[on Texas politics] "Better than the zoo. Better than the circus."

December 29, 2006 1:18 PM

AppreciationFilter: Molly Ivins --she's on hiatus while undergoing treatment for breast cancer. From a bio of her: ...She began her journalism career at the Complaint Department of the Houston Chronicle, then rapidly worked her way up to the position of Sewer Editor... , and some choice quotes of hers here. : >
posted by amberglow (29 comments total)

and more on her previous battles with breast cancer here: Who Needs Breasts, Anyway?
posted by amberglow at 1:20 PM on December 29, 2006

Ivins for President
posted by matteo at 1:22 PM on December 29, 2006

she's apparently been fighting this latest round (her 3rd) since Sept, but had to stop writing in November. ... When the Legislature convenes, she tells readers their village is missing its idiot. The national GOP resurgence has given her some of her best material. She's fond of saying that calling George W. Bush "shallow" is like calling a dwarf "short."

She's not the leftist agitator with the 6-foot frame, she's the leftist agitator with the 6-foot frame from Texas, and she never lets people forget it. ...
posted by amberglow at 1:32 PM on December 29, 2006

I've never been a big fan of Molly's writing, even when I agree with her, but I sure as hell hope she gets better soon.
posted by monju_bosatsu at 1:35 PM on December 29, 2006

She made a lot of trouble here in Minneapolis before she moved on, and I'll always appreciate that about her.
posted by Astro Zombie at 1:43 PM on December 29, 2006

I hate that people think the Bushes are somehow representative of Texas.

Willie Nelson is a real Texan. Molly Ivins is a real Texan.

She's an engaging and talented writer and an awesome lady who has never been afraid to call out some bullshit when she sees it. It really saddens me to wonder who's left to do that here when her voice is silenced.
posted by First Post at 1:45 PM on December 29, 2006

"I'm sorry to say (cancer) can kill you, but it doesn't make you a better person," she says.

Thanks, amberglow. I did not know she was ill.
posted by tizzie at 1:51 PM on December 29, 2006

"The United States of America is still run by its citizens. The government works for us. Rank imperialism and warmongering are not American traditions or values. We do not need to dominate the world. We want and need to work with other nations. We want to find solutions other than killing people. Not in our name, not with our money, not with our children's blood."

Why aren't more writer's saying anything like this?
posted by ahimsakid at 1:53 PM on December 29, 2006

I had always thought that if you have a double mastectomy (as she did) it can't recur but it's not so. (she must have either regional or distant recurrence, which is much more dangerous)

Ivins has really been uniquely positioned to see and chronicle the rise to national prominence of Texas politics thru Bush, Rove, and DeLay.
posted by amberglow at 2:09 PM on December 29, 2006

I hate politicians.

I hope she gets better, anyhow.
posted by koeselitz at 2:24 PM on December 29, 2006

Ahimsakid - I hope that Molly Ivins has a speedy recovery, but do you really think that there a shortage of writers who say things like "not in our name," or "The government works for us?"
posted by Slap Factory at 2:30 PM on December 29, 2006

I love that Molly Ivins wrote the obit for Elvis Presley for the New York Times and was later fired for referring to a chicken plucking competition as a "gang pluck."
posted by plinth at 2:35 PM on December 29, 2006

plinth, here's her obit of him --
Elvis Presley Dies; Rock Singer Was 42
posted by amberglow at 2:38 PM on December 29, 2006

Probably not Slap Factory. But her version would look great on a T Shirt.

Not in our name
Not with our money
Not with our children's blood.
posted by hal9k at 2:49 PM on December 29, 2006

I love that there is such a position as Sewer Editor.
posted by solid-one-love at 3:48 PM on December 29, 2006

Get better soon, Molly!

You are an inspiration to many, myself included.
posted by rougy at 4:11 PM on December 29, 2006

How sad. But thanks for posting this amberglow.

I very recently found out about Ivins from this article of hers where she explains why she will not support Hillary Clinton for president. I'd like to disagree with her but I also liked the way she wrote.

I hope she recovers fully and quickly.
posted by carmina at 4:43 PM on December 29, 2006

I adore her. I've read as much of her writing as I can get my hands on.

I would simply write "." but that would feel too much like she was dead and I fervently hope she pulls through. She is one tough lady, so I know she is fighting hard. Go, Molly, Go!
posted by Secret Life of Gravy at 4:57 PM on December 29, 2006

She's a great lady, and provides critical thinking that's often missing in this part of the country.
posted by crispynubbins at 5:03 PM on December 29, 2006

I have been attacked by Rush Limbaugh on the air, an experience somewhat akin to being gummed by a newt. It doesn't actually hurt, but it leaves you with slimy stuff on your ankle.

Best wishes, Molly. We still need you down here.
posted by swell at 6:38 PM on December 29, 2006

There are two kinds of humor. One kind that makes us chuckle about our foibles and our shared humanity -- like what Garrison Keillor does. The other kind holds people up to public contempt and ridicule -- that's what I do. Satire is traditionally the weapon of the powerless against the powerful. I only aim at the powerful. When satire is aimed at the powerless, it is not only cruel -- it's vulgar.

Wow. That semester of comedy writing I took wasn't as dead-on as this one paragraph.

I've been reading her stuff for awhile now. This tough ol' broad is sharper than a thousand DC jerks. She definitely needs to hang in there.
posted by dgbellak at 8:10 PM on December 29, 2006

Ms. Ivins definitely deserves our appreciation — she often merely states the obvious, but (in these pitiful times) that's way more than most people are doing.

I hadn't seen that Hillary Clinton column — thanks, Carmina — in which this section is especially good: Bush, Cheney and Co. will continue to play the patriotic bully card just as long as you let them. I've said it before: War brings out the patriotic bullies. In World War I, they went around kicking dachshunds on the grounds that dachshunds were "German dogs." They did not, however, go around kicking German shepherds. The MINUTE someone impugns your patriotism for opposing this war, turn on them like a snarling dog and explain what loving your country really means.
posted by LeLiLo at 12:06 AM on December 30, 2006

Ms Ivins is about the only Smithie I respect (yeah, I'm a Mountie). I think she takes up about 17% of my .sig file. She makes me laugh when I've lost perspective. Watching that slimeball Bill O'Reilly crawl on his belly before her, just because she's smarter, quicker and funnier than most folks (especially him) was great fun.

I hope she feels better soon. Someone has to explain Texas to this Yankee.
posted by QIbHom at 1:15 AM on December 30, 2006

I am so sorry to hear about her ongoing battle with cancer. But I'm laughing my ass off at every quote. The image of the patriotic bullies who kick dachshunds but not German shepherds paints a concise and perfect picture of people like Bush and Cheney.
posted by NorthernLite at 9:19 AM on December 30, 2006

Molly Ivins is a National Treasure. We need many, many more journalists of her caliber and wit. I hope she lives for a hundred more years.
posted by theora55 at 9:53 AM on December 30, 2006 [1 favorite]

I'm really sorry to hear that Molly's in a bad way, I hope she has a full and, as much as possible, a complete recovery. This country needs a real american speaking for other real americans these days and not the sackless blowhards that masquerade as journalists these days.
posted by mk1gti at 11:59 AM on December 30, 2006

Joining in on the admiration parade -- gosh, I love her. Every single one of her books that I own have been read and re-read to death. Even when I disagree with her, I think her writing makes up for it...
posted by bitter-girl.com at 1:29 PM on December 30, 2006

Power to the Ivins. She's stronger than an army of politicians; she's stronger than some lousy disease. Go, Molly!
posted by Pallas Athena at 8:58 AM on December 31, 2006

Slap Factory- 'fraid you missed the point of my citation. It takes a certain kind of person, with a certain kind of cojones, to risk writing seven sentences such as those When that's your bread and butter! I see very, very, very, little in popular syndicated press columns that speak so clearly and importantly. For you to obfuscate and belittle the what of what's being said is just terribly ironic. Are you from Tejas?

"We do not need to dominate the world." . . .compare and contrast.

And personally I see no reason not to continue emploring Americans to remember that the citizendry rules.

Thanks Molly . . . give better soon.
posted by ahimsakid at 7:25 PM on December 31, 2006