Texas Repubs curb Willie Nelson honor

[Penndems]

A state legislator had proposed naming a 49-mile stretch of Texas Highway 130 being built around Austin in honor of the Texas country music singer.

But two Republican senators, Steve Odgen of Bryan and Jeff Wentworth of San Antonio, said they didn't want Nelson's name on the road that crosses their districts, citing the musician's fondness for drinking and smoking, and active campaigning for Democratic candidates.

"It's frustrating, and sad in a way, but at this point, there is no reason to make this an unpleasant experience for anyone, especially Willie, so I'll take no further action on the bill,'' said state Sen. Gonzalo Barrientos, an Austin Democrat and the bill's author.

Barrientos said he wanted to honor Nelson "for so much good music and so many good works.''

Link:
http://www.salon.com/ent/wire/2005/05/01/willie_nelson/index.html
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Unbelievable. A country music legend, one of my all-time favorites, and he gets shabby treatment like this. :mad:

Willie's one of the best things to come out of Texas. In fact, he IS Texas.

[yorgatron]

1. this is bound to turn around and

bite them in the ass.

[Penndems]

3. Agree, agree, agree

That man's bought a ton of money into The Lone Star State.

I would think a Republican -- especially a TEXAS Republican -- could appreciate that.

[katinmn]

2. Geeze. Willie has the Family Reunion there every 4th of July

and has a place near Austin, doesn't he?

Ogden and Wentworth are truly repugnant. I don't think they speak for all Republicans either.

:thumbsdown:

[Penndems]

4. He sure does

and he holds the annual Farm Aid concert there, too.

This just makes me love Willie the Outlaw even more.:loveya:

[CO Liberal]

5. As I Said in The Thread About This on the LBN Board....

...I'll bet those Repugs really want to name the road after Tom DeLay.

[Penndems]

6. LOL! I'll bet they DO name it after DeLay, too

The dumb SOBs.

Willie Nelson, a worldwide beloved songwriter and entertainer, Texas's best representative, and a native Texan, can't get a road named after him.

Tom DeLay, Member of Congress from Sugar Land, crook, liar and thief, gets nothing but adulation and praise from the GOP.

Where's the justice here? Talk about skewed values!

[cestpaspossible]

7. Let's put this into perspectiive

Willie Nelson is a legend, someone who's made the world a better place and touched millions with his music and his good works.

And then there are Odgen and Wentworth.

[SoCalDem]

8. But George Bush has things named after him...and he's an adulterer

and a lying bastard.. (Oh wait!)..he's a republican ....D'oh!! what WAS I thinking?

[Left Is Write]

9. Active campaigning for Democratic candidates! The horrors!

OF COURSE he shouldn't have a stretch of highway named after him - cavorting with Democrats, after all!

And drinking! And smoking! He should be drawn and quartered!

That kind of thing is only appropriate for a Texas governor who goes on to the White House - drinking, smoking, snorting coke...

[Penndems]

11. Janis Joplin, another native Texan, got the same kind of

crappy treatment.

Exerpt from her interview on "The Dick Cavett Show", 1970:
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Janis Joplin: Sometimes I just write down the words so I don't forget 'em, but I mean I don't write songs, that's a whole different concept. I just make 'em up.

Dick Cavett: Yeah. Did you ever get back to Port Arthur, Texas ?

JJ: No, but I'm going back next in August, man. And guess what I'm doin' ?

DC: I don't know.

JJ: I'm going to my 10th annual High School Reunion.

DC: Oh! Oh! Take movies and bring 'em back to show us, will you ?

JJ: Hey would you like to go ?

DC: Well, I don't remember, I don't have any friends in your high school class.

JJ: I don't either. I don't either, believe me.

DC: You don't either ?

JJ: It's hard going, man!

DC: Weren't you a kind of a, weren't you kind of a business administration major or something in high school. No, it's something in your past. You were ...

JJ: No, I worked.

DC: Yeah.

JJ: But a high school major in Art does have plenty of time.

DC: Yeah. And do you think you'll have a lot to say to your old high-school classmates ?

JJ: I don't have a lot, man.

DC: You were not surrounded by friends in high school ?

JJ: They laughed me out of class, out of town, and out of state, man.

[jobycom]

10. I remember recently being horrified to find I was on Ronald Reagan Highway

in Florida. If they can name a road, an airport, and a military vessel after a terrorist who sold weapons to a nation that had declared war on us and illegally who diverted those funds to terrorists killing and raping American nuns in Central America, then I want my stretch of road named after a pot-smoking drunkard who is the strongest champion of the American farmer in this nation--not to mention one of the greatest songwriters in our nation's history.

Then again, if they'd rather name it after Senator Ralph Yarborough, I'd defer, but I haven't heard of any such plans.