is this new compulsion to take out the messenger and pay no attention to the message.

The OP reference to the 'old blue dogs,' the song reference to 'old bluetick hound , like to lie around in the shade' (I have one!) has no relation to what an entertainer's customer base evolved to over a decade or two or three. A customer base that reflects a skepticism towards leftwing Democratic idealism. But retains an interest in some Democratic policies (like marijuana).

This is a curse of our times - picking up our hand-held fact-checker and googling some 'fact' - to dismiss what the subject is and miss the point.

I still like Ted Nugent songs, early Kid Rock is phenomenal - does my world have to be 'politically correct' - subject to purity tests and group think, censorship and thought control, social media bullying?

Or are we the open-minded, thoughtful, introspective citizens who understand each other first, and then work towards commonly shared goals in our Big Tent?