Wendy Davis stood up for her principles, called out the GOP, and ran a very hard-hitting attack ad

[Recursion]

So, that's why she won, right?

[Logical]

1. What is the point of this post? nt

[Recursion]

2. A counter example to the kind of magical thinking that DU suffers from every mid-term

[morningfog]

3. I think the poster thinks the country is right wing

And the Dems should be too. But that is just what can be inferred since they aren't very articulate.

[Recursion]

4. Well, if we want a majority we need to run candidates who can win their districts and states

If that means moving the caucus to the right, that's better than having the GOP in charge.

[morningfog]

10. We should just run republicans. Or you should

just vote for republicans, if you don't already.

[Recursion]

11. Like Jim Webb, or Elizabeth Warren?

Actually that's usually been a good play for us, running former Republicans.

[HooptieWagon]

5. The Third Way, ex-GOP Gubernatorial candidate in Fl lost too.

The only thing worse than losing was having to hold my nose to vote for him. If we're going to lose, at least lets have some candidates we're excited about supporting. Might get better turnout. Damn, I wish I'd had a Wendy Davis to vote for.

[Recursion]

7. Except, Davis didn't deliver any more than Crist did

I'm saying the whole mindset here is unrealistic. We lose off-years, pretty reliably. We don't need to search for a reason other than the fact that Democratic voters only show up every other time.

[DanTex]

24. Maybe we need to search for a reason why Democratic voters only show up every other time.

[kelliekat44]

6. Did Wendy campaign on any Dem achievements with the economy or fighting "terrorism." nt

[Recursion]

8. As far as I can tell she pretty much stuck with education

But she certainly wasn't afraid of "fighting", was she?

[joshcryer]

9. The Dem's don't have any achievements.

Duh.

[ag_dude]

15. Economy was a non-starter in Texas.

The achievements in the economy of Texas are due to lax regulations on fracking.

[Deny and Shred]

12. One example only. She ran in Texas. Maybe that is your answer.

Your point is what? Don't stand up for principles, cower when assaulted by the GOP, don't run ads pointing out how pathetic the opponent is?

How far to the right should democrats go? Dems ran away from the President in these mid-terms. You advocate abandoning principles and buddying up to the GOP. Dems are already indistinguishible from republicans to much of the electorate. They could go all the way, but they'll still be labeled 'liberals' by the MSM echo chamber.

I know we're all trying to make sense of yesterday's results, but out-conservative-ing the GOP is a losing strategy if I ever heard one.

[Recursion]

13. My point is Democrats have difficulty winning conservative districts and states, particularly

in off-years.

If we want candidates who are competitive in those states and districts, they're going to have to be pretty far to the right of the national party.

[Deny and Shred]

16. I get it, but adopting GOP principles to achieve it?

The question becomes how far to the right? As far as it takes? Until there is literally no difference? The Democrat 'brand' won't supplant Republican in the minds of the GOP base. It might even engender apathy in the next generation of voters.

Uber-DINOs might be preferable to GOP winners, but don't expect them to show loyalty to the party.

[Recursion]

17. There is an infinite difference between a conservative who caucuses with us and one who doesn't

If you don't get that, I don't know what to say.

[Deny and Shred]

19. Yeah, I get it, but it isn't as infinite as you think

A bunch of Blue Dogs torpedoed Obama when he needed them most, too.

[deutsey]

14. I agree

[ctaylors6]

18. I don't think she was a great candidate generally

at least locally (I'm in TX). She made some significant gaffes, and came across as a one-issue candidate.

[Tom Rinaldo]

20. No Democrat could have won Texas this year.

Whether they ran as Republican lite or left of Bernie Sanders. Essentially George McGovern built the Democratic Party up from scratch in South Dakota before he finally was able to win a state wide election there. That took him years.

The question is what type of Democratic message is more likely to help build up the Democratic Party in Texas over the course of 5 years to a decade? One could argue a case for both basic alternatives; a hard hitting populist message more akin to what Brian Swartz used to become a Democratic Governor of Montana, or a centrist appeal more like what Mary Landrieu has cultivated in Louisiana. Of course there are always demographic differences that manifest in different States. But the point is it takes time to turn around an aircraft carrier, they do not turn on a dime. Personally I think the message Wendy Davis pushed in Texas was exactly what needed to be voiced inside Texas to build the Democratic Party there. There is a growing young urbane population in Texas and a growing Hispanic one as well. Wendy energized organizing in those constituencies and among women by being strong and clear.

[Erose999]

21. Tex-Ass would vote for Hepatitis C if it were endorsed by the NRA and was anti-choice.

[DanTex]

22. She was running in Texas. She wasn't going to win, period.

[Ampersand Unicode]

27. Key word: "SHE"

Having boobs and a vagina automatically disqualifies you from being a viable candidate in a Duhvangelical state.

Unless you're Michelle Bachmann and you're running for president because "your husband told you to."

[tammywammy]

23. Voter apathy and low turn out contributed to her loss.

The national dem orgs not supporting her didn't help, plus she had a lot less funds than Abbott.

[Ampersand Unicode]

25. She failed because the dumbfuck Jeebus coalition rules that POS state.

Has nothing to do with Wendy and everything to do with the majority of Texass Xchan morons.

I'm waiting for Abbott to find some convoluted way of tying abortion to immigration and say that aborting "anchor babies" is OK. Kill two birds with one transvaginal ultrasound.

[Le Taz Hot]

26. Hey, at least she got up and fought.

Republican-lite would not have done any better in that state. At least she went down with a fight which is more than I can say for the milquetoast Third Way.

[bigwillq]

28. Great post.

[dawg]

30. People in Texas will at least remember that they had a choice.

Unlike all the states that ran "me-too" centrists who acted like they were ashamed to be Democrats.

I'd rather be hated for what I am than to be loved for what I am not.

[G_j]

32. +1000

[ConnorMarc]

29. I See Your Point OP, But You Are Greatly Misguided

The reasons why Wendy Davis lost wasn't because of her principles, it was her strategy.

The Cons were able to pivot on making her seem kooky on trivial issues.

The constituents there were really looking for an excuse NOT to vote for her, ANY excuse.

We are talking about Texas here.

It was a long shot to begin with.

She did well, this is a step in the right direction, she'll do better next time..

[Rex]

31. Kewl story bro!

Your lovefest for the RWing is sickening.