"You're trying to put words in my mouth just the way you put artificial facts in your head."
MAM
'Best of TBH Politoons'
Baron Dave Romm
By Baron Dave Romm
Shockwave Radio
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Election Day 2006 is November 7, eight days from now.
The next week will be very nasty. Pedophile Republicans and Sphincter Conservatives will sling mud, whine and lie. Especially, they will lie. They don't know how to do anything else.
No matter what the outcome, the Pedophile Republicans and Sphincter Conservatives will spend the next two years whining, finger pointing and refusing to face reality. They simply do not have the mental capacity to accept responsibility for their own mistakes. Especially, they will lie. They don't know how to do anything else.
The shame of being a conservative has never been greater... and I've been saying that for a long time. It's more true every year. At some point, you have to sink to their level just to get their attention. Sad, but true. We must save their souls. There are some for whom it is too late. Ignore the Lost Souls and Nine Commandment Christians. Talk to the ones who have a chance.
To take back America, you should volunteer to help get out the vote, and watch for voting irregularities. Also watch for non-irregularities, as the radicals will claim problems when there weren't any. Republicans don't believe in Democracy, and will do anything to win. Conservatives don't believe in America, and will subvert the Constitutional right to vote in their pursuit of power and money. Especially, they will lie. They don't know how to do anything else.
I don't want to sound like a shrill right-wing hate radio asshole, so I won't repeat too much of previous posts on the subject. Just be aware that the empty barrel makes the most noise, and the far right has had forty years to perfect their mud-slinging and hate-filled rhetoric. Let them get the last word, so you can mull over a proper response to the real questions that should be asked.
In the meantime, here are some political CDs to tide you over. All of these contain iPodWorthy songs that will still be relevant for 2008.
Hail To The Thieves, Vol. III: Songs To Take Our Country Back!
George Mann and Julius Margolin have been singing the truth for many years. Julius has been a lefty and a labor activist for many of his 80+ years, and George has continued the tradition. The first in this series was Hail To The Thief! Songs for The Bush Years, a pre-9/11 indictment of the gang of thugs which I reviewed earlier.
Hail to the Thieves, Volume III: Songs to Take Our Country Back! is the third in their series about the Bush administration and cronies, with many guests. The songs are dead on target, performed beautifully with just the right amount of outrage and amusement. My favorites include: Royally Oily, by Colleen Kattau about the Bush family dynasty based on oil and a lack of morals. Deadeye Dick, by Steve Brooks, about Dick Cheney's lack of gun control. If There's a God In Heaven, by George Mann, about how Bush and co. are doomed to hell. Friends like Utah Phillips and Billy Bragg have their turn.
Highly recommended, even after the election.
Thieves III is a new CD. The 2004 election spun out numerous political music. Perhaps cowed by the slimy right wing attacks on people who tell the truth, fewer musicians have been brave enough to release new stuff this year; perhaps I'm just not seeing it. To be sure, much of the outrage at Bush and co. in 2004 seems almost prescient, and the criticisms then still hold.
And it's hard to sing about the most pressing issue of our day: Global Warming (aka Climate Change). There is no other issue where you can say, unquestionably, "Liberals were right an conservatives were wrong." But I digress.
Total Myshkin Awareness
I talked about Total Myshkin Awareness a few months ago, so I won't repeat too much. It's so new, it's not even officially out (according to their webs site). But you can listen to many of the songs for free as mp3s, (Prince Myshkin site, click on mp3s). I especially recommend The Ministry of Oil.
Roy Zimmerman
I was simply going to talk about Roy Zimmerman's discography of political humor music, but going to the Roy Zimmerman Web Site (which didn't exist last time I checked) I note he has a new CD! Whee! I don't know anything about Faulty Intelligence but I'm going to recommend it anyway. I recognize a few songs, such as Defenders of Marriage, which goes back a few years and was covered on Thieves III. His new version is nicely done. I still highly recommend Homeland and Security (get them both together) and I have all the Foremen albums and can recommend The Best of the Formen as a good selection.
Election Day USA
Election Day USA was commentary for the 2004 election. They made little effort to sell the CD, and all the tracks are available as free downloads. Many of the songs are relevant if not prescient. Duct Tape (streaming audio), by John McCutcheon, about the idiotic fanning of the flames of terrorist fears, seems almost tame given the death of Habeus Corpus. codePINK (streaming audio), by Pat Williams and Sandy O, is a good view from the women's perspective. Peace Inside (streaming audio) is a long song about how the Iraq war is not our fight. And so on. If it's dated, it's because the situation is so much worse.
Pull No Punches
Another old favorite CD from an old friend is Pull No Punches, by the Android Sisters. The Android Sisters are characters on the various Adventures of Ruby The Galactic Gumshoe, available from ZBS, and have a few CDs of their own. In 2003, Meatball Fulton/Tom Lopez got fed up with the Bushies and pulled no punches in their outrage. It's not necessarily great sf, or even great political commentary, but when it lands it lands hard. Hey, Monster Maker, about the manipulation of media buzzwords, and Cowboys and Arabs, about playing childish but deadly games, are two iPw favorites I play on the air.
Coda: The reason to vote Democratic this year and in 2008
One of the biggest lies by the conservative news media is that the Democrats will win this election because the Republicans have screwed up, not that the Democrats have a plan to govern. This is half right: The Republicans have screwed up. But the Democrats have a plan once they take the House of Representatives. The media isn't covering it, since it's not a White House Talking Point, but it was mentioned here a few days ago:
The First 100 Hours. The Washington Post covers the story, making it about the Republicans, Pelosi Says She Would Drain GOP 'Swamp'. From the article:
Republicans will lie. They don't know how to do anything else. It's up to you to tell the truth. Character matters.
Okay now: Vote! Help get out the vote in your district. Let's show the tide has turned.
Baron Dave Romm is a conceptual artist and a noble of Ladonia who produces Shockwave Radio Theater, writes in a Live Journal demi-blog, plays with a very weird CD collection and an ever growing list of political links. Dave Romm reviews things at random for obscure web sites. You can read all his music recommendations from Bartcop-E. Podcasts of Shockwave Radio Theater. Permanent archive. More radio programs, interviews and science fiction humor plays can be accessed on the Shockwave Radio audio page.
Thanks to everyone who has sent me music to play on the air.
--////
Reader Comment
Kuhliforrrnia Issues
Hi Marty,
I thought I'd take time out from precinct walking and phone banking to
send a note to the E! page. You are my morning newspaper!
I'm active with the political committee of the teachers' union and I'd
like to share my perspective on local CA issues for next week's
election-
Not only is Phil Angelides' campaign stinking up the place, but other
than the fact that voters are very stupid and have very short memories,
here's why. Last year, labor went all out against Ahnold's propositions
and beat him, but it took almost $100 million dollars. That was their
plan all along-bankrupt us last year so we couldn't fight him now. Phil
had to get early ads out pounding the Groper but he didn't. You have to
define your opponent before he defines you.
As to the propositions, we aren't as involved as before, but there are
some red herrings out there. 83 (sex offenders) will pass in a
landslide and we are staying away from that one. 85 is a stinky
anti-abortion wedge issue to bring wingnuts to the polls and we hate
it. 84, 86, and 87 are progressive ideas associated with bonds and
taxes that we like, but they may go down because of the general "vote
no on everything" mood. It is fascinating to listen to ads against 87
(alternative energy research from taxing oil companies). They are all
over Air America Radio, sponsored by concerned citizens against blah
blah blah, the little old lady on the street corner, and CHEVRON. I
guess AAR wil take money from anyone, and they are still broke.
The really interesting ones are the last three. 88 sounds good on the
surface (raising property taxes by $50 to fund schools) and you would
figure that the teacher's unions would like it, but we say NO NO NO. It
is funded by an out of state gazillionaire, and helps mostly charter
schools. Doesn't help public schools at all.
89 is about public financing of campaigns. Phil is for it, because he
doesn't have money, Musclehead is against it, because he does, and the
teacher's unions are against it and agree with Musclehead. WTF? Big
labor agrees with Phil on everything else, but public financing of
campaigns would take away our clout with the state leg. I guess we want
to reserve the right to bankrupt ourselves! I'm personally for the
concept of public financing but I'm not sure 89 is written very well.
90 is another that sounds good on the surface. Eminent domain, we hate
it. Isn't that how Smirk built the Texas Rangers stadium at public
expense and walked off with the money?? Let's get rid of eminent
domain, yea! Hold on a minute, grasshopper. Once again this is written
by a right wing nutcase from out of state. I makes it easier for
corporations to sue for the income they would have made if they had
been allowed to build. Imagine stopping a Walmart in your neighborhood,
and then having to pay them, with tax dollars, for the profits they
would have made. Noooooo! A similar measure only cost the state of
Oregon about $5 billion dollars.
In November 2005 the very best that could happen was that things would
stay the same.
In November 2006, we won't win everything, but something's GOTTA change!
Teacher Ed
Mission Viejo, CA
Thanks, Ed!
Was looking over the propaganda from Di-Fi's campaign and noticed the CA Dems are saying 'NO' on 87.
Funny both Bill Clinton & Al Gore are stumping for the 'YES' side.
Recommended Reading
from Bruce
Froma Harrop: IGNORANCE AND THE AMERICAN VOTER
In a famous 1950s study, researchers made up a piece of legislation called the Metallic Metals Act and polled the public on it. Some 70 percent of the respondents offered an opinion about something that didn't exist.
Molly Ivins: Bush's Economy 'Doing Remarkably [Un]Well'
When Bush took over in 2001, he had predicted a surplus of $516 billion for fiscal year 2006. Last week, the administration announced a 2006 deficit of $248 billion, missing its projection for this year by $764 billion. Bush said the numbers are "proof that pro-growth economic policies work" and are "an example of sound fiscal policies here in Washington."
David K. Johnson: Purging the gays, McCarthy style (advocate.com)
The scapegoating of gay people in light of the scandal surrounding disgraced former congressman Mark Foley is nothing new. It is a tactic honed in the dark days of the Cold War during the McCarthy-led "purge of the perverts."
Larry McDonald: Mary Renault's Trailblazing Gay Fiction (afterelton.com)
James Baldwin. E.M. Forster. John Rechy. Andrew Holleran. Those are some of the names that come to mind when the topic is writers of classic gay fiction. This year marks the 50th anniversary of the publication of another classic gay novel - The Last of the Wine - however this tale of same-sex love in ancient Greece wasn't written by a gay man, but by a woman.
Shauna Swartz: Catie Curtis Reconnects (afterellen.com)
As a teenager she once performed with a traveling theater group that had a run in her hometown in Maine. When the troupe held a yard sale before packing up the van and heading to the next town, one member gave Curtis a leftover guitar for free, asking only that she promise to learn to play. "I felt guilty for the first six months because I didn't learn right away," Curtis says.
Paul Florez: Oprah's lipstick lesbians respond to Scarborough and company (advocate.com)
When partners Nikki Weiss and Carole Antouri appeared on The Oprah Winfrey Show earlier this month, they had a great time. That is, until they heard themselves discussed on the MSNBC talk show Scarborough Country. Now the women respond.
Joel Stein: Video Poker-Playing Criminals! (latimes.com)
The absurdity of Congress' new ban on online gambling.
Mark Morford: God Loves My New Lexus (sfgate.com)
The sillycool car that parallel parks itself, plus other proof that an uber-deity mocks us all
Saul Austerlitz: Halloween: Treif or Treat? (beliefnet.com)
From a Jewish perspective, the holiday of ghosts, goblins, and goodies is a pagan ritual that's beyond the pale.
Waverly Fitzgerald: Death Needs a Holiday (beliefnet.com)
This is the heart of Halloween. By remembering the dead, we keep them alive in our hearts. By facing our own mortality, we taste the sweetness of life.
School of the Seasons
Aligning yourself with the rthyms of the earth.
Halloween on Beliefnet.com
Dip into Beliefnet's goodie bag--you'll find plenty of tricks and treats in our annual Halloween roundup. And learn why for a surprising number of Americans, magic is serious business.
Dave Vs. O'Really
David Letterman didn't try to hide the fact Oct. 27th that he just plain doesn't like Bill O'Reilly. He wasted no time bashing FOX News and doing what few people can do â€" ridiculing O'Reillys ratings (Letterman's audience is more than 2x as large .) While sparring over Iraq, Letterman interrupted the giant talking head saying he "doesn't care" what Bill has to say. When Bill O, in typical FAUX form, tried to suggest that Dave believes "Bush is an evil liar" and that "America is a bad country" Letterman comes back with the line of the month:
Hubert's Poetry Corner
CONGRESS AND GAY MARRIAGE
WHY ALL THE INTEREST?
Reader Suggestion
bush in free fall
Selected Readings
from that Mad Cat, JD
In The Chaos Household
Last Night
Sunny and cooler - the wind has died down and the humidity is returning.
Visits Ohio State U
Jon Stewart
Jon Stewart and staff from Comedy Central's "The Daily Show" fielded questions from Ohio State University students at a special appearance Saturday, but the comedian also had a query of his own.
"A buckeye is a gay acorn, right?" Stewart asked about 12,000 people gathered at Value City Arena.
The topic turned to politics, with Stewart being asked if he would be disappointed when resident Bush, Vice President Dick Cheney and Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld left office and no longer provided fodder for the comedian's act.
"No," he said bluntly, then launched into his impression of Cheney.
Jon Stewart
Laughs Off Criticism
Michael J. Fox
Michael J. Fox laughed off criticism of his appearance in recent political ads in support of embryonic stem cell research, but said his mother was not as amused.
Fox, who has Parkinson's disease, said his mother, Phyllis, was with him when he shot the ads and knew that he "was struggling to stay still. Because I truly wanted to stay still. It's more comfortable. It's not comfortable to be moving around."
Fox, who supports embryonic stem cell research as a possible cure for Parkinson's, drew some conservative republican criticism after a Missouri ad began running during the World Series. It showed Fox visibly shaking while urging viewers to vote yes for stem-cell research and for a Democratic Senate candidate over the Republican incumbent.
Michael J. Fox
Army Monitors
Soldiers' Blogs
From the front lines of Iraq and Afghanistan to here at home, soldiers blogging about military life are under the watchful eye of some of their own.
A Virginia-based operation, the Army Web Risk Assessment Cell, monitors official and unofficial blogs and other Web sites for anything that may compromise security. The team scans for official documents, personal contact information and pictures of weapons or entrances to camps.
The oversight mission, made up of active-duty soldiers and contractors, as well as Guard and Reserve members from Maryland, Texas and Washington state, began in 2002 and was expanded in August 2005 to include sites in the public domain, including blogs.
The Army will not disclose the methods or tools being used to find and monitor the sites. Nor will it reveal the size of the operation or the contractors involved. The Defense Department has a similar program, the Joint Web Risk Assessment Cell, but the Army program is apparently the only operation that monitors nonmilitary sites.
Soldiers' Blogs
Comes To France's Folies Bergere
Cabaret
Cabaret, the musical set in Weimar Germany that made Liza Minelli a star, has opened at France's most famous nude revue in one of this year's most heavily hyped theatrical productions.
The French language version of the Broadway show transforms the Folies Bergere, a venue famous for its revealing numbers since the 19th century, into a heavily stylised version of a 1930s Berlin bar.
The production, designed by British theater director Sam Mendes, relies more on suggestion than actual nudity to create its effect but there is a heavy emphasis on seduction and glitz.
Cabaret
Limos For Voters
Denver
Don't feel like standing in line on Election Day? In Denver, you can get a limo ride to the polls if you take advantage of early voting Saturday.
Fearing that new voting machines, new voting centers and a ballot full of measures could create gridlock Nov. 7, a coalition of advocacy groups is offering door-to-door service to the city's six new voting centers.
"We're expecting a lot of confusion, voter fatigue and, because of the long ballot, we're expecting long lines on Election Day," Lindsey Hodel, a spokeswoman for the limo effort, said Friday.
Denver
World Music Awards
Michael Jackson
Michael Jackson will make a rare public appearance at the World Music Awards in London next month, organizers announced Sunday.
The reclusive king of pop will receive a Diamond Award, given to artists who sell more than 100 million albums, at the industry ceremony on Nov. 15.
The World Music Awards were held in Monaco for 15 years before moving to the United States in 2004 and 2005. This year's event at London's Earls Court Arena is to be hosted by Lindsay Lohan, with performances from Beyonce, Mary J. Blige, Katie Melua and Andrea Bocelli.
Michael Jackson
Reunite In Beverly Hills
Designing Women
The setting was California, but Georgia was on the minds of virtually all at the Museum of Television & Radio, as Dixie Carter, Jean Smart, Annie Potts and Delta Burke - the original stars of the sitcom "Designing Women" - gathered for a tribute to the show.
Airing on CBS from 1986-93, "Designing Women" followed the full lives of four Atlanta interior designers. Thanks to reruns, the show has rarely left the airwaves.
"Well, it was really funny," noted Smart. "And I've said this in every interview and it never seems to end up in print, but (show creator) Linda Bloodworth was writing for sitcoms what no one else was doing anything like... And I'm not sure if she ever got the credit for it that she deserved. She was pretty amazing and ahead of her time."
Designing Women
The Red Version
Guinness
Guinness, the dark Irish drink known as the "black stuff", could soon be turning red.
Manufacturer Diageo plans to produce a version at its Irish brewery using lightly roasted barley, which will have a reddish colour, and give it a trial run across the Irish Sea in Britain.
Diageo plans to test Guinness Red on drinkers in British pubs in the coming months but has no plans to launch it more widely, either at home in Ireland or in about 150 other countries where Guinness is sold.
Guinness
Faces Extinction
Pink Plastic Flamingo
The original version of the plastic flamingo may be singing its swan song after inspiring countless pranks - and being alternately celebrated as a tribute to one of nature's most graceful creatures and derided as the epitome of American pop culture kitsch.
Union Products Inc. stopped producing flamingos and other lawn ornaments at its Leominster factory in June, and is going out of business Nov. 1 - a victim of rising expenses for plastic resin and electricity, as well financing problems.
The small privately held firm has been in talks with a pair of rival lawn ornament makers interested in buying the molds and resuming production of the flamingos, designed in 1957 by local son Don Featherstone.
Other companies' knockoff versions of the Featherstone original remain in production. But the uncertainty surrounding the original has aficionados of kitsch snapping up what they can via the online auction site eBay and elsewhere in case Featherstone versions go out of stock for good.
Pink Plastic Flamingo
In Memory
Marijohn Wilkin
Songwriter Marijohn Wilkin, who co-wrote the classic ballad "Long Black Veil" and other hits, died at her Nashville home at age 86.
In addition to penning hit songs over a career that began in the 1950s, Wilkin recorded as a backup singer and founded Buckhorn Music publishers, where Kris Kristofferson got his songwriting start in 1965.
Wilkin's songs were performed by stars including Johnny Cash, The Beatles, Patsy Cline and Rod Stewart. She was inducted into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1975.
Wilkin was born in Kemp, Texas and worked as a music teacher after college. She began her writing and performing career in Springfield, Missouri, then moved to Nashville where she and John Loudermilk wrote "Waterloo," which topped both country and pop charts in 1959.
"Long Black Veil" was co-written with Danny Dill in 1959. Honky-tonk singer Lefty Frizzell recorded the song within days of it being written and it was a top-10 single.
A pop hit, "Cut Across Shorty," recorded by both Eddie Cochran and Carl Smith in 1960, was revived by rocker Rod Stewart in 1970 and again in 1993.
After a religious conversion in the 1970s, she and Kristofferson wrote the enduring gospel favorite "One Day at a Time," and she devoted her songwriting to gospel music. Her 1978 autobiography is called "Lord Let Me Leave a Song."
Marijohn Wilkin
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