It’s about as unscientific as you can get, but the Rick Perry 2012 button is a hot item at the Republican Leadership Conference in New Orleans, where several major presidential contenders are trying to win the who-is-most-conservative contest.
Jay Root
Jay Root is an award-winning journalist who reported for the Tribune from 2011 to 2020. He covered the dramatic collapse of Gov. Rick Perry’s 2012 presidential campaign and went on to write an ebook about it called “Oops! A Diary from the 2012 Campaign Trail.” Root also broke the story that put the Texas attorney general, Ken Paxton, on the path toward criminal indictment, co-wrote an exposé that brought an end to privately funded prosecutions in Travis County, and authored a series of watchdog articles that prompted a wave of firings and resignations at two major state agencies.
In 2017, Root co-directed “Beyond The Wall,” a film exploring border politics in the age of Trump, which won a national Edward R. Murrow award for best news documentary. Root’s latest film, “Border Hustle,” was released in early 2019 and reveals how desperate migrants have become cash cows on both sides of the border.
Previously, for a dozen years, Root was Austin bureau chief of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram, where he chronicled the rise of then-Gov. George W. Bush, wrote about cartel violence in Mexico and covered Hurricane Katrina and Hurricane Rita. During a three-year stint at the Associated Press, Root was twice named AP Staff Reporter of the Year for his watchdog reporting, including a story that sparked felony charges against a sitting state representative.
Posted inState Government
Audio: Perry’s Speech at the Manhattan GOP Event
In a trip to New York City on Tuesday, Gov. Rick Perry replaced Donald Trump to speak at the Manhattan GOP’s Lincoln Day Dinner. Here’s the full audio of his speech before prominent Republican New Yorkers at the Grand Hyatt Hotel.
Posted in
Economy
Perry Slaps Obama, Acts Like GOP Hopeful in NYC
Gov. Rick Perry, moving closer to a run for the White House, took his anti-Washington message to New York City Tuesday, telling a gathering of Republican donors that the Obama administration had “promised jobs and … delivered economic misery.” It comes as Perry steps out increasingly on the national stage.
Posted in
Politics
Perry: Voters Want More Options in GOP Field
Gov. Rick Perry, in New York for a speech that’s fueling speculation about a possible run for the White House, said today that voters seem hungry for more candidates to pick from in the presidential contest. Perry, in an interview with the Tribune, said there’s still ample time to get in the race.
Posted inState Government
Perry Goes Nationwide in Week of Big Speeches
He bashed Barack Obama in Los Angeles over the weekend, fills in for The Donald today in the Big Apple and, on Saturday, Gov. Rick Perry will hit New Orleans for a GOP event that looks a lot like a cattle call for White House hopefuls. This is more like dipping an ankle than a toe into the presidential race.
Posted inState Government
Anti-Washington, in More Ways Than One
Serving in the U.S. Congress is a pretty big deal.
Posted in
Politics
Gingrich Defections Fuel More Talk of Perry Run
Newt Gingrich lost his presidential campaign staff Thursday, adding to rampant speculation that Gov. Rick Perry will scoop them up to launch his own White House bid. Two of the aides, Gingrich campaign manager Rob Johnson and consultant Dave Carney, have extensive links to Perry.
Posted in
Politics
Redistricting Map On Its Way to Texas House
The Texas House Redistricting Committee approved a new version of the congressional map that makes a few tweaks, mainly in North and South Texas. But the overall goal remains the same: Maintain and expand Republican power in Washington.
Posted in
Politics
Christian Leader Explains Views on Heaven and Hell
Are non-Christians bound for the gates of hell? The topic has generated heated discussion since Tim Wildmon, the president of the American Family Association, which Gov. Rick Perry has tapped to stage his Aug. 6 prayer vigil, told the Tribune that he believed only Christians will escape eternal damnation.
Posted in
State Government
For Prayer Event, Perry Teams With Controversial Group
The sponsor paying the tab for Gov. Rick Perry’s just-announced Aug. 6 “Day of Prayer and Fasting” is a controversial anti-gay group whose president told The Texas Tribune on Tuesday that non-Christians will “go to hell” unless they accept Jesus Christ as their savior.
