John McCain claims kook-rocker Jackson Browne pitched a fit over the candidate's use of the song "Running on Empty" for one reason -- to make sure Browne's new album won't be running on empty.
Jackson sued John back in August over the Prez-seeker's use of his song in an Ohio campaign ad about gas prices. Now, McCain's lawyers filed a response, saying Jackson complained so he could get press to promote his new album, which came out a month later.
J-Mac also makes the argument he could use the tune whenever and where he wants because he was running for Prez, not trying to make a buck off it. If the court buys this "political speech as public interest" claim, it pretty much means curtains for a bunch of other musicians who were PO'd about their songs being used by the GOP.
After getting reamed by Tim Robbins over that whole polling place snafu, the NYC Board of Elections wants Testy Tim to turn that frown upside down -- and do a PSA for 'em!
Officials tell TMZ they're inviting TR to "join" them to produce "service announcements" about voter participation. Somehow, given that Tim called the head of the org a
"corrupt scumbag," it might take a lil' arm-twisting.
No word from Tim yet on whether he'll bite.
Not surprisingly, the BOE phrased their offer slightly more diplomatically than Robbins' screed.
Sarah Palin is still sore from pulling the knife out of her back from fellow Republicans.
The Governor, now back in Alaska, is responding to recent allegations that she didn't know Africa was a continent, and can't name the countries in NAFTA -- calling the people who said them "cruel, mean-spirited, immature, jerks." Palin claims the rumors aren't true, calling them ridiculous.
Tell that to John McCain.
See Also
Make no mistake about it: Barack Obama isn't the only one who hit the jackpot last night.
We're actually going to get serious on this one. FOX News Channel has got to be celebrating today. Bill O'Reilly can have a field day with the new Prez, and there may be no one else on that field to challenge him.
MSNBC's decision to cheer on Obama worked during the election. Keith Olbermann's ratings and demos are definitely up. But here's the dilemma: MSNBC has squarely taken sides and courted an audience that now expects good news about the Prez elect. That's somewhat true about CNN as well. But here's the problem with TV -- viewers get bored with cheerleaders, even if they agree with them.
So what's O'Reilly gonna do? He's already got a huge lead in the ratings. Will he go for the jugular? He actually took our call today and said, "We are going to be the watchdogs. We don't know what Obama is going to do. It's my job to explain every move he makes, but I'm not going to nitpick him."
Here's what's interesting -- O'Reilly doesn't really have to attack if MSNBC and CNN throw softballs. Being somewhat neutral could end up actually looking edgy, and viewers like edgy.
One final thing. O'Reilly actually told us he kinda blew it with Bush. He said he never looked at the way Bush was handling the economy until it was too late.
"Obama Girl" Amber Lee Ettinger wasn't one of the people Barack Obama thanked last night -- but after listening to her tell it, she should have been.
John McCain's bid for President went up in smoke last night -- but that wasn't the only thing getting lit.
Thanks to
DListed and
L.A. Rag Mag to pointing out this extremely blunt clip.
Winning the Prezidency was a breeze for Barack Obama, compared to getting into Coco de Ville.
The club's doorman -- who recently
denied Chuck Liddell entry -- was clearly not impressed with the popular or electoral vote. The doorman initially turned away the Obama impersonator with faux Secret Service, but management eventually vetoed that decision, making Coco de Ville a "Yes We Can" club.
Paris Hilton had a police escort when she rocked the vote in Norwalk last night -- but if the Presidential hopeful voted for herself, it wasn't enough to win.
Fidel Rodriguez wants change from Barack Obama -- the kind you take to the bank.
In a lawsuit filed in L.A. County Superior Court, Rodriguez claims he sold $10,000 worth of postcards, paper flyers and other advertising materials to Californians for Obama and Californians for Change, but says he was stiffed out of the $4,740 balance.
We called the campaign for comment, but for some reason the phones have been busy.
He didn't get close to the White House and now things are real stinky for John Edwards.
According to the
New York Daily News, a poopy diaper snatched by a National Enquirer reporter from the Beverly Hilton could be the evidence that proves Edwards is the father of his mistress Rielle Hunter's baby. "All they need is a cup he drank from," says a source, to prove he's the baby daddy, which he's steadfastly denied.
In August, Edwards' former finance chairman admitted paying Hunter $15K a month. We can only speculate what the money was for.
Tim Robbins tried voting at his NYC polling place earlier today. There was some kind of ruckus and the cops were called.
Apparently, Robbins has been voting at that polling place for more than a decade, but today his name wasn't on the register. They told Robbins he had to fill out a provisional ballot but he didn't want to do it. An argument erupted between Robbins and the poll worker. Robbins allegedly got loud and the poll worker said he was calling the cops.
Robbins accused the poll worker of trying to intimidate him so he wouldn't vote.
Robbins went downtown to the City Board of Elections to get proof he was good to vote.
