Welcome back to the Open Thread, our blog's space for off-topic comments and
discussion. If you've seen an interesting story somewhere else, feel
free to post a link below.
PROGRAMMING NOTE: James is out of the office, so Bob Cronkleton will be minding things. If you have story ideas or questions for him, please write him at bcronkleton@kcstar.com. PLEASE TREAT HIM WELL!
As always, please follow our standard rules: Please sign your comments, and please avoid profanity, as well as racially and sexually abusive language. And when you sign your comments, please use only one nickname. Thanks again, and have a great day!
My daughter loves broccoli hates lima beans and brussel sprouts. I can live with that she isn't a picky eater. When I told her that butter beans one her most fave foods was just dried lima beans I believe she had a grand mal seizure. lol
Posted by: Jane | Friday, September 04, 2009 at 09:28 AM
aqua,
I don't know about you, but when I was in school we used to have assemblies at school and any number of people would "by-pass" our parents to speak to us. I fail to see what is so scary about listening to a speech from the duly-elected President of our country.
Posted by: rhonda | Friday, September 04, 2009 at 09:31 AM
Also, aqua, the DOE has changed the suggested lesson plan to take out that part you find objectionable. Keep in mind that all of this is strictly voluntary and the lesson plans were just suggestions meant to help the teachers out.
Posted by: rhonda | Friday, September 04, 2009 at 09:32 AM
Hey, I personally could care less either way. During school or after it. What I meant by skipping school was the students were to leave the current class they are in to go see it. Not sure how the teachers would react, but if I was one, regardless of whether I supported Obama or not, kid would get a 'F' for the day.
Sorry, but just my thoughts. Now, if he put the speech on DVD and allowed the students to watch it in a class that cover such, Civics is now a 'science' class. My daughter has it, but for the life of me I can not think of the name of it. What I grew up calling Civics or Government class.
Posted by: The Golfer | Friday, September 04, 2009 at 09:32 AM
Are you sure Pat or do I bang her for real?
LOL
Posted by: The Golfer | Friday, September 04, 2009 at 09:34 AM
.
Posted by: aqua | Friday, September 04, 2009 at 09:35 AM
I still don't understand why he can't discuss issues with Gloria over dinner instead of needher AT city hall.
Posted by: JUNGLE JIM | Friday, September 04, 2009 at 08:55 AM
JJ. this is because Funky doesnt have the ability to relate what happened that day, at the dinner table.. few men do... sorry guys.. just what I have observed.
For example, my husband gets sick, he goes to the doctor during the day. When I get home from work I ask him "What did the doctor say?" He says "To take these" *holding up a perscription bottle* I ask "Why?" Answer "because I am sick"
See there are just too many details left out there.. LOL
Posted by: Searching | Friday, September 04, 2009 at 09:37 AM
Obama may be our duly elected President Rhonda, but he is also a socialist communist Marxist Muslim extreme Christian foreign-born usurper with an obvious, yet somehow hidden agenda, too! Don't forget that part!
Posted by: Jane | Friday, September 04, 2009 at 09:39 AM
And, since most of you do not know because I have rarely mentioned it, but my dead wife was a school teacher.
Did she do lesson plans? You betcha she did. She was doing that since she started. So having 'mandatory' lesson plans would have been 'Been there, doing that' for her. She was on disability when Bush came to power.
She was against No Child Left Behind because it hurts the smart kids by holding them down. Once again, my opinion.
Fortunately once kids get to Jr. High, at least in the Liberty district, the smarter ones begin to stand out and are put in the appropriate classes.
Posted by: The Golfer | Friday, September 04, 2009 at 09:39 AM
the subliminal messages are going to be rampant throughout the speech.
Posted by: aqua | Friday, September 04, 2009 at 09:42 AM
I think it is great for a President to go on and encourage the kids to excel and do great in school. But, the whole mandatory lesson plan, afterwards.. is just creepy.
Posted by: Searching | Friday, September 04, 2009 at 09:44 AM
just like he planned it:
Posted by: aqua | Friday, September 04, 2009 at 09:44 AM
I wasn't aware that they had changed the wording, rhonda. But our points are the same. No matter what the President does there will be a big hue and cry by non-wing-nutty teabagger/birther/deathers. Real statemanship and bipartisanship died when the first Bush lost an election that wasn't stolen. It's been hell ever since.
Posted by: JUNGLE JIM | Friday, September 04, 2009 at 09:44 AM
aqua-I agree with your comment reagarding what kids can do for their country.
Patriotism has been hard to muster up for a lot of folks in recent years. Back in 1976, we had the bicentennial celebration. Patriotism ran deep. Then we had 9/11. That brought us together as Americans for a year or two.
Since then, we have drifted away from patriotism, more than likely due to our political climate, bail-outs and the like, and cries of socialism.
I didnt vote for Obama, but he is our president, and it is our duty as Americans to do what we can for our NATION. I disagree with Obama a lot, but I disagreed with Bush and Haliburtons A LOT more. A LOT more.
Posted by: Pat, Sues boy | Friday, September 04, 2009 at 09:45 AM
The conservative poutrage over this is both hilarious and typifies the modern Republican Party. It's so sad that it's so effective, but it is in part the Dems' fault for being so incompetent in being able to deliver a message and handle a policy debate.
Posted by: Jane | Friday, September 04, 2009 at 09:45 AM
I don't know about you, but when I was in school we used to have assemblies at school and any number of people would "by-pass" our parents to speak to us.
Posted by: rhonda | Friday, September 04, 2009 at 09:31 A
Yeah, and you turned out all right...LOL
Posted by: Searching | Friday, September 04, 2009 at 09:46 AM
.
Posted by: aqua | Friday, September 04, 2009 at 09:47 AM
Is there such thing as a virtual donkey punch? Because Aqua is so asking for it!
Posted by: Jane | Friday, September 04, 2009 at 09:47 AM
Thank goodness my neighbors aren't like this one...
Man Damages Neighbor's Home After Firing Cannon. A Fayette County man is facing charges after state police say he fired a metal cannon in his own yard and damaged his neighbor's home.
William Maser, 54, of Georges Township, Fayette County, faces charges of reckless endangerment, disorderly conduct and criminal mischief after State police say a Civil War-era steel cannon he was test-firing on his property misfired.
Posted by: JUNGLE JIM | Friday, September 04, 2009 at 09:52 AM
Lets also remember that when Bush addressed the students, the Democrats went bonkers.
A lot of what parents are objecting to this time around is the supplemental 'Discussion leading' material that Obama sent to the teachers, instructing the kids to 'write a letter about how they can help the President'.
The materials got pulled after public outcry, and of course we were all told that 'you stupid people, it was taken out of context' and 'you're exaggerating, but we revised the gray areas to make our noble intentions clearer' and all the other things people say to CYA.
I don't think the President, or a Mayor , or Governor, or Congressman should be pushing his way into a Universal Townhall with all the kids of his constituents.
If a single school invites him in, that's a slightly different matter. And parents should still have the right to withdraw their child if they doubt the political neutrality of the visit (which they might have good reason to do).
Posted by: Joe White | Friday, September 04, 2009 at 09:52 AM
Jane, every southbound donkey has a north end. Aqua is just showing off his. Relax. It merely illustrates his depth of thought.
Posted by: Keith G. in P.V. | Friday, September 04, 2009 at 09:56 AM
Not everyone wants a socialist government, taking control of the up and coming generation is where you start. Perhaps people dont want their childrens minds directed that way.
What is this lesson plan anyway? Used to be when we had representatives like this give a speech, we would talk about it. But this lesson plan, is to purposely drive students in a certain thought process..What if that direction is not the way that a lot of the parents think it right? Just to satisfy liberals,everyone is supposed to go along with it..
People have their own minds, whether liberals like it or not.
Posted by: Searching | Friday, September 04, 2009 at 09:56 AM
No matter what the President does there will be a big hue and cry by non-wing-nutty teabagger/birther/deathers.- JUngle JIm
Rhonda.. JJ is breaking your new rules...
Posted by: Searching | Friday, September 04, 2009 at 09:58 AM
I'm not sure how any of who were in school during the Kennedy administration emerged unscathed from his physical fitness campaign. I got really tired of being forced to sing "The Chicken Fat Song" while doing sit-ups. Why didn't my parents pull me out of class? Freakin' socialist.
Posted by: Patty PV | Friday, September 04, 2009 at 10:00 AM
from the ed.gov website
Posted by: aqua | Friday, September 04, 2009 at 10:00 AM
Joe White.. thanks for the reminder, liberals forget about THEIR whining... all the time.
Posted by: Searching | Friday, September 04, 2009 at 10:00 AM
The teachers were too busy at the union meeting.
So Obama prepared the lesson plans for them.
He's a nice guy.
We shouldn't think anything is unusual if the President wants every classroom discussion to follow a pre-set pattern.
Nothing unusual at all.
Posted by: Joe White | Friday, September 04, 2009 at 10:03 AM
Yeah, we all remember that, because at the time there was a national backlash involving people pulling their kids out of class when President Bush spoke.
Oh - wait. No, that didn't happen.
Posted by: Patty PV | Friday, September 04, 2009 at 10:05 AM
Has Obama ever been quoted as saying "God bless America"?
Posted by: Pat, Sues boy | Friday, September 04, 2009 at 10:05 AM
Yeah, some of those questions explore discussions such as what it means to take personal responsbility. Lord knows we don't want the darlings to have to think about that.
Posted by: Patty PV | Friday, September 04, 2009 at 10:06 AM
Joe, this is strictly voluntary for any school. It is not madatory. Many schools have opted out and others are taping the speech to show at a later time. What about "Welcome back. Stay in school. Work hard. Making good grades is important to your future." is so controversial that people get unhinged about it?
Parents that don't want their kids to hear the speech are certainly free to take their children someplace where they will get educated that day. I reccommend watching television all day long. You can learn so much from "Beverly Hillbillies" reruns.
Posted by: JUNGLE JIM | Friday, September 04, 2009 at 10:07 AM
Keith, Aqua knows I'm kidding. I would never hurt that stubby legged man.
Search, I am not whining!!!!!! awwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww
Posted by: Jane | Friday, September 04, 2009 at 10:08 AM
LOL joe....
Posted by: Searching | Friday, September 04, 2009 at 10:09 AM
Lost llama finds its way to safety - after 18 days wandering in the wilderness.
Posted by: Patty PV | Friday, September 04, 2009 at 10:16 AM
Sick goat wanders into a nursing home in the Bronx.
Posted by: Patty PV | Friday, September 04, 2009 at 10:18 AM
In his first major speech after taking office..."Thank you. God bless you".
(APPLAUSE)
"And God bless the United States of America".
(APPLAUSE)
From his inaugural speech, 01/20/2009.
State of the Union, 2009. ""Thank you, God Bless you, and may God Bless the United States of America".
So the answer is technically no. But he has said God bless the United States of America several times.
Posted by: JUNGLE JIM | Friday, September 04, 2009 at 10:18 AM
New York firefighters are ordered to bathe a circus elephant.
Posted by: Patty PV | Friday, September 04, 2009 at 10:19 AM
Thanks Jim. I really didnt know.
Posted by: Pat, Sues boy | Friday, September 04, 2009 at 10:25 AM
obama will say something like, don't do drugs:
Posted by: aqua | Friday, September 04, 2009 at 10:25 AM
So he's asked God to bless all 57 states.
Posted by: Patty PV | Friday, September 04, 2009 at 10:26 AM
I hear it at the end of every speech I've watched so far, which is about 4 or 5. But if you don't watch, you don't know what "that one" actually says.
Posted by: JUNGLE JIM | Friday, September 04, 2009 at 10:28 AM
It is easy to understand Pat.. it has been rare.
Posted by: Searching | Friday, September 04, 2009 at 10:30 AM
obama will tell the kids to eat a healthy breakfast:
Posted by: aqua | Friday, September 04, 2009 at 10:31 AM
You people are why I drink.
Posted by: Jane | Friday, September 04, 2009 at 10:35 AM
Aqua, you are cracking me up today.
Posted by: Searching | Friday, September 04, 2009 at 10:35 AM
Aqua's on a roll today!
Posted by: jeffrey | Friday, September 04, 2009 at 10:40 AM
Rare? I don't usually catch the President's speeches live unloess they're in prime time and don't interfere with a football game. I've heard it every time. Can you find ONE instance where he DID NOT say it. Start searching, searching.
Posted by: JUNGLE JIM | Friday, September 04, 2009 at 10:43 AM
Jane-I drink for effect. Anyone that likes the taste of alcohol is crazy.
Posted by: Pat, Sues boy | Friday, September 04, 2009 at 10:43 AM
JJ, did you learn nothing from Donald Rumsfeld Quote Day?
"Reports that say that something hasn't happened are always interesting to me, because as we know, there are known knowns; there are things we know we know. We also know there are known unknowns; that is to say we know there are some things we do not know. But there are also unknown unknowns -- the ones we don't know we don't know."
Posted by: Patty PV | Friday, September 04, 2009 at 10:45 AM
I resemble that, pat, and may I introduce you to my homemade mojitos?
Posted by: rhonda | Friday, September 04, 2009 at 10:46 AM