Last night's debate finally helped give clarity to my ideas.  For weeks I have been wondering how to get a perfect candidate that could not be attacked by the media.  ABC's Abbot and Costello really helped me finally create a plan.

First off, we need to start with a baby that can be molded into a perfect American, in much the same way we were told the Soviets took away babies to make perfect athletes for the Olympics.  By completely controlling this child's upbringing, we can make sure there will be little or no events that will take place that could potentially embarrass the candidate in the future.

The baby, and future candidate, will be given two tattoos:  a crucifix on their right cheek and an American flag on the left.  That way, everyone who looks at them will immediately know they are a Christian and a Patriot (even if they forget their lapel pin).

(If you have paid for a subscription, this will make little sense to you.)

Oh Sirens of the Kos, where have you gone?
I came here to read about impeaching Dick Cheney, but instead you lure me to buy your products with your reassuring-good-looks.

My only goal today was to find about about the why I should hate Hillary, but instead I am buying Terra passes for all of my friends and family.  With your blonde hair and winter cap (no doubt made of hemp), you siren's call has drawn me away from writing about the Iowa Caucus and why the poll's don't mean anything.  Your non-threatening beauty is all I can dream about.  And now, you have left me.

The server that counts the votes for Cuyahoga county shut down for several minutes earlier in the night.  The technicians were able to get the server working again, but there is now a new problem.

The machines that are used to count the votes are all reading "Server is unavailable to upload results."  There is still do not have results for most of the races.

The old board of elections director no longer works in Ohio for the mess that happened in the last couple of elections.  The new team was apparently also unable to stop problems for occuring.

Plain Dealer

I doubt anyone is surprised.

I know this is short, but there is little information as of yet.

    The goal of Title IX was to bring equity to education in all forms, from the classroom experience, to all kinds of extra curricular activities.  Title IX has probably become most famous for what it has done for female athletes.  An event occurred at the high school I teach at this week that has me wondering whether Title IX was violated.
    Typically, the school has one fall pep rally and one winter pep rally.  (Don't ask me why spring sport athletes are not promoted).  The fall pep rally was scheduled for two weeks from now.  At these pep rallies, all of the athletes, male and female, are promoted to the entire school.  Each team is introduced and cheers are done for them.
    This past week it was announced that there would be a special pep rally held this week for the football team only.  It was done without consulting teachers and students.  Coaches of the other fall sports were upset that only the football team would get their own rally.  Athletes from other sports were upset, some of female athletes were nearly in tears because their teams were also doing well, and they could not understand why they could not be promoted and recognized.

    Due to the miracles of No Child Left Behind, our students take standardized test and the students and school districts are graded.  Tenth grade students are graded in five subjects: Reading, Writing, Math, Science, and Social Studies.  Most students are required to pass all five of the test to graduate from high school.

    I am not here to argue the merits of standardized testing.  I want to discuss the results and ask for a few suggestions as to solutions.  The results of the five test all fall along gender lines.  The differences in passage rates were 7% or higher between male and females, and were more significant on levels of achievement.  Here are the results by which group passed in higher numbers

Reading: Female
Writing:  Female

Math: Male
Science: Male

Social Studies: Male

I started reading an editorial in today's Plain Dealer.  I thought it was going to be positive editorial about YearlyKos and about how the DLC has little influence left.  I was angry to find it was all actually an attack progressive ideas and the netroots.

After discussing who was in attendance at YearlyKos and not at the DLC meeting, the attack began:

(The attack is below the fold.)

I was discussing the 08 race last night with someone who has contacts with both Giuliani and Bloomberg.  She said that Bloomberg has been considering entering the race as a third party candidate, depending on who the Democrats and Republicans nominate.

I responded that a third party candidate could not win enough electoral votes to make any difference in the race.  Even Ross Perot with his 19% did not get any electoral votes.  Her response was that Bloomberg would not run unless he knew he could win.

My questions are: First of all, is there any actual chance that Bloomberg could/would run as a third party candidate?  What combination of Democratic and Republican candidates would make it possible to run?  Which of the parties would be helped or hurt by his entry in the race?

Kevin O'Brien, an editorial writer for the Cleveland Plain Dealer, has decided to blame the students for not being tough enough to fight back against the shooter at Virginia Tech.

Kids, it's OK to fight back...
I suspect that many -- probably most -- were ill-prepared to react.

Fewer of them might have been killed if they'd realized that there are times when respectable, responsible people have to take matters into their own hands, because the authorities won't get there in time to handle things.

He is also, of course, a strong supporter of the war in Iraq, and has advocated a draft.
I have to assume he is some kind of Clark Kent/Superman reporter.  Clearly anyone who talks as tough as he does, yet does not seem to take any action on his own, must be secretly fighting crime and terrorists as part of an alter ego.