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FROM AP: Quotations of the day
If you have something to say...
Say it on the Huffington Post
If you have something to say...
Say it on the Huffington Post
The Republicans have exercised so many spin control muscles that those muscles have started to act involuntarily and instantaneously. Like the heart at the core of any wild animal, the GOP has developed an instant if not repetitive spin for everything.
At a time when this country needs to pull together, when the world is embroiled in difficult financial and life-changing struggles there are states that are trying to rip our democracy apart.
In the last few years, Wisconsin has become the Ed Wood of politician production. Sure, they can be entertaining, but it's not because they're good. Mostly, they're just embarrassing.
For someone who has taught college students for more than 30 years, it is troubling to see how the current mindlessness of narrow-minded politicians and bean-counting college administrators threatens to undermine the long established and productive foundation of higher education.
The year was 2010, and the loss of Senator Russ Feingold signaled the ringing in of a dark winter in Wisconsin.
These are hard times in the humanities and social sciences, times made much worse -- at least in the world of the media -- by the latest anthropological flare-up over the publication of Napoleon Chagnon's new memoir, Noble Savages.
This week our playlist includes music by The Libertines, Clancy Eccles, Deer Tick, Norah Jones, Rush and more.
Walker-Style Voucher Fight? Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker first tangled with his state's teachers union when he signed a bill that upended collective bargaining. Now he's at it again, and this time, the fight is over school vouchers. "The debate over Walker's public education funding proposal and desire to grow alternatives such as private school vouchers is likely to be one of the fiercest in the Statehouse this year, even dividing Republicans who control the Legislature," the Associated Press reports.
Scott Walker-Style Merit Pay? Speaking at a Friday convention, Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker (R) said he wants the state to begin a program that would pay partially teachers in accordance with their ratings, reports the Badger Herald. "One of the things we're looking to do going forward is to put additional resources into public education over the next two years in this budget in a variety of different ways is in part ... put money behind performance," Walker said. "How can we provide an incentive bonus?"
Unable to win the last two presidential elections, even with the help of unlimited corporate spending and undemocratic voting restrictions, Republicans are now trying to change the rules of the game again.
Without placing a priority on creating not just jobs but good, union jobs, our economy will remain at a standstill for anyone but the 1 percent.
Instead of finding compromise, being straight with the public and keeping their promises, Walker and Republicans like him would rather eliminate their competition by creating hurdles to the voting booth for people who don't agree with them.
Anyone who loves freedom recognizes AMC TV's zombie series The Walking Dead as an allegory for the demise of liberty after four more years under President Obama.
What exactly is wrong with a diminishing white establishment? Apparently, being a minority is just fine with Mr. O'Reilly as long as he isn't one.
We've all known a kid who upon losing a board game would freak out, hurl the game across the room and storm off while shouting something like, "This game sucks anyway!" It's no surprise the Republicans are doing exactly that.
