Mallard Fillmore

[Bennett Cerf]

Why is it that the 1983 scandal didn't get more attention on the 24-hour news networks?

[Rspaight]

Man, I wasn't expecting the huge font.

You just know that Tinsley wanted to draw Studds actually fucking the page in the ass, but his editors wouldn't let him.

Oh, and I remember the Studds/Crane scandal (anyone surprised that Tinsley didn't mention Crane?), and I was younger than the page at the time. As I recall, the big debate was over whether to reprimand or censure them (censure being the more severe), and the House went with censure.

And he kept his job because the voters re-elected him, unlike the Tinsley-ignored Crane.

Ryan

[krabapple]

Man, I wasn't expecting the huge font.

You just know that Tinsley wanted to draw Studds actually fucking the page in the ass, but his editors wouldn't let him.

Oh, and I remember the Studds/Crane scandal (anyone surprised that Tinsley didn't mention Crane?), and I was younger than the page at the time. As I recall, the big debate was over whether to reprimand or censure them (censure being the more severe), and the House went with censure.

And he kept his job because the voters re-elected him, unlike the Tinsley-ignored Crane.

Ryan

wikipedia:

The House voted to censure Studds, on July 20, 1983, by a vote of 420-3. While Studds has often been reported as having "turned his back on the House" as the House read its censure motion aloud,[3] contemporary reports made it clear that in contrast to Crane, who faced the House as the motion for his censure was read, Studds faced the Speaker who was actually reading the motion, with his back to the other members.[4] Also in contrast to Crane, who left the chamber after his censure, Studds rejoined the other members of the House after his censure was read.[4] In addition to the censure, the Democratic leadership stripped Studds of his chairmanship of the House Merchant Marine Subcommittee. Studds was later appointed chair of the House Committee on Merchant Marine and Fisheries. Studds received two standing ovations from supporters in his home district at his first town meeting following his congressional censure.[5]

Studds defended his sexual relationship with the minor as a "consensual relationship with a young adult." The page later appeared publicly with Studds in support of him. Dean Hara, whom Studds married in 2004, said after Studds' death in 2006 that Studds had never been ashamed of the relationship with the page. "This young man knew what he was doing," Hara said.[6]

American sex laws are not noted for nuance. No minor can be a consenting adult, by definition. And that's that. Something magic happens when you turn 18.

[Rspaight]

I have no idea what the age of consent was in whatever jurisdiction Studds was boinking the page in.

But in any case there definitely is a gap between how Foley's been treated for what he did, how Studds was treated, and how Crane was treated. That's an interesting arena for exploration, but not via Tinsley's "it's because the media hates Republicans" methodology.

(For instance, Foley immediately resigned after the evidence came to light -- and before Hastert had a chance to even threaten him, contrary to what Hastert has said -- thus making the question of what House would do with him in comparison to Studds and Crane moot.)

Ryan

[Bennett Cerf]

The huge font appears in the spot Tinsley usually devotes to a bad caricature of the strip's subject. Could a Studds caricature have been removed at the last minute due to his recent death?

Of course, Tinsley could have saved time and just reprinted this strip with minor alterations.

[Bennett Cerf]

[Rspaight]

Oh, crap! Kissinger has the bomb!

Ryan

[Bennett Cerf]

[Rspaight]

Nice straw man outfit.

Ryan

[Bennett Cerf]

Uh...?

[lukpac]

It would be nice if Tinsley could fucking quote correctly.

And I fail to see how the fact that employers are requiring college degrees somehow defames colleges. Anyone?

Here's the free excerpt on USA Today's site:

Educators slow to wise up to the gender problem

[Melissa Roderick] is on to something important. Some researchers contend the educational gender gap is strictly a function of race and class. Those are undoubtedly factors, particularly for boys from poor, single-parent families growing up without father figures. But anyone thinking gender issues affect only minorities or the poor needs to go 15 miles from downtown Chicago to the Wilmette public schools, one of the nation's wealthiest and most successful districts.

This month, a Massachusetts education think tank, the Rennie Center, reported that 41% of girls in the state are proficient or better in reading, compared with 29% of boys. Paul Reville, who runs the center, said the biggest surprise was finding that girls outperform boys in math as well. That shouldn't be a surprise: Reading is a key link to understanding math and science.

What's striking about the gender gaps is that most school districts do little or nothing about them. In his survey of Massachusetts schools, Reville kept expecting to find a school carrying out reforms that target boys, as Wilmette did. He never found one.

And here's the bit in question, pulled from Lexis:

In addition to being a matter of fairness, a shift to boy-oriented policies has the potential to produce other gains:

*Raise parents' and teachers' awareness. Parents with struggling boys often are told not to worry because boys are slow to pick up reading skills and math is their strong point. That conventional wisdom is outdated. Many boys don't catch up in reading, and they don't always do better in math.

This month, a Massachusetts education think tank, the Rennie Center, reported that 41% of girls in the state are proficient or better in reading, compared with 29% of boys. Paul Reville, who runs the center, said the biggest surprise was finding that girls outperform boys in math as well. That shouldn't be a surprise: Reading is a key link to understanding math and science.

*Boost college graduations. Lagging literacy skills result in many boys ending up unprepared for college, which in turn explains declining percentages of men on campus. Currently, 133 women graduate from college for every 100 men.

If boys can't make it through high school, they certainly can't make it through college. For better or worse, in today's information-based economy, college has become the new high school.

What's striking about the gender gaps is that most school districts do little or nothing about them. In his survey of Massachusetts schools, Reville kept expecting to find a school carrying out reforms that target boys, as Wilmette did. He never found one.

Anyone?

[Rspaight]

Ruben Bolling had a pretty funny "Mallard" parody in his last "Super-Fun-Pak Comics" installment of 'Tom The Dancing Bug":



I like how it's signed "Tiny."

Ryan

[Bennett Cerf]

[lukpac]

Speaking of "dumbing down"...I think the duck needs some help with reading comprehension.

Oh, yeah...he didn't go to journalism school.

[Bennett Cerf]

Journalism school is the new kindergarten.