Why Political Parties Lose Elections...

State GOP strives for unity in 'turning point' election year

The article is about the GOP in California, but it could just as easily be about almost any political party in any state. The storyline goes something like this: one faction of the party isn't happy that the rest of the party doesn't agree with them totally, so they're going to muck it up for everyone else.

This is why parties lose elections. No matter what your differences within your own party, there's no doubt that someone from the opposing party is going to be even less inclined to hear your point of view. Principle is nice: but principle doesn't win elections, politics do. Often in politics, the best choice is between the lesser of two evils: standing behind your party in order to prevent what you consider as the greater of two evils from taking office would make sense.

Unless, of course, you prefer to stand on principle...For all of you who think this is a perfect world and you can hold out until the world comes to agree completely with you: stay away from politics. You're only setting yourself up for repeated disappointments. If, on the other hand, you want to shape policy and get something done, then make sure someone from your party takes the office...It's not really any more complicated than that...

Abortion Bill Passes in South Dakota

South Dakota Legislature Passes Bill to Ban Abortion

It's probably one of the most "red" states on the map, so if a bill banning abortion was going to be passed anywhere South Dakota was as likely a candidate as any. Given the precedent established already, I doubt it's going to be able to withstand judicial review; but it's guaranteed to put the issue of abortion on the front burner for the upcoming election cycle. Pro-abortionists will be screaming that "days of coat hangers and back alley abortions" are coming back, so count on hearing a lot about that over the upcoming year...

European press split over Irving

European press split over Irving

I'm just wondering how anyone who denies the Holocaust can call himself a historian with a straight face? And how can anyone else take his claim seriously?

I agree that handing out criminal sentences is probably a heavy-handed penalty for what is, essentially, the crime of being a moron. If we're going to start locking people up for being stupid, then I've got a list of people who should be wearing handcuffs by noon...at the latest...earlier if possible...

What's So Bad About 'Teaching to the Test'?

Let's Teach to the Test

Ever since the words "No Child Left Behind" entered the public consciousness, the rallying cry of the opposition has been that it makes teachers "teach to the test." Umm...that's exactly the point!

The problem that has been going on in this country is the lack of a standard so we can say definitively "This child has sufficiently mastered the material for this grade level and is now ready to move ahead." Instead we've been left with subjective judgements which unfairly favor or disfavor children based on each teacher's individual self-imposed standards. So it is that bad teachers who simply pass students along without teaching have been allowed to remain in the profession. After all, no one could prove they were doing a bad job. It could always be blamed on someone or something else. Not any more...

Now there's a standard to tell us exactly how the school is or is not serving its clientele: the students and their parents. And, not surprisingly, they don't like having their failings held up to the light and exposed for all to see.

If you're teaching children properly, they will pass the tests without special preparation. If a teacher finds him or herself having to make wholesale changes to lesson plans in order to make sure that their students pass the test, then the problem wasn't the test: it was the lesson plan.

No more lesson plans drawn from out of blue by teachers with agendas to cover topics beyond what they're assigned to teach. Too many teachers use their classroom time to force their political agendas onto their students rather than focus on the reading, writing and arithmetic they're being paid to teach. And now they're mad that their attempts at brainwashing are going to be curtailed by being forced to actually teach the required curriculum.

I, for one, couldn't be happier that some standards are being enforced. I'll be happy when it comes down to annual testing and students aren't allowed to progress to the next grade if they don't pass...No exceptions...

Islamofascists Continue to Kill Despite Apology

Danish apology fails to quell Muslim anger

..and this is exactly why you never, ever negotiate with terrorists...Supposedly, they wanted an apology, but it turns out they just wanted to an excuse to be violent and now you look weak. And so it is with all terrorist demands.

Those who look for "root causes" and all sorts of OTHER bleeding-heart excuses may never understand that sometimes people are just bad people and need to be dealt with accordingly. If someone is willing to kidnap, burn and kill because they're so violently passionate about their point of view; even considering the idea that they might be up for an open-minded debate on the topic is bordering on insanity. They will never be satisifed with anything other than complete domination: if you're not willing to accept their domination, then you better be prepared for a fight because a conversation ain't happening...

All that issuing the apology has done is tell the Islamofascists that the Danes can be cowed into submission. It was a huge mistake...