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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
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I wrote this last night and sent it to a few friends/colleagues. One friend responded that I should post it on Free Republic. This is my first time posting here, so I apologize in advance if I picked the wrong sub-forum or somehow broke protocol.
1 posted on 06/06/2011 6:55:47 AM PDT by jbwilson
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To: jbwilson

yes, he’s all talk. I like him here in Texas where at least he pretends to be conservative.


2 posted on 06/06/2011 6:56:39 AM PDT by Dick Vomer (democrats are like flies, whatever they don't eat, they sh#t on.)
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To: jbwilson

EVERYONE needs to remember that Texas is an EXTREMLY WEAK Governer state and ALL TX Gov(or Ex-TX Govs) should be AVOIDED at ALL costs.


3 posted on 06/06/2011 6:58:09 AM PDT by US Navy Vet (Go Packers! Go Rockies! Go Boston Bruins! See, I'm "Diverse"!)
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To: jbwilson

Is this the beginning of the pre-emptive attacks on Perry because of the rumors he may run for Pres.?


4 posted on 06/06/2011 7:02:29 AM PDT by Old Retired Army Guy
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To: jbwilson
James Richard “Rick” Perry

born March 4, 1950 in Paint Creek, TX (Meets the Jus Soli Requirement)

Parents were
Joseph Ray Perry born 1925 in TX
Amelia June Holt born 1928/9 in TX

Both parents were US Citizens at the time of his birth (Meets the Jus Sanguinis Requirement)

Rick Perry is a NATURAL BORN CITIZEN

Barry Soetoro aka Barack Hussein Obama ISN'T!

72:1:12

5 posted on 06/06/2011 7:03:41 AM PDT by ASA Vet (Natural-born citizens, are those born in the country, of parents who are citizens. De Vattel)
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To: jbwilson

Texas posters are going to have to educate the uninformed like myself because from what I see on the surface, Perry looks acceptable and, in comparison to what we have now, pretty good. Get the bad facts out (that Perry has been able to hide) because if he jumped in now, I’d probably support him.


6 posted on 06/06/2011 7:03:59 AM PDT by Opinionated Blowhard ("When the people find they can vote themselves money, that will herald the end of the republic.")
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To: jbwilson

Been on FR all day Wilson...seems like you are the one that is all “hat and no cattle”....


7 posted on 06/06/2011 7:04:04 AM PDT by RVN Airplane Driver
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To: jbwilson

I have to agree.

He does have good hair, though.


8 posted on 06/06/2011 7:04:31 AM PDT by Howie66 (I can see November (2012) from my house.)
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To: jbwilson

Didn’t want him for governer the last two times and don’t want him for president. Had to hold my nose to do it and will again if he’s the one representing the Republicans, but it won’t be a happy day for me. I say this from having observed him in office only. But my husband did go to college with him and said he was a total jerk then, too.


9 posted on 06/06/2011 7:06:17 AM PDT by texas_mrs
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To: jbwilson

He also wouldn’t stand with Gov. Brewer (AZ) over the illegal immigration bill....saying “our focus must continue to be on the criminal elements involved with conducting criminal acts against Texans and their property.”

So, it is okay to come across illegally and stay here illegally as long as you don’t commit a criminal act against Texans and their property? The mere act of committing the illegal act of sneaking into this country should be enough of a criminal act against Texans and their property. He is a DORK!


10 posted on 06/06/2011 7:06:24 AM PDT by imfrmdixie (A people that values its privileges above its principles soon loses both. Eisenhower)
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To: humblegunner

ping


11 posted on 06/06/2011 7:07:11 AM PDT by thackney (life is fragile, handle with prayer)
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To: jbwilson

Don’t forget Re. Burt Solomons’ Sanctuary Cities bill, which Dems killed as HB12 in the Senate, but which Solomons has re-posted as HB9 -— yet a week later, Perry has yet to add it to his “call list” so it can be begun. As the days roll on, the chances of that bill’s success dwindles - ONLy because of Perry’s inaction. The Dems CANNOT kill it anyone in the Senate under special session rules.


12 posted on 06/06/2011 7:07:44 AM PDT by montag813 (SECURE THE DAMN BORDER! http://www.StandWithArizona.com)
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To: Opinionated Blowhard

Perry isn’t perfect by any stretch, but he seems like a very astute politician that can stick it to the Rats, and won’t roll over, like most Milquetoast GOP candidates.


13 posted on 06/06/2011 7:08:36 AM PDT by dfwgator
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To: jbwilson

Perry is only in office because George Bush Resigned in 2000 to run for president and thereafter in EVERY re-election campaign Perry was the preferred douche bag vs the lesser turd sandwich.

Perry is no conservative. His attempt to force Texas young women to be injected with a drug via executive order tells you everything you need to know about him. If that is not enough his attempt at property theft via the Trans-Texas Corridor is more than enough. Need more? He has been a wimp do-nothing when it comes to the border and has allowed for sanctuary cities all across Texas where illegals murder, rape and steal from Texans. Still not enough? He signed in to law an illegal state income tax on businesses via “franchise tax”. On top of all of this Perry has broke the record on special sessions. He uses it to push through laws he wants because he sets the agenda in these sessions. This has been a huge waste of money.

The only good thing here is that Perry is lazy. He will not run for president unless like all his past elections he is the preferred douche again. If Palin comes in to the race Perry will not get in. He does not have the grit or mental tools to be a great candidate nor a great president.

“Rick Perry, he sucks but he sucks less than the other guy” will always be his campaign slogan.

The last thing we need is another lightweight that looks and sounds good a mile wide but has absolutely no depth.


14 posted on 06/06/2011 7:13:43 AM PDT by isthisnickcool (Sharia? No thanks.)
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To: jbwilson

I have posted before against Perry, but contrary to what some are saying his record is no worse than mixed. Bachmann is more consistently conservative, but Perry has a more conservative record than most of the field. He has also been an effective legislative strategist in a weak-governor form of state government.


15 posted on 06/06/2011 7:20:15 AM PDT by achilles2000 ("I'll agree to save the whales as long as we can deport the liberals")
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To: jbwilson

When it comes to anything, TX Gov. Rick Perry is “all talk”. Or, as we say down here in Texas, “he’s all hat and no cattle.” The words “light-weight”, “empty suit” keep coming to my mind.


16 posted on 06/06/2011 7:25:58 AM PDT by no dems (If the GOP nominee has no fire in the belly in 2012, we're going down.)
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To: isthisnickcool
“Rick Perry, he sucks but he sucks less than the other guy” will always be his campaign slogan.

Excellent summation.

17 posted on 06/06/2011 7:28:17 AM PDT by farmguy
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To: Old Retired Army Guy

No it’s those of us that know him well giving insight to those that don’t.


18 posted on 06/06/2011 7:29:31 AM PDT by call meVeronica
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To: jbwilson
Do you have a blog or write for other publications? If so could you give us links to either?

Like all Perry has his good and bad points. I”m not sure how he'd fare in a hard nosed campaign with everyone looking at his record or lack thereof and having to face confrontations on a daily basis. That's something he hasn't had to do as gov.

On the other hand maybe we could share him with the other 56 states and get someone else to occupy the governor's chair in Austin.

19 posted on 06/06/2011 7:33:42 AM PDT by deport
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To: Opinionated Blowhard

Governor Perry was nowhere to be found when child protective services kidnapped the children of a “LDS sect” from a “compound” and refused to let their mothers interact with them, because of their beliefs. The children were held prisoners, then after a few weeks or longer, they were quietly allowed to return to their homes with no comment. If that is not dereliction of duty by the head of a state, I don’t know what is.


20 posted on 06/06/2011 7:36:10 AM PDT by runninglips (Republicans = 99 lb weaklings of politics.)
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