1. Why Obama attended a very expensive private school in Hawaii,
2. Why he now spends $60,000 annually for his two children to attend private school, but does not support school choice initiatives for students stuck in government institutions?

Wouldn’t that be informative and entertaining??

I am pointing at you and saying, “Yeah, what he said!” Well said Terry! I am sick to death of being called a racist or one who hates. I hate ideas but I have never hated a person. I don’t have a racist bone in my body either. I may be a sexist in some ways as I CANNOT stand women who add “feelings” to any political argument, especially those devoid of common logic and well known fact.

Where were the protests, the vitriol, the hate,…

Hate? What hate? Objecting to something that Hussein Obama does as POTUS is not the same thing as “hate” Diane. But I get it, “hate” is one of those leftist charges leftists throw out at non-leftists that is supposed to disarm us. Sorry, that tactic has been used so much by the left that people are becoming immune to it. You see, that’s what happens, Diane, you can only make a given false charge so often before people begin to become numb to it. But had you called us all ‘racist’ for our opposition to Obama’s statism, well now, that might have been more effective to your purposes. After all, the other presidents you name were all white guys, right.

Diane wrote:

What about when George W. Bush was sitting in a classroom visiting students face to face.

What about it? Is POTUS sitting in a class room visiting and addressing third grade students face-to-face the same thing as purposely and pointedly addressing the nation’s schoolchildren to your mind? In point of fact, Diane, the great likelihood is that no one but the students, factulty, and the parents involved would have known anything about that had it not been for the events of 9/11 which brought attention to it. Did George W. or anyone in his administration advertise the event to the nation?

You wrote parenthetically:

(Remember 9-11-01? Thousands of people are dead, and he’s sitting there, taking his sweet time to respond to a national tragedy)

Actually, it was an attack on our country by jihadist Muslims, not a ‘national tragedy,’ leftist sentimentalism notwithstanding. Second, by “sitting there taking his sweet time” what exactly do you mean and what exactly is the basis of your objection? Bush, in your opinion, should have done what, and according to what specific time frame? Need I remind you, Diane, that he didn’t know what exactly was happening at the time he first received word that WTC had been hit.

But allow me to let you in on a couple of dirty little secrets here Diane. First of all, Hussein Obama is a radical leftist who seeks to impose a radical leftist agenda on the entire nation. If you can’t see the difference between a radical leftist hell-bent on imposing radical leftist policies on the entire nation, and three right-liberals/neo-conservatives of various orders taking an intensely more moderate approach to the office of the presidency, then you’re a self-deluded fool. Second, if Hussein isn’t an actual foreigner by birth, he’s the closest one can get without actually being one. On the little matter of his citizenship alone, which is by no means a settled question, and of his imbibing principles not congenial with Republicanism during his formidable years while being educated in a foreign country under a foreign system of education which bears a great deal of hostility towards the United States, there is a stark contrast between Hussein Obama and the other Presidents you named in your post.

In short, get real.

You said, “I also find the claim that its aim was to subliminally foster support for the Democratic party utterly ludicrous.”

Brooke, if any one thing can be pointed out as a lack in education, it is this: People are taught to read but they do not comprehend what they have read. They do not focus on the words used and the context of those words in statements. Spelling, although I abhor errors, DOES NOT constitute a valid reason for ignoring the argument. For example, my earlier post had nothing whatsoever to do with political party affiliation(nor did Obama’s speech); it was quite specific in pointing out the line that has blurred between parent and child. You must agree that “giving up” on yourself cannot, in any way, be considered as giving up on your country! That is a huge leap. Remember that kids from K-12 listened to this speech; most do not have the obvious maturity that you do! I believe that you have yet to face a situation where you just “throw in the towel”. Although I would not recommend that one do that, sometimes it is the only way someone will learn that they need to head in a different direction.

You also said, “It was not partisan in any way; it was a speech designed to encourage students to apply themselves in school so that they can ensure a better future for themselves and this country.”

I think that you may have been misled by the anger reflected in forums both here in the comments and throughout the country. The point that you cannot see (a part I’m glad and sad about) is that, at your age, you have yet to have lived long enough to experience the sublime. The message is quite simple if one actually READS the speeches given by anyone, especially Obama. His is simple: “The country depends on you.” No Brooke, it does not. This is a democratic Republic. In order for this country (and the People of it to survive) we must have two things: Self reliant people AND an intelligent electorate. Obama only spoke of success on the “global” level and ignored the opportunity to tell children that they can improve their personal livelihoods with effort that will pay off in the future for THEM.
He ignored the lack of constitutional authority he, or anyone else has, at the federal level to “provide” all that you need to learn (schools, books, teachers, etc.). When ANY President or person from the federal government tells you what “they” are doing for you, in an effort to assist you, they are intentionally and blatantly ignoring the Constitution. We have the most glorious system of government ever devised by man under the Constitution; unfortunately, from the outset it has been rarely conformed to. When you come to understand this, then you will have the two pieces required to keep this country great. Education in and of itself, especially one lacking in in-depth American History and Civics, is not the answer to success in life or the continuation of Liberty in the United States of America.

I commend you for reading the articles here and elsewhere that broaden your horizons and outlook. I certainly hope that you will order your free copy of the Constitution from Hillsdale College; it has a comprehensive list of reading materials in the back that will leave you with an abundance of knowledge that one usually will not find in any high school civics class. You sound like me many years ago however, I wasted a lot of time by not exploring and teaching myself. Have fun kiddo— really, the world is your oyster; just don’t get eaten or stuck on the beach!

By the way, if anyone is interested, I consider myself a conservative.

“our public school system is one of the most destructive forces in our country”

What is your basis for this wild accusation? I have not known a single teach who pushed ideological views on kids. We are professionals. I have to be careful when talking about the “Civil War” since all we get in the text books is the PC sanitized version of the evil south being reformed of its nasty ways by the great and tolerant north!
Maybe you should back up why you think public schools are one of THE most destructive forces in our country?

I disagree with your premise. We are not a Democracy. We are a Constitutional Republic. As for Pericles, I assume when you say “plan” you are referring to his passion for the arts which led to Athens’ cultural and educational greatness. His form of government worked for a time in ancient Greece, however, we are not an Athenian Democracy. We have layers of government that provide checks and balances and elected representatives to do so. These layers were a very intentional part of the framers’ plan for our country. If a president wants to encourage education and the arts then he or she should do so by giving the states an incentive to encourage education and the arts. The states can then compete and we will then be free to choose which one we want to live in.

oh yeah… I challenge you to show me a true statesman in congress…..