2004 Elections: Democratic Party Contenders

PD, appreciated the link. I like his approach; plus, he does have experience with the Federal government. The Presidency is a he** of a place to get on-the-job experience. New Presidents have to hit-the-ground-running.

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Was the Iranian plane in a patrolled no-fly zone?

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cicerone imposter wrote:

tres, FYI, President Bush's "Leave No Child Behind" is doing a very poor job. Many new teachers in our area are losing their jobs, because of national, state, and local deficits. When the federal government spends most of the money on Homeland Security and our War With Iraq, no money is left for "Leave No Child Behind." For this, I blame GWBush. Classroom sizes are expected to increase from 20 students to 30. Show me how "Leave No Child Behind" will work without teachers? c.i.

The legislation you name (which I suspect you have not researched) is not a panacea for state budget crises, nor is the federal budget in general. Your complaint makes no sense. Bush is not responsible for the budget problems states are having, nor is he accountable for fixing those problems. The NCLB legislation is doing those things the text of said legislation requires, no more, no less. Your comments are heavy on the rhetoric, and light on specifics and rationality.

Teachers are not losing their jobs because the president signed the largest expansion in the education budget in history, they are losing their jobs because the states can't afford to pay them, DESPITE the huge outlays by the feds.

You need to get a new tune. Your tendency to try to blame anything and everything on Bush is wearing very thin. (Even you must be starting to see that!)

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You must have wondered at my previous question about the Iranian plane being in a no-fly zone. Local station here persisted all that afternoon in saying the plane had gone down in Iraq. Hmmm.

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tres, Today's San Jose Mercury News, in The Valley section, has a front page article titled, "Head Start cuts opposed." "This program, which prepares low-income children ages 3 to 5 for elementary school will lay off 62 employees and eliminate another 59 positions." "Leave No Child Behind" sound pretty hollow from where I sit. c.i.

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Cicerone, I think many who support the administration actually believe its pronouncements in spite of the fact more often than not they turn out to be empty. Certainly Bush says one thing and does another... almost daily. The admin realizes that many people believe what they say and don't check up on what they do. Question: Did the San Jose Mercury News link the lay-offs to "Leave No Child Behind"? For the most part, the media have strongly assisted those who want to turn a blind eye...

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I've said it before, and I'll say it again; this president's initiatives sound good, but it loses it when there's no detail to his pronouncements. "Leave No Child Behind" sounds good to everybody. But if, as you say, the feds aren't responsible for the funding of these pronouncements, they are hollow in their words. Why even make them, if they don't back it up with $$$$$$$? Otherwise, they're as empty as the words. FYI, pronouncements made by our federal government have helped state deficits by the millions (if not billions) just to cover "homeland security." When the feds does anything, it affects all our pocketbooks. c.i.

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I must add one more thing; both the federal and state governments are funded by the same people - the taxpayers. c.i.

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I know, Cicerone. I seem have become a "states' rightist" lately! (I think laying mandates on the states and not funding them -- having taken our taxes -- is a good reason to put the federal government in the stocks!

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cicerone imposter wrote:

tres, Today's San Jose Mercury News, in The Valley section, has a front page article titled, "Head Start cuts opposed." "This program, which prepares low-income children ages 3 to 5 for elementary school will lay off 62 employees and eliminate another 59 positions." "Leave No Child Behind" sound pretty hollow from where I sit.

I'm beginning to understand that you read headlines, but not much more. Here's a quote from the SJMN article you cite:

Quote:

The county Office of Education is proposing to lay off 62 employees and eliminate another 59 positions because of a $3.7 million cut in federal funds brought on largely by lower-than-expected enrollment. The layoffs include 16 family support specialists, 16 teachers' assistants and support staff.
...
"What we did was overstaff," said Superintendent Colleen B. Wilcox, suggesting the cuts would trim fat not muscle.

Are you suggesting that Bush is responsible for the fact that they did not have as many children enrolled for the program as they planned for? Or is it your contention that he hired the excess staff that is now having to be laid off?

Though I'm increasingly concerned that you may actually just not see it, I hope it is clear to you that your complaint here isn't logical, much less in agreement with the facts of the article you cited.

==

Is it possible that you are reacting to things you read rather than thinking about them and doing a little research before you form an opinion?

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tres, I guess we're both guilty of selective bias. Here's one of the paragraphs; "According to Head Start supporters, the cuts will result in an increase in teacher-student ratios from one teacher for every 20 students to one to 24. But county education officials said the teacher-student ratio is already at that level and tried to assure the crowd that the cuts will not further affect quality of instruction." "What we did was overstaff," said Superintendent Colleen B Wilcox, suggsting the cuts would trim fat not muscle." But many were skeptical. "They say it won't cause problems for the children, but I believe it will," said Leo Gonzalez, a school bus driver who serves on the program's policy council. But here's the kicker titled for the last section of the article: "Waiting list. The center, which has a waiting list......." Yes, "Leave No Child Behind." c.i.

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Quote:

I guess we're both guilty of selective bias. Here's one of the paragraphs; "According to Head Start supporters, the cuts will result in an increase in teacher-student ratios from one teacher for every 20 students to one to 24. But county education officials said the teacher-student ratio is already at that level and tried to assure the crowd that the cuts will not further affect quality of instruction." "What we did was overstaff," said Superintendent Colleen B Wilcox, suggsting the cuts would trim fat not muscle." But many were skeptical. "They say it won't cause problems for the children, but I believe it will," said Leo Gonzalez, a school bus driver who serves on the program's policy council. But here's the kicker titled for the last section of the article: "Waiting list. The center, which has a waiting list......." Yes, "Leave No Child Behind."

Take a look at the text of the NCLB legislation and then decide whether you think this has anything to do with it. (I can't tell if you're pretending to be dense and hung up on the name of the legislation or if you actually think you have a point, I can only tell you that it is clear to me that you don't.)

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tres, I no longer wish to exchange any discussions with you on A2K. Yes, I'm dense. When there's a waiting list to help these chldren, it doesn't meet my criteria of "Leave No Child Behind." You win, and I lose. Please do not address any of my questions or respond to any of my posts on A2K. I will afford you the same courtesy. Thank you. c.i.

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cicerone imposter wrote:

tres, I no longer wish to exchange any discussions with you on A2K. Yes, I'm dense. When there's a waiting list to help these chldren, it doesn't meet my criteria of "Leave No Child Behind." You win, and I lose. Please do not address any of my questions or respond to any of my posts on A2K. I will afford you the same courtesy. Thank you. c.i.

Well, if it doesn't meet your criteria, then we should all take action immediately! Let's not worry about what the legislation actually reads or whether there is even a remote strand of logic in your complaint here, what's important is that--without doing any research on the issue whatsoever--you've come to a conclusion and no one should question or criticize it. Rolling Eyes

It may surprise you to know that I don't pay much attention to who posts what here. If I see something that I think needs to be challenged, I do so. If you offer falsehoods as facts or make baseless complaints, expect me to respond. If you don't want to be challenged, send yourself an email with your opinions. If you share them here, they are fair game.

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heavy sigh

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heavy sigh

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very heavy sigh

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And another one bites the dust.

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Quote:

An Early Taste of 2004 Democratic Presidential Candidates
By ADAM NAGOURNEY

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FULL ARTICLE

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Quote:

Liberal Democrat energizes party

By SCOTT SHEPARD
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

FULL ARTICLE

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2004 Elections: Democratic Party Contenders

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