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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Comments:
Feb '10
Re: Calling All Texans, Or Paul Rahe Wants to Know More About Rick Perry (And So Do I)
Although I don't know about it constitutionally, I'd say pragmatically that the governor is more than a hood ornament. The governor gives leadership to the legislature using the bully pulpit when necessary, and calls them into special session for issues that aren't resolved during the regular session every two years. I'm sure the governor has a hand in persuading businesses to come to the state, and leading the state to do what it can to bring them in.
Jul '10
Re: Calling All Texans, Or Paul Rahe Wants to Know More About Rick Perry (And So Do I)
John Lamoreaux
Secession ... theirs, not ours · Aug 13 at 7:26pm
Maybe President Perry would have Us secede from the UN? North America? who knows? It's fun to think about it....
Jul '10
Re: Calling All Texans, Or Paul Rahe Wants to Know More About Rick Perry (And So Do I)
I disagree, BSA. I would not be "OK" with legalizing lawbreakers,"some," "peaceful," "hard-working," or otherwise. The law is the law.
Illegal means just that: ILLEGAL. Lawbreaker.
Mar '11
Re: Calling All Texans, Or Paul Rahe Wants to Know More About Rick Perry (And So Do I)
BSA, I agree with you on immigration and most Texans I know do too. It's fair and not rewarding those that got here illegally. As for taxes, my main point is that a big reason Texas has a more equitable system, both for her citizens and immigrants, than the other border states is we don't tax income, therefore there aren't the kinds of cracks to fall through as in NM, AZ & CA. Unless you live in your vehicle you pay into the system. I flirt with the idea of abolishing the federal income tax for a national sales tax, from time to time.
Re: Calling All Texans, Or Paul Rahe Wants to Know More About Rick Perry (And So Do I)
The Democratic Party was very different in 1962 compared to 1988.
Look at the Dem nominees from 1972 on--McGovern, Carter, Mondale, Dukakis. It took Perry 16 years to figure out the Democratic Party had rejected limited government altogether?
Gore was never a conservative--sure, Tipper didn't like rap lyrics.
Feb '10
Re: Calling All Texans, Or Paul Rahe Wants to Know More About Rick Perry (And So Do I)
Jimmy Carter: I disagree, BSA. I would not be "OK" with legalizing lawbreakers,"some," "peaceful," "hard-working," or otherwise. The law is the law.
Illegal means just that: ILLEGAL. Lawbreaker.
I agree with all that, but the fact is that by not enforcing the law in the past, we have a pretty messy situation with no good solutions. Deporting all illegal aliens with no exceptions would be pretty drastic and disruptive, and to be perfectly honest, it would be an overreaction in my opinion. Leaving them in an illegal sort of limbo state is the status quo, which is obviously not working, and leads to many other abuses. But blanket amnesty is clearly also a non-starter.
Ideally, we'd be able to expel the troublemakers, control the borders such that no new illegal immigration could occur, and let some productive, non-troublemakers stay and become legal-- not all, but as many as our economy could use at legal workers' wages. The problem with any kind of legalization is that it gives incentives for more people to come, and if the border doesn't stop them, we're back where we started, only worse. We've seen this before.
Yet I'm not against letting the ones who are productive, employable at legal market wages and who are assimilating well and not causing trouble, stay-- as long as we have actual border security and immigration control in place, proven for a number of years, and removed as much as possible from the whims of political power and not just promised as part of a "comprehensive immigration reform package."
Edited on August 14, 2011 at 6:21amMay '10
Re: Calling All Texans, Or Paul Rahe Wants to Know More About Rick Perry (And So Do I)
I had tried to send via twitter previously when the talk on the Ricochet podcast tended toward interest in Perry because the conventional wisdom is that he is a "tea party conservative." He is if that's what is popular today.
The following article I think does a pretty good and objective job of summarizing Perry. I personally like Pawlenty of the choices out there and Romney is growing on me. At least he has been nationally vetted before. I think when the national media gets a hold of Perry's Gardisil issue (the attempt to require 12 year old girls in TX to get a vaccine for a sexually transmitted disease the effects of which have been catastrophic to some) and that his jobs initiative funds essentially sent money to big donors with dubious results and the the fact that he has had little to do with the TX success story, I think we'll be looking elsewhere.
In any case -- please read http://www.americanthinker.com/2011/06/rick_perry_a_moderates_conservative.html
Jul '10
Re: Calling All Texans, Or Paul Rahe Wants to Know More About Rick Perry (And So Do I)
Busy System Admin
o,
Yet I'm not against letting the ones who are productive, who are assimilating well and not causing trouble,· Aug 13 at 8:56pm
Edited on Aug 13 at 08:57 pm
Productive or not; assimilating or not; illegal is illegal. What "illegal" do Y'all not understand?
Feb '10
Re: Calling All Texans, Or Paul Rahe Wants to Know More About Rick Perry (And So Do I)
Jimmy Carter
Productive or not; assimilating or not; illegal is illegal. What "illegal" do Y'all not understand?
Like I said, no disagreement on the illegality of illegal immigration.
But what are you going to do about it? That is the question.
You know, I think America is a welcoming country. We are big enough and magnanimous enough to accept, with restitution, some illegal immigrants. But only once we're reassured that it's not just going to be the same story in a few years with a new wave.
Right now, Americans are feeling exploited and enraged. Enraged that the border is not being respected, that our laws are not being enforced by our own people. Enraged that others (the immigrants themselves, the politicians, the businesses who love cheap, exploitable labor) are taking advantage of the situation. I think the anger at the situation is justified. It certainly takes away any magnanimity or welcoming feeling we might normally have.
Let the anger propel us to do what we should have done long ago: control immigration and shut down hiring and exploitation of illegal immigrants. Once we know that is actually, truly under control, I believe we can take a more calm look at those already here, and make a better decision about them-- not just kick them all out with no recourse or consideration of their circumstances.
Driving over the speed limit is illegal. Should we revoke your license automatically for it? Assign the death penalty for it? What part of illegal don't you understand?
With any crime, there's room between letting something go and overreacting, for determining the proper punishment.
Edited on August 14, 2011 at 7:44amMay '11
Re: Calling All Texans, Or Paul Rahe Wants to Know More About Rick Perry (And So Do I)
Ahem, lot's of non-Texans forget the real size and diversity of the state. It's about 860 miles west to east and if you look over by the Sabine Pass on the east you will find apretty good number of fine upstanding Acadian descendents with names like Mouton, Thibideaux and Lamoreaux, Those names go right along with Smith, Jones, Washington, Garcia, Porcayo, Infante, Two Eagles, and Jesse. I'm a native Texan (not living there, at the moment) and don't think there are many names that "scream" Texan. Well, maybe Sam Houston.
And as to Perry? Better than what we've got if he had been born in Idaho!
Feb '11
Re: Calling All Texans, Or Paul Rahe Wants to Know More About Rick Perry (And So Do I)
Jimmy Carter
John Lamoreaux
Secession ... theirs, not ours · Aug 13 at 7:26pm
Maybe President Perry would have Us secede from the UN? North America? who knows? It's fun to think about it.... · Aug 13 at 7:33pm
Should Texas secede from the US, we call dibs on the Marine Corps.
The U.N. would surely work better if it weren't so inclusive. Still, it's got its uses. At the least, it gives petty states the illusion that they've got a voice. Without it, France would be insufferable.
Dec '10
Re: Calling All Texans, Or Paul Rahe Wants to Know More About Rick Perry (And So Do I)
CJRun: 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.· Aug 13 at 6:30pm
Better keep them away from movies and all those Yosemite Sam cartoons if one picture is going to taint their understanding of firearms.
I have an affinity for firearms. My father was the one who put the first one in my hand and held me in his lap as I squeezed the trigger for the first time. American freedoms exist because we can understand what we see, keeping the good and calling the bad what it is. If you can't keep your kids from firing wildly into the heavens the blame is yours and yours alone, and is no excuse for censoring images of the outside world.
Dec '10
Re: Calling All Texans, Or Paul Rahe Wants to Know More About Rick Perry (And So Do I)
George Merritt
Ahem, lot's of non-Texans forget the real size and diversity of the state. It's about 860 miles west to east and if you look over by the Sabine Pass on the east you will find apretty good number of fine upstanding Acadian descendents with names like Mouton, Thibideaux and Lamoreaux, Those names go right along with Smith, Jones, Washington, Garcia, Porcayo, Infante, Two Eagles, and Jesse. I'm a native Texan (not living there, at the moment) and don't think there are many names that "scream" Texan. Well, maybe Sam Houston.
And as to Perry? Better than what we've got if he had been born in Idaho! · Aug 13 at 11:59pm
Perchance to dream. Ahhh........
Dec '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." · Aug 13 at 7:08pm
But if they don't have a SS number, it is quite unlikely that they could ever claim those benefits. So they simply don't pay in and then they won't collect.....oh wait.....wish I could I could work off the books. *sigh*
Aug '10
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
Well, that decides it for me. If Mike Huckabee is again' it then I'm for it!
Tancredo who? Is that there one of them 'scholars' or some such that David Brooks tell me to revere? Not havin' it.
May '10
Re: Calling All Texans, Or Paul Rahe Wants to Know More About Rick Perry (And So Do I)
CJRun: 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.
· Aug 13 at 6:30pm
Seriously?
If your kids start running around the house randomly firing a pistol, someone will be to blame. And it won't be Rick Perry.
May '10
Re: Calling All Texans, Or Paul Rahe Wants to Know More About Rick Perry (And So Do I)
The King Prawn
Perhaps. · Aug 13 at 4:35pm
Certainly don't have to worry about killer rabbit attacks with this one.
Mar '11
Re: Calling All Texans, Or Paul Rahe Wants to Know More About Rick Perry (And So Do I)
DrewInWisconsin: Some lefty bloggers I read keep bringing up the fact that he worked for Al Gore's campaign in '88. But I think we have to remember how different the political landscape was in '88. Al Gore was a very conservative Democrat back then -- a pro-life Democrat even -- and he was viewed suspiciously by the left because Tipper Gore walked in lock-step with Phyllis Schlafly. The kids today who think of Al Gore as some wise Lorax saving all the Truffala Trees would have hated the 1988 Al Gore.
Not that this has anything to do with Rick Perry, but I don't think being a Democrat 23 years ago means you can't be a Republican today. · Aug 13 at 3:40pm
This is a great point. When I was a teenager in the 80's, the Gores were the enemy; the stuffy old people that lived to kill your fun. They were lumped in with the Pat Robertsons and Phyliss Schaflys. Al Gore was one of the Great Southern Hopes back then; a Democrat that might be able to win in Reagan's America.
Mar '11
Re: Calling All Texans, Or Paul Rahe Wants to Know More About Rick Perry (And So Do I)
Keith Preston
The King Prawn
Perhaps. · Aug 13 at 4:35pm
Certainly don't have to worry about killer rabbit attacks with this one. · Aug 14 at 6:26am
When it comes right down to it, the pic will help him with the usual suspects and hurt him with the usual suspects, and people in the middle could care less.
Aug '10
Re: Calling All Texans, Or Paul Rahe Wants to Know More About Rick Perry (And So Do I)
Douglas
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? · Aug 13 at 6:25pm
Can you imagine those two on the same ticket?
What would their campaign slogan be?
I have a funny one, but it is too inflammatory. Suffice it to say it involves one's Diety and the other's primary issue.