# 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:** 20\ **Page:** 8
**Author:** ![Kolak\_of\_Twilo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kolak_of_twilo/32/73_2.png) [@Kolak\_of\_Twilo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kolak_of_Twilo)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2014, 8:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wendy-davis-for-governor-of-texas/662685/141 "2014-01-30T20:38:57Z")
> [@LonghornDave](#): > > I’ve already answered the “so what” part. It’s that this runs contrary to the story of her life that she’s been telling around the country. Probably a good strategy trying to keep everyone distracted by minor inconsistencies in her biography. Texas Republicans seem to know if she is allowed to engage their candidate in a policy debate things could get a little too close for comfort. Obfuscation yesterday, today and tomorrow!!! Right? ---
**Author:** ![LonghornDave](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/a87d85/32.png) [@LonghornDave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LonghornDave)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2014, 9:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wendy-davis-for-governor-of-texas/662685/142 "2014-01-30T21:32:35Z")
> [@elucidator](#): > > Review for us, if you will, the rock solid sources for your various insinuations. You really want me to tell you how the multiple pulitzer prize winning Dallas Morning News is a better source than the just until a few years ago student run daily blog Burnt Orange Report? Also, what am I insinuating? I’m stating outright that I believe she lied about her biography. Her own campaign acknowledges that there are inconsistencies and that she needs to be more careful about her language. ---
**Author:** ![LonghornDave](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/a87d85/32.png) [@LonghornDave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LonghornDave)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2014, 9:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wendy-davis-for-governor-of-texas/662685/143 "2014-01-30T21:46:03Z")
> [@YogSosoth](#): > > Are there any projections this far out about how Davis will do against possible contenders? I would love for her to win but given that its still a red state that went for Romney by over a million, I have to keep my enthusiasm grounded. I found this from back in November. [How Close Is Wendy Davis To Greg Abbott In Texas Gov. Race? Depends On The Poll](http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/11/05/wendy-davis-gregg-abbott_n_4219380.html) > [@](#): > > Texas state Sen. Wendy Davis (D-Fort Worth) is lagging 15 points behind Republican Greg Abbott in next year’s race for Texas governor, according to a poll released Tuesday by the Democratic firm Public Policy Polling – a significantly different result than a survey released Monday that found her just six points behind. > > The Tuesday poll finds Davis taking 35 percent of voters to Abbott’s 50 percent, with 15 percent of the voters polled remaining undecided. > > In contrast, an online University of Texas/Texas Tribune poll released Monday found Davis at 34 percent and Abbott at 40 percent. That survey found a much higher percentage of undecided voters – 25 percent, rather than PPP’s 15 percent — and also gave more positive favorable ratings to both Abbott and Davis. I think the basic thought here is that maybe a Wendy Davis campaign can build some infrastructure in the state that as a result of changing demographics may help Democrats in the 2016 and 2020 elections. She’s not expected to seriously compete against Greg Abbott. Here would be a crazy thought. What if Wendy Davis does well (say only loses by 5%)? Would Hillary Clinton roll the dice and pick someone like Julian Castro to be her running mate? It’s not going to happen, but that would be the potential for putting Texas in play for 2016. ---
**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:** [January 30, 2014, 9:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wendy-davis-for-governor-of-texas/662685/144 "2014-01-30T21:54:09Z")
> [@LonghornDave](#): > > No offense, but you posted a link from a rumor mongering blog that describes itself as the strongest ally of the Democratic Party. The last time I saw someone link to there it was a story about how Rick Perry was secretly gay. Huh; I don’t see that description anywhere on the “[About Us” page at that link. > [@Burnt Orange Report](#): > > Burnt Orange Report, or BOR for short, is Texas’ largest political blog, written from a progressive/liberal/Democratic standpoint. Our readership includes institutional leaders, political consultants, elected officials, lobbyists, and concerned Texans. Our site continues to be one of the most visited and widely respected state-level blogs in the nation. As of October 2013, Burnt Orange Report has had 7.8 million visits and 13.2 million page views. ]([Vavada ➤ Error](http://www.burntorangereport.com/page/ABOUT)) ---
**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:** [January 30, 2014, 9:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wendy-davis-for-governor-of-texas/662685/145 "2014-01-30T21:57:40Z")
> [@LonghornDave](#): > > You really want me to tell you how the multiple pulitzer prize winning Dallas Morning News is a better source than the just until a few years ago student run daily blog Burnt Orange Report? > > Also, what am I insinuating? I’m stating outright that I believe she lied about her biography. Her own campaign acknowledges that there are inconsistencies and that she needs to be more careful about her language. You aren’t insinuating, no… you’re _insisting_ that this is a big deal and specifically identifying which parts you think are a big deal. Good for you; thanks. Many of us don’t agree with you, and see your continuing arguments as on behalf of the GOP, rather than as just a really really super-interested citizen. If you don’t mean to come across that way, you’re failing at achieving your goal. If you do mean to come across that way, stop being upset that so many people see you coming across that way. ---
**Author:** ![LonghornDave](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/a87d85/32.png) [@LonghornDave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LonghornDave)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2014, 11:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wendy-davis-for-governor-of-texas/662685/146 "2014-01-30T23:10:01Z")
> [@Snowboarder\_Bo](#): > > Huh; I don’t see that description anywhere on the "[About Us" page at that link.](http://www.burntorangereport.com/page/ABOUT) [Austin American-Statesman: Austin, TX News, Politics & Sports](http://mo.statesman.com/news/content/region/legislature/stories/07/18/0718conservatives.html)] > [@](#): > > Matt Glazer, editor of the Burnt Orange Report ([www.burntorangereport.com](http://www.burntorangereport.com)), a liberal Web site based in Austin, considers any criticism of the Democratic Party or officials as holding them accountable. > > “We are their strongest ally and their biggest critics,” Glazer said. “You hold your friends to a higher standard.” Having said that, it looks like he is no longer the editor. Here’s the bio on the new person. > [@](#): > > Katherine Haenschen is an organizer, activist, and blogger in Austin, Texas, where she previously managed successful candidate, issue, voter registration, and GOTV campaigns. She is currently a PhD student at the University of Texas studying the intersection of digital media and political participation. > > Katherine’s past efforts include Donna Howard’s 2012 campaign, the 2012 Travis County Democatic Party voter registration drive, the 2011 “Travis Two-Step” county bonds campaign, Randi Shade for Austin City Council, the 2010 Travis County Democratic Party Coordinated Campaign, Kurt Kuhn for Third Court of Appeals, Chris Riley for Austin City Council, and the 2008 Austin Vote for Change registration drive. She has been an active campaign volunteer since 2004, when her then-State Senator, Barack Obama, ran for Illinois Senate. As a grad student at UChicago she organized her friends to help register voters on subway platforms for Obama. > > Katherine also serves as the president of the Austin Young Democrats, and is UCONN’s biggest fan in Texas. ---
**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:** [January 30, 2014, 11:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wendy-davis-for-governor-of-texas/662685/147 "2014-01-30T23:17:55Z")
> [@LonghornDave](#): > > [Austin American-Statesman: Austin, TX News, Politics & Sports](http://mo.statesman.com/news/content/region/legislature/stories/07/18/0718conservatives.html)] > > Having said that, it looks like he is no longer the editor. Here’s the bio on the new person. Not sure why you didn’t say that BOR describes themselves as the Democratic Party’s biggest critics, then. ---
**Author:** ![LonghornDave](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/a87d85/32.png) [@LonghornDave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LonghornDave)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2014, 11:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wendy-davis-for-governor-of-texas/662685/148 "2014-01-30T23:24:49Z")
> [@Snowboarder\_Bo](#): > > You aren’t insinuating, no… you’re _insisting_ that this is a big deal and specifically identifying which parts you think are a big deal. Good for you; thanks. Many of us don’t agree with you, and see your continuing arguments as on behalf of the GOP, rather than as just a really really super-interested citizen. If you don’t mean to come across that way, you’re failing at achieving your goal. If you do mean to come across that way, stop being upset that so many people see you coming across that way. I’m not upset. I’m enjoying talking about something that is of local interest to me. Separate from that, I am also interested generally in these meteoric rise from nowhere type stories that come crashing down when the real facts get in the way. I also enjoyed Republicans quickly falling over themselves praising Sarah Palin only to have to backtrack later in embarrassment. I don’t really like many individual politicians of any party, and I’m neither a Democrat nor a Republican; therefore, I don’t get so emotionally invested in hero-worshiping the candidate of my party. When I want to cheer for a team, I watch sports. ---
**Author:** ![LonghornDave](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/a87d85/32.png) [@LonghornDave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LonghornDave)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2014, 11:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wendy-davis-for-governor-of-texas/662685/149 "2014-01-30T23:30:00Z")
> [@Snowboarder\_Bo](#): > > Not sure why you didn’t say that BOR describes themselves as the Democratic Party’s biggest critics, then. Well, it could be because that part looks a little disingenuous. Tell me honestly, does it look like they are a big ally or a big critic of the Democratic party? Feel free to peruse the biographies of the staff members while you answer that. [http://www.burntorangereport.com/page/ABOUT](http://www.burntorangereport.com/page/ABOUT) ---
**Author:** ![Karrius](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/71c47a/32.png) [@Karrius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Karrius)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2014, 11:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wendy-davis-for-governor-of-texas/662685/150 "2014-01-30T23:42:34Z")
The problem is, Wendy Davis isn’t just talking the talk, she’s walked - or rather, stood. She showed she’s willing to play hardball and basically take the fight to the sexist republicans who tried to break the rules and ignore women as much as they could. THAT is what makes people like her, and every attempt to portray her as a terrible person or a whore because she doesn’t fit your idea of womanhood is just going to make her supporters understand the need for people like her even more. ---
**Author:** ![LonghornDave](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/a87d85/32.png) [@LonghornDave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LonghornDave)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2014, 11:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wendy-davis-for-governor-of-texas/662685/151 "2014-01-30T23:54:37Z")
> [@Karrius](#): > > The problem is, Wendy Davis isn’t just talking the talk, she’s walked - or rather, stood. She showed she’s willing to play hardball and basically take the fight to the sexist republicans who tried to break the rules and ignore women as much as they could. THAT is what makes people like her, and every attempt to portray her as a terrible person or a whore because she doesn’t fit your idea of womanhood is just going to make her supporters understand the need for people like her even more. Like I said, she’s raised a lot of money on a filibuster and her biography. I meant that in a she had two big assets, kind of way. The filibuster is still an asset. Without that she wouldn’t even be a candidate. With it, she’s just as big a candidate as Bill White was. She fits my idea of womanhood just fine I guess. I don’t believe I’ve tried to portray her as a terrible person, and I’m 100% sure I haven’t tried to portray her as a whore. I think I’ve been pretty explicit in what I’m trying to portray her as: someone who lied on her resume who is attempting to lay the foundation for the Democrats in future elections in Texas, and someone who will likely move on to a well paying job for MSNBC or something by this time next year. ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2014, 8:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wendy-davis-for-governor-of-texas/662685/152 "2014-01-31T08:25:38Z")
Don’t worry none about that whole demographic thing, all you gotta do is figure out a way for rich old white guys to breed more rich old white guys. ---
**Author:** ![PootyPi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/4af34b/32.png) [@PootyPi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PootyPi)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2014, 6:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wendy-davis-for-governor-of-texas/662685/153 "2014-02-01T18:31:57Z")
> [@LonghornDave](#): > > Like I said, she’s raised a lot of money on a filibuster and her biography. I meant that in a she had two big assets, kind of way. The filibuster is still an asset. Without that she wouldn’t even be a candidate. With it, she’s just as big a candidate as Bill White was. > > She fits my idea of womanhood just fine I guess. I don’t believe I’ve tried to portray her as a terrible person, and I’m 100% sure I haven’t tried to portray her as a whore. I think I’ve been pretty explicit in what I’m trying to portray her as: someone who lied on her resume who is attempting to lay the foundation for the Democrats in future elections in Texas, and someone who will likely move on to a well paying job for MSNBC or something by this time next year. It’s also fascinating to watch the political and media reaction to something like this. As you said, the original story details how she blurred the lines of her narrative. It was a surprise to most people who have heard her story over and over in the media. It’s what reporters should do. But that immediately turns into “lies” and her not being a good mother on the GOP side. Then the Democratic side only answered the reaction of the GOP rather than the article itself. Now, everything written about Davis has one slant or the other and tells you more about the writer than the subject. ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2014, 7:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wendy-davis-for-governor-of-texas/662685/154 "2014-02-01T19:34:15Z")
Remembering today the passing of Molly Ivins, the story about how Republicans were spreading stories about Anne Richards smoking pot (gasp!), and how she was fretting about it with her good bud Molly, saying what can I say about this that isn’t stupid and play into their hands, and the Blessed Molly said: “Tell them you were too drunk to remember.” Rest briefly and well, dear heart, and hurry back. ---
**Author:** ![Bridget\_Burke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7cd45c/32.png) [@Bridget\_Burke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bridget_Burke)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2014, 2:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wendy-davis-for-governor-of-texas/662685/155 "2014-02-11T14:21:25Z")
> [@](#): > > The fight over public school funding remains an important front in the battle for Texas Governor between Senator Wendy Davis and Attorney General Greg Abbott. > > Today Senator Wendy Davis held a press conference in front of the old Austin High School and implored Greg Abbott as the state’s top lawyer to settle the school finance lawsuit. Currently Abbott is defending the legislature’s $5.4 billion cuts to public education made in 2011 that were the subject of Davis’ first filibuster and for which roughly 600 of the state’s school districts have sued over. > > “We’re locked in a legal battle that everyone, except General Abbott, seems to know is over,” said Davis. “He’s defending the indefensible. Now he has a choice - continue defending an unconstitutional school funding system and appeal, or move to settle. I call on him to settle this case.” > > Davis said a special session to address the finance issue would not be out of the question. [The story](http://www.burntorangereport.com/diary/14792/sen-wendy-davis-implores-atty-gen-greg-abbott-to-settle-school-finance-lawsuit) also lets us know that Abbott’s platform includes damn little about education–although he’d like more charter schools. No, he’d rather throw [raw meat to his supporters](http://www.burntorangereport.com/diary/14768/greg-abbott-compares-south-texas-to-a-thirdworld-nation-proposes-surge-of-state-troopers) & let his minions criticize Wendy’s personal life. ( **elucidato** r: Thanks for the words about Molly Ivins. We miss her. Anne Richards, too…) ---
**Author:** ![Clothahump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/51bf81/32.png) [@Clothahump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Clothahump)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2014, 7:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wendy-davis-for-governor-of-texas/662685/156 "2014-02-12T19:40:10Z")
> [@BrainGlutton](#): > > Does she have a chance? None at all. Geez, that was a horrible mental image. Wendy as governor? I need to get a spoon and gouge my mind’s eye out. ---
**Author:** ![astorian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ad7895/32.png) [@astorian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astorian)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2014, 8:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wendy-davis-for-governor-of-texas/662685/157 "2014-02-12T20:36:35Z")
> [@elucidator](#): > > Remembering today the passing of Molly Ivins, the story about how Republicans were spreading stories about Anne Richards smoking pot (gasp!), and how she was fretting about it with her good bud Molly, saying what can I say about this that isn’t stupid and play into their hands, and the Blessed Molly said: > > “Tell them you were too drunk to remember.” > > Rest briefly and well, dear heart, and hurry back. Molly was a lush, and a mean one (ask her former friend Billy Porterfield). She was also a grade A fraud (good ol’ girl? Please- she was a multimillionaire who went to elite prep schools her whole life). ---
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2014, 8:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wendy-davis-for-governor-of-texas/662685/158 "2014-02-12T20:46:00Z")
> [@Clothahump](#): > > None at all. > > Geez, that was a horrible mental image. Wendy as governor? I need to get a spoon and gouge my mind’s eye out. God forbid Texas has a mentally competent person as governor! ---
**Author:** ![Procrustus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/procrustus/32/2994_2.png) [@Procrustus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Procrustus)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2014, 8:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wendy-davis-for-governor-of-texas/662685/159 "2014-02-12T20:54:25Z")
> [@Clothahump](#): > > None at all. > > Geez, that was a horrible mental image. Wendy as governor? I need to get a spoon and gouge my mind’s eye out. She’d be the best Governor of Texas in my lifetime. ---
**Author:** ![Clothahump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/51bf81/32.png) [@Clothahump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Clothahump)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2014, 8:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wendy-davis-for-governor-of-texas/662685/160 "2014-02-12T20:57:05Z")
> [@iiandyiiii](#): > > God forbid Texas has a mentally competent person as governor! On his worst days, Gov. Perry outshines Moonbat Wendy in that capacity. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wendy-davis-for-governor-of-texas/662685.md?page=7) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wendy-davis-for-governor-of-texas/662685.md?page=9)