From contactmusic.com:
Singer/songwriter BURT BACHARACH has attacked US President GEORGE W BUSH for his handling of the Hurricane Katrina rescue operation.
The WALK ON BY star insists America had adequate warning of the horrific disaster which rocked Louisiana and left New Orleans submerged, and yet Bush continued to fund the war against terror instead of protecting his people.
Bacharach, 77, recalls reading newspaper articles months before the hurricane, warning "that (New Orleans) would be engulfed, that people would drown, that bodies would be floating down the road.
"Instead of pushing the funding up, they took most of it away to fight this stupid war, and that's unforgivable.
"I think Bush is just about the poorest president we've ever had. You'd have to go back before I was born to find a worse one."
15/09/2005 13:43
Screw you, Burt. You seriously want to blame the destruction of an entire area of the southern Louisana coast on one single human being, and that being the president? I could just as easily blame YOU for the destruction of any good music. What the world needs now, Mr. Bacharach, is love, not more idiotic, politically-motivated charges against President Bush. And to tie Louisiana to the war against terror? Please. Do us all a relief effort of sorts by shutting up and stop displaying your utter ignorance to something you clearly know nothing about: freedom and meterology.
Screw you, Burt
Moderator: mark
-
Sgt. Hulka
-
musicfan1
Mr. Administrator, I would humbly ask that any posts utilizing vulgarities such as these be removed from this board. I also hope that this is kept a decidedly apolitical forum. But I can't help but note that those critics of our President never seek to silence his supporters, while supporters of Mr. Bush almost always respond with the fervor of attack dogs to silence those who would object to his policies, or lack thereof, that have led to many crises, the handling of the Katrina tragedy being merely the latest gaffe. Mr. Bacharach is entitled to his views much as you are. He shouldn't be faulted for having the celebrity to espouse those views in a forum larger than, say, this Internet message board. Nothing has indicated to me that Bacharach is anything but an intelligent, well-read human being. If that makes people trust his views more than that of an anonymous schmoe on the 'net, more power to him. Peace!
-
pghweezer
Burt's not a Pompous Vegas elistist prick . . . .
Sure . . if President Bush would have signed the Kyoto Protocol a year ago then . . . . this Hurricane would have never happened. And if we weren't at war . . we would have fixed the levees and everyone would be alive today and since GW took office, New Oreleans has sunk over 75 ft.
At least, this is probably what Burt believes, because his friends at MoveOn tell him to. The truth is Burt is ignorant when it comes to anything not related to music. Hey Burt, eventhough you read in the newspapers "months ago" how a hurricane would flood New Orleans . . it's been a known fact a little longer than that . . . try centuries. The Army Corp of Engineers built the first parts of the levee system in the 1800's. It is the world's larget levee system. This is hardly a problem that just popped up since Bush has been preseident.
Did you also know that GW and the republican congress have directed more money to Louisiana for levee protection in 5 years than Clinton did in 8?
Look at it this way, maybe Burt can write the score for Michael Moore's next sci-fi fiction "film" that tries to blame Bush for the Hurricane . . . I'm sure he's not busy.
At least, this is probably what Burt believes, because his friends at MoveOn tell him to. The truth is Burt is ignorant when it comes to anything not related to music. Hey Burt, eventhough you read in the newspapers "months ago" how a hurricane would flood New Orleans . . it's been a known fact a little longer than that . . . try centuries. The Army Corp of Engineers built the first parts of the levee system in the 1800's. It is the world's larget levee system. This is hardly a problem that just popped up since Bush has been preseident.
Did you also know that GW and the republican congress have directed more money to Louisiana for levee protection in 5 years than Clinton did in 8?
Look at it this way, maybe Burt can write the score for Michael Moore's next sci-fi fiction "film" that tries to blame Bush for the Hurricane . . . I'm sure he's not busy.
-
musicfan1
Re: Burt's not a Pompous Vegas elistist prick . . . .
> Sure . . if President Bush would have signed the Kyoto Protocol a year
> ago then . . . . this Hurricane would have never happened.
Did anyone say this? Or make your outrageous other comments? Only history will prove whether this war is a success or not, but the plain fact is that a lot of money is being routed to Iraq when there are pressing problems here in our country that simply weren't handled efficiently, money being just one reason why. I'd hate to have seen what would have happened if this was a terrorist disaster rather than a natural one. But I'm proving myself hypocritical and continuing to press on politics. This forum isn't the place.
> The truth is Burt is ignorant when it comes to anything not related to
> music.
I assume you are a personal acquaintance of Mr. Bacharach and therefore know this to be true, too. If so, fine. If not, continue to expose your ignorance by making statements such as this.
If anyone on this board is incensed by Mr. Bacharach's comments, then, fine, don't pick up his newest CD if you're afraid his music will reflect these views. Burt elegantly expresses those views and very real concerns in the BBC Radio 2 interview mentioned in another thread. But Burt and Hal have been pretty vocal about their leanings for years. Ever hear "The Windows of the World"? Burt, please continue to make the world a better place with your beautiful music. It's a true healer. Let the sun shine through.
And I urge the folks who started this thread to find a Rolling Stones forum and post "Screw you, Mick!" -- his new song "Sweet Neo Con" is far more scathing than anything the classy Bacharach has penned. And some might say it's pretty truthful, too...
> ago then . . . . this Hurricane would have never happened.
Did anyone say this? Or make your outrageous other comments? Only history will prove whether this war is a success or not, but the plain fact is that a lot of money is being routed to Iraq when there are pressing problems here in our country that simply weren't handled efficiently, money being just one reason why. I'd hate to have seen what would have happened if this was a terrorist disaster rather than a natural one. But I'm proving myself hypocritical and continuing to press on politics. This forum isn't the place.
> The truth is Burt is ignorant when it comes to anything not related to
> music.
I assume you are a personal acquaintance of Mr. Bacharach and therefore know this to be true, too. If so, fine. If not, continue to expose your ignorance by making statements such as this.
If anyone on this board is incensed by Mr. Bacharach's comments, then, fine, don't pick up his newest CD if you're afraid his music will reflect these views. Burt elegantly expresses those views and very real concerns in the BBC Radio 2 interview mentioned in another thread. But Burt and Hal have been pretty vocal about their leanings for years. Ever hear "The Windows of the World"? Burt, please continue to make the world a better place with your beautiful music. It's a true healer. Let the sun shine through.
And I urge the folks who started this thread to find a Rolling Stones forum and post "Screw you, Mick!" -- his new song "Sweet Neo Con" is far more scathing than anything the classy Bacharach has penned. And some might say it's pretty truthful, too...
-
Proud American
Actually, I'm going to pick up his latest CD just so I can pee on it. I'll be sure to photograph the action (you'll know it is me by the third leg) and post it here.
"Only history will prove whether this war is a success or not"? Great, another soundbite elitist. I guess that freeing 50 MILLION people from tyranny, untold thousands of terrorists killed, tons (yes TONS) of WMD and component ingredients found (read the 9/11 report), and one dictator in jail awaiting trial. Sounds like it already has been a success, Sparky.
Pressing problems in our country? We're already rebuilding a city for four hundred thousand people. What more do you want? (Personally, I'd like them to rebuild New Orleans themselves, but that ain't gonna happen.)
Burt's comments show his ignorance with the situation, with politics, and with anything outside of his elitist microcosm of the real world.
"Only history will prove whether this war is a success or not"? Great, another soundbite elitist. I guess that freeing 50 MILLION people from tyranny, untold thousands of terrorists killed, tons (yes TONS) of WMD and component ingredients found (read the 9/11 report), and one dictator in jail awaiting trial. Sounds like it already has been a success, Sparky.
Pressing problems in our country? We're already rebuilding a city for four hundred thousand people. What more do you want? (Personally, I'd like them to rebuild New Orleans themselves, but that ain't gonna happen.)
Burt's comments show his ignorance with the situation, with politics, and with anything outside of his elitist microcosm of the real world.
-
Triumph the Insult Dog
Re: Burt's a Pompous Vegas elistist prick . . . .
Some might say that... and they probably sip frappaccinos and smoke clove cigarettes while making fun of those foolish inbreds who live in red states. Wussboys... yeah, we know you're all better than we fools in flyover country. The rest of America thinks that Mick is another pompous prick who will find out just how shallow the pool of his fanbase is during his next concert tour... I think this one is Steel Wheelchairs or something?musicfan1 wrote:>
And I urge the folks who started this thread to find a Rolling Stones forum and post "Screw you, Mick!" -- his new song "Sweet Neo Con" is far more scathing than anything the classy Bacharach has penned. And some might say it's pretty truthful, too...
Mick already knows what I think. I bought his CD... just to poop on it.
-
musicfan1
> Sounds like it already has been a success, Sparky.
Indeed. The war, and his (in)actions about New Orleans, have been such a success that Mr. Bush's current approval ratings are down to 41%.
These are my last words on the topic, since this is not a forum for political discussion. But remember that those of us Americans who disagree with you are still Americans, as are celebrities like Burt Bacharach, and the last election proved that there are a heckuva lot of us who feel this way. Mr. Bush did indeed have a mandate -- a mandate by roughly 51% of the country. Not quite a landslide. Many of my best friends feel differently about the political climate than I do, and I respect their opinions, much as I respect yours. But is it too much to ask that you respect Bacharach's? If you're unhappy, don't buy the album. But don't paint him to be anything other than the intelligent American he's always appeared to be --until he said something with which you disagreed. The last time I saw Burt in concert, he dedicated "The Windows of the World" to our troops abroad, a sentiment I wholeheartedly echo. God bless America, and God bless you!
As Burt and Hal once wrote, let the music play.
Indeed. The war, and his (in)actions about New Orleans, have been such a success that Mr. Bush's current approval ratings are down to 41%.
These are my last words on the topic, since this is not a forum for political discussion. But remember that those of us Americans who disagree with you are still Americans, as are celebrities like Burt Bacharach, and the last election proved that there are a heckuva lot of us who feel this way. Mr. Bush did indeed have a mandate -- a mandate by roughly 51% of the country. Not quite a landslide. Many of my best friends feel differently about the political climate than I do, and I respect their opinions, much as I respect yours. But is it too much to ask that you respect Bacharach's? If you're unhappy, don't buy the album. But don't paint him to be anything other than the intelligent American he's always appeared to be --until he said something with which you disagreed. The last time I saw Burt in concert, he dedicated "The Windows of the World" to our troops abroad, a sentiment I wholeheartedly echo. God bless America, and God bless you!
As Burt and Hal once wrote, let the music play.
-
AndreB
Political Animals
I have to say it’s more than a little disturbing to read the vitriolic comments in some of these postings. Everybody is entitled to an opinion, including Burt Bacharach. His criticisms are comparatively mild, and completely understandable for a person with kids who grew up in a very different era. How can anyone who has any historical perspective not be disappointed in the state of the world today?
It certainly isn’t fair to blame George Bush for all of this, but he has been the leader of the most powerful country on the planet for five years, and time and again he’s promised us better things than what he’s delivered. The fact that more and more people are waking up to this fact is clearly alarming Bush supporters. The ruthlessness of their personal attacks on the man whose music we celebrate here is ample evidence of their growing insecurity.
How anyone can disagree with Mr. Bacharach’s lament that our President could benefit from a little humility is beyond me. And I should hope that on this website at least, we can be a little more agreeable in how we express our disagreements.
It certainly isn’t fair to blame George Bush for all of this, but he has been the leader of the most powerful country on the planet for five years, and time and again he’s promised us better things than what he’s delivered. The fact that more and more people are waking up to this fact is clearly alarming Bush supporters. The ruthlessness of their personal attacks on the man whose music we celebrate here is ample evidence of their growing insecurity.
How anyone can disagree with Mr. Bacharach’s lament that our President could benefit from a little humility is beyond me. And I should hope that on this website at least, we can be a little more agreeable in how we express our disagreements.
-
Guest
Proud American wrote:"I guess that freeing 50 MILLION people from tyranny, untold thousands of terrorists killed, tons (yes TONS) of WMD and component ingredients found (read the 9/11 report), and one dictator in jail awaiting trial. Sounds like it already has been a success, Sparky."
I thought the measure of sucess was whether America would be safer after the war, discounted the heavy human and economic costs of the war itself. The dictator in jail was supported by the US in the past; the people who were living in tyranny have been subject to looting and are now under a mind-numbing amount of terrorist action. Personally, I don't believe in the power to tax in order to save people in distress abroad. This is a bottompless pit and it seems to me that America can only lead by example. _If_ America should become more vulnerable, the fact that Saddam is in jail would not comfort me, especially if that's at the cost of more than a thousand American lives (and counting) and hundreds of billions of dollars (which indeed could be saving American lives).
So, back to America being made safer. I don't know how you can claim to know either (i) that prior to the invasion there was enough reason to believe that the US would be made safer at reasonable cost or (ii) that after the invasion it will be the case that the US will be safer than it would have been had it not taken place. Facts will never answer this question, because we will never have both scenarios. So, even if Bush did the US and the world a favor by ordering the invasion, we will never know.
Also, contrary to what you said, the 9/11 Report didn't even even attempt to deal with the WMD issue.
"Pressing problems in our country? We're already rebuilding a city for four hundred thousand people. What more do you want? (Personally, I'd like them to rebuild New Orleans themselves, but that ain't gonna happen.)"
Why do you think it should be rebuilt? (Sorry, Burt, _if_ you think otherwise, as we may disagree on a few things.) Why does anyone have to be forced to put money into rebuilding New Orleans? And why would anyone do that voluntarily if the taxpayer can be forced to foot the bill? Where are the insurance companies or the incentive for people to buy insurance or, better yet, to live where it is cheaper or unnecessary? Don't get me wrong, the government has a role to play, but it is, in my judgment, in providing due warning, looking out for public health hazards, and protecting the handicapped, the mentally ill, and the elderly, when necessary.
"Burt's comments show his ignorance with the situation, with politics, and with anything outside of his elitist microcosm of the real world."
I still don't know why you assume that to be the case, especially since the yardstick you use, your own judgment, allowed you to discuss Iraq without making even one reference to America's safety or to loss of American or Allied Forces' (or otherwise innocent civilian) lives in Iraq.
As to ignorance (of what? facts?), you not only ignore that we will never have factual answers to the big question (better with or without the invasion?), you don't realize the source you use is unrelated to the data you bring up.
It has been said here before: you guys need to be more humble. These are complex issues. Awfully smart people spend their lives specializing on each of many relevant aspects of the issues relevant to forming an informed judgment on this subject. Everyone is entitled to an opinion without full knowledge of the relevant theories and facts. But to go around insulting someone who's concerned and just might know a lot more about these issues than you do (and all the evidence you provide does point in that direction) seems rather unfair, especially -- let me come out and say it clearly -- especially since that person is a man many of us love deeply for what he brough to our lives and for how he helped us live through so much, including these afflicted times.
Looking forward to more great music at this time.
-
heartlight
- Posts: 51
- Joined: Sun Sep 11, 2005 4:34 pm
insults and vulgarities
Some of these threads have been appalling ! I was shocked to find them on a website dedicated to a musical genius who has brought nothing but beauty into our lives for decades.
Sorry, to you the disgruntled, but even those who don't agree with Bush are still entitled to voice their opinions. And Burt's moderate comments certainly did not merit such crass outcries; your vulgarities were unnecessary. But you're angry because the truth always hurts, doesn't it ? And it would seem that we have found that ever-diminishing minority who still believes the President is " doin' a heck of a job", just as
" Brownie " was doing in Bush's eyes. But what happened yesterday ?? Lo and behold, an admission of responsibility issued forth from W's lips...the ulterior motives for the admission notwithstanding, of course..... public opinion was declining as rapidly as the flood waters were rising. And a drop in polls is definitely not acceptable.
Please, Mark, may we return to the peaceful, pleasant tone for which this website was designed and have no more intrusions from immature whiners ?
Sorry, to you the disgruntled, but even those who don't agree with Bush are still entitled to voice their opinions. And Burt's moderate comments certainly did not merit such crass outcries; your vulgarities were unnecessary. But you're angry because the truth always hurts, doesn't it ? And it would seem that we have found that ever-diminishing minority who still believes the President is " doin' a heck of a job", just as
" Brownie " was doing in Bush's eyes. But what happened yesterday ?? Lo and behold, an admission of responsibility issued forth from W's lips...the ulterior motives for the admission notwithstanding, of course..... public opinion was declining as rapidly as the flood waters were rising. And a drop in polls is definitely not acceptable.
Please, Mark, may we return to the peaceful, pleasant tone for which this website was designed and have no more intrusions from immature whiners ?
-
mark
- Site Admin
- Posts: 303
- Joined: Fri Jan 23, 2004 6:31 pm
- Location: New Orleans, Louisiana, USA
- Contact:
I suspect Burt's comments were posted on a conservative website or blog and readers were encouraged to voice their opinions on what they thought was his official website. I also received quite a few angry emails intended for Burt at my webmaster@bacharachonline.com email address.
I'm pretty sure that once fans start to learn about the impending release of At This Time, politics will fade and this board will focus solely on music once again.
I'm pretty sure that once fans start to learn about the impending release of At This Time, politics will fade and this board will focus solely on music once again.
-
solorunner
burts no gershwin
Do the world a favor, sing and write your idiotic little songs because that’s what you are, a minstrel. Your no intellect and when you take it upon yourself to pontificate regarding your world view you remind us all of how incredibly stupid you and your ilk really are.
“I think Bush is just the poorest President we’ve ever had. You’d have to go back before I was born to find a worse oneâ€
Clearly Burt you must have been drunk during the Carter administration and high during Clintons.
Please Burt, continue your ridiculous bit parts in Austin Powers movies, sing your insipid little songs then check out with your dignity intact. You’ve been compared to Gershwin. Gershwin never bad mouthed his country or it commander in chief. He was a man of dignity and class, you just sold yours out for a sound bite.
“I think Bush is just the poorest President we’ve ever had. You’d have to go back before I was born to find a worse oneâ€
Clearly Burt you must have been drunk during the Carter administration and high during Clintons.
Please Burt, continue your ridiculous bit parts in Austin Powers movies, sing your insipid little songs then check out with your dignity intact. You’ve been compared to Gershwin. Gershwin never bad mouthed his country or it commander in chief. He was a man of dignity and class, you just sold yours out for a sound bite.