When I was a wee one and going into my teenage years and a bit later, and started to become getting involved and following politics, for some reason I was fascinated by the late Govenor of Texas, Ann Richards, GULP. At the time, I was not aware of what I would learn further into her term...hey.... I was young and pretty then, not young, pretty and smart.......she was an on again off again fan of "the gays". After all, her legislative legacy is darkly anti-gay. It was her signature you'll find on the state's anti-gay sodomy law, after all, one of only a handful in the entire country that specifically target gay sex. Hard to believe she was even Democratic at times. These days she'd fit right in with the wacko party of the R's when it comes to the gays and guns. Some of what she signed into law then has now set the state up for its seat at the crazy table. But she did do a lot of good overall on other issues. But at the time, I thought it was amazing she was a woman in this position and took no shit from a man. I'm not so sure she didn't have a few men castrated and they probably deserved it. I had respect for her, knowing the hurdles and prejudice she fought to stick to herself as a woman to get where she did. And she made it. She was outrageous and courageous for women everywhere. She had even appointed two lesbians into her cabinet. She was the last Democrat to hold the office of Govenor and its only woman ever in Texas. I'm sure personally she was a nice lady, we probably could have had drinks... but politically she and I would NOT agree on much of anything when it came to guns, BUT one thing we would agree on. A reason to vote. Here from her own mouth, this quote has stuck with me...and a good reason to vote this election day.
"If you aren't at the table, you are on the menu."
Vote.
Oh, yes.
ReplyDeleteI am forever amazed at the gall, the gumption, the AUDACITY of people who tell me -to my face- that voting does not count. It really takes a lot for me to not slap them right then and there. Voting is a privilege and a right. It's what makes people citizens of a country.
XOXO
That quote is perfection, especially when you think about all the people on the menu for the GOP ... children being slaughtered in schools ... trans Americans ... drag queens ... immigrants ... people of color ... LGBTQ+ Americans ... and on and on.
ReplyDeleteCAST A GODDAMNED VOTE!
As for Richards, I did love her for what she said about George Bush: 'Poor George, he can't help it. He was born with a silver foot in his mouth.'
She had many good quotes!!! I think that's why I liked her...she was like the Annie Oakley aunt!!!!
DeleteWe have a million reasons to vote. She sure would fit right in with them today, wouldn't she? She was impressive at the time, but I still didn't like her politics...and I was a Republican then.
ReplyDeleteFor the most part I enjoyed her and didn't mind her...but once in office, she opened up about her views, which I suspect didn't sit well with a already changing Texas, which is why she was a one term governor...and putting the final nail in a Democratic Texas...never to be blue again and still isn't. I don't think todays Democrats could handle her.
DeleteShe got it exactly right with that quote!!!!!
ReplyDeleteI can't lie, I did like her...even though she was not consistent with her views on the LGBT. But she did a lot for minorities at the times and women. After her term, she would be the last of the Democratic strong holds on the state. Now look at it. Texas was at a time heavily Democratic
Yes!!!! How true that quote is!!!!! She was so witty and flamboyant; I suspect the party wouldn't know what to do with her today.
ReplyDeletego and vote, please. You will regret if you don't!
ReplyDeletePerceptive quotation, then and now.
ReplyDeleteShe was sooo terrific!
ReplyDeleteSadly so many women think they have to act hard, like successful men, to get on in life, look at Mother Thatcher. Not all woman are nice inside, any more than men are.
ReplyDeleteThat is why I had a love hate relationship with her. She was I suspect a very nice woman...but I loved her snarky and feisty side. She really put men in their place but did it with a southern charm and fun wisecracks. But as your aware, we won't agree on everything with a politician.
DeleteI will always remember her comment about Jeb Bush: "stick a fork in him, he's done."
ReplyDeleteShe was the c word.
ReplyDeleteOh my I remember Ann Richards. I admit I actually loved her, even though she wasn't consistent with the LGBT. But 90% of her other views were right in line with mine. She was classy, a state's woman, feisty and was actually very witty and funny at times. Democrats now should actually take a page from her book and get a pair of balls like she had. I too agree that quote could not be any better as to why to vote.
ReplyDeleteI agree. The Dems are still letting tooooo much pass and still need a tougher mouthpiece. Biden should have codified the Roe vs Wade first thing. Of course, Obama said he was going to codify it and never did either. Now look where we're at on that.
DeleteShe is right about that quote. Loved her accept for a few items. The acid was as real as the wit.
ReplyDeleteIn the end, she really came around with the LGBT...and her one daughter even became the head of Planned Parenthood in Texas...and even ended up tougher on gun laws in the end. The NRA ended up hating her. I was till in the US when she took office. Last best thing that to come out of Texas, Loved this Lady ! Wish she was still with us !
ReplyDeleteWhat an interesting summary of her political career, and you punched it with a fabulous quote. May the voting lean towards justice for all.
ReplyDeleteHope you're well, Mistress. xx
Hope you are doing well to Robyn!!!!
DeleteWith politicians, it's often hard to separate what they REALLY believe from what they SAY they believe. If she was on-again, off-again about gays (as were many Democrats in the 1980s) it may be because she thought she had to be to stay electable. And I kind of doubt her Republican was more open-minded on the issue. He most likely was permanently off-again.
ReplyDeleteAs for you and her having drinks, it all depends on WHEN you had those drinks. If it was after she'd retired from politics, and she KNEW you were gay, she might have told you, "Oh, I've evolved on that issue. I now believe LGBTQ people are entitled to the same rights as..."
By all means vote, but just don't blind yourself to the shortcomings of the two-party system, which so often mean going with the lesser of two evils.
Your right about that Kirk. Ann actually did loosen and change her view once in and let her real views on these things out, which cost her a second term as governor. She went on afterwards to do much good with several things. And you closing comment is right on. I'm currently leery of both parties right now. With Biden my hot topic is drilling and the immigrant situation. Which he doesn't seem to be dealing with effectively. When veterans are being displaced to make room for immigrants, we have a major issue. I'm all for all coming...but there has got to be a more organized and controlled way. This is getting nuts and isn't fair to our visits either. This is going to end badly.
DeleteThat quote is the only thing I agree with her. Otherwise, she's old school like Biden. She'll shift her "beliefs" based on how they'll get her re-elected. That's why we hate politicians.
ReplyDeleteThat's just it. That's my issue with a lot of these Democrats. They run on all these campaign issues to scare everybody in the voting for them but then once there in office, even when they have the opportunity to do it they don't. For example codifying Roe versus Wade. Obama said his whole term he do it never did. Biden said the same thing it has yet to do it.
Deletegood quote, that.
ReplyDelete