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Neal Rovick

St Anthony, MN
Commenter for
3 years 2 weeks

Recent Comments

Posted on 05/06/13 at 09:15 am in response to Kathleen Hall Jamieson and the 'attack on fact'

(quote)

Because of the gravity of the subject and the President’s unique access to
classified information, members of Congress and the public expect the President
and his senior officials to take special care to be balanced and accurate in
describing national security threats. It does not appear, however, that President
Bush, Vice President Cheney, Secretary Rumsfeld, Secretary Powell, and
National Security Advisor Rice met this standard in the case of...

Posted on 05/01/13 at 11:40 am in response to Education-reform debate puts spotlight on institutional racism

Probably the biggest determinant of student success is entirely outside the control of the teacher and the school--the importance placed on education by the student and by the student's parents or guardians and their peers. Perry's schools illustrate this---self-selected families that are willing to sign up for longer school days, more difficult classes, and specified levels of parental involvement--those are the successes that make up the 50% of beginners that ultimately graduate from his...

Posted on 05/02/13 at 08:16 am in response to Education-reform debate puts spotlight on institutional racism

After completing kindergarten, a child will have spent 2% of their life (or 3 % of their awake hours) in school.

After completing 5th grade, a child will have spent 7% of their life (or 10% of their awake hours) in school.

After completing 8th grade, a child will have spent 8% of their life (or 12% of their awake hours) in school.

After completing 12th grade, a child will have spent 9% of their life (or 13% of their awake hours) in school.

There several things to...

Posted on 04/26/13 at 10:48 am in response to Scott Honour Q-A: GOP's first candidate for governor wants to reform government, improve business climate

I'm not hearing "fire in the belly".

Pretty vague and generic answers.

Now where have we heard about "running government like a venture capitalist" before?

Posted on 04/26/13 at 11:06 am in response to Scott Honour Q-A: GOP's first candidate for governor wants to reform government, improve business climate

By the way, KIPP schools generally limit enrollment of special ed students and limited-english students and have self-motivated students and parents that are committed to a higher level of parental and student involvement and engagement, and the schools negotiate directly with colleges for entrance of students.

Other than those "minor" differences., it's all "apples to apples" in GOP land.

Posted on 04/23/13 at 11:00 am in response to Go figure: 25% of Twin Cities home buyers paid in cash

All-cash says investors as opposed people buying a home for themselves. The traditional home buyer is probably in a worse financial position than they have been in decades due to flat or falling incomes. However, as you say, the big hedge fund buyers are concentrated in a few areas--one report I read said they were a major factor in about a dozen counties in the country. The remainder of smaller investments from individuals or small investment groups.

As everyone who has had a...

Posted on 04/22/13 at 06:40 pm in response to Why it’s increasingly likely Michele Bachmann will retire

Just like in professional athletics, the rational discernment of when to retire in politics is a rare quality. Snark would say that rationality and discernment have not been her strong characteristics, ever. I would bet the "coming from behind" meme would energize her. The present campaign finance issues hold no real weight with her supporters and probably with her. It can be all spun into "partisan politics" and used as a campaign point of "surviving challenges" from the left. Barring a...

Posted on 04/22/13 at 11:47 am in response to Boston bombings: Understanding Tsarnaev brothers and their intended audience

This report ignores the fact that hundreds, if not thousands, of Chechens have fought in Iraq and Afghanistan against the US and the governments of those countries, and have probaly killed thousands in those countries via IED and guns. It's a fact that a segment of Chechens have a version of Islam and political destiny that encourages them to do horrendous things to civilians. The characterization of the movements as "not at war with the US" is on the bare edge of truthful as Chechens...

Posted on 04/22/13 at 01:22 pm in response to Boston bombings: Understanding Tsarnaev brothers and their intended audience

A portion of the Chechens were and are a significant and dangerously effective counter-US force in Iraq and Afghanistan. In fact, it is quite likely that they have killed and wounded US soldiers with IEDs and guns, all in the name of jihad.

So how is it that we should feel kinship with the Chechens?

Are you operating on the old cold war basis of the enemy of my enemy is my friend?

If one goes with the track record of bombs in Iraq, Afghanistan, Russia and kidnapping and...

Posted on 04/22/13 at 03:07 pm in response to Boston bombings: Understanding Tsarnaev brothers and their intended audience

An awfully long url from google books for Chechens in Iraq

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