A lot of people on FR and many in Texas do not like “Governor Rick”. But as far as I can tell the 3 bonehead moves he has made were: supporting Giuliani for President, promoting the Gardisil vaccine and supporting the Trans Texas Corridor.
Past that he has done a pretty good job as governor.
I have never met him, but he is from Haskell County, where I live and where my family has lived since the 1880’s.
I know his parents and was a delegate at the Texas Republican Convention the year he was elected to governor on his own for the first time.
My daughter and son-in-law know Rick and have been to many functions that he attended. They live near, not in, Austin.
I have no issue with people bringing forward valid criticism of any office holder or POL. But if they distort the information presented that is a whole other issue.
I have hated cheap political shots since I saw the little girl picking the daisy with the nuke going off in the background during the Goldwater campaign. (Bill Moyer’s cheap shot)
I live in Pennsylvania, so my interest in Rick Perry has started recently with the presidential candidacy speculation.
I’ve posted a couple of articles about it and done a little research on his position on issues. So far he seems to be a relatively conservative politician who has a long track record in Texas. In that time he’s gotten a few things wrong, particularly the ones you mention.
I was reminded in something I read yesterday of the saying “The perfect is the enemy of the good”. From what I know so far, Perry has been a pretty good governor and stacks up just fine against the current Republican presidential wannabes. I would argue that he has a solid Texas success story to tell that could dwarf his competition and rock Obama back on his heels, if smartly packaged and promoted.
I know what you mean about cheap political shots, I don’t like them either. I’ve noticed that Perry critics on most every thread I’ve seen can be quite passionate, some to the point of abrasive personal attacks on other freepers. They do their cause no good with such behavior.