Molly died.

[Horse with no Name]

http://www.texasobserver.org/

>>>snip
And for me, it’s leaving time.

I have a grandly dramatic vision of myself stalking through the canyons of the Big Apple in the rain and cold, dreaming about driving with the soft night air of East Texas rushing on my face while Willie Nelson sings softly on the radio, or about blasting through the Panhandle under a fierce sun and pale blue sky….I’ll remember, I’ll remember…sunsets, rivers, hills, plains, the Gulf, woods, a thousand beers in a thousand joints, and sunshine and laughter. And people. Mostly I’ll remember people.

There is one thing, an important thing, I have to tell you before I go. What I’m going to tell you is more than a fact. It is a Truth. I have spent six years checking it out, and I know it to be true. The people who subscribe to The Texas Observer are good people. In fact, you’re the best people in this state. I don’t care if you think that’s pretentious or sentimental—it’s just true.

If I got to naming you, I would never stop, so I won’t. But please believe me that all of you whom I know and many of you whom I know only by letter are in my mind as I write this—even if I do forget your names half the time. Always excepting, of course, the turkey who sends me hate mail after my annual gun-control editorial. Turkey, turkey, turkey.

I wanted to call this “The Long Goodbye” but Kaye won’t let me. She wanted to call it “Ivins Indulges in Horrible Fit of Sentimentality.”

I love you. Good-bye my friends.

The closing paragraphs of Molly’s goodbye column to Texas Observer readers published June 18, 1976, as she left to join The New York Times.


Edited to add link to wonderful bio on front page of Dallas Morning News:
>>>snip
AUSTIN – Columnist, best-selling author and partisan wit Molly Ivins died Wednesday after a long and recurring battle with breast cancer.

The 62-year-old writer was a rare commodity in Texas – a liberal – who wrote a twice-weekly column that appeared in 300 newspapers. Based in Austin, her commentary appeared in national magazines from Harper's to Playboy, and her Texas drawl was heard parsing events on shows ranging from 60 Minutes to The NewsHour with Jim Lehrer.

>>>snip
http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/dn/latestnews/stories/020107glivinsobit.ba369f.html

[Beaverhausen]

1. Oh

:cry:

[aquart]

29. Yeah.

[redqueen]

2. ...

:cry:
:cry:
:cry:
:cry:
:cry:
:cry:
:cry:
:cry:

[CatWoman]

13. ....

:cry:

:cry:

:cry:

:cry:

:cry:

:cry:

:cry:

:cry:

:cry:

:cry:

:cry:

[WI_DEM]

3. may she RIP

Thank you for fighting the good fight and standing up for the underdog and what is right. You will be missed.

[crispini]

4. RIP Molly

:loveya:

[piedmont]

5. Rest in peace, Molly

[fooj]

6. May your spirit shine brightly upon us all.

RIP, Molly. :cry:

[cynatnite]

7. RIP n/t

[DearAbby]

8. Goodbye Molly

Job well done. Rest in peace.

[uppityperson]

9. RIP Molly, my condolences to family and friends and the world.

[sandnsea]

10. aw no

:cry:

[MethuenProgressive]

11. I'm glad to have known her through her words and deeds

Class act, and a helluva broad.

[JeffR]

12. RIP

She was a giant.

[shraby]

14. And a sad goodby to you too Mollie.

[trumad]

17. Damn

Damn...Damn!

[Dudley_DUright]

15. No words

:cry:::( :cry:::( :cry:::(
:cry:::( :cry:::( :cry:::(
:cry:::( :cry:::( :cry:::(

[AspenRose]

16. Thank you for everything.

I hope you and Ann Richards are having a huge party right now. O8) You will be missed.

[OPERATIONMINDCRIME]

25. I Second That.

I should've stated that in my post as well. A definite thanks to her.

[knitter4democracy]

18. May her memory be eternal.

May she rest in a place of verdure, a place of repose, in the arms of God.

May her memory be ever eternal. Rest in peace, Molly.

[OPERATIONMINDCRIME]

19. No Shit. That Sucks. God Bless Her Family, May The Lord Rest Her Soul, And May Her Inspiration

live on.

She was a class act and I'm quite saddened to hear this.

[Tactical Progressive]

20. I'm glad she got to see the 2006 elections

To know that things were turning around.

RIP Molly.

[brook]

21. Tears streaming.

She fought the good fight and deserves her Rest. But we will miss her so. :cry:

[Caoimhe]

22. Oh Molly

You will be so missed! What a sad day! :cry:

[Patsy Stone]

23. RIP, Molly

A great woman who leaves a huge hole in America's heart by her passing.

:patriot:

[cassiepriam]

24. Heaven just got a whole lot smarter and funnier.

Molly you will be missed.

[SharonAnn]

67. That brought a smile to my face. Thanks!

[Mist]

89. I'm tearing up at Molly, but thanks for that, cassie--it's so true. RIP, Molly. nt

[SeattleGirl]

26. Oh damn. This makes me so very sad.

Rest in peace, great lady.

:cry: :cry: :cry:

[madokie]

27. What a wonderful lady

I will miss her as all of us will
:hug:

[JohnnyLib2]

28. Very sad time.

RIP, fearless Molly.

[asthmaticeog]

30. She was one of the greats. May she rest in peace. nt

[helderheid]

31. Thank you Molly

:cry:

[kitkat65]

32. A gifted voice of reason in a time of insanity

Thank you, Molly, for everything and God speed. My thoughts and prayers to your family.

[Clark2008]

33. To one of my heros from my J-School Days.

I love you, Molly. Thanks for making it easier for me when I entered the journalism profession.

[originalpckelly]

34. RIP, Texas and America will miss you.

[xkenx]

35. Goodbye, Molly.

I hope that when my time comes, I can go to where you are. You are already making that place a better one.

[Pathwalker]

36. Vaya con Dios, Sweet Lady. I will miss you.

You were the only redeeming feature of my local rag - you made up for a lot of lousy journalism.
Sweet Dreams, you go rest now - your fight is over. It's up to us now. :cry:

[mmonk]

37. Thanks for posting this.

Good bye Molly. We'll miss you.

[cascadiance]

38. OMG! Molly, we've lost a great warrior!

... and a great friend! We will certainly miss you when we need you the most in the coming two years! I hope your spirit in all of us continues to help us get out of this mess that we're in now! You won't be forgotten!

:cry:

[Liberal In Texas]

39. What a shame, gone so soon. RIP Molly.

[malaise]

40. Rest in Peace Molly

Tonight I'll reread Who Let the Dogs In for the nth time. I'll start with page 262 - call me a Bush hater. You will never be forgotten. Love you good woman.:cry: :cry:

[Ron Green]

41. Rest easy, Molly. You make me proud to be a Texan, and that's no mean feat nowadays.

O8)

[wakemeupwhenitsover]

42. Texas & the Dems just

lost another light.

RIP Molly. You and Gov Richards were two of my heros.

[EFerrari]

43. Look at that beautiful face.

:cry:

[jannyk]

44. G.night Molly - We'll keep up the fight in your name n/t

[Sydnie]

45. Damn it

Just as all she had been fighting for was starting to happen ... :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry::cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry:

You will be missed Molly ... and never forgotten.

Please help us from the other side, if there is one. :grouphug:

[Nutmegger]

46. Such sad news.

May the passion and spirit of Molly Ivins continue to see us through this dark era of Bush and to a successful Dem President in 2008.

Rest in Peace dear Molly.

[H2O]

47. A life well lived

Indeed you will be missed, Molly

[Lex]

48. Molly, the truth is, I was always a little bit in love with you.

I miss you already.

:cry:

[EFerrari]

114. Weren't we all.

[The Straight Story]

49. Wonder woman has turned in her lasso for a halo. Goodbye Molly.

May you rest in peace.

[Karenina]

50. ...

...

[hlthe2b]

51. Somewhere there's a RAUCUS party with Molly and Ann Richards

hosting.... :toast: to lives well lived. It is we that are left behind without your wit and wisdom that are to be pitied... Live it up, gals, but please look down on us and pass on your keen observations now and then..

RIP, Ms. Molly

[tularetom]

52. RIP Molly inspiration to me and namesake to our cat

One of the greatest gifts Texas gave the USA!

[kanrok]

53. Rest In Peace, Molly

A sad day, indeed...

[SalmonChantedEvening]

54. Goodbye Dear Sweet Molly

A mind spoken, a heart open, and a voice of conviction.

I love you Molly :loveya: :cry:

[ismnotwasm]

55. Bye Molly

Dammit.
Condolences to friends and family and everyone who is grieving right now. I know I am.

[Philosoraptor]

56. What a great lady.

[Redstone]

57. Go easy, my friend. Go easy. You were a peach.

Redstone

[The Doctor.]

58. Dear God;

She was so brilliant, so scathing.

There was still so much Bush left to bash.

The reward of a lifetime, to join the divine.
Thank you God, for giving her to us when she was so very needed.
Thank you God for the rewards bestowed in Heaven upon the truly righteous, those who have given voice to the meek, vision to the isolated, and hope to the despairing.

Thank you God, for giving us such a treasure, and know that she was yeilded back with unmeasurable reluctance.

Take care of our treasure.

[Parche]

59. molly

:cry: :cry:


Your commentary's were heaven

[Kingshakabobo]

60. Rest In Peace, Molly.

:cry:

[kerry-is-my-prez]

61. omg! so sad.

love ya molly, rest in peace.

[libnnc]

62. Crying right now. And drinking. And thinking.

Molly was the best. I've been reading her since I was in high school. My mom loves her writing...got me hooked as a teenager.

It physically hurts to lose someone as wonderful as Molly. She would tell us, has told us, to keep fighting. Quit crying and keep fighting. Never stop fighting against the fat cats, the war mongers, the thieves, the scoundrels, the bigots, the assholes of this world. Never stop.


Goodbye Molly. I was in love with you. I'll always be.

:cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry:

[Skidmore]

63. Go in peace, our Molly.

We miss you dearly already and thank you for the treasures you left behind for us.

[Rockholm]

64. Rest in Peace, Dear One.

[Crabby Appleton]

65. RIP Molly

[Warren DeMontague]

66. Rest In Peace.

You Were Truly One Of The Great Ones. :patriot: :cry:

[Justpat]

A warrior with a pen....

I bet she had that great smile on her face as she sailed over there.

[ebayfool]

68. .

no words

just no words

[GalleryGod]

69. Every Class Gets 50 minutes of Molly tomorrow.

G'nite Princess !


What a Receiving Committee you'll have!

[Crunchy Frog]

70. .

:cry::cry::cry::cry::cry:

[Cass]

71. I'm very saddened to hear this. She was a good egg.

My deepest sympathies to her loved ones.

[The Wizard]

72. RIP Molly

You made all our lives a little brighter.

[spanone]

73. She'll be missed.

:cry:

[soswolf]

74. Farewell to a good fighter n/t

[XOKCowboy]

75. I feel like I've lost a close friend.

First Ann Richards and now Molly Ivins. I'll miss you both.

[Cleita]

76. I'm beyond sad. She more than anyone was the person who

inspired an interest in me in politics. Could stem cell research have helped her? I think so. This gives me even more reason to hate * and the circus he road into town on.

[bigdarryl]

77. I am very upset that Molly has left us. 62 is still young these days

Rest in peace BABY

[Suziq]

78. ......

RIP Molly :cry:

[atommom]

79. So sad. She was still young.

:cry:

[xkenx]

80. Abraham, Martin, John, Bobby, and now Molly, The good they die young.

Say hello to them for me, Molly.

[etherealtruth]

81. Sad beyond belief ...

Thanks for the lovely images of her

[nam78_two]

82. RIP Molly...

[loudsue]

83. Your voice has left a beautiful echo, Molly! We'll hear it in our hearts

for a long time to come.

Fly away, good spirit, and know you have been loved and admired by so many of us through the years.

:cry:

This is hard.

[Kahuna]

84. Awwww..

:cry: Rest in peace, dear Molly.

[booley]

85. We shouldnt' be sad

she lived a full life doing what she wanted. She inspired scores of people, more then she ever met. Her legacy will live on a lot longer thent he shrub we now have in the White House. her words will echo long after the right wing pundits that hated her have been relegated ot the trashbin of history.

if that isn't a kind of immortality, what is?

[CrownPrinceBandar]

86. Man... I hope I live long enough to see the end of cancer......

it has taken too many folks I knew, respected and loved.

R.I.P. Molly. I'll hoist a Shiner tonight in your honor.

[me b zola]

87. Rest easy, dear Molly, rest easy

:cry:

:cry:

:cry:

:cry:

:cry:

:cry:

:cry:

:cry:

[NMDemDist2]

88. :weeping:

another good soul is gone from the fight

it'll be hard to find anyone to fill those Texas gal's shoes

she and Ann Richards were such a gift and I miss their voices already

:cry:

RIP Molly and thanks for all the great laughs though the years

[tom_paine]

90. RIP Molly. You were a True Patriot who loved her country

You spent your life defending it, not with guns and brawn, but with words.

[MzNov]

91. I'm at work and can barely hold back the tears.

[Manifestor_of_Light]

92. And to think she came out of River Oaks, Houston's most expensive hood

Requiescat in Pace, Molly. We miss you so much. I'm crying.

You were SO ORIGINAL.

Keep partying with Ann in Heaven.

[KoKo]

93. Bye, Molly! We loved 'Ya. You spoke so much TRUTH TO POWER

and we will CARRY ON FOR YOU...and You died KNOWING the love and caring and the carrying on FOR YOU!

Good on You, Molly! A star is out there with YOUR NAME ON IT!

Go Easty Sweet Soul...you made much of your time here on this planet...may we all meet somewhere out there ...in harmony some day.

[Dinger]

94. Well, I Am Glad That She Witnessed The 2006 Revolution

And I can only hope that before she passed, she had hope for 2008. Wonder who she's reuiniting with now? I' d like to think Paul Wellstone would be one of the first.

[G_Leo_Criley]

95. R.I.P. dear lady

Angels have brought you home.

We'll bang the pots as loud as we can, for as long as we can.

You were a real pistol and always used your voice for us!

Thank you Molly.

:toast:

glc

[tinfoilinfor2005]

96. There is no upside to her passing, but book sales do increase

when an author has died, due to name recognition. Hopefully many more people will now be introduced to her brilliant work and marvelous insights.

RIP, dear friend.

[BlueIris]

97. Peace to Molly and family. nt

[cosmicdot]

98. will miss your voice and contributions

they have been a big help, especially during the last 6 years - your work will live on

condolences to Molly's family and friends

http://ec1.images-amazon.com/images/P/0375757147.01._BO2,204,203,200_PIsitb-dp-500-arrow,TopRight,45,-64_OU01_AA240_SH20_SCLZZZZZZZ_.jpg

http://ec1.images-amazon.com/images/P/0375713115.01._BO2,204,203,200_PIlitb-dp-500-arrow,TopRight,45,-64_OU01_AA240_SH20_SCLZZZZZZZ_.jpg

http://ec1.images-amazon.com/images/P/0679754881.01._BO2,204,203,200_PIsitb-dp-500-arrow,TopRight,45,-64_OU01_AA240_SH20_SCLZZZZZZZ_.jpg

[CTyankee]

99. Hey Molly, when I come up you and Ann R. better get this party started!

I'll be waiting for it!

[Hav]

100. .

Rest in peace.
A great loss.

[MN ChimpH8R]

101. She will be much missed

She was a great American and one hell of a broad. RIP, Molly.
:patriot: :loveya:

[leftofthedial]

102. there were none better than that woman

My heart feels like a stone

[Mnemosyne]

103. The world has lost a precious treasure. In peace Molly and

thank you for the wisdom and humor. :cry:

[faithnotgreed]

104. to be an inspiration and icon of fight to so many is a life well lived

how many of us hope to impact and live even a fraction of what she did in her 62 earthly years

we love you and thank you molly

[JNelson6563]

105. I am speechless at our loss

:cry: :cry:

[B Calm]

106. .....

We'll miss you Molly

[Owl]

107. Rest In Peace dear Molly,

you were greatly admired and loved.

- Owl

[alarimer]

108. And Cheney and Bush are still alive

Not fucking fair AT ALL.

[MacGregor]

109. Rest in peace, Molly.

You've earned it.

[FrenchieCat]

110. Very sad....

We shall miss her.

And she left a mark

a good one at that.

I know her family is proud and will celebrate her life
even as they mourn her death.

RIP

[gulliver]

111. RIP, Molly.

[Jack Rabbit]

112. Rest in Peace, Molly

Oh, what a delight she was.

[grace0418]

113. Rest in peace dear Molly. And see if you can't bend some ears up there

about the world down here. We still need your help!

[nadinbrzezinski]

115. RIP

[Octafish]

116. Thank you, Molly!

Until we meet again, fare well.

[Kurovski]

117. Thank you, Molly.

Love always.

[blogslut]

118. There will never be another Molly

But I sure as hell hope that many will try.

To-morrow, and to-morrow, and to-morrow,
Creeps in this petty pace from day to day,
To the last syllable of recorded time;
And all our yesterdays have lighted fools
The way to dusty death. Out, out, brief candle!
Life's but a walking shadow

[smokey nj]

119. RIP Molly, you will be missed :(

[wiggs]

120. Rest easy, sweetheart. nt

[Nikki Stone1]

121. Oh my God. What will we do without her?

:cry: :cry: :cry:

[rumpel]

122. thank you Molly

and we will continue the fight.

San Jose Mercury News
By JOHN MORITZ
STAR-TELEGRAM AUSTIN BUREAU

snip

"We are the people who run this country," Ms Ivins said in the column published in the Jan. 14 edition of the Star-Telegram. "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," she continued. "Think of something to make the ridiculous look ridiculous. Make our troops know we’re for them and are trying to get them out of there. Hit the streets to protest Bush's proposed surge."

She ended the piece by endorsing the peace march in Washington scheduled for Saturday. 01-27 "We need people in the streets, banging pots and pans and demanding, "Stop it, now!' " she wrote.

http://www.mercurynews.com/mld/mercurynews/entertainment/16591107.htm

[burrowowl]

136. Yes! Honor Molly and

HIE thee to the Streets banging your pots and pans!

Oh Dear Molly, I do love you so!

[aaronbees]

123. Such courage and disarming wit

RIP, Molly Ivins. I can't think of anyone who was as consistently important to me the last 20 years in defining what is so great about liberalism and fighting for real democracy and decency from our government. At heart, one of the most humane people to ever grace the pages of a newspaper. I will really miss her writing.

[burythehatchet]

124. .

:(

:sad:

[BensMom]

125. A Great Article

This is a loss for America.

I found this article last night.
Molly had style all the way to the end.


"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."

http://www.time.com/time/europe/magazine/2002/0610/breastcancer/ivins.html

[salin]

126. tears to all who will miss her

peace and comfort to those personally touched by her life/presence, and peace to Molly - you may have lost this fight, but you have inspired many to act and we will continue that other fight you urged. Thank You.

[Generator]

127. So sad

and she didn't live to see the boy king dethroned either. It's so damn unfair.

[LWolf]

128. .

:cry:

[GliderGuider]

129. Goodbye Molly

Thank you.
:cry:

[midnight]

130. The energy and beauty resonates from both photos.

She sure was able to let us all recieve the benefit of her differing opinions from the regular news folks.

[Swamp Rat]

131. .

:cry:

[Maestro]

132. RIP

A voice of reason and wit has been silenced.

[DancingBear]

133. Good night Molly

You were a joy.

An absolute joy.

It was far too short, but my how wonderful it was.

Rest easy.

[VelmaD]

134. It's hard to believe she's gone

We've lost so many of the wonderful, strong, progressive Texas women. Barbara Jordan. Ann Richards. And now Molly. They set such an amazing example and it's daunting to think about how it's now up to those of us in the next generation of Texas women to even begin to try to fill their shoes.

We miss you already, Molly. :cry:

[treestar]

135. RIP Molly

:cry:

[earth mom]

137. So sad! Why do the good die young?!

:cry:

Rest in Peace Molly

[donheld]

138. Molly Ivins = Patron saint of DU

along with Paul Wellstone, and Ann Richards.

[magellan]

139. Damn, this news really caught me by surprise

RIP Molly, you've more than earned it though you'll be sorely missed.

[DemBones DemBones]

140. Goodbye, dear Molly. You will be missed by

hundreds of thousands of people.

[rman]

141. .

[laylah]

142. RIP dear Molly...

THE SHIP OF LIFE
by John T. Baker

Along the shore I spy a ship
As she sets out to sea;
She spreads her sails and sniffs the breeze
And slips away from me.

I watch her fading image shrink,
As she moves on and on,
Until at last she’s but a speck,
Then someone says, “She’s gone.”

Gone where? Gone only from our sight
And from our farewell cries;
That ship will somewhere reappear
To other eager eyes.

Beyond the dim horizon’s rim
Resound the welcome drums,
And while we’re crying, “There she goes!”
They’re shouting, “Here she comes!”

We’re built to cruise for but a while
Upon this trackless sea
Until one day we sail away
Into infinity.

You will be sorely missed. :cry:

[Deja Q]

143. RIP - and wow, she was a looker!

Hardly looks 53 at all (try 43?)

Sorry to see her go. :(

[CornField]

144. Safe Journey, Molly. You will be missed around these parts.

[azmouse]

145. Good bye Molly.

I'll miss your wit and your wisdom.

[bobbie]

146. I woke up today to a world with no Molly Ivins

It's very very cold.

[countryjake]

147. Her last column...

http://www.creators.com/opinion/molly-ivins/stand-up-against-the-surge.html

Stand Up Against the Surge
by Molly Ivins
Jan. 11, 2007

~final paragraph~

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!"



So sad. Ms. Ivins was wise beyond words.

[Cyrano]

148. Our world is diminished today. Molly's passing has left a gaping hole in our lives.

But I just know that wherever she is, she's exchanging quips with Ann Richards and Art Buchwald.

Farewell, Molly. You were among the best of us.