The random political thoughts thread (Part Deux)

[Strangler Lewis]

Originally Posted by scaeagles

Of course bias can come through on a regular basis. I don't claim to be able to protect them from everything (nor should I). However, when something comes through like this that has (at least to me) very obvious opportunities to push political bias, I don't know why any parent wouldn't want to have an opportunity to be involved.

And yeah, Wilson gacked. Big time.

Depending on where one stands on the issue, one teacher's bias is another teacher's academic freedom.

[scaeagles]

Originally Posted by Strangler Lewis

Depending on where one stands on the issue, one teacher's bias is another teacher's academic freedom.

Indeed. And you would never hear me suggest that those biases not be perimtted in a university setting.

[scaeagles]

I agree, Sac. Which is why I've repeatedly said for my HS daughter, cool. No problems. Younger kids? Some sheltering is required and prudent.

[Gemini Cricket]

Yeah! We're #37!

[Betty]

Originally Posted by Gemini Cricket

Yeah! We're #37!

Shameful!

[JWBear]

Originally Posted by Betty

Shameful!

Which; the video, or that we're 37th?

[Betty]

Originally Posted by JWBear

Which; the video, or that we're 37th?

That we're 37th! And rather ironic when everyone is always putting France down and look who's #1.

[Gemini Cricket]

The normally nonchalant Barack Obama looked nonplussed, as Nancy Pelosi glowered behind.

Surrounded by middle-aged white guys — a sepia snapshot of the days when such pols ran Washington like their own men’s club — Joe Wilson yelled “You lie!” at a president who didn’t.

But, fair or not, what I heard was an unspoken word in the air: You lie, boy!
The outburst was unexpected from a milquetoast Republican backbencher from South Carolina who had attracted little media attention. Now it has made him an overnight right-wing hero, inspiring “You lie!” bumper stickers and T-shirts.

The congressman, we learned, belonged to the Sons of Confederate Veterans, led a 2000 campaign to keep the Confederate flag waving above South Carolina’s state Capitol and denounced as a “smear” the true claim of a black woman that she was the daughter of Strom Thurmond, the ’48 segregationist candidate for president. Wilson clearly did not like being lectured and even rebuked by the brainy black president presiding over the majestic chamber.

I’ve been loath to admit that the shrieking lunacy of the summer — the frantic efforts to paint our first black president as the Other, a foreigner, socialist, fascist, Marxist, racist, Commie, Nazi; a cad who would snuff old people; a snake who would indoctrinate kids — had much to do with race.
I tended to agree with some Obama advisers that Democratic presidents typically have provoked a frothing response from paranoids — from Father Coughlin against F.D.R. to Joe McCarthy against Truman to the John Birchers against J.F.K. and the vast right-wing conspiracy against Bill Clinton.

But Wilson’s shocking disrespect for the office of the president — no Democrat ever shouted “liar” at W. when he was hawking a fake case for war in Iraq — convinced me: Some people just can’t believe a black man is president and will never accept it.

Source
I think Dowd nails it in this op-ed.

[Alex]

Out of curiosity, do you shelter them from your political points of view? Or is the complaint more that you need the early years to make sure they're properly indoctrinated against other views?

[BarTopDancer]

Originally Posted by Alex

Out of curiosity, do you shelter them from your political points of view? Or is the complaint more that you need the early years to make sure they're properly indoctrinated against other views?

VAM.