Pause, then Plan A, I Hope
We've hit Pause, as far as putting together and implementing a new sex-education curriculum for Montgomery County. A citizens committee has been formed, and now even the CRC has somebody on it. Neither of the groups of suers, CRC and PFOX, actually followed the rules for applying, but the school board was decent enough to give them membership anyway. I think that, like the rest of us, the board just wants to see this thing get done with.
So what happens now?
The next thing is for the school district to come up with a curriculum -- they need "sexual variation" units for eighth and tenth grades. The citizens advisory committee will evaluate it, and make some recommendations. And when everybody says it looks OK, there'll be some pilot testing, maybe some more changes, and eventually it will become part of the health curriculum.
MCPS experts are developing a new curriculum right now. They can do this in any of a number of ways. The best would be what we have been calling Plan A. The district already spent several years developing classes for both 8th and 10th grade that were just fine, and they were unanimously accepted by the school board; Plan A would be for the district to have the committee evaluate the same curriculum, without the background resources that were the focus of the temporary restraining order.
Well, why not? You can read the curricula, they're linked on the righthand side of this page. Pretty nice, huh?
You'll notice that those who criticize the curriculum very rarely quote it, and almost never quote it accurately. The CRC complains about "sodomites" and "deviants," they tell you that the curriculum promoted the "gay agenda," but when you ask them to point to the part that does that ... they gotta go. It's not in there, never was.
I suppose Plan B would be to change a few things and re-submit it. I'm not sure what they'd change, but maybe the MCPS experts will see something they don't like. In this world of fast-changing scientific findings, it's entirely possible that something is known now that wasn't known a couple of years ago, like maybe they'd mention that there is a new vaccine against HPV. Or maybe they'll take Warren Throckmorton's advice and beef up the "sexual identity" discussion, give it more nuance, talk more about how your feelings and your plumbing and your beliefs and your behavior may or may not come to all the same conclusions. I agree with him that kids should learn some concepts, a framework for understanding their sexuality. Or they could take Theresa's advice, from the comments here, and talk about how lots of kids go through stages of being attracted to someone of their same sex, and sometimes "the other person" acts on it, and how that doesn't mean you're gay -- oh wait, that was in there, wasn't it? What, they took it out? Well, maybe they'll want to put it back in.
Finally, it is possible that whoever is working on this will want to start over again. In that case, they will pass a whole new curriculum to the committee, who will review it and, seeing as how it'll be brand new, the committee'll probably have a lot of comments. I guess that's Plan C, a whole new package.
If there was a vote, I'd vote for Plan A.
The school district put a lot of work into that curriculum, the school board liked it, it was a solid, comprehensive, informative curriculum, not too hot, not too cold, just right. It just happened to come out at a bad time. The board approved it a few days after the 2004 Presidential elections, and certain wacko (as Republican lobbyist Michael Scanlon calls them) elements of our community thought they had been given a license to turn public education upside down -- they thought they would kick out the entire school board over this.
But they missed their chance. Those days are gone. This week a Zogby poll showed that a majority of Americans agreed with the statement: "If President Bush wiretapped American citizens without the approval of a judge, do you agree or disagree that Congress should consider holding him accountable through impeachment." And he has said himself that he wiretapped American citizens without the approval of a judge, there's no evidence to argue over: he did it.
Even if the most corrupt Congress in American history lacks the chutzpah to do the right thing, we can at least agree that the 2004 "mandate" is expired, the political capital has been spent, the local Montgomery County attempt at a rightwing takeover of the school district is not going to get a second wind. Oh, they might sue again, that wouldn't surprise anybody, but I don't think they'll catch the school district unprepared like last time.
The school district should look again at the proposed curriculum that was adopted in November 2004. Don't worry about some nuts trying to attack you over it, the good people of the county will get your back. It was the right thing to do fourteen months ago, and it's the right thing now.
So what happens now?
The next thing is for the school district to come up with a curriculum -- they need "sexual variation" units for eighth and tenth grades. The citizens advisory committee will evaluate it, and make some recommendations. And when everybody says it looks OK, there'll be some pilot testing, maybe some more changes, and eventually it will become part of the health curriculum.
MCPS experts are developing a new curriculum right now. They can do this in any of a number of ways. The best would be what we have been calling Plan A. The district already spent several years developing classes for both 8th and 10th grade that were just fine, and they were unanimously accepted by the school board; Plan A would be for the district to have the committee evaluate the same curriculum, without the background resources that were the focus of the temporary restraining order.
Well, why not? You can read the curricula, they're linked on the righthand side of this page. Pretty nice, huh?
You'll notice that those who criticize the curriculum very rarely quote it, and almost never quote it accurately. The CRC complains about "sodomites" and "deviants," they tell you that the curriculum promoted the "gay agenda," but when you ask them to point to the part that does that ... they gotta go. It's not in there, never was.
I suppose Plan B would be to change a few things and re-submit it. I'm not sure what they'd change, but maybe the MCPS experts will see something they don't like. In this world of fast-changing scientific findings, it's entirely possible that something is known now that wasn't known a couple of years ago, like maybe they'd mention that there is a new vaccine against HPV. Or maybe they'll take Warren Throckmorton's advice and beef up the "sexual identity" discussion, give it more nuance, talk more about how your feelings and your plumbing and your beliefs and your behavior may or may not come to all the same conclusions. I agree with him that kids should learn some concepts, a framework for understanding their sexuality. Or they could take Theresa's advice, from the comments here, and talk about how lots of kids go through stages of being attracted to someone of their same sex, and sometimes "the other person" acts on it, and how that doesn't mean you're gay -- oh wait, that was in there, wasn't it? What, they took it out? Well, maybe they'll want to put it back in.
Finally, it is possible that whoever is working on this will want to start over again. In that case, they will pass a whole new curriculum to the committee, who will review it and, seeing as how it'll be brand new, the committee'll probably have a lot of comments. I guess that's Plan C, a whole new package.
If there was a vote, I'd vote for Plan A.
The school district put a lot of work into that curriculum, the school board liked it, it was a solid, comprehensive, informative curriculum, not too hot, not too cold, just right. It just happened to come out at a bad time. The board approved it a few days after the 2004 Presidential elections, and certain wacko (as Republican lobbyist Michael Scanlon calls them) elements of our community thought they had been given a license to turn public education upside down -- they thought they would kick out the entire school board over this.
But they missed their chance. Those days are gone. This week a Zogby poll showed that a majority of Americans agreed with the statement: "If President Bush wiretapped American citizens without the approval of a judge, do you agree or disagree that Congress should consider holding him accountable through impeachment." And he has said himself that he wiretapped American citizens without the approval of a judge, there's no evidence to argue over: he did it.
Even if the most corrupt Congress in American history lacks the chutzpah to do the right thing, we can at least agree that the 2004 "mandate" is expired, the political capital has been spent, the local Montgomery County attempt at a rightwing takeover of the school district is not going to get a second wind. Oh, they might sue again, that wouldn't surprise anybody, but I don't think they'll catch the school district unprepared like last time.
The school district should look again at the proposed curriculum that was adopted in November 2004. Don't worry about some nuts trying to attack you over it, the good people of the county will get your back. It was the right thing to do fourteen months ago, and it's the right thing now.
posted by JimK at 9:38 AM
12 Comments:
"Neither of the groups of suers,"
I tell ya, life ain't easy when the losers whine "sue".
"CRC and PFOX, actually followed the rules for applying, but the school board was decent enough to give them membership anyway."
The Board is so kind to let hateful bigots who break the rules on the CAC.
Hey, wait a minute. Maybe the Board was afraid everyone would find they broke the rules.
And what was the unwritten rule for committee membership? Well, if you didn't win a lawsuit forcing the Board to let your one designated rep on, you have to tell the Board that you'll design a curriculum that will please lobbyists who are funded by the NEa.
"I think that, like the rest of us, the board just wants to see this thing get done with."
You mean the rst of TTF?
"So what happens now?"
Jim makes posts that say the exact same thing every day until the twelfth of never- and that's a long, long time.
"The next thing is for the school district to come up with a curriculum -- they need "sexual variation" units for eighth and tenth grades."
Is that going to include all the popular variations or just that boring gay stuff?
"The citizens advisory committee will evaluate it, and make some recommendations."
That Board has such a sense of humor, calling that a committee of citizens. That's like calling the Democratic Party a group of winners.
"And when everybody says it looks OK,"
You mean everyone who enforces "international treaties"?
"there'll be some pilot testing, maybe some more changes, and eventually it will become part of the health curriculum."
Oh, there will be changes alright. If they get that pilot up before the election, we might have to go see our friendly local judge.
"MCPS experts are developing a new curriculum right now. They can do this in any of a number of ways. The best would be what we have been calling Plan A. The district already spent several years developing classes for both 8th and 10th grade that were just fine, and they were unanimously accepted by the school board; Plan A would be for the district to have the committee evaluate the same curriculum, without the background resources that were the focus of the temporary restraining order."
Then the judge will have to lecture them again about their egregious "viewpoint discrimination".
"Well, why not? You can read the curricula, they're linked on the righthand side of this page. Pretty nice, huh?"
Actually, no. It misleads by a dearth of details. Very irresponsible and contemptuous of the welfare of children and of their right to a first-class education.
"You'll notice that those who criticize the curriculum very rarely quote it, and almost never quote it accurately."
It was left purposely vague to allow NEA members in the classroom to extemporize.
"The CRC complains about "sodomites" and "deviants,""
Not that's there's anything wrong with that.
"they tell you that the curriculum promoted the "gay agenda," but when you ask them to point to the part that does that ... they gotta go. It's not in there, never was."
It lies in the intent to deceive by making vague, easy-to-misinterpret statements.
Last week you were complaining that I keep bringing up the incorrect statement about "choice" and now you're saying we won't say what's wrong with the curriculum. What the?
I gotta go.
"I suppose Plan B would be to change a few things and re-submit it. I'm not sure what they'd change, but maybe the MCPS experts will see something they don't like."
If they're experts in science, they'll make some major changes. Just like the peer reviewers when they sent back their comments on the infamous pheronome study.
"In this world of fast-changing scientific findings, it's entirely possible that something is known now that wasn't known a couple of years ago,"
Or maybe they forgot something they used to know.
"like maybe they'd mention that there is a new vaccine against HPV. Or maybe they'll take Warren Throckmorton's advice and beef up the "sexual identity" discussion, give it more nuance, talk more about how your feelings and your plumbing and your beliefs and your behavior may or may not come to all the same conclusions."
I think they might want to use the curriculum he wrote.
"I agree with him that kids should learn some concepts, a framework for understanding their sexuality."
Yeah, because these teenagers just don't think enough about sexuality.
"Or they could take Theresa's advice, from the comments here, and talk about how lots of kids go through stages of being attracted to someone of their same sex, and sometimes "the other person" acts on it, and how that doesn't mean you're gay -- oh wait, that was in there, wasn't it? What, they took it out? Well, maybe they'll want to put it back in."
I'm sure they're going to put in whatever they think will cause kids to consider homosexuality as a valid option when considering their life plans.
"Finally, it is possible that whoever is working on this will want to start over again. In that case, they will pass a whole new curriculum to the committee, who will review it and, seeing as how it'll be brand new, the committee'll probably have a lot of comments.
I guess that's Plan C, a whole new package.
If there was a vote, I'd vote for Plan A."
Did the you tell them this when you applied? It would seem to disqualify you from the committee since the purpose was to replace the old, infamous, proposed curriculum, written by the last group of "experts". It was so bad, a local columnist called it a "nasty piece of work".
"The school district put a lot of work into that curriculum, the school board liked it,"
I heard they didn't even review it. We'll get into that more during the election season.
"it was a solid, comprehensive, informative curriculum, not too hot, not too cold, just right."
I 'eard the condom video was hot.
"It just happened to come out at a bad time. The board approved it a few days after the 2004 Presidential elections,"
Yeah, not to mention the school board election.
"and certain wacko"
Who could be more wacko than TTF?
Oh that's right, Michael Jackson.
"(as Republican lobbyist Michael Scanlon calls them) elements of our community thought they had been given a license to turn public education upside down --"
Yes, lowest-common-denominator education will never be the same.
"they thought they would kick out the entire school board over this."
These things take time.
"But they missed their chance. Those days are gone. This week a Zogby poll showed that a majority of Americans agreed with the statement: "If President Bush wiretapped American citizens without the approval of a judge, do you agree or disagree that Congress should consider holding him accountable through impeachment." And he has said himself that he wiretapped American citizens without the approval of a judge, there's no evidence to argue over: he did it."
I agree. The wire tap controversy will be huge in the sex-ed debate.(not) When Ehrlich's re-elected, I think the COMAR thing will be repealed. We have an agenda for Maryland.
"Even if the most corrupt Congress in American history"
Looks like he's not an expert in history either.
"lacks the chutzpah to do the right thing, we can at least agree that the 2004 "mandate" is expired, the political capital has been spent,"
You know I think you're right. The Republican moderate party will probably defeat the Republican conservative party next time. I don't think a third party like the Dems have a chance though. They're too closely tied to the wacko agenda.
"the local Montgomery County attempt at a rightwing takeover of the school district"
has just begun
"is not going to get a second wind."
Looks like he's not a political expert either. Have you stepped back and looked at the trends of the last half century?
"Oh, they might sue again, that wouldn't surprise anybody, but I don't think they'll catch the school district unprepared like last time."
Sharon Cox claimed she wasn't surprised last time. And yet, you claim she wasn't prepared. Recall.
"The school district should look again at the proposed curriculum that was adopted in November 2004. Don't worry about some nuts trying to attack you over it,"
No, worry about the fruits that wrote it.
"the good people of the county will get your back. It was the right thing to do fourteen months ago, and it's the right thing now."
Yes, dissent was right then and now.
In case readers are getting suspicious, I want to note that, as far as I know, Anonymous here is not -- I repeat, is not -- a member of Teach the Facts satirizing the anti-MCPS point of view.
Anon, if I'm wrong and you are a TTF member, please admit it and stop trying to make the CRC's position look so absurd.
JimK
Jim K. writes,
Even if the most corrupt Congress in American history lacks the chutzpah to do the right thing, we can at least agree that the 2004 "mandate" is expired, the political capital has been spent, the local Montgomery County attempt at a rightwing takeover of the school district is not going to get a second wind.
Come now, Jim...surely you can't be serious? "The most corrupt in American history..."??? Since I believe you are much smarter than that I will simply chalk it up to part historical amnesia/part hyperbole. If there is a common shortcoming in human nature (besides the thread of evil that runs thru every human heart) it is the ease with which WE ALL can be corrupted...every last one of us. With that said, do I really need to go into historical recitation of all the political scandals in American political history?
As to political capital being spent and all used up, I have but two names to toss out in refutation:
US Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts
and soon to be confirmed,
US Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito
Yup, Bush earned the capital and he is spending it.
Orin Ryssman
Fort Collins, CO
Sorry, Orin, Bush earned no capital in the first place, and the only reason he's got one justice and maybe a second is because of those corrupt Republican Senators who might as well go home since they're not a match for King George. How they will rue the day when Queen Hillary takes over.
And it will take time, but I agree with Jim -- this government, the White House and Congress, will go down as the most corrupt in American history. I don't even think it's close. Watergate? just the White House. Teapot Dome? Are you kidding? President Grant? C'mon now.
What you don't understand, Orin, is it's OK to use bribes and stuf like that if you have good intentions. The Democrats are fighting to spread sexual variations. The corrupt Republicans only support certain types of sex. Those who oppose equal opportunity for ALL sexual types need to be thrown out. Ir doesn't matter how we do it. The end justifies the means!
"Neither of the groups of suers,"
I tell ya, life ain't easy when the losers whine "sue".
Who's whining now? If you don't like being called suers, then don't sue. Suing is a choice; no one is born a suer.
"CRC and PFOX, actually followed the rules for applying, but the school board was decent enough to give them membership anyway."
The Board is so kind to let hateful bigots who break the rules on the CAC.
Hey, wait a minute. Maybe the Board was afraid everyone would find they broke the rules.
And what was the unwritten rule for committee membership? Well, if you didn't win a lawsuit forcing the Board to let your one designated rep on, you have to tell the Board that you'll design a curriculum that will please lobbyists who are funded by the NEa.
That's quite a charge. Got any proof or do you only throw poop anonymously?
"I think that, like the rest of us, the board just wants to see this thing get done with."
You mean the rst of TTF?
No, the rest of Montgomery County citizens who realize that GLBT students should be included in health classes that discuss human sexuality.
"So what happens now?"
Jim makes posts that say the exact same thing every day until the twelfth of never- and that's a long, long time.
jimk says the same thing a lot of us say day after day: "people deserve equal rights regardless of sexual orientation." Your comments drone on day after day repeating some variation of "My religion is the only true religion, whereas science, the religion of liberals, is a false religion." But you are wrong. Science is not religion, it is reason, something you sorely lack.
"The next thing is for the school district to come up with a curriculum -- they need "sexual variation" units for eighth and tenth grades."
Is that going to include all the popular variations or just that boring gay stuff?
Monogamous holy matrimony, the most popular variation, is already in there.
"The citizens advisory committee will evaluate it, and make some recommendations."
That Board has such a sense of humor, calling that a committee of citizens. That's like calling the Democratic Party a group of winners.
As of September 30, 2005 there were 516,978 registered voters in Montgomery County. 54% of the registered voters are Democratic and 25% are Republican. The Democratic Party most certainly is a group of winners here in Montgomery County.
"And when everybody says it looks OK,"
You mean everyone who enforces "international treaties"?
Antipsychotic drugs only work if you take them every day.
"there'll be some pilot testing, maybe some more changes, and eventually it will become part of the health curriculum."
Oh, there will be changes alright. If they get that pilot up before the election, we might have to go see our friendly local judge.
Thank heaven for friendly local activist judges. Let's hear it for Judge M. Brooke Murdoch.
"MCPS experts are developing a new curriculum right now. They can do this in any of a number of ways. The best would be what we have been calling Plan A. The district already spent several years developing classes for both 8th and 10th grade that were just fine, and they were unanimously accepted by the school board; Plan A would be for the district to have the committee evaluate the same curriculum, without the background resources that were the focus of the temporary restraining order."
Then the judge will have to lecture them again about their egregious "viewpoint discrimination".
Yeah, like Judge Jones lectured ID supporters about their version of "viewpoint discrimination." Just any old "viewpoint" won't do in a public school health class. It has to be a scientific viewpoint and it can't be based on religion.
"Well, why not? You can read the curricula, they're linked on the righthand side of this page. Pretty nice, huh?"
Actually, no. It misleads by a dearth of details. Very irresponsible and contemptuous of the welfare of children and of their right to a first-class education.
Why settle for a "dearth of details" when you can offer an outdated "dearth of details" instead? Everyone knows that keeping a more-than-10-year-old-curriculum for MCPS health class in place is a best way to ensure the "welfare of children and their right to a first-class education," right? Oops, no! The only people who think like that are the CRC and their supporters.
"You'll notice that those who criticize the curriculum very rarely quote it, and almost never quote it accurately."
It was left purposely vague to allow NEA members in the classroom to extemporize.
"NEA members"=your childrens' teachers
Let's let educators educate. If you want your children to receive religious instruction, arrange for them to get it at home, church, or a private religious school.
"The CRC complains about 'sodomites' and 'deviants,'"
Not that's there's anything wrong with that.
Of course, there's nothing wrong with religious views and discriminatory judgments being allowed in public school is there? Ask Judge Jones.
"they tell you that the curriculum promoted the "gay agenda," but when you ask them to point to the part that does that ... they gotta go. It's not in there, never was."
It lies in the intent to deceive by making vague, easy-to-misinterpret statements.
Provide one easy-to-misinterpret statement from the curriculum.
Last week you were complaining that I keep bringing up the incorrect statement about "choice" and now you're saying we won't say what's wrong with the curriculum. What the?
I gotta go.
Promises promises. The statement about choice from the curriculum is a true statement. Just because you *think* it is false doesn't make it false.
"I suppose Plan B would be to change a few things and re-submit it. I'm not sure what they'd change, but maybe the MCPS experts will see something they don't like."
If they're experts in science, they'll make some major changes. Just like the peer reviewers when they sent back their comments on the infamous pheronome study.
What "peer reviewers" comments? Produce them. The only quoted statements about that study on this blog were made by the authors.
"In this world of fast-changing scientific findings, it's entirely possible that something is known now that wasn't known a couple of years ago,"
Or maybe they forgot something they used to know.
Waxing nostalgic again? What do you miss most, duck and cover drills, segregation, or shotgun weddings?
"like maybe they'd mention that there is a new vaccine against HPV. Or maybe they'll take Warren Throckmorton's advice and beef up the "sexual identity" discussion, give it more nuance, talk more about how your feelings and your plumbing and your beliefs and your behavior may or may not come to all the same conclusions."
I think they might want to use the curriculum he wrote.
They won't use Throckmorton's curriculum but he will support the new revision because he has to be scientifically genuine or face the ridicule of his peers. He's already come around to knowing, like "most experts in the field" that same-sex attraction is not a choice.
"I agree with him that kids should learn some concepts, a framework for understanding their sexuality."
Yeah, because these teenagers just don't think enough about sexuality.
So you think the county should use Throckmorton's curriculum but they shouldn't use his framework for understanding sexuality. Uh oh. Your bias is showing.
"Or they could take Theresa's advice, from the comments here, and talk about how lots of kids go through stages of being attracted to someone of their same sex, and sometimes "the other person" acts on it, and how that doesn't mean you're gay -- oh wait, that was in there, wasn't it? What, they took it out? Well, maybe they'll want to put it back in."
I'm sure they're going to put in whatever they think will cause kids to consider homosexuality as a valid option when considering their life plans.
Only a bisexual person can "opt" for homosexuality or heterosexuality.
"Finally, it is possible that whoever is working on this will want to start over again. In that case, they will pass a whole new curriculum to the committee, who will review it and, seeing as how it'll be brand new, the committee'll probably have a lot of comments.
I guess that's Plan C, a whole new package.
If there was a vote, I'd vote for Plan A."
Did the you tell them this when you applied? It would seem to disqualify you from the committee since the purpose was to replace the old, infamous, proposed curriculum, written by the last group of "experts". It was so bad, a local columnist called it a "nasty piece of work".
The purpose of the CAC is to replace the tired, decade old existing curriculum (the one CRC supports) with one that continues to stress abstinence and is based on the latest scientific findings. The reason we are stuck with the tired old curriculum from the early 1990s today is because a small group of local fanatics joined up with national religious right extremist groups and sought an activist judge to withhold current, up to date information from our students about their own health and sexuality.
"The school district put a lot of work into that curriculum, the school board liked it,"
I heard they didn't even review it. We'll get into that more during the election season.
Antipsychotic drugs only work if you take them every day.
"it was a solid, comprehensive, informative curriculum, not too hot, not too cold, just right."
I 'eard the condom video was hot.
Antipsychotic drugs only work if you take 'em every day.
"It just happened to come out at a bad time. The board approved it a few days after the 2004 Presidential elections,"
Yeah, not to mention the school board election.
Yes, but they had been working on the curriculum revisions for years and the minority members were keenly aware of the CAC votes well before the 11/04 election. It's the election that caused this minority to believe there was a mandate here in Montgomery County that favored their discriminatory views. This minority, however, has since found out the truth which is that Montgomery County citizens will not tolerate discrimination based on sexual orientation in our public school system.
"and certain wacko"
Who could be more wacko than TTF?
Oh that's right, Michael Jackson.
Yes, Jacko's a Wacko alright. As a young man Michael was expected by his church and family to proselytize every week, which he did through 1984. All that religious training made him into a very successful model of sexual normalcy, huh?
"(as Republican lobbyist Michael Scanlon calls them) elements of our community thought they had been given a license to turn public education upside down --"
Yes, lowest-common-denominator education will never be the same.
If the CRC has their way, we will keep the existing outdated sex education curriculum in MCPS forever.
"they thought they would kick out the entire school board over this."
These things take time.
These things take a willing electorate too. Remind yourself about the proportion of registered Democrats to Republicans in Montgomery County to help yourself realize exactly how delusional your goal of recalling the entire school board actually is.
"But they missed their chance. Those days are gone. This week a Zogby poll showed that a majority of Americans agreed with the statement: "If President Bush wiretapped American citizens without the approval of a judge, do you agree or disagree that Congress should consider holding him accountable through impeachment." And he has said himself that he wiretapped American citizens without the approval of a judge, there's no evidence to argue over: he did it."
I agree. The wire tap controversy will be huge in the sex-ed debate.(not) When Ehrlich's re-elected, I think the COMAR thing will be repealed. We have an agenda for Maryland.
Some of us have known all along that religious right extremists "have an agenda for Maryland" and of course we already know gays "have an agenda for Maryland" too. Gays want equal rights. Members of the religious right already have equal rights so instead of those they want their religious views to have dominion over all aspects of life and Jesus in all aspects of society, just like the Taliban did with Islam in Afghanistan. Which agenda sound more American to you? Equal rights for all citizens or one religion inserted into all aspects of American life?
"Even if the most corrupt Congress in American history"
Looks like he's not an expert in history either.
Since when are only experts in a field allowed to express opinions and what is your field of expertise? You've been mighty free in stating your opinions with no expertise to back them up.
By the way, jimk is not alone in his opinion. This is the most corrupt Congress in American history. Abramoff has only begun to tell what he knows about the corruption of the K Street Project and GOP leadership. Congress has only begun to investigate elected officials' illegal acts. The American public is waking up to the shafting it has gotten for the past 6 years.
"lacks the chutzpah to do the right thing, we can at least agree that the 2004 "mandate" is expired, the political capital has been spent,"
You know I think you're right. The Republican moderate party will probably defeat the Republican conservative party next time. I don't think a third party like the Dems have a chance though. They're too closely tied to the wacko agenda.
"Republican moderate" is an oxymoron unless you are Rick Santorum running for reelection. Then it's a lie.
"the local Montgomery County attempt at a rightwing takeover of the school district"
has just begun
"is not going to get a second wind."
Looks like he's not a political expert either. Have you stepped back and looked at the trends of the last half century?
Yes, Montgomery County is trending more and more progressive year after year.
"Oh, they might sue again, that wouldn't surprise anybody, but I don't think they'll catch the school district unprepared like last time."
Sharon Cox claimed she wasn't surprised last time. And yet, you claim she wasn't prepared. Recall.
Sharon Cox did not represent MCPS in court. The school district staff members who represented MCPS in court were unprepared last time. They will not be unprepared this time.
"The school district should look again at the proposed curriculum that was adopted in November 2004. Don't worry about some nuts trying to attack you over it,"
No, worry about the fruits that wrote it.
The "fruits that wrote it" include Henrietta Brown, the CRC's first choice for CAC rep.
"the good people of the county will get your back. It was the right thing to do fourteen months ago, and it's the right thing now."
Yes, dissent was right then and now.
Sure, the minority can always dissent. Get used to it.
DTFrist, Md
"No, the rest of Montgomery County citizens who realize that GLBT students should be included in health classes that discuss human sexuality."
Remember, we need to remember to include all variations under COMAR and not just GLBT. We don't want to be as bad as CRC.
"Just any old "viewpoint" won't do in a public school health class. It has to be a scientific viewpoint and it can't be based on religion."
Don't get carried away. The scientists actually say they don't know much about this stuff. What we should be stressing is a tolerantist viewpoint. Science might still wind up saying you can choose to go down certain paths.
"What "peer reviewers" comments? Produce them. The only quoted statements about that study on this blog were made by the authors."
That guy was probably talking about the fact that the authors of the pheronome study say something different to the media than was in the paper. The most likely explanation was that the peer reviewers sent it back and said they were jumping to unjustified conclusions and so they had to add disclaimers.
"Only a bisexual person can "opt" for homosexuality or heterosexuality."
Some of us think everyone is really bisexual. We still have the right to do whatever with whomever. It's a personal liberty issue.
"Sharon Cox did not represent MCPS in court."
Let's not go too far. Cox is a hypocrite trying to be all things to all people. We need people on the school board more open to radical ideas. We should try to some trans and other variety folks on the board next time.
TTFers: Let's be more open-minded and truthful. We don't have to make stuff up about science. We have liberty and tolerance on our side. We'll win by acting up!
TTFers,Let's be more open-minded and truthful
Oh man...funny coming from a CRC'r.
freebird
Dana Beyer writes,
Sorry, Orin, Bush earned no capital in the first place, and the only reason he's got one justice and maybe a second is because of those corrupt Republican Senators who might as well go home since they're not a match for King George. How they will rue the day when Queen Hillary takes over.
Spoken like a True Believer...just one problem: Bush ran for re-election in 2004, and even with George Soros (and his millions of dollars) and all the other fellow travelers, Bush managed to get re-elected (and yeah, I know about Ohio...two words: sour grapes). To be perfectly honest, I thought Bush would lose...and went to bed content that it was a well fought election and the people had spoken in favor of a Kerry Administration.
There are two great correctives for bad politics (read: corruption). First, a free press and media, that is to say "the light of day"...transparency. Second, simply put, elections...throw those rascals out! Now this has happened to both Democrats and Republicans, as it should, when they misbehave. There is often a third approach, mostly employed in the past by Democrats, but nowadays also embraced (foolishly, IMO) by Republicans...campaign/politics reform. This sort of reform is developed by the same people that also brought the corruption...not a smart way to "reform" politics...again, only IMO.
More specifically...name a Senator...Republican, of course...that has been implicated in the latest episode of political corruption. Or, is it simply enough to assume that any Senator with an "R" after their name is corrupt just because they are Republican? You see, while I do self-identify as a Republican...that could change. And corruption? Oh, that is predictable human nature...I guess that would be the other thread that runs thru every human heart. The only question is this: will we listen to our better nature?
Alot has been learned when Bork was rejected (wisely, IMO) for a seat on the high court. Those groups that think they can use the same old bag of political cheap tricks have yet to learn from the Roberts and Alito nominations...maybe the third time is "the charm", huh?
And it will take time, but I agree with Jim -- this government, the White House and Congress, will go down as the most corrupt in American history. I don't even think it's close. Watergate? just the White House. Teapot Dome? Are you kidding? President Grant? C'mon now.
I'll have to admit, I don't have an M.D. after my name, still I am a bit surprised at the tone of the partisan political rhetoric...goodness, even a tad disappointed. The history of the United States...it is a history of imperfection, of corruption and reform. It is human nature...never bet against is what I advise as a conservative!
Well, I am off to see Dame Edna at the Buell in Denver whilst the Broncos a couple of miles away fight the Steelers for the AFC.
Orin,
Sorry about the Broncos.
When the level is discourse is high, as is sometimes is on this blog, then I respond in kind. When it is dragged into the gutter, as it is by Scotty mcClennan and his cronies every day, I get partisan. i am not, and will not, be cowed by the Republican hate machine. I'm not afraid of Bill O'Reilly and Rush Limbaugh. Yes, humans are corruptible, Democrats as well as Republicans. But the Democratic cirruption from the late 80's-early 90's can't hold a candle to that of the past five years. I'll stand by that.
Bush was not elected the first time, nor was he fairly re-elected the second. He was elected based on a campaign of fear and smear not seen in America since the 19th century. Thta is not worthy of the country that I love.
The only really free press left is the blogosphere -- just in time.
As for corrupt Republican senators -- Conrad Burns, Bill Frist, Ted Stevens, Tom Coburn -- just for starters.
Orin
You can't get through to these guys. Democrats are just so blind to reality. They think they're resurgent. Two events in the last couple of weeks show we are at a historical turning point and that the Democrats are completely bankrupt.
First, in the Alito hearings, Kennedy, Biden, et al tried all the same tricks that they pulled in the Bork and Thomas hearings and got absolutley no traction.
Second, Walter Conkrite came out in favor of withdrawing US troops from Iraq. Back in the late 60s, when he made a similar declaration, he was largely credited with turning middle America against the Vietnam War. This time, it's an amusing human interest story.
Why are both events so historical? They both show that liberals have lost their monopoly power on the mass media. With FOX news and the internet blogs around, they can no longer get away with their propaganda being the only word heard.
The coastal liberals keep pursuing the thought that they're the victims of dirty tricks and have been out-maneuvered. Actually, the plain simple truth is that the large swath of the American public disagrees with them and they can't survive an open, honest debate.
In the words of David Letterman, "Al Franken can't be happy."
Hey Orin
This never occurred to me before and maybe I missed something. You skipped watching Jake the Snake and went to see Dame Edna instead. Are you trying to tell us you're a Log Cabin Republican?
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