In Memoriam: Ray Manzarek

I heard the news of Ray's passing the day after. I was shocked and flabbergasted. I wanted to wait a day to say my piece on the man we simply call "Ray." I first came to know the Doors in the early 80's when my cousins bought the Greatest Hits album. I was immediately hooked and the rest was history.

One thing I absolutely hate is when a DJ is playing a Doors song and the douchebag introduces the band as; "Jim Morrison and the Doors." Wrong. The Doors is comprised of 4 super talented musicians. Another thing I hate is rock radio playing the same 5 Doors songs. Enough with "Break on through," "Light my fire," "Touch me," "Roadhouse blues," and "Love her madly." The Doors is not a top 40 or one hit wonder band. The band is pushing 50 and hasn't played a gig together in over 40 years and still selling!

As for Ray, his talent is scary. The band didn't have a bass player, so Ray played his Vox organ and a Fender Rhodes keyboard bass! When you go on YouTube watch him play. He's playing two different instruments. Yes they are keyboards, but one is an organ and one is a bass! Listen to "when the music's over." That's Ray doing the organ sound and bass!! Manzarek also played guitar and sang! Ray was  1/4 of one of the greatest rock and roll bands in history. No other band sound like the Doors. Period. The band broke so much ground in the music industry it's not funny. Here's a short list of accomplishments still used today:

• Heavy use of keyboards/synthesizers. All the music in the 80's was because of Ray Manzarek. 
• Recording songs longer than the standard 2:30-3:00. "Light my Fire" and "The End" led us to "Stairway to Heaven," "Starship Trooper," and "Freebird."
• The use of improvisation. The Doors and Grateful Dead gave us jams and Jam bands.
• The use of film. Manzarek and Morrison were film school students and recorded some of the first ever music videos which led us to Music Television (MTV) and now YouTube.
• Recording music when one of the performers has died. All the Duets albums are courtesy of the 1978 album "An american Prayer." The surviving Doors composed music to accompany the spoken word of Jim Morrison who passed away seven years earlier. 

Besides the musician we need to look at Ray Manzarek the man. He's been married since 1967 despite free love Manzarek preferred the institution of marriage. Ray also had a very positive outlook on life. In every interview he is smiling, laughing, joking. Never a scowl on his face or attempting to avoid fans. In fact, there are youtube clips of Ray walking up and playing with garage bands! Ray was also a workhorse. In his 70's he still wanted to go on the road. He toured with Robbie Krieger, Michale McClure, and Roy Rogers.He did this while fighting cancer, in which he kept private. As for his feud and lawsuits with John Densmore, that's for the Doors family to work out. Now that Ray has passed, let's hope John and Robbie can bury the hatchet.

I had the opportunity to see and meet Ray and Robbie at a concert in Norfolk, VA in 2008. It was one of the best concerts of my life. And I tried to be unbiased as possible. Ray even played a song with the help of his right foot! His right foot has more talent than I have in my entire body! After the show I met Ray and he was as pleasant as can be despite the fact I was very nervous and intoxicated! Ray you are surely missed already!

An open letter to Adam Kokesh

Adam:

You are holding a protest march from Arlington, VA to Washington, Dc and back to Virginia on the 4th of July. You are proposing marchers come with firearms loaded and slung. I urge you not to. Here is why:

-Some of the marchers will be from gun nut groups such as the National Rifle Association or Gun Owners of America. These organizations have no concern for education or safety. Other participants include: active or retired law enforcement officers, and current or former military personnel. First off these people have no business handling firearms, and according to the Department of Homeland Security, these veterans are terrorists!

-There is no need to protest the government! We have an efficient government that spends its money wisely, has a strong defense defending its borders from foreign invaders, with as little regulation and interference as possible, causing a strong economy. We as Americans are fortunate to have an ethical, honest, and open government.

-Besides; where in the constitution are people allowed to demonstrate and allowed to have guns?

-There is no reason to carry firearms! Residents of Detroit, Chicago and Baltimore are not allowed to possess firearms and they are some of the safest of cities.

-Two words: Cathy Lanier: When you think of top cops names like Wyatt Earp, Elliot Ness, J. Edgar Hoover, and Cathy Lanier. Lanier is god of policing and loved among the rank and file. Just ask her cops. The $250,000 a year chief has brought down crime. Northeast and Southeast safer than ever. Now on Saturday nights people enjoying an evening downtown do not have to worry about black youths wreaking havoc.

Adam: I urge you to stay at home, have a cookout and watch the fireworks at the National Mall on July 4th.


Peter "Scoop" Stanton
Washington Correspondent
The Political Cesspool Radio Show

The case FOR amnesty

While America has been glued on Boston and the soap opera As Chechnya Turns  continues, Congress has been quietly been pushing amnesty for over 11 million (mostly Hispanic) illegal aliens. Both the Republicans and Democrats want these people legalized for two reasons. Democrats: votes. Republicans: cheap labor.

Personally; I feel that we should welcome these people for open arms. Here's why:

1) If these people are given citizenship, they would be eligible for more welfare programs. They are already given numerous welfare benefits including food stamps, health care, and others. Now we need to give them section 8, and direct welfare payments.

2)Job opportunities; with the unemployment rate hovering at around 8 percent and more American's than ever not looking for work, we need more unskilled people competing for less and less jobs. White people can compete against these new citizens thanks to Affirmative Action programs.

3)Social Security. With Social Security broke, we need more people who have not contributed since the age of 16 be able to collect and then have their parents file and collect until death after living here after 5 years.

4)Crime: we need to make the members of the Mexican Mafia and MS-13 citizens so when if they are arrested by police, they will not be shipped back home for immigration violation. They could serve their time here and then continue to live in our neighborhoods.

5)Population density: these people need housing, electricity, and water. They drive cars that run on gasoline. Schools need to continue to build more classrooms.

6)Language: last century people immigrated and either learned English. When we reward these 11+ million in, there will still be a need to press 2 for Spanish and businesses will still need to advertise in Spanish and parts of Los Angeles, New York, and other cities can look like a foreign country in the name of diversity and tolerance!