Obama puts on his comfortable shoes to stroll with union basher Jeb Bush

[erodriguez]

From the WaPo:
At a time when Wisconsin teachers are protesting to keep their collective bargaining rights, President Obama is traveling to Florida to share a stage with former governor Jeb Bush, the king of corporate-driven, standardized test-obsessed school reform that devalues teachers and their unions.

What a tag team.

Obama is scheduled to speak to the students and faculty of Miami Central Senior High about the importance of out-educating the competition to secure America’s future. (That’s highly unlikely, with states cutting billions of dollars out of school budgets and with a reform agenda that is focused on expanding charter schools, assessing teachers based on students’ standardized test scores and the like, but never mind.)

Obama is appearing in Florida as state legislators move toward passing legislation (Senate Bill 736, HB 7019) that:

* Ties at least half of a teacher’s salary to how well his/her students perform on standardized tests

* Prevents consideration of many advanced degrees and special training to be considered in determining a teacher’s salary

* Eliminates tenure for teachers hired after the summer of 2014

* Requires the creation of new standardized assessments for all courses, though it doesn’t suggest where the money will come from to pay.

http://voices.washingtonpost.com/answer-sheet/school-turnaroundsreform/obamas-questionable-trip-to-mi.html#more



This bill mirrors SB6 which had thousand of teachers taking to the street last year. It was unpopular enough that the Governor vetoed it.
Here is what Jeb had to say.

“I am disappointed by the veto of Senate Bill 6. By taking this action, Governor Crist has jeopardized the ability of Florida to build on the progress of the last decade, which includes raising student achievement across the board, narrowing the achievement gap for poor and minority students, and improving graduation rates. Florida’s sustained improvement is the result of bold reforms that were challenging, controversial and sometimes even unpopular. Reform is hard work but without a commitment to change, Florida would not be eighth in the nation today.”

Here is a sappy BS commercial that his foundation made.
http://whatthefrenchfry.com/jeb-bushs-foundation-backs-the-crappy-sb6hb71

This reminds me of Arne Duncan's tour with New Gingrich.
Look to Obama's actions not his words! He absolutely does not give a shit about teachers.

[Starry Messenger]

1. k&r

[Horse with no Name]

2. I'm so glad that my vote wasn't wasted!

I mean seriously...if I didn't vote or voted for a republican...then the republicans would end up decimating our education system in this country! Thank God we got a Democrat!

[readmoreoften]

64. +1

[obxhead]

96. Or we might have ended up with Romneycare.

oh wait....

Obama's intentions are clear. Stand with union busting and corporate handouts. Ensure the profitability of the elite at any cost to everyone else.

[libmom74]

103. you forgot the sarcasm thingy :)

[Hannah Bell]

3. kr. "choice". lol.

[provis99]

4. I see Obama is trying to imitate Bill Clinton.

funny how they think hanging out with fascist shits like the Bushes gives them some kind of respectability.

[bigwillq]

15. This whole admin. feels like Clinton Part Deux (nt)

[truebrit71]

25. Sans the chubby intern and cigars...

...I didn't get this pissed off at Clinton until his second term...Obama is waaaaaaaaaaaaay ahead of schedule...

[BlueCheese]

26. And the peace and prosperity.

[OwnedByFerrets]

115. +1

[Yavin4]

83. With One Huge Difference

No tech bubble pumping out 200K jobs per month.

[Vinca]

5. I'm going outside to knock my head against a brick wall.

:banghead: Wisconsin no, Jebbie yes?

[leveymg]

6. There's the winning ticket for 2012: Obama-Bush.

Isn't bi-partisanship purrdy? Demoplican Party, all the way! USA! USA!

[Peregrine Took]

7. Brilliant! Where do I go to donate??? n/t

[Enrique]

11. gmta!

Obama-Bush! :rofl:

[Blue Owl]

8. More bipartisan bullshit

Time for another collective groan

:eyes:

[Enrique]

9. Obama should make Jeb his running mate for 2012

it would be called "brilliant". David Broder would love it! Biden would get over it eventually.

[MannyGoldstein]

10. They'll have an adult conversation

And impose shared sacrifice on the suckers with net worths of less than $1 million.

[Bluebear]

135. +

[Skip_In_Boulder]

12. One would think that Democrats would finally start to "Get It"

[xxqqqzme]

107. Rethuglicans are missing an irony gene

Democratic politicians are missing the 'get it' gene.

[Bozita]

13. The word "despicable" seems to fit nicely

[bigwillq]

14. Obama/Jeb 2012!

:rofl:

[Name removed]

16. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[CoffeeCat]

17. It's clear that Jeb will be running in 2012,,,

...so why the frick is our Democratic President sharing the same stage with the man--which
only lends credibility and stature to Jeb?

Why doesn't Obama just donate to his campaign and make glittery signs for Jeb, while he's down there?

Anyone else sick of *our guys* sucking the toes of these sleazy Bush scumbags--especially when one of
them will be running for President?

JAYSUS!!!!!

[blm]

41. It's clear Jeb will be running in 2016 and both men are well aware of it.

Dems extending ANY civility or generosity to the Bushes will always come back to haunt this country in the long run.

[Name removed]

18. Deleted message

Sub-thread removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Newest Reality]

19. In my Sanctum of Thought

just behind the creeping paranoia of having too many facts at one's disposal, (Mark Twain's true paranoid) ...

It seems to me that what we will get out of this brutal assault on teachers and their profession may be just what the McDoctor ordered. We already see what looks more and more like the trends show: cookie-cutter, basic schooling based on drilling for standardized, (crony) tests. We might be making an error when we refer to statistical training as what many of us might consider a real education.

That will help to create more easily controlled drones for the rising Fascism of the corporate monoculture that is spreading like slime-mold across the World. We need some good fungicide, people.

The kids of the deadbeat rich will get the good educations and that will help assure an iron-clad control system for the future of the current owners of this planet.

[uponit7771]

20. who cares?

[erodriguez]

22. Teachers, union people, parents, students, lots of DU'ers

[erodriguez]

21. Jeb Bush on Scott Walker

Bush plans to appear at a March 8 reception for Walker, the Milwaukee county executive, whom he praised for a "proven record of good management — cutting the debt by 10 percent, the county work force by 20 percent and holding the line on taxes."

"I know he'll make a great governor," Bush said in a statement.



http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0210/33045.html

[arendt]

23. +100. Watch what he does, not what he says. n/t

[ClarkUSA]

24. So what? Elizabeth Warren is meeting with bankers today. That doesn't mean she's in cahoots w/them.

Hate to tell all you "apples and oranges" fans, but when one is POTUS, you often make public appearances with people you disagree with on policy. It's not as if he's a Bush golfing buddy like Bubba.... or a big fan of McCain's like Hillary. :puke:

Unless you have proof otherwise, President Obama has made it crystal clear that he's firmly on the side of unions on more than one occasion in the past two years and especially in the past few weeks (see his remarks at the National Governor's meet just this week), so the snide reference in the OP is ridiculous but totally in keeping with the fact-free demonization of President Obama that seems so much like sport here.

[TheKentuckian]

29. The President and Jeb are two peas in a pod on education policy

which is why they are appearing together in this case.

What I don't get is the surprise factor. I foretold this exact situation when Obama and Arne dropped their deform plans.

How are you going to pretend their is some gulf between the two men's ideas for public education?

Obama may disagree on some policies with Big Head shrub but this deform effort isn't one of those areas. Your entire frame is dishonest and depends on conflating Obama's middling stance on labor with his views on teachers.

[ClarkUSA]

30. Prove it.

Facts only from generally credible unbiased named sources will do.

I will immediately discount rhetorical rants masquerading as op-eds from the shrill whiny Obama-bashing fringe (e.g, Firedoglake, Counterpunch, etc.).

[TheKentuckian]

33. If I do will you actively work against Obama's deform efforts and support teachers?

I find it incredible that you have not seen credible policy analysis indicating how close these ideas are but if it isn't a goose chasing hoop to tie up my valuable free time then it would be an investment worth making.

[ClarkUSA]

35. Prove it, if you want to. Otherwise, don't make such statements to me.

You decide. You said:

"peas in a pod" => Obama and Jeb have the exact same views on education policy

So far, I remain unconvinced by fact-free rhetoric such as yours. You can PM me with the info if you want to think about it or are busy.

[TheKentuckian]

119. So you want research but even if it affirms my position, you aren't prepared to work against deform?

I'm not trying to score points but you might be a hell of an advocate so I see the work as an investment if it would be impactive.

[Name removed]

66. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[erodriguez]

39. Here you go

Jeb Stuff mostly from his site:

http://www.excelined.org/Pages/About_Us/Reform_Agenda.aspx

Obama stuff mostly from his Blueprint for reform

http://www2.ed.gov/policy/elsec/leg/blueprint/blueprint.pdf
Some from his State of the Union

On Testing and standards:

Jeb:

Students will rise to meet the challenge of rigorous academic standards, which will better prepare them for success in college and careers.


Objectively measuring progress and achievement is essential to rewarding success and reversing failure before it is too late. Data-Driven Accountability: Schools should be held accountable for student learning based on objective measures, such as annual standardized tests and graduation rates.

Obama:

We will support the development and use of a new generation of
assessments that are aligned with college- and career-ready standards, to better determine
whether students have acquired the skills they need for success. New assessment systems
will better capture higher-order skills, provide more accurate measures of student growth,
and better inform classroom instruction to respond to academic needs.


On teacher quality:

Jeb:

The quality of teaching can impact a student’s academic career, both positively and negatively.

First, great teachers have a bedrock belief that every student who walks into their classroom can learn. These teachers don't make excuses. Instead, they go to extraordinary lengths to overcome whatever obstacle stands in the way of their students' learning.

Obama:

We want to reward good teachers and stop making excuses for bad ones.

Education funding:

Jeb: How education funding is spent is as important as how much funding is provided. Rewarding progress and proficiency will result in rising student achievement.

Obama:

States will receive funds to design innovative programs to reward high-poverty Reward schools and Reward districts. Rewards may include financial rewards for the staff and students and development of and participation in “communities of practice” to share best practices and replicate successful strategies to assist lower-performing schools and districts.

School Choice:

Jeb:
Parents and students should have a voice and a choice in their education.

Knowing that success in school leads the way to success in life, how can anyone argue against giving families the financial freedom to choose a school that gives kids the best shot at their future? How can we deny parents a choice in what is arguably the most important decision they will make for their children?

Obama:

Supporting effective public school choice. We will support the expansion of high-performing public charter schools and other autonomous public schools, and support local communities as they expand public school choice options for students within and across school districts.

[JuniperLea]

43. Which of those statements do you disagree with?

?

[RUMMYisFROSTED]

80. All of them.

Since they're just platitudes.

[rhett o rick]

59. You prove that Pres Obama sides with the working class over the corporations. nm

[ClarkUSA]

95. See Reply 91 and 93 (links -->)

Link to Reply 93: http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=439&topic_id=541658&mesg_id=548179

Then take a look at the proof at Reply 91:
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=439&topic_id=541658&mesg_id=548101

As you've only offered fact-free rhetoric on this thread, rhett o rick, it's so very amusing to see you demand proof when you never ever offer any yourself.

But I have, time and again. "Spin that."

[rhett o rick]

111. You linked to a bunch of rhetoric. That's not proof.

and you say that the HCR is good because someday it might possibly lead to something better. I see people living in tents and eating at the Salvation Army and nothing is being done. I see family losing their home and unemployed and nothing is being done. We are dying while you tell us things are fine and dandy. Well maybe for you. I want change. That's what i voted for. Repealing DADT is great but the homeless dont give a shit.

[ClarkUSA]

129. That's untrue. News articles with named sources detailing facts are "a bunch of rhetoric" to you? .

Blaming President Obama for everything is ridiculous. But that's what you do, isn't it? President Obama has pushed for more funding to support federal assistance to the poor for the past two years. Keep ignoring the facts. That's what you keep doing. All you've got is demonizing rhetoric. Still not a proven fact in sight. But plenty of bile is in evidence. Gee, I wonder why? :eyes:

[rhett o rick]

136. I went back thru your myriad of links and still didnt find a single news article.

And this is as close to a fact as I could find: "Pres. Obama's political arms, the DNC and OFA, have been working on helping to organize support for the pro-union protesters in WI, OH, and IN from the get-go." That is a statement, that is rhetoric. A fact would be that flyers were made and distributed, buses were provided to bus in demonstrators, pizza was sent, staff was sent to Madison. But Pres Obama has not come out to say he supports the unions efforts. "...generally seems like more of an assault on unions." GENERALLY SEEMS MORE LIKE... Wow, what powerful words. He went on a limb and said it generally seems like an assault. He didnt even say IT IS and assault on unions. That's rhetoric.

For facts you give me "...have been working on helping to organize support ...." It doesnt say they provided support, it says they are working on helping to bla bla bla bla bla.

I certainly agree that Pres Obama is better than Bush, but it appears not to be enough to save the American Dream. Every day it gets worse and we have only seen the tail of the dragon Citizens United.

I work at a foodbank and know working people losing their homes and I know lots of people unemployed. You try telling them to be patient, Obama and all his Wall Street appointees will, work on helping.

[rhett o rick]

113. How about his COS Bailey and Emanuel. Boy those guys side with the unions. nm

[Oilwellian]

79. Did you read the Washington Post link provided by OP?

Obama has gone out of his way to be bipartisan in the education reform arena, which would be good if the Republicans were right about reform, but they aren’t either. Rather than eliminate the most egregious parts of No Child Left Behind, the signature education initiative of Jeb Bush’s brother, former president George W. Bush, Obama is building on some of them, making them even worse.

For example, instead of using standardized test scores to evaluate only schools and students, they now will be linked to how much a teacher is paid (even though we all know that a teacher isn’t solely responsible for how well a kid does on a test). It’s a bad idea, not championed by assessment experts and not borne out by research, but it’s the reform idea du jour, backed by Gates Foundation money and Obama’s policy agenda.

[truedelphi]

121. Well, only problem with the idea of saying this nasty education

reform stuff is Republican, is that the original No Child Left Behind Bill was started by Ted Kennedy.

[erodriguez]

34. Was Obama on the side of the unions when the Central Falls teachers were fired?

[ClarkUSA]

36. Um, weren't they all hired back after agreeing to "recommit to their jobs"?

CENTRAL FALLS – School and union officials said Sunday they have reached a tentative deal to let Central Falls High School’s 87 fired teachers and other employees return to their jobs this fall without reapplying.

The draft agreement calls for the school’s staff members to “recommit to their jobs” and interview with its new principal. Other stipulations include a longer school day, more after-school tutoring and a new evaluation system.

http://www.pbn.com/Central-Falls-teachers-to-keep-jobs,49906

What's the big deal? Do you expect every President to swoop in and comment on every school union impasse in every state before there's time to even resolve it through negotiations? Or is this unfair and unwise expectation only limited to President Obama?

[erodriguez]

38. He did comment

BTw he did comment

`If a school is struggling, we have to work with the principal and the teachers to find a solution. We've got to give them a chance to make meaningful improvements,'' Mr. Obama said during the unveiling at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce of a new anti-dropout program.

``But if a school continues to fail its students year after year after year, if it doesn't show signs of improvement, then there's got to be a sense of accountability,'' the president continued.

``And that's what happened in Rhode Island last week at a chronically troubled school, when just 7 percent of 11th graders passed state math tests -- 7 percent. When a school board wasn't able to deliver change by other means, they voted to lay off the faculty and the staff,'' Mr. Obama said.

``As my education secretary, Arne Duncan, says, our kids get only one chance at an education, and we need to get it right,'' he concluded.

http://newsblog.projo.com/2010/03/obama-cites-central-falls-high.html

[ClarkUSA]

47. That's a fair comment which I agree with. But he didn't go "far enough" for some people at the time.

But as I said, all's well that ends well.

[Dappleganger]

62. Oh wow...

be careful of that limb you've climbed out on, it's full of FAT KITTEHS.

[Smashcut]

63. Question: do you ever make a post about Obama that isn't actually about the Clintons?

Just wondering.

[QC]

89. No. n/t

[Bluebear]

139. No.

[readmoreoften]

65. That may be the worst analogy I've heard all week.

Elizabeth Warren isn't touring with the bankers promoting a policy.

[JuniperLea]

27. So, we've got a ham sandwich... who are the rest of you going to vote for?

And what do you think all this negativity is going to do? Besides giving the GOTP a boost.

:banghead:

[Marr]

50. LMFAO.

Stop criticizing him! Make him do it!

You have to push him! You can't complain or it will somehow magically empower the evil GOP and SRAaA Palinzzz!

[rhett o rick]

58. Ah yes, the lesser of evils and the race to the bottom. Sorry, I wont vote against my principles.

I may go down, but not without a fight. I am sorry you are willing to give up so easy.

[readmoreoften]

67. A ham sandwich has more taste than either Obama or the GOP he pals around with.

[yellowcanine]

28. So Obama is supposed to not talk to high school students in Florida because Jeb is a douchebag?

And because Republican legislators in Florida are passing douchebag legislation?

What is the reasoning here?

It is high school students he is talking to, not a political rally. Come on people.

[readmoreoften]

68. Obama's the President of the Fucking USA. Why does he need Jeb Bush to talk to students in Florida?

I seriously doubt Bush would have toured with Bernie Sanders just because he was in Vermont. Get a grip.

[yellowcanine]

81. Well you don't know that. Anyway, since when should Obama take his cues from Bush?

Jeb Bush is a former governor of Florida. Presidents need to be able to work with governors and former governors on common goals such as motivating high school students. It is part of the job. You are the one who needs to get a grip.

[Shagbark Hickory]

31. This was a really smart move by Obama!

Jeb'll be video taped walking with Obama, shaking hands, working together, sitting down together.
He'll become tainted forever and won't be able to be elected president as a result.

I hope they schedule a walk on the beach too. LOL

Just ask Charlie Christ.

Oh - Obama, you crafty rascal.
Flippin brilliant.

[ClarkUSA]

32. You get it. He's already tainted Romney by praising RomneyCare the other day.

Shagbark Hickory (1000+ posts) Wed Mar-02-11 04:26 PM
Response to Original message
32. This was a really smart move by Obama!


Jeb'll be video taped walking with Obama, shaking hands, working together, sitting down together.
He'll become tainted forever and won't be able to be elected president as a result.

I hope they schedule a walk on the beach too. LOL

Just ask Charlie Christ.

Oh - Obama, you crafty rascal.
Flippin brilliant.

Behold the Chess Master: Getting rid of the serious competition, one at a time. :D

[JuniperLea]

42. I hope he sticks to the RomneyCare speak too!!

He's finding common ground... the GOTP can't bash his actions when they mirror those of a GOTPer, now can they?

Love it!

[ClarkUSA]

48. Me too. It puts me in stitches just imagining Romney gnashing his perfectly white teeth.

:fistbump:

[liberation]

108. Ah, yes... chess

you know the game where peons are the first to go to protect the royal pieces.

[Lorien]

117. Oooh! Maybe he can "taint" Limbaugh and Beck by praising everything they believe in too!

what a strategy!! :eyes:

[Shagbark Hickory]

133. I don't know if you've noticed this but the two of them never mention what they believe in.

Beckbaugh don't like to be tied down to any particular beliefs. It's their job to bitch about everything the left does.

So this trick wouldn't work on them.

[Name removed]

40. Deleted message

Sub-thread removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Vinee]

46. Conservatives will not support Jeb in the primaries anyways.

He's already hated just as much as Mitt, Newt, and Huck. possibly more.

[Shagbark Hickory]

76. What does it matter if he's hated? What matters is which candidate the corporations like the best.

nt

[readmoreoften]

69. You people read miles into everything Obama does.

I'm sorry but it really is the way people read into the motivations of abusers or religious figures: GOD HAS A PLAN.

[SHRED]

78. And you know this for a fact?

[Shagbark Hickory]

97. Proven fact. Ask Charlie Christ.

Just to clarify...
I mean JEB would be unelectable. Not Obama.

[Bozita]

37. nudge

[somone]

44. Typical activity between soulmates

[Bluebear]

56. !

[Vinee]

45. gee, I thought he said he would march with the unions back on the campaign trail.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q5voSHCn6NE&feature=player_embedded
"If American workers are being denied their right to organize and collectively bargain when I’m in the White House, I’ll put on a put on a comfortable pair of shoes myself. I’ll walk on that picket line with you as president of the United States.” Barack Obama

anybody else feeling like we got fooled again?

[ClarkUSA]

49. Where's the picket line? When was the vote taken?

So far as I know, collective bargaining is still a right in WI. Also, if labor leaders and protesters in Wisconsin haven't complained about President Obama, then why are you?

[Name removed]

53. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[ClarkUSA]

54. Well, why are you blaming Pres. Obama? He's not responsible for voting in Kasich.

Grumbling about non-existent picket lines isn't going to change the fact that OH voters got what they voted for. I'm tired of bloggers blaming President Obama for every damned thing that goes wrong in this country as if his walking on a picket line is going to do anything but turbo-charge the Tea Party and stiffen the spine of any GOP governor and make him into a hero in the eyes of conservatives everywhere.

Elections have consequences. Pres. Obama doesn't have magic shoes that make GOP governors and legislatures change their minds just to make him happy.

If you want things to change in Ohio, then get out and organize to make sure Kasich and his GOP kindred are voted out in upcoming elections instead of scapegoating President Obama via a 2007 quote which isn't even applicable.

For example, a very recent poll showed that it was union families who was the difference that enabled Walker to get elected last November. They have buyer's remorse now, but for anyone to blame Pres. Obama for the present situation in any way is ludicrous.

[xchrom]

51. Recommend

[bvar22]

52. Birds of a feather....

...and all that stuff.


"There are forces within the Democratic Party who want us to sound like kinder, gentler Republicans.
I want us to compete for that great mass of voters that want a party that will stand up for working Americans."
---Paul Wellstone


"By their works you will know them."

[ClarkUSA]

55. So whoever a POTUS attends a function with, he's "birds of a feather"?

Gotcha. :eyes:

[rhett o rick]

60. Pres Obama has clearly moved to the right. Spin that. nm

[ReggieVeggie]

74. oh, Clark will

[ClarkUSA]

87. People who agree with baseless one-liner rhetoric shouldn't throw stones.

Feel free to prove anything I've said is "spin".

[rhett o rick]

90. So has Obama moved to the right? Has he embraced much of the policies of the right?

Did he give the war criminals a pardon by not prosecuting them? Did he let the Wall Street fraud go unpunished? Is he totally ignoring the plight of the unions?

He is farther right than President Eisenhower, even Pres Nixon.

[ClarkUSA]

93. No and no. Your rhetoric is totally unsupported by the facts.

<< Is he totally ignoring the plight of the unions? >>

Proof he is not: http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=433&topic_id=619711&mesg_id=620240
More proof: http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=433&topic_id=619711&mesg_id=619798

You, of course, have zero proof. Ditto with your other claims.

<< Did he let the Wall Street fraud go unpunished? >>

Proof he did not: "SEC Charges Goldman Sachs With Fraud in Structuring and Marketing of CDO Tied to Subprime Mortgages" (April 16, 2010)
http://www.sec.gov/news/press/2010/2010-59.htm


More proof: "SEC files in Goldman fraud case" (March 2, 2011)
http://www.journalgazette.net/article/20110302/BIZ/303029976/1031/BIZ

There's a pattern here: YOU ARE WRONG. YOU HAVE NO FACTS ON YOUR SIDE. "Spin that."

[rhett o rick]

106. ok

Pres Obama supporting the unions: "...seems like more of an assault on unions" and "I’ve been following the developments in Wisconsin,". A lot of "seems like" and "i have been following", rhetoric. Come back when he actually takes meaningful action. And oh yes, let's not forget that in his campaign he promised to walk the picket line if a union's collective bargaining rights were threatened. Where did that promise go?

Call me back when someone from Wall Street actually gets punished. And dont bother if it is one lone scapegoat.

There is a pattern here, no punishment for our war criminals and no punishment for the Wall Street fraud. He is continuing Bush's wars, tax breaks, Homeland Security and Patriot act.

A line has been crossed in the United States. Those of us that worked hard to get Pres Obama elected expected results and what's happening across the nation is a demonstration of our dissatisfaction with the Pres capitulation to the oligarchy. We want change.

There are only two sides in this war for the American Dream and Pres Obama has indicated his side with his Wall Street appointments. Whose side are you on?

[ClarkUSA]

125. lol! You were proved wrong and now you're moving goalposts.

How predictable. Still no facts, I see.

[rhett o rick]

134. I asked you for proof that Pres Obama supported the unions and you gave only rhetoric.

Here's some evidence he supports banksters and corporatists. Bernanke, Summers, Geitner, Emanuel, Daley, Immelt, Alan Simpson, Cote, etc. The list goes on. None of these gentlemen support unions.

I asked you whose side you choose, banksters or working class. You never answered.

[CrownPrinceBandar]

137. You mean baseless one-line rhetoric like........

"Well, I guess you would have like President Palin better" or "Negativity towards Pres. Obama only gives the GOP power"? I STILL see these statements at DU. If the expectation is rhetorical purity, everyone has to play by the rules.

[ClarkUSA]

86. Oh, is that why Obama AND his policies are accused of being Socialist by Republicans?

"Spin that."

:sarcasm:

And is that why most of his legislative victories in the past two years got little to zero support from "the right"?

Your empty words are laughable in the face of facts.

[rhett o rick]

88. They will accuse him of being socialist even if he gives them billion dollar tax breaks

and health care that include insurance companies. Even if he chooses to continue Bush's wars and defense budget. They will call him socialist even if he continues Homeland Security and the Patriot Act. They will call him a socialist even if he kisses Bush's boots like Clinton.

The farther he moves to the right, the farther they want him to.

[ClarkUSA]

91. Some would accuse him of "moving to the right" even if he ended the Iraq war, passed HCR...

... to open the door to single-payer and the public option (as he just did this week at the National Governors WH conference), passed Wall Street Reform, regulated the end mountaintop removal, ended torture aka. extraordinary rendition, repealed DADT and directed his Justice Department to stop defending DOMA, spent the most money on green tech in U.S. history, saved the country from the Great Depression, saved the auto industry, made billions off TARP by setting strict payback rules, put two women on the Supreme Court, and was the most union-friendly president in decades.

They will also say outlandish things like "he kisses Bush's boots" without providing a shred of proof -- probably because there is none.

[rhett o rick]

109. I see the Iraq War is over and the HCR is paving the way.

George Orwell would love this shit. He didnt end torture or extraordinary rendition. Pres Obama didnt punish George Bush for outing a CIA agent during war, but is torturing Bradly Manning for leaking cables. By the way, how many contractors do we have in Iraq at taxpayer expense? Why are they there?

[ClarkUSA]

123. Google is your friend. Facts are mine. Feel free to refute both.

Bet you can't.

Here are some more FACTS: http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=433x621787

[here_is_to_hope]

112. lmao

Geez dude, I know we all need a hero but come on...

[ClarkUSA]

124. Heh

Just the facts, dude. Got anything besides snark?

[BobbyBoring]

101. They call him a socialist

for the same reasons they call him a Marxist, Communist, etc. They have no idea what they are~

[cui bono]

57. Hopefully protesters will force them BOTH into a closet this time!

On Friday, October 6, Gov. Jeb Bush (FL) was shown the closet by Pittsburgh Port Authority Police as he attempted to escape the boos and jeers of activists en route to a fundraiser for Senator Rick Santorum (PA). Bush was a scheduled speaker at the fundraiser.

The incident with Gov. Bush occurred during an impromptu march organized by several United Steelworkers staffers. As the march proceeded towards the Duquesne Club--the site for the fundraiser--Jeb Bush was spotted and a small group rushed across the street to confront him. The group yelled and chanted and got in his face. Bush was accompanied by one security guard and an aide.

After activists angrily dogged Bush for about a block, Bush's security guard escorted him into a nearby T-station. The group of about 15-20 trailed Bush and company down the escalator, where they were greeted by several port authority police. The police eventually spirited Bush into what appeared to be a utility closet. They tazed (using the stun gun setting) one person in the torso and another in the hand. There were no arrests.

http://pittsburgh.indymedia.org/news/2006/10/24772.php





Grrr.

[Bluebear]

132. !

[Dappleganger]

61. Oh gee, can't we spin this a bit more nicely?

Nope, can't be done! Yes, poop STINKS. :mad:

[Name removed]

70. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[democracy1st]

71. K & R

[bbgrunt]

72. royal rainbow puke.

:puke:

[Name removed]

73. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[dionysus]

102. bless your little heart.

[Lorien]

118. You speak the truth. His foot soldiers here have nothing to stand on. nt

[Vidar]

75. They should be steel-toed and right up Jeb's ass.

[SHRED]

77. I was taken to task here on the DU...

...for asking why Obama was not going to Madison.

Now it appears he is willing to go to Florida and rub shoulders with Jeb Fucking Bush of all people!

Shouldn't he be "doing the nation's business" or "he has a country to run" or "he has the middle east to focus on now" or....

What do the critics of what I asked say now?
:shrug:

[xchrom]

84. +1

[emilyg]

104. Hey - lay off - Obama is doing

a lot - he had an awards ceremony the other night at the WH.

[NillaWafers]

110. He should be in Madison. Jeb is the worst of the worst kind of scum.

What an insult.

[lonestarnot]

82. Fucking A.

:thumbsdown:

[BlueIris]

85. Here's wishing Mr. Obama a happy Spring.

He's earned it.

[femrap]

92. You're 100% right....

Actions speak louder than words.

He hates working people....just like his fascist bosses.

A wolf in lamb's clothing...is that the saying???

[marew]

94. I am a FL retired school social worker.

This makes me sick!

A large part of my job was making home visits to families of troubled students. Sometimes, after leaving a home, I changed my feelings about how a child was doing. The student was doing remarkably well considering what I saw at home. There were times I saw homes surrounded by trash, outside and inside. I say parents who were completely uninvolved in their child's education. I saw emotionally handicapped children who worked hard in school to get a reward (bought and paid for by the teacher)only to have the parent take the reward for themselves. In one instance a little girl who lived in a really poor home situation worked very hard for a week to earn a 'scrunchy' for her hair. She was thrilled when she got it. She came to school the next day very sad and without the 'scrunchy.' When the teacher asked where it was, the little girl said her mother had taken it for herself. I could go on and on about what I saw over several decades. Someone needs to tell me why when teachers see their students 5 or 6 hours a day, how they can make up for horrible situations at home. These are dysfunctional situations that many students have been in since birth.
There were times the social workers in my office said we should write a book on what we see in homes. We also thought people would never believe it was nonfiction. To pretend that all children well-nourished, both physically and emotionally, is absurd. We had kindergartners show up who had never seen a book before, or who had never been out of their neighborhood. To judge teachers, exclusively or partially, on student performance is so completely unfair. Until these political idiots sit in a classroom for a few days and follow a social worker on a few home visits, they have no ethical right to demean teachers in any way.

[Raksha]

100. Very powerful post! You should write a book about your experiences.

By "you" I'm referring to school social workers and teachers collectively, not you personally (unless you want to, of course). And it should be a very "political" book specifically addressing the teacher-bashing talking points we're hearing so much these days.

It could be called something like "The War On Public Education." It's probably been done already and I just don't know about it.

[madfloridian]

126. Great post. Thank you.

My last few years I taught kids from some very tragic home lives. I speak not of just emotionally harmful, but physically dangerous.

I had a boy come to class after getting his 2 sisters dressed and to school. Their mom went missing during the night, and there were signs of a fight.

One lived with a sibling so dangerous we tried to get help, but he ended up burning their house down. One child died.

I could go on.

I applaud your comment:

"Until these political idiots sit in a classroom for a few days and follow a social worker on a few home visits, they have no ethical right to demean teachers in any way."

[JDPriestly]

98. No one seems to be thinking about how to attract really good people into teaching.

I discouraged my children from going into teaching. You get treated like dirt.

[JDPriestly]

99. More proof that Obama likes being with rich Republicans more

than he likes being with poor Democrats.

I have never seen anything like Obama's indifference to the problems of the poor and middle class. It is just astounding.

Who does he think teachers are in America? Why is he so intent on cutting teachers down, weakening their profession? Why?

[libmom74]

105. I guess Obama is

meeting with Jeb to shore up the center right voting block since he has already thrown most of his constituency under the bus. I don't think the unions are going to forget that Obama made meeting with union bashing Jeb a priority over what is happening in Wisconsin, Ohio and other states to public employees as well as his tepid remarks about "shared sacrifice" which is basically code for the poor and middle class need to sacrifice more so the rich can have more.

[here_is_to_hope]

114. Lay with dogs, get up with fleas...

What an asshole.

[glinda]

116. As once a Professor, I really don't get how he hasn't a clue. Either he is one

nasty resentful Prof. or just ignorant.

[BlueJac]

120. A wannabe Reagan at his finest hour!

Obama=Disappointment

[blackspade]

122. Sigh....

The full on assault against what was ounce one of the best education systems on the planet continues.
Aided by a Democratic president no less.....

[madfloridian]

127. Recommended earlier, so giving a big kick.

[mochajava666]

128. This is another example on how Obama undermines his own

credibility as well as the Democratic party.

This is why there will be another low turnout of his progressive base in 2012.

[DesertDiamond]

130. Unacceptable. Completely unacceptable.

[AlbertCat]

131. Yet another colossal disappointment.

What a lousy president Obama is.

[Bluebear]

138. k