I guess I liked
rising early better than I thought because here I am again at my desk at 6:15,
waiting for dark to turn to daylight. My body was tired of being in bed, achy.
Yesterday I heard from several people who said they love this hour of the day,
and I’m beginning to see why.
I am also
energized this morning by yesterday’s news. Yes, it was bad news for liberals
who value our country’s heritage and want to preserve it in the face of unrestrained
madness. The confirmation of Betsy DeVos is a tragedy for our country and our
educational system. Private charter schools, which she advocates, have been
shown to be discriminatory and generally academic failures. My grandchildren
are all (okay almost all) good student that come from academically achieving
backgrounds so mine is not a personal worry—it’s for the country, for the
thousands of children that we must help move to a high level of existence—better
jobs, etc. If we’d done a better job in the past, we might not face the current
administration. I don’t take Hilary’s “deplorables” lightly. I understand
students at the university where I worked so many years now sport “Make America
Great Again” caps and “I’m a deplorable” shirts.
I don’t remember
the details but I do recall that early on when DeVos was mentioned, I was more appalled
by her lack of knowledge of history and the way the world operates. She seemed
not to be a deep thinker. That bothers me as much as her unformed ideas on
education.
If I were Betsy
DeVos, there would have been little rejoicing last night. She must realize it
was a squeaky victory, and one that she owes to overly generous campaign
contributions and party loyalty rather than to any accomplishment, knowledge or
capability of her own. Go slow on that champagne, Betsy babe.
But look at the
challenge to her. I’ve waited years for the progressives in this country to
show the spark of life shown yesterday. Fifty—count them, 50—votes against
DeVos, mostly Democrats but a few Republicans who listened to their
consciences. Phones in DC rang off the wall as folks weighed in with opinions
mostly against this appointment. And this protest won’t stop here—it is a
rising tide. The man in the White House better learn to swim in rough water.
And then there’s
the Senate Majority Leader’s remarkable slap-down of Senator Elizabeth Warren.
During hearings on the appointment of Jeff Sessions, generally regarded as an
extreme racist, Senator Warren quote a dated letter from Coretta King and was
forbidden to speak again for breaking the rule against impugning someone’s
character. Pardon me, but if you can’t criticize why are they wasting our time
and money on these hearings? A sour-mouthed milquetoast like Mitch McConnell is
no match for the fiery and comitted Senator Warren. The difference between the
two is basic—she is committed to the good of ALL American people; he is
committed to the wealth and success of Mitch McConnell and maybe the Republican
Party. Watch out, Mitch—a lot of us are waiting to see you crash and burn.
My dander is up
this morning, and I find it energizing.
