The American "education" machine is broken!





Latest Analysis, Commentary and Opinion*
(The title of each article is linked to the complete article)

Tuesday, February 17, 2009

Sorting out fact from fiction in Arizona higher education
   EdukShun piece by GoldwaterInstitute: Dr. Matthew Ladner (2/17/09)

In response to an email we published last week, a high ranking official from one of Arizona’s universities sent an email to Arizona lawmakers. A number of claims were made, including “four-year graduation rates are not compared nationally.“ The email further claims that “by carefully selecting a handful of institutions with higher graduation rates, Ladner misrepresents the facts to create the world as he would like others to see it.“ Finally, there is some discussion of possible sources of error in graduation rates.

Investment Performance Expectations: WCM Fine Tuning
   Economics piece by Guest: Steve Selengut (2/17/09)

Contrary to popular belief and Wall Street propaganda, investing is not a competitive event. Rather, it is a uniquely personal, goal-directed activity that individuals must organize and control for themselves. Too few appreciate that it is a long-term enterprise and only a handful, at best, have discovered that DJIA and S & P 500 numbers are only useful at their extremes.

Foreign Spies Victimize US Businesses and Economy
   Crime piece by Jim Kouri (2/17/09)

The foreign intelligence threat within the United States is far more complex than it has ever been historically. The threat is increasingly asymmetrical insofar as it comes not only from traditional foreign intelligence services but also from nontraditional, non-state actors who operate from decentralized organizations.

Axelrod Insists White House Controls Census
   ObamaNation piece by Offsite (2/17/09)

White House political advisor David Axelrod says the Obama administration’s plan to take over the U.S. Census Bureau by placing it directly under the control of top White House officials will, nonetheless, remain in the hands of experts to run the program.

‘An Obama-Reagan Presidency?‘
   Elections piece by Offsite (2/17/09)

What’s the state of the republic - and its citizens - after completing another Presidents’ Day? It is a state of deep confusion. Here are some polls to ponder, as America considers presidents past and new. Brace yourself.

A Leftist in Labor
   Unions piece by Offsite (2/17/09)

Faced with the greatest economic downturn in decades, Barack Obama opted to put a far-Left ideologue in charge of labor-employer relations by nominating Hilda Solis his choice for Labor Secretary. Leftists swooned at the nomination. Solis has received significant support from such far-leftists as Nation magazine, Mother Jones, AlterNet, and the openly Socialist publication In These Times (which called her a “great choice for Labor”).

Litigation strategy prepared to battle ‘Fairness Doctrine’
   Big Brother piece by Offsite (2/17/09)

A law firm specializing in constitutional law has assembled a battle plan to oppose the re-installation of the so-called “Fairness Doctrine,“ which would apply a layer of government regulation to speech on America’s radio airwaves – just as an administration official is waffling on whether the rules are needed.

The Centennial of the NAACP - A Good Idea Turned Bad
   Politics piece by Bruce Walker (2/17/09)

The NAACP celebrates its 100th anniversary this month.  During the last forty years this once great civil rights organization has evolved into a hapless flack for the Democrat Party.  Once the NAACP was closely aligned with the Republican Party and once the NAACP stood for absolute legal and social equality.  Once strong and good black leaders understood which party represented the true principles of unprejudiced and fair legal and political systems.  That party was the Republican Party.

Why Conservatives “Suck” At Government!
   Government piece by J. D. Longstreet (2/17/09)

Shocking title, eh?  Well, it needn’t be. Heck, if you are a conservative, don’t be ashamed of it! Be PROUD of it! It means you are normal! We conservatives are awful when it comes to governing.

Looking to Make Good Money? Why Not Abuse Shelters!
   Economics piece by Carey Roberts (2/17/09)

In hard economic times, you have to be on the constant look-out for lucrative opportunities. So have you checked into the domestic violence industry?

Monday, February 16, 2009

‘Editorial: Will President Obama Survive The ObamaNation?‘
   ObamaNation piece by Editor (2/16/09)

The ObamaNation SUV is obviously being driven by Comrade Pelosi and Comrade Reid.  The “Socialism Stimulus Bill” has nothing to do with the stated purpose of one President Obama, if he is our President he will veto the mess and force a fresh start.

U.S. Mayors Request Funding For A Police State[?]
   Police State piece by Dave Gibson (2/16/09)

On the weekend of January 16-18, 2009, the U.S. Conference of Mayors held their annual meeting. At the top of their agenda was the growing economic crisis and how their own municipal budgets have been affected. Of course, their solution is to ask for a taxpayer-funded bailout. However, this bailout request looks more like the national defense budget for a small country, than a plea to keep the lights on in city hall.

Two People Make My Day: Glenn Beck And Rush Limbaugh
   Information piece by Malcolm T. Hedges (2/16/09)

Glenn is fresh, blunt, sharp and admits he was just a “disk jockey” in 2000.  Rush is more polished, equally blunt and most everybody knows he was a “disk jockey” before finding his true niche.  Each has his own offering and I consider them complimentary.

Kick these RINOs out of the zoo
   Republicrats piece by Offsite (2/16/09)

The “stimulus” was passed by Congress late on a Friday night. They often pass these things on Friday nights so we peasants and serfs can have the weekend to drink it off our minds, and hopefully we’ve forgotten about it come Monday. Not this time.

Anomaly: Muslim-Christian Accord
   Religion piece by Grant Swank (2/16/09)

It’s the Philippines.

‘Have We Become A Nation of Lemmings?‘
   Big Brother piece by Thomas D. Segel (2/16/09)

Harlingen, Texas, February 16, 2009:  When we reflect about the Lemming, if we have occasion to dwell on this animal at all, it brings to mind a dull, unthinking rodent who subjects his well to the first of his kind in line.  The Lemming mirrors the actions of his leader and mimes the leader’s movements, sometimes to his own detriment or destruction.

Walter B. Hoye II, civil rights leader unlawfully detained
   Progressivism piece by Offsite (2/16/09)

MT. FREEDOM, NJ - Just one month after celebrating Martin Luther King’s birthday, a black Pastor faces a 2-year jail term following a 9-month ordeal that began when he was arrested for peacefully witnessing in front of an Oakland, California, abortion facility.

The Politically Incorrect Black American Hero
   Political Correctness piece by Cliff Kincaid (2/16/09)

February is Black History Month. But Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas, who rose from poverty and overcame racism to become a leading black conservative thinker and jurist, wasn’t on the list of famous African Americans that my son brought home from school.

UC Irvine’s Anti-Israel, Anti-American Hate-Fest
   EdukShun piece by Offsite (2/16/09)

On January 31, 2009, a conference took place at UC Irvine (UCI) titled, “Whither the Levant? The Crisis of the Nation State: Lebanon, Israel, Palestine.“ Organized by the Levantine Cultural Center of Los Angeles and the Middle East Studies Student Initiative, the conference featured two documentaries about the 2006 war in southern Lebanon, three panel discussions, and a number of Middle East studies academics. In spite of the neutral sounding title, the conference was a one-sided exercise in bashing Israel and America.

The Hate-Bush Network, Minus Bush
   MSM piece by Offsite (2/16/09)

MSNBC flails without a target of hatred. - You won’t hear executives at MSNBC chanting “yes we can.“ The network that they cobbled together as a TV version of the left-wing screed Air America is in the ratings dumper. Advertising dollars that have never been easy are getting thinner.

Liberalism and Evil
   Progressivism piece by Offsite (2/16/09)

Academic Martha Nussbaum has been in the news of late with her utopian rhapsody of the brotherhood of man and the “community of human beings in the entire world,” dismissing the concept of borders as arbitrary and patriotism as injurious to the soul. Thankfully, President Obama has not gone that far; nevertheless, he is determined to talk to his sworn enemies on the assumption that we all have common interests and share similar fundamental goals. Such a program bespeaks the resurgence of a political romanticism wedded to motives rather than consequences, unachievable ideals rather than practical values - a position that has been largely endorsed by the ideology of the contemporary liberal-left.

Obama didn’t OK Palestinian migration to U.S.
   Middle East piece by Offsite (2/16/09)

TEL AVIV, Israel - Contrary to some news media reports, President Obama did not authorize Palestinian “refugees” to migrate to the U.S. as part of emergency assistance following Israel’s 22-day war against Hamas in the Gaza Strip.

Regardless of your political affiliation you must understand we are in real trouble
   ObamaNation piece by Guest: Carolyn Hileman (2/16/09)

First you establish emergency centers on military bases under the guise of having emergency help available to the people in case of emergency, then code all handgun and assault weapon ammunition and require disposal of all non coded ammunition, that is held by a citizen or a vendor, add a 50% tax increase to gasoline to cover road maintenance, add to that a requirement that all hand guns, semiautomatic firearms that can accept any detachable ammunition feeding device be licensed in the entire country. Order 50,000 troops to be deployed inside the country also request the help of troops from neighboring countries to help with maintaining the peace inside your country. It sounds a lot like someone is trying to take over a country, and is afraid of resistance and that somebody is our president, I really wanted to believe that everything we were hearing and reading up to the elections was just hype, one party saying things about another at the hopes of winning a vote or two. But every thing that I just outlined is either already in the works in some states or is in a bill that will easily pass both house and senate because they have no real resistance now that they have the majority in both houses and a few turn coats willing to sell out the Americans right along with them.

‘Obama to Hold ‘Fiscal Responsibility Summit’... So Who’s Gonna Teach HIM?‘
   Economics piece by Warner Todd Huston (2/16/09)

In January, then president-elect Obama announced that sometime in February he intended to hold what he was calling a “fiscal responsibility summit” as he would be planning his proposal for the 2010 budget. Apparently it will be held on February 23(1), most likely at the White House.

What To Do About Nadya
   Society piece by Bruce Walker (2/16/09)

The sick case of Nadya Suleman and her octuplets is a symptom of where our society is going.  Look for more multiple births by self-centered women intent only on welfare largess and shock publicity.  The creation of life as a voucher for social welfare benefits is simply sin.  We all sense that.  But, because life itself is sacred, we often hesitate before condemning maternity, even this macabre maternity.

Dissenting Views
   Progressivism piece by Guest: Robert Rohlfing (2/16/09)

We have listened to those that would like to say that dissent should be outlawed, these same people like to equate any differing opinions and view points as hate speech, racist speech you name it they all have the slogans to want to pass this through. Some will try to use this so called Fairness doctrine to try and silence those that speak with differing views and point out things that they disapprove of or that they deem offensive.

I Got Your Stimulus Package Right Here, Pal!
   Economics piece by Thomas Lindaman (2/16/09)

By the time you read this, the Pork-A-Palooza bill masquerading as a stimulus package will most likely be law or be close to being law. And really, aren’t we all glad of that? Where would we be if we didn’t spend billions on contraceptives to get out of the bad economy? Then again, I can understand why Congress wants to spend so much on contraceptives, given how much they love to screw the taxpayer.

New US Socialist Government Prepares To Censor Radio Broadcasters
   ObamaNation piece by J. D. Longstreet (2/16/09)

Acting FCC Chair, Michael Copps, is reported to have said the new political climate marks a new opportunity to remake the nation’s airwaves so that they can better reflect the country’s diversity.

Now we know what change really means
   ObamaNation piece by Guest: Carolyn Hileman (2/16/09)

Well now it looks like we are well on our way to paying for the so-called stimulus bill, now before everyone gets out the horns and confetti to celebrate lets see what you are going to be celebrating shall we as of right now if you are a married couple you are going to be getting $25.00 per week extra on your paychecks and if you are single a whopping $13.00, Americans on Social Security and veterans receiving disability and pensions can expect a one-time extra payment of $250 this spring. There would be an extra $25 a week in unemployment checks for more than 5 million out-of-work Americans and those checks would keep coming through the end of the year. Food stamps would also be increased along with welfare payments.

Why Our Enemies Are Laughing at Us
   National Security piece by Doug Patton (2/16/09)

Remember how liberals told us that America would be respected again, by friend and foe alike, once Barack Obama and his Democrat allies in Congress were in charge of everything? Well, welcome to the real world, where friend and foe alike are either laughing at us, aghast at our stupidity or making plans to kill us.