Wednesday, January 9, 2013
UPDATE: Morning roundup: Sex, schools, guns
Posted by Max Brantley on Wed, Jan 9, 2013 at 6:52 AM
Odds ad ends.
* BEWARE SCHOOL REFORMERS: The Walton billionaires, having announced they are prepared to spend MORE than the billion or so they've already devoted to cramming their school agenda down the throats of American legislatures, are busy in Arkansas with front groups aplenty to push a coming roster of education bills. They've been working to line up support, though I've been somewhat surprised to hear of a little pushback. Gov. Mike Beebe, for one, questioned the wisdom of the Waltons' desired effective deregulation of charter schools (quasi-private schools supported with public money). And I also understand some mainstream corporate lobbyists also think Billionaire Boys Club lobbyist Luke Gordy and Co. might be pushing a little too hard (understandable that they'd be overbearing since they rented-to-own the relevant legislative committees.) Maybe, if we're lucky, the Waltons will pay a handsome sum to bring the famous Michelle Rhee in to tout "reform." And then maybe, in fairness, somebody will invite Dianne Ravitch to explain all that's wrong about Rhee and her test-centric view of education. Such as she did on her blog.
* STANDING UP TO THE GUN LOBBY: I won't hold my breath for similar to this NY Times report from New York:
Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo, pushing New York to become the first state to enact major new gun laws in the wake of the massacre in Newtown, Conn., plans on Wednesday to propose one of the country’s most restrictive bans on assault weapons.
You'll not tell it from Arkansas politicians like Tom Cotton and Tiny Tim Griffin of Traskwood and NRA camp follower Asa Hutchinson, but there ARE signs of a growing sentiment nationally for some sensible gun safety legislation, built on the bodies of slain children, sorry to say. Gabby Giffords' enlistment in the cause will be powerful, too. Note these Twitters from Public Policy Polling on a release coming today:
PublicPolicyPolling ‏@ppppolls
We're going to have new numbers on the NRA tomorrow...their image has declined a good bit since last month's press conferencePublicPolicyPolling ‏@ppppolls
Believe it or not our numbers tomorrow show there's not a whole lot of support for putting more guns in schools
UPDATE: Here are some of the details on that polling.
* SEX STING: Channel 4 reports a prostitution sting in Fort Smith nabbed a former city official.
Speaking of...
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Sheriff deputy arrested for prostitution deal
June 14, 2013A Garland County sheriff's deputy was arrested last night on a federal warrant for enticing an individual to engage in prostitution, the U.S. Attorney Conner Eldridge and the FBI just announced. /more/
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The NRA has Mark Pryor's back; Bloomberg group keeps up pressure
June 14, 2013The National Rifle Association will run 60-second radio ads over the next two weeks defending Sen. Mark Pryor against the ads from New York Mayor Mike Bloomberg criticizing Pryor for being weak on gun control. /more/
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Polling: Support for expanded background checks in Arkansas; Pryor hurt himself backing NRA.
May 29, 2013I've said before that this is counter-intuitive to the Arkansas politician. But here comes another poll that says Arkies aren't much different than the rest of the country. /more/
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The Bloomberg gun control campaign explained: Who cares if it hurts Mark Pryor?
May 28, 2013The New Republic has written at some length on the thinking behind the Michael Bloomberg gun control group, highly visible currently in Arkansas with ads pounding Sen. Mark Pryor for preventing a vote on a very modest piece of legislation on gun background checks, as the NRA demanded. /more/
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Guns and the governorship: Asa Hutchinson continues to front for NRA
May 17, 2013In for a penny .... Asa Hutchinson, the Republican gubernatorial candidate, seems happy to be indelibly branded as the NRA's front man on guns as the calendar rolls toward the May gubernatorial primary. /more/
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Has Arkansas deregulated guns or not?
May 8, 2013John Lyon of Stephens Media examines at some length today a simmering topic in the gun nut community that is of general interest. /more/
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High on the hog — and guns — open line
May 4, 2013Winners in the Hog Roast. Asa Hutchinson speaks to NRA. Gun nuts argue that open carry now legal in Arkansas. /more/
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Asa Hutchinson on the NRA speakers platform today
May 3, 2013Good to be associated with the extremists of the NRA? In Arkansas Republican circles, the answer is a big ja wohl! /more/
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The Tuesday night line
April 30, 2013The line is open. Final words: *WALTON ANNOUNCES NEW MONEY IN WAR ON EDUCATION: The Walton Foundation announced today an $8 million infusion into the school "reform" lobbying outfit headed by the controversial Michelle Rhee. /more/
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Mark Pryor: Stooge of the Night on Letterman show
April 27, 2013As several have noted, David Letterman made Mark Pryor his stooge of the night last night for his vote with the NRA to defeat legislation to expand gun purchase background checks to gun shows. /more/
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