Presidential Debate...

[BuckNaked]

Expecting republicans to take care of special needs children is ridiculous!!!....They believe we should take care of ourselves!!

How do you explain Gov. Palin's tripling of special ed funding?

 

[JonS99]

From the publication Education Week:


Gov. Sarah Palin and state lawmakers have gone ahead with an overhaul of Alaska’s school funding system that supporters predict will provide much-needed financial help to rural schools and those serving students with disabilities.

The plan, enacted in the recently concluded session of the legislature, is based on recommendations issued by a legislative task force last year. It will phase in a greater flow of money to districts outside of Anchorage, Alaska’s largest city, over the next five years.

Advocates for rural and remote schools have lobbied for years for more funding, in particular noting the higher fuel, transportation, and other costs associated with providing education in communities scattered across the vast state.

A second part of the measure raises spending for students with special needs to $73,840 in fiscal 2011, from the current $26,900 per student in fiscal 2008, according to the Alaska Department of Education and Early Development (emphasis added).

 

[BuckNaked]

Guess he just does not know many Americans with expertise in that area.

And how you know how much expertise she has in this area?

 

[gmboy95]

As an earlier poster noted, Sen. McCain said she knew more than anyone he knows, which is quite a bit different than knowing more than anyone.

She is clearly way above her head....but keep telling yourself she is qualified, because it will lead obama to the white house!!!!

 

[Island_Lauri]

Absolutely not true. Palin tripled the budget for special needs education. Google it ..

I am trying - I googled it again. This time I came up with something quite disturbing:

ADAPT, an advocacy organization working to get better support for people with disabilities to have better housing instead of being relegated to institutions or nursing homes, had an interesting experience with the presidential nominees’ campaigns.

ADAPT took a delegation to Washington in order to meet with HUD (Housing and Urban Development), the Obama campaign, and the McCain campaign. These meetings occurred separately. In a nutshell, HUD was unable to help and politely communicated as such, the Obama campaign people listened respectfully. The McCain campaign, well, they were not quite so nice. They had more than 15 ADAPT members arrested because of their non-violent protest.

So just to be clear, there was a group of about 100 people peacefully protesting for better living conditions for people with special needs. And the McCain campaign not only refused to even accept materials for proposals, but had the protesters arrested. Oh, and there was at least one injury as a result. This is the same campaign that Sarah Palin became part of when she pledged her friendship to families of people with special needs. I guess the same pledge doesn’t include the actual PEOPLE with said special needs.

http://autisminsights.today.com/category/controversy/sarah-palin/

 

[Anewman]

And how you know how much expertise she has in this area?

I dont, but since she was busy working... MY GUESS STANDS

 

[JonS99]

lets be serious, Sarah palin doesn't even think rape victims have a right to a rape kit if they are offended against, without digging into their wallets!!

Can you provide a link with a specific quote?

 

[BuckNaked]

She is clearly way above her head....but keep telling yourself she is qualified, because it will lead obama to the white house!!!!

I have little doubt that Sen. Obama is going to be elected President, unfortunately. But it won't be Gov. Palin that is responsible for it.

However, as President Clinton said about Sen. Obama a few weeks ago, she meets all of the qualifications laid out in the Constitution (a ringing endorsement from the former President ). And she certainly has more executive experience than either Sen. Obama or Sen. McCain.

 

[Shannon G]

That's not what he said. Here is what he actually said:
"She understands that better than almost any American that I know."
Does that still seem like a slap in the face?

I admitted up front that I was paraphrasing, as I could not recall his exact language. And yes, it does still seem like a slap in the face, because I still think it overreaches and, to me at least, makes it appear that he is trying to present her as an expert on the subject, as compared to many others in the same or similar circumstances.

As I said, I absolutely agree that her personal experience gives her a valuable insight and understanding of special needs issues. Maybe it's just my take of the statement.. had he said "more than almost anybody I know" I would have probably interpreted it much more narrowly...but when he said "more than almost any American I know..." for some reason it just makes it sound like a much more sweeping statement - it causes one to focus on the "any American" portion of the statement more than the "I know" portion of it.

 

[BuckNaked]

I dont, but since she was busy working... MY GUESS STANDS

Busy working? What do you have against working mothers?

 

[JonS99]

I am trying - I googled it again. This time I came up with something quite disturbing:

ADAPT, an advocacy organization working to get better support for people with disabilities to have better housing instead of being relegated to institutions or nursing homes, had an interesting experience with the presidential nominees’ campaigns.

ADAPT took a delegation to Washington in order to meet with HUD (Housing and Urban Development), the Obama campaign, and the McCain campaign. These meetings occurred separately. In a nutshell, HUD was unable to help and politely communicated as such, the Obama campaign people listened respectfully. The McCain campaign, well, they were not quite so nice. They had more than 15 ADAPT members arrested because of their non-violent protest.

So just to be clear, there was a group of about 100 people peacefully protesting for better living conditions for people with special needs. And the McCain campaign not only refused to even accept materials for proposals, but had the protesters arrested. Oh, and there was at least one injury as a result. This is the same campaign that Sarah Palin became part of when she pledged her friendship to families of people with special needs. I guess the same pledge doesn’t include the actual PEOPLE with said special needs.

http://autisminsights.today.com/category/controversy/sarah-palin/

Do you have an actual source for this? Or just this ladies blog that might have as much credibility as ACORN?

 

[phragmipedium]

Absolutely not true. Palin tripled the budget for special needs education. Google it ..

Thanks for your recommendation of google. I couldn't recall details, so I did google. Apparently the reduced funding was not specifically for special needs students but for special schools such as the Alaska School for the Deaf, though that reduction didn't actually cause a decrease in funding because they simply moved a program around in the budget, so I stand corrected there. However, she signed legislation to triple the funding (though I think it hasn't actually happened yet and will take place over three years) in March 2008, after she was aware of her pregnancy with a special needs child (born in April 2008) - not before.

My main concern with something like this is someone not being an advocate until something touches their life. Special needs funding always has been important and never has been funded enough in schools, but sometimes politicians do not care about an issue until it hits home. I have to say I see this attitude most often with fiscal conservatives; keeping costs down is the most important thing, until something directly affects you - *then* you should be a champion for it and fund it appropriately. There are a lot of things that deserve appropriate funding and attention and shouldn't have to wait until a politician is 'afflicted' or 'blessed' with the circumstance personally, however you view it. That's my perspective though, and I'm a social and moderately fiscal liberal.

 

[Shannon G]

I dont, but since she was busy working... MY GUESS STANDS

As much as I am not a McCain/Palin supporter, I think this statement is wrong. Many of us are working mothers, whether by necessity or by choice. To suggest that she does not understand the special needs issues of her son because she works is a counterproductive argument, IMO.

 

[Anewman]

Busy working? What do you have against working mothers?

All for them.

But I did not realize running the state of Alaska was part time, I guess she had time to go to ALASKA U and gain expertise on children with special needs... good for her.

 

[gmboy95]

I have little doubt that Sen. Obama is going to be elected President, unfortunately. But it won't be Gov. Palin that is responsible for it.

However, as President Clinton said about Sen. Obama a few weeks ago, she meets all of the qualifications laid out in the Constitution (a ringing endorsement from the former President ). And she certainly has more executive experience than either Sen. Obama or Sen. McCain.

nice try!!!!.....palin is currently a drag on the ticket. Did you see the lines on CNN tonight, every time they mentioned palin, the lines dropped like stones....She is a JOKE!!!!

 

[gmboy95]

All for them.

But I did not realize running the state of Alaska was part time, I guess she had time to go to ALASKA U and gain expertise on children with special needs... good for her.

Alaska U.....how about 5 schools to get 1 degree!!!

 

[Anewman]

As much as I am not a McCain/Palin supporter, I think this statement is wrong. Many of us are working mothers, whether by necessity or by choice. To suggest that she does not understand the special needs issues of her son because she works is a counterproductive argument, IMO.

No disrespect meant... I am sure she UNDERSTANDS.

There are persons with 10 kids, they can still be far from parenting experts.


McCain trying to make it seem like she has some qualifications that make her more worthy of office, not so IMO.

 

[BuckNaked]

All for them.

But I did not realize running the state of Alaska was part time, I guess she had time to go to ALASKA U and gain expertise on children with special needs... good for her.

Yeah, I guess the fact that she has a nephew with autism didn't lead her to learn anything about it or study the issues surrounding it at all. And I'm sure you'll agree that she probably didn't spend any time learning about Downs Syndrome after she discovered that her unborn child would be born a Downs baby.

The hatred for this woman exhibited by Sen. Obama's supporters is breathtaking.

 

[BuckNaked]

nice try!!!!.....palin is currently a drag on the ticket. Did you see the lines on CNN tonight, every time they mentioned palin, the lines dropped like stones....She is a JOKE!!!!

I'm sure you feel that way, and you are certainly welcome to your opinion. But it isn't Gov. Palin that is going to do Sen. McCain in.

And you really should see about getting that "!" key fixed - I think it's sticking again.

 

[Pigeon]

Did y'all notice the PP that stated Palin has a nephew who's autistic?

I didn't know that. I just thought he was mistaken.

I've got a nephew who is autistic. That doesn't make me an authority on special needs issues. Or maybe in McCainworld it does.