Waaaay back from 1974.

[Saviolo]

I'm a big fan of Steely Dan. My husband really got me into them a few years ago, and I've been listening to them ever since. One song in particular has really struck a chord with me. It could have been written last week as a tongue-in-cheek commentary on the Tea Party or even the Republican party at large.

From their 1974 album Pretzel Logic,
Barrytown by Steely Dan: with my comments in italics

I'm not one to look behind; I know that times must change
But over there in Barrytown they do things very strange
And though you're not my enemy
I like things like they used to be
And though you'd like some company
I'm standing by myself
Go play with someone else
I can see by what you carry that you come from Barrytown

The common right-wing trope that progressives are bad. They always tell us that they're not regressive, but they're standing up for some sort of tradition, whatever that means. An effort to make themselves sound respectably against this new fangled system, instead of looking like the regressive folks they are.

Don't believe I'm taken in by stories I have heard
I just read the Daily News and swear by every word
And don't think that I'm out of line
For speaking out for what is mine
I'd like to see you do just fine
But look at what you wear
And the way you cut your hair
I can see by what you carry that you come from Barrytown

The oft-heard trope heard when calling right-wingers out on their lies and falsehoods. As long as it appears as a talking point on Fox News or comes from Glenn Beck's mouth, they can point to it being from a real source (the Daily News), and not just a story. The next two lines sound just like every Tea Partier about taxation. It's all about -my- money! Of course, they're regurgitating that little story from the rich talking point manufacturers.

In the beginning we recall that the word was hurled
Barrytown people got to be from another world

Of course they love to point out that progressives and liberals must be crazy or from socialist far off lands. Even going so far as to tell the tale that the president is not American.

Leave me or I'll be just like the others you will meet
They won't act as kindly if they see you on the street
And don't you scream or make a shout
It's nothing you can do about
It was there where you came out
It's a special lack of grace
I can see it in your face
I can see by what you carry that you come from Barrytown

Ah, the veiled threat. I'll be civil, but, y'know... you're really upsetting a lot of people, so you should be careful because there's no telling what my colleagues will do. Your opinions are dangerous and they anger people, so don't go spouting them just anywhere, because what happens happens... nothing we can do about it. Cenk of The Young Turks continually talks about how the right wingers like Rush and Glenn incite violence through their words, and then when someone actually does freak out and do something violent, they throw their hands up and say, "Hey, we didn't tell him to do that!! Why could that have possibly happened?"


And here's a YouTube link to a copy of the song. Great track!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0FmLOP8G4pM