So if Harry Reid wins and Alan Grayson loses...

[whyverne]

which is quite possible; what happens to the Dems aren't tough enough meme? Personally I abhor calling someone else a coward when it's not you getting the death threats and it's not you who has to raise thousands of dollars a day to keep your job. I don't blame the soldiers for the war.

American politics has been corrupted by big money. I don't see how a few politicians can change that. Contrary to what some like to believe, big corporate bucks did help Obama get elected.

[MineralMan]

1. Different states; different issues and voters.

I wouldn't read anything into such an event if it happens.

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

2. I believe they both will win. What makes you think Grayson is in trouble? He was up 13 pts.

Are there recent polling suggesting otherwise?

Reid is fine. It'll be close, sadly, but he'll pull it out...

[Orlandodem]

3. Alan Grayson is my Congressman. I like him but I won't vote for him because he hasn't taken a stand

on Obama's education policies. That is by far my number one issue.

The entire Democratic Party will pay for Obama's RTTT plan which is a full frontal assault on its own base.

[Name removed]

4. Deleted message

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[Orlandodem]

5. Yes. Wow. Maybe you guys on DU will once and for all realize that many teachers

feel disrespected and used. Speaking for myself, I will not support a party whose leader has scapegoated my profession for the problems of the education. It's not my job to blindly support Obama and the Dems. It's the job of Obama to represent me and the schools my children attend and I work at. THEN I will continue my support.

Don't stab me in the back, sell out my kids' schools to corporate masters, and then come back and ask me to vote for you again. IT doesn't work that way. Pols work for me. They represent ME and my interests. If they don't I don't vote for them or their party again.

[Tatiana]

7. Look, I am an educator too.

As such, I know that the world isn't simply black or white, but there are various shades of gray. Grayson has done some fantastic work with the foreclosure crisis and trying to keep people from being tossed out of their homes.

Obama is not on that ballot right now. Your representatives are. Do the right thing and vote for Grayson. Then, if he gets re-elected, have all your friends help you call his office and ask for this RTTT nonsense to be withdrawn.

[Orlandodem]

9. Here's an idea. Why don't YOU and YOUR friends call Grayson NOW and do the same.

My absentee ballot is not filled out. There is time for him to take a stand. There is one month until election day.

I'll put it this way. I'll hold off sending my ballot in the hopes that a Democrat somewhere calls out Obama/Duncan for this terrible RTTT policy. As I said, it's the duty of the pols to represent ME, not the other way around.

I do appreciate your post. My response is the best I can offer right now but I'm sick of feeling like it's my fault for the failure of America's schools.

[treestar]

43. We should all drop everything over this one issue?

Really?

Even Grayson isn't good enough?

[Orlandodem]

45. You should hear the water cooler gossip about "Waiting for Superman", Education Nation,

and all the other crap about teachers. You just don't get it. Entire movies aren't made about your profession's failures, followed by talk shows with "experts" about how to "fix you." To make what teachers make AND have to listen to criticism of us is just going to push us away.

[txlibdem]

47. I'm sorry that the RW attack on Labor Unions has finally gotten around to teachers

It would have been nice if the teachers had stood with the textile workers, steel workers, etc., in their time of need. But certainly now that it hits home for you it's a "crisis" and we should all rally 'round you.

We've had at least 30 years of RW subversion and all out war against unions. Now even the word labor union carries a negative connotation, however in heck that happened is beyond me especially when we understand that it was the labor unions that were the major force (along with the Socialist movement in the USA) that gave us all the workplace safety and protections we still have. And every decrease in labor unions has been met with a matching loss in our rights or pay or both.

But, certainly, we should all take to the streets now that 90% of unions are dead but it is just now beginning to hit home for teachers.

:sarcasm:

[Name removed]

25. Deleted message

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[treestar]

31. It's so hard to please all of these groups

That put themselves ahead of the country as a whole.

[donquijoterocket]

38. if

You think Obama, Grayson,and this administration in general are bad on teachers, and I agree they could be doing much better, then you haven't been paying enough attention to what the repubs,baggers and wingers have in store for you.

[Orlandodem]

40. What's the difference if the result of unsound policy will have the same terrible results?

[a la izquierda]

8. You're a one issue voter?

Don't ever, and I mean EVER, move to Oklahoma then. You'll never be able to vote for Democrats, and you have no other choices.
Look, you're lucky you even get a Democratic choice. I don't, and until I move, won't have a choice for the House or Senate. I get to pick a gubernatorial candidate who calls herself a conservative. Not a conservative Democrat, a conservative. How's that for choice?

[Orlandodem]

11. Look, people. YOU need to blame your PARTY and its leader for its attack on a major

bloc in its base. Don't blame me. Blame OBAMA!!! Attack him for my failure to vote for Dems. Don't attack me for being a single issue voter. I don't want my kids growing up in schools that have a test-and-punish curriculum, but that's what Obama is pushing.

I sense your worry. Good. You should worry for the party. You should worry about being a minority party for a while. You should HELP all teachers and all America's kids to stop this historic attack on America's educators. Don't attack me!

[a la izquierda]

22. Trust me, nobody wants a better education system than I do.

Truly, I'd like my 18 year old college students to write well. My point, which you so obviously missed, is that if you're a one issue voter, you can't call yourself a Democrat or anything else for that matter, because NO ONE PERSON or Party will ever satisfy you. They just won't.
And test and punish is nothing new, so I hope you were just as pissed 6 years ago.

[Orlandodem]

26. Yes, 6 years ago I was pissed. Jeb Bush is the king of blaming teachers. I suffered for 8 years

under his regime. I've lived under test-and-punish for 12 years in this state. I suffered under GWB's NCLB.

I never, in my wildest dreams, believed that Democrats would be blaming me for the problems our schools face. THAT is what makes me angry.

EVERYONE has an issue that is near and dear to them. Education is mine. Now that Obama has joined with the GOP in supporting policies which research is now starting to show is a failure, whom will turn to? Obama has said that RTTT is going nowhere.

[treestar]

34. Buck up. I belong to a profession that gets blamed for everything

and is always thought to be in the wrong. I'm not going to pitch a fit over it. I'll still vote for the best people available.

Geez.

[Orlandodem]

39. Sorry, but telling me to buck up is not acceptable. If Obama's policies were rooted in sound

judgement that would be one thing, but it's not.

Vanderbilt U just released results of a study that shows merit pay does not work. If that's the case then evaluating teachers by test scores is not reliable and is a threat to my livelihood. If your livelihood was under attack you'd feel the same way.

Sean Corcoran at NYU just released results of a study which show that using the "value added" system for judging teacher quality on test scores is mostly unreliable as well. Again, my ability to provide for my family (which isn't much as a teacher) is under attack by people who have NEVER TAUGHT A DAY IN THEIR LIVES!!!!!! FUCK OBAMA!!!!!! I WON'T BUCK UP!!!!!

Charter schools in NY do no better than public schools in NY. There are a handful of good charters but the rest are TERRIBLE but Obama is touting them as the solution! FUCK HIM!!!!!

[treestar]

41. What about other issues?

And people who don't agree with you on every itty bitty detail concerning education? Some of them teachers, too. Why should I become a one issue voter only concerned with your concerns?

As I said, some of us put up with all kinds of "attacks" on our professions but realize we are just one group.

[Orlandodem]

44. Attacks on your profession are one thing. Obama is calling for "reform"

based on policy which at best is sketchy and at worst is unreliable. His policy impacts my income. Once that happens it's game on. He is reaching into my wallet.

You can criticize me all you want for being a single issue voter. It's a waste of your breath.

[treestar]

32. No, I blame you

So you'll get your revenge on the Democrats by letting the Republicans in and that'll teach us all, won't it?

I blame you for singling out one issue and trying to be victimized by it. You're not even right about the administration "attacking" you.

It's all about you and your profession. Everyone else can go to hell, right?

[Name removed]

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[Codeine]

10. Electing a Repuke will be an immense help to our education goals.

America's students thank you.

[Orlandodem]

12. Obama's education policy IS repuke policy.

[Paulie]

20. Good for you!

Those of in IT knows wha happens to an industry under assault. Once the NoPublicans regain power, we can hang together talking about then pre-outsourced days. You may feel like the Dems are pissing on you and the future of our kids, but the NoPubbies will flush you and yours down the toilet faster than you can say NCLB.

Me, I'm voting for the entertainment value now days, I want to see the NOpublican party implode when they don't win the house or senate. They would out right die if there was 70 dems in the senate. It's better than TV.

[datasuspect]

23. BRAVO!!!!!!!!!!!

goddamn it.

[treestar]

33. Wrong

That's ridiculous. What about other policies on other subjects?

[Orlandodem]

36. When Obama is getting kudos from Jeb Bush and Newt Gingrich that's all I need to know.

[DefenseLawyer]

13. Brilliant analysis. Simple. Easy to understand. Elementary, even.

I'm sure you are a great teacher, but I really hope you teach first grade.

[Orlandodem]

14. You are part of the problem for Dems. You expect teachers to bend over and take it up the butt

and still vote for the party that is destroying us?

You expect me to sit back and let Obama turn my kids' schools into test prep centers?

Direct your anger at your party, not me. Until you do that, you are part of the problem.

[Orlandodem]

15. Lawyers and teachers are still on the same side, by and large. It's the Obama who has

marginalized teachers thanks to his RTTT. Teachers are paying attention to this and it will hurt Dems in the long term.

[Chan790]

16. Um, if you dislike Grayson's non-stance...

you're going to love Danny Webster's. The guy believes that NCLB doesn't go for enough...supports a strict testing-regime focused on math and science and literacy with teacher accountability (Duncan just wants to fire you for your students not performing, Webster wants to be allowed to review (read: adjudicate and rescind) your teaching certification), supports charters and vouchers. I mean he's everything a public school teacher could ever want. :sarcasm:

It's amazing what one can find with 6 minutes, Google and the ability to look up a person's voting record as a state legislator. It's totally out there in the public domain...also Webster's got huge backing from the Tea Party nationally. The only thing missing here is for DeMint or Palin to show up and tell morons that Webster's a patriot.

Oh and he's a crazy gun nut. (I'm pretty staunch on the 2nd amendment but this guy's a loon...opposes any gun laws at all, including licensing and registration, as impeding the right to bear arms.)

[Orlandodem]

18. For umpteenth time. Direct your anger at the party and Obama. Not me.

I think I'm getting through to a couple Dems here on DU. That's good. Call your Dem Congressmen. Get them to stand up to Obama on education policy.

Whether it's Webster, Obama, or Grayson's silence, it's all the same to me. It's all failed policy and the research is now coming out that shows it. Maybe a few years in the minority will teach the Democrats not to take my vote for granted. If that concerns you then JOIN WITH teachers and parents who are against RTTT and Duncan. Stop blaming us for taking our frustrations out by sitting at home. You have one month. I'm tired of contacting my Congressman. I'm tired of writing Obama. I'm tired of talking to other teachers who are the only ones who agree with me. I'm not leaving the Dem Party. The Dem Party has left me.

[Chan790]

29. Um, you might want to check where you fire that thing.

I just spent the last four months working to get Arne Duncan's favorite educator a pink slip.

When you hear Michelle Rhee got fired or quits, I'll be the asshole taking credit as I was one of the assholes in the Gray campaign working to make her an albatross for Fenty. (The use of "asshole" here is historically appropriate, one of her surrogates called me one to my face during the campaign. I got the last laugh.) Until Grayson actively states support for Obama's education policy, your position is factually out of line and somewhat extremist.

Oh and don't bothering continuing to whine about it, you singled you out for this criticism by taking an absurd and histrionic position.

[Orlandodem]

30. Thank you for your work against Fenty. Honestly. Kudos to you!

I agree with you that my position is extreme. If that's what it takes to get the attention of Democrats then so be it.

[treestar]

42. I'm not angry at Obama. I'm angry at one issue obsessed

persons trying to depress Democratic enthusiasm, so they can get Republicans in and then be able to say "I told you so, I'm a victim."

[Commie Pinko Dirtbag]

21. IBTD. (IBTT?)

[SidDithers]

27. I fucking hope so...nt

Sid

[Orlandodem]

28. So what are you doing to help convince Obama that RTTT is bad policy?

What are you doing to stand WITH parents and teachers against this insane, and historic, scapegoating of teachers? If you're worried for the future of the Democratic Party because it has turned its back on a huge bloc, then do something. Or perhaps you agree with RTTT. Fine by me, but don't expect me to stand with you in elections.

[LWolf]

24. I can't find anywhere that he directly speaks about RTTT

or Obama's "blueprint," one way or the other. In my experience, that usually means that the politician is avoiding drawing attention to an issue that could become a single-issue deal breaker.

I do note, though, that his parents were teachers, and he speaks positively for schools and teachers. That could be a vague, obama-like "make it sound good, make them think they're getting what they want" tactic, or it could be that he means what he says in support of actual teachers.

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2010/8/26/21312/4599

I think it would be difficult for Democrats who want to be viable to publicly oppose a sitting D president.

[Bigmack]

46. Bill Maher said it best... think about it....

Bill Maher .....

"When it comes to voting -- when we only have two choices --
You gotta grow up and realize there's a big difference
between a disappointing friend and a deadly enemy."

[Vickers]

48. Well, bless your heart. n/t

[mmonk]

6. We have to do the best we can.

America is going to be down and sick for a long time. You have to look at the horizon and keep plugging away.

[Iwillnevergiveup]

17. It's hard to imagine living in

Alan Grayson's district and not voting for him. He has done tremendous work his first stretch in the House. Mortgage relief is just the beginning. Have you watched any of the YouTubes of him fighting tooth and nail for health care and reigning in Wall Street? His kids all go to public schools, and he has unabashedly supported them. Grayson is the number 1 target for Rove and all the other deluded right wing front groups. Would you vote for Daniel Webster instead? Or waste your vote and not choose either?? I don't get it - Grayson has run a clean, truly grassroots campaign supported by tons of non-Florida residents, myself included.

[Joanne98]

19. Alan Grayson isn't going to lose!

[Fla_Democrat]

37. No, it's obviously because...

A) The machines are fixed

B) The voters are stupid

C) The Police/Fire Department/Stasi on the payroll of the GOP suppressed the vote.

Everyone knows that. :eyes:



:smoke: