Will You Be Having The Crow, Mr. Nixon?

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) — A new Missouri law prohibiting teachers from having private online conversations with students suffered a double setback Friday. First, a judge blocked it from taking effect because of free speech concerns. Then the governor called for its repeal.

The law limiting teacher-student conversations through social networking sites such as Facebook had been scheduled to take effect Sunday. But Cole County Circuit Judge Jon Beetem issued a preliminary injunction blocking it until at least February, saying the restrictions "would have a chilling effect" on free speech rights.

A couple of hours later, Gov. Jay Nixon said he would ask lawmakers to repeal the restrictions during a previously scheduled special session that starts Sept. 6. Nixon's request goes even further than the judge's order, which was confined to private conversations on non-work-related websites. The governor also wants lawmakers to reverse new restrictions on work-related websites and abolish a requirement for schools to develop written policies by January on teacher-student communications.

Jay Nixon should have had his ass ripped off and handed back to him the minute he started down this.  Now he's taking a step back, not because he realized it was a mistake but because he saw the possible political consequences of holding his ground.  Nixon has ambition and this could be a pebble in his shoe years from now, when he tries to convince us that he cares about the common fella.

It is up to the parents to allow or not allow Facebook access and monitor their children.  At a time when the state is making drastic cuts, the last thing we need is to take on a responsibility that clearly belongs to someone else.  Nice try, jackass.