The following editorial appeared in the Dallas Morning News:
Here in Texas, we know a few things about Gov. Rick Perry. Foremost, he knows how to win. He has mowed down political opponents in a 27-year unbeaten streak, an impressive display of discipline and ability to read the winds.
Texas also knows that Rick Perry the officeholder is not at the same level as Rick Perry the candidate.
In nearly 11 years as governor, he has not been known for his problem-solving or innovation. Perry has instead established himself as a power governor who doesn’t like to be crossed, and many Texans are far more familiar with what he is against (like “Washington”) than what he is for.
Now the nation is getting an eyeful of what Perry does best — compete — with his entry into the GOP contest for president.
The stakes today are not only higher for him, but for the nation. That calls for Perry to do what hasn’t come naturally for him. The times call for solutions, not catchphrases or lines in the sand.
This nation has been unnerved by uncertainty over debt and a massive loss of jobs. People are hurting, their life savings bled away.
The answer is not merely asking the public to be in awe of the Texas low-tax, low-regulation model and live within our means as a nation. Yes, we balance our books here in Texas.
The state Constitution says we must, and the Legislature sees that it gets done every two years. Perry is often disengaged from that process and offers little imagination.
One year Perry’s chief contribution to Austin’s spending plan was political theater: His budget proposal to lawmakers was a 15-page document with line after line of zeroes.
Perry wanted to make a point about penny-pinching. But the stunt also revealed how involved the governor wanted to be in the details.
We saw that, too, in 2006, when lawmakers were staring at a court order to design a new system of paying for public education. Perry was a reluctant participant until his hand was forced. There were too many questions involving taxes, and Perry doesn’t like to be anywhere near that word.
President Barack Obama has been legitimately criticized in recent months for not being a man with a plan for getting out of the nation’s financial swamp. This will be the standard Perry must meet. He will have to take the political risk of laying out details.
The nation’s challenges also call for neutralizing a toxic atmosphere in Washington, and bringing sides together is not a Perry talent. He sometimes seems to revel in the opposite, in being a polarizing force.
He told Time magazine last week that a “clear focus of mine” would be working with Congress. Though a former Texas House member, this governor is not known for strong rapport with lawmakers in Austin. A budding LBJ Rick Perry is not.
Perry gave Democratic challenger Bill White a 13-point drubbing last year based on a status quo campaign. Re-elect me, he said, and Texas will keep doing fine.
Texas wasn’t exactly fine then, and the nation surely isn’t today. We know Perry is capable of a brilliant campaign pitch. We’d rather hear a clear prescription for what ails the nation.
Comments (21)
Add commentWhat do you base these statements on?
Do you have documented proof he is all of these things? Or is this your opinion?
Complete moron:
Art, you sure you're not talking about BO? I spent my high school/collage years in Texas and still stay in contact with old friends and relatives’ down there. I can say one thing Perry is very much liked in that state. You will always have some one like Art who has their negative opinion which I respect. So Art tell us, what is BO going to base his campaign on?
Lies and more lies? Been following and listening to him for the last couple days, he is a complete moron.
Rick Perry killed an innocent
Rick Perry killed an innocent man, knowing full well the evidence used to convict him was deeply flawed.
He called Ben Bernanke a traitor for fiscal policy that has been in place since Reagan's term (and didn't apologize for it).
That stupid coyote story--if it's true, it reflects poorly on his character (only a certain type of person shoots animals for fun), and if not, then he's a liar and it reflects poorly on his character.
He's a lot like George W. Bush, only less "good," I think (Dubya seemed like he wanted to do good most of the time, whereas Perry seems like he just wants to be perceived as manly).
p says, "He called Ben
p says, "He called Ben Bernanke a traitor". Don't lie. He said if Bernanke did QE3 it would be treasonous. Words have meanings.
I see it doesn't take long for the chattering class to get their talking points dispersed! That pipeline is long and fast!
Everything this editorial mentions as a negative about Perry, I say, "WINNING!!!" It's early and we'll see how things play out.
art - quotations needed again?
PP:
You most be referring to Cameron Willingham and as someone who supports the death penalty, I feel that was a miscarriage of justice. I’m sure this happens all the time. Another story altogether.
As far as the coyote goes, if you remember the story he was protecting his daughter's labrador retriever puppy. Coyotes’ can be very aggressive and vicious. I have had to dispatch several in my time.
Bush, I would rather have him back in office even Hilary or Bill to be fare, we can’t afford another 4 years of BO. Again Art what is BO going to run on?
Did I wake up sometime between the 5th and 15th centuries?
This man is positively medieval in his ramblings.
Now, whether he actually believes the faithful yarn, "God help us because we certainly can't help ourselves," is anyone's guess but if he doesn't get the GOP nomination, he'd likely find a presidential fit with any number of African failed states.
Mike
Coyotes typically avoid
Coyotes typically avoid people and only very, very rarely attack people. Perry's story is highly suspect, especially since it involves a puppy. Saving a puppy gets more "awww" reactions than even saving a baby does.
And you're sure Cameron Willingham's "miscarriage of justice" happens all the time?! Perry was advised well before the execution that the evidence used to convict him was essentially BS, but he refused to stay the execution. Even for more investigation. This sort of thing may happen "all the time" in Texas, but not in states run by more civilized governors (or states without the death penalty).
http://www.newyorker.com/reporting/2009/09/07/090907fa_fact_grann
In addition, he's also killed several mentally retarded individuals (and even vetoed a bill that would have prevented killing the mentally retarded).
Rick Perry is either a sociopath to some degree or really, really stupid. Perhaps both, but I'm betting on just the former.
"Coyotes typically avoid
"Coyotes typically avoid people and only very, very rarely attack people." So PP. You ever live around coyotes? Doesn't sound like it. Just outside Seattle, they are actually acting more like pack animals and taking cats and dogs right off the back porch. A quick google search finds many stories of people being attacked, having their pets attacked while they were walking them (one was even a labrador so don't say its just rat dogs) and many many stories of pets being killed in their own yards.
Of course coyotes eat dogs
Of course coyotes eat dogs and cats and rabbits and whatever other mammal they can find. Just ask Jessica Simpson!
p, I'm admiring your strength - I'll just leave it at that!
Southern Poverty Law Center - one of the most hateful and bigoted organizations funded in part by Soros, operating under the guise of civil rights. Ick.
@kpawsuh: There are fewer
@kpawsuh: There are fewer than a dozen coyote attacks on people every year in all of the U.S.--that qualifies it as a rare event. I do believe bear attacks are more common than coyote attacks, and I'd venture to guess they're more likely to be deadly, too (though I could be wrong).
Again, spoken like someone
Again, spoken like someone who has never been around them. You leave your pets out and they are lunch.
The Dallas Morning News is too kind to Rick Perry in this piece
Perry has turned to prayer several times in his office, even officially declaring in his capacity as Governor a statewide three-day period of prayer during a drought in April. Just think about that.
It's the 21st century. Does it really have to be explained that no amount of wailing at the sky (prayer) or calorie restriction (fasting) is going to cause rain to fall!
Atmospheric sciences truthfully describe the chemistry and physics of rainfall, not superstition. There is no evidence to believe otherwise.
Wailing at the sky is just how he handles drought. Do a majority of Americans really want such an theocratic mindset forming policy and permeating through the cabinet of a Perry Administration?
"Rick Perry is deluded." That should have been the headline of the Dallas Morning News editorial. And remember Dallas Morning News, truth is a perfect defense to alleged libel.
Mike
Ron Paul doesn't know what
Ron Paul doesn't know what he's talking about. He believes it's wrong for the federal government to oppress us but okay for the states to. He believes in returning to the gold standard (bad idea for many reasons!). He believes in a system of non-governance that is a fantasy, pure and simple.
What I am taking from these
What I am taking from these exchanges is that the many of the kool-aid drinking, hard left will not be voting for Gov. Perry.
Not much of an alternative....
Perry may have a Texas twang and swagger and remind less thoughtful voter of Bush II, but there sure aren't any other candidates out there that excite me. Anyone, and I do mean ANYONE, would be better than the wimpy, fence straddling, quasi-Marxist, equal opportunity Elitist that currently resides in the White House/Martha's Vineyard.
I can't stand her, but I swear that I'd vote for Sarah Palin before I vote for Obama. We need a LEADER. That, we clearly do not have with Obama.