We're Better Than This, Kossacks

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Wednesday August 12, 2015 · 11:33 AM PDT

2015/08/12 · 11:33

On an open forum discussion page such as Daily Kos (or any other site like it), some degree of thoughtless name calling and anti-debate rhetoric is, of course, inevitable. Lately, however, it seems to be approaching epidemic levels on this site, and because of it I don't participate to the level I used to.

As Liberals and/or Democrats, we often claim to be the big tent, the inclusive party, the adults at the table that still agree with science and logic and reason. But on this site many diarists and posters, rather than acknowledging varying points of view and respectfully disagreeing, instead spend an inordinate amount of time yelling, insulting, and labeling anyone who disagrees as a Republican, a concern troll, or worse.

As individuals who use this forum to shape issues and hopefully influence policy, we should stop doing that, and allow for a more full, open and honest debate about the issues liberals care about.

gtnoah

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Thursday May 22, 2014 · 11:00 AM PDT

2014/05/22 · 11:00

This piece has been building in my head for a while, and is probably bound to draw some criticism. That's fine, as it is intended to be thought-provoking rather than a demand for conformity.

We bash Republicans a lot. On left-leaning cable news outlets, editorials, blogs and message boards, and in our diaries here on Kos. Don't get me wrong, they've earned it, especially the Republican Party itself, but it has just left me wondering from time to time exactly who we are trying to convince? I don't think a lot of open-minded Republicans and undecideds come here looking to be enlightened or cajoled by our rhetoric onto "our team".

Maybe our intellectual and media focus could be on more pressing issues, facing our own party, our nation or the world? More below the fold.

gtnoah

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Sunday April 06, 2014 · 10:31 AM PDT

2014/04/06 · 10:31

no image description available — Hmm. Who put that sticker there?

Hmm. Who put that sticker there?

I’ve been teaching history and civics in a public high school for the last 21 years. I have come to expect that the public at large will fundamentally misunderstand what it is that teachers do each day. I have come to expect that public education will continue to be the favorite scapegoat for those seeking elected office or pursuing an agenda of privatization. I have come to expect attacks from the right-wingers who want creationism and prayer in schools and hate teachers unions.

But I will not stand for getting the shiv from the left too.

Denise Oliver Velez’ and the SPLC's assertions about the “failing” grades of public schools to adequately teach civil rights history is simplistic at best, and irresponsible at worst. Follow me below the fold to find out why.

gtnoah

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Monday March 19, 2012 · 8:00 AM PDT

2012/03/19 · 08:00

OK, so my contempt isn't really new. In fact, I've held them in contempt for virtually all of my two decades in the classroom.

But I am nearly as contemptuous of the dialogue about so-called education reform, even amongst progressives and people who label themselves as "pro-education". Teaching is not a simple profession and the Americans we graduate are even more complex. No ham-handed, short-sighted reform born in the state or national legislatures, at parents' kitchen tables or in agenda-driven school boards across the nation can effectively address the issues of student achievement or effective teaching.

The effort to brand teachers ineffective according to some inadequate formula, and to end their teacher tenure based on that, is foolish at best, and criminal at worst. But if the laws are passed, if the deed is done, then I am taking the state to court, not to overturn the laws, but to get my students back. Yes, you heard me right, to get my students back. More below the fold as I explain.

gtnoah

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Tuesday May 17, 2011 · 10:21 AM PDT

2011/05/17 · 10:21

First of all, I teach in a building that is condemned. I'm amazed each morning when I show up and see that it hasn't burned down overnight. The roof leaks, there are electrical hazards and shorts, and the building itself is structurally unsound.

My small Washington State town has just rejected a new school construction bond -- for the fifth time.

Yet the reform debate about improving education continues unabated, ignoring very basic problems like this with (in my opinion) ridiculous conversations about test scores, international competition, and, of course, bad teachers. No one apparently has the guts to even speak of, let alone attempt, the following three simple, yet revolutionary, reforms to public education.

Poll

36 votes Show Results

Which of the following three reforms do you believe would be the most effective?

36 votes Vote Now!

Which of the following three reforms do you believe would be the most effective?

Fully funded schools

19 votes

Free college for academically qualified students

11 votes

Increased student teaching time

3 votes

None of the above/other

3 votes

No, President Bush, Katrina PHOTO was not your mistake

gtnoah

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Friday November 05, 2010 · 11:32 AM PDT

2010/11/05 · 11:32

President Bush has emerged from the pre-election shadows to give his first post-Presidency interview to Matt Lauer, including details of his upcoming book about his time in the Oval Office.

In it, Bush is taking on such weighty issues as Kanye West's opinion of him, and the political wisdom of a photograph taken of him during the Katrina disaster. The photo shows the President looking out the window of Air Force One at a flooded New Orleans far below. Bush says in the interview that he "knew immediately that the photo was a mistake", and that he paid a political price for it, as he looked detached and out of touch.

It's a disgusting comment to make. NO, Mr. President, the photo was fine, it was your actually being out of touch, your fiddling on vacation in Texas while the disaster unfolded and allowing 1300 people to drown that was the mistake. Your ignorance of your horrible role in the tragedy was the mistake, and you owe all of us an apology for that failing.

gtnoah

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Saturday October 16, 2010 · 10:35 AM PDT

2010/10/16 · 10:35

Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito, still stinging from Obama's public criticism during last year's State of the Union Address, will apparently boycott this year's proceedings.

According to Alito, his reasoning is that he can't sit there like some "potted plant", unable to speak or respond when criticized by the President.

Unfortunately, he can still vote like one. More below the fold.

Poll

261 votes Show Results

The best way to describe Justice Alito is:

261 votes Vote Now!

The best way to describe Justice Alito is:

Whiny little dick, isn't he?

108 votes

Feeling a bit guilty, I imagine

5 votes

A potted plant

6 votes

A judicial embarassment

48 votes

A perfect reflection of a George W. Bush appointee

94 votes

Take Heart Democrats, and Get to Work! (with poll)

gtnoah

Community (This content is not subject to review by Daily Kos staff prior to publication.)

Sunday September 19, 2010 · 12:31 PM PDT

2010/09/19 · 12:31

The now long-running media meme of a coming landslide for Republicans a la 1994 is hard to ignore. Not because it's accurate or even well thought out, but because the media so loves doom and gloom predictions that the animal they have become knows nothing else to do this fall but scream blood and murder from the headlines.

A few things give me hope amidst the gloom. One, the Fourth Estate in this country is at least on life support, but more likely died years ago, was cremated, and its ashes sprinkled on Rupert Murdoch's oatmeal. So I don't lend much credence to their brand of infotainment anymore. Two, almost all of the predictions of electoral slaughter come November continually cite nationwide generic polls showing an enthusiasm gap, and less support for Obama than two years ago. Politics is a game of districts and states, and a look at the district-by-district numbers has things looking much better than you might think. Lastly, the Republican Party is sprinting, not even to the right, but to the batshit crazy extreme off the end of the spectrum. Don't believe me? More below the fold...

Poll

83 votes Show Results

Democrats' chances to keep power in the House and Senate are:

83 votes Vote Now!

Democrats' chances to keep power in the House and Senate are:

Excellent

15 votes

Likely

40 votes

so-so

15 votes

Not so much

7 votes

Good luck with that one

6 votes

Jay Clough (WA-04) needs your help

gtnoah

Community (This content is not subject to review by Daily Kos staff prior to publication.)

Saturday March 27, 2010 · 8:52 AM PDT

2010/03/27 · 08:52

As we bask in the glow of our big health care win this past week, my thoughts start to turn towards the 2010 Midterm elections, and my political life here in the 4th District of Washington State.

I've been living in territory occupied by Representative Doc Hastings since 1995. Yes, THAT Doc Hastings. Tom Delay's waterboy during the ethics hearings. The man to whom party loyalty means everything. The Candidate of No. He hates the stimulus but he cashes the checks. He hates health care reform even though he's on Medicare. A Republican rubber stamp.

A great candidate and a unique set of circumstances might actually led Jay Clough, a young former Marine and a progressive voice, challenge for Doc's seat. But he needs your help, and he needs it this weekend.

Poll

7 votes Show Results

Sure! I'll donate a bit towards Jay's effort to take down Doc Hastings

7 votes Vote Now!

Sure! I'll donate a bit towards Jay's effort to take down Doc Hastings

2 votes

$10

0 votes

$20

1 vote

$50

1 vote

$100

3 votes

Let's Give Sarah Palin a Thanksgiving Present

gtnoah

Community (This content is not subject to review by Daily Kos staff prior to publication.)

Saturday November 28, 2009 · 8:28 AM PST

2009/11/28 · 08:28

To add to that warm, overstuffed feeling I had on Thanksgiving, as the culinary carnage lay strewn around us on the table, was the knowledge that mere miles away from us was Sarah Palin, sitting down in Richland, Washington (The Fightin' 4th District) to enjoy dinner with some of her relatives. Just a down home holiday with her Aunt is all. She's so folksy.

And then she ran in a charity race and waved to the adoring fans, and then on Sunday, she plans to do a little book signing event, even though she isn't campaigning for 2012, ya know. Just sharin' a little Palin with the masses is all. Gettin' mavericky, you betcha.

Well, since she decided to stop by and pay us a visit, how about we give her a parting gift before she leaves here on Sunday? How about we get some cash to military veteran and Democrat Jay Clough, who is running against the Republican corrupt empty suit, Congressman Doc Hastings here in the 4th?

gtnoah

Community (This content is not subject to review by Daily Kos staff prior to publication.)

Sunday November 15, 2009 · 8:13 AM PST

2009/11/15 · 08:13

As I've diaried and commented about before, I live in the 4th District in Washington State. It's a red district, in fact it's the reddest in the whole state.

That being said, it consistently votes 40% Democrat in almost every election. R+10 is too big a margin for the DCCC and party elders to think of investing much in a serious campaign challenge against eight term Congressman Richard "Doc" Hastings, empty suit extraordinaire.

They won't, but that doesn't mean we can't. Besides Doc being a weak candidate (his record of legislative accomplishment over the last 15 years is paper thin), we have a young, former Marine who's just declared his candidacy as a Democrat for the 4th District. Read below the fold for why we should help him out.

Poll

23 votes Show Results

Why yes, I'd be glad to kick in a few bucks to help out the loyal Democrats in the 4th District of Washington!

23 votes Vote Now!

Why yes, I'd be glad to kick in a few bucks to help out the loyal Democrats in the 4th District of Washington!

Sure!

9 votes

Damn Straight!

4 votes

Why not?

1 vote

Give 'em hell, 4th District!

6 votes

Pie.... and yes I will!!!!

3 votes

Let's Moneybomb Against Doc Hastings (WA-04)

gtnoah

Community (This content is not subject to review by Daily Kos staff prior to publication.)

Wednesday November 11, 2009 · 1:12 PM PST

2009/11/11 · 13:12

A few days ago, Jay Clough, a 33-year old former Marine, announced his candidacy to replace Rep. Richard "Doc" Hastings as Congressman for the 4th District in Washington State.

Doc has been easily re-elected every single time in the last eight election cycles, starting in 1994. He was also voted in 2005 as one of the 22 most corrupt congressman in America.

What say we give an early boost to Jay's campaign, and moneybomb him into competitiveness? Bio and donation info below the fold.

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We're Better Than This, Kossacks

Yes, the Republican Party sucks. Let's move on.

Does Your Columnist get an F in School Reform?

Exploring My Newfound Contempt for Education Reformers

No One Talks About These Education Reforms (with poll)

No, President Bush, Katrina PHOTO was not your mistake

Poor Justice Alito, the Potted Plant (with poll)

Take Heart Democrats, and Get to Work! (with poll)

Jay Clough (WA-04) needs your help

Let's Give Sarah Palin a Thanksgiving Present

The Fightin' 4th District (WA): Taking on Doc Hastings (with poll)

Let's Moneybomb Against Doc Hastings (WA-04)