Boss blasts Bush: 10 questions with Bruce Springsteen

"America's future rests in a thousand dreams inside our hearts. It rests in the message of hope so many young people admire: New Jersey's own Bruce Springsteen."
-President Ronald Reagan, Sept. 19, 1984

Bruce Springsteen did a noble thing by reprinting Al Gore's speech blasting Bush on his website.

As the creator of the Springsteen Indicator (as reported by Laurel Wellman in the San Francisco Chronicle back before 9/11), I feel I have a great deal of authority to speak to the real world implications of Springsteen's actions. The Springsteen Indicator is an economic theory that has been widely accepted by some of my friends since it was first printed. The thinking went, "We won't officially know we are in a recession until the Boss releases a new album."

While meant as a joke, it was funny because of America's association of The Boss and the trickle-down, voodoo, Reagonomics that hurt so many during the last Republican recession. Springsteen has a long history of blasting inequitable economic policy, from the Born in the USA album to his spat with Reagan and the GOP using the title song at rallies.

If The Boss is ready to step back into the political spotlight, this is wonderful news for everyone who understands the urgency of throwing Bush out of office. For one, Springsteen has amazing street-cred as a hero of the regular guy. Yes "regular guy" as in "white male" as in the very people the Democratic Party needs to awaken to the incompetence of Bush. Sure, the vast majority will still vote for Bush, but hopefully they'll lose some enthusiasm.

That, and for many white women, Bruce Springsteen is still a sex symbol. For example:

"They are more likely to be white than black, female than male, married than single, and live in the suburbs rather than in large cities. They are not frequent churchgoers nor gun enthusiasts. They are clustered in swing states like Ohio, Michigan and here in Pennsylvania."

Given the title of this rant, you're probably assuming that quote is describing people who own a Bruce Springsteen album or have been to a concert. Actually, that quote is from Friday's New York Times' article on swing voters.

Since I've already create an economic principle involving The Boss, time for a political one.

THE OFFICIAL BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN POLITICAL INDICATOR:

While listening to Bruce Springsteen, voters are more likely to identify with anti-Republican, populist views.

This has the potential of creating an effect beyond New Jersey (Kerry's double-digit lead will only increase as this hits the streets). But only if people are listening to the Boss.

That is why the rumor of a September concert is so appealing to this Bush-wacker. A strong (and cool) populist counterpoint to the Republican convention has the potential mitigate the traditional convention bounce. Additionally, if such a concert had a tone critical of the obvious GOP exploitation of 9/11, Bruce Springsteen could almost single-handedly turn Bush's own convention into a net political loss for the president.

Political Positioning

While I'd be more than happy with The Boss throwing a free concert in New York during the GOP convention, some are already seeing this as a sign The Boss might be looking for the #2 spot on Kerry's ticket.

While highly unlikely, it does make sense on a number of levels.

So I sat down, turned it up, and loved every minute of my exclusive interview with Bruce Springsteen:

ARE VOTERS BETTER OFF THAN FOUR YEARS AGO??
I had a job, I had a girl
I had something going mister in this world
I got laid off down at the lumber yard
Our love went bad, times got hard
Now I work down at the carwash
Where all it ever does is rain
Don't you feel like you're a rider on a downbound train
Bruce Springsteen's Downbound Train

EXPLAIN THE MESSAGE YOU HOPE TO CONVEY TO VOTERS.
There's a war outside still raging
you say it ain't ours anymore to win
I want to sleep beneath peaceful skies in my lover's bed
with a wide open country in my eyes
and these romantic dreams in my head
No retreat no surrender
Bruce Springsteen's No Surrender

WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THE ECONOMY?
I got a job working construction for the Johnstown Company
But lately there ain't been much work on account of the economy
Now all them things that seemed so important
Well mister they vanished right into the air
Now I just act like I don't remember
Mary acts like she don't care
Bruce Springsteen's The River

WHAT ARE YOUR VIEWS ON RACE RELATIONS?
In `65 tension was running high at my high school
There was a lot of fights between the black and white
There was nothing you could do
Two cars at a light on a Saturday night in the back seat there was a gun
Words were passed in a shotgun blast
Troubled times had come to my hometown
Bruce Springsteen's My Hometown

IN THE 1980's YOU WERE A VOCAL OPPONENT OF REAGANOMICS. HOW DO YOU FEEL NOW THAT BUSH HAS RESURRECTED SUPPLY-SIDE ECONOMICS?
Well now everything dies baby that's a fact
But maybe everything that dies someday comes back...
Well I got a job and tried to put my money away
But I got debts that no honest man can pay
Bruce Springsteen's Atlantic City

WHAT ARE YOUR VIEWS ON OUTSOURCING?
Now Main Street's whitewashed windows and vacant stores
Seems like there ain't nobody wants to come down here no more
They're closing down the textile mill across the railroad tracks
Foreman says these jobs are going boys and they ain't coming back to your hometown
Bruce Springsteen's My Hometown

WILL THE POLITICAL ESTABLISHMENT ACCEPT YOU AS A VICE-PRESIDENTIAL NOMINEE?
I don't give a damn
For the same old played out scenes
I don't give a damn
For just the in betweens
Honey, I want the heart, I want the soul
I want control right now
talk about a dream
Try to make it real
Bruce Springsteen's Badlands

WILL CYNICAL VOTERS ACCEPT YOU?
So you've been broken and you've been hurt
Show me somebody who ain't
Yeah, I know I ain't nobody's bargain
But, hell, a little touchup
and a little paint...
Bruce Springsteen's Human Touch

WHAT MAKES YOU THINK A KERRY/SPRINGSTEEN TICKET WILL WIN?
...baby we were born to run...
We'll run till we drop, baby we'll never go back
Bruce Springsteen's Born to Run

ARE YOU WILLING TO JOIN JOHN KERRY'S TICKET AS THE DEMOCRATIC NOMINEE FOR VICE-PRESIDENT?
This gun's for hire!
Bruce Springsteen's Dancin' in the Dark

Bruce Springsteen for Vice President

- Bob Brigham
Bob Brigham Politics: Bay to the Beltway
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