Jon Stewart and the Best Effing News Team know what's up in Texas. They recognize, though others ignore, that whether or not Texas turns blue in November, the election here will be historical. Wendy Davis and her running mate, Leticia Van De Putte, are icons and heroines (truly), standing for Texas women and their allies. Anyone who watched the State House floor that summer night when a filibuster made history, knows of their valor. I still get chills thinking about it.
Beyond that, though, is the bigger, future picture for Democrats. Not just Texas Dems, mind you. I say, as I have said before: in both 2008/2012, the large cities in Texas went blue for President Obama. There is a robust progressive attitude that has been simmering in Texas. Wendy and Leticia (and a super roster of downticket Dems, too) have been turning up the heat for some time. We all are truly 'fired up and ready to go!'
Women and their allies, people of color (both Hispanic/Black), and the LGBTQ community are all out there voting, right now, for Democrats. We may not turn blue this time, thanks to the last-minute Supreme Court ruling. But then again...
See, I think that the possibility of a blue Texas in November is real. It's palpable, almost. Why? Because my parents, lovers of Reagan and Bush(x2), are voting for Wendy and Leticia. (That's a big f@#$ing deal, Joe!) They are bothered by the scandals of our current administration and are ready for change. They also are thinking about the health of their granddaughters. And, finally, they are trusting the political knowledge of their own daughter.
So, despite the disenfranchisement of likely Democratic voters here, I see another viable voting pool: Republicans and Independents voting for Wendy and Leticia
An interview with The Daily Show's Jon Stewart, live in Austin tonight, will add to Wendy's exposure in a big way. Too bad I can't just flip the channel and watch. So watch it for me, please? And fill me in on the juicy details!
If you're interested in why I can't watch, jump over the juicy orange curlique.
When I turned the channel to watch Jon/Stephen a few weeks ago, I gasped and sputtered. I solemnly swear that I started hyperventilating. They were gone. My two pools of Sanity that I had dvr'd to watch at my own pleasure on lazy weekend afternoons, were gone. Suddenlink, my cable company, had taken them, and all of Viacom away. Gone, too, were my latenight binges of TVland, and Nickelodeon, and BET. Four channels that I frequented regularly were gone. In their place were more sports stations and...Glenn Blech, I mean, Beck.
I thought about raging at the cable company. Or choosing another (this is small town west Texas, baby. Your choices are one cable company, a dish or nothing.) But I'm moving in a few weeks, to a bigger city with better options. And maybe I'll ditch cable entirely. I'd miss my journalistic heroine and secret crush, Rachel Maddow, though.
Ah, well, if I am patient enough, the internet will provide. Jon and Stephen, Rachel and others, can all be found there a few hours from airing. But the waiting. Especially tonight.
So, watch for me, k?
For now, though, I am doing what I can to GOTV for Wendy and Leticia here in Texas. Phone calls, contributions, and, of course, voting (today). And you, dear Kossacks, can, too: Please go to Battleground Texas or WendyDavisTexas.
You can still be a part of Texas history, even if you live out-of-state or cannot find an event nearby, Make calls for Wendy and Texas Democrats. Or donate, please, if you can.
postscript: i must say, i am very disturbed, sickened by the fact that rural red west Texas will now be even more saturated with right-wing craziness in Beck's Blaze channel. Before I move, I'll let the cable company know exactly how I feel about their change.
7:32 PM PT: The Daily Show starts at 11e/10c. Thanks to boadicea for republishing to TexKos, and thanks to those who tipped and recommended the diary. I appreciate your kindness. Enjoy the show, y'all!