Country Chick'n, City Mouth

"I've got nothing [else] clever to say, sorry!" said Natalie Maines at last night's Grammy Awards show.

Maines certainly seemed to try to be clever every time her group the Dixie Chicks took to the stage to accept yet another award.

"For the first time in my life, I'm speechless."
"To quote The Simpsons: [Nelson voice] Ha-ha!"
"I'm ready to make nice!"
"A lot of people just turned their TVs off right now."
"I think people are using their freedom of speech here tonight with all these awards. We get the message."

OK, SERIOUSLY, NATALIE, WE ALSO GET THE MESSAGE.

You spoke up against president Bush and the war in Iraq. You apologized, but the damage was done. People are haters, yes, and people stopped buying your records and spinning your records on the radio. You all came back and made a killer record, "Taking the Long Way." You sang that you're not ready to make nice. We liked it, nay, love it.

Partly in an effort to extend a collective middle-finger to Bush-backers, the panel of judges for the Grammys gave you and your cohorts a bundle of awards last night. Your self-awareness was funny at first, then smug, then unendingly annoying. Both you and I know you're a loud-mouth, and it's endearing. But a national awards gala is honoring you. A simple thanks, at the end, would suffice during your me-time.

Now go and make some more music. Thank you.