Local billboard requests divine aid for economy --AA News, MI

[Demeter]

http://www.mlive.com/news/aanews/index.ssf?/base/news-13/1122387132226070.xml&coll=2

Local billboard requests divine aid for economy
Okemos entrepreneur looks outside the box for change in state's business climate
Tuesday, July 26, 2005
BY CATHERINE O'DONNELL
News Staff Reporter

"Lanny Johnson has had enough.

So he's praying in a big way - with roadside billboards.

A retired orthopedic surgeon turned entrepreneur, Johnson is so frustrated by what he perceives to be a backward business climate in Michigan that he wrote a prayer and had it mounted on four highway billboards, one of them on Whitmore Lake Road north of Ann Arbor:

Dear Gracious Heavenly Father,

Forgive us our sin of being dependent upon the Automobile Industry and not on You. Please restore invention, productivity and prosperity.

In Jesus Name,

A Michigan Citizen "


Just another confused BushBot wondering where the plan went wrong, and looking for answers in all the wrong places. IMPEACH BUSH NOW!

[phantom power]

1. typical muddled thinking

What do we need "invention and productivity" for? restoring the auto industry? But it's a sin to depend on the auto industry, right? So why would we need to pray for invention?

[Demeter]

24. It's Called Wishful Thinking

It's the flip side of Denial.

[meganmonkey]

2. I think it's kind of funny

Our economy is pretty trashed here in Michigan, I can almost see where he is coming from. We do need invention and productivity and innovation desperately. The american auto companies aren't moving in a forward direction at all.

For the record - the advertising company he is using is a good company - they have done some in-kind donations for the nonprofit I work for.

[phantom power]

5. yeah... almost.

When a country's citizens can't come up with anything better than "pray to Jesus", as their plan for reviving innovation and prosperity, that country's days are numbered.

[meganmonkey]

6. I get a sense that he recognizes that

I don't know why - and I am not a Christian so it isn't that I agree with his methods...

I guess I am just fascinated by his rather obscure message. He must grasp the irony of it. I don't know.

:shrug:

[htuttle]

3. I suppose if God is driving by in his Cadillac, he might read it...

:shrug:

[phantom power]

10. it was late one night on a Kentucky highway...

It was late one night on a Kentucky highway- up ahead on the horizon
It was there before my eyes- i saw the glowing cross of Jesus Christ...
I saw Jesus on the grille- of a southbound peterbuilt
catching bugs between his teeth- glowing for everyone to see

he dont stop at no tollbooths- the state troopers let him roll on through
folks stop and stare at his long flowing hair- and his gold-capped tooth!
i saw Jesus on the grille- rolling down the interstate
and i know we wont be late, no darling- with the potentate of hauling freight

Refrain: talking Jesus, riding on the grille
talking Jesus, blessing every roadkill
talking Jesus, giving points for good behavior
I have been redeemed by the 75 mph Savior

i saw him down at a road side dive- with a soybean burger and a side of fries
had a big 'ol glass of chocolate milk- and a slice of apple pie

(Refrain)

i saw Jesus on the grille- rooling through the cool Kentucky night
and i know we wont be late, no momma. he's the potentate of hauling freight.
and i know with Jesus we wont be late.

--Willy Porter, "Jesus on the Grille"

[sakabatou]

11. A Cadillac? I thought it'd be a hybrid...

[Javaman]

4. I find it ironic that he blames cars for our problems yet..

he still takes out billboards along an interstate to state his opinion.

One more of the sheeple that can't get the shit out of their eyes. Poor poor bastard, oh well, fuck'm.


Colossal failure*

[ekelly]

7. I was thinking

the same thing.

Why didn't he put the signs up on very high mountains, ya know....where g*d can see them?

Why would he want people to see the signs?

[mikeytherat]

15. Why do I hear the voice of Sideshow Bob?

"And, yes, I'm well aware of the irony of using highway billboards to lament our dependence on the automobile industry, so don't bother to bring it up."

mikey_the_rat

[Javaman]

19. LMAO!!

[Demeter]

25. The Auto Industry MADE Michigan After All The Trees Were Cut Down

after the lumber barons came Ford, Chrysler, etc. They vertically integrated with foundries, glassworks, etc.


To trash talk the auto industry is to put head in sand and swallow. Ditto the auto unions.

[noamnety]

8. Gotta love the lobbyists

It's bad enough you have to pay to get access to some politicians. Now God's doing it too?

Pretty soon he'll be demanding loyalty oaths if you want to talk to him.

[CountAllVotes]

9. keep praying sucker

and may the force be with you! :puke:

[olddad56]

12. Hey, I wroye a prayer also....

Dear Gracious Heavenly Mother

Forgive us our sin of being dependent upon the Bush Economy and not on You. Please may we all win the lottery.

In Jesus Name,

A Misguided Citizen "

[mudderfudder77]

13. Okay, settle down people...

I hardly think this is as much a case of another "Jesus Freak" praying for the Lord to save the economy as it is a swipe at the community's dependence on the automobile industry. Looks to me more like a guy telling the people of his city to stop praying to Ford, and go out and make your own way.

[meganmonkey]

14. Thank you!

I was starting to think I was crazy.

And a quick 'google' will show that this guy was a hell of a surgeon who made innovations in the field of arthroscopy - not some 'dumb jesus freak' as people seem to be assuming.

[JNelson6563]

17. And who could afford him?

Oh folks with good insurance, like those working for the auto industry.

The irony in this thread gets thicker by the minute.

Julie

[Dave Reynolds]

20. Yep, Lanny was an arthroscopic pioneer.

Incredible asshole, but great surgeon.

[Demeter]

16. This Is A Man Who Wants To Make Money On A Leisure Activity

And most Michigan citizens have no leisure time or money, just like the rest of this Bush-battered economy. I will lay dollars to doughnuts he voted for Bush, but that doesn't mean we deserve to suffer for his mistaken faith.

[cosmicdot]

22. interestingly enough ...

He has donated to Republicans ... I would say it's safe to 'lay dollars to doughnuts he voted for Bu$h' ...


opensecrets.org search

Results: 3 records found in 0.0469 seconds.
Search Criteria:
Donor name: Johnson, Lanny
Donor State: MI
Cycle(s) selected: 2000

Total for this search: $2,500

JOHNSON, LANNY
OKEMOS,MI 48864
MD
5/28/1999
$1,000
Smith, Nick

JOHNSON, LANNY
OKEMOS,MI 48864
MD
12/20/1999
$500
Smith, Nick

JOHNSON, LANNY L DR
OKEMOS,MI 48864
RETIRED
3/2/1999
$1,000
Bauer, Gary


1 records found in 0.0625 seconds.
Search Criteria:
Donor name: Johnson, Lanny
Donor State: MI
Cycle(s) selected: 2004, 2002

Total for this search: $1,000

JOHNSON, LANNY
OKEMOS,MI 48864
RETIRED
12/1/2003
$1,000
Smith, Brad


Side note: That Nick Smith is the father of that Brad Smith ...

Smith agrees to fine in fundraising inquiry

July 26, 2005, 6:25 PM


WASHINGTON (AP) -- The Federal Election Commission has fined former congressional candidate Brad Smith and his fundraising committee $14,000 for accepting excessive contributions during his 2004 campaign.

The FEC found that Smith's campaign committee accepted $40,500 in excessive contributions from individuals because his advisers wrongly calculated their eligibility for increased limits under a campaign finance provision called the millionaires' amendment.

Smith, the son of former Rep. Nick Smith, R-Addison, was one of six Republican candidates who sought the 7th district seat that includes a section of south-central Michigan along the Ohio and Indiana borders. ~snip~

Detroit Free Press
http://www.freep.com/news/statewire/sw118951_20050726.htm

[Bozita]

18. Why not eliminate the middleman and pray directly to Bush?

[jsamuel]

21. I kind of read it as a swipe at Bush

It's saying we have to pray to God because the economy is so bad.

Bush said a year ago that we were "turning the corner".

It is a direct reflection that Bush's economy is bad.

[StaggerLee]

23. Yep. I see this sign walking to the parking lot when I leave work

in downtown Lansing. It's really out of place because you don't usually see this type of thing here.