Video: Subterranean Homesick Tools
posted at 7:30 pm on July 10, 2008 by Ed Morrissey
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Rep. Thaddeus McCotter has a quirky sense of humor, and unlike some on Capitol Hill, has no reservations about using it to score points. Fresh from his return from Pakistan, he discovered that Nancy Pelosi and Dianne Feinstein had set about silencing elected representatives in both chambers of Congress by regulating their output to YouTube and the blogs. McCotter, a musician, decided to riff off of Bob Dylan’s “Subterranean Homesick Blues” to express himself:
McCotter scored a YouTube hit last month in his “How to Speak Democratic” speech from the House floor, complete with charts. In retrospect, that may have pushed Pelosi and Feinstein into transforming the Rules Committees into Censorship Boards. Democrats seem a little thin-skinned about free speech and criticism.
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the high heel was a nice touch…
thankful on July 10, 2008 at 7:35 PM
The answer to free speech is more free speech. Who are they to restrict how an elected representative communicates with his (or her) constituents?
Hannibal Smith on July 10, 2008 at 7:35 PM
I agree. Is Congress entitled to make such rules? I’d like to see this tested by the Supreme Court.
laelaps on July 10, 2008 at 7:43 PM
Nice to see a representative hit back at Pelosi and the Libtards.
“I’m out on the pavement, thinkin’ ’bout the gover’mint”
Mallard T. Drake on July 10, 2008 at 7:43 PM
Look out kid you’re gonna get hit.
aengus on July 10, 2008 at 7:53 PM
Was there some message behind the two guys with baseball bats standing next to the garbage tote? Was that something in a Dylan something or other?
Dusty on July 10, 2008 at 7:54 PM
Good work! Reminds me of Weird Al Yankovich’s “Bob”–which truly is a classic.
And of course, the homage to Dylan, one of the left’s most cherished figures, is great.
Vanceone on July 10, 2008 at 7:54 PM
Dusty: the video is practically the same as Bob Dylan’s video for “Subterranean Homesick Blues,” including the two guys walking away in the background at the end.
Vanceone on July 10, 2008 at 7:55 PM
Well, they might be able to do something regarding what goes on on the floor, maybe but aside from that I consider it a unconstitutional infringement on free speech.
Dusty on July 10, 2008 at 7:57 PM
Many thanks, Vanceone. I’ll look SHB up on you tube.
Dusty on July 10, 2008 at 8:00 PM
One of the figures in Dylan’s video was Alan Ginsberg. The other fellow never turns towards the camera. Both have long walking sticks. I guess for McCotter, baseball bats were a quick substitute.
Mallard T. Drake on July 10, 2008 at 8:02 PM
Ideas are far more powerful than guns. We don’t allow our enemies to have guns, why should we allow them to have ideas?
Joseph Stalin
RobertInAustin on July 10, 2008 at 8:10 PM
Soon it will be time for another watering of the Tree of Liberty.
bill30097 on July 10, 2008 at 8:12 PM
I just watched his “How to Speak Democrat” video and that was amazing.
CP on July 10, 2008 at 8:31 PM
Where’d you get these naive ideas about free speech government being prevented from controlling your speech, anyway?
But this might be even worse. Instead of “mere” free speech by your average citizen, this tries to regulate speech by a Member of Congress on the floor of the House of Representatives.
It’s either amazingly ignorant or amazingly brazen.
misterpeasea on July 10, 2008 at 8:33 PM
“Watered with the blood of Tyrannts” who seem in control of our house, senate and mainstream media.
dhunter on July 10, 2008 at 8:38 PM
I hear ya. I’ve considered my oath many times…just what is a “domestic enemy”?
jwp1964 on July 10, 2008 at 8:40 PM
Even if Pelosi got such a ruling enacted could she really enforce it? What would happen if some congressmen just decided to ignore it? What could she actually do? They’re elected, she couldn’t unelect them. Some procedural thing like censure. Could she actually keep them off the floor, keep them from participating in votes?
Oldnuke on July 10, 2008 at 8:43 PM
Thanks, Mallard. I must admit, I had to look him up, too. :-)
Dusty on July 10, 2008 at 8:45 PM
The left are throwing everything at this election,
even the kitchen sink!
So,really,what its all about,it’s that when Libs say
something pretty stupid they basically want it banned
so to speak from youtube,or any other internet source!
Why,well were talking Liberals here,they can say,or do
anything they want,even on the floor,however tho,they
want Republicans held accountable for their words and actions!
And after the Lib realizes they said something really bad,
they want the ability for using their words against them
to be vanished,or unsearchable!
Gee,for Democrats,thats awfully Orwellian of them!!
canopfor on July 10, 2008 at 8:46 PM
I remember going to Boston the first time. I looked at the first house of congress. Outside the plaque read that this was the first building ever built in the history of the world where common man could come in and listen to their representatives make laws. It was built with that in mind, where in the balcony common man could hold in judgment their elected officials…tell you the truth, it brought a tear to my eye, it was so touching and moving.
I think Pelosi and the rest of the Dems should all have a copy of that plaque.
Imagine the first official house built by congress, and it was for the opposite of what the Dems want to do now. The lives and fortunes lost, so the Dems can throw it away.
right2bright on July 10, 2008 at 8:48 PM
Dems should all have a copy of that plaque.
right2bright on July 10,2008 at 8:48PM.
right2bright: I agree with you,but the emotional thinking
Liberal,compared to the logical thinking
Republican will probably get an entirely
different meaning!:)
canopfor on July 10, 2008 at 8:52 PM
Well, that was fast. The video has already been removed
Militant Bibliophile on July 10, 2008 at 9:02 PM
Maybe the ridiculous “fairness doctrine” should apply to Congress as well…always equal numbers of Dems and Repubs…
JetBoy on July 10, 2008 at 9:03 PM
I lied, it’s up again
Militant Bibliophile on July 10, 2008 at 9:03 PM
Video still works…sometimes YouTube vids will have the “video removed” message pop up. Refresh and try again tho.
JetBoy on July 10, 2008 at 9:04 PM
Now THAT’S how the Republicans OUGHT to act!
Militant Bibliophile on July 10, 2008 at 9:05 PM
Well! heh…nevermind ;-)
JetBoy on July 10, 2008 at 9:05 PM
Where are the palindromes?
jgapinoy on July 10, 2008 at 9:12 PM
Republicans in both chambers should flood YouTube and other venues with videos about these attempts to control their speech and let the Dems decide whether to respond there or not. Oh, and make the point that the Dems response with have to be approved by their
thought policeleadership.Come on Republicans, this is a classic opportunity to differentiate the conservative brand!
drunyan8315 on July 10, 2008 at 9:18 PM
………… when do you get to the point that you are not shocked by any of this because it is so rampant?
Seven Percent Solution on July 10, 2008 at 9:18 PM
Had to wait ’til I was home from work to watch it. Not bad, but he could have spelled Youtube properly ;)
Hannibal Smith on July 10, 2008 at 9:19 PM
Good job. I couldn’t get the video to work either so I went to YouTube and searched for “Subterranean Homesick Tools”. It worked fine there.
Also - search YouTube for Thaddeus McCotter. There’s some good stuff.
When does Thaddeus McCotter run for president?
imshocked on July 10, 2008 at 9:44 PM
I am going to give him $20 for that.
WisCon on July 10, 2008 at 9:58 PM
I. Love. This. Man.
CurtZHP on July 10, 2008 at 10:24 PM
Capuano is yet another Masshole making a name for himself in Washington. I am so sick and tired of the corrupt politicians is this morally bankrupt state I could puke.
TheBigOldDog on July 10, 2008 at 10:40 PM
From your mouth to the idiot Republican leadership’s ears. They know appeasement doesn’t work but they only apply it to foreign enemies. Someday they are going wake up and realize it apples double to the domestic enemies. Like McCain they are all too afraid of the media to stand up and fight.
TheBigOldDog on July 10, 2008 at 10:43 PM
And what would San Fran Nan’s new rules make of this?
A Congress critter blogging?
http://greeneyeshade.townhall.com/blog
darkpixel on July 10, 2008 at 10:46 PM
Boston is the birth place of liberty in America. It is also the first place it died.
The idiot “freedom loving” liberals give up all their real freedoms in exchange for getting high, having unencumbered sex and aborting any conceptions.
TheBigOldDog on July 10, 2008 at 10:46 PM
Amen! Today I learned a father was arrested the other day for “assulting” a predator who attacked his son in the public restroom at a local supermarket. The father has been charged with assault and battery and the pervert (with a record) was back to work to assault other little boys in the restroom the next day. I wondered at that moment when my fellow Massachusetts residents were going to grab the pitchforks and head for Beacon Hill to take back our State and our country. I’ve had enough! ENOUGH! I’m mad as Hell and I’m not going to take it anymore!
TheBigOldDog on July 10, 2008 at 10:52 PM
I can’t imagine how this infringement of free speech could make it past the supremes. But I’m still amazed that habeas made it into Gitmo. Ginzberg, etc., might do anything to keep conservative congressmen from having an audience. Even makes you wonder if they might not kick CSPAN out.
snaggletoothie on July 10, 2008 at 11:04 PM
Can you imagine if President Bush would have at any time responded to free speech and criticism in the way liberals do?
He certainly could have picked any day of the calendar and come down hard.
Grafted on July 10, 2008 at 11:05 PM
You’re a better man that I to still have even a shred of faith in the traitors who wear black robes and rule by fiat.
TheBigOldDog on July 10, 2008 at 11:40 PM
FLASHBACK: Dec. 23, 2006
CP on July 11, 2008 at 12:29 AM
I adore Thad McCotter. I just learned of his existance a month or 2 ago and I am hooked!
HawaiiLwyr on July 11, 2008 at 12:43 AM
Legislators would probably point to Article I, Section 5, Clause 2 of the Constitution:
“Each House may determine the Rules of its Proceedings, punish its Members for disorderly Behaviour, and, with the Concurrence of two thirds, expel a Member. “
From what I´ve understood in my classes on the subject, both houses have traditionally been given wide latitude in this area (i.e. making up rules). Also, since this is more a “rule of proceeding” (above) than a true law (which the First Amendment refers to) it´s plenty of wiggle room for any justice who had the mind to allow it (i.e. the censorship).
apostle26 on July 11, 2008 at 4:55 AM
“Ya don’t need Bill Ayres to know which way the wind blows.”
Akzed on July 11, 2008 at 9:11 AM
This is a very compelling ad. McCain’s group could learn something from it. It’s hip, familiar, keeps the message simple, and grabs your attention. This is the type of ad that could make a difference and WIN VOTES.
connertown on July 11, 2008 at 10:21 AM