Where's FDR?

Where's Reagan when you need him, talking about that bright shining city on a hill?

Where's FDR, telling the American people they have nothing to fear but fear itself?

Where's JFK, asking us what we can do for our own country?

Where's Teddy Roosevelt, commanding the nation and the world at his bully pulpit?

Instead, as we face what we're being told is perhaps the worst financial crisis in U.S. history, we have a parade of gloomy Gusses, from President Bush through John McCain to the various front men (and women) in the U.S. Congress. Not even Barack Obama has risen to rhetorical heights of any kind.

Come on, people, you are our leaders -- or want to be. So lead. Inspire us, motivate us, make us feel good again about being Americans. Instead of tagging on at the end of your remarks, as Bush did the other night, that we're great, we're Americans, blah, blah, blah, come out swinging. Bush didn't even end his address with "God bless America."

The 24/7 media fans the flames to higher and higher intensity, throwing around words like "crisis" and "Great Depression" like so many leaves in the wind. Just as every whispering breeze is now another Hurricane Katrina, now every bounced check is a "financial meltdown." We are certainly faced with a very serious economic situation right now, but I, for one, would like to see a little more reasoned discussion and a little less rush to daylight.

Where is America's leader at this time of crisis? Stand up, Mr. President (or Mr. Wanna-Be President), and tell it to us straight: "Look, ladies and gentlemen, we're in a helluva financial mess, and now we have to clean it up. There'll be plenty of time later to point the finger, but let's get going. Americans have met plenty of challenges like this head-on, and we've always won. We'll win again. You can count on it -- because we're Americans. That's why people flock to this country from all over the world 'cause in America you're the master of your own fate. So now we need to work out a plan that we can all live with -- not too much government, but more than some of you will like. But a lot less than many of you want, too. Keep your faith in your bank, and pay your bills. We WILL prevail. God bless you and your families, and remain confident that God will continue to bless the United States of America."

I'm not sure if any of our major candidates could deliver that speech with a straight face. Too bad. I wonder what President Palin would say.

So this is what I'm listening to

Lindsey Buckingham's Gift of Screws is a must listen in the days ahead, but I need to wade through some of my new vinyl and CDs first. I just ordered some movie soundtracks including the 3-CD re-recording of Miklos Rozsa's El Cid score.

Saw Paul Weller last Saturday night, Rodney Crowell next month with a small acoustic group, J.D. Souther the day before the election.

Weller was Winwood with guitars up front instead of keyboard. But he played keys, too. Wild. He came back for three encores. The last time to send us home, he sat down with his lead guitarist, they were both on acoustics, and the bass player came out and played cello. And they did was a four-minute acoustic version of All You Need Is Love, which we all sang lustily there -- and out into the night.

New vinyl -- Steve Miller's Journey to Eden, Antonio Carlos Jobim's Stoneflower, first Illinois Speed Press album, The Ship (folk record produced by Gary Usher), Odetta sings Dylan (first album of Dylan covers), Full Circle (the second and final album made by the remaining Doors after Morrison's death), the Alan Bown (1969 - a psychedelic melodic British horn band I like), the usual old stuff.

Best new CD - Sex and Gasoline, by the afore-mentioned Mr. Crowell. Tied for first: Brian Wilson's That Lucky Old Sun (first BW album with consistently adult lyrics since Pet Sounds).

Other new CDs that I am heavily into -- Felix Cavaliere and Steve Cropper (this one is red hot), Elvis' Fun in Acapulco, Dino Valente's solo album, Dick Farney (the Brazilian Sinatra), the usual old stuff.