Maverick-mentum!

Mike Huckabee, the former governor of Arkansas and defeated contender for the GOP presidential nomination, is currently at the top of John McCain's short list for a running mate. At least that's the word from a top McCain fundraiser and longtime Republican moneyman who has spoken to McCain's inner circle...

Economic conservatives and supply-siders may balk, but the threat of four years of Obamanomics and higher investment, income, and corporate taxes might be enough to keep them on board.

Not sure that's going to work out for him.

Thanks to V the K for the tip. more...

Posted by: Slublog at 10:20 AM | Comments (101)
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Disaster. Half of what they were expecting, which wasn't really all that ambitious (they wanted $40 mil for the weekend, got less than $20).

Can we finally stop paying attention to the Wachowski Brothers siblings?

Rotten Tomatoes has a run-down of the Top Fifty Most Memorable Cars in movie history as tie-in.

Max Rockatansky's V-8 Interceptor only at 26? A lot of dodgy rankings on the list, but still a lot of fun, and very drool inducing.

Posted by: Ace at 09:13 AM | Comments (30)
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He still has to officially get the nomination but it seems likely he will.

As a believer in small-government, he has rebuked the present administration for the growth of the government on its watch, as well as the expanding deficit-spending and borrowing from abroad to finance the government's expenditures.

What's more, he has been very upset by Bush's Iraq invasion which he views as an example of the dangers that can result from an overly large, aggressive federal government.

At his Washington press conference this morning, he offered his candidacy because he won't be the "status quo" candidate or the "lesser of two evils." He senses Americans want someone "who will stand up to the forces here in Washington, somebody who is not a part of that fraternity that has given us the crop of current candidates. Somebody who will stand up as precious few presidents have to the powers in Washington who want more, more, more and say no."

It doesnÂ’t look like Barr is running on the traditional Libertarian grounds of pot for everyone, privatizing the road system and the general goofiness of a guy like Ron Paul.

BarrÂ’s big issue seems to be what he views as an overstretch of government power post 9-11, especially the Patriot Act.

HeÂ’s in favor of rapidly drawing down in Iraq but not announcing a timetable for complete withdrawal and favors a non-interventionist foreign policy. HeÂ’s also in favor of deep spending cuts and securing the borders (though his website statement seems a little muddled to me but thatÂ’s likely a nod to the fact that a lot of Libertarians are flat out open borders types)

So, how pissed are conservatives? Yes, I know conservative and Libertarian are not only not synonymous they are often in conflict but in a year without a clear conservative choice, how do you prefer your heresies?

Posted by: DrewM at 08:53 AM | Comments (27)
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I had joked that the media would portray Sadr's latest defeat as a victory . I have to tell you I didn't really believe that. I was being hyperbolic. There was no way they could spin a near-complete surrender as a victory.

I was wrong.

Al-Sadr Wins Another Round

By MARK KUKIS/BAGHDAD Sun May 11, 10:35 AM ET

For the first time in weeks Sadr City saw no fighting Sunday, day one of yet another hastily brokered cease-fire between U.S.-backed Iraqi forces and the Shi'ite Mahdi Army militia.

Word of the pact emerged Saturday night, when an aide to Mahdi Army leader Muqtada al-Sadr said a deal had been reached to end roughly two months of street fighting in eastern Baghdad. Soon afterward, U.S. and Iraqi officials endorsed the agreement, which came as Iraqi forces working with U.S. troops were signaling plans for a new push to break from areas where they had remained stuck for weeks. Details of the cease-fire remain largely unclear beyond an immediate end to the battles that have displaced thousands of residents from the Mahdi Army stronghold of Sadr City, a vast slum home to more than 2 million people.

In announcing the deal, al-Sadr aide Sheik Salah al-Obeidi said the agreement, "stipulates that the Mahdi Army will stop fighting in Sadr City and will stop displaying arms in public. In return, the government will stop random raids against al-Sadr followers and open all closed roads that lead to Sadr City."

Al-Obeidi, who issued a statement from the southern Iraqi city of Najaf, added: "This document does not call for disbanding al-Mahdi Army or laying down their arms."

The fact that a leading figure in al-Sadr's ranks announced the deal and pointedly rejected the Iraqi government's key demand to disarm suggests that the cleric is still controlling the agenda tactically and politically...

Actually, it suggests nothing of the sort. It suggest the opposite, in fact. It suggests that a group which just capitulated to Iraqi security forces patroling Sadr city for the first time ever is trying to spin the surrender as a victory.

Who would fall for such a ruse?

Time Magazine, naturally.

Furthermore, Time Magazine takes Sadrist propagandists' explanation of the details of the agreement as presumptively true.

Based on these two thin reeds -- Sadr actually said something about the deal, Sadr and his minions claim the deal says x -- Time Magazine feels it has enough information to declare victory on behalf of al Sadr.

The NYT, meanwhile, actually admits success in Basra, on page one.

Thanks to CJ, Via LGF.

Flaky Internet: I'm having a hell of a time connecting. The internet is going in and out. I've been without a connection throughout the morning.

Posted by: Ace at 08:51 AM | Comments (24)
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Gets his sorry ass killed by a quick reacting neighbor.

FORT WORTH -- A robbery suspect entered an west-side donut shop early Friday armed with a BB rifle, but a good Samaritan who came to help a shop employee had a shotgun.

That's just like a moron. Bringing a BB gun to a shotgun fight.

The man who shot the robber was not arrested. It's Ft. Worth. They get it.

Posted by: Dave in Texas at 06:13 AM | Comments (40)
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Apparently he's going to spend the next week or so advocating for action on climate change.

In an implicit rebuke to the Bush administration, McCain will say in remarks prepared for delivery at the Vestas Wind Energy Training Facility in Portland, Oregon. "I will not shirk the mantle of leadership that the United States bears. I will not permit eight long years to pass without serious action on serious challenges." Referring to the Kyoto Protocols on greenhouse gas emissions the U.S. never signed, McCain added "I will not accept the same dead-end of failed diplomacy that claimed Kyoto."

"We stand warned by serious and credible scientists across the world that time is short and the dangers are great," McCain will say. ""The most relevant question now is whether our own government is equal to the challenge."

But wait, there's more! He's also using some of his limited resources on a TV ad dedicated to the subject.

McCain says his plan isn't high taxes and regulations. Some beg to differ. Oh and the people who like high taxes and regulation? A lot of them are on board with McCain's plan.

Boy, I am glad I live in NY and don't have to feel bad about not voting for the guy, even against Obama.

UPDATE: Below the fold a very special Slushop! more...

Posted by: DrewM at 05:44 AM | Comments (187)
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We all know that male turkeys aren't terribly picky about what they'll mate with. Give'em a plastic female turkey head on a stick and they'll hit it like a Viking. Well it looks like male wasps are equally non-choosy. They'll apparently quit mating with a hot female wasp in favor of mating with an ultra-hot Orchid.

It is not harmless to the wasps, who may suffer more than an inconvenience. "Male pollinators can prefer orchids to real females, prematurely end a copulation with a real female to visit an orchid, or be unable to find real female mates among false orchid signals," the researchers wrote.

"Unquestionably, producing sperm, ejaculate, or seminal fluids is costly for many animals. The energetic demands of sperm production can result in reduced body mass, a shortened life span, or limited lifetime sperm production," they added.

Posted by: Purple Avenger at 04:09 AM | Comments (38)
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The FL Marlins would win the NL-East, and the Tampa Devil Rays would get the AL wild card. I'm just saying. This is what I predicted about three days into the season -- a Fish/Rays World Series.

Looks like razor blades and rope time in Detroit and San Diego.

Posted by: Purple Avenger at 01:56 PM | Comments (32)
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She honored his memory very well.

Hard to find the words to express how I feel when these things happen. Pajama momma fought through some heartache to honor her friend Danny, and that in and of itself was pretty sweet.

I'm sure she would appreciate your kind words. As I am also sure you will express them, and thank you for that.

Posted by: Dave in Texas at 01:54 PM | Comments (16)
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Try growing up with 17 brothers and sisters.

LITTLE ROCK, ARK. — Mother's Day draws a crowd in the home of an Arkansas woman — she is pregnant with her 18th child.

I'm all for people having kids. And they seem happy enough, and apparently have a good method for keeping the family unit working like a machine.

The family has become well-known through news coverage of new births and with programs about them on Discovery Health, which is filming the family again.

The new show looks at life inside the Duggar home, where chores — or "jurisdictions" — are assigned to each child.

It doesn't hurt that they have a 7000 square foot house, or that they live in Arkansas, where they are probably only the 3rd or 4th strangest thing to talk about. (I understand the puzzle of how Bill Clinton found the time to actually run for anything other than the Dog Catcher's wife is still a big topic of discussion.)

But seriously, how does mom not just split apart at the seams?

Michelle Duggar, who has been pregnant for 11 years of her life, said she and her husband will continue to have children as long as God wills it.

Well, God and Jim-Bob's "Army of Davids", as it were.

The paper asks the obvious question of how they afford it all. Gotta say I'm just a little suspicious of the answer:

Jim Bob Duggar, a former member of the Arkansas Legislature and an unsuccessful U.S. Senate candidate, has not been specific when asked how he supports such a big family. But he said he was guided by a seminar about 20 years ago — a system he still advocates — that blends finance and religion.

Kinda reminds me of the time I was having a talk with the owner of a Mexican Restaurant. He's explaining to me what a great racket the business is: 90% of the menu comes from 5 pots of ingredients kept warm on the stove, mixed in varying ways. The hired help is cheap, and will work their asses off. And the profit margin is huge.

"How do I get into this business," asks I.

"Oh!" sez he. "You" - (meaning Gringos) - "don't."

We laughed and laughed. At least he gave me free food.

Posted by: Open Blog at 10:17 AM | Comments (40)
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