RIP, Molly Ivins. →[More:]
I realize not everyone agreed with her politics or laughed at her schtick. I can tell you from first-hand experience, though, that Molly Ivins was a wonderful, kind, caring person. I had the chance to work with her at the magazine referenced in the link. I was a kid at the time, and stupid. But Molly never failed to be respectful and encouraging and supportive.
She used to drive up to the office in her big red (and old) pickup truck, two standard poodles in tow. She'd slam out of the truck, surrounded by a cloud of cigarette smoke, and burst into the office with a huge smile on her face. She was bigger than life, yet for the entire time I lived in Austin, her name was listed in the phone book.
It's very sad that she's gone.