Presidential message to school kids

[carnivorous chicken]

It's a little late, but I'm out of town fishing and eating...

The whole "flap" in the last couple of days about the president making a video message for school kids and the right wing reaction is utterly insane. So the president wants to tell kids to stay in school and avoid drugs. And right wing nutjobs are claiming that he is trying to indoctrinate them (to what? not do drugs? stay in school? respect the office of the president?) or that there might be subliminal messages encoded in the message that might somehow damage the children. This is fucking insanity. One radio host in Texas said that he doesn't trust his next door neighbor to talk to his kids without him present. Doesn't he realize how poorly that reflects on him? The discussions about the radicalization and mobilization of the right as well as their increasingly belligerent tone (throwing around "kill the president" jokes) is disturbing.

[skidmark]

The more belligerent and mobilized they get the easier it will be for the Civilian National Security Force to round them up and put them in camps. See there is a good side to everything.

[Ballard Pimp]

In 1992 at the height of the presidential election campaign, George H.W. Bush did an identical thing.

Clearly it worked, didn't it? We've only elected Republicans since.

[meherenowie]

Jee-zis. Surely there's a school district somewhere that's just going to go ahead and show it in all classrooms without any fuss? I haven't heard, but I suspect my friend the Spooky may have to watch it online.

[Abulafia]

You can read the remarks online:

http://www.whitehouse.gov/MediaResources/PreparedSchoolRemarks/

Exceedingly dangerous stuff!

[Meat Weapon]

You can read the remarks online:

http://www.whitehouse.gov/MediaResources/PreparedSchoolRemarks/

Exceedingly dangerous stuff!

I object only to the last seven words.

[Ballard Pimp]

I object only to the last seven words.


Yeah. If we're going to have these "public religious" statements, why not rotate religions? Like, it depends on whose turn it is, but:

Roman Catholic: "Dominus vobiscum. In Nominee Patrii, Fillii, Spirito Sancti."

Quaker: Gaze empathetically at the camera.

Unitarian: "May whatever forces govern the universe treat you well."

Jewish: "Mazel tov!"

[Meat Weapon]

Yeah. If we're going to have these "public religious" statements, why not rotate religions? Like, it depends on whose turn it is, but:

Roman Catholic: "Dominus vobiscum. In Nominee Patrii, Fillii, Spirito Sancti."

Quaker: Gaze empathetically at the camera.

Unitarian: "May whatever forces govern the universe treat you well."

Jewish: "Mazel tov!"

May the Bacabs of North, South, East and West restore Kulkulcan to our world and preserve our four souls to protect us from disease and death; accept this child as our offering, O Mighty Kulkulcan, and bless us with a bountiful harvest.

[Ballard Pimp]

May the Bacabs of North, South, East and West restore Kulkulcan to our world and preserve our four souls to protect us from disease and death; accept this child as our offering, O Mighty Kulkulcan, and bless us with a bountiful harvest.

Meat Weapon, I like it! I wonder what "Focus on the Family" would have to say.

[Abulafia]

I object only to the last seven words.

Why? They are really fairly unobtrusive.

[meherenowie]

No speech in school for Spooky. Makes me want to drop a dime on her mom for sending her there, but the kid wants to be with her friends.

[Smalan Ithee]

The speech - which I read to the li'l Ithees last night and we watched together this AM - well....pointing out the oxymoron that is the indignation for it being shown in taxpayer-funded public schools to promote a "socialist agenda"...that's shooting fish in a barrel. Although I'm still having a hard time figuring out if that furor is an oxymoron, a paradox, or irony. Anyway, what strikes me is that the content of the speech 1) was hugely centered what I THOUGHT was a major GOP ideal - personal responsibility, and 2) sounded a lot like Mr. Rogers. You are special. Don't let your circumstances define you. You have something to offer. Be a good citizen. The fact that folks get all screamy when one points out the glaring difference in Mr. Roger's delivery and the President's (gee - wonder what that difference is?) is pretty much a dead giveaway about said screamy-screamerton's demons, ones he/she may not be willing to face. At least it's obvious to this simpleton.

[Ballard Pimp]

Socialist = The New Black.

[Rain Monkey]

Yeah. If we're going to have these "public religious" statements, why not rotate religions? Like, it depends on whose turn it is, but:

Roman Catholic: "Dominus vobiscum. In Nominee Patrii, Fillii, Spirito Sancti."

Quaker: Gaze empathetically at the camera.

Unitarian: "May whatever forces govern the universe treat you well."

Jewish: "Mazel tov!"

Roman: "Ave Caesar morituri te salutant"

This would have been more appropriate for the schoolchildren to invoke to the previous president.

[Meat Weapon]

Why? They are really fairly unobtrusive.

It was mostly supposed to be a joke about Fox's tarted up "controversy." In all those 2,500ish words, the most potentially controversial are the final seven where Obama sticks with the fine presidential tradition of ending every speech with a kind of benediction.

It's more annoying than offensive. Maybe tiresome is the right word.

Not nearly as tiresome as the nutjobs who are hellbent on finding the hidden socialist propaganda in everything Obama says, but tiresome nonetheless.

[meherenowie]

The whole "flap" in the last couple of days about the president making a video message for school kids and the right wing reaction is utterly insane. So the president wants to tell kids to stay in school and avoid drugs. And right wing nutjobs are claiming that he is trying to indoctrinate them (to what? not do drugs? stay in school? respect the office of the president?) or that there might be subliminal messages encoded in the message that might somehow damage the children. This is fucking insanity. One radio host in Texas said that he doesn't trust his next door neighbor to talk to his kids without him present. Doesn't he realize how poorly that reflects on him? The discussions about the radicalization and mobilization of the right as well as their increasingly belligerent tone (throwing around "kill the president" jokes) is disturbing.
Those tiresome nutjobs are closer to the mainstream than me likes; their constant screechy drumbeat o' fear is getting some traction, which seemed impossible not too long ago. Obama tries to take the high road, firing that asshole Van Jones for calling Republicans "assholes", meanwhile I'm wondering why it's even worth trying to reason with this self-appointed powder-keg bunch who'll just perceive weakness in every concession. Daring each other to run up and touch the house. The fact that he's in office and seems sane is the subliminal message they can't stand. That's it.

The thing that bugs me is that when Raygun and H. W. used the bully pulpit to talk to schoolchildren, nobody pulled this kind of shit. It was about respect for the office if not the man, blahblahblah; now they're tearing at that because it's his.

I wish he'd just ram it all down their throats already. I wanna see gay-married socialist civilian militias in our government-run citizen mills, teaching the chihildren about African slave voodoo Death Panels and touching their guns.

Found a new ringtone for all you racists, yay:

http://www.thegayatheist.com/2009/09/teabaggers-have-theme-song-its-well.html

[Abulafia]

It was mostly supposed to be a joke about Fox's tarted up "controversy." In all those 2,500ish words, the most potentially controversial are the final seven where Obama sticks with the fine presidential tradition of ending every speech with a kind of benediction.

Sorry. I lose out a bit by not watching media coverage of this. Or anything.

The entire thing is silliness on stilts.

[Rain Monkey]

Those tiresome nutjobs are closer to the mainstream than me likes; their constant screechy drumbeat o' fear is getting some traction, which seemed impossible not too long ago. Obama tries to take the high road, firing that asshole Van Jones for calling Republicans "assholes", meanwhile I'm wondering why it's even worth trying to reason with this self-appointed powder-keg bunch who'll just perceive weakness in every concession. Daring each other to run up and touch the house. The fact that he's in office and seems sane is the subliminal message they can't stand. That's it.

The thing that bugs me is that when Raygun and H. W. used the bully pulpit to talk to schoolchildren, nobody pulled this kind of shit. It was about respect for the office if not the man, blahblahblah; now they're tearing at that because it's his.

I wish he'd just ram it all down their throats already. I wanna see gay-married socialist civilian militias in our government-run citizen mills, teaching the chihildren about African slave voodoo Death Panels and touching their guns.

Found a new ringtone for all you racists, yay:

http://www.thegayatheist.com/2009/09/teabaggers-have-theme-song-its-well.html

Back when I was coming up the John Birch Society was considered to be the radical fringe, even by a majority of Republicans.

Now they are not only the core of the Republican Party, they have succeeded in shifting the debate to the point where they are considered "center-right."

They used to be silly, then they were dangerous. Now they define the political reality.

[Gazelam]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zL7xjhrXX80

[Mr Pajama Pants]

You can read the remarks online:

http://www.whitehouse.gov/MediaResources/PreparedSchoolRemarks/

Exceedingly dangerous stuff!

Obama suggests:

"And that’s what I want to focus on today: the responsibility each of you has for your education. I want to start with the responsibility you have to yourself."

Isn't this the 'bootstrapping' stuff the conservatives have gone on about the past 40 years?

I'm confused. . .

[Gazelam]

It's wrong because it's the parent's responsibility to inflict these values on our children, not the Obamanation's. That's why the separation of church and state is so important to these people.

[MOTOR]

If these f'n kids won't go to school for whatever reason, put them in boot camp or reform school so they are not vandalizing your property and trying to impregnate your 12 yr old niece.
I think its good for the Prez to talk to these kids. Maybe they will listen to him. God knows they won't listen to their parents.
Gov't money for year around school, boot camps and reform schools please, Mr. President.

[Abulafia]

trying to impregnate your 12 yr old niece.

Wait a minute, Motor—I thought that was you.

[MOTOR]

Geez Abulafia,
Child abuse is not funny, so I suggest you not joke about it. The problem is, 12yr olds ARE getting busy at everything BUT school. Thats why the Prez felt it necessary to speak to them.

[Slade]

for whatever reason

Yea its that slime hole of puss bag inbred insane assholes called Americans!

they cant even give little old ladies who are school teachers in Kent what they need?

Some big deal! some big shit! what a bunch of stupid Americans going to fine the old women 200 a day or toss them in jail?

What a bunch of creepy shit bags Americans are?

Yo dudes clowns! just give the Women what they want and shut yer frigging scum filled pie holes.

Make the class size smaller you fricking creeps before you wake up dead!

[Ballard Pimp]

Where is Reverend Horton Heat when we need him most? I'm sure the young'uns would understand his message!

[MOTOR]

I agree that the teachers need to get paid.
Not only do they educate but they babysit, which is worth about $15/hour more than what they get paid.

[Slade]

As per the news the teachers got what they want but I don't really trust the news anymore? or rely on it totally anyway!

But the class size was the problem for the teachers and I remember it from many forums?

It really sucks to see it took years and a strike to get a better education for kids as per the all the Forum posts in the PI and elsewhere?

but I'm happy I got to see it before I died anyway?

One good ending to the back drop of so many bad ones!

I dated a teacher once and her hang up about it was all the home work she had to do at home grading papers and readying study materials and tests?

the baby sitting is the easy part and for most what they love most about it!

trying to deal with the education paper work of 40 kids is a giant task! that takes up many hours at home for the teachers.

One for the good guys! how rare indeed!

[barneyboy]

It's a little late, but I'm out of town fishing and eating...

The whole "flap" in the last couple of days about the president making a video message for school kids and the right wing reaction is utterly insane. So the president wants to tell kids to stay in school and avoid drugs. And right wing nutjobs are claiming that he is trying to indoctrinate them (to what? not do drugs? stay in school? respect the office of the president?) or that there might be subliminal messages encoded in the message that might somehow damage the children. This is fucking insanity. One radio host in Texas said that he doesn't trust his next door neighbor to talk to his kids without him present. Doesn't he realize how poorly that reflects on him? The discussions about the radicalization and mobilization of the right as well as their increasingly belligerent tone (throwing around "kill the president" jokes) is disturbing.


so what Jesus Moses and Buddha couldn't do in 6000 years obama has done --lead little school kids to paths of righteousness

only in America

[Abulafia]

Geez Abulafia,
Child abuse is not funny, so I suggest you not joke about it.

Not at all. I have a 12 year old niece who is in college. Once of those super smart kids. Afraid she might be your type.

[Abulafia]

so what Jesus Moses and Buddha couldn't do in 6000 years obama has done --lead little school kids to paths of righteousness

Wait. Wait. 6000 years?

[Gigabitch]

Wait. Wait. 6000 years?

I blame the public school system.

[carnivorous chicken]

Wait. Wait. 6000 years?

Yeah, when Jesus, Moses, Siddharta and Mohammed were pal-ing around with dinosaurs.

Pal-ing? Paling? Palling? Shit, where's the Sarah Palin dicitonary when I need it.

[MOTOR]

Abulafia,
If your 12 yr old niece is really that smart, it's clear she's not from your side of the family.
With this economy, a lot of kids that were in private school are now gonna have to go public. Which means more kids in the classroom for these poor teachers to have to babysit. The answer is more govt. money for more schools and teachers.
Who's gonna pay for that? People who have kids should pay, but they get tax breaks. Its all ass backwards.

[Abulafia]

Abulafia,
If your 12 yr old niece is really that smart, it's clear she's not from your side of the family.

I'm just going to sit and let that one resound for a bit.

We may agree on one thing, however; that is that public education is screwed (I trust you are a product?), and it needs a great deal more money. From everyone. Not just people who have kids—everyone. Everyone suffers from poorly educated people (—say, people who don't understand that a niece is the daughter of one's sister or brother [or one's spouse's sister or brother], and so my niece must indeed be from "my side of the family), MOTOR. Trust me.

Trust me.

[Slade]

Though I support education I cant be a Democratic Puss and have a wild fairy education wonderland?

There is this vast amount of crap we teach our kids! in some cases "try" to teach our kids and a vast amount of crap we need to teach our kids that we dont even touch?

there is a big lag in education as it becomes outdated and new things are discovered!

like stem cell research we a waiting? like healthcare we are waiting? like Afghanistan and Iraq we are waiting?

The world was moving to computers and online technology and as it was the Newspapers and even the U.S. mail is "Suffering set backs as some dumb ass did not not teach the clowns?

Obama had to hire some young snot Computer Hacker to play and slash in the waters of a flood that wiped out everything and has your information floating in the backwoods of Siberia every damn day?

"Microsoft is in the class room" and yea that scares the crap out of me as it means a huge profound change and this change will be decided based on "what?" "what?" "Wut?"

The fact that the bureaucracy takes decades and a strike and a Judge and fines and Jail time? to realize teachers have to do all the paper work of 40-50 kids "everyday" is a joke.

I recall the blue prints to schools we found on terrorist computers in Iraq?

I cant call it or see it or play with it but Microsoft search and destroy is in the Class room and I have seen the good the bad and the ugly?

[carnivorous chicken]

I'm just going to sit and let that one resound for a bit.

Best shit I've seen in ages.

I'm starting to feel kinda bad for this, but I guess if he keeps puttin' the zingers out there...

[Monkeyfist]

I'm just going to sit and let that one resound for a bit.

We may agree on one thing, however; that is that public education is screwed (I trust you are a product?), and it needs a great deal more money. From everyone. Not just people who have kids—everyone. Everyone suffers from poorly educated people (—say, people who don't understand that a niece is the daughter of one's sister or brother [or one's spouse's sister or brother], and so my niece must indeed be from "my side of the family), MOTOR. Trust me.

Trust me.

ZZZZZZZZZzzzzzzzzzzzziiiiiiiiiinnnnnnnnnnggggggggg !!!!!!!!!!!!!!