Although a key employee was sentenced in 2002 to two years for embezzling up to $171,000, Seattle's Pike Place Market is generally run pretty well, by a city-chartered non profit whose board is appointed by the City Council, Mayor and market merchants.
It's certainly the city's trademark spot for tourists. The image presented is an appealing one - the foods, sweets, spices and spectacle are all invigorating, even if the crowds can be a bit much at times. It would be nice if the abject nastiness of Seattle's far-left political culture and anti-American values did not have to intrude on The Market. But lately, The Market's overseers appear to have decided they want some bile in their brew.
It's not terribly tourism-savvy for the Pike Place Market Preservation and Development Authority - which grants the permits - to allow street performers at The Market who sing "Dick Cheney: Kiss My Ass." That's what I heard well-known street pianist Jonny Hahn sing yesterday, as I toured The Market with my family and visiting relatives.
If you've been to The Market at all, you've probably seen Hahn: he's the blond, pony-tailed guy playing a brown wooden piano on wheels.
For years at The Market he's played mainly instrumental stuff, of the painfully sappy and bombastic variety, and, based on my repeated Market sightings, saved the "social change" shtick - such as the dire plight of a gentrified Fremont - for other engagements.
However now, he's got an "Impeach Bush" sticker on his piano; and yesterday I heard him launch into a nasty anti-Bush tirade disguised as a song, which included the choice remarks about Vice President Cheney.
More below on another Market performer who thinks the real terrorism in America began with Christopher Columbus.
Hahn is not alone among Market buskers in advocating his far-left politics.
Here's a close up.
Yeah, Columbus was a terrorist. BTW, this guy told me his songs mirrored his stickers.
Let's hand it to the Pike Place Preservation and Development Authority: preserving Seattle's 1968 sensibilities, and developing our city's image as a bastion of American self-loathing.
The fall of Rome is at hand.
Posted by Matt Rosenberg at December 28, 2005 01:22 PM | Email ThisBTW, my grandmother has a sweatshirt with the fighting terrorism slogan. The sell bunches of them at local pow wows.
Posted by: Vince on December 28, 2005 01:56 PMThese people - and their ideological sisters and brothers who post on this site - have no ideas. They have no plan. Nothing but 'We Hate Bush, so Vote for Us'. And when regular, reasonable people hear and see them, they will be shown for what they are: Idiots who cannot be trusted with our nation's security. And those people will vote accordingly. Just like they did in 2000, 2002, 2004 .....
Posted by: jiimg on December 28, 2005 02:21 PMlast one out turn out the lights.
after all in the most liberal city in the US...why would anyone want to be using any of that nasty "big oil" oil????? Posted by: christmasghost on December 28, 2005 02:24 PM
My only problem would be if Pikes Place wasn't allowing a performer who had right wing stickers/music to perform. As long as none apply and get denied, I can't really work up a problem.
I used to frequent the San Luis Obispo, CA farmers market (every Thursday night for most of the year) and you'd see political/religious speech of all stripes as you walked though. Booths, music and signboards (in addition to open pit BBQ and fresh fruit). It was fun, open and a good atmosphere for free speech.
Posted by: Eirik on December 28, 2005 02:25 PMAt last biteme/blowhard/jdb is right! "censorship and poltical (sic) correctness is the last refuge of the wingnut."
The leftist wingnut that is.
Look what Vince says: "vote with you (sic) dollars". Look at jiimg's post: "Let him rant"... Clearly, although normal people are disgusted with that sort of degenerate public display, we don't advocate stiffling their "creative juices" (although I do wish they would use a toilet ;'}
If it were a right-winger, the droolers like jdb would be flinging feces at him. I say let him be. He defines what Seattle has become - an overflowing sewer.....
Bingo. That's why I don't have a 'W' sticker on my car or a Bush/Cheney sign in my yard. The 'diversity' crowd in Seattle is a collection of emotionally overwrought freaks. If you don't agree with them 200%, you must be a Nazi.
As for the clowns downtown, let them rant. Don't pay them and be grateful you're not playing music 20 feet up the street.
I support as few businesses in Seattle as possible. I spend my dollars in areas that are more deserving of my money. I suggest all of you do the same. I work in the SODO district and can't wait to get to the East side so I can breath some fresh air.
Seattle has turned into a liberal sewer and I'm tired of the stench.
Posted by: Jeffro on December 28, 2005 02:57 PMUnfortunately there are times when the tourist spots are unavoidable (visiting family). But let me remind you that there is much more to the Pacific Northwest than fish tossing maroons. We usually do an afternoon of PPM, Elliot Bay and ferry ride. then it's off to the fine lakes, parks and mountains you won't find in Seattle. Fortunately, my relatives don't make it up here very often.
Posted by: Jeffro on December 28, 2005 03:08 PMHe's a traitor, just like W. Send them all to the gallows.
Let them yowl. Let the college professors and newspaper editors, who themselves suppress religious fraternities on campus and censor good news about the Bush administration, fawn over them in public. Birds of a feather.
It's been a long time since the American Communist Party lost their Soviet subsidy for 'people's music', and it will take another generation or two to melt the frozen brains of the three-chorders who don't want to work for a living. At least they don't strap on bomb vests and blow up Bellevue Square.
Posted by: Insufficiently Sensitive on December 28, 2005 03:19 PMPosted by: Peggy U on December 28, 2005 03:49 PM
These people aptly represent the rest of the democrat party . . . the witzes, igs, and winstons of our world;
. . . liberals . . . degenerates . . . lazy, empty-brained, irrational, filthy, and as we can see . . . living large.
They are the “culture” that Proteus says comes from density. (See Posted by Proteus at December 24, 2005 11:17 AM)
The real truth be known, they are the “art” and the “science” as well.
Very amusing indeed.
Thinking that creative lies were more likely than political harangues to fetch baksheesh, we assured the crowd that we'd take our shabby untutored selves out of their peaceful town as soon as they contributed sufficient bus fare. And of course the music was something grand, too.
But now, street musicians have gone wholly political, rehashing all the anti-Nixon rants of yore. Next we know, their reactionary texts will be rewarded by the City Council as something worthy of preserving - sort of like musty architecture or rotted sailboats.
Posted by: Insufficiently Sensitive on December 28, 2005 04:20 PMPosted by: Peggy U on December 28, 2005 04:47 PM
As you point out in the beginning of your post, the Pike Place Market is more or less a part of the city goverment. Under what legal reasoning does the city have the right to engage in the kind of "viewpoint discirmination" and stifling of free speach that you appear to desire? Posted by: John on December 28, 2005 05:20 PM
Let this pathetic SOB sing all he wants.
Does anyone really believe he cultivates new Bush-haters??? Au contraire, his horrible music is offensive....but the lyrics make him sound like a meth-addicted Jerry Garcia wannabe. A crazed KLOWN who actually missed the 60's and is delighted to get a second chance!!
The more these KLOWNS try to convert Seattle to the "Berkley of the North", the more middle-ground people will say enough is enough.
I think this MARXIST PINHEAD should have his own TV Show. The more exposure, the better! Posted by: Mr. Cynical on December 28, 2005 07:20 PM
I rarely get to the Pike Place Market, but next time any of you go there....bring a bar of soap and put it in his "Tip Jar". That'll scare him away! Seriously....my wife & I spend a night in downtown Seattle every couple of months. Next time, I will take a bar of soap from the Hyatt Regency (quality soap) and put it in his Tip Jar!
This unwashed hippy scum could also use some mouthwash....since he hasn't brushed his teeth in 2 decades, don't bother giving him an toothpastes.
SOAP FOR JONNY THE FOUL SMELLING HIPPY!!
Posted by: Mr. Cynical on December 28, 2005 07:25 PM
"It's not terribly tourism-savvy for the Pike Place Market Preservation and Development Authority - which grants the permits - to allow street performers at The Market who sing..."
Are you advocating censorship? Last I noticed, Pike Place Market is a public forum. You may disagree with the artist's sentiments, but the post suggests you would prefer to go a step further to make the Market more "tourist savvy." How would you go about this? Prohibiting "controversial" points of view? Imposing quotas in order to ensure "balanced" ideological content?
Whatever happened to the notion of the public square and the marketplace of ideas? If you are looking for "tourist savvy" venues go to Pacific Place or Bellevue Square. If you're looking for kindred ideological spirits, go to a Toby Keith concert or a NASCAR race. If you are an artist with a different point of view, take a corner and express it.
Put up or shut up and quite your querulous whinging.
Posted by: bartelby on December 28, 2005 08:13 PMIf your reading comprehension was above the 3rd grade level you'd be able to gather that no one (except liberal POS like you) have mentioned censorship.
And it isn't "whinging" (querulous or otherwise). In case you hadn't noticed, this is every bit as much the "public square and the marketplace of ideas" and we are expressing a "different point of view" (you boob!).
So go do your "whinging" someplace else you POS!
Posted by: alphabet soup on December 28, 2005 09:50 PMSo lefties and other nutballs sing songs against your leader and have weird political views. SHOCKING. Would you like some cheese with your whine? If you want to show Mom and Pop a truly awful s---hole, go to the Tacoma Mall. And make sure you're packing.
Posted by: Guy Who Throws Fish on December 29, 2005 12:53 AMIf you think all the buskers are "far left" you obviously don't know what you are talking about. One finds everything from gospel groups singing to bagpipes to classical music. How exactly does the city promote any of the buskers? Last I checked the city charged them to be licensed. Posted by: john on December 29, 2005 01:05 AM
Matt, seriously, I love your writing, but you should pay the 30 bucks (anyone can do it!) and go play a guitar and sing the great standards...
"Ode To Energy Deregulation"
"FEMA Ain't Nowhere To Be Found"
and my fave, "Social Security, Oh How They Did Ya Wrong"
You can figure out the lyrics for yourself. A little ideological balance would be healthy down there. If I see you, I'll toss you a buck.
Posted by: Guy Who Throws Fish on December 29, 2005 01:20 AMAnyhow, this is what the left has come to: all they have to sell to the public is hatred of anything having to do with President Bush. If that doesn't work, then they turn up the hate volume even more. And if that doesn't work, then they REALLY start getting spiteful. Then they wonder why mainstreet USA and the heartland won't vote for them. Posted by: Misty on December 29, 2005 02:23 AM
Embrace the scum, and let Seattle show the tourist who visit PPM how truly "open minded" and "free spirited" Seattle truly is. Allow the visitor to "experience" and share with others the "once" bathed, toothless "performers". I can picture it now "Judy, from Florida, explaining to her young child, how "Jonny Hahn" is "expressing" his love of his country in song". Making quite an impression on Judy and her daughter I am sure.
But for Pete's Sakes Judy, dont light up that cigarette, you might start a riot.
Pathetic, truly Pathetic........
Posted by: Chris on December 29, 2005 06:47 AMGreat idea . . . I'm doin it (maybe liquid soap), and hopin' he takes offense.
Bartleby,
Right bonehead, all of us right wing rednecks want to shut up all of you left wing degenerates because of intolerance.
So shut up you bonehead!! . . . shut up . . you hear me?
Thanks for the foolishness and . . . "querulous whinging."???
What an amusing moron you are.
Are you sure you aren’t witz or headlice/winston?
Alphabet soup writes: If your reading comprehension was above the 3rd grade level you'd be able to gather that no one (except liberal POS like you) have mentioned censorship.
Alphabet, how is "not allowing" different from censorship?
Perhaps we should ask for your WASL reading comprehension scores...
Posted by: Bruce on December 29, 2005 10:22 AMand I can see the piano player. I have a clear
shot. I'm going to launch water balloons. He
won't know where they are coming from. This
should be good.
Posted by: mark on December 29, 2005 10:32 AM
Add some soap to the water before filling them up!!! You might want to use warm water, better cleaning effect.
Posted by: Chris on December 29, 2005 10:39 AMDick Cheney and Bush are examples of everything that is wrong and before you say that they have the support of the heartland, remember that they only go 51% of the vote. That means nearly half the country doesn't support them and it is the half that lives in cities for the most part.
I find it amusing when right wingers and Christians complain about persecution when they have a president gutting the constitution as we speak. Poor babies.
Posted by: Al on December 29, 2005 11:08 AMIt's no surprise that this fad has trickled down to the street vendors, beggars and corner bums.
Leftists in Seattle prefer ad hominem to real arguments, because it makes them feel good and engenders them to their bashing peers, sympathetic tourists who expect a leftist Seattle, etc. And because they don't have any arguments that are winning over people with reason. Emotion is their only sell.
Let's let them live in their fantasy land and further dminish any real stature of their party.
Posted by: Jeff B. on December 29, 2005 11:13 AMWe do remember. It's called a majority, by those who can pass the WASL, and is sufficient to actually win an election. That's according to the Constitution, gutted or ungutted.
Terribly sorry for your exquisite pain and suffering, but if Democrats had a constructive program instead of pandering to filthy rich lefties, they might some day win an election by honest counting of votes.
Posted by: Insufficiently Sensitive on December 29, 2005 11:20 AMAny politician who is as evil and sinister as liberals say Dick Cheney and Bush are, would be Democrats because they are so easy to fool. Liberals will believe anything. Easy pickins.
Imagine pride over simpleton Sims, or Christine Gregoire, or Teddy Kennedy, Dick Durban, Harry Reed, Howard Dean, Nancy Pelosi, or Patty Murray. What a crew!
The difference is that honesty takes courage and the American people are respecting Bush and Cheney's courage more and more as they see Democrats reveal the truth about the alternative-liberalism. The media cannot cover it up forever because they are losing market share. Democrats are pinning their hopes on a couple of phony legal scuffles conjured by liberal hacks who play dirty politics, and they are in for a big surprise. Everyone but the true-believer ding-bats like Al see it for what it is.
2006 is going to be a great year for conservatives. National hilarity over vapid impeachment nonsense, collapse of the Iranian and Syrian governments under pressure from the Bush administration, exposure of Hillary's criminal activities, defeat of Democrats filibuster and confirmation of Alito, return of the Supreme Court from liberal activism and corruption, dismissal of charges against Libby and DeLay, more Republican seats in mid-term elections, vindication of the Patriot Act and wiretapping authority.
What songs do you suppose Al will be singing then?
Posted by: Amused by liberals on December 29, 2005 12:30 PMRead your constitution again and look for the word "elector". The U.S. president is not elected by majority vote. In 2000, Gore got half a million votes more than Bush.
Bush did win the popular vote in 2004. But after you read the constitution, try re-reading the comment that you disparaged. The poster didn't deny that Bush won both elections. He merely said that he lacks an overwhelming mandate, and any mandate in the cities.
Of course, the fact that these buskers reflect the views of most of their audience doesn't make them more virtuous; it merely makes them smart businesspeople.
Posted by: Bruce on December 29, 2005 12:59 PMYou forgot about the Republican Judge Bridges's making the "correct" call about the governor's race, David Irons's resounding victory over Ron Sims, and the flowers that the Iraqi people would toss while kissing the feet of their American liberators. Happy New Year.
Posted by: Bruce on December 29, 2005 01:04 PM"It must be lonely being a right wing whacko in the liberal Pacific Northwest. Unfortunately, we've always been liberal out here so maybe you should just move to your "heartland" and call it a day."
so....seattle has always been liberal? are you sure you want to stick with that "always" and "liberal"?
you moved to seattle just in time to attend high school where they taught you that always was code for 25 years?
get real.....as a person with family members that were washington pioneers i can tell you that old washington was anything but liberal. gregoire and her "all white " sorority ring and bells for you? Posted by: christmasghost on December 29, 2005 01:13 PM
I'll second that. Remember 1959 in (liberal) Seattle?
Beg to differ. All he needs is a majority of the electors. It's in the Constitution. What's so hard to understand?
Granted, no Pike Street folksingers are warbling the praises of the electoral college, but they adore lots of undemocratic ideas like affirmative action - and the Growth Management Act.
Posted by: Insufficiently Sensitive on December 29, 2005 01:58 PMBruce - you twit.
Go back and re-read the comments - you twit.
Katomar sez: "And shame on Pike Place for allowing offensive political performances, whether liberal or conservative." Notice that he doesn't say "not allowing" - you twit. (Oh, and BTW: absolutely shame on them - but for being idiots, not just bad businessmen!)
Eirik sez: "My only problem would be if Pikes Place wasn't allowing a performer who had right wing stickers/music to perform." Once again, look closely (I've even bolded it out for you because I understand that you're kinda slow), Eirik didn't say "not allowing" - you twit.
Your question is leading, and based on your inability to comprehend simple English. It's OK. I know that you're a product of public education. And I realize that you are blinded by all the effluent that you've chosen to consume from the Democrat toilet.
Looking forward to kicking your ass in 2006!
You twit
Posted by: alphabet soup on December 29, 2005 02:13 PMThat was last year moron.
Thanks though, nice cut and paste. Can you do coloring as well?
Posted by: Amused by liberals on December 29, 2005 02:46 PM"Gonna get ugly,
Gettin' real ugly,
Makin' Seattle ugly fast
Pretty city, pretty city,
Turn it around and sell it out
Pretty city, prettiest city,
Gonna turn it inside out" Posted by: Mr. Cynical on December 29, 2005 03:12 PM
"We will be up and running soon. If you have any questions email us at info@jonnyhahn.com.
Website will be www.jonnyhahn.com
Jonny is actually asking us to e-mail him!!!!!!
What fun that will be!
Interactive communication with a stinking KLOWN! Posted by: Mr. Cynical on December 29, 2005 03:19 PM
Let Jonny Hahn do his thing; he's preaching to the choir most of the time. Anyone else with a bit of brain left doesn't even bother with the PPM any longer. Out of town relatives can be persuaded to visit the Bellevue Square Mall, take a ferry ride or an Argosy cruise on Lk. Washington, see Snoqualmie Falls and eat at the Lodge, drive to the North Cascades or go up to the San Juans.
The PPM is just too old hat any more, since many other cities have local produce markets also.
Besides, the fish at the PPM are not all that fress, the prices are high and the produce isn't the best available.
Posted by: Clean House on December 29, 2005 07:20 PMand as he put it, there was NOTHING liberal about seattle.
and clean house...BINGO....you said it.PPM is horrible. and that's all seattle is known for outside the looney belt[seattle].
one thing i could never figure out, is with so much rain why is everything in seattle[especially PPM] so dirty?????? even the worst parts of san francisco [are there any really???] are much cleaner and by far more interesting.
and you are right about the fish too....overpriced and not fresh.
overpriced coffee, dirty pike place market, space needle that has been in existance for about two seconds in the big scheme of things, and skid row.
WHEW....... what a tourist spot.
but it still makes me laugh. Posted by: christmasghost on December 29, 2005 08:11 PM
there pee on everything, just like rats in a cage.
Wait till the great visionary leaders around here
get done packing you guys in. Ever notice how tight all the housing is getting. Just great
during natural on unnatural disasters. Such
beautiful freeway planning downtown. Maybe they
could narrow it down to one lane. Posted by: mark on December 29, 2005 09:51 PM
his opinions are protected--but so are mine--for thinking his "tip pot" is my "chamber pot"
http://www.king5.com/localnews/stories/NW_030405WABbuskerEL.10779b67a.html?hp
Posted by: Peggy U on December 31, 2005 12:47 AMHeck, it's not just the singers they don't like -- they'd like to bulldoze the cities the singers sing in, too, it seems to me.
Seriously, if somebody's singing a rude song about it on the streets, the pressure valves are working. That's what good city design does.
Posted by: Ed Darrell on January 8, 2006 11:30 PMhttp://www.vpro.nl/programma/tegenlicht/afleveringen/11838857/ the introduction is in Danish but the rest is in English. Watch if you are not afraid ....BA BA BA You may have sold your soul to the devil.
The poets and musicians at the Market are singing the truth. Trying by PARABLE to wake up the sheep like you who are marching LOCK STEP with the Bush Family Evil Empire.
Posted by: sandr on January 22, 2006 06:23 AMOr maybe you could just have DICK and George send him to Guantanamo or other eastern bloc concentration camp run by the flag-waving sellouts that are as unAmerican as Adolph, Mao and Saddam.
Or you could just "rendition" him, like Stalin did and George DOES. Where are those OVENS when you need them, huh? Posted by: M. M. FitzPatrick on January 26, 2006 07:57 AM