Ann Richards keynote speech to the 1988 Democratic National Convention

[Greeby]

http://gos.sbc.edu/r/richards.html

This here is the best part, where she shreds the Reagan/Bush team

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What They Do/What They Say

Now, in contrast, the greatest nation of the free world has had a leader for eight straight years that has pretended that he cannot hear our questions over the noise of the helicopter.

And we know he doesn't want to answer. But we have a lot of questions. And when we get our questions asked, or there's a leak, or an investigation, the only answer we get is, "I don't know," or "I forgot."

But you wouldn't accept that answer from your children. I wouldn't. Don't tell me "you don't know" or "you forgot."

We're not going to have the America that we want until we elect leaders who are going to tell the truth. Not most days - but every day. Leaders who don't forget what they don't want to remember.

And, for eight straight years George Bush hasn't displayed the slightest interest in anything we care about.

And now that he's after a job that he can't get appointed to, he's like Columbus discovering America. He's found child care. He's found education.

Poor George. He can't help it - he was born with a silver foot in his mouth.

Well no wonder, no wonder he can't figure it out. Because the leadership of this nation is telling us one thing on TV and doing something entirely different.

They tell us, they tell us that they're fighting a war against terrorists. And then we find that the White House is selling arms to the ayatollah (Ruhallah Khomeini, of Iran).

They tell us that they're fighting a war on drugs, then people come on TV and testify that the CIA, and the DEA (Drug Enforcement Administration), and the FBI knew they were flying drugs into America all along. And they're negotiating with a dictator (Panamanian strongman Manuel Antonio Noriega) who is shoveling cocaine into this country like crazy. I guess that's their Central America strategy.

Now, they tell us that employment rates are great and that they're for equal opportunity, but we know it takes two paychecks to make ends meet today, when it used to take one. And the opportunity they're so proud of is low-wage, dead-end jobs.

And there is no major city in America where you cannot see homeless men sitting in parking lots holding signs that say, "I will work for food."

Edit - link to audio of speech, posted in another thread

http://www.americanrhetoric.com/speeches/annrichards1988dnc.htm

[Monkeyman]

1. RIP GREAT LADY

[WestHoustonDem]

2. Thank you Greeby. This is a great comfort to the

Texans who miss her most. We will take back the state for her 2006!

[Greeby]

3. I should think C-Span will haull the speech out of the archives soon

In the meantime, here's the speech at that same Convention by another Texas Democrat we lost this year, Senator Lloyd Bentsen

http://www.c-span.org/Search/basic.asp?ResultStart=1&ResultCount=10&BasicQueryText=Democratic+National+Convention+1988

[snot]

8. Ditto that. nt

[peacetalksforall]

4. There was something magical that emanted from her = she

was a person you would like to be friends with. Those smiley, twinkling, mischevious eyes said it all. They will always shine for us.

[Missy Vixen]

5. She showed how to lead

with grace, humor, and guts.

I miss her already.
Julie

[Breeze54]

6. Great speech! Not much has changed, eh?

:shrug:

[Lex]

7. What a great and memorable speech, eh?

:thumbsup:

Thanks for posting it.

[flyarm]

9. i was there..as a delegate...

and i got to meet her personally at an Emilies list luncheon..

she was a tall woman..and a vivacious , lovely woman..

she had a wonderful presence...and an incredible intelligence.

I will miss her..

and i will light a candle for her..and pray she has peace now..and no more pain.

bless her..

and keep her in eternal love..

fly

[samsingh]

10. i truly liked and admired her

she is going to be missed.