The Michigan Daily - michigandaily.com

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Wednesday, November 5, 2008 -5A

Executive tracks:
looking at 2012

Ferrara, Butler start anew
on other side of the ball

Iknow, I know - the last thing
you want to hear right now is
more election coverage. But I
do want to offer
a big congratu-
lations to, um...
Barack Obama!
That was one
hell of a fight
you put up on
your way to
the White House MATT
and I really do EMERy
think you repre-
sent change we
can believe in. (Just in case: Con-
gratulations, John McCain! You
truly are a maverick and ... holy
God, we are so, so fucked with you
in office.)
But now that it's all over, it's
time we look ahead to 2012. This
election saw a revival in musi-
cal acts writing songs in support
of their candidates of choice, and
2012 will be no different. So in
honor of the reemergence of polit-
ical tunes, below is a list of ficti-
tious songs I predict will make a
big splash in the 2012 presidential
election.
Jamie LynnSpears: "Impreg-
nate Me Baby One More Time
(I Won't Abort the Fetus Cuz
That's Wrong)": After much
controversy and her fourth term
pregnancy in as many years,
Jamie Lynn Spears decides to pig-
gyback on her big sister's big hit
and releases a song condemning
abortion. Longshot Republican
candidate Marc Racicot brings
Spears andherfourchildrenalong
on the campaign trail and uses the
track as a spearhead for his plat-
form. Asked to comment on the
song's legitimacy, Racicot says,,
"Eh, I need some teen voters and
the song's pretty catchy - as far as
songs about not aborting fetuses
go. It's just so catchy. We need
more pro-fetus teeny-pop hits."
Interpol: "Turned to Blue
and Red": One of the most cryp-
tic and controversial songs of the
campaign comes from Interpol.
Though championed early on as
a power anthem for Democratic
policy, (Paul Banks singing, "The
blue has come for me / Time to
dance in the grain farm of our
hearts") Republicans later claim
the song actually encourages less

government, privatized medi-
cine and big yachts ("Red for me,
always /Privacy in my meds / My
yachts lounge in waters of truce
and gumweed"). When confront-
ed about the meaning of the song,
Banks shrugs and asks, "Um, what
do you think?" After no response
from the reporter, Banks says,
"Exactly." In the end, both politi-
cal parties release statements
distancing themselves from the
track, Democratic National Com-
mittee Chair Howard Dean stat-
ing, "Seriously, we have no idea
what the hell those fuckers are
singing about anymore. At all."
Ludacris: "(Trust Me) I'm
Still Relevant": After being
paid $3 million by Ralph Nader,
Ludacris releases "(Trust Me)
I'm Still Relevant" as a forceful
rhapsody for Nader's last attempt
at the White House. However,
in a humorous twist, the track is
actually mistaken as an attempt
for Luda to stress his own legiti-
macy. The telling lyric, "You
might remember me / from 2003
No candidate
should pass up
these songs.
/ I didn't mess it up / still here,
baby? /Kinda? Yup!" is much dis-
cussed in the hip-hop and politi-
cal worlds, but finally branded
as a reflection of Luda's fledgling
career. Nader, infuriated the song
doesn't reflecthis campaign more
aptly, states, "Though he even
sucked at doing this song correct-
ly, I think this is probably best for
everyone in the end."
Jens Lekman: "Drive-In
Diner with My Friend, FDR":
Lekman, continuing his streak
of releasing songs that invoke
memories of the old, shockingly
endorses Franklin Roosevelt for
the White House in 2012. In the
track, Lekman sings, "Birming-
ham, Tuscaloosa, all for us, my
friend, all those diners / Come
with me, my FDR, come to see
Washington D.C., presidency."
Though the song receives praise

from most critics as a quaint peri-
od piece that revisits the sounds
and ideals of old, critics explain
at the end of the year that no one
cares about FDR anymore, nor
Jens Lekman's music.
Johnny Cash: "She's All
Right with Me": Pulling some
serious 2pac shit, Johnny Cash
somehow releases a song in 2012
in favor of Republican candidate
Sarah Palin. Though dismissed
as someone's playful attempt
with audio mixing technology at
first, "She's All Right with Me"
instantly becomes the talk of the
political music circuit due to the
powerful lines "She may be a bit
dumb and from a state with oil /
She may be a bit slow and unsure
of what is soil/But that ole broad
Palin in all her Tina Fey glory, /
Well that good girl Palin, well
she's all right with me." Palin
goes on to use the song at every
appearance and function as her
entry music, and is quoted as
saying, "That Johnny Cash - we
just have the best get-togethers
together every other week-
end. Good friend of mine. Good
friend." Cash, somehow later in
rebuttal, releases "Palin, You
Egg-Sucking Dog," and is never
heard from again.
Times New Viking: "Break":
Originally released on the band's
2011 LP On Time Today, "Break"
comes to critics' attention as
a pro-Obama-reelection song
when numerous music writ-
ers kinda sorta maybe possibly
hear singer Beth Murphy belt,
"Ba-Bama, yeah, Bama, Obama
for me." However, when asked
for further explanation and an
endorsement, Murphy and the
band only release a statement
stating: "We're not sure what you
heard, but the correct lyric is 'Na-
mana, ahh, nana, gah, oh-ee.' Not
sure how that is confusing at all."
Later, potential Republican can-
didate Fred Thompson claims he
too hears support of his campaign
in the track, but even Bill O'Reilly
tells him to shut his mouth and to
go sit at the little kid's table for the
remainder of the election.
-Emery desperately wants these
songs to actually happen. E-mail him
at emery Omichigandaily.com.

By COURTNEY RATKOWIAK
Daily Sports Editor
When redshirt sophomore left
guard John Ferrara described his
biggest play of the season Monday,
he almost sounded like a freshman.
Junior running back Brandon
Minor rushed for a 45-yard touch-
down on the Wolverines' first offen-
sive drive of the game last Saturday
against Purdue. And for the first
time in his collegiate career, Ferrara
was on the field.
"I think I might have ran a 4.2
down to the end zone," Ferrara said.
"I was just really excited because
he ran behind my side, and I made a
nice block and got to run up the end
zone."
With the Wolverines now out of
bowl contention and trying to build
for next season, players like Ferrara
and redshirt junior defensive end
Carson Butler will likely get more
playing time duringthe season's last
three games.
This season, both players
switched to the other side of the ball
- Ferrara to the offensive line and
Butler to the defensive line. Though .
Ferrara played in all 13 games last
year for the Wolverines, he was a
backup-defensive tackle.
And Butler, who moved to defen-
sive end midwaythroughthis season
after losing his spot in the tight end
two-deep, was one of Michigan's
most experienced offensive players
before the season with 24 games
played in two years.
Ferrara switched from defensive
tackle in late August. After redshirt

junior guard Cory Zirbel suffered a
season-ending knee injury and red-
shirt freshman guard Mark Huyge
sprained his ankle during fall camp,
the Wolverines asked Ferrara to
fill the spot on the offensive line.
The redshirt sophomore's previous
experience on offense was limited
to some playing time as a tight end
in high school, where he was more
of a receiver than a blocker.
"I'm trying to work on Coach
Rodriguez, a little throwbackscreen
or something like that, you know?"
Ferrara joked during Monday's
press conference.
Though Rodriguez originally said
Ferrara could start intheteam's first
game against Utah, he eventually
debuted Sept. 27 against Wisconsin.
He was pulled in favor of redshirt
junior Tim McAvoy at halftime,
when Michigan trailed 19-0, and
didn't get another chance to start
until last Saturday.
Ferrara said the toughest part
of his new role is pass protection,
which he said will come with expe-
rience. He said run blocking is easier
for him because it is more physical
than based on technique.
"It's a tough spot, going from
the defensive line which is a com-
pletely different stance, totally dif-
ferent way of taking in a game, to
the offensive line where you really
stay out there and are really adapt-
ing and reading and all that kind
of stuff," redshirt freshman center
David Molk said.
Butler was the starting tight end
for the first three games this season
before he was benched for the Wol-

verines' 27-25 victory over Wiscon-
sin. Rodriguez confirmed after the
game that Butler was not injured.
Freshman Kevin Koger nudged
Butler out of the tight end two-deep
the next week. As a tight end, But-
ler had two catches for 17 yards this
season.
"He ain't playing tight end,
because Kevin Koger's the starting
tight end and Mike Massey's the
backup," said Rodriguez sharply,
two days after Michigan's 45-20
loss to Penn State Oct. 18.
That's when Butler made the
switch to defensive end.After wear-
ing No. 5 in early games this season,
Butler switched to No. 85 before the
game against the Nittany Lions, the
first time where he warmed up on
the other side of the ball. Fifth-year
senior safety Charles Stewart cur-
rently wears No. S on defense, and
players with the same number can-
not be on the field at the same time.
"It was more ofmy choice,"Butler
said. "I went and asked Coach, 'Can
I play over there?' I wasn't playing
much on offense. I just wanted to go
and play defense."
He recorded three tackles against
Purdue last Saturday while playing
behind junior Brandon Graham,
and Rodriguez said Butler did "OK"
in his Michigan defensive debut.
"He has the body type and the
athletic ability to help us at end,
which we need some more pass
rushers," Rodriguez said. "He had
never played the position until three
weeks ago, sohe's a workin progress,
but we've been encouraged by what
we've seen in the three weeks."

Stonum charged with drunk driving

By DAN FELDMAN
Daily Sports Editor
Darryl Stonum, a freshman wide
receiver on the Michigan football.
team, has been charged with driv-
ing while intoxicated and driving
with a suspended license after an
incident that occurred early on the
morning of Sept. 28, according to
court records.
Michigan coach Rich Rodriguez
suspended Stonum for the Wolver-
ines' Oct. 4 game against Illinois,
citing a violation of team rules, but

didn't elaborate on the reason for
the suspension at the time.
Stonum
didn't start in
Michigan's next
contest against
Toledo, but he
played in that
game.
Rodriguez
said in Tues- STONUM
day's weekly
Big Tenteleconference that Stonum
will face no further discipline from
the team.

Stonum is scheduled to be
arraigned in 15th District Court on
°.19.
The Ann Arbor News first
reported the news today.
He was stopped July 3 for speed-
ing and faced an initial fine of 120
dollars, according to court records.
Due to late fees, the fine is now 230
dollars.
An overdue statement payment
notice was sent Monday.
Stonum has 10 catches for 123
yards and touchdown on the
season.


Too Shy?
Do you consider yourself excessively shy?
Do you have anxiety about social situations?
If this sounds like you, you may be suffering from Social Anxiety
Disorder. Dr. K. Luan Phan, M.D. at The University of Michigan is
conducting a medication research study. You may qualify to participate.
In this study, we are testing to see what genes, behavior and brain
function can tell us about treatment success in Social Phobia using a
medication approved by the Food and Drug Administration for treatment
of Social Anxiety Disorder. Interested volunteers should be right-
handed, have no major medical or neurologic illness, and no metal
parts in their body. Women should not be pregnant or trying to become
pregnant.
To find out more call:
734-232-0199
Or email:
socialphobia@umich.edu
UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN

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-

MICHIGAN STUDENT ASSEMBLY
I peace and justice commission

Don Felipe, founder of the National Assembly
of Former Braceros of Tlaxcala, will speak on the
exploitation of Mexican guest workers.
catered by Pilar's Tamales

OPEN HOUSE
Thursday, Nov. 6th, 5-8pm

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