Sunday, June 1, 2008

Don can't help Himself

.....Re the latest "prayer" controversy at the district, starring Don Wagner (see Thank God for Don Wagner):
.....After five days, the district has yet to post video of the Tuesday board meeting, which included public remarks opposing prayer at district/college events and opposing Wagner's politicization of the recent scholarship ceremony at Saddleback College. It also included trustee Padberg's objections to Don's conduct at the latter event.
.....I'm not sure how unusual it is for the video not to be posted after five days. Perhaps it's normal and unsuspicious. We'll surely begin to have reason to suppose otherwise, however, after tomorrow.
.....The archived videos are posted here.
.....A friend who attended Tuesday's board meeting gave me the following account of the public comments regarding Don's latest prayerful shenanigans:
...Karla and Carmenmara and their crew made some great public comments tagging Wagner for continuing the prayer business at commencement/scholarship ceremonies. They received a legal opinion from some 1st amendment group saying that the prayers was in poor taste, however not unconstitutional. That memo was the source of Wagner's politically charged comments at SC's Scholarship ceremony. There were a few "taxpaying" mothers who spoke telling Don Wagner that he should be ashamed for using the scholarship ceremony as a 1st amendment, partisan, bully-pulpit. They were particularly effective because they were those "taxpayers" Don and Tom are so fond of and they were obviously mothers as opposed to the "few disgruntled faculty".
.....My friend also noted that no IVC faculty spoke to this issue.

Pictured: Tiger Ann, cat. Sister Fannie's famous homemade pizza, last night.

The democratic spirit is alive, he said

From this morning’s New York Times: Talking to Graduates in South Carolina, Bush Calls for Culture of Responsibility:
...In his last commencement address as president, to students at Furman University here, Mr. Bush emphasized “the importance of a responsibility society,” based on the “bedrock values of faith and family.”
…..
“In life,” he said, “there will be many temptations to distract you from your responsibilities. Popular culture can give you the impression that alcohol, drugs or promiscuity can lead to fulfillment in life. That is an illusion, and I urge you to reject it.”
…..
Moreover, Mr. Bush said: “Our country needs corporate responsibility as well as personal responsibility. So my call to those of you entering the business world is to be honest with your shareholders, be truthful with your customers and give back to the communities in which you live.”

And, he added, “All of us have a responsibility to be good stewards of the environment.”
…..
“I know the democratic spirit is alive in our country because there was a big vote recently — the new ‘American Idol’ got about 55 million votes,” he said, referring to the television talent show. “I hope we see an even bigger turnout this November.”…..


Pictured: anti-intellectual President. Also: Tiger Ann, cat, intellectual.

Roy's obituary in LA Times and Register: "we were lucky to have you while we did"

  This ran in the Sunday December 24, 2023 edition of the Los Angeles Times and the Orange County Register : July 14, 1955 - November 20, 2...