I watched Barack Obama's speech to school kids today. It was bland. It was boring. After much public outcry, the part where he was to ask kids to help him was removed. The final version was pretty tame, and the outcry was, well, somewhat overblown. However, I had at least four problems with the speech:
Problem #1: Rock Star Intro
The speech opened with Sec. of Education Arne Duncan introducing some kid who then introduced Obama. The problem with that is the rock star nature of the presentation. Rather than give the boring, bland speech from his desk, the White House felt it necessary to have a rousing introduction with a roomful of vetted friendlies giving him a rousing ovation. Now, that's clever politics. It is also inappropriate to the stated intention of the speech.
Problem #2: Cult of Personality
The White House knew exactly what they were doing when they set up Obama's rock star reception. The subliminal message to the kids - especially those who will be old enough to vote in 2012, is simple: Barack Obama is your Great Father. Der Uber Fater. Your Hero. Your Great Leader. A pop icon. Why else would the White House have not done the traditional address from the quiet Oval Office?
Problem #3: Overblown Production
Obama presented a very tame motivational speech kids, which could more easily (and less expensively) have been done from the Oval Office in the White House. Instead, Obama had to travel to Wakefield High School in nearby Arlington, Virginia. That required the usual heavy Secret Service details, a lot of security advance work, setting up a remote video production operation, local police work, and streets tied up for the motorcade. All that bother and expense to tell kids what kids should be told by their teachers and parents every day.
Problem #4: The Entire Speech Was Hypocritical
Actually, this is not a problem, per se. It does, however, show us the hypocrisy of Obama and of the Democrat Party. In his speech, Obama repeatedly told school kids to be responsible, to work hard, to never give up, to be self-reliant. Nice words, which I agree with, but none of those values are encouraged by the Obama or the Democrats in deed. Ever since the New Deal of President Franklin Roosevelt, Americans have been told more and more that they are entitled to government care and coddling. Many of the kids who watched the speech today were born into an entitlement subculture, created and nurtured by the Democrats, that conditions them to expect free government cheese every day of their lives.
I had to chuckle many times as the most radical Leftist ever to sit in the Oval Office presented a very conservative message of self-reliance and hard work, and he did it with a straight face.
RELATED:
Barack Obama Likes Them Young
Devastation of American Society by the Liberal Movement: Part I and Part II
How Media Created Obama's Cult of Personality
Stalin and the "Cult of Personality"
Stefan Landsberger's Chinese Propaganda Poster Pages--Mao Cult
Fascist Personality Cults: Deconstructing Personality Cult Theory
Video: Living Colour - Cult Of Personality
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Showing posts with label Arne Duncan. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Arne Duncan. Show all posts
Obama's School Speech and the Cult of Personality
Watch recorded video of the Obama School Speech HERE (below).
I watched Barack Obama's speech to school kids today. It was bland. It was boring. After much public outcry, the part where he was to ask kids to help him was removed. The final version was pretty tame, and the outcry was, well, somewhat overblown. However, I had at least four problems with the speech:
Problem #1: Rock Star Intro
The speech opened with Sec. of Education Arne Duncan introducing some kid who then introduced Obama. The problem with that is the rock star nature of the presentation. Rather than give the boring, bland speech from his desk, the White House felt it necessary to have a rousing introduction with a roomful of vetted friendlies giving him a rousing ovation. Now, that's clever politics. It is also inappropriate to the stated intention of the speech.
Problem #2: Cult of Personality
The White House knew exactly what they were doing when they set up Obama's rock star reception. The subliminal message to the kids - especially those who will be old enough to vote in 2012, is simple: Barack Obama is your Great Father. Der Uber Fater. Your Hero. Your Great Leader. A pop icon. Why else would the White House have not done the traditional address from the quiet Oval Office?
Problem #3: Overblown Production
Obama presented a very tame motivational speech kids, which could more easily (and less expensively) have been done from the Oval Office in the White House. Instead, Obama had to travel to Wakefield High School in nearby Arlington, Virginia. That required the usual heavy Secret Service details, a lot of security advance work, setting up a remote video production operation, local police work, and streets tied up for the motorcade. All that bother and expense to tell kids what kids should be told by their teachers and parents every day.
Problem #4: The Entire Speech Was Hypocritical
Actually, this is not a problem, per se. It does, however, show us the hypocrisy of Obama and of the Democrat Party. In his speech, Obama repeatedly told school kids to be responsible, to work hard, to never give up, to be self-reliant. Nice words, which I agree with, but none of those values are encouraged by the Obama or the Democrats in deed. Ever since the New Deal of President Franklin Roosevelt, Americans have been told more and more that they are entitled to government care and coddling. Many of the kids who watched the speech today were born into an entitlement subculture, created and nurtured by the Democrats, that conditions them to expect free government cheese every day of their lives.
I had to chuckle many times as the most radical Leftist ever to sit in the Oval Office presented a very conservative message of self-reliance and hard work, and he did it with a straight face.
RELATED:
Barack Obama Likes Them Young
Devastation of American Society by the Liberal Movement: Part I and Part II
How Media Created Obama's Cult of Personality
Stalin and the "Cult of Personality"
Stefan Landsberger's Chinese Propaganda Poster Pages--Mao Cult
Fascist Personality Cults: Deconstructing Personality Cult Theory
Video: Living Colour - Cult Of Personality
Cool Hats & Shirts for Cool Conservatives
Leave a Comment...
Chicago News Bench RSS Feed
We're on Twitter...
I watched Barack Obama's speech to school kids today. It was bland. It was boring. After much public outcry, the part where he was to ask kids to help him was removed. The final version was pretty tame, and the outcry was, well, somewhat overblown. However, I had at least four problems with the speech:
Problem #1: Rock Star Intro
The speech opened with Sec. of Education Arne Duncan introducing some kid who then introduced Obama. The problem with that is the rock star nature of the presentation. Rather than give the boring, bland speech from his desk, the White House felt it necessary to have a rousing introduction with a roomful of vetted friendlies giving him a rousing ovation. Now, that's clever politics. It is also inappropriate to the stated intention of the speech.
Problem #2: Cult of Personality
The White House knew exactly what they were doing when they set up Obama's rock star reception. The subliminal message to the kids - especially those who will be old enough to vote in 2012, is simple: Barack Obama is your Great Father. Der Uber Fater. Your Hero. Your Great Leader. A pop icon. Why else would the White House have not done the traditional address from the quiet Oval Office?
Problem #3: Overblown Production
Obama presented a very tame motivational speech kids, which could more easily (and less expensively) have been done from the Oval Office in the White House. Instead, Obama had to travel to Wakefield High School in nearby Arlington, Virginia. That required the usual heavy Secret Service details, a lot of security advance work, setting up a remote video production operation, local police work, and streets tied up for the motorcade. All that bother and expense to tell kids what kids should be told by their teachers and parents every day.
Problem #4: The Entire Speech Was Hypocritical
Actually, this is not a problem, per se. It does, however, show us the hypocrisy of Obama and of the Democrat Party. In his speech, Obama repeatedly told school kids to be responsible, to work hard, to never give up, to be self-reliant. Nice words, which I agree with, but none of those values are encouraged by the Obama or the Democrats in deed. Ever since the New Deal of President Franklin Roosevelt, Americans have been told more and more that they are entitled to government care and coddling. Many of the kids who watched the speech today were born into an entitlement subculture, created and nurtured by the Democrats, that conditions them to expect free government cheese every day of their lives.
I had to chuckle many times as the most radical Leftist ever to sit in the Oval Office presented a very conservative message of self-reliance and hard work, and he did it with a straight face.
RELATED:
Barack Obama Likes Them Young
Devastation of American Society by the Liberal Movement: Part I and Part II
How Media Created Obama's Cult of Personality
Stalin and the "Cult of Personality"
Stefan Landsberger's Chinese Propaganda Poster Pages--Mao Cult
Fascist Personality Cults: Deconstructing Personality Cult Theory
Video: Living Colour - Cult Of Personality
Cool Hats & Shirts for Cool Conservatives
Leave a Comment...
Chicago News Bench RSS Feed
We're on Twitter...
Olympian Lies and School Grades Manipulation
Chicago's Mayor Richard M. Daley is a liar. So are Ron Huberman and Arne Duncan, the current and former chiefs of Chicago Public Schools respectively.
Here's why, plain and simple: (1) The "improved grades" of Chicago public school children is largely false, a lie perpetrated and probably instigated by Huberman, and probably with Daley's blessing, and (2) Daley's wild claims that the 2016 Olympics would give Chicago a massive profit are roundly shot down by experts.
(1) Daley's Olympic Economics Fantasies Crain's Chicago Business noted this past week that Daley's fantastical claims "that the 2016 Olympics would give Chicago's economy a $22.5-billion boost vastly overstates the likely benefits of hosting the games, experts say."
The Crain's report continued (emphasis added): "That's crazy," says Victor Matheson, a professor of economics at College of the Holy Cross in Massachusetts who has studied the economic impact of the Olympics. "Anyone using this $22.5-billion number as justification to vote for the Olympics is being led down the garden path." The figure far exceeds estimated benefits in forecasts prepared by other cities that have sought the games. Atlanta, for example, figured the games it hosted in 1996 would produce an economic jolt of just $7 billion in 2009 dollars. (See the full article...)
Professor Matheson doesn't live in Chicago. It's doubtful that he has a partisan interest in the pro vs. con Chicago 2016 argument. It's undoubtedly safe to say that he knows a hell of lot more about the economics of hosting an Olympics than does Richard M. Daley, and that Matheson is more objective about it. We already knew in June that Daley lied when he said that the taxpayers would not lose a dime if Chicago get the Olympics, and the ill-fated meeting in Switzerland proved it. At the meeting, Daley announced that he would "sign the standard Olympic host city contract, which would give the city full financial responsibility for mounting the 2016 Summer Games." (Source) In other words, Chicago taxpayers would get stuck holding the bag if or when the Chicago Olympics loses money.
(2) The Chicago Public Schools Grades Conspiracy Many of us have known for a long time that claims of Chicago school kids' grades improving is a huge exaggeration, if not an outright lie. Now, thanks to the Chicago Sun-Times, we know that grades have been artificially raised in large numbers. An August 29 article, titled "1 in 5 Chicago Public High School teachers say they felt pressure to change grades last school year" demonstrates this with sharp clarity. The report surveyed more than 1,200 Chicago Teachers Union members and sheds light on how desperate city officials are to give the illusion of improvement where there is none.
An excerpt from that article: The findings raise serious questions about whether some of the data used to judge Chicago public schools has been inflated, artificially manipulated -- or in some cases outright altered.
Back in June, Greg Hinz wrote about the horrible failure of Chicago's public (government-run) schools. In his blog at Crain's Chicago Business, Hinz wrote this (emphasis added): Half of the students drop out by high school, and of those who remain until 11th grade, 70% fail to meet state standards, the report says. In fact, "In the regular (non-magnet) neighborhood high schools, which serve the vast preponderance of students, almost no students are prepared to succeed in college." The report directly challenges widespread claims by current and former CPS officials that local students have shown substantial progress over the last decade on standardized tests.
Hinz cites a stunning June, 2009 report (see the PDF) by the Civic Committee of The Commercial Club of Chicago, which condemns Chicago's public schools in it conclusion (emphasis added): CPS has reported that Chicago s elementary schools have made enormous progress in the course of the past decade - achieving double-digit increases in all grades and all subjects. This claim jarringly conflicts with the flat trends reported in the high schools, and is contrary to the NAEP ("Nation s Report Card”) results. The remarkable apparent progress in the elementary schools appears to be due mostly to changes in the ISAT tests and testing procedures - rather than real improvement in student learning.
Without saying so directly, the report calls Daley, Huberman and Duncan liars.
So we'll say it for them: Daley, Huberman, and Duncan are liars.
Schools-Related (Olympics-Related follows):
Olympics-Related:
Here's why, plain and simple: (1) The "improved grades" of Chicago public school children is largely false, a lie perpetrated and probably instigated by Huberman, and probably with Daley's blessing, and (2) Daley's wild claims that the 2016 Olympics would give Chicago a massive profit are roundly shot down by experts.
(1) Daley's Olympic Economics Fantasies Crain's Chicago Business noted this past week that Daley's fantastical claims "that the 2016 Olympics would give Chicago's economy a $22.5-billion boost vastly overstates the likely benefits of hosting the games, experts say."
The Crain's report continued (emphasis added): "That's crazy," says Victor Matheson, a professor of economics at College of the Holy Cross in Massachusetts who has studied the economic impact of the Olympics. "Anyone using this $22.5-billion number as justification to vote for the Olympics is being led down the garden path." The figure far exceeds estimated benefits in forecasts prepared by other cities that have sought the games. Atlanta, for example, figured the games it hosted in 1996 would produce an economic jolt of just $7 billion in 2009 dollars. (See the full article...)
Professor Matheson doesn't live in Chicago. It's doubtful that he has a partisan interest in the pro vs. con Chicago 2016 argument. It's undoubtedly safe to say that he knows a hell of lot more about the economics of hosting an Olympics than does Richard M. Daley, and that Matheson is more objective about it. We already knew in June that Daley lied when he said that the taxpayers would not lose a dime if Chicago get the Olympics, and the ill-fated meeting in Switzerland proved it. At the meeting, Daley announced that he would "sign the standard Olympic host city contract, which would give the city full financial responsibility for mounting the 2016 Summer Games." (Source) In other words, Chicago taxpayers would get stuck holding the bag if or when the Chicago Olympics loses money.
(2) The Chicago Public Schools Grades Conspiracy Many of us have known for a long time that claims of Chicago school kids' grades improving is a huge exaggeration, if not an outright lie. Now, thanks to the Chicago Sun-Times, we know that grades have been artificially raised in large numbers. An August 29 article, titled "1 in 5 Chicago Public High School teachers say they felt pressure to change grades last school year" demonstrates this with sharp clarity. The report surveyed more than 1,200 Chicago Teachers Union members and sheds light on how desperate city officials are to give the illusion of improvement where there is none.
An excerpt from that article: The findings raise serious questions about whether some of the data used to judge Chicago public schools has been inflated, artificially manipulated -- or in some cases outright altered.
Back in June, Greg Hinz wrote about the horrible failure of Chicago's public (government-run) schools. In his blog at Crain's Chicago Business, Hinz wrote this (emphasis added): Half of the students drop out by high school, and of those who remain until 11th grade, 70% fail to meet state standards, the report says. In fact, "In the regular (non-magnet) neighborhood high schools, which serve the vast preponderance of students, almost no students are prepared to succeed in college." The report directly challenges widespread claims by current and former CPS officials that local students have shown substantial progress over the last decade on standardized tests.
Hinz cites a stunning June, 2009 report (see the PDF) by the Civic Committee of The Commercial Club of Chicago, which condemns Chicago's public schools in it conclusion (emphasis added): CPS has reported that Chicago s elementary schools have made enormous progress in the course of the past decade - achieving double-digit increases in all grades and all subjects. This claim jarringly conflicts with the flat trends reported in the high schools, and is contrary to the NAEP ("Nation s Report Card”) results. The remarkable apparent progress in the elementary schools appears to be due mostly to changes in the ISAT tests and testing procedures - rather than real improvement in student learning.
Without saying so directly, the report calls Daley, Huberman and Duncan liars.
So we'll say it for them: Daley, Huberman, and Duncan are liars.
Schools-Related (Olympics-Related follows):
- Survey: Teachers pressured to change grades - ABC7Chicago.com
- Chicago Arne Duncan presided over a schools grade changing scandal - Examiner.com
- The horror of Chicago school reform - Examiner.com
- CPS president subpoenaed - Chicago Sun-Times
- Grand jury investigating Chicago Public Schools - Chicago Sun-Times
- Chicago public-school reform flops, biz-backed report says - Crain's Chicago Business
- Daley Lies About Chicago Public Schools - Welcome To Daleyland
- Still Left Behind, Student Learning in Chicago's Public Schools - Report (PDF) from the Civic Committee of The Commercial Club of Chicago, June 2009
Olympics-Related:
- Chicago's 2016 Olympics bid: Deeper look shows potential financial pitfalls - Chicago Tribune
- Daley seeks more graft from Olympics - The Daily Blank
- Mayor Daley: Big Olympic Spender - Chicago Reader
- Daley ally will be asked about Olympics land deal - Chicago Tribune
- Daley declines to answer questions about insider's Olympics deal - Chicago Tribune
- Flores On Daley's Olympic Guarantee: "Enough Is Enough" - Progress Illinois
Teachers to Protest Arne Duncan Chicago Visit, June 19
A group of Chicago educators plan a protest against U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan in when he visits the city on Friday, June 19. The Caucus of Rank-and-File Educators (CORE) is upset about what they call Duncan's "draconian" turnarounds, which they explain as programs whereby "every employee at a school is fired, including teachers, cafeteria staff, administration."
From their June 17 press release:
On Friday, June 19th, 2009, the Caucus of Rank-and-File Educators (CORE) will hold a demonstration against “turnarounds” and other policies promoted by current Secretary of Education Arne Duncan outside of the Hyatt Regency Chicago (151 E. Wacker Drive) from 8:00 AM until 9:30 AM. Duncan is theguest of honor for a breakfast reception at the hotel sponsored by education policy group Advance Illinois. CORE will be holding a press conference atthe demonstration at 9:15 AM. (See the full press release here.)
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The Huberman Stink
Did something die under a couch in here? No, that smell is Ron Huberman, Chicago Mayor Daley's Waterboy and newest head of Chicago Public Schools. When the Blagojevich Crime Spree was finally crushed as the Illinois Senate removed him from office this week, it seemed like Chicago politics might become ho-hum until Blago's federal criminal trial begins.
Silly us. Chicago politics is never ho-hum.
But like a late Christmas gift, Mayor Daley named Ron Huberman to replace Arne Duncan as head of Chicago Public Schools. Chicago's City Council could still reject Huberman, and a number of local leaders are calling on them to do just that.
Duncan was chosen by Barack Obama to be the nation's Secretary of Education, which means that every American will now be guaranteed a Chicago-quality schooling experience (be afraid, be very afraid). Huberman, until a few days ago the head of the inept Chicago Transit Authority (CTA), will undoubtedly bring his CTA style to the local government schools (be afraid, be very, very afraid). This has caused much outrage in Chicago. Many people are upset with the choice of Huberman. A sampling of that outrage follows:
Ron Huberman "in over his head"
Black leaders say no to Huberman for CPS
Black leaders lament Huberman appointment
Selection of Huberman just a bad choice
Daley's appointment fishy
Ron Huberman booed, heckled at his 1st school board meeting
Jesse Jackson Slams Choice Of Huberman As New CPS Chief
Some Teacher's Don't Want Huberman
Why Daley Is Wrong to Move Huberman
Transit Riders Still Second-Class in Second City
Unauthorized BIO on Ron Hubberman
Hubba Hubba Huberman!...
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Ron Huberman Next CPS Chief?
God Help Chicago. There are hot rumors out there that CTA chief Ron "Caboose" Huberman might replace Arne Duncan's old position as the head of Chicago Public Schools (source) . Duncan just became the new US Secretary of Education in the Obama Administration. Huberman is a slick salesman and former cop who has trouble balancing budgets, assuring the safety of CTA customers and making trains run on schedule, but Mayor Daley apparently has him on a list of people to run the schools? Huberman seems to be Daley's Golden Boy. In September, 2007 Huberman was on Daley's short list for the position of Superintendent of Police.
Are we to believe that there aren't several principals out there who could run CPS better than Ronnie Huberman? Gimme a break.
ALSO:
Could CTA's Huberman Be Getting an Education?
Douche of the Day: Ron Huberman
Joe Moore's CTA Hysteria Derailed
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FLASH: OBAMA PICKS DUNCAN FOR EDUCATION SECRETARY
BREAKING: Obama has picked Chicago's school czar Arne Duncan to be the next Secretary of Education. God help us. Now the fu@%ed up Chicago school system will go national. Parents across the nation: Time to consider home schooling! Lynn Sweet has the full scoop. Lynn Sweet has the full scoop at her Sun-Times blog...
RELATED:
Name by name, Obama's Cabinet taking shape - Kansas City Star
Mayor Daley wants Duncan to stay
CPS Students Get Voice in Battling Dropout Rate NBC Chicago
The Education of Barack Obama
Uptown Update: A Whole Lotta Nothin' Goin' On
ILLINOIZE: Half-Truth from the Rev. and State Senator James Meeks
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