Gayle Hedrington Eagle Times reporter is reporting that "Croydon residents will see a decrease of $1.75 per thousand in the tax rate due to a surplus in the school budget." This decrease in taxes will result in an increase in our children's college funds.
In other news Gayle is reporting sightings of black bear and wild boar in our neighborhood and by Spectacle Pond. We live in such an exciting little town. I will need to keep a close eye on our dachshund.
Wednesday, November 12, 2008
Tuesday, November 11, 2008
Funny of the Day
Filed under kids say the funniest things.
Our four year old Anastasia has already learned all the 50 States. She is in the process of learning the capitals of the states.
Anastasia said she would like to visit Kentucky. Jim told her that we could go to the Patton Museum and see a lot of tanks. Anastasia responded back "Will we see a lot of fish in the tanks?"
Cathy
Our four year old Anastasia has already learned all the 50 States. She is in the process of learning the capitals of the states.
Anastasia said she would like to visit Kentucky. Jim told her that we could go to the Patton Museum and see a lot of tanks. Anastasia responded back "Will we see a lot of fish in the tanks?"
Cathy
Monday, November 10, 2008
NEA's True Service to Democrats: Incumbency Insurance.
Mike Antonucci over at The Education Intelligence Agency is always spot on with his analysis of the NEA. The following was in his November 10 email update. Until we curb the NEA socialism will remain on the rise.
Cathy
NEA's True Service to Democrats: Incumbency Insurance.
There is no question that last Tuesday's election results came as close to a total victory for the National Education Association as one could possibly expect. Its presidential candidate won an electoral landslide. Its Democratic majorities grew stronger in both houses of Congress. Of all the ballot initiatives across the country that received NEA and affiliate support, I could find only three in which the union side was defeated. Two of these occurred in California – Prop 8 (gay marriage) and Prop 9 (crime victims' rights). Both passed despite opposition from the California Teachers Association, but neither has a direct effect on public education or organized labor. The only other defeat was the passage of Amendment 54 in Colorado, which bans political contributions by contractors or organizations that do business with the government. A court challenge has already been filed.
NEA President Dennis Van Roekel lauded the victories. "NEA members played a vital role in critical congressional races across the country that helped expand margins in the House and Senate for pro-public education allies," he said in a press statement. "As a bipartisan organization, the National Education Association was pleased to return many friends from both sides of the aisle to Congress and elect new ones as a part of a growing Democratic majority."
Aside: If you parse that last sentence, you get NEA "as a bipartisan organization" being pleased about "a growing Democratic majority."
Along with everyone else, NEA believes its "vital role" requires some form of compensation. Merit pay, you might call it. And there are already fights in the blogosphere about how well-deserved it is.
I don't find persuasive the argument that the efforts of NEA, or any other union, were so far superior this election cycle than previous ones that it resulted in an Obama victory or additional seats. But it is indisputable that NEA played a "vital role." It's just not the role you might believe.
The union's political action committee will laud its 79% success rate in electing recommended candidates. You have to go inside the numbers for the real story. While some of the results may change, for the purposes of this article I am going to assume that whichever candidate is ahead right now in the too-close-to-call races will end up winning.
The NEA Fund for Children and Public Education recommended 328 candidates for Congress, of whom 260 won. It's impressive, but not that impressive.
Of those 328 candidates, 230 were incumbents, of whom 39 ran unopposed. NEA's record in those races was 226 wins and 4 losses, dropping only Florida 16th, Kansas 2nd, Pennsylvania 3rd and Texas 22nd.
NEA recommended 38 candidates for open seats, and its record in those races was 20 wins and 18 losses.
NEA recommended 60 challengers, and its record in those races was 14 wins and 46 losses, which was actually better than usual.
When people criticize the teachers' unions as being defenders of the status quo, they generally mean the status quo as it applies to education policy and labor affairs. It seems, however, that NEA's power and influence among Democrat politicians (and some Republicans) is due to its defense of the political status quo. For example, virtually all of its ballot initiative victories were on the "no" side.
The union's ability to capture open seats or defeat incumbents is no better than that of many other special interest groups. There is little reason for a new candidate to seek out NEA support instead of support from other ideologically compatible groups. But once elected, staying on NEA's good side is a path to easy money and campaign support for a friendly politician.
With Democrat incumbents impervious, the battles continue to be fought over marginal GOP seats. When these are lost with some regularity, some safe GOP seats inch over to the marginal column and you end up with decades-long Democratic majorities in Congress.
Cathy
NEA's True Service to Democrats: Incumbency Insurance.
There is no question that last Tuesday's election results came as close to a total victory for the National Education Association as one could possibly expect. Its presidential candidate won an electoral landslide. Its Democratic majorities grew stronger in both houses of Congress. Of all the ballot initiatives across the country that received NEA and affiliate support, I could find only three in which the union side was defeated. Two of these occurred in California – Prop 8 (gay marriage) and Prop 9 (crime victims' rights). Both passed despite opposition from the California Teachers Association, but neither has a direct effect on public education or organized labor. The only other defeat was the passage of Amendment 54 in Colorado, which bans political contributions by contractors or organizations that do business with the government. A court challenge has already been filed.
NEA President Dennis Van Roekel lauded the victories. "NEA members played a vital role in critical congressional races across the country that helped expand margins in the House and Senate for pro-public education allies," he said in a press statement. "As a bipartisan organization, the National Education Association was pleased to return many friends from both sides of the aisle to Congress and elect new ones as a part of a growing Democratic majority."
Aside: If you parse that last sentence, you get NEA "as a bipartisan organization" being pleased about "a growing Democratic majority."
Along with everyone else, NEA believes its "vital role" requires some form of compensation. Merit pay, you might call it. And there are already fights in the blogosphere about how well-deserved it is.
I don't find persuasive the argument that the efforts of NEA, or any other union, were so far superior this election cycle than previous ones that it resulted in an Obama victory or additional seats. But it is indisputable that NEA played a "vital role." It's just not the role you might believe.
The union's political action committee will laud its 79% success rate in electing recommended candidates. You have to go inside the numbers for the real story. While some of the results may change, for the purposes of this article I am going to assume that whichever candidate is ahead right now in the too-close-to-call races will end up winning.
The NEA Fund for Children and Public Education recommended 328 candidates for Congress, of whom 260 won. It's impressive, but not that impressive.
Of those 328 candidates, 230 were incumbents, of whom 39 ran unopposed. NEA's record in those races was 226 wins and 4 losses, dropping only Florida 16th, Kansas 2nd, Pennsylvania 3rd and Texas 22nd.
NEA recommended 38 candidates for open seats, and its record in those races was 20 wins and 18 losses.
NEA recommended 60 challengers, and its record in those races was 14 wins and 46 losses, which was actually better than usual.
When people criticize the teachers' unions as being defenders of the status quo, they generally mean the status quo as it applies to education policy and labor affairs. It seems, however, that NEA's power and influence among Democrat politicians (and some Republicans) is due to its defense of the political status quo. For example, virtually all of its ballot initiative victories were on the "no" side.
The union's ability to capture open seats or defeat incumbents is no better than that of many other special interest groups. There is little reason for a new candidate to seek out NEA support instead of support from other ideologically compatible groups. But once elected, staying on NEA's good side is a path to easy money and campaign support for a friendly politician.
With Democrat incumbents impervious, the battles continue to be fought over marginal GOP seats. When these are lost with some regularity, some safe GOP seats inch over to the marginal column and you end up with decades-long Democratic majorities in Congress.
Saturday, November 8, 2008
Marshall Fritz RIP
Marshall Fritz of Alliance for the Separation of School and State and State passed away November 4th. Please take a moment to honor the man by learning more about his work.
Cathy
Cathy
Friday, November 7, 2008
Indoctrination in our Public Schools
Numerous sources have posted a You Tube video in which a teacher is shaming a student for her McCain support. I came across the video on MichelleMalkin.com. Below is a partial transcript from Michelle Malkin. I am not posting the video here as we have dial-up and I am sure others do as well. I did hear the transcript on the radio.
Indoctrination is one of the many reasons I do not want to send my children to public school when they get old enough. I have seen first hand on numerous occasions how the teachers and employees of Newport and Croydon schools are more concerned about protecting their jobs and getting more money than they are about educating our children.
Oh by the way only one school board member responded to my complaint about the Obama sign in the classroom. He said he would mention it to the group but I never heard back. No surprise there.
Partial transcript:
Harris:We want to talk about the presidential election. I want to ask you, who are you pulling for? Raise your hand.
Student: Obama.
Harris: You pullin for Obama. Who you pullin for?
Student: Obama.
Harris:Any of you pullin for John McCain? That’s fine, say him as well.
Student: Obama.
Student: Obama.
[Cathy, the daughter of an American soldier answers McCain.]
Harris:John, oh lord, John McCain.
Oh Jesus, John McCain.
Ok, now I wanna axe you somethin.
Why are you pullin for John McCain? It’s ok, but why are you pullin for John McCain?
Cathy: I thinks it’s because my parents are going for him too.
Harris: Ok, your parents are going for him. Why are you pullin for Ba-RACK. Barack.
Student: I just want a black president sometimes.
Ok, you want a black president.
Student: The reason why I want Barack Obama is because he’s making good changes in the good country and stuff like that.
Harris: So, he’s making good changes for our country. Now can you tell me just a little bit more, like what type of changes?
Like not having big fights between Iraq and having soldiers killed.
So in other words, Barack is going to end that war in Iraq. What do you all know about that war in Iraq?
[Harris addresses Kathy] Talk, cause yo daddy in the military. Talk. It’s a senseless war! And by the way, Cathy, the person that you’re picking for president said that our troops could stay in Iraq for another hundred years if they need to!
[Camera pans to Cathy, in near tears.]
Harris: So that means that your daddy could stay in the military for another hundred years!
Video and Transcript at What Do You Believe?
The video also appears at Belch Speak.
Cathy
Indoctrination is one of the many reasons I do not want to send my children to public school when they get old enough. I have seen first hand on numerous occasions how the teachers and employees of Newport and Croydon schools are more concerned about protecting their jobs and getting more money than they are about educating our children.
Oh by the way only one school board member responded to my complaint about the Obama sign in the classroom. He said he would mention it to the group but I never heard back. No surprise there.
Partial transcript:
Harris:We want to talk about the presidential election. I want to ask you, who are you pulling for? Raise your hand.
Student: Obama.
Harris: You pullin for Obama. Who you pullin for?
Student: Obama.
Harris:Any of you pullin for John McCain? That’s fine, say him as well.
Student: Obama.
Student: Obama.
[Cathy, the daughter of an American soldier answers McCain.]
Harris:John, oh lord, John McCain.
Oh Jesus, John McCain.
Ok, now I wanna axe you somethin.
Why are you pullin for John McCain? It’s ok, but why are you pullin for John McCain?
Cathy: I thinks it’s because my parents are going for him too.
Harris: Ok, your parents are going for him. Why are you pullin for Ba-RACK. Barack.
Student: I just want a black president sometimes.
Ok, you want a black president.
Student: The reason why I want Barack Obama is because he’s making good changes in the good country and stuff like that.
Harris: So, he’s making good changes for our country. Now can you tell me just a little bit more, like what type of changes?
Like not having big fights between Iraq and having soldiers killed.
So in other words, Barack is going to end that war in Iraq. What do you all know about that war in Iraq?
[Harris addresses Kathy] Talk, cause yo daddy in the military. Talk. It’s a senseless war! And by the way, Cathy, the person that you’re picking for president said that our troops could stay in Iraq for another hundred years if they need to!
[Camera pans to Cathy, in near tears.]
Harris: So that means that your daddy could stay in the military for another hundred years!
Video and Transcript at What Do You Believe?
The video also appears at Belch Speak.
Cathy
Thursday, November 6, 2008
Final Thoughts on the Election...
well I hope these are my final thoughts. Bravo to America for electing an African American President so many people said America was too racist to do so. I hope this is a turning point for race relations in America. Now everyone stop playing the race card. America is the land of dreams if Barack Obama can be elected president anyone can achieve their dreams. We elected a man who was abandoned by his father and raised by his grandparents.
Of course there will be no buyer's remorse on my part, as I did not vote for him. My hope is that we do not have President Obama haters as we had President Bush haters for the last eight years. Although he is not my candidate he will be my President and I support him just as Kerry voters should have supported President Bush. That is not to say I will agree with his policies it is to say that I will honor the office of Presidency for what it means to America.
Now that being said I hope Obama supporters listened with a grain of salt to his campaign promises because that is all they were. One of my college roommates and very close friends was an Obama supporter and I know I could not change her mind, as well as several other friends of mine. I respected their right to vote for whomever they wanted but I also knew they were ignorant votes as others who supported Obama. One only needs to look at the current state of the economy and how the mess was made to know that he would not be able to keep said promises.
Obama made this clear during his acceptance speech he said and I quote, "The road ahead will be long. Our climb will be steep. We may not get there in one year or even in one term. But, America, I have never been more hopeful than I am tonight that we will get there. "..."There will be setbacks and false starts. There are many who won't agree with every decision or policy I make as president. And we know the government can't solve every problem. "
Unfortunately some people believed that he would solve every problem. So many people also were ignorant and only listened to the mainstream media instead of doing their own research.
I hope only the best for our President elect and our country. To all I ask for you to take care of yourselves and your family do not expect Obama to take care of you and your family because it is not going to happen. Let us hope that President-Elect Obama and Vice President-Elect Biden and the legislators will protect our country and get us out of debt because that is really all that we need. If they are all able to stop the pork barrel spending, stop the deficit spending, pay back our debt and protect our Country he will be a very successful President. Stop the socialist programs because we just do not have the money to have such programs.
Friends you won't get what Obama promised we are now seeing this day two post election with Obama workers angry about not being paid. This will be the reality of the presidency so take care of yourself and your family because the economy is going to get a lot worse before it gets better. Obama won't be a savior but he will be our President so support him by respecting the office.
Cathy
Of course there will be no buyer's remorse on my part, as I did not vote for him. My hope is that we do not have President Obama haters as we had President Bush haters for the last eight years. Although he is not my candidate he will be my President and I support him just as Kerry voters should have supported President Bush. That is not to say I will agree with his policies it is to say that I will honor the office of Presidency for what it means to America.
Now that being said I hope Obama supporters listened with a grain of salt to his campaign promises because that is all they were. One of my college roommates and very close friends was an Obama supporter and I know I could not change her mind, as well as several other friends of mine. I respected their right to vote for whomever they wanted but I also knew they were ignorant votes as others who supported Obama. One only needs to look at the current state of the economy and how the mess was made to know that he would not be able to keep said promises.
Obama made this clear during his acceptance speech he said and I quote, "The road ahead will be long. Our climb will be steep. We may not get there in one year or even in one term. But, America, I have never been more hopeful than I am tonight that we will get there. "..."There will be setbacks and false starts. There are many who won't agree with every decision or policy I make as president. And we know the government can't solve every problem. "
Unfortunately some people believed that he would solve every problem. So many people also were ignorant and only listened to the mainstream media instead of doing their own research.
I hope only the best for our President elect and our country. To all I ask for you to take care of yourselves and your family do not expect Obama to take care of you and your family because it is not going to happen. Let us hope that President-Elect Obama and Vice President-Elect Biden and the legislators will protect our country and get us out of debt because that is really all that we need. If they are all able to stop the pork barrel spending, stop the deficit spending, pay back our debt and protect our Country he will be a very successful President. Stop the socialist programs because we just do not have the money to have such programs.
Friends you won't get what Obama promised we are now seeing this day two post election with Obama workers angry about not being paid. This will be the reality of the presidency so take care of yourself and your family because the economy is going to get a lot worse before it gets better. Obama won't be a savior but he will be our President so support him by respecting the office.
Cathy
Wednesday, November 5, 2008
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