In Texas district, Obama just an interruption
In Arlington, Texas, the local school superintendent barred the live broadcast of President Obama’s speech to schoolchildren Tuesday on grounds it would interrupt classes.
I think that ’s a defensible position; I wouldn’t agree with it, but it’s defensible. I certainly don’t think every school district around the country should have been required to show the speech.
However, given the reluctance to interrupt classtime, the “compromise” the superintendent offered did seem a little strange. Parents who wanted their children to see the speech could pull their kids out of school for half a day so they could watch it off school grounds.
Things got even stranger when it was learned that the school district had previously agreed to bus — at taxpayer’s expense — 500 fifth graders to Cowboy Stadium to an event where former President George W. Bush is scheduled to speak.
All of a sudden that talk about not wanting to interrupt class time seemed pretty pathetic.
The superintendent has now apologized for that decision.
Tell us what you think about the site
Customer Care »
Vacation stops, manage subscriptions and more
AJC Services
Sections
Other Editions
Guides
Visitor Agreement | Privacy Statement
© 2010 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
241 comments Add your comment
joe matarotz
September 12th, 2009
9:02 am
I guess the argument can be made that the children would have been bussed to Cowboy Stadium if Obama had been speaking there (yeah, right). And the argument could be made that a live broadcast by Bush would have been barred in the schools. But somehow this one doesn’t pass the sniff test. No matter how hard you try, you can’t fix stupid.
jconservative
September 12th, 2009
9:05 am
Anyone but me noticing the large number of apologies floating around the country these days? People keep saying & doing stoopid things. Is it something “they” are putting in that bottled water everyone is drinking now?
Where I come from if a school superintendent took hard earned tax payers money & bussed our kids to hear a speech by a political hack, be it Bush or Obama, that superintendent would be looking for work that week.
Besides, I thought we had passed beyond government ordered school busing.
jt
September 12th, 2009
9:05 am
For President Bush or President Obama to EVEN MENTION responsibility to any school kid is ludacrous
The older kids know this.
jt
September 12th, 2009
9:07 am
In second grade at George Walton Academy, Lestor Maddox visited us.
I swear.
My have times changed.
TaxPayer
September 12th, 2009
9:13 am
Whatever could have possessed those folks. Political persuasion? Color? Both? Nah!!!!! I hope they remembered to fill out the long request form for attending that Bush indoctrination camp. Did Dusty or @@ or others of the right wing faith have any children that watched a Bushcast in school but not an Obamacast. No way. Not our fairly unbalanced tight wound nutter butters. What about appearances by Laura Bush versus Michelle Obama. How would these fairly unbalanced nutter butters react to those two choices. How ’bout now that Michelle is promoting home grown gardening, will the right wingers insist on eating only foreign grown foods or become carinovores and swear off veges. Come on, show us what you’re made of.
Paul
September 12th, 2009
9:30 am
It’s amazing some things get to the point of requiring an apology. But it is good when an apology is offered.
True, the topic for the Pres Bush event was different – but the same concerns for ‘ideological indoctrination’ people had for Pres Obama’s “stay in school, study, succeed” speech should still apply.
Consistency, consistency –
And good on that retired Air Force general. I particularly liked the part where he referred to Gov Perry’s secession talk and said “He’s Air Force – he should be ashamed.”
Lots of people are not what they should be, unfortunately.
jokerman
September 12th, 2009
9:39 am
Is our children learning…..
http://vids.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.individual&VideoID=841489
josef nix
September 12th, 2009
9:43 am
As most of the posters hereabouts know, I’m an outspoken and unrepentent liberal who can’t abide Ole Jug Ears’ handlers’ trotting him out for a periodic drag show. But when it comes to his speech to the schoolchildren they made one BIG mistake. They didn’t release the speech early enough. Of course the children should have watched it. For G-d’s sake, I may not like him worth a d*mn myself, but that’s ME and it is for MY issues, he IS the President and for the President of the United States to take the time to address the school children of America is a change I, as a teacher and as a citizen, can believe it. If he is going to be head cheerleader for anything, there is nothing more important than education and there is no one more important there than the students. My kids watched it. Their essay topic was “What did President Obama say to you and what is your opinion?” The more interested wrote some really good commentaries, but most had spent the time in front of the telly picking their noses, pulling Maria’s hair, chunking spit balls, fidgeting and chatting with their buddies when the teacher wasn’t looking…pretty much what they were supposed to be doing given the nature of schoolchildren and exhibiting as they did the qualities of future leaders!
DoggoneGA
September 12th, 2009
9:46 am
So far, the only reason I’ve heard for a school district to not allow their children to watch the live broadcast was one that said they don’t allow ANYTHING to be shown to the children until it’s screened first. If they really do stick to that…no problem.
josef nix
September 12th, 2009
9:51 am
Doggone–the APS (gasp!) does have such a policy and it was applied to Jug Ears’ address. Had the speech been released earlier, it would have made it a lot easier for us to have developed better lesson plans and would have defused the political grand standing. Live and learn. Hopefully in his next address that will not be a factor and I, for one, do want him to make this a tradition.
Bruno
September 12th, 2009
9:59 am
Prior to last November’s election, I took a lot of flack from the liberals for not putting any faith in Obama’s promises. And, as I predicted, Obama has subsequently gone back on nearly every one of them.
My biggest gripe, of course, is his proposed mandatory purchase of health insurance. During his last primary debate with Hillary, Obama SPECIFICALLY criticized the Massachusetts plan on which this one os modeled, noting the insanity and unfairness of fining those without insurance. Somehow, the fact that the Massachusetts model has failed miserably doesn’t seem to matter to the geniuses in the Democratic Party who are running the show now.
TaxPayer
September 12th, 2009
10:04 am
Our school system spokesperson[s] claimed that they had calls from several persons that expressed concern about having their child involved with activities involving the president’s speech and not as many parents called in to support it. They did not air the speech but did not say why specifically. I have not checked to see if they ever aired speeches in school from other presidents or elected officials or spouses of elected officials but I do hope that they are at the least remaining consistent. I’ll have to look into that.
Yankee
September 12th, 2009
10:08 am
Answer me this. Why is it majority White people that are the TEA BAGGERS, BIRTHERS and OBAMA-HEALTHSCARERS. Uhmm something is not adding up here.
josef nix
September 12th, 2009
10:11 am
Yankee
“Answer me this. Why is it majority White people…”
You answered your own question…
Soothsayer
September 12th, 2009
10:14 am
One year removed from a catastrophic, global, economic meltdown, and 26 months removed from the start of the credit crisis, our political establishment is either unwilling or unable to reform the system and punish the perpetrators of this debacle. The situation is so far beyond the pale that it makes one wonder if another catastrophe is even avoidable.
“And the banks — hard to believe in a time when we’re facing a banking crisis that many of the banks created — are still the most powerful lobby on Capitol Hill. And they frankly own the place.”
– Sen. Dick Durbin
Yankee
September 12th, 2009
10:18 am
Until we take off the blinders and admit that these TEA BAGGERS, BIRTHERS and OBAMA-HEALTHSCARERS are all RACIST trying to conceal their true intention we are just wasting our time here. None of these MORONS were TEA-BAGGING when Bush lied and took us into an unjust WAR that will be costing us well over $3 TRILLION ( where were these NIT-WITS protesting and asking to GET THEIR COUNTRY BACK ?) I see these IDIOTS on TV and I immediately change the channel and tune them out. I just remember what my old Drill Sergeant always told us that “WE SERVE AND PUT OUR LIVES ON THE LINE TO GIVE THESE IDIOTS THESE RIGHTS THEY HOLD SO DEARLY”
I Report/ Vast White Wing Conspirator :-) You Whine :-(
September 12th, 2009
10:20 am
Maybe the guy doesn’t like extreme left wing socialists, you know?
This is a free country, last time I checked.
NRB
September 12th, 2009
10:25 am
I dunno if I’d call him an “interruption”…..Oblahma is more like an illegal alien, socialist liar FREAKSHOW. Him and his ugly ass wife.
Yankee
September 12th, 2009
10:32 am
NRB you may not like the man and his policies but leave his wife out of it. Where is you wife? Modeling on the cover of this month’s EQUESTRIAN MONTHLY.
josef nix
September 12th, 2009
10:34 am
Bruno:
“Prior to last November’s election, I took a lot of flack from the liberals for not putting any faith in Obama’s promises. And, as I predicted, Obama has subsequently gone back on nearly every one of them.”
This is one liberal you’d have gotten no flack from…
TaxPayer
September 12th, 2009
10:34 am
Come on, Andy and NRB. Those were really lame. Even Yankee would not fall for that crap.
RW-(the original)
September 12th, 2009
10:35 am
Had the speech been released earlier, it would have made it a lot easier for us to have developed better lesson plans and would have defused the political grand standing. Live and learn.
josef,
You’re overlooking the bare political calculation in this. Of course they could have released the speech early, but they wanted to get Republicans in an uproar over something that was always going to be innocuous. Now they sit back and say that Republicans were just complaining because it was Obama all the while ignoring the original lesson plan suggestion saying the kids should write an essay on how they could help and support the President. That part they did release early and then quietly removed. It certainly has worked well with all their media lapdogs barking in unison. Isn’t this about the 700th item Jay B has posted on the non-issue?
Never overlook what prize a politician has his eyes on. It’s not us.
TaxPayer
September 12th, 2009
10:38 am
Actually, it’s the 701st, but who’s counting.
Bruno
September 12th, 2009
10:38 am
Do you feel better now, Yankee?
catlady
September 12th, 2009
10:38 am
The old “do as I say, not as I do” program from the Republican-leaning leaders.
Sort of like this (now discredited) Reading First thing (that made friends of Bush a great deal of money)(that somehow our system is still using, although the postive effect was so limited, or nonexistent, that it has been ended). One of the rules was that the 2 hours and 40 minutes of reading time could NOT EVER be compromised. No bathroom breaks, no intercom announcements, no fire drills. YET, we are interrrupted almost EVERY DAY by administrators, visitors, etc. checking up on us, which disrupts the class, especially the lower level classes populated with kids who are distractable and unmotivated.
Kamchak
September 12th, 2009
10:40 am
In retrospect, I can see how the district’s decision concerning these two events could be seen as favoring one event over the other.
“Could be seen”? That is an attempt to place the onus on the observer.
“district’s decision”? A geographical area doesn’t make decisions, people do.
I apologize that my decisions on behalf of the district have disappointed or hurt people.
Well at least with that statement he does acknowledge that he made a choice. The wording, however, seems as if he is seeking to put a layer of after-thought defense between him and in criticism. The condescension comes from his “I did it for your own good” demeanor. All of his decisions should be for the good of the district–that’s why he’s got the job–but to throw it up as a layer of defense suggests to me he knew/knows that he was dealing with politics.
But in the end it’s their kids, so if they want to use them politically—well it ain’t got nuthin’ to do with me but I find it distasteful. Just sayin’.
Bruno
September 12th, 2009
10:42 am
“This is one liberal you’d have gotten no flack from…”
I appreciate that, josef. Obama, unfortunately, is taking a page from Bush’s playbook by simultaneously alienating his core base by reneging on his “liberal” promises (Guantanamo Bay, Iraq, warrantless wiretapping, etc.) while doing nothing to please the opposition (mandatory purchase of health insurance).
Bosch
September 12th, 2009
10:44 am
I kind of like what Bill Maher had to say last night – show the speech or we yank all your federal school funds. Hehehehehehe.
And I totally agree with what he said last night – 70% of the country is sane, but Obama is letting the 30% of the insane people dictate what he does. Man up Obama.
mm
September 12th, 2009
10:45 am
Obama is schooling the wingnuts and they ae too stupid and self-absorbed to notice.
jt
September 12th, 2009
10:45 am
Price for Listening to President Obama’s address to the nations school children——Free
Price for Listening to President Bush’s last speech in Canada———350.00 Dollars.
Price for Listening to Jay Bookman howl in 2012 when President Wilson wants to adress the nation’s schoolchildren———Priceless
Bosch
September 12th, 2009
10:46 am
Paul,
Good point about the apologies, but I think more people do stupid things knowing their stupid and ideological all the while thinking, “Oh, I can just apologize later and be forgiven.”
@@
September 12th, 2009
10:47 am
I’d like to congratulate jay on his steadfast commitment to recycling……topics.
I had no objection to Obama’s address once the assignment “What can you do to help the president? assignment was put aside. That was just too weird.
The funniest part about the whole thing was Arne Duncan’s lack of knowledge. He’s Obama’s Secretary of Education for crying out loud.
In a letter to the principals he (Duncan) said this:
A scheduled speech by President Barack Obama will be “the first time an American president has spoken directly to the nation’s school children about persisting and succeeding in school.”
WRONG!
George Herbert Walker Bush AND Ronald Reagan addressed America’s students. In the instance of GHWB, the democrats’ response was:
“The Department of Education should not be producing paid political advertising for the president, it should be helping us to produce smarter students,” said Rep. Richard Gephardt, then the Democratic majority leader in the House of Representatives.”And the president should be doing more about education than saying, ‘Lights, camera, action.’”
Patricia Schroeder, then a Democratic member of Congress from Colorado, said the speech showed “the arrogance of power,” and that the White House should not be “using precious dollars for campaigns” when “we are struggling for every silly dime we can get” for education.
Too funny, all this back and forth.
We didn’t watch it at our school for obvious reasons — the kids are special.
For the record…..I’m not a big advocate of field trips either. If the methods of teaching in the classrooms aren’t enough to inspire and motivate, there’s something wrong with our teachers.
Paul
September 12th, 2009
10:49 am
Bosch
Yeah. When my kids pulled that stunt we were far from over with the character-building lessons.
Bosch
September 12th, 2009
10:49 am
jt,
President Wilson. Funny. Maybe the treasonous wretch who refused to go to Afghanistan because she claims Obama isn’t the legitimate POTUS can run as VP.
Bruno
September 12th, 2009
10:49 am
“You’re overlooking the bare political calculation in this.”
I have to agree with you on that one, RW, and it’s sickening that all of this shenanigans is overshadowing critical analysis of how Obama’s policies are going to F up our country for many generations to come.
Kamchak
September 12th, 2009
10:49 am
Bosch
Off topic—Liverpool v. Burnley live on ESPN2. Liverpool 2 Burnley 0 at the half.
josef nix
September 12th, 2009
10:49 am
RW–sadly, I have to agree with you on the calculated aspect which is why I laid the real blame on Jug Ears’ handlers.
Bosch
September 12th, 2009
10:50 am
Paul,
Yeah, I remember those days – if I had a dollar for every time I said, “Good, I’m glad your sorry, but right now I don’t give a crap.”
Bosch
September 12th, 2009
10:51 am
joseph,
Now what in the world is wrong with you this morning? Jug Ears?
GEORGE AMERICAN
September 12th, 2009
10:51 am
SMART MOVE SUPERINTENDENT!!!
GIVE THAT MAN A PROMOTION FOR HELPING FIGHT AGAINST THE ANTI-AMERICAN INDOCTRINATION FROM THE GOVERNMENT-SHOOL SOCIALIST TEACHERS AND THE SOCIALIST PRESIDENT!!!
Bosch
September 12th, 2009
10:52 am
Kamchak,
Thanks for the heads up!
josef nix
September 12th, 2009
10:55 am
BRUNO–I think NRB and Yankee are Siamese twins joined at the posterieur!
Soothsayer
September 12th, 2009
10:56 am
Cheng Siwei, former vice-chairman of the Standing Committee and now head of China’s green energy drive, said Beijing was dismayed by the Fed’s recourse to “credit easing”.
“We hope there will be a change in monetary policy as soon as they have positive growth again,” he said at the Ambrosetti Workshop, a policy gathering on Lake Como.
“If they keep printing money to buy bonds it will lead to inflation, and after a year or two the dollar will fall hard. Most of our foreign reserves are in US bonds and this is very difficult to change, so we will diversify incremental reserves into euros, yen, and other currencies,” he said.
China’s reserves are more than – $2 trillion, the world’s largest.
“Gold is definitely an alternative, but when we buy, the price goes up. We have to do it carefully so as not to stimulate the markets,” he added.
The comments suggest that China has become the driving force in the gold market and can be counted on to buy whenever there is a price dip, putting a floor under any correction.
Mr Cheng said the Fed’s loose monetary policy was stoking an unstable asset boom in China. “If we raise interest rates, we will be flooded with hot money. We have to wait for them. If they raise, we raise.
“Credit in China is too loose. We have a bubble in the housing market and in stocks so we have to be very careful, because this could fall down.”
Mr Cheng said China had learned from the West that it is a mistake for central banks to target retail price inflation and take their eye off assets.
“This is where Greenspan went wrong from 2000 to 2004,” he said. “He thought everything was alright because inflation was low, but assets absorbed the liquidity.”
Bruno
September 12th, 2009
10:57 am
“but Obama is letting the 30% of the insane people dictate what he does.”
Pretty close estimation, Bosch, since polls have shown that a high percentage of people are happy with their current health care and don’t want government involvement. And I would guess that at least 70% of people would agree that fining those who can’t/don’t purchase health insurance is unfair. In reading the thread from yesterday, it seems there was some confusion regarding the consequences of not purchasing a government-approved plan. If you read the House bill, it calls for a 2.5% fine of your income.
josef nix
September 12th, 2009
10:59 am
Bosch–Jug Ears? Well, I’ve been chastized hereabouts for calling him Fierce Advocate, and I DO want to follow the Bookman Blog stylebook of name calling on people you don’t agree with. I thought of calling him Alfred E. Neuman…
Jack
September 12th, 2009
10:59 am
Third graders throwing water-filled balloons make about as much sense as the exchanges in this forum(?).
Bruno
September 12th, 2009
10:59 am
And the reaaaally insane part, Bosch, is that Massachusetts ALREADY has a plan in place that Obama is proposing for the entire country. If you’re curious as to why it’s not being discussed much, it’s because it’s a TOTAL FAILURE. None of the imagined benefits have materialized, including the reduction of ER visits.
Bosch
September 12th, 2009
11:03 am
Bruno,
Is it the doctors they are happy with or their insurance company? Insurance companies are middle men who don’t actually contribute to actual health care at all. I shouldn’t have watched Maher last night – I feel so indoctrinated now.
If insurance companies were smart – they’d start building nursing homes. Learn to adapt with the times – like the smart recording companies did after Napster came on the grid.
josef nix
September 12th, 2009
11:05 am
@@
on field trips…it depends on where and for what…I will say this, though, it gives me a good opportunity to teach proper public behavior. I give my students a chocolate for each compliment I get from the general public on their behavior. It gets expensive but it’s worth it.
jack'n
September 12th, 2009
11:06 am
Jack, “forum” that’s a fancy word for a third grader/
Bruno
September 12th, 2009
11:06 am
“Third graders throwing water-filled balloons make about as much sense as the exchanges in this forum(?).”
Agreed, Jack, which again is a shame because we have some pretty serious proposals on the table right now that need some serious discussion. I do appreciate that Jay finally laid out what is the central issue of ObamaCare: mandated purchase of insurance. It’s wrong in so many ways, and ultimately is nothing more than a wealth transfer scheme from the young and healthy to the old and unhealthy.
Bosch
September 12th, 2009
11:06 am
Bruno,
I’m always hesitant when people use the term “total failure.” It’s all about who you ask.
Kimberly
September 12th, 2009
11:09 am
I was determined to be strong. I made it the whole day withouth crumbling into the pile of grief and tears that is the usual 9/11 ritual. The departed would surely tell us to dry our tears and move on, to make the world a better place for our children, to show them how to live, not how to grieve. There’s work to do!
THEN THIS MORNING I READ MY LOCAL RAG from the driveway. None of the schools around here allowed our kids to hear the President’s pep talk about personal responsibility. And in in the interest of “getting back that lovey, united feeling we had on 9/12/01, a bunch of my neighbors are headed up to the square TO PUT TEABAGS ON THEIR HEADS AND SHOUT HATE FOR THEIR FELLOW AMERICANS. You know, all those fellow Americans who are atually trying to FIX WHAT’S BROKEN. All those fellow Americans who DON’T HATE our President.
So instead of the hate coming from strangers across the globe, blinded by ignorance and religious insanity, THE HATE NOW COMES FROM NEXT DOOR, DOWN THE STREET, AND AROUND THE CORNER! There’s even talk of secession in some states. SECESSION!
Forget the mascara today. It’s gonna be a long one. Good God Almighty, I wish I could show my kids something better than this.
Bruno
September 12th, 2009
11:13 am
“Insurance companies are middle men who don’t actually contribute to actual health care at all.”
My sentiments exactly, which is why I ran a cash practice for nearly 20 years, Bosch. Not surprisingly, my fees were often lower than people’s co-pay because I didn’t have to employ an army of workers to deal with all of the third-party administration.
Insurance CAN play a vital part in our health care delivery system: to pay for catastrophic problems. Using “insurance” to pay for routine doctor visits is nothing short of stupid, since it does nothing but drive the costs up and opens the door for unnecessary procedures and outright fraud. It’s a lot harder to rip someone off if they are paying for it out-of-pocket.
So in the end, we don’t need MORE insurance, we actually need LESS.
Bosch
September 12th, 2009
11:14 am
Kimberly,
I’ve always felt that Bin Laden knew this is what would happen. He knew we’d implode from within.
more or less
September 12th, 2009
11:17 am
“Now what in the world is wrong with you this morning? Jug Ears?”
Bosch…His favorite gay bar (The American Eagle) was raided on Thursday while he was handing out chocolates to his favorite underwear clad dancers! If you were gay wouldn’t you be in the least bit grumpy.
Bruno
September 12th, 2009
11:18 am
“I’m always hesitant when people use the term “total failure.” It’s all about who you ask.”
Me too, buddy. I distrust people who take extreme positions. However, every account I’ve read of the Massachusetts “experiment” with mandated insurance is negative. Here’s a sample link for you:
http://blog.hcfama.org/?p=2631
Bosch
September 12th, 2009
11:19 am
Bruno,
Agreed. I remember when I was a kid – my grandfather ran his own business (now my mom continues it) and he used to trade goods from his business for doctor’s visits (and everything else). Most of the stuff we had came from trade.
I remember when I was a kid – the doctor I went to had a nurse and a receptionist – that’s it. That nurse was evil, but she was good. I still see her now and then and I still get the creeps!
Kimberly
September 12th, 2009
11:20 am
Bosch, I agree. He also knew we’d go bankrupt from invading and occupying hostile foreign lands for decades with nothing to show for it. Looks like Bin Laden wins.
josef nix
September 12th, 2009
11:20 am
Kimberly:
“Forget the mascara today. It’s gonna be a long one. Good God Almighty, I wish I could show my kids something better than this.”
I was in your mood last p.m. I’m feeling better today. You can show them something better. My advice is that from the Good Book, “…and a child shall lead them…” Just go and listen to them and what they think about things. They are some good role models for us all.
Oh, and third graders with water balloons? They have much better aim!
I Report/ Vast White Wing Conspirator (-: You Whine )-:
September 12th, 2009
11:22 am
Oh, I’m sorry, I missed an important part of 10:20; a lying extreme left wing socialist.
Sorry for any inconvenience that I may have caused.
josef nix
September 12th, 2009
11:23 am
more or less–
What sort of secret pedophile ARE you to come up with this. You’re the kind I teach my kids to stay away from and, FYI, I haven’t been in a gay bar in over 25 years and wouldn’t know where one is if I were asked…
Bosch
September 12th, 2009
11:24 am
Bruno,
Thanks for the link. I think we should call it what it is – it’s insurance reform, not health care reform – with politicians and insurance execs making the calls — which is absurd.
Dave R.
September 12th, 2009
11:25 am
Hope & Change is more than an interruption; he’s also destroying the best nation on the planet.
Let’s hope the the interruption and destruction will cease in March of 2013
Bosch
September 12th, 2009
11:27 am
joseph,
I was gonna say that I’d dance around in my underwear if someone would give me chocolate – is that wrong?
Bosch
September 12th, 2009
11:30 am
Dave R.
Got drama?
Hehehe. Reminds me of that SNL skit where Seth Myers while speaking of Bush said, “He [Bush] broke the planet.”
Bruno
September 12th, 2009
11:33 am
” it’s insurance reform, not health care reform – with politicians and insurance execs making the calls — which is absurd.”
I appreciate the dialogue this AM, Bosch, whether we end up agreeing or not. The system I KNOW works best isn’t glamorous, and doesn’t sound as sexy as free, unlimited care, but the reality is we’re not going to get that anyway. Insurance was created to deal with rare, catastrophic events, such as a tree falling on your house (can you relate?
). Insurance was NOT created to handle unavoidable, routine expenses such as buying food. Somehow, routine medical care has been included in most health care insurance policies with predictable results: soaring prices and rampant overuse/fraud.
more or less
September 12th, 2009
11:33 am
Mr Nix
Just reporting the news….got a problem with that?
http://atlantaprogressivenews.com/news/0508.html
josef nix
September 12th, 2009
11:33 am
Bosch–hey, if you look like Tom Cruise, I’d give you a chocolate!
number1ninja
September 12th, 2009
11:35 am
Well, it is Texas….just let them do what they want and maybe we won’t have to hear the incessant whining anymore.
josef nix
September 12th, 2009
11:37 am
more or less–
No problem with reporting the news at all. No problem with editorial comment either. Real problem with your bigoted assumptions, but then, this is America and you’ve every right to express yours.
AmVet
September 12th, 2009
11:39 am
Just another bush-league flunky from Texas. Conned by the biggest f’ up in history.
You gotta love the conned.
They trotted out a bunch of Juco players who thought they could throw fast balls past Albert Pujols.
And in amazingly short order they got lit up like frickin’ Xmas tress. For eight straight years they bumbled and stumbled through debacle after disaster!
And because their lamebrain, testicle-lacking, scumbag fans couldn’t admit they weren’t even professionals they DIDN’T KEEP SCORE.
So in their persistent dementia they still contend they were all winners!!!
Now almost magically they seem to have found score cards and pencils.
But who the hell are they trying to kid, but themselves? They obviously still have no inkling what is going on around them.
Which explains how these “winners” have a combined 5 win and 67 loss record as of late…
josef nix
September 12th, 2009
11:40 am
BRUNO, BOSCH–free unlimited health care when a tree falls on your house, but home owners for the repair job on the domocile.. BTW, Bosch, how goes that?
Bosch
September 12th, 2009
11:40 am
Bruno,
I can definitely relate. Thank the gods for home owners insurance. I think we agree more than disagree. I think the core of the debate is whether you believe health care is a right or privilege, and I’ve always been in the camp of it’s a right. I know some disagree, but it’s just what I believe. I think the health care in this nation should be between you and your doctor and when the care of a nation’s people centers around politicians and the profit of business, in my opinion, we all lose. I don’t see that changing anytime soon – no matter what gets passed.
Bosch
September 12th, 2009
11:42 am
joseph nix,
Paul
September 12th, 2009
11:43 am
Hey Bosch
We went out for happy hour with some friends – the real conservative guy I’ve mentioned – and another couple, fellow Episcopalopians all. First I ribbed him about the Arlington school superintendent and the Bush busing. Then the other guy was talking about how his nephew was doing so well based upon how he’d responded to some uncle suggestions. I said ‘well don’t expect him to share any of his new-found wealth’ he said ‘why not?’ and I said ‘because you’ve raised him to be a good Republican!” That’s when my other friend said “you’ll have to excuse him, he’s an anarchist!’ He said it was because of my comments, but what sealed the deal was ABBA.
So there you have it. Moonbats? Wannabees! Wingnuts? Passe!
It’s the Anarchists!
So Say We All!
Now I gotta go to my capitalism thing and go stimulate the economy -
Bosch
September 12th, 2009
11:46 am
josef,
It goes well. I’m still living in a construction zone and last night my AC clicked on and I shot up out of bed in full flee mode thinking it was another tree coming through. I think we all have PTSD.
josef nix
September 12th, 2009
11:46 am
PAUL–Vive l’anarchie!
eagle scout
September 12th, 2009
11:48 am
AmVet You could substitute Oklahoma, South Carolina, Georgia, and a dozen other states in your first sentence. One in the same! Don’t ya think?
Paul
September 12th, 2009
11:48 am
josef
Have a great afternoon, all -
Bosch
September 12th, 2009
11:50 am
Paul,
Too funny – yeah, anarchists UNITE!!!
I’ve got to run too and do the Saturday thing….pleasant day to all!
So say we all!!!
Bruno
September 12th, 2009
11:51 am
“I think the core of the debate is whether you believe health care is a right or privilege, and I’ve always been in the camp of it’s a right.”
I understand that perspective, although I personally put health care in the same category as food, housing, and transportation. As a reasonably charitable person, I support using tax dollars to provide these essentials for the most desperate among us, but ultimately think the best system is one in which people are responsible for their own needs. If health care is considered a “right”, then the only way to go is with a full-blown socialized medical system ala the UK or Canada. Maybe you support that, but that’s not what Obama is proposing.
josef nix
September 12th, 2009
11:52 am
eagle scout:
“AmVet You could substitute Oklahoma, South Carolina, Georgia, and a dozen other states in your first sentence. One in the same! Don’t ya think?”
Well, it would stand to reason since Oklahoma is where the good Democrat Jackson sent the orginal inhabitants of Georgia and South Carolina…hmm, NORMAL, reckon maybe there’s a connection to be made?
josef nix
September 12th, 2009
11:54 am
BRUNO–
“…which is not what Obama is proposing…”
Which is why I’m not joining his bleeding crowd…
@@
September 12th, 2009
11:59 am
josef:
When it comes to field trips, our (my) situation is different. We’re into early intervention. No time to waste when it comes to special needs kids. Addressing behaviors is key. On field trips, parents are required to accompany…most do. If there’s not a parent present, a teacher assumes responsibility for the child.
So here’s what we end up with…an outing where parents’ lack of structure collides with the teachers’ promotion of structure. As far as social behavior goes, it’s chaotic. The sites that we visit have personnel who give our kids a pass on behavior because of their challenges. The parents are more than happy to let that pass. Our kids, many who are autistic, not only need but crave a structured environment for learning. Given the circumstances, there’s little to be learned.
In all honesty the field trips are our administrator’s gift of inclusion into what’s typical for other kids. She admits that it’s more for the parents than the students.
It’s no big deal really. I simply don’t participate. When the kids see me in the classroom, in no way do they associate me with the chaos. They do, however, associate my class with fun in teaching. I can live with that.
Bruno
September 12th, 2009
12:06 pm
“Which is why I’m not joining his bleeding crowd…”
As much as I am opposed to full-blown socialized medicine, I actually think it would be an improvement over what is currently being touted. I’ll try not to be a total cynic and say that Obama’s plan is a politically calculated one which WILL lead to socialized medicine, however. But I won’t be surprised if that is the ultimate goal.
Once again: buy insurance to protect yourself from catastrophic illness (i.e. $10,000 deductible or more) and pay cash for the care you actually need.
Off to play poker–best wishes to all.
josef nix
September 12th, 2009
12:10 pm
@@
I understand. Did I tell you we have two autistic newcomers to the country this year? They have “adopted” me (they’re high functioning) and are the joy of my day…we’ve got our first inclusionary field trip coming up. I’m looking forward to it. It’s to the petting zoo.
eagle scout
September 12th, 2009
12:12 pm
Josef,
Jackson was of the mind the only good indian was a dead indian….He stills lives in infamy (in my mind) for his abhorrent treatment of the native americans.
But, I was simply referring to mindless senators such as Imhofe,Coburn (Ok) Graham, DeMint (SC)
and the two clueless ones from Georgia.
Your point is well taken, and spot on! Smiley face………………
Kayaker 71
September 12th, 2009
12:12 pm
See the pictures on Fox of the 40K or so crowd of people who are fed up with Washington, DC? Hard to dismiss them as a bunch of right wingnuts. They and we want our country back. Can’t wait for the 2010 elections. Pelosi, Reid, Boxer and others…. your days are numbered.
getalife
September 12th, 2009
12:13 pm
Bill Maher Challenges Obama: “Stand Up For The 70% Of Americans Who Aren’t Crazy”
The crazies are teabagging in Washington.
AmVet
September 12th, 2009
12:16 pm
eagle, true dat.
And though geographically Oklahoma is technically outside of the Moron Belt, I’ve been there and they too, are by and large, politically run by those fake conservatives who are stuck on Ronnie/Newt/BushCo stupid…
josef nix
September 12th, 2009
12:19 pm
eagle scout
“…the only good Indian is a dead Indian…” said by the good Republican Phillip Sheridan, rose to “fame” in the Shennandoah Campaign when he promised to wreck such destruction on the civilian population that “a bird flying over will have to pack its dinner.” When it comes to the Indigenous American, seems the two parties have no trouble reaching across the aisle, eh?
josef nix
September 12th, 2009
12:22 pm
AmVet–still got a problem with the Moron Belt…I thought it stretched “from California to the New York Island, from the redwood forests to the Gulfstream waters…”
eagle scout
September 12th, 2009
12:33 pm
Josef
In Oregon where I was born and raised, as well as Washington they are still trying to screw the Indians out of their negotiated fishing rights.
Have you ever seen the TV series based on a James Mitchener novel entitled “Centennial” if not
it’s a must see.
I Report/ Vast White Wing Conspirator (-: You Whine )-:
September 12th, 2009
12:40 pm
Haha, this ain’t no PETA or Code Pinko rally that’s for sure, way too many people-
http://interactive.foxnews.com/livestream/live.html?chanId=3
partytime
josef nix
September 12th, 2009
12:45 pm
eagle scout…
Oregon? I went to college up in G-d’s Country (Washington) one of the most liberal schools in one of the most liberal areas of the country…we had to leave due to since the Unmentionable was constant target, verbally and physically, of anti Indian attacks. We were there when Judge Boldt issued his ruling upholding the fishing rights afforded the local nations by treaty. Almost as a knee jerk reaction, I penned a piece for the local paper comparing the rhetoric I was hearing with that of my native Deep South vis a vis the black American. Whoo, whee! The threats I got! Chief Louie of the local Nooksack, though, came to visit and invited me to be his and his tribe’s guest at a “ceremony” for the reservation’s high school. It was held at the local “best” hotel convention room and, seated to his right, I felt like I was in any such civic honors presentation in the land…bored stiff by endless speeches by elders thoroughly schooled in the Lion’s Club. One of the young “braves” of my age invited me to step out back to partake of “an Indian ritual!” The rest of the presentation went much better and even the dried up chicken and wrinkled up green peas were quite tasty!
AmVet
September 12th, 2009
12:48 pm
“This moron belt was made for you and me!”
josef, it just doesn’t sound right!
Don’t take my sarcasm seriously, brother. You know me, for the most part, I’m an equal opportunity basher…
stands for decibels
September 12th, 2009
12:50 pm
Why, that might be nearly entire tens of thousands of people making joyous teabag noises.
It’s so impressive.
The event was being billed as the culmination of summer protests at town meetings, where opposition to the president’s health care plan boiled over.
I have it on good authority, too, that they outdrew many Code Pink and PETA rallies.
So who knows–maybe this Republican Party so many of you speak of, might amount to something one day?
N.J.
September 12th, 2009
12:50 pm
The high school and college drop out rates has been climbing every year since 1980 (the more cuts to eduction budgets as well as budgets that merely keep up with inflation, the more the dropout rates increase…started with Reagan’s 18 percent overall cut to education, and then again when George W. Bush did not properly fund “No Child Left Behind” but that was because he was looking for canon fodder for the Iraq and Afghanistan Wars)
Last year, the Wall Street Journal did a comprehensive study of the ripple effect a rising high school and college drop out rate has on the economy, because for the first time since WWII, the current school aged generation will be less educated than their parents generation and found a very positive correlation between the increasing drop out rate and a lagging economy.
Obama’s doing nothing new. In some of the larger cities in the U.S. Mayors have been going door to door. In Texas, in Houston and other large cities, Mayors have been going door to door to the homes of drop out students to try to talk them into going back to school.
At the current rate of drop outs, the nation loses 320 billion dollars per year in economic activity.
N.J.
September 12th, 2009
12:52 pm
Tea Partiers must have a much higher rate of dropoutism than the general population. If they were educated on the original tea party, they would be aware that it had nothing to do with high taxes, but rather was a rebellion against tax breaks for the wealthy and for corporations.