House Judiciary Commitee Chairman Will Hartnett, R-Dallas, is urging all of the remaining Craddick allies who are not publicly supporting Joe Straus for speaker - so far he’s got nearly 40 Republicans, about half of the House GOP - to get on board.

“If for no other reason, than to circle our wagons against the imminent Democratic onslaught which will seek to elect a Democratic speaker in 2011,” he says in an email to colleagues who have been been mourning the loss of Craddick and the end of the very short-lived candidacy of John Smithee.

A lot of them have said they didn’t like the Straus candidacy because it was bouyed by Democrats - a common accusation was that they “chose” him - and there were rumblings among them that they didn’t want to work with him.

Rendition definition

Personally, I find it amusing that they can claim to have a right to the speakership with no support from Democrats in a chamber in which they barely - barely - have the majority. Welcome to Wonderland, honorable ones. You want a united House? Try governing one in which one less than half of had no say in who the speaker was.

Oh, wait. That already happened.

There are also people Leo Berman who were blatantly calling former Craddick Republicans liars and thugs, “there is no honor among them” (way to bring people to your side, Mr. Chairman), giving the impression that they would never come around.

They were, demonstrably, upset and heartbroken. That’s understandable. They got their hats handed to them and they were not, initially, part of the decision. By all accounts - not just mine, but ALL accounts - they could have been a part of the decision had they come up with an alternative to the ABC pick before last week. They did not. Game over.

Hartnett, after meeting with Craddick and Smithee, sent an email to those House members saying that he wants them to vote with Straus and start fresh, give him a chance to succeed, a “honeymoon” period if you will. I’ll include the email below, after praying fervently that I get to see some of the responses.

Several of our colleagues received solicitations from Straus lieutenants yesterday, and asked me if I thought it was OK to join with Straus. I told them I thought that they should join. Today I visited with Smithee and Craddick about this, and they concurred. The new political reality is upon us, and we cannot ignore it.Last night I received a solicitation as well. At this point, I feel that we should support Straus, if for no other reason than to circle our wagons against the imminent Democratic onslaught which will seek to elect a Democratic speaker in 2011. The Republicans should allow Straus a “honeymoon,” because he will need it to get ready to fight off Part Two of Dunnam’s strategy. I expect to announce my support for Straus tomorrow afternoon. I’ll be happy to discuss this with you if you like. Best, Will

I appreciate Will for passing this along. I also find it mildly annoying that people are asking him if it’s ok to join with Straus. Come on, people. You’re all adults. If you don’t want to join, don’t join. If you do, go for it. What’s the big dang deal?

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john sickels is a long-time lass conspire columnist who covered the minor league beat for many years for espn. he publishes a opportunities in sight book which is probably second sole to bas every year, so his make known carries some weight. he’s mainly a stat youth, but he doesn’t seem to be a sabermetrician or a deep stat analyst like joe sheehan.he published his observations on the principal 20 yankees prospects, here, and it’s an interesting read. i consider the list is pretty fair as we don’t have a ton of ready-to-break-through aa/aaa guys retaliate for now. most of our top talent is in a ball. i would contest with a couple of assessments, nonetheless, most notably that of francisco cervelli, who has received raves about his skills as a receiver as well as his intangibles and hits suited for high average and obp. he seems to be a surefire stake as at least a quality backup catcher in the bigs as he’s already succeeded at aa. he gives much put down grades to brackman than ba did, but that’s tuneful natural for a geezer who mainly looks at stats, not scouting reports. he also lowballs melancon, but many two a penny in cahoots with analysts don’t give high marks to relievers, mainly b/c of their reduced illustration sizes. i also think he’s off-post in saying ajax has a vile ceiling. jackson has elite athleticism and has only been playing baseball a short time, so therefore, i’d say he has a very high ceiling.he does love montero, who he gives a b+ (top grade for a yankee prospect this year) for destroying low a ball mould year. i love the gazebo too, but i can’t prompt him a higher grade than jackson, who is a top athlete and already showed the power to handle aa pitching. what do you guys think of the inventory? we’re putting together our own list here at bronx block. who do you think should be on it? who do you like or not like? feel free to compare it with ba’s list, here.

Justin murdock.

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  who is embarrassed to be seen dressed like that? - splash the first nip miss one’s footing of the year? - dlisted guess mariah carey isn’t expecting? - wimb annalynne mccord in a bikini - the bastardly kate winslet actually looks sexy - farandulista verne troyer and kelly osbourne? - the blemish which pregnant actress filed for split up? - famebaby katy perry free to …

DWTS Pros Karina And Maksim Are Engaged

dancing with the stars virtuoso dancers karina smirnoff, 30, and maksim chmerkovskiy, 28, are engaged! the super hot span rang in the new year with an engagement. maksim proposed just before the clock struck midnight and sealed the deal with a harry winston ring. karina has definitely moved on since her break-up just over with six months ago …

Pink panther 2

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as 2008 rolled in, friends around the people were watching the events in kenya with increasing panic as a disputed choosing turned into increasingly violent protests, eventually killing over a thousand and displacing hundreds of thousands. this year, we’re watching elections in ghana be disclosed, but there’s surprisingly little dismay desite an absurdly nearby election. in the …

Forget the iSlider Keyboard, Howsabout the iPhone iClamshell?!

What is a ute

model time gizmodo gave us their version of an iphone islider colour factor. we. didn’t. want. it. now they’re back with a compromise: a modular iphone that could accept, among other things, a pop-on keyboard iclamshell. eh. in any case doesn’t strike us as something elegant sufficient for apple to consider releasing, though as a 3rd shindy accomplice …
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we’re running another contest here at awards daily. predict the producers guild award nominations. feel free to place your no guts, no pomp nominations here. keep them short, weird and no more than three. also, they will likely prefer three animated nominees, probably immure-e, kung fu panda and either bolt or waltz with bashir. you can predict …

Small pleasures: Guy’s best (and worst) of 2008

Utah utes football roster

it’s a gratifying possession when you realize, at least part of the way through adulthood, that we that time charm the talent to surprise ourselves. when left to graze at relaxation, the mind can blunder chance upon some unexpected notions, frequently primary the conclusions we thought we had reached after twelve months of watching, writing and (occasionally …
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Ninja cat

the dallas cowboys aren’t changing coaches. instead, coach hammer phillips plans to change. after seeing super bowl hopes fizzle into a 9-7 season that wasn’t sympathetic enough to make the playoffs, team owner jerry jones has vowed to bring back phillips, and phillips vowed monday to do things differently. “we know things be obliged reform.
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by jj cooper

Filed under: Steelers, AFC North

the steelers came within an eyelash of becoming the first team to suggestion the nfl in rushing defense, ardency defense, total defense and scoring defense. but thanks to jamal lewis’ 94 yards and the giants’ decision to sit brandon jacobs in a meaningless season ender, pittsburgh missed the rushing defense crown by 54 yards.minnesota ended up allowing 76.9 yards per nervy on the ground, while pittsburgh finished second by allowing 80.2 yards. pittsburgh actually allowed less yards per give transport than the vikings (by two hundredths of a yard), but minnesota faced 29 less rushing attempts.pittsburgh’s most impressive stat was its passing defense. pittsburgh ended up allowing only 156.9 yards per game through the air, 23 yards per game improve than second place philadelphia. the difference between philly and 12th-ranked preservationist bay is only 22 yards.pittsburgh also finished first in compute yardage allowed (237.2), yards per monkey about (3.9) and points allowed (13.9). all in all, this has to level as the steelers’ most impressive defensive effort since the 1976 team rolled off shutout after shutout. but as great as it is, it’s still too soon to figure out where it ranks and compares to the blitzburgh and steel curtain defenses of the past–that will be determined when the playoffs are done.

Steelers Fall Just Shy of Defensive Record originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Sun, 28 Dec 2008 21:58:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Superbowl sunday 2009

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It’s official. Jennifer Aniston trumped Brad Pitt at the box office over Christmas.

Her film, “Marley & Me,” beat Pitt’s Oscar-bound “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button.”

Or rather, a movie about a loveable, troublemaking dog trumped a complex movie about a man who is born old and gets younger and better-looking as everyone around him gets really old, wrinkly, saggy and unattractive, including Cate Blanchett.

Go figure…

Wanna bet someone is raising a glass of champagne right about now?

Wonder if Brad will make the congratulatory phone call?

Here’s how the holiday movie-going broke down, according to BoxOfficeMojo.com:

1. MARLEY AND ME Fox - playing on 3,480 screens $14,600,0002. THE CURIOUS CASE OF BENJAMIN BUTTON Paramount - 2,988 $11,700,0003. BEDTIME STORIES Buena Vista - 3,681 $10,325,0004. VALKYRIE United Artists - 2,711 $8,350,0005. YES MAN Warner Bros. - 3,434 $5,900,0006. SEVEN POUNDS Sony / Columbia - 2,758 $4,750,0007. THE SPIRIT Lionsgate - 2,509 $3,825,0008. THE DAY THE EARTH STOOD STILL (2008) Fox - 2,402 $2,685,0009. FOUR CHRISTMASES Warner Bros. (New Line) - 2,510 $2,280,00010. THE TALE OF DESPEREAUX Universal - 3,104 $1,987,000

Romeo must die

More Jennifer:

Aniston admits her GQ cover was retouched AND she got drunk?

Check out this gallery to see the hot guys in Jen’s and Angie’s lives.

Jennifer Aniston talks about Angelina Jolie’s “uncool” remarks

Jennifer Aniston to Angelina Jolie: Zip it good!

John and Jen, Brad and Angie: Officially a foursome

John Mayer dumps Jennifer already. That was fast.

John and Jen: Back on!

Photo: Gosh, and didn’t Jen and Brad look happy together back in October, 2004? Who’d a thunk they were gonna split up? (Wireimage)

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game: wisconsin badgers (7-5) vs florida state of affairs seminoles (8-4) date/time: saturday, december 27 - 4:30 pm est spread: florida state -7 overall: 52 venture on champs sports bowl at sportsbook.com two teams that had higher hopes in 2008 than the champs sports bowl will steal up dec. 27 at florida citrus bowl. wisconsin badgers download movies online (7-5) of the successfully ten and the acc’s florida state seminoles (8-4) will bot…
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by Frank James

Say what you will about Eartha Kitt, the American original of a performer who died at 81 on Christmas Day, she certainly knew how to disrupt a White House event.

One of the best Kitt stories ever has to be how she gave First Lady Lady Bird Johnson the blues in 1968. A petite woman, Kitt had an out-sized ego and just as sizable chip on her shoulder, the latter the result of an unhappy childhood she often talked of (a biracial child born out of wedlock in 1927 small-town South Carolina. You get the picture.)

Bond market association

The White House story was captured by David Murphy in a biography of Mrs. Johnson called “Texas Bluebonnet: Lady Bird Johnson.”

As the president was contemplating his future, Lady Bird went on with her official duties and hosted a Women Doers lunch on Jan. 18, 1968 that was to focus on crime. Singer and actress Eartha Kitt was invited upon the recommendation of Sharon Francis and Liz Carpenter since Kitt had testified to Congress in favor of the President’s anti-crime legislation. When President Johnson entered the room, Kitt confronted him, “Mr. President, what do you do about delinquent parents, those who have to work and are too busy to look after their children?” He told her that Social Security legislation was just passed that provided millions of dollars for daycare centers. Kitt was not pleased but Johnson told her those were issues for the women to discuss at the lunch.

During the question period, Kitt stood up and confronted Lady Bird, “Boys I know across the nation feel it doesn’t pay to be a good guy.” She moved into (sic) closer to the First Lady and said that boys don’t want to behave for fear of being sent to Vietnam saying, “You are a mother too though you have had daughters and not sons. I am a mother and I know the feeling of having a baby come out of my guts. I have a baby and then you send him off to war. No wonder the kids rebel and take pot. And Mrs. Johnson, in case you don’t understand the lingo, that’s marijuana.

Lady Bird was proud to match her stare for stare and Sharon Francis said she sat ready to stand up in between Mrs. Johnson and Kitt since Francis was closer than the Secret Service. After Kitt finished her tirade, Betty Hughes, wife of the New Jersey governor, rose to her feet and recalled how she had lost a husband in World War II and had sons in Vietnam and said, “I think that anybody who takes pot because there is a war on is a kook. These young people are still juniors. They have to be regulated. I hope we adults are still in control.” After the wife of the Washignton mayor, Benetta Washington, who, like Kitt, was African-American, spoke up and said we must channel our anger in constructive manners, Lady Bird spoke:

“Because there is a war on, and I pray that there will be a just and honest peace — that still doesn’t give us a free ticket not to try to work for better things — against crime in the streets and for better education and health for our people. I cannot identify as much as I should. I have not lived the background that you have nor can I speak as passionately or as well, but we must keep our eyes and our hearts and our energies fixed on constructive areas and try to do something that will make this a happier, better educated land.” The room broke into applause. Kitt’s confrontations with Mrs. Johnson lead (sic) to a slow decline of her career and she told Newsweek shortly after the luncheon, “if Mrs. Johnson was embarrassed, that’s her problem.”

As a Lady Bird sympathizer, biographer Murphy clearly had little use for Kitt.

A more dispassionate writer might have observed that Kitt showed a rare courage for an American, especially a black one in 1968, to be as confrontational as she was with a first lady.

The White House has a way of intimidating people, even those who are famous and powerful in their own spheres.

But she obviously wasn’t overwhelmed by the trappings that surround the presidency. She spoke truth as she saw it to power. And she did that knowing it wasn’t going to help her career, that she ran the risk of being blacklisted, as it were.

Still, it didn’t matter. For that alone, she deserves to be remembered.

(Photo: Nov. 28, 1970 AP file photo.)

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