MichaelMoore.com

ONE BIG THUMBS UP

GIVE THIS MAN HIS JOB BACK

Yesterday we told you about Principal Roger Howard of Hudson High School in Hudson, Ohio. He was fired after an evaluation marked him with a "needs improvement" rating. Mr. Howard says that in his 20 years in education, he has never received an evaluation citing dissatisfaction or concern. After learning the news, 600 students marched out of school and walked to the offices of the Board of Education to protest the decision.

Our student on the inside, Jessica, writes in with this update:

"Thank you so much for posting our story on your Must Read, it has helped our cause and hopefully we will keep this story out there and continue to protest until our principal is reinstated. Principal Howard has done so much for our school and for every single student and teacher that the least that we can do for him is fight for his job. The superintendent won't back down but we have made it clear to her that neither will we until our voices are heard. The biggest controversy of all thus far is that of the excessive force used upon us at the protest. The police were never physically threatened or had legitimate reason to pepper spray students, thus many have speculated the police motives in pepper spray non violent students. I will continue to update you on the progress of our story and our student activism."

Not surprisingly, it wasn't the cops' use of pepper spray that got the kids back into school--but rather Mr. Howard himself.

Newsnet 5 has video of the walkout and the altercation with the police here. (If you don't have Windows Media, there are stills from the video here.) They've also got a forum going for first hand accounts of the incident here.

Superintendent Mary Ann Wolowiec has said that she will not reconsider her decision to fire Mr. Howard. We think she might. Ms. Wolowiec must know that students don't often rally behind their principals, and she must know--now, at least--what a rare principal she has on her hands.

The most important lesson in life is that we all make mistakes and, usually, it is beneficial to admit those mistakes, correct them, and move on. We encourage everyone to politely and respectfully contact Ms. Wolowiec (here) and the Hudson Board of Education (here). Who better to teach the good students of Hudson, Ohio this life lesson than the those in charge of their education?

All the latest news is at www.WeLoveRogerHoward.com.

THE MARCH OF FREEDOM
Letters sent by imprisoned WTC bombers went far and wide.

Everything you need to know about Iraqi culture, thanks to the US Army.

The New Portrait of the Iraqi Resistance:

In the short, dreary history of America's Iraq war, our leaders have repeatedly acted on gross misconceptions about whom they were fighting – sometimes based on faulty intelligence, but sometimes in the face of perfectly accurate intelligence. This is, in all likelihood, another instance where they believe their own distortions, and it is worthwhile attempting to understand the underlying pattern that produces this almost predictable error.

(George announces Iraq exit strategy.)

Official US Army historian says America lost control of Iraq just three months after the invasion.

After the war comes cancer.

A British plane that crashed on Iraq's election day was brought down by a missile.

A bullet hole found in the side of a US Airways jet in Charlotte was probably not an act of terrorism but rather the result of a hunting accident. (Which is almost as crazy as hunting cats.)

Thanks George: Volatile oil prices and a weaker U.S. dollar sent stocks plunging Wednesday, as the prospect of inflation and rising interest rates sank in on Wall Street. (On the bright side, we can all thank George for pissing off the white supremacists.)

Homegrown Osamas

US threatened by agroterrorism. Plus: Avian Flu Bombs!

China OKs military action against Taiwan.

US warned Hugo Chavez of assassination plots.

George's ambassador of ill will.

When will freedom march to Sudan?

GEORGE BLESS AMERICA

So Happy Together

Must Reader John D. sends us this link and these thoughts:

Why the hell are my tax dollars supporting a Congress that goes out of its way to remove bankruptcy protections from me while giving them to the richest and, instead of focusing on real problems facing America, is wasting time having professional athletes testify about steroids?

The bankruptcy bill John mentions is about to be law. And while the GOP will change bankruptcy laws to hurt poor Americans, they're mysteriously uneasy about barring violent anti-abortion protestors from using bankruptcy to avoid payment of court judgments.

Q: What do you call a Congress that blames profligate consumer spending for the nation's soaring bankruptcy rate yet shows little concern about its own deficit-spending ways? Answer here.

U.S. roads, bridges, sewers, dams, and drinking water system are crumbling and need a $1.6 trillion overhaul but prospects for improvement are grim.

Wal-Mart and other retailers want sweatshop on wheels.

David vs. Goliath: $54,000 ad campaign to protect Social Security versus $2 million ad campaign to destroy Social Security.

Increasingly desperate GOP insult Democrats for Social Security opposition and then ask for their help.

Evangelical Lutheran Church in America opposed to George's plan for destroying social safety net:

"Indeed, the greatest need of all is to pray for our civil authorities and the government, for chiefly through them does God provide us our daily bread and all the comforts of this life... How much trouble there now is in the world... on account of daily exploitation and usury in public business, trading, and labor on the part of those who want only to oppress the poor and deprive them of their daily bread!"

And guess what... THERE IS NO SOCIAL SECURITY CRISIS.

The Senate's former top lawyer, hoping for confirmation as an appeals court judge, told senators Tuesday he doesn't have a Utah law license because he never thought he needed it for his job as lawyer for Brigham Young University.

(We think, perhaps, George's problems stem from the air in Texas.)

Greg Palast on the departure of Dan Rather.

OTHER NEWS
The sun revolves around the Earth and George W. Bush won the election in Ohio.

Checking of voter data in India outrageous.

Citizens to Save California, a business-backed group with close ties to Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, says it's committed to creating new jobs... in India.

Howard Dean makes money for Democrats. (Which is good, given the state of California.)

Mexico's gulf coast in peril from global warming.

Third Time's A Charm: Wal-Mart union suppression works.

MUST READ MAILBAG
Leo writes in:

With George working overtime to dismantle the separation of church and state, it may be a good time to dust off the dictionary and practice pronouncing this fine old word.

AND FINALLY...
Lauren Rainey Wins!!!

Good news for Lauren Rainey--the 13 year old who took on Alabama's Medicaid will keep her at home nursing care.

We thank all of you Must Readers who took the time over the past couple months to send messages to Medicaid and Alabama's governor on this subject. Also, a big thanks to Waveflux for streamlining this grassroots activism. We'll keep you posted on developments in Lauren's case--and hopefully there will be some very good news very, very soon.

HELP US STAY ON TOP OF THE NEWS--IF YOU READ AN INTERESTING NEWS REPORT, SEND THE LINK IN TO THE MUST READ.