February 2007

The incomparable Molly Ivins died this past Wednesday at age 62 from breast cancer. She was a fiery Texas liberal with a razor sharp wit and writing style. She coined the term “Shrub” to refer to the current President Bush, and was an outspoken critic of the Iraq war. I never met her and truthfully didn’t know all that much about her life other than what I’ve gleaned from her columns these past many years, but from reading a little bit today on the news sites, she sounds like someone I really would have liked to have known. A strong woman, a woman who told it like it was, a friend to the legendary Texas governor Ann Richards (whom I also would have liked to have known). You know that hypothetical question people ask, “What historical figures would you like to have dinner with?” I think that I would say my grandma, Ann Richards, and Molly Ivins. Wow, what conversation that would be!