General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsWendy Davis stood up for her principles, called out the GOP, and ran a very hard-hitting attack ad
So, that's why she won, right?
Logical
(22,457 posts)Recursion
(56,582 posts)morningfog
(18,115 posts)And the Dems should be too. But that is just what can be inferred since they aren't very articulate.
Recursion
(56,582 posts)If that means moving the caucus to the right, that's better than having the GOP in charge.
morningfog
(18,115 posts)just vote for republicans, if you don't already.
Recursion
(56,582 posts)Actually that's usually been a good play for us, running former Republicans.
HooptieWagon
(17,064 posts)The only thing worse than losing was having to hold my nose to vote for him. If we're going to lose, at least lets have some candidates we're excited about supporting. Might get better turnout. Damn, I wish I'd had a Wendy Davis to vote for.
Recursion
(56,582 posts)I'm saying the whole mindset here is unrealistic. We lose off-years, pretty reliably. We don't need to search for a reason other than the fact that Democratic voters only show up every other time.
DanTex
(20,709 posts)kelliekat44
(7,759 posts)Recursion
(56,582 posts)But she certainly wasn't afraid of "fighting", was she?
joshcryer
(62,280 posts)Duh.
ag_dude
(562 posts)The achievements in the economy of Texas are due to lax regulations on fracking.
Deny and Shred
(1,061 posts)Your point is what? Don't stand up for principles, cower when assaulted by the GOP, don't run ads pointing out how pathetic the opponent is?
How far to the right should democrats go? Dems ran away from the President in these mid-terms. You advocate abandoning principles and buddying up to the GOP. Dems are already indistinguishible from republicans to much of the electorate. They could go all the way, but they'll still be labeled 'liberals' by the MSM echo chamber.
I know we're all trying to make sense of yesterday's results, but out-conservative-ing the GOP is a losing strategy if I ever heard one.
Recursion
(56,582 posts)in off-years.
If we want candidates who are competitive in those states and districts, they're going to have to be pretty far to the right of the national party.
Deny and Shred
(1,061 posts)The question becomes how far to the right? As far as it takes? Until there is literally no difference? The Democrat 'brand' won't supplant Republican in the minds of the GOP base. It might even engender apathy in the next generation of voters.
Uber-DINOs might be preferable to GOP winners, but don't expect them to show loyalty to the party.
Recursion
(56,582 posts)If you don't get that, I don't know what to say.
Deny and Shred
(1,061 posts)A bunch of Blue Dogs torpedoed Obama when he needed them most, too.
deutsey
(20,166 posts)ctaylors6
(693 posts)at least locally (I'm in TX). She made some significant gaffes, and came across as a one-issue candidate.
Tom Rinaldo
(22,918 posts)Whether they ran as Republican lite or left of Bernie Sanders. Essentially George McGovern built the Democratic Party up from scratch in South Dakota before he finally was able to win a state wide election there. That took him years.
The question is what type of Democratic message is more likely to help build up the Democratic Party in Texas over the course of 5 years to a decade? One could argue a case for both basic alternatives; a hard hitting populist message more akin to what Brian Swartz used to become a Democratic Governor of Montana, or a centrist appeal more like what Mary Landrieu has cultivated in Louisiana. Of course there are always demographic differences that manifest in different States. But the point is it takes time to turn around an aircraft carrier, they do not turn on a dime. Personally I think the message Wendy Davis pushed in Texas was exactly what needed to be voiced inside Texas to build the Democratic Party there. There is a growing young urbane population in Texas and a growing Hispanic one as well. Wendy energized organizing in those constituencies and among women by being strong and clear.
Erose999
(5,624 posts)DanTex
(20,709 posts)Ampersand Unicode
(503 posts)Having boobs and a vagina automatically disqualifies you from being a viable candidate in a Duhvangelical state.
Unless you're Michelle Bachmann and you're running for president because "your husband told you to."
tammywammy
(26,582 posts)The national dem orgs not supporting her didn't help, plus she had a lot less funds than Abbott.
Ampersand Unicode
(503 posts)Has nothing to do with Wendy and everything to do with the majority of Texass Xchan morons.
I'm waiting for Abbott to find some convoluted way of tying abortion to immigration and say that aborting "anchor babies" is OK. Kill two birds with one transvaginal ultrasound.
Le Taz Hot
(22,271 posts)Republican-lite would not have done any better in that state. At least she went down with a fight which is more than I can say for the milquetoast Third Way.
bigwillq
(72,790 posts)dawg
(10,624 posts)Unlike all the states that ran "me-too" centrists who acted like they were ashamed to be Democrats.
I'd rather be hated for what I am than to be loved for what I am not.
ConnorMarc
(653 posts)The reasons why Wendy Davis lost wasn't because of her principles, it was her strategy.
The Cons were able to pivot on making her seem kooky on trivial issues.
The constituents there were really looking for an excuse NOT to vote for her, ANY excuse.
We are talking about Texas here.
It was a long shot to begin with.
She did well, this is a step in the right direction, she'll do better next time..
Rex
(65,616 posts)Your lovefest for the RWing is sickening.