Romney ed comments
He wasn't going to get the NEA endorsement anyway.
This tax credit for homeschoolers doesn't really fly. There are too many people in society that contribute to the funding of public schools that don't have children in the system to allow it. Additionally, there are all sorts of concerns in the homeschooling community about qualifying for something like this. When you've got some states that highly regulate homeschooling and others that don't even have it codified---it gets sticky pretty quickly. It doesn't bring me a millimeter closer to voting for him at all. It does make me wonder who is counseling him about the issue though.''I also believe parents who are teaching their kids at home, homeschoolers, deserve a break, and I've asked for a tax credit to help parents in their homes with the cost of being an at-home teacher,'' he said.
Romney supports giving parents more educational options, through charter schools or vouchers, but he said legislation should be done on a state level.
''I really hesitate to have the federal government become too involved in local schools,'' he said.
Romney also said teachers are underpaid and better teachers should be rewarded with more money.
''I'd like to see there be a relationship between the pay of the teacher and their performance, their career track, their ability to mentor other students,'' Romney told more than 100 people at a children's museum in this early voting state. ''We need to treat teachers like the professionals they are and not like people manufacturing widgets on an assembly line.'' NY Times
14 comments:
I agree education should be mainly a state priority. I agree with you that the tax credit is a bad idea, though probably for different reasons. I do agree that it is a bad move to frame the financing of education as something a parent gets in return for paying taxes; we all benefit from an educated public.
But, more and more, I find myself rolling my eyes any time someone proposes a "tax credit" or a deduction as a political solution. The main result for the masses is a more complicated tax code, and one that blurs what fair taxes are. Businessman and former candidate Steve Forbes was right about one thing: we should be able to do our taxes on a postcard. I love my mortgage deduction as much as the next guy, but enough is enough. Income times rate equals taxes owed. Period.
Romney's interesting. Not that I'd vote for him, but if the public could get past his religion, he'd be pretty formidable. Sam Brownback the other day reiterated what I posted here once: McCain is the GOP's best and maybe only shot at keeping the White House. As a Democrat, he's the only one that makes me nervous. The others in the top tier have too much baggage. I mean, if it's Hillary vs. Rudy, Hillary would be the more "family values" candidate. How ironic is that?
McCain makes me nervous too. As does Rudy. Talk about baggage!
In your opinion what's Fred's baggage?
Kay,
Here's something of which you should be aware. You don't have an easily accessable email, so I'll post here, if you don't mind.
Do you remember our own favroite Tennessee State Income Tax vampire from earlier this decade? 'Dandy Don Turncoat' Sundquist?!? The guy of whom they modeled and produced a giant (empty) Paper-mâché head and trotted it around at campaign events? The same guy who put the 'goober' back in 'gubernatorial?'
He's baaaaack......!
TOP TEN THINGS FRED THOMPSON COULD DO THAT WOULD BE LESS DESTRUCTIVE TO HIS CAMPAIGN THAN NAMING 'DANDY DON TURNCOAT' SUNDQUIST TO HIS TENNESSE LEADERSHIP TEAM…
http://terryfrank.net/?p=2780#comments
I'll make an e-mail link more prominent.
I will NEVER forget when the Republicans were gathered during Bush v. Gore. Some national talking head was on TV at the time Sundquist was introduced to this group and you could clearly hear and see the discontent in the room for the man.
Political parties are like families. You have a hard time not inviting the crazy aunt to Thanksgiving. While I would prefer he give Sundquist the cold shoulder I'm not all that concerned about inviting the whole family to Thanksgiving dinner.
Kay, you wrote:
"Political parties are like families. You have a hard time not inviting the crazy aunt to Thanksgiving."
Do you remember that the Unibomber, Ted Kaczynski, was turned in to the FBI by his brother, David Kaczynski?
Sometimes, Kay you have to 'out' the crazies in the 'family' for the betterment of the entire community.
And anyone who considers a political party as a 'family'... is doomed to live with a quite dysfunctional family!
(Can you tell I don't trust anyone who holds their party loyalty above their allegiance to our nation?)
Mr. Boyd- How unfortunate that your dislike of certain policies and politicians evokes such horror.
The Tennessee Republican Party used to be a lot more centrist. I actually voted for Sundquist over Hooker in '98.
In your opinion what's Fred's baggage?
With Fred, it's not baggage as much as it is a pretty weak first 4-6 months as a candidate. I thought he would be pretty formidable; he just doesn't seem to have the fire in the belly, and it hasn't played in the populist way some expected. Populism is about really connecting with the grass roots, not just sounding folksy. His baggage is his history as a lobbyist His general election polling is almost as bad as Romney's. If Huckabee (the other Southern candidate)keeps gaining, Fred's done in the primaries. Zogby has Huckabee in 2nd in Iowa, Fred 5th.
Plus, Republicans tend to nominate in a very patriarchical way- usually it's perceived it's someone's "turn" (why Dole got the nomination despite few believing he could beat Clinton); voters who aren't incredibly active (and don't yet know who they'll support) IMO, will gravitate to the better-known, establishment candidates, McCain and Giuliani. I still have a hard time believing the GOP will nominate Giuliani, for any number of reasons.
Has anyone noted the irony that the only one who has kept his commitment to just one woman is the Mormon? I understand his religion hurts his chances; I must admit I don't get why that is- what is so objectionable about Mormonism?
Kay,
Please call me Jim. If we call each other 'Ms. Brooks' and Mr. Boyd' we're both gonna think someone owes someone else some money!
Kay, thanks for the discussion. I too voted for 'Dandy Don Turncoat' Sundquist... TWICE! Here's a quote from his re-election campaign when he was running for his second (term limited) term:
“All an income tax does is raise the tax burden on Tennesseans and create a way to finance the easy and endless expansion of government. Tennessee does not need a state income tax.”
Just a few short months after he was returned to office, 'Dandy Don Turncoat' Sundquist went back on his word. He basically said 'Screw you voters, I put one over on you!!'
Then he hooked up with Nasty Jimmy Neifeh and tried to shove an unconstitutional state income tax down our throats.
Now, some calling for party loyalty and unity are saying we should accept 'Dandy Don Turncoat' Sundquist back in the party fold. See? The old vampire rises again!
Kay, THAT is what I rail against when I question those who hold their party loyalty above their allegiance to our United States of America!! THAT is why, when the party big-wigs invite vampires like 'Dandy Don Turncoat' back in through the party's front door (Republican, Democrat, whatever), regular people who truly care for our country go out the back door, looking for something better!
Today, I say damn that old vampire!! The more pompous horse-hineys the big wigs allow in their party's front door, the more regular people will go out the back door, looking for something better. Did I say that twice? Good. It needs to be repeated.
Kay... you tend not to forget these things when you spend a hot Summer day on the Capitol steps looking through a Tennessee State Trooper's plexi-glass face shield and can count the scratches on the truncheon he'll use to beat you if you attempt to enter the 'Peoples House.'
http://www.tntaxrevolt.org/800x600-tntaxrevolt2.bmp
Kay, thank you for providing this forum.
Jim
Kay,
You were 'spot on' when you wrote:
"Plus, Republicans tend to nominate in a very patriarchical way..."
The objection regarding Mormonism is based on who they say Jesus is and what their believers can become.
You might want to do some googling regarding the topic. It'll be quite illuminating.
Jim,
I didn't write:
"Plus, Republicans tend to nominate in a very patriarchical way..."
nashteach did.
Though, I'll agree. That's not necessarily bad, though.
I remember the horn honking, The people trying to take back their government, Naifeh's refusal to close the vote, the road to Sundquist's retirement cottage.
And just a reminder, watch the language. I understand being passionate but we're trying to keep a "G" rated forum here.
Kay,
In a discussion Steve Simms and I were having over at the [Nashville] Tennesseean, I wrote:
"I’ve found that the occasional well placed cuss, used appropriately and expeditiously, can be a tonic to the soul."
http://support.tennessean.com/blogs/?p=5461
And I stand by that. However, since this is your forum, I'll respect your rules. I'll either censure my speech or I'll not post here at all.
Thanks and have a great weekend!
Jim
Thank you. I'll appreciate your cooperation.
Plus, Republicans tend to nominate in a very patriarchical way
I didn't mean it as a negative, just an observation. Dems have semeed more likely to defy media expectations, at least in primaries without incumbents. It seems this time though, the parties may switch and the GOP will nominate someone other than the front runner in the polls and the Dems will make the patr- err- matriarchical choice.
Doing the research on Mormonism- I think I knew all this and just didn't put it together in terms of a candidate.
IIRC, Sundquist ran in '98 saying he would look at business taxes to see that the burden between business and individual taxes was equitable. That was his campaign line about tax reform.
Tom
And what about looking beyond one's own family and considering the larger community as family? The two dominant parties are parochial just like families, and they're suing each other right now! -- like squabbling beneficiaries to Grandpa's fortune, they can't even agree among themselves to their own family rules, to treat all the siblings fairly (primary schedule -- I live in black-sheep rebellious Florida.)
Who really believes either aristocracy would run the government well for OUR benefit then?
So maybe Unity08 will help? I registered as a delegate last year and still have high hopes. I happen to be nonpartisan but most delegates are loyal Rs and Ds collaborating for us all without disowning their dysfunctional political family of origin. :)
If you do decide the Family of America is what counts, mention my name as inviting you to the reunion!
JJ Ross, Ed.D.
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