Response to Comment #35057 by jvv on 10/30 at 7:09 am
“Hey This American, your numbers are minute compared to the millions that Sadaam killed.  Get your figures straight.”

WASHINGTON—A new study asserts that roughly 600,000 IRAQIS HAVE DIED FROM VIOLENCE SINCE THE U.S.-LED INVASION in March 2003, a figure many times higher than any previous estimate.

Human Rights Watch has estimated SADDAM HUSSEIN’S REGIME KILLED 250,000 TO 290,000 PEOPLE OVER 20 YEARS.

Get YOUR figures straight, moron!  It took Sadaam over 20 years to kill HALF the number George Bush has killed in a quarter of the time.  Add to that the fact that Saddam’s regime didn’t kill almost 3000 American soldiers.  That death toll rests squarely on the shoulders of Bush as well.

Hey This American, your numbers are minute compared to the millions that Sadam killed.  Get your figures straight.

The funny thing is that The Dixie Chicks merely offered a mild political message about George Bush while far worse behavior within country music has been historically tolerated or even encouraged.

Popular country music figures such as David Allan Coe, Merle Haggard and Freddy Fender have served hard time in prison. Some country music figures have been charged with rape, murder, armed robbery, assault in the commission of a crime such as burglary, drug offenses and other serious crimes.The “outlaw” movement within county music seemed to encourage music by artists with serious criminal records. Many figures in country music have authentic criminal records that would put many rap stars to shame. And many country songs deal with antisocial or dysfunctional behavior such as drunkeness, adultery or divorce and the breakdown of the family, rather than wholesome values.

Why The Dixie Chicks have suffered because of some mild political views makes no sense when compared against so much worse conduct and messages from some in the country music community.

Jim, so how is it you consider the murder of 650,000 innocent men, women and children “moral” I fail to see what you mean. And calling everyone who does not believe it is in the best interest of America to spend trillions of dollars given to cronies and 1000’s of American lives for Exxon, Shell, Haliburton, Bechtel, etc. etc. “libs” is irrational. I happen to have some very “conservative” values. Bush HATES the Bill of Rights, Constitution, and Democracy in general, I think some partisans are SO blinded to BushCo they would give up their honest convictions to be one of “the herd”. Please tell me what is this “freedom and Democracy” BushCo claims to be promoting. I see ZERO evidence he views the BIll of Rights more than the “GD piece of paper” he has called it, how are you more FREE exactly with a DICTATOR who OPENLY espouses to be such?

Ya know, if everyone spent more time caring about each other, Conservative or Liberal, maybe we could get to work together and fix all of these problems that we have all contributed to rather than just bitchin about each other!

Man, this country IS going to fall because no one is doing anything but talking. 

No one side is to blame more than the other.  WORK TOGETHER or we will, no doubt, be in a serious world of hurt sooner than we think.

Very sad for my kids and yours.  Especially when all of you experts, pundits and politicians are much more immature, temper tantrum throwing little kids than even my 5 year old.  You could all learn a lesson by watching the innocent beauty of our children.

Sick to my stomach,

Jim

BOYCOTT NBC AND EVERY RIGHT WING COMPANY OUT THERE

Buy Citgo gas

Take back the country

WORKERS OF THE WORLD UNITE, YOU HAVE NOTHING TO LOSE BUT YOUR CHAINS

Comment #34293 by Jim Vanderfolk.

How come people now days feel empowered to banish or decide who deserves to live in the united state and who does not?

Until bush took over with his fake religious zeal and over-the-top patriotism it was still ok in the USA to state you opinion, disagree with your politicians and not go to church if you did not want to.

Now, if you disagree with the decider and chief you are unpatriotic, or if you speak out you are not fit to live in the USA.?

People like you make me sick.  Patriotism is a good thing, to a point.  We are way past that point.  We now have an egotistical ethnocentric society that feels we should spread our democracy and culture around the globe.  (By the way our culture is money, fast food, war and cars) yes, in that order.

We are a shallow society who feels everyone should do what we do.

So, as long as we have people like you I fear we could be a doomed country if we are not careful.  Yes, the USA has been around for just over 200 years which really does not give us any bragging rights for longevity.  200+ years is just a dribble of piss on the toilet seat of history. 

If our current path continues, this country will fail.

Sincerely,

Proud to be an American

Comment #34254 by Z~Man

You’re an idiot. 
I would rather “choke down” crime, or lobbyists who buy candidates or poverty, “real” terrorists, or illegal immigration....

If the religious nuts like your would put down your bible just long enough to see that there are other problems far more damaging to our society than homosexuality we would be a better country. 

But, like drugs and alcohol, once a person is in the grips of man made religion, all rational and logical thought is lost.

For those of you keeping score between the Dixie Chicks and Country Music, it is Dixie Chicks 1 and the Ignorant Red Necks 0.  For those of you keeping score on who understands freedom of expression, it is Dixie Chicks 1 and NBC 0. For those of you keeping score on who has the biggest testicles, it is Dixie Chicks 1 and Bush 0.

To This American and all you other libs, raise your morals and you’ll get the picture.

Keep it up libs.  When you lose again this election and 2008, you and Richard Gere can all move to another country.  It amazed me how blind and (I hate to use stupid), maybe ignorant you can be.  Enjoy your freedom. (which certainly would be challenged, should Kerry have won.)

To jim vanderkolk and all these conservatives:
If the “broad” term applied to somebody who´s using their mind to THINK...Well, I´M A BROAD TOO…
Check my pics, and call me names, you a~~h*l3!!!!
I´m beautiful than your hairy chests!!!
http://img84.imageshack.us/img84/8687/hpim1201bd9tc8.jpg

Response to Comment #34254 by Z~Man

The PEOPLE have spoken…you cannot force people to support an agenda…

Really? Which people, the 1% at the top who control everything?

It would seem then that you are comfortable with a feudal system that has basically three classes: 
1) The “Aristocrats”.
This would be the Royalty including the King/Queen, Lords, Dukes and so on.  These are the top politicos and the CEO’s and other upper executives of the corporate/fascist state.  This group will have free rein to do whatever they please because they have, by whatever immoral and illegal means available, consolidated all wealth and power in their control.
2) The “Merchant Class”.
They run business operations for the ruling class, using near slave labor, to provide their lords with the goods and services they desire.  They will be given just enough material wealth to keep them in fear and eager to please their masters, who have the power to strip them of all their possessions and reduce them to poverty at a whim.
3) The “Peasants”.
This is the rest of the population, the masses, the surfs, and all the worthless sub humans who are unworthy of a decent life by virtue of the fact that they are not members of the Aristocracy or Merchant Class.  These are the blue-collar workers, once the proud and vital American middle class that are being added to the the ranks of the poor by the thousands every day.
This is the agenda that has been forced upon America, which you apparently support.
So it would seem you wish to return to the conditions that brought about the original American Revolution?  Well, if things continue on their present course you will almost certainly get your wish.  But I’m sure, as long as you are part of the “Aristocracy” or at least the “Merchant Class” you’ll be as happy as a pig in shit!
The people of America have been forced to accept the agenda of the corporate/fascist state for decades.  With the coming of the Bush crime syndicate all pretense at democracy, that has been maintained these 230 years, has been abandoned. 
When all the wealth and power of a nation is concentrated in the hands of a tiny fraction of the population the resulting class system is nothing less than a monarchy or dictatorship which MUST INEVITABLY collapse under it’s own immoral weight, crushing the entire society in the process.  Those who ignore history are condemned to repeat it.
In a civil society, which is not a corporate/fascist dictatorship or feudal monarchy, the provision of life’s absolute necessities is the responsibility of everyone.  It is for this reason the people of a democratic nation submit to being governed in the first place.  They pay taxes on their hard earned income, to a governing body, to ensure that those fundamental necessities for survival will be provided to all the members of society.  This includes even those who, because of advanced age, illness or other circumstances beyond their control, may be unable to provide for themselves.  This is called compassion, a concept with which you are evidently unfamiliar, that is absolutely essential to civilization.  Cooperation, not competition, ensures survival.
People do not submit to governance for the privilege of being oppressed, driven into poverty, enslaved and deprived of their humanity so that a small number of capitalists can live lives of opulence.

I’d love to see the Dixie Chicks ad all over American media.  I’ve been supportive of their opinions and free speech rights from the get go.  I’m also completely in agreement with Un-Censor, post 34196.  I can’t wait to see BushCo prosecuted for high crimes and misdemeanors against our U.S. Constitution and Bill of Rights, We the People, and utterly heinous crimes against humanity in Iraq. Over half a million innocent Iraqi people killed by BushCo and the will of blind/ignorant Bush supporting Americans who openly favor murder and torture of thousands upon thousands of innocent human beings, because they are afraid.  People, wake the hell up and do something to stop these continuing crimes NOW!  There are so many of us who now know the truth about the criminal highjacking of our nation, let’s be fearless in spreading truth and rooting out the criminal lying, murdering, theiving BushCo from our government NOW! All power to the good people of America, those with strength and courage to stand privately and in public to demand truth and justice NOW!  (If you’re too scared of losing something to stand in public, at least perform the bare minimum: write congress privately and speak your heart and mind.) Fellow Americans, thank you!

A movie trailer about freedom of speech and censorship gets banned by NBC.  Doesn’t that prove the very point the Dixie Chicks are making?  Freedom of speech no longer exists in America...unless you’re a conservative.

Let’s get real here...it is the conservatives who hate this country.  They love to wave the flag, but they hate the constitution and bill of rights.

My favorite line in that film is, and I am paraphrasing, free speech is ok but you don’t go doing it in public!

That makes as much sense as hearing the line that our troops fought for our freedom of speech and if we don’t like the President, we should just leave the country!

American censorship is not uncommon. Political songwriters, no matter how good they are at their craft, economically suffer greatly for their art.  That is they make no money, can get hired by few venues, and get no mainstream radio play. It is not a factor of demand; if it were the Chick’s CD sales would not be doing so well.  What is uncommon is that mainstream performers would be political, risking corporate support.  The chicks where honest and have paid a price. Not from loss of fan base (that was more of a shift), but from loss of corporate support.  I listened to them before, and listen to them more now.  I am also glad the response to their honesty has made it clear free speech is not an American reality, but a myth.

Now that the chicks new CD sales have proven political music is profitable again, with non-corporate internet and XM radio, it seems many songwriters are inspired to political honesty.  Thing is if you do not write this sort of music all the time, the lyrics are just not as deep, informed, or insightful as the songwriters who have dedicated their entire craft to political critic and honesty. Problem is, these are the songwriters you are lest likely to hear, unless you discover them on the internet. 

Try checking out songwriter Patrick Dodd.  http://www.patrickdodd.com Listen to the lyrics, and tell me being on the front lines of struggle and active participation does not render deeper lyrics, writing for social cause rather than profit or fame does not render amazing poetry.  If you want good music, be selective of the mainstream music you listen to and seek out the music on the margins.

Yeah, you tell em Jim, if these “broads” can’t get on the bandwagon of murdering 650,000 innocents mostly non-combatant women and kids for oil they should just stop driving. And if they can’t stomach torturing chicken farmers, radiating all of the mid east, billions in no-bid contract giveaways to cronies, *free-speach* zones, rigged elections, and giving up their fellow Americans lives by the thousands for oil and bases, and Israel, perhaps they don’t understand “freedom and democracy” and as you suggest they are in the wrong country.

Comment 34254 (Z-man) perfectly illustrates the confused, toxic thought processes of the authoritarian right. “The people have spoken” Ahh, it would appear a small cabal of super rich (owners of G.E., corporate owners of NBC) have spoken, but how typical of these lost souls to identify w/the strong, rich and powerful. “You cannot force people to support an agenda” An expression of the absolutism that guides their thought. Simply allowing an opinion they don’t like to air is tantamount to “forcing” if you have no powers of critical thought. Nuances and ideas that challenge their assumptions provoke anger. And finally, “we have to CHOKE DOWN homosexuality”. Does anybody need that metaphor explained? Z-man! You’re not doing it right.

WE’RE #4!

WE’RE #4!

WE’RE #4!

Leno sucks!

The Dixie Chicks got it right the first time!Bush is destroying this country and to be ashamed to be from the same state as he is fine by me. Bush was born in Connecticut and I’m ashamed of that fact.

Slowly our rights disolve and one day under
a new flag we will dress our white children
in their new uniforms and send them out to
spread democracy to the world, gun in hand.

Wow we really have evolved

The unbridled irony of the whole situation borders on ridiculous, quite frankly. Censoring and ad for a movie about being censored? It sounds like a setup for a sketch on Saturday Night Live. I wouldn’t be surprised to see a sketch about that on snl actually, despite being on NBC. It would be like the time Tim Robbins wore an anti-GM shirt on the show the night Sinead O’Connor ripped the pope. Correct me if I’m wrong, but i think GM owns NBC. #33419 IS right tho. Mainstream media corporations and big money in general (read:Bourgeousie) are most definitely in the GOP’s pocket, which of course leads to the double standard that our “rights” are abused with. The merging of government and corporate power is what fascism IS. Don’t all those secret CIA torture prisons sorta remind you of miniature concentration camps? Granted, it’s NOT the Holocaust.Yet. How many more years of Republican Neo-Fascist rule before they are operating on a much broader and horrifying scale?

In re: response 34319.  Good comment, but I’m confused.  I thought that Notre Dame controlled NBC!

Political advertising expenditure amounts to billions which television is one of the main beneficiaries. Ot’s not difficult to figure out that NBC is doing what GOP client told it to.

In nazi germany, Goebbels controlled the media. In this country, GOP controls NBC.

Good for NBC.  These broads don’t deserve to even live in the USA.

Am I living in a fever dream?? Two sets of rules apply, selectively. Try to pass a clean-campaign bill, one that stifles the 30 second ads that corporations or their 2 handmaiden parties flood the airwaves with before elections, ads that by their format(short and TV-borne)are incapable of intelligent discourse, indeed, shoulder out any intelligent dicussion, and Tony Blankly and the corporate apologists start screaming, “First Amendment!!” Then try to USE that “First Amendment” to air an ad that the Rulers don’t like (Dixie Chicks or the anti-SUV ad A. Huffington wanted to air during SuperBowl Sunday) and suddenly the “First Amendment” is nowhere to be seen! The D. Chicks ought to get a lawyer and SUE the pricks. If you needed proof that TV is just Ruling Class propaganda, here it is! They change the rules any time it suits them.

The PEOPLE have spoken… You cannot force people to support an agenda.  Start your own media outlet and then lend your support to the misguided, malcontented masses.

We have to choke down homosexuality being part of our society… you have to choke this down.

Here’s a perfect example of why progressives are losing the war for our country: We are constantly being outraged, but rarely being connected to outlets for action. Where CAN I buy a sign to boycott NBC? IS there a more direct number to call NBC - besides the viewer comment line (818-840-4444 in LA or 212-664-4444 in NY). Next to each outrageous article posted on TRUTHDIG and other progressive sites, there should be Action Links for suggestions to help readers constructively channel their anger.

NBC Boycotting Free Speech/Dixie Ad? We the People Boycott NBC.  Walk the Talk.

I need something I can print to put on my store front window in La Grande OR

part of the fix for this is arresting the CEO’s, imprisoning them and turning off all three networks. they have shown themselves as cowardly accomplices in the genocide in Iraq, and the toxicity of their product these days is sociologically demonstrable.
when we shut down these jerks, the oil companies, walmart and all the conspirators re this predatory capitalist white supremacist brown people killing, civilization insulting bunch, ( and seize their asssts for use by those they have wronged, and by better stewards ), the cognitive dissonance of day to day life will fade, and we can enjoy the progress we were enjoying before this CIA KKK spoiled billionaire’s son tried to reverse civilization and recast society to his s&m;ends.