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Alaskans Portugal the Man Unleash Fury on Sarah Palin



While Portland's -- by way of Alaska -- Portugal the Man gears up for the release of their latest disc, 'Censored Colors,' later this month, frontman John Gourley is getting political on the band's website.

In an essay detailing growing up in the Alaskan wild, titled 'Palin, Because We Don't Need It,' Gourley writes about the first time his dad took him hunting. With a moose squarely in the rifle's line of fire, his father didn't pull the trigger, explaining to his son that they weren't going to kill the animal "because we don't need it."

Gourley reminisces about living in the wilderness town of 5,000 residents under the jurisdiction of then-mayor, now VP-candidate Sarah Palin. Discussing her actions and beliefs, he ultimately concludes that, like the moose, "we don't need it."

"We don't need a wolf in sheep's clothing," he writes, "or a sheep in wolves clothing, depending on how you look at it. She has billed her self as this overly average 'hockey mom' and it is just not what I see. I see the sport hunter, the censor, choice taker, the revelations reader and the high school cheerleader. It is endlessly embarrassing to watch people fall all over this idea. This is not my Alaska. The Alaska I know."

Beyond politics, Portugal the Man embarks on a worldwide tour next week that returns to the States in October, in support of 'Censored Colors.' Because we might not need it, but we sure do like it.

Check out Portugal the Man on tour
on TourTracker.com

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Joseph Leslie

Like the age of Horse Drawn Carriages which was ended by John D. Rockefeller and Standard Oil, the HYDROCARBON FUEL AGE is ending. We must stop hanging on to oil and gas and move forward with the the NEW, CLEAN ENERGY SOURCES and let the makers of buggy whips (OIL and GAS producers ) slowly go out of existence. We are struggling to stay in the past and fighting progress> I hope that the day when we don't care about OPEC meetings comes soon and then we can tell them, "if we need oil, we will call you!"

September 08 2008 at 6:07 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
observer

I'm sure that John Gourley is a nice young man, and loves his home state. However, what we DO need is the oil which is in the most remote, desolate area of that state. There are NO human inhabitants up there. Until we have better options, we DO need to tap our own resources, rather than rely on foreign oil suppliers, who will continue to overcharge us, until we show some independence.
By the way, there's nothing to be embarrassed about. All of the candidates have passionate supporters, just like groupies. Palin an Obama are very young and energetic, and are bound to have "fans" falling all over them.
I've never heard of Gourley or his band, but like many artists, they feel compelled to voice their political beliefs. They use their own little "bandstand" as a political platform.
Enough already. I don't need a pop singer to give me political advice.

September 08 2008 at 12:30 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
1 reply to observer's comment
moviekat10

For everyone who rants about the high price of oil that comes from OPEC, please look at how much the oil that we DO get now from Alaska is costing. Alaska charges us the same as OPEC and will continue to do so. If they were so patriotic & pro-American, then why not charge less for US oil? And drilling in Alaska is like using your VISA to pay your Mastercard bill. These are FINITE resources, i.e. they have a limit. Let's work on finding new, renewable energy sources instead. Hasn't Big Oil plus their cronies Bush, Cheney, PALIN made enough money off us. Why should we subsidize them with our taxes anymore?

September 09 2008 at 2:59 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Stephanie

I agree that it's embarrassing the way people are falling all over this.

September 08 2008 at 11:07 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
flotroach

Hi, Portugal the Man, thanks for sharing your passion and social convictions. It makes me love your music even more!

September 06 2008 at 7:06 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply