Jack & Jill Politics

I just watched Shawshank Redemption for the illionth time and Morgan Freeman's role still makes me cry buckets.

I like the scene where Andy asks the warden is he obtuse.

bwhahhahahhaa

"“Financial institutions that have benefited from government support can, should and must use this moment to think about what they can do for their country — by accepting the necessary regulation to protect the American people. There is no financial institution that exists today that is not the direct or indirect beneficiary of trillions of dollars of taxpayer support for the financial system.”"
Larry Summers said that. I think I turned Catholic, died and my hell is hearing Citcrew argue for financial regulatory. I'll know in the morning if this is still here.
hat tip the big picture

I have a post up about Representative Linda Sanchez's assault on free speech (and bloggers). A must read for all who comment on public message boards:

http://is.gd/4ov77

Arianna redeems herself a little:

No matter what happens in the unfolding legal saga of the Heene family, the most appropriate response to the whole matter was that of Falcon Heene. He vomited. Twice. On national TV. Well, let me just say that Falcon speaks for me.

I had to stifle the same urge as I watched so much of the media devote so much of their resources to the story of the boy NOT in the balloon.

And, sure, I know that asking the media to have some sense of perspective on a story like this is like asking a dog not to bark. It's in their nature to give breathless, wall-to-wall coverage to these kinds of stories. But, even knowing this, I was shocked how little changed in the volume and tone of the coverage even after it was known the boy wasn't in the balloon. Even then, after we knew the balloon was empty, they kept running footage of the balloon, hour after hour.

As Bill Maher said on Real Time, "they're calling him Balloon Boy, which is so stupid, because the one thing we know about this kid, is that he was not in a balloon."

We actually know a lot more about Falcon. And we certainly know how concerned every anchor covering the story was about his welfare.

If ever we needed an example of the difference between sentimentality and empathy, this was it. As the story unfolded on Thursday, Wolf Blitzer told us how "deeply worried" he was about Falcon, and that he was "totally fearing the worst." Rick Sanchez talked about the "big hug" he'd give his own child if it happened to him (does Rick have a giant balloon in his backyard too?). And one Fox anchor expressed relief that a skydiver she was interviewing while Falcon's fate was still up in the air (sorry!) gave her "a little bit of hope" about the weather conditions the balloon was flying in because she was "worried about how cold this child might be."

Who knew the media were so "deeply worried" about the welfare of children? Well, as it turns out, their concern only extends to children in certain circumstances -- such as when they are thought to be trapped in a runaway hot air balloon. Or when they have been washed up on U.S. shores in an inner tube and are forcibly repatriated to Cuba.

Remember Elian Gonzales? Watching the media's collective palpitations over Balloon Boy -- even after he turned out to be Attic Boy -- my mind immediately did a flashback to 2000 and the emotion-laden coverage of Elian, including Diane Sawyer standing on her head.

Back then, I felt the same uneasy feeling about what it takes for the media to care about at-risk kids.

In the midst of the hysteria over Elian, Jonathan Kozol came out with a book called Ordinary Resurrections, which featured the moving story of a boy named Elio who was the same age as Elian.

He was, as I wrote in a column in May 2000, a "little boy... living in the South Bronx, surrounded by gunfire, families being evicted, hungry people begging in the street. His mother works at a drugstore near St. Ann's church; his father is 'upstate' -- South Bronx shorthand for prison."

And while Elian was on the cover of Time magazine three times, no news magazines were writing about the thousands of Elios around America. "Why do we feel so much for Elian and so little for Elio?" I asked. "Why are we doing everything we can -- trips to Disney World, Nintendo games, playmates flown in from Cuba -- to make Elian happy, while leaving Elio to fend for himself?"

It wasn't a rhetorical question. I didn't know the answer then and I don't know the answer now.

The media are addicted to small-bore, high-drama stories like these. Two years after Elian, I wrote about the media binging on the Robert Blake trial and called for an intervention to help the media break its ersatz crisis habit. My call wasn't successful, to put it mildly.

Three years after that, the media devoted countless hours to the case of Natalee Holloway, the young woman who went missing in Aruba. "When defending these choices," I wrote in June of 2005, "news execs inevitably fall back on the old 'we're just giving the people what they want.'"

And not surprisingly, they're saying the same thing now. Which was why, when I went on the Ed Schultz show to talk about Afghanistan, I ended up spending most of the segment talking instead about a runaway balloon with no boy inside.

I find the media's obsession with these non-stories especially galling when they lead to endless agonizing over the welfare of a child -- agonizing that is sorely missing when there isn't a hot air balloon or inner tube in shark-infested waters involved.

So now that we know that Falcon is safe, how about repurposing some of that concern for, say:

-- the over 1.5 million children that are homeless.

-- the 42 percent of homeless children that are under the age of 6.

-- the one in six homeless children that suffers from an emotional problem.

It doesn't have to be wall-to-wall coverage, but how about some coverage of the 75 to 100 percent increase in the number of children that are newly homeless because of the foreclosure crisis? Or the 13 million American children living in poverty?

Not going to happen, you say? What if we built a giant balloon, put all 13 million of them in it, and just let it float away? Even better, let's just say that we did. It'll be a win-win-win. The news producers will have a giant balloon to shoot, the news anchors will have a fresh outlet for all that concern, and millions of kids in desperate need of some concern, attention, and time in the media spotlight will finally get it.

it's on the front page of the Huff Post now

Large banks are on the verge of losing a key legislative battle over the shape of financial reform, an unusual setback that reflects the continued political backlash over their role in creating the financial crisis.

The House Financial Services Committee is expected to vote Tuesday to let state governments protect bank customers by imposing restrictions that go beyond existing federal laws, according to congressional and industry sources.

Big financial firms losing power on Capitol Hill

As the article pointed out both Clinton and Bush let OCC run amok in the rush to let banks expand.

First-degree murder charges were dropped Monday against one of four teens accused in the brutal beating of a Chicago honor student that was recorded in a cell phone camera video.

Eugene Bailey, 18, of Chicago, was arrested Sept. 26, two days after 16-year-old Derrion Albert was killed during a fight after classes let out at Christian Fenger Academy High School on the city's South Side.

Prosecutors dropped the charge Monday with little explanation.

"While the charge against Bailey was brought in good faith based on witness accounts and identifications, additional information has developed during the ongoing investigation that warranted dismissal of the murder charge against Bailey at this time," the state's attorney's office in Cook County said in a statement.

Prosecutors drop charge against teen in beating death of Chicago student caught on video

okay, why won't it let me post this article? I posted it a couple of times and it showed up, then it disappeared.

The recent surge on Wall Street has created a windfall for some congressional campaigns that invested their political contributions in the stock market during the third quarter.

The biggest beneficiary was Rep. Joe L. Barton , whose campaign investments have been on a roller coaster ride the past two years. After losing more than $808,000 during 2008 and early 2009, the Texas Republican’s campaign fund rebounded by recouping large sums of money in recent months.

New campaign finance reports show Barton made about $208,000 between July and September — mostly through broad-based securities with Fidelity Investments. But the ranking member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee also profited from targeted investments during the three-month period in companies such as General Electric, which yielded Barton $47,000; Lennar Corp., increasing by $22,800; and Fidelity Select Energy Service, accumulating $13,488.

Barton’s third-quarter boost adds to the $141,000 his campaign reported in investment proceeds in the previous quarter.

Barton’s office did not return a call seeking comment.

At least seven congressional campaigns received investment profits totaling more than $500,000 during the past three months, according to a CQ MoneyLine study of campaign reports filed by House candidates with the Federal Election Commission. Among those with bullish profits on campaign investments were Rep. Bill Delahunt , D-Mass., with more than $52,000 from his Fidelity Investments account, and Rep. David Wu , D-Ore., whose investments appreciated more than $45,000.

Wall Street Bounce Boosts Member Campaign Accounts

So holocaust = Jewish killing?

How stupid IS this journalist?
People call her a progressive?

Native Americans were exterminated, Africans were exterminated (No, i am not talking about slavery!) … etc, Isn't that holocaust?

How can a journalist be so …

The Gates Foundation will be funding teacher development in Pittsburgh, a $6.5 million investment in an attitude adjustment for rookies expecting miracles and smooth sailing in their first year. First year teachers certainly deserve support, but to suggest that changing the "mindset" is a major part of the educational solution for minority children stuck in America's urban ghettoes is not only fallacious, but it's bound to lead to the burnout and dissatisfaction revealed in a study released today (also funded by Gates). But this change in mindset is the kind of stuff gobbled up by edu-idiots like Tom Vander Ark (yet another former Gates official), so-called educators believing "no excuses" pedagogical approaches, positive psychology, and higher standards are all our children need to succeed; forget poverty, forget the violence permeating and celebrated in American culture (and tacitly supported by the likes of Rev. Al Sharpton, who appeared on WWE to push his EEP agenda, just days after the brutal killing of Derrion Albert), forget about the lack of funding in public education, forget about the testing industry's stranglehold on curricula; those are problems Washington is unwilling to address, even with a black man in office. Those young teachers don't need small class sizes, high-intensity teacher preparation programs (instead of 5 week crash courses in educational maltreatment), nor cooperative learning environments: it's merit-pay, a mindset adjustment, and plenty of test prep.

Gates Funds Attitude Adjustment for Young Teachers

plenty of test prep? ay ay ay! the best test prep is a strong curriculum. we need teachers who themselves are educated... not people who simply view teaching as an 'easy' way to make a steady paycheck/benefits. another thing would be to get rid of the multiple subjects credential altogether. make EVERYBODY (including K-6 teachers) study one or two subjects and learn those well. some schools are doing that already, but not nearly enough.

co-sign.

Earlier we were discussing the needs for money and resources vs student attitutdes toward learning and where that attitude has to come from. This situtation is something else needs to be addressed.

Schools are being forced to furlough teachers because of budget cutbacks. Should they be allowed under their contracts to make the furlough days teaching days? Even if the school system exceeds the number of mandatory days of instruction I see no reason to allow teaching days to be used. It seems as though everyone wants people to just stay ignorant.

Public schools are being privatized, in the process, teachers are losing ability to negotiate. As the privatization is increasing more H1-B teachers are replacing American teachers.

"School board approves plan to open up schools to outsidersThe Los Angeles Board of Education voted today to open up 250 schools, including 50 new multimillion-dollar campuses, to outside charter operators and others. "

"The largest public school district overhaul of its kind in the nation is happening in Detroit, Michigan. Detroit Public Schools have been taken over by the State. Governor Jennifer Granholm has appointed an Emergency Financial Manager to oversee turning around the schools. The manager's relationship with the Detroit Board of Education is highly contentious (you know there had to be drama)...

Just days after Detroit Public Schools leader Robert Bobb announced his plan to bring in EdisonLearning, EdWorks, the Institute for Student Achievement and the Model Secondary Schools Project to run 17 high schools, the Detroit school board voted to sue Bobb, saying he has overstepped his authority as the emergency financial manager and is trying to create a charter district"

I still despise Bill Gates.
George Soros is my kind of philanthropist, gives without 2n intentions, Gates brings his sordid Microsoft behind.

Good luck to his effort nevertheless.

For whatever reason, the Gates have been very committed in their efforts to reform U.S. school programs for a considerable time. Been looking for the angle.

Man Enlists in Army to Get Cancer Stricken Wife Medical Treatment Hotlist
by bud boyez [Subscribe]
Mon Oct 19, 2009 at 04:19:13 PM PDT

I am going to eep this one short and to the point. A man takes his vows so seriously that upon being laid off he enlists in the Army to get medical coverage for his Wife.


*
http://www.jsonline.com/news/wisconsin/64677772...

Chelsea Caudle began signing her text messages this summer with a countdown. At 14 years old, she knew no better way to express what was coming. Day Zero was to be Oct. 7, the day Dad left for Army basic training in Fort Jackson, S.C. He was moving 950 miles from their home in Watertown, 950 miles from Mom.

He was leaving, even though Mom was sick with ovarian cancer. Even though he had been at her side through two long, miserable rounds of chemotherapy. Even though she now faced the likelihood of a third.

In fact, Dad was leaving because Mom was sick.

In March, he was laid off from his job as a raw materials coordinator for a plastics company called PolyOne, where he'd worked for 20 years. His severance package had provided several months' salary, but by August the paychecks were winding down. Soon the cost of his family health coverage was going to triple, then a few months after that, nearly triple again. They needed coverage so Mom could fight her cancer.

Dad's solution: a four-year hitch in the Army.

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2009/10/19/795017...

To serve and protect his family his country. This is a good man.

How Close Are We?

by BooMan
Mon Oct 19th, 2009 at 11:29:56 AM EST

Roll Call reports:

Unable to mount a filibuster on their own and calculating that Democrats are on track to send a health care bill to Obama by year’s end, Senate Republicans figure the only way to stop or reshape the measure is to give the public enough time to figure out what’s in it and what they don’t like about it.

Doing that is going to take some time, and the process of amending bills during a floor debate — which can include demanding a 60-vote threshold for all amendments — could provide the minority ample opportunity to slow things down. Republicans could also benefit from some built-in delays, including the fact that Democratic leaders have said they’d like to wait for a Congressional Budget Office cost estimate on the bill before beginning debate.

This process could repeat itself when the chamber prepares to consider the final House-Senate conference report. Earlier in the year, Republicans were hoping that Democratic divisions would do to Obama’s health care agenda what the GOP can’t, but they no longer expect moderate Democrats to stand in the way of passage — even one that includes a public insurance option.

“The votes are the reality, so the only way you win this thing if you’re in our camp is if the American people are completely on your side,” a senior Republican Senate aide said. “To have a positive outcome and get back to doing what we think is good for our health care system, we need to have the American people understand this thing.”

The truth is, the Republicans appear to have thirty-eight rock solid votes against cloture on the health care reform and on any amendments that they don't like. Olympia Snowe appears willing to give her vote for cloture if certain conditions are met. Susan Collins is making some of the same noises. But, honestly, their positions are not to the left of any of the Democratic senators. I don't see either Snowe or Collins making the 60th vote, but the 61st or 62nd.

Perhaps their votes might prove decisive on an amendment or two, but their votes on final passage appear superfluous. It would be desirable, I guess, to be able to say that the bill has a couple of Republican votes, but not at the cost of watering it down needlessly.

This Roll Call article focuses on the Republican's strategy of delay and fear-mongering, but it also reveals another strategy. They are arguing that the president has the votes for a public option in order to put pressure on the Democratic caucus. I'd like to believe that the Republicans are right, but I see no signs of it yet. All signs point to an administration that is acting like they don't have 60 votes.

I think the real question is not whether or not Obama has 60 votes now, but whether he will have them in the end. Will any member of the Democratic caucus in the Senate be willing to cast the deciding vote against cloture that denies the president an up-or-down vote on the Conference Report? My guess is 'no,' there will not be any Democrats who will take responsibility for killing reform. But, until we get to that point, there are senators who are looking to win concessions for their states and their interests (and their campaign contributors). So, the dance will continue.

The Senate will seek to pass a strong bill, but will settle for something weaker if that will secure passage. The House is the place to look for capitulation. If the public option gets watered down in the House, that's a sure sign that a few centrists in the Senate have successfully blackmailed the rest of the Caucus, the president, and the American people.


http://www.boomantribune.com/story/2009/10/19/1...