1986: Zappa: The US is heading towards a theocracy

http://www.brasscheck.com/videos/tv4us/tv4us4.html

John Lofton (Wash. Times) vs. Frank Zappa

Boy was Zappa right!

a free speech medal, posthumously, by the American Library Association, for his stand against censorship of music lyrics.

Quite a piece of work, isn't he? And the co-host Robbie Novak isn't exactly what you'd call liberal either.
I think Zappa did well in this discussion.

A must, must, must, must see. Highly KR'D

"Spin" by Brian Springer
One of the most important documentaries ever made. Must viewing. (57:26)
http://www.brasscheck.com/videos/spin/spin.html

Outfoxed: Rupert Murdoch's War on Journalism (48:55)
http://www.brasscheck.com/videos/spin/outfoxed.html

Unconstitutional: The War on Our Civil Liberties(1:08:20)
http://www.brasscheck.com/videos/cl/cl1.html

This has some actuality, for sure:
Peace, Propaganda, and the Promised Land (1:19:14)
The Normalization of Horror
http://brasscheck.com/videos/middleeast/me1.html

All in all; a couple of hours of TV about TV itself, and not from a positive angle.

There are a lot of films on this page
http://www.brasschecktv.com/

Thanks!!!

Is not the movie itself, but interview clips from the production process.

I think he was just trying to make a point that he was conservative about free speech, as in...let's not make radical laws that veer from the constitution.

Which I think is the true, original meaning of "conservative." That is a resistance to RADICAL changes in what we stand for as a people.

Whatever happened to the conservative values? :shrug:
Today it is all extreme business or extreme Christianity. There are no limits, it seems.

In some sense, though not in today's terms, I consider myself quite conservative.

But I do not believe in pre-emptive war, except in the most extreme circumstances. I believe in state's rights to a degree. But overwhelmingly, I believe in individual rights. That concept is totally absent from the Republican agenda. But their followers seem to have been hypnotized away from seeing the very basic truth. Modern conservatism is just another name of big-government totalitarianism. Fascism. That's what it is. That's where we are, and it's getting worse every day.

He was a registered Democrat only because the real races in California were the Democratic primaries. He constantly railed against the corrupt Republicans (the faux conservatives). "Dickies such an Asshole". Anything from the 1988 tour bashed Nixon/Reagan/Bush.

I am glad he is not around to see what is happening today.

I wish he was here to see what is happening today. I have a feeling that despite hating to tour, he would probably put all his crap in the truck and do it again (to save the country).

I miss Frank

Cheers
Drifter

which pretty much explains itself. Frank was a realistic guy, none too obsessed with extreme views. He just wanted his rights and his money protected. Quite simple.

I'm for protecting the constitution. I'm for "life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness" so long as it doesn't enslave others at home and abroad (i.e. tread upon their life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness). I'm for fair elections. War only to defend the country, not expand it. The balance of power. No gulags or camps. The separation of church and state.

Apparently that qualifies one as "far left" these days.

It seems to be perfectly in the center of Constitutional thought to me. :shrug:

But I will hold my nose and vote for a DLCer if there isn't another Dem option. I think Zappa would be horrified if he were alive today. Where left is right and the center cannot hold...

I think Clinton was a decent president, especially compared to Bush. But I hate the DLC.

His intellect just blinds them, doesn't it?


Hadn't seen this - thanks so much.

He was spot on about the religious theocracy bit too. As far as the "intention argument" regarding the first ammendment, I think he was right too. There is nothing written into the first ammendment that could possibly lead someone to believe that some speech is not free.

Amenement 1:Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.

Abridge: 1. To make shorter; to shorten in duration; to lessen; to
diminish; to curtail; as, to abridge labor; to abridge
power or rights. ``The bridegroom . . . abridged his
visit.'' --Smollett.

She retired herself to Sebaste, and abridged her
train from state to necessity. --Fuller.

2. To shorten or contract by using fewer words, yet retaining
the sense; to epitomize; to condense; as, to abridge a
history or dictionary.

3. To deprive; to cut off; -- followed by of, and formerly by
from; as, to abridge one of his rights.

It's interesting how he focuses on 'words' in his debate. This was what it was about; censorship of words, lyrics.
How can that be dangerous, and isn't it instead dangerous when words becomes an issue for censorship as opposed to graphics?

I agree that this debate was 3 against 1. Establishment and extreme right teaming up against the 'rebel' - only that the rebel in this case really represented the mainstream. He held his ground well, I think. Very calm and collected. He did pick on that Lofton nose, though :evilgrin:

While he may be conservative on certain issues, Frank was actually pretty liberal IMO. By claiming to be a conservative and then opposing the censorship issue on conservative grounds, he drove a wedge into the conservative camp. I think that his use of the "F word" (fascist) drove that wedge in a little deeper too.

as can be expected when a highly intelligent man is debating ignoramuses. Zappa was standing on the shoulders of Lenny Bruce.

Frank Zappa had it nailed way back in 1986. "The United States is headed towards a fascist theocracy." I am extremely impressed!! I have a whole new respect for the guy.

the wingnuttery sort of shrugged and said, "It takes all kinds but thank God, they're not the majority."

We didn't think about the Republicans capturing them and using them as a foil to lead us into fascism. Or, I didn't, any way.

On the other hand, I was in graduate school. What did I know. :)

was back then.

looks so young and so STRAIGHT.

lol

never did drugs or alcohol.

:rofl:

Back then. I was 15 in 1980 and wasn't much politically interested. Grew up with the punk movement, though. Whatever that was politically, it was pure liberalism and no censorship ;-)

that except for a couple of blips (Nixon, Rayguns) we were pretty much okay.

Oops.

You would have sniffed at me and told me to go play, then :P

outside.

lol

Thanks for the videos!

I believe I have the entire C-SPAN broadcast on two DVDs.

:)

Tipper Gore. She was a primary catalyst for the music ratings we have now. Didn't ask for bans, just the warning labels. Think Frank was more bemused than angry from the their turn in the Halls of Congress

Just thought this would interesting FYI. Just another case where a Dem (Tipper) will try to do something concrete (warning labels) instead of just spouting off about the moral decline of our nation. Remember how proud I felt that Zappa made such a spirited defense of the 1st Amendment without either side stooping to ad hominem attacks, though clearly he thought Tipper was way overreacting and she wanted to protect her kids.

Frank was pretty angry about the whole thing. Did you know they stuck a warning label on "Jazz From Hell"-a purely instrumental album? And then there was the Dead Kennedys witch hunt that occurred about the same time. Listen to Jello, he's got the scoop on the blacklisting that went on.

Of course he was pissed about the whole thing. He appeared to view her as an over earnest mom even when he criticized the process. Don't remember any of the kind of raving tirades that have become so common now from the RW. Frank and Tipper were definitely on opposite sides, but didn't demonize each other.

I also recall Gail Zappa being a huge Gore supporter in 2000.