Ann Richards, RIP

|

The wisecracking former Texas governor is dead at 73, of esophageal cancer. (Remind me not to get that!) President Bush pronounces himself saddened at the news—which, considering all the Bush election victories Richards inadvertantly helped make happen, is easy to believe.

To get a sense of what a last gasp Richards was for the Lone Star State's Democratic party, consider that the current Democrat running for the governor's office is neck-and-neck with Kinky Friedman in polls. I don't blame (or thank) Richards for that, but while you're listening to all the celebrations of her famous feistiness in the next day or so, keep in mind that it all came to less than nothing.