09.14.06
Tribute to Ann Richards
CNN re-broadcast the 2004 Larry King interview with Ms. Richard’s immediately upon the announcement of her death. It is particularly obvious when we again see her dynamic wit, prowess as a political speaker, and strong Democratic values that we realize what a great loss is upon us. Texas and the country have lost a true icon of the Democratic Party! Ms. Richards will be honored by all local Democrats at the annual fundraising Johnson-Rayburn Dinner on Sept. 30, hosted by Harris Co. Democratic Party (details above).
Enjoy this audio link to Ann Richard’s 1988 speech to the Democratic National Convention. Remember this speech was almost 20 years ago, but the issues remain the same!!
The reasons and logic by which she was defeated by GWB for Governor still remain a mystery to me. The political career of GWB has since "evolved" to its current state and this repeatedly baffles and disturbs most of us. What were voters thinking?? And what are they thinking now? Equally important, how do we learn from this unbelievable situation, move forward this November, and persevere into the future with the spirit, and in the legacy, of Ann Richards?
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A delightful Ann Richards anecdote,
as told by humorist Molly Ivins:
Several years ago, there was a big political-do at Scholz Beer Garten in Austin and everybody, who was anybody in political Texas was there, meetin’ and greetin’ at a furious pace. About halfway through the evening, a little group of us got the tired-feet and went to lean our butts against a table by the back wall of the Garten.
Like birds in a row were perched Bob Bullock, the state comptroller; me; Charlie Miles, a Black man who was then head of Bullock’s personnel department (and the reason Bullock had such a good record on minority hiring); and the very cunning, Ms. Ann Richards.
Bullock, having been in Texas politics for thirty some-odd years, consequently knew every living, sorry, no-account, sumbitch who ever held office.
A dreadful, old, racist judge from East Texas came up to him, "Bob, my boy, how are yew?" The two of them commenced to clap one another on the back and have a big greetin’.
"Judge," said Bullock. "I want 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?"
"This is Charles Miles, who heads my personnel department." Charlie stuck out his hand and the judge got an expression on his face as though he had just stepped into a fresh cowpie. It took him a long minute before he reached out, barely touched Charlie’s hand and said, "How you, boy?"
Then he turned with great relief to pretty, blue-eyed Ann Richards and said, "And who is this lovely lady?"
Ann beamed and said, "why….I am Mrs. Miles, of course."
Bronwen Denton-Davis said,
September 16, 2006 at 10:32 pm
All I can think is that she was desperately needed in Heaven
to organize the angels’ efforts to rid the world of false,
greed driven, disastrous profits. They needed a “tell it like it is
and do it like it should be done” manager.
She was a wonder.