Finally, politicians who understand popular culture
April 13, 2011 9:41 AM Subscribe
> Your tax dollars at work.
Actually, they pretty explicitly state that they did this off the clock and with volunteer time.
In fact, I wish this was the result of government excess, not this.
posted by mrzarquon at 9:48 AM on April 13, 2011 [4 favorites]
Actually, they pretty explicitly state that they did this off the clock and with volunteer time.
In fact, I wish this was the result of government excess, not this.
posted by mrzarquon at 9:48 AM on April 13, 2011 [4 favorites]
what hath 4chan wrought.
posted by empath at 9:50 AM on April 13, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by empath at 9:50 AM on April 13, 2011 [1 favorite]
Next up, 2girls1cup!
posted by kmz at 9:50 AM on April 13, 2011 [6 favorites]
posted by kmz at 9:50 AM on April 13, 2011 [6 favorites]
Your tax dollars at Rick.
posted by The Card Cheat at 9:51 AM on April 13, 2011
posted by The Card Cheat at 9:51 AM on April 13, 2011
Your tax dollars at work.
And yet, if Wal-Mart's office staff did this, we probably wouldn't be hysterical about "Our Grocery Dollars At Work."
Yeah, yeah. The government is held to a different degree of accountability, but this also didn't cost anything, lightened the mood in the legislative chamber, and gave a focus to local politics (while also showing that the politicians are, in fact, Real People).
Yesterday, Rand Paul interrupted an Energy Committee hearing to read verbatim from Ayn Rand's Anthem to make some point about the tyranny of energy-efficient lightbulbs. Honestly, I'll take the words of Mr. Astley in our legislative chambers any day over those of Ms. Rand.
Like last time, Sen. Paul's rant was offtopic for the hearing, and given to (what is probably) the wrong committee. Ironically, the last hearing that he derailed was, in fact, about lightbulbs, although his rant at the time was about toilets. Also, his staff continue to re-encode videos at the wrong aspect ratio, resolution, and crop factor for some reason.
Sorry for that derail, but this is probably the most innocuous thing I've seen happen in a legislative chamber over the past decade. Smile, and move on.
posted by schmod at 9:57 AM on April 13, 2011 [31 favorites]
And yet, if Wal-Mart's office staff did this, we probably wouldn't be hysterical about "Our Grocery Dollars At Work."
Yeah, yeah. The government is held to a different degree of accountability, but this also didn't cost anything, lightened the mood in the legislative chamber, and gave a focus to local politics (while also showing that the politicians are, in fact, Real People).
Yesterday, Rand Paul interrupted an Energy Committee hearing to read verbatim from Ayn Rand's Anthem to make some point about the tyranny of energy-efficient lightbulbs. Honestly, I'll take the words of Mr. Astley in our legislative chambers any day over those of Ms. Rand.
Like last time, Sen. Paul's rant was offtopic for the hearing, and given to (what is probably) the wrong committee. Ironically, the last hearing that he derailed was, in fact, about lightbulbs, although his rant at the time was about toilets. Also, his staff continue to re-encode videos at the wrong aspect ratio, resolution, and crop factor for some reason.
Sorry for that derail, but this is probably the most innocuous thing I've seen happen in a legislative chamber over the past decade. Smile, and move on.
posted by schmod at 9:57 AM on April 13, 2011 [31 favorites]
Boy, those lawmakers sure pulled one over on themselves alright.
posted by DU at 9:58 AM on April 13, 2011
posted by DU at 9:58 AM on April 13, 2011
I dunno, I think it's kind of cool (speaking as a non-American). In a country where politics is so incredibly divisive that the two sides might as well be on different continental shelves, and whose political clashes are so often depicted as seismic in their seriousness and intensity, here's a small example of the ability of these two factions to work together. OK, so it didn't get any legislative work done. But I'm heartened to see this kind of cooperation just the same.
Now, Oregon, show us you can put that cooperative spirit to legislative use, and give the world some hope!
posted by LN at 10:06 AM on April 13, 2011 [2 favorites]
Now, Oregon, show us you can put that cooperative spirit to legislative use, and give the world some hope!
posted by LN at 10:06 AM on April 13, 2011 [2 favorites]
Oregon state legislators are odd animals in the political world. They are mostly part-timers with other jobs and the government is structured to be that way. After the election the house was even split Dems and Republicans. Was there a huge fight? Yes, for Oregonians: they came up with an unprecedented power sharing agreement with co-speakers within a few weeks.
Seriously, it is a magical state. When I moved here to run a political campaign I was ready to bring my cut-throat tactics with me and call our opponent a pedophile or puppy-murderer. But it has been all love and hugs and friendly chats over coffee with your opponents.
This wonderful video is just more hugs and kisses all. Welcome to Oregon.
posted by munchingzombie at 10:09 AM on April 13, 2011 [22 favorites]
Seriously, it is a magical state. When I moved here to run a political campaign I was ready to bring my cut-throat tactics with me and call our opponent a pedophile or puppy-murderer. But it has been all love and hugs and friendly chats over coffee with your opponents.
This wonderful video is just more hugs and kisses all. Welcome to Oregon.
posted by munchingzombie at 10:09 AM on April 13, 2011 [22 favorites]
schmod: "Yesterday, Rand Paul interrupted an Energy Committee hearing to read verbatim from Ayn Rand's Anthem to make some point about the tyranny of energy-efficient lightbulbs."
Piece of evidence #5467 that we're all living in a heavy-handed political satire.
posted by brundlefly at 10:35 AM on April 13, 2011 [5 favorites]
Piece of evidence #5467 that we're all living in a heavy-handed political satire.
posted by brundlefly at 10:35 AM on April 13, 2011 [5 favorites]
From the commentary before the video, it sounds like the reps inserted lines from the song into their regular comments before the House - and then these lines were edited together to form the rickroll video. In other words, Republicans & Democrats working together for a spirit of fun AND getting work done.
I think the world just ended.
posted by sandraregina at 10:49 AM on April 13, 2011
I think the world just ended.
posted by sandraregina at 10:49 AM on April 13, 2011
The dream of the '80s is alive in Salem.
posted by .kobayashi. at 11:01 AM on April 13, 2011 [12 favorites]
posted by .kobayashi. at 11:01 AM on April 13, 2011 [12 favorites]
schmod: "Yesterday, Rand Paul interrupted an Energy Committee hearing to read verbatim from Ayn Rand's Anthem to make some point about the tyranny of energy-efficient lightbulbs"
"The chair recognizes the Honorable Frosh Bonglord from Kentucky."
posted by boo_radley at 11:12 AM on April 13, 2011
"The chair recognizes the Honorable Frosh Bonglord from Kentucky."
posted by boo_radley at 11:12 AM on April 13, 2011
I suppose this means that Rick Astley is ALSO an Illuminati lizardman in hiding?
posted by Harry at 11:18 AM on April 13, 2011
posted by Harry at 11:18 AM on April 13, 2011
Next up, 2girls1cup!
Honestly sounds better than the alternative 2parties1budget...
posted by samsara at 11:39 AM on April 13, 2011 [8 favorites]
Honestly sounds better than the alternative 2parties1budget...
posted by samsara at 11:39 AM on April 13, 2011 [8 favorites]
Up is what I'm never going to give you.
Down is what I'm never going to let you.
Around is where I'm never going to run,
Desert is what I'm never going to do to you.
Cry is what I'm never going to make you.
Goodbye is what I'm never going to say.
Lies are what I'm never going to tell,
Hurt is what I'm never going to do to you.
posted by blue_beetle at 12:00 PM on April 13, 2011 [4 favorites]
Down is what I'm never going to let you.
Around is where I'm never going to run,
Desert is what I'm never going to do to you.
Cry is what I'm never going to make you.
Goodbye is what I'm never going to say.
Lies are what I'm never going to tell,
Hurt is what I'm never going to do to you.
posted by blue_beetle at 12:00 PM on April 13, 2011 [4 favorites]
Assuming that any state institution is always already the furthest point from any popular cultural product, we can thank the Oregonian legislative body and the powers of science for an authentication of how long, more or less, it takes for a internet meme to traverse the entirety of the American media digestive tract, from mouth to anus.
According to Wikipedia, the first rick roll occurred on /v/ in 2007.
ergo: 4 years.
By these numbers, Rebecca Black will be gracing the DOJ sometime in 2014.
posted by m_steven_a at 12:42 PM on April 13, 2011 [1 favorite]
According to Wikipedia, the first rick roll occurred on /v/ in 2007.
ergo: 4 years.
By these numbers, Rebecca Black will be gracing the DOJ sometime in 2014.
posted by m_steven_a at 12:42 PM on April 13, 2011 [1 favorite]
Yeah, did it take 4 years for the Rick Roll legislation to pass or something?
posted by orme at 12:46 PM on April 13, 2011
posted by orme at 12:46 PM on April 13, 2011
Yeah, did it take 4 years for the Rick Roll legislation to pass or something?
The lyrics were broken up and slipped into comments about different bills; every one of those bills passed.
posted by msalt at 2:31 PM on April 13, 2011
The lyrics were broken up and slipped into comments about different bills; every one of those bills passed.
posted by msalt at 2:31 PM on April 13, 2011
This is a blatant attempt by the legislature to curry favor with Metafilter, one of Oregon's largest employers (with a workforce of over 2).
posted by msalt at 6:08 PM on April 13, 2011
posted by msalt at 6:08 PM on April 13, 2011
> This is a blatant attempt by the legislature to curry favor with Metafilter, one of Oregon's largest employers (with a workforce of over 2).
Also, the ancillary benefits of increased donut sales and beer consumption resulting in Metafilter keeping it's offices in Oregon, instead of escaping to WA or similar less funny states.
posted by mrzarquon at 6:33 PM on April 13, 2011
Also, the ancillary benefits of increased donut sales and beer consumption resulting in Metafilter keeping it's offices in Oregon, instead of escaping to WA or similar less funny states.
posted by mrzarquon at 6:33 PM on April 13, 2011
« Older Yellowstone is big. No, really. Big. | Don't ask me what I want it for, if you don't want... Newer »
This thread has been archived and is closed to new comments
posted by Aizkolari at 9:42 AM on April 13, 2011 [1 favorite]