Oh, Ann

[wordplay]

Yours was the first campaign I ever worked on and I'll always be grateful for the opportunity. Thank you for your voice and your presence and just YOU - Texas needed you and so did I. Rest in peace, lady - you earned it.

Ann W. Richards
9/1/1933 - 9/13/2006

Comments

[sundancekid.livejournal.com]

Oh no. Oh no.

[sundancekid.livejournal.com]

I was toying with the idea of asking my Texas Government teacher to see if he could get her to come speak to our class -- he's having people every Friday, and he's been involved in Texas Democratic politics for a million years, so I thought that would be the best chance I'd ever have to meet her.

I was five when she was elected; I have a really clear memory of going with my mom to the little voting booth, and she let me punch the ballot for Ann.

[wordplay.livejournal.com]

I was 18 when I voted for her the first time - it was my first election and, you know, I think it was the only time I ever voted for a state-level candidate in Texas who actually WON. I worked just a little on the next campaign, and met her v. briefly when she spoke to my women's studies class. She was spectacular, and that loss to Shrub - that loss really stung, in part because the received wisdom was that she didn't really run a very strong campaign, and that's a distinctly unfun way to lose. It was the beginning of my long-lived dislike for GWB so, you know, at least I come by this disdain honestly? :)) I wonder if he'll make a statement. He'd better be gracious, dammit.

I'm sorry, Allie. Post about what happens in Austin, will you? I know she won't go unmourned there.

[adjudicated.livejournal.com]

Boatdrinks, Ann.

She was amazing.

[chromodynamics.livejournal.com]

"The here and now is all we have, and if we play it right it's all we'll need." - Ann Richards

Rest well, Ann.

[evil-erato.livejournal.com]

Oh man. I loved watching her - she was amazing. So sad! :(

[neotoma.livejournal.com]

Woe...

[isiscolo.livejournal.com]

Oh, man. She spoke at our state Dem convention in 2004, at which I was a delegate. Awesome. She'll be missed.

[misscake]

She was a damn fine woman, politician, Democrat, and American (not necessarily in that order). It's a huge loss and she'll be missed but her contributions won't be forgotten.

[wordplay.livejournal.com]

And mother! Her oldest is the head of Planned Parenthood now. What a legacy she left for women everywhere, and for Texas women in particular.

[taj-mahal07.livejournal.com]

She was an amazing lady! I was real saddened to read about her passing. I think that is so cool that you worked on her campaign, what an experience.

[darth-kittius.livejournal.com]

I hadn't heard that news, so thanks for posting. She seemed like a wonderful lady. I remember her very well - and I'm not even from Texas!

[jedirita.livejournal.com]

I was so shocked. Ann Richards: proof that not all Texans are neocons.

[nmalfoy.livejournal.com]

The world's a little dimmer with her gone. Certainly Texas is. Hell, she *was* Texas, as far as I'm concerned.