How about this one? Reagan slept through MANY important meetings.

Whythink do you have any of your own comments about Regan that I would not find previously posted on the democratic underground?

Why should any politician of any level or of any party be given unfettered access to a captive audience of schoolchildren? Those of us not in the public school system have a right to decide whether or not we want to attend or watch a speech by a politician, so shouldn't children, and their parents, be given the same right? Even if the school decides that whatever the politician, or other public figure, has to say is more important that using the instruction time for teaching the basics, there should always be parental notification and a, non-punitive, opportunity to opt out.

pete,
"When Ronald Reagan told the American people something it was always the truth, and every American new he had the best interests of the people in mind. "
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Interesting, how much of a LIE that comment is. Pete you are lying about Reagan being honest.
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Just take a look...
More things to be thankful for Reagan

1.First to turn America into a DEBTOR nation

2.First to over value the dollar to the yen at rate of 262 yen to 1 dollar.

2. First to CUT TAXES by 60% for his rich pals

4. First to allow the SAVINGS AND LOAN INDUSTRY to be raided after signing
a deregulatory bill and proclaiming "I think we have hit the jackpot". Come and get it the vaults are unguarded.

5. First to have a stealing, lying, gutless wife abusing MARINE LT. COLONEL plead the Fifth Amendment.

6. First to have a "sitting" CABINET MEMBER INDICTED

7. First to have an ASSISTANT SECRETARY OF STATE INDICTED.

9. First to have an ASSISTANT SECRETARY OF DEFENSE SENT TO PRISON.

9. First to have over 100 MEMBERS OF AN ADMINISTRATION CHARGED WITH CRIMES..

10. First to have more members of his administration charged with crimes than CUMULATIVE TOTAL OF ALL OTHER PRESIDENTS in the twentieth century

11. First to testify "under oath" 130 times that "I DON'T REMEMBER" .

12. First to undergo BRAIN SURGERY a few months after leaving office. No pain no gain.

13. First to seek GUIDANCE FROM THE STARS not from God

14. First To have served with ALZHIMERS

15. First to have UNEMPLOYMENT AT 10.8% since great depression.

16. First to attack a small unprotected nation with 88,000 inhabitants and 10,000 bb guns then PROCLAIM -"America stands tall again"— "we have whipped the Vietnam Syndrome"-we have defeated communism". Gosh! What if we had whipped Cyprus?.

17. #1-in FARM FORECLOSURES

18. #1-In BANK FAILURES

19. #1-In SAVINGS AND LOAN FAILURES

20. #1-In Percent increase in PERSONAL BANKRUPTCIES

21. #1-In recorded MISSTATEMENTS

22. #1-In being first to HONOR NAZI STORM TROOPERS by calling them" Innocent Victims"

23. First to lie-over and over-to reporters "I DO NOT DYE MY HAIR my barber uses a special shampoo"

24. First to boast "Not bad for a DUMB GUY who worked only 20 hours per week".

25. First to have his wife sit nearby and WHISPER ANSWERS to questions

26. First to have his press secretary remove him from the microphone because he could not answer questions. Then, as the reporter yelled out "answer my question" he replied "MY HANDLERS WON'T LET ME SPEAK". Quick get the white coat.

27. First to serve as Governor on a "conservative" platform and INCREASE SPENDING BY 112%.

28. First Governor TO INCREASE personal income taxes by 60%, tax increase on cigarettes by 200%, state tax collections by 152%.

29. First president to have the Geriatrics Department of a major university study his behavior and conclude that AFTER THREE YEARS IN OFFICE HE HAD ALZHIMERS
Good stuff Minan...thanks

If Stottler wants her children to sit & watch Obama give a speech, its her God Given right to let them sit & watch it. But I don't send my kids to watch speeches. I don't trust a man who has to run to convince children to push their parents to vote for him, as Barak Obama did during his campaign for President (Sat morning cartoons featuring Obama). Now he can't get his Socialist Health Plan through as easy as he'd hope to, so.. back to the kids again. The guy has an agenda, & he's proven he'll use children to obtain it. Speaking of agenda.. Google, "Codex Alimentarius".. You've got to December 31st to learn all you can about this Trade Commission that will be taking over the WHO member Countries Food Regulations. They've been trying to get the last hold out WHO member (the USA) for the last 10 yrs. It took the Obama Administration to finally win us. I think you'll be as surprised as I was the other day when I found it.

I get that, Pete. I am not in favor of Big Gov't, but rather the checks and balances that our forefathers intended...keep the power at the hands of the citizens of the states whenever possible.

This speech didn't have anything to do with politics! This was the President of the United States, whom the children of most public schools occasionally hear a little about (sarcasm) giving the kids a "pep talk". get over the political paranoia and teach children a little bit of respect for others and that there are ways to work out differences of opinion that don't include violence, threats or violating the rights of others by throwing a tantrum. That is just juvenile and pathetic.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qM1f5xrOf...

If it weren't for the misspellings (Alzheimer's - and you aren't afflicted with it!), fairy tales (consulting stars, the S&L bailout was his fault when in fact it was the Dems', who controlled both houses and upped the FDIC insurance limits for their rich pals), and contradictions (bad for lowering taxes, bad for raising taxes), your diatribe might be worth reading!

andre-linoge: I will have to give you that I read your post out of context, but you should give me that it is very easy to do when the posts under some subjects, especially when they grow to over 100, meander all over the place, sometimes on subject, sometimes straying far off. I know, I am guilty of that, too. A person would have to read a story and then read each post from day one, or read 100+ in a row to catch up-then you find an inflammatory comment and by that time, you forget what the story was and focus on the comment. And then, if you are interested in half dozen stories...you'd have to pack a lunch and turn your phone off to keep up, especially if many posts are long like mine....And some stories stay afloat for weeks or months because of continuous comments. Does anyone really have that much time on his/her hands? For some stories, I wish I did. But I will try to research all posts if I feel like commenting. But the story was originally about Obama's speech and why it couldn't be viewed by students, and a policy covering that..I still have not heard a satisfactory answer.
Anyway-I see now you were speaking specifically to one person. I reacted because I saw a comment like many I have seen before addressed to a more general audience. You know, something along the lines of "respect the war or you disrespect the warrior" or "if you don't agree with my views, you are dishonoring a soldier", or "I served and you probably didn't, so your views aren't valid" (on any subject remotely political). For me, it isn't true. I have the greatest respect for all those who honorably served our country, and that includes my brothers, my father, and many members of my family. I see the difference they made, but also the difference it made in them and how it affected their lives. I wish for everyone that doesn't respect this sacrifice, they could have heard the letter read on TV tonight by a Gold Star mother that her son, fresh out of high school, wrote to her before he died in Afghanistan. It ripped my heart out.
But I still have my own views, and his kind continue to make that possible.

hillsvalleys, thank you for noticing, too. I think some people just don't like that Obama is in office and will do ANYTHING (and yes I do mean anything) to convince the rest of us that everything in the world is politically motivated and they believe (wrongly, in my humble opinion) that the speech was some evil spell that would "all of a sudden" screw up the kids of this nation. Sorry, everyone, you're about 20 years too late on that. It's already been "done".

How about teaching the kids a little bit about respect and how to live by society's rules now? Can we try that one again for a few years and see where that gets us?

Do any of these ramblings have anything to do with the article?

No, you have it reversed, 15yearsthere: A song sung, independent of the president or his administration's presence or actions, by a class at one elementary school this year during Black History Month to recognize the (at that time) month-old accomplishment of our nation electing its first black president should receive the same lack of criticism that the song sung almost three and a half years ago by 100 school kids from several states at the White House itself, praising Bush for his response to Katrina, received.

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"Oh, and checking over some of the major news sites (FOX,ABC,CNN,MSNBC) the "Bush Song" ( at the time it was sung) was not even reported,though the event where it took place was." - 15yearsthere

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Exactly the point. Odd that it's newsworthy now, isn't it?

rocksolid...I'll apologize in advance if I am wrong. So, having said that, please set me straight. I was of the information that GW Bush's campaign regime wanted to schedule an appearance by GW at a Janesville school while on the campaign trail. His message at the time was not even an issue.

For whatever reason, of which I was not privy, use of a public school was denied.

He then held a campaign rally at the Holiday Inn Express. That event was not open to the "general" public and was in fact limited to a hand picked audience.

Before I comment further, please explain to me how the event at a Janesville Public School would have been different from that event at HI-Express...keeping in mind the Campaign aspect.

sarahb1: Yes I spose you liked van jones and acorn and you watch alot of channel 68? go figure. You get someone here that agrees with what you say and you pat them on the back, I guess your a bit lonely. I'm just glad we have beck and those others watching out for the good ole USA, now you could watch channel 68 with the ED show and those other clowns that do some pretty bad acting and get nothing out of their news shows .... and i'm guessing you do watch them.

"The hypocricy is amazing. Fox News, Rush, Beck, Hannity should be ashamed at their brand of journalism."
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Since when is Rush, Beck, or Hannity considered journalists? Please they are no more journalists than are Olbermann, Ed Schultz, Maddow or parts of MSNBC...

So a song sung almost three and a half years ago at the White House by schoolkids about Katrina,Congress,Bush,and FEMA should recieve the same criticism as one sung this year by schoolkids at a public school solely about President Obama and his accomplishments?...really?

Oh, and checking over some of the major news sites (FOX,ABC,CNN,MSNBC) the "Bush Song" ( at the time it was sung) was not even reported,though the event where it took place was.Kinda hard to have cries of indoctrination from FOX if they don't even report the story.

"John Doe & Zoom: Had they permitted Bush to speak at Parker in 2004, it would not have been to a "hand picked crowd" as you stated.
If I understand your logic, you think it was right to PREVENT Bush from speaking in 2004 and that we should have REQUIRED students to hear Obama in 2009.
I will side with giving the parents the option in both scenarios.
Sincerely,
Bill Sodemann"

Mr. Sodemann, Bush was on a reelection campaign tour in 2004. I still don't understand how you can't see the distinction between the purpose of Bush's Janesville visit, and the televised speech by President Obama. Bush's ultimate decision to make a speech only to hand-picked supporters simply reinforces the fact that the purpose of his visit was political, and not educational. Political speeches shouldn't be given on school property. It's too convenient for you to state what "should have happened" in 2004. You are now simply trying to ride the political fence.

Thanks for the nod, whythink. But for some reason it seems that the link doesn't directly lead to the story (not sure why), but only to a listing of stories that include the one about GW Bush's song. So maybe this will work:

"Our country’s stood beside us
People have sent us aid.
Katrina could not stop us,
our hopes will never fade.
Congress, Bush and FEMA
People across our land
Together have come to rebuild us
and we join them hand-in-hand!" - 100 school children from Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama singing to GW Bush for his response to Katrina.

http://blogs.wsj.com/washwire/2006/04/17...

I Second That Motion

whythink: my thought is you know why no one has commented on that post:) lol

inconvenienttruth
Sep 25, 2009 at 10:44 p.m.
Suggest removal "I agree in principal to your comments however, where is Reagans song,Bush's song, Clintons song, GW Bush song? - can you imagine the last one? What do you think the reaction would have been to a song praising GW Bush" - tiredofhearingit

Where is GW Bush's song? That is a VERY good question, tiredofhearingit! I'm glad you asked, because I happen to have the answer. And here it is:

"Our country’s stood beside us
People have sent us aid.
Katrina could not stop us, our hopes will never fade.
Congress, Bush and FEMA
People across our land
Together have come to rebuild us and we join them hand-in-hand!" - as sung by 100 school children from Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama

http://blogs.wsj.com/washwire/2006/04/17......

Isn't that so innocently sweet of them to sing praise for Bush and his response to Hurricane Katrina?

As for your question about what the reaction might've been to such a song praising GW Bush, the answer is that there wasn't a reaction. In contrast, the response to the Obama song (as sung in February to celebrate Black History Month)? The RNC has used it to fundraise, comparisons have been made to the Hitler Youth, and police are patrolling and news crews are camping out in front of the New Jersey school in which the song was sung.
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I wonder why it is that nobody, not one person commented on this post. A song for GW and where was the horror and outcry over it. I heard nothing of indocrination when children were singing praise for GW.
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The hypocricy is amazing. Fox News, Rush, Beck, Hannity should be ashamed at their brand of journalism.
.
Thoughts?

I, for one, am sick of constantly being told that (and I paraphrase): "We who served our country are letting you say what you want, as long as it's understood that you and your ideas are stupid if they're not the same as ours."
Well, for one thing, some of those who served may agree with the "stupid" ideas of those who oppose your views. Then what? And besides that, we don't need someone else to tell us that those who served honorably deserve our respect. A person who served his/her country because he/she wanted to do just that (serve and protect what his/her country stands for) are way too noble to DEMAND respect and subordination. They will have earned that respect and would be looking on with pride at what they helped to protect (without expectation of undue acclaim, though we may very well offer it). By undue-I just mean we would be doing a disservice to them by wasting what those selfless and honorable service men/women fought for if we didn't exercise our right to say how we feel (on this board, for example) because we feared a backlash from those who didn't serve for the same reasons. Those noble men and women wouldn't demand acquiescence. (Andre, where do you fit?).
Oh, and Pete, what does this mean? "He fails to know that mostly all Americans have strong feels about the Jews."

sarahb i enjoy your 'motherly' posts, think you have a sane, logical, relevant opinion, and i tend to agree with most of what you say. keep it up!!

I am reading this blog and thinking, "Is this some sort of joke?" "Can these be real people?"

Maybe this is what happened to the dinosaurs

John Doe & Zoom: Had they permitted Bush to speak at Parker in 2004, it would not have been to a "hand picked crowd" as you stated.

If I understand your logic, you think it was right to PREVENT Bush from speaking in 2004 and that we should have REQUIRED students to hear Obama in 2009.

I will side with giving the parents the option in both scenarios.

Sincerely,

Bill Sodemann

sarahb1: If that's what it takes for one to look cheap then you live on the poor side of town, it will take someone better than you to tell me what I need to post to make you happy. obama can't even run a country and you want our kids look up to him? it's not your choice what my kid sees. I'd rather have my kid sing "God bless America" in school, not some sick song about obama.

To be clear, I am in agreement with Ms. Stottler. We are doing our children a disservice to not allow them to learn of civics. We are also not teaching children how to listen to someone of a differing opinion politely and with respect, or how to offer our opinion for class participation. These are all skills that any 10 year old needs to develop and continue developing throughout the rest of their lives (regardless of their political views, gender, or the size of his or her Dad). The days of "my dad can beat up your dad" are long gone. Now it's "say that again and I'll shoot you right here on the playground." But sure, let's not teach them any differently. What they are doing now is working. sarcasm.

justaguy, I'm WIDE awake. Now tell, me...what can I do with my comment?

"it is obvious by some postings here that maturity and intelligence are not necessarily prerequisites to service." - JohnDoe

There is a reason why they recruit straight out of high school.

"you must think your somebody also? ... guess what?" - justaguy

First, it's "you're", not "your." Second, you better be careful, justaguy. You just came dangerously close to having the courage of your convictions to actually say what you mean in your last post.

And thanks for the suggestion, but I think I'll stay right here and post to my heart's content!

Also, I'll be the first to support the troops...but it is obvious by some postings here that maturity and intelligence are not necessarily prerequisites to service.

mssassy: you know what you can do with your comment, you must think your the perfect person but you really need to wake up.

Apparently rocksolid is having a difficult time grasping the difference between President Obama's speech on TV and Former President Bush's address to a closed and handpicked audience while actively on the campaign trail.

Usually it's the uber-religious pro-life crowd that raise their children as sign holders (see: Jesus Camp), ms_sassy, as having children holding signs against abortions means you kill two birds with one stone - a prop holding a banner. Talk about child exploitation. However, I wouldn't put it past the Birther/Bagger crowd to do something similar if they thought such exploitation could further their illogically rabid "everything is socialism" cause.

incon: go take your worthless spin somewhere else, you must think your somebody also? ... guess what?

I agree with mespl. Home school your kids or pay to send them to a parochial school if you want.

PRESIDENT OBAMA gave a speech directed to school age children. Which, by all accounts, is not unheard of from the Office of the President, nor is it socialism or Nazism, but rather an encouraging message from our President giving a little bit of advice to students on how to be responsible citizens! HEAVEN FORBID anyone tells our kids to be responsible citizens!!!

Apparently no one teaches kids ANYTHING about responsibility, anymore! If we don't want to do something, we organize some crazy demonstration, put a fancy name on it and declare it our "right" to not do it. nee nee boo boo.

I hope all of your tears won't water down your milk too much...but you probably would cry over your spilled milk, too, after you threw a tantrum and threw it on the floor.

Some people just don't get what being an American really means...or what you really should be doing as a responsible citizen of the free land known as the United States of America.

This is just speculation, but I bet some of you have some really good sign-holding children. Dumb as rocks, because you keep them out of PUBLIC SCHOOLS as a protest, but they can hold a sign like nobody's business. Great job, by the way.

Correct, justaguy. My, your powers of observation are sure impressive! Let me try!

justaguy, you said, "...they teach kids to sing about obama like he's somebody? ...no I don't think so.", thereby MORE than insinuating that you view the President of the United States as a nobody (the opposite of 'somebody'). Funny thing about deductive reasoning, huh? But, hey, if lacking the courage of your convictions to state directly what you intend is your style, then by all means...

Oh, I see now. When a parent's political ideology is offended, THEN they suddenly show concern for what their child (who holds no political ideology) is experiencing in the classroom. Any other day, I guarantee, the most that is inquired by a huge majority of parents regarding what their child experienced in the classroom goes no further than "so, how was school/what did you learn today?", leaving it up to the child to inform the parent. If more parents were actually concerned and involved in what their children experienced on a day-to-day basis in the classroom, EVERYDAY, rather than only taking a selfishly partisan interest regarding a half hour of one single day due to a President they didn't vote for wanting to speak inspirationally to their public school children, we'd be better off.

incon: you used the word "nobody"

Oh, you're SO right, justaguy. The President of the United States is definitely a nobody.

"I agree in principal to your comments however, where is Reagans song,Bush's song, Clintons song, GW Bush song? - can you imagine the last one? What do you think the reaction would have been to a song praising GW Bush" - tiredofhearingit

Where is GW Bush's song? That is a VERY good question, tiredofhearingit! I'm glad you asked, because I happen to have the answer. And here it is:

"Our country’s stood beside us
People have sent us aid.
Katrina could not stop us, our hopes will never fade.
Congress, Bush and FEMA
People across our land
Together have come to rebuild us and we join them hand-in-hand!" - as sung by 100 school children from Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama

http://blogs.wsj.com/washwire/2006/04/17...

Isn't that so innocently sweet of them to sing praise for Bush and his response to Hurricane Katrina?

As for your question about what the reaction might've been to such a song praising GW Bush, the answer is that there wasn't a reaction. In contrast, the response to the Obama song (as sung in February to celebrate Black History Month)? The RNC has used it to fundraise, comparisons have been made to the Hitler Youth, and police are patrolling and news crews are camping out in front of the New Jersey school in which the song was sung.

What is it our kid's aren't allowed to sing in the morning anymore at school "God Bless America"? but yet they teach kids to sing about obama like he's somebody? ...no I don't think so.

sarahb1: again you ask me to do something to please your need to know, tell you what ... why don't you go look for it yourself, and why are you bringing up the "people of all colors" into this? has nothing to do with color unless your trying to say something? Yoy talk alot but say nothing.

I don't know DizzyGirl, have you killed any babies? This is usually what separates a baby killer from someone who is not a baby killer. Just to let you know.

Also, interesting diagnosis. Where did you get your degree in pretend psychology? From Delusion U: Where the answer to everything is "Obama is a Socialist."

Evidently, Chainsaw got some kickback and chainsawed his brain. Oh, he was going to post something for removal, I am so scared of his frightening words. Personally speaking, it isn't very difficult to get removed. Chainsaw, clearly you are paranoid. Please spare us the your country would be run over by __________, if it wasn't for the military. Since when has the military stopped an attack? Pearl Harbor? 9/11? Civilians downed the United flight and saved the White House, not the military. Please don't dishonor the real heroes. They had no guns, no fighter jets, no armor, no bombs, just their lives.

Neither Iraq nor Afghanistan had or has a military and yet a bunch of low tech fighters have demonstrated how easy a high tech military is to pester into leaving. Your military worship is probably the reason the rwf think Obama is the Messiah. Just because someone is in the military, it doesn't mean they or their uniform is sacred, otherwise we wouldn't be America.

oh andre knows the difference between the typo your and you're. Ironic that you managed to figure out what I meant and all by your little self.

I came so close to posting my first removal........so close. time to get out of here before I do.

What an IDIOT you are Sally, using your venom against the very people who are in our military. That is so low a pregnant snake can slither over it without touching it just like the underside of the rock you are warming up. They are defending OUR country and you say that about them. I hope the fleas of a thousand camels invade you arm pits while you are typing your next post. THANK YOU TO ALL WHO ARE SERVING AND TO THOSE WHO HAVE SERVED!

rocksolid, there is a huge difference between President Bush's campaign stop in Janesville in 2004 and President Obama's inspirational address to students to kick-off the school year. You may recall that all of Bush's campaign audiences were vetted to include Republican supporters only, including his stop in Janesville. It would have been ridiculous to have Bush address students anywhere given the exclusionary tenor of his presidency, especially during the official campaign season. Your partisanship is showing by not understanding the distinction between the two circumstances.

zoom zoom zoom: Apprently you did not read my other post in Mr. Eyster's blog. My point is that as long as parents have the right to opt out, I have no problem with the President speaking. I went on to say that they also should have let Bush speak in 2004 with the same caveat, that parents have the right to opt out.

That is being very consistent.

Sincerely,

Bill Sodemann

Yes, andre do what your good at - not paying attention. With alleged soldiers like DizzyGirl defending us with his ignorant blogs who needs enemies? In DizzyGirls America Eisenhower didn't use the military to defend African Americans from crazy right wing fanatics.

You see the right wingers are very sensitive about their lack of education. It would irreparably harm their delicate sensibilities if they truly understood how incredibly ignorant they were. Clearly, none of them could actually get a degree from an accredited institution because these places have actual standards. Odd, Republicans hate economic socialism but love intellectual socialism.

You people are scared that your children will be exposed to differing points of view than yours, if that is the issue please home school them because every day they are being told things by a teacher, you are not sitting next to them to tell them what not to listen to. I highly doubt that you read your children’s books and tell them what pages to skip over, or what questions to not answer on a test because you don’t want them exposed to that. This is pathetic. I know I had many public speakers when I was in school, do you people sensor every public speaker? Also if he is campaigning to school children then his advisors need to go back to school and learn math again because the majority of those children will never be able to vote for him because they are too young. The arguments against this are ridiculous, again home school if you sensor that much of what your children are exposed to.

andre and SG are obviously the same ignorant person. SG the last sentence of your previous post, not the part in quotes. You were still talking from the other persons point of view. I understand your paranoia makes reality difficult to grasp.

Andre the con speaks again. Are there any other subjects you have fake experience with like your expert union opinion?

I'd be interested in knowing how many students would forge a permission slip to see what their parents don't want them to see.

Pete--You seem to think that you know what democracy is, and that your definition is so all-encompassing that it will serve as an apt definition for all. I would be interested in what your definition is, since, throughout history, there have been many, many definitions, and none have ever satisfied all. According to political scientist James Carney in his book "Nation of Change" "the word democracy has been a part of common speech for over 25 centuries. It has been used to describe governments as dissimilar as medieval monasteries and modern Leviathans like the People's Republic of China. The meaning of Democracy is also uncertain because there are no authoritative authorities whose word is final" (except, I guess, Pete's). "Democratic theory reflects a variety of ideas drawn from existing philiosophies existing in different cultures at different times. Democracy can be either representative democracy or direct democracy. The term 'democracy' has been sanctified by leftists and anti-communist rightists alike." There is NO real, tried and true, acceptable to all definition of democracy. It is the hardest word in the language to define, because it has been defined over time in so many ways, by so many, and there has NEVER been agreement as to which definition is acceptable. So, Pete, to say that pweople don't know the definition of democracy is correct, but to imply that YOU do is silly.

"Me thinks Y'all protest too much."

Sorry, I didn't notice it had already been posted......

...."and here was an opportunity for students of color to hear a black president speaking about doing the right thing. "What a great role model."

Am I missing something, or aren't there hundreds of "opportunities" to see this OVER-EXPOSED President EVERY hour of the day? He is a media darling, and we do not need our schools to provide that "opportunity".....I would not disagree that he is a great role model to some......But let the parents choose who to expose their children to as a role model......And this link is EXACTLY why we do not want the schools injecting themselves into this......It clearly shows that at least SOME are too irresponsible and abuse the power of a captive audience.....This just disgusts me, as much as it would many of you if it were 2 years ago and a school produced that same garbage heralding somebody named George W. Bush.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5zrsl8o4Z...

This is yet another example of the Janesville school district wasting time and money on a non-issue. I doubt that most of these students are that issue-oriented, but for those who are I'm sure they can figure out how to view the speech or read the transcript via the internet between all their text-messaging sessions.

Let's move on to real education-related issues, like when are the districts going to add two- and three-year-old kindergarten and how is that little Hooters hottie doing with the pom-pom squad?

This episode proves a glaring lack of sound judgement on the part of the school superintendent. If she did, indeed, receive threats, she should have immediately contacted the police. This causes me to wonder on what other issues she is likewise exercising such poor judgement. At any rate, the wingnuts have made themselves look quite foolish during their embarrassing attempt to contrive an issue out of nothing.

Ezoner,
If you are seriously raising your kids to not be able to think for themselves until they are "18-21" years old they are in big trouble.
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Maybe that is the problem with today's youth, they can't think for themselves.
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As far as just focusing on math, reading and science...perhaps, after reading your post, Language should be another focus. (yes, I know, for me too)

Make up words?

Darwin, I'm afraid you're the one being ignorant. If you're talking about either of the quotes I used, both are a matter of public record.

SG, really, so nothing has any distinction. Obama is running a campaign though in "reality" there is no campaign. Your cognitive inability to see differences and distinctions suggests you will continue to be ignorant. You even went so far as to make up words for someone else to confirm your paranoia.

"I think there's a big difference when a president wants to talk to students about personal accountability and listening respectfully and following dreams and a president who's coming in the midst of an election," Stottler said.

Of course there's a difference...the one you support isn't really campaigning, and the one you dislike was. Typical Democratic logic.

EVERY speech a president makes is a campaign speech, every single one. To say that obama isn't campaigning now is disingenuous at best, flat out misleading at worst.

Amazing-well, not really-predictable that all the things democrats and other leftists have done ogver the years, protests, leafleting, etc, have been just fine. Now, if the people doing them are republicans, or any flavor of conservative, they are anti-American. How about this doozt from Mike Tait, democratic partei chairman for Wisconsin?

"These are extremist elements pulling together, distinct vocal minorities that frankly don't believe in this country," Tate said. "They don't want to see more people have access to quality affordable health care; they don't want clean air and water. They fundamentally don't understand how the American government, economy and capitalism work."

I mean, what else can you say? I'm right, you're wrong, and if you don't agree, we'll hold modnight hearings and have you declared a dangerous racist, sic the HRT on you!

Gotta love it.

If I were new to America and read these blogs, I would get the idea that our teachers are communists, our schools use brainwashing techniques, our government can't be trusted and is run by the elitest of the elite with no distinction between paries. I would think that all are corrupt and there is nothing good in the United States. I would probably also think that I might as well go back home because this country is no better than Iran, or El Salvador, or any other country with a corrupt dictator. If it is so bad, why don't you complainers get off your duffs and do something to change it? Oh ya, I forgot, that would require effort.

I see Kay13 has this weeks DNC talking points.

To school board member Lori Stottler. As a parent of an elementary student I don't see the need for the president to speak directly to the students at such an early age. As mentioned in other posts, politics and our government are far different than just a decade ago. And experience shows that we need to keep a watchful eye on the words and topics expressed from this particular president.

I did watch the speech live and thought it was very insightful and well presented. But, with such an outcry from the public, the presidents administration admitted to making needed changes to the speech and the supplied agenda that entailed student involvement before and after the speech.

I want to commend Superintendent Schulte, she did her job well, listened to the parents and kept the children safe. And even though your points are admirable, all I ask of you is to respect our job as protective parents and leave your personal politics out of it.

“Trust” is the issue at hand here.
Your neighbor, Chris A.

"I don not send my children to school to be blitz by political, and possibly views I do not agree with." - Why would you be bothered by your children hearing a different point of view from yours?

The Conservatives are a bizarre lot. They are the only ones who refer to Obama as the messiah or the great leader which probably means that they secretly love him. They whine about their freedoms being taken away forgetting that it was George Bush who tortured, illegally wiretapped and held Americans without due process. They are a tragic reminder of what ignorance and bigotry can do to a society.

Key13 -- I just want our teachers to focus on math, reading and science. When they get that down maybe we can allow them to do more. They can't seem to get that right yet. I don not send my children to school to be blitz by political, and possibly views I do not agree with. When they are old enough to think for themselves, 18-21 years old, fine. But until then I am responible for them.

mark_twain, what do you gain by nonsensical name calling? If you have a different ideological perspective, that doesn't make him a liar or an elitist. And to call our President a fascist and anti-religion is just outright ridiculous. Maybe we need to teach our children - in our schools and in our homes - how to engage in thoughtful, respectful dialogue about political issues. That's a lesson that mark_twain clearly missed.

It doesnt matter what was said at this point in time within our history. I don't want any president speaking to my children. I don't feel that either side would resist the temptation to push a specific agenda and quite honestly I don't trust any of our politicians. People that are professional politicians, mostly with law degrees and personal agendas and a desire for power. I would welcome a common joe, someone we can all relate to and relates to us. I see so many of them with a mountain of wealth, they can't possibly understand or have forgotten what we all go through on a daily basis or they have extreme views. They need to stay out of our schools.

So what was the danger to the children again? What would he have said that would have been dangerous?

"Bill Sodemann, the school board's most outspoken conservative, said then-President George W. Bush was not allowed to speak in a Janesville school in 2004."

Bill, Bill, Bill. There you go again. G.W. Bush was CAMPAIGNING for reelection in 2004. His speech eventually held at the Holiday Inn was for Republican supporters, and was closed to the public. Bill, did you also object when G.H.W. Bush spoke to school children? Did you want the option for parents to "opt-out" of his speech to children? Of course not, because he was a conservative President. What a hypocrite. I look forward to the end of your term.

Quite honestly, when I was in school or even 10-15 years ago I would have agreed that when the president speaks to the kids they should listen. However, I feel we are in very different times now. The political rhetoric, and a government that is trying to change our entire way of life, should stay out of our schools. I personally would prefer that NO politician speak to my child at this time. Whether in office or running for office. Maybe I was naive years ago. But at this time, I would ask them to stay out.

SarahB1;Do folks really see such danger in schoolchildren singing a song that praises a president's belief that people of all colors to be seen as equals in this nation or for women and men to receive "equal pay for equal work"?---
***
I agree in principal to your comments however, where is Reagans song,Bush's song, Clintons song, GW Bush song? - can you imagine the last one? What do you think the reaction would have been to a song praising GW Bush. ---

seriously, you dont see an issue with removing the name "Jesus" from a song & replacing it with "Barack Hussein Obama" - talk about attempting to create a messiah.

If you listen to the full video as well, song 2.. "Hello, Mr. President we honor you today!
For all your great accomplishments, we all doth say "hooray!" - What?! Exactly what accomplishments? The only thing he's "done" is become the 1st black president (which, yes I do see as a great accomplishment) - but what else? talk about a sense of falsehood & an attempt to elevate someone.

Parents are worried about their kids being indoctrinated from ONE 20 minute speech by the President?? Now that's a good one. Heck; public school education is almost 7 straight hours of attempted indoctrination! When I was in the JVL public school system, it was just one big joke among myself and friends with all the utter non-sense that was being taught every day. It really doesn't matter what non-sense is being preached to you though. In today's information age, one can learn pretty much anything you wish to IF you have the DESIRE to do so. The biggest problem today is many kids simply don't want (or care) to learn anything. If you have the desire to learn, you certainly don't need any school system to teach you in today's age.

Mr. Sodemann is correct. They would not allow President Bush to Speak in the school. Why allow President Obama to do the same. I believe Superintendent Karen Schulte made a good decision, she allowed us, as parents to decide if we wanted our children to hear the address without us being there to give our input. I assure you a lot of the teachers would have given their input. Would this have been objective? Perhaps. Yes, perhaps.

They won't be ashamed of themselves. They're "protecting" their children from Big Bad Evil Obama.

biggirl: you should be ashamed for tell people they should be ashamed for for what YOU think is right, this is still America and we all have free right to do as we ALL please, do not try to tell me to follow what YOU think is right and I will NEVER tell you to follow me for what I believe. That is not what the org. speech was about, it was chaged.

I agree with people that no policy is needed. Just show the President's speech (after all, a President has spoken to schoolchildren less than once a decade so far). Those people who discouraged the children from hearing that they should stay in school and challenge themselves to fulfill their dreams should be ashamed of themselves.

andre linoge: Thanks for posting that video, I saw some of it on tv but not the while thing. Not sure why but it made me think of that movie "Boys from Brazil" my son is older but they best not be teaching that cr@p at his school. Looks like those teachers are trying to brainwash those kids at a young age.

Thank you, Lori Stottler! Your points are spot on, and I appreciate that you're working to not let this become a precedent in the School District of Janesville. Thank you for not letting the superintendent's decision go unnoticed, and for creating space for dialogue on this issue. I also appreciate that Bill Sodemann is open to creating a policy as well. However, as a parent of a school-age child, I would encourage the Board to consider what the issue is with hearing a candidate's stances on policy issues directly. Surely, many of our students are exposed to these issues on the news. Isn't part of civic engagement learning to listen to alternate views and creating a space for thoughtful discussion to occur? If that can't happen in our schools, where can it happen?

People seem to forget the reason for the original hysteria was not the speech; it was the preplanned teaching ideas about the speech from the white house and department of education that were brought into question.

SO WHEN IS THE SCHOOL BOARD ELECTION?
If the President wants my kids to hear his message, let him broadcast during the evening when we can view as a family.
My Wife and I are the ultimate authority over our children and to think otherwise is a BIG mistake. It makes for a very good point in support of Home Schooling.

I don't trust him......I really don't JMO