I find it hard to defend George W. Bush on anything, but I will put in a good word for Bob Seger, if I may. "Turn the Page" comes from a time when Seger was a regional star ("I don't need any money, just my fame," as Otis Redding once sang) whose closest shot to a national breakout had ended when "Ramblin' Gamblin' Man" fell off the charts. In addition, the song is an early example of the genre the Rude Pundit disdains and is of a piece with "Lookin' Back" (both songs I first heard on the LIVE BULLET album which preceded NIGHT MOVES), when some culture was still counter.
According to Paul Krugman, Bush need only maintain his optimism for nine more months. Giving him "Four More Yeara" makes me think of H.L. Mencken's support for Roosevelt in 1940, on the grounds that "he should bury his own dead horse." In kinder (and gentler, naturally) moments, I think of Robert Redford in "The Candidate," wondering what to do after he's compromised himself so much in order to win the Senate race.
Better that than Mr. Harding in ONE FLEW OVER THE CUCKOO'S NEST, who told McMurphy that he was so crazy that he voted for Eisenhower twice. Come to think of it, we had a President named Harding. He's traditionally ranked as a failure...
Rutherford Hayes, in contrast, comes off higher. I sometimes think this is because he's the only winner who lost the popular vote not to try for a second term. (Unlike John Quincy Adams and Benjamin Harrison.) There's a lesson in there somewhere, wouldn't you say?
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Time, Time, See What's Become of Me
Date: 2004-02-11 01:31 pm (UTC)According to Paul Krugman, Bush need only maintain his optimism for nine more months. Giving him "Four More Yeara" makes me think of H.L. Mencken's support for Roosevelt in 1940, on the grounds that "he should bury his own dead horse." In kinder (and gentler, naturally) moments, I think of Robert Redford in "The Candidate," wondering what to do after he's compromised himself so much in order to win the Senate race.
Better that than Mr. Harding in ONE FLEW OVER THE CUCKOO'S NEST, who told McMurphy that he was so crazy that he voted for Eisenhower twice. Come to think of it, we had a President named Harding. He's traditionally ranked as a failure...
Rutherford Hayes, in contrast, comes off higher. I sometimes think this is because he's the only winner who lost the popular vote not to try for a second term. (Unlike John Quincy Adams and Benjamin Harrison.) There's a lesson in there somewhere, wouldn't you say?