1

Thanks Joe. On the song that doesn't fit - it is actually really well known here. Maybe because we just hear it as a sort of personal angsty type number. People here don't really thik about the history and politics of it. Or something - it's been popular anyway. (I can hum a few lines). :) Interesting to read how it is recieved over your way.

2

"Why is he considered such a strong candidate on terrorism and national security? What is the evidence that people point to that shows he is a credible candidate on that issue"

Because when he took over as Mayor of NYC he dropped violent crime by 60+ percent and overall crime by 50+ percent. He did this by implementing a number of new police techniques which have become the model method across the country. I understand there is a difference between domestic crime and international terrorism; however, if he is effective in policing one area it would seem reasonable that he could have similar success in relates areas.

You don't like Rudy. Thats fine. I am not dead set on him yet, but I am liking him as the choice in 08 so far - I think head to head he beats any democratic candidate in the 08 election. You don't like him though, fine.

If the election were held today, the top three candidates are 1) Rudy 2) McCain and 3) Romney. You choice is between an effective mayor with failed marriages and a history of supporting abortion, a RINO who is further the the left than Rudy on everything including abortion, and an effective governor of a state with a smaller operating budget than Rudy's NYC, who ALSO has a history of supporting abortion and gay rights. So take your pick. Between those three, it is a coin toss between Romney and Rudy. If you want a candidate who can win the general election, though, you are picking Rudy.

3

Actually Rudy didn't introduce 'new police techniques'. His police commissioners did and he had a disturbing habit of forcing out commissioners who did anything that might step into his limelight. And crime had started to fall under Dinkins before.

Rudy also earned a good reputation for being a bit of a bully who held bizaar grudges and embarked on unneeded vendettas. I remember a rather drawn out war he waged against hot dog vendors.

While we are talking about 9/11 do you know why he was out walking around the city? Because he had the NYC emergancy command center built in one of the World Trade Center buildings (not the two towers but one of the smaller buildings that made up the complex). The state of the art command center was destroyed before the day ended. That thousands of gallons of diesal fuel that were stored on the (was it 14th floor?) caught fire and brought the entire building down. An unbelievably stupid move considering that the WTC had already been targetted by terrorists.

Rudy's position on abortion is not what is going to hurt him in a run for President. Rudy is a character that looks impressive when seen from a distance but as you get closer you start seeing things that are disturbing.

4

If you'll read the article you linked to, you'll see that the reason "Not Ready to Make Nice" didn't chart higher on Billboard is that so many radio stations owned by major corporations banned the song. Perhaps a better indication of its popularity is the fact that it did make #1 at iTunes. I do know it well enough to hum a few lines and I bet you could too if you listened to it a couple times. Regarding your prediction that it will be forgotten by next year, I would suggest you don't quit your day job to become a psychic.

5

I love the blog that you have. I was wondering if you would link my blog to yours and in return I would do the same for your blog. If you want to, my site name is American Legends and the URL is:

http://www.americanlegends.blogspot.com

If you want to do this just go to my blog and in one of the comments just write your blog name and the URL and I will add it to my site.

Thanks,
Mark

6

Didn't anyone catch the "2nd cousin" argument? If there is any argument that could unite Left & Right in this country it is that one shouldn't gin up a divorce to suit one's own political or personal ambitions.

7

Gin up a divorce to suit one's own political or personal ambitions? What does that mean?

8

since rudy g. is also anti-gun, pro-gay and pro-abortion, it looks like there are no choices at all for the true conservative...is this the beginning of the end?

9

Allow me to respond re: Giuliani

f a presidential candidate from the South had married his second cousin, the hillbilly/redneck jokes would be unceasing. So why does Rudy get a pass on that one?

Good question. Thanks for raising it. We on the other side of the virtual aisle have been on this for quite some time.

Why is he considered such a strong candidate on terrorism and national security? What is the evidence that people point to that shows he is a credible candidate on that issue?

Maybe because he located the emergency response center in the World Trade Center?

Or maybe it was because after the 1993 bombing, he did absolutely nothing to ensure that operations in a crisis proceded more smoothly, including such nicities as making sure police and fire emergency radios were interoperable.

10

I won't vote for Rudy as long as he's pro-choice - Brownback is good, but may be too conservative for the moderate Republican -- but whether we like it or not, the choice will probably either be Rudy or McCain. Still, one of them may still be better than the liberal offering of Hillary, Barack, or John Edwards.

11

Have to agree with ex-preacher on this one. It's a good song with a great video (VH #1 Video) The rest of the album is definately not strong, but that song is.

Sales is largely predicated on radio play - if you dont get played, you wont have sales. I dont blame corporate america on that though - I believe many of their southern concert dates were low attendence, and some may have been cancelled because of it. Very fews radio stations are going to a heavy rotation on a band that cant sell tickets in its own market.