Obama's Back-to-School Speech, and 'The Wrecking Crew'

09/10/2009 at 8:00 p.m.

Thomas Frank's "The Wrecking Crew"

Conservatives have run against big government for decades. Thomas Frank says it's no accident then, that when conservatives rise to power, they get to work dismantling it. Frank says the modern conservative movement puts fundraising and patronage ahead of governing. When the public grows cynical over the ensuing waste, fraud and abuse, Frank says it helps to spread the conservative belief that government is the problem. Thomas Frank is founder of The Baffler magazine and author of "What's the Matter With Kansas?" His latest book is "The Wrecking Crew: How Conservatives Rule." He spoke at University Book Store in Seattle on August 11, 2008.

President Obama's Back–to–School Speech

President Obama gave a back–to–school speech in Arlington, Virginia this week. The talk was met with some controversy as conservatives said it was a political intrusion into the school day and inappropriate to push politics in that setting. The President avoided mention of specific programs and stuck to urging the students to do good, set goals and work hard. He said it's not always easy to do well in school. He said there are plenty of challenges that make it tough to do things like homework. He talked about being raised by a single mom and not having some things other kids had. The President said he missed having a father in his life. In the end, though, he said there's no excuse for talking back to teachers, cutting class or not trying.