Murphy's First Law: Nothing is as easy as it looks.
Image of the Day
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| Via National Review |
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| Via Drudge Report |
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| National Review Caption Contest winner |
I love Eva's focus on "rigor"; educators should never underestimate what a child is capable of doing...
Election 2014 Update
Warner held on to his Senate seat with a 17000 vote margin in VA to put the GOP in the lead 52-46. This leaves Alaska with Sullivan leading by about 4% with lagging vote tabulations, and Cassidy faces Landrieu in a runoff next month. I haven't seen recent polls since Tuesday but Cassidy led Landrieu by 5 points in RCP, the polls in the mixed field showed Landrieu beating Cassidy in the open by more points than she did, the third place finisher Tea Party candidate Maness is expected to endorse Cassidy, and according to Politico, some Dem ad buys for Landrieu have been pulled recently. The political spin is that Landrieu has done very well in past runoffs and doesn't need the money, but they knew Landrieu's record in runoffs before placing the ad buy. Usually when campaigns pull funding from a state, it's the political equivalent of conceding the race.
The revised House count is 244-184 GOP with 7 seats undecided. NBC estimates 248 seats, give or take a few, Unfortunately, NBC doesn't seem to link to the undecideds, but a cursory look shows 3 GOP candidates narrowly leading incumbents in California and Arizona, a couple of Dem incumbents leading in New York and California, and a couple of highly fragmented Louisiana House races with Dem and GOP candidates in runoffs. (I think the Hill is mistaken in some of the races.) In the two Louisiana races (5 and 6), the Dem led the lead GOP by up to 6 points, but in each race at least two GOP candidates not making the runoff got 10 points or better, so the Republican nominees should win the runoffs going away. At this point, assuming the three leads in Arizona and California hold, 249 is definitely possible, if not likely. And I think it's highly likely we'll end up with the best showing since the 1928 election, even better than the 246 in 1946.
Facebook Corner
(National Review). #ElectionDay's results were a repudiation of Obama's policies, including on immigration.
No, there is no doubt that xenophobic anti-immigrants, right-wing authoritarian nut jobs who have no problem worshipping Big INS and ludicrously restrictive immigration policies supported the GOP in this week's election, but most voters, particularly the independents and moderates who made the difference in several tight races, were more motivated by things like a struggling economy and ObamaCare. I do think that Obama is limited in what he can do in an executive order; he cannot unilaterally change statutes.
(Ron Paul). Edward Snowden did us a massive service when he revealed the illegality, waste & abuse within the NSA spying programs. It was the NSA that committed the crimes, not Mr. Snowden.
Together let's thank Edward for being the most important whistleblower of our time. Take a moment to write a note to Edward & Ron will make sure it gets to him directly. Let him know he's not alone. Show him the support he deserves. Thank him for waking us up.HEAR FROM RON: http://bit.ly/1wZqNgM
There are consequences for violating your contract. [Not a chance.]
My kids go to a charter school, which is rated one of the best schools in the state. This is good insight into why charter schools are becoming so popular, and why the state of the traditional public school is likely doomed.
I have no kids. Yet you think it's ok to force people like me to pay for your child's education. It isn't.
The commenter makes an interesting point; this was an active issue during the Second Party system when (Jackson) Democrats opposed government intervention in the education market. Should government guarantee a "free" public education? From a libertarian principle, no; that's what we refer to as a positive right--things government has to do in my behalf.
The commenter, however, doesn't distinguish between two models of public funding of lower education: the traditional government-operated local school monopoly (with all the heavy-handed rules, regulations, union contracts, etc., that we've come to expect from public monopolies) and privatized/outsourced charter school option (typically less per-pupil cost) more consistent with the principle of Subsidiarity). For most parents, the possibility of charter schools is the only competitive alternative to the failing local public school.
I understand subsidization is a violation of free market principles and morally hazardous in nature. I understand that parents should pay for all the costs of their dependents. I would much rather see local governments take less money from taxpayer pockets, and have a truly competitive education market. But privatization is a step in the right direction; government should stick to its limited core competencies of defense and courts.
(Reason). Incoming Senate majority leader Mitch McConnell endorses Rand Paul.
Ron Paul's the greatest political & economic philosopher of the 21st century. His son Rand is just a hack politician like the rest of them
Your hero worship of Ron Paul is rather naive and superficial. Rand Paul is a much better politician.
(Mackinac Center for Public Policy). The union president for East Lansing Schools says some of his members may have to sell their homes and teachers are making less money than they were five years ago because they now have to pay some of their health care costs. The average teacher in the district makes $64,721. http://www.michigancapitolconfidential.com/20693
The median household makes less money working 12 months a year, and yet somehow they pay their own way in housing and healthcare. Listen, the economy has been largely flat over the past 14 years, and a lot of people bought too much house for their budgets. Asking the taxpayers to bail out the teachers is pathetic; everybody works hard for his money, deal with it.
Proposals
Political Cartoon
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| Courtesy of Steve Kelley via Townhall |
Linda Ronstadt, "Dreams to Dream". Hands down, my favorite Ronstadt song and one of my all-time favorite song.
