“Somewhere in Texas a Village Is Missing Its Idiot” appeared on T-shirts and bumper stickers in 2000, as George W. Bush ran for president. The term “village idiot” has been in use since at least George Bernard Shaw’s play Major Barbara (1907), and the Texas interpretation pre-dates the 2000 election.
Molly Ivins (1944-2007) wrote about the Texas legislature in 1996 or 1997, stating: “The Texas Legislature will soon be in session, God forbid, leaving many a village without its idiot.”
Wikipedia: Village Idiot
A village idiot is a person widely known in their community for their stupidity and ignorant behavior. The term first appears in the preface to George Bernard Shaw’s play Major Barbara, which opened in 1907. Shaw discusses how some people have treated madness or idiocy as a source of humor, remarking that “I myself have had a village idiot exhibited to me as something irresistibly funny.” The underlying supposition is that in every small rustic town there resides a dimwitted and foolish individual whom his fellow denizens regard as very amusing.
New York Times
Molly Ivins, Populist Texas Columnist, Dies at 62
By KATHARINE Q. SEELYE
Published: January 31, 2007
Molly Ivins, the liberal newspaper columnist who delighted in skewering politicians and interpreting, and mocking, her Texas culture, died today at her home in Austin. She was 62.
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Her subject was Texas. To her, the Great State, as she called it, was “reactionary, cantankerous and hilarious,” and its legislature was “reporter heaven.” When the legislature was set to convene, she warned her readers: “Every village is about to lose its idiot.”
Houston Chronicle
Feb. 1, 2007, 1:33AM
Quotes and quips from Molly Ivins
Associated Press
Some quotes from Molly Ivins, the liberal political writer whose words could be clever, ruthless and humorous — sometimes in the same sentence:
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“....our very own dreaded Legislature is almost upon us. Jan. 9 and they’ll all be here, leaving many a village without its idiot,” from a December 2000 column.
Cafepress.com
Somewhere in Texas a Village is Missing its Idiot
Somewhere in Texas a village is missing its idiot (bumper sticker)
BuzzFlash.com
A Village in Texas Has Lost Its Idiot (3 1/8” x 2 1/8” Refrigerator Magnet)
GoodStorm.com
Somewhere in Texas a Village is Missing its Idiot T-Shirt from Irregular Progress
Amazon.com
Some Village In Texas Is Missing Its Idiot Large Bumper Sticker
by BumperArt.com
Google Groups: soc.retirement
Newsgroups: soc.retirement
From: “John K. Taber”
Date: 1997/01/25
Subject: Re: GOOD OLD BILL CLINTON ...
The Texas Legislature will soon be in session, God forbid, leaving many a village without its idiot.—Molly Ivins