“I have known George W. Bush slightly since we were both in high school, and I studied him closely as governor. He is neither mean nor stupid. What we have here is a man shaped by three intertwining strands of Texas culture, combined with huge blinkers of class. The three Texas themes are religiosity, anti-intellectualism, and machismo.”

American newspaper columnist, author, and political commentator

Molly Ivins was an American newspaper columnist, author, and political commentator. She was known for sharp, humorous writing that used satire and wit to take on political figures and public policy. Her work combined insight with a comic edge, and she built a reputation for saying difficult things clearly and with style. Her commentary often focused on politics, where she used humor as a way to expose folly and press her point.