Calling All Texans, Or Paul Rahe Wants to Know More About Rick Perry (And So Do I)
Reading Bill Whalen's post just now, I came across a comment from Paul that perfectly summed up what a lot of us must be thinking--so perfectly that I thought I'd post it right here, on our front page:
I would like to know more about Perry. I think that I can gauge Romney and Bachmann, and I know that Perry is serious about the tenth amendment (no small matter). But I want to know more -- lots more. You folks from Texas. Speak up. Is he smart? Is he thoughtful (not quite the same thing as smart)? Is he principled? Or is he a chameleon? Most politicians are a lot like Bill Clinton (without having his skills). They are -- how shall I put it? -- flexible . . . on damned near everything. There are occasions when flexibility is called for and occasions when it amounts to being unprincipled. Is Perry slick? Or is he the genuine article? Speak up, my friends. We all need to know.
Ricochetians in the Lone Star State, do tell, do tell.
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Jul '10
Re: Calling All Texans, Or Paul Rahe Wants to Know More About Rick Perry (And So Do I)
John Lamoreaux
French-Canadian, with roots in the UP. Thirteen years since I repented of being Yankee. Loving life and my neighbors, and never leaving. · Aug 13 at 6:00pm
Howdy, Neighbor. I'm next door in Fort Worth. Born and bred Here.
Now, if I can just figure out how to stop all those Californians from coming Here... oh, yeah... a border wall!
Feb '11
Re: Calling All Texans, Or Paul Rahe Wants to Know More About Rick Perry (And So Do I)
Lifelong Texan here, & a small business man. Here are some random observations:
I live in Jefferson County which is home to one of the worst legal "hell-holes" in the USA. That loser pays law is a big deal, as far as I'm concerned. He championed it in session, out of session & every way he could to get it passed. Also, now there are limits to punitive damages in lawsuits where there used to be none.
Another plus, he's fought against a state income tax.
Did he try to get the HPV vaccine mandated for 12 yr olds, yeah he did. Did it go down in flames? Like the Hindenburg. Was that a misstep? You bet; he learned from it too. But by and large I've found him to be more like Silent Cal when it comes to butting into people's lives. Obama has interfered in my life more than Gov. Perry has.
He is a "smaller" government conservative. He'll fight to repeal Obamacare. He'll defang the regulatory state (with the help of Republican Congress.) And generally reign in the but-in-ski tendency of DC. Or at least he'll try.
Apr '11
Re: Calling All Texans, Or Paul Rahe Wants to Know More About Rick Perry (And So Do I)
Rick Perry not a true conservative by Tom Tancredo
http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0811/61076.html
Mike Huckabee: Rick Perry timing 'bad form,' 'tactical blunder'
http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0811/61140.html
Mar '11
Re: Calling All Texans, Or Paul Rahe Wants to Know More About Rick Perry (And So Do I)
FeliciaB
True. Even Ronald Reagan was a Democrat before he was a Republican. · Aug 13 at 5:58pm
Reagan's famous quote was "I didn't leave the Democratic Party. The Democratic Party left me".
The fact that Perry also used to be a Democrat... and also left because he saw that party tacking too far left... can only help him with swing voters.
Apr '11
Re: Calling All Texans, Or Paul Rahe Wants to Know More About Rick Perry (And So Do I)
Two pieces from Politico disparaging Perry - shocking!
Mar '11
Re: Calling All Texans, Or Paul Rahe Wants to Know More About Rick Perry (And So Do I)
Viator: Rick Perry not a true conservative by Tom Tancredo
http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0811/61076.html
Mike Huckabee: Rick Perry timing 'bad form,' 'tactical blunder'
http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0811/61140.html · Aug 13 at 6:17pm
And who knows more about running a good POTUS campaign than those two guys?
Feb '10
Re: Calling All Texans, Or Paul Rahe Wants to Know More About Rick Perry (And So Do I)
[Putting on a Texas swagger.] Man, are you serious? Darn sure it will help him with winning the Republican nomination.
Are you worried it will hurt him in the general election? I doubt many of the people who would dislike that are going to vote Republican anyways.
Dec '10
Re: Calling All Texans, Or Paul Rahe Wants to Know More About Rick Perry (And So Do I)
I want to go on record that JeffP is correct; I have no idea about the contxt of the photo; it could have been the start of a race I stand down, but I do not think the left will.
As to the comment about illegal immigrants not paying taxes, please wake up, folks; do you own rental property that you charge less for than the mortgage, expenses, and taxes? Of course renters pay property taxes!
As for the firearm discharge into the air, I stand with my original comment. My children are never going to see context for that image, I may have to give them some, but it is everything I try to teach them not to do.
This discussion is never what my kids will read, so that image will hurt.
If Perry was starting a race, then I am a big dummy, but that is not what will pervade the media. I at least owe the effort of researching that, but cannot, as I now have to walk a long way and open the gate for my sweetie to drive through.
Good night all; gotta saunter.
Mar '11
Re: Calling All Texans, Or Paul Rahe Wants to Know More About Rick Perry (And So Do I)
Jimmy Carter, of course illegals pay property taxes. Most are renters and property tax is figured into the rent. If you own, it's registered with the state and thus the state sends you a bill to the address regardless of if you're a citizen, legal or illegal immigrant. It's much easier to be under the radar in an income based system.
Feb '10
Re: Calling All Texans, Or Paul Rahe Wants to Know More About Rick Perry (And So Do I)
A lot of people from Louisiana have moved here-- especially after Katrina. The mayor of New Orleans famously bought a house for his family in Dallas shortly after Katrina. I also heard a lot of Louisianans comment on how "well organized" the Texas response to Katrina was-- quite a contrast to Louisiana's Democrat-run response or the federal response.
[Edited for the UPDATE below:]
John obviously isn't from Louisiana as I had guessed before reading the above quote, but the point stands that we are quite familiar with French names in many parts of Texas. Ever hear of Paris, Texas? [Insider lame joke: if you were born there, you're a Parisian, but if you moved there, you're just a Parisite.]
Seriously, Texas is now quite a cosmopolitan place, at least in the bigger cities. Don't expect to see many cowboys wandering around with six-shooters if you go for a visit. You'll be more likely to see an Indian-- from India that is.
Edited on Aug 13, 2011 at 7:51pmFeb '10
Re: Calling All Texans, Or Paul Rahe Wants to Know More About Rick Perry (And So Do I)
Reading through these comments, and having lived in Texas, I'd have to agree with the following:
- We don't see Perry a lot on the news, so yes, he does stay out of the way. He seems to understand the government has certain jobs and not others.
- He's very slick, very good at being a politician. Kay Bailey Hutchison didn't stand a chance, nor do any of his Democratic challengers (at least in Texas).
- He's very comfortable in his own skin and in speaking before people. He's not a teleprompter kind of guy.
- He's made some missteps that kind of turned me and a lot of others off. HPV, Trans-Texas Corridor of course.
- Conservative talk-show hosts complained a lot about him here in the state, but I guess they would complain about anyone not super-hard-right.
- I can appreciate his immigration stance though I don't fully agree with it. As long as he gets the borders under control for good first, I'm not going to write him off for the rest.
- He's not my perfect candidate by a long shot, but the field we have doesn't exactly inspire me. I'd say, barring anything crazy that I don't know yet, he's the best of a somewhat uninspiring lineup.
- Most of all, though, amongst all the non-Romney choices, I'd fall behind Perry. He probably has the best chance from a fragmented lineup to beat both Romney and Obama. Most of the others lack something important-- experience, or gravitas, or wider appeal, etc. On the issues, on principles and on intensity, I prefer Bachmann. But I worry about her lack of executive experience.
Edited on Aug 13, 2011 at 7:44pmJul '10
Re: Calling All Texans, Or Paul Rahe Wants to Know More About Rick Perry (And So Do I)
Okay, lizzie, Yer Right. After I commented about property taxes I had a "Doh!" moment.
What about those illegals getting paid off the books? They ain't paying income taxes. I can prove that one.
Jun '10
Re: Calling All Texans, Or Paul Rahe Wants to Know More About Rick Perry (And So Do I)
Knowing nearly nothing about Rick Perry, I half expected to read a very uncomfortable revelation in this post. I haven't. So far, so good. I'm sure there are plenty working on finding skeletons as we speak, so we'll see how it goes. I have absolutely no objection to him appearing to be low profile and getting obstacles out of the way instead of being in everyone's face and telling the world that he creates jobs. If he's an aggressive campaigner, then all the better. He'll need that skill if he ends up running against Obama. They'll throw everything they got at him and he'll need to be strong and savvy.
Feb '10
Re: Calling All Texans, Or Paul Rahe Wants to Know More About Rick Perry (And So Do I)
Nobody in Texas pays state income taxes-- because Texas doesn't have an income tax. Everyone pays sales taxes-- you have to if you buy anything besides basic staples. Makes great sense for a border state.
It also puts a practical cap on taxation because you can't raise it too far without people complaining too much or going out of state for major purchases, etc. Texas has it at 8.25%-- pretty high, but not horrible considering the lack of income tax.
And property taxes are manageable. As far as I know, most of the tax revenue goes to the local governments (cities, counties, school districts) and not as much to the state.
By the way, renters probably pay more property taxes as a proportion of their housing expenses than owners. This is because owners get a "homestead exemption" on their primary residence, which knocks the tax down by about 20% or so. I'm pretty sure that doesn't apply to landlords.
Edited on Aug 13, 2011 at 7:15pmFeb '10
Re: Calling All Texans, Or Paul Rahe Wants to Know More About Rick Perry (And So Do I)
Property prices have long been low compared to other states, so although we certainly suffered price drops in the last few years, the losses in absolute or even relative terms are not as horrible as in other states.
The state budget was pretty good until the last few years. It got hit too by the recession, so it's not really fair to say Perry left the state's budget worse than when he came in. The good thing is they seem to have balanced it out. Yes, some of the cuts hurt-- some teachers got laid off, and class sizes are larger than they should be. But life goes on, and there wasn't a lot of drama about it like there was in Wisconsin. All in all, the country wouldn't do too bad to take a lot of ideas from Texas.
Another thing people may not know about Texas: the legislature meets only every other year, unless called into a "special session." One state representative attended our church. His family ran a local business, and we saw him at church most of the time. He was absent (gone to Austin) just a few months every other year.
May '11
Re: Calling All Texans, Or Paul Rahe Wants to Know More About Rick Perry (And So Do I)
I agree with you and believe it even makes your point stronger to note that Reagan actually first ran for the Republican nomination in 1968-just six years after leaving the Democratic party.
Jul '10
Re: Calling All Texans, Or Paul Rahe Wants to Know More About Rick Perry (And So Do I)
True, BSA. Perhaps I should have stated payroll taxes. Illegals ain't paying FICA, SS, MediCare, etc... out of their "paycheck."
May '10
Re: Calling All Texans, Or Paul Rahe Wants to Know More About Rick Perry (And So Do I)
I like and respect my Texas Governor, although I do not know him personally. He seems to have been a hard worker in his years ciming up the ladder from farmer to Legislator, Ag Commissioner, Lt. Gov, and Gov. I think he has solid conservative principles and enough common sense. Sometimes he has thought a bit much of himself and his ideas, as others here noted. George W. Bush and Laura have always inspired more affection from Texans than Rick Perry and Anita. Perry has an ego, no doubt, but he has been a suitable figurehead for the state. She is low-key and reasonable, a former nurse. Constitutionally, our governor is little more than a hood ornament, so I cannot pin our state's vibrant economy on his tenure. The best I can say is that Rick Perry didn't make it worse. He was an early supporter of Guiliani in 2008. I see a possible Rick&Rudy ticket next summer.
Feb '11
Re: Calling All Texans, Or Paul Rahe Wants to Know More About Rick Perry (And So Do I)
Jimmy Carter
Now, if I can just figure out how to stop all those Californians from coming Here... oh, yeah... a border wall! · Aug 13 at 6:09pm
Secession ... theirs, not ours
Feb '10
Re: Calling All Texans, Or Paul Rahe Wants to Know More About Rick Perry (And So Do I)
Jimmy Carter
True, BSA. Perhaps I should have stated payroll taxes. Illegals ain't paying FICA, SS, MediCare, etc... out of their "paycheck."
Certainly, but I think lizzie's point was that those are more of a problem for the federal government-- that Texas has figured out how to tax the population in a way so that immigrants also pay towards the state's expenses. It happens to be a better way of taxing everyone else too.
On immigration, I'd say our country actually needs it. We need immigration to a certain degree because our own native population's reproductive rate is on a trend to go below replacement.
The problems are that 1) we have way more immigration than we need and 2) too much of the immigration is illegal.
I would be OK with legalizing some of the peaceful, hard-working folks, but only AFTER the border was provably sealed, and illegal immigration was brought under full control. I would be OK with giving some work visas to temporary workers, but I really think Americans would do those jobs-- at the right market wage. If we won't, shame on us and on how soft we've become.
Edited on Aug 13, 2011 at 7:36pm