Weekly Bad Teacher Recap

This weeks hall of shame from the reports at Bad Bad Teacher.

This weekly series is an attempt to shine a light on a problem that is bigger than anyone wants to realize, people who we have entrusted with the care of our children preying upon them.

I'll provide my usual disclaimer, the vast majority of teachers are good people who are likely more enraged by the actions of their peers than you are. This post is not an attack on teachers in general.

When will the media stand up and start paying this problem the attention it deserves? When we get outraged, that's when...

• Daniel Sundstrom, 47, reportedly a student teacher at Pioneer Junior High School in Upland, California through Cal State Fullerton has been arrested on suspicion of communicating with a minor for lewd acts. Sundstrom was arrested Thursday in connection with the stalking of a 14-year-old girl on MySpace.com.
• Marsha J. Mote, aka, “Marcy” Mote, 37, a former teacher at Tyro Community Christian School, in Tyro, Kansas has entered a no contest plea to a charge of aggravated indecent liberties with a child. In March Mote was charged on allegations that she took indecent liberties with a 14-year-old female
• Matthew James Stewart, aka “Jamie” Steward, 25, a math teacher and coach for track and field and boys and girls cross country teams at Cass High School in Cartersville, Georgia has been arrested on a sexual assault charge. Stewart was arrested yesterday by the school district chief resource officer.
• Julie Pritchett, 34, a former special education teacher at Clay-Chalkville Middle School in Trussville, Alabama has been arrested and charged with two counts of second-degree sodomy and one count of second-degree sexual abuse in a case alleging two male students who are under the age of consent as victims.
• Updated 06/20/08 Maggie Laughlin, 23, a math teacher at Shore Junior High School in Mentor, Ohio has been arrested and charged with sexual battery and and unlawful sexual conduct with a minor on allegations that he had sex with a 15-year-old male student.
• Shelton Hill, 31, an English teacher who served as a yearbook adviser and assistant boys’ basketball coach at Canyon Springs High School in Moreno Valley, California has been arrested on suspicion of multiple counts of unlawful sexual intercourse with a minor.
• Thomas Pagliaro, 32, the newly hired head football coach and special education teacher at Highland High School, in Highland, Illinois has been arrested on charges of sexually abusing a teen girl and fleeing police.
• Dana L. Meeks, 32, a substitute teacher at Crossett High School in Crossett, Arkansas has reportedly been arrested charged with three counts of first degree sexual assault of a 17-year-old student. Reportedly the sexual contacts are alleged to have occurred away from the school.
• Nathan Powell, 28, a former teacher and coach at Whitwell High School in Whitwell, Tennessee has been has been arrested and charged with nine counts of statutory rape by an authority figure and nine counts of aggravated statutory rape.
• Salvador Mata, 51, a third grade teacher of English as a second language at J.W. Long Elementary School in Terrell, Texas has been arrested on allegations of sexually assaulting a female student.
• Dennis Wayne Hudgens, 42, a geography teacher at Saginaw High School in Saginaw, Texas has been arrested on allegations of an inappropriate relationship between an educator and a student. Hudgens is accused of having an improper relationship with a 17-year-old female student.
• Michael Patrick Harris, 31, a former health and physical education teacher at Landstown Middle School in Virginia Beach, Virginia has been sentenced on one count of indecent liberties with a custodial minor.
  Harris was arrested in January 2007 on allegations that he touched the breast of a 13-year-old girl while she was changing clothes at his home.

Speaking Democrat: A Primer by Rep. McCotter

These clowns never cease to amaze me.

So President Bush calls on Congress to lift the ban on offshore drilling.

Harry Reid, and some of his Congressional Democratic pals are blasting the President as he could lift the ban with the execution of an executive order. According to Reid, "This is typical Bush White House politics. It's Orwellian. He has the power, with the signing of a pen, to release more options for offshore drilling -- he has the power to do this."

The only problem with this is if Bush did give an executive order this same bunch whiners would be running to any microphone they could find to claim that Bush is abusing his power by evading congressional input.

Hey W, sign the damned order and just start ignoring Harry Reid and his blowhard pals, no matter what you do they will complain.

A Q&A with Ben Bakke

I asked Ben Bakke, a candidate for state senate in the 22nd district, to share with you some of his thoughts on the issues. Ben is working hard it seems everywhere that I go there he is. He has made a favorable impression on me.

Please give us a brief biography Ben.

Born and raised in Beloit Wisconsin where I graduated from Beloit Turner in 94. About 3 weeks after graduation I left for the United States Army where I did a three year enlistment serving in the 1st Cavalry Division, Fort Hood Texas and then the 2nd Infantry Division for 14 months in Camp Casey, South Korea. After that I attended Southern Illinois University getting my Bachelor’s in 2000 in Public Relations. My first Career job was a business to business sales position. I was there for five years working my way up to sales manager traveling the United States working with different manufacturers. Then I moved into the financial industry where I still am helping people achieve there financial goals with investments and protect there families from financial risks. It’s very rewarding to see people achieve there goals and it prompted me to run for office seeing how my hardworking friends, family, and clients are hurt by an overreaching State Government.


What made you decide to run for the office of State Senator in the 22nd District?

I’ve always been passionate about politics. In high school I shadowed Senator Tim Weeden and worked on several campaigns in college. When I started doing financial work I saw clients who became friends fair worse off here then they would have had they lived in neighboring States. Examples are tax deduction of health savings accounts, everyone else can deduct them we can’t. Also, our small business ranking is worse then neighboring states so when I have someone lose a good paying Union job there is nothing to replace it with. That prompted me to take up the crusade to boost small business and make us the envy of the Midwest. I love Wisconsin and that is why I want to take us to the top.

Fuel prices are a concern for all of us Ben, I don’t want you to place blame on either side but can you please tell us what you would do as a State legislator to lower fuel and energy costs?

I’d kill ethanol mandates which would not only lower our fuel costs in Wisconsin but also lower some prices at the grocery store. Remember, ethanol isn’t efficient therefore lowering your MPG, it costs more to produce, and arguable isn’t any better for the environment. My opponent wants to force more of this on us. I’d rather eat corn then put it into my Pontiac.

I’d like to ask you now about the business climate in Wisconsin. What is your assessment of our current business climate; and what would you do to improve it?

The small business and entrepreneurial Association has us 33rd in the nation in one ranking and 38th in another. This is based on direct costs like capital gains, taxes, and fees. It also takes into consideration indirect costs like crime and number of government employees. I’m taking us to a ranking in the top 20 by 2011. My plan includes R&D tax exemptions and well as encouraging companies to send employees for further education. We’ll be having a lot more then just Uline setting up shop here after I win in November.


Taxes are on the rise due to ever increasing government spending and frankly I don’t see an end in sight or a willingness to cut anything by the GOP. What is your assessment of our tax climate?

Quite frankly I don’t know how you have the 10th highest tax burden in American and then somehow wind up with a 550 million shortfall in the budget. I do 100 financial plans for families in a given year and it always comes down to “Spend Less” or “Earn More.” When the government “Earns More” it means higher taxes (Sen. Wirch’s plan) that doesn’t work for me. I like “Spend less.” I’m young and fearless so that should inspire my colleagues to follow my lead and add some cuts in Madison. If you want to be sick look at the money we’ve spent on computer programs that were scrapped in the last couple of years.


I know you got involved with a pair of trumpeter swans in your district. Can you tell us what happened there?

The DNR killed 14 trumpeter swans trying to eradicate the species here. Kim Roper who is one of the most passionate people I’ve met, started a charge against this after two swans were killed that had been on Rock lake for over 10 years. To me it didn’t make sense to run out and shoot these two pets of the community so I support Kim and everyone else out there 100%. There needs to be some checks and balances with the DNR,


What’s your stance on the proposed KRM rail line?


We have to fix the current tax burden and the way we treat business in this State before we increase tax dollars for anything including the KRM. I’d like to see hard numbers on what the KRM is expected to bring in as far as additional tax revenue due to increased business in the area, but I haven’t seen it yet. I think Senator Wirch is wrong in believing a rental car tax would be able to supplement this, but again shows the difference between us. He wants to add a tax for the KRM and I’d like to see it privately funded and not being paid for by people that will never use it.


What role do you see new media playing in politics into the future?

I love blogs and youtube as great what I call gorilla media outlets. We’re all going to have to be a lot more tech suave. My campaign is embracing new media outlets because we have such and advantage there.


What is your stance on ethanol mandates?

I hate them! Why are we mandating a more expensive, less efficient, arguable no cleaner fuel source? Again, I’d rather eat corn or feed it to cows that I’ll eat later then use corn to put in my Pontiac.


Where is Ben Bakke in 20 years?

Watching my son “Little Ben” lead the Southern Illinois University Salukis to the NCAA men’s final four, hopefully against North Carolina or some other pretentious school like that


Last question for now, but I reserve the right to bug you for some more questions throughout your campaign. This is your big chance, what closing remarks do you have for me readers?

Thanks Fred you can bug me whenever you want!

My friends jumping into this race was not an easy decision. But when I look at my 7-month old son, Little Ben, I think “What kind of a state do I want him growing up in?” I want him to grow up healthy, get a good education, and be able to follow his dreams without the government interfering. So in that sense, I felt I had to run. But I need your help. we have a chance to set the ball in motion to not only take back the 22nd district, we could very well be the seat that tips the balance and gives the Republicans back the majority in the Senate. We have an opponent who is out of touch with his constituents, and a shifting population that is looking for a fresh, conservative face. We have the right message we just need to get it out. I want to thank you for reading this, and together we can get this thing done. God Bless.

Trial at Kabul

I fully support Obama’s idea to have a Nuremberg-style trial for Osama Bin Laden. And unlike the reptilian conservative commentators excoriating him for this, I think that his idea should be expanded to cover other human-rights abusers who will someday have to face their day in court, like Robert Mugabe, the Burmese Junta, or George Michael.

In fact, why wait? We should send our best and brightest legal minds right now to begin preparing their case. We don’t want another botched court trial where someone clearly guilty gets away scot-free, like the Human Rights trials in Canada. We need to be ready right now for the inevitable Guilty verdict.

And where do our finest legal minds reside? On the Supreme Court, naturally. It’s not called “Supreme” because it comes on two sesame-seed buns with an all-beef patty, after all. Well, except for Judge Alito: he’s just the dreamiest.

But I digress. In order to prepare for the upcoming trials, it will be necessary to dispatch some of our justices. I suggest choosing the fine legal minds of Ginsburg and Kennedy. Maybe Breyer, too, just to be on the safe side.

Who else could we expect to handle such intricate prosecutions without upsetting the sensibilities of our allies? As they showed in the recent Boumediene case, they can parse through complicated issues and arrive at a just, equitable decision with ridiculous ease.

We can’t send Scalia; he’s a hangin’ judge. We can’t send Thomas, since he’s hardly a judge at all (according to several liberal blogs I read). And Alito and Roberts are too new to trust with such weighty matters.

Unfortunately, they’ll have to step down from their roles in the Supreme Court, but as Robert Jackson could tell them, some sacrifices simply must be made for world justice.

It has been 80 days since Racine Unified Schools passed a spending referendum.

Now they want another one.

Drill Here Drill Now Pay Less

Well Done.

Blue Collar Muse schools Barack (Censored) Obama on his lies about social security privatization.

An excerpt:

Using Social Security’s own calculator and plugging in Sam’s numbers (born 1/1/1992, $15K annually to 65), his total contribution is $73,500. At retirement, Social Security will pay Sam $703 per month. This is barely over half the income he enjoyed while working. Welcome to cat food cuisine! After working 49 years at $7.50 per hour, Sam must retire on $4.50 per hour. Once Sam dies, the benefits Mrs. Sam enjoys are drastically reduced. At Mrs. Sam’s death, the benefits die, too. 49 years - $73,500 and there’s nothing to pass on. This is what Obama, Democrats and central planning Republicans want for Sam. If that was all there was, the saying “60% of something is better than 100% of nothing!” would apply. But it’s not.
If Sam is allowed to invest his money privately the results are astounding.

A simple financial calculator shows Sam’s $73,500 would grow to $1,975,000 with a 10% return, $920,000 at 8%, $446,500 at 6% and $228,500 at 4%. These sums provide monthly incomes of $16,458 at 10%, $6,133 at 8%, $2,232 at 6% and $761 at 4%. Sam could earn just 4% interest for 49 years and retire with more than Social Security provides. Check with any investment broker for the actual results over the last 25 years. The ones Barack Obama is sure would have been bad for your nest egg.

Read the whole thing.

Why is it liberals never want people to have control over their own money?

Hey, you in the back, out of the picture!

Al Gore: Supervillain?

I’ve given the matter of Al Gore’s energy use a lot of thought, and there’s only really one likely scenario that comes to mind to explain his massive utility bills: he’s crossed over from regular villainy to cartoonish super-villainy.

There are three cases to explain what his evil plan is for world domination:

1) Mind-Control Ray
First Gore started beating the drum about environmental dangers and fanning the flames of Bush hatred to reduce mental resistance to suggestion. Next, he worked on his advanced mind-control device, conveniently located in central Tennessee, where he will have a straight shot at the satellites needed to use transmit the signal all over the world.

Then he tests his device, using it to get a Nobel Peace Prize despite the fact that his efforts have yielded no results whatsoever, least of all improving peace, but rather may be responsible for increased violence as food crops are turned into fuel.

Any minute he’ll throw the switch and we’ll suddenly find ourselves compelled to walk to work and live in solar-powered huts, while he and his cronies fly around in private jets telling us how we need to eat more feces to be environmentally responsible.

2) The Weather Machine
We know that Gore is obsessed with the weather. Is it possible that he’s taken up Mark Twain’s ancient challenge to do something about it? Therefore, he’s working day and night on a machine to try to cool the planet, perhaps plunging it into a new ice age.
The Gore Effect? That’s a feature, not a bug.

3) An Army of Bigfeet
Imagine if one day, with access to the secrets of both Area 51 and the government files on Bigfeet roaming in Colorado, the Vice President got the bright idea to use alien technology to create a cybernetically-enhanced race of carbon-neutral Bigfeet to carry out his dark desires to demote humanity back to the Stone Age.

Earth in the Balance was published in 1992, meaning that the first generation of Bigfeet are nearing adulthood. Any day now they will appear and seize control, marking the beginning of a Planet of the Apes style reign of terror.

Our only hope is that a secret service agent can rise up and stop this evil terror, whether it’s Bigfeet, mind-control, or (shudder) Bigfeet with snow cannons and mind-control rays.

But where would we find such a man? Who could possibly infiltrate and destroy this evil genius’ lair?

I don’t know about you, but I vote for this guy:

Help us, Chuck Norris! You’re our only hope!

The Obamassiah

The shape of things to come.
How great America can be.
Change.
These are all pledges made to us by the Chosen One and his followers.
So I have a question for all the Obamalemings…..

If he’s the way of the future, the enlightened one, the Chosen One………why is it so difficult for him to grasp the concept of multi-tasking?

AS A NATION , there is nothing wrong with looking to alternative fuels while we drill and sell our oil.
Nothing.
So why can't we use our resources and look for alternative energy solutions at the same time?
Oh, and before any of the many envirolemmings get on your high horse about how you don’t want oil to spill on the coasts……..please show me the massive, massive oil spills produced by all the rigs in the Gulf of Mexico after Katrina.
You remember Katrina, don’t you?

Why is “just raise taxes” always the answer?

Eh, I give up.
Maybe his way is better.
If he can ask the terrorists to just take a number, I’m sure he’ll find a way to get to them, too.

Have you heard of the wood chip eating bug?

It excretes crude oil...

If this story wasn't on Fox News, Obama would promise trillions into bug research.

Idiocy on the courts abounds.

Check out this decision from Idaho...

By The Associated Press

BOISE - The Idaho Supreme Court has ruled that an undocumented immigrant who was injured while living in Ada County is entitled to medical indigency assistance from Ada County.The ruling was handed down Monday morning, with a majority of the justices siding with Saint Alphonsus Regional Medical Center. The hospital sued the Board of Ada County Commissioners after they denied an application for medical indigency assistance from Javier Ortega Sandoval.Sandoval had racked up medical bills of more than $187,000 after he had a stroke while working in the Boise region.The high court found that undocumented alien status doesn't affect the determination of whether someone is a resident. In other words, the concept of residency doesn't distinguish between citizens and those who entered the country illegally.

Isn't that special?!? Come here illegally, get hurt here and stick the taxpayers with the bill.

Al Gore's house still an energy hog.

Remember last year when the report came out about how much energy Al Gore's big huge house was using?

The Goracle told us he was going to have all this energy saving technology installed in his home. Well the results are in. One year later and the Casa de Gore is sucking up 10% more energy than before.

From the Tenessee Center for Policy Research:

Energy Guzzled by Al Gore’s Home in Past Year Could Power 232 U.S. Homes for a Month Gore’s personal electricity consumption up 10%, despite “energy-efficient” home renovations

NASHVILLE - In the year since Al Gore took steps to make his home more energy-efficient, the former Vice President’s home energy use surged more than 10%, according to the Tennessee Center for Policy Research.

“A man’s commitment to his beliefs is best measured by what he does behind the closed doors of his own home,” said Drew Johnson, President of the Tennessee Center for Policy Research. “Al Gore is a hypocrite and a fraud when it comes to his commitment to the environment, judging by his home energy consumption.”

In the past year, Gore’s home burned through 213,210 kilowatt-hours (kWh) of electricity, enough to power 232 average American households for a month.

In February 2007, An Inconvenient Truth, a film based on a climate change speech developed by Gore, won an Academy Award for best documentary feature. The next day, the Tennessee Center for Policy Research uncovered that Gore’s Nashville home guzzled 20 times more electricity than the average American household.

After the Tennessee Center for Policy Research exposed Gore’s massive home energy use, the former Vice President scurried to make his home more energy-efficient. Despite adding solar panels, installing a geothermal system, replacing existing light bulbs with more efficient models, and overhauling the home’s windows and ductwork, Gore now consumes more electricity than before the “green” overhaul.

Since taking steps to make his home more environmentally-friendly last June, Gore devours an average of 17,768 kWh per month –1,638 kWh more energy per month than before the renovations – at a cost of $16,533. By comparison, the average American household consumes 11,040 kWh in an entire year, according to the Energy Information Administration.

In the wake of becoming the most well-known global warming alarmist, Gore won an Oscar, a Grammy and the Nobel Peace Prize. In addition, Gore saw his personal wealth increase by an estimated $100 million thanks largely to speaking fees and investments related to global warming hysteria.

“Actions speak louder than words, and Gore’s actions prove that he views climate change not as a serious problem, but as a money-making opportunity,” Johnson said. “Gore is exploiting the public’s concern about the environment to line his pockets and enhance his profile.”

The Tennessee Center for Policy Research, a Nashville-based free market think tank and watchdog organization, obtained information about Gore’s home energy use through a public records request to the Nashville Electric Service.

Call out the guard!

During the Civil War, men from Wisconsin always acquitted themselves with honor and distinction in service to our nation. Further, thanks to a fortuitous confluence of geography and state recognition, Wisconsin is well-placed to rid the United States of a unique perversion which has plagued us for almost fifty years.

Specifically, it’s time for Wisconsin to conquer Iowa.

Iowa captures a disproportionate amount of attention as regards its population, prestige, and (let’s be honest) overall value to the Union. One need look no farther than flood coverage. Both Wisconsin and Iowa flood, yet it is Iowa which receives all the attention while Wisconsin is reduced to YouTube videos showing houses washing away.

This is wrong, and it must stop.

The ideal thing would be for Doyle to swing his golf cart by the armory and command his forces to conquer this state, whose combination of early voting and general crankiness mean that every election it foists on us candidates who are uniquely unqualified for the presidency. Look no further than Mike Huckabee for proof of this.

After conquering Iowa, Wisconsin can keep the land which it wants and divide the rest between Nebraska (who will be glad to have a few hills in their state) and Illinois (which is always ready for some underhanded dealing).

In order to keep the flag intact, though, we will need a new state.

I propose annexing Easter Island, because that will make it far easier to smuggle those giant heads into the country. Now, between regulations limiting suitcases to 50 pounds and nosy customs officials, it’s almost impossible.

Your duty is clear, Wisconsin. Now make it so.

Vote early, vote often.

Ryan Braun is now the fourth leading vote getter in all star balloting among outfielders.

Please consider filling out an All Start ballot (or 25) for Braun.

Finally, something that makes sense.

McCain urges end to ban on offshore drilling


By DAVID ESPO, AP Special Correspondent
Mon Jun 16, 9:17 PM ET

ARLINGTON, Va. - Sen. John McCain said Monday the federal moratorium on offshore oil and gas drilling should be lifted, and individual states given the right to pursue energy exploration in waters near their coasts.

With gasoline prices rising and the United States chronically dependent on foreign oil, the Republican presidential contender said his proposal would "be very helpful in the short term resolving our energy crisis."

McCain also suggested giving the states incentives, including a greater share of royalties paid by companies that drill for oil, as an incentive to permit exploration.
Asked how far offshore states should be given control of drilling rights, he said that was a matter for negotiation.

He offered no other details for his proposal, which he is expected to describe more fully on Tuesday in an energy speech.

McCain's presidential rival, Sen. Barack Obama, opposes an end to the moratorium, a spokesman said. Hari Sevugan said McCain's "plan to simply drill our way out of our energy crisis is the same misguided approach backed by President Bush that has failed our families for too long and only serves to benefit the big oil companies."

Thank you Senator McCain. It is about time someone understood the concept of expanding supply to lower cost.

VP Candidates

Fred's asked about who you want as VP candidates. But let's be honest: for top-notch political advice, you don't turn to blog readers. You turn to blog writers.

Hey! It turns out I'm a blog writer. And I covered VP choices both for McCain and for Obama over on my blog. Check 'em out, because I'm far too lazy to copy them over here.

MRQ: TGIMRQ!

So go shut your yob! Plebian.

I get to be Egon. Lance.

I’m so confused! Shoebox

Either you're a pretty impotent Messiah, or you're an ungrateful brat. Or both. Heather.

Next thing you know, you won't be able to own a plastic spork in the UK because of the potentially dangerous tines. Jib.

go to Itchy & Scratchy Land Elliot.

We need help around here. Jeni.

where’s the liquor cabinet? Steve E.

Damn you, “all you can eat” wings. Aaron.

Everyone hates you. Casper.

Blame the booze! James.

“teenage girls” and “tiny bikinis” Scoff.

If you flip the chip, does it still count as a double dip? ALa

I say scan away. Lumberjack.

This movie makes "Kung Fu Panda" look like a Ken Burns documentary. Chris.

arthritis, joint cancer, or erectile dysfunction? Plebian.

Me no think so. Brad.

TRQ

So much for the party of tolerance. TAB

Russell friggen Branyan!! Dan.

I woke up this morning feeling like that guy who had a nail stuck in his head Keith.

I am feeling like a real brewer Jesse.

I hear the tornado sirens Amy.

I usually just drink my foam. Wigdy.

Coffee... magazines... peace... mmm Nick.

Revenge is a dish best served cold..... Pete.

Well, it's better than "briefs or boxers". Leslie.

hilarious, and kinda disturbing. Alison.

I want to be Upper-class. Josh.

Umbrella = lightning rod Badger Blogger.

Will the real Barack Obama please stand up.

So, Barack Obama has never been a muslim...

His half-brother disagrees.

Tell me folks, why would the half-brother lie about this?

Who's your VP Choice.

Who is your top choice for VP and why?

I'm curious to hear from people of all political persuasions.

No snarking on anyone else's choice folks, tell us who your top choice would be and why.