Stupid and Shallow

Y'see, this kind of shit is why I'll never be a Republican.

In all his protean wisdom , Bill Frist has led the Senate Republicans to another shining Moment: they have refused to allow a vote on a resolution to honor Bruce Springsteen on the 30th anniversary of Born To Run.

What a bunch of crybabies.

Yeah, he endorsed Kerry. News Break: Political Opposition is acceptable, even lawful, in this country. It wasn't a problem when the Senate honored Ted Nugent (Ted Nugent! yeah, the man who wrote such meaningful songs as Wang Dang Sweet Poontang)

For what it's worth, I've never been a huge Springsteen fan. I know there are vinyl copies of Born To Run and The River in my collection; I wouldn't be surprised to find some tapes somewhere; And parts of Nebraska and, most recently, Devils and Dust are chilling and great examples of a musician and storyteller at the heights of his powers. I do regret not having the opportunity to see him live yet.

But there's no denying the impact Springsteen has had on music and American Culture. When the robots on MST3K make the comment “wrap your legs around these velvet rims and strap your hands across my engines” nobody has to verify the reference, or it's context. His songs have become a part of our culture in a way few others have accomplished, except maybe Woody Guthrie. His fans are legendary for their devotion; the yell “Bruuuuuuuce” has become a cliche.

For what it's worth, I don't think Springsteen needs, or cares, about affirmation from a bunch of old white guys in suits. Or whatever Jean Schmidt is in her stars and stripes pantsuit. His sympathies have always been with the working man; I'm sure he'd rather that Congress spend some time working on the Iraq problem, or real ways to improve the economy so those 30,000 GM employees might be able to find jobs.

No, I'm sure he doesn't have any great concern over the blatant snub; except maybe in the way it displays the petty vindictiveness that typifies the Modern Republican Party, and ol' LoveCat Bill Frist; in their waning days, as they see their iron fisted control oozing away through public perceptions, indictments, and scandals, they are striking out with as much viciousness as they can muster. If they can't hurt Jack Murtha, they will hurt someone, anyone, associated with the Enemy, in this case viewed as the Democratic Party.

It says so much about their relative power that the best they can do is snub an American artist who has probably done more for American image around the world than the whole Republican Party has in the last decade.

And finally, as with book burning stunts, the whole thing is likely to backfire; even I, upon reading the article, remembered the strength, the honesty, of the songs on Born To Run. So I placed an order for the 30th Anniversary Edition.

Because even if the Senate is so out of touch that they can't make a gesture to honor a quintessential American Musician, fans and music lovers can; they'll honor him with their dollars. And really, what could be more Republican than that?