by Matt Barr

You can't listen to that!

A friend (who may not see this post unless I include the word "abortion" in it) directed me to this post reproducing in its entirety a piece by John Miller in National Review: Rockin' the Right, Miller's list of 50 conservative-themed rock songs. The point of the post and its comments seems to be that conservatives aren't, in fact, allowed to listen to these songs. What is it with people? How many times have you had to endure a tortured explanation about why some Republican grudgingly admitted to be great (Lincoln, TR) wasn't really a Republican? I don't understand the self-esteem wrapped up in no Republicans or conservatives having sullied something by their reverence or enjoyment of it.

Longtime readers, all six of you, will recall my Valentine's Day libertarian love songs playlist -- sorry, it's scrolled off the radio.blog now. These things aren't easy to come up with, compared to, say, the five seconds it would take you to make a list of "progressive"-themed rock songs.

Miller's list has some head-scratchers -- My City Was Gone? Ok, it's Rush Limbaugh's theme, but also sort of an anti-development and -homogeneity anthem. Red Barchetta? Defying the law isn't supposed to be "conservative," is it? Particularly a Big Brotheresque, oppressive one? It's probably Alberto Gonzales (or pick your right wing boogyman from 1980) driving that two-lane-wide gleaming alloy aircar. But still, I admire the effort. You can -- and commenters at the link do -- disagree with many of the songs being included. Because, you know, HEY! WE OWN SONGS, NOT YOU SQUARES!

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