Vaclav Havel said "Truth and Love Must Prevail Over Lies and Hatred."
And he still got himself elected. Vaclav Havel, Dissident Playwright Who Led Czechoslovakia, Dead at 75 www.nytimes.com
The guy was also a good argument about why more writers should go into politics. Vaclav Havel: An Intertwining of Artist and Politician www.nytimes.com
Havel’s death reminds me of all the obits I’ve missed recently.
In July, I wrote this concerning producer/songwriter Jerry Ragovoy:
“Jerry Ragovoy’s' greatest productions, for the likes of such cult favorite non-household names as Garnett Mimms, Erma Franklin, Lorraine Ellison and Howard Tate, convey the irony of a songwriter whose work is best remembered for covers by more famous artists who were members of the cults.
The Stones‘ "Time is on My Side" wasn't merely a cover; it was a cover of a cover, while Janis never lived long enough to record a song he‘d actually written for her.”
This month saw the death of Tate, whose legacy today is mostly that one of the Ragovoy songs he recorded was covered by Jimi Hendrix’s Band of Gypsy’s (with Buddy Miles doing the vocal). Tate had fallen so far by the 90’s that Ragovoy presumed he was dead in some liner note. But the formerly homeless Tate was rediscovered preaching in Philly and got to get some glory before he passed, including a new album produced by Ragovoy.
Also noteworthy:
Dobie Gray, whose mod “The In Crowd” exemplified 1965, and stranded his career there, but who re-emerged doing pop/country/soul in the 70s with “Drift Away.” The man did some deep soul, though most of his audience was MOR.
Bert Schneider, who gave us the deeply unpretentious guilty pleasure of the “Monkees” and followed it with some of the most pretentious films of the late 60s and early 70s.
And Hitch, an inspiration for all of us heavy drinking curmudgeons whose deepest pleasure comes from pissing off our erstwhile allies.
Francisco Franco Is Still Dead Department: Saint Jermaine Endeley still can't bring himself to admit he's not running and is still the world's most pompous 21 year old:
" WE are an exploratory committee that is constantly reevaluating OUR position and chances of winning the election. WE tried having conversations with folks within the party but too often OUR confidence is broken and something is leaked to the press. So WE are moving forward with OUR reevaluation and will have a statement for the public in the coming days."
The pluralistic Mr. Endeley is apparently of two minds (and out of both of them). The Brooklyn Politics Blog www.thebrooklynpolitics.com
Carlo Scissura thinks Kevin Parker is a good person.
And he wants us to trust his judgment enough to vote for him? The Brooklyn Politics Blog www.thebrooklynpolitics.com
Least surprising other shoe to drop, ever:
Now, I guess someone will believe this wasn't done as a favor for Vito Lopez. Sen. Sampson is "of-counsel" with ethics appointee www.timesunion.com
Advice to politicians worried about the sanctity of marriage: The sanctity of marriage begins at home (it probably ends there as well). Married Anti-Gay GOP Minnesota Senate Majority Leader Amy Koch Resigns in Sex Scandal dekerivers.wordpress.com
The web site's headline says: "Debra Scotto for New Leadership." The next thing you see is a picture of the candidate with Buddy Scotto.
Sadly, I think the laugh line is unintentional. DebraScotto.com – Home www.debrascotto.com