Tuesday Open Comments

Maureen “Moe” Tucker, former drummer for the Velvet Underground recently said in an interview that she is a Tea Party supporter, albeit not a very rabid one.

Mike Appelstein: In the now-infamous videotape, you indicated that you’re furious about the way we’re being led toward socialism and “incredible waste of money” being spent. Could you elaborate a bit on these sentiments?
Moe Tucker: No country can provide all things for all citizens. There comes a point where it just isn’t possible, and it’s proven to be a failure everywhere it’s been tried. I am not oblivious to the plight of the poor, but I don’t see any reason/sense to the idea that everyone has to have everything, especially when the economy is so bad. I see that philosophy as merely a ploy to control.

…

I am also against the government taking over the student loan program, car companies, bailouts and the White House taking control of the census (what the hell is that all about?); [about] any First Lady telling (I know, I know, “suggesting to”) us what to eat, the mayor of New York City declaring “no salt” (screw you, pal!), the mayor/city commissioners of Anytown, U.S.A. declaring you can’t fly a flag, can’t say the Pledge of Allegiance and can’t sing the National Anthem. I’m against a President dismissing any and all who dare to disagree; the water being turned off in (central) California, at [an] area where they’ve turned off the water because they want to save a one-inch fish — turning that huge area of farming land into another dustbowl — the insipid start of food supply control methinks! The government deciding what kind of lightbulbs we can use (all you “think green” people, three objections to this b.s.: 1) Those bulbs give off the light of a candle; 2) They’re very expensive; 3) They have mercury in them – how the hell are we supposed to dispose of them?).

I am against the government now thinking about bailing out unions. The unions made the contracts which include insane pensions; the U.S. government didn’t. I’m against the government closing down offshore drilling in the Gulf with one hand and with the other giving (lending?) Brazil money to help them do way deeper offshore drilling — rather curious. I’m against a government that will not defend our borders; and on and on and on.

Preach, Moe, preach!

How did you get involved with the local Tea Party movement?
I’m not “involved” with the local movement. I went to the first Tea Party in June or July of 2009 because it was within striking distance and I wanted to be counted.

Have you always had conservative views?
To be honest, I never paid attention to what the hell was going on. My always voting Democrat was the result of that. My philosophy was and is all politicians are liars, bums and cheats. I make decisions on an issue by issue basis. I’m far more of an independent than a conservative or liberal. I don’t agree with all of either side, and I think anyone who claims to is either a fool or a damn liar.

What specifically about the current administration do you disagree with?
I disagree with spending / borrowing / printing — damn the torpedoes, full speed ahead! I disagree with the “we won” attitude, which is the cowardly way of saying [have intimate reproductive relations with] you! I disagree with an administration that for twenty months blames Bush. If the President and his minions are so damn smart, why didn’t they know the severity of the situation? The president has actually said (and I saw it on video) that they didn’t know!

What would you like to see change?
The current administration!

As Mickey Kaus points out, she should be an Obama voter, given her background and her thoughts on other government programs, but she is really disgusted with the Obama Administration.

But my main thought while reading her rant was—why isn’t she an Obama voter?

I’m serious. Was it really necessary to piss people like her off? Tucker’s almost a perfect Obama voter. She’s a single grandmom. Not rich. Famously worked at Walmart (after being a rock star) and complained about it. A lifelong Democrat—until now. Was what Obama felt he had to do—save Detroit, save Wall Street, jumpstart the economy, pass health-care reform—inevitably incompatible with her world view? Was a huge rebellion of people like her simply what you get when you “impose a liberal agenda” on a “center-right country,” as Charles Krauthammer argues? Or did Obama gratuitiously fail to reassure her that her not unreasonable fears (e.g. “How the hell will this utopian dream land be paid for?”) were unfounded?

I, like Mr. Kaus, think that “gratuitiously fail to reassure her” is a great line. Check the article to find out what he means by that. You won’t be disappointed.