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A few days ago, we mentioned the sighting of a political celebrity at work on the TSA security crew at Little Rock National Airport.

Readers had already contributed the confirmation, but we nailed down the details in this week's Insider, now on the web. That is former Huckabee press aide (and still Huck bro-in-law) and former high-ranking state Emergency Services official Jim Harris at work on the TSA security detail. He declined to speak with David Koon about his new job. He recently had worked on the Huckabee presidential campaign.

The governor of Bermuda has responded to members of Arkansas's congressional delegation who've written him on behalf of Gary Barket, the Little Rock lawyer arrested as he left Bermuda for taking a gun (he'd forgotten it, he said) through Bermuda security.

As you can see, it's a small world. The governor didn't have much to offer by way of help, but he did say that he'd run into Barket at the theater. Barket is not in jail, but may not leave Bermuda pending his trial.

.... Now  John McCain thinks it was "probably" a mistake to run down to San Antonio (following Mike Huckabee's footsteps) to kiss the rear of Catholic-trashing, Hitler-apologizing, dominion evangeliziing John Hagee. But ... McCain is still happy to have his endorsement. Wow.

Get a load of this:

John Hagee, the controversial evangelical leader and endorser of Sen. John McCain, argued in a late 1990s sermon that the Nazis had operated on God's behalf to chase the Jews from Europe and shepherd them to Palestine. According to the Reverend, Adolph Hitler was a "hunter," sent by God, who was tasked with expediting God's will of having the Jews re-establish a state of Israel.

Going in and out of biblical verse, Hagee preached: "'And they the hunters should hunt them,' that will be the Jews. 'From every mountain and from every hill and from out of the holes of the rocks.' If that doesn't describe what Hitler did in the holocaust you can't see that."

American Airlines, responding to high fuel costs, etc., is going to retire planes, cut flights and institute a $15 baggage charge on passengers flying on reduced-price tickets who don't have sufficient status in the airline's frequent flier program. No word yet on fallout in LR.

Now the University of Arkansas has company in the Walton-financed effort to reshape public education in Arkansas to the billionaires' liking. UCA has grabbed onto a nozzle, too.

Notice how it's all about "choice," and "charters" and, here, some rural school help? Ever wonder why there's so little money to devoted directly toward improving urban school districts except by taking kids out of them?

If UCA delivers the goods like UA has, there's more where this grant came from. It's clear enough what the answer should be before the research is performed.

But there's nothing to fight but disappointment.

Illness has forced cancellation of Merle Haggard's appearance Friday at Riverfest.

UPDATE Country group Sawyer Brown will be the replacement.

It's a journey of a thousand miles, no doubt, but there are some Republicans who are quietly taking heart from last night's results and seeing them potentially as a new day for the party -- a party perhaps cut loose from old ruling cliques and, particularly, the pervasive influence of the hard-core Religious Right.

The pieces of their case: Vickey Boozman's defeat for state House by Tim Summers of Bentonville, a converted Democrat. The Boozman name isn't golden? This should shiver bro-in-law U.S. Rep. John Boozman. This year, if any year, might have been a year for a strong Democratic challenge of the colorless, party-line-toting Boozman. In any case, Summers showed that a center-right conservative can win in Benton County. It shows, for sure, that the business community is tired of the religious jihadists.

Some of the same themes emerged in Courtney Henry's smashing defeat, even in Benton County, of a Hutchinson family father-in-law, Ron Williams, for Court of Appeals. Many big-name business Republicans backed her. It's a non-partisan race, but she's a Democrat, make no mistake.

Religious Righter Gunner Delay was beaten soundly in his candidacy for a district judgeship in Fort Smith.

Hard-core righter Randy Minton lost his legislative bid in Lonoke County. Ann Clemmer, a self-avowed Rockefeller Republican, won the Bryant-area Republican primary for House without a runoff and far more Republicans than Democrats turned out. That seat could be a pickup for the Republicans. Kelly Eichler, who had a well-organized, well-financed and smashing Republican primary win for a House seat in Little Rock's Heights, has an uphill climb in the general election (I believe and hope), but she's certainly more of a center-right candidate. She's certainly pleasing to the business conservatives who've chafed at the religious bomb-throwers in their party.

"It's a great sign," said one long-time party operative who said there'd been a concerted effort to seek more mainstream candidates.

This brings us, in a roundabout way, to the premiere legislative race of the fall  -- Democrat Joe White of Conway against Sen. Gilbert Baker, the Republican Party leader. It could be a half-million-dollar race, the most expensive legislative race in Arkansas history. Gov. Mike Beebe, hugely popular, has made it a priority to beat Baker. The Republican Party has made it a priority to re-elect Baker.

Wrinkle: Baker linked up with The Brotherhood, the anti-progressive controlling clique of the Senate. One of The Brotherhood's number, Sen. Irma Hunter Brown, was beaten last night by Joyce Elliott. Another staunch anti-Brotherhood senator, Sen. Jim Luker, was re-elected. Jim McLean of Batesville campaigned heavily on the evils of the Brotherhood in eking out a House win over Sen. Jack Critcher's wife.

In a year where the word "change" seems to be on every tongue, Baker's association with The Brotherhood might not be a postive. White, a legislative newcomer, won't be burdened by charges of backroom dealing and a demonstrated willingness to give up party principle for political ends. That is going to be one heckuva race.

PS ON THE BROTHERHOOD: It'll still be a corrosive factor, unfortunately. In changes thanks to term limits, Johnny Key and David Wyatt coming in for Shawn Womack and Jack Critcher are believed to be Brotherhood for Brotherhood changes. Cecile Bledsoe for David Bisbee brings in a Brotherhooder for an Otherhooder. Larry Teague for Jim Hill and David Johnson for Jim Argue are Other to Other. Elliott for Brown is an Other for a Brother. So those six new senators are a wash in the political lineup, with the Brotherhooder Gil Baker's race yet to be decided. If Baker holds his seat, observers figure The Brotherhood still can count up to 21 votes. We can only hope that the demonstrated baggage with the label and being viewed as a craven horse trader in a time of change might be viewed as somewhat less desirable in 2009. Vain hope in the Arkansas legislature, I know.

Worthy of a separate is the defeat last night of Pulaski JP Ann McCaleb, who's been on the Quorum Court since Jesus' day. A steadfast opponent of progressive government, she reached the nadir in recent months with her opposition to watershed protection around Lake Maumelle. She'd prefer to bankrupt the water utility by forcing it to buy property -- at exorbitant prices -- from the likes of Jay DeHaven to keep the water supply clean. Curtis Keith (sorry for initial misspelling), a political newcomer and African-American, defeated McCaleb in a light turnout. He's said the right things about lake protection. I wish I could blame the loss solely on McCaleb's politics, but I suspect the changing demographics of Southwest Little Rock also played a role.

Not only is it free, but it is just steps away from a main entrance on the North Little Rock side of the river.

Yes, there's a catch. It's a lot set up for bike riders by Bicycle Advocacy of Central Arkansas. It's a move to encourage families to bike to the 'fest.

In the clear light of dawn, anything new to observe among you?

It's on to fall.

John Edwards' impressive margin in the House District 38 race is encouraging for Democrats. Former Huckabee administration secrecy enabler Kelly Eichler relied on her hard-working PTA and neighborhood cohorts to blanket the Heights and win an easy victory over an invisible Republican opponent in her primary.

The fall will be a different matter and a presidential election in the bargain, but it's worth noting that well more than double the number of voters participated in the Democratic primary in this race compared with the GOP primary -- 2,959 to 1,299. There was no more to be gained by choosing the Democratic ballot here than a runaway  primary victory for the sitting county judge, so it's a fairly decent measure of the relative political composition of the district.

In the hours after I quit last night, it became clear that Sen. Jim Luker of Wynne had easily won re-election. He's one of the brightest lights in the Senate. Jim McLean's triumph over Sen. Jack Critcher's wife in Batesville was a biggie. The defeat of a Boozman for a House seat in Bentonville and of a Hutchinson clan member for a judgeship in NWA might be another signal of an end of a dynastic era in Arkansas Republicanism.

Sen. Dave Bisbee led the ticket for Benton County judge but will be in a runoff with Bill Adams, who undoubtedly will continue to be supported by a non-aligned, secretly funded 527 organization. Whatever happens, the Bisbee clan can't claim Benton Boss Hogdom. Wife Linda Bisbee lost her race for state House to Duncan Baird. Tim Summers, derided as a RINO for once having served as the last elected Democratic official in the county before switching parties, nonethless beat true-red GOPer Vickey Boozman, wife of the late fomrer state senator and Health Department director.

Aggravation: The Pulaski precinct results are available, though at this hour only in the 2008 archives in a cumbersome precinct-by-precint format. Here's the home page.

SHOCKER: Gunner DeLay, currently a prosecutor in Fort Smith, a former senator and general GOP big wig, was clobbered 55-45 in a race for district judge against City Prosecutor Claire Borengasser. DeLay had the support of virtually every big-name attorney in Fort Smith, from Brad Jesson on the left to Joey McCutcheon on the right.

Any other nuggets worthy of notice?

Gov. Mike Beebe says the state may have to reduce miles driven by state agences on account of high fuel prices.

So, then, again: Does the state need to take active steps that encourage long commutes by employees? Let them commute if they must, but let's not subsidize the folly with work schedule, parking expenditures and road building all designed to improve the lot of the long-distance commuters.

Here are the totals. No switches from what I mentioned earlier.

Huge win for Joyce Elliott.

Three judicial runoffs -- the circuit juvenile judgeship and the two LR district courts. It will be Leverett v. Sullivan for environmental; Finkelstein v. Lightle for criminal; Compton v. Gilbert for the circuit judgeship.

AND FROM BENTON COUNTY: Duncan Baird beat Linda Bisbee, the senator's wife, for a House seat, and Tim Summers, the former Democrat, beat Vicky Boozman in the Republican primary.

Comment here on tonight's results.

NATIONAL: Minutes after the polls closed, Kentucky was called for Clinton as expected. She won by 35 percentage points, almost 250,000 votes. Oregon won't arrive until 10 p.m., but the campaigns have seen the exit polling and it sounds to me like the expected wide Obama victory. 10 PM UPDATE: Oregon called for Obama the minute the polls closed.

ARKANSAS: Benton County will provide the most excitement tonight in terms of bareknuckle contests, but there will be a lot of votes cast in judicial races in Pulaski County.

7:58 PM Some Pulaski votes tallied, probably the early voting. Key points: Joyce Elliott leading Sen. Irma Hunter Brown, Rita Gruber well ahead of Judge Wendell Griffen and, in a disheartening shocker if it stands, Mark Leverett near 50 percent in the race for Little Rock district environmental court. Courtney Henry has a big lead over a Hutchinson clan candidate in early voting for that Court of Appeals race in NW Ark. And Vicky Boozman is trailing former Democrat Tim Summers in a Benton County race for state representative.

Otherwise, the usual lack of results in Pulaski.

9:16 PM I notice Sen. Shawn Womack is just ahead of strong challenger in his race for a judgeship and his likely runof opponent, Gail Campbell, is a respected lawyer who might retire this injudicious fellow to private life.

9:28 PM PULASKI UPDATE: Lots of precincs to come, but Joyce Elliott maintains her lead over Sen. Irma Hunter Brown. This is a mixed district. Unless I miss my guess, if Elliott wins, she will owe it to a stout margin in the Hillcrest area neighborhoods. John Edwards is leading Jeff Dailey in that Heights House race. Rita Gruber is clobbering Judge Griffen 60-40.

There are going to be some runoff races for judgeships in November. At this moment, looks like Cathi Compton and Melinda Gilbert, in order, in the race for circuit court; Hugh Finkelstein (leading currently) and Alice Lightle in the district court criminal division; Mark Leverett (his leading percentage has dropped substantially from early voting) with either Slocum Pickell or Gary Sullivan for the environmental court.

10 PM UPDATE No surprises, really. I regret the defeat of the better candidate, the experienced Judge Wendell Griffen, but there's no denying he planted the seeds for his defeat by his robust use of the First Amendment.

Courtney Henry beat Ron Williams for the NWA Court of Appeals seat handily. She'll even carry Benton County, it appears.

In the Little Rock district court runoff for environmental judge, there's much to examine in Mark Leverett's record before the runoff, a record that escaped attention from the daily newspaper in the primary. Maybe some more light will be shed in the days ahead. Hugh Finkelstein, who didn't campaign the last two weeks because of the death of his wife, nonetheless seems headed to the runoff for criminal court with Alice Lightle in a strong showing under the circumstances.

Joyce Elliott's victory in the Senate race would truly be a blast of fresh air in the Senate and peel off a vote counted on by the Brotherhood, always a good outcome.

There are several candidates I'd have liked to seen beaten tonight, but didn't expect it to happen, so ....

ODDS AND ENDS: Former state Rep. Larry Teague of Nashville has won an open Senate seat there. ... Ann Clemmer won the Republican primary for the House seat in the Bryant area and will face Democrat Scott Smith. ... Too soon to call Sen. Jim Luker's re-election contest with Rep. Denny Sumpter. ... Darrin Williams and John Edwards seem likely winners for Democratic House nominations in Little Rock. ... Davy Carter looks to be the winner over Randy Minton in a hot Republican House primary in Lonoke County. ... Race in Fort Smith House primaries were closer at the outset than they should have been, with nuts contending in both a Republican and Democratic primary. But, in the end Democratic Rep. Tracy Pennartz coasted and Stephanie Malone won the GOP nomination to another Fort Smith House seat narrowly over the guy who favored demanding IDs from anybody who looked Hispanic. ... Sad news. With two precincts out, Vickie Critcher has a 150-vote lead, probably unclosable, over James McLean in a race for a House seat from Batesville. The Brotherhood gives way to the Sisterhood if she wins. Will she hire her husband, the Senate pro tem, for House staff? (A reader says, however, that McLean has taken the lead. We'll see) McLean carried those last two precincts big and won. This is GOOD news. ... Too early to call the hot GOP House primaries in Benton County.

Name game.

The Social Security Administration compiles the most popular names of newborns each year. Here's the latest national i nfo. Emily and Jacob were tops nationwide in 2007.

The results for Arkansas, 2007, in order:

BOYS: William, Jacob, Ethan, Jackson, Christopher.

GIRLS: Madison, Emma, Emily, Addison, Olivia

Light turnout all over, according to reports here.

But, there was this disturbing report from a North Little Rock voter:

He was asked if he wanted a Democratic, Republican or non-partisan ballot this morning.

That didn't sound like the right choice to him. You may have a Democratic or Republican ballot (few races on either countywide) AND ALSO the non-partisan judicial ballot. If the practice my friend encountered was widespread, some people may have been deprived of votes. He knew about the judicial races and demanded the nonpartisan ballot, but was not given a Democratic or Republican ballot. No loss for him, because there were no primary races in his district.

UPDATE: Susan Inman, Pulaski election co-ordinator, explains. There ARE THREE choices. If you ask for the Democratic ballot, the judicial races also will appear on the ballot. Same for Republican. But if you specify only the nonpartisan ballot, that's all you'll get. Yes, it is confusing. But it is the procedure required by law. Beware, though. A request for the non-partisan ballot cuts you out of party primaries, where they exist.

Inman gently notes that you can avoid such problems by studying the sample ballots posted in every polling place.

I voted early, on the hated electronic machines, and must confess that it went smoothly this year.

UPDATE: The secretary of state has these numbers

May primary early and absentee voting -- 69,000

February presidential primary early and absentee -- 70,000

2004 primary early and absentee -- 59,000

2000 primary early and absentee -- 36,000. This election overall proved the lowest on record, 19 percent of registered voters.