WIST Quotations

Rogers, Will -- Column (1932-05-29), “Weekly Article”

Dave — Fri, 25 Jul 2025 20:43:57 +0000

With the election coming on, you are going to be fed a lot of hooey about a lot of things. Naturally both sides are going to put their best side forward.
They are now trying to figure out which side is their best.

Will Rogers (1879–1935) American humorist
Column (1932-05-29), “Weekly Article”
(Source)

Rogers, Will -- Column (1931-02-27), “Daily Telegram”

Dave — Thu, 22 Jun 2023 15:54:42 +0000

The whole trouble with the Republicans is their fear of an increase in income tax, especially on higher incomes. They speak of it almost like a national calamity. I really believe if it come to a vote whether to go to war with England, France and Germany combined, or raise the rate on incomes of over $100,000, they would vote war.

Will Rogers (1879–1935) American humorist
Column (1931-02-27), “Daily Telegram”
(Source)

Maher, Bill -- Interview with Joan Walsh, “Real talk with Bill Maher,” Salon (16 Feb 2007)

Dave — Wed, 16 Mar 2016 13:28:14 +0000

Government — they used to teach it in college. It’s actually something you should study and learn and know how to do. The Republicans always run on the idea that government isn’t very effective. Well, not the way you do it. But it can be effective.

William "Bill" Maher (b. 1956) American comedian, political commentator, critic, television host.
Interview with Joan Walsh, “Real talk with Bill Maher,” Salon (16 Feb 2007)
(Source)

Goldwater, Barry -- “Barry Goldwater’s Left Turn,” The Washington Post (28 Jul 1994)

Dave — Thu, 14 Jan 2016 16:17:57 +0000

When you say “radical right” today, I think of these moneymaking ventures by fellows like Pat Robertson and others who are trying to take the Republican Party away from the Republican Party, and make a religious organization out of it. If that ever happens, kiss politics goodbye.

Barry Goldwater (1909–1998) American politician
“Barry Goldwater’s Left Turn,” The Washington Post (28 Jul 1994)
(Source)

Keillor, Garrison -- “We’re Not in Lake Wobegon Anymore,” In These Times (26 Aug 2004)

Dave — Thu, 06 Nov 2014 12:54:21 +0000

The party of Lincoln and Liberty was transmogrified into the party of hairy-backed swamp developers and corporate shills, faith-based economists, fundamentalist bullies with Bibles, Christians of convenience, freelance racists, misanthropic frat boys, shrieking midgets of AM radio, tax cheats, nihilists in golf pants, brownshirts in pinstripes, sweatshop tycoons, hacks, fakirs, aggressive dorks, Lamborghini libertarians, people who believe Neil Armstrong’s moonwalk was filmed in Roswell, New Mexico, little honkers out to diminish the rest of us, Newt’s evil spawn and their Etch-A-Sketch president, a dull and rigid man suspicious of the free flow of information and of secular institutions, whose philosophy is a jumble of badly sutured body parts trying to walk.

Garrison Keillor (b. 1942) American entertainer, author
“We’re Not in Lake Wobegon Anymore,” In These Times (26 Aug 2004)
(Source)

Stevenson, Adlai -- Speech (1952-09-19), “The New England Tradition,” City Hall, Springfield, Massachusetts

Dave — Fri, 18 May 2012 20:40:38 +0000

Indeed, to keep this campaign on the highest possible level worthy of its significance, I have been tempted to make a proposal to our Republican friends: that if they would stop telling lies about us, we would stop telling the truth about them.

Adlai Stevenson II (1900–1965) American politician, diplomat, statesman
Speech (1952-09-19), “The New England Tradition,” City Hall, Springfield, Massachusetts
(Source)

A favorite quip of Stevenson's.

Ivins, Molly -- Essay (2000-07-23), “Is ‘Republican Tax Break For the Rich’ Simply Redundant?” Creators Syndicate column

Dave — Thu, 01 Mar 2012 13:52:56 +0000

It’s like, duh. Just when you thought there wasn’t a dime’s worth of difference between the two parties, the Republicans go and prove you’re wrong.

Molly Ivins (1944–2007) American writer, political columnist [Mary Tyler Ivins]
Essay (2000-07-23), “Is ‘Republican Tax Break For the Rich’ Simply Redundant?” Creators Syndicate column

Stewart, Jon -- The Daily Show (2008-08-26)

Dave — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 15:19:05 +0000

She’s a Democrat. She must prove she loves America. As opposed to Republicans, who everyone knows love America — they just hate half the people living in it.

Jon Stewart (b. 1962) American satirist, comedian, and television host. [b. Jonathan Stuart Leibowitz]
The Daily Show (2008-08-26)
(Source)

On "Michelle Obama's Patriotism."