by Jason on March 7, 2010
Tonight I was flipping through the news channels before I go to bed and happened to stop on Fox News and start watching Hannity, just at the moment when his panel was going to speak. The issue of Governor Palin came up discussing her appearance on The Tonight Show. I wasn’t surprised when Sean Hannity said how great she did and liberal news commentator Juan Williams made fun of her. But what I was shocked to see what Mr. Williams’ sexual objectification of Sarah Palin. According to NewsBusters:
HANNITY: That is great stuff. Do you think she is now for example the people who are attacking her, I think she has gone a long way to opening the door for people to say ‘alright maybe she was treated unfairly.’
WILLIAMS: No but she was very human and funny in that segment. It’s not going to convince seventy five percent of the American people who don’t think she’s qualified to be president, but clearly she’s a warm, attractive and I know that you think extremely attractive human being.
HANNITY: What does that mean, I think? What is that all about?
WILLIAMS: I think she is a superstar centerfold for conservative men.
CUPP: Ew, centerfold?
HANNITY: Why are you making this — I think she’s great. I think she’s gutsy. I think she’s courageous and I’ll tell you what, I think she’s smarter than Barack Obama. She wouldn’t lead us into this socialist utopia. She wouldn’t bow before–
WILLIAMS: You are just so wild on this point. That’s why I just excuse you my pal. I will say go right ahead Sean. You know, your libido is getting in the way of your thinking.
HANNITY: You ask me I’ll take Gov. Palin as president over Barack Obama. Who do you think?
Very interesting how Juan Williams keeps steering the conversation toward the sex appeal of Governor Sarah Palin, yet Sean Hannity keeps trying to address the issues.
My only question is this…Where are you my feminist friends? Where is your outrage? You can’t defend Sarah Palin from this type of sexism just because you don’t agree with her politically?
by Jason on March 7, 2010
This has been somewhat of a rough week. I’ve been battling the sinus infection/upper respiratory/cold/cough/flu that has been going around so much lately. Although the antibiotics perscribed by the doctor have not been helpful, I have been thinking a lot lately about those among us that must suffer in silence because they cannot afford to be seen by a doctor or other medical professional.
I have several objections to the health care reform bills passed by our Congress. Perhaps it is because I feel so sick right now that I don’t want to dealve into all if them at this time. But mainly it is due to my belief that we can wait no longer to act.
My personal empathy lies with the working poor. These are our mothers or fathers, our siblings, and our neighbors. These might be people that we rarely come into contact with as we sit isolated every weekend in our homes in the suburbs. These are the people that get up every day to go to a job in which they work forty hours or more a week for an employer that is too selfish to pay them a decent salary and provide even minimal health care benefits. Many times these hard-working people that play by the rules are not even paid a good enough salary to provide the basics for their families.
As someone that has many republican friends, and who is a former republican himself, I say to you that I am sick of hearing you argue that life is all about choices and personal responsibility. Should a mother have to choose between living in a neighborhood that is safe for her and her family and being able to get a mamogram that will one day save her life from breast cancer? Should she have gone to college and not had children whom she could not afford? Did I forget to mention that she is college educated and had those children before her husband left her? Should a fTher that works two jobs and never sees his children so that he may provide a very meager life for his family not be able to get a colonoscopy that will detect the cancer that will eventually rampage his body?
I am writing about the working poor. These are our friends and neighbors that go to work every day and make just above the poverty level to obtain government help. Would we rather them not work and get Medicaid?
The poorest of the poor among us do have access to basic health care although we could argue it’s standard of care. But there are far too many that have no access to anything. It often comes to the decision of pay the rent or go to the doctor; pay the rent or get the medication; pay the rent or file bankruptcy. If you don’t believe those stories than you truly are spending far too much time in your elitist worlds.
If this post sounds like I am angry..I am. I am no fan of Harry Reid or Nancy Pelosi. I feel they are taking our party far too left. Do I wish we could find a way to fund this system? Are there programs that could be cut? Heck yeah.
by Jason on March 4, 2010
According to an article in today’s Columbus Dispatch, Ohio is among the top finalists to receive money from the federal government through the “Race To the Top” program to increase achievement in our state. In the application, Ohio states that it will:
The state’s goals include: increasing the high school graduation rate to 88 percent, up 2 percent; reducing graduation rate gaps between minority and majority students by 50 percent; reducing performance gaps on state and national assessments by 50 percent; and reducing by half the gap between Ohio and the best performing states in the nation on national reading and math tests.
As an educator at the secondary and post-secondary levels, it is my opinion that we must focus most of our energy on reducing the achievement gap between majority and minority students. As we all know, there are a plethora of reasons for which this gap exists, but that does not mean that we should ever rest in our efforts to erase this gap.
More research must be done to develop new and innovative ways to reach all of our students. Until we can claim that our minority students score equal to the Caucasian students on measures such as grades, graduation rate, and standardized testing, then we continue to fail those students that need the most help.
by Jason on March 3, 2010
Pretty soon we will be back into full swing for the 2010 political campaign season. And as that time approaches, we will once again be bombarded with yard signs. Sometimes we drive by sign after sign any pay no attention at all. Without anything drawing our attention, who knows if it is a political campaign sign, a company’s yard sign, or something for a yard sale.
What an astute political candidate needs to draw your attention is exactly the same that a business does. You need colorful and creative yard signs. A boring white sign would be a waste of money. Whether you are in real estate, politics, or own your own business, Big Daddy’s Signs is your place to create beautiful yard signs to get the attention of all of us.
by Jason on February 22, 2010
I had a difficult time trying to think of a good title for this post. I read an article in the Christian Science Monitor today that discussed the bill sponsored by Senators Harkin and Shaheen that would drastically change how the senate has historically conducted business. Some democrats in the senate are lamenting the fact that since they no longer have the 60 votes needed to end a filibuster, the system is unfair. These democrats want to change the rules of the game so that they can force an agenda on a country that is speaking clearly through polling, and seems to be personified by the election of Senator Brown. According to the article:
“It’s time to end the gridlock that’s crippling our government and hurting our ability to tackle the big challenges facing our country,” said Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (D) of New Hampshire on Thursday as she and Sen. Tom Harkin (D) of Iowa introduced a bill aimed at curtailing the practice.
The Harkin-Shaheen proposal would gradually reduce the number of votes required to overcome a filibuster as time goes by. It might be seen as analogous to retail markdowns, in which merchandise on racks becomes cheaper the longer it remains unsold.
Under the Harkin proposal, the first vote for cloture (the term for ending a filibuster) would require 60 votes, as is current practice. But after a few days had passed, cloture would only require 57 votes. After a few more days, it would require 54, and so on. Eventually a bare majority of 51 votes would be enough.
I believe in a lot of the agenda that the democratic party is pursuing. I believe that we need healthcare reform, just not the bills that have been passed. I believe in immigration reform. I think that the most needy and vulnerable among us must be helped.
I also believe that even those this legislation is not likely to pass, it hurts our party. It makes us look weak in the eyes of the voter and it certainly can come back to haunt us after the 2010 elections. If Republicans win many seats in both houses of congress as polling seems to indicate they might, what do you think will happen when they are in charge?
by Jason on February 5, 2010
Well it has been snowing a lot today in central Ohio and I love snow! Many school districts dismissed classes early today but not in Westerville.
After work I braved the snow covered roads in my little Saturn to head over to Barnes and Noble to pick up a book to read as I planned on being snowed in…but I got four.
Looks like a busy weekend. What will you be doing?
Sent from my iPhone
Posted via email from rowsey’s posterous
by Jason on January 29, 2010
First of all I’d like to admit that I did not watch Governor Strickland’s State of the State Address this year. At that time, I was teaching so I didn’t get to see what has apparently turned into a big scandal: members of the Ohio legislature tweeting during the speech. In today’s Columbus Dispatch, the House Speaker is quoted as saying:
“Tweeting or whatever else people are doing in their seats other than participating in the legislative discussion is not in accord with the decorum of the institution,” said the Beachwood Democrat.
Furthermore:
The speaker also said that giving members access to text messages and e-mails while in the chamber strengthens the power of lobbyists, some of whom have been known to silently pass along messages to members during House and Senate sessions.
In the House, lobbyists are restricted to the balcony, giving them no direct access to members during a session unless members step outside the chamber.
“The reason we don’t allow communications from the floor already is because we don’t want lobbyists communicating with legislators while discussion of various bills is going forward,” Budish said. “We will make sure in the House that that does not occur.”
I wonder if people are so concerned because they are uneducated on the various new media formats, including twitter? Is the Speaker truly worried about the action of tweeting or even texting detracts from the prestige of the job that they hold?
Is it any different, or less distracting, than when you turn on CSPAN and see senators in the middle of a roll call vote engaged in their private conversations with colleagues?
It doesn’t bother me and I am a user of Twitter. I think it brings great advantages to the political dialogue. Isn’t it beneficial to know what our elected leaders are thinking on an issue at any given time? And especially if it is close to the time of a vote?
Perhaps the speaker is more worried about these texts and tweets becoming public record.
by Jason on January 25, 2010
I’ve avoided writing a blog entry on the terrible situation that the Hatians are experiencing after the earthquake, and all of the aftershocks. It is absolutely gut-wrenching to read the stories of these people and to see the death and destruction on TV. I truly hope that those of us that are able to contribute to the relief efforts have already done so, and perhaps more importantly, continue to do so. If you are still looking to donate, there are many organizations that need your assistance. You might try the Clinton-Bush Haiti Fund or you can text a donation to the Red Cross by texting “HAITI” to 90999. Your cell phone account will be charged $10. I think that is a very easy way to donate.
Today I read an article in the Columbus Dispatch about one of the orphans in Haiti that has come to live with her new adoptive mother in Central Ohio. I can’t imagine what these innocent chilrden have gone through. First, they have the misfortune of being orphaned. Then they suffer a catastrophic event and must be mentally effected more than any of us could possibly realize. They then come to the United States, or another country, to begin a life in a country where they do not speak the language, thus having now way to communicate with their new parents. Don’t get me wrong…I believe that adopting these children is the right thing to do and I applaud those that have done so.
It is nice to see an article about this horrible event that gives us all hope that for those that survived, there is a road to recovery and a new life ahead of them.
by Jason on January 25, 2010
I’ve been reading and watching a lot of news related to the economy. I think that most of us can agree that it is bad shape and that people are hurting. As an educator both in a high school and a college, I interact daily with a large cross-section of the population, and I see the effects that our economy is having on all of us. It may be a child whose parent lost her/his job and can no longer afford to pay the bills, or an adult that has been looking for a job for moonths. One situation that sticks out in my mind is that of a child whose father lost his job and their home went into foreclosure. No longer albe to support his children, they were forced to live with their aunt and uncle, who also had money problems of their own.
I say all of this to ask the question: who should take “credit” for this rotten economy? Does it continue to be the fault of President Bush or has blame now shifted to President Obama after having been president for one year and unemployment continues to rise? I want to know what you the reader thinks. I don’t have an answer to this question although I find myself pondering it from time to time.
Another question might be this: Does it matter whose fault it is anyway?
by Jason on January 13, 2010
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