by Mark Silva
Talk about tough reviews:
"A bunch of mediocre musicians'' -- that's what President Bush had to say, initially, about the rock band performing at the White House congressional picnic last night. He was kidding, of course, and quickly amended his remarks to praise the band.
Good thing. That was White House Press Secretary Tony Snow's band, Beats Workin', which performed at the annual congressional picnic on the South Lawn. And they had a ringer sitting in with them, Jeff "Skunk'' Baxter, guitar-veteran of Steely Dan and The Doobie Brothers.
The set included Johnny B. Good, Reelin' in the Years and China Grove, and Snow demonstrated his substantial skills on the flute with a Jethro Tull number.
"I thank Tony Snow and his bunch of, well, mediocre musicians,'' Bush said to laughter on the lawn. "No, great musicians. Beats Workin, thanks for coming.''
According to the review in the press pool report of the evening's events, courtesy of the Houston Chronicle's Julie Mason, Snow "really put his knees into it, grooving and swaying as he played.'' And "Skunk'' said Snow will always have a place with him, if he tires of the press.
But, judging from the run of press briefings, Snow is keeping his day job.
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Comments
Snow's band should be named, "Beats not Telling the Truth in my Day Job."
Posted by: Doug Zook | June 20, 2007 7:55 AM
Doogie, do you even know what the truth is?
Posted by: John D | June 20, 2007 9:04 AM
And how many American soldiers were killed or wounded in Bush's war while he and his toadies were out partying? Nice to know they can still have some fun during a time of war.
Posted by: Paul | June 20, 2007 10:54 AM
I wonder what the "anti-gay" Republics think about a man playing the flute.
Posted by: jethro | June 20, 2007 11:30 AM
Jethro,
The flute is a very difficult instrument. My daughter has played it for 8 years starting in 4th Grade. If a man learns it, he has no shame. Try it!!
Paul,
Every politician in every war attended parties and other gala's while soldierss die. I would wager that this accurred more frequently and more imbibingly during the "great" wars. This is one thing you cannot pin on Bush. I am sure Clinton had some good times (???) during the 1st Iraq go round.
To Zook and John, the truth has not existed in Washington in decades. To try and single out one republican or one democrat for being truthful, honest, upright etc is idiotic. There is nobody in Bush's camp that you can claim is more dishonest than in Clinton, Bush 1, Reagen on and on and on. Truth gets you nowhere in Washington. Obama is finding this out in sobering reality now that he has forever tainted his political career by a too soon run for President. Honesty/Washington is equivalent to Don Imus/NAACP
Posted by: Rob S | June 20, 2007 12:14 PM
The truth is that Deserter Dubya and Deferment Darth are a couple of chickenhawks who are getting a lot of people killed for no good reason.
Truth be told.
Posted by: Doug Zook | June 20, 2007 12:26 PM
Rob S,
I have no problem with the flute and can appreciate the difficulty in playing it well. My comment was directed at the crowd that thinks that you have to know how to shoot a gun to be a man or you can't express your feelings if that doesn't involve a fist fight. My guess is that many "anti-gay" (Terry's word) dads would cringe if their son came home and begged to play the flute in jazz band
Posted by: jethro | June 20, 2007 2:10 PM
It should be noted that yes, Jeff "Skunk" Baxter was formerly a menber of both Steely Dan and The Doobies Brothers, he recently has been working as a defense consultant, and chairs a Congressional Advisory Board on missile defense.
Posted by: Brian | June 20, 2007 3:18 PM
Rob S sadly doesn't have much to go on. Especially since he wrote that Clinton was president during the "first Iraq go round." Oops! It was Bush's dad.
Two wrongs don't make a right. Saying "all politicians are dishonest" or Clinton is bad, doesn't make Bush any less dishonest or less of a lying chickenhawk moron.
Posted by: Dan | June 22, 2007 3:20 PM
So, the lib whiners have invaded a comment board for a story of a cover band which includes a few federal workers. They use every opportunity available to spew their hatred for their country and it's noble leaders.
They love to criticize Bush, who served in the National Guard ( wrong font, Dan ! ), but they themselves would never have the courage to pick up a gun and defend their country. They're cowards who can only call conservatives names with the protection of internet anonymity. They wouldn't dare say anything similar to anyone face-to-face.
They need to go back to viewing 'X-File' re-runs and leave critical national security issues to mature adults.
Posted by: TullthetruthJethro | June 23, 2007 11:26 PM