Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

When it comes to liberty, is TX Gov. Rick Perry all talk?
06/05/2011 | Jack Wilson

Posted on 06/06/2011 6:55:44 AM PDT by jbwilson

In recent years, Texas Governor Rick Perry has made quite a name for himself as a champion of state sovereignty, as an outspoken supporter of the right to keep and bear arms, and as a proponent of reigning in unlawful searches by TSA agents.  But with the media now abuzz about the possibility of a Perry presidential run, I’m forced to wonder if these reputations are well-earned or if Governor Perry simply knows how to say the right things at the right time to stir up his political base.

How many times during his decade-long reign as governor of Texas has Rick Perry “put his money where his mouth is,” so to speak?  Despite all of his strong rhetoric, Governor Perry seems surprisingly reluctant to throw his political weight behind any freedom-ensuring legislation that is even the slightest bit controversial (he’s much less reticent when it comes to requiring 12-year-old girls to get vaccinated for STDs). 

During the 2011 regular session of the Texas Legislature, Governor Perry stood idly by as the federal government strong-armed Texas lawmakers into killing legislation by Representative David Simpson that would have prohibited federal agents at airports from performing invasive searches without probable cause.  And he lifted nary a finger to facilitated passage of legislation, also by Representative Simpson, that would have guaranteed the Second Amendment rights of those Texans working and studying on college campuses

When it became clear that a few spend-happy Democrats were going to force the Texas Legislature into a special session, many Texans assumed that Governor Perry would add these two important bills, both of which have broad support among legislators, to the agenda.  But so far, the governor has remained silent on both issues.  And now many pundits are suggesting that Perry won’t add these bills to the special session because doing so might not bode well for his potential presidential campaign.

Governor Perry loves to play up his image as a “cowboy” or “true Texan,” bragging about shooting a coyote on an Austin jogging trail (a dubious story he’s failed to corroborate with either a police report or a dead coyote) and peppering his talk with folksy Texas sayings.  But at the end of the day, he may very well be just another opportunist politician looking for his ticket to D.C.  At the end of the day, there may be one folksy Texas saying that does sum up Rick Perry: “He’s all hat and no cattle.”

-J. Wilson


TOPICS: Constitution/Conservatism; Editorial; Government; US: Texas; Your Opinion/Questions
KEYWORDS: fourthamendment; rickperry; secondamendment; texas; tsa; tsapervs
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-45 next last
To: Opinionated Blowhard
The two big hits on Perry is that he hasn't been as force-full on illegal immigration saying the AZ style law was not right for Texas.

He supports NAFTA & Mexican trucks on Texas highways.

No candidate will be perfect so we'll have to take the bad with the good from whoever enters the race.

21 posted on 06/06/2011 7:37:59 AM PDT by TexasCajun
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 6 | View Replies]

To: jbwilson

I have never fully agreed with any President or Presidential contender. That said, if we continue to look for perfection, we will end up with the one for another four years.

We need to look at the positive things the candidates have done instead of always the negative.

Not for or against Perry at the moment.


22 posted on 06/06/2011 8:07:36 AM PDT by SouthTexas (You cannot bargain with the devil, shut the government down.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Opinionated Blowhard

Perry is on my short list.

Palin, Cain, Perry

Palin has that charisma and fighting spirit; Cain has charisma and business experience; Perry has that real chance at solid electoral vote getting.


23 posted on 06/06/2011 8:09:24 AM PDT by xzins (Retired Army Chaplain & proud of it: Truly Supporting the Troops means praying for their Victory!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 6 | View Replies]

To: jbwilson
Well done. Gov. Goodhair is not conservative at all. He talks a good game, never carries through. There is no reason why we couldn't have pushed through Vermont-style carry this session. Even more so during a special session, where you only need majority votes. Right after he was re-elected I was wondering why we were still hearing him speak on conservative themes, and now we know. He's running for President. This is one Texan who won't pull the lever for a continuation of crony capitalism at either the state or national level.
24 posted on 06/06/2011 8:12:41 AM PDT by zeugma (The only thing in the social security trust fund is your children and grandchildren's sweat.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: US Navy Vet

Weak; but he has the veto pen.


25 posted on 06/06/2011 8:15:33 AM PDT by freekitty (Give me back my conservative vote; then find me a real conservative to vote for)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: isthisnickcool

thanks, you said exactly what his Texan thinks about Perry.


26 posted on 06/06/2011 8:20:59 AM PDT by jpsb
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 14 | View Replies]

To: isthisnickcool

Okay, some of us already know of the negatives, and now that Governor Perry and Lt. Governor Dewhurst are reaching the limit of their tenure, who are you supporting as their replacements?


27 posted on 06/06/2011 8:23:06 AM PDT by ngat
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 14 | View Replies]

To: jbwilson

You signed up today to post this?

I don’t know about any “protocol” or “sub-forum”... I do know, with 100% certainty, that you don’t give a flying F about FR and that you’re here to further some agenda.

I don’t know or care what it is.

My opinion is:

If a poster has been here less than a year and starts posting articles I’m suspicious.

If they post an article their first DAY, I’m not just suspicious, I’m certain.

I’m curious though, did you post this on your “regular” forum, wherever that is?


28 posted on 06/06/2011 8:42:08 AM PDT by samtheman
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: jbwilson
Perry gave himself away as a Progressive Democrat wolf in Progressive Republican sheep's clothing when he signed, instead of vetoing, the bill allowing in-state tuition for illegal aliens back in 2001.
Setting the record straight on in-state tuition for illegals
29 posted on 06/06/2011 9:15:57 AM PDT by philman_36 (Pride breakfasted with plenty, dined with poverty, and supped with infamy. Benjamin Franklin)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: zeugma

Not only didn’t we get Vermont-style carry; we didn’t even get open carry. A bill that would have brought Texas into line with 44 other states (that currently allow concealed carry) never got a vote. And Perry has yet to sign the “employee protection act,” or whatever they’re calling it, that would prevent an employer from firing somebody for leaving a gun in his or her car. It looks like maybe he’s decided that all of the pro-gun stuff won’t play quite as well on the national stage as it does here in Texas.


30 posted on 06/06/2011 10:21:11 AM PDT by jbwilson
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 24 | View Replies]

To: imfrmdixie

The way I hear it, he pushed for the sanctuary cities bill because it would give him conservative street cred without actually rocking the boat the way Gov. Brewer’s bill did. And after threatening Senate Democrats with the promise that he’d include the sanctuary cities bill in the special session, he’s yet to do so.


31 posted on 06/06/2011 10:27:34 AM PDT by jbwilson
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 10 | View Replies]

To: samtheman
My friend said I'd better be ready for the onslaught if I decided to post over here. I guess this is what he meant. My agenda is that I'm sick and tired of empty promises from a governor I've voted for three times (in fact, I'm pretty sure the first vote I ever cast was for Rick Perry). If he ran for president, I might vote for him, depending on who he was running against (I'd definitely pick him over Barry Obama), but right now I'm ticked off that he seems to be putting his presidential aspirations ahead of the needs of his state. He needs to do the job he has before he turns all of his attention to the job he wants.
32 posted on 06/06/2011 10:44:45 AM PDT by jbwilson
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 28 | View Replies]

To: no dems; jbwilson; dfwgator; Opinionated Blowhard
The words “light-weight”, “empty suit” keep coming to my mind.

What-you-said bump.

To which we can add, "Big Chief Dull Knife", aka slow-witted tool of Karl Rove, the Bush family, and NWO Untouchables who want to privatize (for their own gain) the principal commuter routes and Interstate highways of Texas.

To which we can add, that he's been accused of cheating on his wife with effeminate men he appointed to their offices (and all hushed up after a big, totally-not-secret powwow with lefty/queer Austin American Statesman editors and homosexual agitators).

To which we can add, that he oversaw the illegal firing without appeal or recourse of a Texas woman who blew the whistle in 1997 on secret lawbreaking by Child Protective Services (New York Times article summary available) who were placing orphans for adoption by homosexual and lesbian couples, in direct violation of the black-letter law of the State of Texas. Neither Perry, who as lieutenant governor had the larger direct authority and responsibility in the affair, nor then-Gov. George W. Bush, did any thing to assure that the law would be followed and this woman justiced in her complaint against her vindictive, lawbreaking homosexual supervisors and managers.

33 posted on 06/06/2011 11:11:16 AM PDT by lentulusgracchus (Concealed carry is a pro-life position.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 16 | View Replies]

To: jbwilson
He needs to do the job he has before he turns all of his attention to the job he wants.

Don't worry, other people are doing it for him. Their way, of course.

34 posted on 06/06/2011 11:13:07 AM PDT by lentulusgracchus (Concealed carry is a pro-life position.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 32 | View Replies]

To: Opinionated Blowhard
1. Perry pushed Trans Texas Corridor (lots of train & highway system, that slashed criss cross the state...really pissed off lots of rural landowners). He does not like personal property rights. (see next comment).

2. Perry pushed a fake prop. rights bill that lacks real teeth. Sorta like when congress said they did “a lot” to fix things when they really don't.

3. Perry tried to vaccine Texas girls with that gardisil ,
It would have been required . Perrycare=Obamacare

4. Perry (regardless of State Govt. Governor power) does not lead. He very carefully test the waters to keep himself from looking bad on all things.

5. After studying Jeffersons’ History Method of judging politicians Perry is an opportunist, statist, and wants
to control you for his ego's sake.

6. He is RINO magnified. He is statist politician.

7. He thinks the position of (potus) is reserved for him,
becuase it's “reserved for him”.

Debra Medina was best choice for Tx Gov. until Beck did a hit job
on her. (She thought ‘truthers’ should be heard- as was their right). But she had a patriots gut and knew what is wrong with Texas and not afraid to fix it.

35 posted on 06/06/2011 11:43:42 AM PDT by urtax$@work (The only kind of memorial is a Burning memorial !)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 6 | View Replies]

To: jbwilson

Why here? Why now? Where have you been previously.

I’m more interested in you that I am in what you think of Rick Perry.


36 posted on 06/06/2011 11:50:20 AM PDT by samtheman
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 32 | View Replies]

To: jbwilson

Rick Perry...former Democrat...nuff said.


37 posted on 06/06/2011 12:32:44 PM PDT by I got the rope
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: I got the rope
Honestly, of the handful of problems I have with Rick Perry, the fact that he's a former Democrat isn't one of them. After all, Ronald Reagan was once a Democrat, and he turned out okay.

I once was lost but now am found, was blind but now I see.
38 posted on 06/06/2011 5:03:05 PM PDT by jbwilson
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 37 | View Replies]

To: samtheman

Sam, I’m not sure if you’re a big Perry supporter or if you’re just naturally suspicious of newcomers, but I’m not going to get sucked into defending my motivation for posting here. As I’ve suggested in my other posts, I don’t think Perry is the worst possible choice for governor or president, but his failure to follow through on some of his own rhetoric gives me pause for concern that perhaps he’s just an opportunist in conservative clothing.


39 posted on 06/06/2011 5:05:32 PM PDT by jbwilson
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 36 | View Replies]

To: jbwilson

I’m not a Perry supporter, I am suspicious of people who post articles their first or second day, but I have to admit, you are joining in the conversation. Usually the newbies post-and-run.


40 posted on 06/06/2011 5:31:56 PM PDT by samtheman
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 39 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-45 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson