then you may have issues that need to be addressed.
It should be what can either candidate do for me and my family. Healthcare, Jobs, Education, Retirement. Will the companies that went over seas come back and give those jobs to the citizens of the south. That should be your concern.

Posted by jammin1 (anonymous) on October 29, 2008 at 4:55 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Obama effigy found on U. of Kentucky campus
Published: 10/29/08, 3:25 PM EDT
By JEFFREY McMURRAY
LEXINGTON, Ky. (AP) - University of Kentucky authorities were investigating Wednesday who hanged an effigy of Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama from a tree on campus.

College spokesman Carl Nathe said the effigy was found Wednesday morning. Police immediately took it down. A faculty member said he saw the effigy with a noose around its neck, hanging from a high tree branch.

University President Lee Todd said he planned to apologize to the Obama family on behalf of the school and that he is "personally offended and deeply embarrassed by this disgusting episode."

Federal authorities have been notified, Todd said. He said the effigy violates the university's code of ethics and won't be tolerated.

"I am outraged because we work very hard, every day, to build bridges across the divides," Todd said. "Diversity and inclusion are among our most precious core values. Episodes like this serve only to erode our confidence in and respect for one another."

Mike Lynch, a faculty member who works in a building near where the effigy was found, said he saw it around 8:40 a.m. He described it as life-sized with a Barack Obama Halloween mask, a suit jacket and sweat pants.

"This, as far as I'm concerned, says nothing - absolutely nothing - representative of this university or this community," he said.

Obama's Kentucky campaign director, Kenya McGruder, had no immediate comment.

It's the second time an effigy has been found on a college campus recently. George Fox University in Oregon, a small Christian college, punished four students who confessed to hanging a likeness of Obama from a tree.

That effigy was found in September with a message taped to it - "Act Six reject." The message was targeted at participants of a scholarship program geared toward increasing the number of minority and low-income students and several Christian colleges, mostly in the Northwest.

In West Hollywood, Calif., authorities on Wednesday were looking into a Halloween display depicting a mannequin of GOP vice presidential nominee Sarah Palin hanging from a noose. The display also displayed her running mate, John McCain, surrounded by fake flames.

Posted by freedom42 (anonymous) on October 29, 2008 at 5:35 p.m. (Suggest removal)

MissMagnolia that's just what we are saying, no matter who you vote for you are racist. Can't win for losing some days.
There's no such thing as voting for a person because you like their policies better, or agree with how they have voted on bills in the Senate, or what they believe it. It is all racist.
McCain/Palin in 2008

Posted by kpage1 (anonymous) on October 29, 2008 at 6:25 p.m. (Suggest removal)

I am feeling like that too, freedom. You know me, I love everyone as you do and it hurts my spirit when I hear those hailing Obama and denying the truth. He seems to me like that traitor Hanoi Jane Fonda sprawling out on a North Vietnamese tank....

I'm voting for the man who can get the job done. I've heard both sides so now I'm going with my gut instinct, which tells me not to vote for the man who won't pledge his allegiance to our country.

Posted by pbnj (anonymous) on October 29, 2008 at 6:40 p.m. (Suggest removal)

kpage.....
You are right. I am not sure that the problems this country has can even be fixed in 4 years or maybe not even 8 years by either of these parties but I will sure as h-ll not give the chance to someone that has made it public knowledge that he does not pledge our flag nor does he agree with the star spangled banner.

Posted by pbnj (anonymous) on October 29, 2008 at 6:44 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Does anyone else enjoy or even get chills when they hear the Star Spangled Banner sung at a sports event? if it were up to Obama he would stop this..... Now that's just not American!

Posted by southernwoman (anonymous) on October 29, 2008 at 6:51 p.m. (Suggest removal)

pbnj, proof, please, that Obama would stop the playing of the Star Spangled Banner at a sports event or anywhere else.

Posted by time4change (anonymous) on October 29, 2008 at 7 p.m. (Suggest removal)

As a matter of fact, I've heard that Obama is going to sing the Star Spangled Banner at his celebration party on November the 4th right after he wins the election. You can sing along with him...here are the words.

Oh, say, can you see, by the dawn's early light,
What so proudly we hail'd at the twilight's last gleaming?
Whose broad stripes and bright stars, thro' the perilous fight,
O'er the ramparts we watch'd, were so gallantly streaming?
And the rockets' red glare, the bombs bursting in air,
Gave proof thro' the night that our flag was still there.
O say, does that star-spangled banner yet wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave?

On the shore dimly seen thro' the mists of the deep,
Where the foe's haughty host in dread silence reposes,
What is that which the breeze, o'er the towering steep,
As it fitfully blows, half conceals, half discloses?
Now it catches the gleam of the morning's first beam,
In full glory reflected, now shines on the stream:
'T is the star-spangled banner: O, long may it wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave!

And where is that band who so vauntingly swore
That the havoc of war and the battle's confusion
A home and a country should leave us no more?
Their blood has wash'd out their foul footsteps' pollution.
No refuge could save the hireling and slave
From the terror of flight or the gloom of the grave:
And the star-spangled banner in triumph doth wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave.

O, thus be it ever when freemen shall stand,
Between their lov'd homes and the war's desolation;
Blest with vict'ry and peace, may the heav'n-rescued land
Praise the Pow'r that hath made and preserv'd us as a nation!
Then conquer we must, when our cause is just,
And this be our motto: "In God is our trust"
And the star-spangled banner in triumph shall wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave!

Posted by time4change (anonymous) on October 29, 2008 at 7:03 p.m. (Suggest removal)

freedom there's nothing wrong with talking to your children about politics, but you shouldn't tell them lies. I know for a fact that the children are arguing on the playground and after school over stupid lies they've heard.

Posted by freedom42 (anonymous) on October 29, 2008 at 7:06 p.m. (Suggest removal)

From both sides time, from both sides, not just one or the other.

Posted by Geaux_Tigers (anonymous) on October 29, 2008 at 7:16 p.m. (Suggest removal)

It’s blindingly ridiculous to say that Obama would want to stop the National Anthem at sporting events or that he is against the Pledge of Allegiance. No politician would want or try to do that because no politician could win an election like that.
That kind of claim is absolutely illogical, unreasonable, and uniformed. Sorry to sound harsh to ya'll, but we really do need to make sound arguments this late in the election.

Posted by time4change (anonymous) on October 29, 2008 at 7:17 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Well not always from both sides, the arguments I've witnessed were kids making slurs against Obama and the other kids were defending him.

Posted by time4change (anonymous) on October 29, 2008 at 7:18 p.m. (Suggest removal)

* Barack Obama is working for middle class Americans. The Obama-Biden tax plan includes a tax cut of $1,000 for more than 150 million working Americans. The plan will also eliminate income taxes altogether for more than 7 million senior citizens who make less than $50,000 per year. Finally, Obama's plan will provide an average of $500 to 10 million homeowners, the majority of whom earn less than $50,000 per year. http://www.barackobama.com/issues/econom... http://www.taxpolicycenter.org/publicati...

* Barack Obama will make healthcare affordable for your family. If you like your employer-offered healthcare, you can keep it -- at a reduced cost. If you don't, or you don't have health care, you will have a choice of new, affordable health insurance options. You will not be turned away -- regardless of preexisting conditions. Obama will help small businesses provide affordable health insurance to their employees with a Small Business Health Tax Credit. Read more about the Obama-Biden healthcare plan here: http://www.barackobama.com/issues/health...

* Barack Obama knows that the problems we're facing in this election are too serious to let the politics of manufactured controversy and fake outrage dominate. He wants to bring our troops home from Iraq, so we can focus on Afghanistan and track down the terrorists who attacked us. And he's proposed a detailed plan for using alternative energy sources to relieve America's dependence on foreign oil within 10 years and put millions of Americans to work. See more about Obama's plan for change here: http://my.barackobama.com/page/content/p...

* Despite many email smears claiming something else, Barack Obama is a committed Christian and an American citizen. After being raised by a single mother and by his grandparents in a modest household in Hawaii, Barack studied hard and won scholarships and loans to attend Columbia University and later Harvard Law School, where he became president of the Harvard Law Review. After law school, he returned to Chicago to give back to society as a community organizer and later as a civil rights lawyer and law professor. http://www.barackobama.com/learn/meet_ba...

Posted by MissMagnolia (anonymous) on October 29, 2008 at 7:21 p.m. (Suggest removal)

There is no help for you folks. You look for anything to make an excuse for nothing. Freedom42, I do not agree with you. Racism implies hatred which I do not have for anyone. I might not like your behavior but not as strong as hatred. Based on these comments on this page there is no wonder someone left the remarks on that bldg. And you wonder where the children have gotten their attitudes towards other from. This is what I am talking about. Look beyond and expand your knowledge of life. Live beyond Mississippi.
What does it matter that one does not salute the flag. When you go to any event(sports), most folks wont even shut up during the ceremony anyway. So whats the difference. Disrespect comes in all forms.

Posted by msfixit (anonymous) on October 29, 2008 at 7:32 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Graffiti is tacky, and has been since Romulus scratched his name on a rock beside the Tiber river. I don't have a horse in this particular race (color me "Libertarian") but I do have one comment about Senator Obama after watching him since his Grand Tour this summer. He needs to remember one word--hubris, and that tempting the Fates with hubris was punished by Nemesis. For a more Judeo-Christian take, see Proverbs 16:18.

Posted by Geaux_Tigers (anonymous) on October 29, 2008 at 7:37 p.m. (Suggest removal)

My view is that the Pledge of Allegiance and the National Anthem are non-issues. That’s like debating which direction the river flows. It’s ridiculous.
Here’s a real issue for me that maybe some of you all can help me with: I have deep concerns about Sarah Palin’s lack experience. I know she’s very popular among the far right. She’s charismatic, intelligent, and probably a good leader for Alaska. But it worries me to think about her in such high office and possibly becoming the president. She’s just too removed. I know Barack Obama has less experience than is ideal, as well. I don’t like his ideas, but he’s at least well informed.
What do ya'll think?

Posted by freedom42 (anonymous) on October 29, 2008 at 8:56 p.m. (Suggest removal)

I am printing out a letter from a man named Cory Miller out of East Texas. I think it is pretty self - explanatory:
Sceptics may contact Cory Miller, the author, at his web sites at bottom of letter.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Mr. Obama,

Given the uproar about the simple question asked you by Joe the plumber, and
the persecution that has been heaped on him because he dared to question you,
I find myself motivated to say a few things to you myself.

While Joe aspires to start a business someday, I already have started not one, but 4 businesses. But first, let me introduce myself. You can call me 'Cory the well
driller'. I am a 54 year old high school graduate. I didn't go to college like you, I was too ready to go 'conquer the world' when I finished high school, 25 years
ago.

At age 29, I started my own water well drilling business at a time when the economy here in East Texas was in a tailspin from the crash of the early 80's oil boom. I didn't
get any help from the government, nor did I look for any. I borrowed what I could from my sister, my uncle, and even the pawn shop and managed to scrape together a
homemade drill rig and a few tools to do my first job.

My businesses did not start as a result of privilege. They are the result of my personal drive, personal ambition, self discipline, self reliance, and a determination to treat my
customers fairly.

From the very start my business provided one other (than myself) East Texan a full time job. I couldn't afford a backhoe the first few years (something every well drilling business had), so I and my helper had to dig the mud pits that are necessary for each and every job with hand shovels. I had to use my 10 year old, 1/2 ton pickup truck for my water tank truck (normally a job for at least a 2 ton truck).

A year and a half after I started the business, I scraped together a 20% down payment to get a modest bank loan and bought a (28 year) old, worn out, slightly bigger drilling rig to allow me to drill the deeper water wells in my area. I spent the next few years drilling wells with the rig while simultaneously rebuilding it between jobs. Through these years I never knew from one month to the next if I would have any work or be able to pay the bills.

I

Posted by freedom42 (anonymous) on October 29, 2008 at 9 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Gonna have to continue this one:
I got behind on my income taxes one year, and spent the next two years paying that back (with penalty and interest) while keeping up with ongoing taxes. I got behind on my water well supply bill 2 different years (way behind the second time... $80,000.00), and spent over a year paying it back (each time) while continuing to pay for ongoing supplies C.O.D.
Of course, the personal stress endured through these experiences and years is hard to measure.
I do have a stent in my heart now to memorialize it all.

I spent the next 10 years developing the reputation for being the most competent and most honest water well driller in East Texas. 2 years along the way, I hired another full time employee for the drilling business so that we could provide full time water well pump service as well as the well drilling.

Also, 3 years along the path, I bought a water well screen service machine from a friend, starting business # 2. 5 years later I made a business loan for $100,000.00 to build a new, higher production, computer controlled screen service machine. I had designed the machine myself, and it didn't work out for 3 years so I had to make the loan payments without the benefit of any added income from the
new machine. No government program was there to help me with the payments, or to help me sleep at night as I lay awake wondering how I would solve my machine problems or pay my bills. Finally, after 3 years, I got the screen machine working properly, and that provided another full time job for an East Texan in the screen service business.

2 years after that, I made another business loan, this time for $250,000.00, to buy another used drilling rig and all the support equipment needed to run another, larger, drill rig. This provided another 2 full time jobs for East Texans. Again, I spent a couple of years not knowing if I had made a smart move, or a move that would bankrupt me. For the third time in 13 years, I had placed everything I owned on the line, risking everything, in order to build a business.

A couple of years into this, I came up with a bright idea for a new kind of mud pump, a fundamentally necessary pump used on water well drill rigs. I spent my entire life savings to date (just $30,000.00), building a prototype of the pump and took it to the national water well convention to show it off.

Customers immediately started coming out of the woodworks to buy the pumps, but there was a problem.
I had depleted my assets making the prototype, and nobody would make me a business loan to start
production of the new pumps. With several deposits for pump orders in hand, and nowhere to go, I finally started applying for as many credit card as I could find and took cash withdrawals on these cards to the tune of over $150,000.00 (including modest loans from my dear sister and brother), to get this 3rd business going. .

Posted by freedom42 (anonymous) on October 29, 2008 at 9:04 p.m. (Suggest removal)

More to come:
Yes, once again, I had everything hanging over the line in an effort to start another business. I had never manufactured anything, and I had to design and bring into production a complex hydraulic machine from an untested prototype to a reliable production model (in six months). How many nights I lay awake wondering if I had just made the paramount mistake of my life I cannot tell you, but there were plenty.
I managed to get the pumps into production, which immediately created another 2 full time jobs in East Texas.
Some of the models in the first year suffered from quality issues due to the poor workmanship of one of my
key suppliers, so I and an employee (another East Texan employed) had to drive across the country to repair
customers' pumps, practically from coast to coast. I stood behind the product, and made payments to all
the credit cards that had financed me (and my brother and sister). I spent the next 5 years improving and
refining the product, building a reputation for the pump and the company, working to get the pump into drill
rig manufacturers' product lines, and paying back credit cards. During all this time I continued to manage
a growing water well business that was now operating 3 drill rig crews, and 2 well service crews. Also, the
screen service business continued to grow. No government programs were there to help me, Mr. Obama,
but that's ok, I didn't expect any, nor did I want any. I was too busy fighting to make success happen to sit
around waiting for the government to help me.

Now, we have been manufacturing the mud pumps for 7 years, my combined businesses employ 32 full time
employees, and distribute $5,000,000.00 annually through the local economy. Now, just 4 months ago I
borrowed $1,254,000.00, purchasing computer controlled machining equipment to start my 4th business, a
production machine shop. The machine shop will serve the mud pump company so that we can better manufacture
our pumps that are being shipped worldwide. Of course, the machine shop will also do work for outside
companies as well. This has already produced 2 more full time jobs, and 2 more should develop out of it in the
next few months.

This should work out, but if it doesn't it will be because you, and the other professional politicians like yourself,
will have destroyed our countrys (and the world) economy with your meddling with mortgage loan programs
through your liberal manipulation and intimidation of loaning institutions to make sure that unqualified borrowers
could get mortgages.

You see, at the very time when I couldn't get a business loan to get my mud pumps into production, you were
working with Acorn and the Community Reinvestment Act programs to make sure that unqualified borrowers
could buy homes with no down payment, and even no credit or worse yet, bad credit. Even the infamous, liberal,
Ninja loans (No Income, No Job or Assets).

Posted by freedom42 (anonymous) on October 29, 2008 at 9:07 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Keep reading please - it really is worth it:
While these unqualified borrowers were enjoying unrealistically low interest rates, I was paying 22% to 24% interest
on the credit cards that I had used to provide me the funds for the mud pump business that has created jobs for more
East Texans. It's funny, because after 25 years of turning almost every dime of extra money back into my businesses
to grow them, it has been only in the last two years that I have finally made enough money to be able to put a little
away for retirement, and now the value of that has dropped 40% because of the policies you and your ilk have perpetrated
on our country.
You see, Mr. Obama, I'm the guy you intend to raise taxes on. I'm the guy who has spent 25 years toiling and sweating,
fretting and fighting, stressing and risking, to build a business and get ahead. I'm the guy who has been on the very edge
of bankruptcy more than a dozen times over the last 25 years, and all the while creating more and more jobs for East
Texans who didn't want to take a risk, and would not demand from themselves what I have demanded from myself.

I'm the guy you characterize as 'the Americans who can afford it the most' that you believe should be taxed more to
provide income redistribution 'to spread the wealth' to those who have never toiled, sweated, fretted, fought, stressed,
or risked anything. You want to characterize me as someone who has enjoyed a life of privilege and who needs to pay a
higher percentage of my income than those who have bought into your entitlement culture.

I resent you, Mr. Obama, as I resent all who want to use class warfare as a tool to advance their political career. What's
worse, each year more Americans buy into your liberal entitlement culture, and turn to the government for their hope of a
better life instead of themselves. Liberals are succeeding through more than 40 years of collaborative effort between the
predominant liberal media, and liberal indoctrination programs in the public school systems across our land.

What is so terribly sad about this is this. America was made great by people who embraced the one-time American culture
of self reliance, self motivation, self determination, self discipline, personal betterment, hard work, risk taking. A culture built
around the concept that success was in reach of every able bodied American who would strive for it. Each year that less
Americans embrace that culture, we all descend together. We descend down the socialist path that has brought country after
country ultimately to bitter and unremarkable states.

Posted by freedom42 (anonymous) on October 29, 2008 at 9:11 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Almost there, I promise:

If you and your liberal comrades in the media and school systems would spend half as much effort cultivating a culture of
can-do across America as you do cultivating your entitlement culture, we could see Americans at large embracing the conviction
that they can elevate themselves through personal betterment, personal achievement, and self reliance.

You see, when people embrace such ideals, they act on them. When people act on such ideals, they succeed. All of America
could find herself elevating instead of deteriorating. But that would eliminate the need for liberal politicians, wouldn't it, Mr. Obama?
The country would not need you if the country was convinced that problem solving was best left with individuals instead of the
government. You and all your liberal comrades have got a vested interested in creating a dependent class in our country. It is the
very business of liberals to create an ever expanding dependence on government. What's remarkable is that you, who have never
produced a job in your life, are going to tax me to take more of my money and give it to people who wouldn't need my money if
they would get off their entitlement mentality asses and apply themselves at work, demand more from themselves, and quit looking
to liberal politicians to raise their station in life.

You see, I know because I've had them work for me before. Hundreds of them over these 25 years. People who simply will not
show up to work on time. People who just will not work 5 days in a week, much less, 6 days. People always looking for a way to
put less effort out. People who actually tell me that they would do more if I just would first pay them more. People who take off
work to sit in government offices to apply to get free government handouts (gee, I wonder how things would have turned out for them
if they had spent that time earning money and pleasing their employer?). You see, all of this comes from your entitlement mentality culture.

Oh, I know you will say I am uncompassionate. Sorry, Mr. Obama, wrong again. You see, I've seen what the average percentage of
your income has been given to charities over the years of 2000 to 2004 (ignoring the years you started running for office - can you
pronounce 'politically motivated'), you averaged less than 1% annually. And your running mate, Joe Biden, averaged less than �% of
his annual income in charitable contributions over the last 10 years. Like so many liberals, the two of you want to give to the needy, just as
long as it is someone else's money you are giving to them. I won't say what I have given to charities over the last 25 years, but the
percentage is several times more than you and Joe Biden combined (don't you just hate google?).

Posted by freedom42 (anonymous) on October 29, 2008 at 9:11 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Last ONE: (I'm beginning to feel like EnKiKur here)
Tell me again how you feel my pain.

In short, Mr. Obama, your political philosophies represent everything that is wrong with our country. You represent the culture of
government dependence instead of self reliance; Entitlement mentality instead of personal achievement; Penalization of the successful
to reward the unmotivated;

Political correctness instead of open mindedness and open debate. If you are successful, you may preside over the final transformation
of America from being the greatest and most self-reliant culture on earth, to just another country of whiners and wimps, who sit around
looking to the government to solve their problems. Like all of western Europe. All countries on the decline. All countries that, because
of liberal socialistic mentalities, have a little less to offer mankind every year.

God help us........................Cory Miller

An ordinary, extraordinary American, the way a lot of Americans used to be.

P.S: Yes, Mr. Obama, I am a real American... meet me:
www.cmillerdrilling.com or www.centerlinemanufacturing.com

Posted by MissMagnolia (anonymous) on October 29, 2008 at 9:23 p.m. (Suggest removal)

As I stated before, it does not matter what your status is, we all will be taxed ( be it high / be it low) thanks to Bush and the war and the bail out. There is no way to get around it. Someone will have to pay for the trillion $ debt. In taxes, lost of retirement, lost of social security or lost of other govt spending possibly education and lost of jobs. So the Joe the plumber theory does not apply to these scenarios. Joe the plumber is just like the mortician. Someone is always dying and houses always need repair. Next scenario.

Posted by rebel4ever (anonymous) on October 29, 2008 at 9:58 p.m. (Suggest removal)

When will everyone understand that neither McCain or Obama will do anything they are talking about. It is the Congress that passes the laws. Yes, I know the president can veto a bill but Congress can override it if they want to. Of course it may be easier for Obama to push his agenda because of a Democratically controlled Congress. It has been stated in some previous posts about the trouble we have had because of eight years of Bush but the last couple of years the Congress was controlled by Democrats. In my opinion they are all to blame for the mess we are in because the majority of people in both houses fall into the wealthy category and they are unconcerned with middle class or the poor. They only take care of themselves. I will be voting for McCain just to hopefully keep one party from running the show and because I don't like to see one party dominate.

Posted by fire39212 (anonymous) on October 29, 2008 at 10:05 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Freedom42 i admire the courage you had to persue your dream....I hope all works out for you...

Posted by harjedalen (anonymous) on October 29, 2008 at 11:23 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Go back and read Freedom's post, he posted a letter from another person, not his story.
If like Mr Miller claims, Europe has less to offer mankind every year why is Airbus doing so good recently? What about that strong EURO? What about the low murder rate, and excellent public education in most of Europe. What about Cern and the large Hadron Collider.
What about Singapore, a very socialist state with progressive taxes, yet very hard working population with good economy, excellent health care, education, despite being very multicultural, multilingual(4 official languages), excellent public transportation, and low crime. Socialism hasn t killed business there with plenty of hardworking thriving entrepeneurs there.

Posted by Lily_Dream (anonymous) on October 29, 2008 at 11:41 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Okay, first we have a caucasian female from Texas, working in Pennsylvania as a volunteer for the McCain/Palin campaign. This woman fabricates astory of kidnapping by a 6' 0", BLACK man, who alledgedly carves a "B" into her cheek, and she later admits she made the story up.

Secondly, we have 2 "Neo-nazis" from Texas, travel to Kentucky with the intent to assassinate Obama and travel across the country to murder 102 "Blacks" along the way, decapitating some of them.

http://washingtonpost.com/Nation ATF Says Racists Plotted to Kill Obama

Now we have grafitti on the Obama headquarters in Natchez, MS. It's not clear to what race actually spray painted the building, so I will not falsely accuse.

What's wrong with this picture?? What's wrong with America?? How far have we really come?? There is still racism in this country. Even in these postings I am seeing racism. When will this stupidity end? There is no "DOMINANT" or "SUPERIOR" race. I am so glad to see that "code names" are being used here. I would hate to find out that some of the postings I am reading are from people that I work with or perhaps see on a daily basis.

Everyone is talking about taxes being raised for business owners, but they are forgetting that those same taxes will be returned to them when they file as business owners. Look at the bigger picture and see that our economy is dwindling. The economic structure of America has created a domino affect that has befallen on many other nations that trade business with this country. Not everyone in the middle class or low-income class is lazy. Some of us do work everyday and still find it hard to keep food on the table, afford gas in the vehicle, etc. I don't look for a government handout. I know that I have made my choice and I stand firm to that. I don't expect everyone to believe as I do, neither should we slander to what we do know the full truth to.

Last week I got into a shouting match on this site with someone who clearly chose to see different as I did. Some people you cannot convince no matter how you get the point across.

I said all that to say this people:

November 4, 2008, we will have a new president, whether we like the candidate chosen or not.

Posted by Riffian1964 (anonymous) on October 29, 2008 at 11:53 p.m. (Suggest removal)

harjedalen - I think you had better check your facts and your reference material.... Singapore is not a socialist state and never has been. It is closer to authoritarian than anything else and that is no where near socialism. You can also go to jail in Singapore for spitting on the sidewalk... and you might not get far by telling the police you "have rights."

Posted by freedom42 (anonymous) on October 30, 2008 at 8:20 a.m. (Suggest removal)

harjedalen, have you been to Europe and actually seen how the people live? I have, and for the majority of people in Italy, Spain, and England, it ain't pretty. Nothing is perfect, but America comes close.
Fire39121 - thanks, but the story is not mine. Wish it were, but my business is very small, I enjoy what I do, and make enough money to get everything I need. That's all I ask for.