Home > Thinking Right > Archives > 2008 > March > 11 > Entry
DEL.ICIO.USHouse bill offers schools valuable trade-off for crutch
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Shhh.
Listen. This is important. Pay attention now.
The retired educator, Brooks Coleman of Duluth, a state legislator who chairs the House Education Committee, is explaining one of Gov. Sonny Perdue’s proposals to give local school boards flexibility in return for accountability and agreed-upon consequences.
Listennow. Listennow. Don’t jump to conclusions too fast.
What Coleman is talking about —- lecturing about, really —- is not radical in the slightest. It is, however, one piece in a series of tiny reforms that promise to revolutionize the way government treats, and relates to, the parents of children in public schools. It more than represents change. It is change.
Shocking to know that while one of the Democratic Party’s presidential candidates is extolled for embracing change, officeholders down the line who share his party label are terrified by the prospect.
Instructor Coleman, in fact, has to reassure a beside-himself young Democrat from Lilburn, Brian W. Thomas, that the language of the bill that would give local systems freedom from many of the staffing, hiring, paying, curriculum and class-size requirements in return for agreements to produce better results in graduate rates, for example, says “may” and not “shall.” That means it’s up to local school boards what level of “risk” they wish to assume in return for freedom to run their systems generally as they see fit.
They don’t have to change a thing. If they prefer a thousand mandates, they can keep a thousand. Input this, input that. It’s entirely voluntary.
And yet, House Bill 1209 is a big deal. That’s precisely because it takes away a crutch. It takes away the excuse that it’s somebody else’s fault if a system turns out junk.
The excuse-makers will opt for the status quo. And they can. It’s may, not shall. The bold school boards and confident administrators will choose freedom and promise results because the consequences are real. Failed schools could be converted to charters, privatized or turned over to a neighboring school system to operate.
The proposed law, which passed the House 112-58, would be implemented over five years, starting with 15 of 180 systems next year.
That’s one of the promising concepts being introduced here.
Another passed the Senate last Wednesday. SB 458, authored by Senate President Pro Tem Eric Johnson of Savannah, would give vouchers to the parents of children stuck in schools that are chronically nonperforming or in systems that lose accreditation. The voucher would be for the state portion of money allocated to educate the child —- about $4,100 for a child in Clayton County, for example. “If we’re on the Titanic, let’s put the children in the lifeboats and worry about who hit the iceberg later,” he said.
The thing is: Parents should have choice. Their child shouldn’t be held hostage until a school or system gets its act together. The Senate agreed, 32-21.
A third important education bill is expected to come before the House today. State Rep. David Casas (R-Lilburn) has legislation to give a state income tax credit to individuals and corporations donating to school-choice scholarship organizations. Individuals could contribute $1,000 and couples $2,500 per year to nonprofits that give grants to public school students to attend private schools. Similar programs exist in Florida, Arizona, Pennsylvania, Iowa and Rhode Island.
And there’s House Bill 881, which is now before the Senate, that would give parents with a good charter school proposal a way around local boards that are resistant to perceived competition. It would also establish the principle that education money follows the child.
There’s a lesson here, an important one, one that should be tested and remembered, for all those who would change the way government has functioned. It is aggressive incrementalism.
Push change on a dozen fronts, always forward, always to a goal. If the steps have to be small, take them, but be persistent and aggressive in taking the small ones. Real reform may come suddenly —- but it is far more likely that it will be accomplished by a team. Aggressive incrementalism.
Permalink | Comments (79) | Post your comment | Categories: Column
Comments
By Redneck Convert
March 11, 2008 8:08 AM | Link to this
Well, me and my buddy Jim Earl and Joe Bill was talking about this Spitzer and paying 5,000 bucks a hour to a woman. We figured she must of done his taxes and nails and everything else to be worth that much for a hour. Joe Bill says he wished he knowed some woman that wanted a little company and was willing to pay him just 500 bucks a hour. He would quit his sewer job and even take out a ad in the yellow pages. With his picture on it, maybe half nekkid and smiling.
It just goes to show that when you are a politican and have that much get up and go you got to have a outlet for all the energy. I think that’s why the godly Sen. Craig got in the habit of going to public toilets and clicking other peoples shoes in the stall. And why the godly Sen. Vitter took a liking to wearing diapers in front of women he don’t know and the godly Rep. Foley started writing love notes to boys. Now they can join up with this Spitzer and maybe show him the ropes a little better so he don’t get caught again. You got to admit, it was plain dumb for him to be using e-mail and doing all the things that let him catch criminals in the first place when he knowed the cops spy on such things.
I can’t figure out why all these politicans drag out their wife when they get in trouble. Like Sen. Vitter, this Spitzer trots out this pretty woman in front of the cameras and starts talking about how he got to make things right with her. Leastwise, she’s kind of tiny and don’t look like much of a threat. The Vitter woman looked like a offensive lineman for the Atlanta Falcons and I bet Sen. Vitter slept with one eye open for two months after he got called out for wearing diapers and paying women to watch him dirty them.
Anyhow, Wooten is Right this a.m. We need to keep chipping away at this school business till we run the public schools out and they get took over by Free Innerprize and private schools. They could drop our taxes and maybe let the public schools handle the dummies and the trash. When we get profit in the school business you will see some serious boost in test scores by kids. If they don’t learn they will get the thrashing of their life. And the best part is kids won’t have to listen to librul ideas like this Evolution. They will learn the Bible and already be good converted Baptists before they are out of 2nd grade. I can see right now we’ll be graduating about 50,000 future GA house and senate members.
Have a good day everybody.
By TW
March 11, 2008 8:12 AM | Link to this
Seriously interested in where a parent can get a better bang for the $4100 than the public school.
What’s tuition at Marist? Lovett? Woodward? Travel costs, arrangements?Or can they spend it on a new video room downstairs…excuse me - a ‘home school theater’?
Or maybe this isn’t about alternate education at all….
By jbmlaw
March 11, 2008 8:24 AM | Link to this
Good morning all. The jbmlaw merit test for any proposed legislation is, “does the proposal increase individual freedom, or does it decrease it?” All three of the templates seem to increase freedom, and would be worthy of support.
By jbmlaw
March 11, 2008 8:29 AM | Link to this
Dear Redneck @ 8:08, I, like you, had my schadenfreude essay all mapped in my mind, and Jim throws us with a topic with a little integrity and decency about it. The nerve! A distantly-related funny in the paper today:
Seth Grahame-Smith writing about Hillary Clinton at HuffingtonPost.com:
“She has no idea how many times I defended her. How many right-leaning friends and relatives I battled with. How many times I played down her shady business deals and penchant for scandals… . She has no idea how frequently I dismissed her husband’s serial adultery as an unfortunate trait of an otherwise brilliant man. For sixteen years, I was a proud soldier in the legion of ‘Clinton apologists’… . And then she ran for president. She’s proven that she cares more about ‘Hillary’ than ‘unity.’ More about defeating Obama than defeating the Republicans. She’s become a political suicide-bomber, happy to blow herself to bits — as long as she takes everyone else with her. On Friday, one of Barack Obama’s foreign policy advisors, Samantha Power, resigned after calling Senator Clinton ‘a monster’ during an off-the-record exchange. It was an unfortunate slip, but one that echoed the sentiments of many Clinton apologists like me — who’ve watched Hillary’s descent into pettiness and fear-mongering with the heartbreak of a child who grows up to realize that his beloved mother has been a terrible person all along. Are the conservatives right about the Clintons? Will they do and say anything to get elected? I don’t know. All I know is … I’m through apologizing.”
By Dr. Depresso
March 11, 2008 8:32 AM | Link to this
Sigh. What’s the difference? Within a decade the world will be plunged into a global depression by lack of petroleum and $20 per gallon fuels anyway. Then shortly after that the U.S. and China will go to war over Mideast oil. School, shmool. Who cares?
Oh, by the way, Jim “listennow,” is not a word, even if you are trying to calm those panicked by the prospect of change. Sigh.
By Captain Freedom
March 11, 2008 8:34 AM | Link to this
March 10, 2008, New York, NY (AP)
Elliot Spitzer announced tonight his immediate resignation from the Democratic Party. He will henceforth be a member of the Republican Party.
“These are my people,“ Spitzer announced alongside his GOP sponsors, David Vitter and Larry Craig. “Before today, I was forced to hide my peccadilloes in shame. But now, with the help of the Mark Foley Intervention and Crisis Hotline (text messages only), I am able to proudly embrace my inclinations to not only consort with high-priced prostitutes, but to engage in advanced diaper play and dangerous anonymous sex in public lavatories.”
Rep. Barney Frank (D-Sodom) could not be reached for comment, though it was widely believed that he had offered Spitzer in a trade for Lindsay Graham and Charlie Crist, along with a player to be named later and a crate of personal lubricant. Spitzer’s unilateral move once again thwarted Frank’s long-standing desire to work with Graham and Crist.
“They already play for the other team, if you get my drift,” a clearly agitated Frank declared.
By OneForTheRoad
March 11, 2008 8:35 AM | Link to this
Well Jim. Thanks for clarifying our problems and ultimate solutions. We just need funding for more buses, right. For starters, we’ll just divvy up these students in Clayton County amongst all the higher performing schools (since they obviously know how to teach) via bus with $4100 check in hand. I mean let’s fix what’s broke and if the kids are not learning, then the school is what’s broke. Let’s not incrementalize and drag out the inevitable. Let’s get those kids an education — NOW! Just bus those teachers along with the students to their new schools and let their new schools — the schools that have been proven to work — sort it all out. They can send the poor performing teachers back to school or send them packing. It’s their decision, their goals, their results, and their consequences. They can certainly leave the old school’s administration behind since the new school has a proven good track record. As for the parents. They’d be wise to sit back and observe — see how things are done in the good schools. They may even want to take a little of that knowledge back with them to their school districts and try to implement it in its rise from the ashes. I mean, after all, if it’s broke, let’s fix it. Burn it down and start over if need be.
By Mid-South Philosopher
March 11, 2008 8:39 AM | Link to this
Good morning, Jim,
Now let me get this straight.
We want our kids to be able to compete in the global economy with students worldwide (the preponderance of whom, coming from the other industrially and technologically developed countries of the world, trounce our students on international math and science measures).
We want all students except the most severely mentally impaired to demonstrate 100% proficiency on the CRCT, the EOC exams, and the GHSGT regardless of the home environment or the level of community support.
Rather than have the gonads to face the reality of those failing schools, fire teachers, who are incompetent, and administrators, who are lost balls in high grass, based upon adequate performance evaluations as apposed to standardized test results, we want to give choice to parents and provide a voucher of $4,100 (which is about what four tanks of gasoline are going to cost by the end of the summer)for private school tuition.
We want a State Board of Education and a State Department of Education that can generate more rules than Carter has pills (except when it is about something really important…then they cry local control).
Incidentally, if those dan rules are so important, why waive them for schools systems that *promise to do better?!?
Coleman and Johnson are good men and they are trying to do some good. Casas is a corporatist and just following the party line.
None of these men have the courage to introduce legislation that would demand accountability from parents and other members of the community at-large.
Granted, taxpayers are responsible for financing the education of Georgia’s young. This is accomplished through income and property taxes. That being true, parents, who use the public school system are not entitled to, too much choice.
Instead, we should demand that our Legislators get their collective heads out of their posterior and reform Georgia schools from the state level. End local school boards and move the school systems into the 21st Century.
It ain’t gonna happen. Too many low intellect politicians. Probably products of public schools.
By OneForTheRoad
March 11, 2008 9:20 AM | Link to this
I too was looking forward to doing some math today about prostitutes and their pay scales. Jim tried to change the topic away from the one that the people want but he was not entirely successful. So, here goes. Let’s start with a person that provides a “service” to the paying customer for 40 hours per week (on average) and for 52 weeks per year (no rest for the weary). That works out to be 2080 hours of servicing per year. Now, let’s add in some hourly rates — say, $500, $1000, and $5000 per hour — and figure out non-Adjusted Gross Income. It works out to be $1.04 million per year for $500 per hour; $2.08 million per year for $1000 per hour; $10.4 million per year for $5000 per hour. So, at $5000 per hour, these professionals could almost qualify as CEOs — if they didn’t work so hard for their money, that is. What we need to do is change our tax structure to make things right. We need to start taxing those that do the servicing at least 25% and all will once again be right with the world’s oldest profession.
By Rednecks--America's al Queda
March 11, 2008 9:22 AM | Link to this
Forget about school reform. The cardinal principle is that rednecks beget rednecks. The anti-intellectual contempt that rednecks harbor for education will ensure the continuation of mediocrity in schools, regardless of the configuration. Given a choice between Bubba Jr.’s studying for an algebra test or taking the family to the early festivities of a NASCAR race, the family will end up in Hampton every time.
By Copyleft
March 11, 2008 9:27 AM | Link to this
Good to hear you embracing change, Mr. Wooten. I’ll tell Obama he can count on your support!
By deegee
March 11, 2008 9:30 AM | Link to this
The problem with this approach is that legislators assume that the problem with underachieving students is with underachieving schools. Private schools draw from the same pool of teachers and administrators as do public schools. Private schools overachieve because they have a group of students whose parents are making a financial sacrifice so that their children will become well educated. Public schools located in areas where the population is well educated tend to overachieve. Giving a parent $4,100 of taxpayers’ money in order to send their presumably underachieving child to a private school does not give a parent or a child the incentive to perform. It will create a new class of quasi public/private schools. We can speculate on how they will perform but I doubt that those that can afford to pay the full price of a private school will stick around to find out.
By Just Nasty and Mean
March 11, 2008 9:34 AM | Link to this
I am sick and tired of this it takes a village mindset. It takes parents who are smart enough to give a damn.
Some parent don’t give a damn, and it is NOT the village’s responsibility to pick up their slack.
Throughout history there have been smart people and stupid people. If anyone thinks some law from government is going to change this, please check with your proctilogist. Society needs all types of people, smart AND dumb (yes, I do want fries with that!).
With “No Child Left Behind” we have consciously chosen to focus on the wrong group—-the laggards, and not the performers. We should be providing tools and paths for accelerating the smart ones—not impeding them to wait for or the slow ones. Schools are now geared to slow down to the slowest common denominator.
Don’t forget: No Child Left Behind is a law developed by none other than Teddy Kennedy (along with our RINO president).
It is NOT a matter of money. Only Switzerland spends more (per student) on education than the USA. They are 6th in the world in performance—the USA is about 25th out of 30.
We have allowed these bureaucrats to have this LOW STANDARD of education become the norm—and acceptable. We should be FIRING the morons that are more concerned about their retirement than doing their jobs!
Karl Marx knew that in order to enact his communist state, the 1st thing he had to do was take over, tightly control and centralize the education system. What are we doing in our schools, now? Ted Kennedy?
This stuff is the elixir that destroys nations. We had better get these teacher’s unions and bureaucrats out of the way or we all know the price our children and children’s children will pay.
By OneForTheRoad
March 11, 2008 9:36 AM | Link to this
Well said, America’s al Queda.
There is something to be said for the surviving spectators of NASCAR though. They do eventually learn (unless they happened to have already passed out from that last Pabst, a.k.a., PBR) that most cars tend to fling radially outward (Don’t use words like momentum, use words like fling. “Radially” is OK because most have experienced the damage done by poorly made steel belted radials.) into the on-looking crowds. So, always remember to place your cooler and park you truck in the infield behind large masses of concrete. After all, we all know what our most prized possessions are.
By Just Sensible and Sweet
March 11, 2008 9:47 AM | Link to this
Some parent don’t give a damn, and it is NOT the village’s responsibility to pick up their slack.
It IS the village’s responsibility to pay for the long-term incarceration of our citizens at a rate higher than any civilized country in the world, though, isn’t it? How is that a reasonable cost-benefit scenario? Where’s the ROI in putting tax money into prisons vs. better education? Any idea? Or does “nasty & mean” like to fantazise to his “OZ” DVDs….. Yes, that explains a lot.
By OneForTheRoad
March 11, 2008 9:56 AM | Link to this
Outsourcing. That’s the key. America’s business leaders learned this lesson years ago. Let’s follow in the footsteps of the wise. We’ll send out RFQs (that’s Request for Quotes) to the world’s educators. Let’s see, there are some interesting schools in Saudi Arabia, ………
By Ron
March 11, 2008 10:14 AM | Link to this
Listenow.Jim didn’t say this was a cure-all, just a tiny baby step in the direction of school boards taking responsibility for their own actions.I personally think at the state education level they will fight this ‘til the end.Can’t be letting up on their empire,you know.
On to the meat of today’s problem.Mrs.Gov.was obviously there yesterday to make sure the Gov.read what she put on the paper,word for word.I never saw her take her eyes off it.I don’t think she’s going to cut and run,she knows where her benies and perks come from.Gov himself may even try to brazen it out.Good luck on that one Gov.Meanwhile we wait.
$4100 to get your kid into a decent school.The bribe might be worth it.
By getalife
March 11, 2008 10:15 AM | Link to this
“Rep. Rick Renzi, R-Ariz., allegedly defrauded dozens of pro-life organizations for hundreds of thousands of dollars to fund his first congressional bid, according to an analysis of the recent indictment against him, a state insurance claim and an interview with an insurance lawyer involved in the case.”
OMG, he stole your abortion money.
By jbmlaw
March 11, 2008 10:30 AM | Link to this
Dear getalife @ 10:15, did you see the WSJ note this morning pushing Bobby Jindal as McCain’s VP?
By OneForTheRoad
March 11, 2008 10:32 AM | Link to this
Let’s see. For today’s lesson we will start with learning how to spell Achmed. Listennow. A - C - flem….
Next, Governor Perdue thinks we would be wise to start learning more about Chinese culture. How many of you know that this is the year of the RAT?
Now, let’s learn how to transform that $2400/month house payment into the equivalent number of Yuan.
Mark your calenders. Next week, Governor Perdue will show us how to properly address that house payment envelope. He will also be telling us of his efforts to teach the Chinese where to mail their property tax payments. It’s very confusing to keep up with so many different county assessor’s names and addresses.
By Crenshaw8
March 11, 2008 10:38 AM | Link to this
It sure sounds like Georgia’s legislature is doing the right thing.
Give the power to the people.
Home-schoolers ‘in shock’ over court ruling
National and California home-schooling advocates are banding together to fight a state court ruling they say could essentially outlaw the practice of allowing parents to teach their children at home.
The Home School Legal Defense Association (HSLDA) and the Home School Association of California (HSC) say the court decision, which said home-schooling parents must have a valid state teaching license and they have no constitutional right to home-school, takes aim at the education programs many families use to get exemption from the public school system.
Liberal-progressive-socialism is a world paradigm in which greedy capitalists become rich by grinding workers down to bare-subsistence levels of income, while forcing the workers to buy whatever products they produce, at whatever prices they elect to charge. Hence the endless harping in the New York Times about income inequality.
In that paradigm, social justice demands that the undeservedly rich capitalists be expropriated, either by seizing their property and placing it under collective ownership, or by imposing a multitude of regulations that convey the rights of ownership to the political state. This is known as socialization.
The most important element of liberal-progressive-socialism, however, is control of the educational system. Henri de Saint-Simon, who systematically conceptualized socialism in the first decades of the 19th century, wrote that the educational system must be controlled by the highest level of the political state’s intellectual councils, so that nothing other than the doctrine of socialism may be taught.
Americans shouldn’t have to go to court to fight for what is rightfully theirs.
By Passionate Conservative
March 11, 2008 10:39 AM | Link to this
I’m already shelling out $13,000 per year to keep my kid in a good private school, away from the riff-raff. True, $4,100 won’t come close to covering that, but it will help. Now if the legislature will come up with a way to allow me to avoid paying public school taxes, I’ll be its slave for life.
By Copyleft
March 11, 2008 10:48 AM | Link to this
Ah. So you embrace the principle, “I’ll look out for my kids, and to he-ll with everyone else’s,” right?
If so, you should endorse the notion of single people, and childless couples, paying no school taxes either, yes?
By Aaron
March 11, 2008 10:55 AM | Link to this
On the issue of affordable private education Mr. Wooten I would argue that how much a family desires good education is dependent on how important their children are to them. If children are their priority then they’ll figure out a way to make up the difference after vouchers. If not, they’ll accept what the government offers no matter how lousy it is. A culture that has been nursed on the government teat will sacrifice their children to suckle for life thereby suckling the life out of the system. No incentive to progress-just enough to get by. An attitude like that keeps you enslaved to government failure.
By Dusty
March 11, 2008 11:03 AM | Link to this
Let’s see. I’m trying to get all these ideas “straight”.
Jim Wooten thinks it is a good idea to pay parents who want to get their children out of “bad” schools.
RedNeck Convert, the undercover lib, had rather talk about Spitzer’s raunchy indiscretions by naming every Republican who has misbehaved. He playfully suggests the closing of public schools and suggests that Wooten said that, even though Wooten did not.
jbmlaw advocates freedom of any kind, even in school matters. He closes with a brief reprint of an accurate Hillary “hit”.
Captain Freedom, another undercover lib, understands Spitzer very well and wishes to name all Republican dalliances as reminders that Democrats are “pure” people and Repubs are not. (Ha!)
Mid South Phil is an educator who hates educators. He also dislikes “sorry” paarents who care not about the education of their children. He hates “achievement tests”.
RedNeck alQueda gets in a prejudiced jab at the South.
CopyLeft gets in his polticial two cents with an Obama appreciation note.
Deegee says private schools will be no better than public ones—same crowd of teachers.
Nasty & Mean says the whole thing comes out of Karl Marx.
Somebody said that dumb children will still be dumb no matter what.
My ideas? I’ll stick with jbmlaw and declare “freedom” is the answer. That’s generic enough, is it not? I think we all have spring fever brought on by snow flakes in the school of thought. Must be time for a PoFo “joke”.
By Ellen
March 11, 2008 11:07 AM | Link to this
Dusty dearest, with our lifestyle, there’s no need for you to keep things straight. Just have my dinner ready and wear that little thing I like when I get there.
By OneForTheRoad
March 11, 2008 11:14 AM | Link to this
The advertisement across the top of my screen is for Sylvan Learning Center. They have a special right now. They will provide a skills assessment for $75. Wow. What a deal. I wonder if they would find me deficient in any particular subject. Does anyone remember those “Art” schools that did the advertisements in magazines, etc. Draw the picture of the “whatever” and mail it in. If you were good enough, they would send a representative out to meet with you and to discuss your future at the Art Institute. I’m still pretty good with Math and Science even though I have been retired for six years now. I wonder if I could get payed to instruct people over the internet. Today, we shall begin with basic DC Circuit analysis. No. Not your cup o joe. How about Numerical Analysis of Multi-variable Partial Differential Equations. That’s always a crowd pleaser. Coming up with an appropriate fee may be the most taxing aspect for me. I didn’t specialize in finance.
By Just Nasty and Mean
March 11, 2008 11:15 AM | Link to this
Sensible & Sweet @ 9:47am In case you haven’t noticed, or failed to make the cognitive correlation, the jails are full using YOUR faulty system of education! The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over-and-over again expecting a different result. Think things through before your spout off your government educated Clintonian mouth.
You and Bill Gates, Warren Buffet and all the rest of the billionaires could spend all their money on education, and the USA would STILL have their proportion of stupid people who don’t want educated. Clayton county spends $10,000+ per student! See any positive results there? Explain how doing well is ostracized as “Acting White”! While your at it, explain why we have homeless people after spending—literally—-TRILLIONS of $$$$ over decades attempting to remedy it.
The proof your concept does not work is exactly the example you quote.
“Stupid is as stupid does”.
By Dusty
March 11, 2008 11:35 AM | Link to this
There’s a photo of Lisa Marie Presley with the story about her suing over a story about her being fat (she’s pregnant). There’s a link under the picture that says “Enlarge.” Tee hee.
By jbmlaw
March 11, 2008 11:42 AM | Link to this
Dear One @ 9:20, when you said “CEO’s”, you really meant “movie stars” didn’t you? As to your 11:14 note, “we shall begin with basic DC Circuit analysis,” I can give you that in two words: conservative justices.
Dear Copy @ 9:27, might as well embrace change now, because there won’t be any left to hug after Hussein’s tax increase goes into effect.
Dear Dusty @ 11:03, thanks. When one keeps one’s eye on the big picture, the small stuff falls into place easily
By TW
March 11, 2008 11:42 AM | Link to this
So, most homes in Clayton County are sustained by a single income and have that other adult at home in position to teach the kid?
Newsflash - the public schools in the neighborhoods with the ‘stay home moms’ are pretty decent - better than what $4100 will get you in the private sector, anyway…
$4100 barely gets full time day care, but I’ll bet the GOP already knows that…
By Just Sensible and Sweet
March 11, 2008 11:47 AM | Link to this
Just Nasty and Mean, we have the highest incarceration rate in the world. Is it your position then, that AMERICANS ARE BAD, or are we JUST STUPID? Why do you hate America? Feel free to move away to where the smart, good people are, since you hate your own people so much.
By jbmlaw
March 11, 2008 11:48 AM | Link to this
Dear Sensible @ 9:47, I believe Nasty has the stronger argument @ 11:15. The choice is not for apportioning expenditures between “incarceration” and “education” – the only real choice is that between “incarceration” and “allowing the criminal to run free.” Even if you were right about the inverse relationship between expenditures for education and incarceration, it does not necessarily follow that our best course would be to have smarter criminals. The educated criminals are the toughest to catch, a la Elliot Spitzer.
Dear Dusty @ 11:35, too bad Taranto is on vacation this week - the photo would be ideal for his “Best of the Web” column. As an alternative you could send it to WCLV’s “This Week in the Media” and they’s send you a CD.
By Aaron
March 11, 2008 11:49 AM | Link to this
Sensible & Sweet Now there’s a name for you. Wants to feel good while ignoring the realities of personal responsibility. Guilt is associated with liberal policies. Don’t leave home without it.
Sheesh!
By Dusty
March 11, 2008 11:51 AM | Link to this
Ah well, another ID THIEF at work at 11:35.
I never use tee hee. That’s a lib injection if I ever heard one.
By Very concerned
March 11, 2008 12:00 PM | Link to this
In reading this article, one thing concerns me. Why does this bill assume that all schools need to ‘produce better results in graduate rates?” I teach in a very sucessful public school district and have for many years. The majority of our students not only graduate from high school, but earn 4 year degrees. Every time the state legislature gets riled up about education, however, some law gets passed that affects my ability to do my job. This will be no different. I find it interesting that failed school systems could be taken over by neighboring districts, as well. What makes the legislators think that a successful school district would want to be affilliated with an unsuccesful one? This is an issue that is very important to those of us who teach near that soon to be unacreditted system. We don’t want their problems becoming ours. Four thousand dollars per child is not worth the difficulty of trying to teach an unprepared student an accelerated curriculum. I know these bills are only being considered because of the Clayton County fiasco, but I say the state needs to stay out of that mess. Their citizens are responsible for the success or failure of their school system, not some politician in Atlanta. Clayton, you broke it; now fix it yourselves!
By Mid-South Philosopher
March 11, 2008 12:06 PM | Link to this
Dusty
You finally have me figured out! And this time, I am not being obnoxious.
I don’t believe there is any such thing as a educator. It is a myth. No one can educate anyone else. However, one can teach and that requires a highly competent individual. With few exceptions, Master Teachers develop over years of practice and application.
Several on here have bemoaned the fact that too many parents and other child care givers send their offspring to school to be serviced in most every phase of existence. It is true. The vast number of children are scarely ready to really apply themselves when they arrive at the schoolhouse doors. However, that is no excuse for any teacher to take the attitude of “what’s the use” or “why bother.”
Government, mentally deficient as it tends to be, collectively, generates rules and regulations, unfunded mandates, and other obstacles for good teachers to navigate. The dud teachers do little, make no waves, and flow on through. Administrators, by and large, suffer from a lack of courage to act against the duds, who often are related to some school board member!
Standardized testing has its place, but it is not the sum determiner of an educated person. To wit: I challenge the total membership of the Georgia General Assembly (together with Silly Sonny) to take the 2008 SAT and post their scores.
I will even make it easier. They can take the 2008 Eighth grade CRCT. Don’t hold your breath.
By Why?
March 11, 2008 12:07 PM | Link to this
Who missed the most votes
dems governing is tantamount to law enforcement, fire department personnel opting not to work because they have the “blue flu.”
By OneForTheRoad
March 11, 2008 12:13 PM | Link to this
jbmlaw at 11:42. Now that’s what I’m talkin’ ‘bout. Good show. I always did enjoy the Beverly Hillbillys — black gold and all. And that DC Circuit. It does get wired up from time to time, don’t it.
But, the later WOW (that’s Words Of Wisdom) about incarcerating education has me wondering if there is not a more cost effective solution. I keep thinking of more movie stars in classics such as The Dirty Dozen or The Guns of Navarone — just try to make it back alive and all your dirty deeds will be washed away, purged, buried or otherwise inaccessible.
By Client Ho #9
March 11, 2008 12:27 PM | Link to this
Watching the media, and the libs, circle the toilets with this Spitzface hypocrite goes beyond all boundaries of media sewage. It’s just “tragic” and a “private matter” and all that BS. Oh really, when did you jerkholes suddenly consider those matters private and tragic? It sure wasn’t during similar shenanigans from Republicans over the last few years. The winner of idiocy in journalism spin goes to the Corrupt News Network late last night. Some clown being interviewed attempted to equate Spitzface with Republicans: “He had a lot of Conservative ideas like going after and breaking up prostitution rings.” Not ONCE did this clown mention Spitzface as being a liberal dumocrat. No, I am not making that up. Someone has to have that hilarious line out there somewhere. Did Spitzface’s wife look like she was dragged out of bed during that speech by her husband or what? Yeah, she really wanted to be there. LOL.
Next up in dumocrat hypocrite land: prostitution should be legalized likee libertarians want. Guaranteed. Or has that already been said today?
By Copyleft
March 11, 2008 12:46 PM | Link to this
Hey ho: What’s “hypocritical” is the large number of GOP politicans who made LOUD CLAIMS about hating gays, promoting “family values,” etc., who then turned out to be pedophiles, closet homosexuals, and the like.
Democrats have never insisted that consensual sexual behavior among adults is “bad.” We’ve never crusaded against it and piously declared that a Good Christian America should condemn such things. Thus, the hypocrisy charge doesn’t stick to Democrats.
You made this bed of nails; enjoy your slumber!
By Dusty
March 11, 2008 12:51 PM | Link to this
Dear Mid South Phil @12:06
I won’t call you obnoxious, just firm in your beliefs. I understand your feelings about “some” teachers. I could give you a few examples from my own experience: test papers written by a teacher who misspelled many words, a teacher who told me my son was reading too many books on birds, and a principal who said that another son, who was having an asthma attack, should not have run home (two blocks away) for his medication. (There was no school nurse.) The principal added that he himself had a “cold” one time and did not have such a problem. He did not even know the difference between asthma and a “cold”!
But I should add that public schools were adequate enough to help four of my children get college degrees, some with several and more to come. (Excuse the bragging but I am proud of them, of course!) So I appreciate the good teachers they encountered.
I hope you will not give up on schools and teachers. Even the worst ones can give us something. At least I hope that is still true.
And do give the governor a little credit. He DID graduate from vetinary school and I don’t think that is too easy. So, see. He has his good points also.
By Heres one for Democraps in Georgia
March 11, 2008 12:54 PM | Link to this
Hey Democraps, here are some local retards who you voted for that decided voting for you doesn’t matter. http://www.ajc.com/metro/content/metro/stories/2008/03/11/legmissbox0311.html?cxntlid=homepagetab_newstab
By Glenn
March 11, 2008 12:55 PM | Link to this
Pssst.
Jim, when I strip the hyperbole and happytalk out of your column, what remains is your SUPPORT position on three pieces of pending legislation, HB 1208, SB 458, and HB 881. The second and third bills we covered with you a month ago, and AB 1208, which you cover here for the first time, amounts to nothing more than a mini-NCLB. “Change”, Jim? Chump change.
Again, my take is is: spike 458 and amend 881 down to its last provision, providing for funding to follow the child. That provision alone rises to the level of systemic change, and it also moots 458 altogether.
For today, that leaves HB 1208, NCLB Lite. You devote two-thirds of today’s column to that measure. The bill should be amended from its current 11 pages down to five. It’s not that it’s full of boilerplate or even legalese—-in fact, Counsel did a fine job—-it’s that whatever unnamed special interest actually drafted the bill for its ostensible Author filled it with non sequitors and extralegal metaphors. It’s as though the bill were dictated by a rocking whittler at the cracker barrel. (“Shhh…Listen…Pay attention now. Listennow. Listennow.”) Your storytelling here actually exacerbates that Cornpone Jawbone problem.
You say that Rep. Coleman’s HB 1209 is “one piece in a series of tiny reforms that promise to revolutionize the way government treats, and relates to, the parents of children in public schools. It more than represents change. It is change.” Like I say, it may be chump change, but it sure isn’t structural change or a re-forming of anything, and it does nothing to change government’s relationship to the parents of schoolchildren.
At the core of the bill is a charter between the state and one of its school district. The bill prefers to call this charter or compact a “contract” (which in itself is odd, since one would think that a school district, as a creature and subdivision of the state, could not enter into a strictly voluntary and therefore legally valid contract with its very creator and owner). And the meat of this contract is a plan, a plan to improve school scores. The bill whimsically calls this a “strategic plan”, though of course it would be a tactical proposal, not a strategic plan, as the state remains in control of the strategy—-which is no strategy—-while under HB 1208 it hands off tactics to any of its Lieutenants (school districts) that volunteers to take the hill the state wants taken in pursuit of its strategy to achieve an unspecified victory.
And from there the whole damn bill basically drowns in its own euphemism and muddled thinking.
Listennow, Jim. This is important. Listen again to your heroic Pro Tem: “If we’re on the Titanic, let’s put the children in the lifeboats and worry about who hit the iceberg later.” Jim, that is what you today are calling real change. Into the lifeboats!
And your “agressive incrementalism”, Jim?
Row faster through the ‘bergs!
Where, Jim?
To the North!
Where in the North?
Shut up and row!
Why didn’t we just TAKE A FU@#!NG BOENG, JIM?
By Jackie
March 11, 2008 12:57 PM | Link to this
The NY GOP is calling for the impeachment of Eliot Spitzer of NY. Wonder how these folks are always wanting to impeach someone for personal improprieties, yet, will defend to the nth degree, overt law-breaking actions of Dubya. The Dems and Nancy Pelosi are dumber than a pile of rocks. She took the threat of impeachment off the table when she was elected, hoping to restore some bi-partisan fervor back into the House of Reps. Nancy should not be re-elected and Dubya and his band of criminals should be frog-marched out of the White House.
By Craig Spinks
March 11, 2008 12:58 PM | Link to this
The popular culture brings Georgia public schools problems that may not be amenable to organizational solutions. A culture that devalues intellectual activity, personal responsibility, civility and the postponement of gratification presents obstacles with which charter schools and free-wheeling BOEs might not be able to grapple. Solving these problems will require a cultural transformation in which the schools must play an aggressive role. Short of such a essential transformation, however, schools must be authorized to maintain safe, orderly learning environments by reassigning unruly students to alternative programs expanded to meet the high and rising need.
By OneForTheRoad
March 11, 2008 12:58 PM | Link to this
Copyleft, I don’t think either Democrats or Republicans are in any position to be throwing the stones. Do you? Now if they all want to get together and throw a party with the Stones as the lead act, that’s OK. Just don’t do it with taxpayer dollars unless it will be broadcast on PBS.
Otherwise, it’s:
Vote for Ron Paul in 2008
The only honest one formerly known as presidential candidate out there — a true Prince of a fellow.
By Morgan Morganstern
March 11, 2008 12:59 PM | Link to this
No, Dusty, tee hee definitely belongs in the GOP column, spoken by such manly adventurers as Sen. Craig, Foley, Diaper Boy, etc.
The lib versions are Bwa! and Geez.
By jm
March 11, 2008 1:06 PM | Link to this
I am just waiting for the first lawsuit to be filed by a parent, who with their $4,100.00 check in hand, is told that they cannot enroll their child anywhere they wish.
I am also waiting for the first lawsuit to be filed by parents who do not want their school accepting students with their $4,100.00 checks in hand.
By Glenn
March 11, 2008 1:19 PM | Link to this
Good points, in my humble, jm @ 1:06.
Just Nasty and Smelly, right on.
jbm, the freedom of which you speak is the freedom of the bird dog to hasten with another’s prey to the feet of that other.
By Sonny
March 11, 2008 1:30 PM | Link to this
Thanks, Dusty. Yeah, vet school is tough. But it gives me license to sterilize cows. When are you free?
By Captain Freedom
March 11, 2008 1:31 PM | Link to this
THE Captain would like to point out that the man likely to take the place of the Liberal Spitzer is himself not only a liberal Democrat, he is also from Harlem, if you catch THE Captain’s drift, and is also legally blind.
This is what happens when Our Nation runs rampant with political correctness combined with affirmative action gone amock…a Blind Negro will be placed in charge of the State of New York. Even worse, the man is an unrepentant Hillary supporter who will no doubt block John McCain from his victory in that state.
So, one of Those People (tm, Redneck) not only controls Our City Hall, but also the state of Taxachsuetts and soon, the State of New York. If someone does not stop Obamandingo, Our Women will not be safe anywhere.
We live in troubled times, indeed. We of True Belief must pray harder and put out more flags if we are to counteract this Islamelaninocataractist cabal.
By @@
March 11, 2008 1:51 PM | Link to this
I’ll tell ‘ya Jim, I’ve got no problem with incremental changes. Anything is better than what we’ve got but then I’m a resident of Clayton County with a daughter who has recently been accepted at William & Mary and The University of Virginia for her masters program (other institutions of higher learning as well). Oddly enough, she was rejected by Georgia State which would have been her last choice because she seeks a college campus atmosphere, not an urban setting. I know I sound like a “very proud” Mom, and I am. The accomplishment goes to my daughter though.
Although my daughter has graduated and moved on, I care about the kids left behind. I have a problem with charter schools. I can’t place my finger on why except to say that one recently tried to open here in Clayton. The individual attempting to do so realized, only after the fact, that she and many of those seeking to enroll had incompetently voted for “the incompetent” who serve on our B.O.E. How can I be reassured that their incompetency in voting wouldn’t follow them into their charter school?
I like the tax incentive proposal for funding alternatives to what the government offers. The greatest problem I see is that there aren’t enough “private” alternatives available. Local businesses need to step up and offer those alternatives. There could be some profit in it — competition drives the best consumer product afterall.
Heck, look at what the government makes for offering nothing.
“Chump” change it ain’t!
When you think about it, it’s their version of the Big Box Chumps “R” Us.
Suffice it to say….I’m open to hearing the jingle of a little “change.”
By Glenn
March 11, 2008 1:58 PM | Link to this
Aaron @ 10:55 (esp.),
Smart thinking, good reading. You may wish to consider how literal is your breast-feeding metaphor: “A culture that has been nursed on the government teat will sacrifice their children to suckle for life thereby suckling the life out of the system.” Not only does the Latin educatio mean to nurse at the breast, but it hasn’t escaped notice that by delivering 11 years of compulsory education services to every American, the State teaches the People—-if it teaches them nothing else—-to become consumers of services rendered by government-appointed experts. Even in China and Cuba, then, the structure of education service delivery is creating capitalist consumers under the noses of masters on uneasy terms with the capitalist service economy.
Very concerned practitioner @ Noon, the bills were in the works before the Clayton County scandals broke, but you’re right: they’re full of holes and unexamined suppositions. All the best to you in your work.
Craig Spinks @ 12:58,
Thanks for your incisive macro-analysis. I agree with your diagnosis, but must disagree sadly with your prognosis of social transformation in which the schools play a central role. First of all, that’s a lot of human husbandry, and an elitist’s foul power fantasy. Second, the education system is systemically incapable of any such transformation.
By Redneck Convert
March 11, 2008 2:02 PM | Link to this
Well, @@ done ruint the hopes of a lot of young bucks on this blog. If she’s got a dotter old enough to go get a masters that means @@ must be about as old as sourpuss Sister Dusty. You might of knowed everything would turn out bad.
By OneForTheRoad
March 11, 2008 2:08 PM | Link to this
Big businesses tried getting into the education aspect of our society. They had this program called “Bring your kid to work for a day”. The kids said “You get paid to do this” and all wanted to drop out of school and go straight to work. The parents struggled with trying to figure out how to entertain their kids at work for a full day (at least, the ones that worked for a living did). Company executives quickly came to the realization that someone had to take the wrap for that idea and ganged up on the closest junior executive at the next board meeting. Now, big business will give the parent a day off to go to school with their child and explain their job to the class. At the following board meeting, the surviving executives proclaimed that the loss of their top talent for a day each year was tough but well worth it to the future of the “company” and to the future business leaders of America.
By Glenn
March 11, 2008 2:10 PM | Link to this
Redneck, some of us like women even better than we like girls.
By Captain Freedom
March 11, 2008 2:19 PM | Link to this
Yes, Glenn, but according to Redneck if you like girls more than you like your truck, you’re a qu3er.
By Glenn
March 11, 2008 2:34 PM | Link to this
Well that’s just it, Captain. I keep trying to tell Redneck that a classical education is a good thing. For example, he’d dig Eros. Eros is one bad boy. He’s got enough under the hood to spread luuuuuv to woman and truck alike. Me, I lost my Jeep to divorce, and miss it so. I held the marriage together best I could for many brutal years, to keep a home intact for that Jeep. MAN! The things we do for our trucks…
By Bubba Li Cious
March 11, 2008 2:40 PM | Link to this
Jeeps!!!!! What’s this talk about Jeeps in the same sentence with trucks. One of my front tires weighs more than a JEEP. We use JEEPS to fill in mud holes when they get more than ten feet deep.
By @@
March 11, 2008 2:44 PM | Link to this
Redneck:
Just how old must one be to begin a master’s program? How old must one be to deliver a child?
Assumptions are a liberal privilege.
As someone who’s no longer a liberal I dare not make them.
I’d share with you what my daughter’s high school guy friends said about me, but then I would be equating them to PoliFore who has the hots for Hillary but later tried to deny when I called him on it.
Too funny it was.
By jbmlaw
March 11, 2008 2:52 PM | Link to this
Dear Glenn @ 1:19, I am under whelmed by the wisdom of those who determine the needs of others’s children (not intended as a potshot at you - you do not claim expertise exclusively by virtue of being elected by 50% + 1.)
If you would otherwise suspend state funding for schools entirely, I find that intellectually consistent, just as I can rationalize abolition of compulsory attendance. It is far more difficult for me to intellectually justify permitting the Georgia legislature to determine where a child goes to school, or what is taught. To the extent you argue for rescission of legislative standards, I have no dispute; less legislation is generally better than more legislation, and certainly there are many education alternatives to “centralized control.”
The decider ought to be the parents, as they are best situated to determine the needs of their legal charge, the child. Abolition of central authority is the common positive thread in all three proposals for discussion today. Keep the prey, and just let the bird dog go.
By Glenn
March 11, 2008 2:54 PM | Link to this
Well I’ve had four Jeeps, and loved every one of ‘em. The smallest one hauled a Forest Service TRUCK a good 100 feet back up a steep embankment. It ain’t the size; it’s the torsion.
But I tell you, it sure is good to be out of the garage as an open an unashamed Four-By-sexual. We’re here and we’re in gear! Life’s a boulder. Get over it!
By Glenn
March 11, 2008 3:28 PM | Link to this
Jbm, I agree with this recent statement of yours completely. In fact, what you politely call the “‘centralized control’” that “determine[s] where a child goes to school, or what is taught”, I have called social control, eugenics, social engineering, power lust, human husbandry, and manic sociopathy.
It was your first post of the day with which I took issue, the one in which you say of Jim’s three A-OK bills: “All three of the templates seem to increase freedom, and would be worthy of support.” I feel that all three, except for the backend piece of HB 881, fall into our No-No category. Hence the thing about the bird dog and its master.
I trust you know that I specialize in systems to break the radio collar off that dog. Jim consistently seems to think that because he doesn’t see the radio waves, therefore they don’t exist. They do.
By Copyleft
March 11, 2008 3:36 PM | Link to this
The decider ought to be the parents, as they are best situated to determine the needs of their legal charge, the child.
Except for the ones that aren’t, of course. Oh, I forgot—in Libertarian Fantasyland, all parents are perfect parents! And even if they’re not, it’s not OUR place to intervene and save the life of an abused or neglected child, or one being brainwashed to think like a terrorist. Heavens, no! That would interfere with the “rights of the individual” (you know, that individual who’s currently destroying another individual’s life).
Sheesh, libertarian types are so transparently silly sometimes… The whole reason we need public education is because so many parents, quite frankly, are MORONS.
By jbmlaw
March 11, 2008 3:42 PM | Link to this
Yes copyleft @ 3:36, and in the socialist paradise the government is more competent to make decisions than the parent. Morons are unfamiliar with Orwell.
By jbmlaw
March 11, 2008 3:44 PM | Link to this
Dear Glenn @ 3:28, I acknowledge that I rely fully on Jim’s summary and have not read the texts of the proposed statutes.
By Glenn
March 11, 2008 3:47 PM | Link to this
The whole reason we need public education is because so many parents, quite frankly, are MORONS.
Yeah, Copyleft, that would be the first thing they teach in the departments of Education, all right. The educratic wet nurses want the babes at their teat, and not at Mommy’s. Bad parent, bad!
Besides, as Jim points out today, the scapegoating is a “crutch”, an “excuse that it’s somebody else’s fault if a system turns out junk.” Part of the genius of Moynihan was that he saw that it was the system which was debilitating the parents.
By Peter
March 11, 2008 4:00 PM | Link to this
BAGHDAD (CNN) — Adm. William Fallon has resigned as chief of U.S. forces in the Middle East and Central Asia after more than a year in the post, citing what he called inaccurate news reports that put him at odds with the Bush administration over Iran.
Adm. William Fallon had been serving as chief of U.S. forces in the Middle East and Central Asia since 2007.
“Although I don’t believe there have ever been any differences about the objectives of our policy in the Central Command area of responsibility, the simple perception that there is makes it difficult for me to effectively serve America’s interests there,” Fallon said in a statement issued Tuesday.
In Washington, Defense Secretary Robert Gates told reporters at the Pentagon that he accepted Fallon’s resignation reluctantly
Interesting….. I wonder what the inaccuracies were…..
Maybe we are winning ?????
By Peter
March 11, 2008 4:09 PM | Link to this
Also you have to love this article…..
WASHINGTON (AP) — China, host of the summer Olympics, is an authoritarian nation that denies its people basic human rights and freedoms, harasses journalists and foreign aid workers and tortures prisoners, the United States charged Tuesday.
Well I wonder what we are going to do now……
STOP borrowing money for our Made UP WAR ? HA HA HA
I doubt it then where would we be……?
I guess with NO FUNDING for the WAR……we would be CUT and RUN…as the Wrongs contend on this page.
Makes me feel good that we are borrowing SO MUCH Money from this country……
We should be VERY PROUD as AMERICANS the administration we support borrows China’s money and pay’s them back SOOOOOOOoooooooo much interest…..
Maybe we should ask Adm. William Fallon, what he thinks…
By Linux Paul Ng
March 11, 2008 4:28 PM | Link to this
No one should go to China in preparation for or during the Beijing Games on U.S. government business. Not even embassy personnel, Marines or attaches, or their families.
The Professional Olympics are a Nuremburg rally for the host country and a trade show for everyone else. The President of the United States has no business participating in either. And nor should any of his subordinates do, on the People’s nickel.
By Captain Freedom
March 11, 2008 4:30 PM | Link to this
THE Captain is heartened at the news that Adm Fallon has stepped down. Perhaps this two-bit sailor was caught with prostitutes.
Whatever. This medal-bedecked pretender to miltary status (a Navy man, spits THE Captain, who would have been a Marine save for his pilonidal cyst) was never anything more than an impediment to the necessary task of invading and subjugating the Islamunijihadiecofascists of Iran. Unlike REAL military men, Fallen Fallon was never afraid of Iran, which fact demonstrates his extreme lack or seriousness and gravitas.
Now that this quaking little liberal fairy is out of the way, Our Leader and His Cheney are free to conduct foreign policy as They see fit, unencumbered by so-called “professional” military men who fail to understand the grave and present danger presented by the International Conspiracy of Swarthy Terror.
Perhaps the humble General David Sycophantus Petreus is willing to set aside his distaste for ambition and career striving and accept the position to further the greater good of liberating the Iranians from their living hell. It should be a cakewalk, and Our Troops will be greeted as liberators by a grateful population. What could possibly go wrong?
THE Captain urges the good General to consider this plea for Our Salvation.
By Dusty
March 11, 2008 5:10 PM | Link to this
Dear Captain Freedom,@4:30
Just because you were not made leader of the Boy Scouts, should not reflect on an honest-to-goodness American admiral who has fought for his country and still serves. Ah, the joy of liberalism to frown on such a man as this. The Captain, little familiar with renown and bravery, makes his merry way of accusation and flub-the-dub insinuation of the much decorated Admiral. Perhaps, because the Captain fled the Scouts in tears over his rejection, he expects the same from The Admiral. But it was not to be.
The Admiral, in all honesty, has mentioned the Press. We all understand too well the perfidy of the press in performing the truth. There is so little honesty in the journalistic world that our Jim Wooten shines like a star of truth. There is no surprise that the Press would undermine with pleasure the military leaders of our country. That is their pleasure.
Thus our Captain, in his sacrifice to liberalism, would indict the Admiral and belittle General Petraeus. So what’s new? Nothing! The Captain did forget to say one usual lib accusation: “Bush did it!”
By MomCat
March 11, 2008 5:21 PM | Link to this
By Redneck Convert March 11, 2008 2:02 PM Well, @@ done ruint the hopes of a lot of young bucks on this blog. If she’s got a dotter old enough to go get a masters that means @@ must be about as old as sourpuss Sister Dusty. You might of knowed everything would turn out bad.
Yep, nasty spirited old women! Don’t care about anything, anyone but themselves and theirs. Nasty! Nasty! Nasty!
By Captain Freedom
March 11, 2008 5:27 PM | Link to this
Tis true, dearest Dusty. Mr Wooten is indeed like a stream of bat’s pi$$, shining like a shaft of gold whilst all around is darkness.
Never mind that, though. Sailor Boy Fallon disagreed publicly with Our Leader on several occasions, most damning being his abject lies that Iran has no notable nuclear program and are not a viable threat. As with any other military man who dares question Our Leader’s infallibility, Semen Fallon is now a fair target for slander, character assasination, and generalized swift boating.
It is the Right Thing to do.
By Glenn
March 11, 2008 5:44 PM | Link to this
Captain, David Petraeus always has been something of the opposite of a sycophant, and anyone in U.S. Army Special Forces can tell you that he doesn’t tolerate sycophancy either.
By Dusty
March 11, 2008 6:01 PM | Link to this
Ah dear Captain,@5:27
You finally got around to it. “Bush did it.” The admiral is resigning BECAUSEmilitary men who dare question Our Leader’s infallibility will be soon gone. Spoken like a true blue lib Captain full of fat lies.
You serve the Democrats while the President, the Admiral and the military serve the country. You most certainly have a cyst but on the opposite end from where you mentioned. Post your graffiti on rumbling freight cars where it belongs.
By Captain Freedom
March 11, 2008 6:02 PM | Link to this
Glenn,
Perhaps that was true in the earlier years of his career. In fact, Gen Petraeus’ much-hearalded opus on counter-insurgency tactics led THE Captain to believe that he would view Our Leader’s Noble Crusade as the embodiment of insanity. But Gen Spartacus is shrewd, and he understands that to get ahead in Our Leader’s army it is necessary to go to war with the CoC he has, and not the one he would wish to have. And to have the wisdom to tell Our Leader that which validates Our Leader. Or to allow Our Leader’s scribes to write his report for him. Either way, smart guy. THE Captain is impressed.
And like any great military leader, The Man Petraeus is a forward thinking tactician, allowing his gaze to rest on the quarry of 2012.
By Mile High
March 11, 2008 6:05 PM | Link to this
By Copyleft
March 11, 2008 12:46 PM | Link to this
“Hey ho: What’s “hypocritical” is the large number of GOP politicans who made LOUD CLAIMS about hating gays, promoting “family values,” etc.”
For a group of liberal dummycrats who used every racial epithet against the lilkes of Condi Rice, Clarence Thomas, and certainly hurled every homosexual epithet at that gay White House reporter Gannon, I’d just like for you and those of your ilk that your words ring hollow. Gay epithets against Conservative bloggers here not withstanding of course.
With that said, any 12 year old can tell you that there are exceptions to everything. Further, anyone who can actually think on his or her own understands that the Republican sexual deviancy (straight or gay) is the exception and not the rule. But we all knew you sexual deviants on the left have no morals. You are proud of it.
Wait, I take that back. You neo-communist liberal democrats DO have one “moral” that you believe in: stealing money from hardworking and successful Americans (including business owners) and giving it out to those who didn’t earn it.
How saintly of you liberal democrats.