And the men who hold high places, must be the ones to start…
June 4, 2010 | 4 Comments
Under promise, over deliver. That’s they key to success, right?
Yeah, I’m still learning that one. I had promised a blazing first entry here at the Commons. But sadly, I am currently bagged beyond most intelligible writing capacities.
So instead, I will have to direct your attention to what is perhaps one of the most amusing (only?) intersections of American politics and Canadian rock super stardom on the books to date. Via Talking Points Memo, it seems that newborn Kentucky GOP libertarian news getter Rand Paul has run afoul of none other than the greatest Canadian rock trio of all-time: Rush.
Paul, who has quickly stepped into the limelight, used the Rush song “Tom Sawyer” in a Web video, and his campaign has also played “The Spirit of Radio” at a rally. In a far cry from the conservative Paul’s discussion of protecting private property rights, his campaign actually used the libertarian-minded band’s intellectual property without permission, attracting a letter from the band’s lawyer for his attempt to get something for nothing.
First of all, who had any idea that Alex, Neil, and Geddy were “libertarian-minded”? This is Canada, I thought the only libertarians we had were Rona Ambrose, Andre Arthur, and Jon.
Go figure.
The band’s lawyer claims that the issue has nothing to do with politics, given that the boys are Canadian, and has everything to do with copyright. That might the official line, but given the series of cringe inducing gaffes Rand Paul has managed to round up for himself in record breaking time, I don’t know that I would want anything I’d had a hand in publishing being used by his campaign.
Bonus points to TPM for the “closer to the heart” reference at the end of the article.
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4 Responses to “And the men who hold high places, must be the ones to start…”
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June 4th, 2010 @ 1:10 am
Actually, the politics expressed in Rush’s lyrics are pretty generally considered quite libertarian. Further, Geddy Lee has espoused many libertarian political beliefs – though I have no idea how he might self-identify.
Other than that, you’re right, it’s pretty much me.
(And I’m horrified that I’m discussing Rush. From what I recall, Animate is about the only song of their’s worth listening to.)
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Jonathan McLeod Reply:
June 4th, 2010 at 1:11 am
God, I shouldn’t be allowed to comment at 1:10 am.
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Scott H. Payne Reply:
June 4th, 2010 at 1:27 am
Blasphemer! Bite your tongue, McLeod. Without Rush, there would be no Canadian music scene. Or are you one of those Adams purists?
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Jonathan McLeod Reply:
June 4th, 2010 at 6:58 am
So we can blame Rush for the existence of Nickelback, Theory of a Deadman, Remy Shand and Justin Beiber? And that bolsters your argument?
And anyway, it all comes back to The Five Man Electrical Band.
Really, Scott, can’t you read the signs?
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