Natalie, meet Cindy and Jane

So, the We're pop, not Country Dixie Chicks have a new tour. And the weird thing is how few ticket sales they are getting in the US. As a result, they have cancelled a number of shows in the US, but they have expanded their tour in Canada. Hmm....

Let's recap - right before Operation Iraqi Freedom, little miss Natalie Maines told a concert audience that she was ashamed that President Bush was from her home state of Texas. <motto: Don't Mess With Texas> You would think that she would have thought about her state motto before saying that she is ashamed the President who kicked the living shit out of the Taliban is from Texas. Now, fans of country music can be, well, they can be a little bit country. And there is nothing at all wrong with that. In fact, they tend to be solid patriots, proud of their work and their country. So, Natalie bashs on President Bush and all sorts of country radio stations stopped playing Dixie Chick cd's (indeed, some thew out and destroyed their cd's to much fanare).

"It was the bullying and the scare factor," shudders banjo and guitar player Robison. "It was like the McCarthy days, and it was almost like the country was unrecognisable."
Um, no, you fucking idiot. The McCarthy days were about poeple being investigated by the government for allenged Communist Party ties. Sorry, but you can't blame the government if you act stupid and people stop playing your music and stop buying your cd's.

A few other nice bits from that article:
The level of debate can be gauged from the way Maines was compared to "Hanoi Jane" Fonda, who was photographed manning a North Vietnamese anti-aircraft gun at the height of the Vietnam war.

"The entire country may disagree with me, but I don't understand the necessity for patriotism," Maines resumes, through gritted teeth. "Why do you have to be a patriot? About what? This land is our land? Why? You can like where you live and like your life, but as for loving the whole country… I don't see why people care about patriotism."

All I can say is that if that fucking traitorious bitch wants to spew shit like that, she can get the fuck out of my country and hang out in France. (Side note: she was in the UK during that interview).

And another shining example of disrespecting your country while abroad..Sheehan Supports U.S. Deserters in Canada
Couple of quick things here:
- If you volunteer for the military (which every single soldier since the 70's has done), you cannot claim you are doing your duty to your country while badmouthing in it Canada with Cindy (that evil woman who continually disrespects the honor of her son's service to his country).
- Canada has not, repeat, has not granted political aslyum to the deserting soldiers, correctly realizing that the soldiers were not drafted against their will like the last time a bunch of bleeding heart liberals deserted and started heading North.

So, since the 'Dixie' Chick's are getting more non-country, agreeable fans in Canada, I'm all for them staying there. Maybe they can get together with Jane Fonda and Cindy and make a new band called The Treacherous Five. I'm sure they'll be a big hit in Canada, France, Vietnam, and China.

I'm a boxing expert

A few news items today:

• 'GLOBAL WARMING' PROTESTERS CALL FOR RESIGNATION OF HURRICANE CENTER DIRECTOR - Hundreds of concerned citizens and leaders from across the nation will join Hurricane Katrina survivors Wednesday to call for the resignation of the heads of the National Hurricane Center (NHC) and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) at the NOAA Headquarters just outside of Washington, D.C. During an 11 a.m. demonstration, advocates will demand that NOAA stop covering up the growing scientific link between severe hurricanes and global warming while insisting on real solutions to the problem of global warming.
  UPDATE: LOW TURNOUT FOR 'GLOBAL WARMING' RALLY AT NOAA: 'AROUND 30 PEOPLE SHOWED UP,' SAYS SOURCE. Source: drudgereport
  Nice, 30 people. Wonder how many of them were members of the press. Also, they were demanding the resignation of the director of a group that predicts hurricane paths to protest global warming? Are you kidding? That's it, I demand Mr. Smith, my 9th grade Sunday School teacher resign immediately, since he advocated the thoery of creation vs the theory of evolution.
  
• Senator Reid (D-Nevada) was photographed at frontrow seats at various boxing matches with John McCain (R-Arizona). At the time, a bill was being debated regarding federation regulations of boxing. A Nevada gaming group gave Senator Reid the tickets and he felt obligidged to attend, in the front row, to make sure boxing was being carried out properly. Turns out that excuse didn't fly well and now he is backpedaling.
  "Several ethics experts disagreed, criticizing Reid's rationale that he felt obligated to take the tickets to ensure boxing was being conducted properly in his home state.
  "He is no more obligated to go to boxing matches than he is to a Celine Dion concert in Vegas," said Melanie Sloan, a former Justice Department prosecutor and head of Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington." - source: MyWayNews.com
  Can you smell the bullshit in the air on that one? "Yeah, I had to accept ring side tickets to three major boxing events to 'make sure they were boxing correctly.' Especially since I'm such a boxing expert or something. And I'll also be an expert on any other event or sport where I can score some free tickets.