March 29, 2007
Republicans to D.C.: No Fun Allowed
Republicans in Congress just haven't been nice to the District lately -- they delayed a vote on the voting rights bill by adding a rider to end D.C.'s handgun ban, and now they're preventing a free concert from being held near the Capitol on July 7. The concert was to be part of Al Gore's Live Earth series of concerts to raise environmental awareness and was to feature some combination of acts like the Police, Kelly Clarkson, Faith Hill and Tim McGraw, Fall Out Boy, Genesis, Kanye West, Akon, Green Day, Bon Jovi, Kylie Mingoue, the Red Hot Chili Peppers and others. So if you like any of those bands, Washingtonians, too bad.
Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell objected to the bill allowing the concert and a spokesman for Oklahoma Republican Senator James Inhofe said he "objects to having any events on the Capitol grounds that are either highly partisan or politically controversial -- and the proposed Gore concert is both." And he's right, only die-hard liberals will sit outside and hear people talk about recycling while listening to a bunch of bands. They're practically overthrowing the government by doing so! Especially if well-known leftist rabble rousers like Toby Keith will be there. Board up the Starbucks and call out the riot police!
But not all Republicans oppose free outdoor fun: Maine Republican Olympia Snowe also sponsored the bill that would have allowed the show to go on at the Capitol, which was proposed by Chili Peppers fan Harry Reid. Concert organizers say they may try to move the show.
As Matthew Yglesias notes, there seems to be a knee-jerk reaction by some conservatives to anything Al Gore does. We get the feeling that Inhofe and McConnell would oppose a concert about how crime is bad, puppies are cute, and people should be nice to their moms if Gore were running it.
We're going to call our Congressman about this, but seriously Republicans, throw us a bone here. We don't go to where Inhofe lives and get concerts cancelled there. We just want to sit out on the Mall and listen to a bunch of bands. How about a quid pro quo -- dedicated Metro funding?
|
Aren't they throwing RFK around at all as a possible location?
Save the MANBEARPIG concert!
MANBEARPIG WILL KILL US ALL!
I think Fox News had said "RFK Stadium in Philadelphia" but a Philly blogger contacted them saying there was no RFK in Philly, it's JFK, and they have since removed that. The Nats play at RFK on that day though, so that might be tough. I hope they can do it somewhere else in the area.
Whatcha talking about? The GOP wants DC residents to be able to legally arm themselves and protect their families against would-be burglers, rapists and murderers -- that's fun!
Besides, the fact that the concert won't be on the Capitol lawn doesn't mean it can't happen. Isn't RFK Stadium or Fed-Ex Field better equipped for a big concert like this? This is for the environment, right? Think no dead grass and no trash all over the Mall if it's held in an actual stadium.
Damn. Tickets for The Police show in NYC are sold out and scalpers are out for blood. And we coulda seen them for FREE? Mitch Mcconnell is a bag of dicks.
I don't understand, isn't there a Democratic majority in the house and senate? How is it that Republicans are stopping this? It sounds like it would be a great concert!
The problem with booking RFK on the 7th: there's a Nats game already slated for the stadium.
Now I could see them using, say, FedEx Field, or maybe Pimlico Racetrack.... hmmm.....
But seriously: the Repubs who doubt the science behind Gore's cause are completely brain-dead. Sure, it's not unanimous agreement in the scientific community, but those who doubt global warming and climate change, in general, are practically to the point where they can be counted on one hand with fingers left over.
Inhofe is an idiot who can't see past his dogmatic ideology. And the Capitol grounds is a perfect place for this concert.
>but those who doubt global warming and climate change, in general, are practically to the point where they can be counted on one hand with fingers left over
No one doubts that there *is* climate change. People doubt whether *we* have anything to do with it.
We've already observed increased solar activity and global warming on Mars, Pluto, and Jupiter (damn aliens in their SUVs!). The doom-and-gloom global warming models don't adequately take into account the effect of the sun (and other cosmic phenomena). A substantial and growing number of reputable scientists believe that if you factor in these extraterrestrial influences, the science shows we are not a relevant cause of global warming. So, there is legitimate debate on the subject.
Oh, and in case you missed it, even the global warming scientific community said Gore's movie was hyperbolic and unscientific.
You don't have to cancel concerts where Inhofe lives, as with the exception of Sex Pistols publicity stunts it's not like that many bands ever play there. Not that I'm bitter.
"Oh, and in case you missed it, even the global warming scientific community said Gore's movie was hyperbolic and unscientific. "
I believe you're referring to that awful NYT article with the headline like 'Scientists say Gore film misleading' but buried in the article the main scientist interviewed said something like "On the whole, he got it right".
I very much enjoyed that graphic.
Damnit Inhofe! I left Oklahoma because people like you hate anything that normal people would consider fun. Now you and your brain-dead xtianists are ruining this for me!
You sir, s0>
I don't understand, isn't there a Democratic majority in the house and senate? How is it that Republicans are stopping this? It sounds like it would be a great concert!
In a nutshell, Senate rules make it incredibly easy for a few, or just one, senators to block or slow down legislation. That's just the nature of the beast. It could still get passed, it will just take longer than Reid wants.
The problem with holding it at FedEx Field is that Danny Snyder would never allow any event to take place there for free. Sure, tickets might be free, but he would charge you $50 for parking.
Why don't they just do it on the Mall?
Also to clarify: Not all of the acts mentioned above would be playing DC. Most will though. The Red Hot Chili Peppers are playing London (one of several concert sites). Genesis is on tour in Manchester, UK, that day.
That said, the Police probably will play the US site as they're still on tour in the states that week. Not sure about Green Day I think the others - Bon Jovi, Faith Hill, etc. -- are confirmed for the US show.
"The problem with holding it at FedEx Field is that Danny Snyder would never allow any event to take place there for free. Sure, tickets might be free, but he would charge you $50 for parking."
I don't think that Gore would want to hold the concert somewhere people had to drive to get to. Think about it.
It sounds like this died in the Senate. While we have so many Representatives now, who is my Senator? Which Republican is stepping forward to care for little ol' DC?
It sounds like this died in the Senate. While we have so many Representatives now, who is my Senator? Which Republican is stepping forward to care for little ol' DC?
Thanks for splaining`, Mike B.
Thank God for the Republicans!!! We have w-a-a-y too many 'liberal' bimbos in this city anyway. We don't need another fraud. Can we claim 'carbon credits' for turning Mr. Electric Bill around? Why don't you let him go to Chevy Chase Village instead? Gore could call it ForignAid! How about Bella Pelosi's yard?
Dear Sen. James Inhofe (R-OK),
Thank you so much for saving our fair city from perhaps the largest collection of douchebags ever assembled on one stage. The combined presence of Phil Collins, Jon Bon Jovi, Billie Joe Armstrong, Toby Keith, Pete Wentz, Anthony Kiedis, and Anthony Kiedis' hair would have surely caused G-d to rain hellfire down upon our beloved Mall.
Sincerely yours,
Concerned Citizen
Inhofe does have a point. If it was a pro-life or pro-War in Iraq concert, the Democrats would have a conniption. If Gore wants to do it in D.C., try paying for a venue like everyone else.
Bastards moved the concert to Giants Stadium (a venue to which there is little to no public transporation, thus resulting in a multitude of cars polluting the air). Bastards.