Absolutely Pathetic this rhetoric coming from the far right. Pleasanton has a far higher number of these types than most all other communities and that's really starting to show around town and in the schools.



Note that this woman who organised the Tea Party is a Psychologist and she's keeping her kid home from school so they won't be subjected to this "terrible dangerous" President as many right wingers believe.


From The Weekly in regard to the Presidents speech to the children:


"However, in a statement issued early today, Bridget Melson, a Pleasanton resident who operates a psychiatric practice in the city and helped organize last April's "Taxed Enough Already" local protest under the auspices of the Pleasanton Tea Party (pleasantonteaparty.com), said many concerned parents are choosing to have their students "opt out" of the Obama speech, lesson plan and/or school all together."

News for you BRIDGET, my daughter goes to HEARST ans NO KIDS opted out in her entire class! In FACT, my daughter was all fired up and inspired by the President Of The United States Speech to the Children Of America. YOUR children will have to explain why MOMMY hates the President! Good Move Mrs. Psychologist!

"I do respect that Obama is our president," Melson said. "However, due to inconsistencies that I personally have seen in his character, the company he keeps, among other things, we choose not to have our children participate in (the) event in the schools."

Geez Mrs. Melson, "inconsistencies that I personally have seen in his character, the company he keeps." i would say you shouls sheild Your kids from people like YOU! Are you going to follow them through out life and shelter them, or rather censure them from main stream America?

"I personally feel that especially at the elementary school level, children should be taught, reading, writing, arithmetic, and my son's favorite—Recess," she said, adding that she is choosing to keep her 5 and 7-year-old children home for the day.

"I conducted an email poll (Sunday) asking how many parents in Pleasanton, Sunol, and Livermore were keeping their children home," Melson said. "I have been receiving emails all day and they have continued through the night. I think it sends a strong message to the schools that they need to listen to us and if they don't, we will opt out which I know affects the district financially."


YOU had smoke blow! Like I said, very few if ANY students stayed home! A small number at hearst sat out the 20 minutes. How sad is that! Their too young to expalin to their class mates why Mommy and Daddy refused to let them listen to a short speech from the President.

You should be ashamed!

I am wondering the cost this "fun" day was for PUSD? This incredible waste to district finances be addressed? Last year, absences cost the district 3 million dollars, how much of this could be reduced if people scheduled their family trips when school is not in session?

[Post removed due to same poster using multiple names]

Dan, your cyber bullying is offensive... Threatening to go to the teachers union is cyber thuggery towards parents like Dr. B because we don't share your opinions? Are you now the self-appointed Pleasanton Cyber-Bully Czar?

WoW cut a fragmented piece of an article from an interview that was taken totally out of context and tried to post it like it's a breaking news story and that's pathetic.

How sad for you, that you feel as parents we don't have the right to who advises our children and think you can cyber bully us. So now that you are going to write the school board, we should all feel scared and run to hide so that we don't get brought in for questioning by the cyber police? Really Dan time to grow up and stop the bullying.

In our opinion this president is not worthy of advising our kids. He has economically strapped every single school kid with decades of debt, he surrounds himself with radical advisers/Czars that I wouldn't surround myself with if you paid me so, why would we allow the Pleasanton School District to force his influence as a reputable adviser down our kids throats, president or not?

Additionally you are either to young to know or to old to remember but 18 years ago when President H.W. Bush spoke to students, Democrats investigated, held hearings and house minority leader Dick Gehpartd threw fists around in a tantrums of anger over a very similar speech to obama's however, you wouldn't find President H.W. Bush being advised by someone with a background like Van Jones:

Van Jones Wikipedia:
When he graduated law school, Jones gave up plans to take a job in Washington, D.C., and moved to San Francisco instead.He got involved with Standing Together to Organize a Revolutionary Movement (STORM), a group EXPLICITLY COMMITTED TO REVOLUTIONARY MARXIST POLITICS whose points of unity were revolutionary democracy, revolutionary feminism, revolutionary internationalism, the central role of the working class, urban Marxism, and Third World COMMUNISM.

Please keep that mind when you attack people for their opinions on choosing not to have their children advised by President Obama.

Interesting that the question above is positioned as a district money concern: "I am wondering the cost this "fun" day was for PUSD? This incredible waste to district finances be addressed? Last year, absences cost the district 3 million dollars, how much of this could be reduced if people scheduled their family trips when school is not in session?"

Let's take a look at PUSD district finance waste. The whole issue on Measure G was Pleasanton Unified School District would have rather imposed a parcel tax on homeowners than implement long term solutions to the budget problems, coupled with the ever increasing amount of spending from car allowances to past annual administrative raises oh and don't forget the many union cell phones free as well.. compliments of Pleasanton tax payers.

Back to the subject of the Presidents speech: What no one seems to want to discuss here is the fact that the DEMOCRATS held congressional hearings and asked the comptrollers office to determine the cost of President H.W. Bush speech to students back in 1991... So why isn't there an uproar from Democrats now about the government wasting tax payer dollars for the same type of "Rah-Rah- Go-Team, speech at a time that WE THE PEOPLE (including each school kid Mr. Obama addressed), are strapped with decades of NEW President Obama government imposed debt?

So where's the uproar from Democrats on cost to tax-payers this time around?

WoW....Must be partisan politics again...

That isn't cyber bullying, but nice try at a fresh attempt to escalate things.
Mr. Menter is simply pointing out that he is going to make his voice heard to the school board that punitive tactics such as those used by Mrs. Melson in the referenced article should not sway their decisions regarding issues like showing the President's speech. Mrs. Melson is trying to engage in this activity in an effort to prevent all PUSD students from hearing a speech from the President, creating a chilling effect. He is giving a voice to parents who DO want their kids to hear from the President, and not "punishing" the district in the process.
You want to see cyber bullying, read back on some of the comments from Obama oponents on these boards. They are complaining that their posts are removed and the PW has a liberal slant, but their posts are removed because they are riddled with insults to Obama supporters.

If absence costs the district funds, then shame on every parent who couldn't manage to communicate their views on Obama's message (which WAS blown WAY out of proportion!) in a way that furthers their child's education.

Parenting in today's age seems to be based on who much I can by my kids, not who much I can give my kids. Think about that.

The RIGHT preaching about bullying?

Good Grief, the average right is crazier than originally thought.

"Please, No More Cyber Pleasanton Cyber Bullies!, a resident of the Another Pleasanton neighborhood neighborhood, 6 hours ago



Dan, your cyber bullying is offensive...

"

ONLY in Pleasanton, we go ON and ON and ON about this!

The rest of the Nation is for the most pary o.k. with the Presidents speech and today is a new day.

The t.v. and video games and what is coming out of YOUR mouths is by FAR more inappropriate for our children the the speech.

In talking to friends that are against thhe president, it become more clear everyday that the RADICAL RIGHT is NOT any longer a small group. The things the right are saying are just plain imature and crazy, literally.

I am not a fan of the president, but the reason there was no outcry is that 19 years ago bush41 was cleared by the gao/congressional investigation as having done nothing wrong. So... I guess from then on, it's ok for the president to do exactly what he did. The problem about this instance was not the address itself or the content, it was the involvement of the Dept of Edu delivering a "lesson plan" to "help" teachers" and student make some sense of the address. If my kids were in school, I CERTAINLY would have not allowed the president access to them with the lesson plan in hand. And I wonder...when all the hub-bub started [because of the "lesson plan"] my thought were "why is the Dept of Edu delivering a lesson plan? That is NOT part of their mandate. Again, an over reaching by this president and his operatives.

OK, seriously does anyone think that a five year old would comprehend what he's talking about anyway? Jeez, when I was that age all I thought about was playing with toys and running around. They won't even remeber that by the time they are in high school. Even in high school....HELLO. TEENAGERS. They hardly listen to their parents nowadays...let alone the President. I wish I could just excuse my kids for the day because "I don't like it" ....friggin' pathetic. Regarless who's side you're on, what she did shows a total lack of respect for OUR President.

I don't agree with Dr. Melson, but to me it seems like it's going too far to try to publicly shame her by singling her out here and question her competency as a psychiatrist over something as little as a speech given by the President. Isn't this the exact reason why people wished to remain anonymous during the more controversial and important Measure G debate? She is a private citizen, not an elected official.

Dan Menter,

Will you get so upset and react equally when the flu season hits and complain about all the parents who will keep their children home from school to prevent it from spreading? Seriously, much bigger problem than a single day of a single parent taking their two children out.

[Post removed due to same poster using multiple names]

I don't know Stacey.

Between her web site, blog, sales of her wristbands ("to be worn by true Americans only") and her propensity for seeking the spotlight, Dr. Melson has shown great willingness to shed her anonymity.

As long as she continues to put herself out there as the arbiter of who is a "true American" or "patriot" and who is not, she invites the commentary of those who do not agree with her, or her politics.

I am a conservative and am anti-government in most things but the fuss over this speech is beyond belief. I agreed with everything O'Bama had to say. The students have to take responsibility along with the parents for their own good. Maybe Pleasanton is a lot more racist than I thought. That is the only way you can explain this ridiculous outcry. Do people have any independent thinking ability any more?

Pst, I didn't say H1N1. Any time a child is pulled out of school because they're sick with anything or because they are on vacation or because it is "Take the kid to work" day or whatever, the district doesn't get their attendance funds for that day. Does PUSD budget appropriately for this normal activity? Do these parents pay the district back (I know some do, but apparently not everyone since they lose $3MM)? If the children are not in school, why does the school need the money?

Rae,
Commentary, yes, but anytime there's words such as "people like you", that's not commentary on someone's actions, that's vilification of character.

Stacey,
You're right. Kind of like what she does on her website when she singles out those who agree with her as the "only true Americans" or "patriots". It's villification of character by omission.

I would like to mention that while Shawn's childs' classroom may not have had studentsleave, my son's class had 4 who did opt-out. It is shameful that parents and students were put in a position where being ostracized from their classrooms was the only option of opting out, other than keeping the kids home from school.

I am not a fan of President Obama for many reasons, but I allowed my child to stay in class to hear the speech. And while I do not know what the original version of the speech might have been, I read the version that was posted on Monday and felt the watered down version he gave yesterday was pretty benign for an elementary school class whose teacher did not discuss the speech further.

I was quite pleased to hear that there was no follow-up discussion of the speech in class, as I believe that the President should be focused on other things than my child's education and that the teacher should be focused on meeting the educational goals established for the children.

As parents, my husband and I will be the ones to ensure that self-worth, responsibility and pride are instilled in our child. We will ensure that he has a complete understanding of the importance of his education. We started teaching this long ago, and do not need the President's unsolicited assistance in being a responsible parent. Interrupting class to impose himself upon a nation was both arrogant and unnecessary of the President.

With that being said, I am not completely opposed to the President addressing our nation's youth. He is obviously a role model for many families. However, this speech should have been aired in a manner that allowed PARENTS the freedom of choice to decide whether they wished to subject their children to his address.

There was no need to have that speech in school. Quite obviously, doing so only further alienated and divided our country along party lines. For a President who campaigned on being a bi-partisan leader, he has failed miserably at bringing our nation together and this latest situation only fueled the fire.

This speech could have been an INCREDIBLE teaching moment for some families. It would have been much more effective had it been presented as a special presentation that parents and children could have CHOSEN to watch AT HOME together, rather than been forced upon a substantial part of the population who disagree with the Presidents' politics and therefore do no want him addressing their children. Doing so would have made it a much more effective teachable moment, and undeniably a much less controversial one at that.

The article shoul dhave been titled "East Bay Psychiatrist proves theory that people decide to pursue the profession in pursuit of a solution to thier own delusions"

The sky is falling, the sky is falling , the sky is falling , the sky is falling , the sky is falling , the sky is falling , the sky is falling , the sky is falling , the sky is falling , the sky is falling , the sky is falling , the sky is falling , the sky is falling , the sky is falling , the sky is falling , the sky is falling , the sky is falling , the sky is falling , the sky is falling , the sky is falling , the sky is falling , the sky is falling , the sky is falling , the sky is falling , the sky is falling , the sky is falling , the sky is falling , the sky is falling , the sky is falling , the sky is falling , the sky is falling , the sky is falling

[Post removed due to disrespectful comment or offensive language]

Stacey,

my understanding is that excused absences for illness ("ADA" days, I think they're called, though I'm not sure why) do not count against the district in terms of state funds. Any unexcused absence does, however. Dublin SD has a campaign to eliminate unexcused absences... their attendance is only 2-3% higher than ours, if I remember correctly from one of those May or June board meetings.

On the subject of this article -- I'm done giving attention to the small minority of parents who pulled their kids from school yesterday.

Rae,

As I wrote, I don't agree with Dr. Melson's position. Are you trying to justify one's actions because the other does it too? I don't think it needs to be said that two wrongs don't make a right.

[Portion removed due to disrespectful comment or offensive language]

Proving my point?

Sandy,

That's not correct. Schools lose money for excused absences too. Web Link

"Does the District lose money because of absences?
PUSD receives revenue based on our Average Daily Attendance (ADA), not the number of students we have enrolled. Any absence, whether excused or unexcused, decreases the amount of revenue that comes to us, about $45 - $50 per student absence per day. Last year, the total revenue lost for all student absences was about $3 million."

Oops! Thanks for correcting me, Stacey.

Concerned wrote: "Maybe Pleasanton is a lot more racist than I thought. That is the only way you can explain this ridiculous outcry".

Thank you for bringing racism to the table! That's always an excellent counterpoint to anyone who disagrees with you.

Stacey,

The point I was trying to make (evidently badly) is that Dr. Melson isn't just a "private citizen" who wishes to "remain anonymous" during controversial issues. She isn't a blogger who was outed in retaliation by someone else. Dr. Melson has actively worked to put herself out - on the radio, in the newspapers, on her website, in her blog.

You think it "shame(s) her by singling her out here and question(ing) her competency as a psychiatrist"? Dr. Melson is the one who makes sure that there is always a reference to her psychology practice in the news articles she allows to quote her - as if that makes her an expert. It's like being questioned on the witness stand - once the door is opened . . .

So, while I don't think name-calling is appropriate, I see absolutely nothing wrong in questioning her ability as a psychologist on this issue - especially as she advertises that "her specialty and area of expertise includes working with adolescents/teens".

I certainly would never send a child to her. I don't believe that someone who holds themself up as the only model of what a "true American" is, could possibly help, in a positive, constructive way, someone they obviously feel is beneath them. But that's just me.

President GHW Bush gave a speech to the school kids and nothing much came out it as I recall. A small group of Democrats made some comments but that's about it.

The day came and went. What President Obama said was common sense. No child has become a socialist because of the speech. Some were inspired... and many were probably bored.

If you really think your child can be easily indoctrinated, then you as a parent you need to take some responsibility. I emphasize to my teenage daughter that ultimately she is responsible for herself.

So, the bottom line is that the hue & cry is mostly about being anti-Obama.

I entirely support the right of everyone to voice their opinions and even protest if needed to bring attention to important issues. However, those on the far right (and far left for that matter) should avoid blindly protesting anything from the other side of the aisle. Not only might you miss a good idea or two, but you could make yourself look foolish in the process. There are many examples of this across the political spectrum and now a few on the far right, opposing Obama on any issue at all costs, are looking like chicken little. Heck, even Newt Gingrich supported the speech and thought all kids should see and hear it.

Please don't stop fighting for your views and rights, but just use a little common sense every now and then. Otherwise when you do have a valid point that we should all hear, no one will be listening.

Rae,

I see your point, but I just don't see that as a reason to target the person. She's not an elected official who has a responsibility to the public benefit. That's what I mean by "private citizen". I wasn't intending to discuss anonymity on the Internet and being outed when I mentioned remaining anonymous during the Measure G debate.

I agree that when someone engages in public discourse, their opinions are open to commentary and criticism. Attack the opinion then, not the person (not that _you_ are attacking the person).

Hey, remember when Julie Testa was targeted? Someone posted here an entire thread devoted to her person as the subject. Is this thread any different?

[Post removed due to disrespectful comment or offensive language]

Web Link I don't find her comments offensive and I think that she has a right to keep her kids at home if that's what she decides. I find her opinion just that, her opinion. Nobody has been harmed. Unless you have and if so, where is the proof?

Above is her web page. Looks harmless to me.

Now take a look at her Tea Party website. Here's the welcome page.
Web Link

Notice she's posted a picture of someone she claims "heckled" the "patriots" at her group's latest protest - the one against Rep. McNerney. Talk about name-calling and targeting a private citizen!

Next, take a look at the info page on the wristband she's hawking. ("click here" on the welcome page by the pic of the band)
Web Link

Notice the band is "TO BE WORN BY TRUE AMERICANS ONLY".

What I find offensive is Dr. Melson's message that just by virtue of her political beliefs, she is a better, a truer, American than those who disagree with her.

Love and agree with the words by the wristband.

Wear this silent protest wristband if...



*You are protesting against new frivolous taxes



*You are fed up with Congressmen who sign bills before they read them



*You feel you have no voice in today's government at ALL LEVELS




*You are frustrated with your politicians arrogance and poor choices



*You want America to be returned to the people

The analogy between choosing to skip school and being sick is invalid. You are expected/required to keep your child home if they have a fever, are vomiting, have a communicable disease, etc.

I'm sure Dr. Melson's kids learned a lot yesterday - e.g. that it's okay to cut school if you feel like it! Let's see how that lesson works out for the good doctor when the kids are in high school.

Dr. Melson,

Consider home-schooling your children. Seriously.

How is any of it offensive? Just because you don't like what you read, are you suffering?
Have you had to be hospitalized because of what you've read about tea parties? Proof?

How come you're so freaked out? Strange.

People, people, people...I watched the President's speech and it was as inoffensive as they come, full of platitudes (work hard and stay in school!) and a definitely a walk on the mild side. The President did also have an inspirational story for the students about his own life as a boy whose father abandoned the family when he was only two years old, yet who persevered with the help of his mother (and made his own youthful mistakes) and that was the part of the speech that students are likely to remember.

I've seen a lot of people dancing around the real issue and afraid to just call a spade a spade, so here it is: some people in Pleasanton (and elsewhere in the USA) are having a psychological meltdown because the President is a black man.

I know, you're not a racist and how dare I say that the President's opponents are against him just because he's black. Certainly President Obama's skin color is not the only reason to oppose his, but when I read hysterical screeds IN ALL CAPS that the President is a MARXIST and trying to INDOCTRINATE the nation's children...well, the disconnect from reality is so profound and the attack on the President is so personal and visceral that I can find no other plausible explanation for the frothing-at-the-mouth hatred directed against Mr. Obama by some of his opponents.

I also renew my objection to the Pleasanton Weekly allowing people to anonymously post comments, especially ad hominem attacks on anybody, regardless of his or her political beliefs. If people in Pleasanton can't attach their real names to their comments, then they don't deserve to have them aired in a public forum. I strongly disagree with Dr. Melson's stance, but at least she has the courage to attach her real name to her opinions.

STACEY,

Dr. Melson organized the "Tea Party" and got parents ALL riled up over this speech that was NOTHING short of rational and inspirational. Dr. Melson stated TO THE PRESS:


"I conducted an email poll (Sunday) asking how many parents in Pleasanton, Sunol, and Livermore were keeping their children home," Melson said. "I have been receiving emails all day and they have continued through the night. I think it sends a strong message to the schools that they need to listen to us and if they don't, we will opt out which I know affects the district financially."

Hardly anyone actually PULLED their kids and the ones that did caused the REAL HARM to their own children as well as the school district.

So, Dr. Melson is HARDLY trying to be low key or annonomous by ANY means. She will reap what she sows. She just LOST more than 1/2 of her clientel if not more and fro a DARN good reason.


President Obama took the TIME to communicate with OUR children about school.

"Posted by Stacey, a resident of the Amberwood/Wood Meadows neighborhood, 15 hours ago
Stacey is a member (registered user) of Pleasanton Weekly

I don't agree with Dr. Melson, but to me it seems like it's going too far to try to publicly shame her by singling her out here and question her competency as a psychiatrist over something as little as a speech given by the President. Isn't this the exact reason why people wished to remain anonymous during the more controversial and important Measure G debate? She is a private citizen, not an elected official."

[Post removed due to same poster using multiple names]

[Post removed due to same poster using multiple names]

[Post removed due to same poster using multiple names]

[Post removed due to same poster using multiple names]

[Post removed due to same poster using multiple names]

[Post removed due to same poster using multiple names]

[Post removed due to same poster using multiple names]

[Post removed due to same poster using multiple names]

[Post removed due to same poster using multiple names]

[Post removed due to same poster using multiple names]

[Post removed due to same poster using multiple names]

[Post removed due to same poster using multiple names]

[Post removed due to same poster using multiple names]

[Post removed due to same poster using multiple names]

[Post removed due to same poster using multiple names]

[Post removed due to same poster using multiple names]

I see someone was up late last night...

Unbeknownst to some of you who seem to think that NO OTHER kids skipped the president's speach - there were many kids who opted out but stayed on campus and the schools allowed it. Sounds like the proper way to have handled it, at least for those old enough to have an the idea to want to assert themselves. They simply told their teachers they wished to skip out of the televised portion of the programming and were allowed to step out.

I have heard this from a number of students. A very sound way to have handled it.

Just a wild guess, but all the posts after Dan Bradford's up until Emily's are from someone's little late-night creative writing assignment.

In answer to Stacey's comment, "If the children are not in school, why does the school need the money?"

Well, for starters, a teacher isn't paid less if they teach 19 or 20 students that day. A custodian doesn't clean the rooms or halls less because 15 students were absent from school that day. Lighting in the classroom isn't reduced by 5% because one student is absent. A book that isn't opened that day, doesn't cost the district less to purchase.

Even when a child is absent for any reason on a school day, the cost to the district for teachers' or other employees salaries, lighting, books/materials, etc. remains the same. These are averaged into the budget costs which are offset against the projected income the district will receive (which is estimated based on the prior year's ADA). Twice a year (at the end of October and January), interim reports are submitted to the state based on actuals vs. budget and adjustments are made.

I am not a PUSD district employee - I just have a basice awareness of how the schools are financed.

i dont even have to read all these blogs to know what is going to be said by everyone.
right or wrong...isn't this a free country? the woman can do whatever the hell she wants.
who cares? don't you think the media just LOVES reporting this stuff? they are the ones that start all this crap among everyone. why is it such a big deal that obama gave a speech to children? why is it such a big deal that people opted for their kids NOT to listen to it? who the hell cares? life is too short to be worried about all this petty stuff. there's a war going on people. pray for that.

I took a creative writing class but it was sooooooo boring, I got up left class one evening and never returned.

I still don't find what she writes about on any of her blogs offensive? I think most Plutonians don't know how to set up a web page. Also, I'm waiting for PROOF that anybody has been harmed by an opinion that differs from yours....strange.

dare I say that Free Speech allows for a difference of opinion...

Resident,

Exactly. So maybe the real problem is that ADA is a horrible way to finance schools (compared with financing by enrollment) and not that the problem is when children are kept out of school by parents for whatever reason.

Stacey, I stand by my statement [Portion removed due to disrespectful comment or offensive language] She uses her title to promote her fundamentalist and hateful views. She uses character assassination to undermine any view held by our president. Her messages are offensive, inaccurate and just plain whacky. Pointing out that she is clearly a nut is a public service. As you may remember from your Political Science classes the extreme right and extreme left policies are nearly identical as the move to from the left and right follows a circle and meets in the middle and the extremes. Extreme conservatives (IE Al Qaeda) flew airplanes into our buildings. Extreme liberalism led to the Marxist governments that plagued Eastern Europe the last century. Neither is acceptable.

Wow, I believe most of these posts are giving this so-called Dr. way too much attention. Obviously she was just trying to get her name out there and advertise her occupation. Nice try, Dr.

How disappointing it is to live in a country where people would take their children out of school to avoid them hearing a speech from the President of the United States. In the end children learned that their parents promote disrespect and intolerance. What a sad day for Americans!

Amazing how the Pleasanton Weekly Staff doesn't think it's offensive for someone to refer to a named poster, Bridget Melson, [Portion removed due to disrespectful comment or offensive language] but when I referred to the poster who equated those who voted No on Measure G as supporting terrorism as a nut job, the PW staff deleted that posting as offensive.

Very selective censorship by the PW staff.

For the record, I don't agree with Bridget Melson's decision to keep her children at home on Tuesday, but that is her right and it's her right to voice her opinions and publicize them.

Boy, where to start...
Concerned wrote: "Maybe Pleasanton is a lot more racist than I thought. That is the only way you can explain this ridiculous outcry". Racism? Really? In the famous words of a duck that sells insurance, Obama is "half-black". Is this referred racism against whites or blacks? After all, the truth REALLY is .... Obama is not the first black president but the first mulatto (half black, half white) president. What racism?
Melson: for those so upset with her actions and words...another truth....this is (still) America where there is freedom of speech. For Bullyman Dan to report her is sad and a childish action.
FYI, another fact (PW, you reading this?), ask any youth and they will tell you that Tea Bagger is a VERY derogatory term that guys use when relating to girls .....well, you come up with the rest of it.
Tea Parties: they were great. I am still surprised how this bothered those who just got done spending 8 years bemoaning and beating the crap out of Bush. How hypocritical.
Right wingers? Is the truth really that the right look further right because the left has moved further left? Give this some thought.
Enjoy all your lost freedoms and new debt.

[Post removed due to same poster using multiple names]

[Post removed due to same poster using multiple names]

[Post removed due to same poster using multiple names]

Save the disappointment:
[Portion removed due to disrespectful comment or offensive language]

As the TEA party folks chanted "Read the Bill" (even though there was no bill yet to read) I say read her website and propoganda.

Christian Fundamentalism is every bit as evil as Muslim Fundementalism (I am christian) and was responsible for many cases of genocide (as is true for just about every form of fundamental religion) . [Portion removed due to disrespectful comment or offensive language]

[Post removed due to same poster using multiple names]

Actually if my children were still school-age, I would have pulled them out as well. You see, I think the character and integrity of the person that is talking to my kids is equally important as the message. When you see the people that Obama surrounds himself with--Van Jones, Holdren, Sunstein, Wright, Ayers, etc.--you really have to wonder about him as a person. If what Obama says is true, that you can judge him by the people he surrounds himself with, then he does not meet the criteria of being qualified to speak to my kids, nor is he deserving of my respect. As parents we have to be a little more selective in who we expose our kids to. Those of you ostracizing people with different opinions, suggesting that licenses get yanked or that their livelihood be taken away, need to consider the impact you are having on your own kids when they see that it is acceptable behavior to spew hatred, intolerance and ill will towards anyone whose opinion differs from your own. How does this make you better than the people you're attacking?

Add the Melsons to those I would never trust and whose opinions are impossible to respect due to the obvious hate-spewing tone language.

More civility and less racism, please.
More debates and less divisions, please.
More McCains and less Malkins, please.
More Olympia Snowes and less Rick Scotts, please.
More Hatches and less Hannities, please.
More legislation and less Levins, please.
More Lugars and less Limbaughs, please.

Interesting comment from Amanda. Did you know who the teachers that your children spent the school years with surrounded themselves with?

I asked my son to query his teachers at PMS on Wednesday as to the numbers of students that did not attend on Tuesday or were excused for Obama's speech. All of them replied that no students had asked to be excused and the absences were normal. [Portion removed due to disrespectful comment or offensive language]

[Post removed due to being off topic]

[Post removed due to being off topic]

Wow - I'm in the uncomfortable position of agreeing with Kathleen.

Well Said.

Well said Wow......thanks for being a voice or wisdom and reason

[Post removed due to violation of terms of use]

[Post removed due to violation of terms of use]

Nothing here but typical liberal drivel: "If you don't like the message ... attack the messenger."

Of course, when someone resorts to that, it also means they don't actually have anything USEFUL to say.

In the end, Rae", "Me" & "Cop" ... your incredibly hateful & intolerant comments just reflect very, very poorly on you.

Perhaps its time for you guys to grow up & knock of your pathetic Jr High rants.

To the Pleasanton Weekly Editors:

See what happens when you pull the remarks of a private citizen out of their true context and publish them? It just brings out the worst of the worst in the worst people. The hateful people who slander Dr. Melson, her husband, their business, their children, and their religion stay behind their anonymous computer screens and try to incite their hatred in others. I'm stunned that PW allows the baseless libel against her business and particularly her religion to remain on your site. Spoken in public, some of the nastiest remarks would be prosecutable as a hate crime. What happened to open, civil dialogue?

Thankfully, there are those in this forum who are courageous enough to leave their full names and those who know how to respectfully disagree.

Dr. Melson is a private citizen who consistently leaves the comfort of her computer (even at 8 months pregnant) to speak to politicians or anyone in person to encourage ongoing discourse. Every American enjoys the right to free speech and freedom of religion and Dr. Melson is no exception.

Her questions about Obama's character (and the characters he surrounds himself with), about over-taxation, about personally invasive government run health care are VALID questions. Yet, unlike these anonymous slanderers, she disagrees without hate. I do not understand why so many in this forum are so thin-skinned and reckless in their need to disrepute people who disagree with them.

[Portion removed for being off topic.]

Back to my original intent in commenting, I think that PW owes Dr. Melson a very public apology for allowing the abusive and defamatory comments towards her and her family to remain on this forum.

Respectfully,
Stacy Kennedy

Why is everyone so upset and worked up. This is America. Free choice. Some parents chose to send their kids to school. Some parents chose to keep their children home. This is what freedom is all about. This is what America stands for.

Stacy Kennedy: you are a strong and thoughtful person. Good letter. I agree. I used to be like you (written thoughts) before my anger swelled uncontrollably.
Good luck and stay strong.

Stacy Kennedy,

Please open your mind to other peoples opinion also. [Portion removed for being off topic]

Then there is the issue of keeping children home on Tuesday. I think that should be treated like any other unexcused absence. If we don't, where does it stop? Do you keep your AP biology students home from school for a month because they are talking about evolution and you believe in young earth creationism?

I think Dr. Melson clearly seeks out attention for both her business and her religion. She should expect to get some criticism.

The fact that my post was removed for discreditting the not so fine and clearly not so stable doctor is absurd censorship. It is too bad when the truth is considered offensive. Visit your text books and you will see censorship proceeds totatlitarian movements. It is why our wise founding fathers gave us our most important and not aciidentaly first, 1st amendment.

[Post removed due to same poster using multiple names]

[Post removed due to same poster using multiple names]

Dear "Love Palin",

I'm not sure what you read in my letter that led you to assume that I'm closed-minded or that my opinions are "knee-jerk" answers. I am registered as an Independent voter and vote on issues/officials based on my beliefs, not any political party line. I am a concerned citizen, I think through these issues very carefully, and am a strong proponent of free markets, smaller government, and personal liberty.

I agree with you wholeheartedly that the major problem in Washington is overspending. My voice was loud and objecting when President Bush and this Congress spent us into a $687 Billion deficit last year. And my voice is just as loud now as Obama and this Congress have us already $1.6 TRILLION in deficit and are proposing another $900 Billion just this year. It is out of control and it must be stopped. I don't think the 2010 elections can get here fast enough. This President and Congress need a quick lesson in Econ 101 - you can't spend your way out of debt.

But, really? You think we should be taxed more? And your "name" is "Love Palin"?

Regarding Dr. Melson's choice to keep her kids out of school - how do you know it wasn't counted as an unexcused absence?

I am astonished at how so many people jump to negative conclusions about her, her motives, her business, her religion and incite others to be hateful as well. It's unbelievable to me how the viciousness towards her is dismissed and excused ...witout questioning the motives of those who are slandering and persecuting her (of course, well hidden behind their cowardly and anonymous "names").

Respectfully,

Stacy Kennedy

Disabled Veteran
Independent Voter

[Post removed due to same poster using multiple names]

Stacy Kennedy,

I did a quick scan of the other posts here, and didn't see anything libelous -- offensive maybe, but not libelous. Was there something posted that was factually not true about Dr. Melson?

[Post removed due to same poster using multiple names]

[Post removed due to same poster using multiple names]

Dear "Love Palin",

Thankfully, it appears that the editors of PW have removed the most vile and slanderous comments and the cheap shots at her children.

Respectfully,
Stacy Kennedy

[Post removed due to same poster using multiple names]

[Post removed due to same poster using multiple names]

[Post removed due to same poster using multiple names]

[Post removed due to same poster using multiple names]