TITLE: Last of the year AUTHOR: archpundit DATE: 12/31/2002 - [Link] ----- BODY: Greg Freeman passed away today. 2003 will be less bright because of that. Remember to sign your organ donation cards and see StlToday.com for specific contributions you can make to honor his memory. -------- TITLE: How Bad Is It? AUTHOR: archpundit DATE: 12/31/2002 - [Link] ----- BODY: Even the business press is calling for more regulation.

Misery--Mississippi like a bullet. -------- TITLE: Sewer Dwelling AUTHOR: archpundit DATE: 12/31/2002 - [Link] ----- BODY: Here's a hint to MSD, when you are about to ask for a whole lot of cash from the public, at least have the decency to hide your incompetence until after the election -------- TITLE: Go Bikefed AUTHOR: archpundit DATE: 12/31/2002 - [Link] ----- BODY: Slow news day spreads the Good Word -------- TITLE: The problem is you are batty AUTHOR: archpundit DATE: 12/31/2002 - [Link] ----- BODY: Of the gadflys around town, Bill Haas has found a way to get the most attention and all in all that is fine. Susan Turk has the education beat covered well and does her job in making the world a more miserable place in which to attend public meetings and hear the same comment from 1997 made repeatedly like the first 50 or 200 times weren't enough. Metrolink Expansion has Aranza Winkelman who really out does other gadflys in the in sheer number of conspiracies she proposes exist. The dark and mysterious machinations eminating from Buzz Westfall and Mark Wrighton could lead a John Birch Member to think she was off her rocker. She also leads in the number of conspiracy theories directed at her personally. The beauty of a gadfly's gadfly like Haas, is that he understands he is a goofball at heart. When that understanding is lost all one has is the rantings of a deluded twit. -------- TITLE: Not too Surprising AUTHOR: archpundit DATE: 12/30/2002 - [Link] ----- BODY: But it is now official--Hilgemann and Moore are no longer a slate together. Apparently, Rochelle Moore was offended at a diversity program concerning gay rights. Given both have strong personalities this isn't too surprising. One hopes that it doesn't become an impediment to firing Hammonds. For a school board racked with racial division in the early '90s at least it has moved on to Homophobia in the '00s.

And Dave Drebes had an article in the most recent issue of the ACC concerning potential slates for the school board election.

One suggestion was to form a slate that would rally around Hammonds to win accreditation instead of scapegoating him. Keep the ACC in print only, Dave. If I had read that online I'd be cleaning my monitor off from the milk and Dad's cookies I got for Christmas.

Scapegoating Hammonds?

Ohhhh Dave. The ultimate problem with Hammonds is that if an administrator goes to him to complain about someone's performance--Hammonds tends to think the individual being complained about is being persecuted. This is not a healthy atmosphere for reform. Anyway, Cleve is pretty well resigned to retiring when his contract is up if not sooner. The only question left then is how quickly Chester Edmunds finds his personal belongings in a box.

The kicker is Hammonds and Purdy seem completely lost as to how to comply with Title I. Preliminary effects will hit next year and school shake-ups will follow the year after. There is no plan to institute scientifically demonstrated teaching techniques to meet the requirements. The system is heading for a disaster in many of the poorly performing schools--especially at the Middle and High School level if someone doesn't take serious action.

The announced potential candidates include

Vince Schoemehl and from the P-D on the 22nd:


Alice Bell, mother of 12, has been in line at the city Election Board since Dec. 12. Curtis Royston Sr. is holding a place for his son, Curtis Royston Jr.

Other potential candidates lining up in recent days were John Olesky, a history teacher at Mary Institute and St. Louis Country Day School; Peter Downs, editor of St. Louis Construction News and Review; Antonio French, a civic activist; Mark Harrington, a financial consultant for A.G. Edwards; and Yolanda Brown, a business manager for a union that represents bus drivers.


Hilgemann's group is leaning towards supporting Downs, French, Harrington and Brown. The Mayor's group meets January 4th to determine who they will be supporting.

Anyone would be better than the Gang of Four. The last time Purdy was useful was in bouncing out the Metro South racists. While most of these individuals look interesting, one has to wonder whether Antonio French has the committment given his paper's erratic publishing schedule and his rather limited understanding of city educational issues. His coverage of the Neighborhood Schools Act was quite simplistic.

Oh, and if say, anyone reading this wants to run, they can still sign up on Monday by giving the Mayor's group a call. -------- TITLE: Berger, Berger...DOH! AUTHOR: archpundit DATE: 12/30/2002 - [Link] ----- BODY: Berger is moving to light duty. But how will we know what the latest Country Day grad is doing for the summer? Oh, the horrors...I guess we'll have to rely on the Ladue News for our useless snooty news.

I mean, who will cover the VP Ball next year? They don't seem to have the recent column on the VP Ball up, but Tom Spencer had some comments on it here.

So how is it that such a 'liberal' paper promotes such a hack of the elite?

And what about Georgia's shingles? The agony of being wealthy... -------- TITLE: Back tomorrow AUTHOR: archpundit DATE: 12/23/2002 - [Link] ----- BODY: Between work, the holidays, mourning Joe Strummer, and family I haven't had much time. I should be back tomorrow. Jo Mannies had an interesting column concerning Blunt and Hulsoff's desires to be governor. Discuss and I'll have comments tomorrow. -------- TITLE: Where the hell is Archpundit? AUTHOR: archpundit DATE: 12/19/2002 - [Link] ----- BODY: Go here for an explanation. Back tomorrow or tomorrow night at the latest. Oh, and pass along any CofCC stories. -------- TITLE: Those who forget history are condemned to repeat it AUTHOR: archpundit DATE: 12/18/2002 - [Link] ----- BODY: In doing some back checking on the Council of Conservative Citizens I was reminded about a particular code word in St. Louis Politics. Why do I react so strongly to Tom Bauer's garbage? From March 7, 1991

In the letter, addressed to Fleischer, Jones said he found it difficult to continue taking part because of Mantia's recent endorsement of an ''anti-busing'' School Board slate known as Friends & Advocates of Neighborhood Schools. The slate, which seeks four seats on the St. Louis School Board, says it favors neighborhood schools but does not espouse racism. But it has been criticized for its ties to the Metro South Citizens Council, a group that has been accused of being racist and anti-Semitic.


One could claim this is just coincidence, but does anyone really believe Bauer isn't harkening back to the old Metro South Citizens Council? Given his racially tinged campaign against Darlene Green, his intentions are pretty clear. -------- TITLE: On the other blog AUTHOR: archpundit DATE: 12/16/2002 - [Link] ----- BODY: A bunch of stuff on the CofCC, Talent, the School Board and Ashcroft. -------- TITLE: I forgot AUTHOR: archpundit DATE: 12/16/2002 - [Link] ----- BODY: Props to Greg Gregali for signing a complaint against Irene Smith. It shows that not only is Bauer and idiot, but that at any given moment someone else can join him in stupidity.
-------- TITLE: Misery Business turns to Illinois AUTHOR: archpundit DATE: 12/16/2002 - [Link] ----- BODY: It seems the Biz Journal buried the lede. The highlight of the story is how one state has a dedicated source of funds for the infrastructure, while the other one pleads with Kit Bond. -------- TITLE: Hell if I know AUTHOR: archpundit DATE: 12/16/2002 - [Link] ----- BODY: what happened, but obviously the page is back up. -------- TITLE: Berger, Berger, Berger AUTHOR: archpundit DATE: 12/16/2002 - [Link] ----- BODY: Always entertaining today we learn:

Nelly is thinking of moving to the hard streets of Clayton.

And corporate lackey Dick Fleming is considered too Democratic to Misery Republicans.

I checked and this wasn't a late April Fools edition.

In the category of Archpundit finding something nice to say about Misery Republicans, Catherine Hanaway takes on Kinder:

AD INFINITEM: It did not take long for the philosophical differences between two of the state's most powerful, and dissimilar, Republicans, House Speaker Catherine Hanaway and Senate Prez Peter Kinder, to begin to surface. At a recent meeting of the Missouri Public Higher Education Trustee Forum, Kinder told the educators that state funding given to elementary and secondary education was the cause of a major funding crunch for the state's public colleges and universities. Hanaway retorted that building a wedge between schools and colleges "is not productive for a higher education discussion as a whole." The duo, both very ambitious, could be rivals for the GOP gubernatorial nomination in 2004.


The urban-r'ral divide begins for the Republicans. Congrats and have fun with it. -------- TITLE: I haven't read the P-D Editorial Page for three days AUTHOR: archpundit DATE: 12/16/2002 - [Link] ----- BODY: and today's reminds me why. The quote of the editorial is:


This would represent a massive change from the state's historic antipathy toward planning. Yes, the Brookings Report was done by "outsiders" (though the Brookings Institution was created by St. Louis businessman and educator Robert S. Brookings), but fresh eyes can bring new perspective.


Ummm...that report is as stale as the water mosquitos hang out in. There is nothing new in the report and most of it could have been culled from any report on St. Louis in the last 20 years. The problem isn't what is in the report, the problem is the governing capacity of the state and St. Louis region. -------- TITLE: East St. Louis Follies AUTHOR: archpundit DATE: 12/16/2002 - [Link] ----- BODY: Today's P-D has a story on the languishing efforts to redo the East Saint Louis Riverfront. The odd thing about this deal is there is a great deal of research and a committment from topflight urban developers to work on the area. The Park might have been nice, but it is looking like there might be other plans in the works. While there is a lot of despair in East Saint Louis, this is a strange piece given recent very positive developments. -------- TITLE: The School Problem AUTHOR: archpundit DATE: 12/16/2002 - [Link] ----- BODY: Mark Wil, ahhh, Virvus takes on the problem with the SLPS elections. Unless a Board committed to change is elected, nothing will change. Amen. -------- TITLE: Self-Referencing AUTHOR: archpundit DATE: 12/16/2002 - [Link] ----- BODY: Yo Alvin! Isn't quoting oneself a little weird?

Among them was American City editor Alvin A. Reid. His parting words on election night, while admittedly trying to just cheer himself up for a long drive home from the Chase Park Plaza, were "I'm not worried. They'll find a way to (mess) it up."
-------- TITLE: What kind of Fruitcake would give Gordon Lee Baum a show? AUTHOR: archpundit DATE: 12/16/2002 - [Link] ----- BODY: This kind. A few out of the area folks asked what kind of radio station would give the CofCC a radio show and I think this article sums it up pretty well. The same kind that would give Lizz Brown a show. -------- TITLE: Cheeky line Award AUTHOR: archpundit DATE: 12/16/2002 - [Link] ----- BODY: From aforementioned puff piece:


And, as Jamboretz notes: "Women like watching other women." -------- TITLE: And Remember Death Is Not an Option AUTHOR: archpundit DATE: 12/16/2002 - [Link] ----- BODY: Watching Channel 11 News or Reading a puff piece about how cute the anchors are -------- TITLE: CoCC Radio AUTHOR: archpundit DATE: 12/16/2002 - [Link] ----- BODY: Alas, my hopes were dashed. Primarly Gordon Lee Baum and Earl Holt III were relegated to whining about how Lott isn't nearly as conservative as a people think. Though Baum did mention that he had visited Lott's office before he was majority leader. Apparently Baum made an appearance of Fox News last night...did anyone catch that? Otherwise, an unpleasant evening of race-baiting.

The South St. Louis accent is too much on that clown. But he has the nerve to whine about African-American speech. I'll be linking to the photos of the CofCC protests at some point this week. If you want evidence of lead poisoning.... -------- TITLE: Who am I, Why am I here? AUTHOR: archpundit DATE: 12/15/2002 - [Link] ----- BODY: Traffic here has upticked lately so I thought I'd do a quick post describing the site. The primary blog is Archpundit. There, I cover national, international, and state politics, especially Illinois. Additionally, I hope to blog more frequently on welfare, the environment and education policy. I also have a weakness for wingnuts similar to Scoobie Davis' enjoyment of Jack Chick. This interest has suffered with my wife's growing concern that either I will fall prey to Trinity Broadcasting Network and Jack Van Impe or our children will.

I have a second blog that I write that concerns itself exclusively with the Saint Louis region and Missouri that I have named Blog Saint Louis (link to the opposite site at the top of the blogroll). Blog Saint Louis is heavy on local politics and I have separated the two. First, many of the people I know who read Blog Saint Louis aren't terribly interested in my views on national politics, at least on a daily basis. Second, many intereted in this blog aren't interested in the minutia of Sa
int Louis politics. From time to time I do double post to both sites.

What are my views? I'm a liberal, though not always a predictable one. I also hate cliches unless I write them. I believe government can have an important role in providing opportunities to all. This is certainly true of my life in which I have benefited from free public education and access to a small liberal arts college largely available to me because of federal assistance. I'm also a strong advocate of using markets to make government intervention as efficient as possible.

Now, who the hell am I? Well, I blog anonymously for a couple reasons. One, it allows me plausible deniability at work. Anyone who reads these blogs from Saint Louis can probably figure out who I am pretty quickly, so let's not confirm my employer's suspicions. Second, my work does involve working on some projects related to local St. Louis politics and by blogging anonymously I don't have to concern myself with whether a project will be endangered by a snarky comment.

A bunch of people have requested specific topics and I'm hoping to oblige in the next couple weeks. For the next week I hope to spend some time discussing the 2004 Illinois Senate Race and go into some detail of the challengers. Work is heavy, so there will be some erratic posting, but keep checking in. In addition to that topic, I hope to return to some big picture issues the 2002 elections raise.

On a final note, those of you sick of Blogger and Blogspot, consider Blogstudio. For only $15/yr you receive more functions and far fewer down times. It is available free as well minus a couple features like comments and RSS feed (feel free to access mine for other sites if you so wish--Blog Saint Louis is on stlouist.com). Stats are apparently coming. After starting with Blogger I have found Blogstudio to be a huge improvement and quite easy to use if you want a simple web interface. It also works better with Mozilla and Netscape.

Oh, and feel free to correct my spelling. After getting Blagojevich correct most of my time blogging I was notified I was spelling Hynes incorrectly. I'm fully capable of being an idiot. -------- TITLE: Weigert's plea AUTHOR: archpundit DATE: 12/12/2002 - [Link] ----- BODY: Why the SLPOA elects this clown is beyond me. John Johnson is a far more effective advocate. However, today Gary Weigert criticizes a civilian review board for the police department.

Frankly, most of it is code for black alderman and community activists are bad and spends only the last few paragraphs making an argument against the actual proposal.

Light blogging, back tomorrow. Archpundit has a cold and feels like crap. -------- TITLE: Town Talk II: Clean Air at a School, Bah Humbug AUTHOR: archpundit DATE: 12/10/2002 - [Link] ----- BODY:

Better placement, please

WHY WOULD THE Environmental Protection Agency put a clean air monitor at a school that is about 100 feet from one of the busiest intersections in South St. Louis?Gravois, Pennsylvania and Arsenal? There are two-way stop signs there. They also have an air monitor at Tesson Ferry and Lindbergh, which is something else. What are they looking for? High readings?


I have an idea. -------- TITLE: Town Talk AUTHOR: archpundit DATE: 12/10/2002 - [Link] ----- BODY: What City do you live in:

Next November?..

WHEN THE NEXT election rolls around I am not voting for anybody running for public office who doesn't favor lowering the

boom on those dreadful speed traps. That's for sure.


Never mind that next November won't have any city elections, but where in the city is there a dreadful speed trap? -------- TITLE: Alternative Schools AUTHOR: archpundit DATE: 12/10/2002 - [Link] ----- BODY: One element coming out of the SLPS student conduct task force is the creation of an alternative elementary school for students with behavior problems. For those who watch the Board this idea has been floated repeatedly back when John Mahoney was on the Board. He also was pushing for an increase in the number of such schools for older children, but ran into resistance from neighborhoods.

It is interesting that more column inches were devoted to uniforms though. -------- TITLE: Many Thanks to Tom Bauer AUTHOR: archpundit DATE: 12/10/2002 - [Link] ----- BODY: Never one to let sleeping dogs lie, my favorite Alderman Tom Bauer is the one who filed a police complaint against Irene Smith for public urination.

So now we get more publicity for the event with Alderman speculating as to whether they know what she actually did with the bucket.

Thanks Tom! Thanks a lot! -------- TITLE: So what do they do right AUTHOR: archpundit DATE: 12/10/2002 - [Link] ----- BODY: From Berger:


CALL US: Some of the people with disabilities who depend on Bi-State's Call-a-Ride for transportation to doctors' offices, stores and workplaces have complained for years that the program is unreliable. A report recently released by Bi-State auditors Charles Middlebrooks and Alma Bright may explain the complaints. According to the auditors, the Call-a-Ride program has had significant trouble keeping track of its own financial documents, cash, customer reservations, computers and drivers.


I mean, what do they keep track of and can I get on the payroll? Clearly, I won't have to do any work. I guess getting paid might be random event, but hey! -------- TITLE: Leave No Child in the City AUTHOR: archpundit DATE: 12/10/2002 - [Link] ----- BODY: For locals the notion that interdistrict school choice will solve the problems with inner-city districts should draw laughs. The Department of Education is pushing for interdistrict choice for failing schools.

How unserious the administration is about these issues should be apparent in there is no money for interdistrict transfers and the good people of Saint Louis know exactly how expensive such transfers are. I would argue they are a good use of money in many cases, but given the largest example of public school choice has done nothing to improve the education of the kids not in the program, one has to wonder why one would expect this to work or how it would be paid for in most states.


Double posted at archpundit -------- TITLE: Budget, budget and more budget AUTHOR: archpundit DATE: 12/09/2002 - [Link] ----- BODY: Demonstrating once again, that one local opinion page provides excellent analysis of Misery problems, this week's Business Journal offers specific institutional mechanisms to deal with state's fiscal problems.

What is striking about the editorial is that it isn't tax phobic, and it is actually calling for Missouri to allow for more revenue (read tax receipt) growth. The allergic reaction to taxes is more and more becoming an element of faith amongst Republican grass roots activists more than it is for big business. -------- TITLE: Enablers AUTHOR: archpundit DATE: 12/09/2002 - [Link] ----- BODY: The Post-Dispatch decides codependency is better than tough love.

The Leave No Child Behind Act is riddled with problems. I think it was a mistake in several areas. However, the flaws of the LNCBA do not justify any more excuses for poorly performing school districts. The SLPS didn't get its act together before and if it takes this sort of rigid response from the federal government to give them a kick in the ass, that is better than excusing pedagogical incompetence and managerial malpractice that plagues the SLPS. The Post-Dispatch, in its reactionary style to anything the Bush administration does, is not attacking the real problem here: the SLPS. Keep your eyes on the ball and push for reform. -------- TITLE: Berger, Berger, Berger AUTHOR: archpundit DATE: 12/09/2002 - [Link] ----- BODY: Cool beans, Berger reports:


PIN MONEY: When you stop and think about it, the niftiest reuse of a boxy former carpet store would be as a bowling alley. The same flat surfaces that displayed acres of floor coverings would make great lanes. At least, that's the opinion of ingenious Joe Edwards, who has bought the former Colonial Carpet store at 6191 Delmar Boulevard and plans to turn it into a retro-style, eight-lane bowling alley and eatery.


Anyone who has ever been to Southport Lanes and Billiards in Chicago understand how cool this can be. Joe Edwards for Benevolent Dictator! -------- TITLE: Tuition Refunds AUTHOR: archpundit DATE: 12/09/2002 - [Link] ----- BODY: Not surprisingly, the State of Missouri is going to get screwed because of its own stupidity. A Saint Louis county judge has found the obvious, that charging tuition and calling it a fee, is still charging tuition and thus, illegal under a state law requiring tuition to be free to Missouri residents. Assuming significant compensation is ordered, this will hurt the Missouri university system even more. There was a simple way to avoid the problem, but Missouri chose not to take it. Repeal the law. That there hasn't been a chorus pointing out how dumb the law is says a lot about Missouri's political situation.

Everyone should have the opportunity to attend college if they demonstrate the intellectual ability. That does not mean those who can pay, shouldn't. When a student can't afford college, the state should assist, but education is an investment and there should be a shared cost to its provision. -------- TITLE: African-Americans and the GOP AUTHOR: archpundit DATE: 12/09/2002 - [Link] ----- BODY: After this last cycle and ~90% support of African Americans for Democratic candidates, the typical handwringing over such high levels of support took place. I absolutely believe Republicans competing for African-American votes is a good thing for African-Americans and the country as a whole. I just don't buy it. Why not?

Duh. Add to it Sonny Perdue and the Confederate Flag and Ronnie White or any other stupid move and every time the Republicans make a step forward, they take a step backward. Not two steps backward, mind you. They are not trying to roll back integration or other blatantly racist policies, but they just can't connnect. -------- TITLE: Callow, Callow, Callow AUTHOR: archpundit DATE: 12/06/2002 - [Link] ----- BODY: Most searched for term bringing people to Blog Saint Louis.

Richard Callow.

Either Richard has too much time on his hand, or some folks need to get a life. -------- TITLE: Pitting DESE against Higher Ed AUTHOR: archpundit DATE: 12/06/2002 - [Link] ----- BODY: Never to be one to see the forest through the trees, Peter Kinder is suggesting the cuts in higher education are the fault of the Bobster because he wanted to increase k-12 education.

New State Motto
Passing Mississippi like a bullet....but the wrong way.

Tunica, here we come -------- TITLE: Vashon Shipping Students to Roosevelt? AUTHOR: archpundit DATE: 12/06/2002 - [Link] ----- BODY: The reports that Jennifer Florida has accused the SLPS of dumping students from Vashon at Roosevelt. Any evidence out there? This isn't the first I've heard of it, but is there any reason to believe this is true?

Given this charge appeared on Collateral Damage, I'm hoping DJ Wilson follows up in his column. -------- TITLE: How to score the contest AUTHOR: archpundit DATE: 12/06/2002 - [Link] ----- BODY: Any ideas how to score the number of populist moves our Attorney General and State Auditor can make in positioning themselves for a challenge on the Bobster? -------- TITLE: IQ Tests first AUTHOR: archpundit DATE: 12/06/2002 - [Link] ----- BODY: Before I worry about whether someone wears a dress or not, I'd be a lot more concerned with the stupidity of parents without more significant concerns. -------- TITLE: Econ 101 AUTHOR: archpundit DATE: 12/06/2002 - [Link] ----- BODY: I don't have strong opinions on the Convention Hotel sale. It seems to me with some negotiation the process is working like it should and the city will benefit.

However, this is a ludicrous statement:
Green also said fee structures submitted by the firms differed greatly and could not be compared side by side. The fees also are negotiable and only a starting point for brokering a deal, she said. The fees would be paid by the investor, not the city.


The investor is going to pay a total amount and the fees come out of that. If fees go up, the take home price for the city goes down. It is silly to say otherwise. And if the fee structures can't be compared by the Comptroller, she needs to find someone who can figure it out. Overall Green deserves credit, but what are probably off-hand statements are a little disconcerting for the chief financial officer of the city to be saying. -------- TITLE: The Shame of it AUTHOR: archpundit DATE: 12/05/2002 - [Link] ----- BODY: Vashon has more effort over the last many years for its basketball team than it does its curriculum.

Perhaps Purdy is puzzled about this too?

I'm stunned that a paper that tries to sell itself as a muckraking source of news doesn't bother to point out the ridiculous difference between the concern over a few kids athletic ability and the overwhelming number of kids with poor intellectual ability. -------- TITLE: He was serious, who knew? AUTHOR: archpundit DATE: 12/05/2002 - [Link] ----- BODY: Shrewsbury is operating in a fair manner with African-Americans. Who knew? One could chalk it up to a cynical calculation to avoid a serious challenger, but who cares? Fair is fair. -------- TITLE: We don't know AUTHOR: archpundit DATE: 12/05/2002 - [Link] ----- BODY: Pretty much sums up the SLPS's reaction to the Leave No Child Behind Act. Nice.

The Cleve and Bill Purdy don't know what to do about schools that don't meet improvement standards. They are terribly concerned about what to do with students who are allowed to transfer. Purdy is puzzled? WTF?

Call me wacky, but wouldn't one option be don't allow the sanctions to kick in? IOW, improve the schools?

The Leave No Child Behind Act is a friggen joke. Unfortunately, such bad legislation passed because of even worse local leadership in many urban and rural communities. When this fiasco hits, there will by the typical handwringing by local media including the Post-Dispatch and the American. But why haven't they been pushing for the ouster of these morons for the last several years?

Why haven't the citizens demanded a school board that has a clue? -------- TITLE: I got nothing AUTHOR: archpundit DATE: 12/05/2002 - [Link] ----- BODY: For this. -------- TITLE: When Good Science Policy Meets Good Regional Development AUTHOR: archpundit DATE: 12/05/2002 - [Link] ----- BODY: Linda Tucci informs us that there is a movement to move a Federal Research Institute on Agriculture to Saint Louis.

Such an institute has the distinct advantage of removing the pork ridden former process and concentrate research dollars in the best institutions and not the institutions that are best supported in the states. Other advantages of a St. Louis location is the closeness to Champaign and the U of I's excellent agricultural science departments.


So if we have to put up with Jim Talent, can we at least get this? -------- TITLE: Aldermanic Filings & Two Endorsements AUTHOR: archpundit DATE: 12/03/2002 - [Link] ----- BODY: And an early endorsement. Filings for Aldermanic Primaries opened yesterday.

And already two endorsements for the primary races.

First, Chris Thomas is an energetic and capable young man. He is warmly endorsed for the new 10th Ward. He has been a selfless volunteer for city issues and will bring a fresh outlook to the Board of Alderman.

Second, I don't know anything about Roger Jamison except that he is running against Tom Bauer. That is all I need to know. Unless another candidate enters the Democratic field, vote for Jamison. -------- TITLE: Slow News Day AUTHOR: archpundit DATE: 12/03/2002 - [Link] ----- BODY: But Amiel Cueto never fails to amuse me. -------- TITLE: Let Me Recommend AUTHOR: archpundit DATE: 12/02/2002 - [Link] ----- BODY: Again, the Arch City Chronicle and its series on the upcoming Aldermanic races. No content online so you actually have to subscribe to it and have it delivered by mail. -------- TITLE: Flood Plain Wallowing AUTHOR: archpundit DATE: 12/02/2002 - [Link] ----- BODY: The RFT reports on the efforts to preserve the Saint Charles County floodplains. A pretty typical piece that is amuses one as they read the assanine arguments trying to defend flood plain development.

Journalists aren't trained to spot the real interesting aspects of economics though. When they report they often miss the most important element of their stories. In this case the reporter states:

All told, duck clubs consume about 25,000 acres of St. Charles County floodplain, nearly half of the proposed wildlife refuge. Musick can't recall what he paid when he bought into his first club back in 1985 -- he guesses something less than $1,000 per acre. Now, an acre in the same area goes for between $3,000 and $4,000, even though it's prone to flooding.


Think about this. Land has quadrupled in value, but is prone to natural disasters. Why would one invest in such a risk? Who would insure structures on such land? Private insurers? ROTLFMAO. Yeah, right.

The only logical explanation of the increase in value of that land is that people aren't forced to bear the burden of the natural risks present.
-------- TITLE: Yeah, Jaco got a raw deal, but... AUTHOR: archpundit DATE: 12/02/2002 - [Link] ----- BODY: his complaint is that talk radio dumb downs public discussions. Gee, that is news at 11. In what business does Jaco think he works? -------- TITLE: Things that Government does to make a liberal shudder AUTHOR: archpundit DATE: 12/02/2002 - [Link] ----- BODY: The Fifth Amendment (and incorporated by the Fourteenth Amendment:
No person shall be held to answer for a capital, or otherwise infamous crime, unless on a presentment or indictment of a grand jury, except in cases arising in the land or naval forces, or in the militia, when in actual service in time of war or public danger; nor shall any person be subject for the same offense to be twice put in jeopardy of life or limb; nor shall be compelled in any criminal case to be a witness against himself, nor be deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor shall private property be taken for public use, without just compensation.


Why am I citing the Fifth Amendment? Because the government makes really stupid arguments sometimes and this is one of the most inane. When the Katy Trail was under construction some property had to be taken by the government and landholders paid for that taking. Fair enough as far as that goes. But the State of Misery decided that the landholders only deserved 1/2 of the value because it was landholders could still use the land.

Of course, the point of the Fifth Amendment was to ensure that government respected property rights. If one has a property right one can control the use of that property, but not absolutely. When one is allowed to use a public facility they are allowed to by their standing as an individual who is a citizen. By this logic, every highway project would only have to pay for 1/2 the land taken. That is absurd and I can't believe tax dollars were spent on this in court.


-------- TITLE: Of TIFs and poor editorial pages AUTHOR: archpundit DATE: 12/02/2002 - [Link] ----- BODY: The greatest problem with tax credits for businesses is that all businesses come to expect them. The Post-Dispatch has a somewhat thoughtful discussion on incentives, but then completely drops the ball.

One could hope the the local monopoloy daily might take an interest in a complicated government and financial issue. They call for reform and then endorse a general approach. Good enough so far. Then they drop the ball in the last paragraph:


Towns like Webster Groves also oppose reform. Webster Groves Mayor Gerry Welch notes that even middle-class suburbs can have decrepit properties. She says that Webster used tax incentives to turn an old factory into stores, offices and a parking garage in its business district. Perhaps some small exceptions can be allowed for small pockets of genuine blight in generally affluent towns like Webster Groves, but the loophole should be tiny and the definitions stringent. Major subsidies should be limited to truly distressed communities.


What would this exception look like? I have no idea and avoiding the issue does not further the public discussion. -------- TITLE: Share Responsibility? ROTFL AUTHOR: archpundit DATE: 11/27/2002 - [Link] ----- BODY: Mike Wolff is a good Supreme Court Justiceand he has a great idea. It isn't going anywhere. Actually, it should since it would lessen concerns of conservatives about venue shopping in liability cases.


What is amazing about the state West of Skinker is that there is no concern over the burdens placed on a city that maintains a high proportion of the state's povery stricken population or those others who live there.

The recurrent argument in the region is that there is too much fragmentation. Is this necessarily the case though? Certainly some consolidation in Saint Louis County would be helpful. But in the City of Saint Louis it would seem to me four or five municipalities could easily be carved out with some real benefits. If North Saint Louis was its own community, wouldn't the state have to take more responsibility for the concentration of poverty? Wouldn't 5 smaller communities have a better time refusing more high density low-income housing--meaning such developments would have to be spread out further?

-------- TITLE: Still trying to sell a story that didn't happen AUTHOR: archpundit DATE: 11/27/2002 - [Link] ----- BODY: Despite any evidence that African-Americans stayed home or voted for Jim Talent, Sylvester Brown is trying to sell the story that there is a great groundswell of African-American support for Republicans.

Brown can complain all he wants, but despite African-American support for vouchers, African-Americans have been voting more and more for Democrats over time. Are the 90%+ numbers likely to continue? Probably not, if for no other reason than it is hard to keep them that high. But there is no evidence of significant support of black support for Democrats locally or nationally. None. Over time the Republican share of black votes nationwide has been declining. Despite the loud voices of a few African-American media types like Lizz and Sylvester, there simply is no indication of increasing interest in Republicans by African-Americans.

Brown and others have a condescending reply to this that voters are being fooled. While I like that line of reasoning when I try and explain how George Bush ever got elected, it is an obnoxious response assuming voters are too stupid to know their own iterests. I'm sure many black voters are annoyed with what they see as being taken for granted. The problem is that with two parties the other party isn't even doing that.

Don't get me wrong, there is a lot of evidence that voters have almost zero political knowledge. Forty years of research into public opinion demosntrates widespread ignorance of issues and positions. But, ultimately, people seem to sort out their interests somehow.

It would be great if Republicans started to pay attention to African-American interests, but that isn't likely to occur. Republicans don't think they can get those votes and thus, don't make serious attempts for those votes. -------- TITLE: I bet McCollough Charges this Kinloch Cop AUTHOR: archpundit DATE: 11/27/2002 - [Link] ----- BODY: So maybe I've missed it, but I've yet to see charges being filed against the former chief of police for Kinloch. For those who might not remember, he pulled over a man, accidentally shot him, and when the victim drove away, the former chief chased after him firing at the victim's vehicle. Has anyone heard of charges being filed?

McCollough won't be avoiding charges againt this former Kinloch reserve officer -------- TITLE: Using a hammer on a thumb tack AUTHOR: archpundit DATE: 11/27/2002 - [Link] ----- BODY: Who knew Eeny . . . meeny . . . miny . . . moe had a racist origin? I certainly didn't, but learning makes us better people.

University City seems to have taken the appropriate action once it figured out that the objection to the use of the rhyme wasn't superfluous, but a real historical association and is reprinting town calendars to remove what was seen as objectionable.

Never one to take the subtle approach, Saint Louis' own Anthony Shahid made an appearance at University City Hall:

Employees dissatisfied with the city's initial reaction complained to St. Louis black activist Anthony Shahid about the calendar. Shahid said he received about 15 calls between Monday and Wednesday and was finally able to visit City Hall on Friday.

Shahid also met late Monday afternoon with the city's mayor and City Council. He was dressed in a Ku Klux Klan robe and hood and demanded that Duggan and her staff be fired.


I always wondered what it would take for me to think Al Sharpton is reasonable. Who knew Anthony Shahid would make the point? -------- TITLE: Taxi to School AUTHOR: archpundit DATE: 11/26/2002 - [Link] ----- BODY: Has anyone heard the new version of Yellow Taxicab by the Counting Crows? It is quite good and it provides an excellent segueway into my post. Remember the whining and carping about some of the VITP students taking taxis to and from extracurricular activities? It appears that now Chicago will be using taxis to reduce their transportation costs.

A significant issue for school choice, whether public or private, is how do you create a market when geography is a limiting factor. Any reasonable system will have to figure out how to get kids from one place to another and do it at a reasonable price. With the Leave No Child Behind Act kicking in and requirements for districts to provide school choice, this cost is going to be significant to say the least. This is just another aspect of small federal government, big state government unfunded mandates. -------- TITLE: light blogging AUTHOR: archpundit DATE: 11/25/2002 - [Link] ----- BODY: for the day. More tonight. -------- TITLE: Pots and Kettles AUTHOR: archpundit DATE: 11/25/2002 - [Link] ----- BODY: My favorite Alderman is back. Tom Bauer is introducing a bill to keep the city charter the same in hopes of discouraging Charter Reform. Sound familiar?

It should. It was a tactic the SLPS Board was going to use for Bauer's Neighborhood School Act. At that time Bauer was offended at the addition of other proposals asking voters if they wished to maintain the status quo.

No one would accuse him of being too bright.
-------- TITLE: Too many Eyes AUTHOR: archpundit DATE: 11/21/2002 - [Link] ----- BODY: Another story on Callow in the Political Eye.

The problem I have is that wouldn't Sam's have moved anyway? The current store is in a horrible site and even if Maplewood wouldn't have done this, I am guessing WalMart would have found another location.

I'm not so sure we shouldn't view it as a positive for the core. The site in the city wasn't going to last. Maplewood, being an aging inner-ring suburb needed something like this and by getting it in a viable spot, they can maintain that community better. That is vital for the inner ring suburbs and they city.

Anyone with a different analysis? The deal for the shopping center was the original bad idea. What does bother me about the administration is there appears to be no plan to reinvigorate that shopping mall. Given there is a Walgreens on the corner of Manchester and Skinker and they probably want to upgrade that store, couldn't the city work a deal to create a more accessible shopping district working with Walgreens and, ahem, K-Mart?

I don't want to be an apologist for Richard Callow, but I just don't see evil lurking behind this.
-------- TITLE: Will Lizz Brown Eat Crow AUTHOR: archpundit DATE: 11/21/2002 - [Link] ----- BODY: Virvus is vindicated. I haven't got the numbers yet, but when I do, I'll do some more analysis.

-------- TITLE: Democratic Divisions AUTHOR: archpundit DATE: 11/21/2002 - [Link] ----- BODY: Lizz Brown take note, this is what may cause African-Americans to sit out. You'd think that the shellacking the Missouri Democrats took in the last election would have knocked out the rest of the bubbas. Apparently not. -------- TITLE: painfully aware? Yes AUTHOR: archpundit DATE: 11/21/2002 - [Link] ----- BODY: DJ Goes after Richard Callow again.

The entire piece is a bit ironic:

Most readers of this space are painfully familiar with Richard Callow.

Usually the catty chatter about the omnipresent prince of political intrigue is spurred by petty irritations, bruised egos or revenge for a slight delivered by Callow by way of Jerry Berger's gossip column in the Post-Dispatch.


So most of the time, stories about Callow are completely pointless, but DJ keeps running them?

A good piece on the issue was done by the Arch City Chronicle. Strangely, for a paper run by a political science grad student and a stock broker, it was a much better piece of journalism. -------- TITLE: When does Survivor Style Voting Start for Stlouist? AUTHOR: archpundit DATE: 11/21/2002 - [Link] ----- BODY: Given the current discussion on Stlouist, it is important to point out economics is not a faith-based discipline and having a BA in it does little to make one well-qualified to discuss economic issues. Saving capitalism from those who confuse it with a religion is hard work.

Jeff, when do we start voting people off the island? Or better, out of the region?

memes to repeat:
Unions are evil
The forces of the market do the deciding

add your own in the comments

-------- TITLE: Justification for taking no pollution control action AUTHOR: archpundit DATE: 11/20/2002 - [Link] ----- BODY: I always love when we find nature doing something and then wingnuts come out screaming that see, environmental protection is irrelevant. The Post-Dispatch runs a story about formaldehyde being created by forests. Contrary to what wingnuts will scream, this would lead a sane human being to conclude that to have healthy air, one must set a level that is healthy and then meet it by controllable measures. Since we can't control forests we should focus on industry and set the level they are allowed to pollute. Industry, given the proper incentives, can generally meet such standards relatively easily once they know the problem.

Or one can throw their arms in the air and scream, "The gummint can't do nothing right." -------- TITLE: Blog Crone AUTHOR: archpundit DATE: 11/20/2002 - [Link] ----- BODY: What? Thomas too good for a blog? -------- TITLE: Callow, Callow, Callow AUTHOR: archpundit DATE: 11/20/2002 - [Link] ----- BODY: What is strange about the weird obsession with Richard Callow isn't the incessant screaming of conflict of interest, it is how blind many of the screamers are to other conflicts of interest. As a non-native of this fine small town big city, I'm amazed at the inabiliy of institutions to look beyond the local labor pool for help. Richard Callow may be an example of how inbred St. Louis is, but he isn't the worst offender by far.

The most recent story in the P-D covers his work on a referendum in Brentwood that will move the Sam's from the city. Exposing conflicts of interest (which I'm not clear this is one) is good work, but can't we aim a little higher? -------- TITLE: VITP AUTHOR: archpundit DATE: 11/20/2002 - [Link] ----- BODY: While much of the country is discussing enlarging public school choice, the state of Missouri continues to see it as a problem. The Voluntary Interdistrict Transfer Program is running into money problems, but the state doesn't see a need to fund it over time. Schools in Clayton and Brentwood want to continue participation, but as the reimbursement is decreased, those districts will have to make up the funding between what they spend and what the state gives them.

What is strange is that the proponents of vouchers and charters are so silent on this issue. If choice is better why not continue one of the largest public school choice programs ever undertaken? -------- TITLE: Budget Follies AUTHOR: archpundit DATE: 11/19/2002 - [Link] ----- BODY: The Post-Dispatch reports a $100 million shortfall in the state budget. Republicans claim ending waste can solve the problem and that ending tax breaks are a tax increase. I want to see their budget. I need a good laugh. -------- TITLE: Cards and Old Post Office Projects go forward AUTHOR: archpundit DATE: 11/19/2002 - [Link] ----- BODY: The Missouri Development Finance Board went forward on both projects today. And it looks like the stadium is a done deal. That is quite an accomplishment for the current administration. -------- TITLE: Should have seen this one coming AUTHOR: archpundit DATE: 11/19/2002 - [Link] ----- BODY:


*looks at the current world's population* You must have a lot of frustration then.


What pisses you off?

Created by ptocheia

-------- TITLE: SMS hires lobbyist to get federal funds AUTHOR: archpundit DATE: 11/18/2002 - [Link] ----- BODY: SMS has decided with the decreases coming in state aid, to directly lobby the federal government. What a state -------- TITLE: Why? AUTHOR: archpundit DATE: 11/18/2002 - [Link] ----- BODY: Lester Spence feels the need to engage Mike Chance and Nick Kasoff. Why? Besides spouting the meme of the moment from Fox News and having a radio show on WGNU, neither has a reason for existence. Lester should know better. -------- TITLE: Voucher Fight AUTHOR: archpundit DATE: 11/18/2002 - [Link] ----- BODY: Debates over vouchers usually shed more heat than light. Supposed free market advocates scream, "Markets work" while ignoring much of the evidence that markets often fail. They have little concern over information assymetries and are woefully ignorant of urban education issues they claim to be solving. Voucher opponents see something dark about private schools at the elementary and secondardy schools, all the while seeing nothing wrong with Methodist, Catholic and other assorted religious colleges that receive public money.

Today, the Biz Journal runs a column by Bob Koff and James Harvey concerning real issues with vouchers. I think they bury the lead:

First, although supporters of the court's decision may hail it as a victory for religious pluralism, it is likely to be less than that. There are not enough spaces in private schools to absorb all the inner-city students interested in a program like Cleveland's. The promise of choice is likely to prove illusory.


The assumption of voucher supporters (okay, the dumb ones), is that new supply will be created. Marginally this will be true, but an $1800 credit isn't going to create the kind of openings one would need to serve a large portion of SLPS's students. $1800 covers tuition or close to covers tuition at a lot of Catholic schools, but it doesn't cover the full costs. So Catholic or Lutheran schools might expand slots in existing schools, but significant subsidies from the churches would be required to increase the number of schools.

Quite simply the churches cannot afford such subsidies. Recently one parish member cited a figure of about $5000 a year for complete costs of tuition (at lower rates of teacher pay). This would keep open a current school, but wouldn't be enough to invest in a new one. With reasonable spending by state schools being in the $6500-$7500 range per student, there would be no cost savings for the typical school (city costs are around $10,000 per student). Add into this 1/4 of city students having a individual education plan (IEP--Special ed), a significant portion where English is a second language, and a variety of services needed by low income children and vouchers don't seem like much of a solution.

While vouchers may be an escape valve for some, they will not likely increase the amount of private schools at the low rates of subsidy being offered.

As Koff and Harvey point out, in an already scarce funding environment, taking more money from the public schools is not likely to be helpful. One can make the argument that individuals should have a right to choose their own school, but that fails to grasp the full benefit of universal education. The benefit doesn't go to the individuals receiving the education solely, the benefit goes to a functioning democratic society where people can make reasoned choices. I'm all for vouchers with a fully funded public system. But first we need to fully fund the system and then look at extra fixes and while current levels are probably acceptable, adding money to vouchers is nearly impossible as is continuing funding at current levels for the future given Missouri's budgetary problems.

Economic illiteracy is a significant barrier to understanding how vouchers will affect current schools. For some reason, voucher proponents seem to think tuition will stay the same. This is an assumption in search of a reason to make it. If the government offers up free money, prices will rise to meet it. In a case of vouchers targeted to the poor this won't necessarily be the case because the rate will be so low as to not make a difference. It does mean that private schools that offer limited slots to poor kids already will probably not allow more kids in, but take the money the current levels would receive through a voucher system.

Finally, in the only case where you'll see me support creationists, public support comes with public oversight. If you want to raise a scientifically illiterate kid one can do that by sending them to a fundamentalist school. If public dollars are supporting that interesting choice, I'm not willing to allow pseudoscience to be taught with my tax dollars. What makes religious schools different is that they are religious. With public dollars that characteristic will be lost.

I think there is a cheap shot at the Court in an otherwise excellent article. The Supreme Court's job is not generally to analyse the policy for effectiveness, but for legality (Constitutionality). It may be stupid to pass a voucher law, but that shouldn't matter to Court as long as the policy is not discriminatory.

The great thing is that an article evaluating the merits of a public policy will be met with howls of religious freedom. Just watch the letters section. -------- TITLE: Perverse Incentives AUTHOR: archpundit DATE: 11/18/2002 - [Link] ----- BODY: The Post-Dispatch does another stellar job reporting on news in an editorial. The Leave No Child Behind Act ought to have been entitled the Perverse Incentives and Unfunded Mandate Act. One of the finer examples of this is a clause that forces states to allow students to transfer out of schools that are deemed 'persistently dangerous.'


Because the federal government offers little guidance as to how to define a persistently dangerous school, the definition will differ from state to state. In North Carolina, for example, a school will be defined as persistently dangerous if five or more violent crimes are committed per 1,000 students during the two most recent school years.


So what is a state to do? Shoot low, really, really low and they never will be sanctioned. First, one has every incentive to define 'persistently dangerous' at a very high rate so as to not be sanctioned. Second, there is an incentive not to expell students if the state uses expulsions as a measure.

Is your children learning? -------- TITLE: Berger, Berger, Berger AUTHOR: archpundit DATE: 11/18/2002 - [Link] ----- BODY: I have a headache when this counts as even gossip:

NEEDLESS MARKDOWN: One of pricey Neiman Marcus' most hallowed traditions is the after-hours "private shopping night" it holds annually for its most loyal customers. The excitement of sorting through marked-down Pradas, Guccis and Armanis in a nearly empty store has driven more than one St. Louisan to spend an equivalent of a private school's annual tuition on merchandise that fits conveniently into a single shopping bag. But, in sluggish economic times, some traditions fall. Perhaps that's why some loyal NM customers were irate at discovering that any shopper at NM on Thursday - and any online buyer - received the same discounts as the invited moonlight sales shoppers. "The computers were already programmed with the discounts. If anyone stumbled in earlier in the day, they got them, too. It certainly wasn't bait and switch," explained NM's operations manager David English.


Ohhhhh, the humanity... -------- TITLE: Post-Dispatch Watch AUTHOR: archpundit DATE: 11/18/2002 - [Link] ----- BODY: Given my ability to incessantly whine about the on-line and off-line versions of the Post-Dispatch, and the demise of the Ed Bushmeyer Death Watch feature, I'm starting the Post-Dispatch Watch. Don't expect the normal blasting of it being a left-wing rag intent on creating a society of homosexuals and communists here. The Post-Dispatch is left only on its editorial page and then so ineffectively, I'm unsure why one would concern themselves. Consider this a poking in the eye of stupid stories and strategies in this one paper town.

To start, when one redesigns a web site, wouldn't it be wise to redesign the whole thing before unveiling it? Follow the news link and you notice the entire site except for the front page is not redesigned. Great job guys!


Of course, Berger is easy to find...
-------- TITLE: Bushmeyer Death Watch--The End AUTHOR: archpundit DATE: 11/18/2002 - [Link] ----- BODY: First, never, ever skip the Saturday paper. Why? Because politicians bury bad news on Friday afternoon when reporters are day dreaming and no one reads the next days paper.

Two, what does it take to actually fire someone in the City of Saint Louis? I mean, yeah, the guy is patronage and brings in votes, but jeesssshhhh....

Today is the sad end of the Bushmeyer Death Watch. It is especially sad because while anticipating the firing of a hack, the end only brings a transfer. After the escape and release of several prisoners, the Mayor decided to make Ed Bushmeyer Assessor and the Assessor becomes the head of Public Safety.

I couldn't make this crap up if I tried.

And I'd link to the story, but the Post-Dispatch has butchered their site and I can't find it. Thanks to Dave for catching the story. -------- TITLE: Hey Dave AUTHOR: archpundit DATE: 11/15/2002 - [Link] ----- BODY: Upgrade your browser--it is showing up as Netscape 3-what up with that? -------- TITLE: Berger offers public trough ideas AUTHOR: archpundit DATE: 11/15/2002 - [Link] ----- BODY: Why is it that everyone seems to see the troubled SLPS as a public trough?


ANOTHER CHOICE: Hard on the heels of a plan proposed by Fox Theatre owner Harvey Harris to locate a new public performing arts school in the shuttered Kiel Opera House, St. Louis public school administrators have learned of a rival plan. Owners/developers Amy and Amrit Gill want to convert the old Moolah Temple and its grounds, along Lindell Boulevard, into an auditorium, classrooms, offices, rehearsal space and an educational amphitheater. The Gills, whose rehab of the long-shuttered Coronado Hotel as apartments is drawing raves, have tentatively agreed to donate the old temple for the project. A few blocks away, Texas developer Mike Neary has a contract, which is expected to close soon, on the Singer Warehouse of Fixtures on Laclede Avenue. Neary plans to renovate the space to build retail stores and loft apartments. He will meet with St. Louis U. about the project next week.
-------- TITLE: EPA Caves AUTHOR: archpundit DATE: 11/15/2002 - [Link] ----- BODY: That is right, the EPA caved to environmental groups and decided to enforce the law. Woohoooooo....

I have to admit the Title came from the Critical Mass list. -------- TITLE: I forgot AUTHOR: archpundit DATE: 11/14/2002 - [Link] ----- BODY: About the Homework assignment I gave. Vince Schoemehl is thinking of running for the SLPS Board. First, DJ's article is one of the better short articles on the subject and he has dropped the dark overtones about the Danforth initiative, instead pointing out legitimate critiques by Haas and, more importantly, Amy Hilgemann. The problem is that no one besides Amy is talking about long-term institutional changes to the SLPS. Might Vince by a good member? Probably, but it would be nice to know if he has some thoughtful comments on the system.

Mike Jones does come close in discussing a Patton type and even if he didn't realize it, there is some precedent. The long time superintendent in Seattle was a retired Army General. His expertise wasn't in educating kids, but it institution building and maintenance. In Missouri the superintendent couldn't be a non-educator, but a Chief-Operating Officer could be. Instead of having a PhD who understands instruction (or doesn't in the current case) trying to run the logistics, the responsibilities are divided with instruction going to the superintendent and the COO taking over tasks like human resources and, ohhhhhh, getting books to the classroom on time.

-------- TITLE: How Bad is it? AUTHOR: archpundit DATE: 11/14/2002 - [Link] ----- BODY: Ishmael-Lateef Ahmad just wrote a generally pro-police editorial. Damn pig dung is falling on cars all over the city. My favorite Ishmael story was headlined:
"Why do police kill good black people?" -------- TITLE: Couldn't Happen to a Nicer Alderman AUTHOR: archpundit DATE: 11/14/2002 - [Link] ----- BODY: Tyus gets overruled by the Board as a whole. Of course, it is because she is a strong African-American woman.... -------- TITLE: Lizz Brown's Irrelevance AUTHOR: archpundit DATE: 11/14/2002 - [Link] ----- BODY: Virvus and crew do a job on Lizz's claim that African-Americans cost Carnahan the election. When the precinct and ward breakdowns are out and I can get my grubby hands on the data, I'll post more. 1998 wasn't a typical election by any means, but the support Talent got is no where near what Bond got.

Lizz could claim credit under a couple circumstances. One, total turnout was down. It was not. For a non-Presidential election year, turnout was pretty good. Given the voting rolls are bloated that is realistically a 50% turnout. Two, Talent did better than normal in the city for a Republican. He didn't do any better than Bond. Admittedly, Bond did better than average so let's look at the last three US Senate Elections in Missouri. With 20,000 more votes cast, Talent received over 4000 votes less than Kit Bond in the City of Saint Louis and got the same percentage as John Ashcroft. Sorry Lizz, turnout was up and Talent did the same as Ashcroft percentage-wise. The campaign didn't do anything except get WGNU some ratings. Or maybe that was the whole goal...































Carnahan 73300 79 Nixon 50475 68 Carnahan 98,463 79.8
Talent 19,465 21 Bond 23799 32 Ashcroft 24,906 20.2
92765 74274 123,369


-------- TITLE: Get your Blog Saint Louis on Stlouist.com! AUTHOR: archpundit DATE: 11/14/2002 - [Link] ----- BODY: With the addition of XML, Jeff has been able to add headlines from here on Stlouist.com. Go far down on the left and you'll see the box.

Thanks Jeff! -------- TITLE: Saint Louis NAACP Prez is banned for 5 years AUTHOR: archpundit DATE: 11/13/2002 - [Link] ----- BODY: John Bordeaux has been a disaster in several different ways and the national organization has had it.

I imagine the American will have good stuff on this tomorrow. -------- TITLE: Tax Increase for the SLPS? AUTHOR: archpundit DATE: 11/13/2002 - [Link] ----- BODY: The Cleve is suggesting a possible tax increase or bond issue to implement additional school safety programs. One example is to make the code of conduct clear.

No tax increase or bond issue should pass without a performance audit from Claire McCaskill. None.

More likely, no increase would be needed. While I think cutting funding would be a disaster, current resources are directed poorly. -------- TITLE: Post-Dispatch AUTHOR: archpundit DATE: 11/13/2002 - [Link] ----- BODY: Just curious, but could the transition to the St. Louis Today site be any more clumsy? And how the hell does one find the stories in the mean time? -------- TITLE: Coptalk Makes the LA Times AUTHOR: archpundit DATE: 11/13/2002 - [Link] ----- BODY: Ummmm...is that really a site we want advertised to the rest of the world?

The LA Times does a story on recent police shootings in St. Louis (registration required).

As an example of why out of town journalists often get it wrong:

In contrast, former St. Louis Police Chief Clarence Harmon, who is black, was so popular that voters elected him mayor in 1997.


What the article does get right is that the city is getting close to a boiling point. -------- TITLE: Welcome AUTHOR: archpundit DATE: 11/13/2002 - [Link] ----- BODY: To the new site. XML is available and a few other functions will come on-line soon. This site seems a bit more reliable and faster to load--no more enetations either. -------- TITLE: test AUTHOR: archpundit DATE: 11/01/2002 - [Link] ----- BODY: test -------- TITLE: Test Post AUTHOR: System DATE: 10/22/2002 - [Link] ----- BODY: Test Post --------