There are two immutable facts on this blog.
- I make a point to write something every single weekday. During the election season, it’s very frequently late-breaking political stuff. Being a modestly reputable blogger, I hear a lot of things. It’s fun.
- That being said, I burn out hard by the end of an election season. Every even-numbered year since I started this blog (except probably 2002), there’s a two-month stretch where I can scarcely stomach writing about politics.
So for the better part of two months, I want – and tryyyyyy – to write about anything but politics.
This year, I thought I’d try something new; plan to write a few non-political things during the swing time between election and session.
A couple of the things potentially on the agenda:
The Accidental Conservative: It was about this time thirty years ago I seriously started wondering if I really was the liberal I’d always been. But conservatives? Those were…those people. Not like me. It was a weird time. I may just dredge some of it up.
Bruce Springsteen: America’s Greatest Conservative Songwriter: In which I debunk the idea that Springsteen – his public political persona notwithstanding – is really a liberal songwriter. Complete with music!
Notes To A Young Conservative: It’s not easy being red. Especially in a culture that glorifies much of what we disdain, and holds us to absurd standards that they don’t themselves observe.
Rethinking The Seventies: When I was a teenager and twentysomething, I was an angry snot-nosed punk rocker (in every way but appearance). And as part of that, I really, really disdained the popular music of the seventies – from the pop treacle on the radio to the superstars. I spat at the mention of Fleetwood Mac, Led Zeppelin, California rock staples frpm Jackson Browne to the Eagles, Arena Rock (think Boston, Foreigner and the like), even the Beatles. And R&B, I just didn’t get at all. I’ll be digging through the archives and going over my long, sometimes comical reassessment of the decades music (and what a pretentious little twerp I was back then).
I figure if I mention ’em, I’ll actually do them.
I really hope you do the 70s music thing. Especially 70s R&B, an exceptionally rich vein. The crosstown rivalry between Thom Bell and Gamble and Huff alone would give you enough material for several posts.
Should be an enjoyable read, Mitch. Thanks for all you do.
(…though I’ll ask your pardon if I skip the Springsteen stuff … !)
I’ll be looking forward to “Notes to a young conservative” and encouraging my kids to read them as they expand their worldly views. At least they’re in Catholic school so they won’t have the COMPLETE liberal indoctrination that they public school kids get bombarded with.
How bout bringing back “Hot Gear Fridays”?
Guns, Guitars, Gizmos?
Fleetwood Mac, three great vocalists that also could harmonize. Mr. Buckingham plays a mean guitar and who doesn’t love a drummer that could play center?
Looking forward to the Springsteen stuff.
And maybe you could revisit your bugaboo, progressive rock.You give it short shrift in my opinion.
Yes, there was some bad progressive rock, and it eventually grew stale. Also, a lot of crap was called progressive which wasn’t (Journey, Kansas). But there was some great music too.
The Accidental Conservative, Bruce Springsteen: America’s Greatest Conservative Songwriter, Notes To A Young Conservative
Okay, as long as you leave the politics out of it! 🙂