Beer Drinkers and Hell Raisers

I could've called this one “Hot Blue, and Righteous”, “Jesus Just Left Chicago” or maybe even “La Grange”

Former Texas Governor, Bush family saddle-burr and all round good gal Ann Richards died yesterday from esophageal cancer.

Probable most famous for her 'Born with a silver spoon in his mouth' comment about Bush 41, she eventually lost to the younger Bush by underestimating the viciousness with which he and Karl Rove were willing to operate (they pioneered the smear techniques being used so effectively today, calling Richards a lesbian, making implications that she was still a practicing alcoholic) But until then she governed the notoriously misogynistic Texas Lege with humor and effectiveness in a institutionally weak governorship.

Fighting especially effectively against the most egregious forms of environmental destruction and for the aid of the public schools (as well as being buds with one of my favorite ladies, Molly Ivins), she also helped Texas economy expand at a rate greater than the rest of the country, reformed a terribly regressive prison system, and economizing State government to the tune of billions.

Rest easy, lady. You done good.


[Update]
Someone reminded me of a Molly Ivins-related story involving Governor Richards:

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 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, "I am Mrs. Miles."

[UPDATE AGAIN]
Molly Ivins remembers The Governor.