CNN

hmm..michelle nobama wants to build support from the bottom up? well...nobody has a bigger bottom to start with!

Here we go...Hillary #2 is on her way!!

JR in PA...

If your grammar is any indication of your teaching ability, I can see why your district is failing.
.

PATC. That's funny. Sad and funny.

Appointees lie about their earnings. Admit guilt of income tax fraud. Don't pay their share. Conflict of interest. Come fresh to the White House from lobbying for the insurance industry. The honeymoon is definitely over.

PATC, you sound ignorant! At least Daschle paid his tax all 104,000 in back taxes and so too did the other guy. It is Cheney, Libby, Rove, bush, and all 177 GOP Reps in the House, and the 37 in the Senate who fail to pay theirs. Oh, I forgot, the GOP want to give 400 Billion in Tax cuts for the super rich and their wives who get hired to do jobs they aren't qualified for. Oh OBAMA is so educated and READY. The CHANGE we seek is up to us. END THE GOP once and for all!

More talk of expanding Education. More governement and less Main Street jobs, isn't this getting old already?

All I heard were several um's.

PATC,

Comments like yours is what we must stop. It shows your ignorance and apparently you may not have children in the public school system or don't have children period. This country MUST put education on its top priority or we will loose universally. We can not afford to see our children go down because of a broken system. In order for my kids to do well I have to roll up my sleeves and sit with them and help them. I can't afford the $50 – $60 per session that tutors charge in my area. We must support Mrs. Obama and the hard road ahead.

PATC – that was really uncalled for. Look at Bush handing out positions to friends and campaign contributors who had no qualifications for those positions in the first place. How about the Dept. of the Interior being run like a sequel "Animal House Goes To Washington". This country needs a better education program so that our children dont just compete but lead with new idea's, technology and new businesses. Our schools are nothing like they used to be and are cutting more programs. We lose!

So? CNN. All you need to do, is set up a Program for a Lady...
And she Did it all... All What?? This kind of crap goes on after every Election... But Barack Obama is still your Biggest Mistake America...

Perhaps this time the states won't cut more jobs and we can get back to teaching our children how to speak English correctly. Even the news journalists can't do that.

Thanks PATC for your lame and unnecessary commentary. Oh, and keep up the good work, you're doing an outstanding job of being highly critical of an administration that has done more in 11 days than ditto-head Bush did in a year.

Wow...I guess there will be bitter Republicans who just need to take issue with anything with the Obamas. PATC seems to have an issue with those who don't pay taxes, but seemingly supports tax cuts (which are designed to keep you people from paying taxes) and apparently supports that side that continually brings criminals into their cabinet.

I suppose some people have different tolerance levels.

Didn't take long for M. to start acting like she was voted into office did it?!?

After the last administration I imagine there is a lot of work to be done to fix the education system. Good luck, and get to work!!!

I am glad she is behind education, we need to make sure that all children get a good education.

The United States Educational system has been suffering for a long time. Schools are over-populated, teachers are under-paid, and the learing expectations are lowering. Education needs more funding and more attention. after all like Michelle Obama stated "We have to remember that the children of this country … are counting on us," Our country is ready for change and eager to make things better for the future of the kids. The FIrst family is putting in a team effort to help the country and show their concern toward a better America.They are sticking to thier promises so we should follow the example and do the same.(110)

It is interesting that the government and foundations continue funding instutions that have failed our children, their parents, and taxpayers.

It is past time that they fund an open curriculum, free to every citizen, downloadable via the Internet.

The money they spend on testing without having a free curriculum to prepare students for the test is laughable.

The Gates Foundation will not even consider a proposal from a group that has not already been given millions and failed.

Our government is intent on seeing students, and our economy, fail.

PATC, we all pay taxes and yes the Bush Administration had tax problems as well. That is why they wanted the tax break so they would not have t pay taxes. The job you had when Bush was president will be gone soon or if it has not left already. Education is in a mess. Bush said it correctly "No child left behind", he left them all behind. I guess you have forgotten that since Bush was in office for eight years where anything he wanted to do was alright. He never apologize for nothing and is not going to apologize for running this country as he ran all of his business that dad tried to help me succeed in, IN the Ground!!!

I agree with JR, our children have been left behind for the last eight years. Tomorrows leaders are in school right now. We owe it to ourselves to educate them well.

I'm all for people getting involved with the democratic process. Our voices should be heard. But taking swipes at the administration isn't going to fix the problem. That's just wasting more time when we all should be about the business of rebuilding our economy and protecting our natural resources.

THANK YOU FIRST LADY, AND PRESIDENT OBAMA.

WITH THE U.S. BEING #18, IN THE WORLD'S DEMOCRATIC SOCIETY'S-WE ARE TRULY TRAILING BEHIND.

BY THE WAY, "EDUCATION IS NOT A SPECIAL INTEREST" (AS THE REPUBLICANS HAVE CLAIMED) !

PATC: No, you can't work for the Education Department not because you paid taxes, but because you can't write three simple sentences without punctuation and capitalization errors. Here's the corrected version (study it closely so the next time you post your bitter comments, at least they'll be in proper English):

I am going to apply for a job with the Education Department. Wait, I paid taxes; therefore, I can't work for the Obama Administration. Oh, well, maybe next time.

Several family members are teachers and all have said the No Child Left Behind, while well-intentioned, has been a disaster the way it was written and implemented.

I trust the Obama Administration will truly listen to educators to help them succeed and in turn, help all of our children succeed.

Both Barack and Michelle Obama know first-hand the importance of a good education – and they also understand the hard work required by teachers and students.

I have very high hopes that things will get turned around for the better.

As a retired teacher who taught in the public schools for 40 years, I'm pleased to hear Mrs. Obama stress the importance of our public schools, and I don't think charter schools are the answer to our problems. Homes where education is valued would make a world of difference, and I know that Mrs. Obama was fortunate enough to live in such a home. I now live in Arizona where education is at the bottom of the legislature's list of priorities, and it's very sad to see. If the people of this state gave half as much support to our schools and educating our youth as they have to the Cardinal's football team, we wouldn't have this problem with school funding. Unfortunately they don't seem to realize that you get what you pay for!

to JR in PA
I guess then it was OK with you to leave children behind uneducated in urban schools???
I an an educator and love NCLB as I want NO CHILD LEFT BEHIND!!!

the bad teachers and corrupt school boards we seem unable to fire...yes, they can be left behind

I hope the republicans don't try to block these issues too. Since their new leader says bipartisanship is not a good thing. Our beautiful children cannot afford to wait for the great education they deserve, while Republicans pontificate for political gain with the far right of their party. America truly deserves better.

Good luck to us.

And I just wonder which schools will receive the $$$$ and what good it will do them!

I don't like her! I never did and never will...FAKE First Lady!

As NCLB demonstrated, the Fed Gov should not be involved in schooling.

Education is definitely one fed department that should be done away with.

Hey PATC.... Your so funny and so full of it

Like 'em or not. You have to give the Pres and his wife credit for getting out and working the crowd. Except for on the WEST WING (TV SHOW), when did a President ever go to Capital Hill and then try to work w/ the opposite party as hard as he has. Not in the "W" years.

My concern is that did he really know what was in the supposed STIMULUS package. I'm betting not much. I'm betting he was TRUSTING of the DEMS in "THE HOUSE" that they would do the right thing. I don't think he'll let that happen again.

I hope!

PATC,

That is so pathetic.........Bush's staff consisted of liars, perjurers, and those who were convicted of money laundering, etc.. You didn't hear about any tax problems because none of them were scrutinized as closely as those on the Obama team. And certain people in the media didn't expose their biases. Move along with that lame madness, we have a country to be concerned about.

PATC February 2nd, 2009 4:11 pm ET

I am going to apply for a job with the Education Department. Wait I paid taxes so I can't work for the Obama administration. Oh well maybe next time.
------------------------------
Do you even know how any of this stuff works? The comment is childish and makes no sense if you actually take the time to understand what our country is trying to do to begin climbing out of the hole Bush dug for us.

Please google 'if only americans knew'

The taxpayers pay people $130,000 a year to help parents decide which private school to send their children to. These positions are available through the US Dept of Education.

Here's how you fix the public schools. Eliminate every private school, every magnet school, every religious school, every charter school, every alternative school and every home school. Every child goes to public school.The schools would improve by noon tomorrow.
Merit pay? Give it to Wall Street. They can start at $28,000 a year,and earn more if the Dow picks up. I think you could get teachers to agree to a salary cap of $400,000.

PATC February 2nd, 2009 4:11 pm ET

I am going to apply for a job with the Education Department. Wait I paid taxes so I can't work for the Obama administration. Oh well maybe next time.

__________________________________

Because of people like .......... WE had Bush. NOW that we need to be 'together' to help the country .... you come along with your silly comments. Geeeee great help.

What do you do when nothing is Happening? You go through the Motions and Pretend.... Playing Politics with no Substance....
Three weeks of Dead-Stop... What a Leader!!

Yes I agree, I can not wait for a time when the defense department has to have bake sales to get funding.
The time is now, to fund education in America, education should be a lifetime journey, not just restricted to the young, but to everyone, in anytime of their life should have the right to go back and advance their education. An educated person is person who will achieve true freedom and liberty.
Kudos to the First lady.

Education is very important. When I read some of the comments on this blog I am amazed at the lack of knowledge some people demonstrate. They just repeat what people like Rush Limbaugh say. He is a man of limited education and he tries so hard to keep a fast majority of listeners ignorant like himself. A large proportion have no idea what the real issues are in Gaza. They have no clue about the history and make comments that are utterly incorrect. The US has supported Israel with billions. Do Americans really ask themselves where all their billions went. Previous presidents have been given a lot of money for their election campaigns by Israel so a lot of carrot had to be given back. Israel has infiltrated the US media and government. It is Israel that has been dictating what should happen in the US goverment for many years. President Obama received financial support from the American people. Maybe for once there will be an American Government in place that has not received bribery from anyone. Americans, open your eyes and check how Israel manipulates your goverments and other top businesses. It will be too late if you don't. Israel will bankrupt the US. Education is the way to learn and to find out facts and think for yourself. So invest in your education.

"Rarely is the question asked, is our children learning?" - George W. Bush, Florence, S.C., January 11, 2000

How can the government expand funding for anything because of the economic downturn? Mored Obamaian blathering...

You can teach them till the cows come home. Education begins at home. Its parents belief system that sets the foundation. No amount of education is going to change ebonics to civilized English ma'am. And the country only votes for one president at a time thank you very much. Get real. People all over the world come to America to get informal or formal education. Duh!

No child left behind was nothing compared to what’s to come. The Department of Education should be dismantled. The FDOE accounts for more waste in each school than any other single factor.

The FDOE is part of the reason our kids no longer know what it is to "Win" on school Olympic days. We don't need mediocrity and feelings taught to them. The raising and education of our children should be decided by the parents. That's why when we shop for a place to live, we consider schools as part of our decision.

I like Michelle and I think she will be a great first lady...

You can teach them till the cows come home. Education begins at home. Its parents belief system that sets the foundation. No amount of education is going to change ebonics to civilized English ma'am. And the country voted only votes for one president at a time thank you very much. Get real. People all over the world come to America to get informal or informal education. Duh!

get behind president obama to support the good of american people

our children and grandchildren is looking at what we do people working togeher GOP need to stop acting like children and do what
right

PATC you could deffinitely benefit from some education.

This is true( Chaos is gaining ground ) brought on by obama and his evil lies laced with honey.

Let's put an end to inertia my dear First Lady, because right under GWB's nose, the children of DC have been unflattering labeled semi-literate (if not worse). How can this be in the nation's capital? I guess burning money in Iraq was more important.

Our children are our future and it is important we all do our part to stop the train wreck some of them are experiencing in the schools, homes and neighborhoods.

TO PATC what a jerk!

People are selling their bodies at alarming rates in order to survive. This is not a joking and cowardly matter. The people of this country are facing foreclosures, bankruptcies, and other stress factors. While you remove these dollars, keep in mind that you will not need a stimulus bill to boost the economy, but a stimulus to bury the many people who will lose their lives because of the lack of support. You think Africa deserved a commercial, I hope we book airtime and missionaries from Russia and China for our sickly sooner than later. And to mention–having been working in Public Health for sometime these dollars keep people employed and services to keep people healthy. This is really unfair and I am so sick to my stomach to DEMS giving in. Grow some!

While the idea of "hunkering down" and preparing to work hard gives a sense of hope to thousands of teachers across America, with imminent job cuts looming over so many households, the rhetoric is sadly no comfort to those who bear the tremendous weight of the recession!

Michelle Obama says,

""roll up (their) sleeves" and prepare for "hard work" as the new administration seeks to expand education funding in the face of the economic downturn."

Hey Michelle – going to put your girls into the DC public schools?? Nahh didn't think so. You democrats always think MO' MONEY is the answer yet won't put YOUR kids in highest priced worst performing schools in American (DC Schools).

How about you tell Ba-rock to get vouchers approved and let us PARENTS decide the best education for our kids!

I am sooooooooooooooo proud of my first family. Good Luck Michelle

As a teacher in an urban school – who has seen No Child Left Behind crush the life out of true education – I beg all Americans to get behind the Obama adminstration's efforts to improve the lot of our youngest citizens.

We won't need terrorists to destroy our way of life if we don't better education our children; it will crumble from within.

HG Wells said that "Civilization is a race between education and chaos." Chaos is gaining ground. Please push our leaders to do more to help our children – and, therefore, America itself.

I am going to apply for a job with the Education Department. Wait I paid taxes so I can't work for the Obama administration. Oh well maybe next time.