“[M]y fear is that the whole island will become so overly populated that it will tip over and capsize.”
—US Rep. Hank Johnson (D-Georgia), on his concern over stationing an additional 8000 Marines on Guam
“I think gay marriage is something that should be between a man and a woman.”
— Republican Arnold Schwarzenegger during the 2003 California gubernatorial election campaign (he won)
“Thank God, I’m still alive. But, of course, those who died, their lives will never be the same again.”
—US Rep. Barbara Boxer (D-California), on the 1988 San Francisco earthquake
Louisiana Voice 
Even though Guam is not going to capsize, it is outrageous for us to take additional land from the Chomorro people. As an Air Force brat I spent 2 1/2 years living on the “3 legged” island that has already taken so much from the people there and this proposed base will cut the remaining middle ground that still has a lot of protected jungle and important medicinal plant life etc in half and remove their access to what remains of the island. They have sacrificed so much for our military and they deserve a bit of respect at this point to save their culture.
Excellent and compassionate observation and a cram session education for those of us unfamiliar with the island. Thanks for your comments.
Funny stuff indeed from BOTH sides of the aisle. It’s also easier to post some stuff like this than to actually think up and write an article!!! I see you are taking some much needed relaxation!!! But I expect some profound editorial content in the future when the heat lets up enough to allow rational thought process! And it ain’t even July yet!!!
Not relaxing a bit. Instead, doing a little deep diving research for a couple of stories I’m working on – plus I’m always working on another book. About halfway through with a book about America’s sheriffs that will be similar in format to my Louisiana’s Rogue Sheriffs.
Seems a lot of politicians have a way with words. When I was young, the storied mayor of my hometown of New Orleans, Vic Schiro, was famous for his malapropisms and colorful pronouncements. He and my father were fast friends, and whenever hizzoner the mayor was on television news, my dad would watch to see what words would tumble out. My personal favorites from the mayor were “That’s the way the cookie bounces” and one that would be perfect for today: “Don’t believe any false rumors unless they come from me.”
Good memories.
Although he was before our time, my absolute favorite quote by a New Orleans Mayor is this one:
“How ya like dem ersters?” Mayor Robert Maestri to President Franklin Roosevelt while eating Oysters Rockefeller with him on his visit to New Orleans in 1937.
My friend, Roger Magendie, a great actor who could also be a great stand-up comedian, uses this quote often.
https://www.nola.com/entertainment_life/eat-drink/article_115f931e-2726-5b5a-ba95-8b2703d34397.html
And then there was Mayor Martin Behrman, when the federal government closed Storyville, the infamous red light district in New Orleans, in 1917: “You can make it (prostitution) illegal, but you can’t make it unpopular.”
Wow! Roger Magendie is NOT as old as my dad would be (sadly he is in heaven now) – born in 1913 – so he wasn’t around to hear it firsthand. Daddy was 24 when Mayor Maestri made that unforgettable remark and it must have stuck and resonated with him. He often asked that question when a situation called for an imponderable non sequitur, but I didn’t know the origin. I just thought it was a New Orleans-ism. Glad to know the source.
Please convey my regards to Roger. I was fortunate to make his acquaintance back in the day when we both worked in the Capitol Annex. He was a great person, very helpful to my agency, and did indeed have a wicked sense of humor.