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Idiot Awards
Author: BobR
Date: 02/11/2009 13:25:25
How many times a day do you read something in the news or see it on TV and think "wow - that was so stupid they should get an award for that"? Well today's your lucky day. As self-appointed judge, I will be doling these out based on recent news stories. As always, your mileage may vary.
For the bronze: The Congressional Republicans for their opposition of (and rationale for opposing) the economic stimulus bill. Here's one take on why it was a good idea:
Because - as you know - playing politics is MUCH more important than helping out their constituents, or maybe saving the country. That could NEVER backfire.
Most of our regular readers have already seen this, but it bears repeating (and reposting) - Rachel Maddow explaining why the Republicans are either lying or just plain stupid about the economy and what the stimulus package is supposed to do (hint: it's right there in the name):
For the Silver: FOX News for taking a Republican Party talking point - TYPO INCLUDED - and airing it verbatim on the air, all the while claiming it was research:
The link contains the video. Simply amazing. No one caught the incorrect date? No one said - "hey wait a minute - this can't be right". Wow!
But the Gold... the gold goes to: The Clayton County, GA school system. This county - south of Atlanta proper - has had some real problems. The Ford plant nearby closed... When Atlanta experienced a boom in building and business, the area was completely bypassed... The schools' statistics and test scores have been abysmal.
Recently, the entire county's school system was decertified by the state. What does that mean? It means that anyone that graduates from High School there doesn't have a state-sanctioned diploma, so they will have a very difficult time being accepted at most colleges. It's very serious business.
Q: So at a point where the county and school system is trying desperately to get its schools back up to par, in the middle of an economic crisis when every dollar is precious, what do they choose to spend $70,000 on?
A: Uniforms for the bus drivers to help prevent terrorists from hijacking them.
No, I am not shitting you:
So terrorists can't buy khaki pants and red shirts?... So terrorists are plotting to hijack a school bus in Clayton County? (They'd probably be scared to go into some areas of the county)... Because somehow if the driver is supposed to be wearing a uniform, and a "terrorist" gets on to drive the bus, the students are going to... do what?
At this point, having terrorists hijack the school board might be an improvement. They respond to this incredible waste of money with "buy uniforms for the students"?? Hey, I've got a novel idea - how about BUYING BOOKS AND SCHOOL EQUIPMENT??
Apparently, the board members graduated from the the same schools they are now trying to run. I can't think of a better explanation.
Anyway, the closing music plays and we are done. Cut to commercial. See you next time...
For the bronze: The Congressional Republicans for their opposition of (and rationale for opposing) the economic stimulus bill. Here's one take on why it was a good idea:
Voting against the bill was good politics because it shows that the GOP can't be persuaded by charm alone, presidential or otherwise. Sure, Republicans risk coming off as stubborn in the face of Obama's ostentatious magnanimity. But at this stage, there's nothing wrong with playing hard to get. There will be time for bipartisan necking later.
Another advantage is that the vote makes Minority Leader John Boehner and Minority Whip Eric Cantor look good. The fact that zero out of 178 Republicans broke ranks shows a united, disciplined front. On a symbolic vote like this—one of the first of the 111th Congress—sending a signal is more important than reaching an immediate compromise.
Because - as you know - playing politics is MUCH more important than helping out their constituents, or maybe saving the country. That could NEVER backfire.
Most of our regular readers have already seen this, but it bears repeating (and reposting) - Rachel Maddow explaining why the Republicans are either lying or just plain stupid about the economy and what the stimulus package is supposed to do (hint: it's right there in the name):
For the Silver: FOX News for taking a Republican Party talking point - TYPO INCLUDED - and airing it verbatim on the air, all the while claiming it was research:
During the February 10 edition of Fox News' Happening Now, co-host Jon Scott claimed that "the Senate is expected to pass the $838 billion stimulus plan -- its version of it, anyway. We thought we'd take a look back at the bill, how it was born, and how it grew, and grew, and grew." In tracking how and when the bill purportedly "grew," Scott referenced seven dates, as on-screen graphics cited various news sources from those time periods. However, all of the sources and cost figures Scott cited, as well as the accompanying on-screen text, were also contained in a February 10 press release issued by the Senate Republican Communications Center. One on-screen graphic during the segment even repeated a typo from the GOP document, further confirming that Scott was simply reading from a Republican press release. The Fox News graphic and the GOP press release both claimed that a Wall Street Journal report that the stimulus package could reach "$775 billion over two years" was published on December 19, 2009
The link contains the video. Simply amazing. No one caught the incorrect date? No one said - "hey wait a minute - this can't be right". Wow!
But the Gold... the gold goes to: The Clayton County, GA school system. This county - south of Atlanta proper - has had some real problems. The Ford plant nearby closed... When Atlanta experienced a boom in building and business, the area was completely bypassed... The schools' statistics and test scores have been abysmal.
Recently, the entire county's school system was decertified by the state. What does that mean? It means that anyone that graduates from High School there doesn't have a state-sanctioned diploma, so they will have a very difficult time being accepted at most colleges. It's very serious business.
Q: So at a point where the county and school system is trying desperately to get its schools back up to par, in the middle of an economic crisis when every dollar is precious, what do they choose to spend $70,000 on?
A: Uniforms for the bus drivers to help prevent terrorists from hijacking them.
No, I am not shitting you:
"We wanted to be proactive in an effort to protect our children from terrorists," Lyles said Tuesday. "Before uniforms, the kids could have a substitute bus driver and a terrorist could get on the bus and take 70 kids. Students wouldn’t know if this is the person who is supposed to drive the bus."
All 500 bus drivers and special-education bus monitors will now be wearing red shirts, khaki pants and jackets.
The $70,000 expenditure comes as the district is losing $23 million in state aid. Last week, school officials announced 153 teachers and 102 other employees would have to be cut next school year.
"I really think at this point we need to be looking at everything we do and be very frugal in spending," said school board member Jessie Goree. "If we’re going to provide them uniforms, we should probably provide uniforms for our students."
So terrorists can't buy khaki pants and red shirts?... So terrorists are plotting to hijack a school bus in Clayton County? (They'd probably be scared to go into some areas of the county)... Because somehow if the driver is supposed to be wearing a uniform, and a "terrorist" gets on to drive the bus, the students are going to... do what?
At this point, having terrorists hijack the school board might be an improvement. They respond to this incredible waste of money with "buy uniforms for the students"?? Hey, I've got a novel idea - how about BUYING BOOKS AND SCHOOL EQUIPMENT??
Apparently, the board members graduated from the the same schools they are now trying to run. I can't think of a better explanation.
Anyway, the closing music plays and we are done. Cut to commercial. See you next time...
