Rockers to Sing Against Bush in Fall Concert Series

[RamboLiberal]

http://www.latimes.com/news/politics/la-na-concert25jul25,1,7369160,print.story?coll=la-home-headlines

Bruce Springsteen, Neil Young, R.E.M., Pearl Jam and a deep roster of other rock stars will unite for a series of politically minded concerts this fall that will give voice to dissatisfaction with the Bush administration.

The all-star rock show, which is expected to begin in October and target campaign swing states, is in the planning stages but was confirmed by half a dozen music industry sources who spoke on the condition of not being identified.

Insiders disagreed on the unifying rhythm of the celebrity coalition: Some said it is the promise of the John Kerry candidacy but at least one thought it was simply the potential of a Bush re-election. "There is a range of feeling about Kerry," the source said, "but a uniform belief that Bush must go."

The high-profile tour dramatically turns up the volume of the rock scene's role in 2004 politics but it is not the only example of an apparent surge of political commentary among artists. The rock reaction seems all but uniform in its anti-Bush stance, just as in country music there has been a passionate patriotism and support of the president, as exemplified by the songs of Toby Keith.

[David Dunham]

1. Great idea.

[OneBlueSky]

2. and the Repugs will counter with a tour that includes . . .

Wayne Newton
Toby Keith
Pat Boone
John Ashcroft

and who else? . . .

[Dover]

8. Britney Spears, Jessica Simpson and Clay Aiken

They really will put the DUH in Duhbya's campaign.

[MoonGod]

11. And Ted Nugent...

... can't forget the future Michigan gov. candidate...

[Rebellious Republican]

15. Its a good thing twelve year olds can't vote!

:toast:

[zanana]

17. Dover--I love that.

May I use it?

[Dover]

20. Well dah! Of course!

eom

[sistersofmercy]

18. Bwahahahaha! "...put the DUH in Duhbya's campaign."

Good one! :D :kick:

[yardwork]

37. No way! I don't think Clay Aiken supports Shrub?

And Toby Keith says he's a Democrat.

[GoddessOfGuinness]

14. Don't forget Orrin "Scratch" Hatch

http://www.hatchmusic.com/ :puke:

[BleedingHeartPatriot]

19. Why, John Ashcroft, singer/songwriter/BFEE majordomo, of course.

MKJ

[JerseygirlCT]

23. Blech... don't forget Charlie Daniels...

[SemperEadem]

35. Orrin Hatch... he calls himself a songwriter

[TaleWgnDg]

3. and will Clear Channel censor them

as they did the Dixie Chicks? Howard Stern? Clear Channel owns radio stations, entertainment touring companies, entertainment booking companies, outdoor ad billboards, stage facilities and venues, and the list goes on . . . their principal place of business is Texas . . . and if I remember correctly, there's a past connection b/t them and the Bushs, politically and financially.



:dem:

[Mokito]

4. Bruce Springsteen, Neil Young, R.E.M., Pearl Jam !

Yeah baby, now we're talking!

[WinterStorm]

5. Toby Keith can sing?

I thought that he shouts his songs out.

[cliss]

6. That's the biggest problem with Bush-Cheney.

They're no fun. Even the Enquirer, which writes the most staunch Republican tripe you could ever read, recently had an article about the "Dipstick Duo".

Cheney in particular is seen as a boring, criminal liability. The article even said that he's about to get flushed from the Repug ticket. Interesting when even they say it.

Anyway, this is what makes them such targets for musicians, younger people, anybody really. These fools are uninteresting, they have nothing new to say. They really should be flushed like the turds they are.

[Pastiche423]

7. Hot damn! I'm in a swing state!

[NashVegas]

10. Woo Hoo - Me Too!

Can't wait to see how Clear Channel is going to deal with this.

[pinniped]

9. Now the pukes will have to ban "Born in the USA".

Tough $hit morans.

What the F is a toby keith?

[Secular-Tool]

12. I'm no fan of beating the drums of war

like Toby Keith's "Angry American" did nor do I care for his music.

But, two things people generally don't know about him:

1. He is a die hard democrat.
2. He has spoken against the war in Iraq.

There are two all-important endorsements in Oklahoma Politics--Toby Keith and Barry Switzer. Both of them have come out for Democrats in really important elections recently.

I would go so far as to say Toby Keith was the deciding factor in Brad Henry getting elected Governor over Steve Largent. I was surprised when TK announced his endorsement and even more suprised that Henry won.

Toby Keith has come out in support of Dan Boren who is running for Tom Coburn's House Seat. He will probably have the same effect there.

[MoonGod]

13. I had to look this up...

http://www.outsidethebeltway.com/archives/6995

[riverwalker]

21. oh yeah, he "spoke" against the war

in his anthem to bombing civilians. Too many Neanderthal morans used his jingoism to cheer unleashing hell on the children of Iraq, and the prisoners of Abu Ghraib. Background music to war crimes, and nothing even remotely patriotic about it.


"Oh, justice will be served
And the battle will rage
This big dog will fight
When you rattle his cage
You'll be sorry that you messed
With the U.S. of A.
Cause we'll put a boot in your ass
It's the American way

Hey, Uncle Sam put your name
At the top of his list
And the Statue of Liberty
Started shaking her fist
And the eagle will fly
And it's going to be hell
When you hear Mother Freedom
Start ringing her bell
And it will feel like the whole wide world
Is raining down on you"

[NeoConsSuck]

33. Cause we'll put a boot in your ass..

It's the American way?

Hey Toby, here's a heads-up: You don't speak for me, nor for many Americans.

Maybe you should change your lame lyrics to "It's the freeper way"

Edited for sarcasm.

[mountainvue]

30. Toby Keith just donated $2000

to Bush/Cheney in September of '03. Yeah, he's a great Democrat alright.:eyes:

[Eloriel]

38. So glad to hear that

I LOVE his music. I think his voice is wonderful, and his songs very clever and creative. I even love the "Angry American" (is that the name of it?), tho not its pro-war sentiment along with its militarism and jingoism. His pro-war stance really annoyed and alarmed me, and I assumed he was a Repug. I tried (real hard) to hate him, but I couldn't. So this additional news (learned he's a diehard Dem the other day) is wonderful. :-)

[zanana]

16. I don't know why Repugs think that song is patriotic.

I guess they're just reading the title. Typical.

[Mr_Tom_Paine]

22. Beyond reading the title . . . . a lesson l learned

The history of the song Born in the USA is a text book example of how politicians can take something that has broad appeal, co-opt it and redefine it to suit thier own needs. I got this lesson twenty years ago when Ronald Reagan invoked Springsteen's name in a now famous speech. If the Rupublicans take out after Springsteen MoveOn.org should make and ad showing the clip of Reagan talking about how New Jersey's own Bruce Springsteen sings about the hopes and dreams of the American people. Right back at ya!!!

[Secular-Tool]

27. Angry American wasn't about Iraq

I'm not fan of TK nor do I care to defend that song which I hated the minute I heard it. I got into many arguments about it when it came out. It's hard enough to make wise policy decisions when the public is getting whipped up into a blind fury by songs like his.

However, that was before Iraq and before the 2002 elections which have made me have to re-think my opinions about TK.

Toby Keith said in the October 31, 2003 Entertainment weekly (Jon Stewart on the cover) unlike Afghanistan and the search for Bin Laden, concerning the war in Iraq "..the numbers don't add up for me..."

Officially, he's not making a direct comment for or against the war in Iraq. However, If you have a quote where he has said, "Let's Go Kick Iraq's Ass" or otherwise contradicted his opinion from EW, please post it.

However, as an Oklahoman and a Democrat, I'm happy TK has been outspoken about being a Democrat and has campaigned for good candidates.

We were looking at having Steve Largent as our governor who is a million times worse than our last GOP governor.

Instead, we have Brad Henry who is a DEMOCRAT and a good guy. I have no doubt that TK aligning himself and campaigning for Brad Henry was a HUGE asset to the Democrats and likely the deciding factor.

I don't like TK's music but I like how he's made the climate in Oklahoma far more favorable to the Democrats.

If you can argue that TK has done otherwise. Please do so.

In Oklahoma, he's about the best friend the Democrats have and we don't have many.

Also, if Willie Nelson likes him, TK has to have some good in him.

[mountainvue]

31. Toby may have endorse some Dems

but his money goes to the RNC:

http://www.newsmeat.com/fec/bystate_detail.php?st=OK&last=Covel&first=Toby

COVEL, TOBY
NORMAN, OK 73069
TOKECO INC./ENTERTAINER BUSH, GEORGE W (R)
President
BUSH-CHENEY '04 INC $2000 09/10/03

[JerseygirlCT]

24. Actually, I think the song is quite patriotic

in the best sense... which is most certainly not the way the GOP was reading it!

To paraphrase Shakespeare, their idea of Patriotism is a lot of sound and fury, signifying nothing. So long as they can rant and rave and hang flags on the back of their pickup trucks, then all's good. Don't try to do anything to actually help the people of the country -- like the disillusioned vet in Bruce's song...

[Kolesar]

25. You gotta be registered in September to vote in November

In Ohio, one must be registered by October 2 to vote in the November 2 election. I wish they could move up their schedules.

[progressivebydesign]

28. Good point! I have an idea!

If you have to be registered by a certain date in these swing states.. and the tickets are always pre-sale. Perhaps there can be some sort of discount, or drawing, or something available to those who have registered to vote. Like, you buy your tickets, and on the tickets is a website addy to visit. There, you have a great entry to a great prize package, i.e. backstage, hotel room, etc. for the night of the show.. BUT the winner has to be a registered voter to claim the prize. They do that for car contests, where you have to be a licensed driver....

Is that cheezy? Is it legal?

oh, AND the website will have a link for each state so people can find out how to register to vote, in order to enter the contest.

[Corgigal]

26. Drats

Drats I say. I live in a red bible belt state but I will be happy to travel to NC or Georgia to see this. I love the Chapel Hill area in NC and I hope they play up there.
NC is in play no matter what the press tells us.

[gulliver]

29. Needs the Dixie Chicks, Billy Ray Cyrus, Kris Kristofferson...

Kristofferson could do "Jesus was a Capricorn." Paul Simon could do "American Tune." I'd buy the CDs.

Also, Toby Keith is a Democrat. Maybe he could get behind Kerry, the real veteran in the race.

[pfitz59]

32. Saw Dixie Chicks on CMT today....

They can do "Travelin' Soldier". Dedicate it to Kerry.

[PassingFair]

36. I think Mellencamp can connect with working class America

...and I know he's a big Dem. Is he on the list?

[stevebreeze]

41. Melloncamp is singing at the convention

or so I heard
:kick:

[kaiso]

34. Would an Englishman like Sting be allowed or is it just American acts? nt

[VolcanoJen]

39. Kick!!!!

:dem: :dem: :dem:

[Kukesa]

40. Another kick; this is too good to miss. n/t