[2] O'Rourke planned to promote the book at the 1988 Republican National Convention.

Though he described himself as a conservative Republican, this was not allowed, reportedly because the GOP did not appreciate O'Rourke's sense of humor.

[3] In the essay that gives its title to the collection O'Rourke describes a "Republican Party Reptile":[4] We are in favor of: guns, drugs, fast cars, free love (if our wives don't find out), a sound dollar, and a strong military with spiffy uniforms.

The collection includes the article "How to Drive Fast on Drugs While Getting Your Wing-Wang Squeezed and Not Spill Your Drink" which had previously been published in National Lampoon in 1979, and was later included in the collection Driving Like Crazy.

[5] The essay is the inspiration and namesake of the 1991 Big Country song.