Former Replacements frontman Paul Westerberg charged by Homeland Security

[alcibiades_mystery]

AP MINNEAPOLIS - Musician and former lead singer for The Replacements, Paul Westerberg, was indicted in federal court Friday for conspiracy to obstruct air travel. According to the unsealed indictment, Westerberg played The Replacements classic "Waitress in the Sky" on at least four occasions during recent shows in Minnesota. The song was added to the TSA no-play list, and is thought by security experts to be a rallying cry for air travel disruptors.

While "Waitress in the Sky" had been on the Department of Homeland Security's watch list since 2005, it officially moved to the no-play list after the Christmas bombing attempt of a Northwest flight to Detroit. "The song displays contempt for first-responders of an air crisis," said Steven Munchman, spokesman for the United States Attorney's office in Minneapolis. "Mr. Westerberg was issued a cease and desist order related to that particular song two weeks ago, and he has failed to comply." Three members of Westerberg's band were also charged.

The indictment also calls "Waitress in the Sky" a cult classic and anthem among a growing group of "intentional contempters," or people who have joined ranks to undermine air travel safety systems. It is thought that Haisong Jiang, who breached Newark airport security and caused the six-hour shutdown of the busy terminal, may be part of this loose network of disruptors.

The song itself features a series of complaints lodged at flight attendants, culminating in the repeated refrain "You ain't nothin' but a waitress in the sky."

---snip---

http://www.startribune.com/westerberg







:evilgrin:

[ixion]

1. This is the first I've heard of a TSA "no-play list"

and provides yet another reason why the TSA is a fascist organ that needs to be disbanded.

[AngryAmish]

11. You are perfect

Never let those bastards get you down.

[whistler162]

46. And a scarlet G to you!

[peekaloo]

2. I laughed

half the way to Tokyo

:wtf: is a TSA no play list?

[blondeatlast]

38. Beat me to it.

:thumbsup:

[TexasObserver]

3. More proof that police state nuts are running Homeland Security.

These morons do not understand the constitution or care about it. THEY are the reason we have the Bill of Rights - to protect us from idiots who don't respect the paramount rights of individuals.

It's protected speech, and even the rightwing Supremes know that.

Another disappointment from the guy we elected president and the garbage he has running that departments.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

13. Ever heard of the concept of "satire"?

No. There is no such thing as a TSA no-play list. Really.

Jeesh... :eyes:

[ixion]

28. I find nothing whatsoever laugable about the fascist TSA

nothing. Zip. Zilch. Nada. They are nothing more than state-sanctioned thugs, and nothing that their fascist minds could conceive (like a no-play list) would surprise me.

Remember the radio no-play list after 911 that pretty much exiled Rage Against the Machine?

Why would such a list be so difficult to imagine?

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

30. Oh, come on. The TSA is an inefficient organization of underpaid airport screeners

which is badly managed by the Department of Homeland Security, a sorry mishmash of competing agencies that aren't even well-organized enough to be fascist. Half the time the TSA couldn't find a pipe wrench in a diaper bag.

And last I checked the First Amendment was still in effect.

[cali]

49. Springtime for Hitler and Germany.

[TexasObserver]

29. Ever heard the concept of "it's not apparent on its face"?

Are you always so petulant?

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

31. If you want to call me petulant for pointing out obvious satire

to the satire-impaired, feel free.

[TexasObserver]

33. Your responses were petulant.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

34. Whatever.

[TexasObserver]

35. self delete

[TZ]

74. +1

Stupid is as stupid does Ocelot!:)
BTW, I'm sure my step brother the TSA agent is going around making sure everyone is listening to the "correct" music!!! :rofl:
Don't you just love people who know EXACTLY what everyone does even though they've never actually talked to an actually employee...

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

84. Can you get him to ban Barry Manilow? Please?

:rofl:

[Name removed]

36. Deleted sub-thread

Sub-thread removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[taterguy]

62. The charging 3 other band members was apparent on its face

The Mats had multiple line-ups.

Even if the story was true, how would TSA pick which ones to charge?

[alcibiades_mystery]

65. Presumably, they charged the three people involved in the recent shows

:-)

[taterguy]

82. The Mats broke up almost 20 years ago

What's this "recent show" crap?

[alcibiades_mystery]

83. Paul Westerberg continues to tour

And presumably plays old classics when he does.

:rofl:

Here he is playing it in 2002:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HXtY17BTvS4

[taterguy]

86. a) I don't see any band members in that clip

b) Since when is 2002 recent?

[alcibiades_mystery]

87. Yeesh

Would you agree that if Paul Westerberg currently tours, he probably does so with a band?

This subthread is now officially ridiculous.

:rofl:

[taterguy]

88. He's never played my town so I don't know if he tours solo or with a band

I suspect he tours alone because it's cheaper.

It's not like he ever made any money when he was in the Replacements.

Besides, now he's got a bunch of legal bills.

[whistler162]

47. And a scarlet G to you!

[Subdivisions]

56. I don't ever again want to see you jump on anyone's faux pas or chastise

someone for saying something stupid.

[RedRocco]

4. Link is broken

or its been taken down

[bananas]

5. 404 bad link

Can't tell if this is parody or a true story.

[DemoTex]

6. Onionesque

[Hassin Bin Sober]

51. Almost got me with the phony StarTrib link.

[peacetalksforall]

7. Is it all about the song? What do they mean by loose network of disruptors?

They are in legal trouble for not ceasing to play their song or for physically disrupting by their actions or plans for disrupting air traffic?

Now, all kinds of people are going to have to hear the song to figure out how bad it is. That is a lot of attention to the words. So messed up.

Are we sure Chertoff and Ridge are no longer at Homeland Security? Cheney has his claws around this?

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

14. IT'S SATIRE!!!

Jeez, some of you guys are gullible...

[peacetalksforall]

76. If you have a phony link that looks legit, it's not satire.

[alcibiades_mystery]

78. Huh?

:rofl:

[cali]

8. How do I break this gently to you guys?

This, folks, is as clear an example of satire as could possibly be produced.

[peacetalksforall]

77. And now the superiority of knowledge sets in and those who saw a link

to the Minneapolis paper AND if a person doesn't have high or any decent expectations for Homeland Security - we are now inferior to you, Cali?

Why don't you say it a few more times - make sure the superiority sinks in.

[cali]

80. not about superiority of knowledge at all. It's about not letting

one's pre-conceptions cloud one's ability to critically think. Not to mention that the OP posted the little devil grin smiley. kind of a big tip off right there.

[arcadian]

9. Funny or sad thing is, it's believable.

[cali]

15. Not even remotely. n/t

[taterguy]

19. Don't treat me special or don't kiss my ass

[gmoney]

99. "A real union flight attendant, my oh my..."

The pro-union message of this song is obviously a threat to Amurican sovererainityness.

[taterguy]

109. Thanks

I never knew what that line was.

I always thought it was

"A reunion flight to (unintelligible destination)"

Really

[arcadian]

69. With the current climate it certainly is.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

22. No, not really. Kinda funny satire, though.

Also funny how many people jumped on it as if it were true. OMG! FASCISM! ARGHH!!

[cali]

26. no shit.

this is strong evidence that people will believe absolutely fucking anything that fits with their little world view.

[alcibiades_mystery]

66. The immediate responses were quite telling

No question about that.

:-)

[taterguy]

10. Slim Dunlap wasn't even in the band when they recorded that song

Did they charge Bob Stinson?

Good luck finding him.

He's been dead over 10 years.

[peekaloo]

12. he will be charged...posthumorously.

;-)

[taterguy]

17. Dunlap's still alive

Sure, it's been awhile since he put out an album but still . . .

[LeFleur1]

20. Isn't It Sad, Not To Mention Alarming...

...That our country is so screwed up we can't tell the difference between truth and satire? The way things are going today the story is believable. More's the pity.

[cali]

24. speak for yourself. It's so obviously satire

that I don't see how anyone could fall for it.

[spiritual_gunfighter]

40. I didnt know at first

I wouldnt put anything past Homeland Security/TSA craziness. And it isnt too dissimilar to what a program director of a Clear Channel station did after 9/11, deeming hundreds of songs inappropriate for airplay. So there is a precident for music related idiocy in reference to terrorism.

The Clear Channel Banned Songs List
When Bad Events Make Good Songs Seem Wrong


One of the most famous cases of alleged banned songs occurred several days after September 11, 2001. As the story goes, a Program Director at one of the Clear Channel Radio stations, decided on his own to compile a list of songs that might be considered in "bad taste" - if played - following the awful events of 9/11.

The list was simply meant to be suggestions or a guideline from his point of view. There was no official corporate backing or endorsement from the company.

The songs on the list, either because of title or content, were considered to be remindful of the images still vivid in the minds of Americans after the tragedy in New York City.

The list was probably unofficially shared or distributed internally to other Program Directors. Clear Channel employees often share programming ideas and information with one another.

From there, a copy of it leaked out and immediately took on a life of its own in the outside media. It was soon flashed across the Internet and deemed by web surfers to be an official company policy, which was not true.

The Snopes website has an excellent accounting of this event which you may find fascinating reading.

http://radio.about.com/library/weekly/blCCbannedsongs.htm

While it is a leap to assume that TSA would do something like that, there is a connection based on an actual event. It is telling that you were so dismissive that any of us would fall for it, it makes me think you probably did as well.

on edit I was reminded of this story from 2004

Sen. Kennedy Flagged by No-Fly List

By Sara Kehaulani Goo
Washington Post Staff Writer
Friday, August 20, 2004; Page A01

U.S. Sen. Edward M. "Ted" Kennedy said yesterday that he was stopped and questioned at airports on the East Coast five times in March because his name appeared on the government's secret "no-fly" list.

Federal air security officials said the initial error that led to scrutiny of the Massachusetts Democrat should not have happened even though they recognize that the no-fly list is imperfect. But privately they acknowledged being embarrassed that it took the senator and his staff more than three weeks to get his name removed.

A senior administration official, who spoke on condition he not be identified, said Kennedy was stopped because the name "T. Kennedy" has been used as an alias by someone on the list of terrorist suspects.

While he worked to clear himself, Kennedy kept having to wait in terminals at Reagan National, Boston's Logan International and at least one other airport, his staff said. All of the flights were on US Airways. When the senator checked in at the counter, airline employees told him they could not issue him a boarding pass because he appeared on the list. Kennedy was delayed until a supervisor could be summoned to identify him and give approval for him to board the plane.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A17073-2004Aug19.html

I figure if Ted Kennedy can be on a no fly list, it wasnt entirely out of the realm of possibility that the TSA would come up with some idiotic to pin on a former Replacement.

[blondeatlast]

42. Clear Channel is a private entity. the TSA is a wasteful, poorly run government agency.

This may well be the funniest DU thread ever.

[spiritual_gunfighter]

43. it was funny

but i was fooled.

[cali]

52. it is damned funny- as well as telling.

[alcibiades_mystery]

67. Thank you, thank you

:evilgrin:

[TZ]

95. Yes, yes it is!

I think its much easier for people who's sarcasm meter seems broken to say "but its sooo believable"...Uh no. Come on guys.."No play list?" Seriously now. :rofl:

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

27. Speak for yourself. I had no difficulty at all identifying it as satire.

I mean, really. :eyes:

[Codeine]

37. If you couldn't tell the difference

you probably shouldn't be allowed to roam the internet unescorted.

[aikoaiko]

16. The good news is that this could be the best thing to happen to Westerberg's career

I predict massive itunes downloads and his badass index rising exponentially.


If he can only keep himself out of jail and from being bankrupted by defense/trial costs.

And of course its absurd for TSA to be involved. I just can't believe it true but anything is possible these days.

[cali]

21. SDD- Satire Detection Disorder, is a widespread disorder heree.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

25. No kidding.

People get hung up in their ideology and pounce on whatever seems to support it. Even if it's absurdly satirical.

[aikoaiko]

55. alright I agree satirically challenged this morninig.

It is absurd.

[Name removed]

39. Deleted sub-thread

Sub-thread removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[spanone]

18. this HAS to be the onion, right?

[jmowreader]

23. Joining the conspiracy to disrupt air travel, heeeeeeeere's Jim!

She don't wear no pants and she don't wear no tie
Always on the ball, she's always on strike
Struttin' up the aisle, big deal, you get to fly
You ain't nothin' but a waitress in the sky
You ain't nothin' but a waitress in the sky

Paid my fare, don't wanna complain
You get to me, you're always outta champagne
Treat me like a bum, don't wear no tie
'cause you ain't nothin' but a waitress in the sky
You ain't nothin' but a waitress in the sky

And the sign says, "Thank you very much for not smoking"
My own sign says, "I'm sorry, I'm smokin'"
Don't treat me special, don't kiss my ass
Treat me like the way they treat 'em up in first class

Sanitation expert and a maintenance engineer
Garbage man, a janitor and you my dear
A real union flight attendant, my oh my
You ain't nothin' but a waitress in the sky
You ain't nothin' but a waitress in the sky
You ain't nothin' but a waitress in the sky

What are they complaining about--that he says he smokes on airplanes?

[SidDithers]

32. The best kind of satire is that which is at least plausible...

well done. :applause:

Sid

[blondeatlast]

41. "You be me, and I'll be an underpaid, overworked TSA agent." nt

[blondeatlast]

44. Self-delete. this is getting kinda of amusing, actually. nt

[leveymg]

45. Congratulations. Better and more pungent than The Onion

You have a future writing satire. Just don't try to pass through airport security.

[alcibiades_mystery]

68. Why thank you

:takesbow:

[cali]

48. lyrics- and god I think the satire impaired are a hoot.

She don't wear no pants and she don't wear no tie
Always on the ball, she's always on strike
Struttin' up the aisle, big deal, you get to fly
You ain't nothin' but a waitress in the sky
You ain't nothin' but a waitress in the sky

Paid my fare, don't wanna complain
You get to me, you're always outta champagne
Treat me like a bum, don't wear no tie
'cause you ain't nothin' but a waitress in the sky
You ain't nothin' but a waitress in the sky

And the sign says, "Thank you very much for not smoking"
My own sign says, "I'm sorry, I'm smokin'"
Don't treat me special, don't kiss my ass
Treat me like the way they treat 'em up in first class

Sanitation expert and a maintenance engineer
Garbage man, a janitor and you my dear
A real union flight attendant, my oh my
You ain't nothin' but a waitress in the sky
You ain't nothin' but a waitress in the sky
You ain't nothin' but a waitress in the sky

[Karmadillo]

50. If it's any consolation, I don't begin to understand them.

nt

[blondeatlast]

54. Do you understand that cute little icon in the lower left of the OP?

Geez. spare me from the humorically challenged.

[Karmadillo]

64. Color me impressed.

nt

[Karmadillo]

91. By the way, the line above is from "Bastards of Young."

I just didn't want any future web archaeologists thinking blondeatlast scored a point with her comment.

[taterguy]

94. In the future, all web archaeologists will know every Replacements lyric

Except for some of the ones from When the Shit Hits the Fans since Paul slurs a lot on that album.

:toast:

[liberalmuse]

53. Jesus, the whole country is turning into Utah.

And I am guessing TSA and other Fatherland Security departments are packed with Mormons. The CIA goes to BYU to recruit. They make great Nazi's.

BTW, I grew up Mormon and no play lists are their thing. They banned 'Dreamboat Annie' from our dances for Chrissakes. I guess they thought the word, 'caress' would make us go into the closet and rub our naughty parts all over each other. We had to listen to Barry fucking Manilow. Yes, I smell, 'Mormon' all over this TSA thing.

[cali]

57. Satire, satire, satire.

[liberalmuse]

59. Oh fuck! You just never know these days.

Most the time I can spot these things and the devil icon is usually a big tip off. Oh well, it was high time I broke out the 'Mormon' rant anyway.

[blondeatlast]

60. Remember Ask the Admins on Sunday mornings?

This thread SOOO reminds me of that.

[Vickers]

58. lol!

:thumbsup:

[scarletwoman]

61. Damn! Do you think they're on to I.C.I.C.L.E.?

Paul was our Minnesota cell leader! :hide:

(International Coalition of Intentional Contempters for Lampooning & Effrontery)

[alcibiades_mystery]

93. I do love ICICLE

Although it never caught on with our Florida brethren.

[scarletwoman]

104. I'm thinking that Florida might be ready to sign on after this past week.

No one expects I.C.I.C.L.E.

Bwahahahahahahaha...

[InkAddict]

63. HaHa, Good one - What popped into my head was DU's very

own "cult" song, officially played here on Thanksgiving
Day and seemingly on the "no-play" list the rest of the year.

You Can Get Anything You Want at Alice's Restaurant.

Fool me once....can't get fooled again.

I got no ticket for an airplane
Ain't got time for a fast train...then there's

Leaving on a jet plane
Don't know when I'll be back again...no really


ROTFL...I prefer: Get your motor running, Head out on the Hiway
Lookin' for adventure, and whatever comes my way..

That's the the better way to travel now. What with security, blizzards, and those dastardly disruptor causing delays, you'll likely get there first this way anyhow.

[arcadian]

70. Is this satire?

I wish there was a net nanny on DU who could point this out, say by spamming the thread with, "This is so obviously satire"

[cali]

71. seeing as there were people blind to the obvious as well as the icon

denoting it as satire, I was happy to provide that service.

[taterguy]

73. I think Arcadian was being sarcastic when he said he wished there was a Net Nanny around

But seriously, why it is it necessary?

[Marr]

72. The funniest thing about this thread isn't the general failure to catch the satire...

because the "joke" just isn't very funny, IMHO. Hard to blame people for not spotting satire when the humor sucks.

The funny thing to me is that no one seemed to click on the link to read the actual article. :p The link is broken.

[blondeatlast]

92. That's part of the joke...

;)

[myrna minx]

75. LOL.

Actually "Unsatisfied" is our local anthem as cabin fever sets in around February. :scared: :crazy:

[hileeopnyn8d]

79. Man, that sucks...

first he got nabbed for shooting dirty pool, now this.


Thumbs up, alcibiades_mystery, you're kinda like an artist. ;)

[helderheid]

81. HA!

:rofl: :spray: :thumbsup:

[change_notfinetuning]

85. LOTD, possibly the week. Laughter is the best medicine. Thanks. n/t

[Brickbat]

89. I love it when the comments provide even better humor than the OP.

Thanks for a laugh.

[Truth2Tell]

90. This thread explodes with win from the very start.

[Midlodemocrat]

96. B 52s are on the no-play list as well.

Because they suck.

[TZ]

97. Nice post, Symarip

Freak.:P

[Symarip]

101. I'd like to point out

I've never said a disparaging word against the Bee Five Two's. I think Mesopotamia is a fine album, as is Bouncing of the Satellites.

[TZ]

105. ***shocked speechless***

I think this *might* be the first time I heard you say something in praise of a musical group I like (although I seem to vaguely remember you saying that Queen did some kinda okay stuff)...:wow:

[Johnny ramone]

107. Why are you so shocked and awed ?

You seem to be buddies or maybe not? :shrug:

[TZ]

108. Its a running joke from the lounge

That all the music I like is "shitty" according to Symarip...:)

[snooper2]

98. This thread is fucking hilarious

:rofl: :rofl: :rofl:


Glad it happened to be the second thread I clicked on :)

[Johnny ramone]

106. Maybe you should quit ...

While you're ahead.:P

[RetroLounge]

100. Pure gold, this thread

Now if only we can have a NanceRants thread about this thread!

:rofl:

RL

[rocktivity]

102. As a music journalist with a concentration in non-commerical rock

I would know of a TSA no-play list if there really was such a thing. Besides, why would they penalize him for playing it in concert? The link now leads to a dead page--did, the StarTrib think the story was real and posted it, or is is part of the joke?

:rofl:
rocktivity

[alcibiades_mystery]

103. Use your best judgment

[mascarax]

110. Paul in a DU thread! I like it...

Oh, if only someone were lonely and actually listened to this great song.