Norm showing more hate over teacher tenure. Not a surprise. Just same old glide-and-slide.

Practice makes perfect is an adage because it regularly proves true.

In a matter as subjective as "effective teaching" by "effective teachers," and weeding out "ineffective teachers," the haters have no sound definition, never mind a reliable measure of "effectiveness," but that does not stop their keening. So, in something such as "effectiveness" one has to say the probability is that experience is the best teacher (heard that one before, eh, well it too regularly proves true, and the haters just do a glide-and-slide to misdirect attention from their weaknesses).

That said, the online links for today are Sorensen at BP, "MN Action Network post card in Sen. Clausen's district focuses on gutting teacher tenure" - here, and Burns at MPP, "Norm's back!" - here. Earlier crabgrass posts have also dealt with the issue.

Surely one could now, in a post such as this, use an image of Norm at his maximal Normness, or follow leaders and post a weasel picture while Norm is being discussed (see the Burns link above); but instead, this image, and please make of it what you will. (It is offered without any overly-direct textual tie-in to the rest of this post.)

... nice looking mandibles too ...

___________UPDATE_____________
Sorensen posted the below image of the scurrilous attack piece being mailed to citizens by hucksters. It is very important for readers to enlarge the image, to see the slimy glide-and-slide propaganda ploy in practice (done by skilled propagandists, slick, but where's the beef).

originally posted here

It is worth adding, practice makes perfect for propagandists too, with the slick use of "our childred" on the front of the attack piece, and the pleasant looking impressionable urchin, to disguise the politics of the perp's PAC.

____________FURTHER UPDATE_____________
For the next silk-screening of a new batch of red tee shirts (as per the sidebar), expect "TENURED TEACHERS" to be added to the bottom of the judgmental list. For now, that's a wait and see. But expect it. Were all the likely dislikes of that shirt seller/wearer faction to get cataloged, it could be a list too long to fit on the back of a burqua fit to Brittney Griener. Perhaps you'd need a bridal gown train too long for many church aisles.

___________FURTHER UPDATE_____________
That mailer, the stuff about protecting our best teachers. It has to be said. "Best" does not mean "cheapest," nor "least experienced," so ask the Republicans going on the warpath against the teachers union, precisely what does "best teachers" mean. And ask it before drinking any of their Koolaid.

___________FURTHER UPDATE______________
Links possibly of interest, here, here, here and here. If considering standardized testing, consider following the money to follow the true gist of the Republican argument. Whose cash flow is backing the pitch for "protecting the best teachers," and what might enhance that flow while lessening reliance placed elsewhere, in other formal ways?

As an example, ask yourself whether medicine should be a self-regulating profession, i.e., left to those with experience and expertise, or subjected to somebody else's vision of standardized testing of surgeons and other specialists?

There's gold in them-there standardized tests. Try being a skeptic. See if it fits your personality.

_____________FURTHER UPDATE______________
If amused by the venom some reserve for so-called, "liberals" and "socialists," do you wonder why don't they hate "neoliberals?"

Yeah, for one thing, they don't know what the term means, and self-education that way is not their cup of Tea.

Try, in the context of "education reform" heated rhetoric, the two part low-key analysis out of New Mexico (yes, there is more there than the backdrop for Breaking Bad). As an incentive, neoliberalism gets its mention; the two-part discourse being online here and here.

Enjoy.

_______________FURTHER UPDATE_____________
Keeping a theme alive, perhaps too tenaciously, this image

ALEC Headquarters

Emmer in DC.

Flattered to be here seems to be the mood of this Strib image.

One of several images accompanying this report.

Residual navel gazing.

Andy A. at Residual Forces has his first [likely of many] rude awakening as to the HD6 Bachmannistani successor, and there seems to be buyer's remorse. Stan Hubbard likely is less disillusioned, but then Stan is more seasoned, more experienced (aka wealthier). This link.

So brand new Congressman Tom Emmer voted for John Boehner for Speaker of the House and I wouldn’t have done the same.

Now what?

My choices are,

1) Stay on in CD6 and hope to earn Congressman Emmer’s trust and pass along some wisdom from the inside. [...]

2) Take my ball and go home. [...]

3) Put my money where my mouth is. [...]

Sure, the insiders and people who get invited to all those fancy dancy parties think Boehner is a great and masterful Speaker. Meanwhile the country is in Constitutional and fiscal crisis. The citizen is deemed the security threat. [...]

I’m open for advice.

Is it worth being just a lowly activist that operatives and politicians take advantage of anymore?

Is it time for me to run for State or Federal office?

Maybe a higher office with in the Republican Party?

Or maybe I should just go be a blissful uninformed voter and no longer care [...]

Well, Andy, lesson learned? Shoulda kicked the tires before buying the car? Shoulda not been so disdainful of the liberty wing of your GOP? They, the liberty GOP, are not that close to Jesus, not like Rhonda and pals, but the guy named after Ayn Rand has been reported by WaPo as courting Tea drinkers, one prominent but defeated one of east coast origin, and has gone so far from any true concept of "liberty" to be a declared choice hater. (Also, I bet he'd have voted Boehner too if in the House; given some binding ties to Boehner's twin, Mr. Mitch.)

Moreover, if Stanley Hubbard's money was riding on Tom Emmer while knowing the feeding hand would not be bitten, why in the world should it be an awakening to Andy that a reformed and always pliant blowhard is now a staunch corporatist, after being the corporatist GOP wing's annointed, chosen one, last cycle? (Pliant, [perhaps to be less judgmental say "adaptable"] is the governing keyword Andy. Or, "reliable," that also fits the Stan-and-Tom who'll call the shots show too.)

"Open to advice," Andy wrote. Talk about sticking one's chin out, and saying, "Hit me." Well, Andy is not going to quit on the GOP absent some epiphany on the road to Damascus event turning him into an Elizabeth Warren supporter. While that is something I'd bet against, anything is possible.

Actually, the item is one of Andy's more well-written well-thought-out posts. Folks across the political spectrum should read it. Crabgrass readers also might give him advice. I'd expect as a start, if serious about perhaps seeking public office, Andy would be taking a look at the county board.

P.S. Andy is not alone.

____________________________
photo credit, top - MPR here, bottom - Strib here


UPDATE________________________
There is true uncertainty and uneasiness, and excessively showy for-today-but-ask-me-next-week faux buyer's remorse, and Andy's item is of the true kind. For others, where does the sting hurt:

Even more concerning to us, the newly elected Congressman failed to return phone calls of many tea party activists who reached out to him on this crucial vote. Instead, Emmer listened to special interest and beltway insiders who favored the establishment’s choice for Speaker.

[italics added]

FURTHER UPDATE____________________________
Stanley's choice echoed Stanley's likely preference on the Boehner vote, but there was a failed coup reported:

In a public roll call, 25 House Republicans defected from the Ohio Republican, more than double the 12 who launched a failed coup attempt against him exactly two years ago.

The anti-Boehner crowd’s message was simple: Don’t expect any cooperation in the 114th Congress — even with Republicans in charge of the Senate and holding the biggest majority in the House since the Truman administration.

“The American people are very upset by this leadership. I mean, I have not had this many phone calls since the shutdown of the government. It’s just unbelievable,” said Rep. Walter Jones (R-N.C.), who voted for Rep. Daniel Webster (R-Fla.) and was one of the architects of the “fire Boehner” campaign.

“The 25 of us who voted the way that we did represented the frustration of the American people,” he added. “I’m surprised we didn’t get 30, to be honest with you.”

After the vote, GOP leaders sought to settle scores.

Though the Speaker vowed last year he wouldn’t seek retribution against those who opposed him, Webster and Rep. Richard Nugent (R-Fla.) were kicked off the prestigious House Rules Committee after their votes against Boehner.

Nothing there likely to surprise Stanley.

And this Daniel Webster opposition against Boehner stuff? This link. In that bit of fiction, Daniel Webster prevailed.

Andy's latest post is of the the text of an Emmer release - strangely, one not mentioning committee assignments.

Big Stan likely will not be having the media employees making any big splash about committee assignments either.

__________FURTHER UPDATE____________
A Hubbard media outlet blind eye toward the Emmer vote and Boehner retribution will be hard to maintain, with the story growing legs; e.g., Politico here and the Hill's followup, here. And it's now kosher for Hubbard's outlets to report the story. Murdochs outlets have. Is this getting the skids greased for easy downhill sledding by Jeb? It has that appearance. Get in rank and file order? Stand at attention and salute the flag and Jeb? Will that be how it plays out if you don't want your GOP legislative career impeded? Early notice? Knocking heads a bit for now, Boehner indicating we can "as a family" now reason together? Jeb scripting?

Check out two of Dan Burns' recent posts at MPP.

Here and here.

The issue of mandatory time-and-a-half overtime pay for salaried workers below a threshold salary WILL grow legs.

There are enough in that limbo-land between the historic pay level threshold, and an inflation-adjusted proposed new threshold at a reasonably inclusive level, who are intelligent enough to perceive their own best interests while noting who is addressing such interests, vs. who is ignoring and deceiving most of the people too much of the time.

(If you believe this post is somehow connected, in some way, to the following one, that's on you. I am not saying so. I only ask you to think before seizing onto any belief. And, yes, that IS asking a lot.)

Is Kurt Daudt the same as Norm Coleman but with fewer pretenses?

Just asking.

What we know, (hat tip to Sorensen), Daudt juggles committee assignments while Norm vies for junk mail king.

Neither was born into great wealth as per Dan Quayle or the Koch brothers.

So now -- Who does each serve?

Towns in Anoka County: Failure of four towns to currently reach accord on joint fire protection reported by ABC Newspapers.

This link.

Early paragraphs in the full story state:

The differing compensation packages each community offers its volunteer firefighters made it impractical to have one joint fire department, according to Ramsey City Administrator Kurt Ulrich.

“We concluded those obstacles are fairly big,” Ulrich said. “Unless we see some significant movement from the other communities to provide better pay and benefits and better retirement benefits, the pieces aren’t going to fit together very well.”

However, Ulrich said new ways to work together came about thanks to fire chiefs, city administrators, and council members from multiple communities sitting at one table. Recruitment, training and standardization of equipment are just some of the things these communities are now partnering on.

“It’s always a good process to go through when you talk to other cities and try to find out ways to work together,” said St. Francis Mayor Jerry Tveit. “One of the best benefits was better relationships with our neighboring jurisdictions.”

Two misc ABC Newspapers items

Here and here.

Unrelated, but of general county-wide interest.