TMW: The Politics of Resentment

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This week's This Modern World is a spot-on assessment of where Republicans stand regarding the building resentment (and dare I say it, fear) about our rapidly crumbling economy. Things are indeed growing dire by the day with our economic system, and seeing John McCain, Sarah Palin and [GASP!] President Bush on TV saying "We are taking measures to stabilize the economy" inspires NO confidence whatsoever. In fact, it makes me more fearful than ever that the worst rube to ever occupy the White House has his hands on the controls for a little over four more months. Bush's management of the economy is akin to a crazy psychotic with a baseball bat loose in a China shop, who with a crazed look on his face, screams, "What can I possibly fuck up next?!?" while wildly swinging away. The ONLY fun part about all of this is anticipating how just about everyone with an "R" behind his or her name will try to pin this on the Democrats; it will make for some fun yet tragic listening.

Speaking of This Modern World, Tom Tomorrow's blog is always a must-read, and yesterday he offered this nugget:

Certainly would be a good time to have some of the $500 billion plus we've spent on the Iraq war.

Ya think? Great point - it makes the War in Iraq appear even more asinine, tragic and unnecessary than it already does to everyone but the most rabid Republicans.

I'll add this to TT's thought - Obama ought to put out a new ad with images of our smirking, war-criminal president in the background, with the a little music by The Police with the lyrics "I'll always be king of pain...," followed by the staggering economic numbers that are flowing from Washington to Wall Street.

Yea, I think that would work.

Lots more a bit later today - it's grading day for me - I have about 100 speeches to grade over the next few days, but I promise to find at least a few hours later on today to comment and post about so much that has been going on in the last few weeks. I've got video, pictures, and loads to say, so please stop back.

Grammy musings on Chicks & Police

I TiVo'd The Grammy Awards last Sunday night, and I'll confess that I didn't have time to watch everything. But, I did have time to catch two things that I'd been waiting for - The Police performing live, and The Dixie Chicks winning Best Album for their giant F-You to the Bush Administration, Taking The Long Way. (Above, Emily Robison, left, Natalie Maines, center, and Martie Maguire sport their Grammy hardware.)

The album features a great song, Not Ready to Make Nice, a not so subtle shot at Bush and the whole controversy surrounding the band. Here's a few lyrics from the song:

I’m not ready to make nice
I’m not ready to back down
I’m still mad as hell and I don’t have time to go 'round and 'round and 'round
It’s too late to make it right
I probably wouldn’t if I could
‘Cause I’m mad as hell
Can’t bring myself to do what it is you think I should

and, in criticism of the death threats the women (particularly Maines) received:

It’s a sad sad story when a mother will teach her daughter that she ought to hate a perfect stranger
And how in the world can the words that I said
Send somebody so over the edge
That they’d write me a letter sayin’ that I better shut up and sing or my life will be over

Personally, I found it a total freakin' embarrassment that the Chicks were so vilified by many Americans because of Natalie Maines' comments about President Bush. (In March 2003, Maines said this between songs during a London concert: "Just so you know, we're ashamed the President of the United States is from Texas." Ooooo - warm up the electric chair. We are supposed to stand for freedom of speech and expression, but it's amazing that in politically charged times how much heat people can take for not towing the presidential line, especially in times of war.

Taking the Long Way was certified double platinum last month, which means that at least two million people love their music, message and courage. Color me one of them. I bought their album from the iTunes music store the week it was released. I'm not typically a fan of country music, but I am a fan of musicians (and any other celebrities, for that matter) who have the courage to use their voice to speak out for what they think is wrong.

My favorite part about the Dixies and their blacklisting following their anti-Bush comments is how many supposed "Christians" were behind the movement. Idiot radio stations held CD smashing events (above right), they were booed at events, and shunned by the mainstream media. Some intellectual giants even threatened their lives.

Can you imagine? In the so-called Cradle of Democracy? All for disagreeing with the president? What a shameful display of stupidity, myopia and intolerance.

But, the band has finally come full circle.

I've been eagerly awaiting the DVD release of the movie about their whole ordeal, Shut Up and Sing (The trio is pictured above left on the cover of Entertainment Weekly, promoting their album and the movie). I will most definitely write about my thoughts once I see the film.

The other thing I was anticipating during the Grammys was The Police. I was mildly impressed. The band sounded great, and so did Sting, mostly, but he sure didn't hit all of those high notes during the band's rendition of Roxanne. (Above, Sting, Stewart Copeland and Andy Summers, rehearse from the Whisky a Go-Go in Los Angeles.)

As I've previously written, I'm pretty excited about the band reuniting and touring this summer.

Now, let's hope we aren't going to be fleeced out of $125 for a ticket.

If that happens, I've got plenty of their music on my iPod.

Photos from AP

Police reunite for Grammys

This is 'way cool news - The Police are reuniting to play this year's Grammys to celebrate their 30th anniversary. Not many things happen in the music world, or at the Grammys for that matter, that make the annual awards show a must-see for me, but this is definitely one of them. I've always been a pretty big fan - the band is one of the first bands, and the first records, I ever owned. I have one of their "Best of" CDs in my iTunes library, and it gets lots of play time.

The band, above, from left to right: Stewart Copeland, Sting and Andy Summers, are shown here in an unknown location in 1980. The group achieved super stardom in the late '70s and early '80s before feuds and dissension broke them apart. Sting went on to have a very successful solo career.

I just did a little more reading, and there are strong rumors of a reunion tour this summer. It's the top priority tour for me this summer, if that's the case. This summer, The Dave Matthews Band will take a very rare backseat if this tour is announced, but I'm sure I'll squeeze in my umpteenth Dave show, too.

The 49th Grammy Awards air live from LA on Feb. 11.