Gators Pull Off Victory Despite Very Sloppy Offensive Performance

The Florida Gators opened its football schedule at home playing Miami of Ohio. Although the Gators won 34-12, the offense played awful football.

Several commentators have rushed to blame Florida's offensive performance on the absence of Tim Tebow. Some of these same commentators, however, likely predicted that Tebow would fail in the NFL, and they probably harshly criticized him during his time at Florida.

Analysts who watched the game looking to understand what actually happened will resist the kneejerk "post-Tebow" script. Quarterback John Brantley actually did a decent job for his first start. Some of the veteran offensive players, however, had an inexcusably terrible performance. Mike Pouncey, for example, had over a dozen bad snaps, which made it hard for Brantley to utilize his powerful throwing arm. Also, several offensive players fumbled the ball, resulting in Gator turnovers.

The strongest element of the game was the defense. Despite numerous turnovers and mistakes by the offense, the Florida defense prevented Miami from going into the endzone.

Thankfully for the Gators, the team was able to escape this miserable performance with a victory. In addition, the Gators will have a week to correct mistakes and get ready for SEC play. Alabama is only two weeks away for Florida.

UPDATE: This analysis at Bleacher Report gets it right.

Jan Brewer: No More Debates!

Jan Brewer's horrendous performance in the recent Arizona gubernatorial debate has become an Internet sensation. Brewer stumbled during her opening statement. She sat silent and uncomfortable or nearly ten seconds, unable to recall what she should say. And she repeatedly used incorrect grammar, describing what "we have did" for Arizona.

Brewer has now called it quits: no more debates. Brewer says she cannot perform well in an "adversarial" process (so why does she want to govern one of the largest states in the nation). She also foolishly admitted that she agreed to the debate only to qualify for state campaign assistance. Translation: I do not want the voters to realize that I have no answers when my ideas are challenged, but thanks for the campaign funding.

Here is video footage of Brewer's awful opening statement.

Progressive Coalition Planning March on Washington, October 2, 2010

One Nation Working Together, a coalition of dozens of organizations and individuals, is sponsoring a march on Washington scheduled for October 2, 2010. The organization's webpage contains a tab labeled "What We Stand For," which includes the following statement:

We all deserve a just and fair chance to achieve the American Dream. Our national identity is rooted in the ideal that all people – regardless of race, class, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, heritage or ability – should have the opportunity to fulfill their potential.

One Nation Working Together will chart a bold, pragmatic path toward a more unified, sustainable, prosperous future by building support for these core principles and policy ideals.

The website also says that conservatives, liberals, progressives and moderates are all members of the organization. The list of "endorsing organizations," however, are predominately liberal and progressive groups. It is great to witness some visible social movement activity from the left.