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Guns in the Classroom (and Open Thread)

TXpolitico 67 says check this out: a school in Texas is allowing guns in the classroom.

Our morning thread is full. Here's another open thread for you.

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    Ooohhh, They are required to have special (5.00 / 2) (#1)
    by leis on Fri Aug 15, 2008 at 04:55:19 PM EST
    training. I know I feel better.  

    Heckuva way to take care of overcrowding (5.00 / 3) (#2)
    by PssttCmere08 on Fri Aug 15, 2008 at 05:05:18 PM EST
    in the classrooms.  Are there any grown-ups in charge?

    they all just quit (5.00 / 0) (#22)
    by coigue on Fri Aug 15, 2008 at 05:45:00 PM EST
    I know I would.

    Parent
    Reportedly (none / 0) (#79)
    by Abdul Abulbul Amir on Fri Aug 15, 2008 at 07:44:49 PM EST
    this is the policy in Isreal.  It seems to be successful.

    Parent
    When I saw that (5.00 / 1) (#4)
    by txpolitico67 on Fri Aug 15, 2008 at 05:06:17 PM EST
    it blew me away!  Yeah, the way to tell people to stop killing people is to kill people.

    Thanks for posting it Jeralyn.

    When I think of the numerous (none / 0) (#7)
    by JavaCityPal on Fri Aug 15, 2008 at 05:13:25 PM EST
    bully teachers my local high school had on staff (in an upscale neighborhood), this is a really terrifying story to me. I'm sure my son's band teacher would have had a hard time resisting the urge to say he thought that trombone was a gun.


    Parent
    Not To Mention My Teachers (none / 0) (#15)
    by daring grace on Fri Aug 15, 2008 at 05:34:27 PM EST
    who were really seriously in burn out mode and could (and were) easily rattled by some of us darling students who--sensing the vulnerability--would play little 'find the soft sounding noise' games etc. to get on their nerves.

    Parent
    Especially in Texas (none / 0) (#61)
    by daring grace on Fri Aug 15, 2008 at 06:36:47 PM EST
    where didn't they just recently set a new standard for 'justifiable self defense'?

    Parent
    Starting to rethink getting my (5.00 / 1) (#5)
    by nycstray on Fri Aug 15, 2008 at 05:08:10 PM EST
    teaching credentials! Oy.

    For those of us who take exception to (5.00 / 1) (#11)
    by PssttCmere08 on Fri Aug 15, 2008 at 05:17:12 PM EST
    caucuses/caucusi...

    link

    I Don't Take Exception (5.00 / 2) (#25)
    by daring grace on Fri Aug 15, 2008 at 05:54:00 PM EST
    to caucuses. But I do--mightily--to disenfranchisement etc. so I'm going to go back to that site and read it through when I have more time. What I've seen so far--which is just a little--strains credulity.

    Just opening the section on 'Voter Fraud' and reading the first few paragraphs was a warning to me of the dubious nature of some of the material on this site.

    Phrases like: "I can only give you a secondhand account;..." followed by: "...and I know for a fact..." and "Now, the people who told me this -- one...I'm in sporadic touch with, [and] the other have to be kept confidential. So this at best is anecdotal; you'll have to get hard evidence from someone other than me, as neither of these two individuals will come forward -- not for me, not for Mrs. Clinton, not for anyone."  

     And this:

    "(North Omaha has the only African-American state senator, Ernie Chambers -- I think Ernie is still there -- in the entire state of NE.) Obama's campaign offered people things like I-pods and free stuff -- > t-shirts, clothes, shoes, and at least two free meals on the Nebraska side. (They took some indigent whites and Latinos from the Omaha side as well as African-Americans. I think they went to the local homeless shelters there, if my friend there was correct. Her son is in and out of trouble and that's why she told me about this; he was annoyed that he > didn't get picked, as he's a white guy.)" "

    Not a compelling case so far, but maybe the rest of the site is more so?

    Parent

    I was the secretary for the caucus at my precinct (5.00 / 1) (#29)
    by Angel on Fri Aug 15, 2008 at 06:03:44 PM EST
    and I can tell you that voter fraud, voter intimidation and many other illegal and wrong things went on not just at my caucus but at many, many, many others in my state.  I know that I'm not alone in what I witnessed and experienced.

    Parent
    It is just put out there, and people can (5.00 / 1) (#32)
    by PssttCmere08 on Fri Aug 15, 2008 at 06:06:43 PM EST
    decide for themselves.

    Parent
    I Appreciate Your Sharing This (5.00 / 0) (#53)
    by daring grace on Fri Aug 15, 2008 at 06:28:46 PM EST
    As you say, we can judge for ourselves.

    And as I say, because I am infuriated by voter disenfranchisement I'm going to look at this site and see what I can learn.

    I was just a little disappointed by my first sample. But I'm not judging it all by that little piece.

    Parent

    But if you are going to claim that (5.00 / 2) (#33)
    by tree on Fri Aug 15, 2008 at 06:06:44 PM EST
    "you don't take exception to caucuses.But I do--mightily--to disenfranchisement etc..." you are straining credulity yourself. I haven't looked at the site myself, so I can't speak to its credulity, but I think that its well known that caucuses disenfranchise voters even when they are not beset by fraud and intimidation. If you don't have a problem with that, then don't try to convince anyone that you care -mightily or otherwise- about disenfranchisement.


    Parent
    I'm Not Sure (5.00 / 1) (#47)
    by daring grace on Fri Aug 15, 2008 at 06:25:38 PM EST
    that caucuses themselves, by definition, are fraught with all the corruption you describe. If they are, then yes, I would take exception to them as a practice.

    By the way, I have no problem with the whole process being exhaustively examined, debated and reformed.

    I think I heard caucuses have been used in the Democratic Party as part of their nominating process for a relatively brief period--1980? Maybe that's incorrect. But it surprises me if they are so uniformly bad that they haven't been seriously challenged before now. Or have they?

    Parent

    Disenfranchisement does not require (5.00 / 3) (#55)
    by Cream City on Fri Aug 15, 2008 at 06:30:17 PM EST
    corruption.  The commenter is talking about the inherent disenfranchisement of caucuses even when run by the rules.  But a lot were not, of course -- so then there was both inherent disenfranchisement as well as the assault on the democratic process that comes with vote fraud and other forms of corruption.

    Parent
    Thanks for making my point more (5.00 / 0) (#58)
    by tree on Fri Aug 15, 2008 at 06:33:08 PM EST
    clearly than I did!

    Parent
    Yes, Thanks for Clarifying (none / 0) (#66)
    by daring grace on Fri Aug 15, 2008 at 06:44:24 PM EST
    Something I'd heard was that some of the smaller states with smaller state Dem parties (Not, obviously, Iowa or Texas) have caucuses because they're less expensive to mount than primaries. I wonder if that's true.

    Parent
    Back in the day a girl in Houston (5.00 / 2) (#13)
    by sarcastic unnamed one on Fri Aug 15, 2008 at 05:19:42 PM EST
    told me the story that she was robbed at gunpoint while working as a cashier at a store.

    After the perp left she grabbed the pistol from under the counter and shot wildly down the street after him, missing him entirely.

    When the cops showed up they showed her how to kneel down and brace her arm on her knee while shooting to increase her accuracy.

    Texas is different.

    Texas is very different (5.00 / 2) (#17)
    by roy on Fri Aug 15, 2008 at 05:37:26 PM EST
    The officer who taught my CHL class told us of a cop who pulled over a CHL holder.  The driver told the cop he was carrying.  They chatted about guns a bit, and the cop said "this is what I carry" and handed the driver his gun.

    I only give it about a 20% chance of being true, but it's a good story anyway.


    Parent

    As a former TX CHL holder... (5.00 / 1) (#14)
    by roy on Fri Aug 15, 2008 at 05:31:27 PM EST
    Please remember two things:

    1. CHL holders have to pass a background check comparable to police officers'.  Any history of mental illness or serious crime disqualifies you for a license.

    2. Gun crimes committed by CHL holders are very rare, and usually bureaucratic rather than violent in nature.  I know I should post a link for numbers backing this up, but I'm supposed to be working, sorry.


    What if a student gets the gun? (5.00 / 1) (#20)
    by nycstray on Fri Aug 15, 2008 at 05:42:31 PM EST
    That's part of the reason... (5.00 / 1) (#35)
    by roy on Fri Aug 15, 2008 at 06:08:57 PM EST
    ... they're required to keep the gun concealed.  Failing to do so is a crime, with some wiggle room for accidents, and anybody who gets a license knows it.

    Parent
    So they would be keeping the gun (5.00 / 1) (#63)
    by nycstray on Fri Aug 15, 2008 at 06:39:57 PM EST
    on their body?

    And wouldn't it make it more likely the teacher is the first person shot in situations? If someone is hell-bent on killing, seems they would aim for the person who could stop them first.

    Parent

    I wonder if any teacher (none / 0) (#39)
    by Fabian on Fri Aug 15, 2008 at 06:15:17 PM EST
    really plans on coming to school armed every single day.

    Having the option, yes.  I couldn't bear the responsibility of carrying a loaded weapon every single day.  Maybe if you had done it before as an officer or in the military, but I'm not sure a civilian would be ready to take that responsibility on.

    Parent

    I don't know if I would want students (5.00 / 1) (#70)
    by nycstray on Fri Aug 15, 2008 at 06:50:48 PM EST
    thinking I was armed.

    Parent
    You also have to take a class (5.00 / 1) (#24)
    by davnee on Fri Aug 15, 2008 at 05:52:27 PM EST
    I spent more state-mandated time learning how to properly handle and fire a gun in TX than learning how to drive in TX.  Just saying.

    Parent
    The class did not impress me (5.00 / 1) (#31)
    by roy on Fri Aug 15, 2008 at 06:06:30 PM EST
    Gun safety can't be taught in one session, it has to come with practice; and neither the safety nor marksmanship testing set a very high requirement to pass.  The standards by which they give you a permit to carry are looser than the standards by which it's a good idea to do so.

    They did a respectable job teaching about legal issues though, and that's important.

    Parent

    Don't disagree (5.00 / 1) (#50)
    by davnee on Fri Aug 15, 2008 at 06:27:08 PM EST
    I wouldn't have felt comfortable owning a gun with just that class under my belt.  Don't feel comfortable with anyone else arming themselves on the basis of just that class either.  Just pointing out that we let people operate motor vehicles on the basis of less.

    Parent
    Having seen Texas dirivers (5.00 / 0) (#48)
    by Cream City on Fri Aug 15, 2008 at 06:26:07 PM EST
    I can believe that.

    Fortunately, I have not to my knowledge seen armed Taxans -- other than that one (or more:-) in the book depository and/or on the grassy knoll and/or wherevuh in the environs, depending upon the theory.

    Enough. I'm scratching Austin from my places to retire.

    Parent

    If you want an adventure driving, (5.00 / 1) (#81)
    by free the wm3 on Fri Aug 15, 2008 at 07:49:59 PM EST
    come to Dallas and cruise one of the tollways; i dare you to try and actually drive the speed limit.

    And in general, the police don't like the potential of having more guns in a combustible situation.  Not only does it present the opportunity for confusion in identifing the real "bad person"; you are introducing another firearm into the mix.

    On the upside, we do have Shiner.

    Parent

    no don't do that Cream City (5.00 / 1) (#92)
    by txpolitico67 on Fri Aug 15, 2008 at 10:58:06 PM EST
    Austin is our oasis of sanity.  Remember, ANN RICHARDS!!

    Parent
    The Big O: The Obama Salute (5.00 / 3) (#16)
    by JimWash08 on Fri Aug 15, 2008 at 05:35:16 PM EST
    Is this all kinds of wrong, or what?

    If I was an Obama supporter and was at the Invesco stadium, where these nutbags apparently hope to use the Obama salute, I would bow my head in shame and walk out of there in a hurry.

    But since I'm not, I'm just sitting here laughing and shaking my head at this insanity. I hope it's a joke.

    I asked this on another thread (5.00 / 3) (#19)
    by cmugirl on Fri Aug 15, 2008 at 05:42:20 PM EST
    Doesn't that picture of a crowd of 70,000 saluting in unison, chanting the leader's name, bother anybody else or remind anyone of another time and place? {Shudders}

    Parent
    Reminds me of all those berets I saw at the (5.00 / 2) (#23)
    by Angel on Fri Aug 15, 2008 at 05:51:23 PM EST
    state convention.  It was really weird to see a bunch of fat white guys wearing Obama berets like they were on some sort of military patrol or something.  This salute fits right in with that.  But it all seems sort of military to me.  I thought he was the guy against war.

    Parent
    What about that civilian army? (5.00 / 0) (#49)
    by angie on Fri Aug 15, 2008 at 06:27:03 PM EST
    I've read that he talks about forming a civilian army -- is that true? and if so, WTF? seriously! WTF?

    Parent
    I've got a creepier story (5.00 / 0) (#59)
    by stxabuela on Fri Aug 15, 2008 at 06:34:15 PM EST
    from the TX state convention.  A guy handing out free t-shirts that said:  "The only truth that stands before us is Obama."  He had hundreds of them.  I don't know what bothered me more: the fact that this guy had spent so much money on those shirts, or that people were actually wearing them.  Get a grip, folks.  No politician is the second coming of Jesus.  

    Parent
    that is NUTS (5.00 / 0) (#90)
    by txpolitico67 on Fri Aug 15, 2008 at 10:52:38 PM EST
    i never saw or witnessed that type of behaviour from Clinton supporters....

    Parent
    OOOO My Goodness (5.00 / 3) (#26)
    by JavaCityPal on Fri Aug 15, 2008 at 05:54:07 PM EST
    That's pathetic on so many levels.

    The salute is begging for so many kinds of criticisms.


    Parent

    My first thought (5.00 / 3) (#34)
    by Fabian on Fri Aug 15, 2008 at 06:08:36 PM EST
    was of a certain graphic image that starts goat__.  (Do not google this image as it is NOT work safe!)

    I'm just twisted that way.  The idea of thousands of people making the sign of a gaping xxxx makes me snicker.

    Other than that, I would prefer people salute their principles rather than some personality.  When some conservative says "I believe in lower taxes." I hope an Obama supporter has a better retort than "I believe in Obama!".

    Parent

    The Invention of An Independent Ad Firm (5.00 / 1) (#28)
    by daring grace on Fri Aug 15, 2008 at 06:03:43 PM EST
    with clients like Budweiser and Honda, but not, apparently, the Obama campaign.

    It's simply something they dreamed up.

    I doubt you'll ever see a stadium of supporters flashing it.

    Parent

    Want to bet? (none / 0) (#57)
    by oldpro on Fri Aug 15, 2008 at 06:31:29 PM EST
    Remember the wave?

    Parent
    If Nothing Else (none / 0) (#64)
    by daring grace on Fri Aug 15, 2008 at 06:40:21 PM EST
    I doubt there's enough time for this to take off in the next 2 weeks. But,,,who knows?

    I know I'm not going to be flashing it esp. now with the image of 10 cm dilated in my mind!

    Parent

    hehe. I don't think it will happen. They couldn't (5.00 / 1) (#69)
    by nycstray on Fri Aug 15, 2008 at 06:49:32 PM EST
    text at the same time  ;)

    Parent
    Looks like 10 centimeters dilated (5.00 / 4) (#38)
    by Dadler on Fri Aug 15, 2008 at 06:14:24 PM EST
    Or the gesture our birthing class instructor gave us when my wife was pregnant with out son.

    Parent
    There's a Dilbert (5.00 / 1) (#42)
    by Fabian on Fri Aug 15, 2008 at 06:21:09 PM EST
    cartoon about a PR firm creating a logo.  Dogbert picks up the napkin that his coffee mug has left an irregular circular stain on and presents it as the new logo.

    That "logo" looks suspiciously like an actual corporate logo which was nicknamed "the flaming axxhole" by some corporate employees.

    That's what the "O" salute makes me think of - an idea that wasn't thought through very carefully.

    Parent

    Hmmm, this just reminded me of the (5.00 / 1) (#56)
    by tree on Fri Aug 15, 2008 at 06:30:41 PM EST
    Hudsucker Proxy, when Tim Robbins shows Paul Newman his idea, that he's being working on for "a few years".  by opening a piece of paper with a big O on it. "You know, for kids."

    Parent
    That's a first! Good one... (5.00 / 1) (#46)
    by JimWash08 on Fri Aug 15, 2008 at 06:25:35 PM EST
    Being a guy, who's never been married or had children, I'd never thought of that.

    Of course, on that account, a friend of mine in a cool matter-of-fact way said that it'd look like 70,000 people are getting ready to 'simulate oral sex on a man' (of course, he just used one word for what I just described in six words, heh)

    Parent

    The Big O? I think not. (5.00 / 0) (#93)
    by Anne on Fri Aug 15, 2008 at 11:11:23 PM EST
    It could not be farther from what Obama does for me...I couldn't even fake it for him.

    For me, the salute has so much potential to become The Big Fat Zero that I suspect whoever dreamed this up will regret it sooner rather than later.

    Parent

    And where is the equal opportunity salute (none / 0) (#97)
    by Grace on Sat Aug 16, 2008 at 02:32:59 AM EST
    for disabled people who may only have the use of one arm or hand?  Can they just hold up fingers?  ;-)

     

    Parent

    The Big O Tire Company should be (none / 0) (#106)
    by PssttCmere08 on Sat Aug 16, 2008 at 12:09:08 PM EST
    sending out letters to obama to cease and desist from using their logo :)

    Parent
    Oh, oh. I know what it is! Pick me (none / 0) (#51)
    by Cream City on Fri Aug 15, 2008 at 06:28:10 PM EST
    because I'm the first to say that it's, it's, it's -- the shape of the Obama Presidential Seal.

    Parent
    It's a big 'O'.... (none / 0) (#60)
    by oldpro on Fri Aug 15, 2008 at 06:36:19 PM EST
    Isn't that just too clever for words?

    Nacherly, the company is The Loyalty Inc.

    Perfect.

    Parent

    Really? An O for Obama? (none / 0) (#77)
    by Cream City on Fri Aug 15, 2008 at 07:44:07 PM EST
    My, and how did I not see that?  (snark)

    Parent
    Michelle Malkin (5.00 / 0) (#91)
    by txpolitico67 on Fri Aug 15, 2008 at 10:55:29 PM EST
    already went after this a few days ago.  I have to say it was pretty funny. Since I have been cruising right leaning blogs I am surprised at the level of civil discourse.  Michelle Malkin actually had a REALLY nice post about Ted Kennedy when he was diagnosed with cancer.  She asked all to put aside their differences and pray for TK.

    Parent
    Gun in the classroom in Oregon (5.00 / 1) (#62)
    by caseyOR on Fri Aug 15, 2008 at 06:37:23 PM EST
    There is a case working its way through the courts brought by a teacher who wants to carry a gun to school with her everyday. School district, which is in southern Oregon, has a policy banning guns at school. The teacher is suing the school district. So far, the schools are winning, but lots of gun rights folks are backing her.

    The teacher claims she needs the gun to protect herself against her former husband. He denies he is a threat. The school district insists the classroom is no place for a shootout.

    School policy allows only police to carry guns on school property. It does not matter if you have a concealed weapons permit or not. I think the general feeling here in Oregon is that there should not be guns in school, but, of course, there are people who disagree with that.

    Does the school have any type of armed security? (none / 0) (#68)
    by nycstray on Fri Aug 15, 2008 at 06:47:58 PM EST
    or metal detectors?

    Parent
    No metal detectors (none / 0) (#71)
    by caseyOR on Fri Aug 15, 2008 at 07:00:00 PM EST
    and I don't believe there are armed security guards. Most large school districts have school police, but not generally armed. Schools tend to rely on local police.

    Parent
    I'll have to check if ours are armed (none / 0) (#73)
    by nycstray on Fri Aug 15, 2008 at 07:13:54 PM EST
    or if it's just that the police are close enough. We used to have all kinds of "incidents" at the HS across the street. They've been revamping the school etc over the past several Bloomberg years, so I haven't seen much in the way of cops, guns and running down the street lately. For some reason I thought school security was armed. They also have a lock in (or did policy). Nobody from the outside could get in.

    I was just thinking they might be able to provide an alternative for the teacher. Ex's have done some scary sh!t, unfortunately. Most women don't decide to carry a gun for the heck of it, afaik. Although, the publicity might help. Hopefully doesn't piss him off more.

    Parent

    I believe (none / 0) (#98)
    by Grace on Sat Aug 16, 2008 at 02:36:52 AM EST
    a lot of the schools in LA have metal detectors.


    Parent
    Chelsea talking about her mom... (5.00 / 1) (#74)
    by Little Fish on Fri Aug 15, 2008 at 07:20:17 PM EST
    I took this video is Salem Oregon right before the primary. It's Chelsea introducing her dad by saying her mom would be a better president. I apologize for the jitters, I'm not drunk I swear! Just a little excited to see President Clinton.

    Link

    Chelsea was such an amazing surrogate for her mom. Hillary and Bill should be very proud.


    I had a wonderful teacher (5.00 / 0) (#75)
    by TeresaInSnow2 on Fri Aug 15, 2008 at 07:26:10 PM EST
    for a envirnomental science class last fall (I'm 46 and working on my second Bachelor's, this time in Biology)

    Anyway, we had a review session and one of the students came in late.  He was wearing a ski cap, a ski coat and a camouflage backpack and he walked quickly to the front row of the class.  The kid meant no harm, just didn't want to miss the review.  However, you could tell, his approach scared the crap out of my burly and muscular teacher.

    Teachers have learned anxiety about being in front of a whole bunch of kids, one of which might be the next mass school murderer.

    I'm not saying that it's right for teachers to carry guns, but I will say, I see their point.

    However, I think instead of guns we need to have some form of security...maybe metal detecters? to at least provide a small level of confidence.

    Yeh, the Unabomber look (5.00 / 1) (#80)
    by Cream City on Fri Aug 15, 2008 at 07:49:31 PM EST
    in my classrooms gives me the willies.  There's always some guy or two with sunglasses on and hoodies up, sitting in the back row looking pi**ed.

    Of course, it's undoubtedly because they're hungover, late getting up for class so short on shower time and covering their bad bed hair as well as their eyes incapable of handling daylight.

    Still, some of them come to campus looking like that every day.  And I have had more than my share of wackos freeking out in class, stalking me on campus and off, etc.; I even had to get an injunction (at my own cost, of course, since campuses only pay to defend us -- not to protect us!).  So long before the recent horrors, I learned to keep my guard up.

    Parent

    Guns in classrooms? (none / 0) (#3)
    by HonoraryClinton on Fri Aug 15, 2008 at 05:06:04 PM EST
    I can't imagine a scenario in which this plan backfires. Nope, this is going to work out just fine.

    Now if you will excuse me, I'm off to hunt with my buddy Richard Cheney.

    Texas has also recently said that the Bible can (none / 0) (#6)
    by Angel on Fri Aug 15, 2008 at 05:10:23 PM EST
    be taught.  Now guns in the hands of teachers.  What was that in the Bible that says "thou shalt not kill?"  

    Class topic of its own, (none / 0) (#8)
    by JavaCityPal on Fri Aug 15, 2008 at 05:14:59 PM EST
    or history, or literature?


    Parent
    No real guidelines as far as I can tell from what (none / 0) (#18)
    by Angel on Fri Aug 15, 2008 at 05:39:38 PM EST
    I've read on the issue.  

    Parent
    The bible (none / 0) (#9)
    by txpolitico67 on Fri Aug 15, 2008 at 05:15:51 PM EST
    is so full of contradictions I don't see how it can be taken so seriously.  I don't want to offend anyone here because there are certainly great lessons to be read about in the bible.  I find it offensive though, when its used for the defense of certain types of judgmental behaviour.

    Parent
    Well, (none / 0) (#10)
    by bocajeff on Fri Aug 15, 2008 at 05:15:56 PM EST
    I don't agree with teachers having guns in the classroom. Haing said that, the Bible doesn't say "Thou shalt no kill," it says "Thou shalt not murder". There is a difference between killing and murder (self defense for example).

    With a nation that has a 1/3 high shool drop our rate, I think think teaching and studying should be a higher priority.

    Parent

    Christians will argue... (none / 0) (#41)
    by Dadler on Fri Aug 15, 2008 at 06:19:00 PM EST
    ...that it is not "thou shall not kill" but "thou shall not MURDER".  I went to the largest evangelical high school in the country, and am well versed in certain rationalizations.  In fact, our biology textbook, published by Bob Jones Univ. Press, aside from holding the world was only 10,000 years old, actually had this gem of a quote: "Dinosaurs, probably small ones, were actually aboard Noah's ark."  They will also reject everything in the Old Testement anyway, since it's the old covenant with God and Jesus was the new one.  

    You have no idea the twisting and contorting of thoughts and ideas and scripture that goes on so the literal belief in a supernatural Jesus can continue -- that is, so the literal belief in OBVIOUS metaphor can continue.

    Parent

    One would think the religious private schools (none / 0) (#44)
    by JavaCityPal on Fri Aug 15, 2008 at 06:24:06 PM EST
    would take exception to the public schools competing with them.


    Parent
    BUT, some people NEED killing (none / 0) (#54)
    by angie on Fri Aug 15, 2008 at 06:29:46 PM EST
    at least that's what I heard when I lived in Texas. ;-)

    Parent
    Jeralyn (none / 0) (#12)
    by call me Ishmael on Fri Aug 15, 2008 at 05:18:54 PM EST
    do you know if Texas has any effective gun control to begin with?  The notion of allowing individual teachers to carry around guns is a recipe for disaster. And I am wondering how it relates to the growing tendency to create an increasingly armed (I would say militarized but it isn't really about the military per se) society.

    Gun control in Texas?? (5.00 / 0) (#36)
    by flowergirlovesobama on Fri Aug 15, 2008 at 06:09:37 PM EST
    The only gun control here is "Hold 'er steady!"

    Parent
    Gun control - we don't need no stinkin gun control (none / 0) (#94)
    by dead dancer on Sat Aug 16, 2008 at 12:09:19 AM EST
    Followed by:
    Hey yall, watch this.

    Parent
    Ahhhhhh! Baseball (none / 0) (#30)
    by nycstray on Fri Aug 15, 2008 at 06:06:18 PM EST
    Nice thing about having 2 local teams, when it's raining on one, there's still a chance to watch the other :)

    Missiles in Poland (none / 0) (#37)
    by lentinel on Fri Aug 15, 2008 at 06:13:02 PM EST
    This missile system is really scary.
    If there were this kind of thing on the Mexican or Canadian border (or in Cuba...) we would be going ape.

    Part of the deal (from the NYTimes):

    "American soldiers would staff air defense sites in Poland oriented toward Russia, and that the United States would be obliged to defend Poland in case of an attack with greater speed than required under NATO, of which Poland is a member."

    So - Bush and his buddies, with the usual silent collusion of the comatose democrats (including our standard bearer) - are going to staff this "defense site" with American soldiers! And it will be oriented toward Russia!

    Just when you thought that Bush was receding into obscurity, he finds a way to get your attention: the threat of nuclear war with a true superpower.

    Why aren't we marching in the streets then? (5.00 / 0) (#43)
    by Dadler on Fri Aug 15, 2008 at 06:21:50 PM EST
    We are all to blame for this.  We choose who "represents" us and we can kick them out whenever we want through recalls.

    But we don't.

    We are as apthetic a free nation as I can politically imagine.

    We just don't care.

    Our trinkets and stuff keep us safe and happy.

    Parent

    True... but (5.00 / 0) (#65)
    by lentinel on Fri Aug 15, 2008 at 06:43:30 PM EST
    It's true that we have a vote.
    But it is also true that we have no one to vote for.
    The only one running who expresses something that sounds American to me is Nader.

    People are not happy.
    They are frightened.
    We live now in a country with a Patriot Act.
    Both nominees voted for it.

    We are like the Germans in the thirties and forties.
    They "didn't know" and neither do we.

    Parent

    Kick him out? (5.00 / 2) (#67)
    by cawaltz on Fri Aug 15, 2008 at 06:46:31 PM EST
    Nancy Pelosi gave him a signed perission slip to do whatever the f- he wanted when she took impeachment off the table. Good luck wq=ith kicking him out without the ability to impeach.

    Parent
    Dara Torres is swimming tonight! (none / 0) (#72)
    by nycstray on Fri Aug 15, 2008 at 07:04:00 PM EST
    Just a heads up  :)

    Harrold ISD not your average school district (none / 0) (#76)
    by wasabi on Fri Aug 15, 2008 at 07:41:40 PM EST
    The Harrold Independent School District has one school with a total of 112 students in K-12.

    Things are just done a little differently in rural schools.

    Yeah, somehow I doubt (none / 0) (#89)
    by RalphB on Fri Aug 15, 2008 at 10:29:04 PM EST
    we'll have all the teachers armed at the schools in Austin.  :-)

    Though the DPS has been overwhelmed for months now by a huge increase in the number of people applying for concealed carry permits.

    Parent

    This is the biggest reason I (none / 0) (#99)
    by Grace on Sat Aug 16, 2008 at 02:51:59 AM EST
    don't really see a problem with it.  It's a tiny rural school.  I'm sure those kids see guns all the time because they are common in rural areas (and useful too.  You can use them to kill rattlesnakes).  

    I would not want to see guns being brought into inner city classrooms.  

    One thing I find funny about Texas.  For all the guns they have, they sure have a lot of bank robberies too.  And when you look at the surveillance photos of the bank robbers, they are usually waving a gun around.  How come nobody shoots these guys?  I thought everybody was armed in Texas.    

    Parent

    Guns in banks (5.00 / 0) (#103)
    by roy on Sat Aug 16, 2008 at 11:39:51 AM EST
    A lot of people are armed in Texas, but most banks post signs telling people they're not allowed to go armed inside.  Carrying a gun inside would be a serious crime.  People with licenses to carry generally play by the rules, so they don't carry inside.  

    I wonder how many would-be bank robbers see the sign and turn away...

    Parent

    Are there really tornado warnings (none / 0) (#78)
    by TeresaInSnow2 on Fri Aug 15, 2008 at 07:44:20 PM EST
    in New York City?

    If I may be so blunt...HOLY CRAP!

    Andrew Bacevich on Bill Moyers' Journal is MUST (none / 0) (#82)
    by jawbone on Fri Aug 15, 2008 at 08:57:37 PM EST
    SEE TV--or catch on the web.

    It is disturbing, depressing, and very much a call to true action. He says the Imperial Presidency is destroying the American way of life and that the Congress seems to see its role as that of staying in office and throwing power at the president.

    He said so many things which struck me as so accurate--things which have been said here, as well, by many. Bacevich blames both Repubs and Dems, but voted wholeheatedly for Dems in 2006 bcz he believed Dems when they said they would get us out of Iraq if they had power--and Harry and Nancy have done worse than nothing. Over and over they fed the beast, BushCo's War Machine.

    Really, do not miss.

    Bacevich article on lessons to learn from Iraq War (none / 0) (#108)
    by jawbone on Sat Aug 16, 2008 at 05:23:57 PM EST
    and Afghanistan War--We do not need a larger military; we need a more modest foreign policy.

    Covers some of what he says on the Moyers' interview, where he said he fears neither Dem nor Repub presidents can say not to the imperial foreign policy.

    Via Tina at The Agonist.

    Parent

    Holy cow...I am in disbelief. Watch the (none / 0) (#83)
    by Teresa on Fri Aug 15, 2008 at 09:15:03 PM EST
    Olympics you all.

    Oh my! Phelps wins 100M butterfly by 0.01 sec!! (none / 0) (#84)
    by jawbone on Fri Aug 15, 2008 at 09:17:19 PM EST
    For 7th gold medal. Had been behind second place finisher until his reach for the wall. Wow.

    Those long, long arms.

    unreal wasn't it? I was so sure he had lost. (5.00 / 1) (#85)
    by Teresa on Fri Aug 15, 2008 at 09:26:12 PM EST
    He seemed so subdued in that interview. I think he is tired. I didn't think a race could top the come from behind relay but that one will join the other one as two of the most memorable moments in Olympic history.

    Parent
    He almost seemed to feel a big guilty for winning (5.00 / 1) (#86)
    by jawbone on Fri Aug 15, 2008 at 09:43:49 PM EST
    this one--or perhaps a bit spooked that it was so very close. Wow.

    Parent
    Protest being filed by Cavic's coach (silver) (5.00 / 1) (#87)
    by jawbone on Fri Aug 15, 2008 at 09:47:56 PM EST
    But I think it's a the touch--and fully mechanized, right? What could the protest be based on? So far, not mentioned.

    Parent
    WTF (5.00 / 1) (#88)
    by lilburro on Fri Aug 15, 2008 at 10:08:20 PM EST
    that race was crazy.  I can't believe he did it.

    The protest was refused after the tech people reviewed the race by overhead camera.

    And Dara looks good for tomorrow...wow, to watch her win would be amazing.

    Also, I'm wondering, why are Americans so good at swimming?

    Parent

    She outswam the competition in her semifinal heat- (5.00 / 1) (#100)
    by jawbone on Sat Aug 16, 2008 at 09:33:58 AM EST
    Amazing!

    Parent
    And she took time from her prep to inform official (5.00 / 1) (#101)
    by jawbone on Sat Aug 16, 2008 at 09:36:15 AM EST
    that the Swiss swimmer next to her had torn her suit and had to go change into another one. She got them to hold the race start until the swimmer returned.

    She had to leave her block, go looking for someone; no one could figure out what was going on until someonen noticed the empty block next to hers.

    The announcers were somewhat agog that she would break her concentration to do this. Then commended her on her sportsmanship. Indeed!

    Parent

    I think she has a great chance to win this. (none / 0) (#102)
    by Teresa on Sat Aug 16, 2008 at 09:57:58 AM EST
    I'm excited about tonight. I woke up this morning and I'm still amazed at that race last night.

    Parent
    When does Dara swim? (none / 0) (#95)
    by caseyOR on Sat Aug 16, 2008 at 12:41:22 AM EST
    Do you know what time tomorrow Dara swims? Is this the final?

    Parent
    Dara (5.00 / 1) (#96)
    by lilburro on Sat Aug 16, 2008 at 01:03:11 AM EST
    swims tomorrow in the 50 m freestyle final at about 10 pm EST.

    Fun to catch also will be the 1500 m Men's final right afterwards.  

    Michael swims at just before 11 pm EST.

    Olympics Schedule

    Parent

    File under no BushCo appointee leaves the Mad- (none / 0) (#104)
    by jawbone on Sat Aug 16, 2008 at 11:41:05 AM EST
    administration with reputation intact, in this case Christopher Cox, Bush's appointee to head the SEC. Per The Independent, "How Wall Street's watchdog may be muzzled", he's playing puppy dog to BushCo's efforts to defang the agency and put in place something more amenable to Wall Street's less ethical approaches to business.

    ...for another of the major institutional victims of the credit crisis, we may be only at the start of a slow death.

    That victim is the Securities and Exchange Commission, Wall Street's regulator for the past 74 years.

    For months, the agency has seemed superfluous to the battle to protect global finance. After the Federal Reserve came to the rescue as a lender of last resort to beleaguered Wall Street banks, the SEC could only watch as the US central bank rode roughshod over its traditional territory. Worse, when the SEC finally did pipe up, its actions against short-sellers were widely damned as a hysterical over-reaction.

    Now the SEC's chairman, Christopher Cox, a mild-mannered former Republican congressman, stands accused by some of his own staff for failing to stand up for the agency, as the Bush administration manoeuvres to replace it with something more amenable to Wall Street.


    SNIP
    ...revelations that Mr Cox was not on crucial conference calls between the Fed and the US Treasury during the effort to prop up Bear Stearns are particularly damaging. He was at a birthday party on the Saturday night in question, and went on holiday a week later, with global finance still on life support - and his protestations of having been constantly in touch have done little to improve the perception of irrelevance.

    Hhhmmm--

    Via The Agonist--and I meant Maladministration, (none / 0) (#105)
    by jawbone on Sat Aug 16, 2008 at 11:41:51 AM EST
    but my typo rather fits.

    Parent
    Post about how insurgents are attacking the main (none / 0) (#107)
    by jawbone on Sat Aug 16, 2008 at 12:26:16 PM EST
    supply route in Afghanistan--Obama better read this stuff. Afghanistan is not going to be an easy re-do. One description is not for the faint of heart or stomach.

    BushCo, of course, blew their chance to actually implement their talked about Great New Marshall Plan for Afghanistan. Perhaps had they ignored the lure of attacking Iraq, the US and allies could have maintained order in Afghanistan which might have lead to real economic development. Instead, BushCo got bored and moved on to their fave target. What idiots.

    Not only waging illegal war, stupid preventive war, but also messing it up royally. And thus messing up two wars.

    So, whoever is the US prez is going to have a right bloody mess on his hands.

    B's post at Moon of Alabama.