Casual Observation

13 Comments

1. 

   DerFarm on January 8, 2016 at 2:52 pm

   Not a politician … or a shining example of humanity.

   A real politician or a real human being could have told the story without bringing attention to anyone single person in the room except himself.

2. 

   MNPundit on January 8, 2016 at 3:26 pm

   Your mayor over there in Philadelphia is sounding pretty reasonable today.

3. 

   Raypc800 on January 8, 2016 at 3:29 pm

   Yes and this is suppose to be an example of one of the best the GOP has to run for President? What an insensitive butt.

4. 

   Oui on January 8, 2016 at 3:30 pm

   Of course it was a poorly stated question by Ben Carson. Always amazing how a person of authority gets such a response from 5th graders. Christian schools are known for instances where obedience is preferred above respect for individual’s freedom. Education leading towards conformity.

   Private school review: Isaac Newton Christian Academy in Cedar Rapids

   Isaac Newton Christian Academy is a non-denominational, Christian school serving families in Cedar Rapids and the surrounding area. We are accredited by the State of Iowa and the Association of Christian Schools International (ACSI), and all of our teachers are State-certified.

   • Our mission is “Christlike Character — Academic Excellence”.
   • We have a rigorous academic program, and high test scores.
   • We teach all subjects from a Christian Biblical Worldview.  
   • We are known for developing caring, responsible, servant leaders and advanced students.

   • 

     Emily68 on January 9, 2016 at 8:30 am

     I wonder if the children at the Isaac Newton Academy are taught that gravity is only a theory.

5. 

   donnah on January 8, 2016 at 4:38 pm

   Here’s the thing: lots of people who are fans of Trump and Carson are following them because they’re “not politicians”. Well, guess what? Any politician with enough experience at least knows enough to ask questions that he already knows how to answer, or what to expect as a result. Stupid men shooting in the dark are going to do damage to their campaigns and their constituents.

   This is your candidate, Republicans. Good luck!

6. 

   Marie3 on January 8, 2016 at 5:29 pm

   In a proper secular school, there was a good chance that one of the kids would have said, “That’s not a nice question.”  And another would have added, “We’re all smart in different ways and not so smart in other ways.”  Alas, in “good” Christian schools, they do as they are told.

7. 

   Errol on January 8, 2016 at 5:45 pm

   silver lining:  he didn’t succeed in becoming an elementary school teacher

8. 

   on January 8, 2016 at 9:02 pm

   Not clear at all why you’re posting this crap. There are so many other, better topics. Are you possessed perhaps?

   • 

     Marie3 on January 8, 2016 at 11:37 pm

     I think it’s okay to use the “Casual Observation” posts to raise other topics/news that you and others might find interesting.  At least I haven’t been told “to cut it out” when I’ve done that.  Not that any of my O/T posts have generated much interest or discussion.

     One problem with top news stories is that they’re covered everywhere else and hundreds of mostly inane, irrelevant, partisan, etc. comments are quickly posted and that exhausts interest in the topic, often leaving it poorly considered or discussed.  

   • 

     Marie3 on January 9, 2016 at 2:40 pm

     Total silence here on Friedrichs vs. the California Teachers Association.  Mother Jones – This Case Could Strike a “Mortal Blow” to Unions.

     On Monday, the Supreme Court will hear a case that has been likened to Citizens United for its potentially far-reaching ramifications. Instead of eviscerating long-standing campaign finance laws, though, Friedrichs v. California Teachers Association threatens to strike a devastating blow to the nation’s labor movement. Spearheaded by a conservative legal group, the case was designed to weaken public employee unions by challenging a nearly 40-year-old decision that allows them to collect compulsory fees from all employees covered by collective bargaining agreements, even if those employees aren’t dues-paying union members.
     …

     Note: teachers can opt only to pay “fair share” dues that exclude all political activities of the union.

     The Guardian – Unions brace for supreme court case that could be a heavy blow to liberals

     With so few unionized workers left in the private sector, killing off public employee unions will effectively end the political clout they have.

     I’m sure we’ll get on this as soon as Kennedy makes his decision.  Then we can gnash our teeth, etc. and vote for one of the gangs that would prefer to privatize all public work.

     • 

       centerfielddj on January 10, 2016 at 3:00 pm

       I’m not sure what your conclusion refers to. You’re in California; you can see that “one of the gangs” wants to privatize public services, and the other gang does not. Because the gang who does not want to privatize all public services is in firm control in most of California, mass privatization has not taken place, and Union power remains meaningful here. You can see that States like Michigan and Wisconsin which gave full control to the gang who wants to privatize public services and damage Union power are doing so very aggressively.

       You can see that the only members of the Supreme Court who are certain to reject Friedrichs are the members nominated by Clinton and Obama.

       Maybe a portion of “getting on this” would be vocally supporting the Presidential candidate who would nominate and shepherd thru the confirmation process Supreme Court candidates who would reject the Friedrichs claim, and refraining from pretending that the Republican candidate would be part of the same gang on Labor issues.

   • 

     centerfielddj on January 10, 2016 at 2:44 pm

     Alternatively, you may start your own blog and cover the better topics. Do try to refrain from blog whoring over here, though.