Elton attacks 'bullying' US regime

[Judi Lynn]

Elton attacks 'bullying' US regime

Sir Elton John has hit out at the "bullying tactics" used by the US government to stop artistic dissent.

The millionaire singer said entertainers who criticised the Bush administration or its policy on the Iraq war risked damage to their careers.

"There's an atmosphere of fear in America right now that is deadly. Everyone is too career-conscious. They're all too scared," he said.

Speaking to the New York magazine Interview, Sir Elton said: "Things have changed. I don't know if there's been a time when the fear factor played such an important role in America since McCarthyism in the 1950s, as it does now."
(snip/...)

http://www.ananova.com/news/story/sm_1024859.html?menu=

(The date's not reflected anywhere I could find it, but the time was noted on this page:
http://www.ananova.com/news/?menu=news.topheadlines
It's supposedly a brand new story.)

[jeff30997]

1. McCarthyism is a good analogy.

[LiberalVoice]

2. Elton John kicks ARSE!

As the english would say...

[donsu]

3. couldn't the Stars band together to fight the bushgang?

voting in Nov. is a dream

[goddess40]

4. The US is a bully nation

it starts in pre-school and grows through the rest of a childs education. Schools sponsor it and parents encourage it, until we do something REAL about the problem America will remain a nation that loves to bully others

[SemperEadem]

5. he's hit the nail on the head

He singled out the country singer Toby Keith and the band The Dixie Chicks as two examples of the way pro- and anti-Bush opinions were received.

"On the one hand, you have someone like Toby Keith, who has come out and been very supportive of the Bush administration and the war in Iraq - which is OK because America is a democracy and Toby Keith is entitled to say what he thinks and feels.

"But, on the other hand, the Dixie Chicks got shot down in flames last year for criticising the president. They were treated like they were being un-American, when in fact they have every right to say whatever they want about him because he's freely elected, and therefore accountable."

Perhaps this is the cruxt of the whole situation. He was neither freely elected, as he was selected by the Supreme Court, nor does he believe he's accountable to anyone but God, and that is the rhetoric of anointed kings. Al Gore is the elected president. It was a coup d'etat, just like the Congresswoman said.

[VolcanoJen]

6. kick!

:dem:

[mountainvue]

7. Think I'll add

a few more Elton discs to my collection.

[quispquake]

8. Great observations by Sir Elton!

Loved the article...I actually saw him a few months ago up here in Maine...he played for almost 3 hours (?!). A Great Show! But, I will say, he looked a bit depressed for a lot of the show...I don't think it was the reaction of the crowd (who LOVED him), but I think it was being back in the USA & it was probably pretty difficult for him seeing the polarization.

[Judi Lynn]

9. He probabaly has a hard time understanding how this country

has backtracked so rapidly to be every bit as polarized and maybe more than during the '60's.

You'd expect SOME progress to be inevitable, wouldn't you?

[CO Liberal]

10. "Being Back In The USA"???????

Sir Elton and his partner live in ATLANTA!!!!!

[PROGRESSIVE1]

11. Bless you Elton!