Opinion: Benghazi triggers a major credibility crisis

You're right that the president has firing power.

But, given the size and complexity of the various agencies, it's quite probable that there's a lot the president doesn't know about the details of all of their operations (sometimes on purpose, as with "plausible deniability" - I think that was Reagan).

Ultimately, presidents rely on the heads of agencies, and all of the lower employees - they can't possibly personally oversee all of their actions.

So, when it turns out that the head of the IRS gave a list of somewhere around 200 things he was investigating within the agency, I don't see that the same way those who use that to attack Obama do - I see that as the normal functioning of that agency. I don't think Obama had any particular responsibility to get personally involved in those, that was that guy's job, and it would be appropriate for Obama to wait until he finished, and then get briefed.

May 19, 2013 at 6:20 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

Opinion: Benghazi triggers a major credibility crisis

Given that Congress can confirm or not, they have a lot of power in the decision. The president can only nominate.

So, it's not quite right to say that the agency heads are the "president's choice" - it's a joint operation.

May 19, 2013 at 6:17 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

Editorial: Gun law costly

Maybe, but not necessarily.

I agree that they should be adequately trained, and knowledgeable about the relevant laws, but they're not cops. And, just as I don't think they need the same level of weapons as cops (as fred argues), I don't think they need the same level of training.

Would you agree with fred then that they should have access to the same weapons?

May 19, 2013 at 6:14 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

Senate approves bill banning use of tax dollars to advocate for gun control

That's really not true at all.

Some of the rights in the bill of rights prohibit government from making certain kinds of laws, but there are many kinds of rights that don't include that provision.

And, there are many laws made regarding things that involve those rights. For example, we have the right to be free from "unreasonable search and seizure", but that is a term open to interpretation and disagreement. So, states pass a variety of laws about different searches, warrantless and otherwise, and then it's up to the courts to determine if they violate our 4th amendment rights.

One may agree or not with those decisions, but to claim that government can't make any laws regarding any of the rights in the bill of rights is silly.

May 19, 2013 at 6:12 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

Budget provision would block state funding for Common Core standards

I resent being linked with an amorphous "them" that generally refers to people with whom I have nothing in common.

May 18, 2013 at 12:26 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

Budget provision would block state funding for Common Core standards

Proficiency isn't excellence.

I know about NCLB - I just question the idea that we can't teach all kids who don't have those sorts of problems to at least be proficient.

May 18, 2013 at 12:25 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

Senate approves bill banning use of tax dollars to advocate for gun control

Well, I don't consider many of those things actually to be "gun control", but it's used that way by many.

So, it's a subjective term, and different people understand it differently.

Do you think that making sure folks who should be in databases are is "gun control"? And, isn't that significantly different from banning weapons?

It's obviously possible for somebody to be opposed to banning weapons but in favor of expanded background checks or better databases.

May 18, 2013 at 8:29 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

Senate approves bill banning use of tax dollars to advocate for gun control

The term "gun control" is used to refer to a very broad set of differing ideas, including banning certain weapons, ammunition, etc. as well as expanded or universal background checks, getting more information into databases,...

As such, it would be a good idea to define it, unless one wants it to be the broadest possible definition.

May 18, 2013 at 7:45 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

Budget provision would block state funding for Common Core standards

Well, from my ten second google search, I found that "adopting common standards (from the CCSS)" is in fact one section of the criteria for RTTT funding.

It has many other sections as well, and it's a complex project. So it may be possible for states to adopt those and not get funding, or to not adopt them and get funding.

Each section has a certain number of points, and the total is 500 if a state does all of the enumerated things.

May 18, 2013 at 7:14 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

Opinion: Benghazi triggers a major credibility crisis

You know, if folks like CK called for all politicians to "try the truth", he might have a good point.

But, when you overlook many examples of political spin and lying as long as they're done by "your side" and harshly attack any such stuff by the "other side", it's not interesting to me.

I look at this and see "politics as usual", with various agencies wanting not to look bad.

May 18, 2013 at 6:32 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )