My Arms Ain't Open

Another reason to be afraid of Wesley Clark: according to the Associated Press, his favorite album is Journey's Greatest Hits. Gene Healy comments: "I've got this image of Wes Clark with that thousand-yard stare, hunched down in his bus seat, muttering to himself 'wheel in the sky keeps on turning/wheel in the sky keeps on turning' on and on and on through the frozen wasteland of New Hampshire."

Expressing better taste in music: Howard Dean, who still professes to like Wyclef Jean, and Dennis Kucinich, who digs his pal Willie Nelson. Al Sharpton gets a point for picking a gospel singer -- but Yolanda Adams? She's gospel the way Shania Twain is country.

Comments

[John Q]

Oh dear God! Kevin, that is just flat out hilarious!

[joe]

Coffee-out-the-nose-funny!

[Bill]

Okay, we all like music--and Kevin's ditty is rather funny--but does a potential or sitting president's musical tastes really matter! I couldn't care less. The journalist asking such a question of a canditate is just an unserious fool. God, don't we have better things to do (or NOT to do, as a good libertarian can only hope)

[Jesse Walker]

does a potential or sitting president's musical tastes really matter! I couldn't care less.

You obviously weren't around in 1992, when Clinton kept inflicting that awful Fleetwood Mac song on us.

[s.m. koppelman]

Actually, it really does bother me to know Gen. Clark likes Journey. The thought of "Don't Stop Believin'" being performed at an inauguration party gives me hives.

It doesn't necessarily say much. Some people are just indifferent to music in general. But Journey?

Jimmy Carter was probably the closest thing to a music geek the White House has had in recent decades. He had that 50-musician jam session on the lawn once and at least a dozen other jazz musicians played the White House during his term.

From the libertarian geek perspective, Carol Moseley-Braun had some good cred: she's a sci-fi reader and a Star Trek fan.

[B.P.]

I have fond memories of the New York City Breakers (breakdance troupe) performing for Pres. Reagan... to the sounds of a stringed orchestra.

[DamStrait]

Actually, Al Sharpton is more country than Shania Twain.

[Brian C.B.]

George W. Bush will announce his musical preferences as soon as Karl Rove decides on them. I look for a Wisconsin, Ohio, New Mexico, fusion that Karl will dub, "swing-state rag."

I did see a Wesley Clark bit on MTV in which he (not an impersonator!) was seated with a midwestern, blue-collar diner trio in what was remarkably like a campaign ad setting, and he earnestly says, "No, I don't think Outkast is breaking up. I just think that Andre 3000 wanted to do a solo album. It's natural."

Very well done. I laughed.

[Jim Walsh]

"Actually, Al Sharpton is more country than Shania Twain."

God damn that's funny...and true. Let's face it Shitnia sucks big-time. I like Steve Earle's description: "She's the highest-paid lap-dancer in Nashville." (Okay, Earle's a Commie flake, but on this issue he's dead on the money...)

[Jesse Walker]

Shania Twain is country the way Journey is country.

[StMack]

Clark has the much coveted endorsements of Madonna, Michael Moore, and George McGovern. So he's already got the Has-been, the self-important phony and the political loser vote sown up.

That alone should be enough to get him a VP shot.

[Wild Pegasus]

I don't think Shania Twain actually knows how to sing, because she never sings live. She's always lip-synching tracks on-stage. I've got a theory that it's a giant joke run by Mutt Lange and his super-hot wife for the amusement of a few in the know.

OBTopic: If a presidential candidate claimed his favourite band was Cannibal Corpse, I'd leave school to work on his campaign.

- Josh

[Alan Vanneman]

Yeah, and Al is black the way Shania is country. So it all makes sense.

[Steve in CO]

Unless President Bush calls the heads of our various intelligence services to account (in other words, fires them), Bush will be confirming what his enemies and even some of his friends suspect, that he is giving a wink and a nod to his spy services for a disinformation job well done.

Well I for one believe Ron has stumbled into the Elephant in the Living Room. Peanuts anyone?

[Angie]

Uh! Excuse me!!! But I see no issue with someone who is into Journey!!!

🙂

[amr]

So who does Bush prefer?

[joe]

Kerry doesn't get props for "Abbey Road?"

[davidf]

howard dean dance remix...

http://wgntv.trb.com/news/local/morningnews/wgntv-012204surflink,0,3326623.storylink?coll=wgntv-morning-news-1

and joe, no points for the beatles. james bond had it right in "goldfinger".

drf

[jemezhobbit]

.. slow news day today??

[JSM]

AMR; my guess is Bush isn't into the Dixie Chicks or Moby!

[Kevin Carson]

Bush is into Isaac Hayes:

Who's the overprivileged legacy from Yale,
Who defends flyover country without fail?
Bush!

Who's the coke-snorting booze hound,
Who busts every drug user around
('cept his niece and daughters)?
Bush!

Who's the chickenhawk from the Texas Guard,
Who brought back integrity to high regard?
Bush!

He's a draft-dodgin' man,
Who never went to Nam...
But he did some AWOL campaign work.
Geoge Bush!

They say he's a worthless sack of--
Shut yo' mouth!
But I'm talkin' 'bout Bush--
Then we can dig it!

[SM]

"Actually, Al Sharpton is more country than Shania Twain."

The chinese violinist pissing people off 🙂