She could be an actress. A Hollywood celebrity. Perhaps some wealthy athlete’s trophy wife. But she is none of these. She is Texas State Senator Wendy Davis (D), newest hero of pro-choice advocates across the country.
On Tuesday Davis undertook a filibuster to block passage of a bill that would have severely limited the abortion rights of Texas women. She was on her feet for some 13 hours. The rules forbade her sitting, receiving assistance from anyone, straying from the subject, leaning on her desk, or taking bathroom breaks. And she prevailed. Although an adverse ruling cut her off before the session ended at midnight, her Democratic colleagues and hundreds of cheering, shouting supporters in the gallery created enough of an uproar to prevent a vote before time ran out.
Davis beat an incumbent Republican to win her Senate seat in 2008. Since then, as detailed by Wikipedia, she has been a force to be reckoned with:
Davis has been honored with many awards and recognitions during her first term in the Texas Legislature, including the “Bold Woman Award” from Girls, Inc., “Freshman of the Year” from AARP, “Champion for Children Award” from the Equity Center, and “Texas Women’s Health Champion Award” from the Texas Association of OB-GYNs. In 2009, Texas Monthly named her “Rookie of the Year”. She was also chosen by the readers of Fort Worth Weekly as the “Best Servant of the People”. In January 2012, Davis was listed among “12 State Legislators to Watch in 2012” by Governing Magazine and is mentioned as a possible candidate for statewide races.
I look forward to seeing Wendy Davis in Washington in the next few years, defending the rights of women across the country.
Well done, Sen. Davis. Well done.
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Yeah, she;’s really wonderful… I do wish that Kansas had someone of her quality, though…
We could all use a Wendy Davis. But yes, KS is particularly bad. It’s the only place I recall where pro-lifers skip the lawmaking altogether and just shoot the abortion doctors.
Agreed! I was impressed (and shocked) by Davis. She seemed to come out of the woodwork, and now that I know about her, I sure as hell hope she’ll run for governor!
She might have been well known to Texans, but I’d never heard of her. It’s a cinch now I won’t forget her. Sounds like she’s in the middle of a bunch of conservative good ‘ol boys who think all their women should be home, barefoot and pregnant.
Lucky you. If she runs for governor, you’ll get to vote for her!
I’d never heard of her, perhaps because she is new, but also because the Dems don’t tend to make the news here. I think you’re right–she’s surrounded by the good ol’ boys who probably work against her every chance they get.
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I’ve a hunch we haven’t heard the last of her …
I don’t think that she really belongs on the national stage for a while yet… eight years of being governor of Texas and cleaning that cesspool up would quality her for national office… and it definitely needs doing, and she’s the person who can do it.
I really look forward to her continued leadership for both women’s right and civil rights and civility in the government.
Works for me. Rick Perry and his ilk are a Texas-sized Job #1. Washington can wait a few years.
We certainly don’t know whether or not she is senatorial or even presidential…. lets let her prove herself on the stage that she has chosen,.
Well done indeed PT. It’s wonderful to see real democracy prevail for a change! 😀
Renews one’s hope for the future, doesn’t it? A little bit, at least.
Yes it does. Just a little bit… and renews hope that folks like her will prevail……
Wendy Davis’ performance reminds me of an episode on the Mary Tyler Moore show, one in which Mary showed unusual initiative causing her boss Lou Grant (Ed Asner) to exclaim, “You’ve got spunk!”. And then he says, “I hate spunk!” Poor Mary. 😆
Ms. Davis does have charisma and spunk, but I think it remains to be seen whether she has the gravitas and political judgement to be a lasting star in the Democratic Party. I hope she does. Her sterling academic record seems to indicate real potential and after some fiasco’s like Anthony Wiener and Jesse Jackson Jr. we could sure use some new talent on the scene.
I hope so too, Jim. She does have spunk and I hope she’ll be around for a long time.