Standing With Wendy
Okay here’s the deal, Bubba and I had a reception at our house tonight for the three young Battleground Texas fellows. We raised a little money to help them pay for gas and got them some contacts to get to know the activists in the county. I think my county hit the Battleground Texas lottery. We have three great kids – Elizabeth, Brianna, and Larry. Adrienne Bell, the damn near perfect Battleground Texas organizer for 7 counties, including mine, also came and explained their plans.
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The entire time, we had one ear – and a good reporter, thank you Glen Maxey – tuned to Wendy Davis’s filibuster on the Texas Senate floor. Last I heard (about 9:00) there were 1,000 people waiting to get into the senate chambers.
The President tweeted that something special is happening in Texas.
No shoot, Sherlock!
Senator Davis has two points of order (strikes) against her. One for discussing Roe v. Wade, which the Republicans said was not “germane” to women’s reproductive rights. The second was for Senator Rodney Ellis actually touching her very briefly to adjust her back brace. Three strikes and she’s out. That, apparently, is their plan.
If they do, 1,000 Texans in Austin and thousands more at home are ready to stand their ground. Bubba just told me that 36,000 people are watching the filibuster on You Tube.
This is Wendy at 9:30 pm, with 2 and half hours to go. She can have no water, no bathroom breaks, no food, no leaning on the podium, no sitting. She’s gonna make it.
.
I’m staying up. I’m standing with Wendy.
With 2 hours to go, Lt Gov David Dewhurt ruled that sonograms have nothing to do with reproductive rights. That’s 3 strikes. He says it is over. Shouts of Let Her Speak from the gallery. The DPS is removing people from the gallery.
Senator Kirk Watson appeals the decision of the chair. I think he’s hoping to keep the appeal going for 2 hours.
The parliamentary debate continues at 10:30. Lt Gov Dewhurst has left the chamber. I just heard that 103,000 are watching on You Tube. Senator Wendy Davis is still standing.
54 minutes left with the microphones off and all manner of cahooting going on.
Senator Leticia Van de Putte is everybody’s other hero tonight. There’s 3000 people in the rotunda yelling even louder. Republicans would be fools to railroad this now.
I am damn proud to be a Texas woman tonight! The citizens filibuster finished the job.
Nobody seems to know what is going on. My state rep just called and fears that the GOP snuck it through. There has been some wrestling in the gallery with DPS officers.
“WHO WOULD HAVE EVER DREAMED THAT THE AMERICAN SPRING WOULD HAVE STARTED IN TEXAS?” Margot Nielsen
I’ll tell you know what happened when I know. It’s 12:30 and nobody seems to know what happened.
As we wait to find out what happened, some of you have asked me where to send money. Contributions both small and large can be made here where I can personally promise you it will be spent wisely.
Okay, it all boils down to when did the vote happen. Republicans say 11:59 and Democrats (and everybody watching) sat 12:02. There will be a court battle.
What was the last vote on? Was it on the bill? It’s midnight.
1What the f is going on now? We are watching in California.
2So what the hell happened?
3Was watching but couldn’t follow in closing choas.
I don’t think people who are there even know. Hold on. We’ll know in a few minutes.
4You Texans have made me so proud to be a democrat!
5OMG This was wonderful…. I”m hoarse
6The crowd roared as Gov. Lite Dewhurst walked away from the podium; he’s no Bob Bullock, that’s for sure. Now he’s asking John Whitmire to move for sine die. Ha!
7By the way, there are 175, 600 people watching on You Tube alone!
8the live feed cut off. the phrase: it’s all over but the shouting, is applicable. thugs…..now i get it….reading about it doesn’t capture it….gotta see it in real time. how can….oh never mind…..
9Clock’s run out, but they voted on something in the last couple of minutes and I don’t know what it was.
10It is 1:08 AM here… did you succeed? I can’t tell from the video…it sounds like they called for adjournment.
11My state representative thinks they pulled a fast one and voted after midnight. He said “this is one of the worst things they’ve ever done in the senate. They broke all the rules and they screwed us.”
12182,145 watching as they took that last vote, whatever it was.
13OK it’s 12:10am is it safe to breathe yet?
14If they voted after midnight, can it be challenged?
15Holy Mother of God. I was afraid that was what I was hearing. The crowd thought they won when the clock ran out, but the session hadn’t been adjourned yet, so I was still worried.
16Dallas news is reporting “The clock expired with no further legislative action possible. Gov. Rick Perry could still summon lawmakers back for a second special session.”
17PLEASE tell us how to send money ( I am on a fixed income, but this is more important than food) to this woman. I am appalled at what I have seen this evening. Even Oregon, I hope to make a difference.
18Oh, and JJ, the time machine on your electric web hostamawhachit ain’t runnin’ on ofishul Texas time.
19Here’s the crazy part. With a minute to go, the gallery screaming and the roll call interrupted, the dork in the speaker’s chair declared the question passed by a vote of 19 to 10. Then he cut and ran! Two minutes AFTER midnight, the clerk reads the rest of the roll for the cote results that were already announced! Dewhurst shows up again calling for Whitmire to make a motion to adjourn sine die, but you can’t here a response. Dewhurst never states that the body is adjourned – he just walks away, trailed by Miss Flimsy Pretext, the parliamentarian! There are so many defects in this closing that it’s sure to be challenged. There may be a court that can rule the Senate violated its own procedures, so the vote is certainly null and void.
20Ray, JJ’s clock is running on CST, not CDT. Some of us don’t like changing the clocks.
21So now it’s 12:20 and the Dem senators are sticking around on the floor to make sure that the Repubs don’t sneak back in and try to pull something. Hoping our heroine, Wendy Davis, made it to the john. Not seeing any dark patches on the green carpet.
22San Frasier, if you send money here, I can make sure it’s spent wisely.
23I’m proud to be a fat, middle aged liberal male in Frisco, Texas tonight. I Stand with Wendy!
24It’s 1:30 in the east. Is it OK, at least for now? Can we go to bed?
25Pretty amazing… Seems Lt.Gov. Dew-hicky couldn’t control the Texas Senate procedure nor visitors in the gallery. Why didn’t he call on state troopers to enforce decorum or remove the disruption?
26Rhea, I’m praying Umptydump is right and heading for bed. If she’s wrong, I won’t be able to sleep anyway, so I might as well go to bed hopeful. Good night all. Thanks for all the news and community.
27Thanks, SusanF, and high hopes!
28From the AP:
_____
The Republican-controlled House [sic., Senate] voted for the bill while hundreds of protesters screamed from the gallery. Reporters and Democrats saw the voting begin after midnight, but Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst said it began just before.
_____
Ugh.
29Republicans. If they can’t win, they cheat.
30This may have been Chapter (1).
I hope so.
Too many eyes on all these sheenangins for the Repubs to get away with this farce.
31From the Associated Press, as of Jun 26, 1:34 AM EDT
Texas Senate GOP passes restrictive abortion bill
AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — Texas Republicans have passed new abortion restrictions expected to close almost every abortion clinic in the nation’s second most populous state.
The Republican-controlled Senate voted for the bill while hundreds of protesters screamed from the gallery. Reporters and Democrats saw the voting begin after midnight, but Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst said it began just before.
(More at the website.)
32So much confusion you can’t even take the AP’s word for it.
Okay … night-night all. If you’re still up, let me send you off with this 20-second video.
http://www.youtube.com/embed/Vt7FDTpzGvo?rel=0
33From the Texas Tribune website tonight:
***
“Texas senators are trying to get to the bottom of whether Republicans successfully pushed through a vote on Senate Bill 5, the omnibus abortion restriction bill, ahead of their midnight deadline.
Sen. John Whitmire, D-Houston, says the bill passed at 12:02 a.m.; if that’s true, the vote may not withstand legal scrutiny.
“It’s pretty conclusive that it didn’t pass,” said Whitmire.
But the Senate still has not officially adjourned sine die. When Senators resume floor proceedings, Whitmire said Democrats will call a point of order on the motion to vote on a bill after the midnight deadline.
***
More at http://www.texastribune.org/2013/06/26/dems-approach-abortion-victory-special-session-wan/
And with that I’m going to bed. What a tough day in Texas (because of the Gee Oh Pee) and the nation (because of the Supreme Court’s ruling today that gutted the Voting Rights Act)
34Susan. I’m still awaiting the final bell. Monuments are built for a variety of reasons. One, a really large one, belongs near the Capital next to the Senate chambers listing all the Republicans and their dirty deeds. A superior effort on your part, my dear. Bud
35Fox news is reporting bill failed?!!
http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2013/06/26/texas-lawmaker-filibusters-against-abortion-bill/
We see if this stands.
36What can I say, I am speechless and proud of the Texas ladies, the whole country is watching and now I heard that you won!!!!!!!!!!!!
37Dewhurst (and the rest of the Rethugs like that a$$ Patrick) needs to acquaint himself with the term “Pyrrhic victory” as he may have just brokered one. We will break those anti-American fundamentalist twits yet!
38Congratulations, Texas Democrats and especially all you wonderful Texas Women. And Sen. Wendy Davis, I’ve added you to my list of Texas Women Who Rock! Right up there with Susan, Ann, Molly and Lady Bird.
39Congratulations Wendy! Now how about an investigation on Dewhurst changing the official time the vote occurred. He was forced to admit it was late but not after he was caught red handed by Wendy’s online supporters.
40I have to add a PS
with tears in my eyes I have to say Anne and Molly are looking down and smiling!
41Good news: The Republicans admitted they failed.
http://blog.chron.com/texaspolitics/2013/06/abortion-bill-dies-after-late-night-chaos/
http://www.statesman.com/news/news/davis-starts-filibuster-to-stop-abortion-bill/nYTqs/
http://www.dallasnews.com/news/politics/headlines/20130625-chaos-erupts-in-texas-senate-after-filibuster-over-abortion-measure.ece
The battle’s not over, but it’s a wake-up call to folks who thought that they could simply steamroll over people’s rights.
42I can now honestly say, I’m very proud of the great state of Texas. Way to go ladies!
43I swear I heard my Grandmother and all of the Great Ladies of Texas yelling from their perches high above – they are Proud!
44YOU people have Molly proud this day. Me too thank you .
45I just heard that the official time stamp on the bill was 12:03 am and the bill is officially dead. Petty Perry pitching a temper tantrum. Sure hope other women are paying attention and observing just how tenuous our rights to manage our own medical destinies really are. Other men too, this worm could turn down any number of tunnels!!
46Kirk Watson and I were on the same college debate squad and the same law review back when I still had hair. Kirk did a great job on the rules. It took the chair 25 minutes to come up with a really bad ruling on the rules and that time was crucial
47I will never tell another Blonde joke again, Congrats to Wendy Davis who proves Blondes can have brains. Also, to all those people who say Texas should get out of the way, should pay attention to how it is done.
48I suspect the sleeping Giant has been awakened.
What’s that old saying? “When you need to get a man’s job done, get a woman”
Liz
49Anything that can make Perry throw a temper tantrum is a good thing.