Ann Richards, R.I.P.

Ann Richards, the outspoken and hilarious Democrat who was a one-term governor of Texas, is dead at 73.

The highly quotable Richards was probably best-known for her comment about George H. W. Bush: Poor George, he can't help it. He was born with a silver foot in his mouth."

That came in her speech at the 1988 Democratic national convention, which is well worth a read.

She is widely credited with saying, also of Bush the elder, "He was born on third base and thought he hit a triple," although the provenance of that remark is in dispute, the honor and may belong to Jim Hightower or someone else.

With or without that line, Richards leaves a legacy of quotable quotes. And she didn't need a joke writer.

She lost the governorship after a Karl Rove-orchestrated smear campaign accusing her of illegal drug use. Rove went on to bigger and better things.

Asked once what she might have done differently had she known she was going to be a one-term governor, Richards said:

"Oh, I would probably have raised more hell."

Washington Post obituary.