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Rick Perry Seizes the Moment
Late Friday, a Travis County grand jury voted to indict Gov. Rick Perry in perhaps the most obvious political prosecution yet waged by progressives. But as a handful of party flacks applauded the nakedly partisan move, several others denounced it, including the Washington Post, David Axelrod and even the New York Times.
Gov. Perry responded to the out-of-control district attorney’s office with a confident, defiant press conference. Perhaps more surprisingly, this afternoon he turned himself into authorities for fingerprints and a mug shot. No presidential aspirant would willingly hand his opponents that kind of ammo without a plan. And if anyone has turned an indictment into a political positive, Rick Perry has.
Wearing a dark blue suit, white dress shirt and light blue tie, he confidently strode to a podium outside the courthouse to cheering supporters and proclaimed: “I’m here today because I believe in the rule of law. And I’m here today because I did the right thing. I’m going to enter the courthouse with my head held high knowing the actions I took were not only lawful and legal but right.”
“If I had to do so, I would veto funding for the Public Integrity Unit again,” he said.
“This issue is far bigger than me. It’s about the rule of law,” he said, interrupted by cheers. “This indictment is nothing short of an attack of the constitutional powers of the office of governor.”
He then stepped into the courthouse as the crowd shouted “Perry, Perry!” and got his mug shot.
I wish my professional photos looked that good.
After another speech to his fans, he headed out for dessert.
And then, ice cream cone at #Sandy‘s pic.twitter.com/rDYW6HvoS5
— Rick Perry (@GovernorPerry) August 19, 2014
But it’s not all soft-serve and cheering crowds. RickPAC has released its first video explaining the case from Perry’s perspective.
That most rare of Republican politicians, one with a “pair”.
Jon,
Gd Bless Texas. Get’Em Rick.
Regards,
Jim
For Perry the Presidential candidate, as we shall soon see, this was a godsend. If Axelrod, Pravda-on-the-Hudson, and Pravda-on-the-Potomac object to what the prosecutor has done, it is perhaps because they recognize that the Democrats have more to lose from the criminalization of politics than do the Republicans.
It’s bewildering that Travis County Democrats thought this prosecution would help. If I were in their shoes, I would be hiding Rosemary Lehmberg, not rallying behind her as the face of my party.
I think that is because you are thinking in terms of electoral politics and its typically respected bounds, and they are not.
Suggested caption for the mug shot: I came here to do two things – kick butt and chew bubblegum… and I’m all out of bubblegum.
These guys were batting .500, having trashed Tom Delay into irrelevance (the judgement being overturned too late to help him) and trying to do it to Kay Bailey Hutchison as State Treasurer (losing badly in court). They figure that if they throw enough mud, then Perry will be at least distracted by having to take his clothes to the cleaners all the time.
The indictment comes over a year after the veto itself, with only months left in his term. It shows the Travis County animus (shared by state media outlets edited by out of staters) against this guy who just kept winning. Good for him for going on the offensive.
I’m guessing Democrats have given up pushing the “Extremist Republicans Will Impeach Obama” narrative. Hard to keep it up while the DNC cheers the Perry indictment.
That is one terrific mug shot! I can’t imagine Mitt or Ted Cruz or anyone else pulling that off. He needs to use that shot in some official or fundraising capacity. If he was really really mean, he could put Rosemary’s mug shot somewhere nearby. Suddenly, he looks presidential!
This is wonderfully awesome.
Best Governor ever! Now with Street Cred!
It took me 47 years to get here to TX. I’ve never been so proud of my governor as I am right now. He needs to stomp on the mockery that is Travis County Democrats with both bootheels.
When Reagan said ‘I PAID for this microphone’ I said to my wife ‘ he just won the election’ , this is the same feeling , the base is screaming for a fighter.
I’m really liking my new governor. I’m a CA refugee.
From Carlsbad – so envious of your refugee status! Super-hot pic of my 2012 pick. But look at his eyes – “F*** you, Dems/libs.” Love it!
The shame is that Rick Perry has a mug shot and Barack Obama doesn’t.
Several years ago my wife’s grandfather passed away. He had been the head of the Republican Party of his county in East Texas for many years. Gov Perry came to the funeral, under no fanfare. He gave the casket a firm salute as he walked by at the end of the service, and spoke a few warm words to my wife’s grandmother. That was seven or so years ago now. That day I told my wife I’d always vote for Perry no matter what he ran for, because I thought he comported himself with such grace. (He also called my wife’s grandfather on his cell phone a couple of times while he was in the hospital before he passed away.)
Well, it turns out Rick Perry just won’t stop running for stuff, so I have to keep voting for him. Frankly, I’m not the biggest Rick Perry fan with regard to some of his policies. But this mug shot—boy, that’s something. That’s political gold! I hope he can use that for his benefit.