“The election results reflect the decision of the right wing to cultivate and exploit ignorance in the citizenry. I suppose the good news is that fifty-five million Americans have evaded the ignorance-inducing machine. But fifty-eight million have not. . . . The error that progressives have consistently committed over the years is to underestimate the vitality of ignorance in America. Listen to what the red-state citizens say about themselves, the songs they write, and the sermons they flock to. They know who they are — they are full of original sin and they have a taste for violence.”
- Jane Smiley , November 4, 2004.
“Americans did not vote for fascism — but the fascists now control all three branches of our government.”
- Bob Fertik , November 4, 2004.
Republicans are supported by whites with prejudice against blacks.
- Jon Krosnick , Probably January 2006.
“How can Republicans get to talk about moral values when they don’t have any?”
- Howard Dean
“Human sacrifice is much in vogue right now. The Republican right thinks that people who get on its nerves, especially women, should be sent to the stake. . .”
- Mary McGrory , 1996.
“Ignorance and bloodlust have a long tradition in the United States, especially in the red states.”
- Jane Smiley
“Republican comes in the dictionary just after reptile and just above repugnant.”
- Julia Roberts
“It’s a real conflict for me when I go to a concert and find out somebody in the audience is a Republican or fundamental Christian. It can cloud my enjoyment. I’d rather not know.”
- Linda Ronstadt , December 26, 2004.
“[Republicans have] 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 fratboys, 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. Republicans: The No.1 reason the rest of the world thinks we’re deaf, dumb, and dangerous.”
- Garrison Keillor , August 26, 2004.
“[Republicans are] evil,” “corrupt,” “mean,” “brain-dead,” “not nice people,” [and individuals who] “have never made an honest living in their lives.”
- Howard Dean , During the 2004 election season.
