Fearless fighter with a Texas drawl

The death of Molly Ivins today leaves me feeling sad and angry. Sad for the loss of her wit and wisdom and angry that breast cancer has taken yet another wonderful woman from me.

Sassy and bold, Molly was a fighter to the end, beating back the cancer three times. Though she was so very ill when she wrote her last columns, it amazes me that she used what energy she had left to work for her nation's benefit. Her last column rallied people into the streets to end the war in Iraq: "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!'"

What first drew me to Molly was not her political insights, but her way with words. She wrote by ear -- with a Texas drawl. And at the time I discovered her, this was completely unheard of on the very formal Opinion pages. (She was also one of very few women on the Opinion pages.) One of her books was called "You Got To Dance With Them What Brung You," and she referred to government as "guvment;" business as "bidness." I admire bright, insightful, funny women with wit, and she was all that. She liked to call President Bush "Shrub."

I envy those who got to work with her personally. There's a very nice column on tomorrow's Other Opinions page written by her editor.

I thank you, Molly, for being fearless.

(Photo: Associated Press file)