So many people didn’t believe me when I told them this photo existed. And alas, it was a long time before I could find it. But now, here it is:

This is Ann Richards. Governor of Texas from 1991 through 1995. And if may say so, the last great Governor of Texas. I was proud to be a Texan when she was in office, and even prouder to have met her personally, long ago. I mean, wouldn’t you be proud of a governor who had no qualms about roaring a Harley into the state capitol to remind the legislature that she was not a person to be fucked with? And had fun doing it, too?

Even better: what governor, past or present can brag about being a rap artist, too? Richards received a vote for “Best Rap Artist” in The Austin Chronicle’s 1991 Austin Music Poll. Not that Texans know much about rap, but hey, would it not make your day to see this person bust out some rhymes, ‘yo? 🙂

Unfortunately, her tenure was cut short when a certain other politcian stole the election for the following term, in a pattern that would repeat itself later on a national level. Rather substantial allegations about this other politician’s past drug use, DWI convictions, and racist real estate dealings didn’t detract stupid starry-eyed voters away from the fact that his “Daddeh” (in Texan drawl) was a President. That politician, of course, is George W. Bush.

And Dubyah is the main reason why I’m ashamed to be a Texan.