(no subject)

I know the Republicans hate President Obama, and will stop at nothing to bring him down, but seriously, with our country in the shape it's in, is this really worth the time and money they are wasting to do this?

GOP Pettiness: Cut off Obama's Teleprompter
posted by: Robin Marty

In case there were any doubts that the Republicans aren't serious about reducing the deficit, and really just want to push their own narrow agenda and pet peeves, two proposals submitted, then retracted, from the budget debate last week perfectly exemplifies the new tone in Washington.

Via Fox News:


The House formally began debate, which is expected to last three days, Tuesday afternoon following some wrangling over the hundreds of amendments lawmakers want to attach to the package. More than 400 amendments were filed Monday night. Among them were a proposal from Rep. Steve Womack, R-Ark., to eliminate funding for the president's Teleprompter and one from Rep. Randy Neugebauer, R-Texas, to strip funding for the alteration, repair or improvement of the executive residence of the White House and instead divert that amount to deficit reduction.

Womack told Fox News Tuesday afternoon that he pulled his amendment because he wasn't able to get an estimate on how much it would save.

"I think we made our point," Womack said. "We're asking people to do more with less. And I think the president ought to lead by example. He is already a very gifted speaker. And I think that's one platform he could do without."

Mediaite also notes the utter pettiness in the GOP as they continue to try and score political points versus try to address real solutions to the deficit.


Now, if you’ll allow me to digress a bit, I’d like to tell a little story. Back in third grade, my class got its own class pet, a little hamster. My teacher decided that we should all vote on what to name it. To start, she allowed us all to write down suggestions and put them in a box so that she could read them aloud. I told the boys sitting next to me that we should suggest “Buttface.” They all thought it was hilarious and told me I had to do it. I did. It was almost read. Everyone laughed and I had to stay in during recess.

So, why did I tell this story? Because, I’m pretty sure this is basically how this proposal came together; with a lot of giggling, snickering, and at least a couple double-dog dares.

So, congratulations, Mr. Womack. You got your Buttface in there.

Next, I am certain that the the Republicans will offer an amendment proposing we balance the budget by asking the White House to buy only generic canned goods when they go grocery shopping.

Today's WTF Moment Brought to You By The Arvada, Co. School System and Police Department.....

11-Year-Old Arrested, Thrown In Jail, For Drawing Stick Figure
posted by: Judy Molland

In the past few days, I've written about a nine-year-old suspended for sticking a "Kick Me" post-it on a classmate, and a six-year-old sent to a psychiatric ward for penning a violent drawing.

Today I heard about an eleven-year-old who last October was arrested and hauled away in handcuffs for drawing a stick figure in school. Ironically, this was exactly what his therapist had told him to do.

Draw Pictures When You Are Upset

The student, in Arvada, Colorado, is being treated for Attention Deficit Disorder, and his therapist told him to draw pictures when he got upset, rather then disrupt his class. So he followed directions.

From KWGN in Denver:

Last October, he drew stick figures of himself with a gun, pointed at four other stick figures with the words "teacher must die."

He felt calmer and was throwing the picture away when the teacher saw it and sent him to the principal's office.

The school was aware that the boy was in treatment, determined he was not a threat, notified his parents and sent him back to class. His mother, "Jane" was shocked when Arvada Police showed up at their home later that night.

She says she told her son to cooperate and tell the truth, but was horrified when they told her they were arresting him and then handcuffed him and hauled him away in a patrol car. His mother says she begged police to let her drive her son to the police department and to let her stay with him through the booking process but they refused.

Hauled Off To Jail, Photographed, Fingerprinted

After that, they put him in a cell, took his mig shot and fingerprinted him. He says he thought he was going to jail and would never be able to go home again.

"Tim" is charged with a third degree misdemeanor, interfering with staff and students at an educational facility. The system says it's acting in everyone's best interests, but Tim's therapist says handcuffing an 11-year-old and putting him in a cell is over-reacting and does more harm than good.

"Tim" was not posing a threat to anyone in the classroom, and the youngster seemed well able to take care of himself.

What's Wrong With This System?

Furthermore, how did the police know about what this young man had drawn? Clearly, school officials decided to notify the police, and the system took over from there.

Let's Help The Students In Need

Isn't it about time that school officials learned the difference between students who are potentially violent and a threat to the student body, and those who just need some help and looking after?

(no subject)

I saw this on the news the other night and it just makes me happy. :)
Leave it to the older generation to do something.

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