colourwheel Posted June 26, 2013 Share Posted June 26, 2013 (edited) Recently Republican dominated legislature tried to undemocratically push an unpopular anti-choice bill during a special session. Abortion rights activists took anger and organized into an occupying force in rebellion. For the last week, these activists have been protesting, organizing, and occupying, and they have revealed that passionate and committed feminist and progressive activists are everywhere, even in deeply red states. Texas Senator Wendy Davis filibustered for 13-hours straight. To filibuster in this state she was forced to continue standing, couldn't lean on anything, couldn't take any breaks including a bathroom break, and had constantly keep speaking on topic.... This anti-abortion bill that she filibustered would have most likely lost her seat, if this was election season last year. Even though she broke the rules 3 times at her 13-hour straight filibuster her failure not in vain. Not only has she become a star in the Democratic Party over night Nationally, but the bill was killed after the roar of Abortion rights activists disrupted the debate to continue which pretty much forced the lieutenant governor to announce the bills death. Personally, Wendy Davis has become a huge political hero to me for doing what she did for 13 hours straight fighting for abortion rights. To my understanding Texas recently was one of the states "trying" to succeed from the nation. I have a feeling that Wendy Davis might be a potential candidate to win a future governors race in Texas. If she does run for the governors office and wins, this would lead to a historically red state since 1976 to systematically turn into a purple state almost over night. Considering the existing popularity of Women, African Americans, Latinos, Asians, and LGBTs across the nation is at an all time super low in the republican party, do you think the Republican party should fear their extreme social ideology pushing for such things as trying to abolish abortion will lead to the party to start loosing states like Texas? Edited June 26, 2013 by colourwheel Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lisnpuppy Posted June 26, 2013 Share Posted June 26, 2013 ((Everyone read carefully what the questions are here. This is NOT a debate regarding abortion itself. Its about political ideology and politics. If it becomes a debate about abortion or this thread dissolves into people taking pot shots at one another I am just going to close it. Stay on topic, be polite and respond to the argument and not just the person posting. Everyone understand? Thanks and have fun.~Lisnpuppy)) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JimboUK Posted June 26, 2013 Share Posted June 26, 2013 Were those Republicans not elected? did they seize power in a coup? To do that for 13 hours is very impressive but what it did was stop peoples elected representatives voting, that is not democratic. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
colourwheel Posted June 26, 2013 Author Share Posted June 26, 2013 (edited) It was undemocratic because they did it during a "special session"... Edited June 26, 2013 by colourwheel Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lisnpuppy Posted June 26, 2013 Share Posted June 26, 2013 It wasn't democratic when they said the vote (that they needed in before midnight to pass) was shown to have been clearly in the next day when the voting records were shown. They lied and tried to push it through anyway. Also the people have the right to go to and speak (confront) or whatever, the elected officials in these places. Many people don't know this. Back in 19th and early 20th centuries this was a common thing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ripple Posted June 26, 2013 Share Posted June 26, 2013 (edited) Well...I'll wade into your last question. I thought the Republican party only continue to exist at all precisely because they are pandering to the moral conservatives and neo-conservatives (since it's fairly clear that the Republican Party are not and has not been 'fiscally conservative' for a long time...), which is why frustrated fiscal conservatives rallied into the 'Tea Party' before that 'movement' got infiltrated by the 'gun-rights' people, backdoor Republicans, border vigilantes, and some people who like to make signs but can't spell? So it seems that it's not so much something they 'fear' but something that they intentionally pursue in order to maintain an electoral base. Edited June 26, 2013 by ripple Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JimboUK Posted June 26, 2013 Share Posted June 26, 2013 The keyword here is "vote", filibustering is not even remotely democratic, it's a trick commonly used by government toadies here to talk out private members bills. Talking straight for 13 hours is quite a feat, even my wife would struggle to match it but there is no way it can be described as democratic. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
colourwheel Posted June 26, 2013 Author Share Posted June 26, 2013 The keyword here is "vote", filibustering is not even remotely democratic, it's a trick commonly used by government toadies here to talk out private members bills. Talking straight for 13 hours is quite a feat, even my wife would struggle to match it but there is no way it can be described as democratic. Key word also is "unpopular" bill being pushed at the decision of almost an entire male dominated Legislature to decided what women can and can not do with their own body. Just imagine how unpopular a bill would be if it was a female dominated Legislature deciding in order for men to be put on Viagra they would have to have a tube stuck up their penis a few times 1st as justification for their personal beliefs thinking of it as an alternative to taking Viagra. Then pushing the bill through a special session to get it passed without any public interference regardless if they had the votes or not. That should hopefully help you get perspective how most women feel about these issues trying to be forced through state legislatures. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JimboUK Posted June 26, 2013 Share Posted June 26, 2013 Do women not have the vote in Texas? if they do then a number must have voted for these people. I won't comment on the rest of your post because we've been asked not comment on abortion itself. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ripple Posted June 26, 2013 Share Posted June 26, 2013 The keyword here is "vote"I don't think you want to go there, but if you want to open that can of worms... If 'voting' was 'the keyword', you'd have to show some numbers for just how many registered voters in Texax actually turned out to vote when these representatives were elected. I haven't bothered to dig for the actual figures, but I am just going wager that it's pretty damn low. There are countries in the world where voting is mandatory for citizens, and quite frankly, two legislative bodies elected by a minority of registered voters can be argued as 'undemocratic.' Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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