This Week's Senate Schedule
Our man for Senate business, Bob Geiger, has the schedule of the Senate's comings and goings on. While all eyes will be whether or not Sara Taylor will actually appear before the Judiciary committee (I'll go out on a limb and say "no"), Bob noticed something on the agenda that should quiet all you naysayers that the Senate is working on the people's priorities (/snark):
Oh, and on Thursday, the Judiciary Committee will move on to the weighty subject of too many Americans not knowing the words to the national anthem and will consider S. Res. 236, "a resolution supporting the goals and ideals of the National Anthem Project, which has worked to restore America's voice by re-teaching Americans to sing the national anthem."
Hey, it's bipartisan -- having such unlikely fellow cosponsors as Ted Kennedy (D-MA) and Trent Lott (R-MS) -- so I'm sure it's harmless enough.
But let's get this one out of the way quickly, OK?
How reassuring it is to know that the Senate has its priorities straight. Actually, I think the words to the national anthem are a part of our underlying national sickness. The words are all about war and the glorification of warfare, about warefare and aggression as being the basis of our identity as a people. The first verse is bad enough, the 2-4 verses are chilling and sick. All of it put to an old English tavern song that was a favorite of the drunks of another time. If they want to waste time on the national anthem, they ought to consider shit-canning it an come up with something that isn't based in sociopathy.
oh say can you see, how these crooks steal from me.... how does the rest go?
and the band played onnnnn....
I'm tired of these bills pandering to the mouth-breather set
Liberal AND Proud @ 2:
The senate is all gay?
somehow i think flagburning is a more legitimate discussion.
Well, as I recall, Kennedy and Lott worked together in a bi-partisian manner
in efforts to get the comprehensive Immigration Plan passed...and happy to
say, it failed. But considering anything other than Impeachement and the Iraq
War as priority items is ridiculous...just more "fun and games" by those idiotic
elected officials in D.C. who are out of touch w/the populas.
A bill proposing that we know how to sing a poem by a British poet set to the tune of an old British drinking song. Considering we're the only country left in the world still using the archaic British Imperial measurement system, it makes perfect sense to me.
That's wonky, this is juicy.
"Fredrick of Hollywood" having second thoughts about running?
Is that why Hendrix only gave us an instrumental?
Kind of reminds me that one day when I was reading the Dallas Morning Nudes there were reports of how todays students don't really know science, how to read or write, or research papers without plagiarizing them off the internet, but the editorials was about the necessity of teaching the Bible in school as an elective.
I never did like that song, but then again I'm not really a flag person. The world is bigger than our arrogant pride -- rallying around the flag of a yankee-doodle trick-bag.
Peace!
Wow, it's a shame it has come to this, but as evidenced here in this topic by the likes of these un-American douche-bags, I'm afraid it's quite necessary. Right after we secure the borders though. Especially the messican one since I'm a xenophobic racist conservative.
OT, but...how does one contact the site to suggest a topic?
Petraeus says we'll most likely be in Iraq for decades, likens the struggle to England's war with the IRA:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/6285156.stm
Perhaps this is why the Republican breakaways aren't waiting until September's report...
WTF? Soldiers and Iraqis are being blown to hell every fu*king day and they feel it's important that everyone know all the words to the national anthem? Jesus christ, talk about needing to get priorities straight!
Meanwhile Turkey prepares it's own surge...
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/6284718.stm
also
Bwahahaha!
Here are the signs I put up yesterday:
http://freewayblogger.blogspot.com/2007/07/these-are-signs-i-put-up-toda...
what I do is incredibly easy, unbelieeeeevably fun and reaches about half a million people per day.
Well, Fred Fielding has pulled the trump card - EXECUTIVE PRIVILEGE. This begs the question, "what else are they hiding?"
Of course I am preaching to the choir.
Why not just make being able to hit the high notes in the Star Spangled banner a condition for citizenship.
Not only will I never again sing the national anthem, I will never stand while it's performed.
In my opinion, "America the Beautiful" is far better (and more singable) than "The Star-Spangled Banner." At least I don't have to get drunk before singing the former song (it's true - you have to be half in the bag to sing "To Anacreon in Heaven" passably).
The Dems are becoming a disgrace. They have no idea how to summon the fortitude it takes to get things done. Releasing an angry press release at Bush isn't governing, it's whining.
Who needs lyrics when we have this instead:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gFaPW_AE_D8
pissed off patricia @ 13:
I would think that they would be more concerned about the Constitution and the Declaration of Independence. Hastert didn't even know the national anthem. It would be nice if they took a look at the Declaration and apply it to the current administration. It would be even better if they read the constitution.
http://myfightfordemocracy.blogspot.com/2007/07/new-declaration-of-indep...
I suggest the dems deny cloture (almost sounds dirty) and use it to cite the practice of obstruction by the GOP minority.
Yeah, better have the peons learn the words to a song that glorifies war, especially since we're losing in Iraq. Forget about the 100's of 1000s of dead Iraqis; forget about 1000's of troops who died for a cause no one in Washington has been able to fully explain. Just shut up and sing, bitches!
The Wanderer @ 19:
Give me Ray Charles's version of "America the Beautiful" any day.
Well, I guess we should all be grateful that the Democrats are in charge. If the RepubliCONS were still running things we may all have been forced to learn the lyrics to Lee Greenwood's "Proud to Be An American". Perish the thought!
But whatever you do, don't teach it in Spanish.
gene214 @ 25:
I prefer a God-free anthem myself.
I happen to think that The Star Spangled Banner isn't so much about glorifying war as it is the survival of the Republic in the face of relentless onslaught -- something all of us liberals & progressives are working for. That said, though, I'm with The Wanderer @ 19. I'd rather see America the Beautiful as our national anthem. It only requires just over an octave's range to sing/perform and the closest it gets to militarization is the verse that begins "Oh beautiful for heroes proved . . . "
gene214 @ 26:
Not Where Were You (on 9-11)?
Yeah really. So many scandals to work through and so little time.
Can somebody explain this one to me??
S. Res. 248: A resolution honoring the life and achievements of Dame Lois Browne Evans, Bermuda's first female barrister and Attorney General, and the first female Opposition Leader in the British Commonwealth
I mean, WTF!!
Once again it's better to focus on something meaningless than on something substantive. But why bother with this anyway? The anthem belonged to a nation that WAS, not the empire that it has become.
"O say, does that star-spangled banner yet wave O’er the land of the free....." - a nation that was.
I'm so happy to see that they are taking care of the really important issues.
Do you suppose they wonder why their approval rating is lower than the worst president in American history's?
The other week in the house they were working on a national "Welcome Home from Vietnam" day for the soldiers who fought in Vietnam. I'm not kidding.
If Bush and Cheney is still obstructing justice this week.... We hope Congress can prepare for the testimony of all the patriotic government officials and Americans that they have not HEARD yet.
The patriots in the CIA and government agencies spoke out before the war started.
The patriots who know the answers to all the obstruction of Justice 2000-2007.
..The patriots who blew the whistle on Enron and the Secret energy policy in 2001.
People need to stop denying what is happening and what has happened.
We certainly hope Congress or someone can help our Country at this point.
While we were all focusing in on Iraq, all of the traitors have STILL been working behind the scenes.
Congress has to tell it like it is. Dont hold back.
Bush and Cheney are aligned with corrupt Corporate elite robber barons, multi-national global elite robber barons, - all the elite who are influencing and controlling this country.
The people are not opposed to corporations, only the corrupt elite ones that Bush has aligned with, the criminal ones that do not put America first or serve the american public interest.
"America the Beautiful" is a much better song, lyrically and melodically. It'd be a much better national anthem. And while we're at it, why are we required to stand and take off our hats when someone sings a showtune like "God Bless America"? It's a showtune fer gods sake. It's like asking people to honor America by standing and singing "Wheel in the Sky", or "YMCA".
ysbaddaden @ 4:
Umm, the title of the book "The Band Played On", which dealt with AIDS, refers to the band on the Titanic, which continued to play as the ship sank.
Perhaps they would better spend the time voting to restore the Bill of Rights or perhaps just being sure that the SENATORS know the WORDS to them.
anonymous @ 38:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kki1kpFCBh0
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kki1kpFCBh0
anonymous @ 38:
song by the Temptations...
gene214 @ 25:
gene214 @ 25:
ysbaddaden @ 4:
Umm, the title of the book "The Band Played On", which dealt with AIDS, refers to the band on the Titanic, which continued to play as the ship sank.
Sorry about the above mishmash...I'm having a little trouble with the comments function.
gene214 @ 32:
Not to worry...it'll take the Senate only about 45 minutes to honor Dame, the first and
only black woman to be Bermuda's Atty. General. She passed away May 27, 2007. After
that honor, they will then spend time honoring the MSM for their coverage of Paris Hilton
going to and getting out of jail; then to Britney Spear for having a baby; then will spend
time deciding which of the characters on "Big Brother" needs to be eliminated, etc., etc.
40, ysbadden...that youtube clip has nothing to do with the argument...but thanks anyway. Sweet haysoose, let it go.
>Give me Ray Charles’s version of “America the Beautiful” any day
Not much 'beautiful' about America these days
..or GNR's "Welcome to the Jungle" might be more appropriate these days..
Doggiebobo @ 44:
..followed by resolutions honoring the sanctity of the uterus, outlawing the drowning of kittens oh...and perhaps sneaking through a pay raise.
I got your national anthem RIGHT HERE! Sing on THIS!
Sheesh. What a stupid-assed waste of time and money. How about instead of pissing time on trying to compel people to sing a song they instead spend effort and money on a bill requiring schools to teach CIVICS to include the Constitution and what it actually says and means. The Bill of Rights and the hows and whys of each and every entry. The importance of voting. THAT I could get behind but I am not behind fascist-lite attempts to compel rote spewing of the Pledge of Allegiance or to sing the Anthem.
After 6+ years of hate mongering and war mongering with a heavy dose of "patriotism" behind it, I am NOT inclined to support ANYTHING that smacks of nationalism and patriotism until and unless all war mongering that has gone with it (and exceptionalism) is expunged. SOFT patriotism based on pride (in the TRUE meaning rather than "original intent" of the Constitution and the Bill of Rights) is OK but not the heavy, smothering, fascist supporting nativist version the GOPers and their brethren on the Dem side of Congress are championing.
How about this for our National Anthem?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RDvVzTbY_i4
Praedor Atrebates @ 49:
Praedor Atrebates,
YES!
GAG!!! The amount of time they're giving to this is downright immoral.
And I agree totally re: Ray Charles singing, "America" is beautiful. The idiot politicians should listen to it every single day. Maybe they'd find inspiration (or is it much too late for that?)
And, by the way, every time I see a politician trying to mouth the words to the anthem, they're not doing too well. Maybe first class in lyrics should be attended by Congress.
So THAT'S what Pat Leahy meant when he told me I had other priorities then removing criminals from government office!!
Bah! Here's the real weekly agenda for this congress...And the judiciary, and executive branch for that matter......
Mon. dick around, do nothing, point fingers at other side. get paid for it. Both sides...
tues. Vacumn up lobbyist bucks...suck up to lobbyists. both sides.
wed. day long jerk circle, repubs, day long circular firing squad, the dems.
thurs. invert wednesday routine.. dems jerk circle, repubs, cicular firing squad.......
fri. dick around, leave early for weekend get-a-way, both sides.
sat'sun... RnR....with pay
Damn cushy gig if you can get it.. and your conscience can stomach it.... And what do we the people get out of all this... zip, nada, nothing......... And that's your ugly truth about our government for today.............Irony? duplicity, gettin punked big time??? WE'RE ALL SOAKING IN IT NOW folks.... ehh jus sayin...JD
Oh cool. We'll all know our National Anthem as we reinforce our cardboard boxes.
When can we expect the legislation introduce America to the Republican Bush Youth Corps.???
Are they aiming this bill at Roseanne Barr, Denny Hastert, and Hillary Clinton? All of whom seemed to have problems with the anthem. Oh, and maybe George W Bush for his attempts to sing it in Spanish.
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