Charter schools amendment points the way for Georgia GOP
Republicans are doing some soul-searching after losing the presidential election and some winnable U.S. Senate contests. The Georgia GOP should be similarly self-reflective after delivering the second-smallest margin among states won by Mitt Romney.
The same demographic trends Romney failed to overcome are increasingly apparent in Georgia. Republicans here must learn to win over voters they typically haven’t attracted. Fortunately for them, Tuesday also offered a template for doing so: the successful charter schools amendment.
The referendum to affirm a state role in creating these public schools was passed in a Republican-dominated Legislature with crucial, but limited, Democratic support; was endorsed by our Republican governor; was opposed by the state Democratic Party; drew much-scrutinized financial support from wealthy Republicans outside Georgia; and was slammed in a radio ad by a civil-rights icon, the Rev. Joseph Lowery, as a precursor to resegregation.
Yet in Clayton, DeKalb and Fulton counties, home to about a third of all Democrats and black registered voters in Georgia, 72 percent of voters backed President Barack Obama’s re-election — and 66 percent approved the charter schools amendment. And why not? The students and parents in those counties face some of the most dysfunctional school systems in the state.
In all, the amendment got 62 percent in pro-Obama counties, 56 percent in pro-Romney counties.
Georgia Republicans have big trouble in big cities, but the amendment won in every single county where at least 40,000 people voted on it. And it got 65 percent of the vote in the 10-county metro Atlanta region – where the T-SPLOST was defeated in July by 62 percent of the voters.
It may seem odd to liken the passage of the GOP-led charter schools amendment to the defeat of the GOP-created T-SPLOST. But the pairing offers some important lessons.
Each contest featured a coalition of mostly suburban “movement” conservatives and mostly urban black Democrats that has rarely, if ever, figured into Georgia politics.
Why did these groups come together? In part, it’s because the losing side in each referendum essentially argued, “Trust us.”
For the T-SPLOST, it was the state transportation apparatus and the politicians who like to meddle with it. For the amendment — despite opponents’ efforts to tie it to the same politicians — it was the educational establishment that runs local public school districts.
Decades of experience left Georgians wary of trusting either group. There’s an opportunity here.
Republicans often talk about financial waste in public services. They’re less adept at addressing these services’ failings from users’ perspective.
This is less true when it comes to education. The amendment was a chance to reach out to non-Republicans with a solution for improving public education for them. There will be more chances — soon, I hope.
On transportation, the Georgia GOP shouldn’t talk about privatizing MARTA, for example, purely as a way to save money. As long as DeKalb and Fulton have a sales tax for transit, MARTA isn’t likely to cost taxpayers less.
But Republicans could promote privatization as a way to improve transit without spending more money. In my 2010 series on MARTA, I estimated the agency could increase bus services by about one-eighth (over 2008 levels) without increasing spending, by privatizing buses the way some cities out West have.
If Georgia Republicans don’t find a way to promote conservative principles with new blocs of voters, the choice won’t be theirs much longer.
– By Kyle Wingfield
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425 comments Add your comment
Lil' Barry Bailout - OBAMAPHONE!!!
November 11th, 2012
2:18 pm
The next point you make will be your first, madam.
cc
November 11th, 2012
2:29 pm
“BUSH: I want to take one-half of the surplus and dedicate it to Social Security”
IF the Social Security monies had not been moved to the general fund and spent by a DEMOCRAT, and IF the only people who drew from that fund were the people who PAID INTO IT, there would have been no need to dedicate monies to Social Security. The DEMOCRATS have used the Social Security fund to buy votes by giving the benefits to those who are not entitled to them. People who have never contributed a dime in Social Security payments now draw Social Security disability, retirement, SSI and survivor benefits.
How much is your check, Kamchak?
Kamchak - You cons said Elmer Fudd could defeat Obama, so why didn't you nominate him?
November 11th, 2012
2:30 pm
The next point you make will be your first, madam.
Your “go to” line when you concede.
But not used by this particular sock-puppet.
Must be the sunspots in your eyes.
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!
Kamchak - You cons said Elmer Fudd could defeat Obama, so why didn't you nominate him?
November 11th, 2012
2:31 pm
How much is your check, Kamchak?
And which “check” is that, sport?
carlosgvv
November 11th, 2012
2:31 pm
Barry
I’d like to help you out. Which way did you come in?
@@
November 11th, 2012
2:46 pm
Obama fan:
@@ – I’m sure she’s as concerned how you feel about her as I am.
I haven’t given the woman a thought. You brought her up to me (a comparison)last night @ 8:39.
I tell ‘ya what….jay’s got the “Dear Abby” letter next door. Perhaps you’ll be happier with the gossip over there?
I’m just not that into it (gossip). I leave THAT to ladies like you.
Lil' Barry Bailout - OBAMAPHONE!!!
November 11th, 2012
2:56 pm
The USDA delayed its release nine days past the semi-official deadline, far past the election, and until Friday night to report August foodstamp data. One glance at the number reveals why: at 47.1 million, this was not only a new all time record, but the monthly increase of 420,947 from July was the biggest monthly increase in one year. One can see why a reported surge in foodstamps ahead of the elections is something the USDA, and the administration may not have been too keen on disclosing.
http://www.zerohedge.com/news/2012-11-10/foodstamps-surge-most-one-year-new-all-time-record-delayed-release
Kamchak - You cons said Elmer Fudd could defeat Obama, so why didn't you nominate him?
November 11th, 2012
2:59 pm
Food Stamps Surge By Most In Year To New All Time Record; Delayed Release…
drudgey.
@@
November 11th, 2012
3:44 pm
Actually, I think pretty highly of myself.
SCHNIRT to your little weiner Schnitzel.
I Report (-: You Whine )-: mmm, mmmm, mmmmm! Just sayin...
November 11th, 2012
3:56 pm
Ain’ts!
Beverly Fraud
November 11th, 2012
4:02 pm
“Lil’ Barry you didn’t answer my question. Are you a coward or something?”
Seems to be a regular habit. As asked earlier, Lil Barry, why haven’t the Republicans, the party of “rule of law” and “personal responsibility” done NOTHING to empower teachers to hold students accountable for EITHER? Sure we know the status quo is spineless on the issue, but what EXCUSE do the Republicans have?
We know the liberals are bedwetters; who knew that the Republican’ts were EQUALLY spineless on discipline in the public schools?
@@
November 11th, 2012
4:08 pm
Does the name Anthony wEiner ring a bell, ‘ya little twit….er….tweet!
The “stoopid” is my little way of saying dumber than dumb.
I’m cooking dinner for friends tonight. You’ll have to find entertainment elsewhere, fannie.
@@
November 11th, 2012
4:21 pm
Beverly Fraud sounds like John Trotter of MACE.
This is why we shouldn’t give teachers too much leeway when it comes to disciplining students. There are alternatives.
According to national Department of Education data, most of the nearly 40,000 students who were restrained or isolated in seclusion rooms during the 2009-10 school year had learning, behavioral, physical or developmental needs, even though students with those issues represented just 12 percent of the student population. African-American and Hispanic students were also disproportionately isolated or restrained.
State laws on disciplining students vary widely, and there are no federal laws restricting these practices, although earlier this year Education Secretary Arne Duncan wrote, in a federal guide for schools, that there was “no evidence that using restraint or seclusion is effective.” He recommended evidence-based behavioral interventions and de-escalation techniques instead.
Both work!
Discipline at school when there’s no discipline at home is waste of time and child.
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/09/09/opinion/sunday/a-terrifying-way-to-discipline-children.html
Read the entire article. What if it were YOUR child?
Hillbilly D
November 11th, 2012
4:22 pm
If you spend much time researching old documents, you best not get hung up on spelling. Spelling is a fluid thing that changes over time. For instance, when I was coming up “lite” or “nite” would get you blessed out by the teacher. Nowadays, it’s in common usage.
Looking farther back, the 26 letter alphabet is something that came about not much over 100 or so years ago. Back in the 1800’s a “ss” was a “p”. So if your name was Jesse Smith, it was most likely written as Jepe Smith. (Go down to your local courthouse and you should be able to find an example within 5 minutes).
Going on back into the 1700’s you have the “short s”. Usually used in the middle or beginning of words, it looks like a small letter f without the cross.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Long_s
Language is about communication. As long as you’re communicating, you’re doing alright.
cc
November 11th, 2012
4:32 pm
An Obama fan:
“if your spelling is at all indicative of your intelligence level (which, given numerous errors (and not typos, I might add), I’ll say it is), well, it leaves much to be desired.”
“Tought to tell sometimes.”
Tought? TOUGHT?
Hmmm . . .
cc
November 11th, 2012
4:41 pm
An Obama fan:
Remember this?
“I also suspect you like to throw very big stones out of your house made out of very thin glass walls. Get the inference?”
Tought?
Lil' Barry Bailout - OBAMAPHONE!!!
November 11th, 2012
4:48 pm
It’s a real shame when the Spelling Police have a little trouble of their own.
Hilarious!
Beverly Fraud
November 11th, 2012
5:18 pm
@@ said:
State laws on disciplining students vary widely, and there are no federal laws restricting these practices, although earlier this year Education Secretary Arne Duncan wrote, in a federal guide for schools, that there was “no evidence that using restraint or seclusion is effective.”
He recommended evidence-based behavioral interventions and de-escalation techniques instead.
@@ Arne Duncan? The guy who said he was “shocked” that widespread cheating occurred in Atlanta? Even though this very paper (correct me if I’m wrong Kyle) documented widespread systemic cheating in articles as far back as 2001?
Arne Duncan, the guy who, in response to widespread systemic cheating, came down to Atlanta, not once, but twice in an attempt to politically prop up Beverly Hall, who was being pushed for an advisory education panel in Obama’s administration even after the AJC blew the lid off the cheating scandal? Arne Duncan, who was a complete, abysmal failure in Chicago? Arne Duncan whose push for “value added” has been universally panned by statisticians all across America?
Arne Duncan, who said that the widespread, systemic cheating was “isolated” to Atlanta and Baltimore, even though the AJC blew that
complete and total liespin completely out of the water?You’re actually trying to make a point by referencing Arne Duncan, who was singing the praises of Beverly Hall even after the cheating scandal broke?
Arne Duncan? The only was he could have any less credibility is if he landed by military helicopter on the front lawn of the White House and unfurled a “Mission Accomplished” banner, claiming the war of education has been won.
Arne Duncan?
cc
November 11th, 2012
5:19 pm
LBB:
What name do you think “An Obama fan” (AKA Spelling Police) will post under next?
She is probably working furiously to come up with something now! What a difference one post can make!
Call it poetic justice or karma, either works for me . . .
Charles Douglas Edwards
November 11th, 2012
5:20 pm
Congratulations to President Barack Obama on his re-election !!!!!
We pray and HOPE for a successful second term as the leader of the greatest country in the world.
We urge the GOP and Democrats to work together for the good of The United States of America.
Lil' Barry Bailout - OBAMAPHONE!!!
November 11th, 2012
5:33 pm
cc, it never fails…some highly self-esteemed clown can’t compete, resorts to being the spelling police, and makes several errors of their own along the way. No one here really cares about spelling, grammar, or punctuation until that happens. Play spelling police though, and I’m going to have a little fun at their expense.
Lil' Barry Bailout - OBAMAPHONE!!!
November 11th, 2012
5:35 pm
“We urge the GOP and Democrats to work together for the good of The United States of America.”
————————-
It would help if the guy in the White House wasn’t so intent on destroying our economy, paying off political cronies, and getting as many folks hooked on welfare as possible.
@@
November 11th, 2012
5:41 pm
Bev:
I’m referencing occurrences.
Once the kids reach 13, I’m all for humiliation, suspension and expulsion. Inconvenience to the parents is a great motivator.
Early education and primary grades? Behavior management/modification. You can be creative…something little ones enjoy. Get ‘em young and you limit the problems later.
It works. I know. I use it every day. It’s actually kinda fun.
I’m out!
Lil' Barry Bailout - OBAMAPHONE!!!
November 11th, 2012
5:48 pm
Still a content member of the victorious side
——————
The victorious side that has put more folks on the dole than ever before?
cc
November 11th, 2012
6:07 pm
Barack is the best:
“Schnitzel”?
If you wish to use a single self-descriptive word at the conclusions of your posts, why not use an appropriate word? My recommendation to you is to use the word:
Schmuck
It so accurately describes you . . .
MarkV
November 11th, 2012
6:21 pm
The Republicans got creamed in the elections, but the cons on the blog act as if they have won.
You lost, remember! The people have spoken.
St Simons
November 11th, 2012
6:40 pm
It sure ‘pointed the way’ for this high tax paying family – to Florida.
Paddle faster! I hear banjo music.
Georgia will not teach my children the Earth is 6000 yrs old
and jaysus rode on a dinosaur for profit.
and you will not ever take my tax money to do it.
For those that remain, the good news is Ga probly hit bottom with this.
Lil' Barry Bailout - OBAMAPHONE!!!
November 11th, 2012
7:05 pm
The people have indeed spoken: “Gimme!”
ODD OWL
November 11th, 2012
7:07 pm
Charter Schools are “for profit” schools… For profit schools will spell doom for the public educational system in the state of Georgia… What the hell is wrong with the stupid Republican voters in this state ??? I guess they “feel” that they’re not dumbed down enough already… Stupid is as stupid do… I guess the history books will depict cave men riding on the backs of dinosaurs… Non rich Republican voters ==> Stuck on stupid…
Lil' Barry Bailout - OBAMAPHONE!!!
November 11th, 2012
7:07 pm
Georgia will not teach my children the Earth is 6000 yrs old and jaysus rode on a dinosaur
———
Straw man.
ODD OWL
November 11th, 2012
7:18 pm
@ CC 4:41 post… Since when did American english become original english… Damn near every word in the American english language are mispelled British english words… Many American english words are mispronounced British english words too… CC ==> Arrogant ignoramus…
Snarky
November 11th, 2012
7:24 pm
Catoosa County reporting:
The local paper was against it,the local teachers were against it and the local school board loathed it so that they could maintain their monopoly power. Its still lost here about 60-40.
The education monopoly can be beaten. This shows how. Go the amendment route before the political wind shifts and then it will be very hard for some educrats to change the reforms later.Doing it by amendments also means that activist judges can’t legislate from the bench.
Way to go Georgia !
Hillbilly D
November 11th, 2012
7:33 pm
There are more different regional accents in England than there are in the U.S.
cc
November 11th, 2012
7:39 pm
ODD OWL@7:18 pm:
“@ CC 4:41 post… Since when did American english become original english… Damn near every word in the American english language are mispelled British english words… Many American english words are mispronounced British english words too… CC ==> Arrogant ignoramus…”
I have absolutely no idea what you’re talking about, and the sad thing is that you don’t either. My 4:41 post was in reference to posts made by someone else criticizing yet another person’s spelling after which they misspelled a word. I’d suggest that you first know what you’re talking about before you insist on inserting your foot in your mouth.
Then again, you may like the taste of your foot . . .
Tiberius - pulling the tail of the left AND right
November 11th, 2012
7:39 pm
I wish this President was just a typo and not the biggest error to ever hit this nation.
Tiberius - pulling the tail of the left AND right
November 11th, 2012
7:43 pm
MarkV plays the ” You lost!” card.
Do we all just get in line for our beatings now, Massa?
MarkV
November 11th, 2012
7:53 pm
Fortunately, it does name make the slightest difference what the Lil’Barrys of this country think about the people who voted for Obama. Lil’ Barry and his ilk have become irrelevant.
MarkV
November 11th, 2012
7:53 pm
And the same applies to Tiberius.
St Simons
November 11th, 2012
7:57 pm
good, now PBS can save money on a documentary about Georgia,
and just show the movie “Deliverance”
Tiberius - pulling the tail of the left AND right
November 11th, 2012
7:59 pm
MarkV, you, nor your party nor this President has the power to make anyone irrelevant.
You don’t have that control over me.
Lil' Barry Bailout - OBAMAPHONE!!!
November 11th, 2012
8:00 pm
I guess I’ll have to ask how MarkV defines “irrelevant”!
He probably thinks it means I’m not part of the pathetic, government-dependent, Obozo receptacle class. I can live with that.
ODD OWL
November 11th, 2012
8:13 pm
@ CC … The purpose of language is to communicate… Just because someone misspell a word, doesn’t mean that the word cannot be read and understood… The misspelled letter in the words are usually letters that represent the vowels sounds anyway… All vowel letters are interchangeable… A-E-I-O-U The letters that represent the vowel sounds doesn’t contain the meaning of the word, nor the phonetic sound of the word, nor the masculine or feminine principles and not the syntax… Everything is contained in the letters that represents the consonantal root of the word… English and Greek are inflected languages, along with Chinese… All the African languages are inflected languages… All the other European languages are agglutinative languages… (Google inflected languages and agglutinative languages)
bluecoat
November 11th, 2012
8:18 pm
cc = chicken coop. Biggest error Bush & Bush that would be errors.Lil B must be a transplant.Most southerners polite and kind and good losers.
Sister Sarah
November 11th, 2012
8:31 pm
OBAMA WINS !!!!OBAMA WINS!!! OBAMA WINS!!!
Just thought I’d take a quick gander in here in leave that with you… Specifically for people like the Tiberiuses of the wrold.
bluecoat
November 11th, 2012
8:36 pm
Thank you sister and God bless.Please pray for our country and President.
ODD OWL
November 11th, 2012
8:44 pm
Arizona, Texas and Georgia will turn Democrat Blue in the 2016 presidential elections… If Hillary run, Arkansas, and south carolina might turn Blue too..
cc
November 11th, 2012
8:54 pm
ODD OWL@8:13 pm:
I suggest you read all posts by “An Obama fan” directed at “@@” from 12:30 pm on. You may get a much clearer picture of what has transpired here. I believe that you have a mistaken impression of what occurred. I’ll have nothing else to say on this subject, but I do hope that you possess the ability to comprehend.
Hillbilly D
November 11th, 2012
9:02 pm
And the last bastions of ignorance, intolerance and hate – to wit, the grand ‘ol South – will themselves start to become swing states.
Ignoring the fact that most of the states that went for Romney 60% or better are in the Plains and the Ohio Valley.
bluecoat
November 11th, 2012
9:17 pm
Odd Owl if you don’t agree with me,then you do not have the ability to comprehend.ha ha.Odd Owl I guess comprehend sounds more educated than understand.
Hope you are right in your blue predictions.
JamVet
November 11th, 2012
9:19 pm
The people have indeed spoken: “Gimme!”
This baseless nonsense has proven such a winner for the right wing, I can see why they are still clinging to it.
The GOP’s apparent contempt for working Americans is a big reason why they just got stomped on.
To wit, their bizarre, misguided, counter-productive and unfounded over-reaction to the Occupy protesters.
THAT one really showed the nation just how ugly and stereotypical that many (most?) of the Republicans on these forums are.
But, far be for me to tell you change your ways!
Stick with what is not working. (Or moral.)