Bassist (Ark. Gov. Huckabee) pardons Keith Richards

[dangnewt]

My brother-in-law who lives in Arkansas sent me the AP story which incorrectly identifies (slanders!) Mike Huckabee as a guitarist. The story below from Reuters gets it right.


Pardon for Rolling Stones' Richards
Thursday Jul 20 09:01 AEST
Keith Richards, lead guitarist for the Rolling Stones, has been promised a pardon for an old traffic offense, courtesy of a fan, Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee.

Richards was fined $162.20 ($216.26 AUD) for reckless driving in 1975 after being stopped in tiny Fordyce, south of Little Rock, between shows in Memphis and Dallas.

His car swerved when he tried to adjust the radio, Richards explained, but police said they smelled marijuana and took him and three others to jail. All were freed after a Stones lawyer posted bond, and Richards paid the fine by mail.

Huckabee, who plays bass guitar in an amateur band, said he talked to Richards backstage at a Rolling Stones concert on March 9. He said he suggested the rocker apply for a pardon after Richards joked about his past. The governor even assisted with the necessary form.

"I realized that his impression of our state was marred by a misdemeanor traffic stop," Huckabee said. "I wanted to clear his record in Arkansas as a goodwill gesture."

Asked whether there might be objections from Arkansas voters, Huckabee deadpanned, "Not from anybody with an IQ above plant life." He noted that none in Richards party was found in possession of, or under the influence of, drugs or alcohol.

[Bassmanbob]

I recommend his book for anyone who is trying to loose weight. The guy lost over 100 lbs. and wrote a book about it.

I hear he's running for President in '08. A bass player in the White House. Imagine that. Instead of those cheesey performers giving those cheesey presidential concerts that used to be put on TV. They may still televised those. Maybe we'll get to see a televised Presidential Bass Day 2010! How cool would that be? How about a GTG in the Oval Office? "Hey President Huckabee, what kind of strings do you use? Can I try your P bass?" If he's the President, he'd have to play a P bass... American made of course.

[dangnewt]

His main bass is a Tobias, but I have seen pictures of him with a J-bass.

I surprised that given his presidential ambitions that Fender hasn't already signed him to an endorsement contract.