[Guest post by DRJ]

I occasionally watch MSNBC’s Hardball with Chris Matthews but I didn’t see the March 31, 2008, edition in which Matthews discussed Barack Obama bowling in Pennsylvania. Now that I’ve read the Hardball transcript, I wish I had seen the episode.

Below the break are selected excerpts from Hardball (emphasis supplied), and fortunately we can all watch video of Barack bowling thanks to YouTube:

UPDATE 4/1/2008: Hillary suggests a bowl-off.

(more…)

[Guest post by DRJ]

In an April 1st article (so I offer no guarantees whether it’s accurate), the Politico’s Huddle reports that Congressional Democrats are planning a surprise party for General Petraeus next week:

“LOOKAHEAD: Gen. David Petraeus, the U.S. commander in Iraq, and U.S. Ambassador to Iraq Ryan Crocker testify on the Senate side a week from today, and the House side a week from tomorrow. Democrats this week will use hearings and media hits to try to change the focus from SUCCESS OR FAILURE OF THE SURGE to COSTS and WHETHER THE WAR MADE US SAFER.”

Consider this your ‘Moving The Goalposts’ alert.

— DRJ

[Guest post by DRJ]

Today at the Orlando FL airport, airport security detained a passenger based on suspicious behavior and discovered bomb materials in his bags:

“A man behavior specialists spotted acting suspiciously was detained after components used to make pipe bombs were found in his luggage at Orlando International Airport.

Officials said agents noticed something about the man’s body language that prompted officers to move in near the Virgin Atlantic and Jamaica Airlines ticket counters.”

A witness described his behavior as “crazy” and “wacko,” and that he was rocking.

Video from Orlando’s Local6.com is here and there are several related reports at the links.

— DRJ

[Guest post by DRJ]

Police in Waycross, Georgia, uncovered a plot by up to nine third-graders to attack their teacher:

“A group of third-graders plotted to attack their teacher, bringing a broken steak knife, handcuffs, duct tape and other items for the job and assigning children tasks including covering the windows and cleaning up afterward, police said Tuesday.

The plot by as many as nine boys and girls at Center Elementary School in south Georgia was a serious threat, Waycross Police Chief Tony Tanner said.

“We did not hear anybody say they intended to kill her, but could they have accidentally killed her? Absolutely,” Tanner said. “We feel like if they weren’t interrupted, there would have been an attempt. Would they have been successful? We don’t know.

The children, ages 8 and 9, were apparently mad at the teacher because she had scolded one of them for standing on a chair, Tanner said.”

The children have been suspended but cannot be charged with a crime under Georgia law because they are under 13, although they may be subject to sanctions under school district and juvenile law provisions.

The teacher is described as a “veteran educator” who teaches learning disabled children. The scheme to attack her was fairly complicated:

“The scheme involved a division of roles, Tanner said. One child’s job was to cover windows so no one could see outside, he said. Another was supposed to clean up after the attack.

“We’re not sure at this point in the investigation how many of the students actually knew the intent was to hurt the teacher,” Tanner said. “

The school principal defended her students:

“This is an isolated incident, an aberration. … We have good kids,” Center Principal Angie Coleman told the newspaper.”

The police remain unconvinced. Pictures of the steak knife and accessories are here.

— DRJ