Frank Zappa on the difference between the parties

[Bonobo]

"I've come to the conclusion that there's only one party in this country and it's divided into two parts: Republicans and Republican wannabes. Republicans stand for evil, corruption, manipulation, greed- everything that Americans think is okay after being conditioned to it during the eighties. Republicans stand for all the values that Americans now hold dear. Plus they have more balloons than God, and for a nation raised on cartoons, that tells you something. Anybody with balloons, they're okay. They don't tell you what kind of crippled people had to blow those suckers up. The Democrats have no agenda, and when they speak on any topic, they want to sound as Republican as possible while still finding a way to retain the pork. "

[BeFree]

1. He was a republican, eh?

And besides, he's been dead a long time. The republicans of today are not Zappa's republicans, so he can be excused.

Today, we are seeing just how many clowns the republicans can fit in one SUV. Looks to be empty any day now.

[Bonobo]

3. "The republicans of today are not Zappa's republicans"

Ummm, yes they are. Exactly, in fact.

[MrSlayer]

4. Um....No.

Zappa was NOT a Republican.

[MichaelMcGuire]

5. Now I'll not have dirty words like "republican" used against Frank Zappa

[Autumn Colors]

9. You're kidding, right?

Frank Zappa was NOT a republican!

[Initech]

2. Truly a man ahead of his time.

I also like Lewis Black's take:

"We have the republicans - a party of bad ideas. And we have the democrats - a party of no ideas. And the way this works is a republican will stand up in congress and shout "I have a really bad idea!" and the democrat will shout " I can it shittier and shittier and shittier!!"

[SidDithers]

6. Democrats = Republicans bullshit...

Sid

[Bonobo]

7. He didn't say they are equal or the same.

No one does.

We just say they are are different shades of the same color.

You have a difficult time understanding that, Sid?

Anyway, thanks for the kick.

[joshcryer]

8. There are four parties in the United States.

The Republicans and the Democrats, Democrats, Democrats.

[Bucky]

12. !

Bravo!

[L0oniX]

10. George Carlin had it right.

Both parties are owned. I would add that you don't have any control over it. Your vote will not change who the rich people are who control everything.

[Bucky]

11. Wow, banal sweeping generalities from an artist with a fuck-em-all attitude. Surprising.

Great musician, produced quite a few novelty songs in his day. I really admired his work standing up (side by side with Donny Osmond) against music censorship. But even then, I noticed a lack of appreciation of the shades of gray that most people have to live by in this world. In the end, Donny Osmond gave more nuanced arguments against record ratings--and thus was a more effective spokesperson for the 1st amendment.

Still, the second we compare Clinton, Obama, and Carter to Reagan, Nixon, Bush, and Bush, it's simple to see the foolishness of his angry little rant. Facts have a way of scattering away the bullshit of two dimensional thinkers.

[Bonobo]

13. "novelty songs"

If novelty songs is how you would define the musicianship of Frank Zappa, you don't know shit about music or Zappa.

[Bucky]

14. Guilty as charged.

That said, Zappa didn't know shit about winning votes in DC politics. "Upstaged by Donny Osmond" isn't the best of epitaphs.

[zappaman]

16. "Upstaged by Donny Osmond"?

[Bonobo]

19. Zappa was extremely composed, eloquent and strong.

Your attack on Donny Osmond is cute and all, but I don't see why you would assume that he is stupid or undeserving of respect in his own way. He could be a genius for all you know (Hint: I see no indication you know much at all).

By the way, I don't even think Osmond appeared before the senate at the PMRC thing. I think you are thinking of John Denver.

But for those who want to judge on their own:

Zappa at senate. His appearance was impressive, strong and compelling.

[zappaman]

21. Donny Osmond did NOT appear at the hearings.

It was Zappa, Dee Snider and John Denver.
He did appear with Zappa on Nightline though.
Can't remember him upstaging Frank...

[RZM]

37. There was a crappy VH1-produced movie about this in 2002

Called 'Warning: Parental Advisory,' starring Jason Priestly of Beverly Hills 902010 fame.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0308692/

[zappaman]

38. thanks!

sounds awful enough to be entertaining!
will track it down!

[unionworks]

18. Agree totally

I believe the other poster knows better also and just tried to phrase the post in the way that would really piss off Zappa fans.

[zappaman]

17. "novelty songs"

[Bonobo]

20. he probably only knows

Bobby Brown, Jewish Princess, Dancing Fool.

He needs to listen to something like Stucco Roads or Black Napkins. See how novelty those are.

[zappaman]

22. Peaches En Regalia. perhaps?

Hell, that whole record!
Or maybe he needs some Yellow Shark and not Yellow Snow?

[Bonobo]

23. Yup that would do it! nt

[90-percent]

39. It's"Inca Roads"

And try Watermelon in Easter Hay if you want to listen to FZ's soul.

-90& Jimm

[Initech]

34. Zappa was *FAR* from a mere novelty song writer.

Sure he had a weird sense of humor and it showed but he was a truly amazing composer, guitar player, and free speech advocate. If you listen to his music closely he had a huge hatred of the Christian right and was staunchly against the modern republican party. Like I said - way ahead of his time.

[Bucky]

35. But of course that's not what I said.

Mileage will vary, of course, but I see his stridency in arguments as very much a product of his 1960s roots.

[baldguy]

15. The Odd Democrat may be immoral and corrupt enough to steal candy from a baby.

The Republican would steal the baby.

[ProSense]

24. These

Republicans stand for evil, corruption, manipulation, greed- everything that Americans think is okay after being conditioned to it during the eighties. Republicans stand for all the values that Americans now hold dear....The Democrats have no agenda, and when they speak on any topic, they want to sound as Republican as possible while still finding a way to retain the pork. "

...quotes never make any damn sense. Shorter: Republicans stand for something (all the ills) and Democrats have no agenda.

The other thing is that it's insulting to the American people. The fact that this was said after 12 years of Republican rule is also telling.

Always crediting the Republicans with a message, albeit evil, and portraying Democrats as clueless.

Well, the most properous periods in this country over the past several decades have been under Democratic rule.

Screw the stupid points.

[Bonobo]

25. No defense of Conservadems is complete without you spinning your webs. nt

[ProSense]

27. Claiming

"No defense of Conservadems is complete without you spinning your webs."

...that rejecting the argument that "Democrats have no agenda" is a "defense of Conservadems" is frankly a stupid point.

[Honeycombe8]

26. And I care what Frank Zappa has to say because....why? He's a Ron Paul Libertarian. Nuff said. nt

[ProSense]

28. Because

the quote is a "brilliant" interpretation of the idiotic "Republicans are evil, but Dems suck"

I mean: Democrats have no agenda!

How profound!

[deutsey]

29. I met Zappa in the mid-'80s

he was very down on the Reaganites and hoping the Democrats had won the mid-terms.

[Bonobo]

30. Zappa wasn't attacking the Democratic Party, he was attacking DINOs

Like me, he expected better of the Democratic Party.

He had firm positions that would not shift and change simply because the Democrats were in power.

Without an internal sense of what it means to be a Democrat, it doesn't mean anything.

I'm sure even ProSense agrees with that. Right ProSense?

[ProSense]

31. Actually,

Zappa wasn't attacking the Democratic Party, he was attacking DINOs

Like me, he expected better of the Democratic Party.

He had firm positions that would not shift and change simply because the Democrats were in power.

Without an internal sense of what it means to be a Democrat, it doesn't mean anything.

I'm sure even ProSense agrees with that. Right ProSense?

..."The Democrats have no agenda" is broadbrush bullshit. So no, I don't fucking agree.

[Bonobo]

32. I didn't expect you to agree that principles are important either.

It has become pretty clear that you think that the Party is more important than the principles it is supposed to stand for --thanks for confirming!

[ProSense]

33. Yeah,

"I didn't expect you to agree that principles are important either."

...I'm sure it's because you're more principled than I am. I mean, who the hell could be so lacking in principles that they can't see that Ron Paul has some?

"It has become pretty clear that you think that the Party is more important than the principles it is supposed to stand for --thanks for confirming!"

You misunderstood my point: I think stupid points are stupid and bullshit self-righteousness is just that.

[LibertyorDeath]

36. One of the Greats

Gone but never forgotten

One of America's truly great talented musicians.

Thanks Bonobo