Wayne Slater on Mikal Watts

Not a chance in hell (5.00 / 2)

If Watts is opposed to abortion...then he shouldn't have one. *rolls eyes* But he can keep his mitts off of my reproductive organs thank you very much.

This is a deal-breaker for me and I will be actively working to oppose him in the primary.

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by: DarthVelma @ Tue Jul 03, 2007 at 16:49:09 PM UTC

He might be in the wrong party in 2007 (0.00 / 0)

Even a moderate is considered a far-right winger by many DU/BOR hired guns and other activists these days...

www.completethewar.com

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by: sfagrad02 @ Tue Jul 03, 2007 at 17:04:36 PM UTC

Unfortunately... (0.00 / 0)

we are falling right into the Repub trap in our own primary.  Abortion is not an issue in this campaign.

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by: JohnB @ Tue Jul 03, 2007 at 17:11:25 PM UTC

It's not? (0.00 / 0)

Sure looks like it is.

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by: George @ Tue Jul 03, 2007 at 17:16:45 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Not real bright (0.00 / 0)

To try and make it an issue in the primary. They'll just have to run from it in November.

In the last 2 years I have seen over 85 polls and abortion didn't make the top 10 in ONE SINGLE POLL!!

This is a perfect example of getting too close to the process.

Middle-class families are worried about education, universal health care, raising the minimum wage, immigration, the rising cost of gasoline, property taxes and crime...not abortion.

Next we should push the litmus test on animal rights or mandatory recycling of fleece and granola bar wrappers.

Let us just get so focused on running to the left that we ignore the issues Texans want to talk about.

Please refer to KT's signature.

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by: colin @ Tue Jul 03, 2007 at 17:28:16 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

100% agree (0.00 / 0)

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by: David Mauro @ Tue Jul 03, 2007 at 18:48:12 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Colin (5.00 / 3)

Bet you wouldn't feel that way if it were YOUR reproductive rights on the chopping block. There aren't many Democratic women who view their lives as fleetingly as you did in your comments above. So please don't be so condescending to the thousands of Texas women for whom reproductive freedom is a life or death matter.

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by: sandra1113 @ Tue Jul 03, 2007 at 22:01:25 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

okay (0.00 / 0)

My intent was not to be condescending.

My understanding is that Roe v. Wade is the law of the land. No?

Watts didn't say he wants to overturn Roe v. Wade.

If he has statements on parental notification (the law), parental consent (the law), or "counseling" (also the law)...then I can understand your beef about choice.

But what about all of the other issues?

I'll try not to be "so condescending" about choice.  Maybe you should be a little more realistic about making this a referendum on the issues the MAJORITY of Texans care about and not drive either of these guys to the left.

I have full confidence that either of these guys will support pro-choice court appointees and will stick with the caucus.

Please refer to KT's signature.

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by: colin @ Tue Jul 03, 2007 at 22:18:00 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

I don't have that confidence. Why should I? (0.00 / 0)

I don't know this guy, and to me, a person's attitude towards choice speaks VOLUMES about his attitude towards women, i.e. we can't be trusted to make important decisions about our own bodies.... So what else does he think we can't be trusted to make important decisions about?  Silly wimmins! 

As for driving the party to the left, may I remind you of the Texas Democratic Party's own position on abortion, which is in the platform?

Choice and Family Planning
Texas Democrats believe in the fundamental American values of freedom, privacy and personal responsibility.  Texas Democrats believe in the right to make sound, responsible personal healthcare choices for ourselves and our families. Texas Democrats:

  * Trust the women of Texas to make personal and responsible decisions about when and whether to bear children, in consultation with their family, their physician, and their God, rather than having these personal decisions made by politicians;
FROM: http://www.txdemocra...

So put THAT in your pipe and smoke it.

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by: Crispini @ Wed Jul 04, 2007 at 12:18:02 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

blowing smoke (0.00 / 0)

You obviously know Noriega and have your mind made up, but I'll make the point anyway:

The repugs have "return to the gold standard" in their platform...but you won't see a litmus test on it.

If this is the primary issue on which you vote, you are among a VERY small percentage...that is reality. Look at every poll you can get your hands on.

If you think driving these guys to the left helps them win in November...you are the one smoking something.

Please refer to KT's signature.

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by: colin @ Wed Jul 04, 2007 at 15:50:20 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

My thoughts on Watts and abortion... (0.00 / 0)

I agree with Colin, this simply isn't an important issue FOR THIS OFFICE!  A US Senator has the power to confirm judicial candidates and that's about it.  A LOT of reproductive rights issues are handled at the state level and the fundamental right to choice exists in the US Supreme Court, which leaves a US Senator very little opportunity to make a change one way or the other. 

I'm certainly not endorsing Watts (nor am I endorsing Noriega), but I feel it's very unfair to dismiss him on one issue alone.  However, I do fear in a Democratic primary he faces a MAJOR hurdle to overcome this issue, which I feel is quite unfortunate. 

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by: David O. @ Wed Jul 04, 2007 at 19:30:26 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Don't know Noriega, but am now "Anybody But Watts," (0.00 / 0)

at least for the primary.  Because I am a (GASP!) woman. 

As a very good friend of mine said, "A government that extends it claw of control into a woman's womb will not think twice about imposing itself on my bedroom, bank accounts, phone calls, protest activities, internet posts, employment, travel, (fill in the blank for the freedoms you hold dear)."

That asshat thinks he can control MY body, he certainly is not getting MY vote.  And yes, it's personal.

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by: Crispini @ Thu Jul 05, 2007 at 19:37:27 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

My right to choose is not negotiable. (5.00 / 2)

I will most definitely not be supporting Mr. Watts.

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by: Crispini @ Tue Jul 03, 2007 at 22:01:52 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Not exactly an honest portrayal (0.00 / 0)

I know it gets in the same attack on Watts regarding choice, but in my reading of the article it also said:

"Mr. Watts took aim at Mr. Cornyn as a Bush loyalist in "an ill-conceived and mismanaged war in Iraq," saying American troops should be withdrawn. But later, on his plane, he was ambivalent about setting a timetable."

AND...

"He also criticized the GOP senator on immigration, both for his opposition to a measure providing a path to citizenship and for his support of a border fence."

The Iraq War and immigration (particularly the fence) are HUGE issues. Ignoring his position on those issues just to take a cheap swipe.....come on.

From the beginning of all of this I've urged everyone I know to chill out on the chracter attacks on EITHER candidate and embrace the fact that we have good Democrats willing to step up to the plate.

It is unfortunate that the author of the post misrepresented the contents of the article to say "I support Noriega".

Please refer to KT's signature.

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by: colin @ Tue Jul 03, 2007 at 17:18:07 PM UTC

Watts (1.00 / 5)

I will do everything I can, as a Democrat, to see that Mikal Watts goes down in flames. I see no reason to have a Democratic bigot and homophobe in place of the Republican bigot and homophobe we already have.

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by: myroro @ Tue Jul 03, 2007 at 21:53:55 PM UTC

welcome to BOR (1.00 / 2)

I hope your future comments aren't as crude and offensive towards other Democrats as this one is...luckily for you, you've set a low enough bar that it would hardly be possible not to do better next time.

Please refer to KT's signature.

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by: colin @ Tue Jul 03, 2007 at 22:21:28 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Low Bar (0.00 / 0)

"luckily for you, you've set a low enough bar that it would hardly be possible not to do better next time."

Oh, but let me try. Just because Watts has a bucket of bucks and a "D" after his name doesn't mean he can buy my support. The man is a homophobe. Of course, he has to be to get elected in Texas. I don't have to pretend he's not, however.

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by: myroro @ Wed Jul 04, 2007 at 17:51:06 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Watts has an uphill climb with Democrats in the primary (0.00 / 0)

"Now comes the hard part – convincing Texas Democrats who haven't won a U.S. Senate seat in two decades that a 39-year-old plaintiffs' lawyer from San Antonio with deep pockets but zero political experience is just the candidate to reverse the trend."

We did this in 2002 with Tony Sanchez. You can have all the money in the world but it doesnt mean you will win. Especially in the primary.

Are Democrats in Texas that forgiving? Spending $10Million of his own money is not going to work well for primary voters.

Now, I would be the first to say I respect trial lawyers (especially when you need one) but there is a limit. Watts has zero political experience. Same with Tony.

We have an excellent candidate who has experience, charisma, and is well qualified to be a Senator. If he had Watts money, the primary would be over.

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by: johncoby @ Wed Jul 04, 2007 at 12:35:58 PM UTC

Taking issue with a premise... (0.00 / 0)

You seem to assume that just because one rich candidate with little political experience is a loser that they all must be.  That's faulty logic.  I'm not saying Watts is GOOD, I haven't even heard him speak yet!  However, he's not automatically Tony Sanchez in much the same way that Noriega isn't instantly Jim Webb solely because they both have military experience.  Let's quit looking to compare these two to other people and see what they are actually like (both as candidates and as people!).

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by: David O. @ Wed Jul 04, 2007 at 19:33:19 PM UTC

[ Parent ]