Unions Don’t Like Lincoln

Organized labor begins $1 million ad campaign against Blanche Lincoln

The Service Employees International Union will launch a series of television and radio ads taking Sen. Blanche Lincoln (D) to task for her record on trade, the leading edge of a seven-figure expenditure from the union in advance of her May 18 primary showdown against Lt. Gov Bill Halter.

Anybody still think Lincoln will win?

Uh oh

Two Razorbacks Arrested on Drug Charge

That’s not good. The two were David Gordon and Hunter Miller.

Democratic Primary Still Interesting

Good article summarizing the Democratic primary race for Senate: http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2010/04/23/democrat-lincoln-finds-voice-holds-tough-face-primary-challenge/

Now this, from the same article, is good news:

Statewide polling shows Lincoln trailing all of the Republicans vying for the Republican nomination but maintaining a large lead over Halter.

Let’s hope our GOP candidates continue to widen the gap.

Congrats to the Razorbacks

They destroyed Georgia today, and have just had a great week:

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – The No. 7 University of Arkansas baseball team extended its winning streak to 11 games with a 13-5 victory over Georgia Sunday afternoon at Baum Stadium.

Pay Your Taxes Yet?

Now I think taxes are important. Perhaps even patriotic.

But tax day hurts me a little more every year, because every year I learn a little more about how Washington wastes my money.

So pay your taxes, and be nice to the IRS, but remember where you want your tax dollars to go come November.

Hilarious: Halter Avoids “Democrat” Label

From the NY Times:

“I don’t want the simplistic labels to get in the way of what’s really going on here,” said Lt. Gov. Bill Halter, a Democrat whose primary challenge to Mrs. Lincoln has ignited enthusiasm among activists who want to purge the party of those they see as close to corporate interests and uncommitted to liberal causes. “I’m complicated. I doubt you would like it very much if someone put a one-word adjective to describe you.”

Yet the very definition of the Democratic label is being tested in the Senate race in Arkansas, which has emerged as one of the most divisive primaries among Democrats as the midterm elections get under way.

Yet if there is really any doubt that Halter is a liberal, just look later on in that same article:

Five of the nation’s largest labor unions pledged to spend at least $3 million on her defeat. MoveOn.org, a grass-roots liberal organization, and several left-leaning blogs endorsed Mr. Halter, helping to raise more than $2 million on his behalf in the last month.

Let’s just get one thing straight: MoveOn.org doesn’t endorse anyone but Democrats. You can’t hide from that.

Bill Halter and Blanche Lincoln: Fave Five

U.S. Senate candidate Gilbert Baker has discovered Democrats Blanche Lincoln and Bill Halter’s “Fave Fives” on their iPhones – see them here.

I’ll admit, this is pretty creative!

Lincoln’s Opposition to Student Loan Reform

Regardless of my opinion on student loan reform, it frustrates me every time I see unrelated issues tied together in the same bill. That’s why I was surprised to see that both Sen. Blanche Lincoln and Sen. Mark Pryor were opposed to the student reform provision of the recent health care bill – which passed the senate with both of our senators voting nay.

Well I was surprised, until I read this:

Lincoln and [Nebraska Senator] Nelson have been two of the biggest beneficiaries of campaign contributions from the student loan industry[.]

Click the link above for more details.

Arkansas and Mobile Tech

I came across this news story a few minutes ago:

Arkansas.gov Becomes the First State to Offer Mobile Payments for eGovernment Services

Before anything else, I just have to say, “Take that, California.” Seriously though, who expected our state to be the first to offer this? I’m sure in a year or two it will have expanded significantly, which is neat to think about – maybe soon we can fill out our federal tax returns on our iPhones! This is pretty good publicity for the state, as well as just being all around cool.

Education Standards – will Texas changes affect us?

It’s too bad about the early loss, but still, congrats to the Razorbacks for their season.

Here’s an weird story  – this lady in Little Rock was fired for being selected for jury duty. From a preschool. Who does that? After being brought to court, her employer decided to reinstate her.

In bigger news, let’s head south – to Texas – where there has been recent controversy about their statewide curriculum standards. This will probably affect Arkansas sooner or later. The Texas Board of Education has approved a new set of curriculum standards recently. There has been a lot of outcry over some of the changes.

I think the outcry is somewhat justified – some of the changes are just downright pitiful. Changing the wording of our political system from “democratic republic” to “constitutional republic” had better have a good basis in history and political science; otherwise, it just looks like an attempt to make Republicans look better.

Google some of the changes and let me know what you think (there are also links in the stories I linked to above). I’m really interested in seeing whether the changes made by the Texas SBOE will affect the textbook we use here.