Mrs Smith goes to Texas

[LMNO]

http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/after-wendy-daviss-filibuster-texas-abortion-bill-misses-deadline/2013/06/26/b76fd2a8-de68-11e2-b797-cbd4cb13f9c6_story.html

Lawmakers in Texas failed to approve a stringent new abortion law in advance of a midnight deadline Tuesday night after chaotic protests and an 11-hour filibuster by state Sen. Wendy Davis.

I must say, I was sucked in by this one.  Stayed up until 1:30 following various tweets and FB updates, and newsbloggers.  I especially like the part where the GOP decided it wasn't 12:06 when they put it to a vote, but rather 11:66.  Interesting to have a bunch of state senators committing fraud and abuse of power in "front" of 180,000 spectators.

But this morning, I (along with being very, very tired) felt vaguely let down.  I was part of the spectacle; and judging by how things went down in Wisconsin, there will eventually be another bill, or vote, or some such asshattery bullshit that will shut down abortion clinics in TX.  I really did feel the mob hype.  I was awed, elated, furious, and then... nothing much.

Wendy Davis was very impressive, staying standing and talking for 11 hours to a hostile and abusive senate. And there have been a few good memequotes you'll be seeing on FB for the next few weeks.  But was it truly successful, or did we just stave off the inevitable for another six months?

[Doktor Howl]

I especially like the part where the GOP decided it wasn't 12:06 when they put it to a vote, but rather 11:66. 

TUCSON, GET OUT OF TEXAS.  YOU'RE DRUNK.

[Salty]

To that last question:

I have a renewed sense of hope. I don't know what it is, but there seems to be more people willing to do this, to literally take a stand for what's right. I can't remember her name, but the one who wrote that letter RE: banksters.

Just these two women alone give my cynical heart a glimmer of hope.
I think it may just be a matter of time. Eventually these old, stupid bastards will die, and yes their children will continue their great work, but not all of them. And maybe less and less with each generation.

So there's a light at the end of the tunnel. I think. It just happens to be the sun, which, you know....

[Doktor Howl]

To that last question:

I have a renewed sense of hope. I don't know what it is, but there seems to be more people willing to do this, to literally take a stand for what's right. I can't remember her name, but the one who wrote that letter RE: banksters.

Just these two women alone give my cynical heart a glimmer of hope.
I think it may just be a matter of time. Eventually these old, stupid bastards will die, and yes their children will continue their great work, but not all of them. And maybe less and less with each generation.

So there's a light at the end of the tunnel. I think. It just happens to be the sun, which, you know....

"Optical illusion.  The tunnel is a well, and you're looking up from the bottom."

The above line, spoken to my boss, had interesting results.

[Salty]

Oh, I'm gonna use that one.

What kind of results?

[Doktor Howl]

Oh, I'm gonna use that one.

What kind of results?

"WHAT THE HELL IS WRONG WITH YOU?  GET OUT OF MY OFF...MY CONFERENCE ROOM!"

[Salty]

 

[Suu]

It's a baby step, but I can't imagine they're going to let that kind of a filibuster happen again. The old rich white men will get their way somehow.

In the meantime, that woman needs to run for governor.

[Cain]

But this morning, I (along with being very, very tired) felt vaguely let down.  I was part of the spectacle; and judging by how things went down in Wisconsin, there will eventually be another bill, or vote, or some such asshattery bullshit that will shut down abortion clinics in TX.  I really did feel the mob hype.  I was awed, elated, furious, and then... nothing much.

Wendy Davis was very impressive, staying standing and talking for 11 hours to a hostile and abusive senate. And there have been a few good memequotes you'll be seeing on FB for the next few weeks.  But was it truly successful, or did we just stave off the inevitable for another six months?

Politics never ends.  There is no eternal victory, no final state of perfection which can be achieved.

Of course the Republicans are going to try and smuggle another bill in.  Of course the Democrats will attempt to fillibuster it.  Of course this will go round and round in circles, probably without resolution, as the problem is not one of technical efficiency or scientific knowledge, but one of ethics and morality, and so open to endless interpretation and debate.  Maybe one day in the future, there will be enough people to make abortion a constitutional right.  Or maybe to ban it, constitutionally.  But even then, it will be contested, just like the constant attempts to chip away at the 2nd and 4th amendments.

You can't ever win, you can only hope to stave off defeat for another day.

[Anna Mae Bollocks]

It's a baby step, but I can't imagine they're going to let that kind of a filibuster happen again. The old rich white men will get their way somehow.

In the meantime, that woman needs to run for governor.

We had an OK governor here once. The Bush campaign started a rumor that she was a lesbian.
You know, like high school bullshit. That's all it took.
http://www.laweekly.com/2004-09-16/news/don-t-mess-with-texas/

NEWSFLASH: Texas is fucking hopeless, Ann Richards couldn't fix it, Wendy Davis isn't gonna fix it, it's NEVER GOING TO GET BETTER.
I'd like to see Wendy get elected anyway, though, just to watch these guys have a series of aneurysms.

[Anna Mae Bollocks]

http://www.motherjones.com/transition/inter.php?dest=http://www.motherjones.com/politics/2013/06/texas-republicans-wendy-davis-abortion-filibuster

ANNNNND http://www.texastribune.org/2013/06/26/rick-perry-calls-second-special-session/

Get the coat hangers. 

[Anna Mae Bollocks]

Oh, and it's not complete without THIS.

[Trivial]

My state just passed something where if you're on medicaid, the governor has to personally review the case before allowing it to be paid for.

Not sure how the fuck that's legal.

http://thinkprogress.org/health/2013/06/25/2210571/iowa-governor-medicaid-abortion-coverage/?mobile=nc

*edit* Now with a link.

[Suu]

<------------- Is so fucking glad she lives in the People's Republic of New England.

[Suu]

They tried to touch abortions last year in Rhode Island.

Once.

That woman who brought up the ultrasound bill disappeared from the General Assembly. It took one protest and she was forced to resign. Then she disappeared from the state entirely. You do NOT fuck with rights up here................................

........except for guns, but that's mostly Massachusetts. We don't talk about those people. Or Texas North. (NH.) But at least NH has gay marriage and legal, safe abortions.