Bachmann won't back down

You can look at Michelle Bachmann's countless mistakes as petty. Or, if you're like me, you can view these flubs as indicators that she isn't up for the challenge of the campaign trail, let alone the presidency. She can't even admit to a mistake, which is usually a sign of low character and the inability to improve.

Less-than-sharp people tend to surround themselves with even dumber people. And Bachmann's fact-checking crew must rank right at the bottom of the intellectual scale. I sure wouldn't want her choosing a cabinet. You and I can afford the occasional flub or bad advisers. Presidents can't.

The latest error was in getting the anniversary of Elvis Presley's death confused with his birthday. She did it in grand, over-the-top Bachmann style at a rally on Tuesday.

I also noted that Bachmann has stopped using a Tom Petty song at her campaign events. You see, like most (non-country) musicians, Petty doesn't agree with Bachmann or anyone on the far right and has asked her to stop playing his music to promote herself.

Creative types, such as Petty, Bruce Springsteen and others, don't want to be associated with the lunatics on the GOP fringe. Yet, these right-wingers keep using the music of our best creative songwriters to pump up their political rallies. The problem is, creative people tend to loathe everything Republicans stand for these days, leaving candidates only the music of country stars or dead musicians to use as theme music.

I find it interesting that creative folks -- musicians, actors, poets, painters, etc. -- tend to shy away from the political right. With the exception of Ted Nugent, I can't think of a popular rock 'n' roll act that would support a Bachmann, Rick Perry or Sarah Palin. Although I do wonder where ZZ Top stands on Perry? You know, the whole Texas thing.

Our most thought-provoking, substantive songwriters have almost always favored Democratic principles, and so have many college professors, journalists and other thinking, introspective people. I'm not claiming that you can't be a smart, feeling person and be Republican. I am just saying that it's getting harder because of the character decay and extreme political shift in the party.

I am not sure where Elvis would stand on Bachmann politically, but I am guessing "the king" is looking down with a bit of what many of us feel about politics these days -- total disbelief and disgust.