"9/11 is No Joke"

Hosting an anti-Bush blog, I would be totally remiss to not include an entry on the 6th anniversary of the infamous September 11, 2001 terrorist attack on the U.S. Anyone who saw Michael Moore's "Fahrenheit 9/11" knows that Bush was in a classroom reading a children's book about sheep or goats to a class of young children while "the attack on America" transpired. After Andrew Card whispered in Dubya Bush's ear that the country was under attack, Bush had a deer in the headlights look in his eyes and continued reading to the class for several critical minutes. In spite of Bush's initial failure to lead or act Presidential, Dubya basically owes his so-called 're-election' (he wasn't really elected to begin with) to what happened on that September 11. Paraphrasing from Abe lincoln, "You can fool some of the people all of the time...", but in Bush's case all that counts is to fool enough people to get elected or the first time out to be appointed by the Supreme Court.
According to a recent article, the federal government has declared nearly a quarter of a million documents or similar items as classified, supposedly in the name of "National Security", the standard excuse to hide governmental incompetence, malfeasance, deception, lies, and fraud. For more information on this check out OpenThegovernment.org .
As for possible Republican successors to Bush's egregious legacy: Although I loathe the possibility that Mitt for Brains Romney might do for the nation what he has done for Massachusetts and I have little or no respect for how John McCain has kowtowed and shown deference to Bush's blatant lies and mistakes, I think it is shameful how Rudy Giulliani is exploiting the events of 9/11/2001 to try to reach the highest office in the land. As I see it, they all basically suck. Hopefully, the next President won't be so secretive and will honor FOIA (the Freedom Of Information Act.). The more the government does in secret, the less it benefits the Common Man and the individual citizen.

Hated Osama Returns

Like ants at a picnic or rain on a parade, Osama bin Laden has crawled out from under his rock to ruin our false sense of security. As could be expected, Bush continues to do little or nothing to capture the hateful, hypocritical madman. After all, if Osama didn't mastermind the infamous events of 9/11/2001 Bush wouldn't likely have made it for a second term in office. If 'the ends justify the means' 9/11 was a nifty way for Bush to push through his pernicious policies and insidious agendae. Thanks to Osama's terrorist plotting and acts, Bush fooled enough people to ruin things for the rest of us for many years or decades to come. It will take a long time and some real leadership to undo the damage Bush has already done, plus what additional havoc the Bush cabal will wreak by 1/20/2009 or his impeachment, whichever comes first. Hopefully, Bush clone Mitt for Brains Romney or similar conservative candidates will lose to whatever Democratic or Independent nominee who will have the onerous challenge of counteracting the Bush/Cheney dystopian vision of citizen-surveillance, never-ending pre-emptive warfare, censor-bullying by the FCC, secrecy, lies, deceit, and blatant high crimes and misdemeanors.

"No Child Left Behind": All Dropouts Left Behind

I'm sure George Dubya Bush's so-called "No Child Left Behind" had the best of intentions. All 50 states are required to have students having certain minimal standards of excellence in certain subjects in order for them to graduate into 'the real world' or into college or other forms of higher education. Unfortunately, Standardized Testing, in many cases has the opposite of the intended effect.
In Massachusetts, for instance, the MCAS test or Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment Test was instituted in the last ten years. First, I believe the test was required of all students of late Middle School or early High School years. At first the test was required, but passing it was not required in order to graduate from High School. Gradually though, the test was given in the late Middle School years and a different version was given in 10th grade. This time, passing the MCAS exam was required in order to be able to graduate two years later. First, it was mandatory to pass an English exam. Then, a math exam was added and soon passing that was also mandatory in order to graduate. In the near future, passing a Science exam will also be required in order to graduate from Public Schools. Public School has gotten much tougher, and the powers that be have managed to take all the fun out of learning.
For most students, passing rigorous exams will make them more prepared for working, future careers or college, except that teachers have no choice but to notoriously 'teach to the test'. Art, music, phys. ed. and other kinds of learning now get short shrift in public schools, except for certain varsity sports. On the other hand, students with disabilities and less-motivated students are unable to graduate in many cases if they are incapable of passing the MCAS or similar Standardized tests. A lot of students have dropped out of school in frustration over these Standardized tests. If these students are not accommodated or given the help they need to pass such exams and later graduate, they may leave frustrating, unfulfilled lives with few or no prospects, work low-paying dead-end jobs, or even turn to crime. No Child Left behind indeed!