Texas Republicans are funny

Wonkette claims everyone at the Texas GOP Convention wore this pin. And AMERICAblog makes the good point that McCain should be held accountable for some of these associations.

Especially since Fox News' conservative entertainer-talkers having been harping on Obama associates for months.

'Don't ask, don't tell' could haunt Nunn

Former Georgia Sen. Sam Nunn's name has been bandied about as a possible running mate for Democratic nominee Barack Obama. But, as Jonathan Capeheart writes in The Washington Post, Nunn was a driving force 15 years ago behind the military's "don't ask, don't tell" policy with regard to gays in the armed forces.

The Nunn-as-VP idea has gained traction with many Democrats because the former chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee would balance Obama's thin foreign policy experience.

But Capeheart argues Nunn's inclusion on the ticket would dampen the enthusiasm of gay and lesbian supporters: "Already, the prospect of an Obama-Nunn ticket does not sit well with some prominent gay Democratic fundraisers. 'It would without question irrevocably diminish my enthusiasm for the democratic ticket,' a longtime Clinton supporter told me in an e-mail. 'Sam Nunn not only opposed [lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people's] rights to serve in the military, he viciously campaigned against it.' "

Wonderful 'Once'

The description on the Netflix envelope called "Once" a musical. It's not — at least in the traditional sense — but it is a musical film.

Made for $160,000 by Irish writer-director John Carney, "Once" follows its unnamed leads — Irish singer Glen Hansard ("Guy") and Czech-born Markéta Irglová ("Girl") — on their quest to record a demo of his songs. (Hansert is the lead singer of the Irish band the Frames; Carney played base in the band from 1991-1993.)

"Once" is in no hurry to tell its story. And it is not all that interested with certain details of its characters' lives. What Carney cares about is the music — and the relationship that develops between the Guy and the Girl. The result is magical and authentic. The music — his and hers — is captivating: When they meet in an early scene, he is singing and playing guitar for tips on a Dublin street. It is his music that draws her in.

And, it's her encouragement and help that lead him to book time in a little music studio. Even the studio's apathetic sound engineer is drawn in by Hansard, Irglová and two other street musicians Hansard recruits to play.

"Once" has grossed $14 million worldwide ($9 million in the United States), and the duo's song "Falling Slowly" won the 2008 Academy Award for Best Song. Since the film's release, Hansard, 38, and Irglová, 20 — who are now a couple living together in Dublin — have toured, performing songs from the Grammy-nominated soundtrack.

"Once" is no classic Hollywood romance. What Carney gives us is a glimse of the love and music that grow between two people who meet by chance. It lives up to its tagline: "How often do you find the right person?"

Once again, no Triple Crown

Da' Tara, a 38-1 shot, led from start to finish to win the Belmont Stakes on Saturday, spoiling Big Brown's Triple Crown attempt. The favorite became the seventh horse since 1997 to fail in the Belmont after winning the Kentucky Derby and Preakness.

Big Brown didn't have his normal acceleration around the final turn and was eased in the stretch by jockey Kent Desormeaux. He just galloped across the finish line, last in the field of nine. Walter Blum Jr., an assistant to trainer Rick Dutrow, said Big Brown checked out fine after the race.

Questions will persist in the coming days: Was it the quarter crack in the colt's left front hoof? Did he suffer from pulmonary bleeding? The 93-degree heat in New York?

Or was it just the grueling Triple Crown schedule — three big races in five weeks? Next year, it will have been 31 years since Affirmed outdeuled Alydar in all three races.

Yes, he will

Even before Japanese invader Casino Drive was withdrawn this morning from the Belmont Stakes, Big Brown was the pick to take it and become the 12th Triple Crown winner.

1. Big Brown
He's done everything right so far, winning five races by a combined 39 lengths. But this is the Belmont, where 18 of the past Triple Crown hopefuls have lost.

2. Denis of Cork
Was one of the few horses still running at the end of the Derby, where he finished third. Has had five weeks off and looms the main threat.

3. Anak Nakal
Has been way too slow thus far to compete with Big Brown. But the distance should be no problem, and he should pass tired horses in the stretch.

4. Tale of Ekati
The fourth-place finisher in the Derby has also been rested for this. He is 2-for-2 at Belmont Park.