How Do I Know What I Think Until I See What I Say?

Dear Political Campaigns -- Since most of you are lawyers, or have lawyers (or SHOULD have lawyers), I didn't think this was going to be necessary, but apparently I was wrong, so let me just say this: You are not permitted to use other people's songs and music without their permission unless they are way dead. Like a hundred years dead. Beethoven dead. Yes, this means even if you really like the song, or even if it's totally your nickname (I'm looking at you Sarah "Barracuda" Palin). Because, you see, if they are still alive*, the people who wrote the songs and the people who sing the songs are supposed to get paid when you play them. Also, in case you didn't realize this, musicians and song writers are artists, and a lot of the time artists get a little...pissy when you try to use their stuff to promote things they don't necessarily like. Like, for example: 1. trickle down economics (see, e.g., Bruce Springsteen's objections to Ronald Reagan