Rick Perry wants to be President, but denies it. In an interview with the Dallas Morning News, he says he has no such ambitions, but is interested in organizing Governors in other states to "oppose Washington".
That statement is stunning in its brashness, and in the not-so-hidden genuine danger from this demagogue.
The Texas Governor's race matters, for several reasons, and Rick Perry needs to be stopped:
- He is ambitious, regardless of his protestations otherwise
- He was instrumental in enabling the 2003 Tom DeLay-Tom Craddick re-re-re-districting of Texas (and this was over TWO additional seats gained from the 2000 Census)
- Texas stands to gain FOUR Congressional seats in the next Texas Legislature session
- Down-ballot races are critical, and their results will be driven by the effects of the interest in the Governor's race
- Do we really want to face 4 more years of him as Governor, and be fighting him as some second coming of George W. Bush?
Please, someone tell me I'm wrong, and why, but I think there is a case to be made.
Gov. Rick Perry, apparently emboldened by signs that he's cruising to another re-election in Texas, is sketching out ambitious plans to boost his profile nationally before the next presidential race.
In an interview, Perry for the first time acknowledged having examined his presidential prospects, but said he won't run for the White House under any circumstances. Instead, he said, he's preparing to rally a coalition of governors "who share our fiscal conservative philosophy" to "push back" against the federal government.
Perry told The Dallas Morning News he's interested in organizing his counterparts in other states, "and hopefully there will be a substantial number of governors elected who share our fiscal conservative philosophy and our great belief in the 10th Amendment that the states need to compete against each other and not be dictated by one-size-fits-all, Washington, D.C., policy."
Read the whole article here:
http://www.dallasnews.com/...
I diaried the importance of the Texas Governor's race and the down-ballot races, and particularly the state Legislature House races because of redistricting, here:
http://www.dailykos.com/...
Here's a snapshot of Texas demographics, and why the redistricting matters:
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2010 Demographic Snapshot
The population of Texas is currently estimated as follows:
Total Anglo Black Hispanic Other
25,373,947 11,441,595 2,925,751 9,847,852 1,158,749
Metropolitan** 22,228,152 9,562,044 2,646,725 8,889,731 1,129,652
NonMetropolitan 3,145,795 1,879,551 279,026 958,121 29,097
So, Texans are 8.3 % of the U.S. population, or one-twelfth. Second only to California.
The state is 87% urban/suburban, and 13% rural/small town.
11.5% Black, 38.8% Hispanic, 4.5% Other, 45.1% White.
Source: State of Texas http://www.dshs.state.tx.us/...
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And to remind people of the FACTS of the 2008 election, the large urban areas are BLUE, or turning that way quickly: Dallas (EVERY Dallas County contested slot went to the Democrat), Austin, Houston, San Antonio, and El Paso. Those urban areas alone represent about 67% of the state population, and that is where Bill White's strength is. Perry has the rural and small-town areas, and suburbia around the large cities.
I ask you to read the diary because of the background and history of Perry and the power he has amassed in Texas over the last ten years. What do YOU think he wants to do ith it, and the folks around him who have sucked up and who give him millions? And just for grins, how about the Koch brothers, Karl Rove and his group, or other groups now trying to highjack the tea-baggers for their own purposes? Idon't even know all te possible ramifications, but the possibilities are daunting, and potentially frightening.
Several other points:
- Perry has pandered to the right-wing and Tea-bagger nuts with his arguably seditious statements about Texas secession
- Perry has driven the state to an $18 billion deficit, which he flatly LIES is "only $11 billion"
- He has made out of work Texans suffer by turning down Federal funding for unemployment benefits, while having to BORROW and increase the employers' contributions to make up the difference in the state unemployment fund
- He has appointed EVERY possible position the Texas Governor can with his cronies in his TEN years in office (ever since
W left the Governorship to be
selected pResident.
I am not the only one who has had this thought. See the Burnt Orange Report "Rick Perry's Desire for National Office escalates" here:
http://www.burntorangereport.com/...
There are any other number of other Perry mis-deeds: the Willingham execution bungle, the flagrant and blatant cynical and political manipulation of the State Forensic panel investigation of the Willingham case, the fire at the Governor's mansion, and the $10K/month bill Texans are paying for Perry to live in a rented estate, the Trans-Texas Corridor disaster, his buddy the "other" Perry the housebuilder who has financed Rick out the wazoo, and many others I hope that other commenters will elaborate (and link to sources for the uninitiated) below.
If we don't want to see Rick Perry's face for another four years as Governor, and have to put up with his ambitions in 2012, 2016, and beyond, and to live with his re-districting of Texas and its four more Congressional seats for the next TEN YEARS, we must fight back.
May I suggest that the Texas Governor's race matters at least as much, and i think MORE, than others (not to slight the importance of others), and that Rick Perry has designs, and that is not only a bad thing for Texas, it's bad for the country.
Please support Bill White for Governor:
http://www.billwhitefortexas.com
Help Barbara Ann Radnofsky for state Attorney General: http://www.Radnofsky.com
Hank Gilbert is running for Agriculture Commissioner:
http://hankgilbert.com/
Hector Uribe is running for Land Office Commissioner:
http://www.hectoruribe.com/
Jeff Weems is running for Railroad Commissioner (which is an important Commission regulating oil and gas, despite its name):
http://jeffweemsforcommissioner.com/
...and any of the Dem state House candidates on the list in the other diary, or go here:
http://www.txdemocrats.org/...
And of course, the Texas State Board of Education (SBOE) candidates:
Judy Jennings, District 10 - http://www.judyjennings.com/...
Rebecca Bell-Metereau, District 5 - http://www.voterebecca.com/
Michael Soto, District 3 - http://www.michael-soto.org/
Act Blue: http://www.actblue.com/...
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Let us take Texas back from Rick Perry and these GOP "leaders" who will take us to ruin, perhaps even more than W did, if given the chance. Let's not give them the chance.
If you can't pitch in and help turn Texas blue, then get out of the way and we'll do it ourselves, sooner or later. But we won't quit till it's done.
Peace.
(feel free to add appropriate tags)
UPDATE: Here's a bright spot! Democratic Governor's Association supports Bill White's campaign! FIRST TIME IN TEXAS!!!!
http://www.burntorangereport.com/...
The money quote:
An upset in Texas could provide an improbable sweep of the big Sunbelt states, although defeating Perry is seen as the most difficult of the three. Democratic officials believe it is worth an additional investment in White's candidacy to see how vulnerable the incumbent may be.
That's what I'm talkin' about!