AMERICA THE MILQUETOAST?

If the Lincoln Memorial concert was supposed to be reflective of what the new America looks like...it looks a lot like Walmart's CD shelves.

As a cultural event (which it was as much as a civic one), it was just so banal. It's not like I expected Obama to ask Animal Collective and Lil Wayne to perform (together, natch) but pairing Betty Lavette with Jon Bon Jovi to sing "A Change Gonna Come" was deflating. As was going from inspirational footage of Marian Anderson singing "My Country Tis Of Thee" to...Josh Groban. Fail. Shakira and Usher? Garth Brooks singing "American f---ing Pie"? Really?

I didn't find the entire thing terrible (note: Pete Seeger >>> U2 tonight) but assuming the celebrity line-up wasn't picked randomly out of Entertainment Weekly's rolodex iPhone contacts, I didn't find it a particularly inspired vision of "America renewed."

Seriously, I'm genuinely surprised Hannah Montana and the Jonas Brothers weren't invited. Did they donate to McCain or something?

--O.W.