Springsteen Closes Sept. 11 Inspired Tour in NY (Wants Bush Impeachment!)

[Bragi]

Thu October 2, 2003 02:51 PM ET
By Ellen Wulfhorst
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Rock'n'roll superstar Bruce Springsteen wraps up his worldwide "The Rising" tour on a political note this weekend in New York, where the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks provided inspiration for his latest songs.

Springsteen wove strong criticism of the administration of President Bush into the first of the final three shows at Shea Stadium on Wednesday night, playing a recording of Bush talking about weapons of mass destruction, questioning America's motives for the war in Iraq and calling for Bush's defeat as he seeks re-election next year.

"It is time to impeach the president and put in somebody that knows what they're doing," the musician, known as "The Boss," told the crowd.

/more

http://reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=entertainmentNews&storyID=3549233

- B

[Beetwasher]

1. Wooohooo! I always loved the Boss and now he makes me proud!

Born in the USA baby!!!

[Coventina]

2. Whoo-hoo!

I'm not a fan, but this may make me one!

:yourock:

[calimary]

42. I wasn't a big fan, but this has now made me one!

The Boss is BOSS! The drumbeat's getting louder, and it ROCKS!

[Ernesto]

44. The "early Boss" was great

but the new "political Boss" is even better! GO BRUCE GO!

[Cappurr]

3. Bruce is THE MAN

You know what a nerd he was in highschool. I went to the highschool in the next town. Then several years later, I saw Bruce at the Stone Poney. I knew he had it.

[neuvocat]

4. BOOM!!!

The Boss calls for Bush to step down.

[soupkitchen]

5. Springsteen for NJ Senator, Bye Frank, Hello Bruce

Hey, Bruce you're Born to Run

[RamboLiberal]

6. Will the Clear Channel Stations ban Springsteen songs

being played on their stations? Will they bulldoze Springsteen CD's?

Will I be getting email tomorrow from coworkers ticked off at The Boss cause he dared to criticize our 'fearless leader'?

Love it! :toast:

[ameriphile]

8. You can bet on it

For right-wingers, dissent=treason. (Except during a Democratic administration.)

[LawDem]

12. Nope

Not Springsteen. Even Clear Channel wouldn't be that dumb.

[proud patriot]

7. YEAH !

:bounce:

[Democrats unite]

9. I have always loved the boss & his music

I love him even more now.

[MnFats]

10. Astonishing! Springsteen says Bush must go!

I am elated!
He will be crucified for this & we, his fans and those who agree with his statement, must back him all the way.
He has always commented on politics sparingly but pointedly....this is a broadside.
I wonder if other public figures will line up alongside him?
RWers from Medved to Limbaugh, Hannity and all the rest will attempt to destroy him.....doesn't matter.
When public figures of his stature go after the President of the United States, the end is near.
God, I love this. I may stop and pick up a couple of CD on my way home from work!

[LanternWaste]

22. Srongsteen won't suffer at all from this....;

I don't Springsteen will receive any criticism to speak of. His fan base is just too damn big, his records are too damn good and he's been saying these things since at *least* 1983 (when I saw him in concert for the first time)...

But don't let that stop you from getting a CD or two of his...might I recommend my fav, "The Wild, The Innocent and The E Street Shuffle"

:)

[saigon68]

37. BOIL ON THE ASS LIMPBAUGH WON'T DESTROY ANYONE

He's about to be taken down by the force of gravity and his own big FAT EGO.

[calimary]

43. Truly! Me, too.

I now am a proud owner of several Dixie Chicks CDs, too, and I otherwise don't go NEAR country music.

[Missy Vixen]

11. The first record I ever bought

with my own funds was "Born to Run". I have loved Springsteen since I can remember.

I didn't think it was possible to be more of a fan, but I am now.

Thanks, Bruce.

Julie

[sleipnir]

13. The Boss For President! n/t

[THUNDER HANDS]

14. i knew

I did a good job picking this name.

:)

[DebbieCDC]

16. Magic Rat

Love your name :thumbsup:

[David Zephyr]

24. You Did, Indeed, Magic Rat.

"And the Magic Rat drove his sleek machine
Over the Jersey state line".

[DebbieCDC]

15. Brooooooooooce

Yes, my man comes through for me again! :loveya:

[MoonAndSun]

18. Bruce is and always has been the "everyman" who sings

about the working class and those who have no voice. The CD "The Ghost of Tom Joad" says it all about how he feels about them.

Go Bruce :yourock:

[Postman]

17. This guy has my respect, not my flavor of music but his heart and head ...

is in the right place. God bless him for speaking the truth. I salute you Bruce......

[joshcryer]

19. So he *was* the musician Tim Robbins was talking about.

Who was afraid to say anything about the war due to economic reasons.

[MoonAndSun]

26. how does this prove that this is the singer Robbins was talking about?

As long as I have followed Bruce, he has never been afraid to comment on political issues he feels strongly about.

[joshcryer]

33. Can you name an instance where he was so forward until now?

I'd be glad to know of such an instance.

He waited until the end of his tour, as far as I know.

[latebloomer]

34. as I stated below (post 31)

he has been making such statements, if not quite as strongly, about Iraq, at least for the past several months. Last year he was voicing concern onstage about the decimation of our civil liberties-- not sure if he was discussing Iraq then.

Also, Bruce has more money than God-- I doubt economics were holding him back.

[joshcryer]

36. Yeah, nothing controversial there though...

...nothing like how the Dixie Chicks came out and said they were ashamed of Bush, for example.

[OldSoldier]

40. When he played Raleigh...

Last month he played Raleigh, NC. He said something like "we'll let anyone in here, except maybe Dick Cheney." Then he went off on this big tirade about how bad Bush is.

Naturally, our local socialist newspaper (yes, the same one that thought Valerie Plame was just a bunch of liberal carping) reported only on how terrible it was that Springsteen is a liberal artist.

[MnFats]

48. When Ronnie Reagan was campaigning for re-election...

...the campaign started playing "Born in the USA" at campaign stops - further proving that "BITU" is one of the most mistunderstood songs of all time - Springsteen quietly sent word to the Reaganites that if they didn't stop it, he would actively campaign against Reagan. They of course stopped.
He did say in an interview at that time: "I don't think Reagan's a bad man ... but there are a lot of people whose dreams don't mean anything to him."

and about the time BUSH I was getting ready for Gulf War I, he put a little rap into his act about civil disobedience, independence, and blind faith in leaders...."Blind faith in your leaders, or in anyone else, can get you killed....'cuz I'm talking about WAR! What IS IT GOOD FOR? ABSOLUTELY NOTHIN' SAY IT AGAIN!

[OldSoldier]

50. A similar rap was on "Greatest Hits 1975-1985"

IIRC he was talking about conscription.

On the same album, in "Growing Up," he talked about how his dad was just itching for the army to get hold of him. "They're gonna cut all that hair off and they'll make a man out of you." Then the Army called him for his physical...after three days away from home, his dad called him in and said, "where have you been?" "I went to take my physical." "What happened?" "They didn't take me." "That's good."

[hussar]

20. kick for the boss

:kick:

[frank frankly]

21. bruce, way to go yo!

:kick:

[David Zephyr]

23. That's Why We Call Him "The Boss"

I love this guy.

[elcondor]

25. Woo!

I've never been a huge fan of Bruce, but I may just give his music another chance! ;-)

:wow:

[Red_Storm]

30. Bruce has ..........

all the fame and wealth that anyone could ever want but he also has a conscience and the courage to defend his ideals........


Here's to the Boss


:toast:

[ozone_man]

27. Very nice.

Born in the USA resonates pretty well, wouldn't you say?

[PROGRESSIVE1]

28. I back him all the way!!!!!!

I will not let the Reich Wing attack this great man!

[lanlady]

29. I dislike his music

but I'm liking the man!

[latebloomer]

31. He is ramping it up!

Saw him at Giants Stadium Labor Day weekend, and he alluded to the questions we all should be asking about our "leadership" and the Iraq war-- advised everyone to read Al Franken's book. But now, on the last week of his world tour, he has turned up the volume WAY loud!!

Good for you, Bruce, for using your very public platform to speak the TRUTH!!

[kodi]

32. thanx bruce, now where are the rest? loud and clear, where are they?

when Springsteen speaks, it gives other less famous and influencial musicians, artists and actors the cover and opportunity to come forward now and speak out forcefully with less chance for professional and financial retribution.

Springsteen speaking out so clearly about Bush may have as a parallel only Walter Cronkit's announcement that the US could only battle to a draw in Viet Nam. when LBJ heard of Cronkit's words, LBJ admitted that he had lost the country.

Now, as then, an incredibly credible mass cultural personality, whose opinions carry a lot of public respect and weight has weighed in on a divisive societial issue

Regardless of most people's politics, they respect Springsteen as an artist who has paid his dues and has the right to speak out without criticism. If others now stand with him, or he with them, it helps legitimize the positions of them all.

And ours.

[LiberalUprising]

35. 2004 Reasons to Boot Bush

http://irregulartimes.com/bootbush.html

[leesa]

38. This is the first time I have appreciated this man

RWers LOVE this guy so this will make an impact!

[Red_Storm]

39. Didn't know.........

Bruce was popular with right wing types........

[Naipes]

41. Right wingers think "Born in the USA" is patriotic...

Dumb ass fools don't recognize a protest song when they hear one. Bruce ROCKS!

[eablair3]

49. agreed ... they play "Born in the USA" at ballparks

I had to laugh last year when they'd play that song at various games across the country. Many were so "patriotic" waiving their flags when this song was played. I wondered if they ever really heard and actually listened to the lyrics.


Born down in a dead man's town
The first kick I took was when I hit the ground
You end up like a dog that's been beat too much
'Til you spend half your life just covering up


Born in the U.S.A.
Born in the U.S.A.
Born in the U.S.A.
Born in the U.S.A.

I got in a little hometown jam
And so they put a rifle in my hands
Sent me off to Vietnam
To go and kill the yellow man



Come back home to the refinery
Hiring man says "Son if it was up to me"
I go down to see the V.A. man
He said "Son don't you understand"



I had a buddy at Khe Sahn
Fighting off the Viet Cong
They're still there, he's all gone
He had a little girl in Saigon
I got a picture of him in her arms

Down in the shadow of the penitentiary
Out by the gas fires of the refinery
I'm ten years down the road
Nowhere to run, ain't got nowhere to go

I'm a long gone Daddy in the U.S.A.
Born in the U.S.A.
I'm a cool rocking Daddy in the U.S.A.
Born in the U.S.A.

[ElementaryPenguin]

45. Yahoooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

NO ONE is abandoning the Boss for the Fraudulent War Chimp!!!

[gauguin57]

46. bruce for ...

lt. gov. of california, under gov. bustamante

[mithnanthy]

47. This former Jersey Girl...

has the upmost respect for The BOSS.