Posted on 10/10/2006 4:02:56 AM PDT by MeneMeneTekelUpharsin
Serenaded by Joe Ely and Garrison Keillor and saluted by characters spanning the globe of liberal politics, Molly Ivins raised money Sunday night for her beloved Texas Observer. Over dinner with about 800 fans at the Capitol Marriott, the liberal columnist and former Observer co-editor sported a wispy mohawk of regrowing hair, reflecting her looking-good battle against recurrent breast cancer. She was hailed by 18 speakers. They were led off by Keillor, the Minnesota radio man, who, with Ely, sang "Today I Started Loving You Again" and "Waltz Across Texas." Keillor said, "It's good to be in a roomful of Texas liberals, especially in these rocky times."
Humorist Roy Blount Jr. agreed, speculating that if someone dropped a bomb on the hotel, "all the liberals in Texas would be wiped out." Master of ceremonies Kirk Watson, a former Austin mayor and the Democratic nominee for the Texas Senate seat being vacated by Gonzalo Barrientos of Austin, hailed Observer editors and writers past and present. The twice-monthly magazine that prides itself on investigat- ive journalism with a liberal bent stands to reap $1 million if contributors match $500,000 given by a foundation that has not been identified. About $450,000 had come in before the end of the program.
Ivins, giving thanks, said her funeral is "not coming anytime soon." She jokingly referred to her cancer battles by saying the fundraiser could've been called "a tribute to Molly not dying yet again." Watson brought Frances "Sissy" Farenthold to her feet so the crowd could sing "Happy Birthday" to the former Democratic gubernatorial candidate who just marked her 80th. Farenthold, who lost to Dolph Briscoe in a 1972 Democratic runoff, called the evening with Ivins — billed as "not a roast but a barbecue" — an "outpouring of affection, regard and respect." Guest Chula Sims of Austin wore a "Farenthold for Governor" T-shirt. Sims said, "If you can't have the candidate you want, just imagine." Speakers Sandy Richards, Marilyn Schultz and Sara Speights poked fun at the come-as-you-are Ivins' lack of interest in fashion. Ivins, they said, "just needs something she can wash and wear and wear and wear and wear."
Lewis Lapham, editor emeritus of Harper's magazine, credited Ivins with consistently breaking from the herd as a journalist. Of late, Ivins has called for commentator Bill Moyers to run for president in 2008 and urged Texas voters to support Democrat Chris Bell for governor to honor the last Democratic governor, Ann Richards, who died last month. Lapham, drawing a standing ovation, said, "She reminds us that dissent is what rescues democracy from a quiet death behind closed doors."
Muley will always be number one with me.
(If you're a Dick Marcinko fan, you know what I mean, and you're probably laughing right now.)
"The former liberal columnist/plagerist"
MOLLY IVANS IS FROM CALIFORNIA. . .NOT TEXAS
"MOLLY IVANS IS FROM CALIFORNIA. . .NOT TEXAS"
Without screaming, how could you possibly read my post @15 and think that I think she is from anywhere? My post had nothing to do with her background. Perhaps you fit the same description?
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