D.Cheney,Levon Helm & Starbuck!?

Subject: D.Cheney,Levon Helm & Starbuck!?
From: Art Thieme
Date: 21 Mar 08 - 12:51 PM

Dick Cheney recently showed the complete disconnect between the sad mission of the Bush administration's eight years of deadly folly when he answered a question about the HUGE GAP between public opinion and that administration's bulling ahead with the discredited Iraq and Afghanistan Wars. In effect, he said that the huge gap "doesn't matter to the Bush Whitehouse at all."

A commentator on the Diane Rehm (spelling?) show this morning said that he thought this total disconnect was very much like when, in the novel MOBY DICK, Starbuck threw the sextant overboard because navigation wasn't necessary in their chase for the only mission that was before them at all, the chasing after and killing the White Whale that had brought down the "towers"-----er, Captain.

Since this is ostensibly a Folk Music Discussion Forum, I will extrapolate this to Levon Helm being awarded a Grammy for the BEST TRADITIONAL ALBUM OF THE YEAR!!

Also, I must say that I like Levon Helm's recent CD DIRT FARMER quite a lot, but trad, it mostly isn't---although some of it is. It's a stretch to equate Mr. Helm's Grammy with the other examples. But I hope it caught the attention of some who don't usually look below the music line.

Just some food for thought.

Art Thieme

Subject: RE: D.Cheney,Levon Helm & Starbuck!?
From: Severn
Date: 21 Mar 08 - 08:44 PM

I like the album, but was distressed that Helm assumed the title song was traditional when it was written by Tracy Schwarz of New Lost City Rambler/Strange Creek Singers fame. I hope that future editions of the CD correct the error and pay out the royalties.

Subject: RE: D.Cheney,Levon Helm & Starbuck!?
From: GUEST,The Mole Catcher's unplugged Apprentice
Date: 22 Mar 08 - 12:27 PM

"Levon Helm being awarded a Grammy for the BEST TRADITIONAL ALBUM OF THE YEAR!!"

You can hardly blame Levon Helm for the nomination, a similar thing happened in the UK with a song, which was nominated for best traditional track, when infact it was written by the singer of the song, I refer to Seth Lakeman and his song The White Hare. Mr. Lakeman was somewhat astounded by the vilifaction heaped on him from some quarters, again, itwas not his fault the song was moninated....and besides Dirt Farmer is such a great CD.

and Mr. Cheney, I generally ignore most what he has to say.

Charlotte (the view from Ma and Pa's piano stool)

Subject: RE: D.Cheney,Levon Helm & Starbuck!?
From: Tweed
Date: 22 Mar 08 - 02:32 PM

Dirt Farmer must have met the criteria for the Grammy nominators. If it's anything like the International Blues Challenge, there are loop holes all over the place to get whoever into the program.

"Blind Child" is, according to Levon in his interview with Terri Gross, a song that people sang when he was a child himself. I've listened to it here at the house on the cd player a number of times but coming over the radio, it choked me up somehow. weird radio waves I reckon..Good song though.

The TG interview was rebroadcast yesterday and Mz Gross once again shone through as possibly the greatest interrogator of the last two centuries. And all done without the use of wet towels and so forth too!!
It was a good program and "Dirt Farmer" is a danged good record even if it did win a Grammy. ;~)

Tweed

Subject: RE: D.Cheney,Levon Helm & Starbuck!?
From: Bill Hahn//\\
Date: 22 Mar 08 - 07:09 PM

In response to the Cheney comments by Art Thieme. Right on the mark as to what he said--which, basically, was, when DC was told that over 60% of the public wants out and that this is a mistaken war---we don't pay attention to that. Sure---why not. Just because the misguided people who elected you because they thought GWB was a "down home" kinda guy they could drink a beer with. Though he is a recovering alcholic.

Think about this---Dubya tells the troops on the anniv. of the war how he envies them--the romance, the mission, etc; wishing he could have done this years back---right--from he and his VP who avoided any military service.

A news pundit recently made 2 points---this recovering alcoholic (Dubya) seems to be getting happier the worse the country's situation gets (economic, military, etc;)(unlike earlier Presidents who aged in office) and also that while his father was a thinking person (agree or disagree with his policies) Dubya shoots from the hip to show up his father in his pea-brain.

Great letter to the Ed. in the NYT recently about his tap-dancing for the press---Gene Kelly's widow in response to a comment from Maureen Dowd---I see GWB and he is no Gene Kelly--then a long meaninigful commentary on this clown's shortcomings. A clown who has had people killed and maimed due to his and his VPs fabrications.

Sad that the nation suffers from familial dysfunction.. I prefer Sen. Dole's ED it was a lot safer.

Oh--a folk music touch to all this---Dubya does a parody of Green Green Grass of Home at the Press dinner---great. Time he has for good times and humour while around him the wheebarrow is filling on its trip to hell. The trip he paid for. Great tour director.

Bill Hahn

Subject: RE: D.Cheney,Levon Helm & Starbuck!?
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 25 Mar 08 - 12:21 AM

Art, I heard that Diane Rehm interview and was struck by how nice it was to have someone in this political day and age choose such an apt image as the sextant over board from a classic novel! (I have been meaning to reread it, and this was a good reminder of how what goes around comes around).

Levon Helm.

Maggie (SRS)