John Stewart Bashes the Media Over Ron Paul
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3EY5Ofcxjs0
................in which a liberal media darling suddenly, stunningly, brilliantly, hilariously rips the media's face about its treatment of Ron Paul in poll results. This is major major -- it shows the System is feeling the heat, and even the stars are seeing the injustice of their industry.
Stewart aptly compares Perry to "W" and other top-level frauds, as I had -- feeling at the time that I was the only one perceiving it. Well, a funny thing happened at tonight's third-Tuesday PN meeting! I was halfway through reading my blog post from Monday on Perry and thought to ask who in the audience had seen his speech announcing his run for the Presidency, one of the BIGGG deals conservatives have been a-quiver about in some time.
What do you think? Not a person in attendance had viewed the speech! I rate this a tribute to their mental health, even though it left them no clue what I was talking about half the time.
The following assessment of poseur Perry came in via email. It turbo-charges the subject.
/\/.\/\/.
GOVERNOR RICK PERRY; THE NEXT PRESIDENT? Not if I can help it.
Please start your Rick Perry biography lesson with this video:
Why do the Chinese LOVE Rick Perry? www.youtube.com/watch?v=7LFRDvkNz0U&feature=player_embedded
As the longest-serving governor (10 yrs) in the US and the longest ever in Texas, Perry has a substantial
history (25 yrs) and has taken positions on a host of controversial issues. I believe that many of the statist/corporatist rhinos will lean toward Perry eventually. Why? Because he is ALL ABOUT commerce, commerce, commerce. And I don't mean JOBS. I mean imports and THE DEATH OF AMERICAN MANUFACTURING.
Some of the research I have done is listed in the first link here:
www.redstate.com/izoneguy/2011/08/14/seventeen-17-things-that-critics-are-saying-about-rick-perry/
Or http://peskytruth.wordpress.com/2011/07/19/rick-perrys-negatives/
Most of my research you won't find in any of the lists:
Perry's traceable actions toward a North American Union (and immigration)
• Texas Transit Corridors are NAFTA Superhighways causing massive land grab and toll road taxes as
$30 billion in toll road debt in 10 years as Perry sells off Texas ’ public infrastructure to private monopolies:
www.texasturf.org
• Never heard of the TTC? This super highway system comes from the west coast of Mexico,
up through Texas, to a Mexican run inland port in Missouri, to bring you Chinese goods
by the supertanker full. China+Texas corridor=Perry unleashing the death of American manufacturing:
www.stopthenorthamericanunion.com/TreasonAbounds.html
• NAFTA Super Highway Debate Inflames Texas Governor's Race
www.infowars.com/ articles/ nwo/ nafta_superhighway_debate_inflames_tx_gov_race.htm
• Perry is a longtime, unwavering supporter of the NAFTA (now NASCO)Superhighway and related infrastructure projects. These pave the way for the Bilderberg-supported North American Union (NAU) proposal that would merge the U.S., Canada and Mexico.
• Austin lobbyist Dan Shelley has been one of Governor Perry's aides and Cintra's inside man.
http://www.corridorwatch.com/ttc_2007/CW00000059.htm
• Texas-Transit Corridors: “They are fighting powerful interests, some in public view and others behind the scenes. Visible proponents are Texas Governor Rick Perry, Texas Department of Transportation and a Cintra, a Spanish company.” www.freedomadvocates.org/articles/sustainable_development/here%27s_why_we_fight%3a_why_you_need_to_become_vocal_local_20080624308/
• By Patrick Wood: Rick Perry Tied to Agenda 21, globalist policies www.augustforecast.com/2011/08/16/rick-perry-tied-to-agenda-21-globalist-policies/>
• He wants to use Texas Teacher & State Employee Retirement Money on risky TOLL ROADS:
www.texasmonthly.com/blogs/burkablog/?p=4969ing
• Perry signed the Texas Dream Act in 2001 giving in-state tuition to illegal aliens:
www.infowars.com/rick-perry-and-tuition-for-illegal-aliens/ and • Rick Perry signed legislation in 2001 allowing some illegal immigrants to pay in -state college tuition.
www.usnews.com/ news/ articles/ 2011/ 07/ 25/ rick-perry-stands-by-texas-dream-act
• A Texas governor should protect Texas from Illegal immigrants: www.washingtonindependent.com/ 114712/ rick-perry-flip-flops-on-immigration
• Perry has been critical of the illegal immigration legislation in Arizona signed into law by Gov. Brewer. http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2011/08/rick-perrys-immigration-journey-could-haunt-presidential-race.php
• Rick Perry is all in support of sanctuary cities
• What about his part in the FLDS/San Angelo, TX land confiscation under the guise of Child Protection Services (CPS)?
• Minutemen will protest if Perry goes to Iowa http://caucuses.desmoinesregister.com/2011/08/13/minuteman-leader-well-protest-if-rick-perry-comes-to-western-iowa/ • Rick Perry on IMMIGRATION (and links to other un-researched topics) www.issues2000.org/governor/Rick_Perry_Immigration.htm
• He cannot win based on his immigration policy: communities.washingtontimes.com/ neighborhood/ conscience-conservative/ 2011/ aug/ 15/ rick-perrys-immigration-problem/
TOO FRIENDLY WITH MUSLIMS
• Rick Perry: The pro-Sharia Candidate?
www.salon.com/news/politics/war_room/2011/08/10/rick_perry_muslims
• Text of Gov. Rick Perry’s Remarks At Opening of Sugar Land Jamatkhana and Center
http://governor.state.tx.us/news/speech/10798/
• University of Texas and Aga Khan University Establish Historic Partnership
http://governor.state.tx.us/news/press-release/3149/
• Perry to Visit Middle East to Dedicate Texas A&M Engineering Facility
http://governor.state.tx.us/news/press-release/2274/
• Will CAIR-endorsed Rick Perry's 'pandering to Muslims' problem be a problem for his GOP candidacy? http://barenakedislam.wordpress.com/2011/08/17/will-cair-endorsed-rick-perrys-pandering-to-muslims-problem-be-a-problem-for-his-gop-candidacy/
FISCALLY UNSOUND
• Perry has spent Texas into debt:
www.politifact.com/texas/statements/2010/mar/04/bill-white/white-says-texas-debt-has-doubled-under-perry/
• Helped to kill anti-TSA groping bill
http://lonestarwatchdog.blogspot.com/2011/07/special-thank-to-campaign-for-liberty.html
• Supports No Child Left Behind Act and Dept. of Education
http://governor.state.tx.us/news/press-release/4392/
• Texas Enterprise (Slush) Fund: http://governor.state.tx.us/news/speech/10202/
• He has 24 billionaire backers:
http://blogs.forbes.com/clareoconnor/2011/07/20/rick-perry-for-president-meet-24-billionaires-whove-backed-him/
• Perry was born poor but is now a savvy real estate investor thanks to his friends:
1) http://www.dallasnews.com/news/politics/state-politics/20100725-murky-land-deals-mark-gov.-rick-perry_s-past.ece
2) http://blog.chron.com/txpotomac/2011/08/perry-watch-well-timed-land-deals-built-rick-perrys-financial-portfolio/
• Perry on www.AmericanThinker.com: www.americanthinker.com/2011/08/perrys_problematic_pals.html
• “Rick Perry’s Army of God” www.texasobserver.org/cover-story/rick-perrys-army-of-god
One observer even labeled some of them “cult members" : www.newswithviews.com/West/marsha216.htm
• His own people want to impeach him: impeachperry.indytexans.org
WHO RUNS RICK PERRY: GLOBALISTS OR BANKERS? Same thing.
• Videos on Perry working for bankers: www.infowars.com/rick-perry-is-the-bankers-answer-to-ron-paul/
• Ron Paul has called for an investigation into Perry’s Bilderberg trip, and violating the Logan Act www.americanfreepress.net/html/perry_bilderberg_271.html called “Texas’ Perry Bilderberg’s Ace in the Hole?”
• The 1st foreign policy advisors Rick Perry turned to were Bilderberger neocons Donald Rumsfeld, Doug Feith and William Luti. http://trailblazersblog.dallasnews.com/archives/2011/07/rumsfeld-involved-in-rick-perr.html or www.infowars.com/ bilderberg-convenes-as-rick-perry-hinges-on-2012-run/
• A case for impeaching Perry as governor: http://impeachperry.indytexans.org/tenreasons.php
• Instituted state CHIP program for Texas; Supports Sobriety Check Points (anti-4th Amendment) Perry
supported SB 298 bill in 2009; Supports the Patriot Act; Vetoes Texas Eminent Domain Bill; Signs Hate
Crimes bill; Bilderberger toady (2007) for United Nations, NAFTA; CAFTA; Trans Texas Corridor: in other words anti-Constitution. www.stuffedsuits.com/news/national-politics/721-fraud-rick-perry-is-political-herpes
• The Burnt Orange Report exposes Rick Perry:
www.burntorangereport.com/diary/10951/rick-perrys-coverup-and-corruption-a-ten-part-series
• Rick Perry Exposed | www.democratichub.com/RickPerry
• The Texas lobbying campaign won funds for programs that Perry now says he opposes as fiscally irresponsible intrusions on state responsibilities: http://news.yahoo.com/rick-perry-aggressively-pursued-federal-aid-now-decries-095000694.html
• Since 2000, more than 40% of Texas Gov. Rick Perry's campaign funds have come from groups and individuals who donated $100000 or more each. www.usatoday.com/ news/ politics/ 2011-08-11-texas-republican-rick-perry-money-fundraising_n.htm
• Funny, didn’t Ron Paul say that first? Rick Perry on the Federal Reserve: http://blog.chron.com/txpotomac/category/rick-perry/
GENERALLY A BAD CHOICE
• What does Dick Morris think about Perry? www.dickmorris.com/blog/whos-up-whos-down-in-gop-field-dick-morris-tv-lunch-alert/ He was wrong about Romney winning 2nd in Iowa…that would be RON PAUL. So Perry didn’t even go to Iowa. I like Morris but he is overly flattering of UN-favorite Gingrich and underestimating Paul.
• Ron Paul Trounces Rick Perry In Presidential Poll http://www.infowars.com/ron-paul-trounces-rick-perry-in-presidential-poll/ This is why the republican party of Texas cancelled the "Texas straw poll"
• Iowa was crucial for Perry, but he stayed away because he knew he’s lose: Five Questions About Rick Perry www.nationalreview.com/articles/274629/five-questions-about-rick-perry-ramesh-ponnuru?page=2
• The Gardisil scam (www.texastribune.org/texas-people/rick-perry/facing-new-scrutiny-perry-walks-back-hpv-decision/) and http://news.dienerconsultants.com/ct/6534898:9611739558:m:1:168709020:C78A8C10A8821DFB552871B1A383995E and www.realclearpolitics.com/ articles/ 2011/ 06/ 04/ rick_perrys_gardasil_problem_110089.html
• His support of TARP (http://trailblazersblog.dallasnews.com/archives/2010/01/was-rick-perry-for-the-bailout.html)
• He made Cs and Ds at Texas A&M University www.huffingtonpost.com/ 2011/ 08/ 05/ rick-perry-college-transcript_n_919357.html or www.outsidethebeltway.com/rick-perrys-grades/
• Perry said that gay marriage should be left up to the individual states and that he would allow states to set abortion policy if Roe v. Wade were to be overturned. I support state rights but moreso, rights of the unborn.
See what Rick Santorum has to say about this:
www.texastribune.org/texas-politics/2012-presidential-election/santorum-blasts-perry-denver/
• Is Perry the Christian he thinks he is? www.theatlantic.com/ politics/ archive/ 2011/ 08/ is-rick-perry-as-christian-as-he-thinks-he-is/ 243616/ •Ten things Rick Perry doesn’t want you to know: www.thinkprogress.org/ politics/ 2011/ 06/ 10/ 241830/ top-10-thing-texas-gov-rick-perry/ • Perry would rather you don’t read this: www.redstate.com/ erick/ 2011/ 06/ 17/ rick-perrys-scandalous-skeletons-come-out-of-the-closet/
• Why Perry could have a hard time: www.csmonitor.com/ USA/ Elections/ President/ 2011/ 0610/ Texas-Gov.-Rick-Perry-for-president-Why-he-could-have-a-hard-time
• Vetting Rick Perry: www.redstate.com/aglanon/2011/08/17/vetting-rick-perry/
• Texas Governor Rick Perry's camp is prepared to tackle what they say are unfounded rumors dating back to as early as 2004: www.huffingtonpost.com/ 2011/ 06/ 20/ rick-perry-gay-rumors-_n_880969.html
• Huckabee doesn’t even like him: http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0811/61140.html
•How much should someone earning $1 million donate? www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/08/10/governor-rick-perry-charity_n_922890.html
• Perry wrote a book “Fed Up” : The Ten Weirdest Ideas In Rick Perry’s ‘Fed Up’: M. Yglesias reviews it: http://thinkprogress.org/yglesias/2011/08/15/295427/295427/
• Medicine: www.michellemalkin.com/ 2011/ 08/ 16/ rick-perrys-bad-obama-style-medicine/
• www.thenation.com/ article/ 162821/ rick-perry-biggest-little-hypocrite-texas
•14 Reasons Why Rick Perry Would be a Really, Really Bad president:
www.infowars.com/14-reasons-why-rick-perry-would-be-a-really-really-bad-president/
#1 Rick Perry is a “big government” politician. When Rick Perry became the governor of Texas in 2000, the total spending by the Texas state government was approximately $49 billion. Ten years later it was approximately $90 billion. That is not exactly reducing the size of government. So: Which state's governor has actually presided over a reduction in the size of government? As much as we all would like to see government shrink, no state has reduced spending from year to year. In fact, the average increase in per-capita state spending from 1987-2007 was 306 percent.
Much of this growth is Medicaid-driven. Further, Texas is a growing state, adding three U.S. Congressional seats with the latest census. Although there are always opportunities to limit state spending, basic services such as education simply must grow with population. Because Texas is a balanced-budget state, one good measure of its spending is the total tax burden per capita. In that, Texas ranks best of all 50 states. Even while keeping the tax burden lowest of all states, Texas managed to salt away more than $9 billion in the state's "Rainy Day" fund. Most governors have limited control over state spending. Given his constitutional constraints, how has Rick Perry measured up?
In the 2011 regular legislative session, Gov. Perry refused to go along with lawmakers' desire to tap the Rainy Day fund. When the regular session ended and the legislature had failed to pass a budget, Gov. Perry held his ground in the subsequent, 30-day special session until legislators put forth more than $800 million in spending reductions. So, in the worst economy in 30 years, Texas still balanced its budget without a tax increase. Gov. Perry's hard line on behalf of taxpayers made this possible.
#2 The debt of the state of Texas is out of control. According to usdebtclock.org, the debt to GDP ratio in Texas is 22.9% and the debt per citizen is $10,645. In California (a total financial basket case), the debt to GDP ratio is just 18.7% and the debt per citizen is only $9932. If Rick Perry runs for president these are numbers he will want to keep well hidden.
Gov. Perry has more accurate numbers in his state's favor. The Tax Foundation, which is technically nonpartisan but a favorite of conservatives for its hard line against tax increases, ranks Texas 49th in state debt per capita and as a percentage of state GDP. It's useful to note that California is a "basket case" precisely because of overspending while its population shrinks and businesses flee to other states. Texas can hardly be called a basket case, and increased spending and debt can mostly be attributed to keeping up with the demands of state growth, such as highways, education, and other services.
#3 The total debt of the Texas government has more than doubled since Rick Perry became governor. So what would the U.S. national debt look like after four (or eight) years of Rick Perry? Like the spending-growth accusation, this one must be put in the context of all states. According to MainStreet.com's report, "The Most Debt-Ridden States in America," Texas ranks as the 3rd Least Debt-Ridden State (9thslide)
#4 Rick Perry has spearheaded the effort to lease roads in Texas to foreign companies, to turn roads that are already free to drive on into toll roads, and to develop the Trans-Texas Corridor which would be part of the planned NAFTA superhighway system. If you really do deep research on this whole Trans-Texas Corridor nonsense you will see why no American should ever cast a single vote for Rick Perry.
This doesn't really add up to a criticism that can be rebutted. In general, references to "foreign companies" smack of xenophobia; our economy (including American icons such as Wal-Mart) would fail immediately without international trade and investment. As for "free" roads, there is no such thing. Taxes or tolls pay for road-building and maintenance. The only question is, "Who pays?"
Texas has an excellent record in this. Users of our first major toll highway, IH-30 between Dallas and Fort Worth, paid it off well ahead of schedule, and IH-30 is now a non-toll road. The enormous cost of urban land acquisition was borne only by those who needed to use the road first. Now everyone traveling that route reaps the benefits. Texas is the second-largest state in the union by land mass, and its growing, major cities are situated hundreds of miles apart. It will always have transportation issues unlike any other state's, and these will require creative solutions.
Toll roads and the Trans-Texas Corridor idea certainly have been controversial. On the other hand, Texans have paid the same motor-fuel tax (20 cents/gallon) since 1991, and a very low vehicle-registration fee (about $60 annually) for decades. There is no other road-use tax levied on noncommercial vehicles. How can the governor
be faulted for exploring all options for meeting the state's transportation needs without raising those fees?
Ultimately, Gov. Perry signed the bill killing the Trans-Texas Corridor. How many politicians are willing to let reality knock down a grand idea they have supported? We could use more humility like that in our officials. Finally, the invitation to "deep research" cannot mean simply Googling the web for the thousands of ill-informed opinions posted by anonymous, partisan, and financially interested parties. We have legislatures and public meetings for getting to thebottom of hotly contested issues.
#5 Rick Perry claims that he has a “track record” of not raising taxes. That is a false claim. Rick Perry has repeatedly raised taxes and fees while he has been governor. Today, Texans are faced with significantly higher taxes and fees than they were before Rick Perry was elected.
The Texas governor has no authority to raise taxes or fees. Only the state legislature can do that, with the governor's consent or though an override of his veto. Without a source or even a specific tax cited, this accusation sounds rather wild. On Texas' recent record, the Tax Foundation does not agree with your assessment. Texas ranks 45th of 50 states by State-Local Tax Burden per capita. Its rank when Perry assumed the governorship? Also 45th.
The governor can, as noted above, threaten to veto the state budget (or use the line-item veto) in order to check the legislature on its spending. Within his constitutional powers, Gov. Perry has has very effectively toed the taxpayers' line on taxes and spending.
#6 Even with the oil boom in Texas, 23 states have a lower unemployment rate than Texas does. That makes Texas … average. Why is that a reason not to vote for Rick Perry? Furthermore, consider that a state's unemployment rate can look better or worsedepending on how many of its workers hold "recession proof" government jobs. Bigger government, fewer layoffs, lower overall unemployment. It is no wonder many of the
blue states have weathered this recession better.
Texas' government is small compared to other states', so by rights, its unemployment picture should be relatively worse. In reality, Texas is actually doing quite well, with its unemployment rate square in the middle of all states. Nobody has reason to cheer in this economy. Yet, Texas leads the nation in job creation, nearly ten times the pace of its nearest rival. Companies are moving to Texas at a record pace. Gov. Perry understands first-hand the value of a positive business climate.
#7 Back in 1988, Rick Perry supported Al Gore for president. In fact, Rick Perry actually served as Al Gore’s campaign chairman in the state of Texas that year. In 1988, Sen. Al Gore ran for president as a Southern, relatively conservative, pro-life Democrat. (We need more of those in Democrat-controlled districts and states
to help conservatives win close-call votes in our legislatures.) As Vice President Gore demonstrates today, people change. Parties change, too. (Ultimately, Sen. Gore lost the nomination to Gov. Michael Dukakis, whom Perry did not support.)
Let us remember that Ronald Reagan was a Democrat for decades — and a union president, no less! Former U.S. Sen. Zell Miller, a lifelong Democrat, gave a keynote speech at the 2004 Republican National Convention that had delegates cheering on their feet. These men were conservatives, abandoned by their party.
So it has been in Texas. The term "conservative Democrat" lived much longer here than in most other places. Like many southern states, Texas took more than 100 years to elect its first post-Reconstruction Republican governor. Its legislature remained in Democrat hands until 2003.Party labels matter, but what matters more is a candidate's conservatism. No one has ever called Gov. Perry a "liberal" because it doesn't jibe with his record.
[Note: Perry was a democrat: www.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,2081596,00.html]
#8 Between December 2007 and April 2011, weekly wages in the U.S. increased by about 5 percent. In the state of Texas they increased by just 0.6% over that same time period.
With no source cited, it is very difficult to discern what this statistic is supposed to tell us. For example, if most of those wage gains were eaten up by progressive state income-taxrates (as many of us remember from the 1970s, with its inflation- driven "bracket creep"), then Texans may have fared quite well — by paying no
state income tax. Another possible interpretation is that Texas' population is growing at a pace that dilutes wage gains. More people seeking work here, more downward pressure on average wages. That they are finding work is the saving grace of that possible explanation. Further, and more to the point, how did this abstruse comparison become one of "14 reasons why Rick Perry would be a really, really bad president"?
#9 Texas now has one of the worst education systems in the nation. The following is from an opinion piece that was actually authored by Barbara Bush earlier this year….
• We rank 36th in the nation in high school graduation rates. An estimated 3.8 million Texans do not have a high school diploma.
• We rank 49th in verbal SAT scores, 47th in literacy and 46th in average math SAT scores.
• We rank 33rd in the nation on teacher salaries.
First, with all due respect for the former First Lady and her efforts to expand literacy in America, part of her article was predicated on the false choice between (on the one hand) spending all that administrators want to pend, and (on the other) cutting the number of teachers, increasing class sizes, eliminating scholarships
for underprivileged students, and closing several community colleges. None of these measures were on the table this year; rather, they're the sort of bugaboos raised by the government-education complex every time the electorate looks hard at its ever-increasing budgets.
Second, since when have fiscal conservatives ever believed that high teacher salaries make an education system better? That actually sounds more like a union talking point.
Third, conservatives like me would like to see a reduced federal role in public education. Gov. Perry's support for home schooling in Texas suggests that he understands that education is — first and foremost — the responsibility of parents. Education can be delegated by parents to private or public entities, but ultimately
it is up to those same parents to ensure they are getting the service they've contracted for.
As for the state's record, Texas is among the top states for "Best Public Schools in the Country,"according to Newsweek. Ultimately, government schools' performance isn't an accurate measure of a governor's performance. Not least because the Texas State Board of Education is elected by the people, not appointed. Most school districts are administered locally.Cherry-picking statistics without controlling for demographics or other important factors also tells us little.
#10 Rick Perry attended the Bilderberg Group meetings in 2007. Associating himself with that organization should be a red flag for all American voters. Substituting "conspiracy theorists" for "voters" makes that statement correct.
#11 Texas has the highest percentage of workers making minimum wage out of all 50 states. The statists at Think Progress have made this their leading critique of Gov. Perry, aided and abetted by the leftists who control Austin's only newspaper. It is curious that those who reflexively defend the minimum wage also decry its actual use. But the critique does not include any analysis to help readers understand the statistic. Nor does it acknowledge that when comparing 50 states, all of them can't be average. Is "no jobs" better than "some jobs"? Would Gov. Perry's detractors prefer that minimum-wage employees have make-work government jobs that pay more than minimum wage? Or would they rather have workers unemployed and dependent on welfare?
#12 Rick Perry often gives speeches about illegal immigration, but when you look at the facts, he has been incredibly soft on the issue. If Rick Perry does not plan to secure the border, then he should not be president because illegal immigration is absolutely devastating many areas of the southwest United States.
To say, "Look at the facts," then cite no facts, invites us to see what we want to see. No one doubts the seriousness of the illegal immigration problem. We feel it acutely in Texas. Patience is running thin here. Everyone wants someone, anyone, in a position of power to "do something."These desires sometimes run up against very real limits on state power. Everyone is waiting for the outcome of Arizona's bold test. If the Supreme Court eventually rules against the federal government, we can expect other states (including Texas) to follow suit. In reality, there isn't much that individual states or their governors can do to"secure the border." That's within federal jurisdiction.
But states can act within their 10th Amendment rights to protect their citizens from harmful consequences of illegal immigration. Here are the most recent immigration-related bills signed into law by Gov. Rick Perry:
SB 1 (82-1), Verifying Citizenship of Applicants for Drivers Licenses. Provisions added to Senate Bill 1 in the Special Session codify portions of a Texas Public Safety Commission rule requiring applicants for new, renewal, or duplicate licenses to prove either U.S. citizenship or legal immigration. SB 1 also links the expiration
of legal immigrants' drivers’ licenses, provisional licenses, or occupational licenses to the date of the expiration of their legal immigration status. These changes are particularly important not only because they will help ensure that non-citizens are prevented from voting (especially in light of the passage of SB 14, the voter
photo ID bill), but they will also prevent illegal immigrants from obtaining drivers licenses, and assist the work of law enforcement officers and border security officials,who will be able to ascertain the immigration status of anyone they detain.
SB 1009, Notification of Foreign Students Leaving a Course of Study. This helps ensure that federal immigration authorities are informed whenever a foreign student leaves a course of study at a public institution of higher education in Texas. In many cases, enrollment in such a course is the basis on which a foreign student
was legally admitted to the United States. It is vital, therefore, that ICE be made aware whenever a foreign student leaves a course as this may invalidate his residency in the United States.
Gov. Perry also added an initiative to this year's special legislative session which would have withheld state funds from "sanctuary cities," wherein local, leftist politicians have openly rebelled against state and federal immigration laws. The legislature's two houses failed to agree on a final bill. Gov. Perry took
significant political risk by endorsing this measure.
Here in Texas, there has been no groundswell of dissatisfaction with Gov. Perry's position on illegal immigration. Indeed, conservatives everywhere need to be on guard against Democrat-led efforts to split the party with this issue. They have done so successfully many times in the past, conveniently raising immigration concerns
just before elections only to stymie real efforts to address them. The political left always wins at this game, and America always loses.
#13 In 2007, 221,000 residents of Texas were making minimum wage or less. By 2010, that number had risen to 550,000. Again, what is the significance of this, and what is the source?
#14 Rick Perry actually issued an executive order in 2007 that would have forced almost every single girl in the state of Texas to receive the Gardasil vaccine before entering the sixth grade. Perry would have put parents in a position where they would have had to fill out an application and beg the government not to inject their
child with an untested and unproven vaccine. Since then, very serious safety issues regarding this vaccine have come to light. Fortunately, lawmakers in Texas blocked what Perry was trying to do. According to Wikipedia, many were troubled when “apparent financial connections between Merck and Perry were reported by news outlets, such as a $6,000 campaign contribution and Merck’s hiring of former Perry Chief of Staff
Mike Toomey to handle its Texas lobbying work.”
In this case, it could be argued that Gov. Perry did the wrong thing for the right reason. Cervical cancer killed more than 4,000 American women last year, many at a relatively young age. Gardasil was, in fact, tested and proven effective before the FDA prior to its release on the market. The people of Texas had reason to resist Gov. Perry's choice of action, and, through their legislators, they rebuked him. The executive order is now moot.
Some of the nation's greatest conservative leaders have said and done things that confounded their supporters. Barry Goldwater came out in favor of abortion. Phil Gramm voted to establish the Department of Education. President Reagan, an avowed advocate of federalism, signed a bill threatening to withhold highway funds from
states unless they changed their drinking age to a federal standard. No officeholder has made the "right" call every single time.
The question for conservatives is, "Has the candidate established a strong record of conservatism in votes, deeds, and words?" The answer is "Yes." In sum, be careful whose assessment you take at face value. In 2008, the left teamed up with RINOs to find some “fatal flaw” with every candidate except Sen. McCain,
who went on to become Barack Obama’s dream opponent.
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COMMENTS FROM Julie Lang IN TEXAS: “His last race. ..Perry refused to debate his challenger, former Houston Mayor Bill White. He rightfully received a lot of criticism for that. Perry also refused to meet with the editorial boards of the major newspapers. It looked like he was ducking the issues and the big questions. Maybe he was -- the state budget deficit was much higher than he claimed during the campaign, something White frequently pointed out. White also warned voters that Perry had his eyes on a presidential run and he wouldn't be as engaged with Texas. Spot on.
We have an absentee governor right now as an historic drought and heatwave grips most of our state. Towns are literally running out of water as water sources have dried up and Perry is traipsing the country for his own ambition.
Ironically, Perry is excellent during natural disasters, which is why it's so irritating that he's not actively engaged here with this one, getting water trucked in to towns that need it and working on solutions. Recall that in the days following Hurricane Katrina, Perry coordinated an effort to bring hundreds of thousands of Katrina survivors to Texas. Within a few days, he had the transportation, shelters, volunteers and everything in place. It was brilliant.
In the past, he's also been very hands-on when it came to storms and disasters within Texas. When hurricanes threatened, he had the Texas National Guard mobilized, equipped, and ready to help. This is the type of experience and responsiveness that would make him a good president.
But the tendency toward flip-flopping and avoidance is problematic. His opponents will have a field day with it. It will be interesting to see if his talents, charm, and persistence will be engaging enough nationwide to attract massive, die-hard support that will shut down the naysayers. Perry is capable but he's often puzzling, too.
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