I found something that may explain why the lefties here in Coeur d’Alene, those who support Barak Obama for President, are so apologetic of urban renewal abuse and the other questionable things that go on in the city. It all makes sense now!
The quote below is from an obvious right-wing blog, The Absolute Bloggers, but it’s based on documented facts and points out a connection that rings true here in Coeur d’Alene:
As State Senator, Obama was part of the corrupt political machine that uses Chicago and Illinois politics as a means of transferring the taxpayers’ money into the pockets of politicians, their families, and their corrupt associates. For 17 years, Barack Obama was a close political associate of Antoin Rezko, who made a lucrative career out of defrauding the taxpayers with phony urban renewal projects. Obama intervened on Rezko’s behalf, and was so close to him, that Rezko engineered a special deal so that Obama could buy his mansion in Hyde Park.
Wow. Rich, so-called Democrats profiting from urban renewal dollars, then rewarding the politicians who helped them grease the gears! Who’d thunk? If you change some names, would it be possible to paint a similar picture of what’s going on here in Coeur d’Alene?
Lefties seem to love taxes. Tax money means power and control. It is not about the “social good”, it is about controlling our hard earned money. Communist Russia knew how to control the people…control the money and you control the people.
Sorenson School is forced to go to the almighty Money Monster for things the school board has decided not to fund. On that note, I ask the Independent Financial Advisory Committee for the CdA Schools to look into whether Sorenson is a good investment. If the school should remain open why does the District not support using school tax money? Can the advisory group tell us what the test scores of the new magnet school are? I hope they are high enough to warrant keeping the school open.
Comment by Mama Bear — September 14, 2008 @ 8:38 pm
The Sorensen magnet school is succeeding in a tremendous way. I credit principal Jim Gray with that. But when the school became a magnet school, it fell under the ADA guidelines. That explains why the school district did nothing with regards to ADA for Sorensen for 18 years. But then again, under Harry, there was no interest in keeping Sorensen (or Winton) open.
I would applaud Hazel Bauman if she elected to refuse the LCDC money. If she elects to run a levy for Sorensen and Winton, I would be on a soap box in a heartbeat to support it.
Comment by Dan — September 14, 2008 @ 8:45 pm
What are ADA guidelines? Could you explain the 18 years.
Comment by Mama Bear — September 15, 2008 @ 9:33 am
The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) was passed in 1990 to provide federal guidelines for making buildings and infrastructure accessible to people with disabilities. Think wheelchair ramps. I believe that Sorensen was somehow not covered by that act, so there was no need to remediate the school back in the 1990s. But, when Sorensen was made a magnet school, it suddenly had to be brought up to ADA standards. Rather than promote a levy to fix the problem, I believe Harry Amend went to the LCDC because A) it was easier than doing a levy and B) to cement a relationship (e.g., patronage) between the City and school district.
Comment by Dan — September 15, 2008 @ 10:57 am
As it was explained to me the reason Sorenson was not brought up to ADA standards before now was because there were other ADA compliant schools in the District offering an education program identical to Sorenson’s. A disabled student in the Sorenson district could be bused to an ADA compliant school and receive exactly the same education program as he or she would at Sorenson.
Now that Sorenson is a magnet school it offers a unique education program that is not provided by any other school in the District. If a disabled student chooses the magnet education program offered at Sorenson the school must be ADA compliant in order to serve him or her.
Comment by CdACanuck — September 15, 2008 @ 9:51 pm
I am in favor of magnet schools that provide more choice for parents. I am delighted to hear that Jim Gray is doing a fine job. Choice and competition will be healthy for our eduction system. I do believe that if Sorenson is an academically successful school then CdA Schools should spend the money to keep it open. It should not be the decision of LCDC to determine what schools receive our tax money. Unelected groups should not have this kind of power over our public schools.
Comment by Mama Bear — September 16, 2008 @ 8:57 am
Yes, Mama Bear, your comments are right on. The schools taking money from LCDC puts this unelected board in a position of even greater power. And it once again bypasses the voters.
Comment by mary — September 16, 2008 @ 10:20 am
Oh man……. I am so disappointed. I was trying, the other day, I was trying to talk to a good friend of mine about this group which I have always so enjoyed; this group right here at opencda. And, as I tried to explain what it is we all talk about over here and why it is fascinating to me and who the personalities are….. he said to me, he said “they are probably a bunch of right wing conservatives” and I said Nooooo….. I don’t think so, they are just a group of people promoting the idea of transparency in government.
But, what he said…. kindof stuck in my head and I wondered to myself if the larger uniting cause here was actually political party lines, you know republican vs. democrats, well then why would it not be drawn out on those lines? I guess I have alot to learn about politics, and I am honestly not too excited about that.
How the hell did Barrack Obama get dragged up in here? Well, yeah, Dan posted a topic kind-of comparing the BS occurring in our own city government to the BS which occurred where Obama was involved in similar shady deals…… yeah, I get that.
So,
what would you like for me to do about that?
I think it is no better on the other side with McCain. Not a shred better.
Anyway, if this topic hadn’t gotten completely derailed by the Sorenson school and Americans with Disabilities Act, it has left the tracks here thanks to me,
critter
a loyal fan
and a confused participant
Comment by critter — September 27, 2008 @ 11:10 am
See http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H5tZc8oH–o&eurl=http://www.powerlineblog.com/ for more about this issue.
Comment by Pariah — September 27, 2008 @ 11:25 am
Critter, this is NOT a partisan political site. Dan, Bill and I are committed to a discussion that is open to all ideas and all viewpoints. We feel very strongly about it. I know many, but not all, of the people who usually comment here and I can assure you that they are of all persuasions.
Does everything have to be about party politics? Must we always point fingers at each other and say, “I can’t even consider your views because you are on the other team.”? Maybe we can just listen to each others’ ideas, take them on their own merits, and discuss ways to improve our local government and community.
Thanks for your input, you brought up a very important topic!
Comment by mary — September 27, 2008 @ 11:59 am
Watch the video!
Comment by Pariah — September 27, 2008 @ 12:14 pm
Oh….sheesh Pariah, did ya haff ta make me do that? TEN minutes of my life……
just to say, mostly in response to Mary, that I agree with you about finger pointing. When we say it that way ‘pointing fingers’ no one really wants to be accused of that, do they? I don’t, for sure. And, it is not hard for me to imagine getting along quite well with people despite not always agreeing with them, even on issues that are important to me. If we have some common ground, that is enough to sustain an interest for me. However, it is of some value to me to be able to say ‘well, these people unite around a common ideal, or a common set of values’ and then make a determination whether or not my ideals and my values would fall into line with the group. Do you know what I mean?
Like I said, I have alot to learn about ‘the way things work’.
I just wanted to bring it up, is all. Not to interrupt, just to get some input or some ideas because I need them. So, thank you for taking the time to reply to my message. I do appreciate that.
-c
Comment by critter — September 27, 2008 @ 12:31 pm
Nine minutes and 59 seconds is a small investment to know why we are here and who is responsible. Glad you watched it. Do send it to everyone you know.
Comment by Pariah — September 27, 2008 @ 12:33 pm
I do know what you mean, Critter, and most of us that participate here are interested in very similar ideals: Open, honest, responsive, accountable government.
Actually, when I look at most of the problems here in our community, it’s not party politics at play because many of the players are from both sides. The problem seems to be the politics of greed, and that crosses all lines.
Comment by mary — September 27, 2008 @ 12:43 pm
Greed, arrogance and petty human nature.
Comment by Pariah — September 27, 2008 @ 1:02 pm
Critter: I receive Google News alerts on Urban Renewal. This link came in over the transom and I found the parallels similar to what’s happening here in local government. I wasn’t trolling for anti-Obama messages, and I point out that the blog is obviously right-wing. I was making a comparison.
The Obama-McCain thing will degenerate into a typical, dismal partisan bickering match between the blind, deaf, and ignorant on both ends of the spectrum. The same people are trying to peg political, partisan sides on the issue here in CdA. It’s not the case. In fact, I get very angry when people have said “It’s those @#% Democrats in City Hall!” It’s not. The Democrats I know in town see the same kind of shady deals I see. Not all Democrats, but quite a few. My issues here locally are not partisan, despite the efforts of many to make them so.
Comment by Dan — September 27, 2008 @ 1:30 pm
For more on what you will be reading about next week:
The Ballooning Credit Derivatives Market: Easing Risk or Making It Worse?
Comment by Pariah — September 27, 2008 @ 2:12 pm