Welcome to Quote the Ravin', where quotes are rounded up from the internets which are too long to write on your hand. Most of these quotes are pulled from the best and brightest blogs or aggregates on the tubes: Think Progress, Huffington Post, Crooks and Liars, and here, to name a few. Some quotes are emphasized by the sharp minds that write there, sometimes I have to dig deeper—and sometimes, I have to go to the dark side and put hip waders on.
The snarky commentary is provided by yours truly. Let's begin, shall we?
This is the whole Washington mindset, all these CBO numbers.
—Rep. John "we don't need no stinking facts" Boehner (R-OH) on Fox News Sunday when asked by Chris Wallace how extending the Bush tax cuts would affect future deficits. Math is hard.
Having a journalist around is like having a pet bear. Most of the time it's really cool, but once in a while it'll bite your hand off.
—Freelance journalist Michael Hastings to the American Society of Magazine Editors, on his scoop of Stanley McChrystal.
He's not a scientist, like somebody who does experiments or issues his own opinions. He's simply a scholar.
—Florida Republican gubernatorial candidate Bill McCollum on anti-gay activist George Rekers, who was caught cramming studying a male escort he found on Rentboy.com who he said went on a 10 day vacation in Europe to help him "lift luggage." Rekers was paid $120,000 to testify for the state in 2008 in a case defending Florida's gay adoption ban, which was overturned and is currently being appealed.
I can think of no better training ground for American Idol than a room of 49 seats, and people all wanting to ask you, as you said, the hard "gotcha" questions. So I think I'm now ready.
—Press Secretary Robert Gibbs on Fox and Friends on why the White House briefing room makes him qualified to be a judge on the show. Why, I think there's a new William Hung in the front row!
What I do think happened in that situation is that a 24/7 media cycle that’s always looking for controversy and oftentimes doesn’t get to the facts first generated a phony controversy. A lot of people overreacted, including people in my administration.
—President Barack Obama commenting on the Shirley Sherrod controversy, making perhaps the understatement of the year. Does anyone know how to use the Tivo?
70% of unmarried women voted for Obama. And this is because when you kick your husband out, you’ve got to have Big Brother Government to be your provider.
—Conservative activist Phyllis Schlafly, who also is an unmarried woman, yet for some reason has a job herself.
They are exercising their First Amendment rights and a lot of it is perverted. But it’s that 0.1 percent that goes over the line that we are taking extra seriously.
—US Marshall David Gonzales, about hate mail to Markos Moulitsas Judge Susan Bolton, who blocked several key provisions of Arizona's immigration law on Wednesday.
I think most Americans right now don't think that what Obama is doing, the President, is leading to more jobs for the country.
—Juan Williams, filling in for Bill O'Reilly in more ways than one.
Andrew Breitbart is a wonderful man and an American patriot, and both of those qualities are on display in this Newsweek interview.
—Kathryn Jean Lopez, on National Review Online's The Corner. Looks like Rich Lowry isn't the only one seeing starbursts!
I told him I can throw a pitch or two. The question is, can he walk in my bikini in high heels?
—Miss Iowa Katherine Connors, who was invited to throw the pitch out at a Washington Nationals game after pitcher Miguel Batista told a joke pissing off the whole state. Hopefully he won't take her up on the offer.
I’d say, “Let ‘em rot in hell.” But, right now, they’re rotting in Iran. Close enough.
—Conservative blogger Debbie Schlussel on the detained American hikers in Iran, making Michelle Malkin look like Emily Post.
I'm astounded that a plurality there. 50 percent said they should go up on some level.
—Fox News host Alisyn Camerota on a poll that among other things showed that Americans approved of higher taxes for people making over $250,000 (i.e. Alisyn Camerota).
I advocate a government so small, it can fit into a clutch purse at the Tonys.
—Brendan Kissam, a gay tea party activist (yeah, you read that right) who was one of only 300 to show up at a Philadelphia Rally. You have to admit he had a pretty good quote.