You know nothing about Texas politics. In the 1980’s, Republicans were rare in Texas. A lot of the Democrats were pretty conservative. So it is not unusual that a conservative from west Texas would be a Dem. And can you substantiate your claim that Perry was in the “leadership of the left”? I didn’t think so.
The old saying that I didn't leave the party, the party left me, still stands today. The majority of Conservatives, like me, were Democrats at one point in our young lives.
Some of us just grew up and smelled the bullsh*t. Onward, Christian soldiers! Proud to be a Conservative every damn day of my life! And you are correct about most Democrats being conservative!
I am a born and raised Texan, my stepfather held elective office in Texas.
In 1980 Reagan carried Texas by 55%, in 1984 when Perry was enlisting to become a Democrat leader, the Republicans carried Texas by 64%, in 1988 Reagan's veep carried Texas by 56%.
Were you voting Democrat in those years, working for Democrat Presidential candidates in those years? I wasn't.