His voice sounds great, the hook is decent, but it’s with Akon so I’m a little disappointed. It’ll be a radio hit that I’ll never actually hear on the radio…just like every other Akon song. Yay for recovery!

John McCain has put it out there, but nobody’s run with it yet. Beyond merely liking Obama (and hating Hillary), the passage below from McSame’s own website is a major part of why my own mother will be casting her vote for the “change” candidate this fall.

Here it is in full, straight from the horse’s mouth:

John McCain believes Roe v. Wade is a flawed decision that must be overturned, and as president he will nominate judges who understand that courts should not be in the business of legislating from the bench.

Constitutional balance would be restored by the reversal of Roe v. Wade, returning the abortion question to the individual states. The difficult issue of abortion should not be decided by judicial fiat.

However, the reversal of Roe v. Wade represents only one step in the long path toward ending abortion. Once the question is returned to the states, the fight for life will be one of courage and compassion – the courage of a pregnant mother to bring her child into the world and the compassion of civil society to meet her needs and those of her newborn baby. The pro-life movement has done tremendous work in building and reinforcing the infrastructure of civil society by strengthening faith-based, community, and neighborhood organizations that provide critical services to pregnant mothers in need. This work must continue and government must find new ways to empower and strengthen these armies of compassion. These important groups can help build the consensus necessary to end abortion at the state level. As John McCain has publicly noted, “At its core, abortion is a human tragedy. To effect meaningful change, we must engage the debate at a human level.”

We went last night at 11:10 to avoid the screaming and wheezing family crowds. It’s a brilliant film, but probably too sophisticated in its storytelling for a child to really get what’s going on and ascertain the intended message. Highly recommended!

My car does this thing where if you didn’t lock the doors when you climbed inside, they automatically lock once you hit 20 mph. Unfortunately, the locks go “ka-thunk” every time I’m driving past minority pedestrians. I’m so nervous that they can hear it, too. It happens every time–I feel terrible!

Often I read messages from Michael Jackson fans on the forums that list all of these requests for their icon. “Michael, you should do this. Michael, you should do that. Michael, you need to blah blah blah.” Well, alas I think I may have finally moved past this level of fandom.

I’m not saying I don’t have a wishlist in my head that I think, in my allegedly unique and infinite wisdom about the nature of public relations in the 21st Century, would catapult my favorite celebrity back to what I believe is a decent level of respect in a pop world built largely on his successes and brilliant artistic decisions. But I think I’m done making demands.

This is a man who appears to have sought approval from others so often and with such exhausting effort that it has drained him of his hunger to exist for himself. How could I not have some empathy for that as a human being? Even on the small scale in which I live my life, I find the battle to gain the respect of others for the things about me I believe to be special to be immensely draining. Can you imagine the frustration of everyone telling you that you peaked 25 years ago doing the only job you have ever been trained to do? Can you imagine that job is subject to the micromanagement of a billion bosses? It would certainly drive me bats__t crazy, and I’m abnormally well-adjusted (though admittedly flawed within normal limits).

So Mr. Jackson, take a break. Raise your kids. Live your life like you were never famous. Enjoy the freedom that was nearly stolen from you. Should you decide to enter the limelight, you are no doubt experienced enough to sense that things have changed. In today’s Hollywood, you will not be sought more often if you remain elusive; the masses will only tire of the chase and move onto someone else. And you undoubtedly are aware that MTV has died–that the Internet killed the video star.

As no disrespect to your long resume and exhibited acumen for all things publicity, I offer one piece of advice should you make the decision to return to the public eye on a regular basis: make friends with Harvey Levin, Perez Hilton and Kathy Griffin. You’ll thank me.

I can’t believe it’s true. I was just talking about seeing how I can go see him receive the Mark Twain prize at the Kennedy Center in November. I was just holding his boxed set of HBO specials this weekend at Best Buy and mulling the expense. I am very saddened by this one, since I never got the chance to see his legendary act in person. We will all miss your wisdom!

The ad below is airing in Alaska, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Iowa, Indiana, Michigan, Missouri, Montana, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Mexico, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, and Virginia. Some interesting picks there, and notice the subtleties in the ad, like photograph and word choices. He’s in it to win it and fight like crazy in the states where he’s behind by as much as 8 points.

I’m going to start offering littles snapshot of three outcomes for the presidential race based on present polling, noticeable trends, and expected payoffs for active campaigning in particular states. Here are today’s snapshots!

Most Likely Scenario. If nothing changes after today, here is how the map looks:

Worst-case Scenario. If the smallest wins falling within the margins of error in today’s polling turn out to be wrong, here is how the map looks:

Best-case Scenario. If trends continue and polling moves by no more than 6 points in states where I expect Obama to actively campaign and gain support through a wise VP choice, here is how the map looks:

In other words, as of June 17, Obama is going to win on November 4. Check back to see how these numbers evolve after major events. It seems Barack has a big appearance scheduled at least once a week to keep his profile growing. Two weeks ago, it was the official sewing up of the delegates. Last week it was with his announcement of a national tour. This week it was Al Gore. Next week it’s an appearance with Hillary Clinton. What’s next for the megastar politician?

In your honor, I post my favorite of your directorial and special effects works in its entirety.

It’s becoming one of the worst-kept secrets in Vegas, but NBC is now reporting it with more detail than anyone else:

Michael Jackson may relaunch his career as a Las Vegas act, thanks to the private equity group that recently bought the loan on his Neverland Ranch in California to help the pop star avert foreclosure.

The investment firm Colony Capital is discussing with Jackson various repayment options for the $23 million debt, including a possible long-term engagement as the resident performer of a Vegas casino or nightclub, a source familiar with the talks said on Friday.

Colony Capital, based in Los Angeles, owns the Las Vegas Hilton and is a major shareholder in the Station Casinos chain.

The source emphasized that no deal was in place and that a Las Vegas gig for Jackson was merely one idea under consideration as Colony Capital explores the question of the loan repayment with him.

The talks with Jackson were first reported by the Wall Street Journal, which quoted Colony Capital CEO Tom Barrack as saying, “we’ve been having discussions with Mr. Jackson about a recapitalization and refinancing of Neverland in addition to various other business opportunities and mutual interests.”

A Colony Capital spokesman told Reuters the company was not commenting further on the matter. Jackson’s personal spokeswoman was not immediately available for comment.

Bringing Jackson to Sin City as a performer would mark the biggest step the 49-year-old performer has taken toward a comeback since a child molestation trial left his career, his reputation and financial status in tatters three years ago.

Last comeback panned
Jackson became a virtual recluse after a California jury acquitted him of all charges in June 2005, moving his place of residence alternately to Ireland, Dubai and Bahrain. He reportedly is now living with his three young children in Pahrump, Nevada, about 60 miles from Las Vegas.

A fleeting “comeback” appearance at a London awards show in 2006 was roundly panned by critics, though a 25th anniversary reissue of his blockbuster “Thriller” album earlier this year posted strong sales.

Still, the mercurial performer known for extravagant spending has by all accounts remained mired in debt.

In a bid to stave off insolvency in 2006, Jackson reached a deal to refinance more than $200 million in loans secured by his prized stake in the Beatles’ song catalog.

Those loans held by the New York private equity firm and hedge fund Fortress Investment Group, which in May sold Jackson’s note on the Neverland Ranch to Colony Capital in a deal that averted foreclosure proceedings on the property.

According to the Journal, Colony is negotiating an arrangement allowing Jackson to delay making payments for the time being in exchange for more money further down the road.

Colony also is urging the singer to sell off Neverland as quickly as possible and to emerge from seclusion in Nevada to launch a career comeback in Vegas, the Journal said.

One idea under discussion, the newspaper reported, was for Colony to install Jackson as a regular performer at one of its hotel-casinos, playing 180 nights a year. Another would be to create a musical extravaganza in which Jackson would appear 20 or 30 times a year, possibly with his brothers.

Colony also is pressing Jackson to go on TV, perhaps on Oprah Winfrey’s show, to make a public statement putting the Neverland Ranch and the controversy connected with it behind him, and to perform in a TV special proving to the world that he can still sing and dance.