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President Bush is in town today to celebrate the anniversary of No Child Left Behind, hobnob with Mayor Daley to talk Olympics, and give a speech about the economy to the Union League Club. And the Sun-Times makes him feel welcome with a front-page smackdown of NCLB.
Since the No Child law passed, average state test scores for high schoolers haven't budged. In fact, reading scores for minority students and for poor students are lower than in 2003, a Sun-Times analysis found. There has been meaningful progress on the ACT since 2003, but white student gains outpaced gains made by black and Hispanic students.
Ted Kennedy, one of the lead authors of the act, has a smackdown all his own, too.
Bush is at Horace Greeley Elementary School this morning, a federal "blue ribbon" school where 83.3 percent of students meet or exceed state standards. Yes, there are lots of reasons Illinois test scores improved in the last few years...
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Why is Alfred E. Newman on the cover of the Sun-times?
Bigger question: Does Bush have rosacea?
I don't like Bush, but that unflattering picture is as bad a what you'd see in The Star or The National Enquirer. The Sun-Times goes further down the path of no redemption.
I see that the Sun-Times has completed its transformation into the DNC Newsletter. Is Chicagoist next?
By the way, neither LAist nor Gothamist has been rooting for Dems, while Chicagoist has clearly come out in support of Democrats taking the White House. I am not saying that Chicagoist shouldn't endorse someone, but that bit of information is important for us, the readers, to understand your perspective and your role relative to the other "ists."
I just hope no one asks about that pesky unemployment numbers
he looks like an old drunk. but, to give him the benefit of the doubt, i've seen much better, healthier pics of him. but this pic looks like what he would have looked like had he kept drinking and coking it up.
@Ward up
If Chicagoist has "clearly" come out in favor of a Democrat taking the White House then what, pray tell, do you need clarification on?
"Role relative to other 'ists'"? Weird.
Sun Times as "DNC Newsletter"? Silly.
Gasp! Chicagoist (collectively) isn't overwhelmingly conservative. Whodda thunk it??
Bush = lame duck = irrelevant =don't let the (White House) door hit you in the ass on your way out.
Ward: It's cute how you treat the Dem leanings here as some affront to serious journalism or honest civic dicussion or whatever the hell you are trying to do.
As per the "transformation," comment, that is just another example of the GOP persecution complex so rampant in this country for a good 30 years now. A more brilliant propaganda campaign has rarely been seen in modern American politics as the GOP persecution complex.
My tiny violin is playing for you, Ward Up.
Matilda; its cute how you have this obsession complex with a persecution complex.
Don't you see, it's all a part of the vast right wing conspiracy!
BUSH 2008
REPEAL THE CONSTITUTION
Strategery!
It's hard to argue that having The GOP in just about complete control of the federal goverment hasn't been a complete and utter success! Congrats, Republicans on making even lame Democrats look good!
Rarely is the question asked: Is our children learning?
/pileon
i think it's humorous that bushie is cheering on his NCLB. it's a joke. sure, schools can be made to look good with high numbers, but these students aren't really learning! teachers are teaching kids to take a test. and i'm not blaming the teachers - i'm blaming the administrators who are being forced by the school district, who are being forced by the state, who are being forced by the federal government. and last time i checked, education is supposed to be a state thing...not federal. i'm glad i got out of the field of education when i did.....
"had he kept drinking and coking it up."
yea as if he hasn't been samplying columbians finest for the last 8 years sent via diplomatic pouch
I've looked at the comments reacting to my comment. I wouldn't change a thing. It seems that Chicagoist, if it was truly for Chicagoans, should not be rooting for Dems. There's a reason that LAist and Gothamist has not showed partisanship regarding this year's Presidential campaign. You see, not everybody in Chicago is a Democrat. Maybe the site's name should be changed to "Democratist."
Oh, and for those of you who haven't realized that the Sun-Times is a biased paper, then nothing I can say can dent your denial.
Yea Wardie, the Suntimes written at a 5th grade reading level is as biased against republicreatures as the Red-Stupid-Eye is
And I think you have a range of perspectives in Chicagoist, you like every body here fights some and agrees some Now buck up and stop crying, old chum, it’s rather unseemly!
Pip pip!
We're coming to get you, Ward. Bwahahahaha!
Watch out, Ward:
Chicagoist is really a DNC mind control machine--they have your IP, and soon they will have you.
BOO!
Funny how with certain people, anything you disagree with is "biased" or simply a propaganda arm of some organization or party one does not like.
another fucking GOP martyr ... god, when will this persecution end?
Shouldn’t this analysis include the success of public schools in the past?
I say this b/c I don’t think America has ever had a public school system that even came close to achieving the headline of “American High School’s have a 100% graduation rate” under any President.
So...with that...this analysis should have looked at the academic numbers of NCLB compared to the academic numbers under past Presidents.
Right?
Heeee larry us:
"Oh, and for those of you who haven't realized that the Sun-Times is a biased paper, then nothing I can say can dent your denial."
Oh come on mannnnnn....give it a shot. Dent my denial. Dent it! Ram your truth sword into my brittle armor of naivete and let me see the glory. Please please pleeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeze take me to school.
Hugh: if you don't get it, you never will, facts be damned.
That is the GOP persecution mindset, the type of person who, even though the GOP has significant, even controlling power (thanks to the Senate filibuster rules), the Republicans are somehow in the minority, and picked on, and bullied.
Again, if you don't see this, you are already lost. Kind of like the voice of Christ flowing into your brain or heart or whatever the damn thing is supposed to do.
@Irishman
You should try reading the article. It acknowledges improvements in ACT scores (with caveats) and includes Congress in its scolding. Nowhere, however, does it bash Bush for not graduating 100 percent of the nation's highschool students. Where you came up with that strange tangent is anyone's guess.
I'm with ward. The constant parade of "here's some more one sided hipster snark" political pieces blow. These are worse than Kevin's agitprop pieces since they are just snark.
(I hate Kevin when he is on his soapbox, but when he writes about the mechanics [?] of politics he actually has some insight.)
If I wanted to read Daily Kos, I'd go there. Wasn't Margaret's editorship supposed to be better than what we had last year? It was a lot better for a while, but lately things have slipped back to just bitching about Daley and now Bush.
I'm with ward. The constant parade of "here's some more one sided hipster snark" political pieces blow. These are worse than Kevin's agitprop pieces since they are just snark.
(I hate Kevin when he is on his soapbox, but when he writes about the mechanics [?] of politics he actually has some insight.)
If I wanted to read Daily Kos, I'd go there. Wasn't Margaret's editorship supposed to be better than what we had last year? It was a lot better for a while, but lately things have slipped back to just bitching about Daley and now Bush.
...and now the damn comment form is acting up!
"It was a lot better for a while, but lately things have slipped back to just bitching about Daley and now Bush."
Who is Chicaogist supposed to bitch about? Daley is the most influential local politician--our daily lives are affected by his decisions--and whether you agree with Bush or not, everything he has done, and will do in the next year, will very likely affect the rest of our lives.
Still, if you are with Ward, show me proof of the Sun-Times/DNC conspiracy. Really--show me. I doubt you can, but give it your best shot.
You idiots act as though you are forced to read this site, as though Stalin is standing behind you with a gun.
I would actually suggest that it should aspire to more than just bitching.
The fact that Chicagoist is basically never in the -ist roundups probably tells us something about the perceived quality of the site. I wish it was better and had high hopes when I saw that ML was coming.
Finally, Ann Coulter Charm School graduate Matilda has said something that resonates with me.
I'm an idiot to keep reading this site.
A lot of the articles are callow, biased rehashes of other not-very-good publications; the demographic make-up of the writers and most of the readers are pretty much the same, guaranteeing blinkered conversation; many of the commenters are bucking for a fight almost all the time; and finally, this IDIOTIC Commenter of the Month thing has turned this place into a high school clique.
I can get all the around-town news I need at Gapers Block. So, adios and enjoy yourselves.
whymustiregister,
yo son, pic your fights! you already lost on the guest registering policy and if you keep messing with Margaret, you will never get that Chicagoist shirt! ( But don't think you're gonna get it for Feburary because I'm gonna get and I'm not even all that bitter because its the shortest coldest month of the year!
So don't blame Margaret because most conservative democrats, liberals and progressives like to engage in on line dialogue as opposed to most of your- and Ward's -kind who'd rather be told what and how to think by screaming angry white men( and space aliens) on talk radio like Shaun InsanHanity, Fat Limbaugh, A.Coultercreature, etc.
Yes our group has blogs and you guys gets talk radio. That's the way it works. I mean come on you have WLS Radio and what do you expect would happen to me if I called up Fat Limbaugh, I'd get treated worse? You guys want it all!
p.s
I hope its noted that I said something nice about
Margaret! I want that shirt! And I hate, hate pantagrapher because he got my shirt! Yes he deserves to die and I hope he burns in hell!!!)
Hi Hugh...nice erection...with what you are saying...when it comes to our public schools, 3 examples of past performances are good enough for a reference point?
I think not.
You can’t have such think blinders on to think that this article gave us a clear and concise picture of the public school system, and how successfull NCLB is when all it did was compare 3 examples of past performances...that is not good enough!! That's not journalism!!...well, it's biased journalism.
Who knows how good NCLB is when we do not have a reference point. 3 examples is not good enough.
I read a lot of Christopher Moore...he would contest that you do not know how succesful NCLB is unless you compare it to other programs of similar nature. It is a tangent that might be over your head.
Further…are you for real debating whether the Sun Times is Liberal?
How old are you?
Did you just move to Chicago?
Hi Hugh...nice erection...with what you are saying...when it comes to our public schools, 3 examples of past performances are good enough for a reference point?
I think not.
You can’t have such think blinders on to think that this article gave us a clear and concise picture of the public school system, and how successfull NCLB is when all it did was compare 3 examples of past performances...that is not good enough!! That's not journalism!!...well, it's biased journalism.
Who knows how good NCLB is when we do not have a reference point. 3 examples is not good enough.
I read a lot of Christopher Moore...he would contest that you do not know how succesful NCLB is unless you compare it to other programs of similar nature. It is a tangent that might be over your head.
Further…are you for real debating whether the Sun Times is Liberal?
How old are you?
Did you just move to Chicago?
Still, if you are with Ward, show me proof of the Sun-Times/DNC conspiracy. Really--show me. I doubt you can, but give it your best shot.
Who needs proof? Any news outlet that gives this administration any scrutiny is Un-American and Baaaaad! These guys wouldn't be happy unless reporters just read White House press releases (a lot of them do!).
p.s.s
"Ann Coulter Charm School graduate Matilda"
Gotta admit, that was funny Matilda!
byyyyy byyyy Ferdyyyyyyy, Looks like I'm a shoe in for the shit! WOOT
Pot, meet kettle in the form of "whymustiregister."
Someone mentioned "why do I keep reading this site?" I read it because it is entertaining, a nice break from work, and I learn things. Even from, and especially from, people with whom I disagree.
And the Daley-bashing on this site is more tolerable than the Bush-bashing, since this site is "Chicagoist," not "USAist."
If the tables were turned, and this site was a Republican-oriented site bashing Clinton, then I would be just as concerned that it was called "Chicagoist." I'll say it again. Some people do not realize just how many Republicans there are living in Chicago....and reading this site.
We city Republicans, in my experience, tend to be pro-choice, pro-gay rights, non-Huckabee Republicans. And many of us, like me, think the war was a dumb move by a dumb man. And we look just like you. Republicans don't have three heads, you know!
Hey Chuck,
I'm not the guy who thinks that his writing belongs on the front page under a nice big illustration.
When you claim to be an author, you make more of a claim than the guy who writes a letter to the editor. If you want to be an author, you need to learn to live with criticism.
But don't think you're gonna get it for Feburary because I'm gonna get and I'm not even all that bitter because its the shortest coldest month of the year!
Don't forget to play up the Black History Month angle.
Re: Sun-Times bias and it's historical background...
Ok, so historically, the S-T was the more liberal paper, which wasn't hard, since McCormick's Trib was- and is- exceedingly conservative in the editorial board. The Sun-Times was the "workingman's paper" for quite a while. Then, it had a couple of owners who were'nt quite so progressive- maybe you've heard of Messrs Murdoch and Black? They may not have had a hands-on relationship with the S-T, but there was definitely a rightward swing over time, which could only have been aggravated by the GOP's "the media is sooo liberal and liberals are evil!" complaints.
One day, it was very clear that Chicago now had two conservative papers- one that was serious and newsy (but had a stupid, red-eyed stepchild) and one that was easier to hold on the train. Unfortunately, being the second-best conservative paper in town wasn't helping the circulation. So, the Sun-Times brought in a new editor to rejuvenate it's editorial page, she looked across town at the "conservative" Trib, and came up with the grand marketing plan that "the Bright One" would now be a "progressive" voice (since liberals are still evil). Abra-Cadabra!
Today, the Sun-Times continues to feature noted liberal Robert Novak; they gave a column to Esther Cepeda, the most xenophobic Latina Dallas Cowboys fan I've ever read; and the editorial pages now consist primarily of anonymous bits of vile submitted by "readers" even less literate than the suburban grouches that used to actually sign their names to letters.
Oh. And, yes, they take a potshot at the hugely-unpopluar "conservative" President when he comes into town, but just because it's their responsibility. They're the "progressive" voice in town now, remember?
Wow, that was a bit of a rant. Sorry.
Spook, are the straw men the only way you can relate to people who don't share your worldview? Becuase if it is, that's just pathetic.
Finds generally off base criticisms of President tedious and lame == raving Rush Limbaugh follower? Gimme a break.
One blasts the Right for claiming that any criticism of the President is un American [good call] yet on the other side we see the same pathetic attempt to narrow discourse and bully out even the most mildly opposing view points.
Sad.
the new guest number 2
you must be a republican, where do you think that came from? Do I have to spell every thing out for you?
Whymustiregister and Ward, so get me some affirmative action on WLS and perhaps Chicagoist will give Republicans some affrimative action on Chicagoist
Spook, pardon me for missing the subtlety of your finely crafted prose, your wrong assumption of my political party affiliation notwithstanding. Although I have a feeling that's a bipartisan issue.
And come on, you have David Jennings reading news on the weekends, what more do you want?
"what more do you want?"
Oooohhhhhh you know what I want!
MY SHIRT!