Minneapolis schools on Obama speech: ‘Motivating students is not controversial’

You whiny, red-neck, racist, bigoted, mouth-breathing, drooling, in-bred, and feeble-minded bastards have finally done what not even Michelle Bachmann has been able to do – I am embarrassed for Minnesota. How do you people negotiate stairs? Objecting to the President of the United States telling our children to work hard, read and study. You people who called objecting to Obama speaking to grade schoolers have exposed your selves for the right wing hypocrites that you are.

Well said, well spoken, eloquently stated.

And “How do you people negotiate stairs?” Too funny, i will be stealing that one.

That is AWESOME Thomas!!!!!
I got on the internet to try and search this “Motivational” speech further, before I signed the parental consent form giving my permission for my son and daughter to watch this.
What do i find??? The first article I read has a comment from an “OBAMA WORSHIPER” who can’t see anyway but their way!!! If someone doesn’t jump aboard and support every WHIMSICAL IDEA your Political Band Wagon decides to shove down our throats then we are REDNECK BIGGOTS!!!
But OMG let’s Mind F**K our children into the Obamination!!!!
First and foremost, IT SHOULD NOT BE MANDATORY for our CHILDREN to be forced to listen to HOW THEY SHOULD PROMISE TO FOLLOW OBAMA’S PLAN!!!!
I understand it to be more of a WHY YOU SHOULD LOVE YOU SOME OBAMA…..and not SO MUCH, DO A GREAT JOB THE PRESIDENT THINKS YOU SHOULD STAY ON TASK AND BE GREAT….so on and so forth!!!!!
I will make my decision after it is released Monday and based on what the speech entails!!!!

P.S.
Thomas, I’m sure you make our President PROUD….Whackjob!!!!!!

Sounds like you made your decision already, Regina.

Wow- all of you sound like communust- in support of fascism. If people are voicing their opinion or feel this is a political scam- they have that right- it is Constitutional- unlike some of the things our President and our government are doing– but it will be a beautiful day when your lives are completely controlled by the government and you are sitting in your government raided house with food rations and healthcare rations and crying about how you should have understood years ago– I say this– a person who doesn’t use his freedom to preserve his freedom does not deserve his freedom– enjoy.

As a lifetime Minnesota educator, my excitement for our students to hear President Obama’s speech about the importance of education couldn’t be greater. I really don’t believe this should be a negotiated item in the realm of what our children should watch or not watch. I am sure it will be positive and encouraging. Quite the opposite of the remarks they are hearing in the media. The ignorance of some of our Minnesotans is really shocking. And when you add to that list a number of teachers it leans toward total ignorance.

You, the people

The controversy surrounding President Barack Obama address to the nation’s students is typically American.

Some republican districts across the country will let principals decide whether to show the speech live, tape or ignore it. Opponents are clearly trying to stop the president to be in the limelight. Haven’t Republican presidents Ronald Reagan and George H.W. Bush delivered similar speeches to students without any turmoil? Two things about that situation. The first is to find it the silliest I ever seen! Is there a mother in the United States who doesn’t want his kids to succeed in school and have a great future? The second is to kneel in front of the freedom of the people of a country who let this silly situation take place.

Half of the value of the President Barack Obama’s address to the students will have been delivers before he opens his mouth Tuesday. His political opponents will have proved there is more freedom in their country than in any other. As for the kids who can be deprived of something, the speech will be freely available on the Net, their own world. Trying to stop them doing something is the best way to make them doing it. This is typically American and is preserved by its constitution. “We the people”, said the Fathers. Yes, you, the people have the right to say no to your president.

With the current political polarization, I see one way to deal with this problem and that is to air this address at night – with family. End of story. Obama is doing some outlandish things – and surrounding himself with some less than America supporting people. Go research Van Jones for a good take on what I am saying.

The proof is in the pudding.

Now is not the time for a liberal leaning/supportive organization such as the teachers union to oversee and discuss any of Obama’s agendas. It was a close election…too many people are not on board with this administration.

FYI to all, this site is complete with nothing but liberal bias. You so called Independent Media blow hards…This comment sight is completely shameful. They have stripped anything contrary to the above. I know for a fact because they stripped my comments off along with another. No wonder everything is haywire out there, the truth or at least the opposing view point can’t be heard.

I am excited to research the person or organization behind this site. Time to get active and expose these folks.

I retract my last statement but will be watching this site. My comment along with another opposing view were missing the last time I logged into this site. They’re back now.

How do you get to be that paranoid without lots of cocaine?

Is there some anti-depressant that does this, to?

Subliminal messages on corporate news or something?

This is a really great thing that our President is doing. I don’t think there would be much controversy if it was Bush, as it seemed then that the common thing to do was agree with everything he said because it was “patriotic”. It really upsets me that the majority (or at least those who speak loudly) seems to have so much against Obama without even seeing where he’s going. The speech hasn’t happened yet, so why complain about its contents so quickly? If it turns out to be a negative or hurtful speech in any way, then sure, lets do something about it. But for now, we should trust our president a little more and remember that this economy is not his fault, its the people who were in office before him. I remember being pissed at the Bush worshipers as well. If its true that “If someone doesn’t jump aboard and support every WHIMSICAL IDEA your Political Band Wagon decides to shove down our throats then we are REDNECK BIGGOTS” than I guess I am one too.
Presidents have done this in the past, its no big scary thing. Relax and let’s listen to one another.

Scott.
The only comments that get deleted here are those that violate our comment policy (see “Policies” at the bottom of the page). However, if you comment after hours on a Friday, your opinion is unlikely to get approved the instant you share it. Hey, a guy’s gotta get away from the computer once in awhile.
Paul

Let’s be clear here: we are not a white nation, but we have acted and governed like a white nation and put whites above others directly and indirectly here for years. We prevented women, people of color from voting for years and deprived them of lord knows how many civil rights and only begrudingly changed when people protested and demanded change. Left to their own devices, the the conservative white american men who’ve been running the country would still have women not voting and people of color as servants.

We finally have a president who represents the growing, non-caucasian population of our country. Finally we have a president who has first hand experience, and knowledge of how the non-white citizens of our country live, are treated, and more importantly knows how to reach out to them.

The gap between rich and poor is widening, and the number of families and children who are homeless are astounding, and in a bad way. The numbers are primarily non-Caucasian. The children in this category are at risk for illness and getting involved in crime, especially immigrant teens. We let anyone come here, and then we ignore them culturally and exclude them so they seek out frien dship and the gangs are usually thrilled to embrace and enlist them.

The poverty, mistreatment of immigrants and violent crime amongst people of color is shocking and growing at an alarming rate. While we’ve made strides as a country to give rights to people of color and put some programs in place to assist, the white america generally ignores the non-white America…except for athletes and entertainers.

There is a whole generation and population of non-whites who are at risk on so many levels for reasons tied to poverty, single family households, and lots of other reasons…and we as a country are not really doing anything to take care of them. As a country we really cater to the two parent, white household as being our target audience, or representative of our country.

We are a nation of many colors but have only recognized the color white for years and years. We finally have a president of mixed heritage who has charisma and star quality over young and old, who is an ethnic success story of work hard and ye shall succeed, and is the ideal candidate to reach out and tell kids work hard, stay in school and have that message stick. He’s like them; he looks like them. He’s been where some of them have been.

We aren’t a white nation; we have enjoyed pretending to be a white nation, but we aren’t. We have a President for the first time in our history who isn’t a white american male which proves we aren’t a white nation.

That’s got to scare the hell out of the conservative white faction. Let them keep their kids out of school; in fact, why don’t we nominate one or two states in the US as all-white so the conservative white contingency can go live there and be assured there will not be people of color. Utah and Wyoming come to mind. We can even make provisions that their state leaders participate in congress via GotoMeeting and that Joe Biden is their Presidential Candidate.

OK I’ve gone off on a tangent, but seriously–it’s the President, he’s got a positive message and influence, even if you don’t agree with his politics respect him. He has the right to address all citizens including children. We need a president who the youth like so he can have an influence.

And every narrow minded, ignorant, racist conservative bigot who doesn’t like his position can keep their kids home…and good luck explaining to your kids why you don’t want your kid to hear the president speak. I’m sure you’ll come up with a fabulously twisted reason.

For the record I am about as white a female as you can be.

Cheers and I can’t WAIT for the stunningly small-minded conservatives who’ve been posting to reply. Might have a party, should be downright knee-slapping entertainment!!

wow Regina you sure prove Thomas point with your hysterical and retarded internet screaming and swearing, you” understand” incorrectly and it is you who are the whack job and quite retarded to boot, and by the way I dont love Obama i just cant stand morons such as yourself..you are a prime example of what thomas was refering to..you referr to the president as “The obamination”? i’d be surprised if you werent a redneck bigot (spelled with one L) but either way you sure are hysterical, ignorant and easily manipulated , please put down the meth pipe!

Regina
Comment posted September 4, 2009 @ 5:06 PM
That is AWESOME Thomas!!!!!
I got on the internet to try and search this “Motivational” speech further, before I signed the parental consent form giving my permission for my son and daughter to watch this.
What do i find??? The first article I read has a comment from an “OBAMA WORSHIPER” who can’t see anyway but their way!!! If someone doesn’t jump aboard and support every WHIMSICAL IDEA your Political Band Wagon decides to shove down our throats then we are REDNECK BIGGOTS!!!
But OMG let’s Mind F**K our children into the Obamination!!!!
First and foremost, IT SHOULD NOT BE MANDATORY for our CHILDREN to be forced to listen to HOW THEY SHOULD PROMISE TO FOLLOW OBAMA’S PLAN!!!!
I understand it to be more of a WHY YOU SHOULD LOVE YOU SOME OBAMA…..and not SO MUCH, DO A GREAT JOB THE PRESIDENT THINKS YOU SHOULD STAY ON TASK AND BE GREAT….so on and so forth!!!!!
I will make my decision after it is released Monday and based on what the speech entails!!!!

P.S.
Thomas, I’m sure you make our President PROUD….Whackjob!!!!!!

Scott
. It was a close election…too many people are not on board with this administration.

no it was not a “close election” by recent standards it was a little closer to an Obama landslide
“a close election” would be the one bush stole and by your standards he really should have kept his mouth shut.

Rant on all of you stupid, right wing, and bigoted bastards

In 1988 Ronald Reagan spoke to the nation’s school children VIA C-span – his talk included a typical Reagan rant about lower taxes and big government.

In 1991 Herbert Walker Bush broadcast a speech to the nation’s schools promoting his version of right-wing crap.

Where was George Bush and what was he doing when the planes smashed into the towers on 9/11 – trying to read a book about turtles to school children.

Where was your outrage then?

Keep talking you ignorant bastards – with every word you utter you demonstrate a complete lack of anything resembling coherent thought.

My biggest fear is that you are passing your message of hate and fear on to your children.

Ann,

There was a time when white women couldn’t vote. It’s not a black/white thing.

US demographics:

White 73.9%
African American 12.4%
Asian 4.4%
Native American and Alaskan Native 0.8%
Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander 0.1%
Other/multiracial 8.3%
Hispanic or Latino (of any race) 14.8%

(USA.ORG)

As far as religion the US is 75% (or so) Christian. I’m not religious myself but would expect that 75% of the country being white (which used to be more) and Christian, that it would only make sense that that demographic would be more prevalent in EVERYTHING.

You sure wouldn’t think so however…Watch advertising on TV for an example. It’s perfectly blended with all races. In fact I see more black people in commercials than white. I guess that makes me a bigot, racial pig. But facts are facts. Give me facts.

ps. I posed a comment on this site as well as another conservative had previously. When I checked back an hour later both were not posted. Paranoid no pissed would be more like it. When my comment had reappeared I had already posted the other comment. Sorry for the confusion.

Scott, I don’t know what your point is here but if you are saying that because we have a white Christian majority they should be in charge and have the right to impose their religion on others, well, you were born in the wrong decade. You are a chip off Hitler’s block and he’d be proud.

“Motivating students is not controversial”. Well, that all depends on how you do it.

This is a contraversial administration.The fact is that people either love or hate what the Obama administration is doing to this country.

I do not see this as a race issue or a past president issue. Ann, why are you so determined to make this a racist issue? Thomas, the name calling and bully tactics are what makes this not okay for k-12.

I think the predominant concern with groups opposing the Obama speech in classrooms are the role of the Federal Government.

Politics belong in political science classes, not in elementery school.

A government address to MINORS in the U.S.A. in my opinion is an overstep.

Clearly it is viewed as a bypass of parental (citizen) rights, otherwise have the address to the nation, or at the very least have the content approved like any other curriculum placed before our students.

I thought my point was clear, let me simplify it even more so for you…

If you have 90% of a group of children that are white and 10% that are black, would you produce 90% black barbie dolls? Let me know if you don’t understand this either and I’ll try to simplify it even more…If I can think of a more simple way of course.

Oh and Thomas – Bush Sr addressed children against taking drugs.

Dan,

46 or so million voted for McCain, 51 or so for Obama…Let’s not forget independent votes by the Call it a landslide if that makes you feel all warm and fuzzy inside though ok. Furthermore, you can’t steal an election that was decided upon by the supreme court can you? Dispute it if you must but fact again are facts.

Scott –

Scott – Let’s talk facts you smug, pedantic little piss-ant –

George Walker Bush’s speech to school children in 1991 – which was REQUIRED listening by the way – was more about his agenda and the upcoming 1992 presidential campaign than about drug use – which, you may remember, he LOST.

And Beth – Asking children to read more, study harder and learn is obviously subversive and part of our left wing plan to take over the nation.

Beth – you are an un-adulterated idiot – please never, ever change.

Oh Tommy boy – such anger. Good quote for you to ponder…’You can tell the quality of a man’s (or woman’s – don’t want to offend anyone!) life by the way he reacts to things.’

What are you 12? Maybe that explains why you’re so angry, if you can’t watch Obama on Tuesday you will have to go to class.

Thank you Scott – and to return your kindness here’s a quote for you to ponder while you while away the hours in your make-believe world of 90% white Barbies (and just so you know Scotty my boy – real women look nothing like that which, if you work hard and save your money, I’m sure you will discover.)

“Nobody loves you but your mother, and she may be jiving you too.”

It’s so typical for a liberal to go off the deep end, get ugly and personalize everything. Ann, can you understand what Tommy is saying? I don’t see anyone asking for clarification from him. But he sticks to the point I guess. Jeeez.

Anyway, quit projecting tommy – It’s so obvious you are. I think you need a nap.

I’m just looking for some good debate here about Obama’s speech. Is there to be any to be had?

I though this post from Leonard on another thread is appropriate:

“I’m from Fergus Falls also and I ashamed of all the right wing knuckle dragging neanderthals that live here. This issue has brought every racist out of the woodwork. We have people here who are actually proud of being stupid, they think if you can read you must be a elitist.

As dumb as these tea baggers are, they are smart enough to know that if their kids listen to the President they will find out that daddy has been lying to them. The school board is a bunch of cowards in a city full of cowards. When you pass by on interstate 94 keep going some of this s**t might get on you. We can’t even comment on this story in the local newspaper because they have deleted all comments about this subject.”

As long as President Obama’s speech is not any more political that those given by Reagan and Bush 41, the people represented here by scott and Beth and Regina have no right to complain.

Dave,

what does any of this have to do with race? I don’t follow you. What exactly has daddy “been lying” about also?

What I am saying is that I don’t like the idea of Obama addressing kids during school time because there is a very high proportion of liberal teachers vs conservative teachers. Children are impressionable and want to please their teachers. I’m afraid there will be a high level of bias in the discussions following the broadcast and I don’t like the idea of that.

Ultimately it shouldn’t matter if the kids have a good parent(s) at home they will get the message straight or at least get a fair shake at hearing another point of view.

I hope neither you or tommy are teachers, that would scare the crap out of me with all the name calling etc and personalizing going on.

I haven’t heard any debate on Obama’s wonderful choice of his GREEN CZAR named Van Jones? If you’re an American, how can you support a guy like that? Just curious.

daddy what?

“I’m afraid there will be a high level of bias in the discussions” About what, exactly? You have nothing to base your fear on, except right wing propaganda.

Again, as long as President Obama’s speech is not any more political that those given by Reagan and Bush 41, you have no right to complain.

Van Jones has nothing to do with a short address to students where the president “will challenge students to work hard, set education goals and take responsibility for their learning.” I have read almost nothing about it, except for hyper-partisan crap that can’t be trusted. Sounds like that’s all you know about it, too.

It’s so typical for a (conservative) to go off the deep end, get ugly and personalize everything. Conservatives can dish it out, but can’t take their own medicine, and especially can’t seem to discuss anything without abusing facts.

“God told me to invade Iraq” If you’re an American, how could you have supported a freak who said that?

Attention Paul Schmelzer: could you please look into why this site is being overloaded with, ahem, “piss-ants”? I’m all for discussion, but the nonsensical ranting from people like REGINA!!!!!!!!!!! is the kind of crap that drove me away from the Strib online (that, and the increasingly rotten reporting). Is Michael Brodkorb sending his comment armies your way?

Dave,

daddy what? That’s what I’m asking you, you wrote it…

“they will find out that daddy has been lying to them.”

Brix, I read Regina’s comment and it made sense to me. You folks don’t want a discussion about anything, you just want everyone in agreement with your point of view. Hats off to Paul Schmeizer for not muzzling the debate.

I agree with your assessment of the Star Tribune – terrible reporting. At one pont in the past 2 years that paper was labeled the most liberal paper in the nation. Even beat out the NY Times. No wonder it’s broke. The Pioneer Press isn’t however so why not turn to that.

What is a “piss-ant” anyway?

Pasted a post from another story, Scott. Thought I made that obvious enough, but if not, sorry.

“You folks don’t want a discussion about anything, you just want everyone in agreement with your point of view. ”

I have re-read your posts here, and I don’t see any real attempt at discussion on your part. Project much?

As for your assessment of the Star Tribune, things have been leaning definitely more conservative since Avista became involved, hiring some definitely conservative talent away from the Pioneer Press. It’s definitely stained the news sections from the opinion page to the front page, from slanted headlines to gaping holes in coverage to pathetic and spineless election endorsements. But then you would have to actually read it to notice…

Fortunately this web site has helped fill in the gap for me. So far, they even let me bloviate whenever I like.

The first time I heard piss-ant was in a John Wayne movie.

Dave,

I would like to point out to you that Government is reactive.

It is ridiculous for you to say that I or anyone else for that matter, does not have a right to state their opinion on Obama (or anyone else) giving a presidential address to minors in our schools.

Your justification for removing our rights are based on ? a party preference? tribe/gang mentality? The Hatfields and McCoys?

Voters/ issues/ politicians change with time. We can only deal with the situation now. If you were dissatisfied with something in the past, learn from it and improve the situation.

dave,

I’ve tried to get some discussion going or be part of the discussion, all I’ve gotten is anger, racist comments and name calling. I’ve brought up the question of how this is a race issue, for example, 2 or 3 times now and no one will answer…How is this a racial issue?

Don’t you think the government is getting too BIG? Has too much control over too many things? Banks, car companies, insurance companies, mortgage companies, not to mention just plain old getting to big? I think it’s too big and is overstepping boundaries besides.

The media is overwhelmingly liberal, Obama is taking unprecedented actions with his administration, the teacher union is primarily democrat that voted overwhelmingly for Obama…Can you see the concern at all with a telecasted address to the children that Obama is planning for Tuesday?

Like I said before the address doesn’t really matter if there is a good parent(s) at home to discuss it with afterwards and take action if any teachers start in with Obama propaganda.

Van Jones has resigned. That makes me happy. For those of you that read the headline this morning that said this was a “smear tactic” by the right, please take a minute and youtube this guy. See for yourself some of the outlandish comments that he’s made and things he’s done. Then ask yourself if this is a guy you want to be part of our president’s administration.

If it was okay for Reagan, if it was okay for Bush, then it must be okay for Obama. Again, as long as President Obama’s speech is not any more political that those given by Reagan and Bush 41, you have no right to complain.

Stating your opinion and pulling your kids out out school or calling the school to try to get them to drop it are not the same.

“Don’t you think the government is getting too BIG? Has too much control over too many things?”

Its not big enough to regulate the banks to prevent them from gambling; that’s the way corporate America wants it.

It’s not big enough to protect your food, or do anything about it until people start dying; that’s the way corporate America wants it. I have an uncle who is a cattle buyer – he tells anyone that will listen not to ever eat ground beef.

It’s not big enough to do anything to inspect any of the millions of cargo containers shipped into our ports every year; that’s the way corporate America wants it.

It’s not big enough to force tighter security on sprawling chemical plants located near residential districts; that’s the way corporate America wants it.

It’s not big enough to keep businesses from depending on illegal immigrants and minimum wage jobs to inflate their profit margin; that’s the way corporate America wants it.

It’s not big enough to do anything about the fact that I can’t go fishing in any lake or stream in this country and eat a fish I catch without it being contaminated; that’s the way corporate America wants it.

It’s not big enough to prevent your insurance company from canceling your policy on the day before your cancer treatments; that’s the way corporate America wants it.

The conservative propaganda all points to the government being too big, too scary, and too evil, because it suits their needs for you to believe it. I’d say you’re doing a great job helping them.

I hate to say it, but I just don’t trust that Obama has our interests at hand. Not only did he hang with haters and commies pretty much all his life, but he has stacked his admin with them as well (not to mention multiple tax cheats.) I can’t believe he would even consider somebody like Van Jones for a high level post. I am in the solar electric industry, and the thought of somebody like that in my industry just saddened and sickened me. Now he wants to coopt our kids. The universities already do that, we don’t need more liberal numbing. Leave the kids alone. I’m fine with my kid watching it, as long as I AM THERE to be sure there is not ‘editorializing’ by the teachers to promote their own political ideas. The classroom should be neutral, at all grade levels. But, history has taught us that teachers too often think they are there to convince our kids that this failure we call liberalism be taught. I’m glad they took the wacky “Kids do a project explaning how you will help Chairman Obama.” That’s creepy, sorry. History also shows us that when the State tries to reach your kids like this, it’s bad news. So, to sum up, just teach my daughter the 3 R’s, give her a little PE and extra curriculars and stay out of my business in all other ways. This is not an attack on ALL teachers, there are many honorable and good ones that don’t push their politics on our kids. Unfortunately, too many libs have figured out they need to coopt them early.

Ever notice the most crass and stupid comments are from libs? People think conservatives are narrow-minded, etc. Just read the liberals’ comments v cons’ comments and make up your own mind I guess. It’s pretty stark from my perspective. Just personal attacks and nonsensical vulgarity most of the time.

I like the saying: If you are young and conservative, you don’t have a heart. If you are older and liberal, you don’t have a brain. Being a recovering liberal, I think it makes some sense. But, to be fair, both sides have some valid points. Just were too many crazies in the Dem party, had to leave. We need a good 3rd party, the GOP is better but a mess too.

In the solar industry, huh, Mike? Obviously not in the technical side, otherwise you might understand things like facts and logic a little better.

I like the saying: “Although it is not true that all conservatives are stupid people, it is true that most stupid people are conservative.”

Well we’ll have to disagree on most of your points. Nixon created the EPA in 1970 – the environment is cleaner now thank god huh. It took a river in cincinatti to start on fire for no apparent reason. Can you imagine.

Government does some good things but mainly it just screws everything up. Medicaid, Medicare, social security, the post office, all broke. The energy dept budget went from 20 Billion to 40 billion this year. There problem…they don’t have enough staff to know how to spend it.

I would like to see a change with lobbying. I think that is were corruption is most evident.

Dave have you always been pro big government? I heard a scary stat that soon 60% of the US will be employed by the government. Who pays for that? We can’t afford it to happen quite simply.

Sounds like you prefer a socialistic society. Thought is not how America was intended to be. Human beings aren’t designed to operate that way either – we need competition and to always be striving for bigger and better. Capitalism isn’t perfect but it’s the most perfect and fair system on earth.

Dave,

I fail to see how you present logic with your comment to Mike? In fact you did exactly what he described – got personal. You just proved that he in fact is being logical.

Thanks for pointing that out Scott. And thanks to Dave for providing more proof to my theorem… It’s people like that who, becuase of lack of self esteem, and problems in terms of displacement, cannot reply without insulting somebody. It happens time and time again.

Mr. Dave – didn’t your parents teach you any manners?

Dave,

I find it interesting that you refuse to look at the individual. That you continually try to group individuals with stereotypes and party lines rather than addressing the issue directly. This is how the hot topics of racism, and oppression are perpetuated.

You have twice said that I don’t have a right to oppose an address to minors in public schools.

You have tried to justify this by party means (tit for tat). With that as a guiding principal you would re-live the civil war, the holocaust whatever other event with players of your choosing. Do you not see how ridiculous that is? Really, aren’t we a little more evolved than that?!?!? Or is this the kind of behavior you would like to see on the playground?

Unless of course you are standing so strong to further a political agenda, in which case, you have made the argument for him not addressing our students. Our children should not be used as pawns in a political pay-back.

I’m not being any less polite than the majority of conservative posters here on this board.

Social security and others are screwed up because of very specific reasons, and if you can’t tell the difference between those reasons and just “big government,” it’s impossible to take your comments on them seriously.

As far as how big government should be, which of those things i listed as things government should do are you against, specifically?

As far as socialism goes, I like the socialistic police department and the socialistic fire department and the socialistic public education and emergency services and roads and bridges and air traffic control…get the picture yet?

Beth,

Unless you were complaining when Reagan and Bush did it, you are being a hypocrite. It wasn’t that long ago. There is no reason why the current president should be expected to operate under a new set of rules to your liking. That’s being a sore loser.

Mike, your post is so witty, you really told me off. Heckuva job!

I would love to hear the specific reasoning behind why those programs are broke. Don’t leave me hanging – seriously. Besides it just leads me to believe that you don’t have an answers as to why.

I’m not going to do your research for you, but you could start with the retirement of the baby boomers and the sheer numbers involved, and the habit of Congress to use excess Social Security collections on budget deficits – remember Al Gore campaigning on creating a “black box” of funds management for future disbursements that Congress would be prevented from touching?

On the other hand, if you don’t want to know, you could just blame it on “big government.”

As far as how big government should be, which of those things i listed as things government should do are you against, specifically?

A hypocrite is someone who says one thing and does another. The world is a different place than it was 20-30 years ago. New students, new parents, new concerns. What may have been right then, may not be right now.

I haven’t lost anything Dave, I haven’t lost my right to speak out about what I believe in (or don’t).

I am sorry that you too had to resort to name calling and insults when you felt your views were threatened, instead of having a logical discussion. But, thank you for taking part, it gives me a clearer picture of what my kids learning environment will be like for the next week or so.

Beth: Good for you. Happy to see a few conservatives or at least moderates in MN. I agree with ya.

Scott: I’ll tell you why gov’t stuff doesn’t work (as well as we’d like) – because nobody has much incentive to do their job better. They are looking at retirement from day 1 in many cases, and they just accept their station in life, pay their unions dues, shut up and try not to make waves. Then on top of this, you have politicians doing what’s best for themselves rather than what’s best for the folks. How to solve this, I don’t know.

Dave: I suggest you do some homework about how life works. You are probably not a bad guy – you just need to mature in your opinions a bit, then you will no longer feel the need to angrily call everybody who disagrees with you names. You will be able to debate without the typical liberal emotional-thing. Who knows, maybe you’ll come over our side once you have thought it through!
:)

Dave, here is a link to how we can downsize the federal government.

http://www.cato.org/pubs/pas/pa515.pdf

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I read this article this morning and it sums up very well why Obama’s address on Tuesday has many in an uproar. Nice and concise. Give it a read.

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Actions Speak Louder than Words, Mr. President
Posted by Andrew J. Coulson

NRO points out that, after criticism from pundits and the blogosphere, the Obama administration has revised its suggested curriculum activities tied to his speech to schoolchildren next Tuesday. Originally, the Department of Education’s “Menu of Activities” recommended that elementary school children “write letters to themselves about what they can do to help the president.” The new guidance suggests that students should write letters about realizing their own education goals.

It’s a relief to see the administration redress the Orwellian undertone of its original curriculum guidance. But the real problem isn’t what the president or the education department have to SAY. The problem is what they are actually doing.

If the president really wants to improve academic achievement and raise graduation rates, why did he kill the federal private school choice program in Washington DC? His own education department reports that this program significantly raises students’ academic achievement, and it’s doing so at one quarter the cost of the city’s public schools. Several scientific studies also show that private schools significantly raise the high school graduation rate over the level of public schools, especially for inner-city African American students who are at a high risk of dropping out. And that holds true even when the public and private school students being compared come from similar families.

Instead of just telling kids to get good grades and stay in school, president Obama should support policies that are proven to achieve those goals. Actions speak louder than words, Mr. president.

Thank you, Scott, for answering my questions as best you can.

“They are looking at retirement from day 1 in many cases, and they just accept their station in life, pay their unions dues, shut up and try not to make waves. ”

Sounds like you’ve got everything figured out, Mike! Got any other pearls of wisdom?

Diamond Dave,

Yes, one last one – don’t eat the yellow snow.

Mike

“What may have been right then, may not be right now.”

It was not that long ago, Beth, we’re talking 3 presidents ago. Got anything else? Something actually worth consideration. No concrete reason there why you’re not being a hypocrite in this issue. If that’s just immature name calling, why does it sound so…appropriate, germane, fitting?

Vouchers? Right wingers are upset about the president’s Tuesday address to students because of vouchers?

Warning! More name calling ahead!

What a bunch of babies!

Wow! I’m saddened. Dispite our beliefs, positions, views and values, you would think we would be better able to have an intelligent discussion, with out the name calling and denegration of each other.

The real lost is the oportunity for growth and real development of the moral integrity of this country (including our children). Banning our children from listening to the PRESIDENT of the United States. This is really unwise and damaging to our future as nation. This reminds me of the same mentality which allowed the banning of reading for enslaved African, banning the practicing of cultural values by the American Indians (Natives of this country), putting children into broading schools and families on reservations to disenfranchise their abilty to practice their our values/beliefs.

When did equal/ or at least equitable rights for all citizens become the agenda of socialism?

Many citizens critize places like China for the selective process they use to provide their citizens with info. and here we have those of us, cutting off the potential of a discussion with someone, you feel you disagree with.

Very very sad!

Thanks, Marilyn! Well said. Civility would seem to be a dying art, or, in some quarters, quite dead already.

I’m sorry, but after the insults I’ve received over the years, some people just don’t automatically deserve respect.

Starting with people who just mindlessly parrot think tank talking points, or display amazing levels of deliberate ignorance of basic knowledge or current events while making false assertions (also known as Propaganda Victims) and then complaining about my freaking MANNERS for calling them on it.

Here’s a excellent example of civility: Complaining about insults while delivering several, in response to a post responding to his first opening insult…

“And thanks to Dave for providing more proof to my theorem… It’s people like that who, becuase of lack of self esteem, and problems in terms of displacement, cannot reply without insulting somebody. It happens time and time again. Mr. Dave – didn’t your parents teach you any manners?”

Symptoms of PAD…

[...]Minneapolis schools on Obama speech: ‘Motivating students is not controversial’ | Minnesota Independent[...]…