Ann Richards, RIP

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http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/metropolitan/4185429.html

I can scarcely remember having a governor I didn't want to strangle with my bare hands till his eyes popped out of their sockets and...

Sorry.

Anyway, RIP.

― 100% CHAMPS with a Yes! Attitude. (Austin, Still), Thursday, 14 September 2006 02:13 (nineteen years ago)

"Poor George..."

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Thursday, 14 September 2006 02:20 (nineteen years ago)

She gave the opening address at my first and only SxSW convention.

http://www.seankenan.com/fiddle%20news/oct%202005/two_note.gif And THAT's how old I am! http://www.seankenan.com/fiddle%20news/oct%202005/two_note.gif

― Pleasant Plains /// (Pleasant Plains ///), Thursday, 14 September 2006 03:01 (nineteen years ago)

fuck. rip.

i am paranoid about esophageal cancer.

― Amateur(ist) (Amateur(ist)), Thursday, 14 September 2006 03:10 (nineteen years ago)

She was funny, classy, sensible and memorable. Nothing I expect in a Texas governor these days, and pretty fantastic for anybody, actually.

― Sara R-C (Sara R-C), Thursday, 14 September 2006 03:12 (nineteen years ago)

aw, that's sad. had she won re-election, we'd be living in a different world right now. if i recall correctly, it wasn't even close when W beat her. i remember being surprised because her sassy national rep, mostly from that convention speech, gave one the impression that she was popular, but not in texas. also, i do get impatient when people go on about Bush & the death penalty like he's some kind of anamoly, it's just a texas thing as Ann proved by oking several executions in her time. but that's for another thread, RIP.

― timmy tannin (pompous), Thursday, 14 September 2006 03:27 (nineteen years ago)

http://www.tsl.state.tx.us/governors/modern/richards-p01.jpg

they need to elect Kinky Friedman

― kingfish prætor (kingfish 2.0), Thursday, 14 September 2006 04:07 (nineteen years ago)

That "poor George" line is maybe the best zinger of all time. Algonquin roundtable would shudder.

― Eric H. (Eric H.), Thursday, 14 September 2006 04:12 (nineteen years ago)

yeah it has a poetic fleetness to it.

― Amateur(ist) (Amateur(ist)), Thursday, 14 September 2006 04:15 (nineteen years ago)

Somehow I got all the way to timmy tannin's post thinking this was about Ann Powers.

― Savvy Jones (Savvy Jones), Thursday, 14 September 2006 04:56 (nineteen years ago)

kingfish

what about kinky is good...the immigration policy, the cutting of teaches salaries, the prayers in school, the oddly pro jesus angle for a jew or defeating a candiate who is genuinely democratic, because some naive motherfuckers think a colourful country singer would be cute.

― anthony easton (anthony), Thursday, 14 September 2006 05:39 (nineteen years ago)

rip, she seemed like one of the good guys. (my perception is necessarily from a distance, but friends in texas seemed to more or less feel the same way.) the obit to watch for will be whatever molly ivins writes.

― gypsy mothra (gypsy mothra), Thursday, 14 September 2006 06:09 (nineteen years ago)

Kinky is fantastic Anthony. I've been a fan of his most of my conscious life. He has so many good campaign policies I'll forgive him the prayer in school.

I'm very said about Gov. Richards. She died of the same cancer my grandmother did exactly 11 months ago today. :(

I volunteerd on Ann's re-election campaign and was devasted when Bush won (and still am, obv.)

― Sam: Screwed and Chopped (Molly Jones), Thursday, 14 September 2006 12:38 (nineteen years ago)

the obit to watch for will be whatever molly ivins writes.

I'll be interested to read that.

RIP, Ann. You were a hoot.

― M. White (Miguelito), Thursday, 14 September 2006 13:50 (nineteen years ago)

Too bad she couldn't save us from Junior. I give her credit for trying. And she was v obv a smart and funny person.

― Aimless (Aimless), Thursday, 14 September 2006 13:59 (nineteen years ago)

One of my fave episodes of King Of The Hill is when she dates Bill.

http://animatedtv.about.com/library/graphics/kohGlassElevator.jpg

― Elvis Telecom (Chris Barrus), Thursday, 14 September 2006 16:00 (nineteen years ago)

Some gems:

Teaching was the hardest work I had ever done, and it remains the hardest work I have done to date.

Poor George, he can't help it. He was born with a silver foot in his mouth.

I am 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.

― Sam: Screwed and Chopped (Molly Jones), Thursday, 14 September 2006 16:23 (nineteen years ago)

Kinky's a bit of a douche (his absurd and reactionary stance on immigration more than the 'OMG the PC police just don't like prayer in school,' but I'll vote for him anyway - Perry's going to win come hell or high water, so why not? If Kinky had a legitimate chance of winning, then I'd be worried about his policy stances.

Ann Richards was the first politician I ever 'supported' - arguing on the playground in second grade (maybe first?) it was boys for the asshole and girls for Richards, and being years ahead of myself, I immediately sided with the girls.

― milo z (mlp), Thursday, 14 September 2006 18:33 (nineteen years ago)

RIP darlin, you were a gem.

― luna (luna.c), Thursday, 14 September 2006 18:35 (nineteen years ago)

and girls for Richards, and being years ahead of myself, I immediately sided with the girls

I think you had ulterior motives Milo.

― Sam: Screwed and Chopped (Molly Jones), Thursday, 14 September 2006 18:39 (nineteen years ago)

what about kinky is good

where he proposed capital punishment for the declawing of cats

and he ain't rick perry

or joe perry(post 1993), for that matter

― kingfish prætor (kingfish 2.0), Thursday, 14 September 2006 18:42 (nineteen years ago)

As much as I heart him, let's not turn an Ann Richard's memorial thread into Kinky campaigning (although she might have liked that. . .)

Here's his flyer that I have on my fridge:
http://www.kinkyfriedman.com/misc/TenReasons.pdf

― Sam: Screwed and Chopped (Molly Jones), Thursday, 14 September 2006 18:44 (nineteen years ago)

rip ann

― and what (ooo), Thursday, 14 September 2006 18:57 (nineteen years ago)

Something I did not know.

In so many ways, her decision to stop drinking and enter a rehabilitation program in 1980, after a painful intervention by family and friends, was necessary for her continued rise in public life. What made Ms. Richards different was her decision to be forthright about the fact that she was a recovering alcoholic. She didn’t hide it. “I like to tell people that alcoholism is one of my strengths,” she said. She was right. Alcoholics know that seeds of healthy recovery grow from the need to mend their own flaws to stay sober, one day at a time. Ms. Richards faced her imperfections fearlessly, and that enabled others to be fearless, too, if only for a little while.

She never stopped helping people. One well-known author said the first mail she received after enrolling in a rehabilitation program was an encouraging letter from Ms. Richards. A politician who left rehab and wondered how on earth he was going to avoid drinking when he got home well after midnight found Ms. Richards waiting for him when he arrived. As governor, she started treatment programs in Texas prisons. When she visited, she would tell the inmates the simple truth: “My name’s Ann, and I’m an alcoholic.” Her imperfection had become a source of inspiration for others.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Saturday, 16 September 2006 17:37 (nineteen years ago)

Yes, she was very outspoken about that. One tough gal.

― Sam: Screwed and Chopped (Molly Jones), Saturday, 16 September 2006 17:44 (nineteen years ago)

molly weighs in.

― gypsy mothra (gypsy mothra), Sunday, 17 September 2006 15:41 (nineteen years ago)

Unlike Molly Ivins and her complete inauthenticity, Ann Richards WAS Texas. You couldn't be Texan and not like her. Truth be told, the electorate only gave her a chance because the alternate was an ignorant redneck with Foot In Mouth disease, but she won over quite a few people. Richards is the epitome of what it is to be truly Texan, a lesson that Ivins and Bush Jr. could both desperately learn. I was saddened to hear of Richards' passing. She'll now be conferring with Sam Rayburn and Henry B. Gonzales up in heaven.

― Phoenix Dancing (krushsister), Sunday, 17 September 2006 16:05 (nineteen years ago)

not to derail, but what's "inauthentic" about molly ivins? (or is this something that's a hangup for texans that other people don't have to worry about?)

― gypsy mothra (gypsy mothra), Sunday, 17 September 2006 16:37 (nineteen years ago)

I've always loved Molly and I'm 100% Texan so I'm not sure what Phoenix is talking abou.

― Sam: Screwed and Chopped (Molly Jones), Sunday, 17 September 2006 16:46 (nineteen years ago)

Ivins was born and educated elsewhere, so she's not 'authentic' according to some people (though these standards are rarely applied to Georgie, of course). She does go a bit far in the Texan-isms, as does Kinky.

― milo z (mlp), Sunday, 17 September 2006 16:51 (nineteen years ago)

http://d.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/p/ap/20060914/capt.08e91f6aff6546298488c38cb16b5749.aptopix_obit_richards_ny116.jpg?x=247&y=345&sig=fnmMe2UQuEpnfcbX8xeoYw--

http://d.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/p/ap/20060914/capt.7b075c98b8e649bfae5c60b62ae0eca4.obit_richards_at105.jpg?x=294&y=345&sig=rW02paDu7yCXHBXsNTgtuw--

http://d.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/p/ap/20060915/capt.db8591ed0a364291871b37cd713700ba.richards_death_txdp101.jpg?x=276&y=345&sig=_XTvJvhbOHhfGtS64DkJMg--

http://d.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/p/ap/20060916/capt.322ccf996431460b9c714540f5d19acd.obit_richards_txjp106.jpg?x=380&y=238&sig=Y_Bycr8G48BeXLqR7W2RUA--

http://d.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/p/ap/20060916/capt.e331f8dbd436497382f96546bd4b9a4b.richards_txhc104.jpg?x=380&y=326&sig=V4EnhRF72UD9BJw2GtDHlQ--

― kingfish prætor (kingfish 2.0), Sunday, 17 September 2006 16:53 (nineteen years ago)

(well yeah, i've always accepted ivins' persona as kind of a performance. but of course so was richards'. i don't guess we need another boring autenticity debate.)

― gypsy mothra (gypsy mothra), Sunday, 17 September 2006 16:59 (nineteen years ago)

It is mind-boggling that barely a decade ago we had a progressive woman as Governor and these days beating Rick Perry is impossible.

― milo z (mlp), Sunday, 17 September 2006 17:02 (nineteen years ago)

I do hope that the timing of her death works out to the benefit of the good guys in this election, both statewide and maybe even nationally.(/ghoul)

― 100% CHAMPS with a Yes! Attitude. (Austin, Still), Sunday, 17 September 2006 21:10 (nineteen years ago)

not to derail, but what's "inauthentic" about molly ivins? (or is this something that's a hangup for texans that other people don't have to worry about?)

When Molly Ivins talks to non-Texans, she talks with that ridiculously OTT "Texan twang" accent, but when she talks to other Texans, her accent changes to a very upper-crust NYC one (she's lived in NY for ages and ages). It gets very irritating. Plus her articles are always full of this mock cornpone writing that makes her seem like she's some backwater hick, when she's actually far removed from that world. I would love to tell her to give up the act, that her put-on patois is not cute or endearing or even bearable.

― Phoenix Dancing (krushsister), Sunday, 17 September 2006 21:17 (nineteen years ago)

Ann Richards spoke more from the heart, anyway. You could tell that every word she spoke was a word she believed in. So, bringing the topic back to its original focus, Richards' honesty won her a lot of fans. I find it interesting that while Rick Perry's managed to think up some nice things to say about Richards, Bush Jr. has only barely touched on Richards the person, only saying the most cookie cutter of condolences.

And those photos are beautiful. I think that third one especially captures Richards' essence. R.I.P., ma'am. Your shoes are proving awfully hard to fill.

― Phoenix Dancing (krushsister), Sunday, 17 September 2006 21:21 (nineteen years ago)

political personality in embodying caricature SHOCKAH

― milo z (mlp), Sunday, 17 September 2006 21:23 (nineteen years ago)

What public office(s) has Ivins run for? She is no "political personality", she's supposed to be an opinion columnist, and no other opinion columnist adopts a caricature-ish persona, not even when they're being interviewed.

― Phoenix Dancing (krushsister), Sunday, 17 September 2006 21:31 (nineteen years ago)

Right, she's never run for office - instead she's a widely syndicated columnist and commentator - making her more recognizable than 90% of Congress. That's a political personality.

Ann Coulter is every bit an ice-queen, purposely offensive neo-con in public - but has no problem hanging with Bill Maher.

James Carville isn't really a country bumpkin as he portrays himself on TV (cf. The War Room)

The old guard (the Novaks) don't play up the same kind of persona, but the younger brigades of commentators, analysts and behind the scenes people certainly do.

― milo z (mlp), Sunday, 17 September 2006 21:34 (nineteen years ago)

See, I don't view Ann Coulter or James Carville as the kind of people who are supposed to be Ivins' contemporaries. I'm talking about the people I actually read in the newspapers alongside her columns, people such as Thomas Friedman, Ellen Goodman, George Will, Kathleen Parker, Cal Thomas, and Mona Charen. Maybe all the local papers that publish Ivins' articles (including my local one) are all in the wrong for doing that, but that's the kind of company she's supposed to be in. And yeah, Ann Coulter and James Carville are cartoons, but they're not exactly the kind of people one would expect to find in an opinion section of any respectable newspaper. (Too bad about Carville, BTW, because he seems like such a smart guy.)

― Phoenix Dancing (krushsister), Sunday, 17 September 2006 21:45 (nineteen years ago)

Bush Jr. has only barely touched on Richards the person, only saying the most cookie cutter of condolences.

Well, she did diss on his daddy about being born with a spoon in his mouth in '88.

― the dow nut industrial average dead joe mama besser (donut), Monday, 18 September 2006 00:40 (nineteen years ago)

That would be a "silver foot". ;)

But point taken, though I'm not sure if Junior has the intellectual fortitude to get what she was saying then. Rick Perry might've found differences between his political philosophies and Richards', but yes, it's true that he never had any really negative messages levied his way from her the way the Bushes had. Still, I think Junior's speechwriters could've done better.

― Phoenix Dancing (krushsister), Monday, 18 September 2006 01:15 (nineteen years ago)

george will's writing persona seems way more cartoonish to me than molly ivins's.

― J.D. (Justyn Dillingham), Monday, 18 September 2006 01:47 (nineteen years ago)

ivins has gotten more shticky over time, i think that's true. it doesn't bother me too much because i have a big reservoir of affection for her, but it might maybe bother me if i lived in texas. that one collection, the molly ivins can't say that book, is still one of my favorite anthologies of political journalism.

― gypsy mothra (gypsy mothra), Monday, 18 September 2006 02:53 (nineteen years ago)

i always found those progressive populists sort of irritating (jim hightower and ivins etc.) but then i hate fun.

― Amateur(ist) (Amateur(ist)), Monday, 18 September 2006 03:13 (nineteen years ago)

sam

talk to me about kinky adn immigration

― anthony easton (anthony), Monday, 18 September 2006 05:19 (nineteen years ago)

i like progressive populists. (hunter s. thompson!) ann richards was a progressive populist, right? a prog-popist.

― gypsy mothra (gypsy mothra), Monday, 18 September 2006 05:34 (nineteen years ago)

progressive populists: ralph nader, bob la follette, abe lincoln

― J.D. (Justyn Dillingham), Monday, 18 September 2006 05:36 (nineteen years ago)

i guess i mean progressive populist media personalities.

― Amateur(ist) (Amateur(ist)), Monday, 18 September 2006 05:39 (nineteen years ago)

(calling abe l. progressive seems like an anachronism though)

― Amateur(ist) (Amateur(ist)), Monday, 18 September 2006 05:40 (nineteen years ago)

well nader is an asshole

― anthony easton (anthony), Monday, 18 September 2006 05:51 (nineteen years ago)

yeah, thanks a lot for seat belts, you creep!

― J.D. (Justyn Dillingham), Monday, 18 September 2006 06:00 (nineteen years ago)

and giving us bush

― anthony easton (anthony), Monday, 18 September 2006 06:25 (nineteen years ago)

maybe progressive populism needs its own thread...

― gypsy mothra (gypsy mothra), Monday, 18 September 2006 06:38 (nineteen years ago)

I don't want to talk about Kinky or current campaigns on this thread Anthony.

I'm trying to decide if I should go to Ann's public service today. I'm not really dressed for a funeral. . .

― Sam: Screwed and Chopped (Molly Jones), Monday, 18 September 2006 12:42 (nineteen years ago)

The memorial service is at noon CST and will be streamed here: http://kut.org/

here's the tenative line up of speakers:
•Former Dallas Mayor Ron Kirk, master of ceremonies

•Syndicated columnist Liz Smith

•Former U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Secretary and former San Antonio Mayor Henry Cisneros

•Video presentation

•Music

•U.S. Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, D-N.Y.

•Lily Adams (Richards' oldest granddaughter)

•More music

•Closing by Ron Kirk

Bush will not attend. what a dick.

― Sam: Screwed and Chopped (Molly Jones), Monday, 18 September 2006 13:11 (nineteen years ago)

>> •Lily Adams

pics plz

― and what (ooo), Monday, 18 September 2006 13:20 (nineteen years ago)

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