I didn't want to chance going to the whitehouse.gov site for looking at the speech, given that they want to put cookies to track anywhere you go(there are ways of getting rid of them).
That being said, it's a damn shame to be fearful of your government, but that's what we're seeing right now and with damn good reason!
He's making himself out to be some damn savior, it's all about him and him only.
You know, Obama could have avoided a lot of this grief if he had simply issued a statement or filmed a little clip, welcoming kids back to school and encouraging them to work hard and do well (which is what other Presidents have done).
But no, they had to make a big announcement as if this were yet another major speech by the President, and get the DOE involved developing an entire lesson plan around it.....
But we're supposed to believe that it's not about HIM, you see......
But to refer to himself as an example of someone who worked hard to succeed is the biggest B.S. He got into Columbia through an affirnative action tranfer from Occidental. He got into Harvard Law through Percy Sutton and affirmative action. His only career job of any length was as a community organizer. He wrote no legislation as a State Senator and never even held a meeting of his sub-committee as a U.S. Senator.
I would say he is an example of how to get by with smoke and mirrors.
The audience for Obama's speech is kindergarden through twelfth grade. After reading that speech, it's a stretch to think that he's going to make any kind of an impression on the lower end of the age range, so that is a waste of classroom time. The middle age group is going to think it's interesting to see the President, but will quickly lose interest in what he's saying. The majority of the older kids won't care what he has to say.
All-in-all, it's just another campaign speech so Obama can talk about himself and pretend to inspire.
"I support the President but not his policies" - Blonde
The speech is innocuous enough; the text of the speech never was the issue. It was the prep reading of books by and on Obama before the speech, and the followup materials sent out by his team, since changed, that directed the kids to discuss how they can help Obama and promote his programs. And the fact that his team bypassed the elected school officials and sent the materials directly to the schools for distribution.
All of this following two other events that were problematic; the website Obama set up where people who didn't agree with his policies could be "reported", and the effort to have kids report their parents if they disagreed with Obama's policies. All of this reeks of indoctronation.
The thing I would add here is to keep in mind Marshall McLuhan's observation that "The medium is the message". He thought the medium (tv in this case, obviously) is as powerful, or even more powerful than the message--the words. Turns out people forget most of the word content of a television presentation after a few minutes, but they remember the images much longer.
For young school children, television images are extremely powerful. A person "on television" is often an authority figure to young kids. Obama could say only, "Hi Kids" and it would have a deep inpact on the kids. Obama establishes himself as an authority figure, someone to look up to, someone to pay allegiance to. This is heady stuff for school kids. Whatever teachers do pre or post the appearance of Obama on TV only reinforces the impact.
I don't like it one bit. Kids are being used.
No citizen's right to life, liberty, pursuit of happiness, or property is safe as long as Obama is President of the United States.
from American Thinker about avoiding political manipulation. This is the kind of thing kids should be taught in school. Read it and discuss it with your kids
Dee, I followed your link, and at American Thinker there is another link to an article at Politico about why the WH changed the "help the President" wording.
And this is an absolute hoot!
The original phrasing was:
"Write letters to themselves about what they can do to help the president. “
Changed to:
"Write letters to themselves about how they can achieve their short‐term and long‐term education goals.”
“We changed it to clarify the language so the intent is clear,” said White House Spokesman Tommy Vietor.
So what they really meant by saying "help the President" was "achieve....education goals."
ROFL!!!!
In other words, The First One is still "recalibrating" those pesky "inartfully worded" statements.
another one of those inartfully worded items that got stuffed back under the bus. Along with mandatory service.
Not had enough service? See more on serving at www.serve.gov which feeds into a private company that helps you find volunteer opportunities. www.allforgood.org (created by Google and other volunteers)
Some of these aren't new but they got a hefty monetary shot in the arm with the Edward M. Kennedy Serve America Act. And the GIVE act. Two of my personal sticking points. I knew it would take awhile for the Obama administration to get to education (aka my children), but I was sincerely hoping he'd have 'flamed out' by the time this particular 'pillar' was ventured.
___________________________________________
We must not let our rulers load us with perpetual debt. ~Thomas Jefferson
Oh thank dear Lord, our President for this message. Because, you know, our stupid parents, teachers and principals don't have the proper authority in the age of Hope and Change to say the same thing.
One question though. Doesn't this disrupt the true agenda of the left to enforce institutional mediocrity through dumbed-down education, empowered failed teacher's unions, and the stifling of competition by charter and home schooling?
I mean, where are next generation of mind-numb slaves going to come from?
And WHY do they have to study hard and stay in school?
So that they can fully participate in our society? So that they can get good jobs and not have to struggle to survive? So that they can afford to get married and have families and give their families a decent life? So that they can be successful in their careers?
WRONG!!!
We need every single one of you to develop your talents, skills and intellect so you can help solve our most difficult problems. If you don’t do that – if you quit on school – you’re not just quitting on yourself, you’re quitting on your country.
Am I the only one who is uncomfortable seeing this perspective?
I bet my own kid would never have hooked school if she knew the president wanted her to go to class and pay attention. Gosh, what a shame we didn't have this kind of leadership 10 yrs ago. Maybe he could have outlined the wonderful things his kids get to do in their private school.
The text of the speach has been completely re-worked over the last few days due to the uproar that this news caused. I have no evidence for that, just an assumption based of how this administration has been working so far. Obama needs very little study time with a speech because of his almost total dependance on teleprompters. It could be changed at the last minute with very little adverse effects onhim.
This is the first official introduction of our "Dear Leader" to his future civilian defense force.
Throw 'da bums out!!!
no incumbent re-elected, with very few exceptions!
This "school speech" is just another example of the Obama administration and its ongoing attempt to micromanage this country. Again, this is typical of anyone who has been a community organizer. The attitude is that the average citizen is too stupid and must be guided at every turn. This country made a major mistake in electing this guy, and must live with him and his misguided policies for another three years. One can only hope that the power base in congress changes in 2010 or we're in for a very rough ride.
So what is Obama’s real interest in education? For that you need to assess what Obama did in his ONE AND ONLY EXECUTIVE ROLE before his was stupidly elected President.
Obama, as the “CEO” of the Chicago Annenberg Challenge, wasted $150,000,000.00 that was intended for educational improvement, providing “community organizing,” ethnic, and racist indoctrination for children in the Chicago area. All that spent money accomplished not one iota of educational improvement.
Is it any wonder people want Obama to keep his unwashed hands off their children???
- Relying upon the State Run Media for your information is like relying upon an embezzler for your portfolio management.
... judge for ourselves his authority to speak about education? I am presuming he is a product of "affirmative scoring" as well as the first "affirmative action" occupant of the White House. Prove me wrong.
Overall innocuous but, to read a speech is one thing and to see and hear the speaker is another. The very last part was kinda loose and fast with the facts of history of the Revolution. It might be precient to say we are gonna revolt is but, only halfway kidding seeing what Chavez has pulled off in Venezula.
One othe rthing is he said his dad left him when he was 2 but goes on about Indonesia. Did his mom get remarried sometime in there and thats whay he was in Indonesia? And he said his mom was poor but he was raised mostly by his grandparents who were well off.
A study in inaccuracies and lies if you ask me, embellished to the point of breaking. But what else do we expect from Duh One?
Once you establish that private behavior has public consequences, the next move is to allow government to regulate private behavior.
The crucial part of Obama's speech is: "And this isn’t just important for your own life and your own future. What you make of your education will decide nothing less than the future of this country. What you’re learning in school today will determine whether we as a nation can meet our greatest challenges in the future."
This is what we're afraid of ... If Obama establishes the premise that your education has social consequences, we're afraid he'll follow it to the conclusion that government has the right to control it. It's the Commerce Clause all over again.
We're wary of Obama making this speech because he's already shown his agenda: put the federal government in control of everything (or as much as they can get).
The federal government is already meddling in healthcare, the finance industry, the auto industry, the energy industry ... and so why should we expect him to stay clear of education?
Obama has already told us that education is the third pillar of his agenda, and he's already tried to grab the other two for federal control.
Reagan gave a speech on education, but no one thought he was preparing a federal takeover of it. Bush gave an education speech, but again, he wasn't laying the groundwork for a federal takeover. Why is Obama different? Because in every other area, Obama has proposed federal takeover.
One might object that the government controls it now. But that's just because we skip over the distinction between federal and local government. Our tradition is that local government (i.e., the local school board staffed by local parents) gets to decide what their children are taught. If you establish the principle that the federal government gets to control it, you change that equation dramatically. We don't want that.
I said pretty much the same thing above (although not quite as eloquently), before I saw your comment.
The federal government already controls education. But usually, when Presidents encourage students, it's in more in terms of personal fulfillment and a well-educated citizenry is necessary for the whole country. But with Obama, it always seems to be about serving the collective.
"There's no excuse for not trying..." President Obama, National School Address, 9/8/2009
"...unless you're a Tea Party protester, a Town Hall protester, or any citizen organizing against my moderate plans to turn the United States into a quasi-socialist European Union womb to tomb welfare state with big government run medicine and fair 95% tax rates... then you can stop trying, and just SHUT THE EFF UP already peasants. Or does ACORN and the SSEIU need send around the loon goons for a teachable moment?"
"Ask not what you can do for your country; ask what you can do for your President..."
Has anyone else seen the hit piece put out by Chicago Sun Times today? Allow me to share some lowlights with you:
Jones used his education to help improve the quality of life for poor people and became a highly respected expert on green jobs in poor and working-class communities.
Beck isn't looking for evidence of corruption or malfeasance. He's apparently hunting for rhetoric that would scare the bejeebies out of white folks, many of whom have never had a conversation with a black person.
Ironically, Beck, who had the gall to call the president of the United States a racist, is using the race card to alarm whites.
But let's stop pretending that the fierce opposition from the right isn't racism.
It's amasing to me how the media had little to no negative reaction to William Ares or Rev. Write and their hate preaching. And although I totally disagree with anyone preaching hate even to our present president, this guy was protested against and the media gave the protesters a voice.
Really...who is more dangerous? This guy who has less than 200 followers or Rev. Write or even Bill Ares who actually planted bombs to intimadate the NYPD? Since when is it news that someone hates the president? How many people were displaying their hatered of Bush during his admistration?
Since I would be labeled a racist if I said anything negative, I will just say that this speech was brilliant, much better than the one he had planned to give prior to the brouhaha (not that the previous revision was politically motivated, mind you).
Outside of a dog, a book is a man's best friend. Inside of a dog it's too dark to read. - Groucho
I don't really have a problem with the speech he gave in general. I see nothing wrong with a president encouraging kids to stay in school, study hard, and make something of themselves. What strikes me though, is I'm not sure he actually believes what he told the kids today. Everything about him seems to suggest he doesn't believe in working hard, andearning your way.
At least not for my two sons who have 6 children in the school system of the only county in this country which did not offer an opt-out option or refuse to show it -- Broward County, Florida! They figured it wasn't propaganda but Obama wanting to do something warm and fuzzy seeming before he speaks to Congress tomorrow night.
My sons were concerned what the very liberal teachers might add to the lesson plan and what quotes they would choose to display on the chalk and bulletin boards.
When considering keep the children out of class today, both were concerned that these liberal teachers, who like the kids because they are good, disciplined little learners, would somehow punish the kids for their parents beliefs.
For parents to be afraid what teachers might do is unbelievable here in America!
"We cannot expect the Americans to jump from capitalism to Communism, but we can assist their elected leaders in giving Americans small doses of socialism until they suddenly awake to find they have Communism."
- Soviet Leader Nikita Khrushchev, 1959 Barack Hussein Obama, 2009
Thot I would put this in O/T. Another UK health care atrocity. This is really bad. Let's fight against ObamaCare with every ounce of courage and strength we have. Here's the headline and link to story:
"Premature baby 'left to die' by doctors after mother gives birth just two days before 22-week care limit"
Note that the talking points from democratics (and trolls) will now be –"that wasn't so bad, was it?" They will conveniently ignore the fact that protests by conservatives changed what the Bamster was to say as well as the followup/lesson plan stuff.
Second, when President George H. W. Bush spoke to school students in 1991, the democratics flew into a rage:
"...when President George H.W. Bush delivered a similar speech on October 1, 1991, from Alice Deal Junior High School in Washington DC, the controversy was just beginning. Democrats, then the majority party in Congress, not only denounced Bush's speech -- they also ordered the General Accounting Office to investigate its production and later summoned top Bush administration officials to Capitol Hill for an extensive hearing on the issue."
Of course under the Bamster the situation is very different, because he threatens to put together a "civilian security force" that is better funded and equipped and just as large as the US military. He also wants this mandatory 'civilian service' stuff. Given his socialist/communist outlook all of this starts to look like a Basji/Youth Corps. That's what scares folks.
As usual, the target for this speech was not the children. They were used as the vessel by which President Alinsky sent a message to adults. Classic bait and switch: stir up passions pre-game by leaving the impression that the speech was going to be directed and partisan, let the opposition object, then make the opposition appear paranoid by dropping a "non-partisan" "stay in school" talk riddled with personal interest stories, euphemisms and assorted platitudes. Now Alinsky, Jr. is portrayed as a non-threatening, reasonable man with your children's best interests at heart while you are marginalized as an emotionally unstable, reactionary kook who is simply misguided in opposing our great President.
"I spent a lot of money on booze, birds and fast cars. The rest I just squandered." -George Best
"With Obama we can talk, we are almost from the same generation, one
can't deny that Obama is different (from Bush). He's intelligent, he
has good intentions and we have to help him."---Hugo Chavez
Looks like someone was paying attention in class today!
Dissent: It's not just for liberals anymore.-kudzupolitics, USA Today
Editor at Large
Comments Policy
It's all about him
September 8, 2009 - 08:57 ET by notonmywatchI count 56 uses of the word "I". More cult of personality - kids are going to walk away with even more of an Obama Mentality.
So?
September 8, 2009 - 10:04 ET by needleCan't you just hear the SRM wringing their unwashed hands over this?
No? <crickets>
- Relying upon the State Run Media for your information is like relying upon an embezzler for your portfolio management.
no way no how
September 8, 2009 - 10:05 ET by jon_torlinI didn't want to chance going to the whitehouse.gov site for looking at the speech, given that they want to put cookies to track anywhere you go(there are ways of getting rid of them).
That being said, it's a damn shame to be fearful of your government, but that's what we're seeing right now and with damn good reason!
He's making himself out to be some damn savior, it's all about him and him only.
Talk about mind warps.
-Jon
You know, Obama could have
September 8, 2009 - 10:48 ET by motherbeltYou know, Obama could have avoided a lot of this grief if he had simply issued a statement or filmed a little clip, welcoming kids back to school and encouraging them to work hard and do well (which is what other Presidents have done).
But no, they had to make a big announcement as if this were yet another major speech by the President, and get the DOE involved developing an entire lesson plan around it.....
But we're supposed to believe that it's not about HIM, you see......
It's always about him
September 8, 2009 - 16:59 ET by Gat New YorkIt's always about him (sorry, should say HIM).
You wonder how much of his biography is B.S.
But to refer to himself as an example of someone who worked hard to succeed is the biggest B.S. He got into Columbia through an affirnative action tranfer from Occidental. He got into Harvard Law through Percy Sutton and affirmative action. His only career job of any length was as a community organizer. He wrote no legislation as a State Senator and never even held a meeting of his sub-committee as a U.S. Senator.
I would say he is an example of how to get by with smoke and mirrors.
"how to get by with smoke and mirrors."
September 8, 2009 - 18:09 ET by RukusNow that's funny!! 'Specially the smoke part. LOL! : )
Gary
Levi Johnstoned: The One Trick Phoney!
Way way too much "I" in a
September 8, 2009 - 09:00 ET by 10ksnookerWay way too much "I" in a speech to encourage kids. Only arrogant two bit tin pot banana republic dictators do these type speeches.
No mention of his Punahou Academy days,
September 8, 2009 - 09:04 ET by upcountrywaterHome schooling in Indonesia..
How about mentioning School vouchers, when the TOTUS acts up.
State controlled health care is Tort Reform.
Are you talking about?
September 8, 2009 - 12:07 ET by dvdaughtry2nd paragraph:
"When I was young, my family lived in Indonesia for a few years...So she decided to teach me extra lessons heself."
You trying to say Jesus Christ can't hit a curveball?
dvd, I was mentioning Punahou.
September 8, 2009 - 13:11 ET by upcountrywaterLooks like you skipped that point.
State controlled health care is Tort Reform.
Looks like you skipped post
September 8, 2009 - 14:02 ET by dvdaughtryLooks like you skipped post formatting 101. It was unclear what you were mentioning.
I swear the arrogance on this place (NB) is disgusting.
You trying to say Jesus Christ can't hit a curveball?
Sorry, dvdaughtry
September 8, 2009 - 15:02 ET by upcountrywaterIt was unclear, you are right.
State controlled health care is Tort Reform.
Impact of Obama's Speech?
September 8, 2009 - 09:10 ET by FeynmanFanThe audience for Obama's speech is kindergarden through twelfth grade. After reading that speech, it's a stretch to think that he's going to make any kind of an impression on the lower end of the age range, so that is a waste of classroom time. The middle age group is going to think it's interesting to see the President, but will quickly lose interest in what he's saying. The majority of the older kids won't care what he has to say.
All-in-all, it's just another campaign speech so Obama can talk about himself and pretend to inspire.
"I support the President but not his policies" - Blonde
The speech is innocuous
September 8, 2009 - 09:09 ET by cajunkingkongThe speech is innocuous enough; the text of the speech never was the issue. It was the prep reading of books by and on Obama before the speech, and the followup materials sent out by his team, since changed, that directed the kids to discuss how they can help Obama and promote his programs. And the fact that his team bypassed the elected school officials and sent the materials directly to the schools for distribution.
All of this following two other events that were problematic; the website Obama set up where people who didn't agree with his policies could be "reported", and the effort to have kids report their parents if they disagreed with Obama's policies. All of this reeks of indoctronation.
The thing I would add here
September 8, 2009 - 09:23 ET by celatorThe thing I would add here is to keep in mind Marshall McLuhan's observation that "The medium is the message". He thought the medium (tv in this case, obviously) is as powerful, or even more powerful than the message--the words. Turns out people forget most of the word content of a television presentation after a few minutes, but they remember the images much longer.
For young school children, television images are extremely powerful. A person "on television" is often an authority figure to young kids. Obama could say only, "Hi Kids" and it would have a deep inpact on the kids. Obama establishes himself as an authority figure, someone to look up to, someone to pay allegiance to. This is heady stuff for school kids. Whatever teachers do pre or post the appearance of Obama on TV only reinforces the impact.
I don't like it one bit. Kids are being used.
No citizen's right to life, liberty, pursuit of happiness, or property is safe as long as Obama is President of the United States.
This is an excellent study guide for children
September 8, 2009 - 09:11 ET by Dee Bunkfrom American Thinker about avoiding political manipulation. This is the kind of thing kids should be taught in school. Read it and discuss it with your kids
Study guide for kids
Dee, I followed your link,
September 8, 2009 - 11:19 ET by motherbeltDee, I followed your link, and at American Thinker there is another link to an article at Politico about why the WH changed the "help the President" wording.
And this is an absolute hoot!
The original phrasing was:
"Write letters to themselves about what they can do to help the president. “
Changed to:
"Write letters to themselves about how they can achieve their short‐term and long‐term education goals.”
“We changed it to clarify the language so the intent is clear,” said White House Spokesman Tommy Vietor.
So what they really meant by saying "help the President" was "achieve....education goals."
ROFL!!!!
In other words, The First One is still "recalibrating" those pesky "inartfully worded" statements.
"ClassroomCorp"
September 8, 2009 - 11:40 ET by katainkentanother one of those inartfully worded items that got stuffed back under the bus. Along with mandatory service.
Not had enough service? See more on serving at www.serve.gov which feeds into a private company that helps you find volunteer opportunities. www.allforgood.org (created by Google and other volunteers)
Then of course
www.learnandserve.gov (for children) and www.nationservice.gov
who says the government isnt efficient?
Some of these aren't new but they got a hefty monetary shot in the arm with the Edward M. Kennedy Serve America Act. And the GIVE act. Two of my personal sticking points. I knew it would take awhile for the Obama administration to get to education (aka my children), but I was sincerely hoping he'd have 'flamed out' by the time this particular 'pillar' was ventured.
___________________________________________
We must not let our rulers load us with perpetual debt. ~Thomas Jefferson
In short: Study hard and stay in school.
September 8, 2009 - 09:27 ET by tomchrisOh thank dear Lord, our President for this message. Because, you know, our stupid parents, teachers and principals don't have the proper authority in the age of Hope and Change to say the same thing.
One question though. Doesn't this disrupt the true agenda of the left to enforce institutional mediocrity through dumbed-down education, empowered failed teacher's unions, and the stifling of competition by charter and home schooling?
I mean, where are next generation of mind-numb slaves going to come from?
And WHY do they have to
September 8, 2009 - 10:39 ET by motherbeltAnd WHY do they have to study hard and stay in school?
So that they can fully participate in our society? So that they can get good jobs and not have to struggle to survive? So that they can afford to get married and have families and give their families a decent life? So that they can be successful in their careers?
WRONG!!!
We need every single one of you to develop your talents, skills and intellect so you can help solve our most difficult problems. If you don’t do that – if you quit on school – you’re not just quitting on yourself, you’re quitting on your country.
Am I the only one who is uncomfortable seeing this perspective?
marxist views
September 8, 2009 - 11:15 ET by jon_torlinThat's a VERY Marxist view, Karl Marx would be so proud!
I hope the parents of the kids that are still being forced to watch this drivel know this!
This should be a lesson in itself, what a communist with socialist training tells people in plain language.
-Jon
My own dear daughter
September 8, 2009 - 11:14 ET by StarAZI bet my own kid would never have hooked school if she knew the president wanted her to go to class and pay attention. Gosh, what a shame we didn't have this kind of leadership 10 yrs ago. Maybe he could have outlined the wonderful things his kids get to do in their private school.
I know, MSM, save it
September 8, 2009 - 11:16 ET by StarAZYes, I am an insane lunatic moron for saying the above.
I have two thoughts...
September 8, 2009 - 09:40 ET by c5thenThe text of the speach has been completely re-worked over the last few days due to the uproar that this news caused. I have no evidence for that, just an assumption based of how this administration has been working so far. Obama needs very little study time with a speech because of his almost total dependance on teleprompters. It could be changed at the last minute with very little adverse effects onhim.
This is the first official introduction of our "Dear Leader" to his future civilian defense force.
Throw 'da bums out!!!
no incumbent re-elected, with very few exceptions!
www.loyaltoliberty.com
→ c5then
September 8, 2009 - 09:45 ET by Cool ArrowI think the Civilian Defense Force is still in prison, waiting for Eric Holder to declare their training complete.
Van Jones is a Quitter - FS
"I"
September 8, 2009 - 09:44 ET by jdlybrandI am the way, the truth, and the light.
I am the center of your universe.
I am the alpha and omega.
You are getting veeeeery sleeeepy.
"What a revoltin' development this is!"
Chester Riley
Obama and the School Speech
September 8, 2009 - 09:45 ET by NKurucThis "school speech" is just another example of the Obama administration and its ongoing attempt to micromanage this country. Again, this is typical of anyone who has been a community organizer. The attitude is that the average citizen is too stupid and must be guided at every turn. This country made a major mistake in electing this guy, and must live with him and his misguided policies for another three years. One can only hope that the power base in congress changes in 2010 or we're in for a very rough ride.
Unwashed hands
September 8, 2009 - 09:51 ET by needleSo what is Obama’s real interest in education? For that you need to assess what Obama did in his ONE AND ONLY EXECUTIVE ROLE before his was stupidly elected President.
Obama, as the “CEO” of the Chicago Annenberg Challenge, wasted $150,000,000.00 that was intended for educational improvement, providing “community organizing,” ethnic, and racist indoctrination for children in the Chicago area. All that spent money accomplished not one iota of educational improvement.
Is it any wonder people want Obama to keep his unwashed hands off their children???
- Relying upon the State Run Media for your information is like relying upon an embezzler for your portfolio management.
Why won't Barry Odumbo release his college records so we can ...
September 8, 2009 - 14:57 ET by Jayke... judge for ourselves his authority to speak about education? I am presuming he is a product of "affirmative scoring" as well as the first "affirmative action" occupant of the White House. Prove me wrong.
Overall innocuous but, to
September 8, 2009 - 10:15 ET by Dan The Man 2Overall innocuous but, to read a speech is one thing and to see and hear the speaker is another. The very last part was kinda loose and fast with the facts of history of the Revolution. It might be precient to say we are gonna revolt is but, only halfway kidding seeing what Chavez has pulled off in Venezula.
One othe rthing is he said his dad left him when he was 2 but goes on about Indonesia. Did his mom get remarried sometime in there and thats whay he was in Indonesia? And he said his mom was poor but he was raised mostly by his grandparents who were well off.
A study in inaccuracies and lies if you ask me, embellished to the point of breaking. But what else do we expect from Duh One?
The speech as the new Commerce Clause
September 8, 2009 - 10:25 ET by KC MulvilleOnce you establish that private behavior has public consequences, the next move is to allow government to regulate private behavior.
This is what we're afraid of ... If Obama establishes the premise that your education has social consequences, we're afraid he'll follow it to the conclusion that government has the right to control it. It's the Commerce Clause all over again.
We're wary of Obama making this speech because he's already shown his agenda: put the federal government in control of everything (or as much as they can get).
One might object that the government controls it now. But that's just because we skip over the distinction between federal and local government. Our tradition is that local government (i.e., the local school board staffed by local parents) gets to decide what their children are taught. If you establish the principle that the federal government gets to control it, you change that equation dramatically. We don't want that.
GMTA!
September 8, 2009 - 11:00 ET by motherbeltI said pretty much the same thing above (although not quite as eloquently), before I saw your comment.
The federal government already controls education. But usually, when Presidents encourage students, it's in more in terms of personal fulfillment and a well-educated citizenry is necessary for the whole country. But with Obama, it always seems to be about serving the collective.
I missed the part about what he took in school
September 8, 2009 - 11:12 ET by StarAZWas his scholastic record in the workbook? I would like to see what courses he took and what grades he got.
I think the reading of Mark
September 8, 2009 - 11:32 ET by mattmI think the reading of Mark Twain's Advice to Youth would have been much more useful to the students.
Obama's school dazed.... and confused
September 8, 2009 - 12:24 ET by Jack Bauer"...unless you're a Tea Party protester, a Town Hall protester, or any citizen organizing against my moderate plans to turn the United States into a quasi-socialist European Union womb to tomb welfare state with big government run medicine and fair 95% tax rates... then you can stop trying, and just SHUT THE EFF UP already peasants. Or does ACORN and the SSEIU need send around the loon goons for a teachable moment?"
my head is about to EXPLODE
September 8, 2009 - 12:25 ET by candanceHas anyone else seen the hit piece put out by Chicago Sun Times today? Allow me to share some lowlights with you:
Jones used his education to help improve the quality of life for poor people and became a highly respected expert on green jobs in poor and working-class communities.
Beck isn't looking for evidence of corruption or malfeasance. He's apparently hunting for rhetoric that would scare the bejeebies out of white folks, many of whom have never had a conversation with a black person.
Ironically, Beck, who had the gall to call the president of the United States a racist, is using the race card to alarm whites.
But let's stop pretending that the fierce opposition from the right isn't racism.
Media Still Treating O like a God
September 8, 2009 - 12:27 ET by SkipperMLMIt's amasing to me how the media had little to no negative reaction to William Ares or Rev. Write and their hate preaching. And although I totally disagree with anyone preaching hate even to our present president, this guy was protested against and the media gave the protesters a voice.
Take a look:
http://www.cnn.com/video/#/video/us/2009/09/07/ktvk.az.rally.church.ktvk
Really...who is more dangerous? This guy who has less than 200 followers or Rev. Write or even Bill Ares who actually planted bombs to intimadate the NYPD? Since when is it news that someone hates the president? How many people were displaying their hatered of Bush during his admistration?
Barack Obama’s Dr. Death
September 8, 2009 - 12:45 ET by Gary P JacksonBarack Obama’s Dr. Death Cuts And
Runs When Confronted About His Nazi-Like Death Panels, And Other Bedtime Stories
About Czars!
http://thespeechatimeforchoosing.wordpress.com/2009/09/08/barack-obama%E2%80%99s-dr-death-cuts-and-runs-when-confronted-about-his-nazi-like-death-panels-and-other-bedtime-stories-about-czars/
Since I would be labeled a
September 8, 2009 - 12:46 ET by Ruths husband BenSince I would be labeled a racist if I said anything negative, I will just say that this speech was brilliant, much better than the one he had planned to give prior to the brouhaha (not that the previous revision was politically motivated, mind you).
Outside of a dog, a book is a man's best friend. Inside of a dog it's too dark to read. - Groucho
I don't really have a
September 8, 2009 - 12:47 ET by ckc1227I don't really have a problem with the speech he gave in general. I see nothing wrong with a president encouraging kids to stay in school, study hard, and make something of themselves. What strikes me though, is I'm not sure he actually believes what he told the kids today. Everything about him seems to suggest he doesn't believe in working hard, and earning your way.
Marines greeting GW vs. Marines greeting BO
September 8, 2009 - 12:58 ET by SouthJersey1953Off topic, but this is the Open Thread so...
Not sure if you have seen this....
Contrast of response when GW and BO meet with the Troops:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xIHz5tevLAw
"Maybe if we keep our heads buried in the sand, this will blow over" - The Congressional Republicans
The speech wasn't the concern
September 8, 2009 - 13:04 ET by waincroftAt least not for my two sons who have 6 children in the school system of the only county in this country which did not offer an opt-out option or refuse to show it -- Broward County, Florida! They figured it wasn't propaganda but Obama wanting to do something warm and fuzzy seeming before he speaks to Congress tomorrow night.
My sons were concerned what the very liberal teachers might add to the lesson plan and what quotes they would choose to display on the chalk and bulletin boards.
When considering keep the children out of class today, both were concerned that these liberal teachers, who like the kids because they are good, disciplined little learners, would somehow punish the kids for their parents beliefs.
For parents to be afraid what teachers might do is unbelievable here in America!
"We cannot expect the Americans to jump from capitalism to Communism, but we can assist their elected leaders in giving Americans small doses of socialism until they suddenly awake to find they have Communism."
- Soviet Leader Nikita Khrushchev, 1959 Barack Hussein Obama, 2009
Another UK health Care Disaster
September 8, 2009 - 13:58 ET by celatorThot I would put this in O/T. Another UK health care atrocity. This is really bad. Let's fight against ObamaCare with every ounce of courage and strength we have. Here's the headline and link to story:
"Premature baby 'left to die' by doctors after mother gives birth just two days before 22-week care limit"
http://www.dailymail...
No citizen's right to life, liberty, pursuit of happiness, or property is safe as long as Obama is President of the United States.
How quickly we forget
September 8, 2009 - 14:10 ET by slickwillie2001Note that the talking points from democratics (and trolls) will now be –"that wasn't so bad, was it?" They will conveniently ignore the fact that protests by conservatives changed what the Bamster was to say as well as the followup/lesson plan stuff.
Second, when President George H. W. Bush spoke to school students in 1991, the democratics flew into a rage:
When Bush Spoke to Students, Democrats Investigated and Held Hearings: http://www.washingtonexaminer.com
"...when President George H.W. Bush delivered a similar speech on October 1, 1991, from Alice Deal Junior High School in Washington DC, the controversy was just beginning. Democrats, then the majority party in Congress, not only denounced Bush's speech -- they also ordered the General Accounting Office to investigate its production and later summoned top Bush administration officials to Capitol Hill for an extensive hearing on the issue."
Of course under the Bamster the situation is very different, because he threatens to put together a "civilian security force" that is better funded and equipped and just as large as the US military. He also wants this mandatory 'civilian service' stuff. Given his socialist/communist outlook all of this starts to look like a Basji/Youth Corps. That's what scares folks.
As usual, the target for
September 8, 2009 - 14:25 ET by fitzfongAs usual, the target for this speech was not the children. They were used as the vessel by which President Alinsky sent a message to adults. Classic bait and switch: stir up passions pre-game by leaving the impression that the speech was going to be directed and partisan, let the opposition object, then make the opposition appear paranoid by dropping a "non-partisan" "stay in school" talk riddled with personal interest stories, euphemisms and assorted platitudes. Now Alinsky, Jr. is portrayed as a non-threatening, reasonable man with your children's best interests at heart while you are marginalized as an emotionally unstable, reactionary kook who is simply misguided in opposing our great President.
"I spent a lot of money on booze, birds and fast cars. The rest I just squandered." -George Best
Health Care
September 8, 2009 - 15:29 ET by JDWPelosi: We have plenty to work with without GOP
JDW
DAILY WAVE
Hoping for change
Beck
September 8, 2009 - 16:29 ET by bigtimerAnybody just get done listening to Glenn Beck before it went to commerical?
He did a wonderful, brilliant job with his words about his life, his mistakes, and the left coming after him now with both barrels.
Glenn, we're behind ya friend...all the way.
I say thank YOU!
'Go Green...Recycle Congress'
~Hahahaha
September 8, 2009 - 19:58 ET by choselife3x"With Obama we can talk, we are almost from the same generation, one
can't deny that Obama is different (from Bush). He's intelligent, he
has good intentions and we have to help him."---Hugo Chavez
Looks like someone was paying attention in class today!
Dissent: It's not just for liberals anymore.-kudzupolitics, USA Today