The Democrat Thread

[BigSqwert]

My God is there any miniscule stone that can't be left unturned in politics these days. SMH

[Jenksismyhero]

The sad part is that Burn a Bush is witty word play with the imagery of the burning bush and Moses with the 10 commandments.

 

He is comparing Bush to Moses, asking how can we follow Bush (like Moses) if Bush is corrupt? He then argues that the govt is trying to keep black people down (his opinion) and that while he is an advocate for peace, he carries a gun for protection.

 

Where have I heard that people should be allowed to carry guns for protection before? Where have I heard the message that Obama is someone we shouldnt follow.

 

Artists shock people with imagery for the most resonance.

 

I'll have to do some internet searching and find a past interview with him where he is referencing Moses. I don't see it. I read it as him saying we need to get rid of Bush because he's corrupt/dangerous, just like cops.

 

Also, I love that he's "advocating" peace by saying use your "nine-power" and "black strap" to make cops run. 2nd amendment supporters don't argue that carrying guns allows them to get back at the "man." There's nothing about "protection" in his poem. Like Malcolm X, he's saying let's remember we have force too.

 

And regardless, my point was this is at least controversial despite how you guys are making it seem. If Bush (or hell, Obama) invited a "poet" that talked about how all gay people are going to burn in hell because of what the bible says, I find it incredibly hard to believe that there wouldn't be some backlash, despite it being "art." And that's all i'm saying - I can see why some people are questioning it. He's the President. He's held to a higher standard. Whoever he invites to the White House is a reflection of the office and by extension the people.

Edited May 11, 2011 by Jenksismybitch

[BigSqwert]

Have you ever even listened to Common? He might be the least controversial rapper in history.

[Balta1701]

As far as I can tell, the state of TN is going to vote on banning "being muslim in groups of 2 or more people".

[BigSqwert]

America! Home of the Free and Brave!*

*unless you are Muslim

[Balta1701]

Ozzy Osbourne dined at the White House in 2002.

 

Russell Simmons's Def Poetry Jam also visited the White House under the previous occupant.

[BigSqwert]

Ozzy Osbourne dined at the White House in 2002.

 

Russell Simmons's Def Poetry Jam also visited the White House under the previous occupant.

George Bush was a satanist!

[Soxbadger]

Jenks,

 

Really, you have to find an interview where the artist explicitly explains what his art means? Come on, your way to intelligent to act like you cant read the lyrics and put the pieces together.

 

But since you need context to prove my point, here is some of the conversation with Hannity, the person Im quoting is JAMES PETERSON, PROFESSOR, BUCKNELL UNIVERSITY

 

http://www.foxnews.com/on-air/hannity/tran...ted-white-house

 

The burning Bush is actually an allusion to the Burning Bush in the Bible. It's a lot more waiting, a lot more sophisticated and subtle than what you guys give it credit for.

 

Now before I did this search, I had never heard of Peterson, I had actually never even heard the Common song (Common is not one of my favorite rappers, but I do know that he widely considered as one of the more though provoking rappers, to illustrate this point you can refer to Jay-Z's Moment of Clarity where he said that if he wanted he could rap like Common, but that he would not make as much money). So when I heard that Common was causing problems, I was somewhat shocked because Common really isnt that controversial as a person.

 

The allusion was clear to me and that was on my first reading of the song. Im not sure how people could miss the allusion, but I think that the people who dont want Common in the White House, dont really care about what he said, they care more about the image he portrays (successful rap artist who has the audacity to write lyrics that challenge the establishment in an intelligent and critical way).

 

I dont see what the beef is here.

 

Balta,

 

 

I dont think you understand, who cares if Ozzie actually did illegal things, Common wrote a rap song that used a really clever comment about George Bush, so he should be banned from the White House.

Edited May 11, 2011 by Soxbadger

[Jenksismyhero]

Jenks,

 

Really, you have to find an interview where the artist explicitly explains what his art means? Come on, your way to intelligent to act like you cant read the lyrics and put the pieces together.

 

The allusion was clear to me and that was on my first reading of the song. Im not sure how people could miss the allusion, but I think that the people who dont want Common in the White House, dont really care about what he said, they care more about the image he portrays (successful rap artist who has the audacity to write lyrics that challenge the establishment in an intelligent and critical way).

 

I dont see what the beef is here.

 

It's art, is it not? Isn't art somewhat subjective? That you and I could look/read/hear the same thing and come up with two different interpretations? I'm glad you're the master of rap poetry, but sorry, I still don't get the reference (and i'm not doubting that it's true, i'm just asking for his explanation). You providing me with the link to some random guy that agrees with you doesn't support your argument that that's what Common himself intended. (Also, still waiting on your response to him advocating peace with all those gun references).

 

I'm not suggesting they BAN him. I've said all along I don't care. But you straight up attacked people who questioned it as if they're just typical GOP soldiers. They're using their 1st amendment right, just like he was.

 

How about the New Jersey State Police Union? I'm guessing they're not GOP backers:

 

http://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/local/NJ-St...-121596869.html

Edited May 11, 2011 by Jenksismybitch

[Soxbadger]

Art is of course subjective, but thats why your argument that you need to have the rapper himself state it, was bogus. If I read it and that was my interpretation, it was what it was.

 

As for peaceful, read the last line of the song:

 

I hold up a peace sign, but I carry a gun.

 

Pretty clear to me the statement is, that while I am for peace, I carry a gun to protect myself. In my opinion the gun isnt even a real gun, its his lyrics which are the weapon.

 

As for the NJ police, do you think they were upset about the song Hurricane?

 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hurricane_%28song%29

 

Because Im pretty sure that the law has come out on the side of Rubin Carter and Im not sure that there is a law against people believing another man was wrongly convicted.

 

 

 

 

[Jenksismyhero]

Art is of course subjective, but thats why your argument that you need to have the rapper himself state it, was bogus. If I read it and that was my interpretation, it was what it was.

 

Wait, wait. You can't have it both ways. You're telling me that I shouldn't need the poet to explain to me his meaning, but at the same time because YOU interpreted the poem one way, that's the CLEAR AND ONLY interpretation possible? If not, and you're agreeing that people can have a different interpretation, why the big fuss here? Why not just acknowledge that someone took the poem to mean one thing (as they can) and that you can see why that might be an issue?

 

As for peaceful, read the last line of the song:

 

I hold up a peace sign, but I carry a gun.

 

Pretty clear to me the statement is, that while I am for peace, I carry a gun to protect myself. In my opinion the gun isnt even a real gun, its his lyrics which are the weapon.

 

So when he asks his listeners to use "nine-power" he's referring to...? Or his "black strap to make cops run" must be his sharpie writing the poem?

 

As for the NJ police, do you think they were upset about the song Hurricane?

 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hurricane_%28song%29

 

Because Im pretty sure that the law has come out on the side of Rubin Carter and Im not sure that there is a law against people believing another man was wrongly convicted.

 

How is this relevant to my point?

 

 

 

[Balta1701]

I'm totally getting flashbacks to Charlton Heston reading the text of "Cop Killer" in 1992.

[Soxbadger]

Well I agree that people can have interpretations, but I also believe that there is a more correct interpretation (basically thinking back to English classes when theyd make you read books etc and youd get graded on your interpretation.)

 

I thought it was really clear because I caught it on the first time I read it. Maybe its not so clear, but its not a big deal either way.

 

As for "nine-power" or "back strap" once again there is a literal interpretation or a figurative interpretation. The literal (imo) meaning is a surface interpretation, the figurative meaning (that his words are his weapon) is the deeper hidden meaning. I obviously have no way of proving this as I am not the artist, but all I can go by is what I know about Common and his rap style. Common is not well known for being an actual gangster who was involved in gun fights. Hes thought of more as a poetic ideologist. Due to that, I believe that he is using ideas that people on the street would understand, but hes trying to make them realize that we all possess the most dangerous weapon to a govt, our words and our minds.

 

In order to understand you have to look at the full song:

 

A Letter to the Law

 

Dem boy wanna talk… [indistinguishable]

Whatcha gon do if ya got one gun?

I sing a song for the hero unsung

with faces on the mural of the revolution

No looking back cos’ in back is what’s done

Tell the preacher, god got more than one son

Tell the law, my Uzi weighs a ton

I walk like a warrior,

from them I won’t run

On the streets, they try to beat us like a drum

In Cincinnati, another brother hung

A guinea won’t see the sun

with his family stung

They want us to hold justice

but you handed me none

The same they did to Kobe and Michael Jackson

make them the main attraction

Turn around and attack them

Black gem in the rough

You’re rugged enough

Use your mind and nine-power, get the government touch

Them boys chat-chat on how him pop gun

I got the black strap to make the cops run

They watching me, I’m watching them

Them dick boys got a lock of cock in them

My people on the block got a lot of pok* in them

and when we roll together

we be rocking them to sleep

No time for that, because there’s things to be done

Stay true to what I do so the youth dream come

from project building

Seeing a fiend being hung

With that happening, why they messing with Saddam?

Burn a Bush cos’ for peace he no push no butto

Killing over oil and grease

no weapons of destruction

How can we follow a leader when this a corrupt one

The government’s a g-unit and they might buck young black people

Black people In the urban area one

I hold up a peace sign, but I carry a gun.

Peace, ya’ll.”

 

Whatcha gon do if ya got one gun?

I sing a song for the hero unsung

 

These lyrics are what set up the entire piece. If you only have a gun (a weapon), how can you change the world? That is the question Common is asking.

 

Now we move on to Common referring to his weapon: "Tell the law, my Uzi weighs a ton"

 

Does Common mean his actual Uzi? Or does Common mean that his words are an uzi, that the statements he makes weigh a ton.

 

I believe that the second reading is the more appropriate reading. Once you understand that the gun is figurative for his lyrics, the rest of the song makes perfect sense.

 

Its just like any other literary work, often times the words literal meaning is nothing more than a cursory understanding , whereas the deeper meaning is found in the figurative elements.

Edited May 11, 2011 by Soxbadger

[BigSqwert]

The manufactured outrage over all of this is laughable.

[bmags]

The private sector (GAP) endorsed common, shouldn't that be good enough for republicans?

[BigSqwert]

This really deserves no more reasoning from the Left. I mean if every miniscule thing like this or the First Lady's pet project (healthy food options for children) can be turned into controversy then why even bother attempting a rational, mature conversation with these out-of-touch people. It's no wonder so many are turned off by politics.

Edited May 11, 2011 by BigSqwert

[StrangeSox]

I'll have to do some internet searching and find a past interview with him where he is referencing Moses. I don't see it. I read it as him saying we need to get rid of Bush because he's corrupt/dangerous, just like cops.

 

Nope! Why would you need someone to state explicitly what they mean by a metaphor, by the way?

 

Also, I love that he's "advocating" peace by saying use your "nine-power" and "black strap" to make cops run. 2nd amendment supporters don't argue that carrying guns allows them to get back at the "man." There's nothing about "protection" in his poem. Like Malcolm X, he's saying let's remember we have force too.

 

Malcolm X was more or less the Bad Cop to MLK's Good Cop. Both were effective and both were very important to the civil rights movement.

 

But you're really missing the entire point of his poem. Maybe it's because you're just not familiar with the pov or the narrative he's expressing? It isn't about shooting cops or killing Bush, that's just dumb.

 

[StrangeSox]

This really deserves no more reasoning from the Left. I mean if every miniscule thing like this or the First Lady's pet project (healthy food options for children) can be turned into controversy then why even bother attempting a rational, mature conversation with these out-of-touch people. It's no wonder so many are turned off by politics.

 

This isn't politics. This is team cheerleading.

[StrangeSox]

The 'Great Moderation' and the International Assault on Labor

The outcome should surprise only those who insist on hopeless naivete about the design and implementation of policy, particularly when economic power is highly concentrated and state capitalism has entered into a new stage of "creative destruction," to borrow Joseph Schumpeter's famous phrase, but with a twist: creative in ways to enrich and empower the rich and powerful, while the rest are free to survive as they may, while celebrating Loyalty and Law Day.

 

[Balta1701]

Mike Huckabee fixes American History.

 

The late 70's disco-thugs that Reagan saved us from certainly rule. I want to be one.

[bmags]

daily show last night, hooo doggy.

[BigSqwert]

The Daily Show
Tags: Daily Show Full Episodes,Political Humor & Satire Blog,The Daily Show on Facebook

[bmags]

what's the internet?

[Soxbadger]

Yeah Stewart really was on point with his arguments.

[Balta1701]

I never thought I'd type this.

 

The Atlantic has a real good article about Sarah Palin and her governing style and successes in taking on the oil industry in Alaska before she became the national candidate, and I highly recommend reading it.

 

Seriously, I feel dirty writing that, which ought to tell you how surprising and interesting the article was.