Let's see, he took office in 2009. And reversed the nosedive created by greedy bankers and Wall Street (frank)s inside of 1 year and then made steady progress for 7 straight years.
- Wetbandit1[/quotes
Unemployment figures from the Bureau of Labor Statistics are misleading, ignoring the fact that its most cited metric, the U3, does not include discouraged workers who have stopped seeking employment and part time workers. Jobs were created however GDP was below 3% for his two terms the lowest ever.

There is no question this is true. State run/ one sized fits all education models promote mediocrity at its worst. Its all politics and they don't have a clue. That being said: schools do not exist in a vacuum. They are representative of the larger society and its problems. Research tells us that the number one factor that contributes to the probability of a child succeeding or failing is the education level and value system of the primary provider. Number two is Socio-economics. There is no clear cut answer to these problems, however I can tell you for a fact that "privatizing schools for profit"...aka the majority of Charter schools is not the solution. Its simply a way of diverting tax dollars into corporate hands. Unions need to protect themselves from this neo-liberal garbage.
- Brianandr1

I would argue that they're one and the same. It's nigh on impossible to separate the 2. Obviously there are outliers, but they're just that, outliers, no real indication of a trend.

Like I said in one of my many posts unions definitely have a purpose, but when the purpose veers into self-enrichment it needs to be knocked down a peg or 30. A balance is needed and we're nowhere near balance at the moment with the teachers union.

This statement is simply offensive!!! As someone who works at both the secondary and the college level this statement is simply untrue. Most of the people I work with are hardworking and dedicated professionals who go the extra mile for their students. Blaming teachers for the failure of students is like blaming a dentist for their clients poor teeth. There are simply to many factors out of your control. (This is not even debatable, the research is overwhelming) Please do not confuse the politically motivated leadership of teacher unions with the actions of those of us that work hard every single day to make a difference in the lives of children.
- Brianandr1

The statement was about the UNION.

If Tanner thinks Reagan and Obamma were the same politically, then he also thinks Soros is some right wing lunatic.
- quackup

So much wrong with his opinions. Surely not facts.

The statement was about the UNION.
- quackup

We got there in the end. I've been known to be unintentionally vague at times. And people do often conflate a union and its individual members.

Unemployment figures from the Bureau of Labor Statistics are misleading, ignoring the fact that its most cited metric, the U3, does not include discouraged workers who have stopped seeking employment and part time workers. Jobs were created however GDP was below 3% for his two terms the lowest ever.

- arh777

I wouldn't necessarily say "misleading", but that's true that they don't take into account certain people. It's meant mainly as a "snapshot". However, "slowest recovery" is still a recovery. And not ZOMG WERST PREZIDINT EVUR!

I would argue that they're one and the same. It's nigh on impossible to separate the 2. Obviously there are outliers, but they're just that, outliers, no real indication of a trend.

Like I said in one of my many posts unions definitely have a purpose, but when the purpose veers into self-enrichment it needs to be knocked down a peg or 30. A balance is needed and we're nowhere near balance at the moment with the teachers union.
- Wetbandit1

This statement is true of false depending on the state you live in. In NY teacher unions are strong, in Florida not so much. As bad as the politics is(and it is a huge problem although I blame the state of NY more then the unions) , its nothing compared to the state of education in South Florida or New Orleans where Unions are non existent and Charters rule the day.

I assume Tanner lives in Canada. I also assume he's only been exposed to their health INSURANCE plan, that's universal. It's called healthcare, but really the issue is insurance. Bills being paid by the government vs private entities. That insurance entitles one to a particular level of healthcare. I don't know. Maybe he's lived in the U.S.

If I have a knee issue (non emergency), and need an MRI, the turn around time (with my insurance), is usually 5 working days. What is it in Canada? I've heard months, but I don't live there.

I should have known better than to click on this.

I have no one to blame but myself.

I should have known better than to click on this.

I have no one to blame but myself.
- acdc1206

So what you're saying, is that you need a safe space?

I kid. Maybe you've never called me a snowflake. I can't really keep the Trumpers straight nor can I tell their ramblings apart.

I get that it can be hard to deal with the fact that when people realize you like Trump they make possibly unfair judgments against you. But you will be better off considering this than retreating to a bubble where people only talk about neutral topics.


We should never ever limit the topics we talk about. If people of opposite political views can come together to discuss them in a hockey blog, well that's a good thing.

Also, to the credit of all involved, this blog, by which I mean myself and the hundreds of commentors who have been discussing politics openly since the disgusting events of November 7, has always been able to do so respectfully and without intervention or craziness.

It's a good thing. You get to hear my views and I get to hear yours. The hope is one day you'll realize that my views are in line with most educated people and change your mind, but hey it's a free country (at least for now).
- james_tanner1

Alright so I very rarely comment but enjoy reading the blogs on here, but this post is both wrong and ridiculous. To be up front I voted for Trump, but it was not because I liked him but more that I hated Hilary. I tend to lean Republican but if the Democrats would not have stolen the nomination from Bernie I would have probably voted for him.

Tanner's post is what is wrong with the US. "If you do not agree with my point of view you must be dumb and uneducated." Tanner says his views are most in line with "educated people," yet people that tend to vote Republican typically have higher levels of education and are typically further ahead in their careers.

People like Tanner blame the "uneducated" for Trump but the reality is we have Trump because the Democrats did not understand what the America people want. After 8 years of Bush and 8 years of Obama, the people wanted an outsider, not another legacy family like the Clintons.

Let's see, he took office in 2009. And reversed the nosedive created by greedy bankers and Wall Street (frank)s inside of 1 year and then made steady progress for 7 straight years.
- Wetbandit1

Unemployment numbers are hardly correct They do not count the number of people that are out of benefits and out of a job. Those numbers have always been incorrect. A lot of people have just given up on finding a job.

Alright so I very rarely comment but enjoy reading the blogs on here, but this post is both wrong and ridiculous. To be up front I voted for Trump, but it was not because I liked him but more that I hated Hilary. I tend to lean Republican but if the Democrats would not have stolen the nomination from Bernie I would have probably voted for him.

Tanner's post is what is wrong with the US. "If you do not agree with my point of view you must be dumb and uneducated." Tanner says his views are most in line with "educated people," yet people that tend to vote Republican typically have higher levels of education and are typically further ahead in their careers.

People like Tanner blame the "uneducated" for Trump but the reality is we have Trump because the Democrats did not understand what the America people want. After 8 years of Bush and 8 years of Obama, the people wanted an outsider, not another legacy family like the Clintons.
- bchiaro

The Clinton's would have been caustic to this country. How come the Clinton Foundation has all but shut down. All that money that was coming in was shut off........why because Crooked Hillary was supposed to grant favors and she has NO power to do that therefore the money stops. Simple common sense but liberals can see the forest cause there a too many trees in the way.

Politifact is funded by George Soros and Alberto Ibarguen, president and CEO of the Knight Foundation, one of PolitiFact’s largest contributors, donated $200,000 to support the 8th annual Clinton Global Initiative University meeting in February 2015.
Try again!
- arh777

Pulitzer Prize, Stellar Reputation, Respected University Study.

If you don't accept that, then you aren't credible yourself. No one is saying they are infallible, but they are a respectable source of information. And if you dispute that, how can you even have conversations with people if you won't accept new information or change your mind?

Alright so I very rarely comment but enjoy reading the blogs on here, but this post is both wrong and ridiculous. To be up front I voted for Trump, but it was not because I liked him but more that I hated Hilary. I tend to lean Republican but if the Democrats would not have stolen the nomination from Bernie I would have probably voted for him.

Tanner's post is what is wrong with the US. "If you do not agree with my point of view you must be dumb and uneducated." Tanner says his views are most in line with "educated people," yet people that tend to vote Republican typically have higher levels of education and are typically further ahead in their careers.

People like Tanner blame the "uneducated" for Trump but the reality is we have Trump because the Democrats did not understand what the America people want. After 8 years of Bush and 8 years of Obama, the people wanted an outsider, not another legacy family like the Clintons.
- bchiaro

Where do you get this?

Democrats lead by a massive margin in adults with post grad degrees. (57-35%)
Hold a smaller but still significant margin of 7 points in adults with a basic college degree and or some post grad work.
Also Hold a significant lead in women (both married and unmarried)and of course ethnic minorities

The republican base is generally white (particularly men) less educated and of course those that are religious. (which I'm sure goes without saying is a group that is at a much lower level of education overall )

http://www.people-press.o...e-into-party-affiliation/
http://www.people-press.o...and-less-educated-adults/

This statement is true of false depending on the state you live in. In NY teacher unions are strong, in Florida not so much. As bad as the politics is(and it is a huge problem although I blame the state of NY more then the unions) , its nothing compared to the state of education in South Florida or New Orleans where Unions are non existent and Charters rule the day.
- Brianandr1

Ok, that's fair, I've never lived anywhere but NY where it's ludicrously strong, and it's just as strong if not stronger on a national level. When the teachers back someone that's a huge endorsement and they have a ton of clout.

In some states they could definitely be boosted, but overall they're way too strong and wield way too much power.

Where do you get this?

Democrats lead by a massive margin in adults with post grad degrees. (57-35%)
Hold a smaller but still significant margin of 7 points in adults with a basic college degree and or some post grad work.
Also Hold a significant lead in women (both married and unmarried)and of course ethnic minorities

The republican base is generally white (particularly men) less educated and of course those that are religious. (which I'm sure goes without saying is a group that is at a much lower level of education overall )

http://www.people-press.o...e-into-party-affiliation/
http://www.people-press.o...and-less-educated-adults/
- HB77

They're further along in their careers because they're way older than democratic voters. It has very little, if anything to do with education levels. It's not to say no smart people voted for him however, just that the vast majority didn't. And usually had to do with people hating Hillary like Tanner hates Dave Grohl and were willing to cut off their nose to spite their face. Or because they knew they wouldn't be affected, or maybe even had something to gain by voting for him.

Just off the top my head.
Newt Gingrich
Laura Abraham
Herman Cain
Mike Huckabee.

Anne Coulter has disagreed with some things that Trump has done but she has not pulled her support. You're again inaccurate.
- MJL

Ladies and gentlemen: Newt "The Intellectual" Gingrich!

Alright so I very rarely comment but enjoy reading the blogs on here, but this post is both wrong and ridiculous. To be up front I voted for Trump, but it was not because I liked him but more that I hated Hilary. I tend to lean Republican but if the Democrats would not have stolen the nomination from Bernie I would have probably voted for him.

Tanner's post is what is wrong with the US. "If you do not agree with my point of view you must be dumb and uneducated." Tanner says his views are most in line with "educated people," yet people that tend to vote Republican typically have higher levels of education and are typically further ahead in their careers.

People like Tanner blame the "uneducated" for Trump but the reality is we have Trump because the Democrats did not understand what the America people want. After 8 years of Bush and 8 years of Obama, the people wanted an outsider, not another legacy family like the Clintons.
- bchiaro

To be clear, I do not think I am smarter than most people, nor do I think other smart people do or should agree with my views on anything.

If I say I like Obama and someone says Mitt Romney, that doesn't make them an idiot. If I think the rich should be taxed more and you think people should be encouraged to make their own way, we disagree, but neither of us is a moron.,

I am only condescending and superior to ideas like Donald Trump, the earth being flat, face tats, owning the Dog the Bounty Hunter soundtrack on cd, or people who wear fedoras.

I am not one of those superior liberal ____ who thinks you should eat vegan and watch Girls. I just think having an insane person with likely a debilitating metal disease and who is old, out of shape, uninformed and objectively bad at his job, while scaring and destabilizing the entire world, yes I do feel superior to people who want to collaborate with that.

Ladies and gentlemen: Newt "The Intellectual" Gingrich!
- MaximumBone

Hey, who DOESN'T want a moon base?

Edit: set the width on the video to 420.

To be clear, I do not think I am smarter than most people, nor do I think other smart people do or should agree with my views on anything.

If I say I like Obama and someone says Mitt Romney, that doesn't make them an idiot. If I think the rich should be taxed more and you think people should be encouraged to make their own way, we disagree, but neither of us is a moron.,

I am only condescending and superior to ideas like Donald Trump, the earth being flat, face tats, owning the Dog the Bounty Hunter soundtrack on cd, or people who wear fedoras.

I am not one of those superior liberal ____ who thinks you should eat vegan and watch Girls. I just think having an insane person with likely a debilitating metal disease and who is old, out of shape, uninformed and objectively bad at his job, while scaring and destabilizing the entire world, yes I do feel superior to people who want to collaborate with that.
- james_tanner1

And even with everything you just described (your opinion, which I'll respect), he's a better choice than a career corrupt politician named Hillary Clinton. That's what you don't get.

Would appreciate an answer to my knee MRI question. Just basic employee based health insurance here in the states allows one to get an MRI within a week (provided a primary care or orthopedic physician prescribes one). I can usually get in to see my Dr. within a couple of days with such an issue. Again, what's the timeframe in Canada?

And even with everything you just described (your opinion, which I'll respect), he's a better choice than a career corrupt politician named Hillary Clinton. That's what you don't get.

Would appreciate an answer to my knee MRI question. Just basic employee based health insurance here in the states allows one to get an MRI within a week (provided a primary care or orthopedic physician prescribes one). I can usually get in to see my Dr. within a couple of days with such an issue. Again, what's the timeframe in Canada?
- quackup

From what I've heard it all depends on where you live and the severity, an MRI on your knee can be varying degrees of severity. Can you still function fine day to day? It can take months, sometimes up to a year if you don't have any sort of loss of function, that they're just ordering the test to rule something out, or it can be a few weeks, or less if it's something that's keeping you out of work, or you can't walk without crutches.

Pulitzer Prize, Stellar Reputation, Respected University Study.

If you don't accept that, then you aren't credible yourself. No one is saying they are infallible, but they are a respectable source of information. And if you dispute that, how can you even have conversations with people if you won't accept new information or change your mind?
- james_tanner1

http://thefederalist.com/...shows-bias-conservatives/

http://thefederalist.com/2016/12/16/running-data-politifact-shows-bias-conservatives/
- arh777

There's a huge flaw in that "research" they were looking for bias, when you look for something, you usually end up finding it. Also they threw out Trump and Pence for some of the research but left Kaine and Clinton in, and in others included Trump and Pence. That makes absolutely no sense. If you're going to exclude Trump and Pence you have to exclude Kaine and Clinton. And you can't just go and change your variables halfway through. That's about the worst piece of garbage "research" I've ever seen.

They might be on to something, but it's so tainted by the fact that they're changing poop left and right, and they're starting from a place trying to disprove something.

It would mean a lot more if you were trying to prove something was in fact genuine, but then couldn't. Instead of "Oh! They used some more words! Wrong!". And let's say when Clinton said that Trump said that climate change was a Chinese hoax. All they had to do was pull up his (frank)ing tweet. That doesn't take many words.

Why?

Fox News blatantly appeals to the uneducated and the easily duped. That is a fact. It is objective and true and cannot be argued against. MSNBC is not the liberal Fox News. MSNBC has a bias, but it still entrenched firmly in reality, unlike Fox, which actually differentiates between it's news staff and the people whom embarrass said staff.

Technically, a douche like Sean Hannity is not a part of the fox "news" team. But most people don't even realize that because well, that'd be bad for business.

But objectively speaking, Fox News is propaganda for stupid people and everyone knows it.
- james_tanner1

And a bunch of rape hounds! anyhow according to bill orielly Sean Hannity plays tonsil hockey! So their your hockey connection