October 28, 2004
THIS CHARMING MAN
Morrissey joins fellow Brits-living-in-the-US Andrew Sullivan and Christopher Hitchens in supporting John Kerry. To get the full impact of Morrissey's endorsement, imagine him singing this while swaying around in an oversized cardigan and planning his dismal suicide:
With all my heart I urge people to vote
against George Bush.
Jon Stewart would be ideal, but John Kerry
is the logical and sane move.It does not need to be said yet again,
but Bush has single-handedly
turned the United States
into the most neurotic and terror-obsessed country on the planet.(chorus)
For non-Americans, the United States
is suddenly not a very nice place to visitUS immigration officers – under the rules of Bush –
now conduct themselves
with all the charm and
unanswerable indignation of Hitler’s SS.Please bring sanity and intelligence
back to the United States.
Don’t forget to vote.
Vote for John Kerry and get rid of George Bush!(repeat chorus until dead)
Morrissey is against being neurotic and terror-obsessed? That’s news. In another unexpected development, Germans go for George:
Posted by Tim Blair at October 28, 2004 02:48 PMBild, Europe's bestselling tabloid with 4m copies a day, yesterday endorsed the president, who it said was far less "wobbly" than his Democratic rival.
The president had learned the lessons of history, the paper said, reminding Germans it was the Republican Ronald Reagan who won the cold war, suggesting Mr Bush could become another Reagan.
The Germans support Bush? They must have found out that he's Hitler.
Posted by: EvilPundit at October 28, 2004 at 02:57 PMOkay, can somebody exlain to me what the Hitchens endorsement was - I can only find the Slightly Supportive of Bush one.
Posted by: JBB at October 28, 2004 at 03:01 PMHeaven knows he'll be miserable a week from now.
Posted by: Paul Zrimsek at October 28, 2004 at 03:02 PMI live in New York City; my parents live in Las Vegas. Whenever we ask any tourist (typically Germans, since my mother is German) how they feel about travel to and within the U.S., the response is ALWAYS the same:
"Are you kidding? The U.S. is the safest place on the planet. We feel safer here than at home!"
'Nuff said.
Posted by: KipEsquire at October 28, 2004 at 03:04 PMAh, yes, the 'celibate' vegetarian. Imagines himself as the flip, genteel reincarnation of Oscar Wilde.
Except that Wilde raised a family and, ignoring all the urbane one-liners that people usually think of when they remember Wilde's work, wrote some of the most beautiful and heartrending words of the late 19th century in "The Ballad of Reading Gaol". And Morrissey? Sits in his house on Primrose Hill growing older, older, writing ironic syrup that no one over 25 can listen to again without being slightly embarrassed that they ever liked it in the first place.
And virtually everyone acknowledges that the only times that Morrissey was ever good was when Marr was writing the songs. That must sting a little. And he doesn't even have the future of dying a drunken old queen smoking in a Soho bar to look forward too, since he doesn't drink and doesn't smoke.
So, to sum up: No sex, no meat, no booze and no smoking. No wonder he's morose.
Posted by: goldsmith at October 28, 2004 at 03:05 PMThe Europeans time will come, probably soon. Many countries there have relatively large Muslim populations that have not been assimilated into the national ethos as well as they have in the U.S. And, as in France, they are treated as second, no make that third class, citizens. It's only a matter of time before some real Shite hit's the fan there.
Posted by: Wallace-Midland, Texas at October 28, 2004 at 03:21 PMI would never vote for any candidate that had not been endorsed by Morrissey. I think he’s right that their immigration officials are less polite recently. But Hitler’s SS? I wouldn’t go that far.
How is P.Diddy going to vote? I respect that man a lot.
Posted by: Harry Hutton at October 28, 2004 at 03:21 PMWhile I love the Bild endorsement of Bush, it needs to be noted that they're famously anti-government as part of their populist appeal, independent of which party currently holds the chancellorship. If the conservative Christian Democrats were in power right now and had run a more traditional US-friendly course (rather than Schröder's staunch anti-Americanism to appease his base) over the last few years, I could easily imagine Bild's endorsement going the other way.
Still, this is gonna piss off the chattering classes back home, so I'm enjoying it. :)
Posted by: PW at October 28, 2004 at 03:22 PMJBB, this is Hitchens' endorsement of Kerry. I read it six or seven times then concluded that it was gibberish.
Posted by: Harry Hutton at October 28, 2004 at 03:26 PM"So, to sum up: No sex, no meat, no booze and no smoking. No wonder he's morose."
LOL, goldsmith! He sounds like a monk without a religion. Must be hell.
Posted by: The Real JeffS at October 28, 2004 at 03:26 PMJeffS, monks can drink. Those Belgian monks brew the strongest beer you can buy- it's about 13% alcohol. That's why they never speak.
Posted by: Harry Hutton at October 28, 2004 at 03:32 PMG'day JeffS,
I strongly support Harry Hutton - the monks I knew were serious boozers. They get (or at least they used to get in the 1970s) their alcohol tax free. One of the older monks I knew drank 750ml bottle of Johny Walker every night. He smelt a bit off really.
Posted by: Russell at October 28, 2004 at 03:40 PMMonks invented beer,champagne and whiskey.We are indebted to them.Except of course Morrissey, who can detonate a suicide bomber for all I care.
Posted by: gubbaboy at October 28, 2004 at 03:46 PMHe doesn’t drink because it makes him depressed.
Hitler didn’t drink either. It used to make him aggressive.
gubbaboy, don't forget (soon to be Saint) Marco D'Aviano, traditionally the inventor of cappuccino.
Posted by: goldsmith at October 28, 2004 at 03:52 PMOnly savages sprinkle chocolate on cappuccinos. I hate that. And in Italy they tip four or five sugars in it until it is sweeter than a f***ing choc-ice.
I read somewhere that there is a very strong negative correlation between GDP per capita and the amount of sugar people put in drinks.
Guys, I should have inserted "humor" tags. My bad.
I've drank some of that beer! I've also known some pretty grumpy monks. I'll agree, most monks are not morose. Those that are, are exceptions.
And that's my point on Morrissey.
Oh, well, I'll try better next time.....
No matter -- I was just making a point
Posted by: The Real JeffS at October 28, 2004 at 03:59 PMThanks for the link, I agree it does look like Gibberish, I like the allusion to Reagan - George W Bush will be a transformational president when he gets 4 more years.
Posted by: JBB at October 28, 2004 at 04:04 PMHey Guys,
Just wondering if it's brainwashing or not ?
I am interested in your comments.
Sorry, this article is in French. Never seen in English.
Please translate it, and tell me what you think of:
http://fr.news.yahoo.com/041027/5/448ii.html
Morrissey is griping about the immigration officials under Bush?! Of all the reasons...
Well it's probably true and I regret that visitors are now harrassed by red-tape and menaced by security personnel. But didn't I read about something in the past 3-4 years where a bunch of foreigners on student visas did something or other that was the reason things have become strict. That's one thing Kerry is unlikely to touch.
Posted by: John in Tokyo at October 28, 2004 at 04:06 PMBeing a RWDB and a Morrissey fan could I point out to Goldsmith, Moz hasn't lived in the UK for at least 10 years, Wilde by his own admission was an awful father and Marr wrote the music not the lyrics. If I took seriously political comment by music or film stars I'd not listen too or see anything, therefore I don't. You will always be dissappointed somewhere along the line so best not take them seriously but enjoy what they produce in their area of skill.
Posted by: Edgar at October 28, 2004 at 04:11 PMref yahoo article
says that a study of Gallup pools over the last 3 years "consistently" shows that every time there is a terror warning, there is a surge in Bush support.
Posted by: lucklucky at October 28, 2004 at 04:22 PMCould be about the sugar - GDP correlation, Harry. A nice man from work recently offered me some "Arabic Tea", just like his momma made back home. It was more like foul liquid cotton candy that had possibly once been near tea.
Now - does sugar cause poor, or poor cause sugar?
Posted by: Dylan at October 28, 2004 at 04:52 PMI guess Hitchens is just as nuanced as Kerry is. They should enjoy each other just fine. They can tell each other "I've got your back" until they decide that they don't.
Hitchens abandoning the left was probably just a ficticious cover story made up in order to allow him to penetrate the inner-circle of the neo-con society so he could mingle with Wolfowitz and Rove. That way he'd be able to uncover their secret plan they have of "World domination".
Posted by: Gary B. at October 28, 2004 at 05:18 PMHitler didn’t drink either. It used to make him aggressive.
Crikey. I'm glad we only ever saw the kind, gentle non-aggressive Hitler.
Posted by: EvilPundit at October 28, 2004 at 05:19 PMI wonder if George Bush is comfortable with the support of Bild Zeitung ?
I guess he's not fussy at this late stage.
Posted by: Rex at October 28, 2004 at 05:20 PMGee, Rex found the erotica section of a tabloid's internet site. You naughty boy, you! Is that how you try to combat your fear of running into Howard voters? Just as well, I guess...if it keeps you off the streets...
Anyway, was there a point you were attempting to make?
Posted by: PW at October 28, 2004 at 05:26 PMPW, is bild the one that has the naked chick on the front?
I loved reading that mag while I was in Germany.
Posted by: Quentin George at October 28, 2004 at 05:29 PMPW, is bild the one that has the naked chick on the front?
Probably. :)
Posted by: PW at October 28, 2004 at 05:31 PMChris Sheil - brought to you by Celexa and bourbon! Don't be so sad when someone cracks wise about Morrisey, pal. It ruins the effect for everyone else.
Wait, sorry, Chris, I mean: Chris Sheil brought to you by Celexa and bourbon don't be so sad when someone cracks wise about Morrisey pal it ruins the effect for everyone else. OMG WTF LOL!!1eleven1!
Posted by: Dylan at October 28, 2004 at 05:37 PMPresident Bush probably doesn't care, Rex. Bild is on the same level as the National Enquirer, as I recall. With some Playboy tossed in for improved circulation (heh heh!). He likely has better taste than that.
A cheap shot, unworthy of the left. Oops, why did I say "unworthy"? I meant "typical". My bad!
Posted by: The Real JeffS at October 28, 2004 at 05:45 PMHey Harry
Hitler didn’t drink either. It used to make him aggressive.
Hitler was a speed-freak, he didn't need alcohol.
I thought Morrissey had already killed himself by now, "ohhh, boo hoo, I'm sooo depressed, la la la la...
The Bild is of course Germany's main tabloid and in this day and age means it is the voice of reason. No doubt the "quality" broadsheets in Germany like the Frankfurter Zeitung and backing Kerry for what ever wierd demented reason they can think up.
Posted by: mike a. at October 28, 2004 at 06:32 PMMorrissey! Please. If I want to know what to think, I'll ask Rosie O'Donnell. But seriously, anyone else notice that Dylan's been keeping quiet on politics? He's had ample opportunity to speak out. And if he had, I'm sure I'd have heard about it. So the great Morrissey speaks. But Dylan doesn't. How should one interpret the silences?
Posted by: Sean at October 28, 2004 at 08:04 PMJon Stewart? What the fuck has he said about anything?
Posted by: MeAgain at October 28, 2004 at 08:05 PMAm I the only one who thinks Hitchen's kerry endorsement is an ironic joke? He's basically saying he would like Kerry to win in order to force him and the dems to face reality.
That isn't an endorsement, its an indictment.
Posted by: bbridges at October 28, 2004 at 08:11 PMChristopher Hitchens would never do anything as silly as supporting Kerry. Unless he has suffered brain removal since last week, he supports Bush, as indicated by his recent article in the Nation, Why I'm (Slightly) for Bush.
His Kerry endorsement in Slate appears to be a typo ... or wishful thinking by the State editors.
Posted by: bettiwettiwoo at October 28, 2004 at 08:45 PMI'm a Morrissey/Smiths fan, but I like trashing him. It's a guilty pleasure.
He's also entitled to an opinion.
So is Alice Cooper who is a Republican, so is Sean Penn who is a Democrat. They way RWDB bloggers steam into people for a political view is ridiculous.
I still listen to Alice Cooper, I couldn't care less who he votes for.
Posted by: Joe at October 28, 2004 at 08:47 PMThis is what the French Lefties have to say about Bush and Kerry:
"With Kerry, everything is complicated and no one can say how he will react; for example his stance on Iraq varies from day to day with the polls. That is not all. Bush’s family may be rich but George W doesn’t show off his wealth as ostentatiously as does his ultra-rich contender. Kerry comes of a long-established east coast family; he was privately educated in Switzerland, he married a billionaire, he owns five houses and a jet to travel between them. In winter he goes snowboarding, and in summer he goes windsurfing. Even his bicycle cost $8,000.
The money behind Bush is not so noticeable. He is proud of his country, indeed he verges on the arrogant, but when he faces its people he acts humble: "I appreciate the steel workers who are standing behind me. Thank you all. Thank you all very much for coming."
Full story: http://mondediplo.com/2004/10/02usa;
Posted by: felis at October 28, 2004 at 08:47 PMThis is what the French Lefties have to say about Bush and Kerry:
"With Kerry, everything is complicated and no one can say how he will react; for example his stance on Iraq varies from day to day with the polls. That is not all. Bush’s family may be rich but George W doesn’t show off his wealth as ostentatiously as does his ultra-rich contender. Kerry comes of a long-established east coast family; he was privately educated in Switzerland, he married a billionaire, he owns five houses and a jet to travel between them. In winter he goes snowboarding, and in summer he goes windsurfing. Even his bicycle cost $8,000.
The money behind Bush is not so noticeable. He is proud of his country, indeed he verges on the arrogant, but when he faces its people he acts humble: "I appreciate the steel workers who are standing behind me. Thank you all. Thank you all very much for coming."
Full story: http://mondediplo.com/2004/10/02usa
Posted by: felis at October 28, 2004 at 08:49 PM"Even his bicycle cost $8,000."
Damn. And I was looking at a nice little cruiser at Walmart the other day and thinking "Nah, US$79.95 is a bit expensive. I'd better check the thrift stores first."
Posted by: Andrea Harris at October 28, 2004 at 10:00 PMRobert Wright, Contributor: Kerry
"He's a long way from being the Messiah, but at least he's not the anti-Christ."
Anything but Bush huh ? If you wanna know how it feels to hate your own culture just ask this guy.
I only counted once may be of the mark +/- 1-2
But 45 for Kerry and 5 for Bush!
I guess the result might be different on Newsmax But still in general I doubt Kerry would mind if journalists were the only voters.
I used to put on "hatful of hollow" everytime I was in a nostalgic 80´s mood. That´s not so often and not for his stance (Morrisey) but just for the world situation in general I don´t think it will happen again.
I have started to look ahead - and for the very same reason I would vote for Bush if I had the chance. And Europe could use a Bush or even better with all due respect - a new Churchill.
Wallace,
shouldn't that be "until some Shiite hits the fan"?
Posted by: jlchydro at October 28, 2004 at 10:41 PMNo ML, Hitchens is a lowlife & an arsewipe.
He's a rightist/lefty, lefty/righty. Will jump on either side, so long as the dribbling slime gets he boof head on the telly.
Posted by: Joe at October 29, 2004 at 12:14 AMHmm, Joe @ 8.47pm:
They way RWDB bloggers steam into people for a political view is ridiculous.
Joe @ 12.14pm:
Hitchens is a lowlife & an arsewipe.
Self-fisking, I guess.
Posted by: PW at October 29, 2004 at 12:21 AM**golf clap for PW**
"Ooooh he's so smart. He never makes spelling mistakes". Amazing how T-Bo fans are great spellers, not to with it on facts, but great spellers.
Sadly, PW missed the point. Hitchen's doesn't have an opinion, he's a publicity hound. I don't change my political opinions for a run at fame. The war has turned CH into a star, he's a goof in my opinion and I'd say that if he was a lefty.
Right now I'm steaming into people PW. I've learned for T.Blair how to do it.
What does the PW stand for?
Posted by: Joe at October 29, 2004 at 12:38 AM11.43pm, Pre-emptive advertising campaign.
I've come up with a selling point for T-Bo.
"The Joy Of Steaming" by Tim "Magpie" Blair.
101 withering insults and how to fire them.
Posted by: Joe at October 29, 2004 at 12:44 AMAnthony:
(Since you seem to speak English, I assume I don't need to respond in French.)
Please note the distinction between correlation and cause. The terror alerts, whatever their value, go up and down in response to outside events. To the degree that there's an association, I'd guess that the causal link runs from events to both the alert level and the polls.
As always, one has to wonder about "researchers" who don't understand this rather basic point.
The alert system is a joke -- I can't believe enough people care about it that it could substantially drive the polls.
Posted by: Otter at October 29, 2004 at 12:53 AMSadly, PW missed the point. Hitchen's doesn't have an opinion, he's a publicity hound. I don't change my political opinions for a run at fame. The war has turned CH into a star, he's a goof in my opinion and I'd say that if he was a lefty.
Hitchens is a lefty. That you appear unaware of it makes you appear, well, less than qualified to comment on him.
The last part of the article in BILD goes like this (my translation)
Each new American government makes errors; Bush has already made his. Kerry however has never held government office. Few presidents before him would have been as badly prepared as he is.
With Bush we know what to expect. With John Kerry nobody knows what he stands for or where he wants to lead America - and the world
By the way: There has already been one US president whom most Germans regarded as to fool. His name: Ronald Reagan. We owe the end of the cold war and the reunification (of Germany) to him. It’s very likely that one day we will be grateful to George W. Bush, too
Posted by: goetz von berlichingen at October 29, 2004 at 01:00 AM"Ooooh he's so smart. He never makes spelling mistakes". Amazing how T-Bo fans are great spellers, not to with it on facts, but great spellers.
Well, I'm not quite sure what prompted this, since I didn't make any comment on your spelling abilities (the second post corrected my mistake), but yeah, I do try. It's the least I can do, it not being my native language and all. That being said, I'll be damned if I can figure out what "not to with it on facts" is supposed to mean. See, it's not just that correct spelling and grammar are intrinsically good (though they are), but they also help other people understand what you're actually trying to say, so they don't immediately disregard you as a blubbering fool.
Sadly, PW missed the point. Hitchen's doesn't have an opinion, he's a publicity hound.
And all the lefty celebrities that "RWDB bloggers" are so "ridiculously" bent out of shape about aren't publicity hounds? My, the self-fisking continues.
I don't change my political opinions for a run at fame.
Ah, people say the darndest things when they only need to worry about longshot hypotheticals. But in the spirit of your statement: I won't change my political opinions for a run at Emperor of Mars.
The war has turned CH into a star, he's a goof in my opinion and I'd say that if he was a lefty.
I seem to recall Hitch being quite a darling of the Left before his Road to Damascus experience (however much of that has stuck in the end). The media landscape being what it is (i.e. tilting heavily leftward), I somehow doubt he's more of a star now. Certainly doesn't have the money to show for it even if he is.
Right now I'm steaming into people PW. I've learned for T.Blair how to do it.
Good. Now watch Tim and the rest of us carefully and you may also figure out how to do it credibly. There's a good boy!
What does the PW stand for?
Initials of my name. What did you expect?
Posted by: PW at October 29, 2004 at 01:23 AMFrankly, Mr Kerry, since you ask
you are a flatulent pain the arse
I do not mean to be so rude
but still, I must speak frankly, Mr Kerry, give us money
Bild sez:
Kerry however has never held government office.
Er, huh? He's been a Senator for twenty flippin' years (and little to show for it). He's never held executive office (e.g., as a governor). Are you sure about that translation, goetz von berlichingen?
Posted by: Angie Schultz at October 29, 2004 at 02:34 AMAh, Morrissey...the thinking man's Adam Ant.
Of course celebrities are entitled to their opinions. As someone who's built a 20-year career out of trembling behind calla lilies and keening about being depressed, Morrissey is perfectly qualified to advise people how to vote. The fact that I don't recognize the US described by Morrissey, or Michael Moore, or Sean Penn, or Johnny Depp must mean there's something wrong with me.
Posted by: kelly at October 29, 2004 at 02:56 AMGee, Joe, for a leftie you sure do seem to like those redirector urls. By the way, here is Joe's "bio" from the blog he collaborates on (what is it with lefties, can't they write alone?):
JOEActually, I am probably giving you too much credit by even calling you a "leftie." But thanks for playing! Posted by: Andrea Harris at October 29, 2004 at 03:01 AM
(Writer & Speech Bubble Therapist)
30's, Chubby, Uptight & Unpleasant.
Likes: Nothing, Dislikes: Everything.
Actually, Kerry has held an executive office. He was Lt. Governor in Massachusetts during the Dukakis administration. But, Lt. Governor is basically a no-show job. The main responsibility is to answer the phone when the governor is away.
Posted by: nobody important at October 29, 2004 at 04:36 AM...and Lt. Gov to Michael Dukakis, the nullity who ran against Bush's Dad. Imagine the negative value of being a lackey to Michael Dukakis.
Posted by: Rhod at October 29, 2004 at 12:59 PM"Kerry however has never held government office."
Er, huh? He's been a Senator for twenty flippin' years (and little to show for it). He's never held executive office (e.g., as a governor). Are you sure about that translation, goetz von berlichingen?
Yes, in American terms, what Bild wrote should probably be translated as "executive office". In the German language "government" (Regierung) is usually shorthand for only the executive branch, likely because in our parliamentary system, the legislature is often only seen as an extension of the executive (e.g. due to generally voting along the party line of the chancellor and coalition), not really as a branch of its own.
Anyway, the specific term Bild used (Regierungsamt) normally refers to the chancellorship and the federal ministry posts, which doesn't really make sense since US Presidents generally haven't held a post as head of a federal department before (unlike in many parliamentary democracies where skilled politicians often "graduate" to the post of prime minister, or equivalent).
In the wider (but less usual) sense, Regierungsamt can also include being the head of a federal state, i.e. governor or equivalent, which may be what Bild was trying to say. (FWIW, there's no real equivalent to Kerry's run as Lt. Governor - the deputy state prime minister in Germany is usually one of the more senior state cabinet ministers, and it's a post that doesn't really mean anything, not even additional responsibilities besides some internal procedural ones. I honestly couldn't tell you who the deputy state prime minister for my home state is.)
So much for another boring language and civics lesson...I apologize for the wasted bandwidth.
Posted by: PW at October 29, 2004 at 01:34 PMSomeone should tell Morissey that it isn't celibacy; even if you just lay there and alternately whince and brood, you're still takin' a stabbin'.
Posted by: DrZin at October 29, 2004 at 04:04 PM