Ay, Oh, Way to Go, Chrissie!

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One of the worst things about the “United” States over the past 25-30 years or so is the fact that many people have simply forgotten how to be civil. It breaks my heart to think that, if (God forbid) something had happened to President Obama, half the country would have celebrated. Ditto the current president. I think one of the things that really started it was the “acceptance” of Senator John Kerry making a joke in 1988: “Somebody told me the other day that the Secret Service has orders that if George Bush is shot, they’re to shoot (Vice President Dan) Quayle.” That’s inappropriate for anybody to say. I don’t like the current president, the former president, or truthfully (with the exception of his stand after 9/11) any president since Reagan. I did like Clinton as a person (he seems nice enough....obviously lots of women thought so, too ); and, I did like the fact that he said he “got the message” when the House changed parties in the ‘96 midterms and actually worked with both parties. But as for wishing ill on them, or any politician I don’t agree with? NO. I hope Nancy Pelosi is defeated. SOUNDLY. I’d also like to see a responsible person in Mitch McConnell’s place in Washington (he’s one of my senators, although I don’t like to say that too loudly). But no physical pain. Now...what does all of this political chat have to do with the Pretenders? Many people may not know it, but the great Pretenders song, “My City Was Gone,” is the theme song to Rush Limbaugh’s radio program. Politically, that’s an odd mix. Pretenders leader Chrissie Hynde is an animal-rights activist and an avowed liberal, while Limbaugh is neither. However, this week Hynde sent an “open letter” to President Trump, telling him that she applauded Limbaugh’s Presidential Medal of Freedom. She also wished Limbaugh the very best in his fight against lung cancer. Back in the ‘90s the publishing company attempted to stop Limbaugh’s use of “My City Was Gone” as his theme song. Chrissie Hynde herself called off the publishing company lawyers, telling them that Limbaugh was free to use the song. Her father, she said this week, was a big fan of the program. “My father and I didn’t always see eye-to-eye,” she explained in the open letter about her agreement to let Limbaugh continue using the song. “We argued a lot but isn’t that the American way? The right to disagree without having your head chopped off?” Wow. Seems like a lot of people in this country have forgotten that. We can be different individuals in thinking and still be friends. If you’ve never heard all of “My City Was Gone” (just that terrific opening with one of the best bass lines of the 80s not played by Tina Weymouth), I’m linking it below. The lyrics to the song are about Hynde (who predominantly lives in England [she was the only American in the Pretenders]) made a visit to her hometown of Cleveland, only to see how it had radically changed for the worse. Her sarcastic, “Ay, oh, way to go Ohio” serves as the chorus. All I can say, honestly, is, ay, oh, way to go, Chrissie Hynde! Thanks for reminding Americans what we’re supposed to be. “My City Was Gone”: