Obama's Cynical Ploys On Education

From ABC News:

Free community college for all. 

Conversation-starter? Definitely. Political possibility? Not any time soon. 

President Obama unveiled the idea in a video posted to Facebook on Thursday night, then pitched it publicly at an event Friday in Knoxville, Tenn. 

"Community colleges should be free for those willing to work for it," Obama told a crowd at Pellissippi State Community College. "It's not a blank check, not a free lunch, but for those willing to do the work…it can be a game changer." 

The president called a community college education one of the "central pathways to the middle class." 

While certainly ambitious, the idea currently lacks a total price tag, proposed legislation, and Republican support on Capitol Hill. 

But the White House says that’s beside the point at this stage. 

The president merely hopes “to start a conversation,” Obama domestic policy adviser Cecilia Munoz told reporters. 

The administration said the plan would cost the federal government an estimated $60 billion over 10 years, in addition to tens of billions of dollars in commitments from the states. The Republican Congress would need to pass legislation approving funding. State governments would need to each act as well. 

Details on how the Obama envisions covering the federal cost remain a mystery.

Not a chance in hell this proposal is happening.

That's why the administration hasn't really put together a plan to make it happen - they know doing so would be a waste of time and resources.

It's a cynical PR ploy, that's all.

It's a shame that the president and his merry men and women in reform have decided to engage in cynical PR ploys because it's worthy idea that should and perhaps could be implemented (if the administration had laid the groundwork for it.)

But Obama, Duncan and the rest of the administration have made enemies on both sides of the political spectrum, especially on education issues.

On Monday, Duncan is supposed to call for the "repeal" of No Child Left Behind (though he'll demand many of the onerous parts of the law - like annual testing in grades 3-8 - remain.)

That too is a cynical ploy.

It's not a "repeal" when you demand much of the old law stay when you "repeal" it.

Next time Obama accuses his critics of not being serious about stuff, remember the community college plan he suggested that he has no intention of trying to enact but does want to use to juice his numbers with young people.

Same goes for his NCLB "repeal" that keeps much of the onerous (and odious) parts of the law in place.

Like Everything In Cuomo Administration, Fracking Decision Was All About The Politics

And so, years after the Cuomo administration starting to "study" fracking, the study is finally complete:

ALBANY — The Cuomo administration announced Wednesday that it would ban hydraulic fracturing in New York State, ending years of uncertainty by concluding that the controversial method of extracting gas from deep underground could contaminate the state’s air and water and pose inestimable public-health risks.

“I cannot support high volume hydraulic fracturing in the great state of New York,” said Howard Zucker, the acting commissioner of health.

That conclusion was delivered publicly during a year-end cabinet meeting called by Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo in Albany. It came amid increased calls by environmentalists to ban fracking, which uses water and chemicals to release natural gas trapped in deeply buried shale deposits.

This "report" has been years in the making.

It doesn't take a cynic to see that Cuomo waited until after the November election to release it, since polls show that no matter what he decided to do on the issue, it was a lose-lose for him.

But I suspect that, after he won his re-election that was paid for by $47 million in campaign contributions from the wealthy and the connected but saw his numbers drop because of faltering support on the left, he decided the best political decision to make here was to ban fracking.

This way, he can appear "progressive" on the issue while still largely catering to the wealthy and connected with his economic policies, education policies, etc.

Just as he used the gay marriage and gun control issues to appear "progressive" in past years, he is using the fracking ban to look like a good liberal.

I'm sure behind the scenes he's assuring all those business interests who are disappointed with this decision that he'll make it up to them with tax cuts and other corporate giveaways.

In the end, I'm glad fracking will be banned in New York.

But the announcement, the way the report was handled, the Hamlet on the Hudson stuff Cuomo played on the issue for years - the cynic in me says there was nothing "scientific" about this decision at all (no matter what his acting health commissioner says.)

This was all about the politics and these days for Cuomo, that means trying to look liberal enough to be able to run for the White House as a Democrat even though his economic policies make him a better fit for the GOP.

Who Are You Kidding, Cuomo?

Here's part of a tribute Michaela Kennedy Cuomo "wrote" for her father, Governor Andrew Cuomo, that was published at LoHud:

On Dec. 6, my grandpa and entire family will celebrate my dad's 57th birthday together.

To me, Andrew Cuomo is so much more than the most accomplished governor in recent history — he is the most supportive, attentive, and reliable friend and father any child has ever had. Andrew Cuomo has not only passed four budgets on time for the first time in 40 years, but he has also been on time for every soccer game, basketball game, tennis match, track meet, ski race, concert, and play, for the past 19 years of my sisters and my lives. From Superstorm Sandy to Hurricane Irene, Andrew Cuomo has been on the scene with a bucket literally in hand for each of the 11 natural disasters that have occurred within his administration. Still, he has made time to talk me through all of my stereotypical teenage dramas. I do not know where time comes from, or how he has so much of it, but he somehow spoils me with his company while being wholly devoted to the state.

My friends envy my relationship with my Dad. And their parents admire the work that he has done. Each Sunday evening, we sit down to our traditional sausage and meatballs with pasta, and the governor talks about the latest global, national, and local issues, and how he is approaching them. I give my Dad my opinion and we discuss and debate. There is no wall between political and family life, yet there is distinctly devoted time for both individually. I do not know how he does it.

I don't know how he does it either.

Read the entire thing, just don't drink anything while you're reading or you'll be cleaning liquid off your computer screen or mobile phone.

Hey, Governor, do you really think anybody reading that claptrap supposedly written by your daughter actually believes it was written by your daughter?

Seriously, how many 17 year old's would write: "Andrew Cuomo has not only passed four budgets on time for the first time in 40 years, but he has also been on time for every soccer game, basketball game, tennis match, track meet, ski race, concert, and play, for the past 19 years of my sisters and my lives."

Or this doozy: "It has been impossible for me to come up with a birthday gift that could express to my Dad my appreciation and admiration of all that he does – from his leadership in achieving marriage equality and sensible gun control for the family of New York, to serving as role model for our own family."

None, that's how many.

I had the following exchange with Seema Kalia on Twitter after I retweeted the tribute "written" by Michaela Kennedy Cuomo for her father:

.@perdidostschool REALLY surprised you RT'd that. Such an obvious mawkish attempt at pumping his image before legal issues surface.
— Seema Kalia (@seemakalia) December 6, 2014

@seemakalia RT'd it BECAUSE it was an obvious mawkish attempt at pumping his image before legal issues surface.
— realitybasededucator (@perdidostschool) December 6, 2014

@seemakalia Also, second use of daughter for political reasons. Shows how desperate he is and how scummy too.
— realitybasededucator (@perdidostschool) December 6, 2014

@seemakalia She didn't write it anymore than Moreland Commissioners wrote their statements of support for @NYGovCuomo.
— realitybasededucator (@perdidostschool) December 6, 2014

@seemakalia In @NYGovCuomo's world, both public and private, everything is stage-managed.
— realitybasededucator (@perdidostschool) December 6, 2014

And I had this one with CuomoWatch:

@CTLizB @perdidostschool @NYGovCuomo Hilarious! It looks like LSD is making a comeback.
— Cuomo Watch (@CuomoWatch) December 6, 2014

@CuomoWatch @CTLizB @NYGovCuomo First the education ad, now the B-Day column. Is she on the staff now?
— realitybasededucator (@perdidostschool) December 6, 2014

@CuomoWatch @CTLizB @NYGovCuomo At what point does using daughter for political purposes backfire on Sheriff Andy?
— realitybasededucator (@perdidostschool) December 6, 2014

There's a rule of etiquette and ethics that says members of the families of politicians and mob figures are off limits - I generally abide by that rule.

But this tribute "written" by Michaela Kennedy Cuomo for her father, Sheriff Andy, is just too much.

I'm going to give Seema Kalia the final word here:

.@perdidostschool oh. I think Hank Scheinkopf wrote it in "her voice", b/c it is very stilted for someone her age.
— Seema Kalia (@seemakalia) December 6, 2014

@perdidostschool So crass. & completely in line w his treatment of his family publicly - rmbr he slut shamed their mother in tabloids 4 wks?
— Seema Kalia (@seemakalia) December 6, 2014

What It Took To Get Cuomo On Morning Joe And Other Media Outlets

Why, an Ebola case in New York, of course.

Cuomo appeared on five different morning shows today to "allay fears" around a reported Ebola case in NYC.

These shows were CNN's "New Day", NBC's "The Today Show", "CBS This Morning," Channel 5's "Good Day New York," and MSNBC's "Morning Joe."

The Morning Joe Show had been trying to get Cuomo on since the summer when they hammered him over his Moreland Commission tampering.

But Cuomo wouldn't go on the program because he didn't want to deal with public criticism.

Instead he appeared on Fox Business Channel for a softball interview with his friend, Maria Bartiromo.

Today he was safe to go on these morning shows because he knew he would never be asked anything other than how New York was handling the first reported Ebola case in the state.

If somehow someone did ask a non-Ebola question, he could deflect it by saying this wasn't the time for anything non-Ebola-related.

So Cuomo seemed quite eager to go on these morning programs and play "Highly Competent/Efficient Chief Executive" for the nation - other than the FOX program, these were all national shows he appeared on.

Wouldn't be surprised to see Cuomo's New York approval numbers rise in the next slate of polls as a result of this morning's TV performances.

Also wouldn't be surprised to see Cuomo's national numbers rise a bit too.

Unless something goes wrong with the way city and state officials handle the Ebola case here, it's a ready-made opportunity for Cuomo to spike some approval ratings.

The cynic in me says that's what's uppermost on his mind - not the health and welfare of New Yorkers.

One thing I've learned watching Andrew Cuomo in action over the years - you can never be too cynical or world-weary about his motives and actions.