Here's My Weekend Update (Feingold, Willie Nelson, Kohl, Etc.) (Long)

[Dinger]

This is (in part) in reference to this thread I started: http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x7970812

Here is an outline of the Feingold listening session I went to today.

Even though it was a small building way out in the country ("upnorth" Wisconsin), it was pretty much full. There were a lot of questions on health care. The questions I chose to ask had to do with education. I was the only one who asked. It went something like this:

Teachers have had little input on current proposals on education reform. I find it very discouraging that Obama and Duncan support the idea
that funding for education should be a competition and not a right for all children. The way that schools here in Wisconsin are funded is not fair for all
students. I want to hear about the needs of rural schools, particularly rural schools with a high rate of poverty, such as in then school I teach.
Much, if not all of what I hear addresses urban schools, which do have issues that need to be dealt with, but rural schools have their own unique issues as well. What can you do for rural schools districts in Wisconsin and across the country?

I think I peppered him with too many questions, but he was very nice about it. He did answer, but in a more general way. I asked him about his position on charter schools, merit pay, and mayoral control, and commented that I thought charter schools are supposed to be considered public schools, but accountability without equal standards doesn't mean much, and doesn't help improve "failing" schools. I also commented that I would like to see
a more broad-based and comprehensive approach to problems that exist in education, not such a narrow approach as the one we see now. He knew I had just won a teaching award (Mr. Dinger told him) and seemed to agree with my line of questions and comments. He referred to me and my questions more than once, in response to some of the questions on health care. That was interesting. Before I asked my questions, I said that I voted for Obama, but had some concerns about RTTT. Someone in the back kind of snickered. I imagine they probably thought I was lying (I wasn't). Either that, or they were a repuke and didn't like that I said I voted for him. This is a pretty republican area, and there was this old guy that goes to my church there, who has always been friendly to me, but afterwards, kept his distance. This would be the first time I have ever publicly "outed" myself as a Democrat and Obama voter in front of a church member, so this was a little strange for me. Wasn't going to stop me though. This was the first Feingold listening session I ever went to, and the second time in as many days that Mr. Dinger came with me to such an event. It was pretty cool.
He ended his answer by saying he thinks I'll like how he is handling education reform, and he also said he agreed with what I said.


Here is a brief summary of today's listening session:

Other than my question on education, almost all other questions were on health care reform. Some were about the stimulus and getting control of spending. He talked about his Control Spending Now Act, which could save taxpayers $478 million this year, and considerably more over time, and after 10 years reduce the deficit by about a half trillion dollars. I thanked him for that.

I also learned what Feingold thinks about earmarks, and it isn't much. He is trying to prohibit earmarks. He also said that voted against Bernake (sp?) and the bailout. He voted against all trade agreements that ship jobs overseas. He also said he voted against Medicare part D. He voted against NCLB too, saying he thought it should be funded, and didn't want teachers to be forced to "teach to the test." That made me smile, and he smiled back at me as well. He mentioned these in response to "big spending" questions by republicans. Some were pretty rude, but I have never been to one of these listening sessions, and I can tell you that Russ is one helluva master. He had people telling him they can't wait for November when he "will" be replaced. He said the Supreme Court ruling on corporate involvement in our elections was a "lawless decision," and that some of the Supreme Court justices lied under oath (They said during their confirmation process that they would not go against earlier rulings by the USSC, which of course is a lie).
I thought it was interesting when he said how he voted against the Iraq War, but for the war in Afghanistan at first because he thought bin laden was there. He said he was "less happy" with the President on Afghanistan, and told this to Obama, and that they differ on this issue. He says he'll keep talking to the President about this.

Also, there were several republicans who kept trying to bring up "back door deals," and Russ very skillfully (& respectfully) proved to those people how wrong they were. One of the real die-hards said that "at least you do some things good, like with the veterans." That must have killed him, but Russ was so good with him, he seemed to "admit" this rather easily. There was no "tea party" here today, and my friend that I talked about in the earlier thread did not show up. I really wish she would have.

Of course there were questions by the anti-choice crowd. Feingold said (more than once) the he was "pro-choice," and that this legislation (HC) would not change the law (hyde amndmnt). He said the hyde amendment is still a law ,and that stupak was going to vote for this legislation.


That is just about it. I'm sure I'll recall things and add to this post/thread later.


This has been my weekend (in reference to my "weekend update" part of this thread title). It has been eventful, to say the least.

Got up at 6 a.m. on Saturday morning. Went to Green Bay to get my award (about a 3-hr. round trip). I went with Mr. Dinger and Mom. Came back home by 4:30. Took a mini-break, and changed into some more casual clothes so I could go to the Willie Nelson Concert in Appleton at 8:00 (about a 4-hr. round trip from here). Left here about 5:30, picked up Mom (It was her birthday earlier this week) present from me). Treated my awesome mom to dinner at Vince Lombardi's Steakhouse, right across from the Willie Nelson concert venue. I had salmon, Mom had steak. Went to see Willie, and he was awesome! His show was a little over 2 hours, and he didn't take any breaks, and did the whole thing himself! Willie sounded strong and well!
Got lost (sort of) as we were leaving Appleton, but eventually got home about 1 a.m. Got up at 6 to prepare my Sunday school lesson (yes, me). Went to teach Sunday school at 9:00, home by 10:30. Mr. Dinger said my republican friend said she heard about Feingold having a listening session not far from here, and that she was thinking of going to talk to Russ about "Spending." So I put together some questions and info to bring to the listening session. We went there, and got there about 45 minutes early (a good thing). Russ was there for about an hour and 15 minutes. I asked, and he said we could do a picture outside, so we did. Mr. Dinger took it. When I stood next to him, he put his arm around me and me around him (I know the sounds juvenile, but it seemed pretty cool at the time). O.K., we got home about 6 p.m. I have to go to a funeral in Milwaukee tomorrow, someone very special to us. So, I had to go to school and prepare for a sub. Two and a half hours there, but I do not think my students have to do with less just because I am not their teacher that day. I don't "dumb down" work, just because I have a sub. Anyway, I got home by 8:45, and here I am. I'm uploading two short videos from today. I'll post them here, but my battery was just about dead, so the quality is poor. One is a rwinger trying to mess with Russ, and though the exchange isn't complete, yo get the idea. I'll post some pics too, but don't laugh. The "official" pic of Kohl will be posted here in a few days.

Saturday:



and



Sunday:








Whew, I'm tired.

I have relatives coming from around the country. We'll host them a little later this week, because my aunt (Mom's sis) died last week. I am playing the piano for that funeral on Thursday. Man, I'm gonna be dead come Friday.

[gimama]

1. What a Wonder-FULL wk-end for YOU!

I LOVE RUSS!
& Willie, too!
Thank YOU for posting this crazy-amazing report!
I can't quit SMILING!
Thank YOU!
RUSS *AND* WILLIE!!!
& YOU!!!

:woohoo:
ok, talk about Your funny timing..!
I just got an email alert from..RUSS on the big hcr win
(I'm on his email list) :)

[Dinger]

4. Thank You gimama

I'm still recovering. Busy week ahead still.

[usregimechange]

2. My favorite Senator Feingold.

[Dinger]

3. Here Are A Couple Of Videos

My battery was just about dead though, so they're not that great, but I thought I'd share.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jYMyfdJMRBY

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-zuxPJTErFs