Why Does Texas Get to Pick Textbooks?

This weekend's New York Times Magazine featured this article by RUSSELL SHORTO: How Christian Were the Founders? The basic premise of the article was that the state of Texas influences the textbook revisions of all the major textbook publishers and therefore impacts the textbooks that schools use around the country. In his interview with Don McLeroy he said:

McLeroy was frank in talking about how he applies direct pressure to textbook companies... [he] wanted books to include classic myths and fables rather than newly written stories whose messages they didn’t agree with... McLeroy shared an email with the author showing the fruits of his efforts: “Hi Don. Thanks for the impact that you have had on the development of Pearson’s Scott Foresman Reading Street series. Attached is a list of some of the Fairy Tales and Fables that we included in the series.”

To me there are 3 issues with this topic:
1. That Texas gets to choose what is taught in public schools around the country
2. That crazy people get to influence the curriculum even though they know nothing about the subject matter.
3. That we are still arguing about the beliefs of the Founding Fathers.

The agenda of the christianistas is to gut evolution, promote creationism, and establish a christian nation. I have no doubt that many of the Founding Fathers were christian but did they want a christian nation? Tomorrow I will discuss the latest on the beliefs of the Founding Fathers.

Crazies

There are two blogs floating out there US4Palin and A Time for Choosing that both have the exact same narrative...(which is no surprise because the editor ATFC is an author on USFP) here are some highlights:

Another day another scandal from the most corrupt president in American history...
In short this is the most secretive and corrupt government we have ever had...
This latest scandal regarding transparency involves one of Sarah Palin’s areas of strong expertise, energy. As everyone knows, America has more than enough natural resources to become energy independent, but the zealots and flat earthers are doing all they can to prevent this from happening...

This revolves around a "leaked" memo citing approval for offshore drilling and the manipulation of the data. If "drillgate" is such a big deal not even Fox News knows about it yet. In my search it seems that the meager about of oil and natural gas would not be worth the trouble.

The Minerals Management Service estimates the area contains 130 million barrels of oil, which it estimates would be consumed in roughly six days, and 1,140 billion cubic feet of gas, which would be used up in 18 days.

What I find interesting is the language leveled at the Obama administration... Most corrupt in US history? Really? Wow, I guess Bush wasn't that bad.

Hah!

This in hilarious. Fox News has a poll asking "What do you think Tea Party Movement is about?"
... and the people have spoken




And here's an example (unedited by me) of what the Tea Partiers are looking for:

We simply want someone who is average. It doesn't need to be a Rhodes Scholar. It doesn't need to be a college professor. It doesn't need to be a lawyer who passed the bar. It doesn't need to be a Peanut farmer, or an expert on global warming. Just an average guy with some CEO experience. Or even a hot chick with the same qualifications would be fine. Or even an average chick with the same qualifications. "Average" means "one of us". That brings a lot of baggage with it, such as imperfect, and blemishes, and mistakes, and even some inexperience. But it also brings the ability to lead, and to be accountable for choices made. It would also be nice to have someone as a leader who does not invalidate us and dismiss us, calling us names such as "teabaggers" and "birthers" and "right-wing nuts" and "Limbaugh lovers" and "gun nuts" but instead, call us "taxpayers" and "citizens" and "voters" and "constituents" and "Americans".

I would love to see the Tea Party rise to power. I think it would be the best thing to happen to the republican party

Bullies

As much as I want to continue to rail against the dark presence of Goldman Sachs and their evil emperor Lloyd Blankfein, my attention has be drawn to another phantom menace: Bullies and Stupidity.
I was watching the Daily Show last night when the portly Newt Gingrich rolled out on stage. He was wearing smug suspenders of confidence to hold up his 60" pants. As he an Jon Stewart tussled over various issues they came to Khalid Sheikh Mohammed and the trial that was to take place in New York. Stewart correctly stated that Richard Reid the shoe bomber was tried in US court under the Bush administration and Gingrich falsely stated that Reid was a US citizen. Where were the right-wingers when 289 terrorist were tried in US courts under Bush?
The discussion went on to talk about Miranda rights and why Obama doesn't "get" how to try terrorist. Never mind the disaster Bush created. Never mind the black eye and loss or moral standing the Bush brought about. Never mind the recruitment tool Gitmo is. Gingrich spoke and his followers listened. Republicans have taken to the position that military tribunals are the best way to go and treating the terrorist thugs as criminals is wrong. The sad thing is that too many people below 35˚ north agree with Gingrich. The very people who are chanting for Obama to read the constitution are the same people who would throw it away and forsake our court system, arguably the best in the world.

This is Interesting

Under Obama job creation has perfectly mirrored job losses under Bush

Goldman's Gonna Get You

Over the weekend the New York Times reported that Goldman helped push AIG to the edge.
Here are some fun facts:
2003 Goldman creates mortgage securities that AIG insures against loss.
2006 AIG stops writing insurance on securities that contain subprime mortgage bonds (looks like they had an idea this might blow up...)
2006 Goldman increase negative bets on mortgage market basically hedging against the monster they created.
Fast forward to November of 2008 and Goldman gets 8.4 billion in AIG payments and then the Fed pays Goldman another 5.6 billion.
If you have time to read the entire article it's fascinating.

It's Good to Know That Politics As Usual is Still an Appropriate Cliché

Check this out and tell your friends Sen Shelby R-Al had put a blanket hold on all Obama nominations...