With Perry’s exit, a mad scramble of righter-than-thou Republicans

Dallas Morning News ^ | 07/08/2013 | Todd Robberson

[TexGrill]

If there remains a centrist Republican anywhere in Texas who has gubernatorial aspirations, I regret to inform him or her: You don’t stand a chance.

With Rick Perry announcing that he won’t seek another term, the mad scramble is on among Attorney General Greg Abbott, former GOP chairman Tom Pauken and Lieutenant Governor David Dewhurst to see who can win the hearts and minds of Texas Republicans. When each of these gentlemen is away from the TV cameras, I suspect he is a very reasonable, common-sense individual. I know from personal experience that David Dewhurst is. In their own hearts, all are probably centrists who want nothing to do with the extremist bent of their party.

But this being Texas, these otherwise likable men will draw lessons from the spanking Dewhurst received at the hands of Ted Cruz in last year’s senatorial race, and will now engage in the most shameful effort imaginable to claim the Tea Party mantle — a mantle, by the way, that doesn’t come close to representing the sentiments of most Texans.

They will beg and plead for the far right’s support, as if nothing else matters. They will hear themselves say things they absolutely do not believe. But that’s because they will gladly relinquish what’s left of their souls for the chance to sit in the governor’s mansion.

[Colonel_Flagg]

My son will be a temporary Texan this fall and early winter due to being stationed at Fort Sam Houston. I’ll be looking for a report from him :)

[luvie]

I hope he loves us Texans as much as we will appreciate his service to our country, sir! :)

[Colonel_Flagg]

I have the feeling he will enjoy both his new neighbors and living in one of the reddest states in our Union.

[txhurl]

I wonder if it’s the same fanboi that spammed us to death with Dewhurst for Senate. Who is Dewhurst behind for AG, anybody know? So we can pre-emptively return the favor.

[Resolute Conservative]

Luckily he will miss the heat and humidity. October to early-mid December is my favorite time of year. Tell him that when he leave the base always go west to explore. The east side is, well the east side...

[Colonel_Flagg]

You can bet I will do that. Thanks for the tip.

[luvie]

The air he breathes will be sweet with liberty and freedom.

I hope he gets a chance to sample all the wonderful Mexican
food that is available in that awesome city. And see the
Alama...the bastion of freedom for our great state of Texas!

I’d love to be his guide. :)

[bert]

I have the maroon Bridgeport Stagecoach Capitol of Texas T shirt

[i_robot73]

Won’t mean a damn thing. Conservatives can’t even agree what a Constitutional Republic should look like....just look here for the gaggle who think they’re ‘owed’ SS/Medicare, somehow think the War on XYZ (especially drugs) is A.O.K., etc.

States were to be the bedrock of ideas and their implementation; not 50 little D.C.’s; as NONE of ‘em (so far) have told the Fed. to F* off, and cut off the $$ train.

[luvie]

*Alamo* How could I misspell that word! Geez!

[Arrowhead1952]

I’m pretty sure Abbott has his successor picked out.

I agree with that, and hope he or she is as conservative as he has been during his tenure.

[Jack Hammer]

I’m not really a Republican; I’m more conservative than that.

And the first words out of my mouth would likely be, “How do I get somewhere with no people around for a couple hundred miles?”

The “Big Empty” - what’s that? It sounds like it would be right up my alley.

[snoringbear]

“The “Big Empty” - what’s that? It sounds like it would be right up my alley.”

If you pull up a map of Texas it’s roughly the area west of Fort Worth, north of I-20, over to Lubbock on the west, north to the Red River. However, you could include about a 300 ~ 400 mile swath starting with the defined area and go north up through the high plains all the way to Canada and rightfully describe it as The Big Empty. Although the population of the US has doubled since WWII the population of this area has declined drastically. Traveling around this part of the country is like living a Toby Keith song. Kinda sad actually.