GOOD news from Texas – the creationist nutter who heads the State Board of Education has been ousted.
Dr Don McLeroy
A vote in the Texas State Senate yesterday fell short of the two-thirds majority Don Mcleroy, a dentist and Sunday school teacher, needed to retain his position as head of an education board that has been described as “divisive”, “dysfunctional” and a national “laughing stock”.
The news that the dotty fundamentalist is about to become history was welcomed by Texas Freedom Network (TFN) President Kathy Miller:
Watching the state board the last two years has been like watching one train wreck after another. We had hoped that the Legislature would take more action to put this train back on the tracks, but clearly new leadership on the board was a needed first step. The governor should know that parents will be watching closely to see whether he chooses a new chairman who puts the education of their children ahead of personal and political agendas.
TFN, which describes itself as “a mainstream voice to counter the Religious Right”, says:
Rumors about whom Governor Rick Perry will choose to replace McLeroy as board chairman have been abundant. The state Constitution appears to direct the governor to act immediately to choose a new chairman, but the next board meeting isn’t until July.
Regardless of the governor’s selection for the next chair of the board, our work is not done. With your support, TFN will continue leading the charge for sound education standards, ideology-free textbooks and the best interests of Texas school children.
The Freethinker was founded in 1881 by GW Foote, an outspoken critic of religion. After the publication of 
May 29th, 2009 at 10:15 am
This is indeed good news.
I feel there has been as wave of rationality sweeping the USA since the departure of Bush (apart from the Prop 8 fiasco). This can only be a good thing, and long may it continue. Hopefully the USA can become the great nation it once was again.
May 29th, 2009 at 11:32 am
I wouldn't hold high hopes. Perry is completely nuts. He's hooked up with Chuck Norris (hack actor and RRRW fundaloon) in a crackpot scheme–only half joking–to secede from the union. Then he and Norris would be battling it out over who would be president of their new Christian Nation.
May 29th, 2009 at 11:52 am
I find it odd that generally liberal enlightened people take such pleasure in and spew such bile at those they disagree with.
As none of us were 'there' at the start of time (whether by God, the Big Bang or a blind watchmaker) all ideas about the foundation of man are merely theories, nothing more, without the ability to demonstrate them (unless you know better – been any Big Bangs recently?).
You freethinkers are bitter that the religious, those who have faith in a supernatural answer, are willing to suspend their disbelief and are just happy believing what they will. Irrantional ? Perhaps. Evil? Deranged? No.
And it seems that this man was origionally elected to the position he held, and has now lost. Hate choice too? Or only the choices that you dont like?
May 29th, 2009 at 8:12 pm
Good news, but a shame the vote went purely along party lines.
May 29th, 2009 at 9:50 pm
He looks like he should be working for the Christian Brothers in an Irish Institution !!!!! I certainly wouldn't let any kids near him !!