We need to hold our political candidates’ feet to the fire. It is primary season, not the general elections, and if there is any time that we should be hard on Republicans for their records and positions, it’s right now. There’s virtually no such thing as a “gotcha” question right now, because as a candidate for the most powerful job in the world, you’d better be ready to answer anything and everything and smile about it. It’s part of the process.
One of the reasons that so many arguments break out on twitter and elsewhere among candidate supporters is because, for some, raising concerns is tantamount to public crucifixion. This past weekend, after Presidential candidate Rick Perry announced his intentions, some Palin supporters were tweeting that he was part of the problem that Sarah Palin was the only one qualified to fix. I let it be known that while I was a fan of Perry, it didn’t interfere with my ability to like and support Governor Palin. The backlash was quick as people let me know in short order that Perry was not a “real” conservative, and my support for him indicated that I wasn’t either.
Then came last night’s column from Michelle Malkin which articulately made (albeit incorrectly in my judgment) the case that the people in my Twitter feed did not: namely that there are reasons to believe that Governor Perry’s credentials are decidedly not conservative. While she refrains from outright declaring opposition to a Perry presidency, her concerns were made clear, and they are concerns which were brought up at RedState as well in a much cited article posted by BA Cyclone. In it, he dives into the issue of Perry’s mandated vaccination program as well as the appearance of impropriety if not outright crony capitalism that his administration has been accused of.
Malkin’s concerns are fair, and she made them pointedly. However, I believe her conclusions are rushed. For some others I’ve seen and spoken to however, it goes well beyond measured critiques and concerns and is passing in to outright accusation based on what they claim is strong evidence of Perry’s statist nature.
Prima facie, the issues surrounding Governor Perry seem to be pretty simple: Governor Perry is being accused of allowing his connections within the halls of Merck to influence his decision to mandate a vaccination for an STD, which would benefit a company that had made donations to his campaign in the amount of $6,000. So at best, he’s being accused of being a big government nanny-state statist, and at worst, he’s an ethically compromised, lobbyist loving statist.
In the first place, the case against the vaccinations themselves is solid. He absolutely shouldn’t have issued the executive order. RedState’s Streiff laid these reasons out yesterday:
However, there were a lot of very good scientific reasons as to why Gardasil should not have been made mandatory. For instance,
1. The recommendation did not include males, though males can carry and transmit HPV. This oversight made the creation of “herd immunity” impossible. This, definitionally, means the vaccine could have only a limited effect in combatting HPV.
2. Not all strains of HPV linked to cancer were affected by the vaccine. While doing something is better than doing nothing… generally… no one knows what the impact will be of creating a better evolutionary environment for the others strains by eliminating competing versions of the virus.
3.Requiring people to receive a vaccine against diseases which they may very well never encounter is a very queasy ethical area. Unlike diseases like measles, whooping cough, etc., HPV is not spread through casual contact.
4. Clinical trials were conducted on women aged 16-26 leaving everyone to presume that Gardasil was safe and efficacious in 10 year-olds even though there was zero data pertaining to that age group.
Perry himself has since said that it was a bad decision which he regrets:
“I signed an executive order that allowed for an opt-out, but the fact of the matter is I didn’t do my research well enough to understand that we needed to have a substantial conversation with our citizenry,” he said. “I hate cancer. Let me tell you, as a son who has a mother and father who are both cancer survivors.”
So on all sides at this point, there seems to be agreement that the vaccinations were a bad idea, a misguided policy, and shouldn’t have happened.
But if you read any of the critiques of Perry that reference this incident, he is getting no quarter because the incident itself is not the problem. It’s the mindset. If you read Malkin or BA Cyclone’s articles, you’ll quickly see that the issue at hand is, “how could he have come to this conclusion?”
There’s simply no way to answer the question without making assumptions about what is going on in the mind of another person or, since Perry has revealed what he is thinking, assuming that any regret or admission of fault is a lie or at best, spin.
The first evidence that it is spin is referred to as the “opt-out myth,” and BA Cyclone brings this out as the first example of Perry’s half-truth that this was not mandatory.
Further, this opt-out clause is not quite as simple as you might imagine. From Politifact:
The order included an opt-out “in order to protect the right of parents to be the final authority on their children’s health care.” Perry ordered the Department of State Health Services to allow parents dissenting for philosophical or religious reasons to request a conscientious objection affidavit form. That form, which has been available since 2003, enables parents to enroll their children in public school even if they lack state-required immunizations. It’s automatically granted as long as parents provide all required information.According to the Department of State Health Service’s 2008-09 immunization report, which uses data from kindergarten and seventh-grade students at 1,300 independent school districts and 800 private schools, 0.28 percent of the students filed conscientious objection forms.
Parents must renew exemption affidavits every two years to maintain their validity, according to Allison Lowery, assistant press officer at the Texas Department of State Health Services.
We thought the opt-out form for public-school students proved Perry correct until we learned that not all private schools accept the affidavit. That means some private schools may not allow their students to exempt themselves from any state-required vaccinations.Some 15 percent of more than 1 million Texas girls in fifth through 12th grade in 2008 were enrolled in private schools, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.
According to a 2006 Texas Attorney General’s opinion: “A private school that does not accept state tax funds is not required to accept for enrollment a child who has received an exemption from the immunizations required by the Texas Health and Safety Code.”
In its policy for Catholic schools, the Catholic Diocese of Austin states: “Immunizations are not in conflict with the Catholic faith. Conscientious objections or waivers, which may be permissible for enrollment in public schools, do not qualify as an exception to this policy.” Catholic schools in the diocese do accept medical exemptions, meaning if the immunization could somehow harm the child, it’s not required to enroll. [emphasis added]
To repeat, by the stroke of a pen Governor Perry changed the status quo, thatparents must appeal to the government to not have their child immunized against a sexually transmitted disease. In practice, an opt-out provision is much more difficult than it sounds, particularly when scores of service providers (not just in Texas) require compliance with government mandates.
This is not liberty, this is tyranny.
Essentially, the quote is claiming that because there were some private schools that required the additional vaccination even though the state did not require them to, the opt-out isn’t real. Politifact is continuing with their well known logical fallacies and lack of common sense.
The fact that a private institution creates private rules related to a program which you can opt-out of in public schools is a matter to take up with the private schools, not the governor. There are a great many things that non-tax supported private schools have in their rule books and admission policies, and I don’t hear anyone blaming the government for those. This is not a valid critique since it is not a requirement that Governor Perry had any ability to change. Even if he had repealed the entire executive order, these same private schools could have chosen to keep this vaccination requirement in place, and there wouldn’t have been a thing Perry could have done about it. In fact, if he had, these same critics would be lambasting him for interfering in the admission practices of a private institution.
The more effective case against the reality of an opt-out was that this is placed on the parents to request as opposed to defaulting to the parents. Of course, this does prove that it’s not spin on Perry’s part given that it’s referred to as “opt out,” which inherently means that you are opted in by default. Is this a wrong way for government to function? Perhaps. But it is tyrannical only if you assume that he didn’t believe that it was comparable to other, well established and socially acceptable mandatory vaccinations and, further, that he’s lying when he acknowledges his decision to have been wrong.
So the question becomes, “Isn’t there reason to doubt Perry’s word on this, given his connection to Merck?” Essentially, “Is Perry a crony capitalist?”
In the first place, crony capitalism is defined differently by different people. However, the most common understanding of it is as follows: Candidate A accepts money from Company A and then once Candidate A is elected, Lobbyist A asks Candidate A (Now known as Official A) to ‘hook ‘em up’ and Official A uses his power to grant Company A some sort of contract or other financial benefit.
The evidence against Perry in regards to crony capitalism:
- Pharmaceutical company Merck contributed $6,000.00 to the Perry reelection campaign (money)
- Merck created the vaccination in question that Perry was to push (hook ‘em up)
- One of Merck’s chief lobbyists was Gov. Perry’s former chief of staff (lobbyist A)
For many, this is an open and shut case. As BA Cyclone points out, the mere appearance of impropriety should be enough for someone to reexamine his closeness to a situation and consider recusing himself from the process. He may be right. If you believe that Governor Perry’s regret over the incident is genuine, he apparently believes he handled it wrong as well.
But once again, this isn’t about the facts for many people. This is about assumptions of intent. And the assumption of intent here is that Rick Perry is just an establishment crony capitalist. But as was the case with the opt-out “spin” I just don’t find the evidence compelling.
In the first place, the $6,000 donation confuses me as evidence of anything. I’ve always found it odd that people can’t put 2 and 2 together on this one. Yes, Merck probably thought that it would be a benefit to them if Perry were elected as opposed to his opponent. Yes, Merck probably believed that their lobbying efforts would be more successful with a business-friendly governor than the opposite. Why are people so stunned that companies vet candidates and then contribute to the ones that are going to be most friendly to their objectives? Don’t we all do that? If Wal-Mart had contributed money to Perry’s campaign and then the next year Perry lowered corporate taxes in his state which inspired Wal-Mart to move there, we’d be hearing praise for his business-friendly policies, not assuming that they were in bed together.
Regarding Merck’s standing as the company chosen to provide these vaccinations, it is not the case the Merck simply happens to make the vaccine. They are the only pharmaceutical company that makes the vaccine. No matter what else you think of Perry, the fact that he got the vaccine from the only place that makes them is simply a matter of working within the confines of reality.
This brings us to the lobbyist. I don’t know how many of the people reading this work or survive in business by making connections, but I can assure you of this: When you need to make the case to someone that his business or state or whatever he is in charge of should do, knowing him helps. The lobbyist knew Perry. He set up the meetings with Perry I’m sure. That’s how knowing people works. It doesn’t speak one bit to the legitimacy of Perry’s belief in the vaccine anymore than using Haliburton spoke to Cheney’s. If Carly Fiorina had won in California, I’m starting to think people would accuse her of cronyism because her office was packed with HP printers. Is it possible that this lobbyist knew the entire time that he might be able to leverage his connection later and thus offered a helping hand with Perry’s election because he believed that policies coming from his office would benefit him? Quite possible. Is it wrong to work towards getting a person elected that you think will all together be a benefit to you? If there is, then everyone has been doing it wrong all along.
I look at this one situation and say to myself, this isn’t enough. In order to assume that this one incident is an example of a statist nature, I have to do too many things that I find to be unfair. I have to assume that every person involved, including Governor Perry, never believed for a moment that the vaccinations were the right thing to do. I have to assume that Governor Perry hired lobbyists with the intention of selling favors to them later. I have to completely ignore the precedent set by other mandatory vaccinations and act as though this particular vaccination is completely disimilar circumstances hinting of tyranny. I have to assume that he went out of his way to make it difficult or impossible for people to opt-out of the program that he initiated. And I’ve got to assume that after all was said and done, his apology is nothing more than the continuation of a series of lies and half-truths done in the name of crony capitalism, greed, and political expediency.
And the only evidence anyone seems to be able to provide me to prove that that is what happened? They think it. Sorry, not good enough.
I very much look forward to the vetting process of our candidates. If Sarah Palin jumps in, as much of a fan of hers as I am, I plan on being just as thorough with her. Right now, she’s not in elected office so I see no reason to anal-probe every comment and policy decision she’s ever made. Right now, she’s “one of us.” But as soon as she starts running to be “one of them,” I’m back to “feet meet fire.”
The same went and still goes for Perry. And each time something comes up, I’m going to look into it, I’m going to vet him and, like Malkin and BA Cyclone and others have done, I’m going to hold him to account for his policies and his positions. And while they have done a great job of making their cases individually, I think their conclusions depend way too much on simply filling in the blanks of what goes on inside Perry’s head.
Many in the twitterverse have gone much further than that, to the point of flat out accusing his supporters of not being conservative at all and Perry as no better than Obama.
If we are going to survive this vetting process and still be friends when it’s over, if we are going to figure out who is best for us without fracturing the party irreparably from within as the Democrats did with Hillary and Obama, we have to extend a modicum of trust and be willing to acknowledge that no candidate is without fault.
Trust but verify.
Moe Lane
PG DeFreese
Victoria Coates
Daniel Horowitz
Dan Spencer
Contributions to Rick Perry
izoneguy (Diary) Wednesday, August 17th at 2:15PM EST (link)There are still some who are convinced that Merck contributed more than a paltry $6,000 to Perry. They are simply wrong. Merck gave two checks, one for $1,000 and another for $5,000 to Perry in the 2006 election timeframe (in 2008, they contributed a whopping $2,500). Here is a source to view all of Perry’s contributions:
ProPublica.
In fact, Merck has only contributed $23,500 to Perry over a 1998-2010 span, not exactly George Soros money. For comparison, from 2000-2006 Merck gave $2,460,000 to state politicians across 40 states.
There was one contribution for $100,000 from AT&T in 2010….
Let’s go investigate that!
The point cannot be made often enough: Modern liberalism, as embodied in the Obama presidency, is the defender of the status quo. And the status quo is a road to economic ruin. Political forces cannot redistribute the wealth that the economic system does not produce.
Perfect first in, Izone.
rec0n Wednesday, August 17th at 9:52PM EST (link)I was about to relay the same information.
From the same site: “That Merck contribution amounted to .00025 of the $24 million dollar campaign funds that he received that year.”
I really don’t think that qualifies as buying him off.
And while MM’s concerns may be *fair*, her sweeping characterizations of Perry are not. Malkins post was devoid of any mention or acknowlegement of the multiple medical institutions that to this day recommend Gardasil – it’s been recommended by the FDA, the Center for Disease Control, the American Academy of Pediatrics, the American Academy of Family Physicians, & the American Congress of Obstetricians & Gynecologists. Her only links were to opposional op-eds. And only if he mandated it would the vac have been covered by insurance – otherwise the cost would have been $360 out of pocket.
I can appreciate the criticism of a mandate, but I don’t appreciate such a narrow view being presented as a full story, because it wasn’t.
disclaimer: I am a Perry fan. But I did look first.
Who do you think pays for it?
txgrunner Thursday, August 18th at 7:47AM EST (link)If the treatment is $360 (or $480), but the state compels insurance to cover it at say $10, where do you think the other $350 (or $470) is coming from?
Forget Perry for a moment, and pretend it was Jerry Brown, Bill Richardson, or Bill Clinton. Why should a governor or the government get involved in this?
As far as I know, the reason school districts require certain immunizations is to prevent schools from being breeding grounds for disease. Therefore, you can’t go to PUBLIC school without the necessary immunizations.
There are other immunizations – some covered by insurance, some not – that are recommended or common, but not requried to attend school just because some do-gooder wants to force their opinions down others throats or campaign on lower heatlhcare costs.
If your logic is this was good policy because it lowered costs, then I think you are using the same logic as Obama for obamacare. Costs weren’t lowered, they were redistributed – to me! Whether in the form of higher taxes for those without insurance or in higher premiums for those with insurance, you got $350-$470 discount and I was going to be left with tab.
If you need this much space
grunk Wednesday, August 17th at 2:24PM EST (link)to rationalize a clearly non-conservative executive decision.I have a problem with the executive.
Tell my wife the Bilderbergers have me.
If you aren't going to actually address the points made
Ben Howe (Diary) Wednesday, August 17th at 2:29PM EST (link)Then why bother commenting?
You can always find people to give you the answers that you think reinforce the facts you’ve already decided are true.
Follow @Ben_Howe
Because the Perry Idol Worshipping
grunk Wednesday, August 17th at 2:39PM EST (link)obscures the fact that he has some serious flaws in decision making.It baffles me that RedStae and NRO treat Perry like the Second Coming. That’s what the Democrats did with Obama and a lot of them are regretting it.
The Republicans have a lot of good candidates, even in the lower tiers, with a lot of good ideas. Don’t annoint Perry the first week out.
Tell my wife the Bilderbergers have me.
I lay out what i believe to be a defense on one issue
Ben Howe (Diary) Wednesday, August 17th at 2:41PM EST (link)One issue so far with his campaign. And this equates to Perry worship? yeah, I’m done talking to you. You are exactly the type of person I was complaining about in the article.
You can always find people to give you the answers that you think reinforce the facts you’ve already decided are true.
Follow @Ben_Howe
One issue so far with his campaign...
grunk Wednesday, August 17th at 2:48PM EST (link)Maybe Al Gore can tell us more, Mr. RedState. .
Tell my wife the Bilderbergers have me.
Compelling argument.
Aaron Gardner (Diary) Wednesday, August 17th at 2:52PM EST (link)And by compelling I mean, completely lacking in any substance.
Come back when you have something of value to add to this discussion.
conform and celebrate diversity….or else!!!
“We’d be much better off if We The People had desired small government enough to keep it.” acat
Follow @Aaron_RS
If you want to troll...
Bill S (Diary) Wednesday, August 17th at 3:05PM EST (link)go elsewhere. Otherwise, stick to the issues and make a case, rather than acting like an ass.
“It’s such a fine line between stupid, and clever.” – David St. Hubbins
Thou hast a STENCH
papabear (Diary) Wednesday, August 17th at 7:18PM EST (link)Are you a male or female TROLL?
Stop
1trinity Wednesday, August 17th at 2:55PM EST (link)Let the dialog continue…don’t run off….there’s nothing that we all can’t handle together,,,,key word….together. Grunk presented his argument and you quickly went into “done talking to you” mode. Stop and see that this can be a teaching moment on how we discuss things with each other. Don’t forget while you are trying to reach one person in an audience you don’t know who is reading and taking in all that is being discussed…charity in all things.
Pardon me
Ben Howe (Diary) Wednesday, August 17th at 3:01PM EST (link)But I questioned him on why he didn’t address the issues but instead quickly referred to me as a Perry worshipper. He didn’t address even one thing that I said.
His response by referencing Al Gore and referring to me as Mr. RedState indicated to me that he wasn’t serious at all about discussing the points i made.
You can always find people to give you the answers that you think reinforce the facts you’ve already decided are true.
Follow @Ben_Howe
So point out the "serious flaws" you talk of.
gekster (Diary) Wednesday, August 17th at 3:02PM EST (link)i’m waiting to hear them.
They say Republicans are for the rich, Democrats are for the poor.
If they need more voters,
then they have to make more of who they are for.
We are there in the various Tea Party groups, leaderless, but not rudderless.
We steer always toward the Constitutional principles this nation was founded upon.
Erick Brockway
Ok folks, 2012 is here. Get involved
Verify 1st then trust
1trinity Wednesday, August 17th at 2:29PM EST (link)Truth stands on it’s own….and can take and handle all scrutiny.
I don’t trust his action and have much experience with the HPV situation.
May we vet in peace
kredhead Wednesday, August 17th at 2:29PM EST (link)Incredibly concerning is the ferociousness of “vetting” particularly in the twittersphere. I’m all for vetting. We have duty and even patriotic obligation to get involved in the electoral process and fully examine each candidate in order to determine who is worthy of our vote and fit to lead our nation.
That being said, it’s worth remembering that we are ultimately, on the same team. Discussing flaws or controversies in a candidate is fine, and is to be expected, but berating and maligning those that disagree is not who we are as Conservatives. Unlike our liberal counterparts, we respect not only ourselves, but one another. We must also be conscientious of jumping to conclusions without doing our homework. We’ve all done it, myself included, but now is not the time to be careless or lax in our electoral due diligence.
As the race ensues and we see other heavy hitters hop in the race (if rumors are true), may we vet in peace.
Thank you!
1trinity Wednesday, August 17th at 2:36PM EST (link)Thank you for saying this so charitably!
I agree and only add:
balloonjuice Wednesday, August 17th at 4:34PM EST (link)How is looking at both sides of something interfering with the vetting process? I am a long-time Texan, though unlike Perry I am a first generation Texan. I was here when the whole Gardasil controversy took place. I don’t think anyone yelled about it any louder than I did.
It was stupid and believe it or not it was not the only stupid thing that Mr. Perry has done. He may even do some more stupid things before he dies. And some of those stupid things may be as president. Now having said that, I would add that as a long-time Texan I actually support Mr. Perry in spite of some RSAs (Really Stupid Acts). He has the capacity to admit when he has made a mistake. He did admit that the Gardasil fiasco was a mistake. It has been undone.
I have tried to be respectful in vetting others who are running for this highest office in the land. But frankly, I have not seen the kind of viciousness that I have toward Mr. Perry from our own conservative ranks since Barry Goldwater’s being smeared in 1964. Yes I will admit that others have been smeared in the meanwhile, but not by our own folks…like Goldwater was by the Rockefellers and the eastern establishment (Nixon etc.).
Anyway, I very much appreciate those who are willing to look into our (proposed) candidates and see what is in their backgrounds. I do not appreciate those (unlike Kredhead and others) who will not listen to an explanation when it is offered. If we are going to treat one another this way we will lose. Unity will overcome disunity every time.
Thank you for your willingness to read this longish comment.
Sooo. What other stupid things has Perry done.
gekster (Diary) Wednesday, August 17th at 4:43PM EST (link)If there is more than one, lets here them.
They say Republicans are for the rich, Democrats are for the poor.
If they need more voters,
then they have to make more of who they are for.
We are there in the various Tea Party groups, leaderless, but not rudderless.
We steer always toward the Constitutional principles this nation was founded upon.
Erick Brockway
Ok folks, 2012 is here. Get involved
What did he cut? How much did he reduce state workforce?
txgrunner Thursday, August 18th at 8:03AM EST (link)I’ll trade you…
You give me a list of agencies, programs, and state offices he cut or eliminated; a year by year blow of how he continually reduced the state budget in real dollars; a total count on the number of state employees that were eliminated over the course of his tenure, and I’ll give you a list of some of the other stupid stuff he’s done.
For what its worth, he’s my governor, and I think he’s been an above average governor. No, he’s not my first choice for president (although he is better than many), and I think many conservatives are fooling themselves if they think he is an authentic conservative who will force the federal government to cede power back to the states.
txgrunner-
Scope (Diary) Thursday, August 18th at 8:18AM EST (link)Wouldn’t it be very difficult for any Governor to reduce spending and workers when the state has doubled in population since he took office?
So, once again, who is this secret person that you think has done a much better job than Perry?
BTW, you have now posted many passive/aggressive posts about Perry. You rave about him being a better than average Governor, and then in the next sentence comes the big but. To complain because you can’t put a septic on a property of less than an acre, means you have some sort of utopian vision of what a totally free (and out of control) society should look like, which will never happen.
That's called an anecdote...
txgrunner Friday, August 19th at 11:27AM EST (link)Passive/aggressive? So, now you are psycho-analyzing me?
Actually, if you read my post, you’ll see clearly I don’t have any idea if Perry is responsible for that or not. I simply said state regulatory interference has increased.
Somebow I never thought somebody would describe ‘utopia’ with a septic system. It’s just an example, an anecdotal one at that, of how the state interferes and denies people the full value of their property.
Hahahaha…doubled?!?!? Yeah, its significantly increased, but far from doubled.
My take on Governor Perry is just not extreme. I do think he’s been an above average governor. I also think he would only make a so-so president and we need a lot better than that to undo the mess Obama has created.
I’m not telling you who I support. It’s not the issue and I’m not giving you information to pigeon-hole me and then attack me.
BTW, I’ve voted for Rick Perry every time his name was on the state-wide ballot. I even worked for him the first time he ran for Ag commissioner pushing cards in Beaumont and Houston.
txgunrunner, I just asked a question of him.
gekster (Diary) Thursday, August 18th at 10:54AM EST (link)He said, “It was stupid and believe it or not it was not the only stupid thing that Mr. Perry has done.”
If he believes that he knows of stupid things (more than 1) that Perry has done, then I would like to know about them.
If he has information about a candidate, I as a voter would like to know.
If he is just talking smack about Perry, as alot of recent posters have, I would like to know that also.
Since you seam to have info on the questions you ask of me, would you care to be informative, or are they just gotcha questions.
They say Republicans are for the rich, Democrats are for the poor.
If they need more voters,
then they have to make more of who they are for.
We are there in the various Tea Party groups, leaderless, but not rudderless.
We steer always toward the Constitutional principles this nation was founded upon.
Erick Brockway
Ok folks, 2012 is here. Get involved
OK, here is some info
txgrunner Saturday, August 20th at 12:15AM EST (link)Actually, based on your other posts, I judged your intents are other than innocently seeking information.
Still, I’ll humor you. Between 2000 and 2010, the population in Texas jumped from 20.9M to 25.1M, a 20.6% increase, about twice the national increase (and a far cry from doubling).
From 2000 to 2010, the Texas state workforce grew between 1-3% per year for a total of 15% increase. That is a great record if you are trying to maintain the status quo and you assume the Texas government workforce was already lean.
The one stat we don’t have is the number of contractors the state used to offset fewer employees, if any; but we can dismiss that for the purposes of this discussion. Further, because of economies of scale, I think state employee growth lagging population growth is to be expected.
What we don’t see is a record of cutting the workforce, returning authority to the counties and cities, or closing agencies and programs. I would submit the Texas state government was already bloated and over-staffed before Perry took office. You might disagree, and I’m not sure how to objectively judge that.
Certainly at the Federal level, we can’t afford to maintain the status quo. We need drastic cuts in the Federal government workforce, the elimination of agencies and programs, and the return of authority in many areas to the states.
Per my earlier post, Perry is an above average for a governor. By definition, there are 25 sitting governors at any one time who meet that definition. He’s certainly better than Romney, and both of them are much better than Obama.
May we vet in peace
kredhead Wednesday, August 17th at 2:29PM EST (link)Incredibly concerning is the ferociousness of “vetting” particularly in the twittersphere. I’m all for vetting. We have duty and even patriotic obligation to get involved in the electoral process and fully examine each candidate in order to determine who is worthy of our vote and fit to lead our nation.
That being said, it’s worth remembering that we are ultimately, on the same team. Discussing flaws or controversies in a candidate is fine, and is to be expected, but berating and maligning those that disagree is not who we are as Conservatives. Unlike our liberal counterparts, we respect not only ourselves, but one another. We must also be conscientious of jumping to conclusions without doing our homework. We’ve all done it, myself included, but now is not the time to be careless or lax in our electoral due diligence.
As the race ensues and we see other heavy hitters hop in the race (if rumors are true), may we vet in peace.
Michelle was over the top
Veronica (Diary) Wednesday, August 17th at 2:42PM EST (link)(Alinsky? really?) and I appreciate this post, especially it’s conclusion. I can understand the candor needed to “go up” against Michelle.
However, I would have preferred Michelle using her chops to attack the use of Executive Orders in general than use the same spiel on Perry.
Am I biased toward Perry? Yes, he’s from my state, but he’s a politician; they’re all like this. That he’s a Slick Willy in some capacity is understood.
To compare him to an Alinsky acolyte is something entirely different and wholly unfair.
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Pray as if everything depends on God, and work as if everything depends on us. – St. Augustine
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Vetting of candidates is important, Ben, but
lineholder (Diary) Wednesday, August 17th at 2:47PM EST (link)sometimes I wonder if we are focusing so much on the people in the race that we overlook other factors that it really could be to our benefit to draw attention to.
For example, there is evidence in poll after poll, even in states that are typically die-hard Democrat territories, that a growing number of people across our nation are rejecting liberalism. It may not be a blatant rejection just yet. And they aren’t necessarily embracing conservatism by any stretch of the imagination.
Still, this could indicate that more people are open-minded to other alternatives that could replace liberal policies. That’s a real opportunity for conservatives!
I just think that sometimes we get our priorities out of whack and end up gutting our own a bit more than we should rather than recognizing and emphasizing these kinds of opportunities.
Texan
victoria_29 Wednesday, August 17th at 2:47PM EST (link)What I find VERY offensive about these arguments is that ALL of them leave out another reason this was done. I know personally because I had a 13 year old daughter & I wanted the vaccine. I am just a middle class single parent with a job & insurance. When the shots first became public our insurance companies would not pay for them, each shot cost 160.00 (or more) each & it took 3, making it impossible. Gov Perry by mandating it forced the insurance companies to put it on their approved shot list-hence like every other shot it cost 10.00.
And most of you do NOT know Gov Perry very well. Yes, our legislature reversed it, but if Gov Perry had really been all that vested in forcing this he would have Vetoed the bill. And it would never have got revolked.
There is always an extra side, Perry is now getting all kinds of crap for actually trying to help the middle class working insured families & make no mistake for those of you NOT Texans that was part of the whole issue at the time. Another FYI not one child in Texas was ever vaccinated under this so-called Mandate.
As for Opt out, you can download the form off internet & takes 5 minutes at most to fill out-this is on any & all shots.
PLEASE post something on this
Ben Howe (Diary) Wednesday, August 17th at 2:53PM EST (link)n/t
You can always find people to give you the answers that you think reinforce the facts you’ve already decided are true.
Follow @Ben_Howe
I second the posting request.
Veronica (Diary) Wednesday, August 17th at 3:14PM EST (link)“most of you do NOT know Gov Perry very well.”
Fellow Texan here, anti-posts from the conservative blogosphere (like Michelle Malkin’s) don’t get it, or him.
Please post!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Pray as if everything depends on God, and work as if everything depends on us. – St. Augustine
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Perry has done several things
texasmama Wednesday, August 17th at 3:33PM EST (link)I have objected to over the years, and my voiced opinions were not positive when I heard that he may be considering a run for President. Once it was clear that he really was going to run I finally got around to reading up on him, and I’m chagrined that it took so long. Chalk it up to the fact that there was no way I’d vote for a Democrat governor, and I really, really didn’t want Kaye Bailey Hutchison, so Perry’s had my vote from the beginning, and I just grumped anytime I heard of him doing something I didn’t like.
What have I learned? That I am a lot more comfortable with the idea of Perry being the next nominee than I was initially. His ideas and convictions do not always line up with mine, but I am convinced he is sincere in them. He will do what he believes best, and he’s big enough to admit it if he is later proven wrong. He has already proven himself willing to listen to the people of Texas and he has backed down on more than one occasion when we communicated overwheming opposition to something he was proposing. Our current administration has shown me how important that can be.
huh?
txgrunner Thursday, August 18th at 7:33AM EST (link)Obviously I don’t know your personal situation, but I find it difficult to understand you can’t afford $480 over several months if you think its that important. Do you have cable, a mobile phone, …you really can’t afford this?
Even when I only made ~$35K/year, I could have afforded this, although it would’ve seriously hurt financially.
Even if you can’t, why is it the responsibility of the state to pay for it or to force insurance companies to pay for it? If you’re getting a $160 shot for $10 somebody is paying the other $150.
In Bexar County (San Antonio), you can go to the Brady Green (public) clinic and get all sorts of vaccines, innoculations, and other injections and pay nothing. You don’t have to prove you’re destitute. You do have to wait around lots of sick poor and illegals for about 9 hours; but in the end, you get the shot for whatever you can afford, which they openly tell you might be zero.
My sister (in Houston) had four kids she couldn’t afford and rarely had health insurance. She complains bitterly the embarassment, but when push comes to shove, she took them to the emergency room and they were always treated.
I think this is totally over-blown. He’s my governor too, and there are a slew of other things to point to in his record showing his real attitude of using government fiat to fix perceived wrongs. This is just one more indicator in a larger pattern.
Romneycare > HPV Vaccine
MikeG (Diary) Wednesday, August 17th at 2:52PM EST (link)In vetting Perry, let’s remember what our other options are. Pawlenty’s no longer part of the equation, but he was getting a good amount of support on this site, despite being a former supporter of cap-and-trade (emphasis on former, but still). Meanwhile, Romney remains the frontrunner, and correct me if I am wrong, but I don’t think he has ever fully repudiated the Romneycare debacle in MA. I think Perry got it wrong on the HPV vaccine, and it isn’t something that should be ignored, but I also think it should be put in perspective of his rivals’ records. Compared to instituting a system of mandatory health insurance coverage in your state, this HPV vaccination policy is small change.
Don't shoot the messenger - Michelle Malkin
1trinity Wednesday, August 17th at 3:09PM EST (link)Why heap on Michelle? She was presenting all the info…maybe she let some of her emotion seep in a little too much.
I’ve personally experienced HPV. NO SHOT is going to keep people from getting it. Look up plantar warts. They are all viruses! Do you know how to keep from getting a virus? I don’t. “It is estimated that 7–10% of the US population is infected. Infection typically occurs from moist walking surfaces such as showers or swimming pools. The virus can survive many months without a host, making it highly contagious.” http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plantar_wart
No candidate is good enough to go unsupervised
paulplantowin Wednesday, August 17th at 3:32PM EST (link)I know – it is belaboring the obvious to say no candidate is perfect.
Still, I think it is worth saying that whoever gets the nomination will require constant watching, and the active participation of all of us AFTER they are elected.
The constant accountability to the electorate, once a service provided by the ‘press’ really belongs to the people.
Also, the immense importance of 2012 probably accounts for some of the heat in various vetting discussions- understandable, but our side ought to be able to fight hard without degenerating into juvie behaviours.
No Ed Schultz’s need apply (joke)
Can't We All Take a Breath
clarioncaller Wednesday, August 17th at 3:37PM EST (link)We seem to be so focused on taking back our government… and so threatened at the same time. I know the media sold Obama.I know they sold McCain…until he was the Republican nominee then they cut him off at the knees. I get it. I don’t want to settle either. I want a true Conservative president that’s going to turn the clock backward on a number of the Progressive “accomplishments” that have become a part of the American fabric since Wilson,FDR and now Obama.
However,I say lets vett Perry. Lets talk to “the accused”.
And while we’re at it lets put Romney on the “witness stand”Any one think he’s been fully vetted ?
Vetting Rick Perry
fbks (Diary) Wednesday, August 17th at 4:23PM EST (link)When I saw this post this morning I was hoping to glean facts that either supported my initial gut reaction of support for Perry, or find reasons to be reserved. The back and forth arguments on one issue was very unhelpful. I appreciate comments from those who are knowledgeable on Perry’s record to provide information that can help truly vet the candidate.
Does Perry have the backbone and savvy to eliminate federal programs, reign in the EPA, and in fact reduce the size and power of various departments?
1) Is the E/O incident isolated, or is there a pattern of use of E/Os in Perry’s resume?
2) Does Perry have both the strength of character and political talents to effectively take on the unions and entitlement programs as Governor Walker and Christie have been accomplishing?
3) Is Perry sufficiently knowledgeable and savvy to deal with world leaders effectively to deal with trade and national security issues?
4) Would Perry deal with illegal immigration?
5) Does Perry have a record of actual leadership skills, and can he take the lead in proposing and seeing proposed legislation passed through Congress by examples of such accomplishments in the TX legislature?
6) Does Perry respect the authority of Congress or is he likely to continue as Obama in appointing czars to circumvent Congress and the rule of law in governance?
7) Is Perry likely to make actual cuts in federal spending, and not simply promising illusory and minimal reductions in the growth of federal spending?
9) What does the business community in TX think about him?
10) Is Perry savvy enough to deal with the media and minimize its’ ability to character assassinate while reducing the size of government? (Has he reduced the size of the TX state government and does he remain reasonably popular in Texas, to the extent that he can continue his policies which tend to anger the media and the left?)
I am not qualified to answer all of these.
balloonjuice Wednesday, August 17th at 4:48PM EST (link)But I shall attempt to give you short answers from someone who has been watching Perry since 1998 (me):
1. It was the only E/O that produced this kind of uproar. It was very well known in Texas, though probably not outside our state.
2. I don’t know how to compare him with Christie or Walker because Texas is a RTW state and he has not been “tested” in that regard.
3. I think this is Perry’s biggest weakness at the present time. Although Texas has many world trade partners, Perry has not dealt directly with the political heads of other nations.
4. He would be tougher here if he could. He supported the act which allowed the CHILDREN of illegal immigrants in-state tuition at state universities. I don’t think that speaks directly to illegal immigration (which he opposes greatly), but it is something that has caused some people some concerns.
5. Texas state legislature only meets 120 days every two years so it is not the same as our national government. He does not propose the state budget. Our governor does not have the same executive powers in the state that the president does nationally.
6. Perry swaggers, but he is a law-abiding governor.
7. Yes, his best trait, IMO.
8. Yes, also a strict constructionist he would appoint strict constructionist judges in the federal courts.
9. I’m not qualified to give you an opinion except to say that businesses are moving TO Texas and not AWAY.
10. Probably not. He’s pretty plain-spoken.
Hope that helps. I’ve done my best to give you ONE PERSON’s honest opinion of Gov. Perry.
Thankyou
fbks (Diary) Wednesday, August 17th at 5:18PM EST (link)Your replies are appreciated and helpful.
Re #5.
skorrent1 (Diary) Wednesday, August 17th at 8:00PM EST (link)How much credit, then, can we give Perry for his claims to “not raise taxes” and “cut spending three times”? It worries me that state spending doubled under his watch.
Re crony capitalism, does anyone know if state funding was involved in that $25billion array of birdchoppers in Texas? Seems like no one knew before they were built that peak electric demand corresponds to hot, still summer days and not the cooler, breezy nights. Maybe no one associated with the project ever lived in Texas.
If you are refering to the windmills...
gekster (Diary) Wednesday, August 17th at 8:11PM EST (link)It was the idea and funds of T Boone Pickens.
They say Republicans are for the rich, Democrats are for the poor.
If they need more voters,
then they have to make more of who they are for.
We are there in the various Tea Party groups, leaderless, but not rudderless.
We steer always toward the Constitutional principles this nation was founded upon.
Erick Brockway
Ok folks, 2012 is here. Get involved
Perry vetoed the Amazon tax
GregInFla (Diary) Thursday, August 18th at 12:24AM EST (link)That is enough to tell me he likes lower taxes.
– A true evolutionist would let endangered species die off. Think about it.
– The sign outside the courthouse said no signs allowed. So I took it down.
– Atlas Shrugged is now on the non-fiction aisle at Amazon.
Disagree on 6&7
txgrunner Thursday, August 18th at 6:37AM EST (link)- He is law-abiding, but he is also known for appointing people that are fiercely loyal to him, and will go back to him. As governor, he has amassed great power never intended for the governor of Texas. He did this largely through appointment powers finding compliant nominees who are beholden to him personally. Based on that, I expect him to use a lot of czars to essentially circumvent the power of congress to vet department secretaries. Obama (and Bush somewhat) blazed this trail, and I’d expect him to follow suit.
- I’m not sure why you think this is his best trait. I think his record on spending is pretty bad. He’s grown the government. I’m not aware of any agency he’s reduced or eliminated. I am aware of scores of programs initiated or grown during his administration. The bureaucracy has grown, and so has the invasiveness of many government agencies. Much of that is due to weak Republicans in the house, but I’m not aware of him stopping any of it.
Particularly environmental micro-management from Austin has become absurd over the last 10 years. In fairness, much of this might have been forced upon us by the fed, but these are state laws. For example, you can no longer put in a septic system on any property of less than 1 acre. That started in 2003 or 2005. By state regulation, you can only put in an aerobic system. So, instead of a tank and a 400 sq ft effluence field, you are talking about several thousand square feet which is a waste of space.
The number of state regulations on what you can or can’t do with your land has increased dramatically. The power of state agencies to block development has similarly gotten worse. I don’t know if this is Perry’s fault or not, if it was pushed by the feds or by over-zealous state bureaucrats. I just know its much worse.
txgrunner- I have some news for you
Scope (Diary) Thursday, August 18th at 7:42AM EST (link)Ron Paul will not be the next president of the US.
Good...thank God for that...
txgrunner Thursday, August 18th at 9:53AM EST (link)His answers on Iran were downright scary!
Whatever made you think I supported Ron Paul for president? Thats a real leap from what I wrote.
Vetting and motives
rubb Wednesday, August 17th at 4:23PM EST (link)I am not sure I would agree on all the conclusions that Ben would reach after studting the same issue, but I greatly appreciate the effort to keep emotion out of analysis. When vetting candidates, I never assume their actions are the result of evil motives, until the candidate proves it themselves. There just aren’t that many people out there that will jeopardize their position of power and economic gain for trivial amounts of campaign contributions. Most of these people make decisions because they believe it is the right thing to do. We may vehemently disagree with their judgement, but the disagreement alone is enough for us not to support them. Why would a person feel the need to make a candidate out to be the bride of Satan? State your position, contrast it with the others position, and let the adolescent left make themselves out to be fools by discussing personality rether than policy.
Vetting Perry
lastresort Wednesday, August 17th at 5:16PM EST (link)I started looking into Perry when I didn’t see what I was looking for in the conservatives who are running, The more I read the better I felt that although not perfect, Perry is a strong leader that wouldn’t have a problem admitting mistakes and has the maturity to not count his charisma to carry him to the presidency. I belive like others that we as conservatives can change the dialog if we stick together, in the end we just have to pick one to defeat Obama, I think Perry do it. I have no doubt that he will be put under the microscope and vetted by both sides, until he’s been proven to be an imposter, I hope we give him a chance to speak to us in plain English and explain his record.
This is a good diary on vetting Perry.
runner12 (Diary) Wednesday, August 17th at 5:41PM EST (link)I might also add that there is a difference between honestly vetting someone because we believe in restoring this country and throwing bricks at someone because we are rabidly supportive of another candidate.
Honest questions and diligent research are required when vetting candidates and each and every GOP candidate should undergo this process. But passive/aggressive attacks will only demoralize our side and open up the possibility of another Obama term.
I have some honest concerns regarding Perry, he is not the perfect candidate. But he is making both the Left and the GOP establishment’s head explode, which for me is a huge plus in his favor.
This strikes me as being exactly right
aesthete (Diary) Wednesday, August 17th at 8:39PM EST (link)No candidate is going to be perfect, so we need to know potential flaws. Understanding the weak points of a candidate is important so that we’re on guard and so that we can effect positive change in the administration of said candidate.
The act of defending any of the cardinal virtues has today all the exhilaration of a vice – G.K. Chesterton
Exactly.
runner12 (Diary) Wednesday, August 17th at 9:21PM EST (link)If we elect Tea Party/constitutional conservatives to the House and Senate, whoever is in the WH will have to move our direction. Out vigilance does not cease just because an R is elected to the WH. We may actually sleep better at night, but we won’t stop our push for conservative principles.
The WH leads and a compliant WH will hurt...
txgrunner Thursday, August 18th at 6:05AM EST (link)With Boehner and McConnell still in charge, even with majorities in both houses, a weak squishy president (Romney or Huntsman), will not move in our direction.
They will be worried about re-election and pleasing the media.
I think Perry is an above average governor. I worked for him when he first ran for Ag Commissioner and he’s alright.
He is not a movement conservative and his personal history is one of amassing power. I’m not talking in some evil, sinister ‘pinky and the brain’ sort of way, I just mean he will not willingly reduce the size of the executive – it will not happen under him.
Even so, he is a million times better than Obama, much better than Romney or Huntsman, and a little better than Bush.
That is why
runner12 (Diary) Saturday, August 20th at 12:23AM EST (link)A. We need new leadership in the House and Senate.
B. Make sure that neither Mittens or Huntsman wins the nomination.
My comments above mainly dealt with a Perry Presidency. I know that was not very clear.
BTW, love the “Pinky and the Brain” reference. I used to watch that when I was little. Good stuff.
Perry and the Imam
sunkgleska Wednesday, August 17th at 5:50PM EST (link)He is not a conservative and he has no understanding of Islam. That disqualifies him. The friends you keep are part of the vetting process. nothing more nothiing less…YUP
winning the future
streiff (Diary) Wednesday, August 17th at 6:00PM EST (link)that’s all. Just winning the future
“What keeps me here is the reek of beer, the ladies and the craic”
This summer, Rick Perry *is*, The Islamist
aesthete (Diary) Wednesday, August 17th at 8:34PM EST (link)Opening in theaters everywhere this Presidential election.
The act of defending any of the cardinal virtues has today all the exhilaration of a vice – G.K. Chesterton
Perry and Boy Scouts
After Seven (Diary) Wednesday, August 17th at 9:54PM EST (link)The push back on Perry falls into 3 quick categories for Me:
1. Gardisil
2. Islamization
3. Immigration
I would direct you to his first Book: –> On My Honor: Why the American Values of the Boy Scouts Are Worth Fighting for
At a time when American Values and the Boy Scouts are under full scale assault from the entire spectrum of International Socialist organizations…this book stands out as a REAL Core Values statement by Perry at a time when few if any politicians would take a bullet for the Boy Scout movement.
Perry’s support of Family Values, his support of the Military, his support of the Scouts & his support of Life are sorely needed in this nation right now. The Best antidote to Socialism is Faith, Family and Freedom. He gets a 2.5 out of 3 on that front. He’s A+++ on 2nd Amendment. He’s
Yes, he has made some serious blunders, but I’m not willing to throw the baby out with the bathwater.
He also has a serious bone to pick with the EPA and the Fed…and that is a battle we need to fight and win, like right now…and he’s just the guy to do it.
Of all the candidates out there only Palin has done more to earn my respect in the last 3 years.
Romney? No Freakin way
Santorum? Nice guy, but a Not Strong Enough candidate, no executive experience.
Christie? Global warming? Guns? Obamacare? wth?
Paul? Foreign Policy disaster.
Bachmann? Love her! But, No exec Experience, No governing track record, not as strong a speaker as Perry…
Newt? Would love to see him debate Obama…but that’s about it. Global warming was the nail in his coffin.
Cain? Experience, Experience, Experience.
Bolton & McCotter: Love’em on RedEye but they’re goin nowhere
Winning the Presidency is not enough….I believe we’ll need a strong forceful personality to reign in the Obama Bureaucracy and reign in the Obama/McConnell Judiciary…
Perry is someone who can do both. He’s not my first choice but if he’s the nominee….I’d be pretty relieved in that he’d be the strongest Conservative since Ronaldus Magnus and if he pulled a another Gardasil maneuver in his 1st Term and yet simultaneously killed Obamacare and DeFanged the EPA…I’d take that win any day.
“The powers delegated by the proposed Constitution to the Federal Government, are few and defined. Those which are to remain in the State Governments are numerous and indefinite.” ~ James Madison
(Federalist 45)
Pffft...on Michelle Malkin...
rowdydfw Wednesday, August 17th at 9:54PM EST (link)I read Michelle Malkin’s ramblling Gardasil article. Of late I go read her stuff to see ‘IF’ it has any facts in it. But that’s about it.
I used to follow her because she has a great and funny presentation and the many times is spot on. But what makes me now shrug and scan relates to one article she wrote.
In that article she gave the grand rant telling us all basically that we should be ashamed to keep raising the ‘birther’ issue, because it makes us ALL look fringlike and extremist. Like I gave a flip what it makes me ‘look like’ to those who yammer and criticize from the left whose policy is demonize, isolate, marginalize. And lie, distort, create chaos, and deny.
First it was an insult to call anybody raising that question a ‘birther’ or ‘fringe’. There are millions of us who deserve to get answers from the man in our White House on this issue. Second it was an insult to tell me what I should think, how I should act, and feel. Second, what I expect is for you to give me the facts. What’s the problem, what are the questions, are there any proven and factual answers already, where did they come from. Put the sunshine test on an issue. I can certainly decide to do further research and get all the ‘perspectives’ and facts I need.
The worst actor in all this, in my opinion...
heartlander (Diary) Wednesday, August 17th at 10:45PM EST (link)…is the Catholic establishment. And I’m speaking as a Catholic. The fact that some Catholic schools would NOT accept conscience exemptions is deeply disturbing to me, and should be to all intelligent, and especially pro-life, Catholics.
The HERO in all this, in my opinion, is Debi Vinnedge, who for years has been doing all the homework on ethical issues related to vaccines (mostly, the fact that many vaccines are made using cell lines derived from aborted babies). Her invaluable website, Children of God for Life, has since expanded into covering medical aspects as well as conscience/ethical/moral aspects of vaccines. Among other things, the site had this enlightening article about the extremely low benefit-to-cost ratio of Gardasil.
“The still, small voice of God in every human soul is the greatest ally of the pro-life cause, and why it will ultimately prevail.”
–Donald R. McClarey
Not one child was forcibly vaccinated
GregInFla (Diary) Thursday, August 18th at 12:29AM EST (link)From what I’ve read here on other threads, the E/O was revoked by legislation, signed by Perry, before the E/O went into affect. Would you vote for Romney over Perry? Not me. Another plus for Perry is that he did not attend Harvard or Yale.
– A true evolutionist would let endangered species die off. Think about it.
– The sign outside the courthouse said no signs allowed. So I took it down.
– Atlas Shrugged is now on the non-fiction aisle at Amazon.
Perry's conservative credentials
txgrunner Thursday, August 18th at 5:39AM EST (link)Rick Perry does have conservative tendencies, but he is not a conservative. He knows what conservatives want to hear, and he plays up to that, and he is even loyal and consistent with what he’s previously stated. He is certainly not a flip-flopper or panderer like Mitt Romney.
He is not a movement conservative. He never will be. He is not a genuine conservative in the sense that when he confronts a new issue, or an issue in which he has no personal interest, his response will be one consistent with limited government and respect for individual liberty.
You were inundated by emails questioning his credentials based primarily on the vaccine issue, which you then pick apart in great detail. Fair enough, but there is a lot longer history and many more issues to explore.
I’ve known Rick Perry a lot longer. In 1990, I pushed cards for him in Beaumont and Houston when he ran for Agriculture Commissioner. I’ve voted for him in every statewide general election his name was on the ballot, and almost every time in the primary. He’s been better than any democrat or moderate he faced.
As governor though, he grew state power, state government, and the power of the governor’s office. Even when he plays the part of the conservative advocate, it is unnatural to him.
During the last legislative session, a house bill was introduced to re-assert Texas’ rights under the 10th Amendment. I forget the specifics of the bill, but Rick Perry held a media conference to support the bill. As he introduced the bill, he started to try to explain the importance of the 10th Amendment. He couldn’t. He couldn’t finish the sentence Texas’ rights “under the 10th Amendment are important because…”
He flubbed – nothing about federalism, local control, power closer to the people, or the dangers of centralized power. He’s like a kid who wants the answer to the math problem, but know how to work it. He quickly handed the microphone to the bill’s sponsor who passionately explained the purpose of the bill.
That might sound like a trivial incident, but it defines him accurately. Look deeper into his record as a legislator, Ag Commisioner, Lt. Governor, and governor. How did he vote, who did he appoint, and what battles did he fight?
I think Rick Perry is an above average governor, but there is a reason he nearly lost in 2006 in a 3 way race and why he was nearly forced into a run-off from the right in 2010 by Debra Medina (before she imploded).
Haley Barbour, and many more like him, are wrong when they say we shouldn’t make ‘purity’ a litmus test. The question was never about ‘purity’, the issue is authenticity!
Far too many times conservatives have supported or elected people who say the right things, but either don’t believe or don’t understand the conservative philosophy. Their knee-jerk reaction to a new issue is just like every other big government politician, and then we feel betrayed yet again when governent grows. If their first response is a new law, a new program, or a new agency, that is the WRONG candidate.
I’m not going to agree with anybody 100% of the time, but I do want somebody who philosophically agrees with me, not somebody who is acting or just learning the right lines. Rick Perry is much more the later than the former.
I’ll support Perry over Romney, just as I’d support Romney or anybody else over Obama. Those aren’t the choices right now. We will be squandering a terrific opportunity to seriously reign in the federal government if we fail to nominate a movement conservative.
The crisis we face – particularly with obamacare – is very serious. We can’t afford an average ‘alright’ candidate who will only slow the rate of growth or take us back to deficits of only ~$300 billion. We need a president who will be great, who will actually reduce the size of the federal government and the powers it assumed from weak governors and a willing congress eager to buy votes with tax money.
We need our own activist who has a history of reducing governent’s reach, power, and costs. Only one person running/likely to run has ever done that, and its not Rick Perry.
txgrunner- So tell us who did it
Scope (Diary) Thursday, August 18th at 7:58AM EST (link)Who was the only one that ever reduced government’s reach, power, and costs?
Oh, so now you actually ask...
txgrunner Thursday, August 18th at 9:59AM EST (link)Well, to paraphrase Perry, you seem like a well-informed, inquisitive citizen, I suggest you go research that and figure it out for yourself. I’m not here to schill for anybody.
Actually, there are two that have successfully reduced the government’s reach, power, and costs. Specifically, they cut government employees, programs, and expenses. One of them is never going to get the nomination, the other potentially could. I support one who could get nominated, but I admire the other one too.
Don't be coy
Neil Stevens (Diary) Thursday, August 18th at 10:03AM EST (link)Just admit you back the truther Ron Paul.
RS contributing editor, technical administrator, and “a hardy variety of crabgrass.”
Read the RedState Posting Rules
Unlikely Voter: Poll Analysis, Election Projection.
“I rejoice that America has resisted.” – William Pitt, the Elder
oh oh oh! I wanna play!
Jim Tomasik (Diary) Thursday, August 18th at 10:11AM EST (link)Gary Johnson!
Wow, I am IMPRESSED!!!
txgrunner Saturday, August 20th at 12:29AM EST (link)That’s right, one of them is Gary Johnson and he’ll never get the nomination (IMHO).
Re: Ron Paul
I can’t imagine why anybody thinks I support Ron Paul. I don’t. Seriously, just because I disagree with an overly burdensome state regulation, suddenly I qualify as a libertarian or quasi-anarchist?!?!?!
In fact, I think Paul’s running is a grave disservice. Even though I wouldn’t support Gary Johnson either, Ron took away the space from Johnson, and so his voice was taken out of the debates.
I was in Iraq for 5 years, and now 2 years in Afghanistan. Ron Paul fundamentally does not understand the threats we face in the middle east. He is nieve to think our enemies are responding to something we did. They hate us for who we are, regardless of whether we become isolationists or not. They intend to destroy us.
Ron is like an eccentric old man who says outlandish things to get people to think. Sure, he’s moved the debate some and the fact more people are looking at auditing the fed is a good thing. I’d still rather see Gary Johnson in the debates representing libertarianism than Ron Paul.
I’m not going to tell you who I support because its irrelevant. The topic is Rick Perry and vetting. Nobody cares who I support, they just want to pigeon-hole me and then argue I have no credibility because I support so and so.
Actually, wasn’t that Ben’s whole point? Instead of honestly discussing an issue, the pros and cons, and making a calculated, reasoned opinion, we jump all over somebody or blindly defend somebody for unrelated reasons and personality traits. No thanks, I’m not going to play the game.
Instead we should come up with a set of ‘requirements’ and then try to find the closest candidate. My argument is we need somebody with a record of cutting government, ceding powers, and an authentic movement conservative.
I stand by what I wrote: Rick Perry, my governor and somebody I campaigned for over 20 years ago is an above average governor, but we need to do better if we can because his record is not one of cutting government, ceding powers, and he is not an authentic movement conservative.
Ron IS an eccentric old man
izoneguy (Diary) Saturday, August 20th at 12:38AM EST (link)…but we need to do better if we can
And who might that be?
The point cannot be made often enough: Modern liberalism, as embodied in the Obama presidency, is the defender of the status quo. And the status quo is a road to economic ruin. Political forces cannot redistribute the wealth that the economic system does not produce.
If this is the worst error Perry made count our country blessed
charm2 Thursday, August 18th at 11:34AM EST (link)Great defense of your position yesterday. I read MM’s piece yesterday and thought this was a lot of fuss over … not much. There are always those who will use a scorched earth strategy on a pimple.