Alexander Cockburn > Quotes

“Regulation of sexual behavior
is the preferred route to wider social
control.”
― Alexander Cockburn

“The weapon of the advocate is the sword of the soldier, not the dagger of the assassin.”
― Alexander Cockburn

“Republicans know well that a change of rhetorical pace is necessary. But efforts by their leaders to damp down the bellicosity of newly elected Tea Party types is running into the fact that the Tea Partiers have only the high volume setting on their amplifiers, just like Palin. They're like a couple having a fight at a funeral; politely sotto voce, then suddenly bursting out fortissimo with their plaints and accusations.”
― Alexander Cockburn

“No foundation that I am aware of has hired ex-journalists to promote a thoroughgoing inquiry.”
― Alexander Cockburn, Corruptions of Empire: Life Studies and the Reagan Era

“Despair is the central part of the psychopathology. For the handmaiden of gossip is treachery:”
― Alexander Cockburn, Corruptions of Empire: Life Studies and the Reagan Era

“It's depressing to think that we'll have to endure Obamaspeak for months, if not years to come: a pulp of boosterism about the American dream, interspersed with homilies about putting factionalism and party divisions behind us and moving on. I used to think Senator Joe Lieberman was the man whose words I'd least like to be force fed at top volume if I was chained next to a loudspeaker in Camp Gitmo, but I think Obama is worse. I've never heard a politician so careful not to offend conventional elite opinion while pretending to be fearless and forthright.”
― Alexander Cockburn, [A Colossal Wreck: A Road Trip Through Political Scandal, Corruption and American Culture] [By: Cockburn, Alexander] [September, 2013]

“Someone sailing on a Gaza flotilla or staring down a line of sneering, rabid cops is not very likely to be referred to by our political/media elites as 'in harm's way”
― Alexander Cockburn, [A Colossal Wreck: A Road Trip Through Political Scandal, Corruption and American Culture] [By: Cockburn, Alexander] [September, 2013]

“Of course, many rituals in our society have a furtive homicidal intent”
― Alexander Cockburn, [A Colossal Wreck: A Road Trip Through Political Scandal, Corruption and American Culture] [By: Cockburn, Alexander] [September, 2013]