Friday morning, minutes before presumptive Republican presidential nominee John McCain revealed Alaskan Governor Sarah Palin as his running mate, he strutted out onto a stage in Dayton, Ohio, where 15,000 supporters had gathered for a rally the day after Senator Barack Obama made history during his DNC-closing address, with Van Halen's inspirational 1991 track "Right Now" booming through the speakers at the Nutter Center.
Read more of Van Halen's reaction and see the video after the jump.
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By Jocelyn Vena, with reporting by Dani Carlson
Back in February, on Super Tuesday, MTV News Street Teamer Dani Carlson did a Flixwagon interview with Alaska Governor — and now presumptive Republican vice-presidential candidate — Sarah Palin, who had some interesting things to say about energy policy and the "party machinery."
In this interview, Palin calls controversial Republican presidential hopeful Ron Paul "cool." "He's a good guy," she added. "He's so independent. He's independent of the party machine. I'm like, 'Right on, so am I.' "
She also spoke about feeling allegiance with former presidential hopeful Mitt Romney. "He said all the right things about resource development in Alaska," she said. "I didn't have an opportunity to speak to all the candidates, but again, it's not my job to speak to all the candidates and tell Americans who to vote for. That's Americans' jobs, to figure out what candidates are standing for. That's the voters' jobs."
Check out Dani Carlson's video interview with Gov. Sarah Palin after the jump!
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By Josh Horowitz
As the fireworks figuratively and literally went off at the conclusion of Senator Barack Obama's acceptance speech at Invesco Field in Denver last night, a few observers were reminded of another powerful political speech some 13 years earlier — that of President Andrew Shepherd.
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Like many Americans, artists such as Pete Wentz, Big Boi, Kenna, Bun B, Murs, Ryan Leslie, Matt White and others are glued to the TV tonight, watching as Barack Obama officially accepts his historic selection as the Democratic Party's nominee for president of the United States. Read their thoughts in real time throughout tonight's speech:
Kenna, 9:27 p.m. ET: Some people have given Obama flak for picking Biden because he is Obama's mentor ... I think flak for that is retarded. Why wouldn't you want someone you consider wise next to you as you take on the massive job of president?
Kenna, 9:45 p.m. ET: Go Barney, Go Barney, Go Barney. Who doesn't love Barney Smith? WOW. "I need a president who puts Barney Smith before Smith Barney"??!!! HA - Bumper sticker companies are hard at work right now.
Bun B, 10:12 p.m. ET: The video intro is very moving. Candid shots of Barack Obama throughout his life really gives a better look at how his character was built. It gives him an even stronger connection to the people by showing his struggle, and how parallel it is to ours.
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Steve Foley, who played drums in the Replacements towards the end of the band's career, died last weekend in Minneapolis of an accidental prescription-medication overdose at the age of 49, the Minneapolis Star Tribune reports.
After original drummer Chris Mars left the band, Foley was recruited to replace him in 1990. According to "All Over But the Shouting: An Oral History of the Replacements," frontman Paul Westerberg and guitarist Tommy Stinson met Foley in a Minneapolis bar and hitched a ride with him to the drummer auditions they were holding. Their album All Shook Down happened to be playing on his stereo, prompting Stinson and Westerberg to declare, "You're already in."
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It's been 18 years since I first met the West Beverly gang, and eight years since I had to say goodbye. Brenda and Dylan, Kelly and Brandon, Donna and David — I spent every Wednesday night with those guys! (Steve and Andrea tagged along too. ... Ehh.) In just a few days, thanks to the CW's new ""90210," I will be reunited with two members of the old gang, mid-series addition Matt (who dated and almost married Kelly), Jessica Walter (a.k.a. Lucille Bluth from "Arrested Development" — is this a dream?!) and a bunch of strangers that I have yet to accept as part of the group.
Here are the top 10 things I, an avid (OK, very obsessed) "Beverly Hills, 90210" fan, am looking forward to:
10. The new West Beverly High. A new cafeteria? Did the school go green? Will David's half brother Aaron Silver — yes he's on the new season — be the school DJ? Read more...
By Rya Backer
"Hallo, everyone" (that's "hello" in Heidi for the laymen in the audience). Last night's episode was, save for a few blips here and there, about as exciting as a carburetor. Which is an apt comparison because, whaddaya know, the episode involved making fashion out of car interiors! Not just any car interior, but Saturn View Hybrid interiors. Mmmm ... do you smell that? That's some soft, buttery product placement. But I digress! Alright, buds! Ins and Outs! Keith's gone! Let's rejoice!
IN
Stella Zotis: OK, so clearly, I'm obsessed. What can I say? The woman is slick and enchanting. She deserves props this week not only for being her but also for stepping outside her comfort zone. Stella refrained from crafting a leather garment to give the other designers a break, as she would've crushed the competition. Literally — with her hammer and grommets. While it wasn't the winning outfit, it was refreshing to see Stella display a knack for feminine pieces that are equally detail-oriented. Oh my God, I'm starting to sound like a fashion assistant again. Party foul! Read more...
Hilary Duff's mom took the pop star's dad to court, asking that he pay her $25,000 towards their daughter's 21st birthday party and gift. But the situation got a whole lot worse when Bob Duff was found in contempt of court for violating an injunction against selling assets without court approval. Now he's been sentenced to 10 days in jail. Read the complete story of the argument over Hilary Duff's birthday here.
Do you think Hilary's dad should have to pay for the party, considering that his daughter has a career and money of her own? Let us know.
Suge Knight has been released on bail from a Las Vegas jail after his Wednesday arrest for allegedly beating his girlfriend while driving.
This, of course, isn't Suge's first brush with the law. A little review: He was convicted of assault and placed on probation in 1992 for attacking two rappers at a recording studio. In 1995, he pleaded no contest to trafficking fire arms. After violating his probation in 1996 (by assaulting another man in a Las Vegas hotel), he was placed in jail for five years. In 2003, he went back to jail for 10 months for violating parole by punching a parking valet.
Read the full story of Suge Knight's latest incident here.
We're not sure if Democratic VP nominee Joe Biden would want to add the following accomplishment to his already-lengthy bio, but it would probably be a wise move if he's looking to corral the desirable tween vote for running mate Barack Obama: Without him, there would be no Pete Wentz.
This is because, according to a report on People.com and then confirmed to MTV News by Wentz himself, his parents — Pete Sr. and Dale — met while working on a Biden Senate campaign in (he thinks) 1972.
"Yeah, it's true," he told MTV News in an e-mail Wednesday (August 27). "Maybe [it was in] '72? I'm not even sure. I'd have to ask my dad. I was born in '79, so it might've been later."
We're not sure either. Biden ran again for the Senate in 1978, so it could've been then too. Whatever. The '70s were a confusing time for everyone. Regardless, when we first heard the news, something went off in our MTV News brain: Where had we heard this story before? And then it hit us.
Wentz had first told us about his Biden connection way back in January, when we were out in Chicago to cover the Obama fundraiser he threw at Lakeshore Broadcasting Company, the dive bar he co-owns in his hometown. Both his parents were there to show their support for their son and Obama, and at one point, Wentz introduced us to his dad ... all while mentioning that his folks had met while campaigning for Biden.
We've got the video — plus a little bit of Pete Sr. stumping for Barack — after the jump.
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