You Did It!

   To the entire blogging community comes this from Daily Kos and I could not agree more.

You Did It

by Devilstower    Fri Mar 23, 2007

You're the one.  You're the malcontent who made waves, the one who broke up the chummy atmosphere between the White House and reporters.  You're the one who forced them to drag out their pens and actually write a story about the perversion and politicization of the Justice Department.  

If you have ever doubted for a moment that what we do here as a community is important -- in fact, of growing importance -- listening to a discussion held this morning with NPR's Washington editors should smash those doubts.  

I don't think anyone picked this ground for the fight.  I don't think either the White House or the Democrats in congress would have chosen  this issue first, but it kept bringing itself back up.  It was kept alive largely by bloggers, people on the Internet, people who cared more than the traditional media did, and that's really been driving this story.

If it hadn't been for you, the White House would still be rating attorneys by their Bushie level and growing ever more secure behind a wall of sycophants.  If it hadn't been for you, congress would still be keeping its powder dry, looking for an issue with an iron-clad guarantee of success and no possible downside.  If it hadn't been for you, the traditional media would have kept its focus on the issues it cares deeply about -- like whether or not Lindsay and Paris wore underwear to the club last night.

Absolutely, it makes a critical difference that there are now Democrats in Congress who can hold the White House to standards in the same Zip Code as legality.  For the first time, Bush is having to face people in the House and Senate who aren't happy to receive just a lie, a wink, and a knowing smirk as a response to every question.  That's vitally important.  You had a hand in that, too.

But it wouldn't be enough, it won't be enough, without the force of this community, and the broader blogger community, relentlessly digging up facts, bringing them to light, and pressing for action.  Both Congress and the media will take the easy thing over the right thing if no one is forcing their hands.  So give yourself a pat on the back, but make it quick, and get back to work.  In fact, don't take this as congratulations, take it as a spur to work harder.  

 

Technorati tags: bloggers, Alberto Gonzales, Congress, White House

 

News and Views for Friday: Breast Implants and Evil Teddy Bears

   Daniel Abrahamson    over at Alternet has an interesting look at the Supreme Court and the "Bong Hits 4 Jesus" free speech case that the court just heard this past Monday.

   I mentioned this case earlier because it has what could be a profound effect on student's right to speak their views on things of importance and the drug scene is one view that we should be allowed to hear.

The Article

The case has the potential to impact a wide swath of student expression. The Court, however, could walk a narrower path and carve out as undeserving of constitutional protection just one type of speech: drug speech. Based on the justices' questioning at oral argument, it appears that a majority of the Court may be inclined to refashion the Nancy Reagan's mantra "Just Say No" into "Don't Even Say It," when it comes to student speech that references drugs.  

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UPI    March 22, 2007

Breasts implants up self esteem, sexuality

GAINESVILLE, Fla., March 23 (UPI) -- Most women who have their breasts surgically enlarged experience increased self-esteem and sexuality, too, a University of Florida study found.

"This study shows that there are genuine psychological improvements that follow plastic surgery and these issues must be understood and respected," Cynthia Figueroa-Haas, an assistant professor at the university's College of Nursing said in the Gainesville (Fla.) Sun.

The study results appear in the current issue of Plastic Surgical Nursing.

Most of the 84 women in Figueroa-Haas's study had an increase in self-esteem and sexuality, the Sun reported. Participants were between the ages of 21 and 57.

Following their breast augmentation surgery, self-esteem rose an average of 24.9 percent, while sexual desire increased 78.6 percent and sexual satisfaction increased 57 percent.

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UPI

Expelled students get $69,000

INDIANAPOLIS, March 23 (UPI) -- An Indiana school district will pay $69,000 to three of four high school students it expelled for their film in which evil teddy bears threaten a teacher.

The three Knightstown High School sophomores, who were readmitted to school in January under a federal judge's order, will split the money, the Indianapolis Star reported.

The school district on Tuesday approved the $69,000 settlement and agreed to remove the boys' expulsion from their records, ending a federal First Amendment lawsuit brought by the teenagers when they were expelled in January, the Star reported.

A fourth boy didn't take part in the lawsuit, although he, too, was readmitted to school.

The boys were expelled over the film they called "The Teddy Bear Master," which they described as a parody of a horror movie which they made off school grounds.

District officials said it made threats against a teacher character who had the same name as a middle school teacher in the district.

Before she ruled in their favor in December, U.S. District Judge Sarah Evans Barker described "The Teddy Bear Master" as "humiliating" and "obscene," the Star reported.

 

Technorati tags: Supreme Court, student speech, breast implants, teddy bears