Edwards T-Shirt = Youth In Trouble

Today, Pete Palmer, the son of longtime friends, filed suit against the Waxahachie (TX) Independent School District for violating his First Amendment rights. Last September 21, Pete had the temerity to wear a "John Edwards '08" t-shirt to school. He refused to remove the shirt after school officials informed him that it violated the Student Code of Conduct. Apparently, the same Code of Conduct that would allow him to wear a Dallas Cowboys jersey does not allow him to express a presidential preference. (It would also allow him to wear a jersey from the Washington Redskins -- the Cowboys' hated rivals -- which might well have put him in physical danger. But I digress.)

Now, let's get real here. In my day, codes of conduct were all about long hair on boys and pant suits on girls. That a student would know who was even running for president before the conventions would have amazing in itself. Pete has probably already killed his chances of an invitation to Skull & Bones. Isn't that punishment enough? Moreover, does anyone seriously think he would have been kicked out of school for wearing an Operation Iraqi Freedom t-shirt?

Here's the press release from the Liberty Legal Institute announcing the lawsuit:

Waxahachie , TX- High school Sophomore Paul “Pete” Palmer is filing a lawsuit against the Waxahachie Independent School District (WISD) today for prohibiting him from wearing a John Edwards ’08 t-shirt and violating his right to free speech. Pete is an honor student and member of the WISD high school football team and plays tuba in the WISD high school band.

“It is disappointing for the District to censor a student’s support of a presidential candidate when we are suppose to be teaching our students to be involved in their communities and to be active citizens of this country, “ said Allyson Ho, lead attorney for Palmer and former domestic policy advisor for President Bush and now with Baker Botts.

Sophomore Palmer was suspended from class on Friday, September 21, 2007 after refusing to change his John Edwards ’08 t-shirt on a matter of principle. Pete’s teacher, Ms. Johnson and the Executive Director for Human Resources, Mr. Rick Rodriguez, told Pete his shirt violated WISD’s Student Code of Conduct. This Code of Conduct only allows students to wear clothing with messages that promote a WISD club, organization, or sport team or a college or university.

The U.S. Supreme Court ruled in Morse v. Frederick last year that school officials may only prohibit students from engaging in religious or political speech only when that speech poses a substantial threat to school discipline. School administrators admitted to Pete Palmer that he was not suspended because the speech on his shirt was offensive, but because it contained “unapproved words.”

“It is shameful that Waxahachie ISD allows students to support college football teams but not a candidate for President,” said Hiram Sasser. Students have a constitutionally protected right to wear shirts with religious and political messages, even if some disagree with that message.”

After his suspension, Pete Palmer’s parents appealed the disciplinary action against him with the WISD Principal, Mr. Nix, the Superintendent and the School Board. All upheld the decision to ban the Edwards T-shirt.

The lawsuit filed against WISD today requests declaratory and injunctive relief that would prevent WISD officials from preventing or taking any action against Pete Palmer for wearing the John Edwards ‘o8 shirt.

Liberty Legal Institute is a legal organization committed to the defense of religious freedoms and First Amendment rights. The Institute has won a myriad of cases at the highest levels, including two landmark religious freedoms cases in 2007 alone.

Note: LLI seems like a pretty conservative outfit. Pete's parents, why LLI?

Can't Get It Out Of My Head!

Pow-p-p-p-p-pa-pow-p-p-p-p-pa-pow... Gotta love it!

Yesterday, John Edwards withdrew from the presidential election. Edwards ran an honorable campaign that deserved more attention, and might have gotten it had Hillary and Obama not sucked all of the oxygen out of the room. Edwards deserves credit for driving much of the Democrats' agenda: He was the first candidate to present a plan for universal health coverage, and the first to unequivocally push for getting out of Iraq. Both positions are part and parcel of the other campaigns and will undoubtedly be critical parts of the party platform. 

Meanwhile, what will the Republicans run on? John McCain will almost certainly be the nominee. Mitt Romney outspent McCain by 5-1 in Florida and still lost. He's not an especially trustworthy figure, and Republicans seem ready to go with a candidate whose positions often make them uncomfortable than with one who makes them uncomfortable because they don't know what his positions are. And let's face it: Romney's religion has played a part.

Seriously, though, what will McCain run on? Can a man get elected president promising fewer jobs and more war? True blue conservatives like Pat Buchanan and Joe Scarborough are worried. (Be sure to watch the video clip.)

New Yorkers -- at the least the ones who root for the Mets -- must be happy about acquiring Johan Santana for what most observers agree is very little. Minneapolis Star-Tribune sportswriter thinks that the Red Sox blew it when they apparently took their offer off the table, but I dunno. The centerpiece of the Sox' offers involved either center fielder Jacoby Ellsbury or left-handed starter John Lester, plus high ceiling prospects. Pitching coach John Farrell urged the Red Sox to keep Lester. As for Ellsbury, center fielders who run like Secretariat and can swing the bat don't grow on trees. No one knows how much he will capitalize on his storybook September and post-season, but we do know that Ellsbury has excelled under pressure. He's the best Red Sox center field prospect since Fred Lynn, who came up 33 years ago -- that's how rare talent like his is. Finally, both players have been schooled on how to play in Boston, the toughest, most demanding stage in baseball. There's a lot to be said for guys who want to play there.

 

Looking at America

The New York Times speaks for millions here.

Joel Connelly of The Seattle Post-Intelligencer writes about what makes Iowa Republicans tick:

• "Our presidents should be godly people." -James Patrick, Des Moines churchgoer;
  
• "Over 70 per cent of Iowans believe marriage should be between one man and one woman and nothing else [sic]. We believe this issue of marriage is important to the health and welfare of the family in this country." -Pastor Dan Barry, Cornerstone Family Church of Des Moines;
• "I've worked now in three successful presidential campaigns, but the moral climate in this country has continued to deteriorate." -Anne Perry (another Sunday worshipper, not the mystery writer).

Of course, considering the way in which the Bush Administration has ignored the ongoing agony of Louisiana and the Gulf Coast,  she may have a point. Meanwhile, John Edwards dares argue that poverty is the real threat to the health and welfare of this country, here.

Killian Read: Darkly Dreaming Dexter (Jeff Lindsay)

Killian's Downloads:

Son of Skip James (Dion)

Raising Sand (Robert Plant & Alison Krauss) As hard as this pairing is to envision, it works on just about every level. Who knew?