Our image,the public and what I think about both.

[conservator]

Hehe thanks! I am all welcomed-out by now! You guys are really great!

Jjames I definitely think you are onto something there with the pluralistic actions of hip-hop stars (which actually amounts to hypocrisy). it amazes me how these jerks get away with denigrating women, promoting violence in their videos, and making themselves "Big-Ballers" by comparing their supposed wealth and mastery over the female sex with that of the viewer who cannot possibly compete, and then turn around and support charities and pretend to be "leaders".

To top it all off people actually swallow it. It really and truly is sickening.

If you ask me these guys just abuse the first amendment. They should be thrown in jail for spewing their hateful ideas.I mean why do we (only referring to myself here) as the black community need oppressors if we have these hip-hop stars to oppress already.

All they teach us is "kill people that look strange at you, get drunk and high, go and achieve nothing in your life (because achieving is white), OR aspire to be a rapper like me (Of which there is a 289,999,950 to 1 chance of making it that far)or aspire to be a an athlete (of which there is a slightly better chance of 289,999,700 to 1)"

Gosh THAT is what needs to be changed! We need to educate because the left won't! I mean seriously, did any of you hear of the "despicable "Vote or Die" fiasco here in Boston? The left are ALREADY using hip-hop artists to their advantage. The sad fact of the matter is that these young ones will vote for whoever the big stars tells them and will mindlessly mimic the issues they talk about, just as they mimic their song lyrics.

[conservator]

hmm...wow. I had no idea the teacher base was so unreservedly democratic...I don't really have any solutions..I have to think about it.

In the meantime though, what does TAPA offer the teachers that NEA doesn't?

[Rockingham]

I grew up in a political family, worked in many campaigns and GOP organizations off and on from when I was in my early teens, and have worked professionally in GOP opposition research for almost ten years now. I saw and was part of Florida's shift to GOP dominance of state politics. Image enhancement had nothing to with it: we won elections.

There is an essential principle of strategy, applicable in all fields: the most subtle and important choices are what you are not going to do. Resources are always limited, and doing things that do not advance your goals inherently detracts from them.

It is a waste and distraction to worry about the GOP image except in the specific context of party organization, campaigns, and office holding. Otherwise, just have an affable and engaging manner and avoid unproductive controversy while advancing your political principles and candidates by effective action.

That is a challenge, because it means things like no boasting, pettiness, infighting, sourness, gloating, misconduct, or dodgy behavior; and no tub-thumping resolutions or comments about the French, the UN, abortion, the awfulness of Al Sharpton, and so on. Save any that for when you are among reliable friends and can safely have fun and let it rip.

Keep in mind the purposes of a modern political party: to win elections and govern well while putting its program into effect. You know what that means: train, organize, propagandize, raise funds, recruit good workers and candidates, get more votes than the other guys, and then do a good job in office.

Simple, really -- but it's hard work, and especially hard to do well. There are a lot of GOP and professional campaign schools and manuals around though, and many of them are quite good. I am very optimistic that Bush will be solidly reelected and that the GOP will have a good election cycle. So on November 3, we are likely to have the image that really matters in politics: winners.

[jjames001]

Yeah...the rapper that has started a large uprising about "vote or die" is one of the most popular and biggest influences on kids...goes by the name of P.Diddy....

They have a big program on those music channels about voting...this rapper, P.Diddy, sponsors it all...telling kids to "get out there and vote" or "vote or die"

He has music videos of him leading a group of kids through some city singing "why war?..." then the kids are holding up signs saying "ask why" and blah blah blah.

I try not to watch too much...it drives me insane listening to that crap.