What could possibly bring the Neanderthal, reactionary right-wing nut-jobs over at LST into perfect agreement with the ever-thoughtful, perfectly sensible, and kind-hearted progressive-perspective to be found over at Off the Kuff?

The Houston Chronicle, of course.

Here’s something to ponder: On the same day that they ran the story about New York Governor Eliot Spitzer and his hooker problem, the Chronical also ran an editorial calling for his resignation. Nothing wrong with that, I’d say it’s the consensus opinion, and likely to come true fairly quickly, though given that this was a late-in-the-day story, the speed by which the Chron responded editorially was remarkable to me. They must not have had anything else pressing to opine about today, I figure.

But contrast that to their response to the Chuck Rosenthal saga, which I think we can all agree is of more local interest than the foibles of a Northeastern governor. The story of Rosenthal’s racist, sexist, and possibly illegal campaign-related emails hit the news on January 8. As far as I can tell from doing multiple archive searches, the first time the Chron ran an unsigned editorial on the subject was February 16, when they expressed their approval at his long-awaited decision to quit and called on Governor Perry to name a replacement (which he hasn’t done yet, by the way). Before that, even as calls for him to step down came from folks like Kelly Siegler, a group of black ministers, various letter writers, and County Judge Ed Emmett, there was nothing from the Chron.

So I’ve got to ask: Why was it more important for the Chron to comment on the Spitzer situation than the Rosenthal situation? I’ll stipulate that Spitzer is headed for an indictment, while Rosenthal may never face charges, but so what? Again, Spitzer is in New York. Rosenthal is here, and his saga dominated the local news for weeks, and is still having an effect on the political scene. Note that I’m not saying the Chron needed to call for Rosenthal to step down, though in the end they did approve of him doing just that. I’m just wondering why it took them so long to express any editorial opinion on the subject when they were lightning quick to judge Spitzer. I don’t understand their priorities here.

When he’s right, he’s right correct, he’s correct.

It’s a story that has become all too familiar:  a once-innocent schoolyard, daytime home to middle school students with not a care in the world, when one is approached by a classmate.  After a few minutes of hushed conversation, and wary glances around, a tragic transaction:  the honors student furtively slips the other a handful of cash, and the pusher casually passes back a plastic bag.

Fortunately, school officials are on top of the situation.  They spring into action, seize the contraband, suspend the eighth-grader from school and school activities, and strip him of his class officer’s status.

To be sure, that should teach him a lesson.  No candy allowed at school:

Michael Sheridan was stripped of his title as class vice president, barred from attending an honors student dinner and suspended for a day after buying a bag of Skittles from a classmate.

The New Haven school system banned candy sales in 2003 as part of a district-wide school wellness policy, said school spokeswoman Catherine Sullivan-DeCarlo.

The Connecticut do-gooders (in New Haven, home of Yale, which explains a lot) have decreed that they, and only they, shall decide what students eat.

A copy of the district’s policy states that “no candy or junk food fundraisers will be allowed on school grounds” and that only healthy snacks will be sold in vending machines.

The policy also prohibits bake sales and other food sales.

Thank goodness someone is taking action to make our schools safe!

What’s that thing about the inmates running the asylum?
 

President Bush on the “Fairness Doctrine“.

“This organization has had many important missions, but none more important than ensuring our airways - America’s airways - stay open to those who preach the ‘Good News.’ The very first amendment to our Constitution includes the freedom of speech and the freedom of religion. Founders believed these unalienable rights were endowed to us by our Creator. They are vital to a healthy democracy, and we must never let anyone take those freedoms away.”

”I mention this because there’s an effort afoot that would jeopardize your right to express your views on public airways. Some members of Congress want to reinstate a regulation that was repealed 20 years ago. It has the Orwellian name called the Fairness Doctrine. Supporters of this regulation say we need to mandate that any discussion of so-called controversial issues on the public airwaves includes equal time for all sides. This means that many programs wanting to stay on the air would have to meet Washington’s definition of balance. Of course, for some in Washington, the only opinions that require balancing are the ones they don’t like.”

“We know who these advocates of so-called balance really have in their sights: shows hosted by people like Rush Limbaugh or James Dobson, or many of you here today. By insisting on so-called balance, they want to silence those they don’t agree with. The truth of the matter is, they know they cannot prevail in the public debate of ideas. They don’t acknowledge that you are the balance … The country should not be afraid of the diversity of opinions. After all, we’re strengthened by diversity of opinions.”

“If Congress truly supports the free and open exchange of ideas, then there is a way they can demonstrate that right now. Republicans have drafted legislation that would ban reinstatement of the so-called Fairness Doctrine. Unfortunately, Democratic leaders in the House of Representatives have blocked action on this bill. So in response, nearly every Republican in the House has signed onto what’s called a ‘discharge petition,’ that would require Congress to hold an up or down vote on the ban. Supporters of this petition are only 24 signatures away.”

“I do want to thank (Indiana Rep.) Mike Pence, who is with us today, and Congressman Greg Walden (of Oregon), for pressing this effort and defending the right for people to express themselves freely. And I urge other members to join in this discharge petition. But I’ll tell you this: If Congress should ever pass any legislation that stifles your right to express your views, I’m going to veto it.”

The inmates are restless.

Houston firefighters and police arrived at the facility about 6:30 p.m. after receiving reports that up to 80 prisoners were fighting on the sixth floor at 1200 Texas, said District Chief Tommy Dowdy, a Houston Fire Department spokesman.

Guards used a “flash-bang,” or stun grenade, to break up the brawl, which Dowdy described as a riot. The device momentarily stuns people with “a lot of noise and bright light, but (there’s) no aftereffects like tear gas,” Dowdy said.

Local criminal defense attorney Kent Schaffer is stunned.

You used to have a much better class of federal prisoners.

Heh.

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