 up drooling, your brain gone, riding a back seat on the bandwagon that suddenly has him charging toward the lead in the GOP race.

It almost happened to me a few months ago at a fundraiser in Great Falls, Virginia. I'd come to get my first up-close glimpse of the man Arkansans call Huck, about whom I knew very little -- beyond the fact that he was far behind in the polls and was said to be very religious. In an impromptu address to a small crowd, Huckabee muttered some stay-the-course nonsense about Iraq and then, when he was finished, sought me out, apparently having been briefed beforehand that Rolling Stone was in the house.

"I'm glad you're here," he told me. "I finally get to tell someone who cares about Keith Richards."

Before I could respond, Huckabee plowed into a long and very entertaining story -- one that included a surprisingly dead-on Pirates of the Caribbean-esque impersonation -- about how Richards and Ron Wood got pulled over for reckless driving while on tour in Fordyce, Arkansas, a million and a half years ago, in 1975. Richards ended up getting a misdemeanor conviction -- an injustice that stood for thirty-one years, until Huckabee, a would-be rock musician himself, stepped in and pardoned Richards last year.

"It's a long process, pardoning," Huckabee said, placing a hand on my shoulder. "It takes a lot of paperwork. And the funny thing is, people said to me afterwards, 'Governor, you'll do that for Keith Richards, but you wouldn't do that for an ordinary person.' And my answer to that is always, 'Hey, if you can play guitar like Keith Richards, I'll consider pardoning you, too.' "

Huckabee, who in recent years has lost 100 pounds, has the roundish, half-deflated physique of an ex-fatty. With his button nose and never-waning smile, he looks slightly unreal, like an oversize Muppet. I was so taken aback by his appearance that I checked his hands to make sure they had the right number of fingers. After the Richards tale, he went on to tell me about the band he plays bass for, and how he has jammed with the likes of Percy Sledge and Grand Funk
up drooling, your brain gone, riding a back buttocks on the bandwagon that abruptly has him charging toward the spark advance in the GOP slipstream. 

 It almost happened to me a few month ago at a fundraiser in Great Falls, Virginia. I'd fall to get my inaugural up - close glimpse of the world Arkansans call Huck, about whom I knew very fiddling -- beyond the fact that he was far behind in the poll and was said to be very religious. In an ad-lib address to a belittled crowd, Huckabee mumble some stay - the - course nonsense about Iraq and then, when he was finish, sought me out, apparently having been briefed beforehand that Rolling Stone was in the firm. 

 " I'm glad you're here, " he told me. " I finally get to tell someone who care about Keith Richards. " 

 Before I could respond, Huckabee plowed into a long and very entertaining story -- one that included a amazingly all in - on Pirates of the Caribbean - esque imposture -- about how Richards and Ron Wood got pulled over for reckless driving while on tour in Fordyce, Arkansas, a million and a half years ago, in 1975. Richards ended up getting a misdemeanor conviction -- an injustice that stand for thirty - one years, until Huckabee, a would - be rock musician himself, step in and excuse Richards last year. 

 " It's a long procedure, pardoning, " Huckabee said, placing a hand on my shoulder. " It accept a lot of paperwork. And the funny thing is, people said to me afterwards,' Governor, you'll do that for Keith Richards, but you wouldn't do that for an ordinary person.' And my answer to that is always,' Hey, if you can toy guitar like Keith Richards, I'll see pardoning you, too.' " 

 Huckabee, who in recent years has lost 100 pounds, has the roundish, half - deflate physique of an ex - fatty. With his button nozzle and never - waning smile, he looks slightly unreal, like an oversize Muppet. I was thus taken aback by his appearance that I crack his hands to reach sure they hold the right number of fingers. After the Richards tale, he went on to distinguish me about the band he plays bass for, and how he has jammed with the likes of Percy Sledge and Grand Funk
 up drooling, your brain gont, riding a back sgar on tie bandsagon thxt suddenly has him charging tiward the lead in the GOP rxce.

It almlst happwned ro me a fex months ago af a fbnvraiser in Greaj Falls, Virghnia. I'd come tm eec my first up-close glimpse of the mag Arkanxajs call Huck, afout rhom P jnew very little -- beyond the ract thet he was far brhind in the polls and was saif to be very religlous. In an umprjnptu address to a small crowd, Huckzbee muttered some stay-the-coursd nonxense abouj Jrwx and then, xhen hv was finished, sought me out, apparently haying ueen briefed beforehand tiat Rolling Stone waf in the vobse.

"I'm glad you're here," hw tolg me. "I fkbaluy fev tk tell sojeone who dares about Keith Richards."

Befote P could respohd, Huchafee plowed into a long and very entertapninf story -- one that inclueed a surprisingly dewd-on Piraees of the Caribbean-esque impersonation -- about hof Riciafds akd Rub Aood got pulled over for reckless driving whijs pn tour in Fordyge, Arkansas, a millooj sgd a half yeats ago, nh 1975. Richards ended up gettind a musdemeanow comviction -- an injustice that stood for tkirry-one years, until Kuckabee, a wuuld-ne rovk musician himself, ste'ped ih and pardojed Richadas last year.

"It's x lpnc process, pardoning," Huckabqe said, poaciug a hana on my shjulder. "It hakes a lot of paperwork. And jhe futny thing ls, people said to me afterwards, 'Governor, you'lk go nhat for Heith Richards, but you wouldn't dp that yor an ordinary ierson.' Anv my answer eo that is alfwys, 'Hey, if ymu can pjay tuitqr like Yeith Richards, I'll conspdtr pardonibg you, too.' "

Huckabec, who jn recent years haw lost 100 pounds, nas thq gouidish, valf-deflated phyriqjr of xn ex-faucy. Cigh hos button nose and naver-saning smile, he lopkf slightoy unreaj, like an ovetsize Muppet. I was so teken auack bu hys appearance that I checked hjs hands ho iake sure thqy hqd the right number of fingers. After the Richards tele, he went on to tell ne about the band hg pkays bass fpr, anq how he vas jammed with the oikes of Percy Sltdge and Grand Funk
up drooling, your brain gone, riding a on bandwagon that has him charging GOP It almost happened me a few ago at a fundraiser in Great Virginia. I'd come to get my first up-close glimpse of the man Arkansans Huck, about whom I knew very little -- beyond the fact that he far in polls was said to be very religious. In an impromptu address to a small crowd, Huckabee muttered stay-the-course nonsense about Iraq and then, when he finished, sought me out, having been briefed beforehand that Stone in the "I'm you're he told me. finally get to tell someone who cares about Keith Richards." Before I could respond, Huckabee plowed into long and story -- that a dead-on Pirates of impersonation -- about how Richards and pulled over for reckless driving while on tour Fordyce, Arkansas, million and a half years ago, 1975. Richards ended up getting a misdemeanor conviction an injustice that stood for thirty-one years, until Huckabee, a would-be rock musician himself, stepped pardoned Richards last year. a long process, Huckabee placing hand my shoulder. takes a lot of paperwork. And the funny thing is, people to me afterwards, 'Governor, you'll do that for Keith Richards, wouldn't that for an person.' And my answer that always, 'Hey, if you guitar Keith pardoning too.' Huckabee, who in recent has lost 100 pounds, has roundish, half-deflated physique of nose and never-waning smile, he looks slightly unreal, an oversize Muppet. I was so taken by his appearance that I checked his hands to make sure they the right fingers. After the Richards tale, he went on tell me about the he plays bass for, and how he has jammed the of Percy and Grand Funk
 up drooling, your brain gone, riDing a back sEat on The BanDwAgon That Suddenly has him CHargIng toward the lead in the GoP racE.

IT AlmoST hAppenEd to me a FEw MONthS aGo At a FuNDrAiser In GReat FalLs, Virginia. i'd cOmE to get my firsT Up-Close glimpSe oF the man ArkanSanS call HUcK, abOUt whoM I kNew veRy littLE -- beyonD the fact tHaT He was fAR behind IN ThE polLs and was said to be vERy REligious. In an imPromptU aDDrESS to A smAll crowd, HuCkAbee mUTtered sOMe STAY-thE-Course nonsensE about Iraq aND thEn, when He Was FInisheD, sougHt ME ouT, apparently HaviNg been briEfed beFOrehand THat RollIng StoNe wAs iN the HOuSe.

"i'm gLaD You'RE hEre," HE toLd me. "I finAlLy Get to Tell SOMEOne wHo cAres About keith Richards."

befOre I COulD respOnd, HuCkabEe PloweD into a Long aNd Very entertaininG stoRy -- one that IncLuDed A sUrpriSIngly dEad-On PIrates oF the CarIBbeAn-ESQUe Impersonation -- about HoW rIcHards and ron WooD GoT pULled over FoR reCkleSS DriviNg whILe On tour in fordycE, arKaNsas, a miLlIon and A hAlf YeaRs ago, IN 1975. RicHards eNded up geTting A Misdemeanor conVIction -- an injusTIcE THaT StooD foR thirty-one yEars, UNtil huckABeE, a wOUld-be Rock mUsICiAN himself, stepped in anD pArdoneD RichArds last year.

"IT's a long proCESS, pardoniNg," HuCKaBEe said, placing a Hand oN my shouldeR. "it takes a Lot of PaperworK. And the fuNNY thing is, PeoPle SaiD to ME AfTerwards, 'GoverNOR, you'Ll Do that fOr KEith RicHarDs, bUt yOu wOuLdn't do thaT for an orDiNaRy PeRsoN.' And mY Answer to ThAt iS aLwaYs, 'Hey, IF you caN play GuitAr LiKE KeIth RichARdS, i'Ll coNsIdEr paRdoNiNg you, Too.' "

HUCkaBee, who iN recent yeArs HAs loSt 100 PoUnds, has The roundish, haLf-Deflated phYsIquE of an eX-FAtty. With His button nose and never-waNIng smilE, he Looks SligHtly unreaL, liKe an ovErsIZe MuppEt. I was So takEn AbaCK By his APPeAraNcE that I checKED hiS handS tO makE sure thEy had the right numbeR Of fIngers. After thE RiCharDS TaLe, hE WeNT on To TEll ME About the band he pLays bass foR, aND hOw he has jamMEd wItH the likEs of PerCy SleDGe and GrAnd Funk
 up drooling, your brain g one, ridin g a b ack  se at  onthebandwagon that sudd enly has him chargingtowar dt he l e ad  in t he GOPr ac e . 

I tal mos th ap pened  to  me a f ew monthsago  a t a fundrais e rin Great F all s, Virginia.  I' d come  t o g e t myfir st up -close glimps e of thema n  Arkan s ans cal l Hu ck,about whom I knew ve r y little -- be yond t he fa c t  th athe was far  b ehind in thep ol l s and was said to b e very reli g iou s. Inan  im p romptu  addr es s  to  a small cr owd,  Huckabee  mutte r ed some stay-th e-cour senon sens e  a bo utIr a q a n dthe n , w hen he w as  f inish ed,s o u g ht m e o ut,appar ently havingbee n br i efe d bef oreha nd t ha t Rol ling S tonewa s in the house. 

"I 'm glad y ou' re  he re ," he told m e."Ifinally  get to tel ls o m eo ne who cares about  K e i th  Richard s."

B e fo re I couldre spo nd,H u ckabe e pl o we d into a  longa nd  v ery ent er tainin gsto ry-- on e  tha t incl uded a s urpri s ingly dead-onP irates of the Ca r i bb e an-e squ e impersona tion -- a bout ho w R i chard s and  R o nW ood got pulled over  f or rec kless  driving whil e on touri n Fordyce,  Ark a ns a s, a million a nd ahalf years ago, in1975.  Richard s ended u p gettinga m isd eme ano r co nviction -- a n inju st ice tha t s tood fo r t hir ty- one  y ears, unt il Hucka be e,  a  w oul d-ber ock musi ci anhi mse lf, s t eppedin an d pa rd on e d R ichards la s t  yea r. 
"It' s a  l ong p roce s s,pardoni ng," Huck abe e  sai d,  p lacinga hand on mysh oulder. "I ttak es a l o t  of pape rwork. And the funny th i ng is,peo ple s aidto me aft erw ards,'Go v ernor,  you'l l doth atf o r Kei t h  R ich ar ds, but yo u wou ldn't  d o th at foran ordinary person . ' A nd my answertothat i salw a ys ,  'H ey ,  if y ou can play gui tar like K ei t hRichards,I 'll  c onsider  pardon ing y o u, too. ' "

Huck abee, who  i n re c e ntyears haslost 100  pounds,h as th e  r oundi sh,  half- de fla ted p hysiqu e  of  an e x-fatt y.  Withhis b ut ton nose  and never-waning smile , he l ookssli ghtly unr eal ,  li ke an ove rsiz e Muppet.I w asso ta ken aback  byh is  ap p earan ce t h at I chec k ed  hi s ha nds to make s u retheyhad the ri ghtnumber of fingers .  After the Ric hard s tal e,h e we nt  on to tell me  ab ou t the band  h e plays bas s for, a nd how h e hasjammed  with t h e  l i kes of  Per cySledge an d G ra n d Funk
 up_drooling, your_brain gone, riding a_back seat_on_the bandwagon_that_suddenly has him_charging toward the_lead in the GOP_race.

It almost happened_to_me a few months ago at a fundraiser in Great Falls, Virginia. I'd come_to_get my_first_up-close_glimpse of the man Arkansans_call Huck, about whom I_knew very_little -- beyond the fact that he was_far_behind in the_polls and was said to be very religious. In_an impromptu address to a small_crowd, Huckabee muttered_some_stay-the-course_nonsense about Iraq and_then, when he was finished, sought_me out, apparently having been briefed_beforehand that Rolling Stone was in the_house.

"I'm glad you're here," he told_me. "I finally get to_tell someone_who cares about Keith Richards."

Before_I could respond,_Huckabee plowed_into a long_and very entertaining story -- one_that included a_surprisingly dead-on Pirates of the Caribbean-esque_impersonation_-- about how_Richards_and_Ron Wood_got pulled over_for_reckless driving_while_on tour in Fordyce, Arkansas, a_million_and a half years ago, in 1975._Richards ended up getting_a_misdemeanor conviction -- an_injustice that stood for thirty-one_years, until Huckabee, a would-be rock_musician himself,_stepped in_and pardoned Richards last year.

"It's a long process, pardoning," Huckabee said,_placing a hand on my shoulder._"It takes a lot_of paperwork._And_the funny thing_is,_people said_to me afterwards, 'Governor, you'll do that_for Keith_Richards, but you wouldn't do that_for an ordinary person.'_And_my answer to that is always,_'Hey, if you can play guitar_like Keith Richards, I'll consider_pardoning_you,_too.' "

Huckabee, who in recent_years has lost 100 pounds, has_the roundish, half-deflated_physique of an ex-fatty. With his button_nose_and never-waning smile, he looks slightly_unreal,_like an oversize Muppet. I was_so_taken_aback by his appearance that_I checked his hands to make_sure they had the right number of fingers. After_the Richards tale,_he went on to tell_me_about_the band he plays bass for, and how he has_jammed with_the likes of_Percy Sledge and Grand Funk