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Kerry Channeling Bob Dylan: 'Join The Army If You Fail'
NewsBusters ^ | Mark Finkelstein

Posted on 10/31/2006 11:27:15 AM PST by governsleastgovernsbest

When John Kerry, child of the 60s, slurred the military with his comment, reported here by NewsBuster Warner Todd Huston, that people who who don't study wind up 'stuck in Iraq,' he was channeling Bob Dylan and the anti-war activist's 1967 song Subterranean Homesick Blues, which includes this line

"Get jailed, jump bail
"Join the army, if you fail."

It's the same song that contains the famous line "You don't need a weatherman to know which way the wind blows," from which the domestic terrorist group took its name.

Hey John, Don't Think Twice - it's not alright.


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Foreign Affairs; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: bobdylan; iraq; johnkerry; stupid
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To: governsleastgovernsbest
The Weatherman stealing a word from the line "you don't need a weatherman to know which way the wind blows" to use as their name certainly doesn't equate to Dylan even remotely endorsing their treasonous activities.

....and he didn't. In fact, by the mid-60s, Bob grew to despise the entire folkie/hippie/protest movement.

21 posted on 10/31/2006 11:48:12 AM PST by Mr. Mojo
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To: Mr. Mojo

I agree that he is not responsible for Weathermen, but he was surely an anti-war activist.


22 posted on 10/31/2006 11:50:09 AM PST by governsleastgovernsbest (Watching the Today Show since 2002 so you don't have to.)
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To: governsleastgovernsbest

Kerry calls our brave soldiers stupid uneducated failures and now he's realized what a hugh goof up that was so he needs now to blame the white house and especailly blame cancer survivor tony snow. Doesn't kerry respect cancer survivors?


23 posted on 10/31/2006 11:50:41 AM PST by 1Old Pro
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To: governsleastgovernsbest
but he was surely an anti-war activist.

Only in his very early ('61 - '64) days. ....which, incidentally, was before our (military) involvment in the Vietnam War.

24 posted on 10/31/2006 11:52:38 AM PST by Mr. Mojo
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To: pissant

"Mark, the song was written in 1964, not 67 and its not antiwar. Don't lump Dylan in with this cretin."

Indeed. It was common for a judge to give a young person the option of service or jail if he got in trouble. That's how I always took the song.


25 posted on 10/31/2006 11:54:32 AM PST by L98Fiero (Evil is an exact science)
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To: Mr. Mojo

I've gone back and changed the original NewsBusters item to remove the word 'activist.' There's no doubt Dylan was strongly 'anti-war,' and having lived during those times myself I can say that, whatever the specifics of his personal views, he was viewed by millions as an anti-war, counter-culture icon.

I'm sure Kerry heard the song countless times, and I'm guessing he accepted its message.


26 posted on 10/31/2006 11:56:50 AM PST by governsleastgovernsbest (Watching the Today Show since 2002 so you don't have to.)
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To: pissant
Mark, the song was written in 1964, not 67 and its not antiwar. Don't lump Dylan in with this cretin...

thank you!

and da resta youse - don't nobody say nuthin' bad about my man, Mr. Dylan...

27 posted on 10/31/2006 12:02:15 PM PST by martin gibson ("I care not what course others may take, but as for myself, give me Ralph Stanley or give me death")
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To: governsleastgovernsbest

Kerry has no idea as to the quality and caliber of our men and women in uniform today and the leadership qualities they possess. If Kerry was in uniform today, he would be rejected as inadequate and have to go to college.


28 posted on 10/31/2006 12:02:21 PM PST by caisson71
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To: governsleastgovernsbest
he was viewed by millions as an anti-war, counter-culture icon.

He was indeed. ....but as I mentioned it was because of the songs he wrote (and the company he kept) before our combat involvement in Vietnam. By '65 he'd had it with the whole scene broke company with the activist types.

....but unfortunately his former image lingered on. .....to this day, apparently.

29 posted on 10/31/2006 12:02:49 PM PST by Mr. Mojo
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To: Cobra64

The Double K guys....both have been stuck on
stupid for at least 6 years....although you can go
back much further...how about '68 (Kennedy(death) car in
the drink?)..or '70..Kerry lying about the Vietnam war
and our troops...Jake


30 posted on 10/31/2006 12:04:30 PM PST by sanjacjake
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To: Mr. Mojo

Thanks for additional clarifications.


31 posted on 10/31/2006 12:05:42 PM PST by governsleastgovernsbest (Watching the Today Show since 2002 so you don't have to.)
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To: governsleastgovernsbest

When John Kerry speaks, people listen!

Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting

32 posted on 10/31/2006 12:13:07 PM PST by TommyDale (Iran President Ahmadinejad is shorter than Tom Daschle!)
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To: L98Fiero

It was common for a judge to give a young person the option of service or jail..." Yep. That's how my cousin joined the Navy and became a Chief.


33 posted on 10/31/2006 12:23:32 PM PST by joylyn
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To: governsleastgovernsbest

Bob never once said he was anti war. He was asked many times. He never condemned the war.

the publics perception of him was fueled by some early "protest" songs and the MSM of the time. He loathed hippies. Still does.


34 posted on 10/31/2006 12:31:42 PM PST by pissant
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To: pissant

I actually have Sub. Homesick Blues on my iPod, and Isis from later years is another favorite of mine.


35 posted on 10/31/2006 12:46:32 PM PST by governsleastgovernsbest (Watching the Today Show since 2002 so you don't have to.)
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To: governsleastgovernsbest

I knew you were alright.


36 posted on 10/31/2006 12:48:04 PM PST by pissant
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To: governsleastgovernsbest
"Get jailed, jump bail
"Join the army, if you fail."

Seems to me, the "if you fail" part refers to failing to jump bail successfully, then you're given to old "go to jail, or got to the service" choice which judges used to offer guys all the time.
37 posted on 10/31/2006 12:51:07 PM PST by SoCal Pubbie
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To: governsleastgovernsbest

here for dylan/cash/perkins session mp3s

http://aquariumdrunk.blogspot.com/2006/03/lost-album-series-dylancash-sessions.html


38 posted on 10/31/2006 12:55:49 PM PST by martin gibson ("I care not what course others may take, but as for myself, give me Ralph Stanley or give me death")
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To: governsleastgovernsbest
having lived during those times myself

Holy Smokes, Mark! From your picture, I thought you were in youre late twenties!

39 posted on 10/31/2006 1:33:13 PM PST by Inspectorette (having lived during those times myself)
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To: Inspectorette

Not sure quite which pic - it could be a couple years old -but I will pass your compliment along to my very youthful looking mother!


40 posted on 10/31/2006 1:36:10 PM PST by governsleastgovernsbest (Watching the Today Show since 2002 so you don't have to.)
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