y’all owe me thanks for this one

When I got home today, at the risk of being late for rowing, I did something I should have done long ago: I went digging in my files and found that I did bring the file of Cool Stuff and accolades I used to keep at work, from back in the day when, if you encountered Cool Stuff it was likely to be on paper. And so, from an interview she did with the Houston Press back in 1993, I am able to bring you what is, in my opinion, the best thing Molly Ivins ever said. If you have the proper appreciation for Ivins, you will understand the import of that statement. (People who have close personal experience with fire-ants will also appreciate the following). I’ve often wished I’d put it somewhere on line to have it handy – and now you do too. (That’s where the thanks come in.)

The Supreme Court said that the First Amendment protects hateful, despicable and harmful speech, What you do about it is, you speak right back. I need the First Amendment to be able to say to people who say what I don’t agree with, “Look, you jack-legged-pissant-yellow-belly-son-of-a-bitch, you run on all fours, you molest small children, you have the mind of an adolescent fire ant.” I need to shut then up; I need to be able to answer them back. That’s what this whole fuss is about.”

That’s one of my favorite quotes ever.
My favorite quote just from today, though, is this, about Dr. Laura’s decision to quit radio on the basis that she was being denied her First Amendment rights: “But we’re impinging on her right to spout racist crapola on the radio, with our…disapproving looks! And occasional remarks! Some people might even elect not to listen to her program — and she can’t have that!.”

It’s really, really fun to imagine what might have happened if Dr. Laura met Molly Ivins.