Imagine Schools in the news, again (but not in Arizona)
by David Safier I haven't written about Imagine Schools for awhile. They're a huge, nationwide, for-profit corporation with over a dozen schools in Arizona. They've also been plagued with problems, which have gotten lots of press nationwide. I have a huge folder filled with articles about Imagine Schools problems from around the country, but few … Read more
Teachers cheating on standardized tests? Who woulda guessed?
by David Safier Let's see. Put enormous pressure on teachers to have their students score well on high stakes tests. Tell them their salary levels and their jobs are at stake. What might happen? Oh, maybe some teachers will fudge their students' scores a little bit. Investigators say more than 100 educators should face scrutiny … Read more
A Battle Abrewing Over Birthright Citizenship
This is Arizona State Senator Russell Pearce. He LITERALLY hates babies. I'm really not sure if this is pure political saber-rattling or a genuine debate the GOP is looking to engage in, but earlier this week, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell joined other top Republicans in raising the question of birthright citizenship. The whole debate … Read more
David Stockman: GOP policies caused economic Apocalypse
Posted by AzBlueMeanie: Repeat after me, "This is not your father's GOP." The modern-day Republican Party has been overtaken by a radical extremist ideology long-ago divorced from traditional conservative philosophy and economic theory. Don't take my word for it. David Stockman, President Reagan's director of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) agrees with me, … Read more
President Obama’s speech to the Disabled American Veterans on the End of Combat Operations in Iraq
Posted by AzBlueMeanie: Transcript of Remarks by the President at Disabled Veterans of America Conference in Atlanta, Georgia. From the White House blog President Obama on the End of Combat Operations in Iraq & Our Troops: This morning the President discussed the great honor he felt to be speaking at the national convention of Disabled American Veterans … Read more
The Crusade Against Babies
by David Safier I'm turning into a big EJ Montini fan. His coverage of the whole trumped up immigration scare has been excellent. And the man knows how to turn a phrase. Case in point: the term "Crusade against babies": U.S. Sen. Jon Kyl is leading the way. That is to say, Kyl has decided … Read more
Deficit hawks would let the Bush tax cuts expire
Posted by AzBlueMeanie: Fareed Zakaria weighs in on the "deficit peacocks," as they have been dubbed — conservatives who showed no concern for deficits incurred during the Bush years for tax cuts to corporations and the rich, for a Medicare Part D prescription drug subsidy to big Pharma, and for putting two wars on America's … Read more
