TOTALLY GEEKED!

flan327 · Itty bitty's Grammy

Molly Ivins

flan327 · Itty bitty's Grammy

And another quote:

After her death, George W. Bush, a frequent target of her barbs, said in a statement, "I respected her convictions, her passionate belief in the power of words. She fought her illness with that same passion. Her quick wit and commitment will be missed."

flan

flan327 · Itty bitty's Grammy

"Having breast cancer is massive amounts of no fun. First they mutilate you; then they poison you; then they burn you. I have been on blind dates better than that."

She was diagnosed with Stage 3 inflammatory breast cancer in 1999. The cancer recurred in 2003 and late 2005. She died on January 31, 2007 at the age of 62.

flan

FNW · Guru

"A well-regulated militia being necessary to the security of a free state, the right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed." Fourteen-year-old boys are not part of a well-regulated militia. Members of wacky religious cults are not part of a well-regulated militia. Permitting unregulated citizens to have guns is destroying the security of this free state.

I tend to agree with this. It's in the "regulation" that gives me pause. In particular, the "how to's". Background checks, waiting periods, etc. And there's the illegal obtaining that circumvents regulations anyway which is a problem.

flan327 · Itty bitty's Grammy

A friend of mine insisted that I read her books. I'm glad that I did.

flan

flan327 · Itty bitty's Grammy

FNW wrote:
"A well-regulated militia being necessary to the security of a free state, the right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed." Fourteen-year-old boys are not part of a well-regulated militia. Members of wacky religious cults are not part of a well-regulated militia. Permitting unregulated citizens to have guns is destroying the security of this free state.

I tend to agree with this. It's in the "regulation" that gives me pause. In particular, the "how to's". Background checks, waiting periods, etc. And there's the illegal obtaining that circumvents regulations anyway which is a problem.

And, unfortunately, it always will be.

flan

Lawyerlady · On the bright side...... Christmas is coming! (Mod)

flan327 wrote:
If you aren't familiar with her, you should be.
Here's a quote from one of her essays:
Let me start this discussion by pointing out that I am not anti-gun. I'm pro-knife. Consider the merits of the knife.
In the first place, you have catch up with someone in order to stab him. A general substitution of knives for guns would promote physical fitness. We'd turn into a whole nation of great runners. Plus, knives don't ricochet. And people are seldom killed while cleaning their knives.
As a civil libertarian, I of course support the Second Amendment. And I believe it means exactly what it says: "A well-regulated militia being necessary to the security of a free state, the right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed." Fourteen-year-old boys are not part of a well-regulated militia. Members of wacky religious cults are not part of a well-regulated militia. Permitting unregulated citizens to have guns is destroying the security of this free state.
I am intrigued by the arguments of those who claim to follow the judicial doctrine of original intent. How do they know it was the dearest wish of Thomas Jefferson's heart that teen-age drug dealers should cruise the cities of this nation perforating their fellow citizens with assault rifles? Channelling?
flan

Teenagers owning guns IS illegal. As is drug dealing and shooting people. See how well those laws work?

flan327 · Itty bitty's Grammy

I already said that, LL.

flan

Lawyerlady · On the bright side...... Christmas is coming! (Mod)

flan327 wrote:
I already said that, LL.

flan

Where, exactly? And so frickin' what? I can post a response to the OP as well, can I not?

Damn. Who the hell do you think you are?

flan327 · Itty bitty's Grammy

flan327 wrote:
FNW wrote:
"A well-regulated militia being necessary to the security of a free state, the right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed." Fourteen-year-old boys are not part of a well-regulated militia. Members of wacky religious cults are not part of a well-regulated militia. Permitting unregulated citizens to have guns is destroying the security of this free state.

I tend to agree with this. It's in the "regulation" that gives me pause. In particular, the "how to's". Background checks, waiting periods, etc. And there's the illegal obtaining that circumvents regulations anyway which is a problem.
And, unfortunately, it always will be.
flan

Lawyerlady · On the bright side...... Christmas is coming! (Mod)

*eyeroll*

I focused on a different part of the article. Shame on me.

Grow the fvck up, flan. I'm so tired of your sh1t.

flan327 · Itty bitty's Grammy

More quotes:

The thing about democracy, beloveds, is that it is not neat, orderly, or quiet. It requires a certain relish for confusion.

There are two kinds of humor. One kind that makes us chuckle about our foibles and our shared humanity -- like what Garrison Keillor does. The other kind holds people up to public contempt and ridicule -- that's what I do. Satire is traditionally the weapon of the powerless against the powerful. I only aim at the powerful. When satire is aimed at the powerless, it is not only cruel -- it's vulgar.

I believe in practicing prudence at least once every two or three years.

flan

Lawyerlady · On the bright side...... Christmas is coming! (Mod)

flan327 wrote:
More quotes:

The thing about democracy, beloveds, is that it is not neat, orderly, or quiet. It requires a certain relish for confusion.

There are two kinds of humor. One kind that makes us chuckle about our foibles and our shared humanity -- like what Garrison Keillor does. The other kind holds people up to public contempt and ridicule -- that's what I do. Satire is traditionally the weapon of the powerless against the powerful. I only aim at the powerful. When satire is aimed at the powerless, it is not only cruel -- it's vulgar.

I believe in practicing prudence at least once every two or three years.

flan

I believe it's time.

flan327 · Itty bitty's Grammy

I may need to re-read her books!

flan

flan327 · Itty bitty's Grammy

From her last column, January 11, 2007: We are the people who run this country. We are the deciders. And every single day, every single one of us needs to step outside and take some action to help stop this war. Raise hell. Think of something to make the ridiculous look ridiculous. Make our troops know we're for them and trying to get them out of there.

(the bolded is mine)

flan

flan327 · Itty bitty's Grammy

In Texas, we do not hold high expectations for the [governor's] office; it's mostly been occupied by crooks, dorks and the comatose.

I dearly love the state of Texas, but I consider that a harmless perversion on my part, and discuss it only with consenting adults.

flan

Tinydancer · Guru

So Molly Ivins is who you want to be when you finally grow up?

Fort Worth Mom · Mod/Penguin lover/Princess!

Tinydancer wrote:
So Molly Ivins is who you want to be when you finally grow up?

I don't think anyone wants to be her, Tiny.

She's been dead for years! wink

FNW · Guru

flan327 wrote:
From her last column, January 11, 2007: We are the people who run this country. We are the deciders. And every single day, every single one of us needs to step outside and take some action to help stop this war. Raise hell. Think of something to make the ridiculous look ridiculous. Make our troops know we're for them and trying to get them out of there.

(the bolded is mine)

flan

I wonder what she would have thought of our current leader and the state the nation is in now.

flan327 · Itty bitty's Grammy

FNW wrote:
flan327 wrote:
From her last column, January 11, 2007: We are the people who run this country. We are the deciders. And every single day, every single one of us needs to step outside and take some action to help stop this war. Raise hell. Think of something to make the ridiculous look ridiculous. Make our troops know we're for them and trying to get them out of there.

(the bolded is mine)

flan
I wonder what she would have thought of our current leader and the state the nation is in now.

Oh, she would have some choice words, I'm sure.

flan

flan327 · Itty bitty's Grammy

Fort Worth Mom wrote:
Tinydancer wrote:
So Molly Ivins is who you want to be when you finally grow up?
I don't think anyone wants to be her, Tiny.
She's been dead for years!

You probably knew of her, FWM?

And, yes, I would be PROUD to be her even though I am...wait for it...grown up.

flan

Fort Worth Mom · Mod/Penguin lover/Princess!

flan327 wrote:
Fort Worth Mom wrote:
Tinydancer wrote:
So Molly Ivins is who you want to be when you finally grow up?
I don't think anyone wants to be her, Tiny.
She's been dead for years!
You probably knew of her, FWM?
And, yes, I would be PROUD to be her even though I am...wait for it...grown up.
flan

Her column ran in the Fort Worth Star Telegram. (Probably a bunch of other newspapers, too.)

She was pretty popular, as I recall.

Tinydancer · Guru

flan327 wrote:
Fort Worth Mom wrote:
Tinydancer wrote:
So Molly Ivins is who you want to be when you finally grow up?
I don't think anyone wants to be her, Tiny.
She's been dead for years!
You probably knew of her, FWM?
And, yes, I would be PROUD to be her even though I am...wait for it...grown up.
flan

Sure you are...Sometimes it's so hard to tell.

lilyofcourse · My spirit animal is a pink flamingo.

Knives are more dangerous than guns.

Knives don't make noise.

You can casually stab a dozen people before anyone notices.

flan327 · Itty bitty's Grammy

lilyofcourse wrote:
Knives are more dangerous than guns.

Knives don't make noise.

You can casually stab a dozen people before anyone notices.

Really? So the first person stabbed doesn't scream? What about the second person?

How many people can one knife kill at once? How about an assault rifle?

flan

flan327 · Itty bitty's Grammy

The problem with those who choose received Authority over fact and logic is how they choose which part of Authority to obey. The Bible famously contradicts itself at many points (I have never understood why any Christian would choose the Old Testament over the New), and the Koran can be read as a wonderfully compassionate and humanistic document. Which suggests that the problem of fundamentalism lies not with authority, but with ourselves.

I have been attacked by Rush Limbaugh on the air, an experience somewhat akin to being gummed by a newt. It doesn't actually hurt, but it leaves you with slimy stuff on your ankle.

Conservatives have been mad at the Supreme Court since it decided to desegregate the schools in 1954 and seen fit to blame the federal bench for everything that has happened since then that they don’t like.

flan

flan327 · Itty bitty's Grammy

Next time I tell you someone from Texas should not be president of the United States, please pay attention.

You want moral leadership? Try the clergy. It's their job.

I know vegetarians don't like to hear this, but God made an awful lot of land that's good for nothing but grazing.

flan

lilyofcourse · My spirit animal is a pink flamingo.

flan327 wrote:
lilyofcourse wrote:
Knives are more dangerous than guns.

Knives don't make noise.

You can casually stab a dozen people before anyone notices.

Really? So the first person stabbed doesn't scream? What about the second person?
How many people can one knife kill at once? How about an assault rifle?
flan

Yes. Someone can be stabbed without immediately reacting.

There have been mass killings with knives.

flan327 · Itty bitty's Grammy

And there have been MORE killings with guns...

flan

flan327 · Itty bitty's Grammy

Have you ever heard of a child accidentally killing a relative with a knife?

flan

lilyofcourse · My spirit animal is a pink flamingo.

flan327 wrote:
And there have been MORE killings with guns...

flan

Wrong.

lilyofcourse · My spirit animal is a pink flamingo.

flan327 wrote:
Have you ever heard of a child accidentally killing a relative with a knife?

flan

I'm sure it has happened.

flan327 · Itty bitty's Grammy

lilyofcourse wrote:
flan327 wrote:
Have you ever heard of a child accidentally killing a relative with a knife?

flan
I'm sure it has happened.

And how many times has it happened with a loaded gun?

You don't have a leg to stand on, but keep posting.

flan

flan327 · Itty bitty's Grammy

lilyofcourse wrote:
flan327 wrote:
And there have been MORE killings with guns...

flan
Wrong.

I'm supposed to take YOUR word for it?

flan

flan327 · Itty bitty's Grammy

Fort Worth Mom wrote:
flan327 wrote:
Fort Worth Mom wrote:
Tinydancer wrote:
So Molly Ivins is who you want to be when you finally grow up?
I don't think anyone wants to be her, Tiny.
She's been dead for years!
You probably knew of her, FWM?
And, yes, I would be PROUD to be her even though I am...wait for it...grown up.
flan
Her column ran in the Fort Worth Star Telegram. (Probably a bunch of other newspapers, too.)
She was pretty popular, as I recall.

You know, when I was younger, I used to think that my one vote didn't matter. It's easy enough to forget that other countries don't have the privilege of electing their leaders. A dear friend told me to read Molly Ivins...

flan

lilyofcourse · My spirit animal is a pink flamingo.

You have to be the most uninformed person ever.

flan327 · Itty bitty's Grammy

lilyofcourse wrote:
You have to be the most uninformed person ever.

Do you have anything PERTINENT to say?

flan

lilyofcourse · My spirit animal is a pink flamingo.

I did. I said it.

Google mass killings with knives.

Inform yourself.

huskerbb · Guru

flan327 wrote:
lilyofcourse wrote:
You have to be the most uninformed person ever.

Do you have anything PERTINENT to say?
flan

Undoubtedly more than anything in the original post.

flan327 · Itty bitty's Grammy

huskerbb wrote:
flan327 wrote:
lilyofcourse wrote:
You have to be the most uninformed person ever.

Do you have anything PERTINENT to say?
flan
Undoubtedly more than anything in the original post.

And your claim to fame?

flan

flan327 · Itty bitty's Grammy

lilyofcourse wrote:
I did. I said it.

Google mass killings with knives.

Inform yourself.

No, you posted ANOTHER in your long line of personal insults.

flan

lilyofcourse · My spirit animal is a pink flamingo.

flan327 wrote:
lilyofcourse wrote:
I did. I said it.

Google mass killings with knives.

Inform yourself.
No, you posted ANOTHER in your long line of personal insults.
flan

Yeeeaahhh....

Look.

Take the time to educate yourself.

flan327 · Itty bitty's Grammy

Sweetheart, I am.

flan

lilyofcourse · My spirit animal is a pink flamingo.

You keep telling yourself that.

flan327 · Itty bitty's Grammy

Ooooh, snappy comeback.

Congrats on hijacking a thread that could have actually led to a real discussion.

flan

flan327 · Itty bitty's Grammy

This column was written on the two-year anniversary of her death:

We miss her regular twice-weekly comments and insights, and hearing her dissect, slice and dice, and make fun of the events and revelations of the week. No one could do it like she did. She made us feel like we weren't alone. She made us want to be our better selves and stand up and use our power. She would be so proud that we finally woke up and worked to make this happen.

In many of her lectures, she would exhort her audience to believe in their power. She'd say: "I hear people whine: 'I can't do anything. I'm just one person.'" Then she'd lift her head high and quote from the Declaration of Independence in her Barbara Jordan voice, and remind them, "As a U.S. citizen, you have more political power than most humans who've ever lived on this earth."

flan

flan327 · Itty bitty's Grammy

Carlton Carl, CEO/publisher at Molly's beloved Texas Observer, recalls her saying after Obama's 2004 speech at the Democratic convention, "You know ... that young man could be president someday."

Before Barack Obama announced his candidacy, Chicago Magazine asked a number of luminaries if they thought he should run. Opinions varied. Molly was succinct and direct, and with her usual wit and certainty said: "Yes, he should run. He's the only Democrat with any Elvis to him."

flan

flan327 · Itty bitty's Grammy

Molly always signed her books and her letters with, "Raise more hell," and you can make her live on by doing just that.

She lives in everyone who took courage in who they are and what they thought when they read her columns and books, and knew they weren't alone and weren't crazy. She lives on in The Texas Observer (Texasobserver.org) and the ACLU (aclu.org), to whom she left a large portion of her estate.

In a letter for the ACLU, she says: "I don't have any children, so I've decided to claim all the future freedom-fighters and hell-raisers as my kin. I figure freedom and justice beat having my name in marble any day. Besides, if there is another life after this one, think how much we'll get to laugh watching it all."

flan

huskerbb · Guru

flan327 wrote:
huskerbb wrote:
flan327 wrote:
lilyofcourse wrote:
You have to be the most uninformed person ever.

Do you have anything PERTINENT to say?
flan
Undoubtedly more than anything in the original post.
And your claim to fame?
flan

Paris Hilton and the Kardashians are famous, too--if that is your criteria for someone being "smart" or someone that should be listened to, that is quite sad.

Lawyerlady · On the bright side...... Christmas is coming! (Mod)

flan327 wrote:
Carlton Carl, CEO/publisher at Molly's beloved Texas Observer, recalls her saying after Obama's 2004 speech at the Democratic convention, "You know ... that young man could be president someday."

Before Barack Obama announced his candidacy, Chicago Magazine asked a number of luminaries if they thought he should run. Opinions varied. Molly was succinct and direct, and with her usual wit and certainty said: "Yes, he should run. He's the only Democrat with any Elvis to him."

flan

This is somehow supposed to show intelligence?