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January 23, 2008
Retrohump: Liberal Fascism
I usually try to keep my politics out of my music blogging, but sometimes the Venn Diagram crossover is too vast to escape. As a primary season junkie, and a continually disagreeing but surprisingly continual National Review Online reader, I can't help but have come across tons of mentions of pudgy provocateur Jonah Goldberg's new book Liberal Fascism: The Secret History of the American Left, From Mussolini to the Politics of Meaning. At least half the country noticed as well, currently thrusting Mssr. Goldberg into the # 8 position on the Amazon charts and sneaking him into the top ten of the New York Times Bestseller List, as well as the guest chair of Mr. John Stewart. His big idea is that although the knee-jerk reaction of hippies and sarcastic teens alike is to throw out the term "fascist" at any right wing politician or lecturing Dad who wants to restrict their liberties, man, actual totalitarianism grew from leftist roots and continues to live on in the policies of the Democratic Party. Now, merit discussions of his argument would be rather tiresome and completely out of place on this fine pop-cultural establishment, so I'll pick my nit with the press release claim that this all constitutes "a startling new perspective on the theories and practices that define fascist politics."
As anyone with a deep record collection can tell you, it was very well a startling new perspective...when Jello Biafra posited it...in 1979.
Dead Kennedys - "California Über Alles"
(live in San Fransisco, 1979)
I was reminded at a "slightly" inebriated party this weekend what a kick-ass song "California Über Alles" is. Probably the only hardcore punk song I can claim an unabashed love for, because it's sharp and funny as Hell. Structurally it's interesting too, with the breakneck pogo speed slowing down to goose-stepping tempo as Jello delivers his hilarious vision of a Liberal Dystopia whose "suede, denim secret police" have come for "your uncool niece." "Mellow out or you will pay!"
The video above reminds me why I greatly prefer the 90's slacker jams to the 80's sweaty hardcore. There's just something unseemly about trying that hard. And oh, how I wish there were some sleeves involved! But we gotta call a classic a classic, so the mp3 is below.
Dead Kennedys - "California Über Alles"
P.S. Lest DK neophytes think that they were some kind of conservative punk anomaly along the lines of our beloved Jonathan Richman, here's a subsequent version that substitutes a different California governor for the original's Jerry Brown. "We've got a bigger problem now..."
P.P.S. This shows that JG had actually met and toured campuses with Jello Biafra in 2002. Perhaps the music on the bus sparked a certain book proposal? Hmmm...
Posted by Jeff Klingman at January 23, 2008 01:00 PM
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Comments
Let me be the first to say, without any hint of articulate eloquence (natch), that the premise of this book is the biggest pile of dogshit I've ever heard.
Its basically a long form, well-written version of an Internet- Message-Board/Comment section rant of thin connections and dubious relationships resulting in quasi-conclusions only a complete idiot could make and then defend.
Everyone should watch the Jon Stewart clip to see how moronic this guy is.
Posted by: Sebastian at January 23, 2008 02:04 PM
