Come for the politics, stay for the snark.

Never entrust democracy to any process that requires Republicans to act in good faith.

So very ready.

When do we start airlifting the women and children out of Texas?

… riddled with inexplicable and elementary errors of law and fact

Whatever happens next week, the fight doesn’t end.

Republicans firmly believe having an abortion is a very personal, very private decision between a woman and J.D. Vance.

Putting aside our relentless self-interest because the moral imperative is crystal clear.

I would gladly pay you tuesday for a hamburger today.

I’d like to think you all would remain faithful to me if i ever tried to have some of you killed.

SCOTUS: It’s not “bribery” unless it comes from the Bribery region of France. Otherwise, it’s merely “sparkling malfeasance”.

Finding joy where we can, and muddling through where we can’t.

You passed on an opportunity to be offended? What are you even doing here?

The willow is too close to the house.

There are no moderate republicans – only extremists and cowards.

Come for the politics, stay for the snark.

If you voted for Trump, you don’t get to speak about ethics, morals, or rule of law.

“A king is only a king if we bow down.” – Rev. William Barber

Whoever he was, that guy was nuts.

“Until such time as the world ends, we will act as though it intends to spin on.”

One way or another, he’s a liar.

Dear elected officials: Trump is temporary, dishonor is forever.

Let’s bury these fuckers at the polls 2 years from now.

Red lights blinking on democracy’s dashboard

Speaker Mike Johnson is a vile traitor to the House and the Constitution.

You are here: Home / Open Threads / Culture of Corruption

Culture of Corruption

by | 107 Comments

This post is in: 

So after I got my fat ass off the exercise bike (aka the “six hundred dollar towel rack”), I turned on the radio and started to go about the Saturday morning house cleaning. Normally I just listen to Click and Clack and then Whad’ya Know?, get all smacked up on coffee, and then chase Tunch around with the vacuum cleaner (he hates it, so this is one of the few points in the week where I have the upper hand in our relationship), but this week I decided to listen to some rock station.

At any rate, I was buzzing around the house when all of a sudden, I realized that not only was “Bad Medicine” playing, but that I was singing along, and I knew all the words. It was mortifying, and the first thing I did was look to make sure no one had seen me, even though I live alone.

This will never happen again, I swear.

*** Update ***

BTW, I mentioned I love James Brown, and you all know about my love of the Dead and Little Feat, but if I had to choose another band that never fails to make me happy, it would be these guys:

That isn’t one of their best known songs, but it is one of my all time favs.

Reader Interactions

107Comments

  1. 1.

    Conservatively Liberal

    Man you are a goner. ;)

    Edit: If I open my mouth to sing, people die. I’ll stick to my guitar (or air guitar when the real one isn’t handy) so people stay safe.

  3. 3.

    Bob In Pacifica

    I grew up on the Jersey Shore, and while I think fondly on the fact that the Boss was playing high school dances and learning his chops while I was in the area, I grew up in the next town over from Cliffwood, where Bon Jovi grew up. And I have never had any connection with his music, or him.

    In fact, when the refs cheated and gave his Arena football team the championship last year over the San Jose Sabercats I lost a little more respect for him.

    And I don’t know the lyrics to "Bad Medicine".

  4. 4.

    Stuck

    “Bad Medicine” playing, but that I was singing along, and I knew all the words

    Stairway to Heaven would have been normal.

  5. 5.

    freelancer

    Why not just ruin the whole site for good, and my day again by posting another Creed video?

    But since we’re confessing pop culture corruptions, I should admit that yes because was 9-11 years old when they came out, I know all the lyrics to Ice, Ice, Baby; Can’t Touch This, The C&C music factory’s Gonna Make You Sweat among others.

  6. 6.

    burnspbesq

    Could be worse. You could have been singing along to REO Speedwagon.

    For your penance, listen to post-1965 John Coltrane for the rest of the day. You must suffer for your sins.

  7. 7.

    demkat620

    Can somebody explain to me why I have to put up with John Kyl on MSNBC? We won, they lost. Why do I have to hear about hurt feelings on the republican side of the aisle?

    We tried to tell you people to stop the shit or bad stuff would happen. You didn’t listen. Guess what? Bad stuff happened. You do not get to tell me every day how hurt you are that now, bad stuff having happened, I won’t listen to you.

    Sit down, have a juice box, and STFU.

  8. 8.

    themis

    John John John…

    When torturing the cat with the mighty sucking machine, do it to People are Strange… ‘cuz that’s what Tunch is thinking anyway.

  10. 10.

    gbear

    Oh oh, the internets seem to be having a spontaneous bad song day. TBoggs is afflicted too.

    Demkat @ 7, have you ever stood next to anyone who’s tried to put the straw in a juice box while under stress? The death grip they have on the box tends to result in a super-soaker spray of juice the moment the straw penetrates the box. Better to give Kyl a bottle of juice (plastic, not glass) instead of a box.

  12. 12.

    demkat620

    @burnspbesq: Oui!

    @gbear: LOlz! That also happens with small children.

    BTW, I am going to DC next weekend. Gonna tour the capitol and stand in front of the WH with its new resident. Will report back with pics if anyone is interested.

  14. 14.

    Conservatively Liberal

    When you catch yourself singing this song, pull a gun out and get it over with.

    Note: Not a rickroll. Never done one, never will.

  20. 20.

    Punchy

    "Bad Medicine" is an affront to Americans who pay their tax cuts and enjoy their FDA. Only a liberal lefty loser would mock the very important job our drug-safety peeps perform each day.

  23. 23.

    Martin

    Unfortunately I have a very good memory for music. I know the words to all manner of bad songs (I usually have a song memorized after about 3-5 hearings) and I am often appalled at what I find myself singing to. Being the age that I am, I probably have every Donna Summer and Carol King song committed to memory and there’s no amount of The Who and Soundgarden and Ramones to undo that kind of shame.

  24. 24.

    Big Nellie

    …and sometimes on the way to the airport I listen to Christopher Cross. Life leaves it’s musical marks … good and bad. Right now it’s some Four Tops on Jango.

  34. 34.

    Platosearwax

    What is up with virtually every posted Youtube video lately is "unavailable in your country"? I’m in Europe and if I know what it is it usually takes me 10 seconds to find it again but this is getting annoying.

  37. 37.

    Michael D.

    Just for you, John!!

    I ain’t got a fever got a permanent disease
    It’ll take more than a doctor to prescribe a remedy
    I got lots of money but it isn’t what I need
    Gonna take more than a shot to get this poison out of me
    I got all the symptoms count ’em 1,2,3

    First you need
    That’s what you get for falling in love
    Then you bleed
    You get a little but it’s never enough
    On your knees
    That’s what you get for falling in love
    And now this boy’s addicted cause your kiss is the drug

    Your love is like bad medicine
    Bad medicine is what I need
    Shake it up, just like bad medicine
    There ain’t no doctor that can
    Cure my disease

    Bad, bad medicine
    Bad, bad medicine

    I don’t need no needle
    To be giving me a thrill
    And I don’t need no anesthesia
    Or a nurse to bring a pill
    I got a dirty down addiction
    It doesn’t leave a track
    I got a jone for your affection
    Like a monkey on my back

    There ain’t no paramedic
    Gonna save this heart attack

    When you need
    That’s what you get for falling in love
    Then you bleed
    You get a little but it’s never enough
    On your knees
    That’s what you get for falling in love
    Now I’m addicted and your kiss is the drug

    Your love is like bad medicine
    Bad medicine is what I need
    Shake it up, just like bad medicine
    So let’s play doctor, baby
    Cure my disease

    Bad, bad medicine
    Bad, bad medicine

    [Solo]

    I need a respirator cause I’m running out of breath
    You’re an all night generator wrapped is stockings and a dress
    When you find your medicine you take what you can get
    Cause if there’s something better baby well thay haven’t found it yet

    Your love is like bad medicine
    Bad medicine is what I need
    Shake it up, just like bad medicine
    There ain’t no doctor that can
    Cure my disease

    Your love is like bad medicine
    Bad medicine is what I need
    Shake it up, just like bad medicine
    Your love’s the potion that
    Can cure my disease

    Bad, bad medicine
    Bad, bad medicine

  42. 42.

    JGabriel

    I clicked on the video link, and I am relieved to say "I do not know this song, I do not know the words, and it did not get stuck in my head."

    One of the benefits of being a college radio dj hipster douchebag in the 80’s is that we were so immersed in the alternative scene that we managed to completely avoid shit like Bon Jovi.

    I only mention this to let Cole know that his sick attempt to get Bad Medicine stuck in all our heads didn’t work and why.

    (Parliament, on the other hand, is way cool.)

    .

  43. 43.

    gbear

    @The Grand Panjandrum:

    How can a 2:37 video feel as long as the full version of In-a-gadda-da-vida? There were worse bubble gum songs in the 70’s, but that animation was life-sucking lame.

    I need to go take a shower after spending the morning on this thread. It’s above freezing in MN today and time to get out in the sun. Of course it’s just a teaser, but we’ll take it.

  44. 44.

    LongHairedWeirdo

    It’s progressive, let me warn you. Next thing you know, you’ll be crooning along to Mandy, with a wine spritzer in one hand and smoking from a cigarette holder with the older.

    (Not that there’s anything wrong with that. Of course, once I get the pictures, I’m going to make you pay big for the negatives.)

    (Damn. Technology has *ruined* a lot of pulp fiction blackmail plots. So *what* if you get "the negatives" (as if new prints and negatives can’t be made!) any more?)

    (What? No, you can’t try to embarrass me in return. I rap. Badly. And sometimes the songs I rap come from old Disney movies.)

  46. 46.

    JGabriel

    @freelancer:

    … since we’re confessing pop culture corruptions, I should admit that yes because was 9-11 years old when they came out, I know all the lyrics to Ice, Ice, Baby…

    Everyone knows all the lyrics to "Ice, Ice, Baby".

    They are:

    Ice, ice, baby
    Ice, ice, baby
    Ice, ice, baby
    Ice, ice, baby

    (Yeah I totally fuckin’ ripped off the bassline from Queen’s "Under Pressure".)

    .

  47. 47.

    The Grand Panjandrum

    @gbear: I throwing in the towel, as it were, myself. I can only take so much of this fun. My brother got me a bottle of Macallan 25 year Single Malt for the holiday season. I think I need some of it. Now.

    We’re up to 32 F! Looks like the heat wave will be here through tomorrow.

  53. 53.

    John Cole

    I suppose I have long since lost any credibility or aura of coolness, but I don’t care anymore. You know what I listened to this morning while on the exercise bike? This. And I sang along to Joanna.

    Suck it. I have no shame.

  54. 54.

    JGabriel

    For those inadvertently affected / infected by the Pop Earworms, here are some links to effective ear scrubbers:

    Summer Babe – Pavement

    From A Motel 6 – Yo La Tengo

    The guitars are just obnoxious & cool enough – especially the buzzsaw riff in the bridge of "From a Motel 6" – to clear out earworms, but not so catchy that they’ll get stuck themselves.

    .

  55. 55.

    Cain

    I suppose I have long since lost any credibility or aura of coolness, but I don’t care anymore. You know what I listened to this morning while on the exercise bike? This. And I sang along to Joanna.

    Suck it. I have no shame.

    Joanna?! Of all the damn songs from that band, that has got to be the worst.. meh.

    Must. Remove. Song. From. Head.

    cain

  58. 58.

    gbear

    As long as we’re talking favorites now, Blue Pine Trees by Unicorn is a record I can always count on to get me out of a funk. Their records were produced by David Gilmour, and the only place you can find them any more it here. They have exactly one youtube.com/watch?v=PDssNn8PvDU YouTube entry, but the sound quality sucks. Gilmour covered the song on one of his solo records.

    edit: sorry I botched the link

  60. 60.

    Tsulagi

    While Slayer is almost always in my car CD deck, the latin SO has mellowed me out. There’s always also some salsa and reggaeton. Good stuff. One of my faves is Hips don’t Lie. Listen to that and if you can’t put down your Hola Fruta and start dancing, or at least what passes for that from a white guy, you’re gone. Latin women are hot.

  62. 62.

    gbear

    Heh. Culture of Corruption indeedie-doo:

    Michael S. Steele, the newly elected chairman of the Republican National Committee, arranged for his 2006 Senate campaign to pay a defunct company run by his sister for services that were never performed, his finance chairman from that campaign has told federal prosecutors.

    The recent allegations outlined four specific transactions. In addition to the payment to Steele’s sister, Fabian said that the candidate used money from his state campaign improperly; that Steele paid $75,000 from the state campaign to a law firm for work that was never performed; and that he or an aide transferred more than $500,000 in campaign cash from one bank to another without authorization.

    I’m really going to go outside now….

  63. 63.

    Svensker

    OK, now you’ve got me listening to George Clinton doing Atomic Dog and my husband just closed the door on me.

    P-Funk is excellent.

    What’s wrong with Donna Summers?

    Then there’s Kurtis Blow. Youtube doesn’t have It’s Tough, which was the best.

  64. 64.

    JL

    When I’m doing chores or projects around the house, I listen to Feist. Laugh all you want but my adult son thinks I’m cool. The other indie music that I like is Jack Jackson and a little Bjorn, Peter and John.

  65. 65.

    ChrisB

    Inadvertently mocking a valued commenter’s deceased pet has to be the new low for this website.

    It was until you admitted to singing along to "Joanna."

  66. 66.

    Comrade Mary, Would-Be Minion Of Bad Horse

    Aaaaand .. scene!

    Nice wrap-up of today’s threads, ChrisB.

  67. 67.

    Rick Taylor

    By the way, something I’d forgotten, Republicans blocked a stimulus package way back in September. A pity, with the economy falling off a cliff we sure could use that investment right about now. Oh well.

  68. 68.

    Emma Anne

    Whoever put up "too sexy for my shirt" led me to a version with Snape footage, so that was good.

  71. 71.

    D-Chance.

    Remember "you’re either with us or against us"? If you don’t agree with ALL of Bush’s proposals, you must be anti-American?

    Well?

    Tom Maguire (didn’t he used to be half-way sensible?)

    Noel Sheppard

    More to come, I’m sure. This is the Weekend Wingnut Meme.

    Yep. It begins.

  72. 72.

    D-Chance.

    Way to good to pass up.

    Sarah Palin’s husband and staff found in contempt

    Wait, the details in the article make for downright HIGH-larious reading.

    The Alaska Senate on Friday found Gov. Sarah Palin’s husband and nine state employees, including some of her top aides, in contempt for ignoring subpoenas to testify in the Legislature’s Troopergate investigation.

    Guilty!

    The Senate said it would seek no punishment for the witnesses’ failure to appear before the Senate Judiciary Committee last fall in an investigation into the governor’s firing of her public safety commissioner, Walt Monegan.

    Gutless!

    we were reminded that the legislative branch’s power of subpoena is an important one, and must be respected by the executive branch," said Sen. Hollis French, D-Anchorage. "With this resolution, the Senate is making it clear that we are a coequal branch of state government."

    Moron!

    Now, where’s the picture of the guy bent over laughing hysterically… insert here.

  73. 73.

    JL

    @D-Chance.: I’m sure that the MSM media will be all over this after they finish talking about Michael Steele being investigated for campaign fund abuse. Raise your hands if you heard those stories by watching MSM.

  74. 74.

    Fulcanelli

    The Dead, Little Feat and now P-Funk? Dude, I’m impressed. Saw Clinton solo once, what a riot.
    Y’all be funkin’ over here, but over there ain’t shit!

  76. 76.

    JL

    @D-Chance.: If I didn’t have to sign in, I would have posted a comment. Somehow the asses don’t realize that not spending the money will cost us more in the form of unemployment wages, lack of health care and lower taxes. @@*%&*(*(@

  77. 77.

    eclecticbrotha

    John, if you don’t have it already, you need to add "Parliament Live: P-Funk Earth Tour" to your album/CD collection. I played the live version of "Dr. Funkenstein" every morning before I caught the bus to high school during my senior year. In fact, listening to Michael Hampton’s guitar solo caused me to miss the bus a few days….

  79. 79.

    Stuck

    I think I can speak for all DFH’s, this day is long in coming and sweet as Jamaican Ganja. The warm blanket of Justice is ours!
    Our long national Bogart is over.

    The message is clear, said UCLA professor Mark Kleiman, a former Justice Department official and an expert on crime and drug policy.

    "It is no longer federal policy to beat up on hippies," said Kleiman.

  80. 80.

    South of I-10

    I spend a beautiful 75 degree sunny day planting flowers and putting together my Mardi Gras playlist on iTunes, I stop by here and it is youtube carnage!

  81. 81.

    Stuck

    @larue:

    "Go Maggot Brain". G

    Maggot Brain is a classic. It should replace the National Anthem IMO, or at least that Muzak junk "Hail to the Chief"

    Eddie Hazel == RIP

  82. 82.

    Tsulagi

    OT, but since D-Chance brought up the snowmobile goddess, seems over in RSSF HQ there is some dissension among the ball buyers on whether to climb or stay aboard the USS You Betcha. The thread is a little funny.

    Greeting one RS frontpager’s daily Sarah adoration column, comment #1…

    Enough! Your daily obsession with Palin has made me hope that she never runs for higher office again.

    Damn, that from an official patch wearing RSSFer. Later in the thread from one resisting message discipline and assimilation in recognizing the awesomeness of their standard beareress…

    It’s like being on the Titanic and knowing it’s heading for an iceberg but not being able to convince the crew to turn.

    Yeah, but you might also want to question why you’re on the Titanic. But anyway, as always, the really smart faithful see the big picture…

    They’re are tens of millions of young girls that love Palin to death, but weren’t old enough to vote for her. In 2012, these women will be able to vote. The perfect strategy would be to play on Palin’s rock star personality to the millions of young girls that will be able to vote in 2012. Think outside the box.

    These guys crack me up.

  83. 83.

    headpan

    I’m very sorry, but The Godfather rules. Ever since Obama was elected, I’ve really been getting in touch with my "inner negro" — I have played nothing but "black-peeples" music since. I actually didn’t realize what I’d been doing until a few days ago when, for the first time in ages, I was trying to dance in the middle of the living room (in painfully white fashion) to old 60’s soul. Our prez is hip & cool and I’m in the groove widdit.

    (Confession: I did manage to shake my booty a few times, but Michelle would leave me in the dirt with her moves)

  84. 84.

    Reverend Dennis

    They’re are tens of millions of young girls that love Palin to death, but weren’t old enough to vote for her. In 2012, these women will be able to vote.

    If that line of reasoning was even remotely correct then we’d better start getting ready for President Miley Cyrus.

  86. 86.

    Stuck

    @Reverend Dennis:

    f that line of reasoning was even remotely correct then we’d better start getting ready for President Miley Cyrus.

    Well at least she’ll ahve a cool, and might I say most Presidential name of Hannah Montana. Ought to scare the begeebers out the Russkies, and make the Mullahs think twice after viewing her Music Video.

  87. 87.

    JL

    @Tsulagi: What ever happened to Miley Cyrus and Britney Spears? I didn’t realize that the young girls followed Sarah around.

    They’re are tens of millions of young girls that love Palin to death, but weren’t old enough to vote for her. In 2012, these women will be able to vote. The perfect strategy would be to play on Palin’s rock star personality to the millions of young girls that will be able to vote in 2012. Think outside the box.

    Tens of millions of girls screaming after Sarah, Yeah right!

  88. 88.

    Joshua Norton

    The perfect strategy would be to play on Palin’s rock star personality to the millions of young girls that will be able to vote in 2012. Think outside the box.

    So many double entendres, so little time.

  91. 91.

    D-Chance.

    There’s no OT in this thread, Tsuli.

    Cole posted about exercising on his bike, listening to the radio, maid duty, his normal Saturday morning routine (and, GOD, how sad it sounds…), and singing out loud while all alone in his house.

    IOW, he got nothin’.

  93. 93.

    fastandsloppy

    If you like James Brown I cannot recommend his live album Love Power Peace highly enough. It will blow you away.

  96. 96.

    gbear

    I’ve really been getting in touch with my "inner negro"—I have played nothing but "black-peeples" music since. I actually didn’t realize what I’d been doing until a few days ago when, for the first time in ages, I was trying to dance in the middle of the living room (in painfully white fashion) to old 60’s soul.

    Start out with Hall and Oates and then work forward from there. Under no circumstances should your course of study include Lionel Richie. Sly and the Family Stone are mandatory.

  97. 97.

    Wilson Heath

    Your normal Saturday morning sounds much like mine. Just substitute surly dogs for surly cat.

  98. 98.

    headpan

    Start out with Hall and Oates and then work forward from there. Under no circumstances should your course of study include Lionel Richie.

    Um, I think I’ll just skip the first two and go straight into Sly.

    I have a weak constitution.

  99. 99.

    Keith

    The Senate said it would seek no punishment for the witnesses’ failure to appear before the Senate Judiciary Committee last fall in an investigation into the governor’s firing of her public safety commissioner, Walt Monegan.

    "The Senate added that it would not fault Todd Palin for slapping them in the face with his dick because determined that, in fact, the Senate was at fault for being in the presence of Palin’s phallus, and it is therefore apologizing to Todd Palin for the inconvenience. It also expressed official sympathy to former vice-president Dick Cheney for any stress caused by shooting a main in the face."

    MOVE FORWARD HOOOOOO!

  104. 104.

    Litlebritdifrnt

    @iluvsummr:

    Man that link sent me off into an hour long love fest for Adam and the Ants, I was obsessed with Adam when I was a young en, can’t thank you enough for that. Damn Prince Charming still has me doing the dance (Diana Dors was a whole bunch of woman her best quote ever "what catholics aren’t supposed to have tits?"), and Stand and Deliver has me singing along with the best of them. "sigh"

    "ridicule is nothing to be scared of"

    Hah!

Comments are closed.