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!