IWA For Sunday 101010

I just can't let this go.

Hey folks,

Yes, as we wrap things up with our IWA, you have to realize something. I am really still thinking about this. This really pissed me off. I understand it most likely has something to do with me being a Firefighter in my younger years, and the fact I KNOW what a fire is capable of. Maybe it's because I went to a Big Manson, TWICE. Maybe because I have seen the Death and Destruction first hand. Maybe it's because I RESPECT Fire. But this?

This was guys doing what they were told to do, which is NOT doing their Jobs. How anyone could stand back and watch it happen while a Resident is doing what little they can to protect their Home. I still want to know if those on the scene KNEW that their were animals inside.

I do not care about this Asinine Policy, the reason, nor how long it has been in place. This is a CLEAR example of looking at a situation and saying, there has to be a better way. Other than MANDATED, and Government Ordered Extortion. Pay or else.

I could award MANY different people in this situation. But the one that bothers me the most is the Mayor. Mayor David Crocker. Him saying this,

"Anybody that's not inside the city limits of South Fulton, it's a service we offer. Either they accept it or they don't."

Pay up or else. Your Home could burn to the ground. Sounds Like Extortion to me. When Cranick realized he was on his own, he begged the Firefighters to help, he says he told the operator he would pay whatever is necessary to have the fire put out. Our Idiot's response?

"If we let residence pay on the spot, no one would pay until their home was on fire."

So again, Pay up or else. MANY people are not happy with this. I'm glad that this is getting National attention. Hey Mayor, I got news for ya. Guess who's coming for dinner? Philanthropy Team Mobilizing Thousands of Pet Lovers to Protest Tennessee Mayor and Fire Chief

The Philanthropy Team, LLC - an Arizona-based company specializing in helping non profit animal welfare groups, today announced that it is mobilizing thousands of pet lovers nationwide to demand the termination of South Fulton, Tennessee's Mayor David Crocker and Fire Chief David Wilds for their irresponsible actions and complete disregard of life for allowing four family pets to die in a house fire last week

Let this be a message to all other area's out there, across the Nation. DO NOT FOLLOW Fulton, Tennessee's example.

Surprise, AZ (PRWEB) October 7, 2010

The Philanthropy Team, LLC - an Arizona-based company specializing in helping non profit animal shelters, today announced that it is mobilizing thousands of pet lovers nationwide to demand the termination of South Fulton, Tennessee's Mayor David Crocker and Fire Chief David Wilds for their irresponsible actions and complete disregard of life for allowing four family pets to die in a house fire last week. Firefighters from South Fulton, Tennessee let a home burn to the ground last week because the homeowner, Gene Cranick, forgot to pay the annual $75 fire policy fee. The Cranick family lost all of their possessions and their four beloved pets - three dogs and one cat - died by burning alive. The city of South Fulton REFUSED to respond because the family forgot to pay the $75 annual fee.

The Philanthropy Team is using an on-line viral campaign and social media to alert over 6,000 animal lovers from all 50 states to write letters, call and e-mail the City Commissioners of South Fulton, TN to immediately terminate the Mayor and Fire Chief. Pet lovers wishing to join this crusade can visit the home page of The Philanthropy Team to "Join the Protest" by clicking on the Take Action Now button or by donating to the cause.

Donations are also being collected to fund placement of a full page ad in the Union City Daily Messenger and The Obion County Weekly demanding the immediate resignation of South Fulton Mayor David Crocker and Fire Chief David Wilds for their role in allowing four beloved family pets to perish in a preventable house fire. Funds raised above and beyond what is needed to fund the advertisements will be used to help the Cranick family. The Philanthropy Team is also forming a team of protesters to descend upon South Fulton city hall in the coming weeks.

The Philanthropy Team has successfully mobilized thousands of pet lovers before using on-line viral marketing campaigns and social media outlets. They previously collected thousands of signatures to protest Congress's Crush Video Ban as well as to protest a Mesa, AZ restaurant that served lion meat. In both instances, animal lovers nationwide responded by sending/placing thousands of calls and e-mails that flooded designated recipients.

Congratulations Mayor, David Crocker, you ARE the Idiot of the Week. For your blind following of an insane and possibly illegal Rule, even though that Life was ended, and your lack to show any empathy or remorse. The Blood of those Animals are on YOUR hands. Imagine if a Person Died there. I would be standing on the front line calling for you to be locked up. I still think you should be charged. Fired to say the least.
Peter

Firefighters and City Manager Should Be Charged

OR at least the Chief.

Hey folks,

This one REALLY ticks me off. More than you could possibly know.

"Do you believe this shit!!!! Salisbury Mills Fire Dept would never just stand there over $75.00 How any fireman could do that is beyond me!!!"

NO! I do not believe it. Yes, I was a Salisbury Mills Fireman. I was certified in Search and Rescue. That means I was one of those that run INTO the Fire to Save people and property. I would have NEVER even IMAGINED anything like this possible.

Now Salisbury Mills Fire Department IS VOLUNTEER. That means I did this, and all those in VOLUNTEER Fire Companies around the Country, do this for FREE. We do not get paid, and in most cases, they are run solely on DONATIONS.

But that is not what we are talking about here. No, TAXES go to support Fire Services. The EXCUSE is that County Residence do not pay City Tax, therefore they are not entitled to City Services. I do not CARE. Where do the County Taxes go? What do you get for your money?

Here is one of the MANY Links out there. This is just the one sent in.

The Upshot - Rural Tennessee fire sparks conservative ideological debate

Just about anything can be fodder for an ideological dispute these days. Just consider news of the recent fire at Gene Cranick's home in Obion County, Tenn.

Here's the short version of what happened: In rural Obion County, homeowners must pay $75 annually for fire protection services from the nearby city of South Fulton. If they don't pay the fee and their home catches fire, tough luck -- even if firefighters are positioned just outside the home with hoses at the ready.

Gene Cranick found this out the hard way.

When Cranick's house caught fire last week, and he couldn't contain the blaze with garden hoses, he called 911. During the emergency call, he offered to pay all expenses related to the Fire Department's defense of his home, but the South Fulton firefighters refused to do anything.

They did, however, come out when Cranick's neighbor -- who'd already paid the fee -- called 911 because he worried that the fire might spread to his property. Once they arrived, members of the South Fulton department stood by and watched Cranick's home burn; they sprang into action only when the fire reached the neighbor's property.

"I hadn't paid my $75 and that's what they want, $75, and they don't care how much it burned down," Gene Cranick told WPSD, an NBC affiliate in Kentucky. "I thought they'd come out and put it out, even if you hadn't paid your $75, but I was wrong."

Now some want to turn this into Political Debate. Conservatism Vs Liberalism. NO ONE CARES! That's the point. I do not care if it is City Policy, how long it has been in place, or WHY it is in place. If you are going to respond to some, yet not all, based on $75 bucks, then you are just flat out WRONG. Respond to all, or none. But then again, even THAT doesn't matter in this case. THEY WERE THERE!

They were watching this Home burn to the ground. They WATCHED as three Dogs and a Cat died in the fire. That is inexcusable to me. When you are a Firefighter, it is your MORAL DUTY to protect life and property. What if there was someone in the Home? Would they have let them DIE for $75 bucks that the Homeowner said he would pay? These leaders that follow this insane rule are SCUM. The Chief, City Manager, and perhaps even the Mayor and Council should be FIRED and CHARGED with Animal Cruelty. This policy needs to be banished to the neverlands where it should have stayed to begin with.

Perhaps the County Residence should look into creating their OWN Volunteer or County Fire Company. It can be done. As I said, I was part of one. If they are not allowed to, then the existing Fire Companies need to RESPOND! Oh yeah, AFTER they respond, they need to PUT THE FIRE OUT!

Talk Politics all you want. Use this as Political Fodder. That will not bring back the guy's home or the three Dogs and a Cat that died in the fire. That will do nothing for the NEXT Resident that has a Fire. This NEEDS to be dealt with. Dealt with NOW.

I'm not kidding. This Policy needs to be done away with, and those in charge need to be CHARGED. Imagine if these Firefighters ACTUALLY put out the Fire? Saved the Animals? Going against the Leadership and the "Policy?" They would be NATIONAL HEROES now, instead of being seen as SCUM of the Earth. Some rules really were made to be broken.
Peter

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They Failed In Their DREAM, Republicans Blocked Amnesty

Hey folks,

Not a great day yesterday for the Democrats. The DREAM act vote failed 52-44. You know, this was yet another bill that would have granted amnesty to illegal aliens who came to this country before the age of 16 and who have lived here at least five years. This was the Senate's first attempt to grant amnesty to millions of illegal aliens again since the defeat of the Kennedy-McCain-Kyl bill in June of this year. This will not be the last I assure you.

Screaming Dean said this.

“Senator Reid and the Democrats in Congress deserve a lot of credit for working toward solutions for border security and immigration reform. Republicans ought to be ashamed of themselves for continuing to stand in the way of both. Children who came to our country with their families in hope of a better life, often in their infancy and through no fault of their own, and who call America home deserve a shot at the American Dream. These kids want to serve in the military and go to college, hoping to succeed and give back to our country. What could be more American? Republicans' actions today, denying immigrant children an education after they denied 10 million American children health care, do not represent the values our country was founded on.”

YES folks, it ALL about children. The LWL’s FAVORITE pawn. They LOVE children. {Sigh} They love to use them. Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi said this.

“By blocking action on the Dream Act, Senate Republicans prevented a critical first step to address our nation's broken immigration system.

Our immigration system needs to honor the promise of America and recognize the enormous contributions that immigrants make to our nation. But it must do so in a way that makes our nation safer, protects all workers, and respects the rule of law.”

What, no mention of the children? Only one problem though. The DREAM Act did NONE of these things. It did not make our Country safer. It did not protect workers. It did not respect the rule of law. The DREAM is not dead though. Your voices were heard again, but as this indicates, they are NOT letting this go. Just be ready for round three.

Then you have the SCHIP Universal Healthcare , that will not go away either. Again, “all about the children.” No, it’s all about power and control in YOUR lives. Your most basic needs Healthcare.

Meanwhile, fires are burning in California. Homes being destroyed, people dying. Pelosi had this to say about that.

“The thoughts and prayers of our entire nation today are with California: with the firefighters risking life and limb to protect others, and with the many who have lost so much.

California's Office of Emergency Services is one of the best in the nation and I commend them for their continued efforts to act quickly to protect the people in the area and contain the fires.

I am pleased that President Bush today signed the request of the Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, supported by the California congressional delegation, declaring a major federal disaster in Southern California. I pledge to the residents of the counties affected that the Congress will continue to work in a bipartisan manner to make sure their short-term and long-term needs are met. I urge displaced residents to contact FEMA to apply for the federal individual assistance that has been made available for temporary housing or to replace belongings.

As the President prepares to visit the area tomorrow and view the extensive damage, Congress commits to working with him to provide necessary federal resources to contain the fires, provide for the safety of the people, and help them rebuild their homes and their lives.”

Some politicians are TRYING to do the right thing and want to be with their people in this devastating time of need. However, some are not, because some, the LWL, are USING this as a opportunity to get their agenda’s passed. House Minority Whip Roy Blunt said this.

“The scope, scale and severity of the fires raging in southern California are of a magnitude few of us have ever seen. What's important right now is that members from the area be given the chance to return to their districts to aid their constituents in any way they can -- whether through casework, disaster relief efforts, or simply lending a hand to a neighbor in need.

Unfortunately, the speaker announced plans today to hold an important, and contentious, vote on SCHIP while these members are confronting serious issues at home -- disenfranchising, in effect, a large segment of the most populous state in the union, and throwing into doubt the integrity of the vote.

In light of these circumstances, I would urge the speaker to reconsider her strategy and delay the vote on her SCHIP bill until a time when the interests of millions of Americans in southern California can be accurately represented. Maybe in that time Democrats will also actually consider making a copy of the bill available to Republicans.”

Do not think for one second that ANY of their agenda is going away, until YOU vote them out of power in 08. All these things that they keep trying to do and FAILING at doing, will come back with at warp speed, and WILL become reality, if they stay in power, and the next President is one of them. It really is, just that simple.

We won again. They failed again. But we must be ready for the most important election of our time.
Peter

Sources:
Office of the Speaker of the House
Office of Screaming Dean
Office of the House Minority Whip