They’re Going To Need Another Snarky Buffoon
By Mitch Berg
Molly Ivins dead at 62.
It’s best not to speak ill of the dead. So what I’ll do is display this quote…:
“She was magical in her writing,” said Mike Blackman, a former Star-Telegram executive editor who hired Ms. Ivins at the newspaper’s Austin bureau in 1992, a few months after the Times-Herald ceased publication. “She could turn a phrase in such a way that a pretty hard-hitting point didn’t hurt so bad.”
…and note that Ms. Ivins’ writing was in fact the exact opposite of what Mr. Blackman wrote. Snarky and cliche-driven enough to make Jeff Fecke blanche (although better than Duncan “Atrios” Black, at least), devoid of logic or, usually, fact, embrace for “plain speaking” that was in fact generally ill-informed babble…
…well, again, it’s best not to speak ill of the dead and all that.
UPDATE: Brian Ward – who notes the second career that Ivins made out of attacking Bush – notes the President’s response to Ivins’ death:
She’s made a second career out of bashing him, attaching her name to no less than four books on the subject. And the President of the United States, who could have justifiably let her death pass withouth official notice, went out of his way to say this:
Molly Ivins was a Texas original. She was loved by her readers and by her many friends, particularly in Central Texas. I respected her convictions, her passionate belief in the power of words, and her ability to turn a phrase. She fought her illness with that same passion. Her quick wit and commitment to her beliefs will be missed. Laura and I send our condolences to Molly Ivins’ family and friends.
A measure of forgiveness, tolerance, and class that we can all aspire too. George Bush took office saying he wanted to improve the tone in DC. Unfortunately, you can’t do that dance with an unwilling partner.
I can’t imagine Ivins returning the favor.
UPDATE 2: Let me be clear about this, since the tone of my post above isn’t; I’m sorry Ivins died. I dont wish cancer on anyone. And Ivins was a good writer. One I disagree with on virtually everything, one whose standard of proof and logic were frequently dismal, and one whose public persona irritated me (and did so long before bashing George W. Bush became her meal ticket), but perfectly capable of writing excellent stuff nonetheless.
February 1st, 2007 at 1:05 pm
Oh, right, cause she made fun of your smirking chimp. Ivins had the full measure of Bush. Not a surprise, of course, that you wingnuts don’t get the joke.
February 1st, 2007 at 1:27 pm
Ah. So Ivins was “the joke”.
It makes sense now.
February 1st, 2007 at 2:00 pm
So did you actually read Molly Ivins or just pay your kids to bring you her most objectionable stuff?
February 1st, 2007 at 2:03 pm
The kids were busy enough at school.
I read Molly Ivins in the same way as I “listen” to the crazy guy at the bus stop.
February 1st, 2007 at 4:16 pm
There’s a extra special ring of Hell for Molly…probably one near Saddam and Wellstone’s pads.
February 1st, 2007 at 4:32 pm
Dave said,
“probably one near Saddam and Wellstone’s pads. ”
Equating Paul Wellstone with Saddam Hussein…?
Wow. Just… Wow…
February 1st, 2007 at 4:41 pm
Yeah, Dougie the Puff. Compared to the level of snarky-goodness that spewed from Molly’s pie-hole…I was a bit tame, wasn’t I?
February 1st, 2007 at 4:41 pm
Brian Ward blathered: “George Bush took office saying he wanted to improve the tone in DC. ”
I’m sure the Democrat Party was profoundly moved by those empty words.
February 1st, 2007 at 4:48 pm
Um, Wellstone and, for that matter, Ivins were no Hussein.
Fun as it can be to say it. Just not true.
I’m sure the Democrat Party was profoundly moved by those empty words.
The Democrats would rhetocially sodomize Mother Theresa if she were a Republican.
February 1st, 2007 at 5:30 pm
Mmmmmmm, rhetorical sodomization. . . *gurgle*
February 2nd, 2007 at 3:49 am
On her worst day she was 10 times the writer of any of us.
Define “any of us.”
Dems aren’t exactly babes in the woods, but they didn’t conduct a 6 year witch hunt and throw poo in the air about a blow job, nor do they very often, on the day someone dies, take both untrue and classless shots at Repugs.
How can you tell? Cheap shots from Dems flow like raw sewage into a water treatment plant.
February 2nd, 2007 at 6:53 am
Mitch fantasized: “The Democrats would rhetocially sodomize Mother Theresa if she were a Republican.”
Somehow I don’t see Mother Theresa chilling with the resentful, authoritarian creeps who populate your comments section, Mitch.
February 2nd, 2007 at 7:13 am
Brian Ward lectured: “A measure of forgiveness, tolerance, and class that we can all aspire too. ”
But not achieve, clearly.
February 2nd, 2007 at 7:16 am
Paul said,
“Cheap shots from Dems flow like raw sewage into a water treatment plant.”
Have you listened to Hannity lately and his stop Hillary express? I especially LOVE the callers, who are screened by the way, who call simply to rant about her alleged bad temper and about her camps disgusting attacks against other democrats. Nothing of substance, just spewing hate.
How about Limbaugh who seems incapable of refering to a democratic leader without using a pejorative associated with their name. Dingy Harry reed, Shrillary, Ted (hic) Kennedy, Obama Osama.
We’ve had this discussion before guys. Take a look in the mirror at that plank in your own eye before commenting about the speck in mine.
You just set the tone when Clinton was in office and then babbled about changing that tone in the 2000 campaign as if it were us democrats spewing the bile for the last 8 years.
February 2nd, 2007 at 7:27 am
as if it were us democrats spewing the bile for the last 8 years.
“As if”?
February 2nd, 2007 at 7:37 am
You’re nuts to expect anything approaching fairness from this crowd, Dug. Just take that plank and whack ’em between the eyes. Then while they’re stumbling around trying to remain upright, spray a little seltzer down their pants. It’s the Angryclown way.
February 2nd, 2007 at 9:08 am
Not a frickin’ one of these leftist creeps can type out the simple words, “Yeah, that was pretty decent of him”.
February 2nd, 2007 at 9:20 am
On a thread trashing a dead lady who had all the wit you so obviously lack? Bite me, Colleen. Show an ounce of decency before you demand it in return.
February 2nd, 2007 at 9:32 am
Angryclown, if you showed any decency while discussing any post on this website, I could accept that as a fair demand. However, that has not been my experience when reading your posts; therefore, I find your demand of decency to be incredibly funny (which is a good thing for a clown to hear, I believe).
That being said, I’ll say this about Molly Ivins: I read her columns when they looked interesting. I didn’t agree with her often, nor did I believe that she always took the best path to prove her point. However, I respect her ability to stay in the business for so long and the audience that she built up.
February 2nd, 2007 at 9:49 am
Show an ounce of decency before you demand it in return.
This from a guy who refers to everyone between the Hudson River and the Sierra Madre (except Molly Ivins, apparently) as an inbred cousin-fscker?
Just saying, ‘clown…
February 2nd, 2007 at 10:07 am
The difference is that Angryclown doesn’t go bleating about common decency hearabouts. Just pointing out that Colleen is a humbug.
February 2nd, 2007 at 11:14 am
Equating George Bush/Karl Rove/Ronald Reagan with Hitler/Satan?
It stings when your opponent criticizes someone important to you or maybe the idol of your movement, DOESN’T IT???
How about Limbaugh who seems incapable of refering to a democratic leader without using a pejorative associated with their name. Dingy Harry reed, Shrillary, Ted (hic) Kennedy, Obama Osama.
When the left stops calling the President of the United States “Bushco”, “shrub/shrubbie”, “chimp”, “Chipy McHaliburton”, “Bushitler”, “Dumbya”, “Resident” “Selected, not elected” and any of the dozens of other insults that are out there, let alone the nicknames they’ve lovingly assigned to Dick Cheney, Condoleeza Rice, and Karl Rove, then they’ll have an ounce of credibility to start asking for Rush to stop calling the Democrat leaders the names he calls them. It is AMAZINGLY immature and childish to whine about being called a name when you do it exponentially more often yourself.
February 2nd, 2007 at 11:16 am
Crap, I hate that there’s no preview button on here.
Equating Paul Wellstone with Saddam Hussein…?
Wow. Just… Wow…
Equating George Bush/Karl Rove/Ronald Reagan with Hitler/Satan?
It stings when your opponent criticizes someone important to you or maybe the idol of your movement, DOESN’T IT???
February 2nd, 2007 at 11:17 am
Mitch: I did not equate Hussein to Wellstone-d or Molly the Intellectual Midget. I simply said they are all frying in the same pan right now…just for different reasons.
As far as this beotchieclown/Puff Dougie streak of decency…I wish their side would have shown the same for Nixon or Reagan’s passing.
February 2nd, 2007 at 11:37 am
Nixon, Hitler, Saddam and Reagan are all playing bridge in Hell right now. Short straw partners with Reagan.
February 2nd, 2007 at 11:40 am
Nixon, Hitler, Saddam and Reagan are all playing bridge in Hell right now
Nixon and Reagan are just visiting while they wait for Ivins to STFU.
February 2nd, 2007 at 12:05 pm
We’ve had this discussion before guys. Take a look in the mirror at that plank in your own eye before commenting about the speck in mine.
Go tell it to the Democrat Underground.
And the next time you quote scripture, show us that you actually follow one of its precepts: humility.
February 2nd, 2007 at 12:10 pm
St. Paul revealed: “And the next time you quote scripture, show us that you actually follow one of its precepts: humility.”
Yeah, Dug, dontcha know all these right-wing Christians are full of humility? At least when they take a couple minutes from voting for the death penalty and running around their churches with snakes.
February 2nd, 2007 at 12:46 pm
Aw, Clown. You only say that because Jane Fonda and Chairman Mao told ya to!
February 2nd, 2007 at 1:04 pm
And the next time you quote scripture, show us that you actually follow one of its precepts: humility.
For the most part, I’m staying out of this thread. I don’t recall ever having read Molly Ivans although I’m suspecting I may have agreed with at least some of what she wrote. I think the tone of celebrating someone’s death is a bit tacky (although I did succumb to the temptation sometimes when I was younger) and I think the quote from Bush showed some class – good for him.
However, as for quoting scripture – I’m not Christian. Never have been and barring some personal revelation, I am unlikely ever to become so.
However, I went to a bit of sunday school and a bit of bible camp and even took some confirmation classes – my dad felt it was important that I understand the culture I live in and know enough to at least fake being a Methodist if I had to – so I’ve had a fair amount of exposure to The Bible. There’s plenty in there I disagree with, there’s quite a bit of cool stuff – especially a lot of what Jesus had to say.
Prudent humility is a good trait to aspire to (although I don’t see much evidence of it anywhere in this comment thread) but I see no need to follow it or any other rule of the Bible in order to benefit from the parts I choose.
I mean really – do you follow all the rules? Really?
February 2nd, 2007 at 2:40 pm
“Yeah, Dug, dontcha know all these right-wing Christians are full of humility? At least when they take a couple minutes from voting for the death penalty and running around their churches with snakes.”
So now we’re on to stereotyping Christians, is that it? After telling you that less than 0.1% of churches use snakes, I’m not going to bother telling you how stupid that statement is.
And I thought that the left had determined that Reagan was an “idiot genius” by the time he died, so why is his partner decided by short straw?
February 2nd, 2007 at 2:59 pm
I did a very nice, very fair post on Molly at a blog that I won’t mention for fear of Doug visiting and leaving an annoying odor.
Mitch knows.
February 2nd, 2007 at 3:31 pm
So now we’re on to stereotyping Christians, is that it?
Actually, Six, it’s Clown, so it’s more like “getting a rise out of people”.
I keep trying to warn everyone.
February 2nd, 2007 at 8:08 pm
PB-jbauer-donkeyman1 said:
Paul (et.al.) Clown shows more decency than the a lot of us
As always, you miss the point. My pointing out of Scripture was a shot aimed straight at Doug. Since he was the one who cherrypicked the Scripture reference, I called him on it–simply by pointing out an area he sorely lacks, judging by his posts.
Oh, and here’s an example of Clown’s “decency” (from the Two Rapists thread):
At least you’re still No. 1 in man-on-animal sex!
February 2nd, 2007 at 10:15 pm
PB-jbauer-donkeyman1 said:
I have one I like:
Let he who is without sin, cast the first stone. (let the stoning commence).
Why am I not surprised? That’s an all-time favorite of the cherrypicking Left, who invariably take it out of context attempting to justify a myriad of questionable acts and decisions. I refer to this practice as the “everybody does it” defense.
Since you are also taking it out of context, the rest of your comment is ignored. Go back and read the full passage, study a good commentary on the verses, and gain the full understanding of it, before you attempt any more scripture lessons.
February 2nd, 2007 at 10:23 pm
Paul said,
“Since he was the one who cherrypicked the Scripture reference, I called him on it–simply by pointing out an area he sorely lacks, judging by his posts.
Sure Paul. And you’re just freaking Mother Theresa aren’t ya…?
Oh, by the way Paul, take a look at your statement,
“I called him on it–simply by pointing out an area he sorely lacks, judging by his posts.”
See anything funny about that?
February 2nd, 2007 at 10:30 pm
And as for the original subject of this post:
Was Molly Ivins a good writer? Yes.
Did I agree with her? Emphatically: NO.
Did I respect her? Yes, because she never tried to pass herself off as objective. She had core beliefs, and she vigorously defended them (although her defenses tended to be logic free.)
Is it unfortunate that she has passed? Yes. Even at 62, she died too young.
February 3rd, 2007 at 8:05 am
Paul,
That’s the post I should have started with.
Well put.