Utterly Meaningless

I missed the ‘snark’ in Valerie’s blog entry, Daryl, perhaps you could point it out for me and others who don’t see it. Ironically, I can’t help but see the snarkiness in your blog title.

“So, concerning legislation affecting homeschoolers at the federal level, what’s left to discuss? Appetizers and punch?”

So, tell me, Daryl. What is there left to discuss? The arrangement of deck chairs on the Titanic?

Section 522 was introduced into the Senate via attachment to the National Defense Authorization Act. No one said ‘boo’ about it to homeschoolers.

The Senate approved the legislation; homeschoolers were in the dark.

We are in an overseas conflict, concerning which most people support the troops, if not the conflict itself. There will be little-if-any voting against such an act. No one told homeschoolers.

On HSWatch, Scott Somerville claimed ownership of that legislation for HSLDA (message from Mr. Somerville #2448).

Mr. Somerville and Mr. Klicka knew about Section 522 (HSWatch message from Mr. Somerville #2493) and didn’t ask so much as a ‘do you mind?’ of millions of homeschoolers across the nation whom it might effect, despite the vocal opposition to the Homeschool NonDiscrimination Act, and especially Section 10 concerning military enlistment. Are Mr. Somerville’s and Mr. Klicka’s children planning to enlist? Is this a foot in the door for them?

Neither man said squat to homeschoolers. Why not? Did the e-lert service break that week? Were their computers down? Were they in Washington, DC and out of the loop? Or maybe in Europe?

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thomas...c.gov/
S.1042
Title: An original bill to authorize appropriations for fiscal year 2006 for military activities of the Department of Defense,…
Sponsor: Sen Warner, John [VA] (introduced 5/17/2005)
Latest Major Action: 11/15/2005 Passed/agreed to in Senate.
Status: Passed Senate with amendments by Yea-Nay Vote. 98 – 0.
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You take me to task, by name, for snark, but concerning HSLDA attaching a section to national legislation you, “don’t know what to make of this.”
cobran...9.html

My sharp wit isn’t going to get homeschooling defined at the federal level. What could be the effect of HSLDA’s handiwork?

Y’all are reading WAY too much into this. I was trying to be cute. My blog at HEM was way more snarky than anything that Valerie’s written.

I apologize to anyone who I’ve offended.

I agree 100% with Valerie. The bill is terrible. We need to call any and all of the members of the conference committee to let them know of our opposition. And it’s way too late to talk about this among ourselves. That can be in the post mortem (I hope).

And I apologize to Daryl for going over the top in my response to his title. I should have recognized his style.

I need to practice the ‘wait 24 hrs. before replying’ advice — which in cyberspace can lead to ‘you snooze, you lose.’ The advice is a double-edged blade.

I plead keyed-up tiredness.

Now let’s go call members of the conference committee.

I’m coming late to the party (hey – it’s HEM deadline week!) but I’ve gotta weigh in here on Daryl’s side, because even as he was trying to be cute here, he was advising me offlist about this topic: “As to the best sources of info, I’d have to go with Valerie’s blogs. She knows this stuff inside and out.”

That she does.