The single scariest thing happening in America right now

[Ed Oscuro]

The President giving a back-to-school speech to students.

Provoked some of the most fightingest verbiage I've heard from NPR's political commentators:

ROBERT SIEGEL, host:

And now back to E.J. Dionne and David Brooks. David, what do you make of this? Overreaching by the White House, overreaction by the parents, what it is?

Mr. DAVID BROOKS (Columnist, The New York Times): It was a mistake to read The Marx-Engels Reader to the students…

(Soundbite of laughter)

Mr. BROOKS: Now, you know, it's - I - you know, I hope we can a make a distinction between what I think is the death panel right and the sensible right.

(Soundbite of laughter)

Mr. BROOKS: The death panel right is upset about things that are totally unrealistic and insane. And I think there are a lot people who are fine with the president going on and telling kids to go to school and not do drugs and all sorts of nice things.

SIEGEL: E.J.?

Mr. E.J. DIONNE (Columnist, The Washington Post): Oh, I was so glad, David said that, because this is one of the most outrageous stories we've run across in a long time. In a four-page document put out by the Education Department, there was one line that they should've rewritten. President's going to tell kids that they should stay in school, that they shouldn't drop out, that they should work hard, that they should get ahead. If that's socialism, then most American parents are socialists. And people said, well, it would be great. Barack Obama can be a role model to poor kids and African-American kids. He's doing exactly what everybody hoped he would do to tell kids, work hard in school.

SIEGEL: Okay. Let's move on to the speech he's giving to grownups next week…

(Soundbite of laughter)

Lots of people have chimed in, such as Minn. Gov. Tim Pawlenty ("Uninvited," he harrumphed), and Texas Gov. Rick Perry, who admitted he doesn't know what the President is going to talk about (but then said he didn't know anybody else who did; presumably all of these "nobody" he spoke of are his inner circle of advisers and consultants who should be put out on the street for misleading the good Governor). I'll give the last word to Florida's leader of the GOP, Jim Greer:

As the father of four children, I am absolutely appalled that taxpayer dollars are being used to spread President Obama's socialist ideology.

Miami-Dade and Hillsborough school districts are among those planning to show the speech to their students.

"Obama's Schools Speech Faces Backlash" with comments by a neomom
Gibbs: Squabble over Obama's speech 'silly season' (AP via NPR)

[Specineff]

They can't get over the fact a black man is president. They just can't say so directly.

[Cthulhu]

OHNOESTHEPREZWANTSTOTALKTOKIDSGODDAMNLIBERALS

[brokenhalo]

every time i hear someone use the word "socialist" i want to punch them so hard. it's amazing how all these knot-head americans are suddenly political activists.

apparently these politically savvy parents are planning on keeping their kids at home the day of the speech to protest the whole thing.

[Dragoforce]

To me as a european this is just...weird. I wonder if any of those right-wing people has any kind of conception on what socialism really is?

[evil_ash_xero]

First he was a terrorist, now he's a socialist, and yes they just can't get over the fact that a black man is president.

And no, they don't have a fucking clue what socialism is, because they're a bunch of dumb crackers that don't know ANYTHING. Unfortunately, they make up a large amount of the population of this nation.

Sad.

[BulletMagnet]

To me as a european this is just...weird. I wonder if any of those right-wing people has any kind of conception on what socialism really is?

Around here it's more or less defined as "anything that the rich and influential don't like", and is repeatedly utilized as such...the fact that few have bothered to challenge such a sorry state of affairs does not speak well to the state of our discourse, though it does explain a good deal of how we got to where we are now.

[Ex-Cyber]

To me as a european this is just...weird. I wonder if any of those right-wing people has any kind of conception on what socialism really is?

Socialism is anything that slightly reminds them of the USSR, notwithstanding the presence or absence of any meaningful similarity. There have been anti-Soviet propaganda efforts spanning decades in the USA, and they basically ended up painting anything remotely socialist/communist as deeply anti-American. One Obama opponent at a town hall meeting said "I don't want this country turning into Russia, turning into a socialized country"; it's not a coincidence that Russia is the country that came to mind.

[Ed Oscuro]

To me as a european this is just...weird. I wonder if any of those right-wing people has any kind of conception on what socialism really is?

Socialism is anything that slightly reminds them of the USSR, notwithstanding the presence or absence of any meaningful similarity.

If they want to find something that reminds them of the USSR, they should take a gander at this, speaking of scary things happening Stateside. I wonder what the soccer mom (with a head filled with the same stuff as that soccer ball, it seems) would think about a magazine for rich people in bed with the Kremlin?

[Warp_Rattler]

Socialism is anything that slightly reminds them of the USSR, notwithstanding the presence or absence of any meaningful similarity.

USSR or ye olde National Socialist Party of bygone days (nevermind that neither was at all close to socialism in anything other than name).

The thing that gets me is that CNN article, which explains how many people are absolutely aghast about this speech, but doesn't seem to actually link to text of the speech or even give a meaningful summary. Is there a link that I missed? CNN's site is really terribly designed. All I get is that there are a lot of people who seem upset with what have been hinted at as being potentially 'socialist' ideas in the President's speech. Of course, the dreaded S-word has been pretty thick in the media lately, being lobbed at nearly any idea for change that would undermine the wealthy old order for the greater good of a hell of a lot of people. I know it's not quite the same thing (people aren't being blacklisted from work because of 'socialist' sympathies--yet), but I imagine there are quite a few similarities to the McCarthy era.

[Ed Oscuro]

The text of the speech will be made available 24 hours before he makes it. In the meantime, the Secretary of the Department of Education sent this letter to Principals, outlining what the President will be covering.

Utah's Governor, Gary Herbert, said that he would like kids to watch it.

Republican Gov. Gary Herbert supports President Barack Obama's plan to deliver a televised back-to-school speech to the nation's students on Tuesday, saying he sees "nothing but good coming out of this."

Herbert said he favors letting students listen to the speech, and he thinks it will foster a dialogue between parents and their children.

"I think it's great. To hear from the president of the United States is an important thing," he said Saturday. "I'd like to hear what he has to say.

"I hope parents will take the opportunity to discuss the issues with their children, hear what the presidents views are and what his vision is for the future of America. If they agree, then explain that. If they disagree, explain to their children why. I see nothing but good coming out of this," he said.

The governor, who has grandchildren in the Utah school system, said he can't imagine that they wouldn't watch the speech.

So maybe that's why there is a video of "Senior Citizens to live on Mars?" on Fox News right now. They think he's gone daft in his old age, and want to ship him off to Mars before he can further mislead the poor children.

[BryanM]

Sooooo.........

What's the withdrawal date for Iraq and Afghanistan? We already killed the hell out of those guys, the football game is won, time to pack it in and party.

All that money and all those lives could be better spent getting me a taco.

I know the idea of getting Bryan a taco is dirty nasty socialist talk, while giving money to mercenaries and the Taliban for some nebulous reason is capitalist to the max and totally not fascism, but I think I deserve a fucking taco already.

Oh wait, a black man is on TV. They have to nay say every poop the man takes since their entire party's fate rides on his failure, and true success on this particular issue (which is still health care, this has nothing to do with the fucking speech, it's just another venue to blast the idea of a health care system) would break their backs for years.

............

I wish politics wasn't so rote and transparent. During the Bush and Kerry debate, when I heard Kerry say that historical line "homos, like Chenay's daughters, are people too!" it was like slow motion when I turned to screen to yell "YOU IDIOT". They were even dumb enough to telegraph the opening in the vice presidential debates when the same exact line was responded to with "thank you" by our favorite evil overlord. And then I had to listen to it working in the office the next day. Urgh /wrists

[neorichieb1971]

If our prime minister addressed me at school I would of have thought that was so fucking cool. I think its cool even now that Obama is doing it.

Education is something America lacks. There is a great deal 10 million billy bobs could be doing for their country right now.


Americans are blind as kids. If they don't like something they are told they are in the best country in the world, so automatically its a like it or lump it scenario. Someone has to guard America from that mentality, because one day America won't be the best country in the world the way its going. It will just be a paradise for people that have money.. OH.. its that already.

hehe.

[Ed Oscuro]

All that money and all those lives could be better spent getting me a taco.

the TALIBAN will fly a taco into your hallway, sideways.

Taliban tacos, we deliver. Socialist liberal paradise

[DEL]

BryanM wrote;

(which is still health care, this has nothing to do with the fucking speech, it's just another venue to blast the idea of a health care system)

There ya go. I reckon its that.
I mean what the hell is wrong with making a speech advising kids to attend school

[neorichieb1971]

How can they see it if they are not attending?

[ncp]

every time i see someone making a big deal out of this speech to school kids I facepalm so hard I think I might break my face

[Super Laydock]

Good call.
Next thing you you know they're gonna teach the children about evolution.

[brokenhalo]

evolution

there you go with that socialist liberal bullshit

[Ex-Cyber]

Word is that the text will be released 24 hours before the speech is to be delivered.

Predictions: the anti-Obama strike force will

- pore over every word and find something to construe as partisan, thus proving them right; and/or
- claim that it was edited/rewritten at the last minute in response to their diligent efforts; or
- unceremoniously drop the issue as though it never existed and move on to the next hot accusation

It's impossible for Obama to win with these people. They've already decided that he's the Other. He could personally hunt down and kill Osama bin Laden with his bare hands, and they'd pontificate about the terrorist connections he must have had to be able to pull it off.

[Jockel]

It's impossible for Obama to win with these people. They've already decided that he's the Other. He could personally hunt down and kill Osama bin Laden with his bare hands, and they'd pontificate about the terrorist connections he must have had to be able to pull it off.

It was easy to kill him for Obama, because he knew where his best friend was hiding!!11111
I don't want to say that most americans are stupid...
but yeah most american people are stupid.
people are stupid in general.

[Ed Oscuro]

Word is that the text will be released 24 hours before the speech is to be delivered.

That is indeed the word:

The text of the speech will be made available 24 hours before he makes it. In the meantime, the Secretary of the Department of Education sent this letter to Principals, outlining what the President will be covering.

How can they see it if they are not attending?

The video will be available on ed.gov (yes I have my own web sight)

It's impossible for Obama to win with these people. They've already decided that he's the Other. He could personally hunt down and kill Osama bin Laden with his bare hands, and they'd pontificate about the terrorist connections he must have had to be able to pull it off.

Heh.

[Ex-Cyber]

Word is that the text will be released 24 hours before the speech is to be delivered.

That is indeed the word:

The text of the speech will be made available 24 hours before he makes it. In the meantime, the Secretary of the Department of Education sent this letter to Principals, outlining what the President will be covering.

D'oh! Must have tripped my banner/header filter somehow.

[dcharlie]

it's getting really desperate now - the right are basically just making noise about anything and everything. Beck has gone completely off the deep end now and the fact that he gets any airtime at all is extremely worrying.

This particular incident - well, i see the valid complaints that some cons have on the text of the support packs - the wording is very pro-agreement though the message maybe "WE ALL NEED TO STICK IN AT SCHOOL , STUDY AND ADVANCE THE GREAT NATION!" which no one SHOULD disagree with but hey.

Also - Bush addressed the children at least once, Reagan did it too - so i wonder what is so different now? (not a real question)

[captpain]

The scariest thing happening in the US right now is the KFC Double Down sandwich.

[Super Laydock]

people are stupid in general.

I'd call them... less educated and informed.
Though some people are indeed right out stupid and/or brainwashed.
And yes lots of people in the US but also in our so called haven of Europe are just plain ignorant.

Question EVERYTHING!!!

[Jockel]

people are stupid in general.

I'd call them... less educated and informed.

There's a huge difference between not knowing certain facts and being stupid.
Intelligence is not the same as knowledge.
Most people lack both.

[Super Laydock]

people are stupid in general.

I'd call them... less educated and informed.

Intelligence is not the same as knowledge.

I couldn't agree more...

[kengou]

The scariest thing happening in the US right now is the KFC Double Down sandwich.

Only if by "scariest" you really mean "tastiest."

[Danbo]

KFC is obviously run by right-wingers very eager to put a ton of stress on any upstart public healthcare system.