Texas and Jobs
Claire Berlinski, Ed. ·
Aug 17, 2011 at 10:48am
Our member Pootergeek sent me a link to this post with the comment, "This is proper political blogging." And he's right. I asked if he'd like credit for the link, because sometimes he prefers to be an anonymous tipster.* He said sure, but noted that he discovered it via Alex Massie at the Spectator.
Having given everyone credit, I now turn you over to Political Math:
My advice to anti-Perry advocates is this: Give up talking about Texas jobs. Texas is an incredible outlier among the states when it comes to jobs. Not only are they creating them, they're creating ones with higher wages.
*Anonymous tipsters: Your secrets are safe with me!
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Comments :
Dec '10
Re: Texas and Jobs
But, Claire, these are just facts. You know politics is about never letting such things stand in the way of dreams.
Jun '10
Re: Texas and Jobs
Yes, but President Obama's intentions were 43% better than Perry's. That's what's important.
Re: Texas and Jobs
Wow. Could I just say that this material is absolutely fascinating? And totally compelling? And very, very important?
Thank you, Claire--and Pootergeek.
Now, how do we make sure everybody reads this stuff?
Mar '11
Re: Texas and Jobs
Peter Robinson: Wow. Could I just say that this material is absolutely fascinating? And totally compelling? And very, very important?
Thank you, Claire--and Pootergeek.
Now, how do we make sure everybody reads this stuff? · Aug 17 at 11:42am
First, give it a plug as the "Post of the Week" on the Ricochet podcast. Next, the guy who runs the blog appears to have already been on the public stage talking about his research. Click on the "About" link for his bio. Then put him on the podcast for a guest interview. He's posted on a whole raft of topics which are listed on the same page. Pretty interesting guy.
Edited on Aug 17, 2011 at 12:50pmApr '11
Re: Texas and Jobs
Remember this video ? Same guy. He's really talented in breaking down the numbers and how they are manipulated in politics. I can't say he's a conservative, but he comes to the discussion in good faith, and with good info.
Sep '10
Re: Texas and Jobs
Make sure someone over at each of PJM, NRO and Townhall see this. From there it'll filter on to Levin, Batchelor, and Rush. Make sure to tweet it to the major twitterverse hubs - @jonahNRO, @michellemalkin, @richlowry, @andrewbrietbart, etc. (I've already done this, but it takes hefty numbers / personal connections to get picked up in the twittersphere - I have neither). The fact that the post isn't blatantly pro-Perry (quite the opposite, in fact) will make for interesting fodder.
It is (kind of) amazing to me that the progressive commentariat - and especially its members in the legacy media - didn't do a little more homework on this stuff before seeking to make the "yeah, but Texas' new jobs suck" line its primary line of attack against Candidate Perry. The post over at Political Math is one of the most devastating takedowns of a progressive economic meme I've seen recently, though it does state that Gov. Perry is ancillary to the broader theme of the "Texas miracle".
Needless to say, we need more of this kind of analysis...
Jun '10
Re: Texas and Jobs
Peter Robinson: Wow. Could I just say that this material is absolutely fascinating? And totally compelling? And very, very important?
Thank you, Claire--and Pootergeek.
Now, how do we make sure everybody reads this stuff? · Aug 17 at 11:42am
I only read to the first CoC violation, blushed and clicked away
Mar '11
Re: Texas and Jobs
Forrest Cox
The post over at Political Math is one of the most devastating takedowns of a progressive economic meme I've seen recently, though it does state that Gov. Perry is ancillary to the broader theme of the "Texas miracle".
Needless to say, we need more of this kind of analysis... · Aug 17 at 1:31pm
He may have been ancillary to the broader theme, but he had the good sense to let it happen and not do anything to screw it up. How many politicians would try to put their fingerprints on a good thing and ruin it in the process?
Sep '10
Re: Texas and Jobs
I agree completely - while others may dislike Perry's "my goal is a federal government that is inconsequential to your life", statements, I love them. They do, however, create difficult optics from a marketing standpoint, and I'm not sure how well the agenda will sell.
The other problem is that there are, in fact, major structural changes that need to take place at all levels of government - we are entering an era of necessary conservative activism in this respect. Saying "I want to take power and then leave you alone" will only get you as far as the next banking crisis (which is coming - BofA is bankrupt, and the degree of undercapitalization at the other moneycenter banks will shock you), say, or to the next bit of Euro- or Sino-contagion.
Candidate Perry hasn't shown much substance on any of these kinds of issues, nor will he. We're exposed, there.
Apr '11
Re: Texas and Jobs
The guy has great videos on the National Debt.
One here
Older one here
Short, witty, and effective, I'm surprised he didn't win the Powerline contest.
Sep '10
Re: Texas and Jobs
The question is is there a causal relationship between Perry being Governor and jobs being created? If there is it is probably only a slight one. The legislature in Texas is more powerful than the governor and would properly be given most of the credit. It could be argued that Perry has demonstrated he is a good follower.
Dec '10
Re: Texas and Jobs
Is there ever a causal relationship between a governor or a president, and jobs being created?
The simple answer is no.
There are causal relationships between governors and presidents and job loss.
Anything can be argued. But the best argument is that Perry didn't mess it up.
I've heard all my life that the office of Texas governor compared to other states is weak. That may be true by a strict reading of the Texas Constitution, but in practice, that's not how it works. The governorship of Texas is an enormously powerful position.
Would you rather have as a candidate who served as the strong governor of a declining state, or one who even as a weak governor managed to keep his strong state's economy growing?
May '11
Re: Texas and Jobs
I agree completely - while others may dislike Perry's "my goal is a federal government that is inconsequential to your life", statements, I love them. They do, however, create difficult optics from a marketing standpoint, and I'm not sure how well the agenda will sell.
The other problem is that there are, in fact, major structural changes that need to take place at all levels of government - we are entering an era of necessary conservative activism in this respect. Saying "I want to take power and then leave you alone" will only get you as far as the next banking crisis (which is coming - BofA is bankrupt, and the degree of undercapitalization at the other moneycenter banks will shock you), say, or to the next bit of Euro- or Sino-contagion.
Candidate Perry hasn't shown much substance on any of these kinds of issues, nor will he. We're exposed, there. · Aug 17 at 1:48pm
Loser pay= job growth. Four words and one symbol.
Apr '11
Re: Texas and Jobs
Fascinating analysis. Very clear, objective and transparent. And a devastating rebuttal of all the Axelrod/MSM attempts to undermine Perry (irrespective of how much credit he should or shouldn't take for the numbers)
Jul '10
Re: Texas and Jobs
I want to hear Peter say,"Pootergeek."
Jun '10
Re: Texas and Jobs
From the linked article:
If you are going to comment and you want to introduce some new objection to the Texas job numbers, you MUST provide original data. I spent about 4 hours digging through raw data to write this post. I don't want you to point to some pundit or blog post and take it on their authority, because I've already researched several idiot pundits who are talking directly out of their asses when it comes to the data. I want you to point to the raw data that I can examine for myself. This means links. I refuse to waste any more of my time on speculative bullshit or "Well, I'll wager that the Texas jobs don't really count because..." If you're willing to wager, take that money and put it towards finding the actual data. In short, put up or shut up.
Sounds like something Kenneth might have written (and I say that admiringly)
Aug '11
Re: Texas and Jobs
I stumbled on the 10,000 pennies youtube site over a year ago, and I love his videos. I wish he would make more of these. I send my thank yous upstream to all those who passed down the link to his blog post on Perry and Texas jobs.
http://www.youtube.com/user/10000Pennies