Crazy Ron Christie Accepts Republican Lapses into Political Insanity.

Former Cheney ass kisser Ron Christie is a conservative accident I can't take my eyes off. Chris Matthews tosses a few bizarre Republican comments on video at Christie, who continues to insist that a few strange examples of conservative BS does not reflect the general disposition of the party. It's so appalling, I posted here.

Maybe it's just me, but I'm fascinated by the possible psychological reasons for Christie's denial, who seems to mirror other Republican friends responses. How can anyone "think" like this, and aren't we really arguing with a oddly sick mind?

Sam Stein follows up, Counter Punches GOP Strategist Karen Hanretty Idiocy. Clueless.

Huffington Post's Sam Stein and Republican strategist Karen Hanretty battle it out on health care, as Ed Schultz looks on. Stein demonstrates the way we should all be debating misinformed Republican knumbskulls.

The most insulting suggestion by Hanretty is the expectation that no one should respond to Dick Cheney's criticism if they disagree with it. A former vice president, for the first time in history, calling the sitting president weak. Give them the stage and spotlight, with no response. She never seemed to get it, which makes this whole conversation even more surreal.

Glenn Beck, Hannity and O'Reilly Want to be Children Again, as Adults.

I had to include this comedy bit from the Daily Show by John Oliver, not because it's funny, but because it makes an astonishingly easy observation about Republicans who want to go back to a much happier time. It's not so much the time, decade or generation, but simply a world they saw through a six year olds eyes. Adults from back then had a different impression. Great stuff.

NYC Charter Schools Do Well, But so do Many Public Schools. So Now What?

On my quest to find a better way, here's the latest research on one specific charter school system:

Edweek (subscription, but try it anyway): Students in New York City’s charter elementary and middle schools make bigger learning gains than their regular public school counterparts in math and reading, according to a new study , the second in five months to find good results for the independently run public schools in the nation’s largest school system.

The findings are attracting a lot of attention because they come from a Stanford University research group that issued a critical national study of charter schools last June. In that study , which looked at 2,403 charter schools in 15 states and found that students in more than 80 percent of those schools performed the same as—or worse than—students in regular public schools on mathematics tests.

In contrast, CREDO’s new study found that:

51 percent of NYC charter schools are producing academic gains in math for students that are statistically larger than students in regular public schools. In reading, however, 30 percent of charters perform better on average than their local public alternatives. Black and Hispanic students, as well as struggling learners, do better on average in charter schools, but charter schools do not appear to boost learning significantly for English-language learners, special education students, or students who have been held back a grade.

Margaret E. Raymond, CREDO’s director offered this important caveat:

“Remember that in looking at the distribution of quality [in the previous study], we found hundreds of charter schools doing really well. What New York City provides us with is an opportunity to step back and say, how is it possible that one market can have as robust a quality sector, where in other markets they’re not able to get that kind of performance?”

But what might be even more important is this observation from Sean Reardon, an associate professor of education and sociology at Stanford.

"What’s harder to tell, he wrote, is 'if the larger effect of charter schooling in [New York City] is because N.Y.C. charter schools are better than charter schools elsewhere, or if it’s because N.Y.C.’s traditional public schools are worse than traditional public schools elsewhere.”

Jeffrey Henig, a professor of political science and education at Teachers College, Columbia University, wrote in an e-mail, “For national policymakers, this combination of findings suggests that there should be less attention to the question of whether charters in general are superior to traditional public schools, and much more recognition of the fact that charter schools may or may not succeed, depending on state and local policy designs; authorizer practices; localized foundation support; and other state and local contextual factors that we don’t yet fully understand.”

All good questions. But I think there's something else to consider.

Instead of increasing the number of charter schools, we should be taking the successful formulas from both charter and public schools and integrating them in our public schools nationwide, instead of creating a parallel system based on profits.

29 Felons Arrested Hunting with Guns. The More Guns, the More Felons Own Guns.

It used to be; "When guns are outlawed, only outlaws will have them." Oh how times have changed, for the worse.

Now we can unsafely say; "When no guns are outlawed, the more outlaws (felons) will have them." The Wisconsin State Journal:

A state report says Wisconsin wardens arrested 29 felons for possessing a firearm during the November gun deer hunt, the most in seven years.

Weak gun laws over the years have resulted in more arrests. Surprised?

Wardens arrested nine felons in 2008, 16 in 2007 and nine in 2006. They arrested three in 2005, 10 in 2004 and 14 in 2003.

And these were the ones just caught hunting. Imagine the ones living next door. In an even odder twist:

...felons can't possess firearms under state and federal law, but they can purchase hunting licenses in Wisconsin. State Rep. Jeff Smith, an Eau Claire Democrat, is working on a bill that would prohibit felons from purchasing any kind of gun hunting license.

Shame on the legislature that passed a gun hunting license law that allowed felons to buy one.

Where are the Conservative Tea Partiers Now After Watching the Republicans Hold Up Making our Nations Airlines Safe From Terrorists?

Can you imagine the Republican reaction if a Democrat blocked the confirmation of the head of the TSA after the underpants bomber attack? No really. It would be the end of the Democratic Party. They would never shake off their soft on terror shoud.

Yet Republicans now don't feel one bit of urgency.

(AP) - Republican Sen. Jim DeMint … blocking confirmation of Obama's choice to head the Transportation Security Administration … brushed off accusations by Democrats that he's unnecessarily delaying Southers' confirmation at a time of increasing terrorist threats and a leadership vacuum at the agency.

Can you imagine the Republican reaction if a Democrat held up the confirmation of the guy needed to head up the TSA, over a minor quibble based solely on an unrelated ideological position?

The South Carolina senator said he's concerned that Southers would allow TSA employees to have collective bargaining, something he opposes. Southers "will not give me a straight answer." DeMint also said, "What I want is a few hours of debate on Mr. Southers to fix the nation back on security and get politics, especially union politics, out of our security apparatus."

What could be more important than protecting us from organized labor, even at the risk blowing up 250 airline passengers.

Can you imagine the Republican reaction if someone tried to blow up a plane…

RNC Chair Michael Steele: "Honest Injun..."

I'm not really sure where RNC chief Michael Steele has been for the last one and a half centuries, but he's still using the offensive slang term, "honest injun." Of course, Sean Hannity doesn't even notice. Big shout out to my conservative friend for giving me the heads up on this. Even he was surprised.

Mark Neumann Trots out Boiler Plate, Referenda Style of Government Reform.

I love reading through a Republican candidates list of ways to make our state and government stronger.

Gubernatorial candidate Mark Neumann today unveiled the Strong Wisconsin Reform Package - five common-sense proposals

If you ever wanted to a clearer picture of what a Republican run state and country might look like, check out the following proposals that throws out our current system of government, while leaving the monied interests alone to buy their best business friendly lawmakers. Besides the usual boiler plate items like 5 day periods to read bills allowing those eliciting fear and gut politics to vilify policy and the "sounds good" but but dead on arrival idea of term limits, the most disastrous proposal would be what has basically brought down California:

"Creating a framework that allows for citizen-driven referenda on statewide ballots … allowing citizens to bring initiatives and referenda before all voters via a statewide ballot."

Direct government, ruled by the majority, provides an opening for those eliciting fear and gut politics to vilify policy. This is pushed by anti-government special interests who have lots of money to spend on influence. Conflicting laws passed by the public has essentially destroyed California, where many are now trying to change this flawed non-representative form of gut government.

And the always feel good idea of "Addressing campaign financing in ways that curb any real or perceived influence on legislation."

But wait, Neumann wants "campaign finance reform." That's good right? Is banning "donations … from an employee of a business at any time while that business's bid for a contract is being considered by any state government agency (or) Prohibit state government employees that Neumann directly appoints from contributing to his campaign," really reform? Give me a break.

Obama's Coming to Take Our Guns!!! "Pardner, it's time to take our guns to town."

Despite President Obama's bizarre support for the recent Conservative Supreme Courts decision on the Second Amendment, the right wing myth that Obama wants to take our guns away is just another way to rile up the knuckleheads. I like this comment from Thinkprogress.org:

Apart from the obvious danger from introducing fire arms to a crowded, emotionally-charged environment, as Walt Rubel, the editor of the Las Cruces Sun-Times wrote in today’s paper, displaying guns at a rally is counter-productive to the protestors’ goals.

“Nothing will ‘put a positive light on gun ownership’ quite like inviting every yahoo with a weapon in southern New Mexico to gather at the busiest intersection in Alamogordo and wave their firearms at the passing traffic,” he wrote.

Nearly 350 right-wing protestors crowded a New Mexico town’s busiest intersection yesterday to protest President Obama’s supposed anti-gun agenda and the “government takeover of our health care system.”

Wimpy State Democratic Leaders Abandon Chronically Ill in Pain, Give Inhumane Win to GOP. This Party is Starting to Make Me Sick. I Need a Toke!

Sure other states have passed legalized medical marijuana. Sure they've passed voter muster even in conservative states, and didn't open the door for full legalization. Still, if you're a state Democratic leader, it's better that a few suffer in constant pain than to make a morally tough decision. WTF.

AP: Neither Senate Majority Leader Russ Decker of Weston nor Assembly Speaker Mike Sheridan of Janesville expressed support for the proposal … more work needs to be done on the bill … more information before tak(ing) a position.

Sheridan says lawmakers have to be careful that legalizing marijuana for medical reasons doesn’t become a “slippery slope” toward full legalization of pot.

But opponents including the Wisconsin Medical Society say there are better and more effective alternatives.

By alternatives, the Wisconsin Medical Society and party leaders must be talking about protecting Big Pharma's more expensive pain killing products.

Palin will Run for President on the Victimhood Platform.

I couldn't help myself from posting my first 2010 Palin clip, featuring a slightly past interview Bill O'Reilly did with Facebook's Sarah Palin. It doesn't provide anything new to the discussion, I get that, but what fascinated me was her over the top victimhood. She blames everyone and everything. Did she forget that she represented the party of accountability (only kidding of course, they are anything but)?

Palin jokes, it's not the liberal media, but LAME media...etc. Who in their right mind would be affended by being asked what they read? Good god she whines.

Stop Supporting the Big Bad Banks. State Banks and Credit Unions the Answer and Weapon.

I love Newsy.com for putting together opposing viewpoint in an unusually safe, unbiased way. In the clip below, Newsy takes a look at "A new movement (that)pushes consumers to switch from big banks to community banks. Would it make a difference?"

Despite the pros and con's of going from big to small banks, missing from the equation is another movement, your neighborhood credit union. That's where I've put my money.

Economist Robert Kuttner Warns: Social Movement Might Be Right Wing.

Economist and co-editor/founder of The American Prospect, Robert Kuttner, not only points out the obvious problems the Democrats are having resisting the influence of big money interests in congress, but worries the populist movement might end up being the free market small government sycophants, at the expense of small "d" democracy. From Bill Moyers Journal:

Kuttner: "One way or another there is going to be a social movement...and if it's not a progressive social movement that articulates the frustration, and the reform program, you know the right wing is going to do it. And that I think is what ought to be scarying us silly."

Tea Party Profits before Politics. Isn't it Sweet?

Free market conservatives probably won't be to upset to find that they are being fleeced of their hard earned dollars by the tea party movement. Heck, they love that "buyer beware" kind of free market stuff. Rachel Maddow breaks down the huckstered scam...I mean the organizer recruitment tools.

Perot so Right, Gore so Wrong on NAFTA

After watching this embarrassing discussion between Al Gore and Ross Perot, I thought I would edit a few important clips together from those old debates, illustrating just how wrong Gore was on the subject. He's not wrong about climate change in my opinion, since I'm just as worried about pollution and particulates as he is about warming, but Gore sadly missed out on this one by a mile.

I remember thinking Perot made more sense when he advocated trying to bring other nations wages up to ours in our trade agreements, not down to theirs. Perot even dealt with that problem by explaining how wages will meet at some low point, destroying our country. How can you argu with this, from Perot:

"You trade with people who made money, you don't trade with the people who oppress their workers and they don't have any money."

How will those workers buy our goods, our exports, if they make only a dollar or two a day?

Russia Decides to Save Earth from Killer Asteroids

Our Wisconsin Conservative Activist Supreme Court Justice Gableman

Zombie Reagan!

If the right wing wants to throw the name Ronald Reagan around again, then why not really bring him back...as a zombie. The Onion made the GOP dream come true.

Barry Lynn: "It is private governance of the political economy...system."

I found the following analysis eye opening from an Alternet interview.

Regarding Barry Lynn's new book, Cornered: The New Monopoly Capitalism and the Economics of Destruction:

Part of the problem with the Obama administration, which is the same problem with the Clinton adminisration, is … they buy into the basic framework of interpreting antitrust law as was put into place by Reagan. Before 1981, law ensured competition for the sake competition -- to protect the market system and to prevent the consolidation of control. Since 1981, they switch it to this consumer welfare test, which was defined basically as price. If the merger will bring a lower price, it’s approved. The Clinton people and now the Obama people -- who are largely the Clinton people -- accept the same framework.

One price of cheap is that you end up with less safe products. If you get to cheap through real competition and an open market system, in which you have a bunch of different independent companies competing to find a better way to do something, and you have regulation that doesn’t allow you to cut quality in order to cut prices, then you’ll end up with both increasing quality and safety and lower cost over time. That was the old system.

What we have now is lower prices delivered by brute power forced downwards onto producers. A company like Wal-Mart exercises authoritiarian power. “Last year,” they tell producers, “we paid you $100 for that grill, this year we’re only going to pay $90 and it’s up to you to figure out what you cut.” So over time that grill is going to be less and less sturdy. The food will become more and more adulterated. T-shirts will become thinner and thinner and made by children somewhere.

Q: You argue that free-market fundamentalists paved the way for the monopolization of the U.S. economy, and as a result, the current economic recession. Does the recession mark the end of such fundamentalism or are they reframing?

BL: This recession hasn’t ended this fundamentalism. What’s behind it is private governance of the political economy and eventually the politically system.

Some think of the free-market as a mechanical apparatus that yields certain outcomes and we can’t do much about what the market decides. Others see globalization as a natural force that leads us to an interconnected world where we will be increasingly tied to China or India. None of these forces actually exist. What you actually see are people using human-created institutions to manipulate others. We need wake up to the fact that Tom Friedman’s view of globalization is a lie, that Milton Friedman’s vision of the free-market as a mechanical apparatus is a lie … The first step to emancipating ourselves is to emancipate ourselves from those metaphysical lies -- these ideas that outside forces are controlling us.

The indoctrination is that we live in a market economy that determines globalization and everything else. I don’t know why this generation of Americans was more gullible. I can’t understand that. But it’s just a fact and we need to wake up.