Former Texas Governor, Ann Richards, died today at 73 after a battle with esophageal cancer.
I'm just going to copy part of what it says on cnn.com, because I'm tired and it's slightly late, but I think it's important to pay our respects to a person who actually tries to make the world a better place for everyone.
FROM CNN.COM:
The silver-haired, silver-tongued Richards said she entered politics to help others -- especially women and minorities who were often ignored by Texas' male-dominated establishment.
"I did not want my tombstone to read, 'She kept a really clean house.' I think I'd like them to remember me by saying, 'She opened government to everyone,' " Richards said shortly before leaving office in January 1995.
She grabbed the national spotlight with her keynote address at the 1988 Democratic National Convention when she was the Texas state treasurer. Richards won cheers from delegates when she reminded them that Ginger Rogers did everything Fred Astaire did, "only backwards and in high heels."
Richards sealed her partisan reputation with a blast at George H. W. Bush, a fellow Texan who was vice president at the time: "Poor George, he can't help it. He was born with a silver foot in his mouth."
Richards rose to the governorship with a come-from-behind victory over millionaire cowboy Clayton Williams in 1990. She cracked a half-century male grip on the governor's mansion and celebrated by holding up a T-shirt that showed the state Capitol and read: "A woman's place is in the dome."In four years as governor, Richards championed what she called the "New Texas," appointing more women and more minorities to state posts than any of her predecessors.
She took time out to celebrate her 60th birthday by earning her motorcycle driver's license.
After her unsuccessful re-election campaign against Bush, Richards said she never missed being in public office.
Asked once what she might have done differently had she known she was going to be a one-term governor, Richards grinned. "Oh, I would probably have raised more hell."
------------------------I'd like to think that some of us would've done the same thing!
Here's to all the women who may not keep a perfectly clean house (and to those who actually do!) but continue to fight for the little guys.
Thanks, Ann Richards, for all you did for Texas women and women everywhere.
