Thursday, February 2, 2017

As they say, follow the money

Murkowski and Collins each have considerable track records of behavior consistent with being afflicted with Reasonable Gentleman Syndrome, but it appears something more than a philosophical inclination is at work in this latest bit of obstructionism:

The two Republicans who broke ranks with their party and announced they would vote against education secretary nominee Betsy DeVos have received thousands of dollars from the nation's largest teachers union.
Sens. Lisa Murkowski (R., Alaska) and Susan Collins (R., Maine) have each benefited from contributions from the National Education Association. Collins received $2,000 from the union in 2002 and 2008, according to the Center for Responsive Politics. Murkowski, meanwhile, has received $23,500.
The NEA represents 3 million members, making it the wealthiest and most influential union in the country. The NEA, along with other labor groups like the American Federation of Teachers, has waged a fierce campaign against DeVos, a billionaire philanthropist and school choice activist.
Although there's a bit of chicken-or-egg gong on here. It seems the union largesse stems from a priori philosophical inclination:

Murkowski received a 100 percent rating on a 2012 NEA Report Card, while Collins received a 75 percent rating—the only Republicans to earn marks above 50 percent from the group. Each senator has earned straight-A marks from the union since 2014.

Murkowski has long been a favorite of teachers unions. She was one of only four Republican senators to receive contributions from the NEA in 2016, hauling in $10,000, while the other three Republicans received only $3,200. She received the NEA's endorsement in 2010 when she won as an independent candidate after losing the GOP primary, and received it again in 2016.
"Lisa Murkowski understands public education and is committed to Alaska’s students," NEA-Alaska President Tim Parker said in a release. "Her leadership and advocacy were critical to passing the Every Student Succeeds Act, which put Alaskans back in control of Alaska’s public schools. Alaska’s educators and Senator Murkowski share a passion for increased student learning and ensuring that every child has the opportunity for success, regardless of their zip code." 
And now one of the more glorious developments of the last month has its slam-dunk status endangered.

The Left has suffered major setbacks, but is clearly not without power.


11 comments:

  1. if that wall is ever built and I doubt it ever will be, it will be torn down as soon as the Dems regain power which looks like will be regained in a short 2 days.

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  2. They may be union teachers but are quite likely to have just a smidgen more knowledge about the current issues in education than Trump's multi-millionaire benefactor. Just might. But of course to you, it's the wrong knowledge or the improper application of the right knowledge. You can't have it all. Just like you can't destroy the past in 13 days or even 2 or, God forbid, 4 years. 8 years of Trump is unfathomable but it would be cool to watch him slide into an old man who can't even get it up anymore.

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  3. Betsy DeVos has been a tireless champion for parental choice and local control of education. Teachers' unions are sewers of leftist ideology and turf protection.

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  4. Collective bargaining is settled law . I realize that with Jefferson Beauregard Sessioms III as AG you now feel empowered to trample on ideologies and turf protection. This far all The jobs Trump has saved are union jobs without the union participation in the deals.

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  5. I am done discussing DJT moves that do not ji=be with conservatism.. You will not back me into that corner.

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  6. I know youre trying to put on a happy face, but join the opposition and let's dump Trump. He's pissed in the faces of several international leaders and is now telling McConnell to go nuclear on the supreme court nomination. This is not the way to win friends and influence people and the thing we're gonna remember in the polling booth is that you are all ramming this stuff in worse than the Dems rammed the ACA up yours. That was considered the beginning of the end for Dems. You guys have already lost the mid terms. Please help us get rid of this mad man.

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  7. "Largeness", largesse stems from a priori philosophical inclination. This is certainly a large category. Immanuel Khant and that "Pure Reason Thing" might be outdated, somewhat,or maybe that's me which is outdated.
    The nightly business report on NPR is pretty clear Pure Reason.

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  8. Very gratified that Trump or his coterie seemed to have recognized the wisdom in slowing down on this: http://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/in-shift-trump-warns-israel-against-new-settlements/ar-AAmzfrW?ocid=SL5JDHP

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  9. But since we're off topic and I have no clue what Michael Mitchell is trying to say, I'll just go away too.

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  10. Shake the Nation and the World, Republicans! See where that gets you, it is all relative and you gotta sell your agenda before you cram it.

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  11. We need more reasonable gentlemen, not fewer. And your Republican leader is the most unreasonable of all!

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