Rick Perry's Political Fortunes Fell in 2011
It’s been a long 12 months for Rick Perry. The Texas governor started 2011 in triumph, at the peak of his political power, with a high gloss on his boots and a national audience of conservatives eager for just the tale he was telling.
He ends the year treading water. His boots — “Freedom” and “Liberty” — might as well be named “Oops” and “Dang.” Even if he pulls out of this, it’s been embarrassing for him and for his home state.
He took the family name out into the world and made a hash of it. Texas was still ...
Comments (72)
Josh Tripp via Texas Tribune on Facebook
Good Riddance. Our country would of been more doomed with him
Patrick Timmons via Texas Tribune on Facebook
May he sink.
Jalapeno Schwartz via Texas Tribune on Facebook
He owes Texas a big apology!
Bambi Clark via Texas Tribune on Facebook
Disappear in your retirement!
Perry Cozzen via Texas Tribune on Facebook
An apology and $400,000 a month while he's been out of state.
Jason M. Ryan via Texas Tribune on Facebook
I give a lot of credit to people who run for high office. It's not fun to be under the microscope every second.
Barbara McLeod Walker via Texas Tribune on Facebook
Embarrassing ...!!
Anthony Lacsamana via Texas Tribune on Facebook
Now everybody knows what a frigging idiot we have for governor.
Jim Sparks
It is times like this I miss Molly Ivins who could say what only I could dream of. Perry is a country bumpkin, with the intelligence of a bag of kitty litter, in the race only for the money. If you think Shrub Junior was bad, God forbid this clown from ever sitting his boots in the WH. God Bless America and a quick exit for Perrywinkle.
Malcolm Young
This is a nicely-written column, an interesting piece for those of us not from Texas.
I have one beef with it. The following kind of short-changes some of us who have lived in and around Washington as well as other states:
Perry excelled in a combative and competitive political culture and looked, even to the wise owls in Washington and elsewhere, like the real deal. Remember July and August, when he was the hot ticket?
Joy Mitchell via Texas Tribune on Facebook
Would that he would sink and stop humiliating Texas.
Malcolm Young
Sorry for the second post; the comment went up before I finished it:
This is a nicely-written column, an interesting piece for those of us not from Texas.
I have one beef with it. The following kind of short-changes some of us who have lived in and around Washington as well as other states: "Perry excelled in a combative and competitive political culture and looked, even to the wise owls in Washington and elsewhere, like the real deal. Remember July and August, when he was the hot ticket?"
Just as I don't assume that all Texans wear cowboy boots or name them if they do, columnists anywhere shouldn't assume that all of us share the errors of some media folks, or who ever it was, that thought Perry was "the real deal." It took five minutes for a bunch of us to recognize him for some kind of right-wing, parochial, not-terribly-smart but successful politician with a pinched, negative message and a lot of money from very suspicious sources. He was never anyone's hot ticket in this household. We gave him three weeks, which was generous.
Harmony Seeker via Texas Tribune on Facebook
He was well beyond his level of competence at Lt. Governor. He has been riding Bush's coattails, Texas's oil-based economy for years, and selling himself on his religion for years.
Kay Wilkinson via Texas Tribune on Facebook
And this latest report that Rick Perry is raiding the Texas Education Fund for his Secret Service Bill while he spends Millions on Attack Ads is just beyond horrible when the Texas Education System has suffered so many cuts.
Jennifer White via Texas Tribune on Facebook
I hate that he's an embarrassment for me when I didn't even vote for him. It's like getting slimed because I was standing to close to the slimee. :/
Pat Wood via Texas Tribune on Facebook
I am thinking Gov Goodhair will be trying to figure out a way for us taxpayers to bankroll this lawsuit against Virginia---the one that he filed because he failed to get enough LEGAL signatures on his petitions to enter the primary. Senor Schwartz, he owes us not only big apologies, but several million dollars that he has scammed over the years (we will probably never really know how much).
Gaylin Ratliff via Texas Tribune on Facebook
He really needs to move to another state (like Alaska, far, far away from Texas) and stay in a little cabin by himself!!
Judith Fonseca Dimas via Texas Tribune on Facebook
No shame..
Susan nelson
Doesn't anyone want to say that he is where is he is because he's beautiful? He is a Hollywood character; he should have been a movie star. That may have been a better path to political success. He certainly cannot make it on that gray stuff between his ears.
Marcus Cunningham via Texas Tribune on Facebook
I don't think he's been lucky. I think we Texans have just been lazy. As long as we were weathering the recession with our oil money, everything was good. Once people actually saw the consequences of Perry's actions over the last decade, we woke up.
Irene Solnik via Texas Tribune on Facebook
he is an embarrassment to Texas
hans5162@ix.netcom.com hans
This is the inevitable result of domination by a single party of the political aparatus of the state. Eventually, loyalty and ideological correctness determine leadership, rather than competence or intelligence. Redistricting and the creation of "safe" districts for incumbents worsens the problems and provides us with incompetent and corrupt cronyism and continued domination by a single party. We need non-partisan redistricting and competitive districts. Politicians need to have to compete for election and fight in the marketplace of ideas to sell their policy vision. Only in that manner will we get past the partisan gridlock and idiocy inherent in our current political leadership.
Leon Drozd
He deserves credit for getting up on that bucking horse and giving it a ride. He might have been spared the hard ride if he had done some vetting of his ideas and supporters and did some good old-fashioned community organizing within his party before entering the national scene with a high fallutin', root-tootin' Texas-style, big money campaign. Also, he is tainted with Phil Gramm and the crowd behind the repeal of Glass-Steagall etc. Remember when Enron was a big story? Perhaps Perry should direct his moralizing rhetoric toward the business sector going forward. .
Dale Curry
Great article Ross and Tribune. However, I disagree on one point, his campaign is no longer treading water. Frankly, the Perry campaign is fossil fuel. He and his cronies just don't realize it yet!
Bonnie Pierce via Texas Tribune on Facebook
@Irene Solnik You should be ashamed of yourself - You promote the Star of David on your avatar but you line yourself up with liberals and progressives who won't stand behind or help Israel? Rick Perry is a staunch supporter of Israel and you're on the opposite side. You need to change your avatar to Anti-Israel.
Steve Zilla
Rick Perry is embarrasing IN Texas, FOR Texas, WITH Texas etc.
ad infinitum!!!!!
Thomas Tucker
Perhaps Rick's continued success in Texas over the years says more about Texans than Rick. His best idea as far as I can tell was for Texas to secede. From Massachusetts, good riddance to both.
Pat Wood via Texas Tribune on Facebook
@Bonnie---so if Irene supports Israel, she must then approve of Perry because he supports Israel? Really? Stop and think about that for a minute. Put another way, if Perry supports Israel, then Irene needs to ignore everything else he does even if it is dishonest (hypocritical), lacking in judgement, or incompetent or even immoral. When someone says something like this, I guess I wonder, how bad does Perry have to be to make you sick or embarrassed?
Dale Curry
@ Pat Wood - You will have to forgive Bonnie, she is a Perry supporter. They are so desperate for supporters they will latch on any issue and "believe" it is sufficient for support. Pathetic, I agree. But when one's campaign fails as great at Perry's has, it's about all one has. Just sit back and enjoy watching the zealots eat their own.
sssdddd
It seems he is going to have to make do with used boots next year.
Got to wonder about long knives in Austin after the first couple of states
Jose B. Gonzalez via Texas Tribune on Facebook
Bonnie Pierce is once again at it with her absolutes... Her support of Perry borders on the line of obsession & cult worship...
Mac Mcclure via Texas Tribune on Facebook
Another negative article written by Ross Ramsey. Can't wait for the next one.
jilli brown
Well, at least it's apparent why Perry ran from debates like a scared dog. His first thought every morning should be a prayer to his god, thanking him for holding the last governors election BEFORE his foray on the national stage. I doubt the results would have been the same.
Jeff M
Just think how much better shape Texas would be in - if they had elected someone else as Governor
Billie Veach
First, most of the folks are correct with exception Bonnie is back trying her best, has a new red
Corvette and works for Dan Moody.If I was a Millionair a person may vote for Rick. (Known him1977)'
Tucker, Texas cannot secede, it can divide into 5 states and have 10 US Senators,arrangement
made after war North-South..We were a Republic not a state.we cab fly our flag at the same level as
the American flag,the only state that can do that. As a Republic we had an agreement ...
Dale, if he is fossil fuel then why is he out there spending $400,000. for security? What is he afraid
of..At the recent funeral of former Governor Dolph Briscoe, the chapel was so small and for VIP &
close friends. others had to look through a plate glass window..very small space,,In walks Gov.
Goodhair, wife, daughter and 5 DPS guards with their guns plainly in sight..He didn't vote for Briscoe
in 1978 most of the farmers went with John Hill because he promised to them..I was in that chapel
and it made me sick to see guns showing, why couldn't the 4 be put in each corner, one near him
and wear a jacket that covered the guns..He didn't go to finishing school or maybe he did and flunked.
Where is the school money?Kay
1. School land was sold and the money did not get to the schools.
2. Remember Lotto and how we got it passed? Yes, the money was going to the schools of Texas
3. There has been a tax at the well head for every drop of oil & gas taken out of Texas soil. It was
reported to the General Land Office Audit Department..many times it was questioned does XXX
owe that much..? I heard many were fired and the Audit Dept. moved.. ALL that tax goes to the
schools. ? Where does that money go now..??
4. The federal government gave the Education Department to hire teachers and make class rooms
have less children.. Rep. Doggett put a rider that the money could ONLY be spent on schools.
they found a Republican Judge that took the rider off..the money went into the general fund.
FYI : Lotto sales are up and drilling in Texas has been up the last several years..And the Briscoe
Ranch hit a big well ..have plenty of jobs for everyone..they come in their R.V. but no hookup.
no restaurants, groceries, etc. but they are working on getting those in. that is a Texas Boom
that has nothing to do with a thing Perry did..Why has it been 6 years since the renovation of the
Mansion repairs are finished.. Rick wants to live in a $10,000. Coyote Ranch.. he doesn't want
to live in town.. Governor Briscoe gave the first $100,000. to the Mansion as did others..where's
the beef? (money)
Leon, you are correct about Phil Gramm, he was for de-regulation of the banks as were others.
and his wife Wendy was on the Board of Directors of Enron, she knew nothing about what was
happening and that is probably true she was there in name only while Phil Gramm was really
the one. But neither of them were called or paid a fine, nothing..
I am a 6th generation Texan, and a great grandmother was an Apache. someone wrote the
only true Texans are the Indians. and I am staying. During the last election I tried and tried
to let people know about him and especially the retired school teachers, you think funds
for education is bad !!
An 80 year old man with lots of health issues, thus hospital, doctors,
have ded. on TRS insurance and so does Medicare to meet.. all RX for him the co-pay
is over $150. per month.. He cannot draw SS even though it was mandatory like TRS
was manditory to pay.. His check has been $1500 a month since 1999 when Bush was Governor.
Now listen, it is NOT because the pension is broke.. The 16th largest pension plan in the world
is TRS. The retired teachers have $ 113 BILLION DOLLARS.. Yep, BILLIONS which Perry
invests in the stock of large companies of the big donors..instead of giving the older retired
teachers an increase for 13 years.. If Dell did this someone would be in jail.. and guess
what he cannot get all the SS he paid in because that is double dipping a law Kay Bailey told
me 6 years ago she was going to fix.. NOT fixed.. he gets $144 a month and he paid in a lot
of SS also.
And one last thing.. I worked hard and so did others to defeat Rick Perry,,He received farm
subsidies on his and his fathers farm, and his county Haskell received $ 1 MIllion dollars
a year NOT to grow crops.. in 1998 when he stopped, he voted against Subsidies for farming.
Presidents: the only two Presidents that were born in Texas was LBJ and IKE.. Bush '41
was married and even George '43 was born in Conn.. he went to boarding school, college, etc.
Didn't report in when his National Guard service was going on in Alabama. and please folks
don't think Phil Gramm is a Texan..while he was in office he never owned a house in Texas,
outhouse or anything other than his office.. He is a Georga Cracker went to school on student
grants or loans.. Before elected they said he had never worked in the private world..
I promise we did try to get Bill White elected, his mother and father are retired school teachers
and knew exactly what was happening to our pension fund. He was keeping it to invest in donors
stock. We lost with Enron and Madoff but we have recovered..In case any of you think a older
teacher did not pay in as much..they paid the same % of their paycheck to be invested at 5% int.
and like the federal government on SS/medicare..money was borrowed @ 5% interest but was
never paid back..Now Perry wants to do away with our pension so he can keep the money.
We need the federal Justice Department, FBI,IRS to come and look at all pension plans and
what happened to the education money.. they should be out of state and honest. I am sure
some folks will be found guilty of many things.
Jaye Ramsey Sutter via Texas Tribune on Facebook
Ms. Pierce I don't know you and I mean no personal disrespect but on this next to last day of the year can you just give up the absolutist position? I find your ability to tell people what to think and how to express themselves rather silly. Who left you in charge of everyone's politics. I support Israel and I do not support Perry. I evidently am like about half of Texas. Doesn't it bother you I don't fit in neat little columns and rows. I am complex--like Walt Whitman said--I contain multitudes. Rest up. It is going to be a very difficult year.
Robert Chapman
IT is shocking that Rick Perry's political fortunes ever rose as high as they did.
In other states a Governor producing a deficit of the magintude Perry ran up would not have survived politically.
In other states, a Governor who laid off thousands of teachers and highway workers to protect low taxes for the rich would not have survived.
Neil Berry
Thanks ya'll! As an expat, most these comments give me hope that there are still some fine people left in Texas who care for the state and are willing to think for themselves. It's been a long string of embarrassments from my home state and I've started denying my heritage. I send good thoughts to the good people of Texas who will certainly do better without Perry his ilk.Good Luck!
Dale Curry
@ Billie - Thank you for your comments. As to my comment that the Perry campaign is "fossil fuel", I was referring to his low poll numbers and that since his miserable debate performances, his campaign is going no where. It is my opinion that once the numbers from Iowa and New Hampshire come in, even Perry and his cronies will realize what we have believed all along. He is never going to be President and most likely, after his pathetic performance in the campaign/debates, his awful performance as Gov, his political future is over with. Hope I am right. Thanks again for your comments, and have a nice day
Nancy Sabet via Texas Tribune on Facebook
you guys anti-Perry all pathetic. Look at his record and you realize he is the best candidate, by far, and that is why msm went after him to destroy him. But he will fight and he will win.
Nancy Sabet via Texas Tribune on Facebook
By the way you guys in TX Tribune got to be ashamed of yourself. You have participated with th rest of the msm to destroy Perry, this is not journalism,. but jouwhornalism.
Jenni Mansfield Peal via Texas Tribune on Facebook
JPS, I called for an apology (as an event on facebook that lasted several weeks) when he slandered the US as "culturally debased" in his call for prayer last July. Still waiting. I got about 850 joiners and 600 decliners on record for the event.
Billie Veach
Dear Dale, I was only using the words to actually say in Texas " Get the Fork , he is done ".
Loved your post..and all the other smart people that know a fake when they see one.
I am ashamed that he is from Texas, wish he was across the border into Oklahoma. But
that didn't happen.. Texas is not responsible for the 2 Bushes or Phil Gramm, no matter
what others think.. It is also against the law for the President and Vice President to be
from the same state.. Bush-Cheney..NO ONE questioned that. 4 days before he announced
he was running he changed his voting card to the state he had not been in for decades.
Changing voters card is not enough .you have to change your homestead exemption,
your drivers license, registration on your cars.. he didn't do any of that.. But I have to say
I appreciate Bush'43 not criticizing Obama and has been a gentleman..But not Cheney.
He should go back to Halliburton where he did business with Iran while they held our
hostages. and the Ollie North.. Dale, I didn't mean anything about your F.F. just a way
of saying get back home you are costing the taxpayers $400,000. a month for security.
The Texas schools could use that money.. badly...
Dale Curry
Thanks Marie, have a great New Year and keep the faith. As to Bush/Cheney, that Presidency was illegal even before they took office, from my opinion. Additionally, the voting irregularities and statistical anomolies in Ohio in 04 leaves room for doubt for that one as well.
Billie Veach
Nancy Sabet, go to 3:46pm today.. If you take the time to read ..it is all true and more.. Rick I have
known since 1977 and he was a very nice young man until he changed and his administration is
is get all he could and greed.. I liked him.. he looks like a great candidate, he just doesn't have
what it takes to be governor and for sure not President.. If he is so great why don't you move
down here from Chicago and let him put you in the poor house.. He has taken money that should
be given to the especially elder retired teachers,(if they go to a nursing home it will be $8,000 a month)
instead of the 1999 $1,500 month for 13 years. He cut the volunteer firefighters budget from $30,000.
to $ 7,000. for the fiscal year began Sept. 1, 2011..that was used up in the first week. He can
double dip but the 80 year old man cannot. just like he is keeping $113 BILLION of themoney
that was taken from teachers and was mandatory..now a man may die and not get what he was
supposed to get.. The Bastrop fire used all $ 7 million the first week, firefighters were taking
out their credit cards and putting gas in the firetrucks.. the rubber was burning on some of the
trucks and at $500. each they were paying for them too.. FEMA came and is dealing with the local
government to make sure they get their money.. some of the volunteers went home and had no
job.. they do not get paid to be a rural volunteer firefighter.., the retired state workers have a
situation like the retired teachers, so does the Police Pension... You cannot know him if you
lived in Chicago, I have known him since 1977 when he was a starving farmer...trying to save
his fathers farm.. Girl, you just don't know what issues you are talking about...
nancy marotte
It warms my heart and tickles my funnybone to read these posts.Between Bush and Perry, I was starting to wonder about Texas. Happy New Year to all.
Marion Finnin
I'm from Louisiana. Our governor is a big Perry supporter. We feel your pain.
Elizabeth West via Texas Tribune on Facebook
Bonnie Pierce you have no right whatsoever to tell people what they should like or dislike, you are a perfect example of why people dislike the religious right.
Billie Veach
Thank goodness Nancy glad you found out we are not crazy.. We need to do away with the Pac's
that get the big money, tell lies and is responsible to no one. The candidate will say I don't know
any thing about that..the Swiftboaters, the teabaggers answer to no one and when they find their
Republican candidate you will see more hate come out.. It will be ad's that have used over and
over.. the problem with Texas is we have 440 Billionairs.. and their money and others fund
the crooked groups that only makes Americans hate each other. at one time if you said you were
a Democrat they would say well I am a Republican. and that is that. Now we have far left, liberals
is a dirty word now, Pinko, Commie, you want to give all our money away.. now the Republicans are far right, bible thumpers, hate the elderly, if you had worked as hard as I did you would have some-
thing too.. A few trips to hospitals and spend time in nursing homes will take all your liquid savings
away no matter what you once had. and other choice words.. It is a shame that Rick Perry is
making Texas look stupid for electing him 10 years. I tried my best, I wrote letters to the editor
and anywhere else I could.. but his hinchmen pac's out funded and dropped the October Suprise
so you do not have time to tell your side, that it was a lie, or it didn't happen that way, etc. they are
full of tricks. and too many watch Fox news... I liked the time when reporters had to have two sources
and prove what they were reporting was true..Like " All the President's Men".. now they say or
print anything.. We have to all try harder to see what is the truth and what was bought by big money.
Marion, I feel your pain, Florida has the same problem I have been hearing..he is just not running
as far as I know..but there are some upset people there..GOD BLESS US ALL
bill gibbons
I don't think Texas' Democratic politicians have been too bad. But from John Tower and Bill Clements to Rick Perry I think the caliber of the Republican pols is a little light.
Kathy Kennemer Genet via Texas Tribune on Facebook
Perry brought his lack of skills to the table. His political downfall is his alone, and the Texas Tribune is just reporting... don't shoot the messenger, Nancy S.
Leon Drozd
Former Rep. Olin E. "Tiger" Teague (D-Texas) commented in the early 70''s that our parties were becoming too partisan and polarized in terms of liberal vs. conservative. He compared the trend to the British system which did noit work. He said our political parties were designed to welcome all viewpoints, whether liberal or conservative, so that the ideas could be understood and debated. Each party would then come up with the best ideas and the country would be well-served.
Additionally, Teague believed strongly that people should not go into public office or take a government job if their goal is to make money. He knew the pressures of public office since he and his wife raised three children while he held office. He noted that those wanting to make money should enter the private sector. He recognized the increasing complexity of the matters coming before the Member of Congress and the need for infomation to ensure the right questions are asked and the right decisions are made. He often encouraged young people who wanted to serve their country to begin early in their career becuase it would take time and effort to become proficient.
That being said, I wonder what Tiger Teague would think of the current state of our country and its candidates for office. Same for other Texans such as George Mahon, Wright Patman, JJ Pickle, Bob Poague, Bill Archer, Jack Brooks, Henry B. Gonzales, Jim Wright, Lloyd Bentsen and John Tower. Barbara Jordan was around then.
What advice do we give to young people or, let's say, soldiers who are returning from Iraq and other places who might want to serve their country in elected office? Perry's rhetoric suggests that matters are complex though I don't agree with his approaches to simplification. A part time Congress??? What are our expectations for future candiates? Can we write a job description before we seek the candidate? Clearly, the approach of running media weekly popularity contests isn't cutting it.
Scott Nicol via Texas Tribune on Facebook
now if only he would pull out of the governor's rent-a-mansion.
Michael Cooksey via Texas Tribune on Facebook
The primary conservative principle I see in Texas is self-deception. Texans cannot see they are wallowing in their own ignorance and the need and desire to inculcate that into law with "god's blessing". Facts be dammed, I feel it should be, are not effective ways to live or create a future.
sssdddd
You think Mr. Dick Perry is an embarassment for Texas? No I think not. Texas has enough crazies to last a lifetime. Just consider TSA groping laws to keep you up with a good laugh, just consider what effect those laws would have on our Texas economy when TSA bans all Texas flights. Say for talking purposes we did stop TSA, what stops London from banning all flights from the USA? Or if this is not enough then consider Willien Nelson, the only Texan with a license to smoke weed. Or Ron Paul, aka Don Quixote.
I used to think the problem was the water. Now I think it is not water but polluted air. I have long wondered what air pollution does to a body and I think we are seeing from politicians from West Texas. Long has West Texas had to endure the effluent from gas flaring operations conducted in the Permian, now it is the Eagle Ford. Ron Paul's district is home to some of the nations largest concentration of refineries and chemical plants.
If this nuttiness is caused by pollution, this is reason to pity these poor politicians who are caught up in a nearly phsychotic rage about things it seems they attempt to not understand. It may be the air pollution that is making these politicians dim witted and they truly do not know what they are talking about. Makes you wonder about the rest of those Texans.
Dale Curry
@ Leon - Hear! Hear! Well said.
Pat Wood via Texas Tribune on Facebook
I keep coming back to this: Perry is too ignorant to know how ignorant he looks/sounds/is and the extent to which he has shamed the state of Texas. I kept thinking that when he humiliated himself on a national stage, he would just go away embarassed----but this guy has no sense of reality, and apparently, neither do his supporters. Let me ask again---how ridiculous/incompetent/DUMB does Perry have to get in order to wake everyone up?
Leon Drozd
If I may respond to Pat Wood. The folks commenting to these articles are awake and aware. Step back and look at who is doing the hypnotizing, where they are doing it and how they are doing it. For starters, I commend to you some remarks I made to the story on today's Texas Tribune about Perry's new ad. See below --
This ad is candidate flatulence. Mr. Perry, there is no "war on religion." Stop your deceptive fear-mongering and exploitation of those folks. Perhaps you should return every dime of money you took from "people of faith" and swear off from preying upon Christians. President Obama hasn't done one thing to adversely impact anyone's right to exercise their religion.
All this religious smoke in our politics makes me wonder if there is a big ol' Texas-size fire out there which is made up of tax-free money from churches, religious organization and preachers flowing into and influencing politics. Clearly, churches, religious organizations and preachers are no longer the innocent paragons of virtue they would have you believe them to be. Maybe there is something prophetic in Perry's term "war on religion." Just WHO is REALLY doing the war mongering? To me, it sounds like the churches, religious organizations and preachers --- and Republican candidates such as Perry, Bachmann, et al.
Maybe the tax problems in American would be solved overnight if churches, religious organizations and preachers were required to pay their share of taxes at the local, state and federal levels. Lord knows that American tax dollars have had to fund military and diplomatic operations around the world due to problems created by American churches, religious organizations and preachers that don't pay into the system.
Perhaps it is high time for an independent investigation into the tax status of churches, religious organizations and preaches across the board --- no exceptions. This should include politicians also! Where violations of law occur, tax status should be revoked and those properties and income streams should be returned to taxable status. The Augean stables of American religion and politics could use a good cleaning.
Keep the preachers out of politics and the politicians out of religion.
sssdddd
Houston chronicle carried report that even Perry's inside team is beginning to wonder why they signed on.
So it seems the crew of the titanic have started to search for life jackets. Next it will be the rats, then the passengers.
2012 looks to be a good year...
Beverly Nuckols via Texas Tribune on Facebook
The original post is silly. People who believe Texans all wear boots - and name those boots - are not paying attention. People who perpetuate that sort of misinformation aren't adding anything good to the conversation and are the ones who should be ashamed.
nancy marotte
sssddd: Your post was priceless! Thanks for a laugh on an otherwise BORING new years eve....
Jerome Nicholson
Is there some law that Texans must reinforce the worst stereotypes of their state in public?
Please, Texans, make a pledge to NEVER APPROACH THE WHITE HOUSE AGAIN!
And if you decide to secede, PLEASE take South Carolina with you!
Dale Curry
If there is a heaven you just gotta believe Ann and Molly are watching Rick Perry's campaign imploding like a black hole and laughing their a**'s off.
Billie Veach
JEROME, Texas cannot secede, another bad grade in grammer school for Rickj.. after the north
and south war .. we were a Republic.. we sign ed that we would divide into 5 states if we want to.
with 10 Senators.
We are the only state that can fly our Texas flag the same level as the USA flag because we
were a Republic.
As for your beef with Texas do not blame us for people that were born blue bloods. Neither of
the Bushes were born in Texas.. George went to private school away and then college ..all
He has is an address in Texas.. the only Presidents born in Texas are LBJ and IKE...
I have said this earlier. Don't blame all of Texas for one fool, greedy candidate. as for the
other state. you will have to take care of it yourself.. and if you don't like Texas there are 49 others
to choose from.. we are not responsible for every idiot in Texas..
Billie Veach
Dale don't forget Liz Carpenter along with Mollie and Ann.. if Ann was alive today she would be
filling the Democratic as Vice-President ... she would would have so many sayings as would
Mollie and Liz.. we lost good ones when they were gone.. Oh, how I wish they would still be
here..we would have some funny little sayings to laugh at.. as sad as it is...
nancy marotte
If I remember right, Barbara Jordan was from Texas... I always had a lot of respect for her too.
Jack Reynard via Texas Tribune on Facebook
Wow! It is clear that Texas like their politicians who can't walk and chew gum at the same time. However, it has been funny to watch if not a little tragic.
Billie Veach
Yes, Barbara Jordan was an exceptional woman, when she ran for her first office I am proud to say
I voted for her.. from there she climbed to the top..I had a hallway full of political photos of many
different politicians.. 9 out of 10 would say " Barbara Jordan " I loved that lady she was so smart.
So you see we do have some good Texans..
For those that blame Texas remember in a bag of potatoes there is always one that gets rotten
first...
STOP THE PAC'S..they collect money and can say what ever they want.. the candidate can say I
don't know anything about it.. with the Pac's only the rich can survive the cost of an election. The
money should be to the candidate and he/she responsible for what is said.. newspapers need
2 sources like " All the President's Men " until then we will be fighting a civil war, neighbor against
neighbor... more hate, disruption of families.. brother against brother. and that is not what the
founding fathers risked their lives for our freedom.. someone has to be responsible for what is
being said on the TV talk shows, on the computer and plain lies against the person running against
your candidate.. Get the fat cats out of the swift boats, teabaggers, and any group that receives
money( i.e. Koch Bro.) it should go to the candidate and be recorded so they will once again
represent US instead of after 6 months of election ...START paying for the next 2 year re-election.
Then only peace will come to our people.. like it was decades ago..and no hate for a Republican
or a Democrat.. We would be free to not be concerned with who our friends and family were voting
for.. Now Football is the #1 sport at least in the South. and #2 is politics and forwarding information
for their side...true or false makes no difference... Let's ask if they are willing to give up the Pac's
that are tearing America apart... Peace...
sssdddd
Billie Veatch,
That was a very thoughtful post.
However I have to take issue with one minor assertion. Texas had produced another bad potatoes, rather than rotten like the Perry potatoes this one is more like a sick green potatoes called Ron Paul aka Don Quixote.
Billie Veach
sssdddd, the name is Veach.. As for Ron Paul I cannot comment on him very much.. his people keep
electing him so I suppose they like him.. just no comment either way for Ron Paul.. I was his seat
mate to him on a flight from Houston to Washington DC, in 1978.. he is a medical doctor, do not
know how he could practice much.. 35 years ago he was a very quiet man and I noticed that he
used his time to work on that plane ride.. I suppose I give him a little less blame because of his age.
He would not be my choice either, and I doubt that he will get the nomination as he doesn't have
the fat cats.. at least not as many as Rick Perry.. that I have known since 1977 and I am very disappointed that the starving farmer in 1977 has become the biggest embarrassment that the
state of Texas has ever had.. He has ruined Texas and if he gets in he will ruin the USA. He
cares nothing about the elderly...I don't know who he cares about but not the rural retired school
teachers that have not received a COLA on their pension plan (16th largest in the world, because
he kept our money) $113 BILLION and now 13 years since the last monthly payment raise since
1999 when George Bush was governor.. that is my beef with Rick Perry..I helped save the farm for
him and now a mandatory amount taken out of an 80 year olds check that was a teacher for over
30 years cannot get his monthly pension raised.. no SS because a normal person cannot double
dip but the governor can.??? no one can live on a 1999 budget with all the inflation of utilites, food,
etc..at 80 medical bills, deductibles and co pay on RX.. so instead of 13 years of nothing will soon
be $ 8,000 in nursing home bills.. of course he made a D in economics so what are we to expect.?
But Ron Paul would not be my choice either...
Dale Curry
@ Billie - Yes, I should have included Liz. And I do agree, having Ann, Liz, and Mollie around commenting on the implosion of Rick Perry would just bring it to new levels of funny. Though I have to admit, I have laughed at his failed run quite a bit.
martha davidson
Perry, like his predecessor GW Bush, is now shown for what he is....a straw-man.
First Bush, now Perry prove that Texas has been governed by other interests for decades.
They are strictly retail politicians, that can read a speech written for them (most of the time), Perry can perform in advertisements (lord only knows how many takes to accomplish this) but behind the scenes training and practice produce limited results and their true lack of intellect is nothing short of STUNNING, profoundly STUNNING.
They have both been embarrassing to watch because of their bizarre behavior as well as the ridiculous things that they say.
Chancellor Merkel is not the only one who will never forget that horrible shoulder rub/grab and how could anyone forget the Perry speech which turned out to be a drunk/high performance that ended with him hugging and caressing a bottle of maple syrup?
Texans have no one but themselves to blame for being so easily impressed, that it repeatedly results in making these poor choices at the voting booth.
In the infamous words of George Bush;
There's an old saying in Tennessee — I know it's in Texas, probably in Tennessee — that says, fool me once, shame on — [pauses] — shame on you. Fool me — [pauses] — You can't get fooled again.