The first thing that should be said of this week's show is that Carly Fiorina, chair of the McCain/RNC Victory campaign, is not ready for prime time. Her name has been thrown around a bit as a possible Vice Presidential candidate, but judging by today's performance on MTP, she would be eaten alive by in a debate with anyone who has a name like Biden, Richardson, Clinton, Edwards, et al. Tom Brokaw posed a hypothetical Democratic campaign ad containing a laundry list of problems for McCain and she really just sat there and took it. (A hypothetical campaign ad-type question would have never been asked by Mr. Russert. Additionally, questions like this are leading and lower the MTP standard. Mr. Brokaw should embrace his more conversational style without lowering the standard so arduously set by the late Mr. Russert.) She does not have a tone that she speaks with authority. After all, Ms. Fiorina is a deposed CEO of Hewlett Packard. Which brings up a question: What was her compensation package upon her firing? Answer: Mostly likely 5 times more than I (an average American) will make in a lifetime.
Another question that Ms. Fiorina brought up, vis a vis the Iraq Occupation, involves troop presence. She stated that we have troops in places where we have to protect our interests and that we've had troops in Japan for over 60 years. So the question is: In a time when our troops levels around the world are stretched beyond their limit and we need to prioritize, why do we still have troops in Japan? Is this ally of our still under military threat? Ms. Fiorina stated that no one objects to this. This column objects to troops in Japan and permanent bases in Iraq. Some would dismiss that statement as naive, but this column would argue that military presence is not our best tool in wielding influence, our economic and innovative might (what fuels the military strength anyway) is the most effective way to gain leverage around the world. However, what we've done during the Bush Administration is put military first and now we can see the result.
And speaking of innovation, that brings us to the brief debate on education. Senator McCaskill smartly stated that Ms. Fiorina's statement about giving choice to parents in the children's education was code for school vouchers.
As a former teacher, this is what I can tell you:
No Child Left Behind does not work. One size does not fit all as both guests stated. But why? Because people learn in different ways. Some are better auditory learners, some better with visual aids, some need strict construction and instruction - dictation if you will, and some need a combination of all of the above. By that rationale alone, you can not expect the same results from individuals teaching all the same way.
School Vouchers would cripple public education into ineffectiveness. Remember, something, anything, is only as strong as its weakest link. If we diminish public education, all the links get weaker. We're putting the funds for public education in the hands of parents, who are supposed to do the best thing for their kids. This column guarantees that when this is the case, you'll hear stories of adults being irresponsible and/or selfish with those funds ultimately depriving their children. What we don't put any importance is that public education is a pillar of this country and we should work to strengthen and expand, not diminish.
Fun Fact: Cuba has public education and also has 99% national literacy.
Lastly, having been a Union Representative for the UFT, I believe that the union should be held in tact, but needs to be overhauled greatly. I fundamental problem with the way the union is set at present is that ultimately it rewards loyalty of its teachers much more than the ability of its teachers. There are other issues of course, but this one is a fundamental easily digestible distinction.
As for the panel of Rep. Ford, Mr. Mike Murphy, and Andrea Mitchell, they seemed to all agree that Presidential polls means little right now and this is no more true right now. It's the deepest part of summer and most of the public is concerned with their finances so to the average American, there are other things taking priority over who is saying what in the campaign. That's why you can have an incredible amount of politically foolish statements in one week and get away with it. If this past week were to have occurred in September, heads would truly be rolling.
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