GOOD AND FUN NEWS ON THE DIXIE CHICKS

Atrios reprints the comments made by a program director at KFKF, a country station in Kansas City, vowing to continue playing Dixie Chicks music despite redneck outcry regarding singer Natalie Maines' comments about Bush ("we're ashamed the president of the United States is from Texas") and Iraq. And guess what? The fellow, Dale Carter, does the right thing: Respecting the First Amendment of the US Constitution, which gives us the right to criticize our leaders. Carter does express his disagreement with Maines, but the bottom line is he did the right thing.

Also, in a related boycott-France note, Digby notes that a variety of country artists, from Hank Williams Jr, to Shania Twain, to Trisha Yearwood, to Vince Gill and others are working for Vivendi . . . a FRENCH COMPANY!!! Traitors!!!!!

Digby also produces a more broad-based list of Vivendi artists:

U2, Bob Marley, Elton John, Eminem, Nelly, Diana Krall, George Benson, John Coltrane, Enrique Iglesias, Limp Bizkit, No Doubt, Sheryl Crow, Sting, Ashanti, Elvis Costello, Smokey Robinson, B.B. King, Melissa Etheridge, Blink 182, Cranberries, Mary J Blige, Erykah Badu, Stevie Wonder, Ja Rule, Nirvana, 50 Cent, The Temptations, Bon Jovi, Ludacris, Jay Z, Shaggy, Placido Domingo, Andrea Bocelli, Lionel Richie, Hanson, Hoobastank, Injected, Tatu, Wallflowers, MS Dynamite, 2 Pac, Ms Jade, American HiFi, Def Leppard, Die Trying, Letter Kills, PJ Harvey, Portishead, MJ Cole, Rosy, Shorty 101, Hoobastank, A Teens, Avant, Res, The Roots, Brian McKnight, India Arie, Remy Shand, AZ Black Coffey, Corey, DJ Rogers J, Melanie Durrant, Dave Hollister, India.Arie, Jene Jose Brian McKnight, Stephen Marley, Remy, Shand, Charlie Haden, Al Jarreau

Why does U2 hate America so much? And Diana Krall? But she looks just like Ann Coulter!

Obviously, the warmongers have bigger fish to fry than the Dixie Chicks.

(yes, there is sarcasm in there somewhere, just in case)