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Feminism: Sex and gender discussions

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See all MNHQ comments on this thread

Original poster

Anyone watching Texas senator Wendy Davis filibuster the anti-abortion bill?

420 replies

MmeLindor · 25/06/2013 21:08

You can watch here

She has to talk till midnight, so that is 13hours. Without a break, without sitting down.

OP posts:
5madthings · 26/06/2013 00:26

Yes thats what i thought re the churches and their power to veto privilidges. Further control that already severly limits access to abortion :(

ThirdTimesABrokenFanjo · 26/06/2013 00:28

she read out a whole letter twice, so wondered if it would get called out

GoshAnneGorilla · 26/06/2013 00:30

She is an absolute hero.

Go Wendy!

5madthings · 26/06/2013 00:53

I cant get the video link to work at the moment but was just reading about wendy davis. She has done a filibuster before to stop cuts to school funding? She sounds an amazing woman.

MalenkyRusskyDrakonchik · 26/06/2013 01:09
Grin

Anyone watching?! Someone challenged Davis, and another woman senator (Zaffirini) quoted the exact rules that were written 40 years ago, emphasizing how they say 'he shall not lean on his desk'. She concluded by pointing out Davis is a woman, so if we take the ruling literally, this does not apply to her! Grin

She got a laugh and applause, and I thought it context of niggly rules and women's bodies, it was a point well made.

Snazzywaitingforsummer · 26/06/2013 01:17

Go Senator Davis! Wishing you a strong voice.

WhentheRed · 26/06/2013 01:20

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

5madthings · 26/06/2013 01:21

Ha ha thats great! I cant get video link to work but they have been arguing about a back brace? Still all the arguing wastes time... Tick tock 5hrs 40mins to go...

Original poster
MmeLindor · 26/06/2013 01:22

I missed what happened with the back brace.

OP posts:
5madthings · 26/06/2013 01:24

I am in bed but keep trying youtube and reading the comments so i can tell what is happeninh. She must do this. If not i think all women should leave texas, go camp out of state till they overturn it! Pretty sure most of the men voting for it would change their minds with no women around to do all the work!

5madthings · 26/06/2013 01:25

They were trying to say that as someone helped her put it on and so 'comforted' her it was against the rukes. Lots of discussion and a vote? And they decided in her favour?

Tortoiseonthehalfshell · 26/06/2013 01:27

I kind of love that they are spending so much of the time debating the rules here. Means she doesn't have to talk quite as much.

Startail · 26/06/2013 01:28

Not sure what to add except it's an insane way to make laws and good luck Wendy!

MalenkyRusskyDrakonchik · 26/06/2013 01:35

They decided against her, 5mad. Sad

I have to admit, I know it's serious but I've been giggling at them all asking questions that boil down to 'and, um, she's had two warnings ... so what does that make the next one ... the third? And that would be ... bad, huh?'

Original poster
MmeLindor · 26/06/2013 01:35

Yes, found it now. She was assisted by other senator to put on the back brace, which was against the rules.

One more strike and she is out.

It's a crazy way to run a state, that's for sure.

OP posts:
Original poster
MmeLindor · 26/06/2013 01:37

Malensky
I've been laughing at that too. It's only counting till 3.

OP posts:
GibberTheMonkey · 26/06/2013 01:38

What would try do if she was in a wheelchair?

GibberTheMonkey · 26/06/2013 01:42

*they

MalenkyRusskyDrakonchik · 26/06/2013 02:00

Ooh, that's an interesting point gibber.

Tortoiseonthehalfshell · 26/06/2013 02:50

What is going on now? Are they debating if the filibuster is valid now?

Some guy is talking about "is she allowed to read "from a computer" instead of from paper? WTF?

MoetEtPantsOn · 26/06/2013 03:32

She is still going. Amazing energy. And still talking about relevant matters. No reading cookbooks here.

wentshopping · 26/06/2013 04:35

tuned in rather late to this.
I can't quite tell what they are arguing about now. Disgusted at comments on news story on local news site. (Am in Texas)

Tortoiseonthehalfshell · 26/06/2013 04:39

As far as I understand this:

Texas has a three strikes and you're out rule re filibusters. They've ruled that she's 'out' because:

  1. Talked about Planned Parenthood budget
  2. Someone helped her adjust her back brace ("helping/assistance", not germaneness")
  3. She talked about sonograms. Which are, by the way, mandated in some States prior to accessing an abortion. But you know. Not relevant! Apparently!

Now they're debating parlimentary order - who is allowed to speak when, has someone yielded the floor, etc - basically in an attempt to get past the midnight mark.

It's utter, utter crap. A back brace! Sonograms!

Tortoiseonthehalfshell · 26/06/2013 04:40

Moet, she has to be bang on topic to count in Texas.

She's still standing, too. Not leaning on anything. It's been an hour since she said anything.

MoetEtPantsOn · 26/06/2013 04:46

She was still going when I typed my post. I have the flu so went off for a lie down after that.

I suppose all this argy bargy at least fills in the time. How bad must the person who adjusted the brace feel. Although if not that, they would have found something else I would think. Surely sonograms are highly relevant.