We’re not sure Indiana Governor and Shrub alum Mitch Daniels wants to run for President, as opposed to DC Types wanting him to run. And from what little we’ve heard about the matter, apparently The Wife has reservations.

Now we know why:

The trickiest issue is the Daniels’ past: As they say on Facebook and in the recent movie about it, “It’s complicated.” In the 1990s, Cheri Daniels left her husband and their four daughters, ages 8 to 14, moved to California, and married another man. Three years later, she returned to Mitch and their family.

Governor Daniels has discussed the matter publicly only once. “If you like happy endings, you’ll love our story,” he told the Indianapolis Star in 2004. “Love and the love of children overcame any problems.”

Since we know little of Mitch Daniels, we’re not sure this poses a Newt Paradox, at least until Mitch makes some Family Values noises. (Well, besides defunding Planned Parenthood this week.) But now that the cat’s out of the bag, we’re sure The Wife would love to get up close and personal with the DC Types who’ve been bandying about Hubby’s name.

Is Cheri Daniels a good ‘political wife’? [Christian Science Monitor]

Image: First Lady Cheri Herman Daniels [State of Indiana]

Two pardoned, two refused: “Two turkeys that ‘didn’t quite make the cut’ were delivered to Martha’s Table, a local nonprofit organization that serves homeless children and their families, the president said.” [CNN]

Our guest columnist this afternoon is Martin Avila, the Lawson for Congress campaign manager.

In response to numerous queries and enthusiastic feedback, the Lawson for Congress campaign confirms that its latest radio and TV ad is indeed narrated by actor Morgan Freeman. The ad with Freeman’s distinctive voice, titled, “What is David Price Afraid Of?” can be viewed at [Note: Video offline].

The ad addresses how 22-year incumbent David Price, who votes with Nancy Pelosi more than any other Congressman, has gone on the attack with his quarter-million dollar TV ad campaign instead of standing behind his voting record of bailouts and increased deficit spending. The Freeman-narrated Lawson ad is a stark contrast to the Price campaign’s current TV ad, which uses exaggerations, lies and distortions in attempt to shock voters, rather than talking about the issues.

Read more »

We’re not sure why all the Obama Philly Rally news is coming from Fleet Street, but here’s the rest of it:

If billionaire Alki David is an honest man, the man who streaked in front of Barack Obama at the president’s rally today in Philadelphia will be paid $1 million for his stunt. The man who performed today’s stunt, which captured the attention of the Drudge Report and an Associated Press photographer, is 24-year-old Juan James Rodriguez, THE WEEKLY STANDARD has learned…

The requirements of the streaking stunt, David told me, are that the streaker must have been within “eye-shot and ear shot of the president, they have to scream the name ‘battlecam.com’ six times, and they have to be nude.”

Before we leave These Isles, let’s go to David Niven for the call: “Isn’t it fascinating to think that probably the only laugh that man will ever get in his life is by stripping off and showing his shortcomings?”

Man Streaks in Front of Obama for $1 Million [Weekly Standard]

“Gun proponent John Lott was scheduled to speak at the University of Texas on his pet subject, how more guns lead to less crime. However, the talk was canceled when a gunman wearing a ski mask entered the school library and fired several shots before taking his own life. According to RightWingWatch, Lott’s appearance was being sponsored by the Texas Federalist Society, Students for Concealed Carry on Campus, Libertarian Longhorns, and the Objectivist Society.” [Liberaland, via Tom Tomorrow]

Note to aspiring directors: If you’re going to have a kid cussing in a viral video, make sure you’re the parent…

A city man was arrested after police said he coached his 8-year-old neighbor to swear and make racial slurs for a YouTube video.

Josh Eastman, 24, of Pearl Harbor Street, was charged Tuesday afternoon with impairing the morals of a child. He was released after posting $2,500 bond…

Police said Eastman admitted making and posting the video, but claimed his lawyer told him it was all right to do so.

Reached at his home Wednesday, Eastman denied that the things he had the boy say were disgusting. “It was fun things, funny,” he said.

No, sir, funny is a cute kitty chasing her linoleum reflection. Or, if not funny, it’s certainly safer.

Man arrested for ‘swearing kid’ video [Connecticut Post, via Raw Story]

[KittyVid via LuxMentis]

Ben Quayle, son of the former vice president and Champion Speler, would like to be Your Next Congresscritter from Arizona’s Third:

As a part of his campaign strategy, Quayle has started to send out mailers emblazened with his slogan, “A New Generation.” In one of these mailers, Quayle poses with two young girls — one seated in his lap and another holding his hand. Below the picture of Quayle and the children is a quotation by the candidate: “My roots in Arizona run deep. My grandparents and great grandparents lived in this district. My parents and all of my siblings live in this district. Tiffany [his wife] and I live in this district and are going to raise our family here.”

Aren’t the girls cute? Oh, by the way, they aren’t his. Ben and the Missus are childless.

In campaign mailer, Ben Quayle discusses raising a ‘family’ by posing with girls who aren’t his [Think Progress]