Yes, yes — here we are again.  For the fourth year running (three years on Stinque proper, with the first event happening at another place), it is the Kentucky Derby Open Thread.

First of all, this must be said: you want silly hats, Princess Beatrice?  Come get some.

You go to a royal wedding wearing felt-covered moose antlers, attached to a toilet seat.  On your damn head. But it can barely be called a “hat.”  You had to come up with a new name for it.  A “fascinator.”  Honey, please — the only thing fascinating about it was that it was lumped into the general category of “hats.”  That was not a hat.  THIS, RIGHT HERE, IS A HAT.  It is securely attached to the head by wrapping itself around the skull, and is not simply pinned to your forehead.  It protects (amply) the head from the heat and ultraviolet rays of the sun.  THIS IS A HAT.

So, anyway, the race.  19 horses will go.  It’s usually 20, but the favorite — Uncle Mo — was scratched because of a stomach bug.  Which made this race much more difficult to handicap.  The Derby is always impossible to pick with any sort of intelligence; all the horses are good, and most are more than capable of winning, even at extremely long odds.  Top picks, as of this draft, look like Dialed In (from the 4 post) and Nehro (19), both of whom hang back off the pace and close at the end.  But who the hell knows.

Several notables besides these two: Twice The Appeal (3) will have Calvin Borel, America’s Favorite Cajun, in the irons.  His M.O. is riding the rail, and that’s where he will start.  There are no horses this time who have ladybits, but one jockey who does — Anna Napravnik is up on Pants On Fire (7).  Mucho Macho Man (13) has a female trainer who is coming off — wait, wait — a heart transplant.  Devotion, yes?

And so: ALL RISE FOR THE DEGENERATE GAMBLER NATIONAL ANTHEM. (Doo-doo doo-doo-doot, doo-doo-doot, doo-doo-doo-dooooooot…..)

Turn Off the Dark’s Reign of Terror Returns on May 12th [Topless Robot, via Comics Alliance]

The initial headline:

WTF at WTC? Obama Has American Flag Removed From Ground Zero Site Moments Before Photo Shoot!

The supposedly corroborating Jake Tapper tweet:

One minute to air and they decided to take the flag down from the live shot!

The wingnut blogger’s kill shot:

This administration and, by extension, the Democrat Party are now so thoroughly divorced from the history, traditions and morals of America that we might as well admit the Marxist left has executed a successful coup d’état on this Republic.

Read more »

[Jezebel Commenter Resplendent Bitch]

“Al Qaeda released a statement on jihadist forums Friday confirming the death of its leader, Osama bin Laden, according to SITE Intelligence Group, which monitors Islamist websites.” [CNN]

Against our better judgment, we ended up watching the Redshirt Republican debate over dinner last night, and managed to keep our food down.

(Disclosure: “Keep our food down” is here used for obligatory comedic effect only. “Managed to stay awake” would be closer to the truth.)

We’ll spare you the recap, since we’re not wonky enough to really care. But for a very brief moment, Herman Cain said something mildly interesting: That as President, he would consult with Experts and make Decisions, since he’s a veteran Decision-Maker.

We know, we know: Herman Cain is The Decider, Part II.

Or: That’s what every businessman running for political office says.

Or: Didn’t President Obama consult with Experts and make a Decision just the other day? We seem to remember hearing about it Sunday night.

But to take Herman Cain almost seriously for what is likely the first and last time: What kind of Decisions does he have experience making?

You know the shorthand: Pizza! Meat or Veggie? Does Citizen Cain have an opinion on the controversial Pineapple Question? When you ask whether anyone else wants the last slice, what happens if somebody says Yes?

Read more »

Fox News terminated its contracts with Newt Gingrich and Rick Santorum after the deadline for them to decide on presidential bids passed on May 1.  No action has been taken yet against Sarah Palin or Mike Huckabee. According to Politico, “The contracts’ end marks another sign that Gingrich, who has repeatedly delayed his decision citing business obligations, is in the race — though he dropped out of tonight’s Fox debate.”

[Politico and CNN, headline by DodgerBlue]