Posted on 07/23/2011 1:57:55 PM PDT by AmericaTalks
There has been much buzz about the possibility that Texas Governor Rick Perry will throw his hat into the GOP presidential ring. Many conservatives and Tea Party activists see him as a very attractive and viable candidate, one who would liven up a field that seems devoid of exciting prospects.
But before Republicans start salivating too heavily, it is important to examine Perry closely. His conservative bonafides leave much to be desired.
Let's examine his record.
Prior to 1989, Rick Perry was a Democrat, who supported Al Gore for president. Perry was Gore's campaign manager in the state of Texas that year.
As Governor of Texas, Perry would have us believe he is a small government guy. But the facts say other wise.
Total spending in Texas the year he became governor in 2000 was approximately $49 billion. Last year it was approximately $90 billion. That is hardly reducing the size of government over a 10 year period.
The total debt of the state of Texas has more than doubled since he became governor. The debt to GDP ratio in Texas is 22.9% and the debt per citizen is $10,645. That's worse than California.
Perry claims he is for keeping taxes low. Not true. He has raised taxes repeatedly during his tenure as governor. Texans have higher taxes and fees than they had before he was elected.
While everyone lauded Perry's leadership by pointing to the low unemployment rate in the Lone Star State, it should be noted that 23 states have a lower unemployment rate than Texas. And Texas has the highest percentage of workers making minimum wage out of all 50 states. In 2007, 221,000 residents of Texas were making minimum wage or less. By 2010, that number had risen to 550,000.
The education system in Texas is abysmal. Barbara Bush, in an op-ed piece in the Houston Chronicle, wrote:
• We rank 36th in the nation in high school graduation rates. An estimated 3.8 million Texans do not have a high school diploma. • We rank 49th in verbal SAT scores, 47th in literacy and 46th in average math SAT scores. • We rank 33rd in the nation on teacher salaries.
What does that say about the stewardship of Rick Perry with regard to education?
Rick Perry also claims to have a tough stance on illegal immigration. But the facts indicate otherwise.
He signed the DREAM Act in 2001, giving in-state tuition to undocumented students. Perry said at the time, "We must say to every child learning in a Texas classroom, ‘We don’t care where you come from, but where you are going, and we are going to do everything we can to help you get there". This measure is similar to the one the Democrats are pushing at the federal level, one which conservatives vehemently oppose.
Perhaps the biggest issue people opposed to the nanny state should be concerned about is Perry's issuance of an executive order back in 2007 that would have forced almost every single girl in the state of Texas to receive the Gardasil vaccine before entering the sixth grade. Perry was in the tank with Merck. There were apparent financial connections between Merck and Perry reported by news outlets, such as a $6,000 campaign contribution and Merck’s hiring of former Perry Chief of Staff Mike Toomey to handle its Texas lobbying work.
The Texas legislature put the kibosh on that idea by crafting a bill that overturned the executive order.
Subsequently, very serious safety issues with the vaccine came to light. The biggest problem with regard to the Gardasil issue was that Perry appeared to be condoning premarital sex, or at least assuming that middle school girls were going to be engaging in sexual activity, which is the only way that the cervical cancer that the vaccine prevents can be contracted. Many parents and conservatives were justifiably outraged.
When one takes into account these facts about Rick Perry, the only conclusion that can be reached is that Perry is for the expansion of government and its intrusion into our lives.
On Perry's possible run for the White House? No thanks. I think I'll pass.
Listen to America Talks Monday through Friday at 6 pm Eastern Time and Saturdays at 9 am Eastern Time on www.blogtalkradio.com/americatalks and at www.americatalks.com.
” I’d watch who I called a “goon” if I were you. “ <<<<
Why don’t you exhale. I am free to give as good as I get. I stumbled on to a bunch of your rabid pack feasting on last night’s Palin thread and I haven’t forgotten. If it walks like a duck.... then you think about it. Palin is not running. Because of that your pack-think has you defending wind and air, knawing your own paw off, and it looks foolish everywhere outside the pack. I’d be disappointed too if I had no leg to stand on. If she did declare (somewhere in my lifetime) she would lose north of I-10. THAT is something Rick Perry doesn’t/won’t have to worry about if he runs well. Live with it.
>> The Amercian Conservative Union lists Al Gore pro abortion votes when he was senator in the 80's. Shall I list them for you? <<
Additionally, the elder President Bush (himself no conservative) used to mock Al Gore as "Mr. Ozone" back then. Gore was considered an envirowacko even in the 80s. You might be able to make a case that Al Gore in 1988 was not as liberal as Al Gore today. But he certainly was no "conservative Democrat" overall back then and the idea that "Texas Democrats back then were more conservative than most Republicans" is flat out wrong. Does anyone think the RATs were trying to run to the right of Reagan when they nominated Lloyd Bentsen to be Dukasis' running mate?
” LOL! LOL! And just WHO are you supposed to be? Very high and lofty for sure. “..... footage and clips of Perry attending Bilderberger....” <<<<
Yadayada from alphabet soup here where your beak is making bubbles again. Jim, at the Bildaburger meeting, Perry spoke on States Rights and Federalism. That’s too high toned for the bots here to grasp, but a laudible subject charatoristic of the way Rick rocks.
If we repealed the second amendment tomorrow and decided to have the federal government completely wash their hands of the issue and "sent it back to the states" to do whatever they wanted with gun laws, I guarantee you about a dozen states would completely ban firearms ownership. States like Massachusetts, Illinois, and New York have utter contempt for the second amendment.
Jim Robinson has declared, "Free Republic is Palin Country!"
Get with the program. It's not about dissent; it's about how you PDSers conduct your vile campaign.
You are a troll.
Reagan, a private citizen, switched parties IN SPITE of huge Democrat wins in the mid 60s and was a Goldwater Republican during the LBJ landslide of '64, because although it was unpopular it was the right thing to do.
Perry, a career politician, switched parties BECAUSE Texas was becoming increasingly Republican, it was the popular thing to do in the 80s and 90s, and he needed to remain viable and save his career.
Spot on!
But up until the 80s, Texas Democrats were considered to be more conservative than most Republicans, especially Rockefeller Republicans.
Is that so, lib? I can't wait for your Zot.
“Jim Robinson has declared, “Free Republic is Palin Country!” <<<<
Look, buc, JR saw the fluids flying here weeks ago and threw Perry into his personal acceptables file, right here, on FR, but favoring Palin. A big boy like you crying for help when someone finally give as good as they get from you is unbecoming, and trying to turn him into a tyrant for your sake isn’t working with me. FR has logged plenty of zot material, profanity, personal attacks and vile conduct from one thread, on one night, last night as a matter of fact, from the over zealous Palin supporters and I haven’t forgotten, so back off with the psuedo threats. Lets remember the mission is beating Obama with who ever can win.
I will never again vote for the choice of the MSM.
You are simply a homer for Perry and a jealous little wench when it comes to Palin (and probably Bachmann.)
” You are simply a homer for Perry and a jealous little wench...” <<<<
AHHhhh. Truth bothers? Name calling helps? There, there.
Ouch! That's some pretty damning evidence of Al Gore's 80's liberalism in posts #73 and #91. I've said before that Al Gore was NOT a "conservative Democrat" in 1988 but he was probably much more moderate than he is today. If I had to guess I would have pegged his ACU rating from that era as about 30-40% conservative.
I now have to take that "moderate" stuff back. Instead, the numbers posted on FR show his ACU rating in 1988 was 9% and actually worse than some east coast RATs that freepers despise. Yikes! There's no excuse for Perry supporting Gore in 1988, apprently they were both liberals back then.
I wonder how many of the freepers glossing this over as "no big deal" were the same ones crusifying Trey Greyson for voting for Clinton once in 1992. And that's hardly comparable to being Gore's campaign manager. Greyson didn't run Clinton's campaign in Kentucky, he simply voted for him as a college student.
People can sincerely change, but Perry's endorsement of Giuliani for POTUS during the 2008 primaries tells me he hasn't. (anyone remember the great purge of Rudybots on FR? I do, and it's laughable to claim anyone who was pushing for Rudy is a "tea party conservative" as Perry claims to be) He's still a suckup for the liberal elite. Perry is conservative because Texas is conservative, plain and simple. If he had been running in Massachuttes, he'd have the sample platform Romney had. Perry is still preferable over Romney by a hair, but he shouldn't be any freeper's favorite in a GOP primary.
No, honey, its as simple as this: you’re a hypocrite, telling others to lay off Perry (who hasn’t declared yet either) while you pile on Palin.
So then when Palin declares, you'll shut the hell up? Great!
” No, honey, its as simple as this: you’re a hypocrite, telling others to lay off Perry (who hasn’t declared yet either) while you pile on Palin. “ <<<
Perry will face off with your kind of outdated harrumphs and criticisms and bashing, because the media will insist he do so, but he won’t be found making a trademark for himself by incessantly whining about it in every other interview thereafter.
Moving on to likely winners is hardly a pile on against Sarah Palin, except in your world. She isn’t running. You have a problem connected to that fact so you are left vigorously bashing those who have moved on and now committed elsewhere.
Yes Rita does have a high tendency toward hypocrisy.
She criticizes Palin, yet she can't handle criticism of her own candidate Perry.
She says Perry is running when he not yet is, while she says Palin isn't running when she not yet is.
Consistency of thought is important. Rita is relatively new here. Perhaps she'll catch on as time goes on. In the meantime, she'll get called on it.
It is a matter of ascertainable historical record that Algore was for many years pro-life and then switched as he aspired to become President. Have you checked the timing of that switch in relation to the accuracy of your post? I am not sure that your assertion is among the legitimate criticisms of Governor Perry.
Thanks for the informative post. I note that the posted material states: “the debt per citizen is $10,645. That’s worse than California.” This certainly conflicts with the information you present and with that presented in post #9.
Fine, I’ll give a break to everyone who changed from Democrat to Republican before your 1968 Commie party takeover. Wait, Perry was a Democrat AFTER Commie party takeover. What does that tell you?
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