Where's p'p'?

My wife and I were watching portions of the Grammys (Why I don't know), and saw the Chicks win their first award. When I saw them nominated, I knew they were going to win. Why do you ask?

Beacause liberals are so vapid and superficial, everything from taking a breath to wiping their backsides is tied to a cause celebre of some sort. We can't just let the best song/album/artist win (i.e. Carrie Underwood anyone)... we've got to stand together against facism and an opressive government (Bush administration). This is also how Hillary's It Takes a Village and Bill's autobiography won Grammy's for best spoken word albums. Even though Hillary's book didn't burn up the best seller list, and Bill's book had to be edited for sale in Great Britan due to their strict libel laws.

As far as the Chicks are concerned, their bank accounts tell the real story. Their US sales are down dramatically compared to their "pre-Bush" controversy. Their tours did real well in Canada and the Northeast/Northwest venues, but were down right horrible in the traditional country states. Even after being on the cover of Time, Entertainment Weekly, free PR on the morning shows created initial interest, their piss poor attitudes tuurned off buyers.

Then they were dumb enough to bash country fans. When the war is over, and the libs that bought their allbums and concert tickets move on to another political cause, country fans still won't buy their albums. And the shame of it all is, those are some talented girls. I like their music, just not their attitudes.

Question, why have Waylon Jennings, Willie Nelson, Faith Hill and Tim McGraw all spokenn out against the war, but still are loved by their country base? Because there is a broadline between having strong political views and being a complete asshole while having strong political views.

Lorie -- I've always been fascinated by your strange obsession with the Dixie Chicks, Lorie (that one week last September must have been especially difficult on you).

I'd like to suggest that your continued efforts to slam the chicks would help them further, as it has in the past (their latest album is STILL at the top of the charts #1)...

Posted by: Lee at June 23, 2006 01:54 PM

The right-wing blogosphere elevated the Dixie Chicks to the exalted status they now enjoy, and Lorie was leading the band.

Well done, Lorie! Five grammy awards. That should hurt their record sales quite a bit, eh?

lol!

(sorry, but you knew I'd stop by to gloat, right?)

That is what happens when those in the rock, pop, R&B, and other parts of the music industry are allowed to vote for best country album.

Mmmm, yes, this shouldn't be allowed. Nevermind the fact that those in the country music industry are "allowed" to vote on the rock, pop, and R&B awards. The unfairness of it all!

By the way, why don't you contact the Academy's Nashville Chapter and see if they agree with your opinions on the voting process. They do make up about a fifth of the votes.

Bush backers flew into an especially ugly rage against the Dixie Chicks, a three-woman country-western band, after lead singer, Natalie Maines, criticized Bush. During a March 10, 2003, concert in London, Maines, a Texan, remarked, "we're ashamed the President of the United States is from Texas."

Two days later - just a week before Bush launched the Iraq invasion - she added, "I feel the President is ignoring the opinions of many in the U.S. and alienating the rest of the world."

The right-wing attack machine switched into high gear, organizing rallies to drive trucks over Dixie Chicks CDs and threatening country-western stations that played Dixie Chicks music. For his part, Bush seemed to relish the punishment inflicted on those who dared criticize him.

On April 24, 2003, barely a month after the Iraq invasion, NBC News anchor Tom Brokaw asked Bush about the boycott of the Dixie Chicks. The President responded that the singers "can say what they want to say," but he added that his supporters then had an equal right to punish the singers for their comments.

"They shouldn't have their feelings hurt just because some people don't want to buy their records when they speak out," Bush said. "Freedom is a two-way street."

So, instead of encouraging a full-and-fair debate, Bush made clear that he saw nothing wrong with his followers intimidating Americans who disagreed with him. Over the next three years, the Dixie Chicks continued to be hounded by the boycott. Bush supporters even turned to threats of violence.

I think Bush is afraid of women, especially those uppity ones that stand on their hind legs and speak their mind. Cindy Sheehan made poor George boob-boom his boxers also.

That explains why the conservative female bloggers are constantly smearing Nancy and Hillary -- they're just standing up for George!

The laughter rolls on as the Grammys Stick it To The Right, Handing Dixie Chicks Multiple Awards.

The Dixie Chicks took home a lot of Grammy Awards-- surely to the chagrine of right wingers, particularly creepoids like Sean Hannity, who have encouraged boycotts of their music.

Clearly, the right will have to add the music world to their list of artists they revile, having previously focused upon Hollywood liberals.

Lorie locks on (above), just as predicted: "Expect to see the same kind of freedom of speech at the Oscars in two weeks, when Hollywood sends a message by showering Al Gore with accolades."

creepoid? You guys are labeled as creepoids now? Jay's little ducky isn't going to like this...

lol!

"I think Bush is afraid of women, especially those uppity ones that stand on their hind legs and speak their mind. Cindy Sheehan made poor George boob-boom his boxers also."

It must be nice to live in a world unencumbered by reality, Lee. Turning Descartes' motto on his head, you fantasize, therefore you are.

creepoid? You guys are labeled as creepoids now? Jay's little ducky isn't going to like this... lol!
Posted by: Lee at February 12, 2007 02:18 AM

And neither is your mother when she finds out you make a sad attempt to conflate two links and quotes that in no way suggest Bush had anything to do with the popularity, or lack thereof, of the dixie chicks.

You also have to believe ALL their fans are Bush supporters which even in your most desparate moments you CAN'T possibly try to pass off as true.

And yes Lee. despite your spinning faster than a whirling dervish there sale did drop by 42% at the time of the controversy and many concert dates were canceled.

Lee, kindly keep Mr. Ducky out of your frothing. He really doesn't appreciate it. In fact, he just told me that he regretted having wings; they prevent him from "flipping you the bird."

Oh, what a bitter irony. A gesture named for him and his feathered friends, and none of them able to properly perform it.

I hope you're happy, Lee. You've depressed my duck.

And what did he ever do to you?

J.

Can they deposit those grammy's into their Bank account? I think not. I hope those little shiny trophy's comfort them in their old age.

It was the country fans who chose in droves to stop buying their CDs

In what alternate universe is this true? Talk about up-is-downism. If this is what failure looks like, the Chicks don't want to succeed.

Somebody keeps on putting them at the top of the charts... is it Soros? A Wizbang exclusive!

I don't mind a public figure making a statement critical of public policy.

I get annoyed, however, when they do so in such a manner that indicates that they have no understanding of the policy or situation that they are criticizing AND then whine when people comment on THAT fact.

The women who are members of the Dixie Chicks may be excellent musicians. That's not my expertise and I am not much of a country music fan so i will accept others views on the subject.

However, they don't know much about history or public affairs and their public statements on the subject make that abundantly clear.

That's why I find it so funny that people like Lee - who has told any woman who disagrees with his POV to go back to "their place" baking cookies - embraces the ramblings of the "Dixie Chicks" (or Cindy Sheehan as he included) as "truth".

As we saw during the Clinton administration, women are a convenient commodity for SOME liberals. When its important to get their vote, they can talk a good game about equal rights, etc, but when the boss wants a quickie in his office on company time "just because he can", then a woman's place is on her knees (or, in Lee's case - baking cookies).

There is certainly no interest in the opinion of a woman who dares to disagree with their POV.

After winning every award the Dixie Chicks were nominated for, even Natalie Maines observed that the Grammy community was exercising "free speech" and that they "got the message". I hope so, because the message that was sent is that a Grammy community, dominated by blue staters and Bush haters, is willing to subvert it's annual ceremony to send a political message.

In a forum where country music is a sideshow at best, I am willing to bet that if you asked voting Grammy members what the name of the album of the year for 2006 is, the vast majority couldn't tell you. This vote wasn't about music, and Natalie realized that the "wins" are therefore tarnished.

The real shame is that deserving artists went ignored in order for the Grammy community to take a political "jab" at...who?, red staters, Bush, conservatives? Well OK, I guess the Dixie Chicks have found a new home...and it is a good fit. So enjoy your trophies girls, they are every bit as meaningful as a CMA award for best hip-hop album!

LOL!

Just had to add this one comment that I saw from aRepukelican in Jay's "An Astonishing Series of Coincidences" post ....

In response to a comment from LisaKay who had the temerity to disagree with him ....

"LissaKay...you need to go back to your Barbie dolls & coloring books, You think you're ready for Prime Time, but it's really just potty time before your bedtime."

We all "get" that a certain portion of the population hates George Bush and his administration with a passion. He's not a candidate for President in 2008 - worst case, those people who hold the opinion only have to wait and he will be gone from the public stage by early 2009.

However, let's not PRETEND that any of this hoopla about the Dixie Chicks is about support of strong women. If it were, there would be no references to baking cookies and Barbie dolls. All that tells us is that you will use the statements of a woman - when it suits your purpose - and tell them to shut up when they don't.

20 years to the day, when another Grammy highway robbery was committed. In 1987, Peter Gabriel was jobbed out of his Grammy's by Paul Simon. Nobody had bought/heard/played that album of Simon's until AFTER the Grammy Awards!

It's an outrage that the Dixie Chicks got more than one award.

Economics 101:

A lady is walking home from work one day and comes upon a hot dog stand. She is hungry so she decideds to stop and purchase a hot dog from the vendor. She pulls a crisp five dollar bill from her purse. While this customer waits patiently for her food the vendor inexplicately pokes her in her eyes. She was confused but took her 5 dollar bill and left. Every day after this she would pass the same hot dog vendor on the street. The vendor would see this lady and stick his tongue out at her. She would, in turn, clutch her purse and walk on by. At the end of the year the Restaurant Association of this community would award this hot dog vendor its highest award, "the golden hot dog." The day after the award presentation the vendor took his beautiful trophy to the bank. He filled out his deposit slip, only to hear the teller say "this is not legal tender." Angry, the hot dog vendor walked away muttering "G#@ D&*% George Bush!"

Class dismissed.

Lee:

The right-wing blogosphere elevated the Dixie Chicks to the exalted [by the Left] status they now enjoy, and Lorie was leading the band.

Status of being exalted [by the Left] and $1 might buy you a Coke.

If the 'Chicks' objective was to become exalted by the Left, they've been a grand success. If their objective was to sell more records, they may want to re-examine their methods.

I had a similar problem mermaid. My wife and I used to go to a restaurant where they had the best roast duck and mango salsa.

But the owner kept coming over to our table and would hit on my wife asking her why she would stick with a loser like me, especially when she could hang out with someone as smart and worldly as himself.

We bumped in to him months after we stopped going and he asked us why we didn't come back. We simply told him we like the food but hated to be insulted at the same time.

He simply retaliated by saying we were trying to infringe on his "freedom of speech".

That was evidence he wasn't as smart and worldly as he claimed. Oh well.......

I love music. I even have the Dixie Chick's first album (Fly), and I'm not even a fan of country. All that said, I watched the first 5 minutes last night just to see the Police. I didn't want to hear a word spoken afterward...

It was only this post that made me wonder who won what. And then I found this award:

Best Solo Rock Vocal Performance
Someday Baby
Bob Dylan

So how much dope were they smoking? I love Dylan. But there's not a [sober] Dylan fan alive who would ever make the claim that he can sing. Yet here he is with a 'Best Vocal Performance' grammy.

If that's not proof positive that the grammy's mean nothing, I'm not sure what is.

My wife and I liked the Dixie Chicks music before they chose a political side quite vocally overseas. Since then we haven't bought a single song or album. My wife listens to country music stations on the radio, and guess what, she can't remember a time that the Chicks have been on the radio. I can even see them getting song of the year (after all, they weren't ready to make nice with the Red States or G.W., and that must really get the nutroots all frothing), but Country Album of the year? You gotta be kidding me. Once again we see how the Hollywierd elites are so separated from their listening base. After all, how many awards did the dixie chicks win at the COUNTRY Music Awards, an awards ceremony that honors specifically COUNTRY music? Answer : ZERO!

Beneath all the hoopla and hyperbole are three artists whose only real aspirations are to create, entertain and, hopefully, make a living doing so, same as most artists. An offhand, harmless comment was magnified out of all proportion by the right wing echo chamber, resulting in a 21st century witch hunt, a concentrated effort by some self-appointed guardians of free speech to destroy these artists. As the feller said in the documentary "Shut Up And Sing", "free speech is fine as long as you don't say it in public"!

The sad part of this is that it's so un-American. From Ben Franklin on down, wise people in our history have stressed the importance of guaranteeing the freedom to disagree with our government, publically or privately, as an important part of our democratic process. An attempt to destroy a career because of something that was said? God Bless America. They paid a price for being ahead of the curve. I think a majority of people today are ashamed to have Bush as president, no matter what state he's from.

As far as the Grammys, I think it's just affirmation from their fellow artists for their courageous stand towards this attempt at personal destruction. As has been said, they can't take the awards to the bank, so what's the big deal? The Chicks will be around for a long time, speaking their mind)s), a right they share with all Americans.

Groucho posted:

"...I think a majority of people today are ashamed to have Bush as president, no matter what state he's from..."

See groucho - that's your problem - you *think* too much. In your world, the majority of the people are ashamed of Bush, but in the Dixie Chicks world (their fan base) they obviously are not. And Just as Natalie exercised her free speech by opening her pie hole, the fan base has exercised their free speech by keeping their ears and wallets closed.

Simply put - Don't believe everything you think.

There is no guarantee from the consequences of your freedom of speech groucho. Amazing that one should feel that they should not only have the freedom to say what they want, but then should have the freedom to be protected from all the non-violent retribution to what they said.

Why is this so hard to understand. It wasn't a witch hunt, and it wasn't un-American. It was just more free speech on the part of country music fans and those insulted by what they said.

As far as the Grammys, I think it's just affirmation from their fellow artists for their courageous stand towards this attempt at personal destruction.

And here I thought it was a music awards show.

Groucho: You missed more than the secret word. Natalie's comments were not causal and offhand. They were calculated and part of the show. The responses they have made, and the next album support this contention of mine. Prove otherwise or your comment is a vacuous and deceitful attempt to make an argument out of lies.

Groucho said ..

Beneath all the hoopla and hyperbole are three artists whose only real aspirations are to create, entertain and, hopefully, make a living doing so, same as most artists.

First, congratulations on your ability to read their minds and know what their true aspirations were. The rest of us, however, can only go on what they say and do.

An offhand, harmless comment was magnified out of all proportion by the right wing echo chamber, resulting in a 21st century witch hunt, a concentrated effort by some self-appointed guardians of free speech to destroy these artists. As the feller said in the documentary "Shut Up And Sing", "free speech is fine as long as you don't say it in public"!

So, ONLY the left is entitled to free speech then? Sorry, I must have missed seeing that in the Constitution. Last time I read the Constitution - which I do at least quarterly - I didn't see that it said that free speech is available ONLY to liberals and/or Democrats, but denied to conservatives and Republicans.

The sad part of this is that it's so un-American. From Ben Franklin on down, wise people in our history have stressed the importance of guaranteeing the freedom to disagree with our government, publically or privately, as an important part of our democratic process.

As it is un-American to tell someone that they can't comment on the product of someone else's free speech. Wise people in our history have stressed the importance of guaranteeing the freedom to disagree with ANYONE as an important part of our democratic processes.

Free speech = leftist speech

Righwing speech = hate speech, which isn't free and must be regulated

This isn't rockey science, you neocon neatherthals!

Again, I must ask:

Where do you guys get the notion that the boycott against the Dixie Chicks was successful? They're much richer than everyone in this thread put together. Sorry, guys.

That's what I find hilarious about all this talk of "There is no guarantee from the consequences of your freedom of speech". Guess what: they're still selling records. I agree that nobody guaranteed them continued success, but they got it anyway. Where does all this triumphalist BS come from? Is Instapundit linking to fake pictures of the Dixie Chicks living in a cardboard box in an alley?

scar,

That's all well and good. I don't think anyone was claiming that the boycott was successful enough to ruin the chicks financially.

So then can we put to bed this whole "attempt to destroy their career" BS. And tell the chicks that this was not some violation of their free speech. Even though they still seem to think it is based on Natalie Manes' comments last night.

Ohio, please, please tell us that if a popular mainstream coutry artist got up in front aof a crowd in France in 1997 or so and said that he/she was ashamed that Bill Clinton fwas rom Arkansas, you would have been up in arms, furious that a mere country singer had the gall to criticize our president?

Nice try at convoluting the argument. Free speech should be for everyone. I wonder what would have happened if the right wing destruction machine hadn't latched on to the story like a pack of rabid dogs. Very little, I suspect.

epador, the comments certainly were calculated. Don't blame someone for defending themselves when attacked. The media creates a tempest in a teapot and then vilifies the person attacked for responding. The whole thing is just plain ridiculous.

I have to say being a musician, that artists do not make a lot of money off their records. They make it in touring and product endorsement. Two things that are hurting the DC's now. ww

"They make it in touring and product endorsement."

And both of those income areas are going to increase dramatically, thanks to the five grammy awards that the creepoids handed to the Dixie Chicks.

Wow...the Grammy's jump the shark...

please tell us that if a popular mainstream coutry artist got up in front aof a crowd in France in 1997 or so and said that he/she was ashamed that Bill Clinton

Then Clinton supporters would be free to boycott them by not buying their CD's.

For example, when a band like "Green Day" bashes the president we don't expect it to affect their sales because they are preaching to the choir. But if "Green Day" praised the president, you would see the similar reaction that country fans had to the Dixie Chicks.

I bet many of the folks commenting here know very little about country music. The genre is not nearly as "conservative" as some of its supporters or detractors suggest. Most of the Nashville songwriting establishment despises George W. Bush and consistently supports the Democratic Party. Country performers going back to Jimmie Rodgers have always pushed the social, cultural and political envelope in ways that rankled the conservative political establishment in the South. But some recording executives figured out that exploiting right-wing politics could be profitable too. Merle Haggard's brilliant "Okie From Muskogee" was largely tongue in cheek - but he won't admit it so as not to alienate the fans who fell for it. Haggard, one of the greatest songwriters in any genre also penned Irma Jackson in the early 1960s, which bemoans the ban on interracial marriage. And that was when about 90% of Americans opposed interracial marriage. The media establishment went nuts when Haggard came out against the Iraq war. I would have been shocked if he hadn't opposed it.

And that's just the top-popular establishment, both Nashville or Bakersfield based. Millions of modern country listeners prefer either alt-country or neo-traditional country (usually both), and the politics in this genre is blatantly left-wing. Non-establishment country is extremely popular in the "red states" as well as blue states. Like any other genre, country music radio is dominated by "safe" and generally conservative (culturally and politically) decision-making. Unfortnately, radio choice dictates record sales. When Natalie Maines told off the "Reba McIntyre" country set, she was telling off the Nashville recording executive establishment the same way that Johnny Cash and Waylong Jennings and Merle Haggard and Buck Owens told them off in the 1960s.

I think the Dixie Chicks and their digs at the country establishment fit right in with what true country music fans have come to expect and appreciate.

thanks to the five grammy awards that the creepoids handed to the Dixie Chicks

I'm glad the liberals here are smart enough to know the difference in giving awards for actual accomplishment verses making political statements.

Ah, I remember the good old days when a song was so good it made you want to flick your bic and sway back and forth to the rhythm. Then there was no surprise when the artist was given a music award.

Now all an artist has to do is scream "Bush Sucks" and they are patted on the head like that's some sort of achievement. Sad part is not even the liberals deny this truth. Way too obvious.......

So those defending some chicks are actually saying that I must like The Artist otherwise I am an evil reichwinger bend on destroying freedom of speech.

Plainly speaking in the name of free speech I hate all useful idiots whether they can sing, act direct or dance.

Millions of modern country listeners prefer either alt-country or neo-traditional country (usually both), and the politics in this genre is blatantly left-wing

Dammit, I was afraid there was something lefty about "Don't Rock the Jukebox".

I'm getting the lighter fluid out now.

Anyone who needs an index of Natalie Maines' intelligence (and that of her bandmates who apparently agreed to all of this) is the white dress she was wearing when they performed. When you are short and somewhat plump (particularly in the derriere) you do NOT wear a shiny WHITE gown with ruching throughout the dress below the waist! She looked like the trailer trash that she is!

Hollywood types voted those awards to them, not based on merit but on their political posturing. Ain't no way.

And by the bye, I AM GOING TO BOYCOTT THE OSCARS AND I SUGGEST THAT OTHERS DO TOO.

As previously commented, the money for The Dixie Chicks or any other musical act is in TOURING, not record sales. The record sales of the most recent CD were decent; multitudes of concert dates had to be canceled.

Nice try at convoluting the argument. Free speech should be for everyone.

Convoluting what argument? Does free speech only apply to those who disagree with their government or president? What about those who disagree with those who disagree with said government, can they not excercise their right to free speech by speaking out against them?

Why is that so hard to understand?

Nobody gives a rat's patoot about these stupid awards. And even fewer people listen to the Dickie Chix.

What about those who disagree with those who disagree with said government, can they not excercise their right to free speech by speaking out against them?

Sure. As long as they don't threaten the lives of those making the original comments.

Ohio, please, please tell us that if a popular mainstream coutry artist got up in front aof a crowd in France in 1997 or so and said that he/she was ashamed that Bill Clinton fwas rom Arkansas, you would have been up in arms, furious that a mere country singer had the gall to criticize our president?

Shockingly, they DIDN'T do it. Call it class, if you wish.

And both of those income areas are going to increase dramatically, thanks to the five grammy awards that the creepoids handed to the Dixie Chicks.

Well, their most recent tour says you're wrong and I can assure you --- nobody cares what the Grammys say.

After all, if they did, winning Best New Artist wouldn't be the kiss of death it has a habit of being for new artists.
-=Mike

If the Grammys only had a smidge of credibility before last night, they have zero credibility and validate the Dixie Chicks not a whit.

Want proof? Without looking it up, name the big Grammy winner from 2006.

I rest my case.

Dixie Chicks getting a Grammy (and Al Gore getting an Oscar - he'll get one - guaranteed) is about as surprising as, say, The Christian Coalition giving Bush an award. The "Academy" would give an award to a squirrel if he made a liberal statement in a song or a movie.

Yawn.

P.S. Having to cancel concert after concert in places you use to sell out is EMBARRASSING as hell. That's what the Dixie Chicks have had to experience. Has it been tough? Well, one of the Dixie Chicks had tears last night while describing the past few years.

They have been punished. Good! A good lesson for everyone everywhere about free speech. Liberals were reminded that (gasp) both sides have free speech. Not just theirs.

The Grammy voters used their awards ceremony to affirm a political statement, but at the expense of other musical artists. These artists will undoubtedly feel snubbed. As time goes by, the Chicks' statues will be remembered for the politics, not the music. As artists, the Chicks will always have to question whether their "wins" were deserved. In a way, the Grammys voters have not given the Chicks the honor they intended, but rather a lifetime of doubt.

jj:

You raise an interesting point regarding Green Day. Where's the outrage over their anti-American commentary, in their music, no less? What about Neil Young? Haven't heard anyone clamoring to ban him from radio or boycott his shows. Seems that a trio of attractive, intelligent, successful women not afraid to speak their minds is a little more than the conservatives can tolerate.

jo,

So it's good that the Dixie Chicks have been "punished"? Huh? Please explain why that's a good thing relative to free speech. Feel free to elaborate on the "lesson for everyone" to be learned here.

MikeD, you are so right. Each time they cut to the audience after the Dixie Chicks made their speeches, most of the people looked bored or just had those looks of "well we know why they got this award." I was expecting huge standing ovations, never ending applause, etc. DIDN'T HAPPEN. Those liberal artists love the political message with the Dixie Chicks, but when it comes at the expense of say, their winning an award, well, not so much.

P.S. Right after the Dixie Chicks speech on the first award, they cut to a shot of Reba McIntire clapping for them.

Very classy, since one of the "statements" that got the Chicks in further trouble with the country community was when one of the Chicks (shockingly, not Natalie) said something about how they'd rather have fans other than the ones who have Toby Keith and Reba McIntire in their CD player.

Anyway, classy behavior on Reba's part. Something we couldn't count on from anyone on the left.

So it's good that the Dixie Chicks have been "punished"? Huh? Please explain why that's a good thing relative to free speech. Feel free to elaborate on the "lesson for everyone" to be learned here.

There are consequences for actions.

You want to denigrate your fan base as the Chicks did? You will LOSE your fan base.

Hint: Saying you're not a country band is not going to sit well with the country fans who were basically the only ones buying your tickets. If you don't show them respect, they won't support you.

If they left it at Bush bashing, their audience would have forgiven them. They then went on to attack their audience, and they aren't too likely to forget that.

You raise an interesting point regarding Green Day. Where's the outrage over their anti-American commentary, in their music, no less? What about Neil Young? Haven't heard anyone clamoring to ban him from radio or boycott his shows. Seems that a trio of attractive, intelligent, successful women not afraid to speak their minds is a little more than the conservatives can tolerate.

Because nobody CARES about them. Who the heck takes Green Day seriously? Who can stomach Neil Young's whiny voice?
-=Mike

Good point about nobody remembering who won the awards from last year.

The Chicks will have their week of glory and then it will be back to canceling concerts.

Life is good.

Have you Conservatives noticed that your circle of influence has gotten smaller and smaller the longer Bush is in office?

CBS, ABC, NBC, CNN, MSNBC, Newspapers, TV Shows, Magazines, Grammy Awards, Oscars awards and the Nobel Peace Prize have all been added to your politically incorrect list. Heaven forbid a NASCAR driver says something not PC to you righties and they too will be added to the list.

Come back to us Righties we miss you here in the real world.

since one of the "statements" that got the Chicks in further trouble with the country community was when one of the Chicks (shockingly, not Natalie) said something about how they'd rather have fans other than the ones who have Toby Keith and Reba McIntire in their CD player.
Yeah, i can't imagine why an artist would be upset at people who sent them death threats. BTW, when exactly did the eeeeevil libruls send death threats to Toby Keith, exactly?

CBS, ABC, NBC, CNN, MSNBC, Newspapers, TV Shows, Magazines, Grammy Awards, Oscars awards and the Nobel Peace Prize have all been added to your politically incorrect list. Heaven forbid a NASCAR driver says something not PC to you righties and they too will be added to the list.

Who on God's Earth takes ANY of those seriously?

You actually take the Grammys SERIOUSLY? I can't remember who won anything LAST YEAR. I'll forget this year's winners before the week is up. And the Oscars? The English Patient won Best Picture once. Yeah, I take THAT seriously.

Yeah, i can't imagine why an artist would be upset at people who sent them death threats. BTW, when exactly did the eeeeevil libruls send death threats to Toby Keith, exactly?

I suppose PROOF of those "death threats" is soon forthcoming.
-=Mike

Grendel, do I need to give you a list of outspoken people on the right who get death threats? Wake up moron, you missed the whole point. What a shocker.

Another stupid thing one of the Chicks said was derogatory about the show "The View." I guess they thought they were too good for that show because one of them said "Would Bruce Springsteen do The View?"

Uh, that didn't go over too well with even the liberal gals at that show. In fact, it pretty much insulted everyone who has appeared on The View.

The Chicks are just all around tacky. The "humble" act last night didn't fool anyone.

I'd love to be the one who has to call them and announce another concert cancellation. Now THAT would be fun.

I suppose PROOF of those "death threats" is soon forthcoming.
dude, if you'd actually, y'know read or watch anything that doesn't have the Fox News seal of approval you'd have seen at least one of them, as shown in the documentary Shut Up and Sing.
i suppose the people who boycotted Garth Brooks when he sang about how maybe lynching gay people isn't such a nice thing to do are "real" country music fans as well?

Compare and Contrast the GRUMPYS with what was on ABC last night - Extreme Makeover (home edition) did a two hour, very patriotic episode helping a former marine and his family - someone who is a real hero (unlike the whiny chicks). The whole show was very inspiring.

Peter, you mean they had the Grammy's in 2006 too? Damn. who knew?

It will be interesting to see if the chicks are still so celebrated for their "talent" when Bush is out of office in a couple of years.

Grendel, do I need to give you a list of outspoken people on the right who get death threats?
I think you do, because it happens to everyone who speaks against the extreme right wing.

dude, if you'd actually, y'know read or watch anything that doesn't have the Fox News seal of approval you'd have seen at least one of them, as shown in the documentary Shut Up and Sing.

In my defense, looking at the box office, NOBODY watched Shut Up and Sing.

i suppose the people who boycotted Garth Brooks when he sang about how maybe lynching gay people isn't such a nice thing to do are "real" country music fans as well?

Never heard of Garth cancelling shows left and right. Have heard of the Dixie Chicks doing that.

I think you do, because it happens to everyone who speaks against the extreme right wing.

Michelle Malkin, for one, would laugh at that sentiment.
-=Mike

Michelle Malkin, for one, would laugh at that sentiment.
Would that be the same Michelle Malkin who publishes the addresses of people so the goons who read her blog can harass them and send yet more death threats? I think it's disgusting if she has recieved death threats from a few radical loons, but she is responsible for multiple death threats herself. Has she managed to get that Iraqi policeman murdered yet?

The mere fact that Milli Vanilli won Grammys is more than sufficient to indict the entire process as preposterous, if not necessarily fraudulent.

Awards shows mean nothing, never have, and never will, unless you're persuaded that an industry circle jerk somehow qualifies as a spectacle.

You raise an interesting point regarding Green Day. Where's the outrage over their anti-American commentary, in their music, no less? What about Neil Young? Haven't heard anyone clamoring to ban him from radio or boycott his shows.

The point was the people who were Chicks fans are not necessarily Green Day fans. Therefore it is of no surprise.

I gather it was a surprise to country fans that the Chicks were ashamed of their country and proclaimed it overseas.

So the question is, what if Green Day decided they loved President Bush and wrote songs praising him? Would the left say, "oh well" we love their music but not the message and continue to support them through CD sales and concert tickets?

I'd bet a dime to a dollar Green Day fans would not tolerate it. But I also would not claim the left was suppressing Green Day's freedom of speech.

That would be downright silly.

Yet............

Grendel, I believe it was PHONE NUMBERS that Malkin published, the ones that were shown on their press release, so I guess they didn't mind handing those out.

A little different than the leftwingers who posted PICTURES of Malkin's HOME on the web.

Grendel, check out while you can. You're out of your league. But thanks for coming by and playing the idiot.

Next.

"Has she managed to get that Iraqi policeman murdered yet?"

Well said, Grendel!

Would that be the same Michelle Malkin who publishes the addresses of people so the goons who read her blog can harass them and send yet more death threats?

You mean the ones they included on their press release?

I think it's disgusting if she has recieved death threats from a few radical loons, but she is responsible for multiple death threats herself. Has she managed to get that Iraqi policeman murdered yet?

She is not responsible for any death threats.

And the source still states he never spoke to the AP and he was never under any potential criminal probe.

But, hey, deflect the issue. You said only critics of the "far right" get death threats then basically ignore it when I disprove it.

I will guarantee you that Rush, O'Reilly, et al get death threats regularly.
-=Mike

What I love is how the leftwingers keep patting themselves on the back for being so "brave" to make anti war, anti america, anti Bush comments.

Yeah, it's really brave of them knowing full well that these statements will most likely get them a nomination for an Oscar or a Grammy.

Oh the suffering of the outspoken left.

Bwahahahahahahahahaha....

I will guarantee you that Rush, O'Reilly, et al get death threats regularly.

Mike, Grendel thinks those big guys surrounding O'Reilly & Rush are just there for autographs. lol.

Those brave dixie chicks putting it to the man! That lovely Rosie telling off thosr mean Christians! That smart "Jesus Imitator" saying that George Bush hates black people! Ous Saviour Obama calling one of our bravest allies a chickenhawk! Oh, the list (and lisps) goes on and on...

Excuse me while I diddle myself to screaming orgasm...

Sincerely,

American Lisping Lefty

Meanwhile over at youtube, an atheist who regularly makes videos denouncing religion in general gets his account yanked when he starts in on apparently the only religion you can't ridicule - Islam.

I'm sure the Hollywood "There's a chill wind blowing" crowd will crank up a documentary on this kind of thing.

NOT.

I was glad Al Gore showed up last night to give away an award. Kinda puts the whole Dixie Chick awards into perspective. This is a liberal event giving out rewards to those who toe the liberal line. Nothing "brave" about it.

Feel free to elaborate on the "lesson for everyone" to be learned here.

"Don't be a jackass"

Excuse me while I diddle myself to screaming orgasm

Dear Penthouse,

I never believed the stories here until it happened to me.

There I was in the Wizbang comment section........

Wow, quite an active thread over something as insignificant and worthless as a few Grammys.

Dan, maybe you'd like to tell us what the lesson is, since Jo doesn't seem willing to. Or you could respond with ad hominem hostility. Totally up to you.

The grammys and acadamy awards are so bogus...it's just a bunch of lefties voting for their lefty friends...has nothing to do with talent anymore...just a platform to pat themselves on the back and get more fame and wealth and a platform to push their socialistic views, even if they don't walk the talk themselves as they are flown in on their private jets and driven up in their limos and suvs, smokin' their global warming cigarettes...

Wow, quite an active thread over something as insignificant and worthless as a few Grammys.

Dan, maybe you'd like to tell us what the lesson is, since Jo doesn't seem willing to. Or you could respond with ad hominem hostility. Totally up to you.

I thought my last post was pretty succinct but if you want the long version here it goes:

The DC were a country music unit. Through means totally within their control they managed to alienate their fanbase as can bee seen in lagging tour sales. This isn't some vast right-wing conspiracy. While there may be some in the country music industry who lean a little left, for the most part the Country Music set is pretty conservative. This can be seen in the backlash to their politically charged statements. Radio stations won't play their music (though CM stations on Sirius still do on occasion) and, again, tour sales lagged far behind the norm for an act of their caliber.

This does not mean that their first amendment rights are being suppressed. They are not being censored. Their fans simply deserted them because they made a boneheaded comment followed up by indignation and ridicule. In other words they were being jackasses.

And yes - we are in agreement - the Grammys are pretty worthless and insignificant.

Damn .. shouldn't try to answer a thread and participate in a conference call at the same time ...

So the question is, what if Green Day decided they loved President Bush and wrote songs praising him? Would the left say, "oh well" we love their music but not the message and continue to support them through CD sales and concert tickets?
They wouldn't be the same band if they did that, but you wouldn't hear people calling for them to be banned from the radio. Liberal rock fans don't threaten boycotts when P.O.D. is played on rock radio. i have yet to hear anyone on your side distance themselves in any way from the nutjobs sending threats to the Dixie Chicks, y'all just continue on with your oh so clever misogynist slurs about "dipsy twits" and all...

For the record: according to the Recording Industry Association of America -- the organization that certifies record sale totals -- The DixChix have only sold between one and two million Taking The Long Way CDs. Don't believe me? Do a search on the RIAA site yourself.

The 1-2 mil sales thusfar is in sharp contrast to the Chicks' breakthrough work, 1998's Wide Open Spaces, which sold over 12 million copies. I've laid out all the numbers on the CD sales here.

The numbers on the documentary Shut Up & Sing are even more amusing. Not only was the film a flopporooni, grossing only $1.2 million over three months in theaters (only released in as many as 91), on this past January 22 the movie had a microscopic daily gross of $825.00. That means Shut Up & Sing -- hyped to the hills on national television news and Oprah -- sunk as low as taking in $36 per screen that day! The film is out on DVD February 20.

The Dixie Chicks are not talent-deprived, although I never dug them aside from the aesthetics of sisters Emily and Martie. But come freakin' on, folks -- this is the most obvious sympathy vote since Elizabeth Taylor won an Academy Award for Butterfield 8.

The Chicks will always have their hardcore fans, and still remain the bestselling female group ever. Then, they got full of themselves. Grammy or no Grammy, their days of superstardom are over.

i have yet to hear anyone on your side distance themselves in any way from the nutjobs sending threats to the Dixie Chicks

Ok - count me as one of those that say people that sent threats to the DC are total dipsticks.

That being said, why can't CM fans threaten boycots? Seems to be a valid expression of their right to free speech to me. If I don't like what someone says I don't listen to em. This is why I'm not a Neil Young fan. (That and his voice reminds me of two cats in heat.)

BTW - Do people listen to P.O.D.? They suck!

This was not only a sympathy vote, but a political vote...definitely not a best talent or most popular vote....BUT THE FACT IS THE LEFTIES WERE VOTING FOR THEMSELVES! Who invented the Oscars and the Grammys and why? The Oscars have grown from a small $10 a person dinner party of 250 people at the Roosevelt Hotel in LA in 1929 to a world event! Why? Publicity leading to box office attendence and money for all involved! It's all about money and selling movies! Grammys have the same agenda! Money! Emmys, too! IF PEOPLE WOULD IGNORE THEM, MAYBE THEY'D GO AWAY!

count me as one of those that say people that sent threats to the DC are total dipsticks.
Glad to hear it, i feel the same way about anyone who would send death threats to anybody. That's just plain not right. I hope we can all agree on that.
My sole point is that it's pretty understandable to me why the Dixie Chicks would have negative things to say about "country music fans" of the sort who drive the Nashville machine. I don't know that i'd want the sort of fans who abandoned Johnny Cash when he was making some of the most interesting recordings of his career, and i don't think it's a coincidence that the Chicks turned to Rick Rubin to produce their current album. They didn't abandon country music, country music abandoned them.
Personally, i wouldn't pick the Dixie Chicks' album as album of the year. It is, however a damn good record.

They wouldn't be the same band if they did that

And I'm sure country fans thought that of the Chicks.

And you think they lefties would still be banging their heads and flinging their hair to tunes from Green Day that praised President Bush?

Hardly...........

And I'm sure country fans thought that of the Chicks.
The Dixie Chicks whose breakthrough single was about standing up to domestic abuse? Those Dixie Chicks?

Get over it Grendel...just go buy their CD ! We all know they're not righties, they're lefties like all those who voted for them! It's no surprise they won...duh

The Dixie Chicks whose breakthrough single was about standing up to domestic abuse? Those Dixie Chicks

I never really heard the Chicks, but what you describe sounds like the making of a country song. Something country fans would listen too. The same country fans that don't like America loathing.

Of course I know you are not insinuating the base of country fans would assume by the theme of domestic abuse was a dig on them. You know, stereotyping country fans into wife beating rednecks therefore "that song sucks" cuz sometimes a women just needs to learn her place.

Please say that isn't so.................

I have to hand it to the Dixie Chicks and their PR handlers to turn what could have been a debacle into a triumph.

This is how it's done:

First, paint the DCs as victims rather than as classless bohos and get the entertainment media to run "poor me" puff pieces.

Next, widely publicize the stupid yahoos who go over the line and make death threats. Never mind the fact that big-name bands get death threats all the time.

Next, organize the band's Whiny Crybabies 2006 World Tour to coincide with the release of their "All Our Fans Can Shove It" CD.

Then, book a bunch of blue-state dates for this tour to make up for the red-state venues who have cancelled.

Film a documentary of the Whiny Crybabies 2006 Tour, and heavy on the victim sauce, please.

Get lots of sympathetic MSM coverage.

All this practically guarantees a massive sympathy vote in the Grammys.

So again, I have to hand it to them. It was very well-played.

Natalie Maines criticizing Bush in the country we're most allied with was hardly an act of treason. And the death threats that followed are not protected speech.

It's also pretty weird that the death threats include all three women, though only one made the statement that offended. And the guys in the band? No death threats.

Call it what you will, but it smells like misogyny to me.

And what does Riehl World View call them today? The Dixie Clits? Freedom of speech, it's a wonderful thing. And no matter who gives them awards, those women can sing.

As to the claim that people like Willie and Johnny and Waylon were well-received, I refer you to what Cash thought about the Nashville music industry in 1997. And K.D. Lang was appreciated by country fans, till she recorded a pro-vegetarian commercial that dissed the beef industry.

As best as I can tell, then, red state country music fans don't like old musicians, women who work with a woman critical of a live president or a woman critical of a dead cow.

That's the beauty of free speech. It permits so many to be identified for what they are. And what Maines is still is a talented, successful and popular singer, and will be long after Bush leaves office.

Get over it Grendel...just go buy their CD ! We all know they're not righties, they're lefties like all those who voted for them! It's no surprise they won...duh
My husband already has a copy of the CD, thank you very much (he also has, ohmigod a Toby Keith CD). I wonder how many of you whining about it have even heard the damn thing?

The same country fans that don't like America loathing.
Then it's a good thing the Dixie Chicks never said anything against America. Or are you too stupid to tell the difference between George W. Bush and our country?

My husband already has a copy of the CD, thank you very much (he also has, ohmigod a Toby Keith CD)

Do they play when loaded into the player together? I'm suprised the frickin universe hasn't imploded.

For the record, I don't like CM. Wife does and is slowly bringing me around (Carrie Underwood, Sugerland, Bon Jovi ... no wait ..)

I could really care less about DC or their agenda. I don't see their drumming out of the CM scene as some sort of misogynistic conspiracy. They denigrated the POTUS while outside this nations boarders. That pretty much doesn't sit well with the majority of the CM set (the denigrating while out of the country part - simple denigration while CONUS probably wouldn't have raised to much ire). When their fans raised a stink, they denigrated those fans. All in all those are pretty boneheaded things to do if you want to keep a CM fanbase. If you don't care and/or want to stay true to your 'principles' by all means do so .. just don't whine about it and go 'Ha Ha' like a witless child when your fanbase rejects you.

Glad you have their CD and now have helped pay their bills...that's how the good ole US of A works! And also glad you have helped pay Toby Keith's bills! But no thanks, I have the freedom to not want to listen to or buy their CD ...don't want to help pay their bills...and that's how the good ole US of A works!
By the way, did you know the awards shows are a brilliant PR and marketing tool for the industry and the left? BOGUS BOGUS BOGUS...nothing behind all those awards but an agenda! Most people are too star struck to see it!

LOL The DCs feel "vindicated" cause their best friends voted for them!

By the way, did you know the awards shows are a brilliant PR and marketing tool for the industry and the left?
Booga booga! Seriously, the awards shows have nothing to do with right or left, it's self congratulatory gladhanding on the part of artists. My pick for album of the year would have been different but it's freaking hilarious to see y'all whining about how an album YOU HAVEN'T EVEN HEARD doesn't deserve an award. Dude, that's comedy gold.

It didn't DESERVE an award, grendel....it got the most votes from their friends in the industry. Big deal

Fireman, policeman, our soldiers...these guys DESERVE awards!

Have you heard the album?
My own choice for album of the year would be different, but at least my comment is informed by having heard the album. Which by the way is a damn good album and at least in the running for album of the year in my estimation, which is better than the grammys usually do.

Fireman, policeman, our soldiers...these guys DESERVE awards!
Great, I agree with you. Now tell that to the Republican party next time they want to cut veterans' benefits.

Ha ha ha, yes, Grendel, you are one "informed" girl! Maybe we should all listen to the album and get more "informed!"

Then it's a good thing the Dixie Chicks never said anything against America

I said America loathing since MoveOn.Org organized their 2003 concert tour.

I have a semi-related question to this whole thing:

Why does it seem only liberal actors and musicians talk so much about politics at inappropriate forums?

This doesn't really happen with their conservative counterparts. I mean, Vince Vaughn and Bruce Willis go to Iraq and visit with the troops, but you don't hear these people on talk shows ranting about their politics.

Any ideas on this?

And how exactly is moveon.org "America loathing"?

BTW, sunshine, i'm not a girl. I do try to stay informed, though.

I didn't watch the Grammys and care nothing about the Dixie Chicks, but it is amusing to hear "free speech" whining from people on the same side as the organizers of something called a Shut-Up-A-Thon (!) against a TV network for saying things that self-styled "liberals" didn't like. "Progressives" truly are irony-deficient.

(For the record, the Shut-Up-A-Thon was a perfectly legal and legitimate -- if obnoxious and highly ironic -- exercise in free speech. As are protests against Dixie Chicks' haughty arrogance, including protests in the form of refusing to buy their albums or attend their concerts.)

And how exactly is moveon.org "America loathing"?

Because, that's why.....sheesh. You don't get out much, do you?

MoveOn organizes their tour and country fans just yell...YeeeeHaaaa!!!

ouch...sorry, grendel, you are not a girl, you are a sensitive woman. Now do you FEEL better?
Sigh.

The Dixie Chicks are guilty of arrogance -- they think they are better and more "enlightened" than the very fans that put them in a position where they could espouse their political views. They abandoned their country music fans before their fans abandoned them. The reaction of the heartland country music fans had nothing to do with a vast right wing conspiracy spearheading an effort to boycott their concerts and albums. If someone implies that you are stupid, you are not likely to continue to put money in her pcokets.

Have you heard the album?

No, I'm not much of a country-rock fan, but I've seen the cover art and good heavens, the Chicks are all painted up in gaunt death tones. They look like Nazgul.

No wonder the blue-staters suddenly fell love with them.

the vast majority of liberals (1000 stupid people. that's the best you can do? really?) just roll our eyes at Fox News. The answer to bad speech is more speech, there's nothing the right fears more than the truth.

*Do you really want to be associated with any right wing group that can assemble a thousand morons in one place?

**I'm not female, though i guess coming from you guys that's meant to be an insult?

They look like Nazgul.

*Cleans coffee off of keyboard*

Told you old p'p' would chime in early with his "ditto" key.

Three words on DCs-FAT ASS PIGS.

Grendel72...when someone mentions "thier husband" one usually assumes they're female. No need to read into it any further.

I think Grendel confuses us for people who care about him/her.
-=Mike

grendel, we right wingers assume when you have a husband you are the wife. we don't think like the left ... sorry.
sigh

It's not a matter of "thinking like the left", sunshine, I think anyone would have made that assumption.

The other day I was up-dating my voter
registration when the person asked how,
I said independent he said can't do that
why I asked? Just can't...Sorry I said
I have a Mother and Father so Democrat
or Republican just won't work...As for the
Chicks let em do Rap...

Hahahaha...thanks, Heralder, seems like I'm apologizing a lot on this blog ;-)

btw, did I hear Hillary was cleaning her closet or coming out of it?

Yes, and I'm still laughing about OregonMuse' Nazgul comment...because I keep thinking about the Mouth of Sauron and it just gets funnier.

I don't think Hillary has a closet, can't give those skeletons a place to hide ;)

Grendel is still hanging around after she got nailed by several of us? Too funny.

The Dixie Chicks have a history of being arrogant. Before the Bush comment, Natalie Maines criticized Toby Keith's post 9/11 anthem (the one Peter Jennings decided was too pro america and wouldn't play on his July 4th show) and called it "ignorant." That's how she and Toby got into their little spat. Then on one of the awards shows she wore a shirt that had the initials FUTK. Figure it out.

Then one of them insulted people that listened to Toby & Reba McIntire. Then one of them insulted people who went on The View (for that one they profusely apologized - I guess they realized liberals run that show and liberals appear on that show - better suck up an apology if you want any awards)...

Then she insulted all country music fans in general basically calling them ignorant hicks. Pretty hilarious since Natalie is from Lubbock, Texas, which is HICKVILLE, USA. LOL.

The Dixie Twits are just superficial twits who have no idea what they're talking about as we can all see.

Better enjoy that grammy. Grammy awards do not fill up concert seats.

Exalt now mean "to patronize". Gotta love the liberals and their habit of redefining words to suit their agenda.

Talk about flip flopping! grendel, we are all wondering...are you a female or are you a male, or are you both or neither depending on the question.

grendel, we right wingers assume when you have a husband you are the wife. we don't think like the left ... sorry.
My apologies, I had forgotten mentioning him. I'm not the country music fan in the household is all.
I can see that your comment was not meant how I'd interpreted it, and i apologize.

I am shocked by the level of misogyny in some comments here (FAT ASS PIGS, really? That's the best you can do, falsely deriding their appearance because you disagree with their views?) but hopefully those aren't representative comments.

I am shocked by the level of misogyny in some comments here (FAT ASS PIGS, really? That's the best you can do, falsely deriding their appearance because you disagree with their views?) but hopefully those aren't representative comments.

We should go with chimp references, since the left seems to find those to be well within the realms of polite discourse.
-=Mike

Grendel, I wasn't commenting on whether you are male or female, and I care about that even less than I do about the Dixie Chicks.

1,000 self-declared leftists staged a "protest" against speech by Fox News. If people refusing to buy Dixie Chicks' CDs violates their right to free speech, then this protest was an even more flagrant violation. I'm glad you think those people were "stupid" -- but are you as outraged at their tactics as as the thuggishness of all those former Dixie Chicks fans who dared to not plunk down $15 for their new album?

But if you want more germane examples (I really just thought the Shut-Up-A-Thon was funny, in a quintissentially pitiful way of the "true progressives"), then by all means, check out what happens to conservative groups and speakers on college campuses, where the Left runs virtually unchecked. Let's just say that left-wing groups on those campuses are not shy about using the heckler's veto or stealing literature, often with tacit -- and even explicity -- support of left-wing faculty and administrators.

You can start here. Seems that someone is afraid of speech and truth, but it's definitely not "the [R]ight."

Yes, grendel, i guess you forgot that you lied.
Sigh...a true lefty, advocate of the Truth!

The Dixie Chicks getting Grammys is about as politically obvious as when Denzel Washington won Best Actor for Training Days, beating out Russell Crowe for A Beautiful Mind. That picture having won most of the other major awards that year, except the one for Russell who so obviously deserved it.

Sigh.

Yes, grendel, i guess you forgot that you lied.
Sigh...a true lefty, advocate of the Truth!
When did I lie?

but are you as outraged at their tactics as as the thuggishness of all those former Dixie Chicks fans who dared to not plunk down $15 for their new album?
Not buying their album is fine. Those threatening to boycott radio stations that play it are dumbasses in exactly the same way people acting like fools and boycotting Fox News are.
The funny thing is y'all are pissing a lot of moderates who hate the idiocy of people like the *shut up* protestors off. It's hilarious that you can't see you're exactly like them.

MikeC, you have the most beautiful way getting right to the heart of the matter.

The Dixie Chicks getting Grammys is about as politically obvious as when Denzel Washington won Best Actor for Training Days, beating out Russell Crowe for A Beautiful Mind. That picture having won most of the other major awards that year, except the one for Russell who so obviously deserved it.

Denzel was good -- but I thought it was a make-up for him not winning it for the Hurricane when he should have.

But, lord, can we never allow Julia Roberts to present an award again? She tried to overshadow him so badly.
-=Mike

grendel, you said at 4:04 you were not female. You had previously mentioned your husband. Then you said you forgot you mentioned your husband, which kind of clued us in that you were a wife, hence in the righty world, a female.
Not a lie in your world, just an oversight on your part...?

I note that the Grammys diss their audience just like the East German Govt used to diss their own people---the metaphor is nearly exact.

Berthold Brecht famously observed after the Berlin riots in 1953 caused the Commie GDR to state that perhaps the Germans did not deserve their governance: "then perhaps the GDR should select a new people."

So a bunch of non-country druggies vote for these silly paranoids. Carrie Underwood really wins, at the cash register!

The DC winning a grammy means as much as algore winning the nobel peace prize! BOGUS BOGUS BOGUS
Rush for Peace! hahaha

moderates are fence sitters waiting for a gust of hot air to blow them off to one side or another...

grendel, you mentioned how shocked you were at the level of misogyny in this blog on your 4:40 posting, and then in your 4:50 posting you called boycotters "dumbasses." In your words "is that the best you can do? "

What I especially love is how this is portrayed as "vindication" for the Dixie Chicks. That would be like us saying Bush was vindicated because he got an award at National Review.

Vindication would be selling out your concerts again, not cancelling them.

Dumbasses in the exact same way as those protesting Fox News are dumbasses, yes. Do you honestly not understand the difference between an insult aimed at the substance of something (the dumbassery of trying to silence that you disagree with specifically referring to said dumbasses on bot ends of the political spectrum) and an ad hominem like fat ass pigs? Even if the best you can do is to insult their appearance that one is dumb, since said chicks are if anything frighteningly thin. At least the Nazgul comment was mildly clever.
and it's not my fault if y'all thought i was female.

grendel.... wait, then you are a male with a husband? is this legal??

The law has nothing to do with it. as far as church and family are concerned we're married. i didn't mean to hijack the discussion, i only referred to him out of habit since he's the country music fan.

Honestly, folks. The two minute hate is nasty when liberals do it, why do you think it's any less so when you do it?

you naturally confused me, don't get so defensive...i go by the dictionary definition of husband.."a married man, a woman's partner in marriage." i can't read your mind or know you are redefining a term ...now if you could have that redefined as clinton did with "is," then i would understand. until then, you will just have to come out with the fact that you are two guys.

Yep..the Country Music Awards represent America..(if America was all white and over 30)Just wondering...how many, so dismissive enjoyed the music of The Chicks before the statement? How many Chicks CD's did you buy? Really good music transcends politics. Last years CD was really good music..
Of course there are folks who don't think Allison Krause and Union Station don't play bluegrass..
Hee-haw...

God bless the Chicks and God bless America!!!!!!!

Hmmm #2 on Amazon today..yep America is rejecting their music

"Product Details

* Audio CD (May 23, 2006)
* Original Release Date: May 23, 2006
* Number of Discs: 1
* Label: Sony
* ASIN: B000F7MG4G
* Average Customer Review: based on 1023 reviews. (Write a review.)
* Amazon.com Sales Rank: #2 in Music (See Top Sellers in Music) "

I apologize for interrupting my opinion with facts..

I stopped thinking that the Grammy awards were a relevant statement about musical merit when Jethro Tull won best heavy metal album for "Crest of a Knave" over Metallica.
I like both bands. Have seen both live more than a few times. Have all their albumns.
BUT, Jethro Tull OVER Metallica for HEAVEY FARKING METAL?!?

The awards given to the Dixie Chicks were simply one thing....sending a message.

As you know, these awards were not given by the people. This was not the People's Music Awards, rather less than 11,000 members of professionals in the music industry. One writer brought up the idea that the vote for the various catagories was so split, that the largest chunk of votes left were the politically active members who had the opportunity to "make a statement" with what amounts to a lackluster album and a really boring song.

First of all, there's no way a song like that would take song of the year at the Grammys unless it had help, through collusion or other means, or jury nullification, just like the O.J. trial. And for them to win 5 awards if just not only improbable, but impossible! It looks like the Grammys jumped the shark last night, allowing politics to influence the outcome of not one but 5 awards and I personally could never look at them in any kind of positive light again, though that's been coming for a long time now.

I've been a professional musician for over 35 years, a session player on albums and a touring sideman. I'm hearing nothing, and I repeat nothing, but disbelief at what happened last night. Some are asking for an investigation to see if there was indeed any wrong doing in the "winning" of these awards. And all along, Natalie and the world still actually think that they really won those awards.

Sad. Hope they never realize what really happened. They were used!

The Dixie Chicks whose breakthrough single was about standing up to domestic abuse? Those Dixie Chicks?

"Goodbye Earl" wasn't about "standing up to domestic abuse," it was about joyfully murdering a wife-beater and disposing of his body.

Maybe if the Bush Administration explained that Uday and Qusay Hussein were serial rapists, they would have been OK with the troops giving them what they deserved infinitely more times over than "Earl."

Nogo Postal: Of course the Chicks are getting a post-Grammy sales bump -- all winners do. It doesn't always last, though. When was the last time you heard a new Shawn Colvin record on the radio?

The Chicks' bump may even take them over the 2 million mark for Taking The Long Way, which, as I noted in a previous comment on this thread, has sales figures nothing short of anemic compared to their pre-Bush bash sales. Long Way clearing the double-platinum mark would bring them only FOUR million short of Home, SEVEN million short of Fly, and TEN million short of Wide Open Spaces.

Hmmm...that's a pretty steep mountain they've got to climb. You'd better buy more than one.

I've been a professional musician for over 35 years, a session player on albums and a touring sideman. I'm hearing nothing, and I repeat nothing, but disbelief at what happened last night.

Even more than when Toto IV swept the Grammys?

I like Toto, but c'mon!

Maybe if the Bush Administration explained that Uday and Qusay Hussein were serial rapists, they would have been OK with the troops giving them what they deserved infinitely more times over than "Earl."

Actually, I think that President Bush should have declared that what happened to Uday and Qusay constituted cutting-edge performance art by the Marines, and then all the lefties would have swooned.

Then he should have applied for an NEA grant.

Liberal rock fans don't threaten boycotts when P.O.D. is played on rock radio.

Maybe not, but on the other hand, I've seen too many conservative speakers shouted down, assaulted or otherwise being prevented from speaking in public venues by organized squads of deranged leftard goons to take this proclamation of purity seriously.

By the way, who or what is P.O.D.? I've never heard of it/them.

I just visited WIZBANG for the first time (today, I'm on a P.M. schedule at present) and haven't yet read these comments, but I thought I'd add mine to this long, long list of opinion, for what they are worth.

I have read the story, however (well said) and of course heard other opinion and reports about this on broadcast television.

The GRAMMY AWARDS -- ARE -- "drivebys" in terms of them representing BUSINESS MANIPULATIONS within a scummy business (the "entertainment" / music industry). They are "paybacks" and other rewards, incentives to certain players (either the artists or their management and/or label and/or all of that in some package relevance) for certain acts (whatever) that benefits certain interests.

While that represents, theoretically, what capitalism is in a good configuration (commercial reward and/or punishment), the thing about the GRAMMY's (also the OSCARS but the GRAMMY's are the most attenuated in this regard of operations -- the music industry operates on a tribal if not gruesomely gratuitous rendition or interpreation of that that more resembles guerilla warfare than commerce.

More specifically, "talent" associated with a package (a musical release) is rewarded with lauds and press and "awards" when their actual accomplishment is paltry in comparison with the work by others in the same categories and fields.

However, they are selected out for purposes of glorifying the actual package involved (label, management, and artist and/or some combination of those), not sincerely based upon actual "great work" by some aspect of talent associated with that package.

The end goal is to glorify the package or some aspect of the package (label, management, artist) and not the actual work accomplishment, but for purposes of leveraging certain interests.

Thus, if some packaging is associated with a label that is keen on seeing Hillary Clinton or any Democrat in a key election that can be associated in time and/or theme (or both) or other associations with an election, then what work is selected out are REPRESENTATIVES of the chief issues involved.

This explains so often the "artists" that are assumed (inaccurately) to have accomplished some great or very noteworthy work of music are not the most noteworthy or meaningful as to skill and content, but are those that are associated with key players' interests surrounding any Awards season.

It also explains why, when you look back in time at the results of the GRAMMY Awards, you very often see albums/releases and artists rewarded and commemorated with awards who you wonder how even drew much attention while far more meaningful accomplishments by others were ignored (and yet live on in time as appreciated works by many consumers/fans).

The music industry and the media industries are not content integrity systems but content use systems and many a musician has been used and later discarded by these industries once they're message (usefulness) becomes untimely.

Look at donors to specific political parties. Most wealthy in entertainment are liberals if not more accurately, "arch" Liberals. That includes their investors, their players in general, and what is rewarded is whatever works toward accomplishing denigrating that which they oppose: Conservatives and/or other parties.

Unfortunately, because of the ability to influence the young (mostly), the music and media industries cultivates further audience, and, they work effectively toward securing their objectives.

The AWARDS "ceremonies" and processes -- particularly the GRAMMY's -- are mere tools of this methodology and do not represent actual musical accomplishment other than a highly purposed and opinionated element in our society has a tool to deploy their methods upon the greater society.

Just reading that statement by that Grateful Dead guy is very revealing, in my view: he and his many peers are now convinced that the U.S. government is the big, bad, spying machine upon thier "rights" ( to mostly self indulge although I recognize their Rights as I do mine under our Constitution) and that their "retaliation" ("stick it to the Man" mentality) is cool or otherwise, what "good musicians do".

It's a corrupt process but try telling that to people every year who believe themselves to be being magically honored by limousines, their names in print, their faces commemorated everywhere, gift baskets, lots o' drugs and everything else imaginable, just because they sang a tune.

It's the commisserations behind the sccenes that are the issue there and are, in fact, what's being rewarded, not the people they parade out front to do the dance and hum along.

why don't you contact the Academy's Nashville Chapter and see if they agree with your opinions on the voting process. They do make up about a fifth of the votes.
Posted by: mantis at February 12, 2007 01:59 AM

============================

I bet the voters in Nashville are moreorless the fifth who didn't vote for the Dixie Chicks.

It's not about the D.Chicks' opposition to "the War" or any war, it's about them being complete arses about it.

I used to really enjoy their music -- they're talented musicians, yes -- and I'm one of those dreaded Conservatives they enjoy jibing about. Since the fiasco began as to the D.Chicks' offensive behaviors, I would no more buy one of their albums or listen to one of their tunes than I would scratch a blackboard with my nails and call it a great work of art.

I agree with what Chris G. wrote at the beginning of this comment section...but about the GRAMMY Awards, they do not reflect a reward of the best musical accomplishments any more than my nails on that blackboard would.

"Lee" wrote:
That explains why the conservative female bloggers are constantly smearing Nancy and Hillary -- they're just standing up for George!

-----------------------------

No, Lee, it's because "Nancy and Hillary" are arses (I paraphrase).

And, alleging that these two are being "smear(ed)" is ridiculous. They're being evaluated and opposed for their duplicities and obfuscations and betrayals of very often, common sense and decency.

I think it's you who is "afraid of women" (your expression) given that you seem a tad too preoccupied with a negative, assumed characterisation about a vast population of "women" than balance requires.

"Nancy and Hillary" -- the new Liberal latest must-have color/word/dance/tune/chant...

But it's amusing that you associate the Dixie Chicks with "Nancy and Hillary" (and vice versa) now that I think about it.

I'm always happy to amuse the simple-minded, "S", it brings me joy to see them giggle.

Reading through the comment section puts the lie to the notion that only those on the left play the victim card. Good God, conservative whine about Hollywood liberals a lot.

Anyway, I hate the Grammies and the Oscars and the other self-congratulatory "shows." The only entertainment I watch on TV is sports because nobody's predetermined the outcome.

Groucho you idiot, there's two ways two go about political commentary as a musician. You can do it in your music, or you can do it outside of your music. You don't offer it at a concert unless in the form of song. It's really just fucking stupid.

Dixie Chicks, Dixie Hens!

Wouldn't watch them then or now, wouldn't listen to them then or now, and ain't buying it now!

All three need to go back in hiding and stay there.

Best they could do is make a cheap ad for chewing tobacco.

But Underwood gained success through such an artificial and cynical fashion. Surely the Dixie Chicks deserve credit for their purity. Just ask Laura Lynch.

Sarcastically,

Lee,
You don't follow the logic of your own posts. George Bush said freedom is a two-way street and you imply he thusly endorsed intimidation.

Libs don't like it when non-libs flex their speech rights(libs call it hate), assemble(it's a mob!) or boycott(censorship).

I fondly recall when Howard Stern educated Alec Baldwin on the difference between consumers exercising their freedom of choice and true censorship.
Sadly, most libs are blinded to this simple distinction.

Reading through the comment section puts the lie to the notion that only those on the left play the victim card.

Hey, give us a break, we learned it from you guys.