# Wendy Davis for Governor of Texas? **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [July 5, 2013, 2:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wendy-davis-for-governor-of-texas/662685 "2013-07-05T02:59:07Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 12\ **Page:** 15
**Author:** ![JesterX](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/439d5e/32.png) [@JesterX](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JesterX)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2014, 4:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wendy-davis-for-governor-of-texas/662685/281 "2014-10-13T16:38:21Z")
> [@Snowboarder\_Bo](#): > > Yeah, I saw the ad. Not sure how it’s poking at Abbott that’s pissing people anyone off or that’s “disgusting”, etc. **Amberlei** wrote that the ad meant that Davis had “sunk to his level”, of being “appalled” and that the ad was so egregious that it might lose a substantial portion of the independent vote. But I’m not seeing anything in the ad that seems to warrant such a reaction, so I’m trying to see what others may see. Well, clearly conservatives are doing a fair bit of drama-queening over the ad and calling liberals hypocrites for not being as outraged as them. I’m not quite as appalled or outraged but it does seem to be in poor taste. Like I said, she could’ve made the same point without featuring the wheelchair. I mean, what does Abbott’s particular disability have to do with the fact that he thought it was ok for himself to sue and get a large settlement over his injuries, but wants to keep others from doing the same? ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2014, 9:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wendy-davis-for-governor-of-texas/662685/282 "2014-10-14T09:20:41Z")
> [@JesterX](#): > > Well, clearly conservatives are doing a fair bit of drama-queening over the ad and calling liberals hypocrites for not being as outraged as them. I’m not quite as appalled or outraged but it does seem to be in poor taste. Like I said, she could’ve made the same point without featuring the wheelchair. I mean, what does Abbott’s particular disability have to do with the fact that he thought it was ok for himself to sue and get a large settlement over his injuries, but wants to keep others from doing the same? They are using the empty wheelchair to indicate [a different metaphor](http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=empty%20suit), IMO, and it’s clearly intended as such. ---
**Author:** ![Velocity](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/velocity/32/18006_2.png) [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2014, 6:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wendy-davis-for-governor-of-texas/662685/283 "2014-10-14T18:10:27Z")
> [@jayjay](#): > > It’s the usual liberal squeamishness about politics. I love my people, but man, we’re lousy campaigners, usually. We’re too fair-minded. It’s really difficult to find liberals who will whole-heartedly condone dirty hand-to-hand political fighting. We’re all “Oh, that’s so unfair on our part! That looks bad! Don’t hit too hard! That’s off-limits!” I suppose everyone’s experience is different. I’ve seen some liberals mount relentless, vicious bullying harassment against people they disagreed with. I’m sure there are conservatives who the same, though. ---
**Author:** ![LonghornDave](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/a87d85/32.png) [@LonghornDave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LonghornDave)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2014, 9:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wendy-davis-for-governor-of-texas/662685/284 "2014-10-14T21:18:18Z")
> [@astorian](#): > > True- but I think she made mincemeat of him in the debates (though that won’t matter, since I was one of the only people who watched them, and I’m voting for Abbot anyway). I really disagree with this. At least in the last debate, which was the only one I watched. Davis uncomfortably wouldn’t answer any questions instead turning everything into an attack on Abbott. Abbott seems more like the smart nerdy guy who has a good detailed response to everything. ---
**Author:** ![Fuzzy\_wuzzy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/a8b319/32.png) [@Fuzzy\_wuzzy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fuzzy_wuzzy)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2014, 12:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wendy-davis-for-governor-of-texas/662685/285 "2014-10-15T12:07:00Z")
> [@JesterX](#): > > Well, clearly conservatives are doing a fair bit of drama-queening over the ad and calling liberals hypocrites for not being as outraged as them. I’m not quite as appalled or outraged but it does seem to be in poor taste. Like I said, she could’ve made the same point without featuring the wheelchair. I mean, what does Abbott’s particular disability have to do with the fact that he thought it was ok for himself to sue and get a large settlement over his injuries, but wants to keep others from doing the same? Welcome to the world of outrage politics. Both sides play it, both sides are hypocrites with it. Twitter is particularly good for outrage politics. Make a strong worded but flippant political tweet; sit back patiently waiting for a reply of name calling, or, a death threat from some teenger tweeting from Pumpkinsville, Alabama; act outraged; tweet about how offended you are; release statement to the press. It’s all a great game. In my opinion liberals play outraged politics slightly better than conservatives, but as I said, both sides make political capital out of it. I have mixed feelings about attack/dirty tactics in politics. If you think your opponent sucks you have every right to say so. The ad to me seems in poor-ish taste but not of a particularly nasty type. In some ways I would enjoy seeing worse. ---
**Author:** ![Tangent](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tangent/32/3098_2.png) [@Tangent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tangent)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2014, 5:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wendy-davis-for-governor-of-texas/662685/286 "2014-10-20T05:41:55Z")
> [@LonghornDave](#): > > I really disagree with this. At least in the last debate, which was the only one I watched. Davis uncomfortably wouldn’t answer any questions instead turning everything into an attack on Abbott. Abbott seems more like the smart nerdy guy who has a good detailed response to everything. I thought they both came off rather poorly in the debate I saw. As so often happens in elections, the best I can do is vote for the candidate I feel will be the least incompetent or corrupt. ---
**Author:** ![LonghornDave](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/a87d85/32.png) [@LonghornDave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LonghornDave)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2014, 4:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wendy-davis-for-governor-of-texas/662685/287 "2014-11-05T16:06:34Z")
So, to wrap this one up, Davis performed worse that Bill White. She lost by 20% overall. She lost among women voters 52% to 47%. Also, as much as was made about changing demographics in Texas Abbott improved with Hispanic voters over Perry (43%-57% vs. 38%-61%). I truly think people that followed her superficially from a National standpoint didn’t appreciate how bad of a candidate she really was. I think there was a lot of projecting what they wanted her to be versus what she really was. I’m glad Perry will be out of office. Abbott will be a huge improvement. I’m not very happy about some of the other results though. Dan Patrick as Lt. Governor is a scary thought. ---
**Author:** ![adaher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dec6dc/32.png) [@adaher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/adaher)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2014, 4:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wendy-davis-for-governor-of-texas/662685/288 "2014-11-05T16:09:49Z")
I’ve been avoiding kicking Democrats while they are down today, but they have one problem in recent years that just has to be addressed: falling in love with celebrity candidates, sometimes based ONE thing they did. Texas is what, the third most populous state in the country? And the Democrats chose their candidate because she did a filibuster on an issue where Texas voters don’t even agree with her? There’s just no way that was going to end well. ---
**Author:** ![Ambrosio\_Spinola](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9de0a6/32.png) [@Ambrosio\_Spinola](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ambrosio_Spinola)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2014, 4:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wendy-davis-for-governor-of-texas/662685/289 "2014-11-05T16:19:35Z")
> [@LonghornDave](#): > > I’m glad Perry will be out of office. Abbott will be a huge improvement. I’m not very happy about some of the other results though. Dan Patrick as Lt. Governor is a scary thought. And Paxton as Attorney General - man. As far as I’m aware he wasn’t endorsed by any paper in the state, he may soon [be indicted for securities violations](http://www.myfoxlubbock.com/news/local/story/Republican-AG-candidate-Ken-Paxton-faces-legal/_5zo5T5j5EKU3irSvM65OQ.cspx), and if he avoids that he’s displayed really [terrible judgment](http://www.dallasnews.com/news/politics/headlines/20140226-attorney-general-rivals-blast-ken-paxton-over-investment-scheme.ece) in the past. I mean, I don’t _like_ Abbott, but he’s an actual candidate and he will probably be better than Perry. But the Paxton/Houston race should have been closer. ---
**Author:** ![bump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7c8e57/32.png) [@bump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bump)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2014, 7:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wendy-davis-for-governor-of-texas/662685/290 "2014-11-05T19:22:53Z")
> [@LonghornDave](#): > > Dan Patrick as Lt. Governor is a scary thought. Yeah, I’m not particularly disturbed by the idea of Abbott as governor, if only because he doesn’t have the immense personal power that Rick Perry had built up during his term in office. By comparison, Abbott will be relatively powerless. Patrick, OTOH, scares the shit out of me. He’s a retard, a blowhard and a tea party fool, with the real de-jure power in the state. Why in the world would we elect such a moron whose campaign ads basically boiled down to “Secure the border. Fight Obama.”. I’m a Republican more or less, but that’s just about the dumbest campaign platform yet. ---
**Author:** ![astorian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ad7895/32.png) [@astorian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astorian)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2014, 7:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wendy-davis-for-governor-of-texas/662685/291 "2014-11-05T19:59:43Z")
> [@LonghornDave](#): > > I’m not very happy about some of the other results though. Dan Patrick as Lt. Governor is a scary thought. Speaking from the right, I agree. Patrick is an idiot. Leticia Van de Putte was the only Democrat I voted for in any statewide contest. Not because I liked her, but because Patrick is an utter dolt. Texas has to be the only state in which David Dewhurst could be painted as a liberal. ---
**Author:** ![astorian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ad7895/32.png) [@astorian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astorian)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2014, 12:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wendy-davis-for-governor-of-texas/662685/292 "2014-11-06T12:13:00Z")
One other point about Dan Patrick- even if he were a lot smarter, he’d STILL be a terrible choice for the job of lieutenant governor. Indeed, I expect him to get bored and frustrated with the job in a BIG hurry, because the job isn’t what he thinks it is. I am an ideological conservative. I admit that up front. But… 90% of a lieutenant governor’s job (or a governor’s jobs or a mayor’s job) has little or nothing to do with ideology. People often VOTE for governors, lieutenant governors and mayors because of their stances on the hot button issues, but you know what? Abortion and the death penalty don’t come up in a state legislature very often. Know what will take up 90% of Dan Patrick’s time? Just three issues: Budgeting, education and road construction/repair! Those are the three biggest issues ANY Texas lieutenant governor will deal with! Those are important issues, but they’re NOT exciting! Ideologically, I had nothing in common with Ann Richards, but I regarded her as a very good governor- she was smart, and she knew state government inside out. Does anybody think Dan Patrick (or ANY passionate ideologue) wants to spend his time reading spreadsheets and crunching numbers, figuring out ways to balance budgets? Think Dan Patrick wants to sit through long meetings in chambers, discussing the environmental impact of a new highway? Years ago, when a reporter asked Marion Barry if he’d resign as mayor of Washington DC so Jesse Jackson could seek the job. Barry laughed and said, "You kidding? A mayor’s gotta run the city. Jesse don’t wanna run a city. Jesse don’t wanna run anything but his mouth. Same thing here. He doesn’t want to build coalitions in a legislature. He doesn’t want to study tax bills. He doesn’t want to run a state. He just wants to run his mouth. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wendy-davis-for-governor-of-texas/662685.md?page=14)