I'm in love with Garrison Keillor

[Moonbeam_Starlight]

I just discovered him in the form of his book "Homegrown Democrat." I have never read a book which more completely spoke for me and to me on what it is to be a Democrat and a liberal in America.

I was inspired in reading it. I found a Carl Sandburg poem I wanted to share here because of reading Keillor's book.

I am the People, the Mob
Carl Sandburg

I am the people--the mob--the crowd--the mass.
Do you know that all the great work of the world is done through me?


(this part taken out so as not to violate copyright laws....)


Sometimes I growl, shake myself and spatter a few red drops for history
to remember. Then--I forget.
When I, the People, learn to remember, when I, the People, use the
lessons of yesterday and no longer forget who robbed me last year,
who played me for a fool--then there will be no speaker in all the
world say the name: "The People," with any fleck of a sneer in his
voice or any far-off smile of derision.
The mob--the crowd--the mass--will arrive then.

[Uber Llama]

1. I know...

you should listen to his radio show... (he is Scandanavian) he once had these Vikings invade the New World, and Bjorn turns to Rolf and says, "Why are we here?" and Rolf says, "because Minnesota has WMD.

[gavodotcom]

2. Great article by Keillor...

http://www.inthesetimes.com/site/main/article/979

<snip>
...
The party of Lincoln and Liberty was transmogrified into the party of hairy-backed swamp developers and corporate shills, faith-based economists, fundamentalist bullies with Bibles, Christians of convenience, freelance racists, misanthropic frat boys, shrieking midgets of AM radio, tax cheats, nihilists in golf pants, brownshirts in pinstripes, sweatshop tycoons, hacks, fakirs, aggressive dorks, Lamborghini libertarians, people who believe Neil Armstrong’s moonwalk was filmed in Roswell, New Mexico, little honkers out to diminish the rest of us, Newt’s evil spawn and their Etch-A-Sketch president, a dull and rigid man suspicious of the free flow of information and of secular institutions, whose philosophy is a jumble of badly sutured body parts trying to walk. Republicans: The No.1 reason the rest of the world thinks we’re deaf, dumb and dangerous.
...
</snip>

Note: I'm working hard to make "brownshirts in pinstripes" a meme with everyone I talk to. :)

[flyingfysh]

3. he isn't Scandinavian

But he comes from Minnesota, which has a lot of people of Scandinavian ancestry. He also married a Swedish girl.

Several of his radio sketches talk about the "Norwegian bachelor farmers".

[Lost Creek]

4. I discovered him more than 25 years ago.

My college friends knew that I could be found by my radio every Saturday night listening to his show. They gave up trying to get me out before the show was over.

[shirlden]

5. Just finished his book too

And what a rip-snortin pleasure it was. It does remind you of why you are a Democrat and why you should be damned proud to be one. Highly recommend................


:hi:

[Dragonfly]

6. Happy to hear that you read this great

book. I just finished it myself and was moved to register for MPR's "Chatterbox Cafe" as a result of learning more about Brother Keillor's uplifting perspectives.

I'm 55 and remember the America that Garrison speaks to and about so eloquently.

Moreover, my evolving sense is that we are slowly coming to grips with what has to be done to collectively right our shaky cultural vessel, thanks in part to the bemused and mellow GK and his steady dose of humorous and highly descriptive views emanating from the epicentered-inside of the clearing national mirror.

Nice to come across another inspired soul on the long journey home.

[rustydog]

7. his "Bush doesn't own Jesus "remark to Bill Mahr was priceless

[wellstone dem]

8. It's an excellent book

and an excellent description of what it was like to grow up Democrat in Minnesota.

Also, growing up the Republicans I knew were all moderates, they are now democrats or independents.

[DuaneBidoux]

9. Minnesota is interesting

Like, I am so puzzled that there is even a close race between * and Kerry up there. I think Keillor is a little puzzled by the rightward drift of his state.

[KittyWampus]

10. Listening To Garrison Is One Of The Things That Makes Life Worth Living