After all of the pushing Progressives have done to oust Glenn Beck from his throne room at Fox News, Beck succeeds in securing a resignation from one of his White House targets: Van Jones, Special Adviser for Green Jobs at the Council on Environmental Quality.

Van Jones had to resign. It became inevitable when Gibbs offered no support.

Much of the blame for this incident lies squarely on the White House. The information used against Jones was freely available on the web. All it took was a search. I thought by hiring Jones they intended to take a chance on a real left progressive, but now it appears they were simply caught flat-footed. Either Valerie Jarrett—Jones’ champion in the upper echelons of the administration—didn’t know much about him or didn’t widely share what she knew. They certainly seemed disinclined to mount a vigorous defense with Glenn Beck gnoshing on his favorite new chew toy and the health care reform battle about to heat up again. No distractions.

For the record, Jones isn’t a truther. Five years ago, at the end of a busy paternity leave, he was asked to support the calls of 9/11 families for further investigation of the attacks (reflecting the concerns of millions of Americans). He agreed and his name ended up on a petition that contained language he didn’t support. Three others who signed the petition have also come forward to say they were deceived about its final contents. But the truth of it hardly matters at this point. Jones has always spoken freely, not in the clipped, narrow confines permitted of those who aspire to public office. He talks real talk, in colorful, provocative language. There’s plenty in his copious past writing and speaking that can be demagogued. This isn’t a civic discussion among people who care who Van Jones really is or what he really believes, after all. It’s a head hunt.

Read the rest of this article at Grist.org.

Jones at his pulpit:

President Barack Obama received a standing ovation from students at Wakefield High School in Arlington, Va. as he took the stage to deliver a speech to tell kids that they have to take responsibility for their education. Some people in North Carolina didn't let their children to hear the speech, thinking that the president was going to deliver some political message. He didn't.

Obama told the story of his mother teaching him American lessons at 4:30 a.m., a common tale now. Obama transitioned into telling kids what is expected of them this school year — nothing political, just talking about responsibility. It's hard to see why this speech has caused such a ruckus.

Obama said unless kids take responsibility to listen and go to school, America can have the best schools, but it won't matter. Kids, he said, have to attend school and find out what their potential is.

"No matter what you want to do with your life, you will need a good education to do it," Obama said. "You can not drop out of school and drop into a good job."

Obama's speech should come from parents, especially the part when he tells children that they have no excuse to have a bad attitude at school. As I listen to this speech, I'm trying to figure out why some parents got up in arms. Is it because they've fallen down on their jobs and haven't taught their kids the importance of school?

I watched Obama's speech with a Charlotte parent on the phone.

"How dare someone tell the President of The United States that he can't say something to the children of the United States about education? The best person that the United States has to offer can't say something about education? What kind of sense does that make?" The parent, who asked not to be named, said.

Obama's theme was when you give up on yourself, you give up on America. What's so political about that? The speech was less than 20 minutes and there was nothing political or controversial in what he said. No ad libs and nothing about the toxic climate surrounding the nation's health care debate. Maybe some parents need to go back to school.

The Associated Press is reporting that S.C. governor Mark Sanford will be taking calls from the public today at 5 p.m. on a Columbia radio station.

WVOC 560 AM is called the voice of Columbia, but I wonder how will these calls be screened. (803-978-9862 if you want to try and talk to the gov.)

Will the people of South Carolina tell Sanford what they really think of him? That he needs to step down, that he's the biggest embarrassment to South Carolina in a really, really long time?

How can Sanford keep his job when he was the first one to call for former President Bill Clinton to step down after his affair? Will the interviewer ask questions like that or is this going to be a soft ball interview that gives Sanford a chance to try and snow the people of South Carolina again?

I will be listening online to figure out how I can do something very bad and keep my life intact.

Remember when you were young and went to parties to have fun, get drunk and get laid? Here's betting you never once considered wearing a bullet-proof vest and no one got trampled.

Two teens were injured overnight when a fight broke out at a party on East Independence Boulevard in Charlotte, police say.

The melee took place at the Machu Picchu Restaurant and Lounge, on Independence near Sharon Amity Road.

During the brawl, a pregnant girl was knocked to the ground and trampled, but she and her baby were not seriously hurt.

More from Charlotte.com.