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Obama: He May Not Be Jesus...

Brian Doherty | February 4, 2008, 3:44pm

...but he can raise the Dead. Half, anyway, of the classic Grateful Dead lineup will reunite for the first time since 2004 to show Obama some love.

For why this news is a bummer to some Dead fans like me, see my piece from March 2003 exploring their fascinating antipolitics, "Come Hear Uncle Sam's Band."

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Comments to "Obama: He May Not Be Jesus...":

Tom Walls | February 4, 2008, 3:54pm | #

I like their early incarnation as The Warlocks. Then again, I would.

Brandybuck | February 4, 2008, 3:54pm | #

Since Obama doesn't actually stand for anything other than some vague notion of "change", it makes sense that some antipolitical musicians would get behind him. I'm waiting for the huge collective "Aaargh!" from his supporters when he finally does win and turns out to be a big government liberal like we all suspect.

Ben | February 4, 2008, 4:01pm | #

Brandybuck--how many of his supporters think he's something other than a big government liberal?

joe | February 4, 2008, 4:04pm | #

A liberal in the White House would represent change, no?

joe | February 4, 2008, 4:05pm | #

Come on, a headline about Obama raising the dead, and no Chicago jokes?

Johnjackson | February 4, 2008, 4:07pm | #

Well, depending on how one defines it, we have had a big government liberal president the last 8 years. Some change.

J sub D | February 4, 2008, 4:11pm | #

Full disclosure - I love the Grateful Dead's music.

Why should I give any credence to their political recommendatios?

This will influence my vote just as much as the Chuck Norris support for that ignorant, hillbilly whackjob preacher. That is none. I'm consistently amazed that these celebrity endorsements are considered by the electorate. Of course the electorate watches American Idol and Jerry Springer so I probably shouldn't be.

stuartl | February 4, 2008, 4:11pm | #

Obama stands for:

health care reform -- Why does reform always mean more government control?

getting out of Iraq -- check.

introducing some modicum of fiscal responsibility -- so did George Bush.

rising above nasty confrontational politics -- so did George Bush.

racial divides in America -- vote for him because of the color of his skin?

Abdul | February 4, 2008, 4:13pm | #

We've had a Republican nitwit for the last 8 years.

It's time for a Democratic nitwit!

And if Phil Lesh's reccomendation isn't enough for you, just ask Bob Weir.

Paul | February 4, 2008, 4:15pm | #

Grateful Dead lineup will reunite for the first time since 2004 to show Obama some love.
Far out, man. With Obama as president, we can finally smoke weed...oh wait.

J sub D | February 4, 2008, 4:16pm | #

MK2 - You didn't like the Medicare Rrescription Drug Reform entitlement? Or the No Child Left Behind Act? If not, why?

Paul | February 4, 2008, 4:18pm | #

He stands for rising above nasty confrontational politics and having a shot at overcoming racial divides in America. His presidency would show a new, less menacing American face to the world.

Pretty much everything GWB said he'd so. Funny how that works.

Warren | February 4, 2008, 4:18pm | #

...some Dead fans like me,

What are you talking about Brian? There's no such thing as a Dead fan.

Paul | February 4, 2008, 4:19pm | #

liberal in the White House would represent change, no?

Define "liberal".

A government-cutting, first amendment-restoring, fiscally responsible liberal? Yeah. That would represent some change. Got one?

stuartl | February 4, 2008, 4:19pm | #

stuartl

I'll bet you couldn't grab your ass with both hands if your life depended on it. You do have the party line down though.

MK2, this may not be the way to win friends and influence people. Out of curiosity what party are you talking about?

M16 | February 4, 2008, 4:20pm | #

MK2, you call this fiscal responsibility?

It's government meddling that got health care into this "crisis" in the first place. Your party's stance is to add more government, to fix it?

What is the definition of insanity again? I forgot.

J sub D | February 4, 2008, 4:26pm | #

MK2? Are you there? Surely my (civil) questions wouldn't trouble your superior intellect, would they?

Jon | February 4, 2008, 4:30pm | #

"He stands for rising above nasty confrontational politics"

Well of course he says things like that, but it's the job an independent-minded people to laughing uproarisly when politicians make these kind of statements.

Urkobold™ | February 4, 2008, 4:33pm | #

MK2,

Abdul CALLED. HE TOLD ME TO TELL YOU HE DID, AND YER MOM SAYS HI.

Brian Courts | February 4, 2008, 4:52pm | #

I'm losing count of all the unintentionally amusing irony being provided my MK2.

He stands for rising above nasty confrontational politics

Followed by:

Don't make me laugh until I barf, you raving moron

I'll bet you couldn't grab your ass with both hands if your life depended on it

Go fuck a goat.

But the best is probably:

Obama stands for health care reform, getting out of Iraq, and introducing some modicum of fiscal responsibility. He stands for rising above nasty confrontational politics and having a shot at overcoming racial divides in America. His presidency would show a new, less menacing American face to the world

Followed by:

You do have the party line down though.

MK2 | February 4, 2008, 4:53pm | #

i'm sorry you guys. i used to get high with obama back in college and i just get a little defensive.

R C Dean | February 4, 2008, 4:54pm | #

That's why we still have a broken health care system and a struggling middle class.

We have exactly the same healthcare system now that we did when Bush took office, only propped up with more federal money. How exactly did Bush "break" it.

And the middle class is struggling how? Sure, some of them got greedy and tried to buy more house or more toys than they could afford, but the rest?

God knows there's a long list of ills you can hang on Bush, but "broken health care" and "struggling middle class" aren't on it.

MK2 | February 4, 2008, 4:55pm | #

p.s. fucking goats isn't as bad as it sounds

sage | February 4, 2008, 5:00pm | #

Urkobold FTW.

Brian Courts | February 4, 2008, 5:08pm | #

And the middle class is struggling how?

Some are being forced to choose between an HDTV and new laptop.

Working Stiff | February 4, 2008, 5:14pm | #

it's the job an independent-minded people to laughing uproarisly when politicians make these kind of statements

Started happy hour a little early, Jon?

Episiarch | February 4, 2008, 5:31pm | #

When I went to college, I hung up a sign in my room that said:

NO DEAD
NO BAND
NO CAT STEVENS

I was entirely serious.

Brian Courts | February 4, 2008, 5:42pm | #

When I went to college, I hung up a sign in my room that said:

NO DEAD
NO BAND
NO CAT STEVENS

I was entirely serious.

That kind of reminds me of the sign supposedly posted in a London guitar store that read:

"Absolutely under no circumstances at all are customers allowed to play Stairway to Heaven, Sweet Child of Mine or Smoke on the Water while trying out guitars. Thank You."

vanya | February 4, 2008, 6:04pm | #

"NO DEAD
NO BAND
NO CAT STEVENS"

How long ago were you in college Episiarch? Must have been 1973.

When I was in school the sign would have read "NO REM, NO U2, NO BILLY JOEL"

R C Dean | February 4, 2008, 6:20pm | #

Some are being forced to choose between an HDTV and new laptop.

Oh, the humanity!

Bob Dobbs | February 4, 2008, 6:47pm | #

"Some come to laugh their past away
Some come to make it just one more day
Whichever way your pleasure tends
if you plant ice you're gonna harvest wind"
I liked it better when they stayed out of politics.

Geotpf | February 4, 2008, 7:00pm | #

Brian Courts-Wasn't that in Wayne's World?

pottsy | February 4, 2008, 7:23pm | #

Really depends on where you went to school more than when. I went in '92 and Epsiarch's sign would have done my dorm a world of good.

Damn hippies.

joe | February 4, 2008, 7:35pm | #

Wise, sage. Very wise.

bigbigslacker | February 4, 2008, 8:05pm | #

Obama is just alright with me, Obama is just alright, oh yeah
Obama is just alright with me, Obama is just alright

I don't care what they may say
I don't care what they may do
I don't care what they may say
Obama is just alright, oh yeah
Obama is just alright

Obama is just alright with me, Obama is just alright, oh yeah
Obama is just alright with me, Obama is just alright

I don't care what they may know
I don't care where they may go
I don't care what they may know
Obama is just alright, oh yeah

Obama, he's my friend; Obama, he's my friend
He took me by the hand; led me far from this land
Obama, he's my friend

Obama is just alright with me, Obama is just alright, oh yeah
Obama is just alright with me, Obama is just alright

I dont care what they may say, I don't care what they may do
I don't care what they may say, Obama is just alright, oh yeah

bigbigslacker | February 4, 2008, 8:11pm | #

Screw all that. He doesn't smoke New P's.

http://youtube.com/watch?v=_hGdi0_BdWk

sage | February 4, 2008, 8:48pm | #

Thanks, joe.

Pro Libertate | February 4, 2008, 9:20pm | #

Dammit man, the Doobie Brothers broke up! Shit! When did that happen?

bigbigslacker | February 4, 2008, 9:24pm | #

I hosed up that youtube link. I watched it just fine at "work", but now it says its a private video.

In a nutsack, real black men smoke Newports or Kool cigarettes, not Marlboros.

Sorry for the tease - I know everyone is really bummed this didn't work....

dj | February 4, 2008, 10:01pm | #

Why be wary of anyone using pop stars to light their way?

"They" said I couldn't..."some" said I would never...A thousand points of light...er ah...a change is gonna come...

Nate | February 5, 2008, 12:25am | #

Wait, I could have sworn I read in the papers that he WAS Jesus...

The Wine Commonsewer | February 5, 2008, 12:42am | #

Pro wins the thread.

sage | February 5, 2008, 9:01am | #

Sorry, TWC. I already called it for the Urkobold.

Russ 2000 | February 5, 2008, 9:38am | #

Wait a minute. Obama stands for health care reform, getting out of Iraq, and introducing some modicum of fiscal responsibility. He stands for rising above nasty confrontational politics and having a shot at overcoming racial divides in America. His presidency would show a new, less menacing American face to the world. Sounds like a lot more than some "vague" notion of change.

Sounds an awful lot like the shit George W. Bush said when he campaigned in 2000.