The GOP has been running from its history for thirty years, since Civil Rights for ethnic minorities became res judicata (so to speak). It hasn’t been running all that fast lately… they haven’t really needed to, what with their recent string of electoral success and all. One might have expected that they might run a little faster since their foray to the right left them a few seats short in both houses of the legislature a week ago. That’s why it’s so interesting that the GOP is bringing back their pseudo/nouveau southern segregationalist: Trent Lott. Last we heard from Trent he was waxing poetic about Strom Thurmond and the good ‘ole days. Now he’s back, primarily because he can simultaneously schmooze and ‘wrassle with the best of them… in other words, he can keep those damn dissenting conservatives in the GOP in line.

Not to be outdone, the Democrats are wasting no time forgetting the last twelve years ever happened… skipping the traditional two years of good behavior and jumping right into an ethical quagmire. Momentarily forgetting that they were placed in power as a reaction to recent GOP ethics problems; Nancy Pelosi (the incoming Speaker of the House) has made a dubious choice for second-in-command, despite the individual’s history of ethics problems.

Election? What Election?

Dear John,
As a registered Democrat and a person that voted for you (in the general election anyway)… I beg you… please stop running for President. Oh, don’t be coy. We all know what you’re up to.

I’m sure you’re a swell guy and you mean well, but I’ve got to tell you… when you put together the folks that ran for the Democratic nomination in 2000 and 2004, you’re about number four on my list. When you throw in another name (a likely opponent in ’08 with a familiar last name) you drop to fifth.

Let’s face it, you lost to a Republican party that ran on one of the most socially conservative platforms since the civil rights movement. When you consider that the country as a whole has gotten more socially liberal since then (no fault divorces, reproductive rights, “Title Nine,” employee-workplace protections, and stricter environmental protections all becoming law and gaining acceptance as the norm since then)… you’re really saying something. The middle ground was there for the taking. All you had to do was show them and your own party that you could lead them. It’s time to face up to the fact that you didn’t. It’s not really your fault… any more than it’s your fault your last name is Kerry and you were born in Massachusetts. No one can teach charisma and you can’t learn it (I don’t think). If it makes you feel any better, most of the rest of us don’t have it either… not me anyway.

So don’t let the Peter Principle get you down… you did alright in your previous incarnation as a U.S. Senator. It’s not such a bad fall back position is it?

Here are a couple quick conclusions drawn from the Bucs game tonight:

First, if you made Brad Johnson six inches shorter, made him a little less accurate on the intermediate pass, and made him more mobile: you’d have a quarterback that looks a lot like Bruce Gradkowski. The difference between Brad’s and Bruce’s long ball is that Brad knew enough not to throw it (either that or Gruden didn’t ask him to throw it as often). Granted, there are some good quarterbacks that didn’t show much six starts into their careers; but, Bruce is SO inconsistent… even when you factor in the dropped passes. “Rookie” should not be a hall pass for poor play, and I think Bruce may be getting too many.

Second, there aren’t too many other choices right now.

Third, nothing is safe in the hands of the Bucs’ safeties. Who knew the Bucs would miss Darrell Jackson so much? (Besides Darrell Jackson…)

Fourth, Michael Clayton still isn’t doing much to back up his claim he’s not getting enough touches. You could say that he’s suffering through a rookie quarterback… but he wasn’t doing much with Simms either.

Fifth, the Bucs are facing stiff competition in the Brady Quinn Sweepstakes. Detroit, Tampa, Tennessee, and Oakland are all right there at 2-7 with nearly identical conference records of 1-6 (Oakland has a game in hand at 1-5 in their conference); but they’re all a game behind Arizona at 1-8. However, the ace in the hole continues to be the Bucs’ schedule… which continues to be brutal.

Sixth, it’s really late and it’s going to be a REALLY long day tomorrow. They don’t make coffee strong enough for tomorrow morning.