Bank of America seems to have a habit of pissing people off.  Last time they caused a stir, it was over the “Bank of Amigo” fiasco around early 2007, where they were allowing new loans, cards, etc. to be opened without Social Security numbers in many offices around southern California, effectively endorsing illegal immigration.  I had been a customer with them for about 7 years, coming in as a Fleet customer before their merger.  I was furious with Bank of America over this issue at the time, and began looking for another bank.

Fortunately for me, this turned out to be a good thing, as I found USAA during this search.  USAA offers the best rates and yields over their competitors (including BoA), and convenience options like depositing a check at home from the computer, which was unheard of for a consumer account back then. They were also the first bank to offer a deposit option from a mobile phone too. I also found a better insurance premium than I had before (with GEICO, who I also later found out was anti-gun). I subsequently moved about 7 or 8 accounts, from checking, savings, credit and an auto loan to USAA and I have never looked back.

Bank of America is now at it again in the news, this time targeting gun makers. Meet Joe Sirochman owner of American Spirit Arms, his sales have skyrocketed 500 percent lately, due to the political climate these days.  Due to this increase in volume, Bank of America froze his accounts.  After going through hours jumping through hoops trying to get to the right person, Joe finally reached a manager in the right department who told him his accounts were on hold for further review, and her exact words he says: ‘We believe you should not be selling guns and parts on the Internet.’ (emphasis added)

If you’re a customer of Bank of America, I would truly urge you to call them and voice your opinion over this.  It is absolutely asinine for bank manager to weigh in his politics to a business owner, who has all the proper federal licensing and is frequently audited by the ATF for accountability, on what he should or shouldn’t be selling.  It is one thing if there is a specific policy written by the company, that forbids certain business types from opening accounts, but personal opinion of the employee has no place there.

Further account from Joe is on his post on Facebook, a subsequent post stating he has recovered most of the deposits by fighting them and I guess pressure from other sides, and that he has opened up an account with another local institution.

It’s not just the manager though, this is apparently not the first time Bank of America has targeted the gun industry. McMillan Group International was reportedly told that its business was no longer welcome after the company started manufacturing firearms – even after 12 years of doing business with the bank.

“Increasing America’s debt weakens us domestically and internationally. Leadership means that the buck stops here. Instead, Washington is shifting the burden of bad choices today onto the backs of our children and grandchildren. … I therefore intend to oppose the effort to increase America’s debt limit.” – Senator Barack Obama in 2006

Trooper injured by drunk driver in 2003 dies

E-mail | Print | Comments (64)Posted by Martin Finucane June 1, 2011 01:54 PM

By Martin Finucane, Globe Staff

Trooper Ellen E. Engelhardt, who was left in a permanent vegetative state after being struck by a drunk driver in 2003, has died, State Police said today.

Trooper Ellen Engelhardt

“It is with profound sadness that we mourn the loss of Trooper Ellen Engelhardt, who was not just a valued colleague but also a dear friend who dedicated her career to protecting the citizens of our state. Since suffering the tragic injuries inflicted upon her in the line of duty by a drunk driver, Trooper Engelhardt has been an inspiration to every member of this Department for the courage, grace and dignity with which she lived,” Colonel Marian J. McGovern, the superintendent of the State Police, said in a statement.

Engelhardt was injured when a car traveling at nearly 100 miles per hour slammed into her cruiser, which was parked in the breakdown lane of Route 25 in Wareham.

The drunk driver, William P. Senne, who was 18 at the time of the crash, was sentenced in 2005 to 2 1/2 years in the Plymouth County House of Correction.

State Police said Engelhardt suffered “traumatic and life-altering injuries” in the crash on July 26, 2003. Her death is considered a “line-of-duty” death, and she is the 32nd member of the force to be killed in the line of duty since the agency’s founding.

A 2.5 year sentence is an absolute disgrace. What’s done is done, though, and cannot be changed; hopefully young Mr. Senne will live with this memory for the rest of his life.

Godspeed, Trooper Engelhardt…

The religion of peace strikes again!

Obama: “I just miss – I miss being anonymous”

Shenanigans!! Oh please! You’re the most narcissistic President to date!

Seriously, if you really miss that, why don’t you skip the re-election campaign for 2012?  Yeah, I thought so…

Yeah, what a regular guy…

Why can’t singers just shut the hell up when it comes to politics, and do what they do… sing.
It boggles my mind, especially when they come across as total idiots when talking about it.

Case in point, Garth Brooks.  In the immortal words of Keyshawn Johnson – C’mon MAN!

F*ck you, Hoyer. Most in the military take home a very small fraction of what you make in the House, and yet every day, while actually putting their life on the line; they do more every day, to make a difference in this world, than you will ever do in your lifetime… especially when partisan politics blind you.

Hey, if you don’t stand behind our troops, feel free to stand in front of them…

Hoyer: Military should also see pay freeze

New Jersey Judge Rules Muslim Man’s Right to Rape as Religious Freedom

Just as in what the woman must do, and the definition of the word Islam – some libtard judge in NJ submitted to his will, attempting to make Sharia Law ok here. Fortunately, in the end, an appellate court had some sense.  Still though… WTF???

Personally I think it’s idiotic and divisive, and I would especially be very annoyed if it caused unnecessary harm to any of our troops or civilians overseas. I’d add pointless into the mix to describe it too, but it clearly has a point – to incite anger and fan the flames of hatred.  But really, speaking of intentionally fueling the fire – is it any different than building a mosque at ground zero in NYC?

What separates us from them, and makes us better people, is that we’re free to do it here. Hell, they’re even free to do it here too! How many times has the Bible been burned? or the US flag, or the Constitution? How many times have those things been burned on their soil even?

I bet you couldn’t get away (alive) with burning a Quran on their soil.   Just food for thought…