(Nick Anderson via GoComics.com)
In today’s roundup of buyer’s remorse from the Media Village, the LA Times has a nice succinct editorial summing up “The Problem with Perry“:
Given the depth of his loathing for the federal government, it’s a little surprising that Texas Gov. Rick Perry wants to preside over it. Indeed, in the preface to his book “Fed Up!”, Perry writes: “Now, cynics will say that I decided to write this book because I seek higher office. They are wrong: I already have the greatest job in America.”
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Apparently not…
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The Washington Post investigates why it’s important that “Perry’s travel, security costs will stay secret until after 2012“:
Since Rick Perry joined the presidential race this month, his campaign entourage has included not just the standard array of political advisers and aides, but a squad of Texas law enforcement agents.
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The security forces scout and secure locations days in advance. Well before the governor’s visit to Tommy’s Country Ham House in Greenville, S.C., the weekend of Aug. 20, more than a half-dozen suited and armed agents were giving orders to the crowd of more than 400.
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How much is this ever-present phalanx of state policemen costing the taxpayers of Texas? They won’t know at least until after next year’s presidential election, thanks to a provision, tucked into a school finance bill in July, that will keep the governor’s travel records sealed for 18 months.
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Although security around public officials has been tightened considerably since the Sept. 11, 2001, terror attacks, the secrecy that surrounds Perry’s travels is unique, according to Ken Bunting, executive director of the Missouri-based National Freedom of Information Coalition.
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And the governor’s critics contend that it has as much to do with politics as safety — especially after the embarrassment for Perry when taxpayers learned that they had been paying for scuba gear and golf cart rentals for officers who accompanied Perry and his wife to the Bahamas in 2004…
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And the coastal elitists at New York Magazine’s “Daily Intel” blog report that “Politico Asks an Impolite Question About Rick Perry“:
Whether he’s dumb. It’s probably not a good sign when a reporter needs to devote four pages and talk to multiple sources to answer that one. Of course, it’s also not a great sign that the question was posed at all, or phrased that way. Even “Is Rick Perry smart?” would have been slightly less damaging…
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Perry prefers a different description for his brain, though.“If Karl Rove hadn’t been my consultant, I would not have been agriculture commissioner today,” Perry told the Dallas Morning News in 1994, adding: “My brain is like a chicken pot pie. His is like a refrigerator that is all very organized — pickles here, salad there.”
That’s actually a very sophisticated metaphor! With great economy, Perry indicated that he finds Rove cold, briney, and unsatisfying…
Chicken pot pie — dubious leftovers, inadequate for a full meal, thriftily disguised with a schmaltz-and-cornstarch gravy and baked in a golden crust of dough. Now there’s a campaign metaphor… for Perry’s opponents.
piratedan
well how in the blue blazes do you people expect him to grift if you keep watching everything he does? He has teachers to fire and minimum wage jobs to take credit for, as well as having to fit in all those “special sessions” with the oil industry to make sure those palms are greased. Now you expect him to tell you how much it all costs after you pined for him to come out and play? There is just no satisfying you people.
Yutsano
@piratedan: Fucking accountability, how do it work?
Sharl
Not on Rick PArry, but open threadish…
And TBogg’s ‘shorter’ WRM:
Joseph Nobles
Prayer can’t stop a sinful nation. But laws can.
Spaghetti Lee
They won’t know at least until after next year’s presidential election, thanks to a provision, tucked into a school finance bill in July, that will keep the governor’s travel records sealed for 18 months.
Given what Texas Republicans have been doing to the schools, this was probably the least offensive thing in that bill.
Jenny
That’s not buyer’s remorse, rather it’s story lines being fed by Mitten’s campaign (and probably Rove).
Emerald
Perry’s phalanx of Texas security men is not unique. I lived in NH while Bush and McCain were running in 2000. Went to a Bush event.
All over the place were big beefy guys staring at the audience. They lined the halls as we walked in and out, staring at us. Looking intimidating.
Turned out they were Texas security men. Never saw such a thing in any other NH primary event.
We didn’t like it. That was the year McCain beat Bush by 17%.
megamahan
Chicken pot pie is the motherfucking dope jam. I wish I could eat Rick Perry’s brain right now!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ApmvDU5RmyY
+7
Yutsano
@megamahan:
Objection: assumes facts not in evidence. We do not know if Rick Perry actually possesses said organ.
megamahan
@Yutsano: Don’t deny me my chicken pot pie. /zombie
gene108
@piratedan:
It’ll be interesting to see how much traction this talking point gets versus Perry falling back on the Texas “miracle”. If he’s asked about the quality of jobs he’s “created”, by the talking-heads on T.V., then it may get some traction with most folks.
I think the more important point in Krugman’s critique of the Texas “miracle” was the fact that a lot of the economic growth comes from people moving to Texas both legally and as illegal immigrants, over the past 10 years. Basically the more people, who show up in your state the more they will demand goods and services.
Anyway, I doubt the immigration to Texas aspect will get much play because it is a bit of a complex argument about the effects of immigration on the economy and too complex for most reporters to grasp, let alone ask questions about to Presidential candidates.
One reason I find the talking point of “minimum wage” job creation interesting is because President Clinton ran on his record of job creation in Arkansas, for 10 years as governor, in 1992 and the opposition tried to bring up the point many of those jobs were low paying, low skilled jobs.
President Clinton had the charm ans savvy to keep that talking point from overshadowing his theme of job creation as President.
I wonder if Perry can put off the question about the types of jobs he “created” in Texas, as well as what it will take from the Left to make it a talking point in the election.
Menzies
@megamahan:
I was hoping someone would say this. Chicken pot pie is the shit.
Yutsano
@Menzies: No love for the turkey? Barbarians.
John Puma
It’s not clear why the vast majority of participants of this blog are obsessing so over the possible Republican nominee.
It is no mystery. It will be someone in the “range” of overt to drooling, Nazi.
THE only thing that will prevent that monster from winning in Nov 2012 is to convince Obama to behave like a Democrat. Why not expend the time and energy there?
Because, it never changes, and now, more than ever, it must be remembered that voters elect REAL gun-totin’, meat-eatin’, hard-prayin’ Republicans over mere impersonators. (See 2010 mid-terms)
Baud
You mean he should ignore his many accomplishments and stay at home on election day?
Menzies
@Yutsano:
At the time I typed that, I was starving inside John F. Kennedy Airport because nothing had opened yet. My apologies for disrespecting such a wonderful animal as is the turkey.
Rhoda
Pawlenty has to be kicking himself for not having the stones to wait for a real goddamn vote.
It’s crystal clear now that Mittens can’t unite the Republican base and will have twice the problem McCain did unifying the party; I don’t think putting Rubio on the ticket will get him out of the mess he’s in with the base.
Meanwhile, Perry isn’t an acceptable nominee. You can’t call Social Security a ponzi scheme and win a general election.
This was why I figured Pawlenty would end up the nominee; there wasn’t any other place for the party to unite. But of course; he really is a wimp and dropped out when the going got rough. I mean, even Newt had balls enough to stay in the race and take it to a god damn VOTE despite it being clear he’s not going to get anywhere near the nomination.
It’ll be fun watching Rove and Mittens try to drive Perry out of the race; but if the tea party has rallied around Perry’s flag (as it seems they have) they’re going to have a harder time than they think.
Dennis SGMM
I beg to differ. Republicans can say anything that they want to because remarks such as Perry’s will be applauded by the base and unquestioned by the press. Perry knows good and well what he’s doing. The example of having 67 borderline lunatics elected to the House set the bar.
Keith G
@Baud:
For the record, that was not the story of the 2010 elections. Maybe someone should act like a Democrat and join the reality-based community.
To the thread: It certainly seems possible that Romney and Perry will be testing the limits of the 11th Commandment.
Joseph Nobles
To be fair, the reality-based community would recognize you can’t say shit like “Global warming is real”, “Evolution is a fact”, and “Social Security isn’t the problem,” and become the Republican nominee.
Baud
@Keith G: As a Democratic member of the reality-based community, I proudly voted for the Democrats on election day in 2010. Apparently, however, there were not enough people like me at the polls.
Amir Khalid
Does Rick Perry really have the stomach for a rough-and-tumble primary season? So far, he has not gone up against the other Republican candidates in debate or even the Iowa straw poll. I’m aware that Tim Pawlenty’s lame debate performance helped kill off an already feeble candidacy. (I don’t know if Perry’s got a record of vigorously debating people in Texas. I hope any Texans among us can enlighten us on that point.)
Did Perry merely join the race late, or did he deliberately time his entry to avoid going up against his competition — so as to hide, for as long as possible, certain of his weaknesses? The Republican field has already had more than one flash-in-the-pan candidate. I have my suspicions about a candidate who avoids his rivals.
Donut
@John Puma:
Amen to point #1 above. This is why lately I’ve felt frustrated that so many on our team pronounce themselves satisfied with Obama on all fronts, and as respects the way he discusses the economy (taxes and spending), there is to be no discussion about what the president has been doing, and if you do talk it about it, SHUT UP FIREBAGGER.
I’m happy with a lot of what the president has done, but really unhappy with the way the prez has been talking about the economy. He’s not done as well as he could with the opportunities he’s had since the mid-terms. The Grand Bargain was a grand joke, and I bet most people couldn’t even tell you what the bargain was supposed to be. All they know is the president couldn’t really control the crazies all that well and it got scary. I don’t understand the incessant desire to meet the GOP halfway. At some point you have to try to move them left. At some point…or else we’re really fukkin doomed. And yes, I realize that the GOP effectively owns both houses of Congress, and deals have to be made eventually, but if we aren’t gonna win the fight, then ok, but at least go down swinging, fer fuk’s sake. Make the case for liberal Democratic principles. Give your damn party something to run on in 2012. A theme. An idea. A principle. You know, a fukkin’ sales plan?
Second point: not only see 2010, but see Kerry in 2004, Gore in 2000, Dukakis in 1988…
Omnes Omnibus
@Dennis SGMM: A Presidential campaign is national. You can’t just appeal to a few pockets of fascists or religious fundamentalists and expect to win. A full bore attack on Social Security will at least turn off all the older voter and could even cause them to vote for your opponent.
jeffreyw
Mmm…chicken pot pie
Yevgraf
A sobering thought. If a Texas teatard oilboy runs for pres and loses, does Texas secede?
arguingwithsignposts
The interesting thing from Perry’s travels:
Grover Fucking Norquist.
MikeJ
@Yevgraf: One can hope.
Keith G
@Baud: Good for you and you were typical of the conscientious and enlightened segment of Democratic voters – they did not stay home.
What did happen is that “independents” voted Republican by 15% and Seniors cast their votes for the GOP by 24%. Voters identifying themselves as “working class” broke for the GOP by 13%. The differential among “angry” voters – those favoring Republicans over Democrats was gigantic, 84% voted GOP.
Yes, voters did stay home, but this statistic was rather consistent with previous mid term elections.
Some Guy
We have seen this with Palin: political reporters get a crush on anti-government wingers, I guess because they are the cool bullies of the lunchroom, then they start to realize they are fucking stupid. Perry’s problem will be that he is running for the top seat, not VP, which means his exposure will be long and brutal. The more he throws verbal bombs about Social Security, the dicier it is when it gets later in the ca Laing or a debate. Calling millinos of people’s life line unconstitutional or a Ponzi scheme in a debate will not wash down even with a tall glass “look at my revolver!”. And if he moderates he looks completely dishonest. He has removed his ability to tack to the center and remain viable.
JPL
@arguingwithsignposts: That’s just so wrong. Taxpayer money being spent to meet with anti-tax Norquist.
polyorchnid octopunch
@John Puma: “voters elect REAL gun-eatin’, meat-prayin’, hard-on-totin’ Republicans”
FTFY.
Keith G
@Yevgraf: @MikeJ:
Cute. Such wit so early.
Perry’s star in the Lone Star State is not twinkling as bright as some suppose. Some folk down here might just be shortsighted enough to support his current quest just to get him out of Austin. All the derisive nick names he is known by got their start here where we know him best.
Emma
@Donut: This is is why lately I’ve felt frustrated that so many on our team pronounce themselves satisfied with Obama on all fronts, and as respects the way he discusses the economy (taxes and spending), there is to be no discussion about what the president has been doing, and if you do talk it about it, SHUT UP FIREBAGGER.
Start with this kind of lie and everyone shuts their ears to your argument.
If you really wish, you can go through this blog, posts and comments, and find plenty of criticism of Obama. You just will not find criticism based on either the magic pony theory of government or the Royal entitlement theory of government.
And ps: Gore had a plan. Do you remember the “social security lockbox” for an example? Everything Gore said was relentlessly ridiculed by the media. That’s when I gave up watching American news and reading American newspapers. Gore’s biggest mistake was his choice of vp.
JPL
Wonders never cease! Milbank has a good opinion piece on the benefits of big government. LINK
a hip hop artist from Idaho (fka Bella Q)
@Yevgraf: We can only hope. I see MikeJ beat me to the answer.
ornery curmudgeon
@Sharl: So now Progressives are just like Sauron, and the Right is wee little hobbitses trying to valiantly escape from its black, souless tyranny.
Even the liberal New Republic, gee. More of that rotted fish smell.
Chyron HR
@John Puma:
It’s not clear why the vast majority of self-proclaimed “True Liberals” will try to change the subject whenever a Republican politican’s record is subjected to even the mildest scrutiny.
Keith G
@Emma:
Ah….Emma. To be fair the statement in question, what you call a lie, did not use the descriptor ‘all’ or ‘most’. He said “so many”. As in:
I do not see where that deserves to be attacked as a lie. At the very least, you could contest what “so many” means and then evaluate it’s accuracy.
redshirt
@megamahan: Long ago in an America far, far away, there was a semi-fast food joint in Hartford CT called “The Pie Plate” that served 30 different types of pot pies early into the morning. A college favorite, back in the day. Just imagine all – all the Pot Pies of the Rainbow!
Linda Featheringill
@Amir Khalid:
Hmmm. Don’t know. I suspect that both Romney and Bachmann would come off better in a head-to-head debate.
The thing I haven’t figured out is, if Perry is the Answer, what was the question? Seriously. I wonder what it is that I’m missing.
ETA:
Okay. He is male, doesn’t belong to any strange religions, and his sins are the familiar ones that people can cope with. And he’s not a member of the intellectual elite.
anitamurie
I’m an actual life long Texas liberal Democrat. Yes, we are an endangered species but we do exist. We used to be represented quite respectfully by the late greats Molly Ivons and Mr. Maury Maverick. Since Molly’s been gone it seems the rest of us have been left to fend for ourselves hidden away in certain parts of South Texas but mostly just in Austin. To be honest, I hate it here now. I hate everything about
Texas these days. I hate cowboy boots and cowboy hats. I hate horses. I hate rodeos. I hate the way we call ourselves the “Lone Star State”. I hate every stupid ignorant redneck I meet here.
That is what 6 years of George Bush followed by 10 years of Rick Perry has done to Texas.
Old Dan and Little Ann
Shut up bitch! Go fix me a turkey pot pie.
-John Bender
Thoughtful Black Co-Citizen
I think watching Perry discover that his particular brand of Texas Two-Steppin’ does not play well on the national stage will provide hours of amusement.
@Baud: We are not worthy of this comment.
SiubhanDuinne
@JPL:
Good piece. Mil bank makes excellent points.
But dear gods, some of the comments . . . !
PurpleGirl
@Donut:
I’ve come to the conclusion that the President is like the little kid whose parents have divorced and he keeps trying to get them back together. Additionally he really dislikes family confrontation and tries anything to keep his siblings from fighting. Hence, he really wants to do things in a bipartisan way and keeps trying to the other side to follow him compromise. He keeps trying and isn’t seeing that it isn’t working as well it could.
Stefan
@Emerald:
By what legal authority are Texas law enforcement officers giving orders to people when not in Texas?
Linda Featheringill
@Stefan:
Might, my dear.
badpoetry
The story of Perry’s personal goon squad handling security at campaign events reminds me of Stephen King’s “The Dead Zone” (a very underrated novel, IMO). In that book, the evil candidate Greg Stillson has his own enforcement thugs- folks that used to be in a gang called the Demon Chrome. They wear black shirts and carry around sawed off pool cues, as I recall…
The Other Bob
On CNN this morning they had a discussion of whether or not a candidate’s faith matters. I say yes, but not for the same reasons right-wing evangelicals do.
When Perry says he loves Jesus more than the country doesn’t he need to clarify where his loyalty lies? Will he share the same vision for the constitution as Jews, Muslims, nonbelievers, or even Christians of another denomination? John Kennedy had to state that his loyalty was with the United States and not with the Catholic Church. This wasn’t even fair because he didn’t run around saying that he loved his religion more that the country he wanted to lead.
Between this crap and his succession talk, has he disqualified himself as capable of leading this country?
Josie
@Amir Khalid: Perry has avoided debating opponents whenever possible. There were no debates when he ran against Bill White in the last election. White would have cleaned his clock in a debate, so it was a good move on Perry’s part.
Keith G
@Linda Featheringill:
“How can we get back to the good times?”
Our society has had it so easy (in general) for so long. Say what they will, post WWII Americans don’t do major social sacrifice. There is no us in the U.S anymore.
Perry keeps alive a fiction that we are okay and just a few bad decisions made by leftys got us into a jam.
That is Perry’s appeal to many.
Slight edit
Scamp Dog
@Donut: Look, I’m OK with complaining about Obama’s performance. What makes me yell “firebagger” is the stuff about “I’m gonna stay home ’cause I’m not happy!” Complain all you want, then work to re-elect Obama. Also help out to elect and re-elect local officials. Make sure the people you work with and help know your complaints.
Pro tip: when Republicans get elected, Democratic pols wind up moving right, not left. You want a liberal president? Make sure he’s got enough backing that he can tell Blue Dogs to get lost and still be able to stick it to the Republicans.
anitamurie
Rick Perry ONLY plays to win. He has never lost an election. I worked real hard for Bill White last election and things actually looked pretty good till we got our clocks cleaned election night. The thing is, in Texas, even supposed liberal Dems, have to act like stupid gun toting, hang em high, rough and tough cowboys(or on occasion cowgirls i.e. Anne Richards) to have a chance at haven a chance in Texas. The only real liberals live in Austin which is why Austinites try really hard to “keep Austin weird”. Austin is the only safe place to even admit to voting for Barak Obama without getting the crap beat out of you. Liberal Dems are just freaks and weirdos here in Texas which was fine until Bush/Perry got a hold of Texas. Now it seems even 6th Street just sucks the little bit of free thinking we have left here. Anyone out there who’s disappointed because Obama didn’t deliver on the public option, or Gitmo or even financial reform better GET OVER IT. Rick Perry is as dumb as a bag of rocks but he’ll have the msm drooling all over his phony cowboy persona just like GWB. Only Perry, see he has NO sense of decency and believe it or not, he’s actually dumber than GWB. Don’t think George Bush when you see Rick Perry, think Dick Cheney with absolutely no brains. Real Scary.
Hal
@Donut:
Sorry, but that’s not much of a point at all. Plucking the names of past Dem Presidential candidates out of the air and pronouncing there loses the result of them “not acting like Democrats”, is quite frankly, complete bullshit.
And this. My God, if I read this, or some variation of this one more fucking time. It’s so vastly irritating. No one is completely satisfied with Obama. No one objects to criticism of Obama.
The problem I have is that with some of you, you never do anything but go after Obama. Any attempt to criticize the opponent or point out why, say Perry, would be horrible as President gets met with “Oh yeah? But what about when Obama did blah blah blah.” There’s nothing, not one piece of legislation, or act that you like. Obama = Bush = Black Jimmy Carter, and why can’t Elizabeth Warren run for President etc etc.
That isn’t any more a winning strategy than Obama “acting like a Republican.”
SiubhanDuinne
@Hal:
Including, I venture to guess, Obama himself.
Amir Khalid
@Josie:
In an election for governor of Texas, that might work; but you Americans expect to see presidential candidates debate each other. (As a Malaysian, I envy that. I would love to see a PM versus opposition coalition leader head-to-head on live TV before a general election.) How would Perry duck out on debates, and not look like Brave Sir Robin?
Keith G
@Hal:
There are folks who behave in the way you describe, but my recollection is that it’s quite a small and inbred slice of our pie, mmmmm, pie.
And then there are folks who are honestly frustrated at Obama and have few powers to voice that legitimate frustration. Historically, one peaceful way to do that (getting the attention of a party or politician) is to withhold support. I do not think it is the wisest way, but it has worked in the past for specific groups.
In short when I read such as:
This just appears to be more insufficiently focused rage which is not any more comprehensible or useful than the targets of your criticism.
Emphasis in the block is my addition.
Paul in KY
Wouldn’t any Texas law enforcement agent be out of jurisdiction, once they were beyond the boundaries of that big-ass state?
Paul in KY
@Stefan: Excellent point! Great minds & all that…
Josie
@Amir Khalid: I agree completely. If Romney has a brain cell working, he will exploit this weakness and attack during the next debate. I suspect that Perry is not very quick on his feet, other than repeating his stock set of statements, and would not be able to keep up with a lively debate. There is no way to be sure, since we just haven’t seen him in this situation. He did debate a West Texas conservative in the Republican primary and she soundly defeated him in the debate but lost the primary, possibly due to lack of name recognition and money.
Paul in KY
@Amir Khalid: He will have to debate (at least 2 I would think) if he gets the Republican nomination.
The Other Bob
As a near Obot I was slammed here a few weeks back for basically saying that Obama’s stump speech sucked.
His messaging does suck. Does that mean I think he sucks? No. Does that mean I think he has accomplished nothing? No. It is his messaging that will attract independents. Without good messaging your opponents write your history.
boss bitch
@Baud:
LOL. Indeed.
ThresherK
Scary how much that drawing makes Gov Goodhair look like Shrub and Reagan’s lovechild.
Judas Escargot
@Josie:
I still don’t understand how he gets to do this, and still put on the “Texas Machismo” act without getting laughed at.
Where I come from, avoiding debates just makes Perry look like a total puss. And he’d get called one to his face.
Josie
@Judas Escargot: This is a good question and I don’t have an answer. The only reason I can think of the that many of our voters are terribly uninformed and uninvolved and vote more on name recognition than policy. Texas is a huge and expensive media market, so it is difficult for newcomers to break into the political game.
gene108
@PurpleGirl:
You do realize our government was meant to function via compromise?
The fact compromise has become a “dirty” word is evidence of how dysfunctional our political system has become. I don’t think you can cure dysfunctional habits by engaging in those same habits.
Republicans don’t want to compromise. Either have them lose badly enough that they realize their dysfunctional ways have to be changed or work to make things functional, as best as you can.
Since 2010 was a big year for Republicans, the chance of beating them badly enough to cause them to change is out the window.
I don’t really see other options.
P.S. The 1993 Republican proposal for health care reform, which we basically got in 2010, was based on how our government is supposed to work. The President sets an agenda. The opposition works within that agenda to deliver what they feel is a better alternative. Both sides give and take and a final piece of legislation is arrived at for signature.
The “old guard” Republicans in Congress were the ones, who proposed an alternative. The new guard nut-jobs decided to say to hell with having a functioning government and did what they could to grab power, for the sake of power.
Keith G
@Judas Escargot: Like Obama, Perry has been blessed by having inadequate opponents.
grandpajohn
@Scamp Dog:
But thats hard work, and takes up time and energy, its much quicker to spout out a couple of paragraphs on some liberal blog.
anitamurie
@Keith G: No way dude. In Texas it’s all about the swagger when you brag about your “death row count”.
Keith G
@anitamurie: Swagger is an important part of the political theater here. All communities have their archetypes.
Thus, yes, Perry has been able to get away with a fair amount of swagger and silliness in large part because he has lacked opponents who were both credible and even slightly charismatic. Therefore he has seldom been called to run on the merits of his ideas.
So, yes way!
ruemara
@grandpajohn:
both this and that. And that’s why liberals lose, the energy goes to complaining, not building something.
TenguPhule
This is a goddamned insult to chicken pot pies everywhere.
Die in a fire Perry.
feebog
I can remember stories about Perry when he was the Lt. Governer under Shrub. He was basically described as the idiot child you hide in the closet when company comes calling. Then Shrub actually won and we found out who the real idiot child was.
Perry has a lot going for him. He is ruggedly handsome (think Marlbro Man), has the executive experience and will attract tons, make that megatons of Conservative donations. If Romney is serious about wanting the nomination he has not choice but to attack Perry on his record, which is quite dismal upon examination. Texas ranks close to last on almost every academic category, and it is only going to get worse. They have a huge deficit, which is not going away because they refuse to do any thing but cut programs and spending. One out of every four Texans lacks any kind of health plan. Most of the jobs they have created are crappy minimum wage with no chance of advancement type service jobs. The rest are Government jobs. Some fucking miricle.
The question is whether Romney has the cojones to actually go on the attack, or if he will try to weather the storm. If his choice is the latter, he is toast.
Mr Furious
@Emma:
Sounds to me like Gore’s biggest mistake was running for President in the U.S. We were too fucking stupid to have him.