Wow

Finally some time after all these months. After my major sucesses in healthcare and the economy, I have some time for my favorite thing- posting to this blog.

Cheating on CRCT absolutely rampant!

This article provides a list of all the schools that were flagged because more than 25% of classrooms had answer sheets with wrong-to-right changes in excess of three standard deviations above the norm. Forty-three Atlanta Public Schools are on the list.

Exceeding three standard deviations is expected to happen only in 0.15% of the cases, so the state has clearly set an extremely conservative rule in order to avoid unfairly tainting any school's reputation. The odds of hitting this rule without there being cheating in at least some of that 25% of classrooms is literally infinitesimal (so small as to be unmeasurable).

And even more astounding, there are schools on the list where 80%+ of classrooms exceeded this amount. ALL FOUR of these were within the Atlanta Public Schools system.

* Frank L Stanton Elementary, 83.30%

* Peyton Forest Elementary, 86.10%

* Gideons Elementary, 88.40%

* Parks Middle, 89.50%

With school rates this insanely high it strains credibility that these were individual teachers acting alone, and with 58% of all elementary schools in Atlanta Public Schools implicated it strains credibility that these were individual principals acting alone. Numbers like this can only point to the top of the system's administration. Either the superintendent Beverly Hall was in on it or she is a blithering idiot of monumental proportions. Either way, she has to go. Now!

The Irresistible Force

Watching the latest attempt of the liberal juggernaut to pass socialized medicine made me think about both the inexorable march this country has been taking to the left since the Progressive era of 1900-1920 and the ending point of that vision that is Western Europe today.

Liberals always think that they know what's best for us, so they will never give up their relentless push to take over more and more of our lives. No part of the liberal vision that becomes law is ever rolled back.

The Federal Reserve, the income tax, and the direct election of senators were horrible ideas in 1913, but they became law, and nearly a century later they are a permanent part of our political landscape.

The New Deal was a horrible idea in the 1930s, but it became law, and 70 years later most of its components are still with us.

The Great Society was a horrible idea in the 1960s, but it became law, and 40 years later all of its components (and many many more) are still with us.

And on it goes. One can sympathize with William F. Buckley's desire to "stand athwart history, yelling stop." And here we (conservatives) are again, at another crossroad, probably an even more important one than the three big liberal pushes of the 20th century. We must be the immovable object to counter the liberal irresistible force. We must not under any circumstances compromise, thinking that a slight retreat will prevent a rout. All this will do is embolden liberals to take what we offer and begin plotting how to take more. Health reform must not pass, with our without a public option.

Is Obama's Acceptance of the Nobel Constitutional?

(Sorry, I'm a little late on this, because, well, I've been a bit busy lately with life and it's curveballs.)

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Tell me, Mr. President, Mr. Constitutional Scholar, Sir, is there a precedent on a sitting president's acceptance of awards from foreign interests?

J.P. Feire of the Washington Examiner thinks so...

It looks like the Times editorial page is endorsing the very definition of foreign meddling in domestic affairs. Foreigners validating and then rewarding certain approaches while repudiating others is not appropriate, regardless of whether it's coming from six nations or six Norwegians.

So what is the propriety of a sitting wartime president accepting an award from a foreign committee that is merely an expression of repudiation for the behavior of his predecessor? It is especially concerning because undoubtedly, Obama's partisans will use the credential to grant him greater legitimacy in foreign policy among his own people.

That's an open question. But our democratic system already provides an outlet for such a repudiation, and it is the only kind that matters because it is the will of the American people. All others should be given the Giuliani treatment: Thanks, but no thanks.

This strikes at the heart of what I posted on Friday. The purpose of the discussion of the emoluments clause was to look at the constitutionality of Obama's acceptance of the prize. Even Teddy Roosevelt made it clear there was a discomfort with the legitimating power of the Nobel committee; Roosevelt refused to accept the prize until his term was up, and even then, he jumped through hoops to work with Congress to determine the use of the prize money.

Indeed, taking out your handy little pocket Constitution from The Heritage Foundation (get your free copy here), we read in Article I, Section 9,

"No Title of Nobility shall be granted by the United States: And no Person holding any Office of Profit or Trust under them, shall, without the Consent of the Congress, accept of any present, Emolument, Office, or Title, of any kind whatever, from any King, Prince, or foreign State."

Eugene, founder of the Volokh Conspiracy and a real lawyer (he doesn't just play one on TV) muddies the waters further, like any good lawyer will do. Just read it as a whole - it's difficult to excerpt without losing the intent of the entire argument. He poses some excellent questions.

Of course, we all know that Obama immediately accepted the award, gushing with false humility. His ego wouldn't have allowed otherwise, regardless of any question of constitutionality, propriety, or just good-ol'-American-common-sense. Did the Nobel committee have a vision of future and thus hastened the prize, while they still could?

...this is a preemptive prize, because the Committee looked ahead to the insane nuclear winter and global Muslim/non-Muslim war Obama’s fecklessness is bringing into being and they knew: he makes a desert, and calls it peace. Since the Committee can confidently expect that, once Obama does what he does best, there will be no more prizes, now was the time for a preemptive award.

One unanticipated accomplishment was the uniting of the blogosphere altogether. To date, never has the world heard such a collective cyber-"huh?!?" Making history, anyway he can.

While Obama is Obama's favorite subject, it is too bad he won't talk about other things...you know things that effect our nation, our security, our sovereignty, our economy, our future. Why attack a network or a radio personality when he should be looking at rogue nations that are planning to attack US. Here. Soon. That is so unpresidential. He could stop so much with just a word, or a caution. But he chooses not to, and therein is the rub. He quietly stokes the destruction.

“Prove that you did not do what I said you did,” is not journalism. It is, frankly, the tactic of the schoolyard bully and the fascist. They are often one and the same. And they’ve learned that once a headline is “out there” retractions and corrections don’t much matter, to the narrative.

Camille Paglia (Salon) notes that Obama's trusted circle of advisors are, well, shall we say small-minded?

Obama is approaching a turning point which will define his political future, if he has one. He is surrounded by some mighty small potatoes who need shoveling into the dumpster. The petty provincials need to go, and far more sophisticated and world-savvy analysts must urgently be brought on board.

and that the Nobel timing is just awful for him, personally:

It's true he has accomplished nothing thus far and did not remotely deserve the Nobel Peace Prize, a gift carrying a terrible curse. The Nobel should have been the crown of Obama's career and not the butt of jokes.

But the Office is not supposed to be about the Man, is it? Has anyone told Obama that yet?

Pull out that handy little pocket Constitution again and look at Article II, Section 1, that last paragraph.

"Before he enter on the Execution of his Office, he shall take the following Oath or Affirmation: - 'I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will faithfully execute the Office of President of the United States, and will to the best of my Ability, preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States.'"

That last part isn't working out so well, either.

Cross-posted at Obi's Sister.

Night of the Killer Peachtrees

Peachtree Street
West Peachtree Street
Peachtree Road
Peachtree Dunwoody Road
Peachtree Industrial Boulevard
Peachtree Lane
West Peachtree Place
Peachtree Center
Peachtree Center Avenue
Peachtree Walk (?)
Peachtree Parkway

I'm sorry, but this has gone too far, too too far. I know we're all addicted to peaches, you may have even married one, but this has GOT to stop. We passed the cliffs of criminal insanity and deadly peach addiction approximately 1500 miles back and something's gotta give.

So, let's change some of the names.

For starters, there should not be three Peachtrees on the same block (Peachtree Lane to the North, West Peachtree Street to the West and Peachtree Road to the East) so let's change the name of West Peachtree Street to Heisman Bouleveard, to honor John Heisman, one of the most important figures in Modern Football and Athletics in general, and a great Atlantan who coached Tech for years. Peachtree Lane should be changed to Station Street or Midtown Center, as the MARTA Midtown station is right there from the sidewalk. Peachtree Walk can be changed to Scarlett Street, as it is close to both the Margaret Mitchell House and the Federal Reserve Bank Branch.

Oh, and one more thing, why do we have a street called "Boulevard?" Why not call it Robert E. Lee Boulevard in honor of Atlanta's Civil War and Southern History? Bring some soul back in to this city before all them PC people suck it right out.

I am blaming all of this on Jimmy Carter.

Congratulations APS!

Apparently, even with monster traffic, sky high crime rates, no adequate provision for floodweather, and a smog problem, Atlanta can actually do something right!

The National School Boards Association CUBE Committee selected Atlanta as this years' urban district of the year, according to the AJC this weekend. Justification, according to CUBE: "Atlanta Public Schools has been singled out for commitment to adapting to its needs by creating a strong governance structure, consistent leadership, and dedication to improving student achievement system-wide." (CUBE Finalists Press Release, pdf, dated August 11th) In other words, we're stubborn as an ox! The data considered includes "[five years] test scores, AYP status, drop out rates, minority college attendees, AP class demographics, and any other data that you feel would provide the judges an insight on how your district is successful." (CUBE Award FAQ) For those not in the know, AYP is a measure of how well your school district is complying with the federal guidelines in the No Child Left Behind Act - not a perfect act, but there's something genuinely wrong if you can't comply with it. (Not to say you're good if you can...hohohooo.)

Interestingly, all of the finalists and most of the honorable mentions were Southern schools, in Fort Lauderdale, Raleigh (hm), and Baltimore (hm.)

Of course, something not mentioned in this report is the wonderful involvement of Georgia Tech in the community, sponsoring Math contests, field trips, tours of every kind, Science Olympiad, school sporting events and open gyms, and minority education and volunteer tutoring throughout Bankhead and beyond. Why, almost every weekend you see a group of some school in the area coming to our college for some kind of field trip!

The Sad New Criteria for the Nobel Peace Prize

Sit for 20 years in the pew of a church with a pastor that says "God Damn America" and deny you never knew about his dangerous and subversive hate speech.

Ignore the man you picked to lead a "war of necessity" and endlessly debate whether to unleash a surge of troops or pull out, while the troops who volunteered to defend your way of life die.

Release 78 terrorists from Gitmo, where they couldn't hurt anyone, into the wild so they can turn around and plot evil schemes to kill you and the people you purport to lead.

Give millions to known terrorist organizations, like Hamas.

Go to the U.N. and call for a new world order that ignores nation sovereignty.

Refuse to salute the flag, on stage, in public.

Stop wearing an American flag lapel pin because it has become a "substitute for true" patriotism.

Bow to a muzzie king whose country has secretly funded global jihadist anti-American terrorism for decades.

Sit silent while a murdering Marxist dictator lambastes the United States for nearly an hour.

Stick your head so far up the rear-ends of two other murdering Marxist dictators, Hugo Chavez and Fidel Castro, you taste their food before they do.

Start disarming your country's nuclear stockpile and stop missile defense plans while turning your back against a rogue nation that murders its own protesting citizens and denies the Holocaust and threatens to wipe your ally off the face of the map and tells lies that their uranium enrichment program is only for purposes of nuclear power.

Say your country has shown arrogance and been dismissive, even derisive toward its allies, then turn around and show arrogance and be dismissive, even derisive toward its allies.

Cross-posted at Feed Your ADHD.

Follow up: Violence Begets Violence

This is just a short follow-up to the Violence Begets Violence posting from the other day. This is the most recent incident in Atlanta.

WSB-TV reported that a Marietta abortion doctor punched a woman in the face in front of her three children in an incident of road rage.

Daniel McBrayer works as an abortionist at a mill in Marietta. This abortion mill is the focus of counseling and praying during the 40 Days for Life in Atlanta until November 1st. Keep up the prayers. Something is getting to this man. . .

The New Malaise

Obama's aura is no longer adored.

He's become a ghoulish specter, an incarnation of dread that haunts our prospects for progress, infects our anxiety when we balance our checkbooks, clouds our ideal of the future.

After 9 months in office, all he's accomplished is pain ... or ... as my friend Amusing Bunni commented at my blog the other day ... he's "destroyed the economy, sucked up to our terrorist enemies, demoralized the CIA and the military, sent us marching towards Marxism faster than shit through a goose."

He's not the anti-Christ, as some have posited.

He's the antithesis of everything that America stands for: freedom, rugged individualism, (genuine) optimism, truth, compassion, and the unquenchable pursuit of liberty.

His spray-on luster has worn off to reveal at the core what he really is: the quintessential anti-American.

And even liberals don't want to say his name:

Interestingly, there's this eerie silence about Obama. You don't hear a peep about him. Of course, liberals are still foaming at the mouth about Sarah Palin, tea baggers, birthers, and all things conservative.

But adulation for Obama: Missing in Action. A telling sign: the life-sized black and white cardboard doll of Obama in a storefront near my office has been taken down. Where did it go -- to the local recycling center with other discarded Obamabilia?

Jimmy Carter must be breathing quite a few sighs of relief, in between shucking peanuts with his two front teeth down in Plains, Georgia (where, incidentally, the Cracker Barrel serves food that makes shoe leather taste appealing -- coincidence of proximity to extreme awfulness, perhaps?):

In a few years, we'll forget all about his malaise and recognize a new Democrat as the worst president in modern times, perhaps the worst president of all times.

In that case, at least one American will have realized the promise of hope and change.

Cross-posted at Feed Your ADHD.

Delta Airlines - and ATL on a Leash

Photo Courtesy of Torsten Henning, public domain

Delta was threatening to leave Atlanta-Hartsfield over a disagreement on paying for a new terminal. Front page news yesterday was them finally making a deal. I also checked Delta's webpage, and it seems both ATL and DAL are very happy with the deal so far, or so they say. My guess is ATL probably has its' tail between its legs and a large red sore spot on the rump, but they still have a smile on their face.

Atlanta-Hartsfield is responsible for over "20 billion dollars annual impact" according to the DAL Newsroom - or approximately $4,000 for every man, woman, and child in Greater Atlanta. As Delta effectively owns half of Atlanta-Hartsfields Terminal space, and has Atlanta as its most important hub and corporate headquarters, Delta is heavilly connected to that $4,000. At a time when every one of ole' ATL's pillars is failing below it, from finances to media to Lockheed Martin, that $4000 has become more important then ever before. Unemploymet is now over 10%, and despite vast areas of unused brownfield in the city, especially near Oakland City and East Point MARTA stations and in Bankhead east of Tech, Atlanta continues to fail at attracting heavy industry. With no other possible expansion points in sight, the Airport has become a critical economic stabilizer, perhaps even an opiate, fool's gold telling us we're okay when we're not.

I've said it many times and I'll say it again, we are obviously suffering from taxes, regulation, and inefficient infrastructure, especially in transportation and water supply. Why else would half of Bankhead, in the core of the city and near major freeways, be deserted? Why else would a relatively well-educated labor force find no employment, despite low labor and living costs? And why else would a major rail hub with low land costs fail to find industry? And when we do "develop," it only serves to push out the locals, creating yet more despair and more crime somewhere else! And sometimes we can't even find tenants - we are clearly subsidizing, by one means or another, development that we don't need. Folks, you don't get land valued lower then Idaho Falls in a metro area of 5.3 million by making smart decisions!

So instead of cowtowing to Delta Airlines and depending on one industry for our cities future, let's actually diversify for once.