Arne's happy today. His education plans came from GOP playbook anyway.

[madfloridian]

He is spouting the "bipartisan" rhetoric already.

Arne Duncan: Education can be bipartisan


'Do I think it’s the right thing to do for children, for the country? Absolutely,' Arne Duncan says. AP Photo

Education Secretary Arne Duncan is upbeat

Despite waking up to a political landscape now dominated by Republicans, Duncan – one of a handful of Obama administration cabinet members who actively campaigned for several Democrats – believes that education reform can be the great bipartisan issue, uniting the two feuding parties.

“Am I hopeful? Absolutely,” he told POLITICO. “Am I optimistic? Yes. Do I think it’s the right thing to do for children, for the country? Absolutely.”

Overhauling the nation’s public education system, including adjusting the law known as No Child Left Behind, is a “golden opportunity” to improve the quality of life for everyday Americans, he said.

“If we can do that work together through education, it actually might help to lessen some of those tensions in other areas as well,” said Duncan, who has put No Child Left Behind reform a top priority early next year. “Maybe our work together can help soothe some of those hurt feelings.”

Is the man totally clueless? He thinks teachers will feel better working together with Republicans? Like it doesn't matter who is putting the screws to them?

GOP leaders have already admitted that the plan of Arne and Obama are their plans as well.

GOP leader says Arne's education plans come from GOP playbook.


Picture from The Monroe News Star.
U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan arrives Thursday at J.S. Clark Elementary during his national tour themed Courage in the Classroom: Honoring America’s Teachers.

Representative John Kline, Republican of Minnesota, the ranking minority member of the House Labor and Education Committee, said in an interview that some of Mr. Duncan’s reforms, especially ones unpopular with unions, came straight from the traditional Republican playbook.

“I said, ‘Arne, only you can do that,’ ” Mr. Kline said. “ ‘You’re the secretary of education for a Democratic president.’ ”

Though Mr. Duncan called his bus trip “a campaign for education,” there was little political edge. Should Republicans seize control of one or both houses of Congress, he vowed to find common ground.

“I’m the most nonpolitical person there could be,” he said. “I’ll work with anyone.”

Someday I hope there is some research done on how teachers voted in these midterms. I know the enthusiasm from 2008 was not there, but just how did the anti-public school, anti-teacher policies affect their turning out and voting.

That would be interesting.

Meanwhile Arne's non-political soul is happy as can be.

[TornadoTN]

1. I think it's hilarious that this slimeball puts "Honoring America's Teachers" on his bus

Since he can't wait to throw them under that same bus on his march to privatization.

[madfloridian]

2. He has no concern for teachers. No caring at all.

He looks down his nose at public school teachers.

[TornadoTN]

3. Obviously. And he's getting urged on from his Boss

Public School teachers and their unions are another "whiner" class of the Democratic Party apparently using their logic.

[madfloridian]

5. Yep, they have put teachers down for 2 years.

It's shameful. And it has set up an atmosphere of distrust toward all teachers.

[laughingliberal]

4. K & R nt

[madfloridian]

6. ....

appreciate it. He is practically gloating. :hi:

[laughingliberal]

7. ...

:nuke:

[Starry Messenger]

8. I'm sure he's thrilled.

His lovefest in England with Michael Gove and now he gets to work with the people he really relates to. Why is Arne even a Dem? He just prefers wearing blue ties?

[madfloridian]

9. And did you see that ad for his trip to Europe?

I mean that is just what education is all about. :sarcasm:

[Starry Messenger]

10. That ad is so tragic.

What the hell would UNESCO want to hear about our Education "plans" for anyway? Maybe they needed a laugh. And may I just be shallow and say those are the ugliest calves I have ever seen on a grown man. Duncan should not wear shorts.

[hayu_lol]

11. Arnie needs to be fired...

a few others like him as well. Otherwise, no 2nd term.

[madfloridian]

14. I had not noticed that, but hey, you are right.

Be shallow, go ahead. :evilgrin:

[Starry Messenger]

15. He looks like the kind of guy who wears socks with sandals.

:evilgrin: I wonder how the meeting went? I hope there's an article about it soon.

[Reader Rabbit]

12. It's truth in advertising, though.

Arne's only qualification to be Secretary of Education is the fact that he plays basketball with Obama.



Also: The Unrec Trolls are out en masse. All I can think is that your posts must be hitting a nerve for all the concerted effort put in to keep them from the Greatest Page!

[madfloridian]

13. Now that is true.

That is his main qualification.

I don't think this had any recs at all yet. Probably won't.

[ibegurpard]

16. yup

[madfloridian]

17. Arne tells Canada he really IS looking forward to working with GOP

http://www.google.com/hostednews/canadianpress/article/ALeqM5j2BcDNnNz5L1vdTvjvc7PzldA4Vg?docId=5036631

"PARIS — The U.S. education secretary is hopeful that this week's Republican election victories won't derail ambitious school reforms, which he argues are crucial to keeping up in an ever-smarter global economy.

"We used to be at the top of the world" in education rankings, Arne Duncan told The Associated Press in Paris on Thursday. "People think we're still there, but we're not."

In an interview, he said the "absolutely unacceptable" U.S. high school dropout rate — a quarter of students drop out or don't finish on time — "produces the effect of a permanent recession" because of lost productivity. Duncan says he's relieved the elections are over and is "very hopeful" that the new Congress will approve the funding he wants to turn around poor schools and encourage better teacher performance. "I have a good relationship with (incoming House Speaker) John Boehner, I've known Boehner for years, I look forward to continuing to work with him."

Duncan has been working with Democratic and Republican legislators for months on getting the Elementary and Secondary Education Act reauthorized, and said the bipartisan discussions have been a model of civility. "We're looking forward to reauthorizing and hopefully moving pretty quickly," he said, though gave no timeframe."

And he repeats the usual talking points.

"We've flatlined," Duncan said. "We rested on our laurels, taken our eye off the ball."

[ibegurpard]

18. disgusting

[madfloridian]

19. Agreed.