The magic of tenure.

I used to teach social studies at El Camino Real High School and remember when Mr. Delarme arrived there as a "must-place" (translation he sucked at his previous school, but thanks to the magic of tenure, he was sent to go suck at ECR). After a number of conversations with him in the department lunch room and after observing him teaching class...he represents precisely the sort petulant ignorance that is an embarrassment to dedicated teachers everywhere.

hmiller: Actually, the Framers designed our legislative system to produce gridlock, as government was deemed a necessary evil. In their minds, the smaller the government, the greater the citizen. This paradigm required legislative accountability to the people. Read James Madison's, Notes On the Constitutional Convention of 1787 (www.nhccs.org/Mnotes.html) for a more detailed understanding of these principles. That said, if obstructionism offends your principles, then you must be equally upset with Harry Reid/Nancy Pelosi and their numerous legislative parlor tricks, or the Senate failing to pass a budget for 1300+ days, right? If it simply angers you that "your guy" isn't getting his way, then have a couple of birthdays and grow up.

I didn't watch the Super Bowl, could care less about the half time show, and the world goes on... But I am rather stunned that a superficial, poorly composed screed bloated with self-congratulatory straw-man bashing was actually given any column space on this site.

Actually, Hagel is a great choice for Secretary of Defense...compared to Tom Hayden ;-)

Wells said! We are reaping what we have sown. Fortunately, not everyone plants the same seeds.

Why is that politicians obliviously overspend on other "priorities", but become absolutely ruthless in attacking military pay and benefits with a fiscal machete, but bureaucratic waste at the Pentagon and obscene overspending on trivialities is handled with a scalpel--if it is even addressed at all? Aren't there some $20,000 toilet seats lying around that we could get a refund on? It is sort of like an alcoholic father who drinks the rent check and then beats his wife and kids because the mother spent some money on formula and diapers.

Anominus: Well said!

SD3: Conservatives and libertarians stand for personal responsibility; Republicans...not so much. The two defining lines between Democrats and Republicans seem to be (1) their public rhetoric and (2) to which special interest group they owe political allegiance.

Never let facts or evidence get in the way of your predetermined conclusions.

Roc1929: Brilliant quote!