O'Malley's March to the White House

[Koinos]

Okay, I really like Martin O'Malley; and, since I had nothing else to do with my time, I started looking into his Irish folk band. After watching quite a few of his videos on Youtube, I said to myself: "He is really having a good time." The band has made at least three CD's, one of which is quite pricey on Amazon (must be rare).

So, here is my in-depth question (gravity alert): How do you suppose this love of playing Irish folk music in public will affect both his campaign and his possible presidency? Will it make him lean even more to the left?

Be sure to weigh in if you have had direct experience of his guitar-playing and singing with O'Malley's March.

And if he runs, can we get the CD's?

[Raine1967]

1. Since you mentioned it….

I saw him last month… (am not a good videographer, my apologies…)

[Koinos]

3. Great video!

And where was this exactly? It is fantastic to see him playing that famous banjo!

[Raine1967]

6. It was in DC. A fundraiser for young DC Dems.

We found out about by going here:http://birdhousestudio9.wix.com/omalleysmarch

I didn't know it was a fundraiser — also I am not a Young Dem.

They didn't ask for the regular donor amount they just asked if we would toss in a few bucks, and we did. It was a really nice time with really nice people. I do think his ability to connect with people will be enhanced by his musical ability. Husband is a musician himself and has said you can play a crown but from musician to another, I know a bullish*tter musician when I see one, this guy is a musician and a politician.

I like him, I like him a lot. I would like to see him and Hillary Clinton debate the issues.

I don't know who I am going to support, but I support him getting in the race.

[Koinos]

12. Thanks for the great link and the wise comment.

I think that music is one of the most fundamental types of communication. It binds people together in untold ways. I think O'Malley's humanity is revealed in and enhanced by his love of playing music. It is an integral part of who he is. Something of this cadence and body language seems to carry over to his speeches and discussions. I am still trying to understand this guy, and it seems to go deeper than mere statement of his views. The picture of his singing together with his band seems to fit his views of community, the common good, and working together. He uses the pronoun "we" an awful lot. Whatever ambitions he has for himself seem to include all of us. I am cautiously optimistic that his concern for the "common good" (a term denigrated by many of late) is genuine. I am liking the tone of this and hope to see more of it in the primary.

[2banon]

9. A fan of Woody Guthrie and Pete Seeger! That's a big Plus!

I was expecting to hear him play Irish music, (I'm an Irish and Scottish fiddler).. no doubt he's got a few trad tunes under his belt. It might be fun to jam with him and maybe his band mates.

If he should come out here to San Francisco . there's a HUGE Irish music community here.. he'd get a lot of attention at the sessions and fund raising opportunities. could be a great spring board for the Left Coast base support.

[snooper2]

2. Well, hopefully he plays the night he wins Iowa- Watch this interview if you haven't seen it yet

[immoderate]

4. If he is elected, I will try to tolerate Irish folk music.

--imm

[Koinos]

7. Like it!

There's something about Irish and Irish music that cheers up a space. And I'm not even Irish.

[Raine1967]

8. I have a dear friend who plays Irish music — We went to his wedding earlier this month...

and HE HATES HAVING TO PLAY THIS SONG!

I suspect every Irish musician does as well! This songs brings out the drunkest of the drunk girls to sing with the musicians more than any other song!!!

[2banon]

11. yeah from the 60's .. but check THIS out....

?list=RDHCkhhGvNtACWo


Trad and HOT.

[immoderate]

15. Yeah, that's good. But...

There is a low saturation point for "deedle-deedle doodle-doodle."

--imm

[2banon]

20. yeah.. if that's how you're hearing it..it can seem really BORING.

[immoderate]

24. They play it well... but that's what they're playing, which is the reason I hear that.

It would be good for tap dancing, because you'd never get tired of it.

--imm

[pangaia]

29. "deedle-deedle doodle-doodle"

Oh, really?

[immoderate]

34. You don't hear it?

--imm

[elleng]

5. Thanks for this, Koinos.

Will listen when my friend's nap is over!

[Dems to Win]

10. Thanks for this thread, and thanks to everyone who provided more links

I'm liking this guy more and more. He's quite charming, and his music is a part of that likability.

He has a clear record of governing as a progressive from the executive office. I would argue that he is as highly qualified as anyone in the race, and we would have good reason to trust him to do what he says he will do.

One area of disagreement I have with him, though -- when asked by George Steph what is the biggest foreign policy threat to our security, he sloooowly responded 'a nuclear Iran.' IMO, we've already got a nuclear Pakistan, which is a big potential problem, and a nuclear Iran won't be any worse.

IMO, the biggest threat is the saber rattling and heightened tension between Russia and NATO/US. Very, very dangerous, and I wish NATO/US would focus on de-escalating the tension.

That foreign policy question was the only one I had any quibble at all with his response, though, so that's an excellent start in introducing himself, from my viewpoint.

I'm starting to get excited about Martin O'Malley, he's a very impressive guy. I like your thread title, Koinos. He may indeed be on his March to the White House.

[Koinos]

16. Foreign Policy

I think that, like many governors who run for president, his strong suit is management of state and community issues. His own words reveal that his priority is to strengthen the middle class, fix infrastructure, promote education, protect our environment, and revive the "American dream" for future generations. He wants our children and grandchildren to have a better life in America. He is not a "globalist," first and foremost. As the primary proceeds, I think he will become more and more articulate and focused in areas of foreign policy. Contrariwise, many senators who seek the presidency are well versed in foreign policy, but have little or no management skills that apply to domestic affairs and the needs of fifty states full of human beings. No one, except perhaps for a sitting president, is ever equally prepared for both domestic and foreign affairs. O'Malley may have a learning curve in foreign affairs; but, at this point in history, I think we need most of all his expertise in fixing this country for us and our families.

[2banon]

13. Your header would make an excellent fiddle tune title...

[Koinos]

17. Thanks

I suspect that lyrics and melody are being composed as we speak, or perhaps have already been composed. Campaign music, with words and music by O'Malley himself, would be a heck of a lot of fun. We need seriousness in this primary, but a little play would definitely go a long way.

[2banon]

22. Yes indeedy...

in addition we'll need to have a tune marking Hillary's Retreat.

We can borrow this one for that purpose in the meantime:

Here's Aly Bain Mike Marshall and others at one of the Transatlantic sessions playing one of my favorites:

Bonapartes Retreat:

[Dems to Win]

14. Bill Clinton was fictionalized by The West Wing, O'Malley by The Wire

Cultural zeitgeist and all that. Could be quite the selling point in O'Malley's favor, really, in a subtle kind of way. He's so good Hollywood already took notice and wrote him into a TV series.

I've never watched The Wire, but I've heard good things about it. During this long run up to an election, I might have to watch it.

This gives O'Malley a cool and hip appeal, I'm thinking.

Of course, I'm neither cool nor hip, so I could be totally wrong about that....

[Koinos]

18. As long as he doesn't get too confused with the TV character.

By the way, here's some excellent background information about O'Malley and his mom, provided by bigtree:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/10026543457

And another video from December 14, 2014 in Annapolis, Maryland:

[2banon]

23. I finally got around to watching The Wire in it's last episode of it's final season! lol!

The only reason why I finally decided to give an honest go was because interviews with Terry Gross on Fresh Air.

So I decidd to check in, and because I just couldn't understand the dialect of The Hood in Baltimore, I used the english subtitles feature! LOL! It worked!

So I watched the entire season vis a vis Netflix. I LOVED IT and I highly recommend watching.

Didn't make a particular note of the Governor's role however? Missed that bit.

[Dems to Win]

26. The mayor of Baltimore in the series is based on O'Malley

O"Malley served as mayor before he was governor.

In the interview with George Steph, linked above, they play a clip of the show with the mayor speaking, and George says the character is based on O'Malley.

[2banon]

28. oh ok, thanks, I'll check it out..

[Maedhros]

30. One of the things I enjoyed most about The Wire

was learning the dialects of Baltimore.

[2banon]

32. I did too eventually.. once I understood what was actually being said through translation, it became

an interesting learning process as well as entertaining!

[Scurrilous]

19. Maybe he'll put down the guitar and take up second fiddle a la Biden.

[Koinos]

21. Another Video

And from Leisure World 2014:

Just Google "O'Malley's March" for videos, and have fun! Sure made me feel better.

[Raine1967]

25. Did you ever see this?

While he was Gov, he just played on the street. I really loved that HRC went to Chitpoltle, so this was just as cool.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/md-politics/maryland-gov-martin-omalley-takes-a-break-from-his-day-job-to-perform-as-street-musician/2014/05/26/ee441768-e54b-11e3-8f90-73e071f3d637_story.html

[Koinos]

33. Very Cool

[BeyondGeography]

27. I stand with David Crosby on this whole music thing

[Maedhros]

31. He plays in a celtic folk band?

Big points in the plus column

[AnnieBW]

35. He'll certainly have more of a chance in Massachusetts and New York

And any state that has a large Irish population.

I luv my former guv! He's a true progressive. I know that a lot of people say that he taxed Maryland to death, but our economy is doing pretty well. We had a AAA bond rating through the Great Recession, which was under O'Malley's tenure.

He's got some down sides, too, like support of legalized gambling. But, he's a true Progressive and a fighter!

[Koinos]

36. First Guitar-Playing President?

I believe O'Malley would be the first "serious" guitar-playing president in history.

Some US presidents, including Bush and Obama, have been seen strumming guitars.

For a list of presidents who played instruments, see: http://minormusicllc.com/?p=20

I'm looking forward to O'Malley's March playing "This Land Is Your Land" on the White House Lawn.