Perry pitching a tough game - Governor's style breaks from predecessors' bipartisanship

The Dallas Morning News ^ | September 14, 2003 | By WAYNE SLATER / The Dallas Morning News

[MeekOneGOP]

In pressing the Republican case for redistricting and targeting political enemies, the governor has emerged from the shadow of George W. Bush and established a distinct leadership style in which he has not hesitated to ruffle feathers.

"There is new assertiveness in Perry as contrasted with his predecessors," said University of Texas political scientist Bruce Buchanan. "It seems he perceives himself and the Republican Party as shepherding in a new era of partisanship in which before they can consolidate their authority, they have to establish it."

^ ^ ^ Quick ... somebody pass me the tissues. I think I'm gonna cry ... ha ha ha !!

Although Mr. Perry enjoyed high approval ratings early in his tenure as governor, his numbers have fallen in the last year. According to the most recent Texas Poll, Mr. Perry's rating has fallen to its lowest level. For the first time, more people disapprove of the job he's doing than approve.

Mr. Perry fares poorly among Democrats and independents in the survey, but has strong support among Republicans, who give him a thumbs-up by a ratio of 3 to 1.

Austin political consultant Tony Proffitt said Mr. Perry's Republican support is important because that's where the votes are.

A decade ago about a third of Texans identified themselves as Democrat and a quarter as Republican, but now it's just the opposite.

Keep up the great work, Rick !!

[MeekOneGOP]

Ok ... I'm done postin' and pingin' now. :O)

[Flyer]

Ok ... I'm done postin' and pingin' now

Laugh! Texas is keeping you busy these day.

"You don't change those kind of age-old processes without ruffling a few feathers," he (Gov. Perry) said.

Here's to more ruffled feathers!

*PING!*

As always, a FReep mail will get you on or off this Houston topics ping list.

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[kittymyrib]

Oh come on, Dallas AM Snooze! "Unprecedented partisanship" now when the Democrats ruled Texas for 100 years, lock, stock and barrel? When my parents voted in those many years that Democrats ruled, they could only register their displeasure by crossing out all Democrat names on their ballots. When the first Republican primary was held in our county, the Republican voting booth was an old, cob-webbed restroom in the courthouse. Please don't tell me about partisanship!

[MeekOneGOP]

Yep. No doubt in my mind that the media does all they can do to help the 'RATS every chance they get.

I'm so GLAD that the GOP is growing in Texas. Responsible adult leadership is great !

I was SOOOOooooo glad when Ann 'George Bush was born with a silver foot in his mouth' Richards lost !!

[dalebert]

Perry is doing a good job.

[whereasandsoforth]

Could someone explain to me why Dallas has alway been thought of as a Republican city? As far back as I can remember, even during the Kennedy heyday. It doesn't jive with the democrat-ruled history of the State of Texas. Dallas has always been one of the largest cities in the state.

[conservatism_IS_compassion]

When the first Republican primary was held in our county, the Republican voting booth was an old, cob-webbed restroom in the courthouse. Please don't tell me about partisanship!

Conservatism is the very definition of "partisanship." </sarcasm>

Before 1994 the hangover of the Civil War stifled southern politics; the majority of the people were conservative but they were also traditionally Democratic. And remained so even as the Democratic Party became the party of Rooselvelt and McGovern.

[schaketo]

After almost three years, Texans finally know Rick Perry's game: He plays hardball.

Keep slammin’ them in there high and tight GOV! Looks like he just dusted their a$$ off the plate in New Mexico. Never send triple AAA rookies to do a major leaguer’s job. He’s using Nolan Ryan as a consultant.

[mathluv]

For the first time in more than 130 years, Republicans hold every statewide office and both chambers of the Legislature – an unprecedented partisan platform that gave Mr. Perry the opportunity to have the Legislature redraw congressional boundaries to benefit the GOP.

Why is it unprecedented and partisan that the Republicans are in charge, as opposed to the dims?

[freekitty]

"Here's to more ruffled feathers!"

I agree.

[MeekOneGOP]

hehe ! I like the baseball analogy.

Third Special Session. Strike three ! ...
The 'RATS are outta there.

[MeekOneGOP]

Why is it unprecedented and partisan that the Republicans are in charge, as opposed to the dims?

Because it's the mean ole Republicans in charge now instead of the DMN's preferred 'RATS, that's why ...

[ForGod'sSake]

Although Mr. Perry enjoyed high approval ratings early in his tenure as governor, his numbers have fallen in the last year. According to the most recent Texas Poll, Mr. Perry's rating has fallen to its lowest level. For the first time, more people disapprove of the job he's doing than approve.

I didn't see the poll this piece referenced. I don't suppose it would have anything to do with this poll/pollster would it? Choreographed by a Dim hack that couldn't find his arse......well, you get the idea:

Texans Oppose Redistricting; Governor's Approval Numbers Mediocre

7/23/03 7:00:00 AM

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To: State Desk

Contact: Jeff Montgomery of Montgomery and Associates, 512-478-0002

AUSTIN, July 23 /U.S. Newswire/ -- A plurality of Texans oppose the current redistricting efforts in Austin, according to a recent statewide survey.

Since the summer of 2001, Montgomery and Associates, an independent research firm based in Austin, Texas, has been running surveys tracking statewide political issues and elected officials. In partisan political races, the firm works for Democratic candidates. This survey was conducted from July 2-16, 2003 and tested 1,031 Texas residents over the age of 18. The margin of error is plus or minus 3.1 percent. This survey was a random sample of adult Texas residents matching the state's demographics.

Surveyors told respondents, "Governor Perry has called an unusual special session to change current congressional districts, although they were redrawn just two years ago," and then asked "Do you support or oppose this redistricting effort?" 45.5 percent of Texans opposed redistricting; 30 percent supported it. One in four respondents (24.5 percent) did not have an opinion.

Strongest opposition came from Democrats (70.9 percent), East Texans (55.7 percent), African-Americans (55.7 percent), Central Texans (52.5 percent), and Hispanics (51 percent). Self-identified Republicans were the only demographic group who were more likely to support than oppose the redistricting effort (47.9 percent supported, 24.8 percent opposed). Texans aged 18-34 were in a statistical tie on the issue, 36.9 percent supporting and 35.4 percent opposed.

"Frankly, it's surprising that the special session was called when we're seeing so little support for redistricting," said Jeff Montgomery, president of Montgomery and Associates.

On the Governor's job performance rating, 7.4 percent of respondents said Gov. Perry was doing an excellent job; 38.1 percent said a good job; 34.1 percent said "only fair"; and 14.5 percent said the Governor was doing a poor job. 5.8 percent had no opinion. That's an overall 45.5 percent positive, 48.6 percent negative rating. Except for a bump among Republicans (64.4 percent positive), Perry did not do particularly well among any group. He did particularly poorly among African Americans (73.4 percent negative) and Democrats (68.4 percent negative).

Perry's impression numbers were mixed. 33.7 percent had a favorable impression of him, while 24.6 percent had an unfavorable impression. 38.7 percent were neutral. These numbers held fairly steady among most demographic groups, except for the expected shifts among self-identified Republicans (51.9 percent favorable, 10.4 percent unfavorable) and Democrats. (15.8 percent favorable, 43.1 percent unfavorable).

"It's quite surprising for his numbers to be as mediocre as they are when the Governor and his party have control of the Legislature," Montgomery said. "Also, Gov. Perry was not particularly visible during the legislative session, and normally that's a good way to keep your negative numbers down."

In the survey, 47.3 percent of respondents identified themselves as Republicans, 12.7 percent said they were Independents, and 40 percent said they were Democrats.

http://www.usnewswire.com/

-0-

FGS

[MeekOneGOP]

wow. That could be the very one they're talking about alright. What a poll. Talk about a leading question (and the way they worded it) ...

Surveyors told respondents, "Governor Perry has called an unusual special session to change current congressional districts, although they were redrawn just two years ago," and then asked "Do you support or oppose this redistricting effort?" 45.5 percent of Texans opposed redistricting; 30 percent supported it. One in four respondents (24.5 percent) did not have an opinion.

And what a lie/deception. They weren't redrawn at all by the legislature, but by the courts when the legislature didn't get it done. And they only slightly modified the 1992 'RAT gerrymandered district lines too ...

Thanks for the info.

---

07-31-2003
Dewhurst: I'm honoring tradition and precedent
(Article exposes ‘RAT Lies!!)
Congressional districts in Texas today are essentially those drawn by a partisan Legislature in 1991. At that time, a national publication called the Texas map the most outrageously gerrymandered redistricting effort in the nation, resulting in Democratic strength in our congressional delegation well beyond its representation among voters.

Our congressional lines are even more outdated today. When the Legislature failed to draw new lines to accommodate Texas' two new congressional seats in 2001, the job fell to a federal court. The judges made the fewest changes possible to the existing 1991 map, in essence protecting incumbents.

07-19-2003
[Texas] Senators talk of boycotting any redistricting session
Mr. Dewhurst said he would be on solid ground in working around the Senate tradition requiring a two-thirds vote to take up a bill. The late Lt. Gov. Bob Bullock, a Democrat, did the same thing in a 1992 special session on legislative redistricting, Mr. Dewhurst said.

07-15-2003
Ratliff joins Democrats to oppose redistricting
The state Republican Party was quick to point out that the [2/3rd’s] rule has been abandoned on occasion – such as when the Senate took up a state senatorial redistricting plan in 1992.

FR Search: Keyword "Redistricting"

[hocndoc]

Thank you for postimg and pinging. I'm in the Milwaukee air port and knew I could get good Freper info, even on my clumsy (compared to my laptop) Treo.

Right thinking Republicans,especially women, need to let Hutchison and Strayhorn know that we support our openly Pro-Life Governor and Lt Gov. Pro-aborts need not apply.

[Allegra]

I was SOOOOooooo glad when Ann 'George Bush was born with a silver foot in his mouth' Richards lost !!

The only reason that withered old hag ever won in the first place is because Claytie Williams couldn't keep his mouth shut and every time he opened it, he removed any doubt as to whether he was an idiot. The fact that he didn't know a thing about the various amendments on the ballot finally did him in.

If Ma Richards had run against a decent candidate in that election, she'd have been trounced like she was in '94.

(And that guy who beat her in '94 hadn't ever held political office before...go figure. LOL)

[MeekOneGOP]

Amen to that !

Milwaukee, huh ? 64 degrees there versus our rainy 66 degrees. And 91 in Laredo ...

[MeekOneGOP]

Yep, old Clayton really was a mess alright. He blew it with that stupid statement. It went downhill from there.

SOOOOoooo glad that Bush won that election too ! Who would have ever thought that the guy I used to watch sittin' behind the Ranger's first base dugout would be President ?? At the time, not me. So glad he is now. I cannot imagine algore in office 09-11-2001 and since. Ugh !! There's a thought ...

[ForGod'sSake]

What a poll. Talk about a leading question (and the way they worded it)...

You caught that I see ;^)

It's making the rounds on the Dim's circuits(at least in Tx) as if it actually means something. The dude at the DMN should be ashamed of himself, but I'm not gonna hold my breath waiting for his, er, repentance.

FGS