Memphis lays off nearly 100 vocational tech teachers but will hire 100 TFA recruits.

[madfloridian]

In fact it seems they have about 300 openings for the fall. What about hiring local teachers to fill those spots. It does not cost anything to hire them, but it cost several thousand to recruit each Teach for America teacher.

From Susan Ohanian's education blog:

Nearly 100 Memphis school teachers were laid off

While laying off veteran teachers, the district intends to place 100 new Teach for America corpsmen in classrooms this fall. As of last week, it had more than 300 other teacher openings for fall. Is this part of the Gates/Duncan reform (sic) plan? Memphis has received buckets of money both from Race to the Top and from the Gates Foundation.

More:

Nearly 100 city school teachers were laid off Thursday in a somber meeting at the former Messick High School. The teachers are all middle and high school vocational instructors. The biggest cuts are in business technology, family and consumer sciences, marketing, and trade and industrial programs.

In addition to the 95 who were laid off, 31 positions will be cut by attrition and retirement. Deputy Supt. Irving Hamer said the cuts will save $11 million in a division that has not been "overhauled" in 27 years.

He described the cuts as "surgical" and "strategic" in the face of a $100 million revenue loss, including millions of dollars in federal stimulus funds that expire June 30.

But the funds are there to hire TFA teachers, and I find that amazing.

Tenured teachers with many years were let go with no warning. Some were not yet vetted for pensions. Yet they hired 100 TFA teachers with 5 weeks training.

Memphis City Schools lays off 95 vo-tech teachers

Computer repair, criminal justice and shoe orthopedic repair were completely gutted. So were middle school typing classes.

"Teachers were shocked. We expected first- and second-year teachers would be cut," said Keith Williams, president of the Memphis Education Association. "We had teachers with 10, 15, 20, 25 years on the list. One was a year from retirement."

The affected teachers were notified of final cuts by e-mail late Wednesday, Williams said, and told to report to Messick on Thursday morning.

Here's the kicker:

In the meantime, Williams said, the district intends to place 100 new Teach for America corpsmen in classrooms this fall. As of last week, it had more than 300 other teacher openings for fall.

Corpsmen? What is it with calling them corpsmen? They are college graduates with 5 weeks training as teachers....and they are taking jobs of experienced teachers.

Guess what? This hiring of TFA will continue because the new Tennessee education commissioner is a VP of Teach for America.

New TN education commissioner is a VP of Teach for America.

Gov. Bill Haslam on Thursday took another step on his agenda of reshaping Tennessee public schools by naming an education commissioner drawn from the ranks of the teaching reform movement.

The Republican governor's selection is Kevin Huffman, vice president of public affairs at Teach for America, a program that has tried to improve classroom teaching by placing recent college graduates in low-income schools and is often criticized by teacher unions.

Huffman, 40, will manage the state's $500 million in federal Race to the Top education grants and its ongoing relationship with the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, which has pledged $90 million to the troubled Memphis school system.

Huffman's ex-wife, Michelle Rhee, is also working hard in TN to bust the teachers' unions.

Michelle Rhee, the controversial former superintendent of Washington public schools, is out to raise $1 billion to counteract the voice of teacher unions.

She spoke Thursday at the Economic Club of Memphis as CEO of Students First, the nonprofit organization she founded after stepping down as D.C. school chief last fall.

"We wanted a nationally recognized speaker to discuss education topics since our community has such a critical vote next week," said club spokeswoman Beth Flanagan.

Rhee, the former wife of new Tennessee Commissioner of Education Kevin Huffman, believes in collective bargaining to a point, has little use for seniority or tenure and is out to make sure a group with heft equal to that of "the union bosses" is shaping policy that affects children's lives.

There is not a single Democratic leader speaking out against tactics like this.

This is the continuation of the education policies of George W. Bush. It is taking a Democratic administration to bring them to fruition as we would never allowed Republicans to do it.

[TBF]

1. 100 TFA recruits = busting unions. nt

[somone]

2. And in a few years the TFA recruits will be laid off

making way for new and cheaper TFA recruits

[Dappleganger]

3. The scabs won't care, they aren't there to teach.

They are using the TFA program as a stepping stone to bigger and better things. The ones who were laid off are the ones who care--they were there because they cared about children and love teaching, and took the time and effort to pursue an education to do just that.

[madfloridian]

4. Exactly right...TFA'ers use it as a stepping stone....the ones there for years "cared".

And cared a lot. They lost their livelihood so someone with 5 weeks training can take their job.

[proud2BlibKansan]

17. They aren't scabs

They are kids walking into a bad situation. They didn't cause it and they aren't anti-union either. The vast majority join the union and we welcome them. Most need the support and representation.

[madfloridian]

20. Their parent group is anti-union. They should realize by now how they are used.

There has been time enough for them to see they are often replacing fired or laid off experienced teachers.

I remember the interns from USF who talked about how glad they were to see "bad teachers" fired. I think there may be that kind of mindset being a learned situation from their training.

It is setting up a battle between fully trained and certified teachers who loved their careers....and trainees who are getting a lot of advantages like loan deferment.

[proud2BlibKansan]

21. One of my favorite correspondents is a former TFAer I worked with

We became close. He was smart enough to ask for help and I was glad to offer it. For me the bottom line is what's best for the kids and helping this young man who was in way over his head was what was in the best interest of the kids in his classroom.

I am able to separate the TFAers from the horrible despicable policies that bring them to my school. Most do eventually figure out they are merely pawns in a disgusting assault on education. My young friend certainly did. He came in as a conservative republican who had volunteered on both of Dubya's presidential campaigns and had worked briefly for a conservative think tank in DC. It was there that he learned about TFA. By the time his two years was up, he was a liberal Democrat and decided to go to graduate school to get a real teaching degree. And we now correspond frequently.

If I had done battle with him, I would not have this wonderful friendship today. Perhaps another teacher would have helped him if I had not, but I am proud of doing what I thought was best for the kids in his class.

I have no problem separating these young interns from the organization that sends them to 'rescue' our kids. Most of them figure out pretty quickly that they don't have any more of the answers than any of the veteran teachers have. I'd much rather be their ally than fight battles with them. That accomplishes nothing. So I will be polite and welcoming and recruit them into the union. Lord knows they need that protection.

[madfloridian]

22. I have a problem because good experienced teachers are losing their jobs.

And these kids are taking them.

I think about the ones I have read about online, and the several I know of in FL who are not quite able to get their pension....and they are gone. Victims of the "reformers" like TFA.

I realize some may really have their hearts in the right place, and want to do for the kids. But in my mind that does not make up for the teachers whose careers are being destroyed.

[proud2BlibKansan]

23. I have a problem with that as well.

Five wonderful teachers were fired from my school. I'm very angry about that. And I'm fighting back as hard as I can to stop this idiotic plan.

In the meantime, I am going to do my job and will always do what's best for kids. Fighting a TFA intern is not going to do a thing to help the kids.

[Dappleganger]

28. I called them scabs because of that, too.

My father was union, I know what scabs did and if these TFA folks know they are replacing experienced teachers then in my opinion, they are no better than scabs.

[proud2BlibKansan]

29. The vast majority join the union

Hard to be a scab and a union member.

[Dappleganger]

30. If they are displacing experienced, union teachers

IMO they are scabs. They may be ignorant to the situation, but it's still the same effect. Those young TFA's have time on their side and they can bounce back; this isn't true for those who were unilaterally fired just because they make too much money or have too many benefits.

[proud2BlibKansan]

31. Another reality

- a union is only as strong as its membership. We need these interns. We'll never win any of these battles if our unions don't gain members.

Calling them scabs is not a very effective recruiting tool. :)

[Dappleganger]

32. I've always appreciated your insight...

but quite honestly it's hard for me to see it any other way. Living in the same state as madfloridian, my teacher friends are being pushed on all sides, with TFA this and TFA that being part of the problem on a pretty consistent level. I know that my teacher friends view these TFA's as people who are taking their jobs who are not even barely qualified to teach, and have little to no intention of staying beyond what is required for loan relief and moving on to their next gig. My passion will always side with seasoned teachers over TFA's, I don't care how sweet they may be. At some point in time these new "teachers" need to be hold themselves accountable for willingly participating in a system which is undermining or even dismantling public education as we know it.

[proud2BlibKansan]

33. Thanks. There's a bottom line for me in this situation.

As I said in a post above. The kids come first. Being rude and unwelcoming to a new teacher - even if I strongly disagree with how s/he got here - is not going to help the kids in the least. So I bite my tongue and play nice.

But you are correct - this really sucks. :)

[sulphurdunn]

51. Shoot the sheriff. Not the deputy.

[madrchsod]

38. scabs? yup!...they`ll walk over the union teachers to get the chance

they fail to realize they once they start questioning their status will be replaced by another scab.

[JVS]

39. Bigger and better things? You mean there will be jobs soon?

TFA "volunteers" are just more fodder being chewed by America's "don't hire at market price when you can extort volunteer service from someone with student loans and few prospects" mentality.

[Angry Dragon]

5. I wonder how many weeks these TFA teachers will

last in the classroom ......... most will be lucky to last until Christmas

[madfloridian]

9. Well, Bill Gates will have their ear....literally.

So they might make it longer than that.

I keep repeating this story every chance I get...because it shows that TFA teachers need help from the start. They will get that help while "real" teachers are fired or laid off.

Bill Gates to use in-ear wiring for TFA teachers to speed development as teachers.

Teachers will get live in-ear feedback just like NFL coaches thanks to technology funded by the Gates Foundation.

Teachers-in-training will have their very own personal angel to discreetly coach them through new lesson plans, with the same ear-bud wiring that feeds live information to NFL coaches. Teach for America is hoping that private coaching will speed up the painstakingly slow process of teacher development, allowing teachers to get both tailored instruction and the experience of being at the head of the classroom, without risking a disaster for students.

"Once a teacher understands what it feels like to be successful, it takes root immediately," Monica Jordan, coordinator of teacher professional development in Memphis City Schools, told Education Week.

The experimental group of teachers is willing, if hesitant. "I thought, what if they say something in my ear and I lose my train of thought?" said algebra teacher Cynthia Law. "And then I thought, so what if I lose my train of thought, I'll figure it out," Law continued, confidently, "I'm not a play-it-safe person. I'm willing for my kids' sake to look foolish."

[Angry Dragon]

10. I have read that before and as far as I can tell it will

take two people to do the job of one and where does the pay come from for the trainer??

[madfloridian]

11. Yep, it will indeed take two people to do the job of one.

And it is the most stupid, pathetic, idiotic idea I have ever heard.

Who turned education reform over to Bill Gates anyway? Whose bright idea was it?

Oh, wait..

[FBaggins]

6. Are "vocational tech teachers" certified to teach other subjects?

Can you legally take the shop teacher and have him teach 10th grade English?

This sounds more like an attack on curricula that fall outside of the "3Rs".

[madfloridian]

7. It is about that partly. Key words under Arne: everyone is "college-bound."

It depends on the teacher individually. Yes, I know some who teach vo-tech who are perfectly qualified to teach other subjects.

College for everyone is the goal of the reformers or at least one of the goals. They don't seem to understand that in a real world not everyone goes to college. Esp. now since so few can afford it. FL tuition is going up 15%.

It is also just part of the drive to deprofessionalize the teaching profession. They want to turn the teaching jobs into temp jobs.

[SoCalDem]

15. My son's fiancee, a teacher, has been turned into a "temp"

She's a 30-something who had taught in the same school for 5 yrs or so and was "cut"...so now she waits to get calls to "sub"..and the rest of the time she waits tables at night:(

[Fumesucker]

41. I think you're being insufficiently cynical..

Which says something nice about you. :hi:

If every single kid goes to college and racks up a huge debt that can't be discharged through bankruptcy you have a class of serfs, not free people.

That's where this is headed eventually, deliberately so IMO.

[proud2BlibKansan]

18. Many states will grant emergency certification when districts request it.

So yes, you often can take the shop teacher and have him teach 10th grade English.

[fascisthunter]

8. pretty slick, aren't they

couldn't do it while the GOP had all the power, but now they can with Obama in office.

[MadHound]

12. TFA teachers teaching industrial arts,

I can see a nightmare of pain for some kid, and a massive lawsuit due to lax safety procedures.

[madfloridian]

13. Doesn't say for sure if they are teaching industrial arts, or if they are ending those classes.

They may just be ending the classes..which is very tragic. Either way, not good.

Where are our Democrats talking against this trend going on all over the country?

[MadHound]

14. Umm, the Dems in charge are actively promoting this trend

Race to the Top and other such policies handed down by Obama and Duncan. Hell, Obama himself was praising the mass firing of Rhode Island teachers last year, what makes you think he's changed his mind this year?

[madfloridian]

16. I was being nice.

Oh, yes, I know these are the Bush policies being completed with the blessing of Obama and Arne.

It makes me bitter.

[proud2BlibKansan]

19. The feds have cut back funding for vo-tech programs

They want everyone going to college now. And auto mechanics don't go to college.

[chervilant]

26. Yes, and

I suspect the feds want those college-bound young people to get lots of 'affordable' school loans that will inevitably balloon into mega-debt in no time at all. When these ambitious young adults get their first paychecks, they'll discover that their REQUIRED monthly loan payments negate any discretionary resources for the rest of their lives.

[radhika]

24. Strike fast before those sluggish ol' proles catch on...

Yup, this is how oligarchs deal with recalcitrant workers. Pretend to play nice while you get your team in place. Then, swoop down before 'they' know what hit them. Once, they're out on the street - they'll crawl to do your bidding.

Worked for robber barons, mine and railroad owners, bankers of the Gilded Age. i think we should study that era more.

[bertman]

27. Agree with what radhika said. REC this thread. nt

[madfloridian]

35. Well, they have "swooped down", and teachers don't realize what hit them.

They are just starting to catch on.

[Karmadillo]

25. Someobdy email Obama! Quick! He needs to know! He'll fight against this!

nt

[Jakes Progress]

34. norquist and duncan love the smell of ignorance and despair. .

And by extension Obama seems to like a little whiff too.

The only thing wrong with your OP is the last line. It is more than a continuation of george w's policy, it is an exponential leap toward the neocon manifesto that could never have happened with bush in office but needed Obama to cow and fool his followers into pushing it home.

[madrchsod]

36. many decent people fought against separate and unequal education.

their blood ,sweat,and tears finally changed our society to accept equal education for all. the first african american president and his billionaire friends have turned their back on equal education for all and returned education to separate and unequal.
the blood, sweat, and tears of the common classes means nothing to them or the corporate masters.


the real revolution starts by taking back public education. parents ,teachers,and students have to fight for their right of equal education for all the students no matter who they are or where they live.

[theaocp]

37. This makes me so mad, I'm left speechless.

I gotta go get ready for my meeting. We're planning summer school classes and I'm still waiting to see if I'll be called back. At least I'm only in my 5th year and not ONE YEAR AWAY FROM RETIREMENT!!!:grr:

[madfloridian]

40. It angers me also. I am just sad that most Democrats are accepting it, pushing it.

The new "reforms", that is. They are totally on board, and there is no one speaking out for teachers.

[liberalc]

43. Good for the kids, bad for the teachers

I imagine I'll be in the minority opinion here, but as a long-time DU reader I signed up because I feel pretty strongly that your anger is misdirected here. I clearly feel bad for the teachers who are out of jobs and don't in any way endorse that, but by attacking the TFA teachers instead of seeking ways to ensure we simply have MORE teachers, TFA and otherwise, you put yourself in a bit of a corner.

I'm approaching this from the perspective of someone who knows two people who were TFA teachers, and yes, they only had five weeks of training at the start. This isn't the whole picture, though, since some of them are required to obtain a Master's degree or teaching certificate while teaching, and more importantly many of them are tremendously motivated, exceptionally bright kids who have for years worked as peer educators, tutors and even teachers in their college days. Bringing in new people brings in new ideas and new energy, and we can all agree that sometimes that's needed. While we all know some great teachers, we also know a few who are going through the motions.

In my non-teaching job, if I don't perform well I'm fired. Even IF I perform well but my business unit or branch doesn't, there's a good chance we're all laid off. That's unfair, certainly, but that's similar to the rule being applied here - if schools are not performing as they should, some new ideas are needed. Our primary focus needs to be on the children being taught, not the teachers and their jobs, much like the focus of a company -for better or worse- is on revenue, not the quality of life of individual employees.

My suggestion for anyone complaining about the TFA teachers is to get to know a few and, even more so, look at the results they've achieved elsewhere. If my kids were in an under-performing school and I had the chance to see TFA come in with a past record of excellence, I'd want to see something like that done, too. Even if I was friends with the teachers currently there. By all means, work to find them new positions and jobs, or better yet keep their old ones AND invite the new TFA ones in, but let's not belittle motivated, excellent kids with countless options who have chosen to dedicate themselves to helping educate our kids.

With respect,
LC

[madfloridian]

44. Welcome to DU. TFA causing good teachers to lose jobs and pensions...

GOOD teachers. You are failing for the talking point put out by the billionaire "reformers". That teachers are to blame for all the ills of the schools.

I very much resent that someone with 5 weeks training in handling classrooms thinks they know more than those of us with years of experience behind us.

I taught well over 30 years, and I was proud of it.

TFA and other groups like it are taking away the chance for teachers to feel pride. They are being put on the defensive because of groups like that...groups that are moving in while teachers are fired or laid off.

And I am very tired of the very rich thinking they have a right to take over education.

[liberalc]

47. Thanks, I'd like to learn more, and compromise

Thanks for the welcome, especially given that I'm disagreeing with you!

I certainly don't believe teachers are to blame for all the ills of the school - I think that rests with everything from students to teachers to parents to societal attitudes. I think, though, that addressing the problem of under-performing teachers is probably the easiest thing to address. Parents? How does one address that? Students? Too young, in many cases, to realize the importance of their 'job'. Society? That's a bigger battle. So we're left with teachers. And I certainly don't think all teachers are bad; I've had some fantastic ones. I've also had some duds, though, and I can't ever recall seeing a teacher who was known to be disengaged and unmotivated fired from his or her job. The idea that they're not accountable comes from my experience, not really a talking point.

That said, if you can share some links to information on how they're held accountable, I'd be more than happy to learn! I would very much LIKE to be shown I was wrong on that aspect of things.

And, with respect, the TFA teachers I knew never once approached their classrooms with the idea that their five weeks of training meant they 'knew more' than experienced teachers with years under their belt. Most of their gains came from being very competitive types and wanting to achieve as much as humanly possible. Can you tell me, honestly, that you had such an attitude year in and year out of teaching? If so, more credit to you. I know in various jobs I've held, my enthusiasm waned after a while. I still did a good job, of course, but I didn't throw myself into it, working six or seven days a week and fourteen hour days, as one TFA teacher I know did for two years. Instead, I try to think of what they're doing as trying a different method - not better, not worse, just different. A bit like teaching 'art' via painting or computer graphics - both are useful, but very different. Also, from the people I've spoken with, the TFA teachers learned a lot from the experienced teachers at the schools they were placed in, too. I don't see why it can't happen both ways. When I talk to people younger than I am -less 'life experience, if you will'- I still learn a lot about myself. I can also feel complete pride in their accomplishments, even in my own field, without it feeling threatening to my own pride. And I'm not even teaching kids - you and the TFA teachers all have such an admirable goal to add to your pride!

Again, I don't like the layoffs one bit, and losing a pension that one has planned on is outrageous, but let's not tear down hard-working sorts who are also making sacrifices to help kids in disadvantaged areas. If ultimately you still completely disagree, maybe we can compromise and argue against the politicians and administrators who bring in groups like TFA at the expense of peoples jobs and pensions, but leave the well-meaning and very capable TFA teachers out of it? I think we're better than that.

Thanks,
LC

[madfloridian]

48. I have written much about it, gathered a lot of sources.

Click the red button in my post. Follow the links.

[Quantess]

53. Teachers aren't held accountable?

Wow. You are clueless about that.

[madfloridian]

45. BTW teachers are evaluated all the time, every way. Another talking point.

I am sick to death of the ideas being spread that teachers are not accountable.

Right now they are the only ones being held accountable. Our own party is screwing teachers and public education.

Shame on them.

[madfloridian]

46. Another BTW...I am "exceptionally bright." Many teachers are. Motivated as well.

I find your words a put down to "real" regular experienced teachers.

You said:

"and more importantly many of them are tremendously motivated, exceptionally bright kids who have for years worked as peer educators, tutors and even teachers in their college days. Bringing in new people brings in new ideas and new energy, and we can all agree that sometimes that's needed. While we all know some great teachers, we also know a few who are going through the motions."


You need to reread what you posted and think about how it came across.

As to the "new ideas and new energy"....regular teachers have that as well. We take courses you know...all the time.

Think about your put downs to teachers.

[liberalc]

49. Not my intent - I admire all good teachers

That certainly wasn't my intention - I never said regular teachers are not bright, I simply pointed out that you're making disparaging remarks about these TFA kids who are very bright and very motivated and often do have some experience. I'm well aware of the fact that there are plenty of very bright experienced teachers out there. I think that's great! And I know teachers get development courses, too. I'm not criticizing the majority of our current teachers - I'm saying we shouldn't criticize bright, motivated and enthusiastic sorts who have turned down other opportunities to dedicate two years of their life to making a difference in our schools. That's not a bad thing. Maybe there are better ways, sure, but it's a losing position to argue against their results. If you don't believe that, talk to some parents of kids who have had a TFA teacher in their classroom.

Good teachers, whether experienced or not, credentialed or not, have my full admiration and support.

[madfloridian]

50. I don't think those TFA recruits realized at first what was happening.

Now they do. There has been plenty of time for them to see and understand they are taking the jobs of good teachers who are victims of the Gates/Broad/Walmart reform movement to take over the public schools.

Now that they know, they need to consider the fact that teachers may not in the end go quietly. More will be speaking out.

A movement will not be made against public schools with impunity. It will take a while, but there will be consequences. The TFA recruits will be fired or laid off just as regular real teachers are now.....and others will take their places.

It is the movement to turn teaching into a temp job situation, and the TFAers are being used. Yes, they are bright. So am I. So are most teachers.

Now that they know they are taking the jobs of laid off or fired teachers, they need to put on their thinking caps....and wonder if they really truly want to end a teacher's career for two years work.

[Quantess]

55. No, she wasn't "making disparaging remarks" about anyone who wants to teach.

Where, exactly, did you get that idea?
You clearly have no clue about what it is like to be a teacher, or to work in a school.

I'm sure the TFA new-hires are wonderful, bright, people, so delightful, etc. That isn't the point. You probably do know better, but you might be getting paid for posting your BS? Who knows.

[progressoid]

42. "Corpsmen"

That sounds so noble - like the Peace Corps.

Yuck. It makes me sick.

It's the Walmartization of educational system.

[Mendocino]

52. We can't be taxing the rich to have real teachers,

how would I pay for the solid gold toilet seat for my third yacht?;)

[Mrs. Ted Nancy]

54. Fordham professor's experience with TFA

Teach for America and Me: A Failed Courtship

Dr Mark Naison
Fordham University

Every spring without fail, a Teach for America recruiter approaches me and asks if they can come to my classes and recruit students for TFA, and every year, without fail, I give them the same answer: “Sorry.

Until Teach for America changes its objective to training lifetime educators and raises the time commitment to five years rather than two, I will not allow TFA to recruit in my classes. The idea of sending talented students into schools in high poverty areas and then after two years, encouraging them to pursue careers in finance, law, and business in the hope that they will then advocate for educational equity rubs me the wrong way”

It was not always thus. Ten years ago, when a Teach for American recruiter first approached me, I was enthusiastic about the idea of recruiting my most idealistic and talented students for work in high poverty schools and allowed the TFA representative to make presentations in my classes, which are filled with Urban Studies and African American Studies majors. Several of my best students applied, all of whom wanted to become teachers, and several of whom came from the kind of high poverty neighborhoods TFA proposed to send its recruits to teach in

Not one of them was accepted! Enraged, I did a little research and found that TFA had accepted only four of the nearly 100 Fordham students who applied. I become even more enraged when I found out from the New York Times that TFA had accepted 44 out of a hundred applicants from Yale that year. Something was really wrong here if an organization who wanted to serve low income communities rejected every applicant from Fordham who came from those communities and accepted half of the applicants from an Ivy League school where very few of the students, even students of color, come from working class or poor families..

The rest of his blog post is worth reading.

http://withabrooklynaccent.blogspot.com/2011/06/teach-for-america-and-me-failed.html

[LWolf]

56. It gets uglier by the day, and few seem willing to

hold Democrats supporting this destruction accountable.

[StarsInHerHair]

57. they're attacking teachers & public workers in the UK too & other nations

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=439x1389705

[madfloridian]

58. Yes, it is worldwide.

It's being done right out in the open, and we are supposed to pretend our Democrats are not involved. They are, and I think that is shameful.

[StarsInHerHair]

59. yeah in a comments thread in the UK I see they're noticing their Labour Party

is acting JUST like our Dems, helpless, handwringing, spineless....