“This I do know: Bobby Roberts has a history of getting things done, of thinking a little differently. And when he comes up with an idea, I listen. He’s come up with an idea.”

Right on, Mr. Webb.

Thanks for voting and thanks for reading.

Michael Gerson of the Washington Post invoked similar themes in this op-ed. He observed, “What is perhaps most surprising about “WALL-E” is its daring. Not the false daring that transgresses lines of brutality or taste. Rather, the daring of savagely lampooning people in padded lounge chairs consuming supersized drinks — who suspiciously resemble audience members (including me) in a luxury theater.”

Today, Daniel Engber at Slate offers a contrary view of the film.  He opines, “It’s easy to imagine how they might respond to Pixar’s dystopic vision of our fat future, in which puffed-up bodies are played for cheap laughs. What happens when the movie ends and the lights come up? Does the rest of the audience stare at the lone fatty as she waddles her way towards the theater doors? Do they see in her body a validation of the film’s “darker implications”—a signpost for what we might become if we don’t change our ways? Or do they just scowl at her, convinced that she’s part of the problem?”

I reviewed “Wall-E” over at Moviegoer.  I thought the film was an astouding cinematic achievement.  It’s certain to win the animated Oscar.  And it’s themes simply cannot be overlooked because it’s not a live-action film, which is why I’m glad that people are writing about it.  I think it raises important questions about our culture of consumption.

Pickens appears to be leading by example. He’s in the process of building the world’s largest wind farm near Amarillo, Texas which will include 700 wind turbines at a cost of more than $2 billion. He expects to begin generating electricity in 2011. According to USA Today, “Pickens’ plan is to produce enough wind power within 10 years to divert 20% of the natural gas now used to fuel power plants for use in cars and trucks.”

The Sierra Club is already on board. Said Executive Director Carlo Pope, “To put it plainly, T. Boone Pickens is out to save America.”

UPDATE: Pickens authors this op-ed in today’s Wall Street Journal.  He writes, “Why do I believe that our dependence on foreign oil is such a danger to our country? Put simply, our economic engine is now 70% dependent on the energy resources of other countries, their good judgment, and most importantly, their good will toward us. Foreign oil is at the intersection of America’s three most important issues: the economy, the environment and our national security. We need an energy plan that maps out how we’re going to work our way out of this mess.”

Fla. Gov. Charlie Crist supported McCain’s plan, a 100% flip-flop from a statement he made in October 2007.

The issue is so volatile in Florida that Taegan Goddard of Politicalwire filed a piece asking, “Did McCain just lose Florida?”  FlaPolitics.com declared McCain’s statement “politically suicidal.”

Today, from the Rose Garden, President Bush made the same plea echoing McCain’s plan presented yesterday.

Game on in Florida.

“The official season didn’t begin until last weekend’s festival at Warren, Ark., world capital of tomatoes real and imagined, anticipated and remembered. This was the 52nd anniversary of the Pink Tomato Festival, and word was there hasn’t been a better-tasting year for the true fruit of the vine: the incomparable BradleyCounty Pink, as succulent to the taste as it is ugly to the eye. That’s the rule with this rare species of tomato in these knowing parts: The worse they look, the better they taste.”  - - Paul Greenberg in today’s Arkansas Democrat Gazette.  My apologies that this is only available to subscribers.  And this on staying safe while enjoying tomatoes.

According to Andrew DeMillo of AP, “McClendon predicted that the shale’s economic impact would be much higher than the nearly $18 billion that a recent University of Arkansas study said would come to the state over the coming five years.”

Jason Weist of Stephens Media writes, “McClendon estimated that natural gas companies would spend between $75 billion and $100 billion in Arkansas during the next decade and potentially find 20 trillion cubic feet of natural gas, an amount that at current natural gas prices would be worth roughly $200 billion in future revenue.”

Mark Hengel of Arkansas Business also covered the event. “Chesapeake has spent about $1 billion in Arkansas during the past three years, he said, and anticipates spending $1 billion next year and $1 billion a year “for as long as we can project”".

Regarding the recent severance taz issue, McClendon is quoted as saying, ““I’m not going to say I was OK with it,” McClendon said about the new severance tax. Chesapeake worked with the governor to make sure incentives were included, but he added that other states have lower rates. “We’re satisfied with it, we’ve moved on and we’re ready to start increasing our investments in the state,” according to Laura Stevens of the Arkansas Democrat Gazette.

You can also catch KUAR’s Malcom Glover with a report on FM 89 as well as this interview on KTHV Channel 11.

McClendon was joined at the event by Governor Mike Beebe, Warren Stephens, Mike Maulden, Gus Vratsinas and AEDC Executive Director Maria Haley.

I’ve got a lot of photos that I can seem to get posted today.  Check out the photographs at the Batesville Guard website.

That’s not to say it won’t come, but when it does, it won’t have the impact it might have had.  That’s too bad for Edwards, because after Super Tuesday, his leverage diminishes completely.  He’ll have about much influence as Joe Biden or Chris Dodd or Jackie Broyles.

Which is why I ask the question: where’s Al Gore?  I’m well aware that he’s said he won’t endorse.  But isn’t that what every politician says?  Ted Kennedy said he wasn’t endorsing and then five seconds later he was standing on stage with Obama and niece Caroline. 

The same logic that applies to Edwards applies to Gore - only moreso.  Gore is no longer the sighing, bearded, puffy, has-been politician who gave the world George W. Bush.  He’s trimmed and rich and toting a Nobel Peace Prize and rockstar like fame with him wherever he goes.  He managed to turn a 90 minute lecture into an Academy Award winning film, and he took a lifelong pet issue and, almost single handedly, turn it into a worldwide movement that brought scientists, politicians, environmental activists and capitalists together under one roof.  Guess what?  You can save the planet and make money, Gore said.  He was right.

Which is why his endorsement this time around (as opposed to that silly endorsement for Howard Dean in 2004) will matter.   But it better happen before Tuesday.