“They did it too!”
by David SafierIf a Republican politician was caught running out of a bank with a bag of money in one hand and a smoking gun in the other, he'd say, "Yeah, but I saw a Democrat put a Snickers in his pocket without paying at the 7-11. He did it too!" It's a sacred Republican … Read more
Irony alert: ELL funding
by David SafierThis from Education Week: At least four large urban school districts plan to spend a significant amount of their federal economic-stimulus money to support or improve programs for English-language learners, a fast-growing group in U.S. schools. The districts—Boston, New York City, St. Paul, Minn., and Seattle—have had varying degrees of success serving such … Read more
Local National Merit finalists
by David SafierThe close grouping of local National Merit finalists in local schools is surprising to me, though it probably shouldn't be. You can find the students' names in the Star article. University High (a TUSD high school with selective admission): 12 Catalina Foothills High (a public school in the Catalina Foothills district): 4 BASIS … Read more
The return of Cutman and Melvin (not that they ever went away)
by David Safier Though Cutman, the Masked Man from Mesa, and Melvin, his Sidekick from Saddlebrooke (AKA Russell Pearce and Al Melvin), haven't wavered in their neverending battles to cut taxes and chase immigrants, lately, their individual efforts have become part of a larger struggle by a band of valiant Republicans to right the wrongs … Read more
A day in the life of the Arizona legislature
Posted by AzBlueMeanie: Tuesday was one of those days when you either had to laugh or cry at the utter inaneness of the Arizona legislature. The Republican insane clown possee is currently in the midst of a "special session" to benefit one of its own caucus members, Rep. Steve Yarbrough (R-Chandler), whom David Safier has … Read more
“Not restricted for low income people”
by David SafierSteve Farley reporting from the special session to create a new $5 million corporate tuition tax credit: We did hear a lot of rhetoric about how private school choice is going to help everybody, if we can only unleash the free market to serve parents' needs. More to the point, we heard that … Read more
Condolences to AZ Treasurer Dean Martin
I was dismayed and saddened to learn that Kerry Martin, the 34 year old wife of Arizona Treasurer Dean Martin, died in childbirth late last night. There is little that can happen to a human being that is worse than losing a spouse. Please extend your sympathies to Dean and his family. Notes of sympathy … Read more
