Today's Hot Topics: David Iglesias, Engaging the Palestinians and "Bong Hits 4 Jesus"

U.S. Attorneys: In the NYT, fired U.S. attorney David Iglesias outlines his position in the firing scandal, defends his record and offers an olive branch to the Bush administration: A "written retraction by the Justice Department setting the record straight regarding my performance would settle the issue for me" ... the NYT calls President Bush's decision to block Congress from fully investigating the firings a "formula for hiding the truth" and urges Congress to subpoena White House aides despite the president's position.

The Palestinians: The LAT applauds the Bush administration's decision to meet with Palestinians now that Hamas and Fatah have created a "unity government," but cautions against lifting the U.S. aid embargo until the government recognizes Israel's right to exist ... WaPo columnist David Ignatius notes that Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice's decision to meet with the Hamas-backed government goes against Israel's wishes, but is encouraged by the fact that Rice "appears to recognize that as she moves forward, she will need to engage the Palestinians more broadly, even though these contacts will upset some Israelis."

"Bong Hits 4 Jesus": The WaPo urges the Supreme Court to reaffirm students' right to free speech in the "Bong Hits 4 Jesus" case that is currently in front of the Court, arguing that the justices "should ensure that administrators cannot define a school's basic educational mission so broadly" that "they have the power to suppress any meaningful speech with which they, or their school boards, disagree" ... USA Today agrees, arguing that "the line around protected speech is appropriately wide, even when it's subversive or sophomoric."

By Rob Anderson |  March 21, 2007; 6:43 AM ET
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