Does anybody except her family think this is a good idea? “Liz Cheney, former Vice President Dick Cheney’s eldest daughter, punted when asked on “Fox News Sunday” whether she’s setting the stage for a run at elected office, as POLITICO reported last week.” [Politico]

Bill Johnson was the former assistant director and director of the Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs, a one-time candidate for governor, and was enough of a sociopath to do well in Alabama politics. He is married (for now) to a two-time Miss America finalist. And he threw it all away to move to New Zealand to spread his seed:

[His activities have] also led Mrs Johnson to campaign for a law change in the United States which would make it illegal for men in long-term relationships to donate sperm without their partner’s knowledge.

Mr Johnson returned to Alabama in the United States after news broke in December of his activities. He left Alabama just after Easter to be in Christchurch for when the babies start arriving.

A candidate for the Republican nomination to be governor of the state in 2009, Mr Johnson campaigned on a political platform opposing gay marriage. A number of the women he donated to are in committed civil unions with gay partners.

Another GOP hypocrite asshole. Who could have predicted?

Sperm Donor Left Me For Babies [nzherald.co.nz]

Title: “The Tyranny of Cliches: How Liberals Cheat in the War of Ideas”

Author: Jonah Goldberg

Rank: 65

Blurb: “With humor and passion, Goldberg dismantles these and many other Trojan Horses that liberals use to cheat in the war of ideas. He shows that the grand Progressive tradition of denying an ideological agenda while pursuing it vigorously under the false-flag of reasonableness is alive and well. And he reveals how this dangerous game may lead us further down the path of self-destruction.”

Review: “I found it cathartic when Goldberg declares, ‘The Marxists who claimed to be ending the masses’ addiction to religion then proceeded to slaughter those same masses at a rate unprecedented in the history of human life.'”

Read more »

It’s time once again to dip in to the sea of possibilities.  Time to push our Autotote ticket clerk against the locker.  Yes, yes: the Fifth Annual Stinque Kentucky Derby Open Thread is now open!

As of this writing (around 1300 ET), your favorite at 9:2 is Union Rags.  Which makes sense, as this race (as is the case with most Kentucky Derbies) takes place in Kentucky.  The Baffert-trained Bodemeister stands at 7:1, and Gemologist from the outside is at 9:1.  The pros are saying that these are the three to beat.  But there is a threat of rain, though, so the twenty runners might send Racing Forms into the blender.  As is usually the case.  (Really — handicapping a twenty-horse race like this is just about impossible.  Unless I pick the winner.)

No wimmin in this race — either the jockeys or the horses under them.  Fan favorite Calvin Borel is down close to the rail, as is his wont, on Take Charge Indy (fourth choice, at 10:1).  I think that’s overbet, so I’m going with El Padrino, a great value bet at 26:1.  Put him with Gemologist for some nice exacta action.

And now: ALL RISE FOR THE DEGENERATE GAMBLER NATIONAL ANTHEM! (Doo-doo-do-do-doot, do-do-doot, do-do-do-doooot!)

Looks like the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review got an early start Friday on its Cinco de Mayo partying.

Do What? [Romenesko, via Sully]

“At Ohio State University in Columbus, where Obama is set to speak around 1:25 p.m. ET on Saturday, Romney aides are planning to circle the candidate’s campaign bus.” [Yahoo]

[NY Daily News]