Unassociated Press

Former Press Secretary to Sen. Ted Kennedy and current University of Texas lecturer Bob Mann describes his 30 year friendship with Garry Mauro with a husky laugh and ear-to-ear grin often displayed by those who share a common bond from shared nostalgia.

“I’ve worked with him three to four different times,” Mann said to his students Wednesday night, most of whom were too young to understand a pre-Inconvenient Truth era when global warming was little more than a budding theory, “he made history with the land office.”

Mauro, the longest serving Land Commissioner in Texas history, is credited by many for taking the lead on important environmental issues and pushing legislation in Texas to reduce air pollution during his four terms.

In 1998, Mauro ran unsuccessfully against George W. Bush, who was the incumbent governor running for re-election at the time.

“My greatest political disappointment was not communicating what a sorry governor Bush would be,” said Mauro, “he doubled the budget but there’s nothing to show for it. He was a lousy governor. He just managed the status quo.”

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“I was here 44 years ago when my father was elected president,” said a radiant Luci Baines Johnson, the sound of her voice periodically muffled by the cheers from the crowd at the historic Driskell Hotel in Austin, Texas as they watched swing states cross, one by one, to the blue side of America.

“My father knew when he signed the Voting Rights Act in 1965 that he would hand over the nation to Republicans for the next generation, but he said if that’s what it takes it’s worth it.”

The daughter of President Lyndon B. Johnson wore an impeccable blue suit with a button on the lapel that read “America’s Next First Family” above a serene picture of Barack and Michelle Obama with their two young daughters.

“Tonight, his dreams are coming true. Tonight society has justice. Congratulations to all of us.”

The party, held by the Obama for America Campaign, began like an electric Super Bowl game-the massive crowd, almost impossible for one trying to get to the bar to navigate through, booed as the opposing team won the reliable Republican states.

The booing, however, was heard only occasionally.

As states that went red fours years ago swung over to Obama, the crowd, which could not be characterized by any race, age, gender or income demographic but did distinctly smell of sweat and alcohol, cheered so loudly that the $8.50 Blue State Martini glass in the hand of a young woman near the smokers’ balcony began to vibrate; its contents seemingly trembled with excitement.

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