Ann Richards: RIP
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Loading ...I know I’m late with this (and with everything here this week), but I had to say my peace regardles: Texas and the nation lost a true heroine with the passing of Ann Richards this last week. Unless you are a Texan or a die-hard Democrat, it’s likely you may not really know who Ann Richards was. She was the second female governor of Texas from 1991-1995, losing her re-election bid to current president G.W. Bush. I won’t go into all of Ann Richards’ accomplishments, accolades, etc., but I will say two things that stick with me personally besides all the other things.
First, she never apologized for having had a drinking problem. I respect people immensely who have a problem, own up to it, get help, and beat it. For a woman to do it and have the attitude in a good-ol’-boy state, “You got a problem with that, wise ass?” is remarkable. So many “famous” people either refuse to get the help they need or treat rehab like a revolving door. Not Ann.
Second, I can’t imagine a better role model for women. I will tell my daughter one day about Ann Richards. Her rapier wit was matched only by her huge heart. She championed so many women’s and minority’s rights while in all offices she held. The list of landmark reforms in her tenure are more than impressive. You may disagree with her politics, but you can not disagree with her humanity.
OK, so I said I wasn’t going to go on and on, so I won’t. Instead read a great article here.
A great story from Molly Ivins sums it up pretty well:
[State comptroller Bob] Bullock, 20 years in Texas politics, knew every sorry, no good sumbitch in the entire state. Some old racist judge from East Texas came up to him: “Bob, my boy, how are you?”
Bullock said, “Judge, I’d like you to meet my friends: This is Molly Ivins with the Texas Observer.”
The judge peered up at me and said, “How yew, little lady?”
Bullock, “And this is Charles Miles, the head of my personnel department.” Miles, who is black, stuck out his hand, and the judge got an expression on his face as though he had just stepped into a fresh cowpie. He reached out and touched Charlie’s palm with one finger, while turning eagerly to the pretty, blond, blue-eyed Ann Richards. “And who is this lovely lady?”
Ann beamed and replied, “I am Mrs. Miles.”
In the News, Politics | enrico | 
September 17, 2006 12:32 am
By Sid Schwab, September 21, 2006 @ 10:47 am
She was a great one, alright. Texas has produced some great women, and some pretty disgusting men.