Comments on: From Molly Ivins: 1944-2007 http://firedoglake.com/2007/01/31/from-molly-ivins/ Firedoglake weblog Fri, 27 Nov 2009 03:39:14 -0600 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.6 hourly 1 By: Kurt Landefeld http://firedoglake.com/2007/01/31/from-molly-ivins/#comment-486767 Kurt Landefeld Thu, 01 Feb 2007 20:13:35 +0000 http://www.firedoglake.com/2007/01/31/from-molly-ivins/#comment-486767 <p>My daughter graduated from Smith last spring.</p> <p>She is the fourth Smithie from our family.</p> <p>But the one closest in spirit to Molly and also to her Toledoan “sister” Gloria Steinem.</p> <p>Molly’s columns would appear only sporadically in the Cleveland<br /> Plain Dealer, Akron Beacon Journal or Toledo Blade.</p> <p>But when one did, it was usually another blast of righteous truth reminding us that there is right and wrong, that government does have purpose in serving the many, that the “unseen hand” of the marketplace is not mysterious and uncontrollable, that power resides, ultimately, with the “little people.”</p> <p>And those blasts usually came with a dollop of big bellied humor that showed her heart was as big as her brain.</p> <p>Our wire stories carried part of her experiences with NY Times editors trying to squeeze the life out of her prose.</p> <p>That she came home to Texas showed not that the NY Times was too big for her, but that she was too big for the NY Times.</p> <p>Molly, it’s not fair you left us before Shrub’s final trimming.</p> <p>But my daughter now has two of your books to help complete her Smith education.</p> <p>Gaudeamus igitur.</p> <p>Kurt Landefeld<br /> Huron, Ohio</p> My daughter graduated from Smith last spring.

She is the fourth Smithie from our family.

But the one closest in spirit to Molly and also to her Toledoan “sister” Gloria Steinem.

Molly’s columns would appear only sporadically in the Cleveland
Plain Dealer, Akron Beacon Journal or Toledo Blade.

But when one did, it was usually another blast of righteous truth reminding us that there is right and wrong, that government does have purpose in serving the many, that the “unseen hand” of the marketplace is not mysterious and uncontrollable, that power resides, ultimately, with the “little people.”

And those blasts usually came with a dollop of big bellied humor that showed her heart was as big as her brain.

Our wire stories carried part of her experiences with NY Times editors trying to squeeze the life out of her prose.

That she came home to Texas showed not that the NY Times was too big for her, but that she was too big for the NY Times.

Molly, it’s not fair you left us before Shrub’s final trimming.

But my daughter now has two of your books to help complete her Smith education.

Gaudeamus igitur.

Kurt Landefeld
Huron, Ohio

]]> By: Guyla in WA http://firedoglake.com/2007/01/31/from-molly-ivins/#comment-486501 Guyla in WA Thu, 01 Feb 2007 17:57:11 +0000 http://www.firedoglake.com/2007/01/31/from-molly-ivins/#comment-486501 <p>Molly’s books and columns hit a chord with me. She made me think while laughing. I am heartsick as if I’d lost a family member. I’ll miss you Molly.<br /> Ladies, get an annual mammogram.</p> Molly’s books and columns hit a chord with me. She made me think while laughing. I am heartsick as if I’d lost a family member. I’ll miss you Molly.
Ladies, get an annual mammogram.

]]> By: tejanarusa http://firedoglake.com/2007/01/31/from-molly-ivins/#comment-486432 tejanarusa Thu, 01 Feb 2007 17:30:34 +0000 http://www.firedoglake.com/2007/01/31/from-molly-ivins/#comment-486432 <p>Words failed me when I read this news, although it was not much of a surprise.<br /> Another place to hear her unique voice today - “Fresh Air” on NPR is going to play 2 interviews Terry Gross did with her.</p> Words failed me when I read this news, although it was not much of a surprise.
Another place to hear her unique voice today – “Fresh Air” on NPR is going to play 2 interviews Terry Gross did with her.

]]> By: Gail Walker http://firedoglake.com/2007/01/31/from-molly-ivins/#comment-486430 Gail Walker Thu, 01 Feb 2007 17:29:49 +0000 http://www.firedoglake.com/2007/01/31/from-molly-ivins/#comment-486430 <p>Molly was a soldier, courageous and unafraid to speak up against the evils in our world. She spoke for millions of us and she was always so right. She will be truly missed. RIP, Molly</p> Molly was a soldier, courageous and unafraid to speak up against the evils in our world. She spoke for millions of us and she was always so right. She will be truly missed. RIP, Molly

]]> By: SallyS http://firedoglake.com/2007/01/31/from-molly-ivins/#comment-486129 SallyS Thu, 01 Feb 2007 14:35:27 +0000 http://www.firedoglake.com/2007/01/31/from-molly-ivins/#comment-486129 <p>What is the best memorial to Molly is that her words spurred us to action. She did not want us just to read and talk about politics. </p> <p>There is a war going on in Iraq and a war going on here at home over things like individual freedoms and executive power. I know I am preaching to the choir here, but there is so much left to be done.</p> What is the best memorial to Molly is that her words spurred us to action. She did not want us just to read and talk about politics.

There is a war going on in Iraq and a war going on here at home over things like individual freedoms and executive power. I know I am preaching to the choir here, but there is so much left to be done.

]]> By: dmg http://firedoglake.com/2007/01/31/from-molly-ivins/#comment-486122 dmg Thu, 01 Feb 2007 14:23:55 +0000 http://www.firedoglake.com/2007/01/31/from-molly-ivins/#comment-486122 <p><a href="#comment-485445"><em>punaise @ 7 </em></a></p> <blockquote><p>we have lost a great voice</p></blockquote> <p>amen to that, and a great friend to us all as well.</p> <p>i didn’t know until i woke up this morning and fired up the toobz. i knew she was sick, just not how far along her situation had progressed.<br /> molly has far and away been the sharpest critic of this administration, and has been able to do so with a sense of humor that is gentle even as it pricks the skin (or in bush’s case, skins the…).</p> <p>oh man, a national treasure, gone. this one hurts big.</p> punaise @ 7

we have lost a great voice

amen to that, and a great friend to us all as well.

i didn’t know until i woke up this morning and fired up the toobz. i knew she was sick, just not how far along her situation had progressed.
molly has far and away been the sharpest critic of this administration, and has been able to do so with a sense of humor that is gentle even as it pricks the skin (or in bush’s case, skins the…).

oh man, a national treasure, gone. this one hurts big.

]]> By: bekkieann http://firedoglake.com/2007/01/31/from-molly-ivins/#comment-486048 bekkieann Thu, 01 Feb 2007 13:12:19 +0000 http://www.firedoglake.com/2007/01/31/from-molly-ivins/#comment-486048 <p>I didn’t see your lovely tribute until this morning, and oddly, I used almost the same words “I have read and loved Molly’s columns for years. . .” in my own blog.</p> <p>It’s just impossible for me to choose a favorite quote, as my favorite is always the last one I just read. She had a unique talent for being humorous and profound in the same breath. I loved her. I’ll miss her words.</p> I didn’t see your lovely tribute until this morning, and oddly, I used almost the same words “I have read and loved Molly’s columns for years. . .” in my own blog.

It’s just impossible for me to choose a favorite quote, as my favorite is always the last one I just read. She had a unique talent for being humorous and profound in the same breath. I loved her. I’ll miss her words.

]]> By: bob h http://firedoglake.com/2007/01/31/from-molly-ivins/#comment-486002 bob h Thu, 01 Feb 2007 11:48:45 +0000 http://www.firedoglake.com/2007/01/31/from-molly-ivins/#comment-486002 <p>I once asked Molly on an internet forum whether there was anything about Bush’s performance in office that surprised her in a positive way. No, she replied, she was feeling pretty smug.</p> I once asked Molly on an internet forum whether there was anything about Bush’s performance in office that surprised her in a positive way. No, she replied, she was feeling pretty smug.

]]> By: LeftinTexas http://firedoglake.com/2007/01/31/from-molly-ivins/#comment-485998 LeftinTexas Thu, 01 Feb 2007 10:51:13 +0000 http://www.firedoglake.com/2007/01/31/from-molly-ivins/#comment-485998 <p>I had the wonderful good fortune to “discover” Molly early on in the Texas Observer. She has helped me make sense of and laugh at this crazy world for most of my adult life. <a href="http://www.texasobserver.org/">The Texas Observer tribute.</a> Molly, you’ve left us again, but we’ll remember you with so much love.</p> I had the wonderful good fortune to “discover” Molly early on in the Texas Observer. She has helped me make sense of and laugh at this crazy world for most of my adult life. The Texas Observer tribute. Molly, you’ve left us again, but we’ll remember you with so much love.

]]> By: Fool Zero http://firedoglake.com/2007/01/31/from-molly-ivins/#comment-485990 Fool Zero Thu, 01 Feb 2007 09:07:52 +0000 http://www.firedoglake.com/2007/01/31/from-molly-ivins/#comment-485990 <p>Molly was a national treasure — in my opinion anyway, though doubtless not in Shrub’s. I haven’t knowingly missed a column of hers in years. </p> <p>Thanks for the reposts, Scarecrow. The most complete Molly Ivins archive that I’m aware of (going back to April, 2000) is <a href="http://www.workingforchange.com/column_lst.cfm?AuthrId=8">here</a>. I sure hope they’re planning to leave it there but just in case, anyone interested should go find and save their favorites.</p> Molly was a national treasure — in my opinion anyway, though doubtless not in Shrub’s. I haven’t knowingly missed a column of hers in years.

Thanks for the reposts, Scarecrow. The most complete Molly Ivins archive that I’m aware of (going back to April, 2000) is here. I sure hope they’re planning to leave it there but just in case, anyone interested should go find and save their favorites.

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