Harry Reid – Jerk

There’s really not much that can be said about Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid’s latest comment. This morning he said, and I quote:

“Today is a big day in America. Only 36,000 people lost their jobs today, which is really good…”

Don’t believe it?

Whether you are liberal or a conservative, ask yourself this, “If I were in Harry’s shoes, would I say something so callous and clueless as that?“

Wow… Just wow…

Alan Speakman

H/T: Politico

The Approach of Tyranny

“When the people fear the government, there is tyranny. When  governments fear the people, there is liberty.”

Whether it was Thomas Jefferson who actually said it, does not matter. The sentiment expressed is so strongly American and Founding-Father-ish in flavor that the exact source is not worth arguing about; the very essence of the statement remains American to its heart. And as Americans, we have always, unthinkingly, unhesitatingly believed that the government–our government–feared We the People enough so that liberty, not tyranny, has always our watchword.

But the times, they are a-changing. A CNN poll released late last month reports that a majority of people believe that the federal government threatens the rights of Americans. That’s right. A majority of citizens of this nation fear that the government represents a threat to our freedom:

“Fifty-six percent of people questioned in a CNN/Opinion Research Corporation survey released Friday say they think the federal government’s become so large and powerful that it poses an immediate threat to the rights and freedoms of ordinary citizens.”

What was that again, Mr. Jefferson? When the people fear the government, there is tyranny? But then again:

“Americans overwhelmingly think that the U.S. government is broken – though the public overwhelmingly holds out hope that what’s broken can be fixed.”

“The public overwhelmingly holds out hope that what’s broken can be fixed.” That too, is so uniquely American–the expectation that we can fix what’s broken; the can-do attitude; the eternal optimism that flashes out as the very best of the American spirit. As Sissy Willis describes it, the Shining City on the Hill.

We didn’t need to vote in “Hope” and “Change” in 2008. They are, as they have always been, an integral part of the American character. The pale imitations represented by Obama, Pelosi, and their ilk, are no more than faint and slightly sinister simulacra of the real things.

We have elections coming up in November. It’s time to take back our government, toss the tyranny, and let freedom ring.

Stoutcat

H/T: Classical Liberal

And A Little Child Shall Lead Them

 

Commercial passenger aircraft, the 6th busiest airport in the country, and a child at the mic of air traffic control; what could possibly go wrong?

Fortunately nothing did go wrong, but heads may roll because one evening about two weeks ago, a child (clearly with the assistance of an adult) was directing planes on the ground at Kennedy Airport.

AP reports:

“JetBlue 171, cleared for takeoff,” the boy says in his first call. His father follows that up with a more detailed instruction for the aircraft, which was headed to Sacramento, Calif.

He then offers an explanation to pilots on the air: “This is what you get, guys, when the kids are out of school.”

In a second exchange, the boy instructs the same JetBlue flight to contact departure controllers. The pilot responds: “Over to departure, JetBlue 171. Awesome job!”

There are a few more similar exchanges. A pilot laughs. The boy can be overheard giggling.

Based on the flight numbers called out during the exchange, the episode appears to have happened in the early evening, when JFK is often bustling with international flights.

Not only did the father disregard safety measures by bringing his son to the control tower (a highly secure area), it would seem that everyone else in the tower at the time abetted this breach of protocol, security, and common sense, and allowed a school child on vacation to direct commercial air traffic.

I don’t care if his father was hovering over his shoulder the whole time. I don’t care if the rest of the controllers were watching out. I don’t care if the pilots involved thought it was cute. This is a massive security breach, and heads should roll, because clearly we don’t have adults running ground traffic at JFK, we have adolescents.

Air travelers, you’re in the very best of hands.

Stoutcat

U.S. Geography Fail

 

This is by no means intended to make light of the victims of the Chilean earthquake, but really! Shouldn’t these anchors know where the various U.S. states are?

No wonder even CNN is tanking.

Stoutcat

United Airlines Trilogy Ends On A High Note

It’s the video millions of people around the world have eagerly anticipated. And it delivers the goods! It’s the third – and final – song of the United Breaks Guitars trilogy by Canadian Singer/Songwriter Dave Carroll.

It was launched with a gala Interactive Webcast the introduced the video before Carroll took questions from the local audience as well as those watching from around the world via the Internet.

The video features some of the best bluegrass musicians around hand-picked by Carroll himself. Grand Rants is proud to have been chosen by Dave for an exclusive interview which you can read here. But before you do, sit back and enjoy some fine pickin’ and singin’ as it’s David VS “Goliath Airlines” one last time. Presenting…

 ”United We Stand (On The Right Side Of Right)” 

Note: For more Grand Rants articles on Dave, just type “Dave Carroll” in the “Search” box which is to the right of the title line of this article. 

Gerry Ashley

Join Us At Dave Carroll’s Launch Party Tonight!

UNITED BREAKS GUITARS GRAND FINALE BEGINS WITH A WEB PARTY
                                   AND YOU’RE INVITED!

Dave Carroll wants to take you to launch.  That’s launch, not lunch. And Grand Rants has your invitation right here, right now. Here’s the 411:

Dave  is a man true to his word and with that will be releasing the third and final installment of the United Breaks Guitars videos tonight (Tuesday Mar 2, 2010) via a special webcast release party. Use this link to access the live event at 7:30pm EST tonight.   Update (Tuesday, 2 PM): Please be sure to use the current link (above) to join the fun. The actual web page it re-directs you to could change. However, the above link (established at 2:00pm Tuesday) will re-direct your browser to the correct page. If you saved the link from earlier today,  please disregard it and use the current link above.

If you haven’t already read our exclusive interview with Dave from yesterday, click here to read it now.

This is by no means the last you will hear from Dave; as we like to say, United has broken his career. Since the release of the original United Breaks Guitars song on July 7, 2009, Dave has traveled extensively throughout North America as well as parts of Europe telling people his story and entertaining them with his songs.

Here are some of the highlights to date:

• Over 9.4 million people have watched his United Breaks Guitars videos on YouTube and there are over 13 million internet references to this song title
• Dave appeared on CBS’s THE VIEW on January 14, 2010 to talk about his whirlwind year
• Business Schools such as Harvard and Rotman have written case studies on the power of social media based on Dave’s experience
• Dave has spoken to hundreds of business leaders, including being invited as the keynote speaker for the Right Now Technologies North American Summit in Colorado this past fall.  During the trip, United lost his luggage again, prompting repeat coverage on Wolf Blizter’s Situtation Room on CNN.
• Since Dave’s story was first reported by the LA Times, he has been interviewed more than 300 times, for an estimated audience of 100 million people

The coming year will be a busy one for Dave as he is putting the finishing touches on a speaking and playing tour throughout the United States and parts of Canada and Europe. He will re-release his latest recording, Perfect Blue, to include all three of the United Breaks Guitars songs, and plans are underway for a new solo project featuring more of the music from the Dave Carroll that millions have come to know.

Dave has also launching three new websites that include an updated music site and 2 other sites dedicated to helping those who have faced similar situations as the one detailed in the United Breaks Guitars trilogy.

Be sure to join Dave  for the festivities tonight at 7:30 E.S.T. We’ll be there too!

Gerry Ashley

Bill Whittle on Eternal Ideas

 

Once again, Bill Whittle of Pajamas Media and PJTV, has drilled right down to the essence of his subject. And once again, I found myself after watching his video, wanting to stand up and yell, “Yes, yes, YES!!!”

Watch the whole thing.

Someone tell me: Why isn’t this man running for public office?

Stoutcat

Exclusive: Dave Carroll Files A New Flight Plan

 
Dave Carroll Talks With Grand Rants About The Amazing Past Year And What Lies Ahead For The Talented Singer Songwriter

by Gerry Ashley

Note: This exclusive interview with Dave Carroll is being published simultaneously with the release and posting of his third and final video in the “United Breaks Guitars” trilogy, “United We Stand On The Right Side Of Right.”  The video is now available on Youtube and here on Grand Rants (click either link).  For more information about Dave and his music both as a solo performer and with the band, “Sons of Maxwell,” visit Dave’s web site.   And for more Grand Rants articles on Dave, just type “Dave Carroll” in the “Search” box which is to the right of the title line of this article. 

A year ago, if you asked someone who Dave Carroll is, outside of his loyal fan base as part of the popular Nova Scotia band “Sons of Maxwell”  (and those working in the United Airlines Customer Service division), a good many of those asked would have been stumped.

What a difference a year (and a flawed approach to customer service by United Airlines) has made!

As most of the on-line world knows by now, Dave’s first two “United Breaks Guitars” music videos became an Internet sensation as they chronicled his 9-month battle with United Airlines over damages to his guitar caused by their baggage handlers.

After United gave Carroll their final refusal, he informed them he would make three videos and post them on YouTube, asking the public to vote for their favorite.  For those of you who have not yet seen those videos, I urge you to watch them here:

United Breaks Guitars Song #1

United Breaks Guitars Song #2

At the time, nobody knew just how viral this would become: The first video had over 1 million hits by the end of the first week, making the 20-year music veteran an “overnight sensation.”

I’ve been in touch with Dave on several occasions (indeed, Stoutcat and I have written rants in support of Dave and the first two videos and I have featured Dave in several other topics).

With the posting of this final video of the trilogy, I thought our readers might like to get to know more about the man behind the music. Dave was kind enough to give me an exclusive interview for Grand Rants. I spoke with him following his appearance on “The View” in NYC and as he prepared for a several concert dates in Europe. As we spoke, I found him to be amazingly balanced, polite and in possession of a keen sense of humor. I invite you all to come join me as I talked with Dave.

So, please put your tray tables and seatbacks in their full upright position, as the United trilogy comes to  its conclusion and Dave’s solo career takes off.