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."
Molly Ivins Can't Say That, Can She?: Vintage Books Edition
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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.
- 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.
"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.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
28 of 30 people found the following review helpful
By Hugh Crethar
Format: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.
39 of 45 people found the following review helpful
Format: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.
watziznaym@gmail.com
watziznaym@gmail.com
9 of 9 people found the following review helpful
By A. Abruzzese
Format:Unknown Binding
I subscribe to The Progressive, so I read Ivins' current work monthly in that publication, as well as any time she appears in the paper. And actually, I have not been a huge fan. I have felt that she mainly repeats the center-left mantras of the day, and works somewhat over-hard to craft and maintain the image of folksy, curmudgeonly, old-guard Southern progressivism. But I found this collection of older columns for $1 in the clearance section of a used book store, and found it to exceed my expectations. These columns, mainly from the 70s and 80s, are rich in the kind of political commentary that is genuinely edifying. For me, they provide a window on a time that I am too young to remember well (or at all), and teach me about the continuity between the political climate of that time and today.
But more than that, Ivins knows Texas politics as intimately as anyone. If you are not from Texas, as I am not, you might think that you are not especially interested in the culture and history of the Texas legislature. Or you might think that one state legislature is pretty much the same as any other. But I think you'll be surprised at the degree to which Ivins' "Texas Leg" columns are both entertaining and insightful. She may beat some jokes into the ground sometimes, but this book belongs in the library of any connoisseur of political commentary.
But more than that, Ivins knows Texas politics as intimately as anyone. If you are not from Texas, as I am not, you might think that you are not especially interested in the culture and history of the Texas legislature. Or you might think that one state legislature is pretty much the same as any other. But I think you'll be surprised at the degree to which Ivins' "Texas Leg" columns are both entertaining and insightful. She may beat some jokes into the ground sometimes, but this book belongs in the library of any connoisseur of political commentary.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great writer, Great Book
Molly Ivins is not to be missed. Her books are true and hit one's funny bone with a deadly aim.
Published 23 days ago by Jane M
5.0 out of 5 stars
Molly Ivins is sorely missed.
I heartily recommend all her works. She had Dubya's number and hammered him like a hand made wok. Her later works are even funnier as long as you are not a fan of George Bush or... Read more
Published 4 months ago by R. S. Kohn
5.0 out of 5 stars
Jon Stewart, Eat Your Heart Out
This is a laugh out loud, hold your side, spray your Coke book. It's Ivins' first one, and she had years of material to choose from. The best political book ever.
Published 8 months ago by esskayee
1.0 out of 5 stars
Horrible
I am one of those people that, once started, will always finish a book even if it isn't all that entertaining. That record was broken with this book. I simply could not finish it. Read more
Published 8 months ago by Seamus Avec
5.0 out of 5 stars
Political writing the way it oughta
Though some of the subject matter in this wonderful collection is dated (George Bush in the White House, war in the mid-East, New Age religions on the rise, tax breaks for... Read more
Published on November 26, 2007 by Cecil Bothwell
5.0 out of 5 stars
Most excellent and funny!
Like the woman herself, this book is a great commentary by the legendary commentator. Highly recommend!
Published on August 9, 2004 by Fruit Loop
1.0 out of 5 stars
Us conservatives are yawning already...
If you are the type of person who likes to harrass people for their values, include emotionally abusing terms of language in your sarcastic, one-sided speech, and literally HATE... Read more
Published on December 10, 2003
5.0 out of 5 stars
Her earliest work, and by far her best.
This is Molly Ivins' earliest book, a collection of many of her earliest columns, originally printed in such places as "Ms. Read more
Published on July 29, 2003 by James Yanni
4.0 out of 5 stars
Yer darn tootin' she can say that!
I've only recently begun to pay an active attention to politics. I may have paid attention to topics in the past, at least more than the majority of Americans since I did vote, but... Read more
Published on December 18, 2002 by Glen Engel Cox
5.0 out of 5 stars
Opinion of Molly Ivins's first book
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... Read more
To call Bush shallow is like calling a dwarf short
belongs among the most... Read more
Published on November 17, 2002 by Mary L. Dillard
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