President Obama Takes Aim at High Drop-out Rates in Schools,

From the New York Times:

President Obama pledged today to tackle the dropout rate of American high school students, calling it an economic imperative if the United States intends to remain competitive in the global society. We know that the success of every American will be tied more closely than ever before to the level of education that they achieve,” Mr. Obama said. “The jobs will go to the people with the knowledge and the skills to do them. It’s that simple.”

The president proposed giving $900 million in federal grants to states and school districts that agree to turn around – or, in some cases, close – the 2,000 schools across the country that produce more than half of the nation’s dropouts.

In a speech today at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, Mr. Obama made the announcement alongside former Secretary of State Colin Powell and his wife, Alma, who lead the America’s Promise Alliance, an advocacy group dedicated to turning around the epidemic of school dropouts. “In this kind of knowledge economy,” Mr. Obama said, “giving up on your education and dropping out of school means not only giving up on your future, but it’s also giving up on your family’s future and giving up on your country’s future.”

To qualify for the School Turnaround Grants, the school districts would need to agree to a series of criteria, including: firing the principal and at least half the staff; reopening as a charter school; close the school all together and transfer students to better schools in the district.

The $900 million grants, which must be approved by Congress, follows $3.5 billion included in last year’s economic stimulus plan that was aimed at helping boost the performance of schools.

The current situation with the high drop out rates is a catastrophe for our country. Principals and school administrators must be held accountable. Teacher effectiveness is an important issue that we must focus on,  but community involvement is also paramount and should factor into any solution to stem this disturbing trend. President Obama said 1.2 million students drop out of school before graduating from high school.

Antoinette Davis, Mother of Murdered Girl, Shaniya Davis, Released on $51,000 Bond

Antoinette Davis, mother of murdered girl, Shaniya Davis, recently released from jail on $51,000 bond.

Antoinette Davis, the mother of Shaniya Davis, 5, whose body was found along the side of a North Carolina road last November, has been released on $51,000 bond. She was charged with human trafficking in the disappearance of her daughter.

Davis was charged with filing a false police report, trafficking her daughter and child abuse involving prostitution. Mario McNeill has been charged with the girl’s murder, rape and kidnapping. According to a search warrant, McNeill picked up Shaniya in front of her home and drove her to a hotel where she was last seen alive.

Sorry, if it was up to me, this woman wouldn't see the outside of another prison for the rest of her life. The fact that her bond was low is a travesty. No decent mother would do to their child what Antoinette Davis did to her daughter.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi Says "A Bill Can be Bipartisan Without Bipartisan Votes"

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi tells Candy Crowley on State of the Union, "a bill can be bipartisan without bipartisan votes." Gives herself "A" for effort.

Our politicians never cease to amaze me. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) said on Sunday that Republicans have left their mark on the healthcare bill and they should accept that the bill will go forward. She put her foot in her mouth when she said, "They've had plenty of opportunity to make their voices heard," she said on CNN's "State of the Union" Sunday morning. "Bipartisanship is a two-way street. A bill can be bipartisan without bipartisan votes. Republicans have left their imprint." Sure Nancy, this sounds like the same sort of political hogwash we heard from Rep. Maxine Waters (D-CA) last week when she assailed Ben Bernanke over mortgage rates. Let me also add that Nancy Pelosi gave herself a grade of "A" when she was asked to grade the past year, while appearing on ABC News on Sunday.

Nancy Pelosi says she has the votes to get the legislation passed in the House, but House Republicans beg to differ. House Minority Whip Eric Cantor, (R-VA) a man I personally can't stand, predicted that up to 12 members will switch their votes over the abortion provisions in the bill. Majority Whip James Clyburn (D-SC) accused Cantor of "playing games." Er, both sides are playing games and taxpayers and voters, like you and I shouldn't put up with this. 

To read more about Nancy Pelosi's statements about the health care reform legislation passing in the House, CLICK HERE.

SHOCK: Baby Dies After Two Doctors Get into Fistfight in Over Caesarian Surgery in Ivinhema, Brazil

Baby dies after two doctors get into fistfight, while the mother, Gislaine de Matos Rodrigues, was in advanced labor in hospital in Brazil.

A baby died in Ivinhema, Brazil, after two doctors, one named Sinomar Ricardo, who were there to perform a caesarian on the mother, Gislaine de Matos Rodrigues, started a fistfight instead. Authorities are looking into whether the baby girl could have been saved had the fight not occurred. According to news reports, the mother was in advanced labor when she is said to have asked for the doctor who provided her with pre-natal care to deliver the baby. When the doctor on duty arrived to find another doctor in his place, the fight ensued.

According to the U.K. Telegraph, Gilberto Melo Cabreira, the woman's husband, said "It was a big fight. They ended up rolling around on the floor. And my wife was screaming for them to stop." Security guards had to intervene to break up the fight. Ninety minutes later, another doctor came and performed the surgery. Sadly, the baby was born dead. It will be interesting to see what the investigation uncovers. If the selfish actions of these two doctors caused the death of the baby, not only should they lose their medical licenses, but they should face criminal charges for negligence.

Adam Bradley, Mayor of White Plains, NY, Arrested in Domestic Assault on Wife Fumiko

Adam Bradley, mayor of White Plains, NY, charged with misdemeanor domestic violence against wife, Fumiko, for slamming the door on her finger.

 Adam Bradley, Democratic mayor of White Plains, NY, was charged with misdemeanor domestic assault on Sunday, after slamming a door on his wife, Fumiko Bradley's finger, the police said. According to the NY Daily News, after his arraignment in White Plains City Court, Bradley said, "This unfortunate matter will in no way affect my commitment to the important work I am doing for this great city." Really? Seems to me that a cloud of suspicion over domestic violence allegations should be enough to question his ability to perform his duties.

This is the latest, in a string of embarrassing incidents, dogging New York politicians. Bradley's wife told cops her left middle finger was injured Saturday night when her husband closed a door on her hand. She refused to publicly discuss the incident and told the Journal News that her husband is "a great mayor" and "a great father." "He put himself under a lot of pressure and I couldn't handle that, too," she added. Doesn't that sound like a victim trying to find a way to rationalize what her aggressor has done? Something led this woman to call the police and I hate to hear the aggressors try to paint a rosy picture, when all the while the truth is lurking in the background.

His next court appearance is scheduled for Friday. Bradley was elected mayor of White Plains last year.

Louis Farrakhan Predicts Trouble Ahead for President Obama at the Hands of the "White Right"

Nation of Islam leader Louis Farrakhan predicts trouble ahead for President Obama at the hands of the "white right." Says America will be struck by natural disaster.

Nation of Islam Minister Louis Farrakhan is predicting trouble ahead for President Barack Obama at the hands of the "white right." During his four-hour speech, entitled, "The Time and What Must Be Done," at the Saviour's Day event at the United Center in Chicago, he said they were conspiring to make Obama a one-term president and he cited his stalled efforts to introduce health care legislation as proof for his position.  He also said those opponents and lobbyists were "trapping him into a future war with Iran that could lead to mass destruction." Farrakhan urged President Obama to do more to improve the lives of blacks and the downtrodden.

This time, Farrakhan painted himself in a different light. He said, "the word prophet is too cheap a word. I am a light in the midst of darkness." He also added, "it ain't ego, it's my love for you." During the speech, he recounted a 1985 vision he had in Mexico. According to media reports, he has often described how he believes he was invited aboard an unidentified flying object he calls "the wheel" where he heard the late Nation of Islam leader Elijah Muhammad speak to him. He said that experience led him to inklings about future events, including the United States' 1986 bombing of Libya. He also called for the return of Jean-Bertrand Aristide, the former Haitian president now in exile.

Farrakhan recounted how his divine knowledge has allowed him to recognize countless warning signs over the years, such as natural disasters, including the 8.8 temblor that hit Chile on Saturday, and he said they indicate impending trouble, including for Obama. This is coming from the same person who said Michael Jackson was crucified. Right.

Okay. You can reach any conclusion you want. I think it is safe to say that President Obama has turned out not the be the "great uniter" many expected. Change didn't come in the way he wanted or envisioned. The reality is that it isn't all his fault. There is blame to go around for Democrats and Republicans alike. President Obama needs to get a backbone and stop trying to be everybody's friend. I will concede one point to Louis Farrakhan, President Obama needs to use his bully-pit, but not just for blacks, but for Main Street.

Curtis Mitchell, Dies During Snowstorm After 10 911 Calls Go Unheeded for Nearly 30 Hours

Curtis Mitchell, of Hazelwood, Pittsburgh, dies after waiting nearly 30 hours for paramedics to come to his home during snowstorms. He suffered excruciating stomach pains.

Curtis Mitchell, who lives in the Hazelwood section of Pittsburgh, was ignored by EMTs for 30 hours after the initial 911 call was placed. He reportedly told the 911 dispatcher that "entire stomach [was] in pain." Still, they did not come. His girlfriend, Sharon Edge, made the 10th 911 phone call nearly 30 hours later. At that stage he wasn't breathing and was cold to the touch, according to the Post-Gazette. She told the dispatchers at that time that they had been trying to get an ambulance over to the home for three days. When the paramedics finally arrived, it was too late. Curtis Mitchell, 50, died on February 7. This is horrific and the fact that city officials apologized to the woman is damning. They did not carry our their jobs are they were supposed to. This is a stark reminder of the fact that there are two systems at work in this country -- one for whites and one for blacks and Latinos. The excuse they are using is snow-covered roads, poor communications and a 911 center bombarded with more than double the average number of calls during the crippling snowstorms, all played a role in the decedent's long wait. Is this America or did this occur in a Third World country?

Ambulances were dispatched three times on Saturday, Feb. 6, to the couple's home in the 5100 block of narrow Chaplain Way, but couldn't get there because of the snow. Paramedics twice asked whether Mr. Mitchell could walk to an intersection, even after he told them that he could not because he was in too much pain. Emergency vehicles were within blocks of his home three times -- once so close Ms. Edge could see the ambulance lights from her porch -- but did not make contact with him. They finally reached the home on Sunday morning, Feb. 7, but Mr. Mitchell was already dead. Source: Post-Gazette

While we are in the throes of the worst economic conditions in decades, Main Street always bears the brunt. There is no reason why the paramedics weren't able to get to this man. It is unconscionable that it took them three days to get there. Additionally, they expected Mr. Mitchell to meet them at the intersection. That's just ridiculous and an insult. Why are we constantly dogged by faulty communications systems in this country?  According to the Post-Gazette, Ron Roth, medical director for the city's public safety department and Allegheny County's emergency operations center said, communications problems meant that each call was see as an individual request for help. Information gained on previous calls was not passed down during the next request. In essence, he said they made the same request over and over. Who's fault was that? Why couldn't they have walked to his house to determine the severity of his condition and make necessary arrangements to get him the medical assistance he needed?

The fact that this man, who has a history of pancreatitis, lost his life because the lack of action by the city is disgraceful. The initial call was tagged as a non-emergency call and was pushed down the list. The fact that this man lost his life due to a lack of response is no small matter. Pittsburgh has implemented a new plan of action. They will start dispatching firefighters as first responders on medical calls of the two highest grades of severity, according to the Post-Gazette. They will also do the same on calls of the third highest level that remained unanswered for more than 30 minutes. Firefighters were previously only called as first responders to the most severe incidents, the Post-Gazette says. No amount of money from a lawsuit will ever compensate for the anguish and shock Sharon Edge has suffered.