--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Tom Ridge now says we don't have to run…" description: "\"Tom Ridge now says we don't have to run out and put plastic sheets all over the house. Great, tell that to my dead parakeet.\" — Craig Kilborn" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dd2/craig-kilborn-7141_house_tom-ridge-now-says-we-don-t-have-to-run_1658998.jpg" --- # Tom Ridge now says we don't have to run out and put… ![“Tom Ridge now says we don't have to run out and put plastic sheets all over the house. Great, tell that to my dead parakeet.” quote by Craig Kilborn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dd2/craig-kilborn-7141_house_tom-ridge-now-says-we-don-t-have-to-run_1658998.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dd2/craig-kilborn-7141_house_tom-ridge-now-says-we-don-t-have-to-run_1658998.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dd2/craig-kilborn-7141_house_tom-ridge-now-says-we-don-t-have-to-run_1658998.jpg) > “Tom Ridge now says we don't have to run out and put plastic sheets all over the house. Great, tell that to my dead parakeet.” [Craig Kilborn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-kilborn/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Criticizing superficial solutions to real problems reveals absurdity and grief **In simple terms:** Mocking empty fixes highlights deeper loss Key Takeaway Question superficial fixes for real issues Themes satire environment grief absurdity Mood wry empathetic Type satirical reflective When to use this quote - Policy debate - environmental activism - personal coping - public discourse Key Concepts Environmentalism media criticism psychology of loss Questions to Reflect On - How to address loss while critiquing policy? - What’s the line between humor and insensitivity? A Different Perspective Satire may downplay genuine pain ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Bird](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bird/) [Parakeets](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/parakeets/) [Running](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/running/) ## Related quotes > [Homeland Security Chief Tom Ridge made that critical leap from 'be afraid' to 'be very afraid,' raising the terrorist threat level to orange for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-stewart/homeland-security-chief-tom-ridge-made-that-critical-leap-from-be/) [Jon Stewart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-stewart/) > [Public service announcement: In case of a terrorist attack, bottled water and duct tape are not going to do a damn thing. So do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-letterman/public-service-announcement-in-case-of-a-terrorist-attack-bottled/) [David Letterman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-letterman/) > [How could anybody confuse truth with beauty, I thought as I looked at him. Truth came with sunken eyes, bony or scarred, decayed. Its…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janet-fitch/how-could-anybody-confuse-truth-with-beauty-i-thought-as-i-looked-at/) [Janet Fitch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janet-fitch/) > [I read, for the first time, of the Carolina Parakeet-a North American parakeet whose green, yellow and reddish-orange plumage appeared vivacious and altogether quite…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-cokinos/i-read-for-the-first-time-of-the-carolina-parakeet-a-north-american/) [Christopher Cokinos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-cokinos/) > [The busy chatter of the heat Shrilled like a parakeet; And shuddering at the noonday light The dust lay dead and white As powder…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edith-sitwell/the-busy-chatter-of-the-heat-shrilled-like-a-parakeet-and-shuddering/) [Edith Sitwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edith-sitwell/) > [Beauty was empty as a gourd, vain as a parakeet. But it had power. It smelled of musk and oranges and made you close…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janet-fitch/beauty-was-empty-as-a-gourd-vain-as-a-parakeet-but-it-had-power-it/) [Janet Fitch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janet-fitch/) > [“People who we had believed weren’t able to speak started speaking,” Thomas said. “People who had been completely withdrawn and nonambulatory started coming to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/atul-gawande/people-who-we-had-believed-weren-t-able-to-speak-started-speaking/) [Atul Gawande](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/atul-gawande/) > [You might be a redneck if your parakeet knows the phrase Open up, Police!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-foxworthy/you-might-be-a-redneck-if-your-parakeet-knows-the-phrase-open-up/) [Jeff Foxworthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-foxworthy/) > [Later, I learned that our forgetting of the parakeet had begun even before the species was extinct.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-cokinos/later-i-learned-that-our-forgetting-of-the-parakeet-had-begun-even/) [Christopher Cokinos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-cokinos/) > [Healthy parakeets have the nervous energy of tennis players.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mignon-mclaughlin/healthy-parakeets-have-the-nervous-energy-of-tennis-players/) [Mignon McLaughlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mignon-mclaughlin/) > [Above the forest of the parakeets, A parakeet of parakeets prevails, A pip of life amid a mort of tails.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wallace-stevens/above-the-forest-of-the-parakeets-a-parakeet-of-parakeets-prevails-a/) [Wallace Stevens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wallace-stevens/) > [I grew up with two different parakeets - one that lived for five years, and one that lived for 13 years - so I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-parsons/i-grew-up-with-two-different-parakeets-one-that-lived-for-five-years/) [Jim Parsons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-parsons/) > [You never count your chickens before they hatch. I used to keep parakeets and I never counted every egg thinking I would get all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-holloway/you-never-count-your-chickens-before-they-hatch-i-used-to-keep/) [Ian Holloway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-holloway/) > [My ex-girlfriend owned a parakeet…oh my god, that f\*\*king thing would never shut up. But the bird was cool.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-jeselnik/my-ex-girlfriend-owned-a-parakeet-oh-my-god-that-f-king-thing-would/) [Anthony Jeselnik](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-jeselnik/) > [That I had never heard of such a bird did not surprise me… But others more experienced also did not know of the Carolina…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-cokinos/that-i-had-never-heard-of-such-a-bird-did-not-surprise-me-but-others/) [Christopher Cokinos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-cokinos/) ## More by Craig Kilborn > [Bryant Gumbel is thrilled about his CBS deal and can't wait to start alienating the staff of an entirely new network.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-kilborn/bryant-gumbel-is-thrilled-about-his-cbs-deal-and-can-t-wait-to-start/) [Craig Kilborn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-kilborn/) > [Arnold Schwarzenegger announced he's running for governor. He's got a great slogan - 'Vote for me, or I'll make 'Kindergarten Cop II](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-kilborn/arnold-schwarzenegger-announced-he-s-running-for-governor-he-s-got-a/) [Craig Kilborn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-kilborn/) > [President Bush is trying to put a positive spin on the latest bad economic numbers. Today he declared victory in the 'War on Jobs.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-kilborn/president-bush-is-trying-to-put-a-positive-spin-on-the-latest-bad/) [Craig Kilborn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-kilborn/) > [Hillary Clinton has finished writing her book where she says her marriage couldn't be stronger, and Bill just finished his book titled 'Chicks I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-kilborn/hillary-clinton-has-finished-writing-her-book-where-she-says-her/) [Craig Kilborn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-kilborn/) > [The places I've worked in the past, I always stayed three years and moved on.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-kilborn/the-places-i-ve-worked-in-the-past-i-always-stayed-three-years-and/) [Craig Kilborn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-kilborn/) > [I'm going to miss my best friends - my cameras.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-kilborn/i-m-going-to-miss-my-best-friends-my-cameras/) [Craig Kilborn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-kilborn/) > [George W. Bush even stopped in Pennsylvania to try his hand at the lotto and gave up when he could only think of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-kilborn/george-w-bush-even-stopped-in-pennsylvania-to-try-his-hand-at-the/) [Craig Kilborn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-kilborn/) > [Senator Hillary Clinton is attacking President Bush for breaking his campaign promise to cut carbon dioxide emissions, saying a promise made, a promise broken.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-kilborn/senator-hillary-clinton-is-attacking-president-bush-for-breaking-his/) [Craig Kilborn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-kilborn/) > [People here in Los Angeles are disgusted now about a sex scandal involving Arnold Schwarzenegger. Apparently for seven years, he carried on a sexual…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-kilborn/people-here-in-los-angeles-are-disgusted-now-about-a-sex-scandal/) [Craig Kilborn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-kilborn/) > [With Iraq plunging into chaos and gas prices at record highs President Bush took time out this weekend for a ride on his bicycle,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-kilborn/with-iraq-plunging-into-chaos-and-gas-prices-at-record-highs/) [Craig Kilborn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-kilborn/) > [There are 300,000 new jobs and Bush said he's confused, 'Can I take credit for good news that I didn't even make up?'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-kilborn/there-are-300-000-new-jobs-and-bush-said-he-s-confused-can-i-take/) [Craig Kilborn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-kilborn/) > [President Bush has delivered a new resolution to the U.N. saying that Saddam has failed to cooperate with U.N. resolutions, freeing us to get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-kilborn/president-bush-has-delivered-a-new-resolution-to-the-u-n-saying-that/) [Craig Kilborn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-kilborn/) > [However, frat-boy humor is funny and it always will be.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-kilborn/however-frat-boy-humor-is-funny-and-it-always-will-be/) [Craig Kilborn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-kilborn/) > [I learned at an early age that using the third person will push some buttons.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-kilborn/i-learned-at-an-early-age-that-using-the-third-person-will-push-some/) [Craig Kilborn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-kilborn/) > [Larry Flynt, running for governor of California. His goal - change our state bird to the spread eagle.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-kilborn/larry-flynt-running-for-governor-of-california-his-goal-change-our/) [Craig Kilborn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-kilborn/) [Explore all 94 Craig Kilborn quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-kilborn/) ## More Bird quotes > [And I have been very blessed, having coached some of the greatest that have ever played the game. 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He stares…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nina-schuyler/he-unfixes-the-metal-notch-and-slips-his-hand-around-the-body-of-the/) Nina Schuyler > [I would rather learn from one bird how to sing than to teach 10,000 stars how not to dance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-e-cummings/i-would-rather-learn-from-one-bird-how-to-sing-than-to-teach-10-000/) [e. e. cummings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-e-cummings/) > [Can you imagine any better example of divine creative accomplishment that the consummate flying machine that is a bird? The skeleton, very flexible and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guy-murchie/can-you-imagine-any-better-example-of-divine-creative-accomplishment/) [Guy Murchie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/guy-murchie/) > [Surely, God could have caused birds to fly with their bones made of solid gold, with their veins full of quicksilver, with their flesh…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/galileo-galilei/surely-god-could-have-caused-birds-to-fly-with-their-bones-made-of/) [Galileo Galilei](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/galileo-galilei/) > [And wheresoever, in his rich creation, Sweet music breathes--in wave, or bird, or soul-- 'Tis but the faint and far reverberation Of that great…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frances-sargent-osgood/and-wheresoever-in-his-rich-creation-sweet-music-breathes-in-wave-or/) [Frances Sargent Osgood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frances-sargent-osgood/) > [A clock struck out the hour of twelve, and the bird in the hedgerow was still singing as we marched out to the roadway,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-macgill/a-clock-struck-out-the-hour-of-twelve-and-the-bird-in-the-hedgerow/) [Patrick MacGill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-macgill/) > [Every wife ought to answer for her man. If the husband be engaged in a seditious club, or drinks mysterious healths, or be frugal…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-addison/every-wife-ought-to-answer-for-her-man-if-the-husband-be-engaged-in-a/) [Joseph Addison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-addison/) > [Meanwhile, the trees were just as green as before; the birds sang and the sun shone as clearly now as ever. The familiar surroundings…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-hardy/meanwhile-the-trees-were-just-as-green-as-before-the-birds-sang-and/) [Thomas Hardy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-hardy/) > [When they started to drain a swamp where birds and fish had lived, for a new housing development down the road from his apartment,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maile-meloy/when-they-started-to-drain-a-swamp-where-birds-and-fish-had-lived-for/) [Maile Meloy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maile-meloy/) > [The bird with the thorn in its breast, it follows an immutable law; it is driven by it knows not what to impale itself,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colleen-mccullough/the-bird-with-the-thorn-in-its-breast-it-follows-an-immutable-law-it/) [Colleen McCullough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colleen-mccullough/) > [Real like sucks the life out of losers. if you want to fuck with the eagles, you must learn how to fly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/real-like-sucks-the-life-out-of-losers-if-you-want-to-fuck-with-the/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“If we studied birds ,maybe we could learn to be free.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-alire-s-enz/if-we-studied-birds-maybe-we-could-learn-to-be-free/) [Benjamin Alire Sáenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-alire-s-enz/) [Browse all 4,802 Bird quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bird/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Tom Ridge now says we don't have to run out and put plastic sheets all over the house. 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