Today, I'm on the road and off the grid. Back here on Monday.
In the meantime, a question to consider: Should the Senate Republicans launch a scorched-earth assault on Sonia Sotomayor (whose confirmation hearing begins on Monday), if only to serve up red meat to their famished conservative base - or should they tread carefully next week, mindful of the backlash that might occur, among Hispanic and female voters, if they're perceived as beating up on a "well qualified" (the highest American Bar Association rating) Hispanic female?
Posted by Dick Polman @ 8:28 AM
Permalink |
119 comments
Wow Dick, how will we get by without your insight for 3 days? I guess we'll have to make due with 4 or 5 other DNC approved hit pieces by the opinion writers at PNI. No reason to question Sotomoyer at all, let's just let the politburo run us over, no questions asked. How was the backlash against Miguel Estrada and Alberto Gonzales. Were't they Hispanic enough for you? Phony.
"In the meantime, a question to consider: Should the Senate Republicans launch a major assault on Sonia Sotomayor." You mean, should the mean ol' Republicans follow the precedent set by the righteous Democrats, including then-Senator Obama--who voted for a filibuster against Alito?
Dick's off today so no insights on Sarah Palin, Fox News, Halliburton, Newt Gingrich or Rush Limbaugh.
Do the neocons ever have anything good to say? I guess not.
Lady Maple- continued for the last blog posts. To be fair, you would have to recognize that Bush's unemployment stats were actually quite good and the economy was adding jobs from 2002 through 2007. The clever investment schemes laced with toxic assets were conceived long before President Bush. But he was the president so he gets much of the blame. So the question is what is the cure? There is a need for common sense low cost regulation of our financial sector but this president is applying a cure that further hampers the economy. It was unwise for the electorate to have given Obama the power to govern without any checks and balances from the Senate. And we are going to pay the price for that unless a few blue dog democrats come to their senses.
Word is that Dick is interviewing with Caesar Chavez this weekend for a Minister of Disinformation post.
Except that there was no filibuster on Alito because there weren't enough votes, and the Dems came out looking bad afterwards. Dick poses a simple and reasonable question: what is the cost-benefit of all-out opposing a SC nominee (who is part of an ethnic gruop that both parties need to win elections) that is sure to get Senate approval in the end? And what does this have in the slightest to do with whether or not certain Bushies were "Hispanic enough" or how our president voted while in the Senate?
"Should the Senate Republicans launch a scorched-earth assault on Sonia Sotomayor" Absolutely not! They should treat liberal judicial nominees with the same deference and respect the Democrats treat conservative nominees with. Oh, wait.
"Except that there was no filibuster on Alito because there weren't enough votes, and the Dems came out looking bad afterwards." Really? Obama was scarred by the media because of that? I must have missed that. It IS a cowardly thing, however, and I don't think you'll see the GOP filibuster. Let Ricci tell his story, expose Sotomayor's reasoning, then confirm her to let the American people know that elections do have consequences and this is what you get when you elect Democrats.
Making the assumption that the GOP would launch a scorched-earth offensive assumes that the GOP is organized enough to do it, which really doesn't seem to be the case. However, it also assumes they are dumb and not understand that they would alienate Latinos and women as the price for cozying up to the whack job religious freaks on the extreme right. It assumes they would not understand that they risk a bigger beatdown in the next election than they did in the past two........So yes, I can see them doing that.
When did making sense ever enter into the GOP's thinking? Do they honestly think having Ricci testify is going to somehow change the outcome of the vote? Certainly not and the GOP will, once again, look like the angry, pathetic party of old white guys. Maybe they should be more concerned about all of their "moral" leaders abadoning their duties for a booty call. Oh wait, that would mean they have to have some morals to begin with. Next!
By all means, serve the red meat. The GOP cannibals need something to eat. Sooner or later they will be feeding on each other, because there will be no one else left in the GOP.
So today it is Sotomayer. It all seems like a big distraction from an economy that is hemmoraging jobs. Over 500,000 more jobs lost next. The Obama runs a far greater risks of offending the electorate due to the economy than Sotomayer getting a few questions in her confirmation hearing.
Mike - In case you missed it, it's the GOP creating the distraction. You are right. They should be focusing on economic issues. But this is why they are quickly approaching irrelevance. They are so "concerened" about social issues that most of the country has moved on from and that only matter to the wacky right that they continue to alienate the majority of the country. Whigs in process....
Irrelevance.... http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/mood_of_america/congressional_ballot/generic_congressional_ballot
More irrelevance... http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/mood_of_america/trust_on_issues/trust_on_issues
How exactly can a party that doesn't even have enough votes to carry a filibuster be a distraction? Moonbats take your heads out of the sand and look around. The view as you circle the bowl is majestic!
"they would alienate Latinos and women as the price for cozying up to the whack job religious freaks on the extreme right." She's Catholic, so how does opposing her count as cozying up to the "whack job religious freaks"? If anything, those people are probably happy that two-thirds of the Supreme Court is about to be Catholic. This is the umpteenth time Dick has either subtly or explicitly suggested that the Republicans might attempt a filibuster, despite the clear historical fact that such a move is the domain of the Democrats. There will be no filibuster, Ricci will have the chance to tell his uplifting story (which will hardly seem "angry or bitter"), then she will be confirmed and replace another liberal judge.
ahh darn it I wanted to hear all about swedes perfect world and how he planned on building it thru ethnic cleansing and genocide ....
Big difference between Sotomayor and Alito/Roberts, both men were known partisans of the Republican party before they were named to the Supreme Court, Roberts had argued Supreme Court cases for the Bush administration. No proof at all that Sotomayor is a liberal, no paper trail hinting at her likely decision if an abortion case comes to the Court while she is on it.
What Rush says so goes the rest of the republicans ..... I am sure he will be very animated next week after a week off of Golf and pill gorged evenings.
Despite all the things happenening to our fine young President (including his falling poll numbers) the leftist commie state media of Polman still finds a way to bash repubs. Amazing.
hejira33312- huh? How do you associate my concern over the jobless rate with ethnic cleansing and genocide? You must be abosolutely nuts!
I really don't hear much about Sotomayer. I think the only people trying to make political hay out of it are the Democrats to distract attention from the economy. What I do find amusing is how democrats ruthlessly bash Clarence Thomas yet a few questions posed to Sotomayer from Republicans are somehow racist or alienating a demographic. Oh well I guess that's politics. I just wish the Dems worried more about the jobless rate.
swedes, just continuing your conversation on your desire to live in an all republican country, I want to hear about your ideal country.
Sotomayor has a better judicial rating now then Thomas did when he was up for nomination. Besides, the Cons could do worse. What's come out so far seems to be someone who's more moderate than Liberal.
hejira33312: SMike's country would probably turn out like Jimmy Stewart's bad dream in "Its A Wonderful Life".
I know swedes world would not be a tolerant one, and it would really be polluted and there would be no wild life or trees, just suvs that sat in driveways because they burnt all the oil. I would say more like Terminator after the robots took over....
hejira33312- I must have passed a million cars on the highway today. The ones with the Obama/Biden stickers on the bumper appeared to be powered by gasoline too. The point being that you act so santimonious. You act as if there is some magic windmill that will power everthing. My utopic world would be one where common sense wins out over the emotional whims of preachy liberals. I mean what bitter nonsense you are spewing. I like clean air, I like wildlife and trees but that doesn't mean I also don't want a house with heat and air conditioning, a car to drive, good food to eat. There is a balance between the two but your far left enviromentalism has manifested itself into a self loathing anti human bitterness.
yobill626- My country would be the one where you would import all your goods from. My country would be where you look to for help in times of disaster or threat. Your country would look like East Germany under Soviets. But everyone would have healthcare, a loaf of bread, and a rat investement government provided tenement to live in with your bottle of Vodka.
Obama's poll numbers are tanking as the electorate obviosly didn't take the time to inform themselves of the horrific policies this man wanted to pursue before they voted for him. Apparantly the populace isn't so fond of the climate change bill and the healthcare bill
http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/obama_administration/daily_presidential_tracking_poll
SMike: I think you're the one with the vodka if you think you're going to have your country do great things with a low or no tax base. No, you didn't mention it here, but based on all the ranting you do, its certainly implied.
hejira33312's world would be full of steroid bloated young men prancing around in speedos.
swedes, your world is balanced for your benefit, thats it, you refuse to dig into the issues, Bush and his oil buddies killed of and alternative power generation for homes and cars, he raped the EPA and converted our government into one that bows to big corporations that care little for equity. You obviously have never suffered a day in your life or have little experience with empathy for anything outside your party and their sound bites. Your idea of non compromise spits in the face of the consitution and reeks of neocon agenda. Our nation needs people at every level to function, you can't drink that Bud without someone ( in a union) that is not getting a fair wage and secruity of health insurance. The founding fathers would be appauled at the childish finger pointing and the whinning as well as the traitor comments of Limbaugh and Cheney. I work hard everyday and save my money for the future but I also reach out to people less fortunate then myself because I know we are all this in together and that compromise is the only way to get back the country of JFK and FDR. I respect your ideas but do not condone the split of the country because your party has fallen out of favor. Try and see that we are a nation that is always changing and if we do not succeed together we will fail together.
hejira33312's world would be full of steroid bloated young men prancing around in speedos. lololo and yours would be full of mustached women in dirty house dresses and pot bellies.....
"The founding fathers would be appauled at the childish finger pointing and the whinning as well as the traitor comments of Limbaugh and Cheney." How would the founding fathers react if they were told that the federal government controlled 60% of the nation's largest automobile company?
Vandy--do you seriously believe that the government really intends to own the auto industry for any length of time? Temporary government ownership of distressed industries for purposes of reorganization is nothing new or remarkable. Conrail was the last big example in my recollection, but this has happened throughout history. It's not remotely like socialism. You're showing your shaky grasp of economic history, or maybe it's just paranoia, or simple partisan billingsgate, I'm not sure which, but the level of your expressed concern is certainly without merit.
swede--your ideal country sounds a lot like a gated community. You keep out the bad people and hire a big security force to check the gates, build a wall, and life is great. Boring and pointless, but perfect.
Liberal- Yes a gated community. Like the Villages in Florida. Not to get off topic but I read the Villages has a higher incident of s.t.d.s than the city of Miami. Apparantly they're doing a lot more than golfing in the Villages.
hejira33312- You more like the people who lived in the collective society in Jonestown Guyana.
Who cares about Sotomayor...according to Prince Charles we only have 96 months (8 years) to save the planet, and the leaders of the G-8 have proclaimed that the temperature of the planet is not allowed to increase by more than 3.6 degrees Fahrenheit over the next several years.....with power like that, who needs a Supreme Court.
"Do you really think the government wants to own the auto industry for any length of time?"....From today's WSJ on GM...."The chances of a sustained turnaround hinge on a revamped board of directors the government has installed, in particular the new chairman, Edward E. Whitacre Jr. The former AT&T executive was hand-picked by the governments auto task force." Yep, seems like something only temporary to me...even 50 years can be deemed as temporary. I bet in 4 years, as Obama is leaving the White House, he will still be saying he never wanted to own the auto industry. At least they picked a new chairman with loads of auto industry experience....NOT!
hejira33312- I am sure you are very generous. So long as it is with other people's money.
India and China must be laughing at the G-8 summit. Never has a better bunch of useful idiots been gathered. India and China's economies are going to boom since they aren't stupid enough to believe in the arrogance that man can do anything to control climate. Just like when liberals triumph the EPA and the Unions then in the same breath these idiots wonder why all the jobs moved overseas. As if these liberal fools have destroyed enough our manufacturing they will administer a death blow to the American economy with all their global warming policies. None of which will do anything for Co2 emmisions as all they accomplish is the factories move overseas. 20% unemployment is very possible unless the blue dog democrats stop it by blocking Obama's agenda.
What is up with Obama's diplomacy with Russia? Seems as though Obama wants to restore the old Soviet Union. Of course the Russians don't want us to pursue missile defense. It would get in the way of their agenda to retake the eastern European countries. And Obama being the fool that he is rushed over to enable and appease the Russians. Sheesh. I never thought I would see another Jimmy Carter but this clown of President takes the cake.
the unfunded medicare liability is 34 trillion. With a track record like that by our federal government, why in the world would you want government run healthcare?
"Temporary government ownership of distressed industries for purposes of reorganization is nothing new or remarkable. Conrail was the last big example in my recollection, but this has happened throughout history. It's not remotely like socialism. You're showing your shaky grasp of economic history." I most certainly do not need a lecture on economics from you, liberal. You mentioned that Conrail example before because you felt it was necessary in order to ensure rail travel in the Northeast (love that efficient Amtrak monopoly, too!). Setting aside whether or not that was actually the case, that argument absolutely does NOT apply to GM--the world's demand for automobiles can be comfortably met by Honda, Ford, Toyota, BMW, etc. There is no key unmet demand that only GM can meet, as you claim in the Conrail example.
"distressed industries" And liberal, again, he's not taking over an industry as you incorrectly state, he's taking over two specific players within an industry.
If this healthcare bill is passed then no company would continue to provide coverage to employees. In a very short time liberals will have managed to collapse another industry that employs millions. We'll all end up on the government plan thus further bankrupting the treasury. Honestly folks. This economy is going to totally collapse. Our economy is going to ingest itself. Our whole country is going to be taken down by Obama. Eventually we won't have any military other than a small symbolic force like France. Who knows what happens then.
Tom,who cares about Prince Charles? He represents a family in which no one has held a real job for at least 20 generations. he has lots of time to study climatic conditions.
BTW, experience in the auto industry isn't a requirement to lead a major auto company and a few of the guys who did have experience didn't do a real good job.
Smike, I sure don't want the government running the healthcare system but billions go to management salary/bonus payments, not caring for sick people and one of the bigger segments of healthcare-Pharma- has been the frequent target of your zingers and criticisms. Your concern for the industry is underwhelming.
"but billions go to management salary/bonus payments" What do you think the annual budget is for CMS, the federal agency--funded by taxpayers--that oversees Medicare and Medicaid?
Vandy, I don't know what the budget CMS is. If there's billions going for salaries/bonuses for execs instead of care for clients, it should end. My response is about a specific comment.
Which liar is Obama? ■"If we do not move swiftly to sign the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act into law, an economy that is already in crisis will be faced with catastrophe."--President Obama on his soon-to-be-passed stimulus proposal, Feb. 5
■"I never believe anything is do or die."--President Obama on his legislatively imperiled health-care proposal, July 10
It's amazing how the republicans on this site believe they have no blame for the strife in the country. That the Bush administration was a walk in a lovely park and his sound decision gave us respect and admiration around the world. No matter how you paint that outhouse its still full of S#%T. I guess the talking points work on the uneducated and racist part of the population but overwhelmingly the dryed up and dare I say passe dead republican party is in need of an extreme makeover. Republicans , the party that died of selfishness.
Miguel Estrada, Hispanic American's well qualified ABA rating didn't get a vote from the Democrats. He wasn't the right kind of Hispanic. The liberals play the race card like no one else and they get a pass from the meida. I wonder how much hand wringing Polman and his fellow travelers did for him? They take their DNC marching orders and follows them exactly.
swede--I am a firm believer in and admirer of the capitalist system for its efficiency at certain tasks, and certainly it has been shown that socialism doesn't work well. But the idea that there's something called "my money" that exclusively belongs to me is merely a convenient legal fiction. None of us would have any money at all but for the work of others. An economy is inherently a collective activity. In a state of nature, most of our modern skills would be worth exactly nothing. It's only the collective activity of generations of people that makes us able to make a good living. So the selfish idea that taxation to provide social goods is purely a confiscation of one's own personal property for another's sake is nonsense.
Vandy--please google around to resolve your confusion between Conrail and Amtrak and you might be able to think clearly about government takeovers of failing entities. Conrail did not include the entire freight rail industry, only the failing railroads. Just like the auto takeover. As to whether GM is as critical an entity as the eastern railroads were, this is certainly an issue that can be argued. The point is simply that the takeover is certainly not unprecedented, and there is no reason why the government would want to hold on to the auto industry indefinitely. Even in socialistic Europe, government-held pieces of the auto industry (Volkswagen, Renault) were eventually privatized.
hejira33312- Here are the unemployment numbers under Bush. They are actually quite good. You told us those were all hamburger flipping jobs.
http://www.economagic.com/em-cgi/data.exe/feddal/ru
hejira33312- you state sarcastically that "Bush's sound decisions gave us respect and admiration around the world" I think the question is how in the world would you measure that? Is it just through your politically tainted eyes? Is it photo ops with Chavez and Medyedvev? Or is it all the additional help that we have not seen from Europe in our war in Afghanistan? Has Obama stopped Iran from developing a nuclear weapon? I think not. Has North Korea ratcheted down their saber rattling? Quite the opposite in reality. Do any of the countries who have terrorists held in Guantanomo want their upstanding citizens back? Nope- has not happened. So in reality your talking points are nothing more than vomited up propaganda from a media that is in the tank for Obama.
Look at this stretch of unemployment numbers. Through all of 2006 and 2007 the unemployment numbers were 4.9 percent or lower. Wow those were the days. Too bad that Barney Frank and his Community Reinvestment Act blew it all to pieces despite efforts from GWB to reign in Fannie and Freddie. Anyway look at the unemployment numbers
http://www.economagic.com/em-cgi/data.exe/feddal/ru
Republican, Democrat, Liberal or Conservative, it makes no real difference. They are ALL a bunch of money grubbing Lawyers, that's what Lawyers do. Now they have to pick someone, THEY can "work with", to wear a Robe. Wake up and smell the garbage, that's all we get.
huh? You liberals won't even allow windmills to be built. If your idiocy didn't affect me it would be one of the best comedy acts in the country.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/07/11/AR2009071100148.html?hpid=artslot
liberal- There has to be some taxes. I recognize that. My problem is that liberals of all political stripes keep coming up with feel good programs. Like social security, medicare, prescription programs. While many people depend on these things the problem is they are unfunded. We have a 30 trillion unfunded obligation to medicare. At some point this ponzi scheme will collapse. I think the people would be better off keeping the money they pay into these programs so they can provide for themselves. You want to keep creating programs, hire people to run them, tax more to pay for it, and in the end you nothing to show for it. Essentially you add more cost by creating the burearacy to runs these programs than if you just let the people keep their money and pay for their retirement and healthcare themselves. Give a man a fish you fed him for a day, teach a man to fish and you fed him for a lifetime. Somewhere along the line we have thrown self relicancy and personal responsibility out the window
Smike, the liberals are not the reason our jobs are being sent overseas. The reason is it is cheaper over there. Unless you want yourself and your family working for less than 50 cents an hour in hot factories with no safety standards and working 14 to 16 hour shifts quit blaming liberals or any other group of people. The blame goes to CEO’s and both parties of government for giving them tax breaks to move jobs overseas. Take some time and look up how many coal miners are killed in China compared to the USA. Let me clue you in on why they have more deaths there then in the USA, they have very few safety standards. I know you hate those regulations but they do save lives in certain industries(you do respect life don't you). We lost approx 25% of our manufacturing under GWB. Guess that makes the Repubs liberals. So unless you want to live in a hut with no running water or a company owned apartment that the Chinese offer their factory workers which cost them most of their pay, cut the partisan BS. Our standard of living was built by all of those who came before us here in the USA. It is being destroyed by the CEO’s and the politicians of both parties. As a stock holder if you’re going to send the worker jobs overseas, then send the management overseas too, then you will maximize profits. By the CEO’s staying here, it just proves it is all about greed on their part.
Tegan well said. They would sell out their mother if it put money in their pocket.
Smike, prescription drug program is GWB. If social security was left in its original concept it would be fine. Medicare and Medicaid, what should we do with the older people who didn’t get company health care when they retired. Do we turn them into crackers like the movie Soylent Green? Take away the abuses and giving benefits to people who don’t need them or who came here illegally and we would save a ton of money. BTW we just had one big ponzi scheme collapse and we are in the fall out from it now.
USA # 1- You should not complain about it then. Your policies of supporting unions and the EPA make it so diffucult to manufacture in the US that those companies have to move overseas or stay and go out of business. I am in sales for a trucking company. I've seen this first hand. It's not that the company wants to move oveseas it is that if they don't then they cannot compete. One such company in Sewell NJ always trumpeted the fact that their product "was made in the USA", by the late 90's their slogan was "assembled in the USA", and now the product is only distrubuted in the USA and is entirely manufactured in China. They had to or everyone was going to lose their job. Including the people in accounting, purchasing, distrubtion, telemarketing, sales etc. Faced with those odds as CEO what would you do? You want to lable the CEO a greedy traiter but the reality is that he saved jobs.
USA #1- No you would have to faze out these programs since they are unfunded. Taking away benefits from a few illegal immigrants isn't going to compensate for a 30 trillion unfunded obligation. The bureacracies could be fazed out. The people could keep more of their money and we would all be better off.
OK Smike, so we turn all the older people and people with disabilities who don’t have health benefits into crackers. Then we feed them to all the people who have lost their jobs. Sounds good, solved several problems there and saved a lot of money. Glad to see that the modern conservative listens to what Jesus says. About the EPA, sure they go overboard, but don’t you remember they had to shut down the factories in China that were somewhat close to the Olympics because of the pollution. The unions got you your 40 hour work week and any benefits you have. Did they go overboard sure, but that is because both sides didn’t want to work together plus weak management and corrupt union leaders (course we know that corruption can be found everywhere). You do remember why unions were started don’t you. Do you think the company store was only in a country song? Next time you’re on vacation or go to the doctor, thank those who came before you and made it possible. Next time you drink water and don’t get sick, thank the EPA. Next time you eat something and don’t get sick, thank those regulations you hate so much. Next time you get your pay check and don’t have to give it back to the company you work for, because you have to buy your food and lodging from them, thank those unions you hate. Sure the unions went too far, they are paying for it now, but management is also to blame. The biggest failure of the unions was not getting rid of the deadbeats they allowed to stay on the job and for not thinking past their next contract and those polices they have that you have every right to get upset about. I have never been in a union but I know I owe the workers from the 1930 and 40’s a big thank you for my benefits and vacation. BTW 20 million illegal’s doesn’t sound like a few to me.
USA#1- That is not what I am advocating. I said a gradual faze out. Do you want to discusse this issue or not?
USA#1- yes I remember China had to shut down the factories during the Olympics. I also remember Obama giving China a big pat on the back for all they have built and accomplished. Obama must have missed the part that China had shut down the factories to give the illusion of clean air. But the broader point here is that despite all your climate change efforts and clean air efforts all you have done is moved those industries to China. They still exist and still pollute and will continue to pollute. Now at least it's not in our backyard but the santimony to think you've eliminted pollution is nauseating. You've accomplished your agenda of moving the pollution and the jobs to another part of the world. but then you start whining about our mfg base. You can't have it all.
USA #1- 20 million illegal aliens is alot. But you're naive to think they are all participating in medicare or that you can solve the 30 trillion unfunded obligation by cleaning up those who should not receive the benefit. The economy is collapsing. The ponzi scheme cannot continue. All these programs need to be fazed out to save the country.
Smike, the question remains - how do we compete with people who will work for $1/day with little or no safety regs or benefits?
Smike, the question remains - how do we compete with people who will work for $1/day with little or no safety regs or benefits?
Our manufacturing moved there because it is cheaper and they don’t have the regulations on pollution and safety we have plain and simple. Plus we gave the corporation’s the tax breaks to do it. We set standards so that we could breathe our air and not end up like a polluted cesspool that China has become. BTW their pollution does come over to our country, it’s called the wind. You can have manufacturing and limit the pollution. You give the corporation’s the tax breaks to pay for the extra costs of running a cleaner business. I didn’t say I eliminated pollution, what you are talking about. The only agenda I have is to make a living and pay my bills and enjoy life. You still didn’t answer my question from before, do you want to work under the conditions they work under in China. Do you want to breathe the air they breathe in China? Do you want their standard of living? Without any regulations that is what we would have. I have no agenda of moving pollution overseas and I want the manufacturing here, not there. There is a happy medium that could have been reached but those in power choose not to go that route (that includes both parties). I’ve heard the illegal’s in California cost the government about 5 billion a year. California could sure use that 5 billion right now. You can call me naïve, but your naïve if you think either party is looking out for you. They are both bought and paid for by the biggest donators. They want us arguing or discussing back in forth with each other while they are selling out our country.
USA #1- Actually China has prospered greatly due to their manufacturing. More cars will be sold in China this year than the United States. There are more millionairs in China than the United States. In poor countries the factories routinely pay twice what people can earn doing much harder and more dangerous work in the fields. The free market sets the price not some labor Union. The union pushed and pushed for higher wages and they lost the very jobs they claim they wanted to protect. The enviromentalist pushed and pushed and pushed and the very factories they reviled closed and moved overseas. There are always unintend consequences. And you are right. Illegal aliens cost a lot of money. But that too has been exacerbated by liberal policy. But this country is going to need a influx of young working people if you want to continue the ponzi scheme of medicare and social security. Probably a quicker path to citizenship is the answer.
Jim R- We will never compete with products made with $ 1 an hour laborers. Would I work in those conditions? Absolutely not but I am a college educated American with better prospects than that. I am sure that living in China making plastic barbie dolls isn't a lot of fun but comared to what life was like there 30 years ago it is in an improvement
You right, they have prospered because of their policy of being a communist country with no regulations and no human rights. Of course it has come at our expense. If you noticed India and China have been growing while the rest of the world is having problems. Goes to show you that sending you jobs to another country hurts your country. We aren’t the only country that off shores jobs. China protects its jobs, VW wanted to sell cars in China, China said fine but you have to build them in China. Don’t you think that it is a waste of energy to kill chickens in the USA, freeze them and send them over to China to have them processed into chicken products and then ship them back here? Of course we all have heard about their great quality control with toys, food and baby formula over there. What about their great human rights records, plus the fact they abort their female fetuses because in urban areas they are only allowed one child (thought you were against abortion). Yes that is one country we want to give our money too. Let’s help them build their military up faster so they can catch up to us.
Smike, the question is still there. How will we build manufacturing Everyone wants their house to increase in value by 10% each year. We want to get raises better than the CPI so that we can move up faster. The country now has thousands of college educated unemployed. There's a city in central Mexico that has a stretch of ~3 miles where six major U.S. companies make goods-over 25,000 employees,(all formerly U.S. jobs) and I was told that the area has lost several thousand jobs to China and Viet Nam. If Americans aren't willing to pay to keep each other employed, the rest of the world isn't going to do it for us. The numbers simply aren't there and it dates back several administrations. The CEOs of those companies make tens of millions and they didn't save any jobs but their own.
I’m in the IT business and know of many college educated non union workers that have lost their jobs because they can’t survive on the $7,000 a year salary that they pay in India, unless they want to move to India. You lucky you’re in the business you’re in, but sooner or later the H-1B’s will be knocking at your door and your wages will slow or worse yet you could have the same fate as many of my well educated non union worker friends have met. Off shoring is spreading to other profession as well. The engineering, and certain law firm work and accounting are the next professions to feel the pain of the anti-American way of doing business. I forgot to add, I’m not worried about China prospering, I’m worried about our country prospering.
Since it seems inevitable that low-value jobs will move to less-developed countries, it is obvious that the US has to develop high-value jobs if we want to keep our standard of living. The key to promoting high-value jobs is education. Education is not just some liberal bleeding-heart issue, it's the vital heart of a modern economy. Our education system is not very good--not just in impoverished ghettos, but to a large degree, across the board. Republicans and conservatives despise the idea of spending more money on education. They're not interested in improving education, just in finding somebody to blame so they can avoid the taxes necessary to improve the system. The favorite culprit--teachers' unions of course. Never mind that non-unionized districts are not generally doing any better educationally than unionized ones. Or that teachers are hard workers doing a job most of us would collapse under. As long as we can keep taxes low, that's the only issue Republicans at the state and local level as well as in Congress respond to. I can assure you that the attitude in India and China is absolutely the opposite: education is prestigious and teachers are valued. And let's not muddy this issue by bringing up the cultural issues that burden education in some minority communities. This is a real problem, but it's not the crux of the issue. The problem is the educational system overall--bad science and math, bad English, etc. We're going down the tubes if we don't address this problem.
liberal: expert in all matters including the hearts and minds of the Chinese and Indians. liberal I have a question: Is there anything in America that you think is good or right? You would think we are evil incarnate with absolutely no idea how to do anything according to you.
jwad: Our Constitution is something good and right. You know, that piece of paper that Bush trampled for 8 years.
Liberal- Bush spent billions on education. Ted Kennedy wrote the education bill. In our Philly suburbs some districts with 13 years of service with a masters will pay you $ 101,000. This number is per the contract. Not bad considering you get a week off at christmas, a week off before Easter, and 7 other holdidays off during the school year plus 10 weeks in the summer. Undervalued????????? maybe in some districts but not all.
"Conrail did not include the entire freight rail industry, only the failing railroads. Just like the auto takeover." You realize this sentence makes no sense, right? What exactly is a "failing railroad"? One in which the spikes aren't sturdy enough?
"please google around to resolve your confusion between Conrail and Amtrak and you might be able to think clearly about government takeovers of failing entities. Conrail did not include the entire freight rail industry" Sorry; I guess I shouldn't have simply taken you at your word when you earlier described takeovers of entire industries here: "Temporary government ownership of distressed industries for purposes of reorganization is nothing new or remarkable." I'll try to stick with your inconsistencies from now on.
"Republicans and conservatives despise the idea of spending more money on education." The United States spends more money on education than any other country on earth (and within the U.S., the rotten D.C. school district spends more money per student than any other city), so the Republican concern is simply that if we're already spending more money than anyone else, perhaps money isn't the problem. Perhaps it's incentives for teachers?
LJL: Guess what. Some of us haven't "moved on" from the Second Amendment.
Swedesboro: Just curious, what school districts are you referring to?
p diddy- Lower Merion, Radnor, Tredryfrin-Eastown, Council Rock are all in the range. I am not saying they don't deserve to paid well just that the mantra of the underpaid teacher isn't always true. The new homes book that you can pick up for free at a Wawa has the median salary for all the schools in the 5 country area published. The numbers are about 1 contract off but it is quite an eye opener.
Since it seems inevitable that low-value jobs will move to less-developed countries, it is obvious that the US has to develop high-value jobs if we want to keep our standard of living. The key to promoting high-value jobs is technology, engineering, science and medicine. This is has it has always been, and always will. Veblen, great American economist, stated science and medicine can end poverty, not sales, advertising and politics. Basic Yankee know how might be the shortest version.
Vandy--yes, the eastern railroads were failing in every way, including the spikes. Where in the heck were you when this was happening? Are you 16 years old or a resident of Alaska?
p-diddy--I second your comment on our Constitution. As some of the delegates to the Constitutional Convention said at the time, it's almost too good for mere humans. If only our government could consistently live up to it. As for right-wingers, with their constant negativism and obstructionism about everything, it seems to me that they're the ones who need to explain why they don't just leave this country for somewhere more congenial to their disdain for almost everything the Constitution stands for.
It seems to me that a Latin American oligarchy with its low taxes and other privileges for the wealthy and nothing for the poor would suit our current right-wingers better than a liberal, modern democratic state like the USA.
swede--It's true that the wealthier suburbs of big cities tend to do a fairly good job of public education, and I don't see how you can deny that the good salaries for teachers are a factor in this. The difficulty is that this good model is not replicated elsewhere, and the overall national effort is inadequate. As I mentioned in my earlier post, a lot of you rightwingers are going to focus on the problems of culturally dysfunctional communities like the District of Columbia to prove that money doesn't help, but that issue is irrelevant to my point. As Fisher points out, we need doctors, engineers, etc., and we won't get enough of them them with an inadequate public education system. Even in those good suburban schools if you look at some of the curricula it's appalling how it's been dumbed down even since I was in high school. We can't count any more on foreign engineers, scientists, and doctors to pick up the slack because their home countries are starting to look more attractive.
liberal- Our public schools here in Woolwich Twp NJ are actually quite good. The schools tend to reflect the community. Many of the poor schools reflect the fact that the local community is failing with 70% of children born out of wedlock, high crime, and drug usage. My sister teaches in an inner city school. Out of a class of 25 only 1 or 2 parents will show up for parent teacher conference night.
liberal- You will have to put up the conservative disdain for this Presiden't policies. The same grace and goodwill you extended President Bush and his 5% unemployment will be extended to Obama and his 9.5% unemployment. It is really that simple. It is not going away. While although the policies are horiffic this country still represents the last best hope for the world. If the job losses continue this President will be gone in 3 years and in a short 18 months the likes of Dodd and Reid will be gone if things do not improve. I can understand you will not like the criticism of Obama but the honeymoon has ended. The public is not going to put up with job losses and insurmountable debt just because he looks cool and reads clearly from a teleprompter.
liberal- explain to me how Republicans have been obstructionist? They have 40 Senators and 3 of them generally vote with the Democrats. Your problem getting your agenda passed lies with some Democrats that are having some second thoughts on these horrific policies.
Swedesboro: Hmmm. Let's think cause and effect. What do Lower Merion, Council Rock, Radnor and Tredryfrin-Easttown have in common? Here's another place that has good schools: Beverly Hills, CA.
I attended public school in the Philly suburbs and have taught in a public school in NYC. Yes, there are plenty of social ills outside schools that affect children. But the unfairness of these two types of schools was so glaring, it really blew my mind. There's no excuse not to have enough textbooks for a class. There's no excuse for cramming 3600 students into an 80 year old building designed to hold 1700. Really, just thinking about this makes my blood boil. There are large numbers of students who are extremely bright but are caught in systems that are intended to serve as minimum security prisons (my supervisor at the school casually admitted the purpose of our school was to "keep kids off the street during the day"). I would get angry when few parents would show up for conferences, but you have to remember that most of the parents received the same schooling - but that's no reason to punish their children. If anything we should be making an effort to demonstrate the importance of education as a society. We ought to be investing in poor school systems (not just urban, as many in West Virginia, MS, and elsewhere can attest). Amazingly, when you factor in student population, districts like Lower Merion actually receive MORE federal and state dollars per student than Philadelphia does. I have nothing against wealthy people or wealthy school systems (I AM wealthy, I guess). But what is (not) being done for poor urban and rural schools is unconscionable. I'll accept that parents are to blame too. Seriously, there's no way someone can witness this degree of unfairness firsthand and not come away with a drastically different view of the way society works.
One more brief point: When some conservatives complain about how poor urban schools are a reflection of the neighborhoods they are in, they never consider that often these schools actually reinforce the problems they complain about. If you treat students like prisoners from age 12, they behave like criminals and expect to be treated like prisoners. The conservative complaint on this topic is a circular argument: We shouldn't invest in poor school systems because it's the parents' fault. But the government shouldn't do anything to help the parents either. So we're right back where we started - bad schools producing bad students who will become bad parents.
P diddy- Where do you get your stats on that? Lower Merion gets more federals dollars than the philly schools. I don't know if you are right or wrong but I think a proof source would be in order. The Lower Merion tax base can support good schoosl with good teacher salaries- no question about that but I doubt they receive more federal dollars. Most of the these enclaves with failing schools are run by local politicans who are top to bottom democrat. This tendency to blame others for the failings of a community gets a little old after a while.
p diddy- Who is treating the students like prisoners? Come on now. In some of these schools the threats are so bad that they are lucky they even have teachers. You keep blaming others won't solve any of this.
Swedesboro: Who is treating students like prisoners? If you stuff 3600 students in an 80 year old facility built for 1700 students, install 20 trailer "classrooms" next to the school (on top of the area that is supposed to be used for gym class), then build a 12 foot high chain link fence around the school, have a large security presence on the grounds, and fail to provide all students textbooks, what does that sound like to you? This isn't uncommon. Google "nytimes" and "Richmond Hill High School". As for my sources of state/federal funding inequalities: Check out the Education Trust's "The Funding Gap: Low-Income and Minority Students Receive Fewer Dollars". It examined 15,000 school districts. The poorest 25% of school districts receive significantly less in federal/state funding per student than the wealthiest 25%. Overall (including local funding), Lower Merion spends almost double what Philly spends per student.
Also, who is blaming others? It's a huge problem that requires a solution. Yours is the very same circular argument that I described in my previous post. Essentially, you're saying, "F'em, they're doomed." At least admit it.
p-diddy if parents are involved students do better (any textbook on teaching). Students who do not liesure all summer do better (Gladwell). Federal funding gets back to the fundamental problem of American, Congress has too much power. If you dig further, I'll beat you voter turn out and contributions are higher from voters in those distrincts.
Alright, what solution do you propose then?
p diddy- I don't totally disagree with you but there are issues in those failing school districts that have to be dealt with without lashing our at others. Some one else isn't always to blame. Until thos communities realize that they will continue under generational poverty ( unless of course you recognize we are the only poplulation where our poor people are obese)
my previous post needs some editing.. You can't always blame the failing schools on other people. You just can't . At some point there has to be self reliancy and personal responsibilty. I mean come on.... top to bottom a school district like Philly is run by democrats. Has been for decades yet the populace keeps electing democrats. Does anyone see the insanity in all of this?
Has DP ever written a column critical of Dems?
Where in my comments do you see me lashing out at others? I don't begrudge wealthy people the right to a good education either. But it's impossible to deal with the problems of poor urban and rural school systems without discussing class. Perhaps the most galling comment your hear from people who pretend class isn't a factor in education is that "money doesn't matter". It DOES matter. It's actually an insane statement.
p -diddy- You have a problem with Democrats on these issues not Republicans. We are not in change. Haven't been for years in the failing school enclaves and haven't been at the national level for quite some time.
It's tough to have an argument when no counter-argument is being offered. I'm basically talking to myself. Goodnight.
It is a real quandry. A friend of mine was a Philly Public High School teacher for 20 years. Once an idealistic guy, he came to the conclusion that the best thing he could do was allow/chase teens who did not want to be in the class out of his rooms. He judged his class success by ending the year with 6-10 teens still attending his class. He felt that left him 6-10 kids who wanted to be there who he could teach & positively affect without the troublemakers or low lifes dragging them down. Pretty sad in a lot of ways...
Uhhh...the converatives are forgetting a bit of recent history. The judgeships were being stalled during the Clinton Administration so much that even some republicans were getting frustrated.
Oh, they must be suffering from selective amnesia.
I hear that the Democratic Party will soon have Franchises for every Identity Politics Brand of Politician they can find. Then we can enjoy one prty rule like Cuba, Venezuela, Chicago, Philadelphia. Wait, we already have it. Street, Fumo, The Sheriff's Office help "run" the Banana Republic for the weak minded.
Orrin Hatch just made a great statement. He said that if a compelling life story were the only quality for a federal judge, then Miguel Estrada would be on the Federal Court. If receiving the highest rating from the ABA was reason for confirmation, then why did Obama not only vote against Alito but also vote to filibuster him. As for Clinton, why is it that Democrats always want to equate things....conservatives blame Obama for unemployment, instead of debating the issue, they say "how long did you guys blame Clinton for Bush's economy and 9/11". Say Democrats voted to filibuster judges, they say "look at what the Republicans did with Clinton's judges". If it was wrong under Clinton, and it was, then it was also wrong under Bush and is wrong under Obama. Why not just debate the issue instead of doing all this childish "oh yeah, but what about...".
119 comments | View All By Latest | Paginate Comments
About Dick Polman
- American Spectator
- Blogs for Bush
- Campaign Standard
- David Limbaugh
- Free Republic
- Glenn Reynolds
- Hugh Hewitt
- Human Events
- John Hawkins
- Matt Lewis
- Michelle Malkin
- National Review
- Opinion Journal
- Outside the Beltway
- Power Line
- Red State
- The Brody File
- Town Hall
- Weekly Standard
- Altercation
- Center for American Progress
- Crooks and Liars
- Daily Kos
- David Corn
- Huffington Post
- Media Matters
- Mojoblog (Mother Jones)
- Open Left
- Political Animal
- Salon's War Room
- Talking Points Memo
- Tapped
- The Carpetbagger Report
- The Democratic Strategist
- The Grey Matter
- Unclaimed Territory
- Andrew Sullivan
- Attytood
- Chi Tribune's The Swamp
- CJR's Campaign Desk
- CNN's Political Ticker
- CQ Politics
- FactCheck.org
- Gail Collins
- Howard Kurtz
- Katharine Seelye Online
- Mickey Kaus
- NBC's First Read
- Political Wire
- Politico
- Pollster.com
- Real Clear Politics
- The Fix
- The Moderate Voice
- The Plank
- The Stump
- USA Today On Politics
- Wonkette
Blog Roll
Get it now
- November
- October
- September
- August
- July
- June
- May
- April
- March
- February
- January
- December 2008
- November 2008
- October 2008
- September 2008
- August 2008
- July 2008
- June 2008
- May 2008
- April 2008
Archives
Categories
Philly.com Promotions
- News | Sports | Business | What's Happening | Restaurants & Food | Entertainment | Living | Marketplace | Jobs
Site Services:
Classifieds:
- Jobs | Cars | Real Estate | Rentals | Marketplace | Celebrations
Partners:
