Education Secretary Rod Paige is an Idiot

Posted:
in General Discussion edited January 2014
http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmp...governors_bush





WASHINGTON - Education Secretary Rod Paige called the nation's largest teachers union a "terrorist organization" during a private White House meeting with governors on Monday.



Democratic and Republican governors confirmed Paige's remarks about the National Education Association.



"These were the words, 'The NEA is a terrorist organization,'" said Democratic Gov. Jim Doyle of Wisconsin.



"He was making a joke, probably not a very good one," said Democratic Gov. Ed Rendell of Pennsylvania. "Of course he immediately divorced the NEA from ordinary teachers, who he said he supports."



"I don't think the NEA is a terrorist organization," said Rendell, who has butted heads with the group as well. "They're not a terrorist organization any more than the National Business Organization is a terrorist organization.





So if you don't walk lock step with the President you're a policy terrorist?

An extremist? what?



So not only was the "joke" completely pointless... it's stupid.
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Comments

  • Reply 1 of 36
    fran441fran441 Posts: 3,715member
    I'm sure my Mom (a teacher) will be thrilled to hear that she is a terrorist.



    Seriously, the school my Mom teaches at is so cheap, they won't provide PAPER for photo copying. They also won't buy her any workbooks for her kids. Why? The school placed so high on standardized tests that the school gets very little money from the state or federal government.



    Forget that she needs to run off almost everything for her kids since they don't have workbooks, she also buys all the materials for her class: videos, software, pencils, crayons, markers, paper, books, etc.



    Yep, she's a real terrorist.
  • Reply 2 of 36
    shawnjshawnj Posts: 6,656member
    Bad move.



    He doesn't realize his comment may energize the teachers' unions against Bush this fall. They're already pissed about NCLB. Calling a NEA a "terrorist organization" only helps unify the opposition. In fact, I just emailed my father about it. He's going make sure everyone in our Pennsylvania district knows.
  • Reply 3 of 36
    scottscott Posts: 7,431member
    Yea like the teachers union needed to get energized against Bush.
  • Reply 4 of 36
    This is totally unnecessary.
  • Reply 5 of 36
    aquaticaquatic Posts: 5,602member
    What is, your post? Just kidding, it's a tad vague.



    Quote:

    Yea like the teachers union needed to get energized against Bush.



    Hehe, good call Scott!
  • Reply 6 of 36
    groveratgroverat Posts: 10,872member
    I cannot wait until 2008 when this ****tarded administration is gone.
  • Reply 7 of 36
    In 2008 it will be Arnold and Enron running the country, so don't be so eager for that day to come.
  • Reply 8 of 36
    chu_bakkachu_bakka Posts: 1,793member
    Nah. Kerry will be running for his second term.
  • Reply 9 of 36
    If Bush wins, 2008 is scheduled to see him grimace as he hands power to President Hillary Clinton
  • Reply 10 of 36
    jubelumjubelum Posts: 4,490member
    Chu.... I think you are attacking Paige because he is an African-American.

    Shame on you.
  • Reply 11 of 36
    moogsmoogs Posts: 4,296member
    I wonder who appointed that guy.
  • Reply 12 of 36
    chu_bakkachu_bakka Posts: 1,793member
    He's black? I didn't know. There's no photo with article.



    nice try though.



    he's still an idiot.
  • Reply 13 of 36
    jubelumjubelum Posts: 4,490member
    Quote:

    Originally posted by chu_bakka





    he's still an idiot.




    He might be. Entirely Possible. There are a *few* of those running around the Administration these days.



    BTW, I am coming to Columbia, and I am bringing a wad of Texas Gun Toting, Pickup-Driving, Cattle-roping Mensans with me. I hear NYC is the place to be.
  • Reply 14 of 36
    brbr Posts: 8,395member
    I cannot comment nationally but the local teacher's union (UTLA) is ridiculously powerful and makes it next to impossible to remove an inept teacher.
  • Reply 15 of 36
    scottscott Posts: 7,431member
    There's almost no separation between the democrats and the teachers union. The only difference being that the union calls the shots at the DNC.
  • Reply 16 of 36
    chu_bakkachu_bakka Posts: 1,793member
    Are you calling the DNC a terrorist organization? hehe



    Funny how they try to turn it around and make the NEA the issue.



    oh and...



    Rod Paige is STILL an idiot.



    Mastermind of the non existent Texas education miracle. Appropriate that he's Bush's Education secretary.



    http://nochildleft.com/2003/sept03miracles.html



    Wow this is an apology? Was he giving them the finger while delivering it too?



    U.S. Secretary of Education Rod Paige today issued the following apology for his remarks about the NEA.



    "It was an inappropriate choice of words to describe the obstructionist scare tactics the NEA's Washington lobbyists have employed against No Child Left Behind's historic education reforms. I also said, as I have repeatedly, that our nation's teachers, who have dedicated their lives to service in the classroom, are the real soldiers of democracy, whereas the NEA's high-priced Washington lobbyists have made no secret that they will fight against bringing real, rock-solid improvements in the way we educate all our children regardless of skin color, accent or where they live. But, as one who grew up on the receiving end of insensitive remarks, I should have chosen my words better."
  • Reply 17 of 36
    sdw2001sdw2001 Posts: 17,990member
    Well, as an NEA member, I'd like to say this:



    1. It was a totally STUPID thing to say.

    2. It's inappropriate in the least.



    and lastly



    3. I laughed hysterically when I read that quote. The NEA is total bullshit. It's an extreme leftist group that supports every leftist cause known to man. From ridiculous political correctness to blatant anti-Americanism, the NEA is an organization I would leave if I could. It does nothing to help teachers. My combined union dues are $600 a year for state, local and national.



    **** the NEA.
  • Reply 18 of 36
    addaboxaddabox Posts: 12,665member
    Quote:

    Originally posted by Scott

    There's almost no separation between the democrats and the teachers union. The only difference being that the union calls the shots at the DNC.



    By my count, you have now declared that the DNC is one and the same as:



    The L.A. Times

    MoveOn.Org

    The NEA



    So it appears your threshold for being the same as the DNC is "liberalish".
  • Reply 19 of 36
    addaboxaddabox Posts: 12,665member
    Quote:

    Originally posted by SDW2001

    Well, as an NEA member, I'd like to say this:



    1. It was a totally STUPID thing to say.

    2. It's inappropriate in the least.



    and lastly



    3. I laughed hysterically when I read that quote. The NEA is total bullshit. It's an extreme leftist group that supports every leftist cause known to man. From ridiculous political correctness to blatant anti-Americanism, the NEA is an organization I would leave if I could. It does nothing to help teachers. My combined union dues are $600 a year for state, local and national.



    **** the NEA.




    Care to be a little more specific? Perhaps you could cite some of the "blatantly anti-american " doings of the NEA.
  • Reply 20 of 36
    Well it does fall inline with the popular Bush doctrine...



    If your not with us your against us.



    Can kinda see how Paige would come up with "the NEA is a terrorist organization" line.
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