A lesson for Democrats: Zappa easily debates the rabidly sick minds of two Republicans.

[Pharaoh]

After watching a short clip of Frank Zappa's appearance on CNN's "Crossfire," and I couldn't help but notice how wacky the conservative panelist were in comparison. Remember, this was way back in a less radicalized time for Republicans, 1986. So I went out and found the whole clip. Wow! The show at first focused on Zappa's lyrics, but quickly moved into politics, and a debate I won't soon forget.

Progressives, liberals and Democrats would be wise to see how easily Zappa handled these guys. Zappa never once bought into their silly narratives and false premises. Instead he made them look like the brutally dictatorial and controlling Republicans they really are. Zappa was right in accusing them of pushing a fascist and theocratic agenda.

Seriously, it's a fast 20 minutes. Zappa never got angry, he just let Washington Times columnist John Lofton (you won't believe this clown) and Robert Novak (with his snide grinning gotcha's) look like controlling megalomaniacal fools.

And to conservatives, this was you before the dumbed-down rantings of the tea party. Another-words, you're worse now:

http://democurmudgeon.blogspot.com/

[misterhighwasted]

1. Great find..bookmarked & Appreciate this Post

[BlancheSplanchnik]

8. moi aussi. :) n/t

[arcane1]

2. Kicking to watch later!

[forest444]

3. It's easy to forget that while this debate was taking place in 1986,

Poppy Bush's Air America boys were in bed with Somoza's drug runners and were spreading crack cocaine in inner cities across the country (given all his contacts, Novak probably already knew that when this was filmed).

That's the obscenity debate we should have had.

[Curmudgeoness]

4. It is scary when Zappa is the sane one!

I loved Zappa....but he had the strangest songs. He was revolutionary as well as super intelligent.

Could you imagine what he would have to say about the GOP today??? He is sorely missed.

[Martin Eden]

5. Proubd to be the 5th rec! n/t

[Helen Borg]

6. Frank Zappa is really cool!

I had no idea. Man, he is unflappable. Great video. Man, the piggy guy is so unlikable, such a caricature!

[MrMickeysMom]

19. Was… wasn't he?

He saw it coming, you know… We were headed from that point at warp speed noticeably from Reagan's ruling class onward into religious fascism.

[m-lekktor]

7. aaah Back in the days when Tipper Gore was on the same side as the right wingers

and head censor of the PMRC (Parents Music Resource Center). She was much despised back then by those of us who agreed with Zappa.

[catbyte]

10. Miss Frank Zappa. I discovered him when I was 15. Burnt Weenie Sandwich &

Weasels Ripped My Flesh. Then he got popular with Apostrophe, but he & The Mothers were still great. Love his stuff even now, lol.

[RufusTFirefly]

11. We'd still have more real Democrats these days...

... but unfortunately there's no money in it.

[reflection]

12. I posted this a few months ago.

Love this piece, and Zappa makes complete mincemeat out of these guys. He's the most intellectually honest guy on the panel.

[MarianJack]

13. I saw this interview way back when it was first broadcast.

You trifled with Frank Zappa at your own peril. There was a SERIOUS brain in that man's head!

PEACE!

[libdem4life]

14. Amazing intellect and composure. I had no idea.

[vkkv]

15. Excellent! Thanks for posting!

Lofton can barely control himself.. what idiots the right were / are.

[RoccoR5955]

16. I miss Frank so much.

I have seen him in concert almost 100 times, and have nearly all of his records.
He was a genius, and will be forever one of my favorite musicians, nay, one of my favorite people of all time.

[blkmusclmachine]

17. DEMS act like stumbling fools because that's the part they're paid to play. The 1% owns them, too.

[MrModerate]

18. First thing: I've heard of Frank Zappa, big time . . .

I have no idea who this Lofton clown was. I'm thinking he was some nonentity -- he certainly had nothing worth saying.

Secondly, I loved Zappa's cool. I loved the way he coolly told Lofton to kiss his ass.

And thirdly, I think "conservative" doesn't mean the same thing -- at all -- as it did when Zappa used the term 30 years ago, and that's a national tragedy.

[PitViper]

22. Lofton, little miss piggie, was a stooge for "Reverend Sun Myung Moon" who owned the

Washington Times the ultra right wing rag. Lofton worked for the Moonies. 'nuff said.

[MyOwnPeace]

20. Hate to be picky.............

Here's what OP wrote:

And to conservatives, this was you before the dumbed-down rantings of the tea party. Another-words, you're worse now:

The correct phrase is:

"In other words"

Get it? As in "to say it another way."

But we do get the point - they ARE worse now!!!!

[Spitfire of ATJ]

21. Think about it. This was the mid 80s....

....and John Lofton was still using Brylcreem.

[Thespian2]

23. Nice to look back

and remember that Zappa understood how the GodOffalParty under Raygun was shoving America toward a theocratic oligarchy...even then the military industrial complex was making sure that their people would control the oligarchy. And look where we are now...

[captainarizona]

24. Zappa's question's reagan's morality

The panel conservatives question zappa's morals for not supporting reagan's morality. You know like just say no to drug dealing unless your the cia. Just say no to treason unless your bill casey making a deal with iran to hold hostages to win the 1980 election. Concern for the children unless your having eden pastor and ollie north selling dope to black school children to finance the contras. Larry king once had someone on his cnn show, a friend of vice president bush who said he flew on a cia plane full of cocain!

[nikto]

25. Zappa Rules! Lofton snivels

Lofton shows the same tactics of constant interruption and question-shifting that
all rightwingers seem to rely on these days.
Disgusting.


Thanks for posting this.

[rurallib]

26. I note the right wingers solution was "government"

Also really funny to hear Novak at the end say "I am a first amendment guy" - what hogwash.
Lofton tried to browbeat Zappa until Zappa agreed and Zappa did not give an inch. excellent!

[Enthusiast]

27. I remember watching this live back in the day.

I was so fucking angry I must have had steaming coming from my ears.

I was a huge Zappa fan and remain so.

I felt the three against one format was especially unfair.

Now this style of unfairness has become commonplace and doesn't even raise an eyebrow.

And the issue of rock music and "dirty" words has faded away and proven to be inconsequential. Of course the same sick Fundies would restrict language in music today given the chance.

Catholic girls
With a tiny little mustache
Catholic girls
Do you know how they go?
Catholic girls
In the rectory basement
Father rileys a fairy
But it don't bother mary
Catholic girls
At the cyo
Catholic girls
Do you know how they go?
Catholic girls
There can be no replacement
How do they go, after the show?

Joe:
All the way
That's the way they go
Every day
And none of their mamas ever seem to know
Hip-hip-hooray
For all the class they show
There's nothing like a catholic girl
At the cyo
When they learn to blow...

Father riley:
They're learning to blow
All the catholic boys!

Mary:
Warren cuccurullo...

Father riley:
Catholic boys!

Mary:
Kinda young, kinda wow!

Father riley:
Catholic boys!

Mary:
Vinnie colaiuta...

Chorus:
Where are they now?
Did they all take the vow?

Father riley:
Catholic girls

Warren:
Carmenita scarfone!

Father riley:
Catholic girls

Officer butzis:
Hey! she gave me vd!

Father riley:
Catholic girls!

Warren:
Toni carbone!

Chorus:
With a tongue like a cow
She could make you go wow!

Joe:
Vd vowdy vootie
Right away
That's the way they go
Every day
Whenever their mamas take them to a show
Matinee
Pass the popcorn please
There's nothing like a catholic girl
With her hand in the box
When she's on her knees

Larry:
She was on her knees,
My little catholic girl

Chorus:
In a little white dress
Catholic girls
They never confess
Catholic girls
I got one for a cousin
I love how they go
So send me a dozen
Catholic girls
Ooooooh!
Catholic girls
Ooooooh!
(etc.)

[Martin Eden]

29. "three against one format was especially unfair"

Yeah, there should have been at least five RWers to make it a fair fight.

[Enthusiast]

36. True

[stopwastingmymoney]

28. KnR to watch later, Thanks! nt

[Hamlette]

30. died way to young, he was a great voice for liberalism and rock music

While the times were different, the right refused to talk about the issue: how do words destroy people or society?

[tnlurker]

31. For Later reading

[LiberalLovinLug]

32. coincidence or ....?

* 6 Latin American leaders who criticised US policies fall ill of cancer simultaneously, including Chavez who was a threat not only to the Capitialist Elite but as a beacon for other South American countries, as seen in Bolivia.

http://www.hangthebankers.com/6-latin-american-leaders-who-criticised-us-policies-fall-ill-of-cancer-simultaneously-russian-leader-demands-investigation/

other victims of sudden cancer infliction:

* Frank Zappa, just as he was entering politics where he would have been a formidable populist choice

* In Canada, a few years ago, Jack Layton, who was a great leader for the left party, the NDP, and because of his own perseverance and personal stature was becoming a real threat for the NDP to win their first ever election in Canada.


So much less messy than brainwashing some poor sap like Mark David Chapman to off Lennon, another popular voice from the left silenced.

Of course one will be called crazy for even suggesting the CIA would stoop to these levels.




Call me crazy.

[leftylob]

33. where are the zappas of today?

Not the ones who stand up for good causes.
But the ones willing to go on talk shows and battle it out with these right wing buffoons?
Zappa was so special.

[leftylob]

34. where are the zappas of today?

Not the ones who stand up for good causes.
But the ones willing to go on talk shows and battle it out with these right wing buffoons?
Zappa was so special.

[knightmaar]

35. Hitler used words!

How dare you use words?! You're practically surrendering the Sudetenland, you nazi pig.

It's funny that they thought, in the 80s, that they were already losing the ability to control what their children saw. Now their kids are only a click away from free, high-definition pornography.

But instead of taking the educational steps necessary to raise awareness and move to a sexually progressive place where we could handle it, each generation just doubled down on controlling their children and clutching their pearls until we get the Internet and their heads are exploding on the way to their ridiculous Purity Balls ... sigh.