Comments on: Foley, Haggard, Gannon, Hastert, Mehlman – What the Heck is Going On in the Republican Party? http://www.tomsbigpicture.com/2006/11/14/foley-haggard-gannon-hastert-mehlman-%e2%80%93-what-the-heck-is-going-on-in-the-republican-party/ A Discussion of Politics, Religion, Business, Science, Technology and Life - Comments Encouraged! Sat, 22 Nov 2008 09:55:21 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5.1 By: Tom’s Big Picture » Blog Archive » Senator Craig’s Control File Leaks Out http://www.tomsbigpicture.com/2006/11/14/foley-haggard-gannon-hastert-mehlman-%e2%80%93-what-the-heck-is-going-on-in-the-republican-party/#comment-4781 Tom’s Big Picture » Blog Archive » Senator Craig’s Control File Leaks Out Thu, 30 Aug 2007 03:08:11 +0000 http://www.tomsbigpicture.com/2006/11/14/foley-haggard-gannon-hastert-mehlman-%e2%80%93-what-the-heck-is-going-on-in-the-republican-party/#comment-4781 [...] As I referred to in a previous post, there’s an excellent little novel out there called The Hunt for Confederate Gold that talks in passing about the “control file” that is necessary for rising to the highest ranks of the federal government. Homosexuality, pedophilia, etc, are the norm in the power centers, as this is the only way the government can ensure that someone’s principles won’t get the best of them when exercising unconstitutional abuses of federal power. [...] [...] As I referred to in a previous post, there’s an excellent little novel out there called The Hunt for Confederate Gold that talks in passing about the “control file” that is necessary for rising to the highest ranks of the federal government. Homosexuality, pedophilia, etc, are the norm in the power centers, as this is the only way the government can ensure that someone’s principles won’t get the best of them when exercising unconstitutional abuses of federal power. [...]

]]> By: Brian http://www.tomsbigpicture.com/2006/11/14/foley-haggard-gannon-hastert-mehlman-%e2%80%93-what-the-heck-is-going-on-in-the-republican-party/#comment-90 Brian Mon, 20 Nov 2006 21:31:50 +0000 http://www.tomsbigpicture.com/2006/11/14/foley-haggard-gannon-hastert-mehlman-%e2%80%93-what-the-heck-is-going-on-in-the-republican-party/#comment-90 I have been trying to come up with something to add to what you've said here, Tom. I can't. Well said, brother. Well said. Brian I have been trying to come up with something to add to what you’ve said here, Tom.

I can’t.

Well said, brother. Well said.

Brian

]]> By: Tom http://www.tomsbigpicture.com/2006/11/14/foley-haggard-gannon-hastert-mehlman-%e2%80%93-what-the-heck-is-going-on-in-the-republican-party/#comment-85 Tom Tue, 14 Nov 2006 16:27:48 +0000 http://www.tomsbigpicture.com/2006/11/14/foley-haggard-gannon-hastert-mehlman-%e2%80%93-what-the-heck-is-going-on-in-the-republican-party/#comment-85 I think country music, as a pure profit-seeking venture that appeals to all ages, is a pretty good pulse on our people. There was a trend in the 90's of "separatist" songs reflecting the alienation ordinary people in the country felt with the government (A Country Boy Will Survive, American Honky-Tonk Bar Association, etc). Since 9/11 however, the Scots-Irish instinct of banding together against an external threat, along with hero-worship of the leader, have blinded our people to their usually healthy cynical attitude toward government. Thus, we get "The Eagle Will Fly" and "Have You Forgotten", and the federal government is no longer seen as alien and sinister, but as the righteous defender of American freedoms against the terrorists. Of course, I think the former style of separatist music is healthier in the long-run. <a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="http://www.cowboylyrics.com/lyrics/williams-hank-jr/country-boy-can-survive-10123.html" rel="nofollow">Bocephus identifies the cultural cleavage pretty well</a>, while also advocating running our own business instead of indulging in blind patriotism for a government whose leadership hates its founding peoples: <blockquote>And we say grace and we say Ma’am And if you ain’t into that we don’t give a damn</blockquote> I think country music, as a pure profit-seeking venture that appeals to all ages, is a pretty good pulse on our people. There was a trend in the 90’s of “separatist” songs reflecting the alienation ordinary people in the country felt with the government (A Country Boy Will Survive, American Honky-Tonk Bar Association, etc). Since 9/11 however, the Scots-Irish instinct of banding together against an external threat, along with hero-worship of the leader, have blinded our people to their usually healthy cynical attitude toward government. Thus, we get “The Eagle Will Fly” and “Have You Forgotten”, and the federal government is no longer seen as alien and sinister, but as the righteous defender of American freedoms against the terrorists. Of course, I think the former style of separatist music is healthier in the long-run.

Bocephus identifies the cultural cleavage pretty well, while also advocating running our own business instead of indulging in blind patriotism for a government whose leadership hates its founding peoples:

And we say grace and we say Ma’am
And if you ain’t into that we don’t give a damn

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