Friday Random Ten

Yep, a chilly, blustery Friday.


Pancho and Lefty - - Townes Van Zandt
True Love - - - Bing Crosby and Rosemary Clooney
The Waiting - - Tom Petty
The Wreck of the Barbi Ferrari - - - John Hiatt
Get Behind The Mule - - - Tom Waits
A Girl Like You - - - Smithereens
In The Pines - - - Leadbelly
Nobody Knows You When You're Down and Out - - Bessie Smith
I'll Tell Me Ma - - - Tommy Makem
Peace - - - Sweet Honey in the Rock


Bonus Track

I Shall Be Released - - - Bob Dylan (backed by the Gratefull Dead)


what'cha listenin' too?

A Message From General Clark and VoteVets

I have been a contributing member of VoteVets since I first heard of them. General Clark hasn't declared as a candidate and it's far too early for me to commit to any one. Voices like Bill Richardson deserve to be heard. But, for something like this, I'm down with it. I'm on board.

All Americans want to stop Iran from developing nuclear weapons and interfering on the ground inside Iraq.

Yet, President Bush's continued saber rattling gives the US little additional leverage to engage and dissuade Iran, and, more than likely, simply accelerates a dangerous slide into war. The United States can do better than this.

Whatever the pace of Iran's nuclear efforts, in the give and take of the Administration's rhetoric and accusations, we are approaching the last moments to head off looming conflict. Surely, it is past time to urge President Bush to exercise leadership and start to work now to avoid a widening of the conflict in the Middle East.

That's why today, I'm joining Jon Soltz, Chairman of VoteVets.org, the preeminent organization representing Iraq and Afghanistan war veterans, to launch StopIranWar.com.

Visit StopIranWar.com today and sign the petition to President Bush. War is not the answer.

http://StopIranWar.com

StopIranWar.com is a one-stop resource for all Americans to help stop the looming conflict with Iran. With the latest news on Iran and online tools to contact President Bush, lobby your members of Congress, and write letters to the editor to local and national print media, StopIranWar.com will help us create the groundswell of support needed to stop another dangerous war in the Middle East.

Americans and their elected officials in Congress must work together to demand that President Bush stop the rush to war with Iran. The United States must use every option available to defuse tensions with Iran -- diplomatic, political, and economic -- before even considering military force. Military force must be viewed as the last resort -- not the first option.

Cannot the world's most powerful nation deign speak to the resentful and scheming regional power that is Iran? Can we not speak of the interests of others, work to establish a sustained dialogue, and seek to benefit the people of Iran and the region? Could not such a dialogue, properly conducted, begin a process that could, over time, help realign hardened attitudes and polarizing views within the region? And isn't it easier to undertake such a dialogue now, before more die, and more martyrs are created to feed extremist passions?

Visit StopIranWar.com today and sign the petition to President Bush. War is not the answer.

http://StopIranWar.com

War with Iran is not the answer. We must work with our allies, talk with Iran, and use all diplomatic, political, and economic options at our disposal. Military force against Iran is not the solution now, and if we adopt the right strategy, perhaps it need never be.

Sincerely,



Wes Clark

I have, myself, visited the site and used their tools to send emails to the White House (who won't listen), both senators (although with McCain and Kyl I doubt much while happen from them), and my congressman (listen up Mitchell). There are some choices if you want to drop some money on them too. As I said before, I am a strong supporter of VoteVets, but I leave everyone to dip into their own purse at their own discretion. I think that the ads produced by VoteVets have impact (remember that "On the other hand" ad from the Super Bowl? That sucker flat played) I also loved it when the maimed veterans went to Capitol Hill and visibly sat with guys like Murtha and Webb leaving the Republicans to try and jostle their way into the pictures.

Again, your purse, your conscience. I will only tell you where I stand. Not contributing for any reason at all is a political choice that carries the same moral weight as the one that I made. I encourage you to take your stand where ever it might be and know that I stand with you too.

UPDATE: PBS Newshour is showing a piece right now on the rush to throw some paint and plaster on the infamous building 18 at Walter Reed. I am somewhat encouraged that there are still some people in Washington that still have the capacity to feel shame.


Big Brass Blog

Lest We Forget the Fallen

This was written by one of the most prolific composers of the Civil War era. George Frederick Root wrote many very popular songs that were sung by both sides of the conflict. Tramp, Tramp, Tramp, the Boys are Marching; Just Before the Battle, Mother; Battle Cry of Freedom to name only three.

For the Ken Burns documentary soundtrack of The Civil War I had the honor of performing this song with the beautifully voiced Kathy Mattea and Johnny Hartford. I played guitar and sang bass. (in my own sweet way, the producer liked it because he said it sounded like a family gathering)

the tune is HERE

The Vacant Chair (We Shall Meet But We Shall Miss Him)
(Words: Henry S. Washburn, Music: George F. Root)

We shall meet, but we shall miss him
There will be one vacant chair
We shall linger to caress him
While we breathe our evening prayer;
When a year ago we gathered
Joy was in his mild blue eye,
But a golden chord is severed
And our hopes in ruin lie.

cho: We shall meet, but we shall miss him
There will be one vacant chair
We shall linger to caress him
While we breathe our evening prayer;

At our fireside, sad and lonely,
Often will the bosom swell,
At remembrance of the story
How our noble Willie fell;
How he strove to bear our banner
Through the thickest of the fight,
And uphold our country's honor
In the strength of manhood's night.

True, they tell us wreaths of glory
Ever more will deck his brow,
But this soothes the anguish only
Sweeping o'er our heartstrings now.
Sleep today, Oh early fallen,
In thy green and narrow bed,
Dirges from the pine and cypress,
Mingle with the tears we shed.


I got to tell the Democratic candidate for the Senate here that I was tired of playing the harp at funerals. I want to play electric guitars at Quinceneras and goat BBQ's.

I am very tired of this today. Yet another gig I didn't want for a young man I knew. I think I'll fit this one into ceremony.

So. Very. Tired.

Big Brass Blog

The Authoritarians

Bob Altemeyer in conjunctin with the University of Manitoba has put up six chapters of his work The Authoritarians downloadable in PDF form.

This is an excellent work. It was cited extensively by John Dean in Conservatives Without Conscience.

Explanation of the levels and classifications of the authoritarian personality types was instrumental in my own rethinking of my opinion of Mr. Dean himself. My long held view was that he was a snitch and a weasel. Through the reading of Altemeyer I was able to see the supreme effort of courage it took for him to stand up alone against the most powerful man in the world. It was even more gratifying when I read Mr. Dean's book (which he started to write with the advice and consultation of Barry Goldwater) that Mr. Dean himself went through the same readjustment of himself from consulting with Bob Altemeyer.

Give this a read. Better than a reading would be a study. These bastards are real enemies of freedom.

3B's

big tip of the cowboy hat to Glenn Greenwald now writing exclusively for Salon.

For the Lads of Walter Reed

Words fail me. I am ashamed and saddened.

This is an old Irish song. The lyics are harsh. The emotions are true. So true, in fact that over here in America we had to soften the blows it delivers and change it to "When Johnny Comes Marching Home."

I like the old truth far better than the new lie.

Here's the tune.

Johnny, I Hardly Knew Ye

While goin' the road to sweet Athy, hurroo, hurroo
While goin' the road to sweet Athy, hurroo, hurroo
While goin' the road to sweet Athy
A stick in me hand and a drop in me eye
A doleful damsel I heard cry
Johnny I hardly knew ye

With your drums and guns and drums and guns, hurroo, hurroo
With your drums and guns and drums and guns, hurroo, hurroo
With your drums and guns the enemy comes
They maimed and nearly slew ye
And now me darling dear, Ye look so queer
Johnny I hardly knew ye

Where are your eyes that were so mild, hurroo, hurroo
Where are your eyes that were so mild, hurroo, hurroo
Where are your eyes that were so mild
When my heart you so beguiled
Why did ye run from me and the child
Oh Johnny, I hardly knew ye

Where are your legs that used to run, hurroo, hurroo
Where are your legs that used to run, hurroo, hurroo
Where are your legs that used to run
When you went for to carry a gun
Indeed your dancing days are done
Oh Johnny, I hardly knew ye

I'm happy for to see ye home, hurroo, hurroo
I'm happy for to see ye home, hurroo, hurroo
I'm happy for to see ye home
All from the island of Sulloon
So low in flesh, so high in bone
Oh Johnny I hardly knew ye

Ye haven't an arm, ye haven't a leg, hurroo, hurroo
Ye haven't an arm, ye haven't a leg, hurroo, hurroo
Ye haven't an arm, ye haven't a leg
Ye're an armless, boneless, chickenless egg
Ye'll have to put with a bowl out to beg
Oh Johnny I hardly knew ye

They're rolling out the guns again, hurroo, hurroo
They're rolling out the guns again, hurroo, hurroo
They're rolling out the guns again
But they never will take our sons again
No they never will take our sons again
Johnny I'm swearing to ye




3B's