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My personal musings about anything that gets on my radar screen--heavily dominated by politics.

2005-02-28

Around the Horn

Sure, I've been in a cave for the last several days. But a few things have gotten through and deserve comment.

:For the record, I come down on the side of "Going Grant." If Senate Democrats really want to try to shut down the Senate to make a point about the "unfairness of letting the majority get to vote on a judicial nominee," then let them. First of all, I don't think the public will be in the least bit sympathetic to their cause. And secondly, since when was it a bad thing to shut down the Senate?

:Another State Supreme Court Out of Whack. With a hat tip to my brother, I bring your attention to the case in Connecticut of Kelo v. City of New London. Apparently, the CT Supreme Court has ruled that (and on this point they were unanimous) economic development IS suffcient grounds--all by itself--to a governmental body the right to exercise Imminent Domain. Given just about every SCOTUS ruling since Bush v Gore, I suspect very strongly that SCOTUS will NOT step in on this one, and this ruling will, very likely, stand. In yet another blow to select portions of the Bill of Rights. And if you don't think my previous bullet point is important, think again.

:watched the Oscars tonight with only half an eye (which is still more than the brainpower I devoted to it). What a miserable presentation. Even if you disregard Chris Rock's pointless two-minute tirade against the President, this was still a vry boring, pointless exercise.

:Keep an eye on the CO Senate Education Committee--Sen. Sue Windels is claiming a victory for "bipartisanship" in crafting a compromise that effectively killed her Charter Schools Bill by sending it to a commission for long-term study. Charter School advocates ought to watch this with a very wary eye when this commission presents its findings in the Fall.

:Bill Gates is Talking Education Again to the National Governors Association. Best line: When we looked at the millions of students that our high schools are not preparing for higher education – and we looked at the damaging impact that has on their lives – we came to a painful conclusion:

America’s high schools are obsolete.

By obsolete, I don’t just mean that our high schools are broken, flawed, and under-funded – though a case could be made for every one of those points.

By obsolete, I mean that our high schools – even when they’re working exactly as designed – cannot teach our kids what they need to know today.

At least Gates is willing to put his considerable money where his mouth is (through his foundation). This gets to something I'm starting to understand more and more: every aspect of the American educational system is in need of a complete overhaul. It may be time to scrap the model and get outside the box a bit.

:And in the really important news, Randy Moss is now playing in the same division as the Denver Broncos. And I was so hoping not to have to spend too much time this Fall lamenting the failures of the "shut-down corner." Dear Champ: See Randy; See Randy juke; See back of Randy's jersey; Observe obscene endzone celebration from a disinterested distance.
Posted by: Michael / 2/28/2005 02:20:00 AM

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