Newly-minted Republican vice presidential candidate Paul Ryan has been vocal about his love for the music of Rage Against the Machine. Alas, the affair is strictly one-sided. In an op-ed essay published Thursday at RollingStone.com, Rage guitarist Tom Morello made clear that the band, known for its left-leaning lyrics, has little love for the right-wing Ryan or his running mate, Mitt Romney.

Morello wrote that he’s amused by Ryan’s fandom, since “he is the embodiment of the machine that our music has been raging against for two decades.” Wondering which Rage tune might be Ryan’s favorite, Morello wrote, “Is it the one where we condemn the genocide of Native Americans? The one lambasting American imperialism? Our cover of ‘Fuck the Police’? Or is it the one where we call on the people to seize the means of production?” As for any rage in Ryan, Morello wrote that he sees only “A rage against women, a rage against immigrants, a rage against workers, a rage against gays, a rage against the poor, a rage against the environment…. This unbridled rage against those who have the least is a cornerstone of the Romney-Ryan ticket.”

As Morello noted, the Rage-Ryan dispute is only the latest in a long line of politicians trying to co-opt a pop act’s cool factor, only to find that the musician or band wants no association with them. In fact, it’s not even the first such dispute this week; on Monday, the Romney campaign ran afoul of the Silversun Pickups for unauthorized use of the band’s song “Panic Switch.”

Which bands and singers have dissed the politicians who love their music?

As in the Silversun Pickups incident, a politician’s unrequited love for a musician’s work manifests itself in a song played at a campaign rally, followed by a cease-and-desist letter from the musician, outraged that a tune played without permission might be heard as an endorsement — or a missed chance to earn royalties.

Ronald Regan and Bruce Springsteen
The trend started in 1984, when President Ronald Reagan, running for re-electon, glommed onto Bruce Springsteen’s anthem “Born in the USA,” a chart-topping hit that year. Springsteen was miffed, suggesting that the Reagan campaign had picked the song for its (ironic) title and rousing music, without listening to the lyrics, about a bitter, desperate, jobless Vietnam veteran. (Not exactly the “Morning in America” message the campaign was trying to convey.) Rival Democratic candidate Walter Mondale seized on the controversy, saying that Bruce may have been born in the U.S.A., “but he wasn’t born yesterday” — marking the only time in Mondale’s public life that anyone remembers him telling a joke.

Bob Dole and Sam & Dave
In 1996, R&B legend Sam Moore objected to Republican presidential candidate Bob Dole’s use of the Sam & Dave classic “Soul Man” at campaign stops, where it had been rewritten as “Dole Man.” The Dole campaign pulled the tune after a threat of legal action. Moore was an equal opportunity objector; in 2008, he successfully urged Democrat Barack Obama’s campaign to stop using Sam & Dave’s “Hold On! I’m Coming.”

George W. Bush and Tom Petty
In 2000, Tom Petty threatened to sue the George W. Bush campaign for using “I Won’t Back Down.” The GOP campaigners backed down. Petty performed the song in Al Gore’s honor the night he backed down and conceded the election to Bush. Petty also threatened litigation in 2011 when Republican presidential hopeful Michele Bachmann used his iconic tune “American Girl.”

Orleans and John McCain
John Hall, of ’70s band Orleans, complained when Bush used the band’s familiar “Still the One” at campaign events in 2004. By 2008, Hall had been elected as a Democratic Congressman from New York when Republican presidential candidate John McCain started using the song. Hall got him to yank it.

John McCain and Van Halen, John Mellencamp, Foo Fighters and Jackson Browne
In fact, McCain was a serial offender when it came to using songs without permission. Among those who objected were Van Halen (over the song “Right Now”) John Mellencamp (the songs “Our Country” and “Little Pink Houses,” which he’d licensed to Democratic presidential hopeful John Edwards), Foo Fighters (“My Hero,” another song whose bitter lyrics the candidate apparently overlooked) and Jackson Browne (who sued for $75,000 over the use of “Running on Empty” and eventually won a settlement).

Sarah Palin and Heart
McCain’s running mate, Sarah Palin, made use of Heart’s classic-rock track “Barracuda,” since that was her high school nickname. The core of Heart, sisters Ann and Nancy Wilson, complained, but Palin kept using the song. “I feel completely fucked over,” said guitarist Nancy. Singer Ann issued a statement saying, “Sarah Palin’s views and values in NO WAY represent us as American women.”

Mike Huckabee and Boston
Also in 2008, Boston guitarist/songwriter Tom Scholz complained about Republican presidential candidate Mike Huckabee’s use of “More Than a Feeling,” a song that the bass-playing Arkansas governor would perform with his band, the Capitol Offenders. Barry Goudreau, the Boston guitarist who’d left the band in the 1980s amid a bitter legal battle with Scholz, would sometimes sit in with the Offenders.

Other spats: Aerosmith slapped down Virginia GOP Congressman Eric Cantor for his use of “Back in the Saddle” as an anthem for Tea Party Republicans in 2009. In 2010, Don Henley got California Republican Senate candidate Chuck DeVore to stop using parody versions of his “The Boys of Summer” and “All She Wants To Do Is Dance.” That same year, Henley’s Eagles bandmate, Joe Walsh, got the Illinois Republican Congressman who shares his name to stop sharing his song “Walk Away.” Also in 2010, power trio Rush got Senator Rand Paul to stop using its songs “Tom Sawyer” and “The Spirit of Radio.” Like the Canadian band, the Kentucky Republican is a big fan of novelist Ayn Rand and her Objectivist philosophy, but Rush’s lawyer said that the group’s objection was entirely about copyright infringement, not ideology.

The best 2010 songwriter smackdown came from Talking Heads’ David Byrne, who sued Florida Republican Senate candidate Charlie Crist over his unauthorized use of “Road to Nowhere.” Byrne won a settlement that included cash and a forced apology by Crist. On YouTube.

Watch Charlie Crist’s apology to Talking Heads here.

With this year’s presidential race heating up, so have the legal threats from aggrieved musicians. ’80s band Survivor took action against Republican candidate Newt Gingirch, complaining that he’d been using “Eye of the Tiger” without permission for at least three years. Cyndi Lauper complained about a Democratic National Committee ad with a negative message about Romney. She added that she was no supporter of Romney; she merely didn’t want her comforting song “True Colors” associated with such negativity. (The DNC yanked the ad.) And hip-hopper K’Naan called upon Romney to stop using his “Wavin’ Flag,” though he also offered the song to Obama, should the President want it.

The funniest or most pathetic (take your pick) case of unrequited love between a musician and a politician is the one revealed this summer, involving Bruce Springsteen and the governor of his home state, Chris Christie. The New Jersey leader has attended more than 120 Springsteen concerts and shouts along to all the lyrics, but despite all his attempts to set up an introduction, the Boss has declined to meet him. Perhaps the famously liberal songwriter wants to avoid another “Born in the USA” incident with a conservative politician, but Christie has insisted that they could find common ground. “We disagree on a lot less than he thinks,” the snubbed Republican said in a must-read article in The Atlantic about his one-sided man-crush. Sadly, a sitdown between the Boss and the Governor seems about as likely as one between Paul Ryan and Tom Morello. But oh, to be a fly on the wall if such a meeting ever did come to pass…

Lady Gaga for President? Putting her VMA domination behind her, Mother Monster is focusing her energy on her political pursuits. In a new video posted to her Twitter on Friday, Gaga asks her 6 million followers to urge the U.S. Senate to overturn Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell, the 1993 legislation prohibiting openly gay men and women from serving in the military.

After tweeting her love and support for Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, (who responded by inviting her to Vegas) a suit-wearing Gaga addresses Senate leaders and her “fellow Americans,” asking them to contact their legislators and ask them to vote to repeal DADT next week.

“I am here to be a voice for my generation,” Gaga says, asserting her opinion that DADT is “serious prejudice.”

Gaga singled out Republican Senator John McCain via Twitter, saying he plans to “hijack” the Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell vote with a filibuster, (a way of delaying the lawmakers’ debate.) She proved just how strongly she feels about Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell when she walked the VMA white carpet with servicemembers affected by the legislation.

Do you support Lady Gaga’s mission to repeal DADT? Make your voice heard in the comments.

Marriage is always a compromise, even for fashionistas like Beyonce Knowles and Eva Longoria Parker.

Both followed their husbands to Phoenix, AZ, for the 58th Annual NBA All-Star Weekend. Longoria was a dutiful working wife, as her groom Tony Parker played on loan from his San Antonio Spurs.

Beyonce’s hubby Jay-Z took a no-doubt male preferred alternative to the tents of Bryant Park, sitting courtside for the game beside Rev. Jesse Jackson and boxing legend Muhamad Ali.

And while Beyonce and Eva made quite the cute posing pair, Eva got herself into quite a different housewife situation. Parker was seated next to former Presidential Candidate John McCain and wife Cindy.

The Friday prior to the big game, Parker and Tony headed to VitaminWater’s bash for the legendary Steve Nash at Scottsdale, AZ’s Mondrian Hotel.

Elsewhere, the Dallas Cowboys’ Terrell Owens sipped Grey Goose La Poire at the Player’s Association Gala back in Phoenix.

Arizona Senator John McCain was trounced by Barack Obama in November’s Presidential election.

But now it seems McCain’s wife won’t get her own shot at finding glory in the eyes of the U.S. public (or, like her husband, going down in stinging defeat).

Page Six reports that Republican Vietnam war veteran John, 72, “put the kibosh on” Cindy McCain, 54, appearing on the upcoming season of Dancing with the Stars.

“Just before Thanksgiving, Cindy McCain started talks with producers to appear as a dancer on the show,” says a source.

“She wanted to do it very badly.”

Gees, John—DWTS is one of television’s highest-rated shows!  Why? Because it totally advocates core American values!

The series promotes family unity.  The competition honors the efforts of the elderly.  Perseverance is rewarded! Grace in defeat is encouraged! Plus, the women are all about a healthy body image. Last but not least, DWTS has even spawned true love leading to the ultimate family value of marriage between a man and a woman.

Can’t you get anything right, Senator McCain?

Well, hey, at least not having to bother with hectic rehearsals and taping schedules frees Cindy and John up to watch President-elect Barack Obama’s inauguration next week!

That ought to get them hopping.

Jackass star Johnny Knoxville was detained at LAX yesterday afternoon for having an inert grenade in his luggage. Yahoo! reports that the grenade was found in his bag by luggage screeners, and later determined to not have an explosive or firing pin. Knoxville received a citation and was eventually allowed to board an American Airlines flight to Miami, but he could possibly face prosecution. He explained that the grenade was a prop that he forgot to take out of his bag.

Losing Republican presidential candidate John McCain has allegedly banned his wife Cindy from appearing on ABC’s Dancing with the Stars as a contestant. Page Six reports that Mrs. McCain wanted to appear on the show very badly. “Just before Thanksgiving, Cindy McCain started talks with producers to appear as a dancer on the show. She wanted to do it very badly,” a source said. Sen. McCain reportedly “put the kibosh on it.” McCain’s camp and the show had no comment.

NBC has announced the premiere dates for Conan O’Brien and Jimmy Fallon‘s switch on their late night schedule. Jimmy Fallon will premiere as the host of Late Night on March 2, according to Us. Conan will take over the reins of The Tonight Show beginning June 1. And Jay Leno will begin his new primetime variety series on June 1 as well.

Courtney Love has given one of her patented outspoken interviews to Jewish culture magazine Heeb, in which she blames a laundry list of people for taking all the profits from sales of her late husband Kurt Cobain‘s recordings with Nirvana. “Every time you buy a Nirvana record, part of that money is not going to Kurt’s child, or to me, it’s going to a handful of Jew loan officers, Jew private banks, its going to lawyers who are also bankers, its going to sixty PAs,” Love states.

E! reports that movie studios Warner Bros. and 20th Century Fox have settled their dispute over the Watchmen film. They have reached a settlement over who owns film rights to the characters, and the film will be released on March 6 as scheduled.

Sarah Jessica Parker and husband Matthew Broderick hit the polls today in Manhattan’s West Village, while Blake Lively also braved the lines at her New York City precinct to vote in today’s historic Presidential election.

In L.A., Ryan Phillippe chatted with paparazzi while leaving the polls. When asked who he voted for, the Stop-Loss actor responded, “Who do you think?”

Phillippe then mentioned he had been campaigning for Barack Obama over the weekend in Missouri.

Meanwhile, here are Tila Tequila and Kim Kardashian letting their fans know that they did their patriotic duty:

We all know Tila’s thoughts on California ballot measure Prop 8. What about you, Kim?

Elsewhere, the paps even caught California governor Arnold Schwarzenegger and wife Maria Shriver placing their votes.

Visit the gallery to the right to see more celebrities at the polls!

Following in the footsteps of his running mate Sarah Palin, Republican presidential nominee John McCain put in an appearance on Saturday Night Live last night, hoping to generate enthusiasm for his campaign along with a few chuckles, just days before Tuesday’s election.

During the opening sketch, McCain pretended to hock items on QVC, in response to Barack Obama‘s 30-minute, prime-time campaign ad that aired last week. With Tina Fey once again playing Palin, McCain cracked, “These final days have been the most essential. Barack Obama purchased air time on three networks. We, however, can only afford time on QVC…I would rather be on three major networks. But I’m a true maverick, a Republican without money.”

Check out the video below:

This isn’t McCain’s first appearance on Saturday Night Live; the Arizona senator hosted the program in 2002.

Us reports that Republican candidate for the President, John McCain, will appear on Saturday Night Live tomorrow night.

His running mate, Sarah Palin, has already made her appearance on the show, doing a slightly less realistic impersonation of herself than Tina Fey‘s.

The program will be hosted by avid Democrat Ben Affleck. Will Ben attempt to comically spar with the Senator from Arizona? That’s a battle McCain has a good chance of winning.

McCain last appeared on the show in May, and actually got laughs with the line, “Good evening, my fellow Americans. I ask you: what should we be looking for in our next president? Certainly, someone who is very, very, very old.”

He’s bound to better than he did at this appearance.

Will Ferrell surprised audiences watching last night’s special edition of Saturday Night Live by reprising his dead-on now-classic portrayal of George W. Bush.

SNL has always skewered the more absurd side of politics during elections, and this year has been no exception.

Watch below as Ferrell’s President Bush has some high-brow banter with Tina Fey‘s Sarah Palin (“My God, you are folksy!”) while trying to give an AWOL John McCain (Darrell Hammond) a much-unwanted endorsement.

Was this up there with some of the great Tina Fey/Sarah Palin skits that have been aired on SNL lately?

People reports that Republican presidential candidate John McCain appeared on David Letterman‘s show last night in an effort to apologize for a last minute cancellation in regards to a booking on Letterman on Sept. 24. McCain reportedly cancelled because he was suspending his campaign to fly to Washington to deal with the current economic crisis. But an annoyed Dave was made aware that McCain had actually stayed in NYC for an interview with Katie Couric. “I screwed up. What can I say?” McCain told the late night host.

TMZ reports that DJ AM claims that the plane crash that he lived through also saved his life. AM says that doctors treating his burns found a potentially fatal blood clot in one of his legs. The plane crash survivor says that the clot “could have traveled to my heart and I could have died.” Doctors reportedly put a filter in his vein, and prescribed blood thinners.

Us reports that comedian Denis Leary is claiming that excerpts from his new book in which he claims autism doesn’t exist and blames it on bad parenting have been taken out of context. Leary says that “Taking one or two sentences out of context – especially when it involves an entire chapter devoted to the subject – is unfair and ill-advised.” In his statement, Leary also says that he recognizes autism as a valid illness and that he “has nothing but admiration and respect for parents dealing with the issue, including the ones I know.”

TMZ reports that, during Britney Spears‘ current court case concerning her charge of driving without a license, her lawyer revealed in his opening statement that she is building a house in her home state of Louisiana. Britney recently put her Studio City mansion on the market.

MSNBC reports that talk show host Larry King, during an interview with political comedian Bill Maher, stated that he had confirmation that Republican vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin would be appearing on Saturday Night Live tomorrow night. Palin has recently been the subject of a series of popular impersonations by comedienne Tina Fey on the show.

Jessica Alba appears in a provocative new ad for Declare Yourself with the tagline, “Only you can silence yourself.” The campaign is directed toward encouraging voter registration.

In it, Alba wears a Hannibal Lecter-esque mask. This is the second of Alba’s slightly gruesome voting PSAs.

The first one had her bound with duct tape. Someone at Declare Yourself is a little kinky.

Of course, one positive about this ad campaign is that Jessica’s scowl is finally hidden.

Seemingly every working actor or actress in Hollywood has gotten together to create this PSA urging U.S. citizens to get out and vote in the upcoming Presidential election.

Leonardo DiCaprio, Demi Moore, Ellen DeGeneres, Halle Berry, Dustin Hoffman, Natalie Portman, Jennifer Aniston, Ashton Kutcher and Tobey Maguire are only some of the celebs in the cutesy clip explaining why we should all cast off our inertia and register.

But it’s Superbad funnyman Jonah Hill who steals the show with his (maybe) faux-imbecilic comments such as “Who cares? The economy’s in the toilet. Who gives a sh*t? I have so much money!”

Heh.

Between Us, OK!, People, Star, Life & Style and InTouch, it’s hard catching up with all the celebrity magazines out there.

Lindsay Lohan won’t be whispering influential nothings into the ear of Democratic Presidential candidate Barack Obama anytime soon (which is probably a good thing for both of them).

Despite her eloquent blog-bashing of John McCain‘s running mate Sarah Palin over the weekend, Senator Obama’s camp isn’t too keen on cozying up to punchy ol’ Linds, says the Chicago Sun-Times.

“LiLo was interested in becoming very involved in the Democratic ticket’s bid for the White House—even offering to host a series of events appealing to younger voters,” reports the paper.

However, a top Obama campaign source says Lohan ”is not exactly the kind of high-profile star who would be a positive for us.”

Golly, what ever might have given those Capitol Hill snobs that outlandish notion?

Ah, well. Cheer up, Lindsay. You’ve got other happy news to occupy your time, anyway.

Sarah Palin is many things: A MILF. John McMCain‘s GOP VP running mate. An expectant grandma to 17-year-old-daughter Bristol Palin‘s unexpected miracle. And now a comedian!

On this past weekend’s episode of Saturday Night Live, Tina Fey performed a now legendary impersonation of the Alaskan governor as a cheery—albeit dimwitted—global-warming-naysaying, gun-happy, religious fanatic.

And what was Sarah’s reaction? According to MSNBC, she laughed.

“She thought it was quite funny, particularly because she once dressed up as Tina Fey for Halloween,” Palin spokesperson Tracey Schmitt told CBS.

Oh, the delicious irony. Hopefully those kids who were trick-or-treating all those years ago when Palin’s Fey was doling out the toothpaste and sesame candy snacks are having themselves a chuckle.

It’s all well and good for Fey to distract us from Palin’s shortcomings with satire, but Pam Anderson seems to be taking things more seriously.

Yee-owch! Never let it be said that busty bombshell Pamela Anderson shies away from a war of the words with other noted ladies.

Pam was in Toronto rallying against the abuse of animals in Hollywood when she was asked by E! what her thoughts on Alaska Governor and GOP Vice Presidential nominee Sarah Palin were.

She rolled her eyes, and then the interviewer pointed out Palin has a bear skin rug hanging in her office.

“I can’t stand her,” Pam admitted. “She can suck it! Quote me.”

And while Palin isn’t really feelin’ the love from the dames of showbiz—or Matt Damon—at least she still has a shot at getting her cougar on next time she jets off to New York.

Between Us, OK!, People, Star, Life & Style and InTouch, it’s hard catching up with all the celebrity magazines out there.

Bristol Palin, daughter of Republican Vice Presidential nominee Sarah Palin, has one classy babydaddy.

Despite 18-year-old Levi Johnston‘s MySpace page saying “I don’t want kids,” the Alaskan hockey player stepped up to the puck and sat next to 17-year-old Bristol at the Republican National Convention.

And in full view of the United States GOP was the tattoo bearing Bristol’s name on Levi’s ring finger.

This truly is a sign that they’re gonna be together forever!

Get a good look at Levi here. He resembles a younger Balthazar Getty—yet another fella who’s gone poking around the wrong places at the most inopportune times.

And Balthazar also commemorated his undying commitment to the mother of his children with a tattoo of her name—but over his straying heart!

Songstress and photo opportunist Heidi Montag would like to know who this Alaskan governor person is and why John McCain picked her over the obvious choice for Republican vice-presidential candidate.

Which would be Heidi Montag.

“I can’t believe it,” The Hills villainess joked, according to People. “Blondes have more fun. I guess he doesn’t know that.”

Montag, a vocal McCain supporter, even had lunch with the Republican nominee’s daughter to butter up McCain. It didn’t work.

“He picked a girl and it wasn’t Heidi,” Montag’s boyfriend, Spencer Pratt, said. “Not picking Heidi for the vice president. It’s just cold.”

Actually, despite questionable taste choices on Heidi’s part, Montag isn’t the worst choice McCain could have made.

Uh-oh; looks like Alaska governor and John McCain‘s pick for vice presidential running mate Sarah Palin might want to have a pow-wow with Lynne Spears; they have a lot in common.

The Republican national convention had a baby-shaped cloud hanging over it yesterday after Palin announced that her 17-year-old unmarried daughter, Bristol Palin, is five months pregnant.

The announcement came on the heels of Internet rumors that Sarah’s five-month-old son, Trig, had actually been birthed by Bristol.

No word on whether this development will change the governor’s endorsement of abstinence-only sex education, but Palin insists that her daughter will carry the child to term.

“We’re proud of Bristol’s decision to have the baby and even prouder to become grandparents,” she noted.

She also claims that Bristol plans to marry the child-to-be’s presumptive father, Levi Johnston—whose MySpace page emphatically states, “I don’t want kids.” Of course, that sort of thing doesn’t always turn out as planned…

Compounding the issue, photos of the underage Bristol allegedly drinking have surfaced on the Internet.

Wow; there might be questions about Sarah Palin’s lack of experience, but her daughter seems to be ahead of the curve…