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… pundit janitors mopping up after the gop

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You don’t get to peddle hatred on saturday and offer condolences on sunday.

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Seems like a complicated subject, have you tried yelling at it?

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The next time the wall street journal editorial board speaks the truth will be the first.

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You are here: Home / Open Threads / Night shift

Night shift

by DougJ|  December 3, 20118:25 pm| 187 Comments

This post is in: Open Threads

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Whoa, we are way overdue for an open thread. I’ll put some real posts up in a little bit.

Update. Random interesting fact I learned on Johnny Cash’s wiki page after listening to American Routes:

President Nixon became acquainted with Johnny Cash through their mutual friend Billy Graham. On 17 April 1970, at the President’s invitation, the Man in Black gave a concert for an invited audience in the East Room of the White House.

[….]

The appearance became the subject of a press-created controversy after a member of the White House staff —presumably someone from the East Wing’s social office— wrote to Cash’s management asking if he would perform three of the most popular cross-over country music songs of the day: Guy Drake’s “Welfare Cadillac,” Merle Haggard’s “Okie from Muskogee” and Cash’s own “A Boy Named Sue.”

When the requests were passed along to Cash, he said that he would be glad to sing “Sue,” but that the other two songs presented a problem.

Cash demurred that he didn’t know the other two songs, but it sounds as though he was just being polite.

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Previous Post: « Look back in anger
Next Post: Newt, Washed in the Blood of the Lamb »

Reader Interactions

187Comments

  1. 1.

    Temporarily Max McGee (soon enough to be Andy K again)

    December 3, 2011 at 8:28 pm

    Man…The Badgers’ first drive was strong.

  2. 2.

    Rob Wolfe

    December 3, 2011 at 8:30 pm

    Watching the Huckabee Forum. Holy Shit these AG’s are insane

  3. 3.

    Omnes Omnibus

    December 3, 2011 at 8:31 pm

    @Temporarily Max McGee (soon enough to be Andy K again): Ball is a madman tonight.

  4. 4.

    shoutingattherain

    December 3, 2011 at 8:32 pm

    Non-stop up and down the ice action in the Pens/Canes tilt. 1-1 after 2.

  5. 5.

    General Stuck

    December 3, 2011 at 8:32 pm

    Whoa, we are way overdue for an open thread.

    fuckin A. I had to hold my bitching about the weather here, for longer than is healthy. Right on the heels of a fairly kick ass winter storm, we got two more in the pipeline, one right after the other. And the second will be the worst of all. I moved to the desert SW for the desert part, and not some winter wonderland to freeze the brass balls of my monkey. And it’s only frickin’ December. We need a Global Warming thread next.

  6. 6.

    Steeplejack

    December 3, 2011 at 8:34 pm

    You rang? I saw the night-owl searchlight symbol against the night sky.

    Looking for a car on the Interwebs. There is a Honda Element at CarMax that may have my name on it.

    Also, Wisconsin-Michigan State on TV in the background. Need to monitor whether my Sparty brother will be gloating or suicidal tomorrow. He takes it way too seriously.

  7. 7.

    Temporarily Max McGee (soon enough to be Andy K again)

    December 3, 2011 at 8:34 pm

    @Omnes Omnibus:

    Well, in the first series, anyway.

    I turned the last game off when Wisconsin was going in for their second score, didn’t come back until they were going to tie it up. I might have to do the same thing tonight for, Sparty’s sake.

  8. 8.

    Omnes Omnibus

    December 3, 2011 at 8:35 pm

    Who the fuck are the announcers for the Big Ten game? They suck/blow.

  9. 9.

    lamh35

    December 3, 2011 at 8:35 pm

    Been watching Indiana Jones and The Last Crusade on SyFy. Don’t Care what anyone says, IJ&LC is the best film of the franchise…period…Who dares disagree?

  10. 10.

    John H.

    December 3, 2011 at 8:35 pm

    Can you explain why Cash would be uncomfortable singing the other two songs. I might be too young to be in on this info.

  11. 11.

    Mnemosyne

    December 3, 2011 at 8:37 pm

    Getting ready to head over to G’s office Christmas party. They’ve all been saving up all year for it, so it should be pretty nice. (No, the company didn’t give a dime towards it — it’s all the employees’ own money collected over the course of the year).

    Best part is that it’s at a hotel that’s three blocks from our house, so we don’t even have to pay for parking. Woot!

  12. 12.

    Temporarily Max McGee (soon enough to be Andy K again)

    December 3, 2011 at 8:37 pm

    @Omnes Omnibus:

    Gus Johnson and…(?).

  13. 13.

    Linda Featheringill

    December 3, 2011 at 8:37 pm

    @General Stuck:

    Wow. I went to weather dot com to check out the SW deserts. I don’t know how fast those systems are moving but it looks to me like they extend from Canada to Mexico.

  14. 14.

    AxelFoley

    December 3, 2011 at 8:37 pm

    @lamh35:

    Been watching Indiana Jones and The Last Crusade on SyFy. Don’t Care what anyone says, IJ&LC is the best film of the franchise…period…Who dares disagree?

    [coughcoughIndianaJonesandtheTempleofDoomisthebestintheseriescoughcough]

  15. 15.

    Omnes Omnibus

    December 3, 2011 at 8:38 pm

    @John H.: They weren’t his songs.

  16. 16.

    Temporarily Max McGee (soon enough to be Andy K again)

    December 3, 2011 at 8:38 pm

    And Moo U answers!

  17. 17.

    Comrade Mary

    December 3, 2011 at 8:38 pm

    Okie from Muskogee (Wiki)

    Welfare Cadillac lyrics

    Johnny Cash was a big old Commie, bless ’em.

  18. 18.

    Nutella

    December 3, 2011 at 8:39 pm

    The Sandusky effort to poison the jury pool continues, with the New York Times printing a creampuff interview. Apparently the reporter never asked him “Did you rape that child?” or “Why did you get naked with children in showers?”. He’s just misunderstood, poor guy.

  19. 19.

    Linda Featheringill

    December 3, 2011 at 8:39 pm

    @John H.:

    Copyright questions for one thing. Also, it might be a point of manners to not step on another singer’s hit song.

  20. 20.

    Comrade Mary

    December 3, 2011 at 8:40 pm

    Oops. The link Doug provided contradicts me.

    When the requests were passed along to Cash, he said that he would be glad to sing “Sue,” but that the other two songs presented a problem. That problem wasn’t their lyrics —which, as he later wrote, had become “lightning rods for antihippie and antiblack sentiment”— but the fact that he had no arrangements for them and wouldn’t have time to learn or rehearse them with his band before they had to leave for Washington.
    __
    “The request had come in too late,” he wrote. “If it hadn’t, then the issue might have become the messages, but fortunately I didn’t have to deal with that.”

  21. 21.

    SiubhanDuinne

    December 3, 2011 at 8:41 pm

    @General Stuck:

    Yes, but CHARLIE!!

  22. 22.

    J. Michael Neal

    December 3, 2011 at 8:42 pm

    Gophers/Sux is 0-0 at the first intermission. The way the game is going, though, I like our chances.

  23. 23.

    Mnemosyne

    December 3, 2011 at 8:42 pm

    @John H.:

    I Googled since I, too, am too young to recognize the songs. “Welfare Cadillac” is pretty much exactly what it sounds like, though I didn’t realize that conservatives had been pushing that story since well before Reagan was talking about “welfare queens.” “Okie from Muskogee” is hippie-punching.

    I’m not at all surprised that the guy who wrote “Man in Black” wouldn’t touch those songs with a 10-foot pole.

  24. 24.

    Villago Delenda Est

    December 3, 2011 at 8:42 pm

    The thing about Okie from Muskogee is that Haggard later said it was kind of a spoof.

    Of course, naturally, the ultra-square Nixon loved it.

  25. 25.

    Temporarily Max McGee (soon enough to be Andy K again)

    December 3, 2011 at 8:43 pm

    @Comrade Mary:

    Actually, I think it confirms what you wrote. JC just used the timing of the request as an excuse to sidestep the politics.

  26. 26.

    Temporarily Max McGee (soon enough to be Andy K again)

    December 3, 2011 at 8:46 pm

    Some good Merle, to cleanse the palate:

    Mama Tried

  27. 27.

    khead

    December 3, 2011 at 8:46 pm

    Thread needs pics

    We get a visitor.

  28. 28.

    General Stuck

    December 3, 2011 at 8:46 pm

    President Nixon became acquainted with Johnny Cash through their mutual friend Billy Graham. On 17 April 1970, at the President’s invitation, the Man in Black gave a concert for an invited audience in the East Room of the White House.


    At least he didn’t pull an Elvis
    and show up at the WH on a whim. Asking Nixon to deputize him as a ‘federal agent at large” whatever that was, to fight the drug war hippy scourge. Those were heady days, and you just didn’t know what would happen next.

  29. 29.

    AA+ Bonds

    December 3, 2011 at 8:46 pm

    Nixon was the first Republican President without a soul, meaning that Eisenhower was the last Republican President with one.

  30. 30.

    Steeplejack

    December 3, 2011 at 8:46 pm

    Too late for a DVR alert, but Out of the Past started at 8:00 EST on TCM. Great film noir or greatest film noir? Greatest, in my opinion. Nice intro from Robert Osborne and Alec Baldwin tonight.

    Pretty good student-made “trailer” here.

  31. 31.

    SIA

    December 3, 2011 at 8:47 pm

    Cole really is funny on twitter

    President of Us-beki-beki-beki-beki-stan overheard yelling at his tv -“WHAT’s MY NAME NOW BEEOCH?”

  32. 32.

    CaseyL

    December 3, 2011 at 8:47 pm

    @lamh35: It’s hard to choose between that one and the first Indiana Jones movie. However, we can certainly agree that the second movie was “meh,” and that the fourth one was an abomination in the eyes of the cinema gods.

    I’ve got the winter doldrums pretty bad. Being jobless makes it worse, as I get to stay home a lot. (Amazing, the changes the Web has made to job-hunting: one may send ones resumes and cover letters out to all points of the compass without ever actually leaving the sofa.)

    My two kitties came into my life in May 2008, so we’ve been together about 3 1/2 years. Altogether, I’ve been unemployed for almost 1 1/2 years of that time. They get Mom to pay attention to them and be at their beck and call much more than most kitties do. It’s funny that what sucks for me is good news for them… at least, as long as the cat food fund remains robust.

  33. 33.

    Litlebritdifrnt

    December 3, 2011 at 8:49 pm

    Immma going to bed shortly, and I am going to be wearing jammies. That tells you all you need to know about the temps in NC right now.

  34. 34.

    Linda

    December 3, 2011 at 8:49 pm

    @John H:

    The other 2 songs are full of political content: the Haggard song, a response to 60s counterculture in which he is proud to be opposed to anti-war, drug culture, and the “Welfare Cadillac” song which paints welfare recipients as chislers. While I don’t know about Cash being particularly political, he aligned himself with the underdogs in society, as his Man in Black song attests. I didn’t hear about his request to the Haggard song, but I had heard about not singing “Welfare Cadillac,” and from all accounts he just wasn’t feeling it.

  35. 35.

    AA+ Bonds

    December 3, 2011 at 8:50 pm

    Cash was a shrewd operator. There is no doubt in my mind that he was driven to curse aloud by a request that he play two songs by other artists to appear as though he endorsed Nixon’s point of view. Then he calmed down and offered a white lie as explanation (no pun intended).

    This gives you an idea of the birth of the current model of Republican strategy, which happened in Nixon’s White House – the “Silent Majority” bid, telling white Americans, hey, it’s cool, I know all these blacks are getting uppity but you can still be a stealth Kluxer and the White House is right there with you

  36. 36.

    Suffern ACE

    December 3, 2011 at 8:50 pm

    @lamh35: You don’t scare me. Raiders is on the Olympus of the best action movies of all time. Last Crusade is mainly a water sprite.

  37. 37.

    J. Michael Neal

    December 3, 2011 at 8:51 pm

    @khead: Fucking varmints. Deer should be perpetually in season.

  38. 38.

    SIA

    December 3, 2011 at 8:51 pm

    @Steeplejack: Watching it now. Mitchum’s best. Except maybe that one with Jane Russell and Vincent Price.

  39. 39.

    Steeplejack

    December 3, 2011 at 8:51 pm

    @John H.:

    It could be as simple as that Cash didn’t want to sing someone else’s material. It would be similarly tactless for the current White House to have Beyoncé perform and ask her to throw in songs by Rihanna and Lady Gaga.

    Or it could be that Cash didn’t like the anti-DFH subtext of the other two songs. But the explanation above is reason enough.

  40. 40.

    Quincy

    December 3, 2011 at 8:51 pm

    Gus Johnson and Charles Davis. Davis is the one who says stupid things. Johnson just gets overexcited calling the play-by-play.

    And the Badgers really need Ball to avoid getting concussed this time around.

    Wow, I looked away for a moment before posting the answer to the announcer question and the thread filled up quick.

  41. 41.

    Suffern ACE

    December 3, 2011 at 8:53 pm

    @General Stuck: Not only was Elvis planning to be a narc, he was going to narc on the Beatles, IIRC.

  42. 42.

    Linda

    December 3, 2011 at 8:53 pm

    More good Merle that I’ve been feeling: If We Make it Through December

  43. 43.

    DougJ

    December 3, 2011 at 8:53 pm

    @John H.:

    “Okie” is a tongue-in-cheek dig at hippies that became a rallying cry for Real Murkins despite being clearly tongue-in-cheek. “Welfare Cadillac” is, well, as you can guess, strapping young bucks buying caddies on Uncle Sam’s dime.

  44. 44.

    Steeplejack

    December 3, 2011 at 8:54 pm

    @khead:

    Really good watchcat you’ve got there. LOL.

  45. 45.

    The Dangerman

    December 3, 2011 at 8:54 pm

    @Rob Wolfe:

    Watching the Huckabee Forum. Holy Shit these AG’s are insane.

    Which explains why they are on the Huckabee Forum.

    I’ve been watching (kinda) and, gotta say, they’ve been tougher questioners than the debate moderators; Perry was wandering far afield of the question asked and they called bullshit on him.

    Romney should get skewered.

  46. 46.

    Southern Beale

    December 3, 2011 at 8:56 pm

    Had to send the husband to the hockey game without me cuz I’m sick. Please tell me something good ….

  47. 47.

    lamh35

    December 3, 2011 at 8:56 pm

    @AxelFoley: love Temple of Doom, Hate, hate, hate Kate Capshaw and streotypical Asian kid though.

    @Suffern ACE: @CaseyL: I’d def chose Raiders above Temple, but obviously NOT above Last Crusade. In fact, ’bout the only reason I watch the last installment if for Karen Allen. IMHO, K. Allen was hands down the best of the “Indie Girls” (ala Bond Girls, are should I say Bond “Women”)

    Barring a great “Indie Girl” I just love the interaction between Sean Connery and Harrison Ford. It seemed genuinely father/son-ish…lol

  48. 48.

    gbear

    December 3, 2011 at 8:58 pm

    @John H.:

    As Comrade Mary said, Cash wasn’t a redneck. Those two songs were big-time redneck songs.

  49. 49.

    AA+ Bonds

    December 3, 2011 at 8:58 pm

    I have to agree about Merle, the opening line alone of “Okie from Muskogee” establishes it as a self-aware joke

  50. 50.

    Temporarily Max McGee (soon enough to be Andy K again)

    December 3, 2011 at 8:58 pm

    @Suffern ACE:

    Not only was Elvis planning to be a narc, he was going to narc on the Beatles, IIRC.

    Which makes this even better.

  51. 51.

    Steeplejack

    December 3, 2011 at 8:58 pm

    @SIA:

    His Kind of Woman (1951). I haven’t seen that one. I’ll have to run it down.

  52. 52.

    Linda Featheringill

    December 3, 2011 at 8:58 pm

    @CaseyL:

    It’s funny that what sucks for me is good news for them… at least, as long as the cat food fund remains robust.

    Reminds me of Beau, hungry, blind in one eye, back quarters that actually didn’t work [although he had no urinary or bowel problems]. Poor kitty. He was obviously hungry but wouldn’t eat dry food even if I softened it with liquids. I found that he really, really liked canned food but could only consume a small amount at a time. The weather was hot and of course we didn’t have air conditioning. So I couldn’t just leave food out for him. Fortunately for him, I was unemployed at the time and so I got up and fed him every 4 hours for three weeks. He filled out. Back legs eventually worked somewhat. He was a sweet and loyal friend. He lived with me for 17 years.

  53. 53.

    David Koch

    December 3, 2011 at 9:00 pm

    New Iowa poll, taken before Herb Caen dropped out, has Gingrich leading with 25% to Paul’s 18% and Mitten’s 16%. Caen had 8%.

    Go Newt, Go!

  54. 54.

    Jim, Foolish Literalist

    December 3, 2011 at 9:00 pm

    I’m always happy to hear good things about Johnny Cash

    @The Dangerman:

    Romney should get skewered.

    How they treat Romney, I imagine, would be a pretty good barometer of where the national party stands on Romney v Gingrich. I wonder if any feelers are out to try and get Mitch Daniels in the race. Is it really too late when the money is limitless?

  55. 55.

    Cassidy

    December 3, 2011 at 9:00 pm

    At work waiting to take my dinner break when Mayhem is fighting.

  56. 56.

    (another) Josh

    December 3, 2011 at 9:04 pm

    Yeah, dunno whether Cash took a stand on the war; but he had established in a couple of Sixties records that he was pro-labor and pro-American Indian; and he was friendly with many DFHs. And he was a Democrat.

  57. 57.

    khead

    December 3, 2011 at 9:04 pm

    @Steeplejack:

    Heh. I have one where she’s actually interested in the deer – ok, well sorta – but it’s too fuzzy.

  58. 58.

    Disgruntled Lurker

    December 3, 2011 at 9:07 pm

    The appearance became the subject of a press-created controversy after a member of the White House staff —presumably someone from the East Wing’s social office— wrote to Cash’s management asking if he would perform three of the most popular cross-over country music songs of the day: Guy Drake’s “Welfare Cadillac,” Merle Haggard’s “Okie from Muskogee” and Cash’s own “A Boy Named Sue.”

    They later asked Bob Dylan if he wouldn’t mind stopping by and doing some Eagles covers.

  59. 59.

    Southern Beale

    December 3, 2011 at 9:07 pm

    I met Johnny Cash once, a couple years before he died. I was supposed to be doing an interview but I was so tongue-tied I basically muttered and mumbled the whole time. June could tell I was star struck and was the sweetest thing.

  60. 60.

    Southern Beale

    December 3, 2011 at 9:09 pm

    Wow, so even Ron Paul has some standards:

    Paul campaign calls Trump debate ‘beneath the office of the Presidency’, declines invite

  61. 61.

    J. Michael Neal

    December 3, 2011 at 9:09 pm

    Gah! Kessel beats the goalie clean but hits the pipe. I still like the way we are playing.

  62. 62.

    Raven

    December 3, 2011 at 9:10 pm

    Merle has these great lyrics in the seldom heard “Proud of What I am”.

    I never travel in a hurry, ‘Cause I got nobody waitin’ for me anywhere.
    Home is anywhere I’m livin’,
    If it’s sleepin’ on some vacant bench in City Square,
    Or if I’m workin’ on some road gang,
    Or just livin’ off the fat of our great land.
    I never been nobody’s idol, But at least I got a title,
    And I Take Alot Of Pride In What I Am.

  63. 63.

    Linnaeus

    December 3, 2011 at 9:11 pm

    Montee Ball lookin’ real good in this game.

  64. 64.

    eemom

    December 3, 2011 at 9:11 pm

    @Linda:

    yeah, I think Man In Black tells you all you need to know about what Cash really thought.

    LIke so many songs from that era, so painfully relevant today that those 40 years might just as well never have passed.

    Some love for John Prine too plz. Sam Stone, Flag Decal, and so many others.

  65. 65.

    Raven

    December 3, 2011 at 9:11 pm

    Pride

  66. 66.

    Gozer

    December 3, 2011 at 9:12 pm

    Just got a new phone after having an iPhone for the last 5 years.

    Luv my Galaxy s2 and it even works with my ako account.

  67. 67.

    JGabriel

    December 3, 2011 at 9:12 pm

    @Villago Delenda Est:

    The thing about Okie from Muskogee is that Haggard later said it was kind of a spoof.

    Yeah, I don’t buy that. Here’s a video of Merle performing in ’68. Whether or not he’s sincere or spoof is besides the point: he’s clearly performing it for an audience that thinks he’s sincere, and giving them the performance they want.

    ETA: Haggard may have changed his story about the song after aligning himself with the “outlaw country” scene in the 70’s, but the idea that Okie… was intended as a spoof when it first came out seems far-fetched to me.

    .

  68. 68.

    Steeplejack

    December 3, 2011 at 9:12 pm

    @khead:

    Yeah, right.

  69. 69.

    AA+ Bonds

    December 3, 2011 at 9:13 pm

    Dave Weigel is talking about Buddy Roemer again as a dark horse because Dave Weigel has nothing better to do with his time until Andrew Breitbart feeds him another “story”, at which point it will mysteriously find its way to the Balloon Juice front page

  70. 70.

    burnspbesq

    December 3, 2011 at 9:13 pm

    @Steeplejack:

    Also, Wisconsin-Michigan State on TV in the background.

    In which the winner is granted the right to be mauled by Oregon in the Rose Bowl, with all that entails, and the loser is granted the right to be home for Christmas, because it will already have played in a meaningless bowl game.

  71. 71.

    Raven

    December 3, 2011 at 9:13 pm

    And, of course, Johhny’s anthem to Nam Vets


    It Don’t Mean Nuthin, Drive On

  72. 72.

    eemom

    December 3, 2011 at 9:15 pm

    Haggard’s Hungry Eyes. Hear it and weep.

  73. 73.

    Jim, Foolish Literalist

    December 3, 2011 at 9:15 pm

    @Southern Beale: I think Ron Paul is very sincere in all of his madness. Nutty as he may be, to have stood against the Iraq War and all the related post-9/11 Bush madness was not the act of a political opportunism.

  74. 74.

    Linnaeus

    December 3, 2011 at 9:16 pm

    @burnspbesq:

    In which the winner is granted the right to be mauled by Oregon in the Rose Bowl

    I wouldn’t be so sure. Oregon was also supposed to maul Ohio State in the 2010 Rose Bowl, and lost that game. MSU has a solid defense and Wisconsin’s O-line is huge.

  75. 75.

    eemom

    December 3, 2011 at 9:16 pm

    @JGabriel:

    folks iz complicated. See above.

  76. 76.

    burnspbesq

    December 3, 2011 at 9:17 pm

    @David Koch:

    New Iowa poll, taken before Herb Caen dropped out

    If Freud were here, he would most likely say that your inadvertent reference to a curmudgeonly San Francisco columnist proves something. What that something might be …

  77. 77.

    Raven

    December 3, 2011 at 9:18 pm

    @Linnaeus: There is nothing worse than people arguing about stupid football games.

  78. 78.

    Steeplejack

    December 3, 2011 at 9:18 pm

    @Raven:

    Man, that is really similar to “Gentle on My Mind.” Like “If George Harrison could get sued for ‘My Sweet Lord’ . . .” similar.

  79. 79.

    Jebediah

    December 3, 2011 at 9:19 pm

    My big plan for the evening is to go for a long-ish walk, at the end of which will be a bluegrass show. Only question is whether or not I shoot some smoke down my neck before I leave the house.

  80. 80.

    eemom

    December 3, 2011 at 9:19 pm

    @David Koch:

    DHS or it didn’t happen.

  81. 81.

    Linnaeus

    December 3, 2011 at 9:20 pm

    @Raven:

    Eh, I didn’t think we quite got to the point of arguing.

  82. 82.

    Raven

    December 3, 2011 at 9:20 pm

    @Linnaeus: I was being snarky.

  83. 83.

    Steeplejack

    December 3, 2011 at 9:21 pm

    @Raven:

    Heh. I saw what you did there.

  84. 84.

    Raven

    December 3, 2011 at 9:21 pm

    @Steeplejack: You can sue anybody for anything, it’s winning that’s hard.

  85. 85.

    Temporarily Max McGee (soon enough to be Andy K again)

    December 3, 2011 at 9:21 pm

    Wow! MSU and Wisconsin are pulling out all the stops!

  86. 86.

    burnspbesq

    December 3, 2011 at 9:22 pm

    @Linnaeus:

    This year’s Oregon team is better than two years ago. Better QB, better receivers, better linebackers. The Ducks two losses are to the two best teams in college football.

    Yes, I said that. USC is better than Bama.

  87. 87.

    DougJ

    December 3, 2011 at 9:22 pm

    @Disgruntled Lurker:

    You know, “Tequila Sunrise” and “Lying Eyes’ aren’t so bad.

  88. 88.

    Raven

    December 3, 2011 at 9:23 pm

    @Steeplejack: So did my brother J Michael Neal!

  89. 89.

    Jebediah

    December 3, 2011 at 9:24 pm

    @eemom:

    Some love for John Prine too plz

    Man, do I love John Prine! I really, really like his post-cancer voice – I like a little individuality or quirk or whatever in a singer, and of course the songs are treasures.

  90. 90.

    Raven

    December 3, 2011 at 9:24 pm

    @burnspbesq: Step back away from the bong barrister.

  91. 91.

    Linnaeus

    December 3, 2011 at 9:24 pm

    @burnspbesq:

    Yes, they are a better team this year. They should be favored in the Rose Bowl. I just don’t think it will be an easy win for Oregon. They lucked out in getting to play UCLA instead of USC in the Pac-12 championship. Not their fault, of course, but…

  92. 92.

    DougJ

    December 3, 2011 at 9:24 pm

    @eemom:

    I think Man In Black tells you all you need to know about what Cash really thought.

    I agree.

  93. 93.

    Raven

    December 3, 2011 at 9:25 pm

    @Jebediah: Souvenirs

  94. 94.

    Linnaeus

    December 3, 2011 at 9:25 pm

    @Raven:

    Oh. Sorry. It must be the beer.

  95. 95.

    Southern Beale

    December 3, 2011 at 9:25 pm

    I think I’ve been commenting on the wrong thread.

    This is what I get for being sick. Bah.

  96. 96.

    Temporarily Max McGee (soon enough to be Andy K again)

    December 3, 2011 at 9:26 pm

    @burnspbesq:

    Nah, the loser will get something like the Citrus or Outback Bowl.

  97. 97.

    David Koch

    December 3, 2011 at 9:26 pm

    @burnspbesq: it proves I’m mocking Palin’s hilarious repeated misuse of Herb Caen to describe Herman Cain.

  98. 98.

    eemom

    December 3, 2011 at 9:26 pm

    @DougJ:

    have you ever heard The Last Resort?

  99. 99.

    Raven

    December 3, 2011 at 9:27 pm

    @Temporarily Max McGee (soon enough to be Andy K again): Capitol One!

  100. 100.

    a hip hop artist from Idaho (fka Bella Q)

    December 3, 2011 at 9:28 pm

    @Raven: What a great response, and the only rational explanation for such a nonsensical comment. Thanks for that dawg.

  101. 101.

    Temporarily Max McGee (soon enough to be Andy K again)

    December 3, 2011 at 9:29 pm

    @Raven:

    WhatEVER!

  102. 102.

    Raven

    December 3, 2011 at 9:29 pm

    @a hip hop artist from Idaho (fka Bella Q): I had my share of those kind of comments a few threads back and I’m sober as a judge!

  103. 103.

    eemom

    December 3, 2011 at 9:30 pm

    @Jebediah:

    totally agree. That album where he re-did all his old songs — name escapes me at the moment, but it came out in 2005 or so — is pure gold.

  104. 104.

    J. Michael Neal

    December 3, 2011 at 9:30 pm

    Gophers outshoot North Dakota 14-4 in the second, but still can’t put the puck in. Some very good goaltending by a kid I’ve never seen before, plus some bad bounces. I still like our chances, but the longer this thing is scoreless, the more nervous I get.

  105. 105.

    burnspbesq

    December 3, 2011 at 9:30 pm

    @Raven:

    Really? Bama’s secondary can’t cover Woods or Lee, and its front seven can’t get consistent pressure on Barkley against a line that has three future first round draft picks. It’ll be 60-50, because Bama will be able to run on USC’s undersized outside linebackers, but USC will make just enough stops to win.

  106. 106.

    Temporarily Max McGee (soon enough to be Andy K again)

    December 3, 2011 at 9:31 pm

    @Raven:

    The Grace L. Ferguson Airline and Storm Door Company Bowl

  107. 107.

    a hip hop artist from Idaho (fka Bella Q)

    December 3, 2011 at 9:33 pm

    @eemom: True that it’s infinitely better than OccupyDougJ’s choices. Or did he forget to sign in as a troll for that comment?

  108. 108.

    Raven

    December 3, 2011 at 9:34 pm

    @burnspbesq: On your Weii maybe cuz that’s the only place it will happen.

    Hey, you oughta run out and see my bro’s Floyd Band at the Key Club!

  109. 109.

    J. Michael Neal

    December 3, 2011 at 9:34 pm

    @burnspbesq: USC 19, Minnesota 17

    No one that almost figures out how to lose to the Gophers belongs in any discussion of the Top 5. Note that this rule knocks Sparty out of any talk, too.

  110. 110.

    Anoniminous

    December 3, 2011 at 9:35 pm

    @General Stuck:

    Don’t bitch, we need the moisture.

    Meanwhile here is a Chinese Communist Youth Song to cheer you up.

    (I’ve noticed Chinese Communist Youth songs have been, somehow, overlooked in previous Open Threads and it is high time that lack was filled.)

  111. 111.

    burnspbesq

    December 3, 2011 at 9:36 pm

    Anyone here subscribe to MOG? If yes, how good is it as a music-discovery tool (as opposed to feeding you what you already know you like)?

  112. 112.

    Raven

    December 3, 2011 at 9:36 pm

    @J. Michael Neal: And then there’s the Illini!

  113. 113.

    Temporarily Max McGee (soon enough to be Andy K again)

    December 3, 2011 at 9:36 pm

    @J. Michael Neal:

    No horse wins the Belmont on a full sprint.

  114. 114.

    Steeplejack

    December 3, 2011 at 9:38 pm

    @Raven:

    Well, whoever sued George Harrison won that suit.

    . . . It was over “He’s So Fine.” The judge found Harrison had committed “subconscious plagiarism.”

    I think it’s bullshit, but I couldn’t help but notice the similarity between Haggard’s song and Hartford’s.

  115. 115.

    eemom

    December 3, 2011 at 9:40 pm

    @DougJ:

    also too, Don Henley solo. One would think Dirty Laundry would be, like, anthemic to you.

  116. 116.

    Raven

    December 3, 2011 at 9:40 pm

    Hey, anybody have any experience with LED xmas lights? I bought one roll for big bucks and it’s not nearly enough. Before I buy more I need to know if they burn as often as the old style?

  117. 117.

    DougJ

    December 3, 2011 at 9:41 pm

    @eemom:

    No, but it sounds bit too much like Billy Joel’s “She’s Got A Way About Her” for me.

  118. 118.

    Steeplejack

    December 3, 2011 at 9:41 pm

    @DougJ:

    “Lying Eyes” is a great song. It’s like the national anthem of cheating. Or used to be.

  119. 119.

    burnspbesq

    December 3, 2011 at 9:42 pm

    Thread needs dogs!

  120. 120.

    J. Michael Neal

    December 3, 2011 at 9:42 pm

    FUCK! Kelly Terry forgets to play defense and the Sux score.

  121. 121.

    eemom

    December 3, 2011 at 9:42 pm

    @Steeplejack:

    no, not bullshit at all. That subconscious shit is real, and actually quite interesting. Harrison of all people had no reason to steal anything.

  122. 122.

    Raven

    December 3, 2011 at 9:42 pm

    @Steeplejack: Yea, I have a good friend who sued Zep.

  123. 123.

    Steeplejack

    December 3, 2011 at 9:44 pm

    @eemom:

    For “unknown” Eagles I like “Bitter Creek.”

  124. 124.

    Temporarily Max McGee (soon enough to be Andy K again)

    December 3, 2011 at 9:44 pm

    @Steeplejack:

    And what would ice hockey games be without Heartache Tonight blaring throughout the arena following a fight?

  125. 125.

    Raven

    December 3, 2011 at 9:45 pm

    @burnspbesq: Aw, the big boy looks like my long lost Mr Big! Check out these dudes that we ran into at the beach.

  126. 126.

    eemom

    December 3, 2011 at 9:45 pm

    @DougJ:

    um, please go back and listen all the way through, or I shall be forced to conclude that you are insane.

  127. 127.

    burnspbesq

    December 3, 2011 at 9:45 pm

    Thread also needs Canadian gurls who sing real purty

  128. 128.

    J. Michael Neal

    December 3, 2011 at 9:46 pm

    Terry makes up for it with a breakaway that at least draws a hooking call. Only a hell of a save prevented her from scoring anyway.

  129. 129.

    Steeplejack

    December 3, 2011 at 9:47 pm

    @Anoniminous:

    Thank you, comrade.

  130. 130.

    eemom

    December 3, 2011 at 9:48 pm

    @Raven:

    no. They suck, like all LEDs.

  131. 131.

    Steeplejack

    December 3, 2011 at 9:48 pm

    @eemom:

    I meant bullshit that Harrison had to pay.

  132. 132.

    Raven

    December 3, 2011 at 9:49 pm

    @eemom: No they don’t burn out or no, take them back and get regular?

  133. 133.

    Steeplejack

    December 3, 2011 at 9:49 pm

    @burnspbesq:

    Linky no work. You fix.

  134. 134.

    Temporarily Max McGee (soon enough to be Andy K again)

    December 3, 2011 at 9:50 pm

    @burnspbesq:

    Your link no work.

  135. 135.

    Temporarily Max McGee (soon enough to be Andy K again)

    December 3, 2011 at 9:51 pm

    @Steeplejack:

    Meh. It isn’t like Harrison died poor. Not even close.

  136. 136.

    Raven

    December 3, 2011 at 9:51 pm

    @Steeplejack: See what you think of Dazed and Confused.

  137. 137.

    Anoniminous

    December 3, 2011 at 9:51 pm

    @Anoniminous:

    Of course they’ve up’ed their game over the decades.

  138. 138.

    J. Michael Neal

    December 3, 2011 at 9:53 pm

    Gophs down by one and now playing stupid. Lots of passes to no one.

  139. 139.

    Nerull

    December 3, 2011 at 9:54 pm

    Typical LED lifetimes are often over a decade of continuous use.

  140. 140.

    burnspbesq

    December 3, 2011 at 9:58 pm

    @Steeplejack:

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v91L8kthcEE

  141. 141.

    Raven

    December 3, 2011 at 9:59 pm

    @Nerull: I guess I wasn’t sure if “burning out” is what traditional xmas lights do that make random sections of lights on a long string go out.

  142. 142.

    burnspbesq

    December 3, 2011 at 10:01 pm

    My favorite Eagles song:

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=joFwe2OVZes

  143. 143.

    a hip hop artist from Idaho (fka Bella Q)

    December 3, 2011 at 10:01 pm

    @burnspbesq: I was hoping you were going to link Kathleen Edwards.

  144. 144.

    The Dangerman

    December 3, 2011 at 10:02 pm

    @Jim, Foolish Literalist:

    How they treat Romney, I imagine, would be a pretty good barometer of where the national party stands on Romney v Gingrich.

    Well, after waiting for Romney at the end, there was no skewering; looking back at Newt, who started the program, and his treatment, well, they may have been tougher on him than Romney. Certainly, from my view from the cheap seats, Romney got a bit of a pass in this one.

    Also, since it’s Championship Saturday, for those wondering about the mindset of UCLA athletics, this crossed my path this evening:

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TjsLuLG2gXo

  145. 145.

    Steeplejack

    December 3, 2011 at 10:02 pm

    @Raven:

    It sounds like Jake Holmes has more of a case than the Chiffons. There’s (apparently) a direct connection between Holmes and Jimmy Page, which wasn’t argued in the Harrison case.

    Is this your friend? How did the suit turn out?

  146. 146.

    Raven

    December 3, 2011 at 10:03 pm

    @Steeplejack: It was settled :)

  147. 147.

    Nutella

    December 3, 2011 at 10:07 pm

    New Yorkers: your tax dollars at work.

  148. 148.

    Punchy

    December 3, 2011 at 10:07 pm

    Why can my kid be completely bulletproof in a noisy restaurant, sleeping soundly through myriad noises, smells, and jostles, but upon arriving home to peace and quiet, she explodes in fits of tears and sobs?

  149. 149.

    Steeplejack

    December 3, 2011 at 10:08 pm

    @eemom:

    That’s a good Eagles song, but when I need a Don Henley fix my needs are pretty much covered by “The End of the Innocence.”

  150. 150.

    Steeplejack

    December 3, 2011 at 10:09 pm

    @Punchy:

    Um, she likes the noise?

  151. 151.

    J. Michael Neal

    December 3, 2011 at 10:10 pm

    Shit. North Dakota gets a lucky bounce that prevents the tying goal from going in by inches and then put it into an empty net from 190 feet. Sometimes you’re snakebit.

  152. 152.

    Suffern ACE

    December 3, 2011 at 10:10 pm

    @The Dangerman: Yeah, they are AGs and three of the candidates (Newt and Perry) have made it very clear that they don’t respect the court system. I think it was Perry who basically said he’d fire judges that disagreed with him and try to limit their terms (har har har) and Newt says he is going to defund the 9th circuit (har har har). They may be conservative AGs, but they aren’t going to really be enthused about backing candidates who want to mess around with the authority of the courts as an independent and co-equal branch.

  153. 153.

    Punchy

    December 3, 2011 at 10:12 pm

    @Steeplejack: Perhaps she’ll be a Justin Bieber roadie in a few years.

  154. 154.

    burnspbesq

    December 3, 2011 at 10:14 pm

    @a hip hop artist from Idaho (fka Bella Q):

    I am putty in the hands of pretty girls with Les Pauls.

  155. 155.

    Steeplejack

    December 3, 2011 at 10:17 pm

    @Anoniminous:

    I think there has been some capitalist-roader backsliding there, comrade.

  156. 156.

    burnspbesq

    December 3, 2011 at 10:18 pm

    Duke plays for the national championship in women’s soccer tomorrow. Yes, we are stoked.

  157. 157.

    Brother Shotgun of Sweet Reason

    December 3, 2011 at 10:19 pm

    @Steeplejack: “Bitter Creek” is one of my faves also. Along with Doolin-Dalton on the same album.

  158. 158.

    Steeplejack

    December 3, 2011 at 10:20 pm

    @Punchy:

    A parent can dream.

  159. 159.

    burnspbesq

    December 3, 2011 at 10:22 pm

    @Steeplejack:

    Great song, but I associate it with Bruce Hornsby.

    My favorite Henley song?

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_IVE1LguNJw

  160. 160.

    eemom

    December 3, 2011 at 10:23 pm

    @Raven:

    no, they’re ugly — weird and unnatural. Yes, take them back and get regular.

  161. 161.

    Steeplejack

    December 3, 2011 at 10:26 pm

    @Brother Shotgun of Sweet Reason:

    This got me thinking how Desperado was a pretty good album and I hadn’t thought about it in a long time. I picked up a case of Eagles fatigue somewhere.

    “Bitter Creek” is connected to America’s “Donkey Jaw” in the early-’70s-big-guitar-strummin’ section of my brain.

  162. 162.

    eemom

    December 3, 2011 at 10:31 pm

    also, Hotel California, mocked as it is, is still a pretty good tune. After all, our very own Cole saw fit to make “you can check out any time you like” one of the taglines.

    Come to think of it — where IS Cole?

  163. 163.

    Steeplejack

    December 3, 2011 at 10:33 pm

    @burnspbesq:

    I love Bruce Hornsby, but Henley’s voice is perfect for that song.

    My Hornsby needs are slaked by “The Way It Is.” An obvious choice, but sometimes obvious is good. And it has some “We are the 99%” resonance.

    “New York Minute” is a great song.

  164. 164.

    goblue72

    December 3, 2011 at 10:33 pm

    @raven – I tried LED tree lights. They look like crapola.

    And go Badgers. As a Wolverine, the Spartans can bite me.

  165. 165.

    Steeplejack

    December 3, 2011 at 10:34 pm

    @eemom:

    Well, if it’s Saturday night and he’s not here, he’s probably yelling in all caps on Twitter.

  166. 166.

    Raven

    December 3, 2011 at 10:35 pm

    @eemom: These are for outside but I think I’ll do as you suggest. thx

  167. 167.

    Moonbatman

    December 3, 2011 at 10:41 pm

    Too bad it took U.S. Attorney Dennis Burke heroic resignation to show the wingnuts as ‘willing stooges for the Gun Lobby’.

  168. 168.

    eemom

    December 3, 2011 at 10:43 pm

    better late than never, some appreciation for the post title.

    Sweet sounds, indeed.

  169. 169.

    Corner Stone

    December 3, 2011 at 10:51 pm

    @Punchy: Wait until they are 5 and start solving for X and you have no idea why, or what the fuck is going on. That is way more disturbing.

  170. 170.

    Raven

    December 3, 2011 at 10:55 pm

    @Corner Stone: Tigers are on fire. Bad day in this house.

  171. 171.

    burnspbesq

    December 3, 2011 at 10:55 pm

    Listening to the “new” J.D. Souther record (from earlier this year). Liking it.

  172. 172.

    Corner Stone

    December 3, 2011 at 11:04 pm

    @Raven: I hope it’s LSU and OKSU.

  173. 173.

    Raven

    December 3, 2011 at 11:14 pm

    @Corner Stone: I don’t think there’s any way. The Tide seems to be rolling in.

  174. 174.

    Steeplejack

    December 3, 2011 at 11:16 pm

    @burnspbesq:

    It’s a nice segue from the songs in this thread.

  175. 175.

    Corner Stone

    December 3, 2011 at 11:22 pm

    @Raven: Talk about boring. I would’ve liked Oregon or OK St. vs. LSU.
    Who the hell wants to see another 12 – 9 Championship game?

  176. 176.

    Raven

    December 3, 2011 at 11:34 pm

    @Corner Stone: You watching this Big 10 Championship? Barn burner!

  177. 177.

    Corner Stone

    December 3, 2011 at 11:41 pm

    @Raven: I love Montee “Big” Ball.

  178. 178.

    Omnes Omnibus

    December 3, 2011 at 11:57 pm

    @Raven: That was suspenseful.

  179. 179.

    Nerull

    December 3, 2011 at 11:59 pm

    That hit on the punter has got to be the dumbest penalty I’ve seen in ages. What were they thinking? They might have won without that mistake.

  180. 180.

    Capn America

    December 4, 2011 at 12:17 am

    Can somebody explain to me why Cash had a song called “Ship Those N***ers back to Africa”? Was it tongue in cheek like Okie from Muskogee, did he mean it, or did he sing it because somebody else wrote it for him and he had no choice?

  181. 181.

    RadioOne

    December 4, 2011 at 2:20 am

    I don’t think Merle Haggard ever intended “Okie from Muskogee” to be ironic. But I also don’t think he ever anticipated the culture wars and how they would affect the political landscape in the United States.

    It’s still one of the great country songs of the 60’s.

  182. 182.

    Jim, Foolish Literalist

    December 4, 2011 at 2:27 am

    @Capn America: appears to be a myth, a song by a guy calling himself “Johnny Rebel” who sounded like Cash.

  183. 183.

    Jebediah

    December 4, 2011 at 2:32 am

    @Jebediah:
    pre-show smoke=yes
    observation: being high does NOT negatively affect my enjoyment of live bluegrass, which I apparently love.

  184. 184.

    Lojasmo

    December 4, 2011 at 8:54 am

    @Jebediah:

    I would have brought one for the walk. Of course, depending on your state, it could spell trouble. Here in MN simple possession is a petty misdemeanor.

  185. 185.

    arclite

    December 4, 2011 at 2:44 pm

    @DougJ:

    “Welfare Cadillac” is, well, as you can guess, strapping young bucks buying caddies on Uncle Sam’s dime.

    I don’t know why, but any sentence with “strapping young bucks” in it cracks me up.

  186. 186.

    Jebediah

    December 4, 2011 at 5:46 pm

    @Lojasmo:
    I’m in So Cal… I think it is just a ticket now. I did bring one for the walk home, but chickened out on lighting it up – it wasn’t late enough, too many people out and about. And I didn’t really need one for the walk there – even with two detours on the way, I was still very lit up when I got there. The show was pretty great.

  187. 187.

    Paul in KY

    December 5, 2011 at 9:04 am

    @JGabriel: He said he wrote it to make some money. Figured it would sell well.

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