Posted on 08/12/2011 9:56:32 AM PDT by Brices Crossroads
Rick Perry is rapidly becoming known as a politician who talks a good game, but whose actions belie his words. Last year, he waved the bloody shirt of secession, which horrified the New York Times...until they dug deeper and found that Perry wasn't just talking about seceding. He was aiming to hook up with Mexico in order to fulfill his "shared with [Mexican President] Vincente Fox for open borders." Seriously, though, Perry is becoming a caricature of himself. He first waved the tenth Amendment on gay marriage and abortion, first supporting the interpretations that states should be responsible for defining marriage and related issues, and in a flip-flop worthy of Mitt Romney, came out in favor of a federal constitutional amendment to ban both.
Perry's open borders positions tell us that he is not a conservative. His political pan-gyrations on gay marriage, abortion, and the Tenth Amendment suggest he is not reliable there either, but would trim his sails at the slightest pressure.
Well, he must be good on something. How would he handle judicial appointments, for example. Bear in mind that in Texas, in contrast to states such as Alaska (where a Commission presents the Governor with three choices from which he or she MUST select a Judge), the Texas Governor has pretty much unfettered control of the appointments process to fill judicial vacancies. In a conservative state like Texas, it would be easy to remake the courts in a conservative mold. In fact, it would almost follow de facto, since the appointed justices must face election state wide. No doubt Perry will try to take credit for the relatively conservative state of the Texas judiciary as he has done with the Texas economy when the relative health of both has been more in spite of, than because of, Rick Perry.
I have not done an exhaustive study of Perry's judicial appointments, although undoubtedly conservatives in Texas would have done so. I found one particular judicial appointment, the subsequent election, and Perry's reaction to it to be most instructive about his orientation toward strong judicial conservatives.
In 2001, one of Perry's first selections to succeed the staunchly conservative Greg Abbot (who had been elected Attorney General) was Xavier Rodriguez, a self-described moderate. In trying to move the Texas Supreme Court to the left, he drew the ire of conservatives in Texas. An up and coming young conservative, Steven Wayne Smith stepped forward to challenge Rodriguez. Smith, who was superbly qualified, had argued and won the landmark 1996 case of Hopwood v. Texas which successfully challenged affirmative action at the University of Texas Law School. In effect, he was a hero to conservatives in Texas and an anathema to the Establishment. The Establishment, including Perry and John Cornyn, no doubt detested Smith for dismantling affirmative action at the UT Law School. But when Smith stepped forward to challenge a self proclaimed moderate appointment of Perry, who happened to be Hispanic, that was the last straw. Perry and his cronies in the Establishment did all they could to stop Smith but he prevailed over Rodriguez easily and was in stalled as a justice of the Texas Supreme Court.
In 2004, Perry encouraged a challenger to run against Smith. The Establishment lined up with Cornyn and Perry on one side and the Texas Eagle Forum,Kent Hance and Ward Connerly on the other. This time the Establishment prevailed and Smith was defeated. He attempted a comeback in 2006, but Perry recruited another challenger, less conservative than Smith, and he lost by less than 1%.
Perry's actions, and his vindictive crusade against an up and coming conservative legal superstar, suggest that a Perry Presidency would be more likely to yield David Souters and Harriet Miers than Antonin Scalias and Clarence Thomases. When it comes to Rick Perry, the message to the Federalist Society and constitutional conservatives is caveat emptor.
He is Governor of the 15th largest economy in the world.
Nothing against Gov. Perry but the ONLY candidate I’ll enthusiastically support is Gov. Sarah Palin.
Regardless of how “monotonous” it may be getting for some,
I don’t have entire days to “keep up” with all that’s presented on FR.
That’s why I asked for those who are demonstrating against the OP and any who even give the appearance of support to the information, to offer rebuttal information if the OP’s comments are/were off the mark.
The OP gave me his POV, which I will research since it appears none here are ready or willing to provide a factual or relevant rebuttal.
You don’t know chit about it so why do you keep running with it.
http://www.absoluteastronomy.com/topics/Steven_Wayne_Smith
Maybe Smith lost because he wasn’t what he said he was.
Hopwood v. Texas
“Smith was an attorney in the controversial Hopwood v. TexasHopwood v. Texas
In the early 1990s, Smith filed a lawsuit against the University of Texas School of Law on behalf of white applicants, including Cheryl Hopwood, who argued they had been denied entry because the school used affirmative action to bolster minority enrollment. The case was decided in favor of the students and Smith later trumped that success during his campaigns. Smith’s opponents and many newspapers attacked him for this success. His campaign manager, David Rogers, was one of the Hopwood plaintiffs.”
lol, just dig deep then...when you are looking at the Gardasil incident, dig very very deep. One, into the make up of the Texas legislature in 2007 and the changes they made in all the education bill while they got the chance to muck ruck around in it. Every time democrats open up a bill on one issue, they use that excuse to pluck around in the whole piece of legislation.
When you start digging around about the Trans Texas Corridor, first understand that it was legislated by the US Congress, not Rick Perry, and that it is being built today because the US Congress ordered it, not Rick Perry. And if you want to knnow what his thinking was, ask me. I was on the ad hoc committe from my county. I sat in a meeting with Rick Perry who explained exactly what his thinking was originally and the problems he ran into AFTER the design.
Defend THIS:
[Governor Rick Perry] Commemorating the [Muslim Leader] Aga Khan's Visit (April 12, 2008)
(((((PING)))))
I’ve posted this on another thread, but you may not have seen it so here is my take on Perry.
Perrys support of Giuliani alone should be a deal killer for any conservative looking for a candidate.
Giuliani is pro-abortion, pro-gay marriage, pro-amnesty, anti-Bill of Rights, and he is corrupt. In fact he would be in jail except his crimes were uncovered after the statutes of limitations had run out.
On top of all of that, Giulianis wife had to get a court order to keep him from bringing his strumpet into the family home. His wife and kids first found out he was filing for a divorce when he announced it in a press conference.
ANYONE who would support someone like Giuliani for elected office does not have the judgement to be president.
Give up on the Perry hate.
And this is a problem, why?
I have, and I have also been asking Texans on this board for their opinions as well. It’s about split. The ONE BIG THING that has made me a little more than queasy is his affiliation with the head honcho muslim, aga khan. THAT bothers me. A LOT.
My FAVORITE Texan said he would prefer Perry to stay in Texas, not be president, because Texans have kept him under control. Not my words. His. I took that to heart. Is that wrong?
If you did, then you agree with his pandering to Muslims and promoting multiculturalism?
From looking at you profile, I notice you and Gov. Perry share some things.
He was a pilot in the USAF and a Scout. Even wrote a book about Scouts.
http://www.dallasvoice.com/gov-rick-perry-defends-boy-scouts-in-new-book-1023924.html
Please do take the time and research Rick Perry to make your judgment.
To my knowledge, no California governor has ever been invited so why would Perry? Maybe his invite had something to do with the 2 mile wide super highway and rail system from Mexico to Canada that he supports.
Really? Who are the 2 HUge Grocerystore and Big Ag owners?
Some folks are working pretty damn hard to demonize Rick Perry. I'm as skeptical of them as I am of any of the Republican candidates. Our country is on the express train into the sewer, and taking our liberty with it, so I'm not fixated on -- or frothing at the mouth over -- Gardasil, a superhighway and one judicial appointment. I'm still learning about Rick Perry and haven't made any decisions as to whom to support in the presidential primary, however, relying on input from people who can't keep these issues in perspective is probably not the best way to learn about Perry's position on important issues like illegal immigration, economic policy, national defense, the defense of life and the war on our culture.
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