Elton needs to go back to writing songs about dead blondes

/flame on

Nobody seems to realize anymore that it's only censorship if the government invokes it's will to silence people. I fail to see where the the adminstration is bullying anyone....if you have an opinion, you get to say it and them have to deal with both the intelligent and the stupid responses you get back. (Like a message board on FARK)

The people who smashed up Dixie Chicks albums had the right to do so, regardless of if one agreed with them. Many of the liberals actually seem to opposed to the right of their opposistion to call them out for being self-righteous blowhards.


If the government is hiring ya-hoos to smash up crappy CDs, prove it and then we'll have a story where I'll be right there on the front line.


...and the last time I checked that movie about 9/11 didn't seem to have much trouble making a ton of cash and getting publicity. The Bush administration has done only what it should, which is to ignore it.

Where in this article does Elton say he thinks they are being censored?

/Obligitory Obvious remark

st8kdryver


I just hate to provide facts to dipute your theories but....

In 117 separate conclusions, the committee laid the blame squarely at the feet of what it portrayed as a sloppy, dysfunctional intelligence structure headed by George J. Tenet, the director of central intelligence. The report was the harshest Congressional indictment of American intelligence agencies since the Church Committee report of the mid-1970's on abuses of power by the C.I.A.

New York Times Article by Douglas Jehl July 9, 2004


Of course, if you read anything other tha drivel, you would know that a deal was struck in the release of this report.

A SECOND report on the Bush administration was also due to come out, but your hard working Republican majority has set the date for its release until after the election.

FYI

You do not have a "right" to have concerts, you don't have a "right" to sell albums

Really? Since when?

Oh, caaaan you feeeeeel the looooooove tonight?
toooo-niiiiiight...

Of course, considering Bush's approval rating is below 50%, according to gallup, his odds of reelection are slim. No President seeking re-election with numbers this low at this point in the race has won re-election. Granted, with all of Bush's friends running the election, and there being no paper trails, Bush could win in a landslide.

I read somewhere that despite his numbers being below 50% he still has the majority of the state electoral votes. (I'm british so i can't be bothered to find a link).

re :"What exactly is good about patriotism? What's the benefit of it?"

Near as I can tell, nothing. It's a tribal 'grouping' instinct that served primitive man for millions of years - given our relative physical weakness in the animal kingdom.

Now it's just obsolete male aggression. Lord of the Flies writ large.

2004-07-17 03:38:39 PM Korovyov


It's not censorship just because you misread your audience. If your audience disproportionately included fanatically nationalist flagwavers, well, it's not going to take official pressure for them to be annoyed if you dis' what they like.

Even though I can't stand bush and his cronies, I have to admit that you are absolutely correct with your observations on the Dixie Chicks. Although I agree totally with their statements, what were they thinking? Didn't they ever notice all the toothless rednecks sportin' mullets under their NASCAR hats at all their concerts?

Brave, brave, brave, brave Sir Elton.

Well said Jakesid. To the point, succinct, and surgical. Of course Bush still equals Hitler, and Ashcroft is really the beast come forth to slaughter us all and drag us to the depths of hell...., wait that is next week's Move-on commercial.

Hey, this is great. We have Brits chiming in about how people in the US are censored. How do they know? Well, golly, the teebee told them so.

Yes, people are really being censored. Just look at all the stars who have been censored and called un-American. Yes, I remember the days when people were called un-American left and right for expressing their views. Why there was ... uh ... there was ...... uh ..... well, I'm sure it was just happening left and right, because I'm told you couldn't shake a stick without hitting someone calling someone else un-American not too long ago.

And the Dixie Chicks, hoo boy. I remember how the government clamped right down on them and ... what? Wasn't the government? Okay, well, let's just say America did clamped down on ... what? They actually got _more_ publicity than usual, appeared on television shows and magazine covers, saw packed houses for the majority of their 60-concert tour, and saw their album sales actually increased after their comments (taking the Billboard #1 spot at one point, and taking the Billboard country album spot for something like five months)?

Let's hear it for "American censorship!"

The number of Americans who died for nothing in Iraq will reach 1,000 before the summer's over. Billions of American taxpayers' dollars will be spent before this war is over. And, amazingly, the Bush ass-kissers think it's "stupid" to complain about it.

Compared to the nation building of the past (post ww2 germany and japan) that is not an outrageous number of casulties.

Nobody seems to realize anymore that it's only censorship if the government invokes it's will to silence people. I fail to see where the the adminstration is bullying anyone.

Dredging up two year old complaints against Howard Stern and attempting to fine him off the airwaves ring a bell?

""There was a moment about a year ago when you couldn't say a word about anything in this country for fear of your career being shot down by people saying you are un-American,""

riiight, then why was i still able to hear their whining 24/7?

"average people who don't want to look "unpatriotic" or "unamerican" by supporting anyone other than the president."

um, no. i support Pres. Bush because i think he's a better choice than kerry. a great choice? no, but then, when are politicians ever?

"If Bush is re-elected we'll all be drafted and sent off to die when his administration invades the wrong country, again."

stupidest thing said so far on this thread. there will be no draft, no one has even suggested it, except those who want to scare the public into voting for kerry. why the hell would we want people in the military that didn't want to be there? would you want that person guarding YOUR back?

Why should I listen to a thing Sean "El Cockbo" Hannity says?

In other news... the position of CIA Director, much like Elton John's ass, is up in the air and waiting to be filled.

BigJake


Repeat after me: THIS IS NOT CENSORSHIP. When the GOVERNMENT says you can't do something under penalty of law, that's censorship. When private actors level sanctions/boycotts against other private actors, that's freedom of association.

You're right. It's not censorship. It's Machavellian. Bush and other Americans in power used their position to decry that the Dixie Chicks were being un-American. Bush publicly called for the Dixie Chicks to apologize to Americans. WTF? They criticized him and his farkin' unjust war. There was no need to have them arrested. Once again, Bush proved deft at using 9/11 and the emotions and sentiment it brought up to sway public opinion. So, censorhip? No. Evil? Yes.

newmoonpuppyhead

you would know that a deal was struck in the release of this report.

I wasn't actually posting to you there Mr Butinski, but since you did allow me to retort.

NYTimes is drivel? I thought all you liberals just loved the Times. Or is that only when they present articles that support your conspiracy theories. What is the "deal" you speak of and do you have something to back it up with other than your OPINION?


Me and spelunking_ got our own little thang going on....in a virile hetero sort of way that is.

Wow, Elton John sure has something entirely new and revealing and not ever said by anyone else ever!

"Texan Love Song" (1973)
by Elton John, Bernie Taupin

You out of town guys sure think you're real keen
Think all of us boys here are homespun and green
But that's wrong my friend so get this through your head
We're tough and we're Texan with necks good and red

So it's Ki yi yippie yi yi
You long hairs are sure gonna die
Our American home was clean till you came
And kids still respected the president's name

And the eagle still flew in the sky
Hearts filled with national pride
Then you came along with your drug-crazy songs
Goddamit you're all gonna die

How dare you sit there and drink all our beer
Oh it's made for us workers who sweat spit and swear
The minds of our daughters are poisoned by you
With your communistic politics and them negro blues

Well I'm gonna quit talking and take action now
Run all of you fairies clean out of this town
Oh I'm dog tired of watching you mess up our lives
Spending the summertime naturally high

newmooncrackhead

You're right. It's not censorship. It's Machavellian. Bush and other Americans in power used their position to decry that the Dixie Chicks were being un-American. Bush publicly called for the Dixie Chicks to apologize to Americans. WTF? They criticized him and his farkin' unjust war. There was no need to have them arrested. Once again, Bush proved deft at using 9/11 and the emotions and sentiment it brought up to sway public opinion. So, censorhip? No. Evil? Yes.

You get the original fiction award for this thread.

What a farktard. It's the AMERICAN PEOPLE who are doing things, NOT the Bush Administration. If you say things that are unpopular, and the government supresses you because of it, THAT is censorship. If you say things that are unpopular, and people stop buying your crap because of it, that's the free market at work, NOT censorship. Censorship=governmental action. Without governmental action, there IS no censorship.

Hollyweird acts like people have an OBLIGATION to buy what they're selling, even when the people are repulsed by it.

If you turn out crap that nobody wants, nobody will buy it. Go farking figure...

melissaX --
It might be implied by the reference to McCarthyism. Think official intimidation by HUAC (subpoenas, questioning about membership in CPUSA and naming other members, threatening contempt of Congress for failure to answer), and HUAC working with MPAA to blacklist alleged Communists and sympathizers.

Bin Ladens are traveling tonight on a plane
I can see the New York lights
or maybe it's smoldering flames, oh and
I can see Dubya waving goodbye

Love Elton, completely agree with what he says.

I can see why people would be derisive of his comments, coming from Elton, who's not everyone's cup of tea. Doesn't make what he says any less true.

Guaranteed there are people much more respected who feel the way he does, but are afraid to speak. Which, of course, is his point.

BTW, Toby Keith SUCKS musically. He's as much of a product as Britney Spears.

The number of Americans who died for nothing in Iraq will reach 1,000 before the summer's over. Billions of American taxpayers' dollars will be spent before this war is over. And, amazingly, the Bush ass-kissers think it's "stupid" to complain about it.

***Compared to the nation building of the past (post ww2 germany and japan) that is not an outrageous number of casulties.

Unlike WWII in which there was a very credible and immediate threat (plus that little thing that happened at Pearl Harbor), Iraq was purely optional. Saddam was fully contained and was in no position to threaten anyone, let alone the US.

ironchef - If the government is hiring ya-hoos to smash up crappy CDs, prove it and then we'll have a story where I'll be right there on the front line.

When Richard Perle was still directly involved in the US government he tried to shut up the journalist Seymour Hersh because of a piece in the New Yorker. Initially on Wolf Blitzer's CNN show he called Hersh the "closest thing American journalism has to a terrorist." and he later threatened to bring a case for libel in the UK (due to the differing standards required in the UK and the US) against Hersh if he didn't retract the piece and apologise.

It's going to be interesting to see just how badly the administration goes after Hersh if his next story goes into allegations of the torture of children in Iraq which he indicated he had seen evidence of at a speech at the University of Chicago and he repeated at a speech to an ACLU gathering in San Francisco...

Dredging up two year old complaints against Howard Stern and attempting to fine him off the airwaves ring a bell?

I didn't know Bush personally ran the FCC, did he tell them to get Stern? Besides the context of this debate is if the current elected adminstration is trying to silence opposing views, Howard just had an apolitical potty-mouth.

The FCC is it's own bloated animal that has no place in the federal government that's been around through Republican and Democratic presidents. It's trying to stay relevant and failing. They do invoke censorship and I oppose it, but I'm smart enough to know it's not because of who's currently president. I guess Air America's failure is a conspiracy.

I'm a Libertarian who's not on either side, but I don't blame Bush for every stupid thing, he's got plenty of back-up from the other side of the political fence. I'm out to get all the bad apples.

But, on the other hand, the Dixie Chicks got shot down in flames last year for criticising the president. They were treated like they were being un-American, when in fact they have every right to say whatever they want about him because he's freely elected, and therefore accountable

So to Sir Elton, If you support America then your voice should not be heard and your opinion should be censored. hmmm... spoken like a true liberal

DasWiggy

What a farktard. It's the AMERICAN PEOPLE who are doing things, NOT the Bush Administration.

Well, and the head of clear channel...Lowry Mays... hmmm, wonder where he's from... Texas?? Really...
Wonder who he gives lots of money to... Republicans and bush...
hmmmm...

Good thing the "american people" stopped playing the Dixie chicks albums on those 1200 radio stations they own...

2004-07-17 03:51:10 PM OralB

You do not have a "right" to have concerts, you don't have a "right" to sell albums

Really? Since when?


Since forever. People don't have to buy your shiat if they don't like it or if they don't like you. You do not have a right to make a living. Piss your audience off, deal with the consequences and quit farking whining about it.

st8kdryver

The undermining of the administration's case for war is potentially a grave threat to Bush, whose re-election prospects are closely tied to Americans' view of the merits of the Iraq war and whether it advances the fight against terrorism. For that reason, Bush has delayed a final reckoning on Iraq's forbidden weapons by naming a commission that will not report its findings until after the election. In the meantime, he continues to assert ties between al Qaeda and Iraq, and to place blame for any weapons miscalculation squarely on the CIA.

- sfgate July 10, 2004

There's lots of info out there. Go check it out. By the way, this is a fark. If you'd like a 'manly' debate between you and your friend, by all means I can suggest quite a few places on the web where men can get together and 'debate'.

theironchef


Dredging up two year old complaints against Howard Stern and attempting to fine him off the airwaves ring a bell?

I didn't know Bush personally ran the FCC, did he tell them to get Stern? Besides the context of this debate is if the current elected adminstration is trying to silence opposing views, Howard just had an apolitical potty-mouth.

To be fair, he has been a lot more political lately (ever since the Jackson incident, iirc), and started spouting against bush a month or two before he was fine, and subsequently taken off the air by clear channel...

riiight, then why was i still able to hear their whining 24/7?

Maybe your meds expired?

Unlike WWII in which there was a very credible and immediate threat (plus that little thing that happened at Pearl Harbor), Iraq was purely optional. Saddam was fully contained and was in no position to threaten anyone, let alone the US.

I wasn't defending the war (I'm actually anti war) but since we are there...

You could argue that if america withdrew now that would make things worse (terrorism, middle east, etc.).

I think there may be a bit of cultural confusion here:

Elton John calls Bush a bully, likens the current administration to McCarthyism

may seem an inflammatory political statement but it is, unfact, rife with what I call gay-speak. Reread it with the following in mind: bully = top, current = currant (maybe just a typo), administration = santorum, and McCarthyism = Ribena.

Not so anti-Bsuh after all. Mmmm, Ribena....

But we now know that there WERE Communist infiltraors throughout the entertainment industries.

Elton John thinks that stars aren't speaking out against President Bush? What planet has he, and eveyone else who agrees with this statement, been on for the last 2 years?

NYTimes is drivel? I thought all you liberals just loved the Times.

Is this the same NY Times that issued an apology to its readers just 2 months ago for blindly accepting Bush's rational for war only to find that the information was BS?

"NeoMcCarthyism, I like that."

Hey, what happened to suffra's pic? That was the best post in the thread.

Yes, thank you Stepford neocons, we know he is gay.

How fat is Micheal Moore anyway?

(I know, it only encourages them)

I wasn't defending the war (I'm actually anti war) but since we are there...

You could argue that if america withdrew now that would make things worse (terrorism, middle east, etc.).

Agreed. Which is why the Iraq war can be classified as an official quagmire. Basically, we're stuck there for the long haul now.

What, the Bush administration says, "Seize them," and the robotic public suddenly obeys? What bullsheet. The fact is, if you're an entertainer and open your big bazoo about something and significant numbers of the public don't like it, your career is going to take a hit. That's the price of pissing off your audience. If you exploit your fame to get a hearing for your viewpoint and you can't sell a record or get a movie part afterward, that's your problem, not Bush's.

Celebs know dick about the real world. That is all.

/wishes they would all just STFU