Conservative Thread: We cannot do everything at once, but we can do something at once

[mfd25wife]

SD, I hope your eye is healed completely now.

I saw this article and all I can saw is I'm not surprised, but am a little sad:


US officials flunk test of American history, economics, civics


Thu Nov 20, 2:24 pm

US elected officials scored abysmally on a test measuring their civic knowledge, with an average grade of just 44 percent, the group that organized the exam said Thursday.

Ordinary citizens did not fare much better, scoring just 49 percent correct on the 33 exam questions compiled by the Intercollegiate Studies Institute (ISI).

"It is disturbing enough that the general public failed ISI's civic literacy test, but when you consider the even more dismal scores of elected officials, you have to be concerned," said Josiah Bunting, chairman of the National Civic Literacy Board at ISI.

"How can political leaders make informed decisions if they don't understand the American experience?" he added.

The exam questions covered American history, the workings of the US government and economics.

Among the questions asked of some 2,500 people who were randomly selected to take the test, including "self-identified elected officials," was one which asked respondents to "name two countries that were our enemies during World War II."

Sixty-nine percent of respondents correctly identified Germany and Japan. Among the incorrect answers were Britain, China, Russia, Canada, Mexico and Spain.

Forty percent of respondents, meanwhile, incorrectly believed that the US president has the power to declare war, while 54 percent correctly answered that that power rests with Congress.

Asked about the electoral college, 20 percent of elected officials incorrectly said it was established to "supervise the first televised presidential debates."

In fact, the system of choosing the US president via an indirect electoral college vote dates back some 220 years, to the US Constitution.

The question that received the fewest correct responses, just 16 percent, tested respondents' basic understanding of economic principles, asking why "free markets typically secure more economic prosperity than government's centralized planning?"

Activities that dull Americans' civic knowledge include talking on the phone and watching movies or television -- even news shows and documentaries, ISI said.

Meanwhile, civic knowledge is enhanced by discussing public affairs, taking part in civic activities and reading about current events and history, the group said.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20081120/od_afp/ushistoryeducationoffbeat

That's just pitiful.

if you're not at least 40 yet, then you're still 30. when you turn 40, however, you get to be 29 again. it's called "spreading the youth around".

Communists? I was thinking of another word


Here's a little funny since we're all caught up in the Christmas spirit. I posted it when I first joined, but thought it was more seasonal now ...

BTW, I turn the big 4 - 0 in a couple days, and it hasn't bothered me until now. The last birthday that depressed me was my 25th - when I realized I was a quarter of a century old, and that I was born before man walked on the moon....blah! This one has me a bit down though. Maybe I can just stay an unofficial 39 forever....

Repeat after me-I am 29. I am 29

So is it just me, or does anyone else think of the WKRP in Cincinnati Turkey Drop episode this time of year?

"As God is my witness, I thought turkeys could fly!"

hi guys... thought i'd share a couple of pics today. I've been a member of an online quilt group for about 4 years now, and we have members from all over the world. Today i received a gift from several members who worked together to make a quilt for Jacob and thought I'd share. It is too cute!! This is just slightly larger than a crib quilt to give you some perspective... Second picture is a gift from one of the members in England who knitted the tiniest little sweaters for him. They actually fit!! (They're too small for an AG Doll to give you reference

Jacob is so cute!!!

I just gleaned this from another thread. This is evidently how they see themselves...we are the party of peace, love, and understanding...quote unquote. Anyone else not seein' it?

I think things may head south before that but I'm guessing people will not see through him until about then.

And Thanks, I am not a runner so it was quite an accomplishment for me! My DH just finsihed an Ironman (Louisville--140.6 miles) so that makes my 13.1 seem like a jog in the park! Actually, I am thinking about trying it again in 2010! However, I'm just thinking right now!

I haven't run 13.1m in my entire adult life!!! Yeah! I'm proud of you.

 

[#1hockeymom]

Those pics are SOO awesome! I meant to say it on the other thread. They're beautiful and scary all rolled into one!

 

[Buckalew11]

Could you get her to crop those? Thanks.

 

[Michelle67]

Those pics are SOO awesome! I meant to say it on the other thread. They're beautiful and scary all rolled into one!

Yeah, I'm going with scary. When my cousin sent me those I emailed him back something along the lines of "Holy CATS, John, the crew share can not POSSIBLY be worth that!!!" Must be, because he's being doing it for years. I'd have a heart attack.

 

[debbieandroo]

Great pics, Michelle - and they were great on the other thread, too. Made an impact, whether anyone will admit it or not.

Could you get her to crop those? Thanks.

What was that all about anyway? I didn't get it at all.

Then again, I AM a conservative. In other words, dumb as a box of rocks...

 

[Michelle67]

Could you get her to crop those? Thanks.

And when all else fails, attack our cropping skills or make fun of us for our "fake food." Chaps their hide to see us having fun I guess.

 

[Buckalew11]

wow! That quilt is very pretty! Who knew Internet people were so "real"?!!

What a precious baby!!! And those sweaters are treasures forever!

Thanks for th kind words, btw. I'm sure I'll be buried with that Donald medal!

 

[Michelle67]

By the way, when you guys are looking at those boat pics, notice the crazy angle the boat is at in the first one. They were really at a serious risk of the boat rolling over with the weight of all that ice on the top side.

 

[Buckalew11]

And when all else fails, attack our cropping skills or make fun of us for our "fake food." Chaps their hide to see us having fun I guess.

Sorry, I just had to say it! Those pics are amazing! No way would I want to be on icy ship like that. And take a close look at that rough COLD water. Gads, it just gives me chills thinking about being on that thing!

"Dumber than a box of rocks" = It is like, now we can't even take or post pictures right. Debbie, we'll ask my nephew. He is a photography major in Memphis.

 

[blestmom]

In case any of you are avoiding the latest Palin bashing thread for fear of being lured into a potential points-earning situation, I wanna share the pics I posted there with you guys. My cousin took these in Alaska two winters ago when he was fishing (commercial). They were running a 24 hour crew rotation cracking ice off the boat to keep it from sinking. I believe it is about a 70 foot boat (I've been on it, but I'm not positive about the length). They would go from one end to the other, and by the time they reached the bow, the stern looked like this again.

Wow, those pictures are amazing. I've got friends who commercial fish up here. Nothing like that, though. But it is a pretty cool thing. Their whole family does it all summer.

 

[SwedishMeatball]

Could you get her to crop those? Thanks.

 

[debbieandroo]

I'll pass. To a point (i.e. not to a significant detriment to humans), I'm an animal rights activist. I thus don't wear fur.

Sorry about that - I took AC's fur picture off -- I know some con folks are vegetarians, too.

Maybe it wasn't updated? Pence was voted in unanimously last Wednesday.

hmmm...this was from Nov 20th????

oh, I think I figured it out - Pence is House Republican Conference Chairman while Price is Chairman of the Republican Study Committee - huh, clear as mud...

 

[#1hockeymom]

We were regular watchers of the Discovery channel series. I know I couldn't do it, nor would I want DH to do it! (though he does have a big resemblance to the Norwegian guy. DH is taller and skinnier, but real similar facial features!)
I cn't believe I can't think of his name right now! He's even done a showing at the store in EPCOT's Norway pavillion!

 

[debbieandroo]

By the way, when you guys are looking at those boat pics, notice the crazy angle the boat is at in the first one. They were really at a serious risk of the boat rolling over with the weight of all that ice on the top side.

Dang, you're right -- I think I'm a little seasick now....

 

[debbieandroo]

Sorry, I just had to say it! Those pics are amazing! No way would I want to be on icy ship like that. And take a close look at that rough COLD water. Gads, it just gives me chills thinking about being on that thing!

"Dumber than a box of rocks" = It is like, now we can't even take or post pictures right. Debbie, we'll ask my nephew. He is a photography major in Memphis.

Where is he going to school?

 

[#1hockeymom]

And when all else fails, attack our cropping skills or make fun of us for our "fake food." Chaps their hide to see us having fun I guess.

WAit.. you mean Breezy's food is fake? I've been redoing my menus weekly due to her pics. Who knew they were fake?

 

[SwedishMeatball]

Well just so nobody feels like I'm trying to pull one over on them, you can't actually get drunk from any of the drinks I post.

 

[SorcererDonald16]

SD, I hope your eye is healed completely now.

Thanks. It is itching and burning really bad right now. Or maybe that's just due to reading some of the stuff out in other threads. In all seriousness, I took some Benadryl in case it's allergy-related, and the swelling is coming down.

Those pics are SOO awesome! I meant to say it on the other thread. They're beautiful and scary all rolled into one!

Agreed! Those are some impressive pictures.

wow! That quilt is very pretty! Who knew Internet people were so "real"?!!

What a precious baby!!! And those sweaters are treasures forever!

Thanks for th kind words, btw. I'm sure I'll be buried with that Donald medal!

Did someone say Donald medal?

 

[Michelle67]

Wow, those pictures are amazing. I've got friends who commercial fish up here. Nothing like that, though. But it is a pretty cool thing. Their whole family does it all summer.

My ex and his family were all commercial fishermen. Few of them still are because of the permit/quota/and market situations these days. Well, and the price of deisel sunk a lot of fishing families too, if you'll pardon the pun. He was born in Sitka and went straight from the hospital to a 56 foot long liner. They fished halibut, black cod and salmon (purse seined those). They didn't get into that insane deep water, extreme weather stuff my cousin does. That boy is a CRAZY Indian.

Seriously, if I was on that boat the LAST thing I would be thinking of would be getting out my camera and sending pics to my cousin. I'd be too busy gibbering like a chimp in extreme fear.

 

[debbieandroo]

WAit.. you mean Breezy's food is fake? I've been redoing my menus weekly due to her pics. Who knew they were fake?

If Breezy's food is fake, maybe the 10+ pounds I've gained since looking at it is fake, too!

Woo-hoo, pass me some more of that punkin pie!!!!