Johnny Rotten, Neocon Punk Rocker (?)

The Weekly Standard ^ | August 20, 2010 | Benjamin Weinthal

[GunningForTheBuddha]

I really resent the presumption that I'm going there to play to right-wing Nazi jews [sic]. If Elvis-f-ing-Costello wants to pull out of a gig in Israel because he's suddenly got this compassion for Palestinians, then good on him. But I have absolutely one rule, right? Until I see an Arab country, a Muslim country, with a democracy, I won't understand how anyone can have a problem with how they're treated.

[GunningForTheBuddha]

...but he thinks tea-partiers are chimpanzees? Maybe John should read something outside of the MSM every now and then.

[WackySam]

Rotten doesn’t have a conservative bone in his body.

[LadyBuck]

If nothing else, Johnny Rotten’s candor is refreshing.

I remember he covered one of the GOP Conventions for MTV and did a surprisingly great (and entertaining) job.

[cripplecreek]

He lives for controversy and attention.

His greatest claim to fame at this point is simply that he’s still breathing.

[GunningForTheBuddha]

I actually like a lot of his music but I think he likes to argue just for arguments sake.

[cripplecreek]

I think he likes to argue just for arguments sake.

I think thats an accurate description.

[SkiKnee]

During the 2000 campaign he had a half-hour show on VH1 called “Rotten TV”. He came off as quite conservative in that program, interviewing Gingrich very positively and telling one of the leftist Baldwin brothers to “...shut up, you’re boring me!”
That show was centered around the political conventions. He even attended the Libertarian National Convention in Anaheim, CA. I saw him there.

[Maverick68]

Best Rotten quote: “If you don’t want to be a popstar, simply stop being a popstar....”

[Ol' Sparky]

Apparently, the author isn't aware this creep made the following comments a few months ago:

http://209.157.64.200/focus/news/2517467/posts?page=12

"You only spit on your enemies, and I have never been your enemy. Save it for Sarah Palin and the Tea Party chimpanzees."

[GunningForTheBuddha]

Brits can be hard to read sometimes. I’ve had friends from the UK who seem to reflexively swear hatred for anything Tory - but if you get them discussing their own core beliefs they are definitely conservative.

[Yudan]

I don’t want a holiday in the sun
I want to go to the new Belsennn
I wanna see some-uh historeeee
Cuz now I gotta reason-a-ble economeee

{anyone into Social Distortion has certainly been exposed to the Pistols and has heard this}

[henry_reardon]

that’s because the tories aren’t conservative as we understand it. thatcher was for a limited amount of economic freedom but didn’t care too much for real civil liberties like the 2A, in fact she banned civilian ownership of all centerfire semi auto rifles and shotguns in 1988.

[Doe Eyes]

Until I see an Arab country, a Muslim country, with a democracy, I won't understand how anyone can have a problem with how they're treated.

Democracy is not freedom. Democracy is two wolves and a lamb voting on what to eat for lunch.

[Jakarta ex-pat]

“that’s because the tories aren’t conservative as we understand it.”
And republicans are?
As far as I know, NO conservative government exists. period.

[LurkedLongEnough]

Hey, not too hard on the Rotten guy. One of The SP’s big influences was The Ramones, and Johnny Ramone weren’t that bad in his thinking.

“I think Ronald Reagan was the best President of my lifetime.” -Johnny Ramone

[HEM]

Anaaaaaaaaaarchy!!!!

[Poison Pill]

He lives for controversy and attention.

I think that's exactly right. I doubt Johnny Rotten has anything approaching a real political philosophy. There is a certain subset of celebrity that advances themselves in this way. They have a moderate amount of talent and a gift for manipulation and reading the mood of society and then being provocative in the just right way at the right time. Madonna is the Queen Mother.

[Wuli]

Nothing depresses me more than the statements of celebrities like this than the huge number of Americans, including a large number of self-proclaimed “conservatives” that have so much %^%$#@%U interest in what celebrities have to say on ANY subject outside of their own work!!!!!!!

If I had the desire and ability to be a dictator, there would be no celebrity magazines, no celebrity TV shows, no celebrity section in the “newspaper” and no reporting on “celebrities” ANYWHERE ANYTIME outside of simply reporting on their work.

The rest, positive or negative, is a love affair with idol worship, as well as the creation and destruction of such idols.

It certainly has no place in a Christian life and not in a fully functioning rational Conservative life either.

[j-damn]

Right on. What part of “Anarchy” do people not understand?

Lydon’s entire career is built on iconoclasm—without, he’s completely irrelevant.

[SunkenCiv]

This is the story of Johnny Rotten:

I have absolutely one rule, right? Until I see an Arab country, a Muslim country, with a democracy, I won't understand how anyone can have a problem with how they're treated.

Thanks GunningForTheBuddha.