Molly Ivins died yesterday. I’m not sure I can say anything original about what a terrible loss this is (here’s the AP story). Her loss is so big, in large part, because she exposed, with her regular writing, how weak and subservient the mainstream media is. Ivins told the truth, and with humor. Here’s a snippet from a great column, in which she tore into the Democratic Party:

“The majority of the American people (55 percent) think the war in Iraq is a mistake and that we should get out. The majority (65 percent) of the American people want single-payer health care and are willing to pay more taxes to get it. The majority (86 percent) of the American people favor raising the minimum wage. The majority of the American people (60 percent) favor repealing Bush’s tax cuts, or at least those that go only to the rich. The majority (66 percent) wants to reduce the deficit not by cutting domestic spending, but by reducing Pentagon spending or raising taxes. The majority (77 percent) thinks we should do “whatever it takes” to protect the environment. The majority (87 percent) thinks big oil companies are gouging consumers and would support a windfall profits tax. That is the center, you fools. WHO ARE YOU AFRAID OF?”

We lost a great voice.