A great mind, a great columnist lost to cancer

Molly Ivins died of breast cancer today.

A southern liberal writer who took her politics seriously, herself lightly and believed a sense of humor to be the standard of civility will be greatly missed by members of both parties and those who enjoy pithy, memorable writing.

She joins another southern leader and humorist, Ann Richards, the first woman elected Governor of Texas, who died last September of esophageal cancer at 73.

I can imagine these two political giants of les bons mots taking a shot or two of orange juice (or whatever they drink), laughing their asses off and entertaining all the attentive angels clustered around them on that big ol' cloud they command.

Now *that* would be heaven for a whole lotta fans - progressive and conservative.

Rest in peaceful merriment, ladies.