The NEA has little respect in the capital? That is interesting since they are essentially a labor union (association) and they are able to get meetings with Governor Blunt and at times get their legislation passed or stop bills that they oppose. If they were as insignifigant as you suggest they are then why do people (on the blog) always complain about the powerful teachers unions that stand in the way of education reform?
While I know there has been a lot of attention already on how much influence one rich man should be allowed to have on Missouri’s elections, I do think this will at least add more fuel to the fire.

Now it is you Richard who is missing the point. The NEA has not lost their desire to control and destroy public education in the Capitol and they do have a few legislators who try to cater to them. Fortunately it is only in the Senate that they can actually stop anything. Unfortunately - they still wield too much control in local districts ruining them.

I know of many legislators who meet with the NEA - at least the teachers from their districts - who have no intention to follow their input. That doesn’t stop the NEA from continuing to try to continue to screw up public education. They have actually been forced to “team” with others to get or stop things from happening. Try their best - their influence isn’t as great as they once enjoyed in the Capitol but it doesn’t stop them from trying.

Which is exactly why they try stupid pr stunts like this. They attempt to create a “situation” that appeals to the “common man” but when one really looks it over - it screws the common man with the full intent of recapturing the union’s power and control.

It is more likely at the behest of Nixon that this was done. He pulled his usual “me too” stunt when the so-called “education roundtable” people came out against a citizen of this state - an action that bombed. A month or more later - Nixon says “me too” and the only sizzle he got out of it was from the NEA whoremongers who were already supporting him - nothing from the common man. In the meantime - a larger number than you list of his own party continue to take money from that Sinquefield devil.

The fire is already fading on this PR stunt. A few more sparks will be seen I’m sure but it too will result in dieing embers.

Wow the democrats hate it when someone beats them at their own game!

Let’s talk about the real issue here. VOUCHERS!

If Rex was on the NEA’s side, they’d never file a complaint. They wouldn’t say he was bypassing the intent of the law. Oh no! Then he’d be playing the game they’ve played for years.

Think about this…

Americans’ education spending per student is almost twice that of most Western European nations. However, France, England, Germany, Spain, et al., continue to outrank us in Science and Math among other subjects. How is that?

Could be many different things. Our system is set up for failure. Thanks to powerful teacher unions who have had an unequal share of influence over the government for years, we cannot fire incompetent teachers. We cannot give performance-based raises. We cannot hire private-sector professonials to teach science and math (because they are supposedly unqualified to teach). Students don’t compete for coveted spots in the top schools. Instead they are assigned to a school based on where they live. Teachers claim this is important to the communities because schools are central to a community’s identity. Give me a break! Are schools about building a Kum - by - yah (sp?) community or about educating kids?

Competition is the answer. I am glad Rex came along in this state. He is selflessly devoted to this cause. He is the first (group or individual) that can reasonably compete for influence against the NEA or MSTA. It’s about time someone beat them at their own game!

Think about this. When an American student graduates from high school, he/she has one of the worst public educations in the world and is far behind his/her counterparts in other 1st world countries. However, in the 4 years it takes to get a Bachelor’s he/she can meet and exceed his/her counterparts. Why are our colleges doing a much better job at educating? UM, could it be COMPETITION?? Our colleges and universities compete to get students.

The free market isn’t a hard concept to learn. Too bad our teachers don’t get it, otherwise they might actually teach it!

What is with all of this Rex adulation, are you guys paid by him to praise his name and openly worship his visage in public?