Armored Textbooks and Gun-Toting Teachers??

As the elections loom ahead, conservatives are doing their best imitations of Chicken Little, talking about the horrible consequences that lie ahead if Democrats control the House. One GOP commercial goes so far as to feature bin Laden, implying that the elections will determine if we're struck again by terrorists.

There are two possible outcomes of a switch in power in Washington D.C. The Democrats could use their new-found power to exact revenge on the GOP, further dividing the two sides; or they could try to lead from the middle, bringing many alienated independents onto their side, strengthening their position across the country. The first scenario would spell short term trouble for the Republicans, but long term disaster for the Democrats. If the Democrats win control of the House, there will certainly be a power struggle within the Democratic party, and it will be key whether the more liberal or moderate voices win out.

The recent Democratic support across the country has more to do with Republican failings than a clear message of leadership from the Democrats. The Republican party has refused to admit any mistakes over the last several years, and has eschewed their responsibility to oversee the actions taken by the executive branch. Furthermore, they have failed to reign in government spending, disappointing many in their own party. Add to that the Foley and Abramoff scandals, and the Republicans have lost the ability claim their supposed moral high ground.

As if all of this wasn't enough, we have more and more kooky things coming out of the GOP, demonstrating that Nancy Pelosi, Ted Kennedy, and other left wing liberals don't own the patent on crazy ideas: First, a Republican lawmaker from Wisconsin, Rep. Frank Lasee, suggested arming teachers as a fix for the spate of recent school shootings. Now, taking craziness one step further, a Republican candidate for state school superintendent in Oklahoma, Bill Crozier, recommended that students and teachers could use their textbooks as shields against bullets from assailants. He went so far as to release a video of himself and several others shooting textbooks with an assault rifle and a pistol. Days later, he added that school books could be made with Kevlar covers!

Are you ready for some Footbrawl?

The University of Miami was involved in a brawl during their game on Saturday. Their participation in such an ugly event surprised few. The University of Miami has a long history of classless behavior, dating at least back to the 1980's, when their program started having on-the-field success at the expense of any remaining dignity. When I heard about the fight, and later saw the highlights, I thought it couldn't get any worse for the University of Miami. I was wrong. I was unaware of the local coverage of the event.

Working for Comcast Sports Southeast as analyst for the game was a former University of Miami player, Lamar Thomas. His coverage of the event displays the disgusting attitude of UM players that lead to such classless behavior. Following are quotes from him during the melee:

"Now, that's what I'm talking about. You come into our house, you should get your behind kicked. You don't come into the OB playing that stuff. You're across the ocean over there. You're across the city. You can't come over to our place talking noise like that. You'll get your butt beat. I was about to go down the elevator to get in that thing."

"I say, why don't they just meet outside in the tunnel after the ball game and get it on some more? You don't come into the OB, baby," Thomas said. "We've had a down couple years but you don't come in here talking smack. Not in our house."



I'm not sure why Thomas makes reference to being "across the ocean." Perhaps he thought that Florida International was in another country, rather than on the other side of the same city, Miami. Needless to say, though, Lamar Thomas no longer works for Comcast Sports.