Hope lives! High school students skeptical of Obama spending binge

By Michelle Malkin  •  February 18, 2009 10:34 PM

We need all the glimmers of hope we can get. Take ‘em where you can find ‘em. From an East Valley Tribune story on students at Mesa, AZ’s Dobson High School, where the president/savior spoke earlier today:

Some of the students attentively watched the speech, giving questioning looks and comments, shaking their heads and laughing at some of Obama’s words. Other students listened, occasionally glancing up to watch, while texting on their cell phones, reading a book or finishing school work.

The gymnasium’s events were shown simultaneously in rooms throughout the Mesa school, and teachers were given discretion on whether to show the speech, the students said.

The students in the class were hopeful things will work out but questioned whether Obama’s plan would actually work to dig the country out of its economic woes.

…The students also questioned why Obama chose their school for his speech since he wasn’t talking about education and wondered how much money the district spent on beautifying the campus while district positions and services are being cut.

District officials noted this week that the landscaping project completed over the weekend at Dobson was already in the works and was just expedited by the president’s visit. Funding came from voter-approved bonds.

New sod was laid in front of the school Tuesday, and Daudfar said, “The joke at the school is they’re going to take it away when he (Obama) leaves.”

AP government teacher Jeff Sherrer said his students “feel very strongly about the issues, maybe more than the general population.” He thought at least one of his students was outside protesting, and he had planned to take his students outside as a class project to show them what was going on but didn’t get the chance.

“These kinds of kids really get into it,” Sherrer said. “During the election we had lots of debates on the issues.”

What is this thing called “debate” in the Age of Obama?

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Comments


  1. #626635
    On February 18th, 2009 at 10:37 pm, Truesoldier said:

    …The students also questioned why Obama chose their school for his speech since he wasn’t talking about education and wondered how much money the district spent on beautifying the campus while district positions and services are being cut.

    You mean they haven’t been told all this is “for the children”?

    District officials noted this week that the landscaping project completed over the weekend at Dobson was already in the works and was just expedited by the president’s visit. Funding came from voter-approved bonds.

    I wonder how many of the voters realized that the school bond was to pay for new sod?

  2. #626636
    On February 18th, 2009 at 10:39 pm, Devil's Advocate said:

    Too bad when these intelligent students reach College, they will be called Fascists for disagreeing with their professors.

  3. #626643
    On February 18th, 2009 at 10:46 pm, alaskangrizzly said:

    On February 18th, 2009 at 10:39 pm, Devil’s Advocate said:

    Too bad when these intelligent students reach College, they will be called Fascists for disagreeing with their professors.

    Indeed, especially if they stay in state and go to ASU.

    On February 18th, 2009 at 10:37 pm, Truesoldier said:

    I wonder how many of the voters realized that the school bond was to pay for new sod?

    Not to mention that Mesa (greater Phoenix Metroplex) is in a desert. Hellllooooooooooooo, even homeowners here realize how astronomically cheaper it is to have a desert landscaping job done with rocks and low-water-needs plants. But I guess the school district would have to lay off all the illegal immigrants they hire to trim the grass and bushes if they did that. Could have saved even more money by not needing an underground watering system to keep that grass green too when it’s 120 degrees outside. (I think last year the news said it was over 100 degrees for nearly 110 days during 2008 in Phoenix).

  4. #626645
    On February 18th, 2009 at 10:48 pm, Truesoldier said:

    alaskangrizzly said:
    Could have saved even more money by not needing an underground watering system to keep that grass green too when it’s 120 degrees outside. (I think last year the news said it was over 100 degrees for nearly 110 days during 2008 in Phoenix).

    Wait that is not very “Earth Friendly” wasting all the water that way. Where is the liberal eco-outrage!!!

  5. #626646
    On February 18th, 2009 at 10:48 pm, shimauma2 said:

    Some of the students attentively watched the speech, giving questioning looks and comments, *shaking their heads and laughing at some of Obama’s words*.

    LOL! My daughter at this school was wearing a shirt that says “the voices say not to listen to you.” I guess she took it quite literally.

  6. #626654
    On February 18th, 2009 at 10:56 pm, englishqueen01 said:

    Yeah, it’s nice to talk about hopeychange when someone else is footing the bill.

    The realization they’ll have to work until they’re 90 to pay off Obama’s spending spree kinda makes the rhetoric, well, look empty.

    Is it too early to say Obama’s guaranteed himself one unspectacular term?

  7. #626657
    On February 18th, 2009 at 10:59 pm, Truesoldier said:

    Just a thought.

    Will Obama be able to fill the remaining appointed postions without another nominee being caught up in a scandal?

  8. #626660
    On February 18th, 2009 at 11:04 pm, Flyoverman said:

    New title “Landscaper in Chief”

    Next he is going to personally unclog your sink…….

    Anyone buying this tripe is really something.

  9. #626672
    On February 18th, 2009 at 11:38 pm, NestingHawk said:

    Thank you so much for posting this, Mrs. Malkin. It’s good to know high schoolers are thinking.

  10. #626673
    On February 18th, 2009 at 11:39 pm, sunshinerbray said:

    It’s not just students in Arizona. I had kids in my largest, most “challenging” class ask if we could spend a day talking about the stimulus plan. So I took a day out from teaching WWII, and we chatted.

    One student, who I would never have expected to care about such things, said she watched his press conference with her mother, and she said it didn’t make any sense.

    And in a moment that would make any conservative teacher proud, she said, “You just told us that the New Deal didn’t end the Depression, WWII did. Isn’t this plan just the Newer, Crappier Deal?”

  11. #626675
    On February 18th, 2009 at 11:41 pm, Truesoldier said:

    Isn’t this plan just the Newer, Crappier Deal?”

    I love it.

  12. #626676
    On February 18th, 2009 at 11:44 pm, sunshinerbray said:

    You and me both. I’m pretty sure I teared up a little. :o )

    My hallway of history teachers is doing what we can to fight all the ninny, union-led, self-serving, liberal-minded teachers out there.

  13. #626678
    On February 18th, 2009 at 11:47 pm, sims said:

    Isn’t this plan just the Newer, Crappier Deal?”

    I love it too!

    The Newer, Crappier Deal with those little brown sprinkles on top.

    He’s not done yet, though.

    BOHICA this summer.

  14. #626681
    On February 18th, 2009 at 11:54 pm, BlameAmericaLast said:

    This is a public school? Wow, there is hope after all.

  15. #626683
    On February 18th, 2009 at 11:54 pm, Shay said:

    Great thread! It leaves me very encouraged.

    Newer, Crappier Deal, indeed! LOL!

  16. #626685
    On February 18th, 2009 at 11:57 pm, FilmLadd said:

    On February 18th, 2009 at 10:56 pm, englishqueen01 said:

    Is it too early to say Obama’s guaranteed himself one unspectacular term?

    Yes, because we don’t know if the country can survive that long intact.

  17. #626688
    On February 19th, 2009 at 12:01 am, Kokonut said:
  18. #626689
    On February 19th, 2009 at 12:01 am, sunshinerbray said:

    This is a public school? Wow, there is hope after all.

    Absolutely, 100% a public school, and students that often come from rough home lives.

    I’m so proud and so blessed to work with these kids.

  19. #626695
    On February 19th, 2009 at 12:13 am, Mookie said:

    Hey Michelle, you missed this one in the pics from Mesa thread.

    Wonder Woman

  20. #626715
    On February 19th, 2009 at 1:50 am, emjem24 said:

    So, Mookie, since Wonder Woman is the height of political dissent, I have a question:

    Are these high school students now the new “kiddie shields” for the conservatives and those with common sense of all political stripes?

    Or did their parents fill their heads full of false ideas like personal responsibility and common sense?

    /sarc off

  21. #626717
    On February 19th, 2009 at 1:55 am, Mookie said:

    Are these high school students now the new “kiddie shields” for the conservatives and those with common sense of all political stripes?

    Or did their parents fill their heads full of false ideas like personal responsibility and common sense?

    /sarc off

    Your attempt at baiting me failed. High school kids should be politically involved.

  22. #626727
    On February 19th, 2009 at 2:14 am, Cosmo said:

    The sod was part of Obama’s “No Groundskeeper Left Behind” program.

    It’s on page 3,448 of the “stimulus” bill.

  23. #626731
    On February 19th, 2009 at 2:59 am, PBoilermaker said:

    What happened to the happy and agreeable version of Mookie?

  24. #626735
    On February 19th, 2009 at 3:09 am, Mookie said:

    On February 19th, 2009 at 2:59 am, PBoilermaker said:

    What happened to the happy and agreeable version of Mookie?

    I’m still happy and agreeable. The kid thing irks me, though. Not high schoolers. That’s different. But young kids should be kept out of the political stuff until they’re old enough to understand it.

    But I’m always happy and agreeable. I agree with them that the stimulus sucks and I would like a free trip to Vegas, please. :lol:

  25. #626736
    On February 19th, 2009 at 3:20 am, PBoilermaker said:

    On February 19th, 2009 at 3:09 am, Mookie said:
    I’m still happy and agreeable. The kid thing irks me, though. Not high schoolers. That’s different. But young kids should be kept out of the political stuff until they’re old enough to understand it.

    I agree, that’s why the Obama Youth mandated worship we have been treated to is so despicable. If “old enough to understand it” is indeed your criteria, you have to admit that the adult issues and liberal propaganda they are bombarding young children with in public schools are also despicable. That’s a big can of worms, though.

    But I’m always happy and agreeable. I agree with them that the stimulus sucks and I would like a free trip to Vegas, please. :lol:

    I’m still waiting for Obama to fill my gas tank and pay off my debt. I was told he would.

  26. #626741
    On February 19th, 2009 at 3:35 am, bansharia said:

    Kudos to those young minds. I wonder if the school just landscaped the front and left the back bare:
    Biden beautification coming to a town near you for obambi photo opps.

  27. #626742
    On February 19th, 2009 at 3:46 am, Mookie said:

    agree, that’s why the Obama Youth mandated worship we have been treated to is so despicable. If “old enough to understand it” is indeed your criteria, you have to admit that the adult issues and liberal propaganda they are bombarding young children with in public schools are also despicable. That’s a big can of worms, though.

    I absolutely agree with you. I thought the Obama Youth stuff was scary. Those kids had no idea why they liked him. They were just going along with the crowd. In a way, it’s a twisted form of peer pressure. As far as public schools go, I think parents have an obligation to balance out what their kid is being subjected to. The Global Warming controversy is a prime example. Kids are ostracized if they disagree that we’re responsible for killing all the cute little penguins. That’s why I think it’s better to just leave all the political stuff until high school. They have decades to become political beings but only a few years to be kids. Just let them be.

  28. #626743
    On February 19th, 2009 at 4:01 am, PKAmmoTroop said:

    On February 18th, 2009 at 10:39 pm, Devil’s Advocate said:

    Too bad when these intelligent students reach College, they will be called Fascists for disagreeing with their professors.

    That was the best part of college! :evil:

  29. #626745
    On February 19th, 2009 at 4:30 am, RetFireman said:

    This is off topic, but I thought you guys wouldlove to see yet another blatant double whammy of “race Card” and hypocrisy from the Libs and other Blue Shirts.

    After 8 years of comparing Bush to a chimpanzee, calling him “Chimpy” and various other depictions and such of Bush as a lower primate, it seems if you even remotely do the same to Der Fuhrer, you are pretty much guilty of a hate-crime.

    Check it out!

  30. #626746
    On February 19th, 2009 at 4:35 am, graysonret said:

    I hope students everywhere know who is going to pay for this mess. Put it in terms they can understand…less money on their paychecks means less to spend on technology, clothes, cars, etc..

  31. #626749
    On February 19th, 2009 at 5:01 am, bansharia said:

    Gray,
    I hope their parents and Grandparents
    know too!! There seems to be an impression by some only OTHER generations will pay.

  32. #626750
    On February 19th, 2009 at 5:32 am, graysonret said:

    Ever watch someone try to fix something they know nothing about? I’m sure you have, making a bigger mess than what they started out with. You watch them until the frustration becomes too much, and you yell, “Stop, I’ll fix it!”, as you grab the screwdriver out of their hand. This happens especially when you see a “puff of smoke” rise from the back, after they concluded that attaching one wire to a different terminal might work after all. The government is trying to “fix” the economy, with a “maybe this will work” philosophy and “puffs of smoke” are beginning to rise, with the public just standing there, looking “concerned”, or saying, “Yeah, maybe it will work”. Neither one checking past history of such attempts.

  33. #626751
    On February 19th, 2009 at 5:34 am, SpeakEasy said:

    I find myself agreeing with Mookie completely on this issue. I need to go lie down.

    Most, repeat, most school children have no clue about real issues. They do not have the experience to apply to raw data. I also think only a small minority of 18 year old children have the requisite experience or knowledge to vote effectively. They should not vote until they are at least old enough to drink.

    I remember a quote by Churchill: “If you’re not a liberal at twenty you have no heart, if you’re not a conservative at forty you have no brain.”

  34. #626771
    On February 19th, 2009 at 7:35 am, FruNobulux said:

    #
    On February 19th, 2009 at 5:32 am, graysonret said:

    Ever watch someone try to fix something they know nothing about? I’m sure you have, making a bigger mess than what they started out with. You watch them until the frustration becomes too much, and you yell, “Stop, I’ll fix it!”, as you grab the screwdriver out of their hand. This happens especially when you see a “puff of smoke” rise from the back, after they concluded that attaching one wire to a different terminal might work after all. The government is trying to “fix” the economy, with a “maybe this will work” philosophy and “puffs of smoke” are beginning to rise, with the public just standing there, looking “concerned”, or saying, “Yeah, maybe it will work”. Neither one checking past history of such attempts.
    #

    I wish that were true. Unfortunately, I think they know damn well what they’re doing. I just hope they’ve miscalculated how stupid the American voter is. So far, it’s not looking good, but maybe, just maybe, people will get wise (sooner rather than later) and do things like crank up their deductions on their tax forms, and delay filing, etc. until we can vote these turkeys out.

    What they’re counting on is that they can create one massive fuster cluck and then just keep prescribing the same remedy. Soon it will get so bad that they will feel the need to “postpone” elections because they would be a “distraction” to the important business of fixing the economy. Next come the forced confiscation of property, then the reeducation camps, then the death squads…

  35. #626776
    On February 19th, 2009 at 7:43 am, tre said:

    Maybe those students are smart enought to know they’ll still be paying for this “Stimulus” when they themselves are retired.

  36. #626784
    On February 19th, 2009 at 8:09 am, ArizonaNeanderthal said:

    RetFireman said:
    This is off topic, but I thought you guys wouldlove to see yet another blatant double whammy of “race Card” and hypocrisy from the Libs and other Blue Shirts.

    Great cartoon. Hypocrisy and phony outrage from Obaminites and other assorted Liberals, wackos and the professionally aggrieved is to be understood. The stimulus bill does look as if it were written by a bunch of monkeys.

    Civil rights leaders and some elected officials” enjoy being upset so they should thank the New York Post.

  37. #626794
    On February 19th, 2009 at 8:28 am, jellibean said:

    Mookie said:

    But young kids should be kept out of the political stuff until they’re old enough to understand it.

    I think this should apply to some adults as well. :?

    Those kids had no idea why they liked him. They were just going along with the crowd. In a way, it’s a twisted form of peer pressure.

    Sadly, I think this also applies to adults… It’s amazing how many of my classmates (I’m a law student) assumed that everyone was voting for Obama.

    This story about the high school kids is encouraging, though.

  38. #626803
    On February 19th, 2009 at 8:46 am, graysonret said:

    Sadly, I think this also applies to adults

    Politicians have been banking on that, since the country began. One would throw big alcohol parties, have parades and bands, and, yes, kiss babies, in order to sway the voters. The key was to get them all emotionally worked up, and sometimes drunk, right before the election. It worked.

  39. #626821
    On February 19th, 2009 at 9:12 am, ScaryBiscuits said:

    Just curious… Has anyone else noted the captions on the slideshow? Everyone taking a picture was “a fan.” I don’t suppose it’s possible they were just taking pictures because it’s a visit by a sitting US president?

    Cut me a frakking break.

  40. #626822
    On February 19th, 2009 at 9:12 am, Paul Revere said:

    If ThatOne and his administration are so technically savvy, they would have done a videocast instead of wasting time, energy, and polluting the air.

  41. #626841
    On February 19th, 2009 at 9:36 am, Truesoldier said:

    On February 19th, 2009 at 9:12 am, Paul Revere said:
    If ThatOne and his administration are so technically savvy, they would have done a videocast instead of wasting time, energy, and polluting the air.

    They couldn’t get the blue-screen working for the backdrop, besides it is not their moeny they are spending for the trip.

    Most, repeat, most school children have no clue about real issues.

    My wife and I have let our children know it is ok to question their teachers in regards to things political (i.e. Obama love fest, illegal immigration, global warming, etc) and to feel free to ask us questions. Our older two children (ages 9 and 10 we have 4 boys) do this pretty regularly. When they ask us questions we show them both sides on the issue from sites that support opposing views and let them decide for themselves and we back them up on it. For example, my oldest son’s teacher made mention about how we need to help the illegal immigrants become citizens cause everyone deserves a chance (can you say amnesty), well my son raised his hand and told her that he does not see it that way as illegal immigration hurts everyone. She tried to ridicule and mock him into submission, but he stood his ground. After class he had three other children come up to him and tell him that they felt the same way, but were afraid of being treated the way he was. He told them that sometimes you have to stand up for what you believe even when people make fun of you and if people had not done that we would not have America. Needless to say my wife and I had a chat with the teacher and let them know that the kind of behavior the teacher displayed was unacceptable. That if she was going to put her opinions out there she better be willing to listen to different opinions and if it happened again we would file a complaint against her for treating a child like that.

  42. #626868
    On February 19th, 2009 at 9:59 am, cabrerski said:

    On February 19th, 2009 at 5:32 am, graysonret said:
    Ever watch someone try to fix something they know nothing about?

    Bravo, Grey…

    The first thing you have to do before fixing anything is to realize what went wrong otherwise you end up with the same problem. To use your electrical analogy, Obama and the Feds want to use a penny to replace the fuse. They will not recognize that one of the key ingredients in the subprime mortgage debacle was the behavior of Fannie and Freddie. And now they want to let them lead the charge to fix this?

    We are so screwed…

  43. #626920
    On February 19th, 2009 at 10:23 am, jsmiddleton4 said:

    As with most states the teacher’s professional groups and many teachers are liberal/Democrats in Arizona. I live here, have family that are teachers, hear it first hand.

    I can assure you in the next month or so there will be a mandatory “section” of a social studies/civics curriculum that informs students to STOP thinking for themselves and to NEVER question a Democratic Party’s President.

    Students thinking for themselves simply can not be tolerated in our public schools. It will be corrected quickly I can assure you.

  44. #626933
    On February 19th, 2009 at 10:29 am, jsmiddleton4 said:

    Actually I’m thinking that there is a meeting going on this morning over in the Mesa School district demanding to know from the teachers at Dobson High just HOW they let such a thing happen that would embarrass the good Democrat teacher’s of Arizona in this fashion. I’m sure explanations are being demanded from those teachers as I type this.

  45. #627006
    On February 19th, 2009 at 10:59 am, pueblo1032 said:

    Glad to hear all hope is not lost at DOBSON HIGH… Heard this AM on local radio, in Phoenix, one student had the audacity to wear a T that said ” HITLER ALSO GAVE GREAT SPEECHES”… They didn’t even send this young man home, as would have been done in CHICAGO, DETROIT, LA or NEW YORK CITY… Yes, there is still HOPE!!!

  46. #627124
    On February 19th, 2009 at 11:46 am, denver republican said:

    Last week, a group of crazies at Boulder High School proposed renaming the school after Our Dear Leader. Imagine my surprise when I read in the Rocky Mountain News that the plan “fizzled Thursday in the face of widespread opposition from students and residents.” Boulder? Opposing the anointed one? Really? As you say, Michelle, there is hope!

  47. #627562
    On February 19th, 2009 at 3:22 pm, Danceswithdachshunds said:

    The joke at the school is they’re going to take the sod away when Obama leaves.

    From high school students! BWAAAAAAHAHAHAHAHAHA!

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