1 Bubblehead II  Wed, Jul 18, 2012 4:47:54pm

And this piece will be lost on the Texas B.O.E. and the Texas GOP as they already lack critical thinking skills.

beer run, be back in a few.

2 jaunte  Wed, Jul 18, 2012 4:56:59pm

John T. Harvey:
The Terrifying Texas GOP Platform

"...Another disturbing feature of the document is that while they “urge the Legislature to direct expenditures to academics as the first priority,” they also contend that “Since data is (sic) clear that additional money does not translate into educational achievement, and higher education costs are out of control, we support reducing taxpayer funding to all levels of education institutions” (emphasis added).

Not only is the second statement inconsistent with the first (not to mention rather frightening), it isn’t true. The implications of the data are far from clear. In point of fact, economists have found that–not surprisingly–it matters how the money is spent (see here for a survey of the relevant literature). For example, reducing class sizes and adding remedial help appear to be particularly cost effective.

Thus, contrary to the Texas GOP’s assertion, there are programs that both add to costs AND increase educational achievement. Furthermore, the most significant finding in the literature over the years has been that teacher quality is the absolute, number one factor driving student attainment.

Surely the Texas GOP is not arguing that higher salaries would not tend to attract higher quality teachers or that funds for training and apprenticeship would not be well spent?

The bottom line is, the actual evidence flies in the face of their claim that the research shows unequivocally that there is no connection between funding and outcomes. It simply isn’t true."

3 engineer cat  Wed, Jul 18, 2012 4:59:38pm

“Since data is (sic) clear that additional money does not translate into educational achievement, and higher education costs are out of control, we support reducing taxpayer funding to all levels of education institutions”

to think i suggested this logical deduction satirically only a few days ago

4 Holidays are Family Fun Time  Wed, Jul 18, 2012 5:00:59pm

Charles posted the GOP Texas Platform and we discussed the "critical thinking skills", what?, weeks ago.

Once again, Charles is on top of it.

5 jaunte  Wed, Jul 18, 2012 5:04:06pm

Another TXGOP plank:

Sex Education - We recognize parental responsibility and authority regarding sex education. We believe that parents must be given an opportunity to review the material prior to giving their consent. We oppose any sex education other than abstinence until marriage.

Serving as a testbed for abstinence-only sex education, Texas has achieved the fourth highest teen pregnancy rate in the country.

6 austin_blue  Wed, Jul 18, 2012 5:06:06pm

And all you need to do here to be elected to a state-wide office is to have an (R) after your name. Hence, Rick Perry. Again and again.

7 darthstar  Wed, Jul 18, 2012 5:06:48pm

If critical thinking skills were in the bible, Saul would have poured a goat-skin of water onto the burning bush.

8 Mostly sane, most of the time.  Wed, Jul 18, 2012 5:08:42pm

re: #7 darthstar

If critical thinking skills were in the bible, Saul would have poured a goat-skin of water onto the burning bush.

After he had traveled into the past? He would have been quite advanced to build a time travel in the iron age.

9 Destro  Wed, Jul 18, 2012 5:10:50pm

Is it me or is the GOP base composed of people who want to enact some sort of Pol Pot like cultural revolution against educated people. Pol Pot's goons went after people they felt were educated, including those that wore glasses (evidence of reading).

10 jaunte  Wed, Jul 18, 2012 5:12:09pm

The Texas Republican Party platform: Creationism, denialism, “health freedom,” and “vaccine choice” all rolled up into one big antiscience ball


Not the brightest bulbs in Texas:

Incandescent Light Bulbs - We support the freedom to continue to use and manufacture incandescent light bulbs.

11 darthstar  Wed, Jul 18, 2012 5:12:17pm

re: #8 Mostly sane, most of the time.

After he had traveled into the past? He would have been quite advanced to build a time travel in the iron age.

Oh, shit...that was Moses...who was it that turned Saul into Paul? Was it that pacifist hippie dude?

12 OhNoZombies!  Wed, Jul 18, 2012 5:12:18pm

re: #7 darthstar


If critical thinking skills were in the Bible, Lot's wife would've kept her eyes on the road.

13 darthstar  Wed, Jul 18, 2012 5:13:42pm

re: #12 OhNoZombies!

If critical thinking skills were in the Bible, Lot's wife would've kept her eyes on the road.

My fault...I retroactively went back and seduced her.

14 OhNoZombies!  Wed, Jul 18, 2012 5:17:11pm

re: #13 darthstar

In my best George Takei voice I say Oh my!

15 jaunte  Wed, Jul 18, 2012 5:23:06pm

What's Happening in Syria Now

July 18: A bomb blast in Damascus has killed at least three of Bashar Al-Assad's top aides, including his minister of defense and brother-in-law. In Washington, US Defense Secretary Leon Panetta said the conflict "is rapidly spinning out of control," and worried openly about the regime's large chemical weapons arsenal, parts of which Assad has reportedly moved out of storage in recent days.

16 b_sharp  Wed, Jul 18, 2012 5:38:32pm

re: #9 Destro

Is it me or is the GOP base composed of people who want to enact some sort of Pol Pot like cultural revolution against educated people. Pol Pot's goons went after people they felt were educated, including those that wore glasses (evidence of reading).

Educated people get all uppity.

18 b_sharp  Wed, Jul 18, 2012 5:42:07pm

OT;

Teach a man to fish and he'll feed his family. Teach a woman to fish and she'll pose in a bikini.

Image: Laurie2.jpg

19 Killgore Trout  Wed, Jul 18, 2012 5:53:18pm

ACLU springs into action
Obama’s killings challenged again

The ACLU and the Center for Constitutional Rights this morning filed a lawsuit in federal court against several Obama officials, including Defense Secretary Leon Panetta and CIA Director David Petraeus. The suit is brought on behalf of the survivors of three American citizens killed in Yemen by the U.S. Government — killed specifically by the CIA and the Pentagon’s Joint Special Operations Command — with no due process and far from any battlefield: Anwar Awlaki and Samir Khan (killed together in a drone strike) and Awlaki’s teenaged son Abdulrahman (killed two weeks later).

The suit alleges that the killing of these Americans violates their Constitutional rights (including their Fifth Amendment right to due process) because “the United States was not engaged in an armed conflict with or within Yemen” and “these killings rely on vague legal standards, a closed executive process, and evidence never presented to the courts.”

20 Stanghazi  Wed, Jul 18, 2012 5:57:21pm
21 jaunte  Wed, Jul 18, 2012 5:58:10pm

Oppressive heat and a worsening drought in the Midwest pushed grain prices near or past records on Wednesday as crops wilted, cities baked and concerns grew about food and fuel price inflation in the world's top food exporter.

"...The U.S. drought is expected to be felt worldwide as the world's biggest grain exporter struggles with shortfalls. The United States exports more than half of all world corn shipments and is also the single top exporter of wheat and soy.

"The dramatic rise in grain prices in the past few weeks is shaping up to be a serious financial blow for wheat importing countries," one German trader said on Monday.

"African and Middle Eastern countries are now facing painful rises in import bills."

22 Bubblehead II  Wed, Jul 18, 2012 5:58:51pm

re: #19 Killgore Trout

They were not on U.S. controlled soil and were active enemy combatants. Therefore they are not covered under the Constitution. Next

23 darthstar  Wed, Jul 18, 2012 6:00:19pm
24 Killgore Trout  Wed, Jul 18, 2012 6:02:04pm

re: #22 Bubblehead II

They were not on U.S. controlled soil and were active enemy combatants. Therefore they are not covered under the Constitution. Next

The witness cannot appear in court because of an acute case of asploded.

25 Stanghazi  Wed, Jul 18, 2012 6:04:07pm

re: #23 darthstar

[Embedded content]

Complete bullshit. Race baiting bullshit. He'll make millions tonight.

26 Bubblehead II  Wed, Jul 18, 2012 6:05:32pm

re: #24 Killgore Trout

Tough. Sucks to be an American terrorist in a Country that says you can kill them all regardless of where they came from.

27 Stanghazi  Wed, Jul 18, 2012 6:05:42pm

As counter to the George Zimmerman telethon.

28 Achilles Tang  Wed, Jul 18, 2012 6:07:01pm

re: #19 Killgore Trout

ACLU springs into action
Obama’s killings challenged again

One reason I haven't contributed to the ACLU for many years.

29 Achilles Tang  Wed, Jul 18, 2012 6:08:36pm

re: #22 Bubblehead II

They were not on U.S. controlled soil and were active enemy combatants. Therefore they are not covered under the Constitution. Next

I always wondered why their citizenship could not have been revoked long before. I believe congress has the power.

30 Stanghazi  Wed, Jul 18, 2012 6:08:44pm

Are you peeps watching this? I won't contribute. Just following the tweets.

31 gwangung  Wed, Jul 18, 2012 6:08:47pm

re: #22 Bubblehead II

They were not on U.S. controlled soil and were active enemy combatants. Therefore they are not covered under the Constitution. Next

I do not think the ACLU is correct in their challenge, but they do have a fair amount of law underlying their arguments. It's not a slam dunk.

32 Charles Johnson  Wed, Jul 18, 2012 6:09:55pm

It would be amazing to see what Sean Hannity is doing on Fox News right now, if anything Fox News did could possibly amaze me any more.

33 gwangung  Wed, Jul 18, 2012 6:09:56pm

re: #29 Achilles Tang

I always wondered why their citizenship could not have been revoked long before. I believe congress has the power.

No, they don't, not unilaterally or without due process.

I think it's actually a bit difficult to do that, even with cooperation.

34 Stanghazi  Wed, Jul 18, 2012 6:11:09pm

re: #32 Charles Johnson

It would be amazing to see what Sean Hannity is doing on Fox News right now, if anything Fox News did could possibly amaze me any more.

George is getting RICH tonight. RICH.

35 b_sharp  Wed, Jul 18, 2012 6:11:29pm

re: #30 Residence: Hopeandchangeistan 2012

Are you peeps watching this? I won't contribute. Just following the tweets.

What's the blow by blow?

36 Achilles Tang  Wed, Jul 18, 2012 6:12:13pm

re: #31 gwangung

I do not think the ACLU is correct in their challenge, but they do have a fair amount of law underlying their arguments. It's not a slam dunk.

The funny thing about this is that conservatives, who hate the ACLU for wanting to ban Christmas, aren't onto this like crazy.

Could it be because that would mean they were on Obama's side?

37 jaunte  Wed, Jul 18, 2012 6:14:38pm
38 Bubblehead II  Wed, Jul 18, 2012 6:15:45pm

re: #31 gwangung

I do not think the ACLU is correct in their challenge, but they do have a fair amount of law underlying their arguments. It's not a slam dunk.

Can you post a link to back this up? Because from my stand point, if a Country (Yemen) grants us the permission to conduct military operations against a group both Governments consider hostile, then the gloves come off, regardless of the Nationality of said groups members.

39 EdDantes  Wed, Jul 18, 2012 6:19:21pm

re: #32 Charles Johnson

I checked Hannity briefly and switched to something else. It did not seem appropriate.

40 Charles Johnson  Wed, Jul 18, 2012 6:19:50pm
41 EdDantes  Wed, Jul 18, 2012 6:21:25pm

re: #40 Charles Johnson

Indeed!

42 Charles Johnson  Wed, Jul 18, 2012 6:22:17pm
43 Stanghazi  Wed, Jul 18, 2012 6:22:37pm

re: #35 b_sharp

What's the blow by blow?

Follow the tweets. [Link: twitter.com...]

44 Stanghazi  Wed, Jul 18, 2012 6:24:32pm
45 gwangung  Wed, Jul 18, 2012 6:24:45pm

re: #38 Bubblehead II

Can you post a link to back this up? Because from my stand point, if a Country (Yemen) grants us the permission to conduct military operations against a group both Governments consider hostile, then the gloves come off, regardless of the Nationality of said groups members.

Interestingly enough, that's my standpoint, but from what I heard, this isn't a settled point of law, as there's conflict of the policing powers and military powers, since the group is not at the nation level.

46 jamesfirecat  Wed, Jul 18, 2012 6:24:45pm

re: #34 Residence: Hopeandchangeistan 2012

George is getting RICH tonight. RICH.

These pretzels ARE MAKING ME THIRSTY!

47 gwangung  Wed, Jul 18, 2012 6:26:08pm

re: #40 Charles Johnson

[Embedded content]

Um. Um. Um. Wouldn't any reasonable person, given the circumstances, consider that threatening and be in reasonable fear of his life if that happened?

48 Stanghazi  Wed, Jul 18, 2012 6:27:06pm
49 jaunte  Wed, Jul 18, 2012 6:27:45pm
50 jaunte  Wed, Jul 18, 2012 6:29:04pm

Zimmerman regrets nothing.

51 Killgore Trout  Wed, Jul 18, 2012 6:30:05pm

re: #28 Achilles Tang

One reason I haven't contributed to the ACLU for many years.

They do serve a purpose as fucked up as it may be. I'm glad they defend the rights of the klan to march etc but they are fundamentalists. A very mixed bag.

52 Stanghazi  Wed, Jul 18, 2012 6:30:21pm

#1 issue against idiots carrying guns. Kids die.

53 jamesfirecat  Wed, Jul 18, 2012 6:33:08pm

re: #51 Killgore Trout

They do serve a purpose as fucked up as it may be. I'm glad they defend the rights of the klan to march etc but they are fundamentalists. A very mixed bag.

In what way is the ACLU fundamentalists?

54 Stanghazi  Wed, Jul 18, 2012 6:33:45pm

IT WAS GODS PLAN THAT AN INNOCENT KID DIED? AND NOT FROM LEUKEMIA?

55 Stanghazi  Wed, Jul 18, 2012 6:34:08pm

re: #53 jamesfirecat

In what way is the ACLU fundamentalists?

Don't take the bait James. Ongoing.

56 Achilles Tang  Wed, Jul 18, 2012 6:41:15pm

re: #53 jamesfirecat

In what way is the ACLU fundamentalists?

Like Scalia is, just the opposite. A shadow liberal SCOTUS.

57 Stanghazi  Wed, Jul 18, 2012 6:43:57pm

A fucking telethon for everyone. And the kid is still dead. And has no voice.

58 Killgore Trout  Wed, Jul 18, 2012 6:47:32pm

re: #53 jamesfirecat

In what way is the ACLU fundamentalists?

Libertarian fundamentalists. Like Ron Paul, only different.

59 kirkspencer  Wed, Jul 18, 2012 6:47:35pm

re Zimmerman - did he forget that the prosecution can use his statements in court?

60 TedStriker  Wed, Jul 18, 2012 6:50:22pm

re: #54 Residence: Hopeandchangeistan 2012

[Embedded content]

IT WAS GODS PLAN THAT AN INNOCENT KID DIED? AND NOT FROM LEUKEMIA?

re: #59 kirkspencer

re Zimmerman - did he forget that the prosecution can use his statements in court?

Something tells me that this is a concerted effort to poison any potential jury pool; I can't see this as anything else (besides the money angle).

61 Targetpractice  Wed, Jul 18, 2012 6:50:37pm

The general public opinion is against you, people have become biased to believe every word out your mouth is a lie, and your lawyer's not high on anybody's list of most likable people either. So what do you do?

You go to Hannity to give "your side" of the story.

Anybody needs me, I'll be over here, beating my head against the wall.

62 Bill Nye: People Magazine 'Sexiest Man Alive'  Wed, Jul 18, 2012 6:50:40pm

Well it also looks like Chik fil a hit the jackpot today as well. At least in Texas. The one by my office and around the corner from my house were so crowded and full of people that the cars were backed up into the street!

63 Bubblehead II  Wed, Jul 18, 2012 6:50:41pm

re: #45 gwangung

Interestingly enough, that's my standpoint, but from what I heard, this isn't a settled point of law, as there's conflict of the policing powers and military powers, since the group is not at the nation level.

Again, can you provide a link to this. Seriously, I, and I suspect, the Lizard Nation, would like to know. What law Grants American Citizens, who take up arms against America, in a foreign country, Constitution protection?

None that I know of. Please, Enlighten us.

64 Stanghazi  Wed, Jul 18, 2012 6:52:07pm

And, another wonderful interlude from the bullshit

65 researchok  Wed, Jul 18, 2012 6:52:15pm

re: #58 Killgore Trout

Yup

For me, the word 'dogmatic' comes to mind first.

An almost religious connotation.

66 Killgore Trout  Wed, Jul 18, 2012 6:53:35pm

re: #65 researchok

Yup

For me, the word 'dogmatic' comes to mind first.

An almost religious connotation.

If you squint hard enough you can almost see their point of view.

67 Stanghazi  Wed, Jul 18, 2012 6:53:36pm

re: #62 Prideful, Arrogant Marriage Equality Advocate

Well it also looks like Chik fil a hit the jackpot today as well. At least in Texas. The one by my office and around the corner from my house were so crowded and full of people that the cars were backed up into the street!

Sandwiches for the anti gay! Stand up and EAT America!

68 gwangung  Wed, Jul 18, 2012 6:55:11pm

re: #63 Bubblehead II

Again, can you provide a link to this. Seriously, I, and I suspect, the Lizard Nation, would like to know. What law Grants American Citizens, who take up arms against America, in a foreign country, Constitution protection?

None that I know of. Please, Enlighten us.

Actually, I don't know of anything where he WOULDN'T have constitutional protections. Because he hasn't renounced his citizenship and he's not in league with a nation state (which is an important point); thus, he's allowed the same protections as any private citizen who engages in criminal activity.

69 Bubblehead II  Wed, Jul 18, 2012 6:55:34pm

New Thread. Heading upstairs.

70 researchok  Wed, Jul 18, 2012 6:55:56pm

re: #66 Killgore Trout

I don't have to squint to see it- they have a religious fervor in their mission.

They are like a merged Catholic Church and Evangelicals in their 'driveness'.

71 Dark_Falcon  Wed, Jul 18, 2012 6:56:50pm

re: #61 Targetpractice

The general public opinion is against you, people have become biased to believe every word out your mouth is a lie, and your lawyer's not high on anybody's list of most likable people either. So what do you do?

You go to Hannity to give "your side" of the story.

Anybody needs me, I'll be over here, beating my head against the wall.

Don't steal my lines, TP.

/kidding

72 kirkspencer  Wed, Jul 18, 2012 7:17:29pm

re: #63 Bubblehead II

Again, can you provide a link to this. Seriously, I, and I suspect, the Lizard Nation, would like to know. What law Grants American Citizens, who take up arms against America, in a foreign country, Constitution protection?

None that I know of. Please, Enlighten us.

In Reid v Covert (1957) the US Supreme Court decided that American Citizens did not lose any constitutional rights when outside the boundaries of the United States (in a foreign nation).

The US constitution happens to be explicit in regard to taking up arms against America. It is literally treason. However:

No Person shall be convicted of Treason unless on the Testimony of two Witnesses to the same overt Act, or on Confession in open Court."

In other words, there shall be a trial.

Can the trial be done in absentia? Certainly - there's plenty of precedent (though the defendant must be represented). Can it be done in secret? Apparently.

But I'm a bit concerned about secret courts that are allowed to grant sentences of capital punishment.

73 Bubblehead II  Wed, Jul 18, 2012 7:30:05pm

re: #72 kirkspencer

Thank you. Hearted for later review.

74 labman57  Wed, Jul 18, 2012 8:40:20pm

The Texas GOP platform is a foreseeable outcome of a larger phenomenon that has become a fundamental component of conservative ideology lately -- anti-intellectualism.

It's a curious position being taken by the tea party/conservative movement-- the idea that a secular education is a waste of time and that intellectuals are elitists and should be shunned. Santorum, Bachmann, Perry, Palin, Beck, and other reality-challenged politicians and pundits have embraced ignorance of the modern world, and they regard a distrust of the well-educated as an attribute to be used in their desire to be perceived as "just one of the common folk" … albeit very wealthy common folk.

Lord knows we don't want our children to go to school, develop critical thinking and deductive reasoningskills, and have their heads filled with all kinds of IDEAS. Before you know it, they'll be thinking for themselves, challenging the status quo, and developing new points of view.

And we certainly don't want our future leaders to be eloquent, scientifically literate, and generally well-informed about the world in which we live. Much better to derive scientific theories based on the teachings of the Bible, and to form national public policy based on the rumors, gossip, and unverified anecdotal accounts described in supermarket rags and online blogs.

75 Lidane  Thu, Jul 19, 2012 9:24:36am

The Texas GOP platform is nothing more than a guide for what the national GOP platform is going to look like at the RNC.

The Republican party is determined to roll progress back to pre-Enlightenment times. These platforms are proof of that.

76 CriticalDragon1177  Thu, Jul 19, 2012 10:40:36pm

Charles Johnson

The Texas Board of Education and the Texas GOP suck! Its so hard to believe they are like this.


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