Good Bye Molly

For decades I have been moved to tears, to rage, and to belly laughs by Molly Ivins. Her biting insight mixed with that special backhanded humor was top drawer political analysis. I am still in shock that this national treasure has left us.

Molly's friend and editor, Anthony Zurcher, has written a touching tribute. I think the following from Zurcher demonstrates the passion and committment she brought to us, and with which she inspired us:

Even as Molly fought her last battle with cancer, she continued to make public appearances. When she was too weak to write, she dictated her final two columns. Although her body was failing, she still had so much to say. Last fall, before an audience at the University of Texas, her voice began as barely a whisper. But as she went on, she drew strength from the standing-room-only crowd until, at the end of the hour, she was forcefully imploring the students to get involved and make a difference. As Molly once wrote, "Politics is not a picture on a wall or a television sitcom that you can decide you don't much care for."

Molly's last column was dictated - she had not the energy left to write. While her body failed, her spirit continued spur us to act. That article was published on January 11th, and was Stand Up Against the Surge. In many ways, it is not characteristic of Molly. There is little to laugh about in this piece. Her time was short, her energy failing, and her exhortation to us:

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 January 27. We need people in the streets, banging pots and pans and demanding, "Stop it, now!"

Molly, your spirit will live on, and we will do our part continue the larger struggle for a just world.