Since part of the purpose of this blog is to highlight stories you might have missed, we're going to take one day a week to talk about stories that won't get airtime in our newscasts.

Lara: I am a proud Southerner, but this is the kind of story that makes it difficult to defend against stereotypes. The Republican gubernatorial primary runoff is between a guy who is a creationist and a guy who potentially lied about his military service. Although I have a great deal of affection for the state where I grew up, I'm willing to admit that Alabama is a heavily socially conservative state, which should mean the pool for candidates for statewide office should be bigger than these guys. At least there's a chance that the eventual nominee will lose to the Democrat. Alabama has elected a Democratic governor in recent memory...of course he was later convicted of bribery and fraud and spent time in federal prison.

And then there's this guy, Alvin Greene, the Democratic candidate for Senate in South Carolina. At least it's possible to make the argument that no Democrats with legitimate ideas or credentials would run what is nearly certain to be a losing campaign in South Carolina.

And, from the state of my birth, there's Rand Paul, now a nationally known figure, who may or may not support civil rights legislation.

But at least politicians with questionable views and backgrounds aren't limited to the south. Connecticut, one of the bluest of blue states, boasts a candidate who lied about his military service. And Nevada has Sharron Angle. Enough said. 

And really, the US is much more purple than red or blue, but it's more "newsworthy" to talk about the divide.

Scott: The Iroquois Confederacy was set to compete again as a separate sovereign nation at the World Lacrosse Championships in England, however a passport dispute with the United States may prevent the historic creators of lacrosse from participating.

The World Lacrosse Championship invites nations the world over to compete. In an unusual international recognition of American Indian sovereignty, the Iroquois have always competed as an independent nation at the tournament.

So, what’s the hitch? The United States government, that’s what.

The Iroquois players possess passports issued by the Iroquois Confederacy [pic], a group of six Native American nations in the US and Canada. The US government, however, has said it will refuse reentry to anyone attempting to come home without a valid US passport, and the UK will not issue visas to anyone unable to confirm they will be able to return home.

Of course, this is all much bigger than lacrosse. It has to do with a continually raging battle over sovereignty, self-determination and recognition. Officially, the Iroquois Confederacy is not recognized as a sovereign nation by the US; however, Iroquois passports have not been an issue in the past. Iroquois team members from the US can obtain US passports. Arguing a right to self-identity and sovereignty however, the team members refuse to carry them.

NPR reported that one Iroquois player said he would rather miss the tournament than travel under a US passport.

The big question is does the US have a right to refute Iroquois sovereignty? Maybe not.

The UN Charter states that all peoples have a right to self determination. Self determination is defined as:

“The right of a people to determine its own destiny. In particular, the principle allows a people to choose its own political status and to determine its own form of economic, cultural and social development. Exercise of this right can result in a variety of different outcomes ranging from political independence through to full integration within a state.” [via]

The Iroquois, as a people, can choose their own identify, their own nation, political status etc. It is their right. Further, customary international law provides that they exist freely as a self-determined entity free of the need for any international or national recognition. According to the Montevideo Convention of 1933 the only legal requirements to independent statehood are: a permanent population, defined territory, a governing system and the capacity to engage in international affairs with other states.

They have a population. They have a defined territory. They have a capable government. They have the capacity to engage other states. The Iroquois Confederacy easily meets international legal requirements for uncontested sovereign statehood.

I say, at the very least, let them compete! The Iroquois have always competed in the tournament as a nation without passport controversies in the past. Why now? Why is the US picking this time to nitpick and start a fight? What gives?!

Marc: I would like to take time to pay tribute to an unbelievably accurate psychic, to the mollusk of all mollusks. I am of course referring to Paul the Octopus. He captured everyone’s attention with his predictions for the World Cup games, going a whopping eight for eight! And, he captured my heart!

I think at some point during the World Cup some people looked towards Paul for their entertainment more than the actual match. Paul skyrocketed from a lowly eight tentacle sea creature to an international celebrity; in Spain Paul is an icon while his brothers (sisters) are merely dinner in a fine Spanish paella. The Spanish prime minister has already spoken of his desire to protect "Pulpo Paul" and the mock up of a new version of Spain's flag could be dangerously close to becoming real.

Now, personally I believe his retirement after the World Cup is no coincidence. First and maybe most obvious is that octopi of his type only live for about 5 years. Paul is in his prime and unfortunately it looks pretty grim that he stands a chance to make it to the next World Cup in 2014. So, I don’t know if we will see Paul too much in the future but what I do know is, I am one grateful football fan to have witnessed one amazing Cephalopod (that’s the family of animals octopus are in, just FYI).

The statements, views and opinions expressed in this column are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of RT.