JCPenney President Michael Francis Out

No word yet on why or if he will be replaced. But it was just announced that Michael Francis has been relieved of his duties as president of JCPenney. Rumors are sure to abound and blame is sure to be placed. But it's hard not to see this as simply continued growing pains under the new CEO Ron Johnson.

"It's always darkest before the dawn," the saying goes. If that's true, things should be looking up soon for the retailer. In the meantime, things haven't calmed down from the June Father's Day book featuring real-life gay dads that followed the May Mother's Day book featuring real-life lesbian moms.

My dad says that the time to worry is not when the press is talking about you but rather when they stop. For now then, it looks like obscurity is not something JCP needs to worry about. Their numbers on the other hand. Well, here's hoping for their sake they can just get those sales and stock prices up again soon...