Now, I enjoy Kidd Rock ... but I don't let my kids listen to him. Some of his Southern Rock stuff is appropriate ... and he has gone to entertain the troops, hasn't he? I say, if the troops like him, he should be in.

I'd imagine he'd have to clean his stuff up for the occasion.

Somebody needs to hit these people with a stick. No, wait, better idea: play that duet he did with Cheryl Crow for them. Then whack 'em.

They are willing to write off any chance at convincing young voters the Republican Party consists of nothing but stuck-in-the-mud old farts... for what? Protecting their sensibilities from Elvis? (No, wait, wrong timeframe.)

If Hannity, Malkin et al didn't suss them to this "furor" it wouldn't exist. Shut up and bang back a Bud, fer cryin out loud. YOU WON. Let the kids trample the friggin' yard!

I have the feeling that, as big a G.W. fan as Kid Rock is, he'd tone it down of his own volition, out of respect. At the very least, they could ask him to agree to it.

As for Mickey Rooney's ass, well, we've already been subjected to Dennis Franz.

Could it really be much worse than that?

Only if Francis shows up to give him a good, swift, kick in it.

The stick up Michelle Malkin's ass has a stick up ITS ass.

Which is a shame, because she has a nice ass. Way better than Mickey Rooney's, anyway.

I hope you're happy. Now you've got Michelle dropping F-bombs like daisy-cutters.

Does anyone know if FOX has asked the FCC to screen the ad to see if it 'sends up a flare' with them or is their standard dictated by how many people complain after the fact?

Because I think that's problem with this whole mess...

I am taking the Fence on this one.

About the only song I have heard from Kid Rock is "I put your picture away" and I actually liked that one, I don't know that it is a great idea for him to be there, but if he sings a clean song-I don't see a problem, I don't think the inaugural committee needs to turn itself into the morality police. They should just be able to indicate what songs are and aren't appropriate.

He's a good Country singer. I don't object to him any more than I would Bocephus.

This is why, despite everything, I have to keep reminding myself that I'm a libertarian, not a conservative, and a Libertarian, not a Republican.

(Anybody remember James Watt and the Beach Boys incident?)

They are willing to write off any chance at convincing young voters the Republican Party consists of nothing but stuck-in-the-mud old farts...

Reactions like this are no less over-the-top than Michelle's post. People getting all up in arms over Kid Rock at the inaugural, on either side of the question, need to run on down to Lives 'R' Us and get 'em one.

well, I'd agree, but note that some folks are getting up-in-arms about people getting up-in-arms, at least that's my take. The first 9 times someone boycotts something vaguely immoral via some group with the term "american family" in it, it's tolerable, if annoying. But the 10th time, sometimes you just want to ... push back.

Dude! You're having fun with Mickey Rooney's ass? That's more information than I really wanted. Whatever happened to "Don't ask, don't tell"? :-p

I saw the battle WAY too late over at pw, Bill... nice work.

I'm about as right-wingnut as one can be, but people need to lighten the fuck up. It's a PARTY because WE WON. I say we should all enjoy the moment and move on with the things we elected Bush and other Republicans everywhere for.

If I hear one more squeak about boycotting, I'll be spamming the AFA, etc. with words Kid Rock only dreams about. But I will STILL ALWAYS be a (conservative!) Republican, whether my language disqualifies me in their eyes or not.

What a stupid, stupid, stupid thing to get worked up about.

Kid Rock's "American Bad Ass" was played by the US Navy from the deck of the USS COLE as they left Aden in 2000. I can't think of a higher endorsement and I'm pretty sure they didn't bleep anything out.

He, by the way, followed up with concert in Norfolk to benefit the families of the USS Cole heroes. He has also appeared via the USO in Ramstein, Qatar, Baghdad and Kuwait.

I don't own one bit of his music and would probably head to the bar if he appeared on stage but having him appear at an Inaugural event would be small thanks for the service and morale boosting he has given our troops.

I'm not so interested in the "big show" status that inaugural events have become; they seem like public events, but that is probably incorrect. if they are private, have anyone ya want, Jen and Barbie. it's your deal.

but if not, and there is indeed repayment going on, and I'm invited because I'm being repaid for some favor to America or the Bush campaign, then I would probably pass if Kid Rock were the entertainment. because of his raunchy lyrics? sure, also because that kind of music makes having a good time with others not so good. too loud, dissonant, whatever. same with any similar performer. which makes me wonder if there weren't a hundred other performers that would have been more exciting to have and less repulsive for certain partygoers like the hypothetical me?

and if it's repayment to Kid Rock for the USO stints, then I guess Al Franken will be there too. which, with two screechers on the bill, definitely count me out. I'll stay home and see about that stick thing that is apparantly the "real" problem with people like me in situations like this.

But we've seen enough of Bill Clinton bopping with Sheryl Crow & Stevie Nicks & any other celeb in sight to show how hip he is. That's so September 10th. There's something to be said for dignity at an Inauguration.

Personally, I'm unsettled by the "gala mentality" of prior inaugural events; even more so by this one given the context of our current era. There's an immodesty to it; wasteful and childishly indulged. With so many of our troops and resources in harms way, why create additional unnecessary risk and pedantic ceremony? They should be perfunctory and just do it. These are dangerous times with much more yet to be done. They should put the interests of the nation first and do a minimal and perfunctory inaugural ceremony. Perhaps the shadow controversy over choosing entertainers is driven by a deeper collective sense of disgust regarding the sprawling wastefulness and immodest exploitation of what should otherwise be a serious and simple ceremony.

There's something to be said for dignity at an Inauguration.

It's not the inauguration, just a party surrounding it.

The way it's hyped, the party's become integral to the main event, in some ways overshadowing it. Perhaps that's what bugs me most. I dunno though, the Elvira thing is deeply troubling. It's that "gitty up a mau-mau" line that wigs me out; that, and the polyester mummies wandering out of the mausoleums to sing along. I think they need to add a Mothers of Invention tribute band instead.