You Break-a My Heart, Obama
I knew it was coming.
It’s been there in the back of my head since he started gaining momentum, “How can a candidate this progressive win over a country of bible-clutching troglodytes?” In the month or so since his nomination, Obama has disappointed me time and time again. From his support for the telecom immunity bill and his recent change in stance on both Iraq and Iran, to his disgusting support for expansion of Bush’s faith-based initiatives and his flag-pin brandishing, I’m fucking disappointed.
Right, I know: Politics as usual; he’s gotten the nomination, time to shift center. I mean, I’ve gotten a whiff of Obama’s pandering earlier, when I began to sense that he’s almost assuredly a “Christian” purely for political reasons. But for once, just ONCE, I thought maybe a politician would stick to his guns and somehow win an election on principle and integrity. Pffffffff. Not sure who I was kidding. Idealistic of me? Sure, but that’s why I’m so pissed off; I thought maybe this time I could be idealistic and win. I thought Obama was an idealist, too.
Don’t get me wrong, Obama is still undoubtedly the best candidate, but the whole “hope” and “change” buzz has subsequently worn off for me. It’s a painful reminder that politics is a dirty game and I live in a country in which “evangelical Christian pro-war gun owners” are a serious voting bloc.
I can only hope that right now Obama is in his “major-label release” phase. You know when your favorite band releases several independent albums and can absolutely do no wrong, then they sign to a major label and they have big-time producers breathing down their neck to release a pop album with mainstream appeal? The “sound” is still kinda there, but something’s just…off? But then there’s always the second release from the major label, after success has been established and the artist is given more creative control. Perhaps they can even choose their producer. Look, you get the analogy. All I’m saying is Obama’s Nevermind or Blue Album might sell a bazillion copies, but I’m hoping that once elected President, we end up with the artistic integrity of his In Utero or Pinkerton. It might not appeal to everybody, but in the long run, it’s really what’s best.
July 4th, 2008 at 12:57 am
wait, so you like pinkerton more than the blue album?
July 4th, 2008 at 1:02 am
I have a feeling it might be more of a Maladroit, where half of it is kind of awesome, but for the other half you’re just kind of like “Who is this? What did I buy*?”
Yay politics.
*download without any exchange of money at all
July 4th, 2008 at 2:31 am
Politicians, never put too much hope in them…
But here’s a good article that might put you a little more at ease with Obama’s faith based crap:
http://www.thecarpetbaggerreport.com/archives/16056.html
July 4th, 2008 at 2:34 am
PS and completely off subject:
We don’t even have to go a few blocks down to watch it now, just have to look out the sliding glass door to keep track of the fire’s progress.
We’ve got a few things ready so we can run at a moment’s notice.
July 4th, 2008 at 8:41 pm
Ryan: Nah, I prefer the Blue album; every song just has perfect hooks (I wasn’t saying I dislike Nevermind, either. Nevermind is an amazing album). But as far as caliber of songwriting/lyricism, Pinkerton is definitely Cuomo’s best. Blue album is my favorite album of all time, period, partly for nostalgic reasons and partly because it is the greatest album of all time.
Mom: I hope your house doesn’t burn down. Do you have an escape route planned for the piano?
July 4th, 2008 at 11:56 pm
I started listening to Blue and Pinkerton at the same time (yeah, WAY behind the times, I know), and I much prefer Pinkerton. Well “much” may be extreme since they’re both incredible, but it’s definitely my less-biased-by-old-memories preference. I think your nostalgia is blinding you from the truth.
Where the hell does your mom live? Purgatory?
July 5th, 2008 at 6:57 pm
Worse, California! OHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH zing bam a doodle daaa!
July 5th, 2008 at 6:58 pm
Zing!
July 5th, 2008 at 7:02 pm
I would imagine if you live in a big neighborhood they would dig fireline right up to the property line, but it depends on how big the fuels are. If you live with a one and a half times the size of the nearest tree space between you and the big fuels, you’d probably be okay. But since they’re calling a bunch of guys from here for the Big Sur fire they may just triage your house with a red flag and let it burn, especially if it is just a few houses.
July 5th, 2008 at 9:36 pm
…says the fireman.
I love you Chris.
July 6th, 2008 at 1:44 am
Let’s see, land of fruits and nuts, fires and earthquakes or Casper? Hmmmm, that’s a tough one. It may be worse than purgatory but I do believe Casper is closer to a half acre of hell than even purgatory is (literally speaking at least).
July 6th, 2008 at 5:01 am
chris ledoux and garth brooks or grateful dead and phish is what it all comes down to
July 6th, 2008 at 6:30 pm
Livin’ on reds, vitamin C and cocaine, all a friend can say is ain’t it a shame?