I first came to know Molly Ivins in 1984 when, as a reporter for the Texas Observer, she was a guest political science lecturer during my freshman year at UTA. She was also a senior political columnist for The Dallas Times Herald and more recently the Fort Worth Star Telegram before her column went into syndication.

Much like her friend, Ann Richards, Molly was a sharp tongued, quick witted Texas woman who attacked her subject with humor sometimes so pointed that it was often uncomfortable to real her words without taking a breath before the attack. Brutally honest, usually right, always upfront with her viewpoint, you never had to wonder what Molly Ivins thought about politics, war, empowering the weak, or ridiculing the powerful. She once said, “Good thing we’ve still got politics — finest form of free entertainment ever invented.” She had fun with politics, but she also took the responsibility of being politically involved very seriously. In fact, a requirement of her freshman lecture course was a voter registration card.

Molly Ivins fought cancer for the last 8 years of her life, in and out of remission on three different occasions. One can’t help but wonder if she and Ann Richards are enjoying a big Texas-sized margarita and some chips and salsa, and looking down upon all of the goings on. My biggest regret is that she won’t be around for the next big campaign season. It won’t be the same without her.