"Administration does plan to be more forceful..in pushing for changes including mass firings"

[Bluebear]

...The existing law requires the country's public schools to show annual progress, as measured by standardized test scores. Schools that fall short must offer special tutoring and options for students to transfer, among other steps mandated from Washington.

The administration plans to drop those prescriptions, thus leaving it up to states and local administrators how to improve lagging schools. The administration does plan to be more forceful, though, in pushing for significant changes—including mass firings of teachers—in the country's worst schools, which Mr. Duncan describes as the "bottom 5%."

Key Democrats applauded the overall plan, but it raised immediate concerns within some education groups and the powerful teachers unions.

"This appears to place 100% responsibility on teachers and administrators while giving them 0% authority to act," said Randi Weingarten, head of the American Federation of Teachers, the country's second largest teachers union.


http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703780204575119214011184980.html?mod=WSJ_hpp_MIDDLENexttoWhatsNewsSecond

[QC]

1. How very, very hopeful and changealicious! n/t

[DJ13]

2. Reagan couldnt have done it better

[jonathon]

187. Well, he does so admire Reagan, remember?

[Tansy_Gold]

3. Fuck you, Arne, and the . . . .

donkey you rode in on.



Tansy Gold

[OmmmSweetOmmm]

148. Duncan isn't living in a vacuum.

[Tansy_Gold]

150. I know.

And I know who the "donkey" is that he rode in on.



TG

[flyarm]

4. Think Reagan and PATCO!!..sounds the same to me!! eom

[Starry Messenger]

5. Your town has too many cavities? Fire all the dentists!

Whoo-hoo! That will fix everything!

[Bluebear]

6. Too much crime? Fire the police!

:silly:

[Catshrink]

7. Cancer rate too high? Fire the doctors!

That's change we can believe in!

[mindwalker_i]

10. Arnie says

I am not a tumor.

[Starry Messenger]

12. And then hire less experienced doctors that we hire for cheaper!!

What could possibly go wrong? They can lick cancer with sheer will power and positive thinking!

[Sgent]

18. Doctor's salary's peak

after about 3-5 years in a community. There is also a big debate in the medical community over what type of doctor you want to see -- the one right out of residency that is up to date on the latest and newest, or the one with more experience.

Most go for somewhere in the middle.

Oh... BTW doctors are measured on things they can't control -- like Press Ganey scores that are low because they won't give a drug addict narcotics, or quality measures that are low because the diabetic patient refuses to take her medicine (and thus has high HgA1c).

[Starry Messenger]

19. Teachers are also measured on things they can't control.

But we fire them all if they "fail". We're just pointing out the absurdity of it. No one would consider this a to be serious solution in any other field.

[Sgent]

24. Happens to physicians too

I've seen hospitals fire entire groups of ER physicians because their press-ganey scores were too low.

[Starry Messenger]

40. Did it help?

Did it eliminate the problem?

[Hannah Bell]

135. link? surely that would make the news.

and they'd have to have the new hires in place -- or ER services would be interrupted.

[Starry Messenger]

155. Did we scare him?

It got quiet in here...

[Sgent]

159. These things rarely make the news

firing of an ed group happens regularly based on many things.

The best link I could find is http://www.aaem.org/positionstatements/dueprocess_whitepaper.php which talks about the due process rights of physicians and groups that are fired.

[sabrina 1]

170. I didn't have much luck either. A quick google search on

mass firings of doctors, produced many hits on teachers, but nothing on doctors.

http://www.google.com/custom?q=Mass+firing+of+doctors+because+of+low+scores&btnG=Google+Search&sa=Search&client=psp-toshiba&forid=1&ie=ISO-8859-1&oe=ISO-8859-1&safe=active&cof=GALT%3A%23008000%3BGL%3A1%3BDIV%3A%23336699%3BVLC%3A663399%3BAH%3Acenter%3BBGC%3AFFFFFF%3BLBGC%3A336699%3BALC%3A0000FF%3BLC%3A0000FF%3BT%3A000000%3BGFNT%3A0000FF%3BGIMP%3A0000FF%3BLH%3A19%3BLW%3A100%3BL%3Ahttp%3A%2F%2Fbase.googlehosted.com%2Fbase_image%3Fq%3Dpsp-image-u0nmbb%26size%3D1%3BS%3Ahttp%3A%2F%2Fwww.toshibadirect.com%3BLP%3A1%3BFORID%3A1&hl=en&aq=f&oq=

Maybe a more thorough search would produce something ....

[Sgent]

214. Also

this editorial by Kevin Pho hints around the edges of this issue.

http://blogs.usatoday.com/oped/2010/03/column-patientsatisfaction-surveys-have-drawbacks.html

[mindwalker_i]

9. Just make sure to search the cavities

carefully.

[readmoreoften]

57. These Toyotas are out of control! Fire the nation's mechanics!

[emsimon33]

184. Excellent point

[EFerrari]

8. I can't believe I lived to see the day a Democratic president would do this. n/t

[Davis_X_Machina]

11. It must poll extremely well....

...or it wouldn't be on the agenda.

[tonysam]

14. I don't think it has anything to do with polls. Obama is University of Chicago

through and through. He's a neoliberal, and I don't think he gives a SHIT what people think about this.

[gleaner]

13. I don't like the sound of this ....

It may be easy from a distance to point and say "worst school," but what about conditions beyond the control of the school district, administrators or teachers? Like the fact that the states have been bringing in less revenue overall and what they get is not being doled out for the public schools.

I live in L.A., and in one school district made up of very poor families with a high crime rate and virtually no jobs anywhere even for graduates the students consistently tested low. Upon closer examination, it was revealed that in most of the schools the average class size was over 40 students. Some of them were so problematic and had been neglected for so long that it was hard to get teachers to go there because they feared for their physical safety. A lot of the teaching was done by various substitutes who floated from district to district, so there was no regular curriculum. There were not enough text books for each student to have his or her own copy. They shared in class, and of course the books could not go home. The books were on average years out of date. There was no computer system in the schools. They couldn't afford one. They used hard cover encyclopedia sets, again years out of date and many with volumes missing. How is it possible to learn and test well under circumstances like that? But under this system that the Obama Administration is pushing so hard, none of this is taken into account. The richer school districts do not have to cope with adversity like this. In Beverly Hills, I'm sure they test beautifully, but then Beverly Hills High has its own oil well which supplements what the school district is providing in funds.

Once again we have the poor versus the rich with the poor children being treated as throw aways by the system. So here comes Obama, who I understand was not a disadvantaged student being pressured by gangs or from a dysfunctional or poor family which is trying so hard to survive that they can barely eat, much less aspire to a higher education. Obama is going to indulge in mass firings of the teachers they do have. Who will we replace them with? Where will the money come from? I don't see either the federal or state governments raising taxes on the wealthy or large corporations to fund education, so what are the kids going to do? Are we going to create yet another class separation in this country? The educated from the uneducated? Why would anyone want to do that?

What are the disadvantaged kids supposed to do? Unskilled jobs have been mostly shipped offshore and even people with a great education are struggling to find work. So is the administration trying to create a criminal class which will arise out of poverty, lack of education and sheer desperation? Because if you think you feel hopeless reading and writing fluently enough to post here and other places like it; if you can find the words to express your discontent, can you imagine how it would be if you had none of these skills and no way at all to express yourself?

[LibDemAlways]

132. Agreed. If a child is homeless or destitute or in an abusive

environment, it makes little difference who that child's teacher is. Anyone naive enough to think that firing a teacher is going to solve those sorts of societal problems should not be in a position to decide such issues. That child's teacher is likely the only stability, the only sure thing, that boy or girl has. Making the teacher the scapegoat for problems unrelated to the schools is ignorant and unworthy of the administration.

[gleaner]

139. Thanks for your answer n/t

[Nite Owl]

15. I had no idea

that I voted Republican in '08.

[tonysam]

16. You do now. Unfortunately, the 24/7 propaganda about Obama being a rock star

and being a historic candidate obscured the fact this guy is NOT what he was promoted as being.

You had to dig for the facts. I saw it coming a LONG time ago.

[Marr]

203. Did you see Chris Matthews the other day?

He and his panel were pondering whether or not Obama could do a "moderate act" for the next election, after exposing himself as such a flaming liberal this year.

It's like they beam these shows in from some parallel dimension or something.

[upi402]

17. Blame the unions, blame Canada

:silly: "powerful unions"?

[Art_from_Ark]

197. Yeah, really

There haven't been any "powerful unions" since the '70s.

[Dinger]

20. Why Don't obama and duncan just come out and say "FUCK YOU TEACHERS AND YOU'RE UNIONS"?

It's gotta be killing 'em that they can't do that. But if cheney can say fuck off on the Senate floor, who knows?:shrug:

[sabrina 1]

171. Well, at least he hasn't called teachers unions 'terrorists' yet.

But then again, even though the Bush administration did call them terrorists, for which they had to apologize airc, I don't recall even Bush supporting a mass firing of teachers, let alone stating that it will be a policy of his administration. Considering that, I suppose this is 'change'. They never said it would be change for the better. So before the apologists arrive to remind us of that, I pre-emptively agree, we should have asked.

[MissDeeds]

196. It's all semantics

"...he hasn't called teachers' unions 'terrorists' yet." The operative word is "yet". This is change I can't believe in. What this administration is doing to teachers is a disgrace.

[sabrina 1]

216. Yes, it is n/t

[Dinger]

21. We Can Fire This Entire Administration In 2012

Take THAT to the bank!:mad:

[HeresyLives]

22. Sarah sends her thanks.

[Dinger]

25. What Makes You Think It's AUTOMATIC she gets in?

Do you know the future?

[Swamp Rat]

27. I do

:D Sarah Palin does not stand a chance in 2012. :hi:

[Dinger]

31. You're Right Swamp Rat

NO chance, no matter who she runs against.

[CoffeeCat]

180. Remember, they've got the media and the voting machines...

If the neocon cabal can get the media to position Palin as some
kind of political superstar who is giving Dems a run for their
money--that's all they need. If they can make her seem like a
viable candidate and if they've got a few rigged polls--it's all
set up for another election theft.

Make no mistake--they will steal the next Presidential election. We
won't have a slam-dunk candidate either. The Progressives are
upset with Obama. The Indies aren't that thrilled with him either.

It's all set up for a total return to Republican control within the
next couple of election cycles. That new power will make W's
presidency look like a progressive picnic.

Sara is the perfect candidate for them. She's got the Fundie base
in her pocket. She could win Iowa. Pat Robertson won it in the
past and Huckabee won it last time. She's the perfect puppet on
a string for these criminals--a female George Bush.

[inna]

209. I agree with all but the last paragraph.

Palin is being used as a player in a Kabuki theater, to downgrade our expectations to the insanely low (Palinesque) levels, so then even someone like Mitt Romney or Scott Brown will appear as a "relief". It's all calculated.

[RoccoR5955]

195. Caribou Barbie stands an ice cube's chance in hell... besides,

she wouldn't take the job, she's making too much money on Fox Propaganda.

[HeresyLives]

30. Well you only have two realistic choices.

And if Obama is the Dem candidate and you don't like him, it'll be a Republican.

Do you see anyone else on the horizon other than Sarah, or maybe...Romney... for them?

So unless somebody new comes out of the blue for them, those are the options.

[Dinger]

34. If It's Obama, And I Don't Like Him, I Won't Vote. Just Local And State Races

I'm sorry, but he leaves me no choice.

[HeresyLives]

36. Same thing as voting for Sarah then.

Or Romney.

[Dinger]

41. I Will Not Be FORCED Into Voting For Someone I Don't Want To Vote For

These talking points do not influence me in any way. Just a hint: You can draw more flies with honey than you can with vinegar. I can be persuaded to change my mind, but I need to see some real change first.

[HeresyLives]

42. So don't. But you'll have to live with the consequences.

[Dinger]

48. Yes I Will

Either way I will.

[HeresyLives]

51. Well, as long as you're happy then.

[Tansy_Gold]

152. Vote for me, Dinger

I'm running. AnneD is my VP running mate. Come check us out over on the daily Stock Market Watch thread.




Tansy Gold, your friendly neighborhood socialist and candidate for President 2012.

[readmoreoften]

61. Blame Obama and the Democratic Party, not the voters.

If they won't represent us, they can fuck off and line their own pockets. The Republicans will win again eventually anyway. It's not like we'll ever be "Republican Free." So what difference does it make if they replace a union-busting, corporate phony?

[HeresyLives]

64. Voters make the decision.

[LooseWilly]

76. Union-busting phony-liberals are hardly a decision worthy of making.

Better I should make the decision to vote for Kucinich, or Dean, or my dead mother... if the mainstream Democrat insists on behaving in a union-busting, phony-liberal fashion.

Lose lose lose... only fans of saccharine progressivism can stomach diet-progressive candidates (and they'll all get cancer anyway... because they're voting for toxic behavior)...

Stop pretending that the "decision" is different than it is.

[Dinger]

154. ROTFLMAO

Good one!
:rofl:

[jgraz]

207. So you plan on calling every disillusioned Obama voter and scolding them?

You'd better start dialing, my friend.

[jgraz]

208. So you plan on calling every disillusioned Obama voter and scolding them?

You'd better start dialing, my friend.

[Jakes Progress]

213. Voters made "a" decision.

It's just that the people we elected don't give a rat's ass about what we decided.

[Raineyb]

167. They never do that. Apparently they seem to think that politicians are entitled

to the voters support and the voters are not allowed to demand anything from them in return.

Accountability? What accountability? Accountability is for the little people!

[Hannah Bell]

136. you mean, she might destroy public unions, public education, social security & medicare?

she might ramp up military adventurism? sign off on assassination? increase spying on citizens? give the rich more tax breaks? make deals with fundies like rick warren?

sarah, the boogeyman.

[tonysam]

158. Romney will be the nominee. He isn't as stupid as he looks. n/t

[sabrina 1]

215. I agree. Romney will run again. He is able to appear to be

moderate and since Obama is pushing Romneycare, he can capitalize on that. I can think of many ways he can do that and still criticize Democrats on health care.

[asdjrocky]

147. And you will too.

The consequences all belong to Obama here.

[muffin1]

183. We voted for a dem this time...

look how that turned out.

[MadHound]

43. Just like we continue to get continuation of Bush policies under Obama?

Two sides of the same coin.

[HeresyLives]

45. Nah, they aren't even close.

You're just mad tonight, and I understand that, but if Obama was Bush you'd long since have been bombing Iran, and your banks would be very different.

[MadHound]

52. Banks would be very different how?

You mean like having a massive amount of our taxpayer dollars transferred to them, with no real oversight, no reform measures and still not lending money? Sounds very Bush like to me.

Granted, we're not in Iran, yet. But we are continuing to keep the MIC quite fat and happy in Afghanistan, Gitmo's still going, not to mention Baghram AFR, so all's well on that front.

Meanwhile at home we gave out some more big, fat tax cuts to those who don't need them, and called it a stimulus package.

Oh, and your Civil Rights, still gone.

LGBT community still getting the short end

Education still being destroyed, turned into a privatized monstrosity.

Not to mention that Obama is giving serious consideration to cutting SS.

Do I really need to continue here, my fingers are getting tired.

The two party/same corporate master system of government at work.

[HeresyLives]

54. What would McCain/Palin have done with the banks?

Either propped them up or let them fall. Either way it would be bad, but crashing is much worse for the country.

Bush had 8 years to create this mess. It'll take at least as long to get back out of it, cuz Obama doesn't have a magic wand.

[MadHound]

58. Not looking for a magic wand, I'm looking for him to stop making things worse.

I never thought that he would be able to clean up Bush's mess quickly. The trouble is he is continuing and extending many of Bush's policies.

So again, what is the point of voting for the same shit with a different initial?

Oh, and letting the banks fail, ya know, I'm more convinced than ever that would have been a good thing, at least better than allowing them to live and continue to screw us.

[HeresyLives]

60. He told you things would get worse before they got better.

Did you think he was joking?

Yeah, crashed banks and a massive depression...that would have been good.

[MadHound]

67. Oh, so we just had to continue to suffer under the Patriot Act before we get our civil rights back.

We had to start crashing the public school system by giving the money to private charters, yeah. We had to give a mandated monopoly to the insurance companies before we get have decent health care, OK. War has to continue because, well I and millions of others haven't figured that one out.

There is a difference between things getting worse because of the trajectory they have been set upon and thing getting worse because somebody is deliberately making them worse. Obama falls into this latter category.

And frankly, since we're already in a massive depression, albeit a slow moving one, I'd rather see the banks down here where the regular folks are than continuing to pay out bonuses with our hard earned tax money.

[HeresyLives]

69. If he had removed it,

Repubs would have been screaming about terrorism and security far more than they are now.

Obama ran on staying in Afghanistan so that shouldn't surprise you.

No, you're not remotely in a massive depression...but you certainly could be, if things don't stablize. That's what he's trying to do.

He's not a dictator, and he doesn't have that many powers...he has to politick things thru.

Politics is the art of the possible.

[MadHound]

72. Oh, so we have to stay in chains, have our rights shredded, all because of politics?

Thanks, I really appreciate that having my rights trampled on keeps Obama and the Democrats employed. Instead of worrying about politics, how about doing the right goddamn thing no matter who fucking yells?

Yeah, I know that Obama ran on staying in Afghanistan, does that mean that I have to like it, support it, or support him because he made that promise? No.

As far as massive depression goes, let's see, 22% unemployment, real numbers. Not to mention the number of underemployed. People losing their life savings and investments, millions of them. We're wallowing in an ocean of debt. Oh, and as far as stabilization goes, watch out for that commercial real estate bust headed this way.

Politics is the art of the possible, and at every possible turn where Obama could make a positive difference in this country, he has failed. He could have ended both wars by now, he hasn't. He could have restored our Civil Rights, he didn't. He could have helped public education in this country, instead he declared war on it. He could have so much, but he hasn't.

He could possibly lose his job come 2012. Possibly he should start listening.

[Swamp Rat]

75. Beat me to it.

[MadHound]

79. Such a bizarre, self serving statement,

It has to be responded to by multiple people pointing out the bullshit:toast:

[HeresyLives]

78. Hey, wreck the country if you want.

Cuz like I said, things could be a WHOLE lot worse.

[Swamp Rat]

82. Who's wrecking the country?

People who support the U.S. Constitution, or people who would trade their liberty for a false sense of security?

[HeresyLives]

84. Repubs will be if you let them

[Swamp Rat]

90. Why does disagreeing with you equate 'helping' or 'supporting' the republican party?

Anyway, I am more interested in your lack of love of our Constitution of the UNited States of America. :patriot: ;)



"Obama signs one-year extension of Patriot Act"
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/us_obama_patriot_act

[HeresyLives]

92. You refusing to vote, or vote Dem, supports the Repubs.

I have nothing to do with it so don't waste your ammo on me.

[Swamp Rat]

100. I vote for Americans who have a solid record of protecting my rights.

What you do with your vote is up to you.

"Obama signs extension of Patriot Act"
http://www.usatoday.com/news/washington/2010-02-27-Patriot-Act_N.htm

[HeresyLives]

101. And how many can you name?

[Swamp Rat]

106. No Red Herrings, PLEASE!

[HeresyLives]

108. Then stop fishing for them.

[Swamp Rat]

113. Cast the first Red Herring...

If I were fishing, it would not be for fish... :evilgrin:

[HeresyLives]

115. Well you're having fun, but not advancing the topic.

[Swamp Rat]

118. I hope you are having fun too.... IT'S FREE!!!

For now. :D

[HeresyLives]

120. No, I ignore the images.

They say nothing to me.

[Swamp Rat]

122. Ah, but you saw them and my desire is that you will not forget them for a very long time.

*allakhazam!* :D

[HeresyLives]

123. No, I just saw an excessive use of green.

Perhaps you should check your printer.

[midnight]

193. Great line... " I vote for Americans who have a solid record of protecting my rights".

[Chef Eric]

200. Hey HeresyLives, nobody here OWES Obama his/her vote. nt

[MadHound]

91. Oh so now wanting my civil rights back is "wrecking the country" Things have gotten a lot worse,

If that is the case that you're making. Things are getting a lot worse because our public school system is being shredded. Things are getting a whole lot worse as we continue to feed the MIC at the expense of foregoing the needs of our citizens at home. Things are getting a whole lot worse as the wealth of the people is transferred up the ladder to the elite.

Things have gotten a whole lot worse because both parties are corporately corrupted.

Governing, be it a city, state or country means doing what is right for the greatest amount of people, doing the right thing no matter the politics.

The trouble is Obama and the Democrats aren't governing, they're fulfilling the wishes of their corporate masters. That is what has gotten a whole lot worse.

[HeresyLives]

94. No, getting in a snit and refusing to vote does that.

[MadHound]

102. Never said that I would refuse to vote,

Just didn't say that my vote would be for Obama. And frankly, voting for a candidate that isn't involved in the two party/same corporate master system of government would be the best thing that I can think of for this country.

[HeresyLives]

104. Others here have, and it's self-defeating.

So is voting for third parties. They have no chance of making it.

[Swamp Rat]

109. Others have.... some people say... C'MON!

:eyes:


.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.

Having fun yet? :D

[MadHound]

111. Again, look to your history

Third parties have made a difference many times, even if it is indirectly. It is saying that if Obama wants my vote, it's time he started earning it. We used to laugh at 'Pugs who continued to vote against their interests under Bush, why should I be a hypocrite and vote against mine under Obama?

[HeresyLives]

114. People here are often more anti-Dem than anti-Repub.

[Bluebear]

129. 'People here are often more anti-Dem than anti-Repub.' oh bullshit

[Hannah Bell]

137. well, they would if people voted for them. duh.

[Swamp Rat]

73. So, you forfeit your Constitutional Rights for fear of screaming republicans??

:wtf:

I guess Osama Bin Laden really won after all.

[HeresyLives]

86. Oh, you think Obama needs MORE problems?

[Swamp Rat]

93. If he does not defend the U.S. Constitution he will likely encounter many more problems.

"Obama signs Patriot Act extension without reforms:"
http://www.csmonitor.com/USA/Politics/2010/0301/Obama-signs-Patriot-Act-extension-without-reforms

[HeresyLives]

95. Bush trashed it for 8 years, & you're still around.

[Swamp Rat]

103. That's a very good point, however, I am not an Muslim.

Get it yet?

[HeresyLives]

105. Neither am I, and it's irrelevant anyway.

[Swamp Rat]

116. So is the fact that I am "still around."

HAHA! :D

[HeresyLives]

119. I meant your country is still around.

I forgot how personally everyone on here takes things.

[Swamp Rat]

121. Yeah, folks should not take innuendo, insults, and outright accusations so personally.

Me? I adore hot kitchens and spicy food. :9

[HeresyLives]

125. Or shouldn't think the world revolves around just them.

I wasn't discussing you, or anyone else here at all.

I was talking about your country.

[Swamp Rat]

127. Aw shucks! Now what do I do with my copy of Ptolemy's "Almagest?"

You mean 'my' country, where we used to uphold the U.S. Constitution?

By the way, how come our military is still occupying Iraq?

[MadHound]

96. No, I think Obama needs to start doing the right thing, not the politically expedient thing

Ya know, civil rights are a bit more important than "OMG THE 'PUGS WILL SAY SOMETHING NASTY!" People have died for obtaining and retaining their civil rights in this country. Are you wanting to see that again, is that what we have to do to reverse this abomination?

[HeresyLives]

97. He IS doing the right thing.

You just don't see it at the moment.

[MadHound]

107. Explain to me how renewing the Patriot Act is "doing the right thing."

Explain to me how shredding our public school system is "doing the right thing." Explain to me how keeping us in two illegal, immoral wars is "doing the right thing."

Oh, yeah, this must be some of the multidimensional chess I keep hearing so much about. Where black is white, up is down, and civil rights are somehow wrong.

[HeresyLives]

112. It's just extending it for awhile longer.

Not doing any harm, and keeping yet another problem off the table, until other, more urgent matters, are dealt with.

As to education, not a day goes by on here without numerous complaints about the state it's in.

Only solution ever proposed on here is 'more money'.

There isn't any.

[Swamp Rat]

131. Yeah, what's another 12 months after already sitting in a cage for 8 years wondering,

"where is my right to a speedy trial?"

[MadHound]

141. Not doing any harm, nah, what 's being deprived of a few righs among friends, right?

Listen to yourself, you're actually advocating politics over civil rights. You're far, far gone around the bend.

As far as education goes, fully funding it and providing it with the money needed really has never been tried. There's money out there to try it though, it's just tied up in those illegal, immoral wars we're involved in. Perhaps if we did the right thing and pulled out. . .

[Raineyb]

168. The bill itself is the harm! Extending it is continuing it.

But you're so busy hiding under your bed you can't even see it. People like you are the reason that politicians think they can ignore the constitution and get away with it.

[asdjrocky]

144. Do you believe that like you believed in Santa Clause as a kid?

Where is the proof he is doing anything close to the right thing?

[asdjrocky]

151. Wow.

You just made me throw up a little in my mouth there.

[freddie mertz]

219. They are screaming about it anyway. It's just like HCR.

Obama pushes a Republican bill, gets called out as a "socialist" promoting a "government take-over."

Pandering to Pukes does not work.

[freddie mertz]

218. He may not have a magic wand.

But everywhere he goes, he leaves a trail of changey-hopey pixie dust.

[Individualist]

56. That dog don't hunt

[HeresyLives]

62. It will if you do it.

[Lorien]

77. She won't be the repug nominee

maybe the teabagger nominee, but Romney will most likely be their choice. Palin is too much of a loose cannon (with too many loose screws). They need a more reliable puppet.

[JVS]

83. You're not voting for Obama either

[Chemisse]

177. It won't be Sarah

She could never stand up under the pressure and scrutiny of the primaries.

But it might be Romney.

[frylock]

186. your threats are meaningless

it's the milquetoast dems that will have helped to get romney or palin elected.

[MadHound]

37. There are other options out there

Including ones that have publicly financed elections as part of their platform, something which this country desperately needs.

[HeresyLives]

39. Like who?

[MadHound]

44. Think about it.

Do some investigation, it's pretty easy to figure it out if you want to.

[HeresyLives]

47. Not into guessing games,

or fantasies, which is what I'm guessing this is.

[MadHound]

53. Dude, you're think that you're some sort of political expert and yet you have no clue?

You don't go out and read the political points of view and platforms outside of the Democratic and Republican party?

Wow, just wow.

[HeresyLives]

55. Ahem....

I'm not a dude, and I never said I was a political expert, but if you think some third party is going to do it, I was right about it being a fantasy.

[MadHound]

65. Sorry if dude offends you, I'll note that down.

And while it's rare that third parties make a difference, it has happened. The Whigs gave way to the Republicans. The Socialist party put enough pressure on FDR to force him into backing SS and Unemployment Insurance.

It's not about the money or that. It's about enough people becoming fed up enough to decide that they're not going to continue to be part of the problem.

[HeresyLives]

66. LOL it doesn't offend me, it's just wrong.

I'm female.

Nader-theory isn't something to gamble your country on.

[MadHound]

68. No, but publicly funded elections are, and since the decision of the Supreme Ct. 5

Pushing for publicly funded elections is more imperative than ever. I don't see the Democratic party supporting that, nor a myriad of other issues that are near and dear to me, including well funded public education systems. So why should I continue to support a party that doesn't support any issues (given their track record) that I do?

[HeresyLives]

70. Well that can be fixed, and it will be.

Hey, who you support is up to you.

Just be careful what you wish for. Things could get a WHOLE lot worse.

[MadHound]

74. Booga, booga, fucking booga. Things are getting a whole lot worse, that's the problem.

And while Obama gave a great speech at the SOTU, that's all that's going to happen. Do you honestly see the Democrats giving up their corporate money addiction? I certainly don't.

[HeresyLives]

81. Not nearly as bad as they could be.

Don't believe me?

Then let the Repubs get in again.

[EFerrari]

98. Helllo, they never left. This administration was DINO on arrival. n/t

[HeresyLives]

99. Ideological opinion.

[EFerrari]

110. You bet.

[HeresyLives]

117. And that and a 2 dollar bill will buy you a coffee.

[Hannah Bell]

138. and yours is worth less than that.

[Marr]

205. If they aren't DINOs, and it's true that a minority party can so stymie a president's agenda...

I don't see why anyone should worry either way.

[howmad1]

181. Why are you under the mistaken impression.....

...that there's any difference between a rethuglican or democrat? I'm giving my vote to GE per the SCOTUS. I'll let corporate America vote for me, since it won't make any difference whatsoever who gets elected.

[MadHound]

26. First of all, thinking that Sarah is going to win anything in 2012

Just goes to show how little you know of real politik. The big money folks don't like Sarah, so she's not going to the WH.

But really now, when it comes to education, among other issues, Obama is matching Bush stride for stride. Is that really what we need in the White House?

I think not.

[Swamp Rat]

28. See post #27

:D :hi:

[Lorien]

80. +1

The right has it's third party. It's time that we formed one of our own.

[asdjrocky]

146. What a joke.

Do you really think fear works on everyone?

[OmmmSweetOmmm]

149. There is too much fearmongering on DU these days. The grifter doesn't have a chance in hell.

[readmoreoften]

59. +1

[LWolf]

142. And I have every intention of doing my part to achieve that. nt

[Unvanguard]

176. This fantasy of "education reform" is a bipartisan effort. We will not do better with a Republican.

Probably worse, actually--at least Obama isn't pushing to privatize the education system.

[Catshrink]

185. Bush didn't praise or instigate a mass firing of teachers.

As for Obama not pushing to privatize the education system -- you haven't been paying attention. What do you think is happening in Detroit? New Orleans? LA? Obama has been a severe disappointment.

[Unvanguard]

188. But he was behind NCLB, which evinces the same mentality.

And charter schools are not privatization--generally bad, but not privatization.

[Catshrink]

190. They are if they are run by for profit corporations.

[emsimon33]

189. Yep. They think that we are powerless given the alternative;

however, in Virginia, then New jersey, and finally Massachusetts, we showed that we are not powerless. We can just stay home! No phone banking, no canvassing, no bake sales to raise political contributions, no poll watching (not that that did any good), no driving people to the polls, no showing up at the polls, etc., etc., etc.

But, we can phone bank, canvass, raise money, etc. to oust the Blue Dogs and their ilk. If Obama continues on this path, the 2010 November elections will be the largest blood bath in the history of U.S. voting and he will be a one-term president, reviled and remembered for being a sell out, the person who destroyed public education and health care in this country.

[Swamp Rat]

23. and ketchup is a vegetable

[MadHound]

29. You're on a tear tonight,

I like both of your pieces in this thread, good stuff.:toast:

[Swamp Rat]

32. I only just started

:D :hug:



Beth inspired this one, made yesterday... where is she? :D

[MadHound]

35. LOL!

Oh thanks man, that does the soul good, a great laugh to beat back the creeping despair.

:rofl:

[Swamp Rat]

38. I certainly don't want anyone to be thirsty while wallowing in creeping despair.

:D

[Starry Messenger]

46. Dude!

Lovin' it! :D You're on fire!

[Dinger]

49. No Shit!

:patriot: :rofl: :popcorn: :headbang: :yourock:

[Swamp Rat]

50. Jus' havin' fun!

:D :hi:

Speaking of fire, these dudes will be swimming in a fiery lake someday soon: :evilgrin:

[EFerrari]

87. OMG.

:rofl:

[Swamp Rat]

124. Es para tí

:loveya::hi: ¿Todo bien?

Yo estaba leyendo DU más temprano, y ví un post de tú... "it should be called SHAFTA." :D

[EFerrari]

126. You know, it would be fun to see what happens if you throw a bucket of water on Barbie.

lol

Thank you, Swampy. You made laugh today. :loveya:

[Swamp Rat]

128. de nada amorzinha

:hug:

Eu estou fazendo sacanagem aqui em cima, ne? :evilgrin:

[readmoreoften]

63. Beautiful!

[MadHound]

33. Keep this up and soon every public school will be in that bottom 5%

Hmmm.

[Hannah Bell]

140. that's the obama ed plan. every year 5% of schools will be charterized.

seriously, read it.

[tonysam]

157. It will take twenty years to destroy all 100,000 public schools.

After all, if 5,000 a year are destroyed, all of them will be gone in twenty years.

How the hell did this guy get to be the Democratic Party nominee?

[Desertrose]

71. Good grief. *facepalm*

[TexasObserver]

85. C H A N G E

Come
Harass
A
New
Group of
Educators

[JVS]

88. This adminstration just keeps sinking lower and lower.

[yurbud]

89. that's the president of my union, and she summed it up perfectly

[Bluebear]

130. Thank you for YOUR service. nt

[yurbud]

178. you're welcome.

[JDPriestly]

133. Let's see more teachers run for office.

They'd win. Teachers are effective at communication. Why are so few of the members of Congress former teachers?

Why don't teachers run? They are far better qualified than the folks in office now.

[LWolf]

143. Because we don't like to leave our students.

Speaking for myself, anyway.

I'd rather be with students. That's my calling.

[donco6]

153. We have a few here. I think the problem is -

to be a viable candidate, you have to have lots of time and experience devoted to party work. Teachers generally spend their free time working with kids - coaching, club sponsors, scouting, that kind of thing. That wouldn't be possible if you want a career in politics.

[Catshrink]

156. And they don't have any money

And we're far too skilled and recognizing and calling bullshit.

[JDPriestly]

134. Obama is Enronizing the schools.

Remember how Enron got employees to rate each other and then fired a certain number of those who got the lowest ratings. It was a kind of fire-your-co-worker-or-be-fired employment policy.

Well, Obama's plan to fire a certain percentage of teachers in schools that perform poorly by rather arbitrary, not necessarily meaningful, standards is very similar to that Enron policy.

Some teachers are not doing their jobs or are not suited for teaching and should look for another line of work. But the test Obama wants applied will not identify unqualified or untalented or lazy teachers. It will necessarily cause the termination of some teachers who are truly dedicated but in a bad teaching environment or having a bad year or a bad class. It will cause the loss of some really dedicated teachers. It is overly inclusive.

Now, remember. Obama can't bring himself to fire Geithner although it is becoming pretty obvious that Geithner, sooner or later, will bring shame on the Obama administration. Geithner was just too close to, too involved in the Wall Street scandals. So, Geithner is off limits, but Obama can order the firing of teachers who work in the toughest schools in the worst school districts and whose students therefore get the worst scores on standardized tests.

Obama can fire teachers he doesn't know, but he can't fire the incompetent folks on his own staff.

That tells me something about his character -- and it isn't good.

Obama acts like he has a lot of empathy for ordinary folks -- but he does not. Geithner is sacrosanct, but teachers in the toughest schools in America -- what does Obama care?

[RainDog]

163. yeah, Obama has lost me.

can't vote for a republican, so I guess that means I just stay home.

[WinkyDink]

175. Yep. First time in my 60 years.

[MissDeeds]

204. Same here

I'll wait until a real Democrat runs.

[WinkyDink]

173. Your point about "empathy" can be generalized, IMO: Obama has none for ANYONE else. NONE.

Joking about "not pulling the plug on Grandma", when real people are dealing with similar crises?

Opining that children with asthma go to the Emergency wards too often for a "controllable disease"?

Cold-hearted. And not enough intelligence, as it turns out, to compensate.

[asdjrocky]

145. Change only an idiot can believe in.

Now our kids will believe too.

[TexasObserver]

160. CHANGE ...

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=389&topic_id=7918450&mesg_id=7918910

upthread, but wanted you to see

[Bluebear]

164. Love it.

[Unvanguard]

161. Fuck this anti-teacher, anti-union bullshit. We will not reform education by firing teachers.

Ever.

[Catshrink]

162. +1000

[Owl]

166. +10000

[mdmc]

165. changolicious!

[nadinbrzezinski]

169. Busting Unions the American Way

and then they wonder why those unions still left around are so cowardly to do anything...

[Bluebear]

174. And apparently the Democratic way!

I never thought I would see the day.

[WinkyDink]

172. AND NEVER, EVER FIRE AN INCOMPETENT SCHOOL ADMINISTRATOR.

[Chemisse]

179. As a teacher, I was hoping he would fix or maybe gut NCLB

Instead he has made things 10 times worse.

I think my last little candle of hope for a better future under Obama was just extinguished today.

[ibegurpard]

182. yeah, he fooled me on healthcare too

[SlingBlade]

191. Hey Teachers Union. That's Change You Can Believe In, Huh.

[starzdust]

192. I'm a teacher

Why is it that we, as educators, always the scapegoats? I've been in teaching for over 30 years. Yeah, there are times when I feel kind of burned out. Anyone willing to offer me a job that pays a middle class wage? I take home perhaps 30K a year. I can't afford a home, I am single. At 55 I feel that the political officers (note: I don't call them leaders) has been screwing teachers for years.

Now, just because I can't do all that I use to and tell my bosses (I have many), it's my fault that little ones (teens actually) aren't passing (note: I did not say learning because that's not what the system requires - what is required is to move kids through the system, whether or not any learning occurs. Ever hear of grade inflation?).

Yep, it's all my fault, blame me, hell I can't "do" so I teach. And, by the way, I also don't deserve a raise, or a home, or a new car, respect as a "professional" (note: ha, ha). What do I hear? Talking heads tell the nation, "...we need to get rid of the burned out teachers and bad teachers in the system..." Hello? Maybe if you'd pay us a decent wage. drop many if not all federal mandates and get the fuck out of the way, I could do a better job.

So, I say to Obama-nation and especially to ArnieD, go Dick Cheney yourself. A double Dick Cheney yourself when you re-authorize NCLB, which (trust me on this one) is used as a hammer against teachers by administrators when it comes evaluation time.

Regards,
John

[Catshrink]

194. Great post!

Well said and welcome to DU! I look forward to seeing you in the Education forum. It isn't nearly as hostile in there.

[Starry Messenger]

199. Great post starzdust

:thumbsup:

[Fire1]

198. K&R n/t

[stillwaiting]

201. I just don't see how Obama gets re-elected. Or a lot of Dems for that matter.

He and his teams certainly don't mind being a one term President (by acting more and more like Republicans).

How do you motivate a base to fight effectively for independents votes (much less come out to vote for you)?

They have seriously shat on just about every (every?) demographic that is an important base to the Democratic Party over the past year. I don't think it can be any clearer as to how TPTB want the elections in '10 to go. I imagine that having this large of a majority was seen as a threat and it clearly became impossible for them to continue their little charade. A LOT of people have woken up over the past year. They'll try to put the genie back in the bottle with some good kabuki and they just might succeed. Heck, they probably will succeed. People still don't care to become informed in this country. I wonder if they ever will...

[LWolf]

202. So a single year into his first term, he's writing off our votes. nt

[eecumings]

206. Who

was the inept administrator who believed that student progress could be quantified and measured by a paper and pencil test? I taught for 40 years, and I know this approach cannot provide methods of improvement for any school. Too many factors,especially the parents, contribute to the education of young people. Most of these factors cannot be controlled by teachers, yet they are supposed to perform miracles by producing silk purses from pigs' ears. And Prez stood up for the idiots who fired the teachers. Good luck, Obummer! What do you plan to do after 2012? Sign up with one of your corporate masters? Or go to jail as a mass murderer?

[Catshrink]

211. +1

Especially the parents.

[MissDeeds]

217. Great post

I've taught everything from first grade to graduate school and agree completely with everything you said. "Obummer". I like that. :hi:

[fishwax]

210. k/r

[Marr]

212. Nothing Obama does surprises me anymore.

He telegraphed his intentions very clearly when he picked his cabinet. He's consistently gone out of his way to poke every section of the traditional Democratic Party base right in the eye. He's a Republican, and not even a moderate one-- except by today's lunatic standards.

If he went back twenty years he could comfortably stand in for Reagan, who was considered a far-right loon before he took the presidency.