Wednesday, January 23, 2008

Gov. Mike Huckabee Pardons Rolling Stones

Presidential contender Mike Huckabee is looking for momentum after his second-place showing behind John McCain in the Jan. 19 South Carolina primary. Huck's strong evangelical support may be insufficient to carry him to the top of the GOP ticket. Perhaps it's time for the former governor and Baptist preacher to remind baby boomers about his service to rock history.

Back in 1975, Rolling Stones guitarist Keith Richards and fellow band member Ron Wood were driving from Memphis to Dallas when a patrolman in Fordyce, Ark., observed that their car was swerving and pulled them over. Richards claimed he was adjusting the radio, but he pleaded guilty to reckless driving and paid a $162.50 fine.
Thirty-one years later, Richards, back in Arkansas for a Rolling Stones concert, told the audience that he "used to know the chief of police" in Fordyce. Then-Gov. Huckabee, himself a part-time bass player, was in attendance. After the show, Huckabee went backstage and seized the moment. "Keith," he said, "I can pardon you and get that off your record. You can have a clean start in Arkansas."

Within a few months, Huckabee had personally filled out the pardon application to the Arkansas Parole Board (see above) he secured signatures of all the requisite board members; and acquired for his state an original Keith Richards autograph. Questions about the performer's criminal history, personal background, and drug use were left blank, but the fun-loving rocker, who once confessed that he snorted his own father's ashes—his publicist later said that was a joke—marked an X beside the statement, "My institutional adjustment has been exemplary and the ends of justice have been achieved".

Huckabee told Matt Taibbi of Rolling Stone that for the rest of his gubernatorial term his standard response to complaints about favoritism was, "'Hey, if you can play guitar like Keith Richards, I'll consider pardoning you, too."



This was just too good to pass up. Don' t you love the power an executive can have? President?
Make sure and take the Abortion Quiz below!

6 comments:

Anonymous said...

Okay, now my level of respect for Huckabee has just gone down a bit!! You know how I feel about the Rolling Stones!!!

Thanks for sharing....Not!!!

Bill's Waste of Air said...

Just a humble reporter, doing the news as I see it.
You will find much more if you just research a little.
I am amazed at the sheep who follow someone because of one endorsement or because "my friend are...".
I am not accusing anyone, just advising, dig for yourselves.
You have to wonder about someone who's main spokesperson is Chuck Norris, a man who films extremely violent and foul movies and has a questionable lifestyle.

Anonymous said...

Fred was known to drop himself plenty of F-bombs too.

Too bad he's out of the race.

Tammy Bowers said...

1975, Bill?

So, tell me, what is your agenda now that Fred is out of the race?

Anonymous said...

It's a possibility that Thompson is not endorsing a candidate, but waiting until after the primary to make a move for VP.

Bill's Waste of Air said...

Tammy: did you read the entire story? It isn't a 1975 story, it is a 2006 story. It shows you what kind of decision making skills he had as Chief Executive of the State of Arkansas, so leads to wonder as THE Chief Executive?
It is also interesting to dig into his relationship with the Clintons in the Arkansas state capitol. You will find some very interesting information.
I am waiting until the Super Tuesday shakes things out a bit. I believe by that point, both Rudy and Mike will be out and it will be down to McCain and Romney and then I am not sure what I will do.
I do think that Fred IS waiting in the wings to broker a deal with McCain. So I agree completely with your assessement Mick!

Everyone, better take the abortion quiz, let me know your results.