Senate Democrats – Led by Caucus Chair Kirk Watson (SD 14 – Austin), the Senate Democrats knew the rules better, used them more effectively and schooled their GOP colleagues on how to use Parliamentary procedure forcefully – and fairly.
House Democrats – State House Democrats took the Republicans by surprise, making them work harder than they had ever dreamed they would have to in order to pass their anti-women bill out of the House. By delaying the House vote through the weekend, they gave Wendy Davis time to launch her filibuster.
Texans in the Gallery – Texas Republicans were poised to throw the gavel down on the anti-women bill when the Senate Gallery erupted. For at least 20 straight minutes, the Gallery chanted, cheered and demanded democracy – reintroducing Texas Republicans lawmakers to the powerful concept, the “voice of the people.”
Big Winner
Wendy Davis – This is what leadership looks like. Senator Davis (SD10 – Fort Worth) inspires middle-class, mainstream Texans and she terrifies partisan Republicans. Her 13 hour filibuster is just the latest example of Davis proving tougher and smarter than Rick Perry and his extreme partisan allies. Texans have long known that Wendy Davis is a tough, smart and principled public servant with enormous courage. Now the entire country knows.
Biggest Winner
The people of Texas.
Losers
David Dewhurst – Throughout the historic filibuster, the Lieutenant Governor was the picture of weakness, truly earning the title “Lite” Governor. His lack of gravitas, craven self-interest and inability to manage the Senate makes him probably the least effective Texas statewide official. And that’s saying something.
Robert Duncan – Senator Duncan (SD 28 – West Texas) has been seen as a stabilizing force in the Senate, a politician with an even temperament, the man Republicans often ask to do their dirty work. He was in the Chair at the critical moment in the Senate when the clock ran out. With the Gallery in an uproar and Senate Democrats deftly outmaneuvering him, Duncan lost his composure, lost control of the Senate and ultimately lost last night’s Republican attack on Texas families.
Senate Republican Women – The saddest, perhaps least sympathetic group in the Senate Chamber last night were the Republican women Senators. Not a single one had the courage to speak up for the fundamental right of a woman to make her own health choices. It was a public display of exactly what Texas Republicans demand of women – silence.
Big Loser
Rick Perry – Rick Perry has lost his swagger. He is in the process of losing his politicalfuture. The Governor’s 2012 Presidential pratfall has now been bookended by his inept and incompetent Special Session call. He waited too late to add Republican anti-woman measures to the agenda and arrogantly underestimated Senator Wendy Davis, Legislative Democrats and the power of the people of Texas. Last night, Governor GoodHair got a buzz cut.
Biggest Loser
Politics as usual in the Lone Star State.
The future begins right now.
