Hey, Ed! Paying attention this week?

october22 · May 2013

It ain't all gems and rhinestones, bro.

Just because your buddy is in office doesn't mean you can take your eye off the ball for a minute. Remember that. That goes for all of us.

I hope you'll find the fire in your belly again. I hope you'll realize shit is just as fucked up as it's ever been and get back to writing songs that matter; with lyrics that expose injustice and inspire us.

That's what you're best at and I, for one, miss that Ed.

cp3iverson · May 2013

just don't write Obamaleaguer. One awful stab at that was enough. Focus on the guitar solos, boys. The rest will fall into place.

Kelly Leak · May 2013

october22 wrote:

It ain't all gems and rhinestones, bro.

Just because your buddy is in office doesn't mean you can take your eye off the ball for a minute. Remember that. That goes for all of us.

I hope you'll find the fire in your belly again. I hope you'll realize shit is just as fucked up as it's ever been and get back to writing songs that matter; with lyrics that expose injustice and inspire us.

That's what you're best at and I, for one, miss that Ed.

Amen. Couldn't have said it better.

YLed2 · May 2013

+100000000

primussucks · May 2013

I think Ed has blinders on. Really dont think Obama can do any wrong in his eyes. Remember that fundraiser in Florida last year? They scratch each others back(side). Hopefully his bandmates speak up.

mcgavinj · May 2013

AMEN!

Parksy · May 2013

I haven't been up on American politics lately... can someone shed light on this... what's Obama done wrong?

Seems like a beauty President. Million times better than Bush.

That's just my opinion.

But seriously... what's goin' on?

Go Beavers · May 2013

Parksy wrote:

I haven't been up on American politics lately... can someone shed light on this... what's Obama done wrong?

Seems like a beauty President. Million times better than Bush.

That's just my opinion.

But seriously... what's goin' on?

You haven't heard? It's Obama's fault.

iOnlyownMymind · May 2013

october22 wrote:

It ain't all gems and rhinestones, bro.

Just because your buddy is in office doesn't mean you can take your eye off the ball for a minute. Remember that. That goes for all of us.

I hope you'll find the fire in your belly again. I hope you'll realize shit is just as fucked up as it's ever been and get back to writing songs that matter; with lyrics that expose injustice and inspire us.

That's what you're best at and I, for one, miss that Ed.

Nicely put. I think we're good on the Just Breathe's for a while, let's hope this one really rocks hard. I want one with some thought and complex melodies.

3days · May 2013

While I can certainly understand the suspicion and contempt for some of this week's news, I also think it's illogical to automatically assign blame to one particular person in stories that are still developing.

For example, the Benghazi story has been developing for several months (hearings, emails, press conferences, hearings, more hearings..etc), and despite being promised a greater-than-Nixonian sized scandal, we still haven't seen a smoking gun. We've heard theories and spin, but nothing that comes close to proving a scandal.

To automatically lay blame at the President's door isn't really rational. By all means keep your eye on the ball, see where things lead, demand answers, demand accountability, and participate in democracy. However, it seems that right now a lot of conclusions are being jumped to, and I think that sort of thing only serves as distraction.

I also think it's irrational to accuse EV (or anyone) of turning a blind eye toward the POSSIBLE negative actions of a candidate that he supported. "Buddies" or not, I don't think that we should assume that all of their beliefs are 100% congruent. I've heard EV quotes regarding US politics over the past four years that didn't invoke images of "gems and rhinestones".

gvn2fly12 · May 2013

Go Beavers wrote:

Parksy wrote:

I haven't been up on American politics lately... can someone shed light on this... what's Obama done wrong?

Seems like a beauty President. Million times better than Bush.

That's just my opinion.

But seriously... what's goin' on?

You haven't heard? It's Obama's fault.

I thought it was stones fault

Foriginal Sin · May 2013

3days wrote:

While I can certainly understand the suspicion and contempt for some of this week's news, I also think it's illogical to automatically assign blame to one particular person in stories that are still developing.

For example, the Benghazi story has been developing for several months (hearings, emails, press conferences, hearings, more hearings..etc), and despite being promised a greater-than-Nixonian sized scandal, we still haven't seen a smoking gun. We've heard theories and spin, but nothing that comes close to proving a scandal.

To automatically lay blame at the President's door isn't really rational. By all means keep your eye on the ball, see where things lead, demand answers, demand accountability, and participate in democracy. However, it seems that right now a lot of conclusions are being jumped to, and I think that sort of thing only serves as distraction.

I also think it's irrational to accuse EV (or anyone) of turning a blind eye toward the POSSIBLE negative actions of a candidate that he supported. "Buddies" or not, I don't think that we should assume that all of their beliefs are 100% congruent. I've heard EV quotes regarding US politics over the past four years that didn't invoke images of "gems and rhinestones".

We ran out of Anchor Steam draft beer at my restaurant last week. Not because of the random travelzoo for $100 flights from San Fran to Phoenix, but because the owners of Travelzoo didn't call the distributors in Phoenix, who didn't call my boss, who didn't tell me. San Fran peeps love seeing Anchor on tap. It's Stone's fault

oceaninmyeyes · May 2013

gvn2fly12 wrote:

Go Beavers wrote:

Parksy wrote:

I haven't been up on American politics lately... can someone shed light on this... what's Obama done wrong?

Seems like a beauty President. Million times better than Bush.

That's just my opinion.

But seriously... what's goin' on?

You haven't heard? It's Obama's fault.

I thought it was stones fault

"It was . . . It was Stone.".

Spiritual_Chaos · May 2013

dcp3y · May 2013

For the benefit of those not close to US news, here's a quick summary of "scandals" currently being "debated":

1. Benghazi - Sept 11th last year, attack at US Embassy outpost left 4 Americans dead. Backup military support was called due to Al Qaeda like tactics in use - pin point mortar fire, targeted attack on Americans. This request was denied at a high level that has yet to be determined - speculation either Hillary Clinton or Barak Obama himself. Letting your ambassors die when a military extraction option is available smells of poor leadership, hence the ongoing investigation. This is further aggravated by the official statement at the time that the attack wasn't terrorists but rather a riot after an Islamic YouTube video was placed. The went to great lengths to arrest the filmmaker to prevent further riots elsewhere. The video was a red herring if anything and was merely in poor taste.

2. The IRS (internal revenue service - US tax collecting department) has been found to have targeted conservative type groups for extra scrutiny while expediting similar progressive groups. Further, groups that opposed President Obama had their confidential tax records released and were used against them during the fall presidential campaign (Romney and Koch brothers). Also the Associated Press had 20 or so of their reported tracked - phone calls, emails, etc. in an apparent attempt to stay one step ahead in the news cycle. The head of the IRS stepped down yesterday after lamenting there were rouge agents doing such activities. This reflects poorly on President Obama evenif he had nothing to do with since he benefitted from the negative outcomes to his opponents. Others think the lack of oversight and accountability is equivalent to third world type corruption.

3. For health care reform (aka"Obamacare", the Democratic Senator who wrote/ cosponsored the bill described it as a "train wreck" that will ultimately hit in 2014 when it is fully implemented. The federal government grossly underestimated its cost and the program to bridge high cost people until next year is nearly broke with 7 months left to go. The federal government is trying to have the states pick up the remainder of the year, which most states are I'll prepared to do. Further the "healthcare exchanges" critical to permit the side by side comparison of a person's choices are way behind in development. This will stick to President Obama since it is his "signature" legislation and he pushed it through without any/minimal support from the Republicans as at the time Democrats controlled both Houses of Congress.

4. The latest scandal is the Seattle's bid to move a NBA team from Sacramento was denied. The vote was 22-8 to stay in Sacramento by the NBA club owners. This story is late breaking, but some will surely pin in on President Obama somehow.

These "scandals" (at least 1-3) will drive all political talk until mid term elections next year (fall 2014) and then the American people can say enough to one party or the other. Other hot button issues that are very polarizing are deficit spending, runaway debt, gun control, abortion, telephone/email tapping without a warrant, and other government as big brother tactics (a la 1984). I'm not sure all this will inspire Ed to write an ode to President Obama. I'm fairly sure that he never claimed to be "fair and balanced," which we know if claimed is seldom true anyway.

CROJAM95 · May 2013

Everyone take a deep breath......Dems will hate republican presidents and Republicans will hat dem presidents. 2nd terms always have these "so called scandals"

So I guess Obama moonlights at the IRS office in Cincinnati to make a few extra bux

This is why shit dont get done....SIDETRACKING

I do think the IRS Thing is serious but its also a drop in the bucket to a million other pressing issues.

CROJAM95 · May 2013

and for the record....FUCK TAX EXEMPT STATUS FOR EVERYONE

Churches need to start paying if they get political in any way shape or form

SEACIDE · May 2013

Same as it ever was .....

Better Dan · May 2013

CROJAM95 wrote:

Everyone take a deep breath......Dems will hate republican presidents and Republicans will hat dem presidents. 2nd terms always have these "so called scandals"

So I guess Obama moonlights at the IRS office in Cincinnati to make a few extra bux

This is why shit dont get done....SIDETRACKING

I do think the IRS Thing is serious but its also a drop in the bucket to a million other pressing issues.

It wasn't just CIncinnati - it went up to their headquarters in DC, but I still don't think Obama had anything to do with it.

jumbojet · May 2013

Not being a US citizen, I would not want Eddie's lyrics to be about daily state of US politics. I would expect his themes to be more universal than that.

october22 · May 2013

SEACIDE wrote:

Same as it ever was .....

Exactly.

I'm not trying to get in the weeds here. I could but I don't feel like going down that rabbit hole.

My point was a reminder to not be suckered by some slick speeches and a nice smile. Parksy, our Canadian friend on the previous page, is a good example of this. He, and even most Europeans and US Democrats and liberals I know, think everything's hunky dory because Bush is gone and that couldn't be further from the truth.

VERY little has changed under Obama. If the expansion of empire, foreign intervention, blacksites, Guantanamo, drone deaths, the Patriot Act, the NDAA, the prosecution of whistle blowers (more under Obama than all previous presidents in US history combined), and the greatest lack of governmental transparency in US history are a concern of yours than I hope you can see my point.

This isn't a "worst ever" or "better than" thread. It's a "pay attention to the facts and don't be fooled" thread. I titled the thread "Paying attention this week" because I think times like these are good for shaking people up a little and maybe shining a light on what our government is doing while we're not looking. Especially the Bush haters (of which I am one) who think things have taken a 180 since Obama took office. We have not taken a 180. In fact, it's been full steam ahead.

(A side note for those of you who credit Obama with getting us out of Iraq. The truth is that he didn't. The only reason our military was pulled out of Iraq was because Bush signed a Status of Forces Agreement in 2008 establishing that U.S. combat forces would withdraw from Iraqi cities by June 30, 2009, and all U.S. forces will be completely out of Iraq by December 31, 2011 (look it up). Our final withdrawal of troops was December 16, 2011. If you want to credit Obama with getting us out a mere 15 days ahead of schedule (which was actually due to the efficiency of our military), please be my guest but for the love of god, can people stop crediting him with ending the war in Iraq? Just because it completely slipped Obama's mind to mention that he was working by a legally binding timeline under international law, established under Bush, doesn't mean he deserves credit and doesn't mean you should be ignorant of the truth.)

Shit. I got a bit in the weeds there didn't I? But notice how I didn't even have to mention anything about the supposed "scandals" of the past week in the three paragraphs above? I could also destroy the health care bill he signed (using only quotes from Democrats who initially supported it if you'd like).

My point is: Don't be fooled by packaging. DON'T. BE. SUCKERS.

Goes for you too, Ed.

Hey, Ed! Paying attention this week?

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