Quotes of the Week

Perry, Foster, Ahumada, Carrick, and Heflin

Gov. Rick Perry, to an audience of newspaper executives: "In a lot of ways, the Internet has turned the media business into the Wild West. I think that's good when you consider the enormous potential of that. But it's not so good if the spirit of lawlessness is what we get out of the Wild West. I find that some of the greatest dangers in life take shape in the absence of accountability. When a blogger can write under a pseudonym or a person can comment on an article under the name 'anonymous,' maybe be hurtful, maybe be inaccurate, be as irresponsible as they like..."

Eagle Pass Mayor Chad Foster, quoted in the McAllen Monitor on fears that Mexican drug wars are spilling into Texas: "There are some entities out there that think that the louder they scream, the more funding they're going to get."

Brownsville Mayor Pat Ahumada, indicted for depositing a $26,129 check meant for a city vendor into his personal account, quoted by the Associated Press: "I don't have an explanation and neither do they."

Mallory Carrick of Plano, talking to The Dallas Morning News about rising taxes on smokes: "First we have to deal with the economy, and now the government. I guess it's better that it's on cigarettes 'cause they're killing us, but still, what about our freedom?"

Rep. Joe Heflin, D-Crosbyton, quoted in the Austin American-Statesman on the subject of Voter ID: "Have you ever been so sick you felt like you could throw up your toe nails? This is not something for anybody to die over."