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Former South African President Nelson Mandela is to be removed from U.S. terrorism watch lists under a bill President Bush signed Tuesday.

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You have to be at least a little comforted by the idea of making Mitt Romney John McCain’s vice president. The Mormons did such a nice job taking care of Howard Hughes during his decline. So there’s that.

(Hughes certainly appreciated their care. When he died, he left an eighth of his estate to his key Mormon aides, a sixteenth to a Mormon drifter, and another sixteenth directly to the Latter-day Saints, a church he never attended.)

(The hand-written will was never executed, despite its unimpeachable provenance, turning up, as it did, in a desk drawer at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.)

(Those guys are always finding things!)

Yesterday, Politico reported the “hot buzz” that Romney is at the top of McCain’s vice presidential short list. I’ll believe it when I see it. For one thing, Politico doesn’t cite any sources more specific than “sources.” For another thing, it could be a transcription error. “Short list” and “shit list” sound a lot alike.

But wouldn’t it be fun?

I think it’d keep McCain young, don’t you? Having Mitt Romney around, waiting for him to die, and collecting samples of his handwriting. Imagine the White House sort of like Inspector Clouseau’s place in the Pink Panther, with his man-servant Kato trying to kill him all the time, just to keep him sharp.

Speaking of things Mormons find, the Book of Mormon (provenance, a hole) talks a lot about Moroni’s heroic assassin Teancum, “a true friend to liberty,” who does God’s chosen people a world of good by knocking off anyone who gets in his way.

And it came to pass that Teancum stole privily into the tent of the king, and put a javelin to his heart; and he did cause the death of the king immediately that he did not awake his servants. The book doesn’t say whether King Amalickiah left a will or not.

Amalickiah was replaced by his brother Ammoron. (I wonder if they other kids teased him about the name.) So Teancum had to off him too. Unfortunately, no one had instructed Teancum in the art of “mixing it up,” so he thought he’d do him exactly the same way he did before.

And he went forth with a cord, from place to place, insomuch that he did find the king; and he did cast a javelin at him, which did pierce him near the heart. But behold, the king did awaken his servants before he died, insomuch that they did pursue Teancum, and slew him.

Anyway it all works out. Pretty soon Jesus and the Indians are living happily in Schenectady. And I’m sure John McCain has nothing to worry about. Mitt Romney’s not ambitious like that. He’s always doing nice, altruistic things like saving the Olympics.

And besides, where would he get his hands of a javelin?

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Another comforting thing for McCain? There hasn’t been a really serious Mormon assassination plot since Porter Rockwell shot Governor Lilburn Boggs, and that was ages ago.

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Also, Rockwell wasn’t a hothead like Teancum. His motto was:

“I never killed anyone that didn’t need killing.”

Which shows how the church had matured by the 1830s.

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“Teancum?” Mormon boys are supposed to not snicker at a guy named “Teancum?”

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Saudi Arabia on Tuesday ruled out further increases in crude production following its June 23 announcement that it would pump an extra half-million barrels a day.

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A 49-year-old woman collapsed and died on the floor of a waiting room at a Brooklyn psychiatric hospital and lay there for more than an hour as employees ignored her, according to the New York Civil Liberties Union, which on Tuesday released surveillance camera video of the incident.

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Free agency opened in the NHL today, and the Chicago Blackhawks wasted no time making a big impact, signing the top goalie and defenseman available— Cristobal Huet and Brian Campbell.

The Huet deal likely means the end of Nikolai Khabibulin’s stay in Chicago, but his monster contract could prevent teams from inquiring about the veteran Stanley Cup winner in net.

That deal was overshadowed by the signing of the biggest name defenseman on the market, Brian Campbell.

Chicago gave him an eight-year, $56.8 million contract after having talks with defensemen Wade Redden and Brad Stuart.

Campbell is known as a good skater, and moves the puck well, but he will now have to deal with the expectations that come with a huge, long-term contract.

He did not perform all that well in the playoffs for San Jose, after being traded from Buffalo at the trade deadline last season.

The signings make it likely that the Hawks will not be able to sign Marian Hossa, the top forward on the market.

The Blackhawks needed more help up front than on the blue line, so the fact that the Hawks front office targeted a defenseman over a forward is puzzling.

Signing Hossa would have made all the forwards better, especially Jonathan Toews and Patrick Kane. 

It also would have taken pressure off of Patrick Sharp, who will receive more attention from opposing defenders next season after his 30+ goal campaign.

If, somehow, GM Dale Tallon is able to sign Hossa too, you could consider the Hawks instant contenders in the Western Conference.

As they stand now, they should make the playoffs, but I can’t see them getting past the second round, especially if Hossa lands with another Western Conference team.

The other problem with giving Campbell such a huge contract, is that if he does under-perform, it will be extremely difficult to move that contract via trade.

As for the goaltending situation, bringing in Huet should strengthen the goaltending situation.

Look for Chicago to move Khabibulin and have Corey Crawford back up Huet at the start of the 2008-09 season.

Crawford showed he is more than capable of playing at the NHL level, shutting out the then-defending Stanley Cup Champion Anaheim Ducks. 

He also played well in the AHL playoffs for the Blackhawks affiliate in Rockford.

Chicago should make the playoffs in the competitive Western Conference, but adding some talent up front can help the team advance farther than they would as constructed.

The remainder of free agency and unforeseen trades could change that prediction, one way or another.

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Security contractors working in Iraq will no longer receive immunity from prosecution in that nation under a deal being brokered by Iraqi and U.S. officials, Iraqi Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari said.

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AP - Brangelina’s twins aren’t here yet, but the big day is drawing closer. The seafront Lenval hospital in Nice in the south of France said Tuesday that Angelina Jolie had checked in at its Santa Maria maternity clinic to be kept under doctors’ surveillance and get some rest before she gives birth.

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Sorry, Cavs fans. LeBron James has made no secret of his love for another NBA city. » Words fuel rumors

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AP - When Jessica Simpson announced plans to go country after her last pop album flopped, there was a collective eye roll in Nashville.

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Officials at an African Union summit Tuesday adopted a resolution urging talks in Zimbabwe aimed at promoting peace and stability in the country, according to Egypt’s official news agency.

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