For liberals like myself, yesterday was a tough though not surprising day. The past two years have found many progressives frustrated with the timidity of a Democratic party lacking the courage to vigorously take the reigns of near historic congressional majorities. Of course, we also had to deal with blue dog obstructionists within the party who seemed to share a greater kinship with their Republican counterparts than their own caucus. Well, maybe not, considering the GOP wouldn’t even concede the legitimacy of the President’s citizenship, much less any of his policy proposals. With that in mind, things don’t bode well for for a progressive agenda once a much more conservative 112th Congress is sworn in next January, including a Republican controlled House of Representatives.
Rather than continue an angry, obnoxious diatribe addressing the dysfunctional abuse of the filibuster or the absurdity of a two party system in a country of three-hundred million, how about I simply offer some good tunes for downtrodden liberals? Besides, fellow commies, sometimes the best weapon against radical right wingers is to give them the spotlight. For the time being, though, here’s a head start on your iPod’s Dejected Liberal Playlist.
Todd Snider, “Conservative Christian Right-Wing Republicans”
The best finger-pointin’, stereotypin’, self-deprecatin’ political tune ever penned.
Conservative Christian, right wing Republican, straight, white, American male.
Gay bashin’, black fearin’, poor fightin’, tree killin’, regional leaders of sales
Frat housin’, keg tappin’, shirt tuckin’, back slappin’ haters of hippies like me.
Tree huggin’, peace lovin’, pot smokin’, porn watchin’ lazyass hippies like me.
Levon Helm, “Kingfish” (written by Randy Newman)
For those mourning a politician like Huey Long whose profound corruption often favored the working class as opposed to corporate executives… Where did this species of usefully corrupt pol go?
Who took on the Standard Oil men
And whipped their ass
Just like he promised he’d do?
Ain’t no Standard Oil men gonna run this state
Gonna be run by little folks like me and you
Kingfish, Kingfish
Friend of the working man
Kingfish, Kingfish
The Kingfish gonna save this land
Ben Sollee “A Few Honest Words”
Simple. Straightforward. Beautiful. True.
And our love of freedom
Holds a veil over our eyes
Rights that are given
Can be taken away
Just a few honest words
It shouldn’t be that hard
Just a few honest words
Is all I need
We don’t choose our leaders
They choose themselves
Tell me again
About democracy?
Dave Rawlings Machine “How’s About You”
Apparently, the voters decided to “switch sides real soon” aligning themselves with the Cadillac criminals.
The criminal man
He ain’t behind bars
He’s drivin’ one of them Cadillac cars
And I’m gonna switch sides real soon
How’s a about you?
How’s about you?
Ain’t you been walkin’ too?
It seems a lot of good people are gettin’ bad news
How’s about you?
Ain’t you got nothing good to say?
Oh, I used to have a dollar
Gonna have a dime some day
John Prine “Illegal Smile”
With the defeat of Proposition 19 in California, apparently Prine’s smile will remain illegal.
But fortunately I have the key to escape reality
And you may see me tonight with an illegal smile
It don’t cost very much, but it lasts a long while
Won’t you please tell the man I didn’t kill anyone
No I’m just tryin’ to have me some fun
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Dustin Ogdin is a freelance writer and journalist based in Nashville, TN. His work has been featured by MTV News, the Associated Press, and various other stops in the vast environs of the world wide web. His personal blog and home base is Ear•Tyme Music. Click below to read more and network with Dustin.
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