She actually did one last column after i had posted my appreciation last month, then went back into the hospital and never came out.
Stand Up Against the Surge-- ...We are the people who run this country. We are the deciders. And every single day, every single one of us needs to step outside and take some action to help stop this war. Raise hell. Think of something to make the ridiculous look ridiculous. Make our troops know we're for them and trying to get them out of there. Hit the streets to protest Bush's proposed surge. If you can, go to the peace march in Washington on Jan. 27. We need people in the streets, banging pots and pans and demanding, "Stop it, now!"
I'll miss her--and we need many many more like her. posted by amberglow at 5:12 PM on January 31, 2007
Earlier today I started a procrastinatory letter to my "representatives" outlining my feelings on foreign adventures and war...Now I will make sure to finish it and print it out and send it off. Viva Molly! posted by tingting at 5:14 PM on January 31, 2007
from the tribute page: "Politics is not a picture on a wall or a television sitcom that you can decide you don't much care for." posted by amberglow at 5:14 PM on January 31, 2007
i always liked her ... would that more columnists regard our government with the disgust and disdain she showed posted by pyramid termite at 5:20 PM on January 31, 2007
A great lady, a great journalist, and a great patriot. Thank you, Molly! I'll miss you. posted by ottereroticist at 5:28 PM on January 31, 2007
She was less than a year older than my mom. Scary and sad. She will be remembered, but damn, she sure did a lot of living while she was alive. That's worth something. posted by mullingitover at 5:29 PM on January 31, 2007
(pls forgive any typos; eyelids seem to be leaking somewhat)
She came to Richland College in '83 (I think) and spoke to us about, among other things, Texas legislators "so dumb that if they were any dumber, you'd have to water 'em twice a week" and how the race for Governor frequently turned into "a horserace among crook, cretin and Fascist." She (and to a lesser extent, Ronnie Dugger and John Henry Faulk) were refreshing alternatives to the sort of Northeast/California liberalism I'd learned to scoff at, and I'm a richer person for having been privileged to sit in a room for ninety minutes or so and get to chat with her a bit afterward. A grand, gracious, fierce and funny woman. posted by pax digita at 5:37 PM on January 31, 2007
How horrible. She was one of my favorite columnists, and definitely helped keep me sane over the past several years. posted by the_bone at 5:47 PM on January 31, 2007
. Bummer, 62 years old is not very old. If this were a fair world she would have outlived both Bush I and Bush II. posted by octothorpe at 5:53 PM on January 31, 2007
.
I wish she could have lived at least 720 days longer.
ouch, this one hurts posted by caddis at 7:09 PM on January 31, 2007
Endure 11 minutes of documented Republican inanity in return for a Molly Ivins one liner
Holy crap, Flunkie. I've got tears going down my face (and they're tears of joy instead). posted by ColdChef at 7:12 PM on January 31, 2007
The story goes, when Gov. Ann Richards had to have a mastectomy, Molly Ivins sent her a letter that simply said, "What's a tat and did they give you one?"
Aw, fuck. I feared this was coming when I saw the last metafilter thread discussing her illness. It seems too cruel that she didn't get to see Bush out of office...
A great and amazing woman, who is already missed. posted by Space Kitty at 7:18 PM on January 31, 2007
You may get fired, you may get in trouble. But, have fun, anyway, 'cause, as Willy Nelson sings, if we couldn't laugh, we would all go insane. So, as you all go forth unafraid, to raise hell and rock the boat, you just keep working at getting some laughter and some fun into the whole deal. Thank you.
Henry Pringle Lecture at Columbia by Molly Ivins
(she also debunks the "gang pluck" story) posted by ColdChef at 7:33 PM on January 31, 2007
Texas just hit rock-bottomer. posted by rob511 at 7:33 PM on January 31, 2007
Molly's page on the Inflammatory Breast Cancer Survivor's Site
Includes her article "Who Needs Breasts, Anyway?" Having breast cancer is massive amounts of no fun. First they mutilate you; then they poison you; then they burn you. I have been on blind dates better than that. posted by ColdChef at 7:52 PM on January 31, 2007
Oh this just breaks my heart - Molly, we will miss your wit and wisdom, and your strong, funky, funny self. The world's indeed a less colorful, wonderful place without you in it. posted by madamjujujive at 7:53 PM on January 31, 2007
. x 100 posted by empath at 7:56 PM on January 31, 2007
.
Dammit. I'm an artificial Texan (for 11 years now), and I thought she was getting *over* her cancer. posted by mrbill at 7:57 PM on January 31, 2007
Oh, hell. I am really going to miss her. posted by gamera at 9:20 PM on January 31, 2007
Molly Ivins was a hero of mine (geez it's hard to type that in the past-tense)... Someone who spoke the truth, and did so in such a humorous and engaging way... She will be sorely missed. posted by amyms at 9:23 PM on January 31, 2007
Tears are welling up like I was a snot nosed baby, and now I gotta blow my stupid nose, but I'm gonna smile anyway. She wouldn't want us ...damn.
*blows nose*
This is one time I can't do a damn period and leave it at that. She wouldn't want your damned periods. She'd say she had enough of those before she hit menopause.
Only she'd have said it funnier, with a folksy spin.
"If there was one thing Molly wanted us to understand, it's that the world of politics is absurd. Since we can't cry, we might as well laugh. And in case we ever forgot, Molly would remind us, several times a week, in her own unique style."
Have we forgotten already?
LAUGH dammit or I'll give ya somethin' to laugh about!
She wouldn't want us bein' respectful. She'd want us slappin' each other on the back and tellin' stories and crackin' jokes. She wouldn't want us to cry. She'd want us to laugh. She wouldn't want us to mourn. She'd want us to party. Even you conservative folks. Heck, not many things she enjoyed more in life than arguing with conservatives. Next time you're at a bar, have a drink in her honor. Don't drink? Fine. Eat a brisket or something.
Growing up in Texas as a liberal sometimes was downright heartbreaking and lonely. Reading her words let me know I wasn't the only sane one in this state - somebody else could see the emperor without any clothes on too.
Celebrate her life. Don't mourn it. So no more periods on this one please. I say we leave smilies. It's corny. It's silly. It's brilliant. Just like she was. Heck! IS! She STILL is brilliant. I usually use the equal sign when I make a smiley. This time I'll make an exception.
Thank you Molly. Thank you for being the first to coin the term "Shrub" in regards to GW. It still makes me laugh. You still make me laugh.
This is one time I can't do a damn period and leave it at that. She wouldn't want your damned periods. She'd say she had enough of those before she hit menopause.
Brilliant. Thanks, ZachsMind. posted by ColdChef at 9:36 PM on January 31, 2007
I've told the story before, but I grew up living in Houston until I was fifteen, the son of conservatives, living off oil company money. When I was a teenager, I decided that - now that I'd thought about it - I was actually more of a liberal. Not as a rebelious phase, thank god, but just as the first time I'd thought about it. One by one over the next couple years, the rest of my family switched sides behind me (and really on their own, most likely) but the person who started it all: Molly Ivins.
Smart as a whip and funny as hell, and both scathing and relentlessly optimistic until the end, Molly was, and will remain, the voice of the best that liberalism has to offer. SHe will be missed.
As my father, who has lived his entire life as a Texan, said, "Wow... the last sane voice in Texas..." posted by Navelgazer at 9:45 PM on January 31, 2007
This news has hit me like a sledgehammer. Shock and dismay is all I feel. Molly was a real broad and inspired me all thru college and continued thru my adult life. Thanks, Mol, for all you gave me and free, progressive thinkers everywhere.
Hey, while you're up there, you think you can sway His point of view around like you did so many down here?
Crap. I was hoping she'd at least outlive the Bush Administration. posted by The Card Cheat at 5:53 AM on February 1, 2007
Goddamn it. I'm just devastated by this. I wouldn't expect to be, I mean, we knew it was coming...but jebus onna stick, I'm sitting here in tears. Angry tears. It's not fair. I want my Molly back!
I first met her when I was a student, taking a journalism class where she was a guest lecturer. After I started working as a writer, I ran into her off and on, as Austin is a pretty incestuous little town, really.
She always remembered my name, and never failed to ask after my "mom-an-'em". During my divorce, when I decided to leave Austin, I ran into her. Someone had told her that I was shutting down my publishing company, and heading off to the bright lights of a bigger city. She sat down next to me and told me "Running from something...well, that ain't what we do. But running *to* something, well hell girl, saddle up them ponies and do us proud. Always run *to*, never run *away*. "
It's advice that has stood me well for almost fifteen years.
I will miss her. Flibbety Boo, Molly. Flibbety Boo. posted by dejah420 at 7:48 AM on February 1, 2007 [3 favorites]
Ah, shit. posted by COBRA! at 7:59 AM on February 1, 2007
.
and what The Card Cheat said. posted by terrapin at 8:00 AM on February 1, 2007
.
Damn, between losing her and Ann Richards, its now even tougher to be a progressive in Texas. posted by thewittyname at 8:02 AM on February 1, 2007
I hope she is somewhere fun with Ann Richards, arguing, laughing and carrying on.
The Texas Observer is up and down, but has lots and lots of wonderful Molly information, columns, pics and rememberances.
Only Smithie I ever respected... posted by QIbHom at 8:22 AM on February 1, 2007
Funny. Sensible, damn it! Smart as fuck. Hard working. And Funny: lovely, lovely funny. She was like a champion swordswoman; so exciting and entertaining to watch while she effortlessly pierced the target.
My father, who liked to describe his political orientation as "just to the right of Atilla the Hun", died from cancer last May.
Despite disagreeing with probably 90% of everything she wrote, he loved reading Molly Ivins. In part, because she wrote so provocatively and he got a charge from being provoked, but mostly because he appreciated the art of tough political writing, and in that regard she was second to none. He also thought she was one damn funny lady.
I miss my father. And now, in missing you, Molly, I miss him even more.
Thanks for sharing your gift with us through the years. posted by gigawhat? at 9:34 AM on February 1, 2007 [1 favorite]
In pace requiescat, Molly. posted by silas216 at 10:01 AM on February 1, 2007
.
Seeing the headline flatly shocked me. I knew she was ill, but I didn't know she was that ill.
Damn. posted by ancientgower at 12:15 PM on February 1, 2007
.
and who now are Texans to be proud of? posted by YoBananaBoy at 12:19 PM on February 1, 2007
.
My favorite Molly Ivins comment was when she reported on two Texas legislators high-fiving each other after passing an anti-sodomy law. I'm paraphrasing, but she said something like, "That's exactly the contact between a prick and an asshole that this legislation was designed to prevent." posted by jonp72 at 1:38 PM on February 1, 2007
i'd never heard that one, jon--excellent! : > posted by amberglow at 2:02 PM on February 1, 2007
I just saw this. I don't think I've ever posted a comment on an obit post, but I am truly sad that the world has lost Molly Ivins. That woman had a way with words that will never be matched. I'm just bummed. posted by SteveInMaine at 2:07 PM on February 1, 2007
She deserves so much more than a period. If you want more than a paraphrase for "That's exactly the contact between a prick and an asshole that this legislation was designed to prevent." Watch the 11 minute YouTube video linked above.
I remember being stranded in George H W Bush Intercontinental Airport in Houston and having "Molly Ivins Can't Say That, Can She?" as my reading material. It was the best layover ever. posted by whatever at 3:37 PM on February 1, 2007
and who now are Texans to be proud of?
Last I checked, Jim Hightower was alive and kicking ass. posted by lekvar at 5:32 PM on February 1, 2007
.
Full disclosure up front: I work at Texas Monthly. But thought I'd contribute some links I know about; our editor did an interview with her recently that we printed in our November 06 issue; you can get to it here.
The first thing they talk about is the recent death of Ann Richards, and she also talks about her cancer. The photograph for the story was great; you can see a thumbnail there.
Second, KUT, the local public radio station, has this page with links to the NPR "rembrance," among other things. posted by rleamon at 5:46 PM on February 1, 2007
I'm back a day later and you yankees still insist on the periods. This is Molly Ivins we're talkin' about! Not Bob Hope or Saddam Hussein or (insert your second favorite dead person here). I told ya if you didn't cut it out and start laughin' I'd give ya somethin' to laugh about.
"We can sell things that look like penises so long as they don't vibrate, and we can sell things that vibrate, so long as they don't look like penises."
So let me get this straight. These penises... They vibrate?NO! If'n they did you'd be a felon in Texas. So you gotta grab your own personal jesus massager or an educational model and go to town on each other. Just not call it what it is just in case you-know-who is watchin' (I think maybe Santy Claws). Not only was the emperor wearing no clothes, he had a strap on educational model and was doing the watusi. And there's more where that came from.
yobananaboy asked: "and who now are Texans to be proud of?"
We're still proud of Molly. Well, those of us who ain't completely educational modelled in the head.
=) hint hint hint! posted by ZachsMind at 6:31 PM on February 1, 2007
...oops. sorry. Force of habit. I meant to do the more conventional kinda smiley.
yobananaboy asked: "and who now are Texans to be proud of?"
ZachsMind Answered: "We're still proud of Molly. Well, those of us who ain't completely educational modelled in the head.
That, and Texas still has Kinky and Lyle to keep things (kinda) sane.
Thanks for that, ZachsMind. Lucky for us, Molly's legacy lives on as long as there are places to read her work. I wonder how far she got with her last book? posted by SteveInMaine at 5:54 AM on February 2, 2007
and rudepundit's: ...She was goddamned smart, so smart she didn't have to flaunt it. So smart that she could use the down to earth side to say what she meant so all of us could understand it. She didn't suffer bullies. She loved Texas like a parent loves her child even after that child has gone on a three-state killing spree. She was unfailingly polite. And she could eviscerate anyone who was failing all of us with just an image or two. Those guttings will be desperately missed. That sense and celebration of the decency of the average American will be missed even more. We've lost one of our defenders. posted by amberglow at 6:17 PM on February 2, 2007
Thanks for everything, Molly. posted by mosessis at 9:21 AM on February 3, 2007
AN AUGUST 8TH CALL TO WORDS! A Worthy Tribute to Molly--I beseech writers and websites all over the world to make August 8th, Molly Ivin's birthday, a day of satire. A day where they drop their on-the-money reflections and replace them with cleverly-worded, insightful - and inciting - columns and blogs that give readers credit for being able to think past the words. ... posted by amberglow at 10:09 PM on February 3, 2007
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