Tuesday
Sometimes campaigns seem to be a battle of the celebrities, a matter of who has the best known Stars behind the podium. Ron Paul received endorsements from Barry Goldwater Jr and the Governor of Arizona within the last few weeks, but they are politico's and that is just not the same. He finally has a real celebrity: Arlo Guthrie of 'Alice's Restaurant' fame. You simply could not find a nicer guy to endorse you. Arlo says:
“I love this guy. Dr. Paul is the only candidate I know of who would have signed the Constitution of The United States had he been there. I’m with him, because he seems to be the only candidate who actually believes it has as much relevance today as it did a couple of hundred years ago. I look forward to the day when we can work out the differences we have with the same revolutionary vision and enthusiasm that is our American legacy.”
Back in the eighties when I lived in my native Pittsburgh I regularly worked the local music venue's as did my room mate. I vividly remember him telling me about the night he opened for Arlo at one of our regular gig locations. Unlike many stars Arlo backstage did not do the Star thing in either attitude or drug ingestion. In fact, he sat down on the back stairs with my room mate for a long time after the show. They swapped stories of the life, chords and songs and had a merry old time sitting there on the group W... er the Grafitti's back stairs.
I just love the idea of Arlo playing an inauguration ceremony... Now that is cool!
Correction: the Governor in question is the former Governor of New Mexico, not Arizona. My mistake. More here
Dale, this is totally OT, but some time I would love to read the story of your life or whatever you might call it:-)
Posted by Alisa at January 29, 2008 08:28 PM
Flying in to Los Angeles
Bringing in a coupla keys
Dont touch my bags, if you please
Mr Customs man.
Now you'd have thought that his dad (Woodie) being a demi-God of the traditional Unionised Democrat left, that he would be too.
Happens every generation, kids rebel against their parents.
Posted by RAB at January 29, 2008 09:58 PM
The son of someone who failed to become President back God knows when...
It's still good, it's still good...
The Governor of Arizona...
It's still good, it's still good...
And now, someone I've never heard of who's the son of Woody Guthrie...
It's gone Dad.
Now, I've heard of Woody Guthrie but...
I know, son.
It's gone Dale, gone.
(Apologies to The Simpsons)
Posted by Nick M at January 29, 2008 10:28 PM
Ron Paul and Arlo Guthrie! Thanks for reminding me why I remain a bog standard small government conservative rather than a desperate-for-a-hero libertarian fundamentalist.
Posted by DB at January 29, 2008 10:50 PM
Yawn. Libertarians are different from Conservatives and Liberals. Who'd a thunk it?
Posted by Dale Amon at January 29, 2008 11:07 PM
Thanks for reminding me why I remain a bog standard small government conservative rather than a desperate-for-a-hero libertarian fundamentalist.
'Bog standard'. You said it m8.
Posted by JezB at January 29, 2008 11:33 PM
It's the vacuous hero worship I don't understand. What is it with people who are drawn to the fundamentalist extremes of ideology? Fascists, communists, Islamists, religious cults, libertarians - always the sad need for a father figure.
Try bog standard cynicism - it works for me.
Posted by DB at January 30, 2008 12:49 AM
Your comments seems rather content free. It is obvious you do not like libertarians. You do not have to. However, your 'argument' is framed in terms that are rather similar to the way the left defines the right to be crazy war mongering, etc, etc... so that they can then dismiss them.
Sorry, that method of argument is not very effective.
Posted by Dale Amon at January 30, 2008 01:07 AM
While we're on the subject of Arlo's songs... I used to do a couple of them way back in the day. "Comin' into Los Angeles" was a lot of fun for a solo with guitar. Although I did not perform it myself, I think my favorite Arlo song was "City of New Orleans". A really great song.
Posted by Dale Amon at January 30, 2008 01:11 AM
And as we used to say it... "You gotta sing it with that kinda enthusiasm.... Like you just squashed a cop..."
Posted by Dale Amon at January 30, 2008 01:14 AM
Dale.
Coming into Los Angeles
is one of the few songs I know all the chords for, all the way through (otherwise I just jam)
You are right. It is a good hollering song.
Posted by RAB at January 30, 2008 02:13 AM
RAB: I'm afraid I'd have to dig out the sheet from my old notebook... I've not done a pro gig in 9 years and probably haven't played that song since it was.... er still on the radio....
Posted by Dale Amon at January 30, 2008 02:56 AM
I never quite understood why so many small-government conservatives hate the libertarian movement with such a passion. Surely, compared to the common foe, the differences aren't so great? Wouldn't it be smarter to unite and hammer out the specifics once the concept of small government (something that both camps support) is popularly embedded?
Posted by James Waterton at January 30, 2008 03:01 AM
There are still small-government conservatives? The conservatives I know seem to support Bush, who is a big-government man all the way, and has done an amazing amount to increase the unrestrained power of the federal government. The small-government outlook seems to have negligible influence on anything the Republican Party actually does when it's in power.
Posted by William H. Stoddard at January 30, 2008 03:28 AM
James, that's like saying that the "Peoples Front of Judea" should unite with the "Judean People's Front" to fight the Romans.
Posted by Gib at January 30, 2008 10:37 AM
Alisa: Maybe I'll become famous some day so that someone will do my Biography :-)
Until then.... let me say it has been a long strange trip I'm on; anyone can live an interesting life if they are willing to give up enough to have the freedom to do so. Just little things like family, a regular income, security of any kind... Nothing important...:^)
Posted by Dale Amon at January 30, 2008 12:15 PM
Ah Nostalga!
I missed Woodstock, but I made the Isle of White...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qsnUu71Viyo&feature=related
Now stop all this frivolity and get back to work Dale.
We all are relying on you to get us off this goddam Planet! :-)
Posted by RAB at January 30, 2008 03:49 PM
I never quite understood why so many small-government conservatives hate the libertarian movement with such a passion. Surely, compared to the common foe, the differences aren't so great? Wouldn't it be smarter to unite and hammer out the specifics once the concept of small government (something that both camps support) is popularly embedded?As if the hate is all one way! I'd estimate articles attacking conservatives outnumber those attacking liberals on lewrockwell.com by 2 to 1. Speaking personally as someone who agrees with Libertarians on 90% of policy issues, I am regularly bemused and bewildered by number of times I have been called a fascist/communist/big government conservative/evil warmonger/enemy of freedom/madman/zionist tool/ sheep by some vitriolic fundamentalist.
Posted by Gabriel at January 30, 2008 03:50 PM
I am more than happy to attack certain conservative positions; I am also willing to verbally attack a small number of 'conservatives' who strike me as potentially dangerous to liberty if they were to wield real power. I think you will find that is the general level of discourse here on Samizdata.
Lew, is.... well.... Lew. He's just one of those people who speaks in exclamation points and sees the world not only without colour, but without greys either. There are others like him in all quadrants of the political diamond. Just pare away the hyperbole and get to the meat of what he says:. Sometimes it is worth while to do so and sometimes... it isn't.
I understand Lew doesn't particularly like us warmongering 'un-libertarian' Samizdatistas types either, so there is no need to feel singled out. To misquote an old joke:
"Sometimes I think all the world is Statist except thee and me... and sometimes I wonder about thee..."
Posted by Dale Amon at January 30, 2008 05:38 PM
I'm not bothered about being vehemently disagreed with, indeed I'd say that it's good to remember at least once a day that someone out there thinks you're a twazzock - keeps you sharp. I simply wanted to correct J.W.'s mystifying assertion that conservatives direct an unrequited hatred towards Libertarians.
Posted by Gabriel at January 30, 2008 07:27 PM
It's the vacuous hero worship I don't understand.
As if conservatives don't indulge themselves in that. Please.
Posted by Cynic at January 30, 2008 08:42 PM
Bashing LewRockwell.com certainly has become fashionable this month.
While he does aim stern comments at many self-proclaimed conservatives, he only does so when they depart from historical American conservatism. He doesn't criticise politicians for not being anarchists, but only for not playing by the rules (ie the Constitution). That keeps him busy, because the only conservative value left in the mainstream of the GOP is patriotism, and even that's been poisoned by Bush-era foreign policy doctrines.
Posted by matt at January 31, 2008 12:37 AM
Dale.
The Governor of Arizonia is a liberal Democrat - so it is not likely that she has "endorsed Ron Paul".
I notice the 3% in Florida has not dented your support for the Congressman.
Nor should it - if you believe he is the right man for President you should support him.
After all most of the 40% of voter who supported Barry Goldwater in 1964 knew he could not win - but they were still right to vote for him.
People like me (if we had a vote) would vote for John McCain against Hillary Clinton.
But we have two fears - you only one.
Your only fear is "can my candidate win".
For pragmatic sell out scum like me there is a second fear "if the candidate won would he be any good on anything".
Posted by Paul Marks at January 31, 2008 09:16 PM
After all most of the 40% of voter who supported Barry Goldwater in 1964 knew he could not win - but they were still right to vote for him.
I have a friend, recently retired. 1964 was his first election year. He told me that he was told back then, "If you vote for Goldwater, you'll be drafted into some pointless war somewhere."
He voted for Goldwater and was not long afterwards given a green suit, an M-14, and an airplane ride to "Where the hell is Vee-it-nam?"
And I think I sorted out the other thing: Ron Paul was endorsed by a judge named Napolitano, who does commentary for Fox. This is not the same Napolitano as the Napolitano who is governor of Arizona, but I guess someone got them confused.
Posted by Sunfish at February 1, 2008 09:39 AM
Very confused - considering the "Nation of Sheep" Naplitano is a man.
My guess was that it was a former Governor of Arazonia Fife Symington (spelling alert).
But that was an unkind thought. Ron Paul may have faults, but he does not believe in U.F.O.s
Still at least your friend got an M14 - I am told the stock swelled when wet, but at least the rifle did not jam as much as the first M16s did (and when the large callibre bullets hit someone they killed them).
Posted by Paul Marks at February 1, 2008 06:41 PM
Twenty million Dollars in the last quarter - very good going indeed for Ron Paul.
Posted by Paul Marks at February 2, 2008 11:12 PM
Terry: Name calling is not considered proper behavior at Samizdata.
Posted by Dale Amon at February 3, 2008 12:23 AM
Thank god that there are still some who care about freedom, more than they fear the Third World!
Posted by Rich Paul at February 3, 2008 10:47 PM
Paul,
I couldn't find any endorsements by Symington. Your bafflement at the notion of Janet Napolitano endorsing Ron Paul was well-placed, as she has endorsed the Anti-Paul, Barack Obama.
As for the M-14 and M-16 thread...too early in the thread for that particular hijack. There's a bit of internet folklore that says that threads posted by Americans quickly degenerate into gun discussions. Threads posted by Englishmen quickly degenerate into Monty Python discussions. I guess that means that we should be talking about the "Upper Class Twit of the Year" sketch.
Posted by Sunfish at February 4, 2008 07:37 PM
