In honor of tomorrow's total sweep of the PA primary by Barack Obama, Ben and Jerry's has announced a new flavor to help carry him into the White House.

They describe it as a "nationwide mixture of colors (and flavors) that combines white vanilla, pieces of black chocolate with swirls of red cherry and yellow graham cracker crust, liberally (and progressively) laced with Yes We Pecans." No conservative flavors here.

Coming to a store near you. Like Steven Colbert, grab a spoon and dig in.

(Credit where credit is due. newmexicobear came up with the picture but Ms. newmexicobear (aka jancw) thought up the cool name.)

The numbers were already looking good for him here, but Barack Obama has picked up a critical endorsement that will have major influence on voters.

Ben and Jerry have officially endorsed Barack Obama.

Almost two months ago, I watched as Ben and Jerry, of Ben & Jerry's, visited Stephen Colbert's Report to unveil a new flavor of ice cream:

The excerpt below is posted with the full permission, even encouragement, of the author, who wants his essays to be read by as many people as possible.

From the Huffington Post:

After Steve Colbert, Try My New Ice Cream

By Brent Budowsky

You might have heard that Ben and Jerry's has begun a new Steve Colbert ice cream flavor. Which gave me the idea for the new ice cream company I am announcing today.

So many others have profiteered from this war, why not me?

Our landmark flavor will be Dixie Chicks Vanilla. Pure and tasty, the perfect flavor for the discerning man or woman who likes truth with a bite.

MORE MORE MORE

Ben and Jerry....American geniuses.

We've all heard the hype, but as soon as you've tasted it, it's hard not to praise. I'm referring to BEn and Jerry's Ice Cream of course. In addition to the tasty flavors, the company is known for its work supporting charity and environmental causes.

NOw, comes news of a new flavor dedicated to the source of Truthiness itself, Stephen COlbert. NO official word from the company, but a picture of the carton design has been leaked.
colbert fan club site gets the Leak

This may not be the most pressing of news, but it is a Friday night so what the hell. Apparently a Whole Foods employee leaked the news along with a photo of the new pint sized ice cream container. Ben 'n' Jerry's won't provide any hard information, but they are hinting that something is in the works.

Crossposted on Joshing Politics

Well, it's been another doozy of a week...  BP was checking for leaks in its Prudhoe Bay oil pipeline with a device called a "smart pig." Isn't it nice to see that Tom DeLay is working again?...  Marine reservists, some having served up to four tours in Iraq, are being called back to shore up dwindling recruiting figures.   They have a new motto:  "Semper Fi(nd) us a way out of this quagmire!"...   NASA has named their new space vehicle "Orion." The first in their new Salute to Movie Studios series.  Next up, the Miramax Lunar Rover...    Mike Roberts, number two man at McDonald's, has resigned unexpectedly. According to industry analysts, he was McNudged out...     See you below the fold.  There's lots more!      

Yesterday deano's post about Ben & Jerry's alleged mistreatment of animals, specifically chickens, yielded an interesting and, at times, combative thread about the use and abuse of animals for food, clothing, and other human necessities. A few of the comments were along the lines of "They're just chickens, get over it," while others challenged the hypocrisy of animal defenders with questions like, "Don't you wear leather?"

I'm going to sidestep the issue of B&J's corporate social responsibilities, because I don't know the company's history since it was purchased, but I want to go to the heart of the comments. We're supposedly "liberals," in the historic sense of that word. So in the spirit of Rawlsian liberalism, which is at root the story of extending rights to the oppressed, and giving voice to the voiceless, I want to try to put our chicken discussion in context - specifically a historical, ethical, and jurisprudential framework.

Okay, I promise that I will post my speech on the Middle East crisis later this week, but today I want to offer you a scoop of comedy. Things have been so depressing the last few days that I want to lighten things up just a little bit. What better way to cool off and relax than eating ice cream on a hot summer's day.

One of my friends sent me the American Pie chart on the Ben and Jerry's website, allowing you to allocate the nation's budget how you see fit. I went over to the main page and entered the Do Us A Flavor contest, where you get to create your own flavor of ice cream. A great activity for summer.

ENVIRONMENTAL NEWS to use...Sunday Holy Environmental Roller Version.

Baptists warn environmental politics could divide evangelicals. Not long after two influential evangelical groups disagreed publicly over global warming, the Southern Baptist Convention approved its own resolution on the environment. Associated Press

Climate change and the church. The U.S. government does not officially accept that global warming is scientifically proven, but people of faith both in conservative and liberal denominations across the country increasingly are working to address it. Des Moines Register

Too fat - but is it my fault? Weight gain may have as much to do with the temperature in our homes, the pollutants to which we are exposed and the medicines we take as the 'Big Two' causes: overeating and underexercising. London Times