Reflections on the Non-Revolution in America..
..Or something. Three blog posts in three days? I ask you. I'll be saying something meaningful next. Anyways, there are real live reasons for me posting again, which I'll get to, but it strikes me that some musings might be fun in the meantime..
It's an interesting time to be traveling through America, and more interesting still to have traveled through California and the liberal coasts via the conservative heartlands. My first observation would be that people talk about the forthcoming election a lot less here than they do in the UK, which is worrying. Obviously, given that my social milieu out here is punk rock, I tend to be in the company of Obama supporters more often than McCain-ites. The case against McCain and Palin is pretty obvious - Palin in particular, representing a total failure of feminism as a concept, as she does. However, devil's advocate ever, can we all just fucking chill out about Barack for a minute please? Repeat after me: The man is a POLITICIAN. He's been one for some time. He is not the fucking second coming, and he is not going to save America. He is probably the lesser of two evils. Hooray. But the near-messianic fervour surrounding the man out here is positively creepy. He's applying for a job, dammit, stop kissing his arse. More than anything it reminds me of people's regard for Tony Blair in 1996. But much, much more so. Look how that one turned out. I predict mass disillusion on the American left within two years.
Right, to business.
Bye!
It's an interesting time to be traveling through America, and more interesting still to have traveled through California and the liberal coasts via the conservative heartlands. My first observation would be that people talk about the forthcoming election a lot less here than they do in the UK, which is worrying. Obviously, given that my social milieu out here is punk rock, I tend to be in the company of Obama supporters more often than McCain-ites. The case against McCain and Palin is pretty obvious - Palin in particular, representing a total failure of feminism as a concept, as she does. However, devil's advocate ever, can we all just fucking chill out about Barack for a minute please? Repeat after me: The man is a POLITICIAN. He's been one for some time. He is not the fucking second coming, and he is not going to save America. He is probably the lesser of two evils. Hooray. But the near-messianic fervour surrounding the man out here is positively creepy. He's applying for a job, dammit, stop kissing his arse. More than anything it reminds me of people's regard for Tony Blair in 1996. But much, much more so. Look how that one turned out. I predict mass disillusion on the American left within two years.
Right, to business.
- Apparently I got the US release date confused, at least as far as iTunes goes. It is coming, never fear. And for all the people asking, the US-only bonus tracks are Thatcher Fucked The Kids and a live version of The Real Damage.
- Does anyone have any decent footage of my performance at Reading festival 2008? If so, please get in touch.
- I did a video with Chris T-T.
Bye!
posted by frank at 4:51 PM
4 Comments:
I must say it does make me laugh when people in the UK join 'vote for Barack Obama' groups on facebook and stuff.
I know that the US President does have a lot of power but as a Brit - I dont really care. I cant vote out there and as such I am not interested.
Hmmm... as with everything in politics, it's not so black and white (unless you're talking about Obama and McCain... I'm here all week).
Firstly - i've just come back from the States and in just the few days i was there EVERYONE was talking politics, the telly, the businessmen, the taxi drivers, shopworkers, absolutely everyone. Frank is obviously out there a hell of a lot longer than I was but maybe he's just travelling round on the alternative scene where politics probably isn't such a relative concern. Over here his friends are just more rounded and interested in international affairs ;-)
As for Obama, totally agree, the colour of his skin is still far too relevant in the US, but not just on a negative sense. This isn't 24, it's real life, he's still a politician and by rights that means he's still an egotistical power hungry cunt.
As for the post above, understandable but i'd say it's just as ridiculous not caring at all about something that you don't get the final say in as it is joining said groups. You can take an interest without getting involved and maybe even find the whole thing quite educational - whether that's a 'know your enemy' style education of just cos you want to know more, either way it's useful.
Anyhow, enjoy the rest of the tour Frank - FB group is approaching 2,000, bring it on!
Shut up Frank. He's a black bloke and he's about to become President. Nothing else matters!!!!!!1111111111111111111111111111111111111
Hiya
you're of course right that he isn't the messiah; as Hilary Clinton found out in the '90s there are forces at play in the U.S. that make in some departments frankly impossible; you will not get elected if you are universal - sorry "socialist" - healthcare, you will not get elected if you are against the death penalty (or guns), and you will not get elected if you are pro-Palestine. For someone with such an apparently fantastic grasp of foreign policy his views on the middle east are positively pathetic.
Still a massive improvement over McCain/Palin. And for the Pigeon man above it matters a lot to us here; if the GOP get in then it sends the green light that candidates preaching creationism and anti-warming propaganda can be elected and that is seriously, seriously dangerous.
Until then...
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