Here is the big news!
I’ve sent communications to Brian Moore GOP Chair of the Christiana-Millcreek Region that I am withdrawning from the Republican Party and moving my support to the Democrats. This means I will also be giving up my position as Republican Chairperson for the 19th Representative District and a member of the state committee.
Why the change?
Though I do support the concept of charter schools to the extent of better funding and rights to Conduit Grants and oppose school districts from approving charter applications and legislators from sitting on charter school boards and committee, I also support traditional public schools.
There appears to be a Republican agenda to promote more charter schools and as a Republican answer to a Delaware failing public schools system. Their personal obsession with charter has distracted them from addressing real concerns within traditional public schools. Though we can blame teachers, administrators, school boards, students and parents, I blame legislators for failing to pass stronger accountability laws that hold all stakeholders accountable, even parents for their children’s disruptive school behavior.
The Republicans came out swing when Senator Blevins who just happens to the senator of my senate district sponsor a bill to put a one year moratorium on new charter school applications. But, yet didn’t put on a major fight to get their own school finance legislation approved. Why not stand up and show some teeth for that cause?
No doubt we can debate many issue regarding charter schools and traditional public schools however, I feel this Republican obsession to build more charter schools a bit reckless and send a message to parents and students of traditional public schools, you own you own as we’re too busy with our personal agenda.
I was labeled a misguided parent back in 1997 because I opposed DSTP for e many of the same reason everyone does today. DSTP was flawed from day one. My contention with charter schools is though they are popular and what many parents want, there is an obvious flaw that will eventually force radical changes in the charter school laws.
Many of you are aware that Marion T Academy Charter School had its charter revoked by the state board for failing to maintain required achievement levels. Marion T was a predominately high poverty African-American charter schools. There are other similar charter schools with the same student makeup and many are under Academic Review. If you have your children in a high performing charter schools and don’t think it impacts you! I have news for you! If more charter schools fail the legislators will be forced to address the issue. Radical changes will be made to the charter schools laws as in the case of DSTP.
These hand full of Republican legislator are so blind with the own charter school ambition they can see the train wreck on the horizon.
The same people who aren’t addressing the real needs in real reforming traditional schools are laying the charter school foundation with major cracks. They are moving the chairs from the deck of one Titanic to another Titanic.
I am amazed of the energy these few Republican spend trashing good Red Clay traditional public schools teachers but yet failed to hold Red Clay board and administrators accountable for the financial fiasco and the deceptions. There “no” excuses for not having full financial transparency in public education. Sure, a democrat lock the legislation in their desk drawer buy has the sponsor of this legislation who wants to advance his political standing in Delaware step up a fought back with the intensity used against Senator Blevins?
Why join the democrats?
Despite all my harassment of Democrats and total insults with unattractive pictures on my blog. Those who I even offended take time out to discuss the issue and my concerns. Senator Sokola though he stoop to some low campaign tactics against Mike Ramone ( not nice Dave) spent hours with me one on one discussing my concerns with DSTP and those dam diplomas. Rep Gilligan another Democrat I trashed the shit out of takes time out to openly discuss the issues. I’ve poke fun at Senator Blevins but yet she is very responsive. Senator Peterson whom I never trashed, communicates with me often. The thing is they never blame the Republicans and openly discuss the issues and seem to give a shit! Rep Gilligan stepped up and ripped Red Clay officials a new ass. Rep. Gilligan stepped up and pushed the issue to help secured the promised state funding for Full-day Kindergarten. Dam, with all the bashing did against Gilligan he still sends me a birthday card.
Here are people I outright offended who understand my frustration and that I do care about the issues working with me in spite of my action.
John Carney, many have notice I‘ve somewhat support of him lately! Guess what? The guy is a decent caring person who wants to make a difference and can make a difference. I plan on doing some volunteer work at his campaign office ifthey will have me. Matt Denn another sincere person and he wants to address the problem with traditional public schools head on!
Carney will taking a beating because of Minner’s failures however, lets get real Minner is the governor and a hard nose politician and she sets her own agenda. There was nothing stopping Markell from bashing Minner during the last seven and half years! He is beating Carney over the head with Minner to score points!
Markell, though I can’t legally switch parties because the deadline was March 30, 2008 I’ll show him some respect by not taking cheap shots at him and stick to tactfully debating the issues as I support Carney.
As far as Bill Lee, I respect the man and enjoyed the many conversation I had with him while working with his campaign in 2004. I hope he takes the time to step back and review my concerns and see the charter train wreck on the horizon if there is no fair and equitable solution to the disparities between the charter schools. Charter schools need more funding and the high poverty charter schools are in dire need of a better formula as are the high poverty traditional public schools.
So there you have it, I am on the Carney and Denn bandwagon. Take you shot trolls and believe me though you are anonymous you do leave footprints.
Filed under: Uncategorized
too funny! fix the time on your blog. welcome to the party dude!
too funny! fix the time on your blog. welcome to the party dude!
cool, you might as well be on the winning side with Obama…..goddamn McCain is such a damn cretinous Bush clone, I think chimp boy Bush is more intelligent than McCain, and they are both semi morons…..glad to here you have joined the party of the people, and left the business sleezebags and elitists behind, ……right on Kilroy
cool, you might as well be on the winning side with Obama…..goddamn McCain is such a damn cretinous Bush clone, I think chimp boy Bush is more intelligent than McCain, and they are both semi morons…..glad to here you have joined the party of the people, and left the business sleezebags and elitists behind, ……right on Kilroy
Do tell, Kilroy. I guess you missed that four of the six co-sponsoring Reps on SJR 11 were Republicans? I don’t doubt the democratic support of what you say, but the conspiracy you cite isn’t the tidal wave you are leading people to believe. It’s somewhat more of a ripple, but from people who know how to be heard.
Isn’t your new friend, Sokola, on a charter board?
Going further, I have thought many times of switching myself, but as a firm centrist, where do I go? I am socially slightly-left, but fiscally right. I am not a Libertarian as some try to make me believe. I get the impression you are like me, as well. It boiled down, to me, that to switch would be more window dressing than substance. I will do what I can to be a factor of restoring respectibility. If I fail or am pushed out hard enough, then I may switch. Until then, I will try to right the ship.
Do tell, Kilroy. I guess you missed that four of the six co-sponsoring Reps on SJR 11 were Republicans? I don’t doubt the democratic support of what you say, but the conspiracy you cite isn’t the tidal wave you are leading people to believe. It’s somewhat more of a ripple, but from people who know how to be heard.
Isn’t your new friend, Sokola, on a charter board?
Going further, I have thought many times of switching myself, but as a firm centrist, where do I go? I am socially slightly-left, but fiscally right. I am not a Libertarian as some try to make me believe. I get the impression you are like me, as well. It boiled down, to me, that to switch would be more window dressing than substance. I will do what I can to be a factor of restoring respectibility. If I fail or am pushed out hard enough, then I may switch. Until then, I will try to right the ship.
rsmitty said…
“I don’t doubt the democratic support of what you say, but the conspiracy you cite isn’t the tidal wave you are leading people to believe. It’s somewhat more of a ripple, but from people who know how to be heard.”
The decision to make the switch wasn’t easy what so ever. You have known for a long time where my niche is on issues and education is where my focus is. I don’t oppose charter schools just the hands on over involvement of all involved legislation. I am not going to name legislators who are obvious pro charter and the one working in stealth.
SJR 11 , I see that but is was a D who was the sponsor and certain R slapped the crap out her in the media. Take a look at the data as see how many high poverty charter schools are heading to the fate of Marion T. Take a look at Red Clay’s run away charter agenda. Red Clay board still has what I call are political micro fibers attached to the charter school agenda. I know the organize labor’s self interest agenda and I know the political agenda of legislators involved that in part is to undermine DSEA. DSEA was dead wrong re: Conduit Loans but we knew there is another angle to make loan needs workable. It’s all ugly and unfortunate that legislators rather build new no union schools then to stand up and fight.
Keeping legislators off of charter school boards and committee associated is the right way to go. Only permitting DOE to approve charter school applications is the right way to go! Allowing Conduit Loans for charters hurts no one and this issue there is prevailing wages. The admission practices of charter schools are certainly questionable. However, our involved legislation blinded by their personal involvement with individual charter schools seemed to have detached themselves from the big picture that is to benefit child equally and equably.
The other motivating factor for the switch was the abandonment of the Red Clay community by my R friends during the financial crisis. They play the local control card. There is one that sees the multi-layer agenda within Red Clay. I am not going make this a game of finger pointing because despite the differences on my main focus of involvement it’s not about wanting to trash individual legislators. I have to be true to my cause which happens to be social justice for those children who have no parental involvement network, who have no voice and for the most part are warehoused in a system that has given up.
For a candidates to say traditional public school system has failed is one thing but to point and blame public school teachers and even DSEA direct as the sole cause is evidence the candidate should be running for any office.
The failure of public education is a result of failures of all stakeholder including teachers, administrator, parent and legislators. Where is the open financial transparency of our schools? Yea, yea we introduced the bill and the D’s looked in the drawer! But yet where is the sprit of fight like what’s going on for the sake of the charter school agenda? Pick and choose your battles? Looks like the charter school agenda Is the bigger battle not the demands of the community to see the real expenditures.
I support the charter school concept but the political poison running through the fibers of the charter school movement will be the downfall of the movement. Discipline issues in public schools are out of control and the classroom teacher has become a jail keeper, social worker, mother, father and a teacher trying to teach class. The system has failed to provide real oversight and real reform but yet scapegoat all the failure on traditional public school teachers.
Sokola ! I didn’t like the BS he pulled on Mike! I’ve spent countless hours face to face with Sokola debating the concerns of DSTP. He supported modifications but he knows dam well DSTP is DOA! Unless Newark Charter School is keep Dave’s name withheld from the public as being a board member it appears he is not a board member. The legislators are learning to be more stealth about their involvement and forgoing the listed status of see their name listed as board members.
“It boiled down, to me, that to switch would be more window dressing than substance”
I appreciate you honesty on personal political struggles however my switch is window dressing. During the Red Clay Bullshit inexcusable financial crisis it is quite apparent through my reaching out to many legislators from both sides that the D’s have been more supportive. I presented proof that Red Clay isn’t working in good faith with the public in bring real financial reform. Being a former member of their Community Financial Review Committee I know for a fact the do not and will not give even the committee member a clear 100% transparent view of their finances. I caught them in outright lies!
I’ve trashed the shit out of Gilligan on my blog but yet the man looked past that and worked with me and other to send a clear message to Red Clay. No we don’t have that open transparency. Matt Denn seems to be ready to want to address the hard issue associate with traditional public schools.
I couldn’t stay knowing that even though I know many of the issue and real concerns throughout the last 12 years of involvement that I was irrelevant as the game plan was the hell with traditional public school, charter schools are the answer.
Having the same people who failed to step up and fight tooth and nail to address the concern within the public school structure building a new school system that caters more to the social elite and upper middle-class is a formula for another failure.
Our state legislators should be focused on supporting and improving education laws to improve enhance and address the deficiencies within the traditional public schools. I am not Saint Kilroy keeper and protector of the black children however I see the disparities and lack of progress made in closing those disparities. Building charter schools for the haves and have not keep them separate but not equal through quality sponsorship doesn’t represent social justice.
Yea, yea legislators can’t dictate corporate charter schools sponsorship! But yet their will kiss the corporate ass for support of their charter school pet project. Many all the corporate sponsorship funding should be put in one pot and divided equal among all charter schools.
So I’ll be a Delaware Republican social outcast! What difference would it make being irrelevant in the eyes of people I stood with and believed in?.
rsmitty said…
“I don’t doubt the democratic support of what you say, but the conspiracy you cite isn’t the tidal wave you are leading people to believe. It’s somewhat more of a ripple, but from people who know how to be heard.”
The decision to make the switch wasn’t easy what so ever. You have known for a long time where my niche is on issues and education is where my focus is. I don’t oppose charter schools just the hands on over involvement of all involved legislation. I am not going to name legislators who are obvious pro charter and the one working in stealth.
SJR 11 , I see that but is was a D who was the sponsor and certain R slapped the crap out her in the media. Take a look at the data as see how many high poverty charter schools are heading to the fate of Marion T. Take a look at Red Clay’s run away charter agenda. Red Clay board still has what I call are political micro fibers attached to the charter school agenda. I know the organize labor’s self interest agenda and I know the political agenda of legislators involved that in part is to undermine DSEA. DSEA was dead wrong re: Conduit Loans but we knew there is another angle to make loan needs workable. It’s all ugly and unfortunate that legislators rather build new no union schools then to stand up and fight.
Keeping legislators off of charter school boards and committee associated is the right way to go. Only permitting DOE to approve charter school applications is the right way to go! Allowing Conduit Loans for charters hurts no one and this issue there is prevailing wages. The admission practices of charter schools are certainly questionable. However, our involved legislation blinded by their personal involvement with individual charter schools seemed to have detached themselves from the big picture that is to benefit child equally and equably.
The other motivating factor for the switch was the abandonment of the Red Clay community by my R friends during the financial crisis. They play the local control card. There is one that sees the multi-layer agenda within Red Clay. I am not going make this a game of finger pointing because despite the differences on my main focus of involvement it’s not about wanting to trash individual legislators. I have to be true to my cause which happens to be social justice for those children who have no parental involvement network, who have no voice and for the most part are warehoused in a system that has given up.
For a candidates to say traditional public school system has failed is one thing but to point and blame public school teachers and even DSEA direct as the sole cause is evidence the candidate should be running for any office.
The failure of public education is a result of failures of all stakeholder including teachers, administrator, parent and legislators. Where is the open financial transparency of our schools? Yea, yea we introduced the bill and the D’s looked in the drawer! But yet where is the sprit of fight like what’s going on for the sake of the charter school agenda? Pick and choose your battles? Looks like the charter school agenda Is the bigger battle not the demands of the community to see the real expenditures.
I support the charter school concept but the political poison running through the fibers of the charter school movement will be the downfall of the movement. Discipline issues in public schools are out of control and the classroom teacher has become a jail keeper, social worker, mother, father and a teacher trying to teach class. The system has failed to provide real oversight and real reform but yet scapegoat all the failure on traditional public school teachers.
Sokola ! I didn’t like the BS he pulled on Mike! I’ve spent countless hours face to face with Sokola debating the concerns of DSTP. He supported modifications but he knows dam well DSTP is DOA! Unless Newark Charter School is keep Dave’s name withheld from the public as being a board member it appears he is not a board member. The legislators are learning to be more stealth about their involvement and forgoing the listed status of see their name listed as board members.
“It boiled down, to me, that to switch would be more window dressing than substance”
I appreciate you honesty on personal political struggles however my switch is window dressing. During the Red Clay Bullshit inexcusable financial crisis it is quite apparent through my reaching out to many legislators from both sides that the D’s have been more supportive. I presented proof that Red Clay isn’t working in good faith with the public in bring real financial reform. Being a former member of their Community Financial Review Committee I know for a fact the do not and will not give even the committee member a clear 100% transparent view of their finances. I caught them in outright lies!
I’ve trashed the shit out of Gilligan on my blog but yet the man looked past that and worked with me and other to send a clear message to Red Clay. No we don’t have that open transparency. Matt Denn seems to be ready to want to address the hard issue associate with traditional public schools.
I couldn’t stay knowing that even though I know many of the issue and real concerns throughout the last 12 years of involvement that I was irrelevant as the game plan was the hell with traditional public school, charter schools are the answer.
Having the same people who failed to step up and fight tooth and nail to address the concern within the public school structure building a new school system that caters more to the social elite and upper middle-class is a formula for another failure.
Our state legislators should be focused on supporting and improving education laws to improve enhance and address the deficiencies within the traditional public schools. I am not Saint Kilroy keeper and protector of the black children however I see the disparities and lack of progress made in closing those disparities. Building charter schools for the haves and have not keep them separate but not equal through quality sponsorship doesn’t represent social justice.
Yea, yea legislators can’t dictate corporate charter schools sponsorship! But yet their will kiss the corporate ass for support of their charter school pet project. Many all the corporate sponsorship funding should be put in one pot and divided equal among all charter schools.
So I’ll be a Delaware Republican social outcast! What difference would it make being irrelevant in the eyes of people I stood with and believed in?.
I always said you were wrong about Rep. Gilligan, he is a good man.
I always said you were wrong about Rep. Gilligan, he is a good man.
Anonymous said…
“I always said you were wrong about Rep. Gilligan, he is a good man.”
They are all good men and women including Minner! It’s their political positions and agendas that concerns me.
Anonymous said…
“I always said you were wrong about Rep. Gilligan, he is a good man.”
They are all good men and women including Minner! It’s their political positions and agendas that concerns me.
uh, instead of playing policitcal discrimination why not register as independent or undecided and then not play the game?
uh, instead of playing policitcal discrimination why not register as independent or undecided and then not play the game?
Anonymous said…
“uh, instead of playing policitcal discrimination why not register as
independent or undecided and then not play the game?”
I was an Independent for first 9 years then switch to Republican 26 years ago. I only registered Independent to not have my vote be taking for granted. There are many D’s and R’s who vote split ticket.
Anonymous said…
“uh, instead of playing policitcal discrimination why not register as
independent or undecided and then not play the game?”
I was an Independent for first 9 years then switch to Republican 26 years ago. I only registered Independent to not have my vote be taking for granted. There are many D’s and R’s who vote split ticket.
Kilroy – I am going to move you on our blogroll at DelawareLiberal. Shall I move you to “The Left” or “The Middle”?
Kilroy – I am going to move you on our blogroll at DelawareLiberal. Shall I move you to “The Left” or “The Middle”?
liberalgeek said…
“Kilroy – I am going to move you on our blogroll at DelawareLiberal. Shall I move you to “The Left” or “The Middle”?”
Great thanks! Move to the middle !
liberalgeek said…
“Kilroy – I am going to move you on our blogroll at DelawareLiberal. Shall I move you to “The Left” or “The Middle”?”
Great thanks! Move to the middle !
Done.
Done.
Anyone that thinks Democrats are the party of the people should look at the hovels they have made of their cities.
I’m going to make the argument that the problem with our public schools is that they are too heavily regulated and that teachers need a freer hand and that some kids are stupid. Some children are doomed to be making french fries and that’s just that. Keep public schools but smash the teachers unions.
Sure it is fun to bash free markets right now, but, do you want to go back to the good old days of 3 channel TV, tiny houses, bad cars and rotten clothes that characterized the semi-stalinist life we had before Reagan?
Yeah, that’s a 700 billion dollar hiccup right now, but, overall, I’d be willing to bet a country that is the USA, where its biggest health problem is that people are too damned fat, that, the free market has worked pretty well.
Anyone that thinks Democrats are the party of the people should look at the hovels they have made of their cities.
I’m going to make the argument that the problem with our public schools is that they are too heavily regulated and that teachers need a freer hand and that some kids are stupid. Some children are doomed to be making french fries and that’s just that. Keep public schools but smash the teachers unions.
Sure it is fun to bash free markets right now, but, do you want to go back to the good old days of 3 channel TV, tiny houses, bad cars and rotten clothes that characterized the semi-stalinist life we had before Reagan?
Yeah, that’s a 700 billion dollar hiccup right now, but, overall, I’d be willing to bet a country that is the USA, where its biggest health problem is that people are too damned fat, that, the free market has worked pretty well.
The STORK said…
“I’m going to make the argument that the problem with our public schools is that they are too heavily regulated and that teachers need a freer hand and that some kids are stupid. Some children are doomed to be making french fries and that’s just that. Keep public schools but smash the teachers unions.”
I can agree with the heavily regulation but must add, the regulations involving accountability is a joke. Red Clay board and administrators violated laws that governors education and they a no penalty phases associated with those violations.
The unfunded and under-funded federal and state legislative mandates don’t help. However, there real roadblock to real reform is lack of financial transparency. The superintendents pretty much have blank checks to do as they please.
Unions, I know the evils but isn’t obvious that if workers don’t organize there is very little employee protection from the government. I used to work for an employer, 28 years and the children started to take over the business and their motto was, this is a right to work state and we can fire at will! I have trouble with the term right to work as there are very few rights for employees.
The STORK said…
“I’m going to make the argument that the problem with our public schools is that they are too heavily regulated and that teachers need a freer hand and that some kids are stupid. Some children are doomed to be making french fries and that’s just that. Keep public schools but smash the teachers unions.”
I can agree with the heavily regulation but must add, the regulations involving accountability is a joke. Red Clay board and administrators violated laws that governors education and they a no penalty phases associated with those violations.
The unfunded and under-funded federal and state legislative mandates don’t help. However, there real roadblock to real reform is lack of financial transparency. The superintendents pretty much have blank checks to do as they please.
Unions, I know the evils but isn’t obvious that if workers don’t organize there is very little employee protection from the government. I used to work for an employer, 28 years and the children started to take over the business and their motto was, this is a right to work state and we can fire at will! I have trouble with the term right to work as there are very few rights for employees.
You might want to stop using the same spell and grammer checker that Protack uses.
You might want to stop using the same spell and grammer checker that Protack uses.
Anonymous said…
“You might want to stop using the same spell and grammer checker that Protack uses.”
Hey old friend! Will you be at the board meeting tonight
Anonymous said…
“You might want to stop using the same spell and grammer checker that Protack uses.”
Hey old friend! Will you be at the board meeting tonight