Rufus Wainwright, Moby and Sean Lennon - "Across The Universe"
Every time I think about this song, I like to imagine how the meaning of it must have changed for John Lennon from the twenty-something Beatle, to the thirty-something house-husband gladly shouldering parenting after years of what had to be mind-blowing fame. Nothing's gonna change his world? Did he still feel that way in his final, 40th year? It's a statement that can simultaneously sound naive, subversive, optimistic, melancholy and defiant. I imagine that had he lived to his 70s, the John Lennon of today would find even more depths and shades to it.
I'm choosing to adopt the mantra of "Nothing's gonna change my world" in its most defiant form right now. It's hard to look at the overt anti-populist, anti-democratic (both small and big "D") actions of the Republicans and not feel a little worried. But like the limitless undying love that shines around me in the form of my children, I will not let them change my world. So let Robert Gates and Hillary Clinton justify Libya on three different shows this morning. Let John McCain and BFF Joe Lieberman make their 7,403rd appearance. Let Newt Gingrich, Donald Rumsfeld and Bushies Stephen Hadley, Michael Hayden and Douglas Holtz-Eakin do their best to undermine the current administration (Thanks bookers! Nothing like Bushies to tell us what Obama is doing wrong). Their words day will fly like endless rain into a paper cup, but I will not let them change my world.
Jai guru deva om. And I give thanks to you C&Lers, for keeping me sane and focused during these dark days.
ABC's "This Week" - Defense Secretary Robert Gates and Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton; former Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld.
NBC's "Meet the Press" - Gates and Clinton; Sen. Richard Lugar, R-Ind.
NBC's "The Chris Matthews Show" - Panel: Katty Kay, Andrew Sullivan, Michael Duffy, Norah O'Donnell. Topics: Is President Obama Failing To Lead? Could Republican Red Hots Spoil The Party? Meter Questions: Can Any GOP Presidential Candidate Be As Hopeful as President Obama? YES: 7 NO: 5; Will President Obama Win The P.R. Battle If There Is A Government Shutdown? YES: 11 No: 1.
CBS' "Face the Nation" - Gates and Clinton.
CNN's "State of the Union" - Sen. Carl Levin, D-Mich.; Stephen Hadley, national security adviser to President George W. Bush; Michael Hayden, CIA director under Bush; Joe Cirincione, president of the Ploughshares Fund; Douglas Holtz-Eakin, former director of the Congressional Budget Office; Alice Rivlin, former director of the Office of Management and Budget.
CNN's "Fareed Zakaria GPS" - with Gloria Borger, Malcolm Gladwell. Discussion on the Middle East and the use of social media.
"Fox News Sunday" - Sens. John McCain, R-Ariz., and independent Joe Lieberman of Connecticut; Newt Gingrich.
So what's catching your eye this morning?
