Torn and Frayed

Dis-Ingenue
Democrats now say that repealing health care is a mistake because it diverts concern from the economy and jobs. We said this all along — that Obama and Congress were pursuing health care at the expense of the economy, when the recession was at its worst. For the Democrats to use that argument now is disingenuous, and the American people are not fools. (Patrick H. Caddell & Douglas E. Schoen, Politico.com, 1/28/11)

Honest Democrats know.

Goal Line Stand
“Why aren’t governors standing up and saying, ‘In our state, we’ll devise a system where nobody will ever get into a classroom who isn’t competent’?” said Dennis Van Roekel, president of the National Education Association. “Instead they are saying, ‘Let’s make it easy to fire teachers.’ That’s the wrong goal.” (NYT, 2/1/11)

Background: The teachers unions are upset with (mostly) Republican governors who are questioning tenure, benefits, and accountability. So Van Roekel’s complaint is students who are not “competent.” Wait a minute! Whose fault is that? Could it be incompetent teachers?

All the Gay News, All the Time(s)
Barbara Bush, one of the twin daughters of George W. Bush, will endorse same-sex marriage on Tuesday, publicly breaking ranks with a father who, as president, pushed for a constitutional amendment banning such unions. (NYT, 2/1/11)

This is the lead story in the U.S. Section of the New York Times website.