Thursday, September 14, 2006

A Champion Passes On

We join millions in lamenting the death of Ann Richards, former governor of Texas. She died last night, in the company of her four children.

Richards served her state and party for years and as governor from 1991-1995, but the voters of Texas chose a fellow named George to replace her; we all know how well that turned out.

Ann Richards was no fake. She would be on the front lines in defending Democratic Party values, including loyalty to its candidates and its principles. Her advice to faux-Democrats would certainly be "Stop the charade. Don't claim to be a Democrat while empowering the people who don't believe in our principles."

Richards was 73.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/14826109/

2 comments:

Jeff Gillenwater said...

I certainly don't purport to know what Anne Richards would say about it, but neither she nor anyone else could possibly tell the difference between real and faux Democrats at our local level. You'd need established principles as a baseline for judgement and, in Floyd County, there are none. The same is true of Republicans.

One would think that the absence of pre-determined standards would aid in cooperation but, unfortunately, that's not the case. We exist instead with no standards at all, choosing every four years which charade will continue to divide us, and we all know how well that's turned out.

As long as local politicos focus their energy on serving their party rather than on the practical application of evidentially supported reason to our situation, local government will not serve the very people for whom Richards worked to provide access.

It's somewhat crude to say so but, even dead, her ideals are more evident than those of our current local leaders. How is it that one knows the attitudes of a former Texas Governor but not those of local parties?

She's gone, but the question of whether or not local citizens have the gumption to demand issue-based stances and back that demand at the polls remains. I imagine that doing so would be a fitting tribute.

edward parish said...

Well said bluegill. One does not have to look very hard,just look at the difference between the two candidates running for sheriff.

I am presently in the mecca of liberals; San Francisco. To read the Chronicle and see how these communities local governments use its heads and resources to accomplish issues is amazing.

Then to come back to reality of NA will be depressing.