Last debate

[Foster_mama]

100% of McCains ads are negative....not true. But 73% vs. 63% of negative ads McCain vs. Obama

Offshore drilling....McCain wrong, but both have changed their stances over time

Budget impact....500 billion is the inherited deficit

McCain will boost it to over 1 trillion and to 737 billion for Obama hmmmmmmmm

[Foster_mama]

McCain did run against Bush before.....he lost

[mamaginger]

Ya know...education is a tricky issue. I am a certified special education teacher. I only taught for 4 years but that was plenty long enough to learn about our public school system. I also attended private school myself for 9 years and public for 4.

Education is NOT a problem in the suburbs where you have educated parents with good jobs. Those schools are flourishing because education and discipline are important in the home. It has NOTHING to do with how much money the government is throwing around at the schools. A school building doesn't make the school good or bad and neither do the teachers...it's the students who attend the school and their parents.

I just did my own research on 3 counties: the county I live in now, the county I grew up in and also a nearby county. I did it on www.greatschools.com by the way, which is a GREAT place to look up info for any state and I highly recommend it.

The school we're zoned for is the LOWEST rated school in the entire district. 72% of students at our zoned school are on free or reduced lunch. Why? The people I live around are uneducated and therefore poor. They pass along the lack of value for education to their kids and the cycle continues. The government can't change that and no amount of money can change it.

The county where all the educated, wealthy young familes are moving by the DROVES has schools that are rated 8, 9, and 10 on a scale of 1 -10. It's the PEOPLE who live in the area that make the schools "high achieving" or "low achieving."

[mamaginger]

Originally Posted by Foster_mama

McCain did run against Bush before.....he lost

I'm not sure if you are just making a point or if you misunderstood who said what to whom?

The point was Obama and Biden both keep talking about Bush who is over and done with and McCain made a great point that if Obama wanted to run against Bush he should've done it when he had the chance.

I voted against McCain then... and I voted against him in the primaries this time. Unfortunately the majority of republicans didn't.

[laura4410]

My favorite comment/blooper of the night when McCain talked about Obama and said "Senator Government"!! lol I thought he summed up my thoughts well! I dont think Obama brought anything new to the table. I thought McCain finally added something to the debate. Not sure it was enough. Speaking of condescending, I have to add egotistical and cocky to my thoughts on Obama for the night. His little smirky, laugh thing that he did the whole time was so unprofessional. But, whatever. I guess its only the things you notice about the person you dont like.

[Foster_mama]

Originally Posted by mamaginger

Ya know...education is a tricky issue. I am a certified special education teacher. I only taught for 4 years but that was plenty long enough to learn about our public school system. I also attended private school myself for 9 years and public for 4.

Education is NOT a problem in the suburbs where you have educated parents with good jobs. Those schools are flourishing because education and discipline are important in the home. It has NOTHING to do with how much money the government is throwing around at the schools. A school building doesn't make the school good or bad and neither do the teachers...it's the students who attend the school and their parents.

I just did my own research on 3 counties: the county I live in now, the county I grew up in and also a nearby county. I did it on www.greatschools.com by the way, which is a GREAT place to look up info for any state and I highly recommend it.

The school we're zoned for is the LOWEST rated school in the entire district. 72% of students at our zoned school are on free or reduced lunch. Why? The people I live around are uneducated and therefore poor. They pass along the lack of value for education to their kids and the cycle continues. The government can't change that and no amount of money can change it.

The county where all the educated, wealthy young familes are moving by the DROVES has schools that are rated 8, 9, and 10 on a scale of 1 -10. It's the PEOPLE who live in the area that make the schools "high achieving" or "low achieving."

Check out Kim's thread in the boiler room.

I would have to agree it is primarily the people who make the schools better or worse, but at the same time, how do you counteract that? It isn't by shoving less qualified and uncertified teachers into the positions. It isn't by pay alone, either. You have to motivate good teachers to give of themselves and possibly forgive some or all of their loans. Having been a high school guidance counselor in public and parochial schools, it isn't about the pay, most teachers know their not going to get rich in that field. It's about making a difference. Colleges now look for community service hours in admissions. The trend has been to mandate community service hours for graduation. That's an excellent trend, but do it one step better and mandate that high school students give of their time to be part of programs that get kids and their parents to get involved.

The district where I did my counseling internship....Mt. Vernon, NY ( think money-earnin' Mt. Vernon...Heavy D....just north of the Bronx) the worst aspect was the transient population. Kids moving in and out of the district from Haiti, Jamaica, Mexico and various other places. The test scores through 6th grade were good but after 6th grade, those "good" students leave and go to private schools because of the criminal and transient elements. Because their success numbers are few, the monetary incentives for the district are fewer as well. The district is killing itself. I could write a book on that city, though.

[Foster_mama]

Originally Posted by mamaginger

I'm not sure if you are just making a point or if you misunderstood who said what to whom?

The point was Obama and Biden both keep talking about Bush who is over and done with and McCain made a great point that if Obama wanted to run against Bush he should've done it when he had the chance.

I voted against McCain then... and I voted against him in the primaries this time. Unfortunately the majority of republicans didn't.

I understood it. Thing is, it made no sense. The incumbent is a republican. Oft cited as the worst president in history as of late. John McCain has tried previously to become president but fell short before finally getting the nod this time. He's voted WITH the current president 90% of the time. Usually, in the last 50 years specifically, when the country has gone to hell in a handbasket, we switch parties, Obama would be the obvious choice this time around in that respect. McCain was trying to make it seem like he's been there/done that an Obama is "new" to politics while also trying to distance himself from Bush. Not gonna happen though. He's much more similar to Bush an Obama/Biden are correct in saying it over and over again. And in some ways that McCain may differ with Bush? You've got Palin right there thinking the same as Bush or worse.

[Foster_mama]

19 days to go

[r3sunz]

I will be glad when its over. My phone wont stop ringing.
Weird though. Dh is a registered republican and it hasnt rang once for him.

[Zelan]

http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com...bate-to-obama/

According to CNN poll, Obama wins this one too. I am loving Obama more and more!