Althouse: "We stand with Mayor Rahm Emanuel."

September 11, 2012

"We stand with Mayor Rahm Emanuel."

Says Paul Ryan.

Could somebody please compose parody lyrics for the great political classic that we here at Meadhouse have never been able to get out of our head?

40 comments:

rhhardin said...: He's heading off the Obama-steps-in plan, something the democrats probably didn't anticipate.; 9/11/12, 10:00 AM
ndspinelli said...: Newt should join in..Rahm will have a stroke.; 9/11/12, 10:06 AM
Synova said...: Gah! I think I got that clicked *off* again in time, before it got deep in my head.

Anyhow, Ryan!

Ha!

Heard about this last night. Made me smile.; 9/11/12, 10:06 AM
Anonymous said...: This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.; 9/11/12, 10:10 AM
Ann Althouse said...: @whoresoftheinternet I deleted your comment because it looked Moby to me. That kind of material will be used against me -- unfairly, perhaps -- and that might be your intent, which comes within my "bad faith" policy.; 9/11/12, 10:13 AM
Nonapod said...: Pretty clever. It both acknowledges the problems a major Obamacrat (who is ostensibly a friend to Unions) is having with a Union that's being unreasonable... and it makes Ryan seem fair minded, able to cross the aisle and what-not.; 9/11/12, 10:14 AM
traditionalguy said...: But why does Rahm hate school children?

Is he jealous that most of them are taller than he is?; 9/11/12, 10:14 AM
Matt Sablan said...: ... you know what would be A-grade entertainment? Scott Walker calling up Rahm and offering his support and advice.; 9/11/12, 10:19 AM
Anonymous said...: @Althouse:

Fine, you're afraid of being called a racist because of what I wrote. Fair enough---its your blog and racism---especially racism against blacks---is a career-killing charge in this leftist-created world.

But its not a Moby comment. Statistically, this is very likely to happen. It is the truth. Denying reality is how the left wins. And shutting people down who try to un-deny reality is one tactic.; 9/11/12, 10:20 AM
edutcher said...: You can't go wrong standing up to the teacher unions, but I hope they make more of a deal out of the fact Choom is MIA on this one.; 9/11/12, 10:24 AM
Lem Vibe Bandit said...: He's heading off the Obama-steps-in plan, something the democrats probably didn't anticipate.

No political novice... Ryan is.; 9/11/12, 10:25 AM
Shouting Thomas said...: How can you guys be so mean.

Those teachers are doing it for the kids!

I know, because that's what their signs say!; 9/11/12, 10:25 AM
Known Unknown said...: They want to stop "Rahmunism" whatever the hell that is.; 9/11/12, 10:29 AM
Bryan C said...: Good. R/R have been pretty good at staying in front of these things, rather than allowing your opponent to define the parameters of their response. Medicare, New Orleans, and now education reform.

The last two paragraphs are interesting. The reporter seems to strain for a reason to insert how much the donors paid for the event. And she seems rather perturbed that Ryan left for another campaign stop and "declined to repeat the comments." Those would be the comments he just said, that they just heard and wrote down?; 9/11/12, 10:30 AM
Lem Vibe Bandit said...: The Obama-steps-in plan sits on an empty chair.; 9/11/12, 10:30 AM
Patrick said...: ... you know what would be A-grade entertainment? Scott Walker calling up Rahm and offering his support and advice.

And conferencing in David Koch for that call!; 9/11/12, 10:32 AM
Dear corrupt left, go F yourselves said...: The day both parties stand up to the entrenched and corrupt teacher's union-- is the day
all Americans who care about their children will finally be heard.

We all know the democrat party is in bed with the teacher's union. Follow the money.

What Ryan said in genius. What say you, Rahm?

When local governments beg for tax hikes "for the children" you can bet that money will not be spent in the classroom. It all goes to teacher union demands.

The left do not want choice and competition in schools. If so,
prove it.; 9/11/12, 10:32 AM
Carol said...: I'll say it again, those teachers deserve everything they can get for teaching at CPS.; 9/11/12, 10:38 AM
prairie wind said...: You can't go wrong standing up to the teacher unions, but I hope they make more of a deal out of the fact Choom is MIA on this one.

I hope someone points out that Choom should have absolutely nothing to do with education at all. Neither should any president.

If Romney/Ryan had real nerve, and real intent to cut spending, they would be talking about shutting down the Department of Ed.; 9/11/12, 10:39 AM
Chip S. said...: At least Rahm doesn't have to worry about a John Doe investigation in Chicago. I'll bet he's got a secret router, tho.; 9/11/12, 10:43 AM
Synova said...: "If Romney/Ryan had real nerve, and real intent to cut spending, they would be talking about shutting down the Department of Ed."

They ought to. It would undoubtedly be a drop in the bucket but education should be as local as possible and there is no reason whatsoever that States can't take care of their own sh*t. Roll the Ed budget into NASA so that our budding rocket-scientists have a dream and a goal to shoot for.; 9/11/12, 10:46 AM
Synova said...: Ryan's statements were good ones. The quote is really *good*. Can't tell his tone of voice, but it seems to hit the right notes. He doesn't pretend that he'll ever be anything but Rahm's opponent, but that some things aren't about who's on the other side.

I wouldn't repeat the comments either. Reporters just want to try to get something juicier than you said the first time.; 9/11/12, 10:50 AM
Known Unknown said...: This comment has been removed by the author.; 9/11/12, 10:53 AM
Patrick said...: You can't go wrong standing up to the teacher unions, but I hope they make more of a deal out of the fact Choom is MIA on this one.

Three words too long.; 9/11/12, 10:58 AM
Roman said...: In a school system where teacher pay averages $71,000 per year and 79% of eighth graders read below grade level, a strike rings a bit hollow to me.; 9/11/12, 11:28 AM
Michael K said...: Watch the street crime rate go up in Chicago now.; 9/11/12, 11:39 AM
Alex said...: We all know the American people are pro teacher unions.; 9/11/12, 12:04 PM
Peter said...: Teachers unions put Democratic big-city mayors in an impossible position. Their constituents are increasingly fed up with costly yet low-performing public schools, but it's hardly a secret that all too many Democrats have sold their souls to the public-sector unions.

Mayor Emmanuel's problem is that he's probably picked a fight he can't win. The CTU will prolong the strike until the pressure to settle becomes unbearable; then, Emmanuel to cave.

Which will probably wreck Emmanuel's political career (outside of Chicago, anyway). BUT he's going to get precious little support from his fellow Democrats.

BTW, according to the Chicago Tribune, these are the three big issues (which I'd summarize as, "We demand high pay/benefits with low accountability!"):

SALARIES AND BENEFITS. The district offered 16 percent increase over four years and "modified step increases that both reward experience and provide better incentives for mid-career teachers." The union said it's closer on pay but is still concerned about rising health care costs and other benefits. Teachers sought a substantial raise in the contract's first year because of the longer day and want to keep raises for experience.

JOB SECURITY. The union has pushed for a system to recall teachers who have been laid off when new openings occur. This has become important because of rumors the district plans to close up to 100 schools in coming years. The district says teachers displaced by school closings will be eligible for a job at new schools if there is a vacancy — or may elect to take a three-month severance.

TEACHER EVALUATIONS. The union wants to lower how much student performance contributes to evaluations. CPS has said the new evaluation system, created in collaboration with teachers, was negotiated and settled in March under state law.; 9/11/12, 12:29 PM
Anonymous said...: Wait, isn't the solution to this to blame Bush?

Am I right?; 9/11/12, 12:37 PM
Tyrone Slothrop said...: rhhardin said...

He's heading off the Obama-steps-in plan, something the democrats probably didn't anticipate.

Brilliant. I thought of the Obama-steps-in angle, but it didn't occur to me that Ryan's support for Emanuel could be anodyne. Perhaps now Chicago's overpaid teachers can accept their ridiculously generous raise and slink off into the sunset.; 9/11/12, 1:07 PM
Tyrone Slothrop said...: edutcher said...

You can't go wrong standing up to the teacher unions, but I hope they make more of a deal out of the fact Choom is MIA on this one.

Obama has been biding his time in order to foster the appearance that his eventual meddling is made reluctantly.; 9/11/12, 1:11 PM
prairie wind said...: Roll the Ed budget into NASA so that our budding rocket-scientists have a dream and a goal to shoot for.

Nope. Rocket scientists should work for private industry, too.

Wait, isn't the solution to this to blame Bush?

Bush and his NCLB is a big part of it.

I admire Bush for many reasons but TSA and NCLB are not in that list. I do not admire Obama one tiny little bit and his cutting spending on NASA doesn't change that.; 9/11/12, 1:35 PM
MadisonMan said...: they would be talking about shutting down the Department of Ed.

Do it.

Of course, that would lead to horrible unemployment among Education Policy PhDs, but the Country would benefit.; 9/11/12, 2:39 PM
Emil Blatz said...: It's a thing of beauty, like Sarah Palin's support for the idea that Biden be replaced with Hillary. Froze them in their tracks.; 9/11/12, 2:52 PM
jr565 said...: Matthew Sabisn wrote:

... you know what would be A-grade entertainment? Scott Walker calling up Rahm and offering his support and advice.

yes! This must be done. Pundits need to jump on this to show that the dems themselves are held hostage to the unions who are eminently unreasonable. And curtailing their excesses is in fact or should be a bipartisan excercise.
Either that or Rahman should be pitted against Obama over who has the correct position over how to deal with unions Obama or Rahm. If Obama sides with Rahm , then he nd Rahm are no better than Scott Walker. If Rahm gets thrown under the bus, then all the better. I would love to watch a bit of intercoms warfare within the democrat party.

Repubs - here's a lesson for you that you should take to heart- MAKE THEM LIVE UP TO THEIR OWN RULES.; 9/11/12, 3:07 PM
jr565 said...: This comment has been removed by the author.; 9/11/12, 3:10 PM
jr565 said...: Intercom should read internecine. F'cking autocorrect!

9/11/12 3:10 PM; 9/11/12, 3:11 PM
cold pizza said...: Part I:

When Rham faced a budget battle
There were students not too bright
There were teachers for our time
Who were promising to fight
They would stand up City Hall
As they marched both to and fro
And now they're marching to the call
To teach all Chicago!

We will strike for benefits and pay!
Cause we wants what we wants, and we wants it all today
We will strike for benefits and pay!
We gots to keep moving ahead, all the way, for benefits and pay!

-CP; 9/11/12, 3:13 PM
cold pizza said...: Part II:

They took on requirements
That caused the union folks to strike
Against city governments
With rules they did not like
Evaluations; cut the fat
(only metaphoric'ly)
And unions said they didn't like that
So a strike was destined be!

We will strike for benefits and pay!
Cause we wants what we wants, and we wants it all today
Oh no we can’t go back again.
We gots to keep moving ahead for benefits and pay!
Benefits and pay, our new reason for our strike!

we are proud of our benefits and pay
We can never, ever, never let it drop
We got to keep on and never stop

We will strike for benefits and pay!
And we're not going back! No Way!
We got to keep benefits and pay!

-CP

Wow. If you've got that tune stuck in your minds, I am really, REALLY sorry. What drek.; 9/11/12, 3:28 PM
Luke Lea said...: That video makes Walker look good. Maybe I should take another look.; 9/11/12, 7:30 PM