I rarely get emotional over reports of untimely demises, but yesterday, I was on my way up the hill to drop off my laundry. I turned on NPR and was so happy to hear the drawl of Ann Richards.
It took me about 30 seconds to figure out that they were talking about her in the past tense. I felt the tears well up. We just lost another good one.
We can't afford to loose the Ann Richards' of the world- the straight talking, fighters with all the charisma and the integrity to do what is right and to get others to join in- the real leaders. I couldn't let it go by without remarking on it.
Take some time to enjoy Ann Richards. Here is a video clip and a pretty good story! And here is a story from Molly Ivins.
Friday, September 15, 2006
Remembering Ann Richards
Posted by USWest at 2:04 PM
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I will miss her as well. She spoke with passion and eloquence. She expressed the highest of ideals with down-to-earth stories--and did it all with wit as dry as her drawl. Her keynote address at the 1988 Democratic Convention was perhaps her most famous. Here are some choice excerpts:
"I'm delighted to be here with you this evening, because after listening to George Bush all these years, I figured you needed to know what a real Texas accent sounds like. Twelve years ago Barbara Jordan, another Texas woman, Barbara made the keynote address to this convention, and two women in a hundred and sixty years is about par for the course. But if you give us a chance, we can perform. After all, Ginger Rogers did everything that Fred Astaire did. She just did it backwards and in high heels."
"The greatest nation of the free world has had a leader for eight straight years that has pretended that he can not hear our questions over the noise of the helicopters. And we know he doesn’t wanna answer. But we have a lot of questions. And when we get our questions asked, or there is a leak, or an investigation the only answer we get is, 'I don’t know,' or 'I forgot.' But you wouldn’t accept that answer from your children. I wouldn’t. Don’t tell me you don’t know or you forgot. We're not going to have the America that we want until we elect leaders who are gonna tell the truth; not most days but every day; leaders who don’t forget what they don’t want to remember."
"Let’s take what they are most proudest of--that is their stand of defense. We Democrats are committed to a strong America, and, quite frankly, when our leaders say to us, 'We need a new weapons system,' our inclination is to say, 'Well, they must be right.' But when we pay billions for planes that won’t fly, billions for tanks that won’t fire, and billions for systems that won’t work, that old dog won’t hunt. And you don’t have to be from Waco to know that when the Pentagon makes crooks rich and doesn’t make America strong, that it’s a bum deal."
Yes, I do not doubt she was also a ruthless, class-A bitch when she wanted to be. You don't get to be the first woman governor of Texas if you can't play hardball. But somehow, that only makes me admire her more. Ann Richards will be sorely missed.
Thanks for the additional quotes and the video clip! Classic, classic and classy!
I agree with Strangelove, I admire her for the Class-A bitchiness. She was OUR class A bitch. (In a man, mind you, it would be called tough mindedness and go without comment.) When it's right, when it is needed to get the job done, then I am all for it. More than that, she was a role modle for many women aspiring to leadership positions. As governor, she did more to promote minorities than anyone previous.
Being liked all the time doesn't get the job done. Being sure enough in yourself to accept being disliked is not an easy trait to acquire. She was working in a system dominated by men- Texas men- and she had to be tough. Refusing to take crap from people is what was and is needed. She managed to be a leader while remaining true to herself. I hope I can do half as well.
// posted by USWest
Ann Richards will be the pride of Texas long after GWBush becomes its shame.
// posted by LTG
Another reason to mourn Ann Richards - her openness in talking about alcoholism and her willingness to help others.
Ann Richards Appreciation from NY Times
// posted by Spiny Norman
The "she just did backwards and in high heels" remark is worthy of the greatest American humorists. I can just imagine the guffaws it would have brought from Mark Twain or Will Rogers!
// posted by Raised By Republicans
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