Molly Ivins Can't Say That, Can She? [Paperback]

Molly Ivins (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 15, 1992

Whether she's writing about redneck politics in her native Texas or the discreet charms of Bushwazee, Molly Ivins in never less than devastatingly honest—and hilarious.  Our toughest, funniest, and savviest columnist delivers the goods on:

-Texas politics: "Well, our attorney general is under indictment.  He ran as 'the people's lawyer'; now we call him 'the people's felon.'"

-The flag burning debate: "Bush's last birthday cake was in the form of the American flag, and he ate it—stars, stripes, and all.  Think about where that flag wound up—I call that desecration."

-Beign a woman in Texas: "There are several strains of Texas culture: They are all rotten for women... One not infrequently sees cars or trucks sporting the bumper sticker "Have fun—beat the hell out of someone you love."

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

Ivins, past or present columnist for The Nation , Mother Jones , The Progressive , Ms. , and other unabashedly liberal publications, combines political savvy with a wicked sense of humor. Her primary target is Texas politics and "bidness," but she also discusses Ronald Reagan (including her classic look back on the Cowboy Ronnie Show, "Don't Worry, They're Happy"), George Bush (in a section titled, "The Discreet Smarm of the Bushwazee"), journalism ("Coppeeeee!" a eulogy on the Copy Boy), feminism ("The Women Who Run Texas"), and others. Ivins concludes with "How Ann Richards Got To Be Governor of Texas," a breathless whistlestop tour of Texas's 1990 gubernatorial race, a classic paradigm for Texas politics. Highly recommended for academic libraries and political science, women's studies, humor, and journalism collections.
- Keith R.A. De Candido, "Library Journal"
Copyright 1991 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to the Unknown Binding edition.

Review

"If there is a shrewder, funnier observer of the American scene writing today that Molly Ivins, I do not know her. This is unconventional wisdom with no inhibitions.  Bless her and don't let her change."- David Broder, Washington Post

"A delight from start to finish... Molly Ivins proves that keen intelligence and a Southern accent are real good buddies... She has wise and often hilarious things to say." -The New York Times Book Review

"Wickedly funny."- Detroit Free Press

"Molly Ivins has birthed a book and it is more fun than riding a mechanical bull and almost as dangerous."- Ann Richards, governor of Texas.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 304 pages
• Publisher: Vintage; 1st Vintage Books ed edition (September 15, 1992)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0679741836
• ISBN-13: 978-0679741831
• Product Dimensions: 5.2 x 0.6 x 8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (17 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #152,207 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

26 of 28 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Molly is a Wonderful Political Commentator!, November 20, 1999

By 

Hugh Crethar (Stillwater, OK) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Molly Ivins Can't Say That, Can She? (Paperback)

I have been following the commentary of Molly Ivins for several years now, and must say that this book is a must-read for anyone who follows American politics, Texas politics, and the changing social policy environment. Molly doesn't only write thoroughly enjoyable and readable essays, but she also does a consistently thorough job of collecting up data to back her views. This book, and many other writings by Ms. Ivins would also serve political science professors well in bringing a voice and views to discussion that is not only unaffected by the pulls of the corporate press, but unabashedly vocal about corruption and the controls of Big Money on our lives.

38 of 43 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars She Damn Sure Can, and Does!, November 21, 2000

By 

watzizname "watzizname" (Murfreesboro, Tennessee) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Molly Ivins Can't Say That, Can She? (Paperback)

Molly Ivins has the unusual talent of being informative and hilarious at the same time. She loves to make laughingstocks of politicians who are stupid and/or crooked, and she does a beautiful job of it. This is a book like the TV show *MASH*: it ages well. You can read Molly's columns again every year or two, and enjoy them anew. I especially love the fib Ann Richards told to the judge from East Texas. That was absolutely beautiful. If you don't remember it, read the book again; you will crack up. Molly Ivins is, indeed, a national treasure.

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16 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Opinion of Molly Ivins's first book, November 17, 2002

By 

Mary L. Dillard (Portsmouth, Ohio United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Molly Ivins Can't Say That, Can She? (Paperback)

Molly's book is a breath of fresh air in an often stifling political world. A sentence like
To call Bush shallow is like calling a dwarf short
belongs among the most memorable statements of
recent times. What if she does repeat it a couple of times? A really good idea is worth reiterating.
The only limitation of this book is that it focuses on Texas so much and does not fully represent Molly's trenchant view of the politics of the country as a whole. Her recent columns, printed even in some narrowly conservative local newspapers, remedy that lack.
If we didn't have Molly Ivins, we might be reduced to reading William F. Buckley.