# Senator Judd **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [March 10, 2013, 6:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/senator-judd/652539 "2013-03-10T06:45:29Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2013, 12:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/senator-judd/652539/21 "2013-03-15T00:48:10Z")
> [@Jonathan\_Chance](#): > > … If she wants to win she needs to start working it now. … It would be almost worth it to live in KY just to have Ashley work me! ---
**Author:** ![muldoonthief](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muldoonthief/32/3188_2.png) [@muldoonthief](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/muldoonthief)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2013, 3:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/senator-judd/652539/22 "2013-03-15T15:16:52Z")
> [@Jonathan\_Chance](#): > > IF she does it (which ain’t certain yet) she’ll be an interesting candidate. She starts with a number of disadvantages and will have to sell herself well. But she knows how to do that. > > McConnell’s re-electability numbers aren’t all that great, though. So there might be a chance to steal an election. > > Disadvantages: > > 1. McConnell’s incumbency > 2. Her position as a ‘Hollywood’ type > 3. Her XX chromosome (sorry, but that’s still out there) > > Advantages: > > 1. Knows how to pitch to an audience > 2. Absolutely a KY girl and has bragged on it all over before politics > 3. Smart as all hell, apparently. MA in public administration from Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government. I’ve heard her speak about such things and she presents REALLY well. That’s her way to offset #2, above > 4. She’ll have NO trouble raising money for her campaign. > 5. The Judds! If she can get her family to play music supporting her all around the state that’ll be a huge win in motivating people. It connects her with the country-music loving crowd > > All in all, I’d say she’s at a 10% disadvantage at the start. She’d have to work her ass off to get people to realize that she’s more than an actress, she’s a 45-year-old professional with a history of political activism and a good education. It’ll still be an uphill fight, but not an impossible one if McConnell’s numbers are as weak as I’ve heard. I found one quote on her wiki page, that, if true, will totally sink her: > [@](#): > > They have no children, with Judd telling the Sunday Mail, “It’s unconscionable to breed, with the number of children who are starving to death in impoverished countries” The press and the Republicans would have a field day with that. ASHLEY JUDD CALLS AMERICAN MOTHERS UNCONSCIONABLE! ASHLEY JUDD IS ANTI-FAMILY! ---
**Author:** ![Beware\_of\_Doug](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/278dde/32.png) [@Beware\_of\_Doug](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beware_of_Doug)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2013, 3:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/senator-judd/652539/23 "2013-03-15T15:31:41Z")
She’d be the hottest babe ever to sit in that chamber, and that’s including Kirsten Gillibrand. ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2013, 4:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/senator-judd/652539/24 "2013-03-15T16:01:19Z")
> [@](#): > > “I have been raped twice, so I think I can handle Mitch McConnell.” I can hear the brilliant Republican response, “Rape me once, shame on you. Rape me twice, shame on me.” ---
**Author:** ![Enginerd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/bcef8e/32.png) [@Enginerd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enginerd)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2013, 4:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/senator-judd/652539/25 "2013-03-15T16:51:25Z")
> [@Boyo\_Jim](#): > > I can hear the brilliant Republican response, “Rape me once, shame on you. Rape me twice, shame on me.” Because that worked so well for them in the last cycle? That’s the best thing they could do for her. ---
**Author:** ![Kepler1571](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/db5fbb/32.png) [@Kepler1571](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kepler1571)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2013, 5:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/senator-judd/652539/26 "2013-03-15T17:16:02Z")
From a distance Kentucky looks like West Virginia with a better dental plan. I can’t see her even winning a primary. Too easy to run the "gol’ durned’ Hollywerid librual’ mouthbreather shtick against her. ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2013, 5:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/senator-judd/652539/27 "2013-03-15T17:19:10Z")
> [@Enginerd](#): > > Because that worked so well for them in the last cycle? That’s the best thing they could do for her. Exactly. They can’t stay away from rape or abortion, ironically in many cases aborting their chances to win. Of course, this is far more likely if a Tea Partyist successfully primaries McConnell. Here’s another great idea for them. She’s been raped twice but never had a child, so they can claim she proves their point that “legitimate” rape doesn’t result in pregnancy. Or, if she had an abortion following either rape, they can claim she’s a slut who wasn’t raped and a baby killer too. 40-Love, Ashley. ---
**Author:** ![DoctorJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/doctorj/32/2904_2.png) [@DoctorJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DoctorJ)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2013, 7:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/senator-judd/652539/28 "2013-03-15T19:21:03Z")
> [@Jonathan\_Chance](#): > > Disadvantages: > > 1. McConnell’s incumbency > 2. Her position as a ‘Hollywood’ type > 3. Her XX chromosome (sorry, but that’s still out there) You really can’t leave out her status as an enemy of coal. Coal looms huge in our politics here, even in places where you wouldn’t expect it to–the recent tight Congressional race in KY-6 was all about who loved coal miners more, even though there are no coal mines in KY-6. This goes well beyond being a Hollywood liberal. The coal industry will burn the state to the ground before they let Ashley represent us in the Senate. Ashley has zero chance. None whatsoever. But I don’t think anybody else does, either, so if I’m going to have to look at somebody six times in every single commercial break for six months, it might as well be someone easy on the eyes. ---
**Author:** ![Jonathan\_Chance](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jonathan_chance/32/701_2.png) [@Jonathan\_Chance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jonathan_Chance)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2013, 6:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/senator-judd/652539/29 "2013-03-16T18:00:13Z")
Just to continue the fun, The Washington Post’s The Fix column ranks the Kentucky race as the 8th most likely seat to switch parties. > **[The Fix’s top 10 Senate races of 2014](https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-fix/wp/2013/03/15/the-fixs-top-10-senate-races-of-2014/)** > > The GOP is trying to snatch the Senate from the party that also controls the White House in the president's second midterm election. It's happened twice since World War II, both times by Democrats. ---
**Author:** ![dropzone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dropzone/32/7515_2.png) [@dropzone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dropzone)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2013, 7:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/senator-judd/652539/30 "2013-03-16T19:10:50Z")
> [@Jonathan\_Chance](#): > > 1. Absolutely a **KY** girl and has bragged on it all over before politics I almost went straight into the gutter with this, but then I imagined Mitch McConnell using K-Y and threw up in my mouth a little. ---
**Author:** ![Tim\_T-Bonham.net](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/46a35a/32.png) [@Tim\_T-Bonham.net](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tim_T-Bonham.net)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2013, 7:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/senator-judd/652539/31 "2013-03-19T07:46:54Z")
> [@](#): > > Asked if she was tough enough to take on McConnell and the GOP national attack machine, Judd reportedly answered, “I have been raped twice, so I think I can handle Mitch McConnell.” Nice subtle dig, given all the rumors about McConnell’s sexual orientation. Should be an interesting campaign. ---
**Author:** ![puddleglum](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puddleglum/32/137_2.png) [@puddleglum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puddleglum)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2013, 3:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/senator-judd/652539/32 "2013-03-19T15:42:39Z")
It should be very entertaining. [Here](http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/1665919/posts)is a account of her traveling to Africa with an AIDS charity in. Lots of funny stuff about her need for Chinese acupuncturist, her need of 14 hours of rest a day, her constant complaints of constipation, her refusal to go to Cambodia unless the charity paid for a first class ticket, her need of warm water to drink, and her amazing self regard. She was a self centered, self entitled diva, if she does get elected she will fit right in the Senate. ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2013, 3:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/senator-judd/652539/33 "2013-03-19T15:49:18Z")
> [@puddleglum](#): > > It should be very entertaining. > [Here](http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/1665919/posts)is a account of her traveling to Africa with an AIDS charity in. Lots of funny stuff about her need for Chinese acupuncturist, her need of 14 hours of rest a day, her constant complaints of constipation, her refusal to go to Cambodia unless the charity paid for a first class ticket, her need of warm water to drink, and her amazing self regard. She was a self centered, self entitled diva, if she does get elected she will fit right in the Senate. Since it’s from the nutters at Free Republic, I’m going to discount this entirely. How about finding something reputable to cite for any of those claims. ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2013, 11:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/senator-judd/652539/34 "2013-03-20T23:04:01Z")
> [@Boyo\_Jim](#): > > Since it’s from the nutters at Free Republic, I’m going to discount this entirely. How about finding something reputable to cite for any of those claims. Especially since their one reference seems to not exist. ---
**Author:** ![puddleglum](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puddleglum/32/137_2.png) [@puddleglum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puddleglum)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2013, 5:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/senator-judd/652539/35 "2013-03-21T17:08:26Z")
The reference was a blog post at a site that was taken down. I read the blog post at the time it was posted in 2006, so I can vouch it existed at one point. ---
**Author:** ![Face\_Intentionally\_Left\_Blank](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/face_intentionally_left_blank/32/288_2.png) [@Face\_Intentionally\_Left\_Blank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Face_Intentionally_Left_Blank)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2013, 10:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/senator-judd/652539/36 "2013-03-21T22:18:26Z")
> [@puddleglum](#): > > The reference was a blog post at a site that was taken down. I read the blog post at the time it was posted in 2006, so I can vouch it existed at one point. Oh well, if a blog said it. . . ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2013, 12:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/senator-judd/652539/37 "2013-03-22T00:34:40Z")
What’s going to defeat Judd is her mental health history. She’s openly discussed the mental health problems she’s had. And while these problems have been relatively minor and she’s received treatment, the reality is voters shy away from candidates with mental health issues. The Republicans will raise the issue just enough to make people aware of it but not so far that they look like they’re attacking Judd for health problems - but the effect will be people will decide not to vote for her. ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2013, 3:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/senator-judd/652539/38 "2013-03-22T03:44:27Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > What’s going to defeat Judd is her mental health history. She’s openly discussed the mental health problems she’s had. And while these problems have been relatively minor and she’s received treatment, the reality is **voters shy away from candidates with mental health issues**. The Republicans will raise the issue just enough to make people aware of it but not so far that they look like they’re attacking Judd for health problems - but the effect will be people will decide not to vote for her. Since when is being a Republican NOT a mental health issue? ---
**Author:** ![TonySinclair](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/49beb7/32.png) [@TonySinclair](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TonySinclair)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2013, 3:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/senator-judd/652539/39 "2013-03-22T03:47:49Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > What’s going to defeat Judd is her mental health history. Let’s hope Michele Bachmann doesn’t find out about that, and use it against her. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2013, 4:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/senator-judd/652539/40 "2013-03-22T04:17:36Z")
> [@TonySinclair](#): > > Let’s hope Michele Bachmann doesn’t find out about that, and use it against her. The point is Judd has admitted she’s had mental health problems. Bachman denies it. For a politician, being mentally ill is like being gay or committing adultery - as long as you deny it, your supporters will be willing to believe you. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/senator-judd/652539.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/senator-judd/652539.md?page=3)