She gave 'em hell
Former Texas Gov. Ann Richards died Wednesday after a battle with cancer.
She was the original blue-haired give-'em-hell Texas Democrat. She went dove hunting every year and she didn't bite her tongue. If she believed something, she said it. I admired her for that.
Before "growing up" and having kids, I was a staunch Texas Democrat and I was one of Ann's biggest supporters. In college, I worked on her gubernatorial campaign and wore my Ann Richards t-shirt everywhere during that election season. I interviewed her once when she was campaigning against then wanna-be Texas governor George W. Bush.
While my politics have changed through the years, my admiration for this old gal didn't.
May she rest in peace or conversely, give' em hell in heaven.
She was the original blue-haired give-'em-hell Texas Democrat. She went dove hunting every year and she didn't bite her tongue. If she believed something, she said it. I admired her for that.
Before "growing up" and having kids, I was a staunch Texas Democrat and I was one of Ann's biggest supporters. In college, I worked on her gubernatorial campaign and wore my Ann Richards t-shirt everywhere during that election season. I interviewed her once when she was campaigning against then wanna-be Texas governor George W. Bush.
While my politics have changed through the years, my admiration for this old gal didn't.
May she rest in peace or conversely, give' em hell in heaven.
6 Comments:
At 8:47 AM, September 14, 2006,
Jenni said…
RIP Ann...her legacy in this state will live on forever.
At 9:47 AM, September 14, 2006,
Anonymous said…
AoM:
I checked in here and with Uzz to see what you guys posted. I really liked this woman - and I was a conservative back during my time in Texas. Sad news.
Anyway, I'm curious about why you say "before growing up and having kids, I was a staunch Texas Democrat" - and Uzz too mentions before having his son he was a Democrat. My question, what about having children made you become conservative? Just wondering. I've found that through the years I have gone from staunch conservative to middle-of-the-road to leaning quite a bit to the Left. (I'm sure this sickens you! :) ) But it's just the way it's gone for me - for so many reasons. So, as I've "grown up" I've begun to embrace being more liberal and it just feels much more right for me (Shhh, don't tell our families.)
So, I'm wondering, once we have kids, am I going to lean back to the right. That scares me a little bit, no offense.
Fringe (Darren W.)
P.S. I smoked you in fantasy baseball - woo hoo!
At 11:27 AM, September 14, 2006,
Anonymous said…
Texas Democrat...like that means she wasn't a liberal? Was she not against CHLs!? That is pretty damn liberal...
At 12:43 PM, September 14, 2006,
Army of Mom said…
AoD - I have no idea what her stance was on CHLs. Before I met you, I wasn't a proponent of them, so I have no idea. And, in the grand scheme of libs, she isn't far left leaning, IMHO.
And, Fringe - my beliefs, overall, shifted dramatically with the birth of my children. I'm pro-life now that I've actually carried around three little persons inside of me. I still believe that abortions should be legal, I just now believe that it is a life and not a "choice." Other things have come with it. I'm not as big of a proponent of alot of the tax and spend attitudes (although Republicans are as bad as the Democrats, they just like to say they're sorry when they tax us). My attitudes have shifted toward the "right" when it comes to social programs - I believe it allowing more private and religious funding of these programs rather than the state doing it. Those are just a few of my shifts. Now, I am firmly on the fence when it comes to other topics and my foot drops on the left side occasionally and back to the right occasionally.
But, it is just I'm less idealistic than I was as a young woman. It is easy to embrace the ideals when you're not in the "real world" yet. But, when you are faced with reality, you have to go with it. Just like advertising drives editorial. You can't escape it. You need quality editorial to get the ads, but without the ads, there is no editorial. Dear God, I've turned into Gary Ott and JES. But, just like our parents, there is some wisdom with age and experience.
Don't be afraid to come to the dark side. *insert Darth breathing noise here*
At 8:17 AM, September 15, 2006,
Anonymous said…
Run away Fringe, run away!!! Don't go to the Dark Side! :)
I'm the complete opposite of AOM. I was Lil' Miss Conservative as a young woman (a reflection of my parents), and my ideologies shifted when I entered the working world. I sided with more Democratic policies once I was married, bought a home and had a child. But I LOVED Ann Richards. It was her tenacity and in-your-face attitude that prompted me to minor in poly sci and toy with the idea of being a press secretary in some political office. Thank GOD IN HEAVEN I didn't go that route, but she had a lot of influence on my life.
The only thing good in the Texas Governor's office now is Perry's hairdo. GO CAROL GO!! (sorry AOM, I had to throw that in!) As Rick so eloquently put it on live TV, Adios MoFo ...
At 12:14 PM, September 18, 2006,
Anonymous said…
AoM,
For your elucidation upon Ma "I Will Suckle Texas" Richards ideas upon Texas CHL.
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