Bush appoints Lee Greenwood to National Arts Council

Lee Greenwood's main claim to fame is writing and singing the hit patriotic hymn "God Bless the U.S.A." Soon Greenwood's blessing will matter on the American arts scene -- at least the part interested in tapping into federal largess via grants from the National Endowment for the Arts. Appointed by President Bush and confirmed by the Senate, the Nashville-based country singer is scheduled to be sworn in Nov. 17 as one of the 14 regular members of the National Council on the Arts. Council members advise the NEA chairman, and their portfolio includes reviewing and making recommendations on applications for grants from the $145-million-a-year federal agency. Greenwood will serve a six-year term.

Another new appointee, JoAnn Falletta, the music director of the Buffalo Philharmonic and the Virginia Symphony, will serve three years, filling a vacancy created last year by the resignation of octogenarian jazz drummer Chico Hamilton.

Greenwood, who grew up on a farm near Sacramento, is the lone council member appointed by Bush who will serve throughout the four years of an Obama or McCain term. The other 13 slots are occupied by Bush appointees but will come due during the next president's term.

More important, the next president will choose a new chairman of the NEA. Bush appointee Dana Gioia announced recently that he will leave in mid-January rather than serve the last two years of his term.

-- Mike Boehm

Top photo: Lee Greenwood performs "God Bless the U.S.A." in concert in Warner Robins, Ga., in late September 2001. Credit: Danny Gilleland / Associated Press

Bottom photo: JoAnn Falletta conducts. Credit: Jim Bush /gsiartists.com

Comments

[steve]

This parting shot from the Bush Administration borders on brilliant when measured in sheer f-youitiveness.

[RickE]

I hope Obama picks someone outstanding to head the NEA. Someone like documentarian extraordinaire Ken Burns would be my choice. Or perhaps Joel Wachs from the Warhol Foundation.

[Sam]

Any more George Bush parting shots like this lame appointment of Lee Greenwood to a six-year term, and I suggest Obama advise his next attorney general to bring charges against Bush and his cronies for all their illegal acts over the last eight years. Look, it's not that I don't like country music (okay, I'll fess up, I hate it), but Bush should not be making appointments in his last few weeks that will affect ANYTHING past his tenure. This one sucked. I'm sure his list of pardons will keep Democratic pundits entertained for months to come.

[Stephanie]

The appointment to the NAC of the trivial musician, Lee Greenwood is an insult to the many excellent artists across the nation who have actually contributed something meaningful to society. Just more proof of what a troglodyte George W. Bush is.

[Mike Licht]

At least Bush didn't make him Poet Laureate.

(Oops! Please don't show that to W!)

[Sam]

No, he'll probably give Poet Laureate to Larry the Cable Guy.

[steve]

Perhaps this is the final, performative portion of Bush's second exhibition.

[USMCMom60]

I always link Greenwood with a domestic violence charge and can't help but find a theme here (Palin's choice of the Gretchen Peter's Song Independence Day about an abused woman being the second link there).

Sad he could find noone better to appoint there. It just epitomizes the whole sad last eight years and is sickeningly appropriate.