It Stinks! You be the Judge

I totally agree with you Marilyn. Any sane person watching the debates would have not voted for her. She won because there was a (R) next to her name.

One positive thing is that some people must have watched the debates or read the news because it was a close election.

She bragged in the debate about being a Republican and claimed that she as a Republican did the right things such as accepting responsibility for the plagiarism, only she didn't. When you say "I take responsibility but I didn't do it. It was my staff and no by the way they are still my staff." That is not taking responsibility.

I noticed no one screaming and yelling. Are you getting hysterical again Cool Breeze?

No screaming or yelling here. We already know what the REPUBLICANS have done to our Country. They're the Sour Grapes you speak of.

Mike you are correct in saying we are a Republican State and I am assuming the reason Ybarra won was because the Republicans voted for their party. I know the people of Idaho didn't vote because she lied, she plagiarized and and she only voted twice out of 17 elections.

Another reason she won because Republicans out numbered the Democrats at the polls.

Bradbury likes to mention Herman Cain and the color of his skin because he thinks that makes us believe that part of his intense hatred of Obama is not because of his race.

The topic of the blog seems to be a crazy election in Idaho where one of the candidates was extremely unqualified and yet she one election with the only possible reasons is that Idaho voters weren't paying attention or they voted straight Republican.

Too bad Bradbury, but the mid terms resulted in a majority of Republicans in both houses, not a "super majority". Scream and yell all you want, yes we see that the capital letters are back, about Obama but we have a do nothing Congress because they are blocked along party lines. Polls taken after people voted indicated that voters are disgusted with both parties and their not getting anything done.

How many names did you call random stranger just now, Cool Breeze?

1. Wayne

2. nobody with an obviously large amount of time on is hands

3. sociopath.

Then there are the descriptions that you used.

1. full of yourself

2. cannot or will not see

3. obnoxious stupidity

4. bray on a blog from a town you don't even live in.

I once again must point out Graham's Hierarchy of Argument in the hopes that discussions can be more meaningful.

DH0. Name-calling. This is what you use when you have nothing else.

DH1. Ad Hominem. This is a weak argument where instead of arguing against what was said you attack the author which in some case may be valid, for example someone talking about a subject that they don't understand.

DH2. Arguing against the tone of the argument rather than the argument yourself.

DH3. Contradiction. Presenting contradictory facts while ignoring the argument.

DH4. Counterargument is DH3 with some evidence thrown in.

DH5. Refutation. You quote part of what was said and then refute it, but stopping short of refuting the main point(s).

DH6. Refuting the Central Point. This is the best thing to use.

Rather than dropping down to DH0 and 1, you could try DH6 in response to random stranger.

You could say: Random stranger argues that nobody is represented in Congress except the 1% that own everything. This is not true because although there is definite bias in elections due to television and the internet and the unlimited funding for this in campaigns, not all people are brainwashed by this. For example, although yBarra won the election it was a close vote so some people weren't voting blindly.

http://www.paulgraham.com/disagree.html

I was trying to find the central point of your argument Bradbury so that I could do a DH6 response but I'm having a hard time finding it.

After reading your post a couple of times, I think that you are saying that the Democrats are bad, or anybody that votes for a Democrat is bad, and people such as you are good. Also you feel that race is not the issue.

To counter that argument I would say that most people are good and vote their conscience whether they are a Democrat or vote Democratic or are a Republican or vote Republican. Each issue should be decided on it's own merits. In the example, of this blog which is the topic for discussion a candidate was obviously unqualified but yet was elected. Somebody that voted wasn't paying attention to the debates.

I also feel that it has been proven that the level of umbrage and disrespect to Obama has been unprecedented in this country and has something to do with the fact that he is Black.

Since when does a blog about a Superintendent of Public Schools in Idaho become a regurgitation of all of the imagined sins of Obama.

I wonder also how Joe McNeal feels about you using his name to prove that you have no racial bias? If you have something on topic, I'll respond to it.

I like politics or I wouldn't write the political blogs, however when posting comments it would be nice to stay on topic and not ramble on and on about something that isn't the topic.

Please do as Brenda has suggested,go to the Political Forum if you feel the need to write a 5 page essay on your feelings or giving YOUR Opinions if this topic is boring you...

You can also go here, a group I have opened up on Facebook (Mountain Home Idaho "Sharing the News")

I plan on writing some more political blogs soon.

Now getting back to the topic what did you think about this election?

I've read that "undervoting" was a factor in yBarra getting elected. Some people voted for some offices but then didn't bother to check either candidate for Superintendent.

Jones did well in Ada and several other counties but the rural counties saved yBarra. I think that this reflects a bias also in Education with Ada County more interested in education than the rural areas where (maybe) the children are raised to be ranchers but not get an education.

Unfortunately Jones would have helped the schools in the rural areas, and maybe helped turn things around. yBarra, I'm sure, is going to cut education and as soon as the new office of Bimbo the Magnificent opens up she will run for that.

What the heck Sam, do you even know her? She is far from a bimbo, and is there something wrong with ranching? Every kid I knew who came from a ranching family went on to college, and had a well funded college savings by the time we graduated from high school. And it was started way sooner then mine was.. those kids started saving after their first 4-H auction. Just because a person chooses to be a rancher does not make them value education any less. Ignorant.

As for Sherri Ybarra, I don't mind telling you I voted for her, and it wasn't for the R. Actually, my daughter had Sherri for 3rd grade, then again as the VP at the jr high. She was an incredible teacher, and helped restore discipline at the jr high at a time when it was a little out of control. She is a great leader and a very hard worker. I believe she will work her butt off and do a great job.

I would admit that Ybarra may be a good teacher, or principle, but she set a horrible example to her students on how she ran her campaign and she is underqualified for the job of Superintendent.

In the debate4d she talked way too much about the "R" after her name.

On the ranchers kids, I was making a generalization which isn't right. I lived on a ranch most of my growing up years and I and my siblings went to college and most got advanced degrees.

Sam, you pedal backwards as well as you do forwards.......

I do know that, Stranded Ranger. Joe, do you want to discuss the blog topic or what?

I was excited to see 2 females running for a position in this election. I was very happy to see one was a younger female who had experience in teaching and running a school.

After I watched the debates my choice was made.

In my opinion Jana Jones stood out because when asked a question she went into detail her answer.

Sherri Ybarra also stood out however in my humble opinion not in a good way. I know she is new at Politics, Sherri spoke to much like the GOP, lots of rhetoric and using choice words like "Champion" to many times.

Here's a little bit of Info:

Currently, Idaho's state schools chief is required only to have a bachelor's degree, be at least 25 years old and have lived in the state for two years. Current Superintendent Tom Luna, the first non-educator to hold the post, has a bachelor's degree from New Jersey's Thomas Edison State College.

It was a close race, now I will sit back and ask "show me what you can do"

I have heard some political signs in Mountain Home disappeared or they were vandalized.

Whose signs?

A lady in Mountain Home who was running for State Representative seat 23B

THANKS MS M..........IT DOES GET OLD.

Ms M Been around long enough to Judge a Politician by what they do not necessarily by what they say.5,000 votes difference that's a hmmmm. You been around long enough to remember Don(I can't believe he was elected Governor) Samuelson. Ya the world did not end then either. Just maybe Ms Ybarra will prove you wrong hope so for the Kids sake including my granddaughter.

Grumpy Old man

Lets hope that she does a better job then Luna. However what have we come to when we elect someone who was caught with her hand in the Cookie Jar, or Red handed so to speak!

Ybarra's win has opened up a new can of worms

http://www.ktvb.com/story/news/education/2014/12/17/student-newspaper-plagiarize...

BOISE, Idaho (AP) - An Idaho high school student newspaper editor says she intentionally plagiarized an editorial because she wanted to send a message to State Superintendent-elect Sherri Ybarra.

Earlier this year the Republican was accused of plagiarism because some text on her campaign website exactly copied portions of her opponent's website.

As first reported by Idaho Public Television, the Borah High School student newspaper copied a piece from Boise Weekly writer George Prentice with an editor's note explaining why: The staff felt that if the new head of schools could plagiarize, so could they.

Senior Harmony Soto tells The Associated Press that she hopes it sparks more people to pay attention to political candidates. Soto said she first got permission from Prentice before plagiarizing his words.

Ybarra's spokeswoman Melinda Nothern was aware of the editorial, but had not read it as of Wednesday afternoon. She had no immediate comment.

Ms M

If you want an argument complain to somebody else. If you want to improve our local education system then donate your time as a volunteer in the school system or run for School board.

After living in Idaho for over 60 years and in Mountain Home for at least 20 I am well aware of how inadequate the MHSD is and many of our teachers. I have two kids who both graduated from MHHS. One is a nurse and world traveler and the other a Father of one and is continuing to get more education at a higher level , I'm proud of both of them.

Having said that, there are some good teachers out there that not only care about their students but despite low pay and long hours and lack of support they continue to teach . I admire their attitudes and commitment.

But we all know what the problems are Lack of tax base , loss of jobs, and an attitude by many Parents to consider our school system little more than a daytime babysitter for their children. They don't care about or because of multiple jobs don't have the time to invest in their children's education. NOT BLAMING OR ACCUSING JUST STATING FACTS. AND I DON'T HAVE A MAGIC REMEDY FOR OUR PROBLEMS.

However If you win the lottery you might want to donate some to the MHSD they need it.

Grumpy old man

I have volunteered at the schools. Did some time over at East and more time over at West. I even did some volunteering for Head Start and helped with disabled kids up at welfare in the old welfare building. All done many years ago. Since I have never driven most of my volunteering I walked to.

And Grumpy old man I don't play the lottery.

Another thing I have had 3 boys graduate from MHHS and all 3 went to BSU. I also have 3 Step-daughters and one is a Police Officer here in town and one is a Teacher in Boise and the other one works for the Morrison Center.

I also have teacher friends who I have known for over 30 years that taught here and still live here.

Oh one more thing I left out I have a friends who's husband is on the school board ! :)

I am well aware there are good teachers and bad teachers.

Oh My I just realized I said 3 boys when actually I had 4 boys graduate from MHHS + a Grandson.