Haggard on the Dixie Chicks, etc.

[blitzen]

Q. On last year’s album, “Chicago Wind,” you recorded a song called "Rebuild America First" in which you sing, “Let’s get out of Iraq, and get back on track." Why do you think you were basically given a pass when the Dixie Chicks were raked over the coals for their comparatively tame criticism of the president and the war?
A. I don’t really understand it. I don’t know what’s new about girls not liking war, first of all. And second of all, they have a right to say what they want to. Third, I’m an American, and I’ll back everything they say. I’m not for the war in Iraq because I don’t believe they’ve explained why they’re doing it.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/13520363/site/newsweek/


meanwhile, i just heard elvis costello sing "Bring the Boys Back Home" on Grand Ole Opry Live...to much applause!

[blitzen]

1. this part on the police-state is good too....

Hag: "Fifty years ago there was as much freedom in San Quentin as there is in the streets of New York today, with obvious exceptions. You’re just as likely to have a police officer throw down on you with a .30-30 in New York as you are in San Quentin."

[Berserker]

2. Love the Hag n/t

[Matriot]

3. Just like Michael Moore

The government is scared of the Dixie Chicks and that they actually might make a difference. Look at how their popularity has grown around the whole world and within different music genres.

[yorgatron]

4. Merle Haggard rules!

www.merlehaggard.com

[mhr]

8. Rebuild America First - Song On His Home Page

Says it all!

[sandnsea]

5. "Say a prayer for me. I need it."

Q You need it? How come?
A You never know what I’m going to do.

:rofl:

I love Merle.

[liberaltrucker]

6. Thanks VERY much!!!

Several Pukes(mostly relatives) on my email list are now retching!!!
Especially since I included "Okie From Muskogee" lyrics.

:rofl:

[me b zola]

7. Yeah baby!

:bounce: :smoke:

[jarnocan]

9. saw the dixie chicks on CMT -while flipng

performing 'I'm not ready to make nice'. Their album made it to #1. this is all good news.

[Strathos]

10. #1 for two weeks in a row

Screw those that don't want to hear them, they're getting heard.

[AnotherMother4Peace]

12. I saw their music video a couple of times on CMT - Loretta Lynn's

interview with Mike Wallace was also played a while back. She disagrees strongly with this war and the Bush Admin (she actually campaigned for this family, but she doesn't like 'um now). The interview took place early on in the war.

[glitch]

15. I am so glad to hear this, I always liked her. Was disappointed when she

supported bush before.

[Vidar]

11. Applauding Merle.

[wildeyed]

13. Short and sweet.

"I’m not for the war in Iraq because I don’t believe they’ve explained why they’re doing it."

I should learn to be so succinct on my analysis!

[Lasher]

14. I know why they didn't attack Merle

Too many good ole boys like me have had his albums, tapes, and CDs for many years. My band played some of his songs in the 1960s. The chickenhawks might have actually tried to demonize him like they did the Dixie Chicks. If so, I'm sure it would have gone over like a lead baloon.

[TexasLinda]

16. I've always liked Merle

I was stunned when country music radio stations banned the Dixie Chicks because of Natalie Maines relatively mild comment (especially compared to 8 years of Clinton bashing). When did country music get to be so politically correct? Or are the musicians as independent as ever, but the stations are owned by Republicans who decide what gets played?

[RagAss]

17. follow the Greenbacks.....

[Lasher]

18. Good question. Here's what I believe.

There are two major reasons for the change you have noted.

One thing is, our country has drifted way to the right - this includes moderates, but particularly applies to those who are currently considered to be part of the far right. Most of the damage began during the Reagan administration and continues to this day. This web site does a good job of making this point. The average person in this country has gotten just plain meaner, but you know that's not a separate point if you understand what today's right wingers want.

You might remember this from a couple of years ago:

Casino gives Ronstadt the boot
Singer sparked near-riot by praising Moore’s film

LAS VEGAS - Singer Linda Ronstadt not only got booed, she got the boot after praising filmmaker Michael Moore and his new movie "Fahrenheit 9/11" during a performance.

Before singing "Desperado" for an encore Saturday night, Ronstadt called Moore a "great American patriot" and "someone who is spreading the truth." She also encouraged the audience at the Aladdin hotel-casino to see the documentary about President Bush.

Ronstadt’s comments drew loud boos, and some of the 4,500 people in attendance stormed out of the theater. People also tore down concert posters and tossed cocktails into the air.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/5462483

Evidence of my first point, you might think. But it really didn't happen that way.

My wife & I were at the Linda Ronstadt performance in question, at the Aladdin in Las Vegas, and quite frankly, Aladdin President Bill Timmins' account of what happened is complete crap. There was mixed booing and cheering at Ronstadt's pro-Michael Moore comment, and that was about the extent of the "bedlam" that supposedly broke out. I saw no posters being torn down or cocktails being thrown in the air, and if people stomped out of the theatre unhappy, it was because 1) that was the last song Ronstadt performed; it was her encore; and 2) she mainly sang her standards repertoire, with the Nelson Riddle orchestrations, and a large part of the crowd wanted to hear more of her rock-'n'-roll stuff; she got the biggest round of applause for doing a lackadaisical run-through of her version of "Blue Bayou."

Frankly, my suspicion is that Timmins is way overdramatizing what happened, in order to justify giving Ronstadt the boot. It simply wasn't that big a deal.

http://lizditz.typepad.com/i_speak_of_dreams/2004/07/linda_ronstadt_.html

Which brings me to my second reason: The corporate news media is now owned and controlled by wealthy Republicans who manipulate what we are told.