Al Gore is defending the Dixie Chicks. Here's a stupid quote.

"They were made to feel un-American and risked economic retaliation because of what was said. Our democracy has taken a hit," Gore said. "Our best protection is free and open debate."

Our "democracy has taken a hit" because some fans decided to spend their money on music made by a non-ditz instead of on hers.

Black Lists! Censorship! Oppression! McCarthyism!

Mr. Gore apparently subscribes to the notion of freedom of "speech," but not freedom of CD purchases. If we don't pump more money into Natalie Maines bank account, democracy has failed.

Somehow, that doesn't surprise me.

Rand, did _you_ make Natalie Maines feel un-American? I did not make Natalie Maines feel un-American. In fact, we have only Al "I Asked for a Statewide Recount" Gore's word that Natalie Maines felt (or feels) un-American. I submit that none of us knows how Natalie Maines feels (and my wife does not want me to find out.) And, I'm content to let her take responsibility for her own tactile or emotional state.

I'm going to say this one more time. I did not discuss un-American feelings with that woman -- Miss Maines.

Funny, I was just posting memories of September 11 and thinking how glad I was then that Gore was not President. Sounds like he's trying to cement that relief.

I guess he feels her lack of love from the American Public. Birds of a fathead!!

First of all Bush provoked 9-11. So saying you appear glad that Gore did not rightfully take the White House shows how much you don't know about the dark secret policies of Mr. Bush.

Gore decried the McCarthyite blacklisting tactics of the radio stations refusing to play the Dixie Chicks records and not requiring people to buy their cds.

I believe in boycotts as I believe in Freedom of choice.

I don't blame America first. I blame Republicans first.

Who lost 2 space shuttles, 14 astronauts, 2 towers, 2823 people, and part of the pentagon? The Republicans. Republicans better on national defense and foreign policy? Who railed against fire and police unions? Republican Tom Delay. Who voted to cut the benefits of the Veterans? The Republicans. What a group of chicken hawks.

Talk tough but let others fight their wars for election and oil and profit.

No.

Uh, "buckfush", April Fool's Day is over.

Borrowing on that technique, we could counter by saying the Democrats got us into two major world wars, two major police actions, got nearly 450,000 soldiers killed, were party to the disastrous Treaty of Versailles and the even more disastrous Yalta agreement, and as a crowning glory, were the first to use nuclear weapons in war. But we won't go there.

There is nothing "McCarthy-ite" about a radio station refusing to play a Dixie Chicks CD. When you are an entertainer, you are a product. You have a right to speak your mind, but if you piss off your customer, they have a right to stop buying your product.

Imagine the calls a country station would get if they played the Chicks CD? If I'm trying to get people to listen so they can hear the advertising I sold, I'm damn certain not going to play things that will make them switch stations.

Speech has consequences.

If Two Live Crew had only made fun of Republicans, they never would have had Tipper after them...