For a woman with such an apparently happy name, she sure is angry! It is absolutely ridiculous that Rosie O could possibly think that Kelly Rippa is a homophobe. I think the real reason Ms. O went off on Kelly on her show (One View ....I mean, The View) is to bring in higher ratings for her show and fame for herself. Since she quit her own show several years ago we have heard virtually nothing from her except her gay activism. I guess she feels she must gain some attention or she'll be kicked off this show too.  It's so hypocritical for her to SAY she believes in the rights of all people, etc...to pretend to be this great humanitarian and then to put Clay Aiken in a difficult position just to gain attention for herself and ratings for her show. Does she really believe Kelly was gay-bashing? She just might be crazy enough to believe something so absurd, but I think her little stunt really is more for ratings than her true personal opinion. She saw a chance to get attention and she took advantage of the opportunity, at the expense of Kelly Rippa and Clay Aiken. Isn't she Rosie? That woman disgusts me.  Just goes to show you how the hypocritical democrats truly are. They are all for helping people, sure....themselves. Rosie, you need to acknowledge to intense bitterness and hate you feel towards all Americans, especially those with high rated talk shows people ACTUALLY WATCH and get some help. 

 A little more about me is probably in order!

I am an elementary school teacher in a Title 1 school in the great state of Texas. I hold a BSW and MSW in Social Work and worked in homeless shelters and at a guardianship agency (where legal guardians are provided for the elderly incapacitated) before deciding to follow my true calling to teach. I am fed up with liberal ideas and policies and I also dislike Hillary Clinton and her power agenda. I hope and pray she is not elected in '08. I also believe a major problem and embarassment in our nation today is the lack of voter education. We've done plenty in our country to get people to register to vote. Now, voters need to be educated. I have heard so many of my friends, family members, co-workers, etc. say they voted based on 1. Feelings 2. Family or 3. Fed up. For something so important to the well being of our country, you would think people would vote based on the issues and would AT LEAST know the names of who they are voting for and the issues at stake! Sadly, many do not and vote for the three reasons above. Our country really needs to restore it's lustre it lost so long ago when liberals climbed to the top, invaded our schools, homes, and businesses with their left wing, bleeding heart, pro-anything goes ideals.

 
So, we are still a "Nation at Risk" and have known change was necessary since 1983. Yet, we continue to allow liberals to reject vouchers for public schools and we continue to let downtrodden citizens and communities rot while we pretend to use taxpayer dollars for meaningful education reform. As a teacher in a Title 1 school, I make a great salary. I work less and put in less hours than I did as an underpaid social worker. I get evaluated once a semester by my principal and occasionally get evaluated via "walk throughs". This is my accountability. Think about it. Is that really going to motivate me to be the best I can possibly be? Teaching in the ghetto is tough enough...there has got to be competition...there must be a motivator other than increased salaries. Do we really believe educators will do MORE work and invest more time and energy into their student's success if we simply continue to increase their salaries? Don't get me wrong, I love my job, but I know these kids deserve more. They deserve the same level of education kids whose parents can afford (or will take the time and effort to get their child into) private schools. My class is full of bright students, eager and excited to learn. They are confident. They want to succeed.  Does this mean spend taxpayer dollars to send poor kids to private school? No. I am not a liberal :). However, I know something has to change, otherwise these kids will not reach the full potential they are meant to reach. They are all destined for great things. We need a voucher system. If not a voucher system the Dems need to come up with a better plan to ensure a high level of education for all students in our country (and they have none, despite Hillary's "brilliant" :P "it takes a village ideals).

I also believe part of the problem with public education in our country is our lack of community support and the overall condition of most urban communities. Sure, we (schools)provide meals at Christmas and send the poor families to the local shelter, but what long term impact does this pose on the communities at large? What do government handouts really do? People need to take pride in where they live, the schools in the communities, the businesses. Private organizations, churches, and community citizens need to step up and help get THEIR communities back together. Many of these communities, in their heyday, were safe, clean, booming places for people to raise a family. Now, due to many factors of course (such as the caucasian move to the suburbs), these places are dumps. I'm not saying none of these parents are to blame. I see many cases where the parents are just lazy and do not care about their child's education. But then again, I wonder why do they not care? Is it because they have no pride in their community and no motivation to care about their child's education? My brother has often suggested organizing community projects in which volunteers assist in revitalizing the look of inner city neighborhoods. Several years ago (maybe a decade or so?) a Chicago inner city neighborhood completed such a project. It actually had pretty promising results from what I remember. I guess the moderate in me is coming out! I can't help it, liberal ideologies were crammed down my throat for 5 1/2 years during my education as a social worker! I was indoctrinated into liberal ideologies! At least I don't believe we should rob from the rich to give to the poor. At least I have been Hannitized.

More on this later when I get on my soap box again ;)