Oh, we can kill the message because it's a worthless message. What we can't kill is Dr. Death's ability to spend unlimited amounts to present his message.

This article was a mistake. Just out of curiosity, where did Dr. Death go to school? Did he do his residency at a public or private hospital? Did he utilize student loans to help him pay for undergraduate or post graduate work? How much did his practice receive from medicare? How much does his dairy make from selling milk to public schools? How much does his bed company receive from Medicare/Medicaid?

Another 'self-made man' looking to enrich himself off the public teat.

Christmas comes early to Strama, Howard and Bolton. ROCK! Thank you, Dr. Death!

I just love it when you get passionate about education, PD.

As for the interview, I would point out ... in Leininger's defense... that he mentions that the Dems managed to take out 4 of their own in the prior election cycle. What makes it any different if Leininger does it? It all comes down to the same end. :)

Just playing devil's advocate.

True, but the Dems doing it is a little different than one man almost single-handedly financing 5 candidates.

PD writes:
We also probably agree that throwing money at the problem is not the solution.

PD writes:
Fund schools better

PD writes:
we need money invested in education

PD has also criticized every attempt by this Legislature to hold schools accountable. So really, you pretty much do think that throwing money at the problem is the solution. Hey, it has worked exactly nowhere, but don't let that stop you.

No 'tard. If you cannot recognize that a PART of the problem with public education then you are just blind. Here's what I think money CAN do...money can buy new equipment, computers, etc. it can recruit better teachers, it can build new schools, it can provide funding for arts education and vocational training. Money CANNOT fix apathy of parents, children and the educators. It CANNOT fix systemic problems with our school system. There is a long list of things money cannot fix, but taking a look at the problem and ignoring that money is a PART of the solution is just fucking retarded.

Thank you.

Damn some of yall really hate this guy.

I don't hate him, I don't really think anyone does. What we hate is what he's trying to do... which basically turn Texas, then the rest of the country, into a reasonable facsimile of a third world country.

I saw the Bill 'Mongo' Murchison peice in that East Texas paper but never in my wildest dreams did I imagine that he'd be dumb enough to accept an interview Texas Monthly.

Turn Texas into 3rd world country? *Roll eyes*

Don't be so dramatic.

...and money can't buy me love.

Its just a poorly disguised scheme to funnel government dollars to religion in the name of education.

I have to steal these from my Dr.'s office too. People tend to stare at me when I am yelling at my magazine in the waiting area --- so it's best if I read it at home now.

i already got my issue, but it's been two days and i still can't find the article with all the ads . . .

"Damn some of yall really hate this guy"
...yes, yes i hate him, and yes, i am that petty.

Rawhide, you don't have a petty bone in your body.

And I agree w/ cynical optimist. Leininger's real goal is to funnel money to religious schools, and he couches it in terms of "helping poor children." He may really believe that. But that's because he thinks indoctrinating them in Christianity is helpful to them. I don't happen to agree and I also do not think public funds should or may under the Constitution be spent in such a manner.

he's actually a really nice guy. just saying.

Well, I disagree politically with a lot of people that I am quite fond of. But Leininger? His money (and make no mistake...it was his money buying those negative ads based on flat-out lies about her record) just defeated a damn fine representative, committed to public service who also happens to be about the most honest rep I've ever known. His money corrupted the process more substantially than we have ever seen. I personally have a huge problem with that. I don't understand how a "nice guy" can be fine it.

i've heard Tom Cruise is a nice guy in person, doesn't stop me from hating him. Just another weird-ass whackjob.

I wonder which teacher union that damn fine representaive will be working for?

Hmmm...

My guess is TSTA.

Wonk... I'm not being dramatic. It's the stated goal of Dr. Death and people like him to eliminate public schooling in the US as well as many other institutions that have sustained us as a nation for more than 200 years.

In fact, I don't think you CAN overstate the threat that Dr. Death poses to the United States. Yeah, I take him seriously. You should, too. You never know when he's going to target you.

Republicans have true, tangible concerns. Parents do need to understand budgets. Low-performing schools do need to be addressed. Bad teachers do need to improve or get out.

Of course, the Rs have their own proposals to address these priorities. Unfortunately, Dems have not engaged much in counter-proposals on these issues. Because Dems are so rarely at the table, they typically deny deny deny the issue or fail to present some kind of cogent offense. They're on defense, not offense, and I don't think they gain much from it.

I'm really struck by the fact that... if the Rs are going to soften their killer tactics... that Dems need to start negotiating like the minority party to get what they want.

Probably the best example is Strama and Howard. Strama, in particular, was attacked by the liberal bloggers for supporting HB 3, despite the fact it benefited his districts. He was frustrated he couldn't get the D coalition that could have teased out a teacher pay raise in the bill. The point was, he understood the only way to work the system was to work the trade.

Duh.

I think Texas has rested on its laurels long enough when it comes to its accountability system, et al. We put it in. We praised ourselves for it. But 10 years later, other states have caught up with us, and we have done little to nothing to take our testing results to move our education policy forward in this state.

The other night, one of the teacher reps and I were discussing who would be capable of chairing House Public Ed. It was a short discussion. Unfortunately, I don't think we have enough people in the House who understand or even have a passion for school finance or education policy. I suppose we will address that somewhat next January. Hopefully, some of those people will be able to offer a fair critical eye. We don't need any more entrenched thinking.

It would be great to get back to education policy in this state that is fair, balanced and based on the current state of education in Texas and has some actual component of research to it.

And on Leininger. I do think he is a godly man who is a True Believer when it comes to vouchers. Whether you limit that or not... I imagine that depends on which side you are on. Campaign finance is an interesting topic. Of course.

And wouldn't Carter kick butt, lobbying the House for teachers?

Ok I see your point, Trey. But, tell me how how is targeting you?

Are you a public school?

Oh. Wait.

A teacher lobbyist e-mailed me to tell me I had been brainwashed by the Right. So, in the interest of fairness, I'm supposed to add these Dem accomplishments of the session: the Hochberg and Geren amendments.

Except, of course, those were LAST session. And it's not really an AGENDA, alas. (I could drop dead before they name Scott Hochberg as House Pub Ed Chair. A shame.) I do have to say the Geren amendment still is the most audacious moment I've seen in the House in the last three years. (Other than, of course, Tony Goolsby trying to pass Houston-area toll legislation.)

The rest is a haze... and I LIKED the cheerleader bill. So you can just figure out how goofy I am... Comes from being a former high school teacher, I suppose.

Geren isn't a D.

You know, that's right! I should have mentioned that!
He was a R accomplishment.

Who gives a fuck if she works for the teacher's unions? she was a teacher. and she WOULDN'T do it at all if she wasn't kicked out of office by a liar.

NOt to mention voted out by idiots.

That’s right! People exercising their right to vote are idiots.

You're just a tad on the bitter side.

Staffer?

Oh wonk, the one thing we can all agree on is that the voters are idiots. That's what makes us better than them.