T(ea) is for trouble
The Texas tea party’s revolt over Rick Perry’s immigration stand is, well, revolting. I seldom agree with Perry, but he is right this time–right in a moral sense, but wrong politically. Building a wall will not make Texas a better state. Denying scholarships to the children of immigrants will not make Texas a better state. Calling a special session to pass a sanctuary city law, whose sponsor, Burt Solomons, said “does nothing,” would not make Texas a better state. It’s hard to imagine that the Republican Party is too far to the right for Rick Perry, but that may be the case, as astonishing as it seems. Perry is counting on Hispanic votes to elevate him to the GOP nomination and the presidency, but openly courting Hispanics could result in an erosion of his tea party base.
The Perry campaign does not appear to be a smooth operation. I’m not forecasting doom and gloom. He’s still in great shape in the polls. He has forged a large constituency. But he is running this race as if he were running for governor in Texas, almost as if he were the incumbent. He hasn’t adapted to the format of a primary race, which is like an audition for a movie role: Multiple contestants are more or less reading from the same script, and everything depends upon how well you deliver your lines. Perry is not very nimble in this sort of format, and he has been forced onto the defensive. As a consequence, he has gotten away from his primary message of jobs and has been sidetracked into social issues like HPV. Perry hates to be on the defensive, he hates not being in control, and he can’t stand to be outflanked on his right. His campaign hasn’t figured out how to get him back on message. Something is lacking in the chemistry of the campaign, and maybe the campaign team as well.
Tagged: immigration, republican presidential primary, rick perry, Texas Tea Party
James Otis, Jr. says:
I think you meant to write “illegal immigrants” and not just “immigrants.”
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paulburka Reply:
September 20th, 2011 at 11:00 am
I meant to write what I wrote. The tea party thinks all immigrants are illegal.
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Crom Crom Reply:
September 22nd, 2011 at 8:37 am
I would have thought you were above this sort of childish nonsense. The tea party (and I’m not a tea partier) does not think that all immigrants are illegal. That’s just a silly thing to say. I might as well say “All Democrats are Marxists”. Come on, Mr. Burka.
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Dean Wright Reply:
September 20th, 2011 at 12:29 pm
And what Tea Party do you belong to, Paul?
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paulburka Reply:
September 20th, 2011 at 3:33 pm
Constant Comment
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Hilarious says:
Worst thing – the “tea party” that put that out isn’t really a coalition or fully representative of the tea party as it exists statewide, and yet is being seen as speaking for it. Further proof that the lack of leadership and cohesion is a detriment to any movement and this one in particular. The Republican Party isn’t too far right for Rick Perry – a group of wingnuts in Dallas might be, though.
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JD says:
The tea party is a protest movement; not a catalyst for meaningful change. The instance on ideological purity dooms the portions of their agenda that are feasible.
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Anon says:
Good catch James
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Just Another Joe says:
I’m not above giving the Devil his dues. Paul, I’ve given you some flack over the last year on things you have said that I either did not agree with or found to be two-faced comments coming from you.
But here you go…you are dead on with this post. None of these so called “immigration reform measures” will accomplish anything except to drive hispanic votes away from the Republican party.
The sad thing is how short sided the Texas Tea Party activists are on this issue. The wedge they are driving is going to eventually give the hispanic vote permanently to the democrats and so goes Texas, so goes the rest of the nation.
If, say 25 years down the road, if the democrats can count on California, New York and Texas being firmly on their side each presidential election year, then I see no way that Republicans can be competitive for the White House ever again.
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Anonymous Reply:
September 22nd, 2011 at 9:21 am
Well said.
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Buck says:
This is exactly the same as what happened in 2000 when SBOE members actually went to New Hampshire and campaigned against Bush.
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Olg Guy says:
This Tea Party group says he needs to do this as part of his job as Governor and that he is neglecting that job to campaign for President. Ironically, if the Governor were to call a special session on this issue, he would be criticized even more for using that to further his national campaign. The Legislature had two chances to do this with urging from the Governor. Wasting taxpayer money on a special session does not make any sense.
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Governor Toolshed says:
Oh Lord, if the Tea Party gains any more traction over this country we will be in hell over our head.
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anita says:
But let’s keep things in perspective — Perry used this movement and he fueled it with his similarly off base rhetoric in the race against Bill White. Rick Perry and his strategists are the only people to blame for ‘sanctuary cities’ being the political buzzword that it is (funny that no one can even define it). So it’s kinda hard to feel for him now that the people he emboldened are coming back to bite him in the behind.
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Vernon Reply:
September 20th, 2011 at 11:51 am
I agree. He’s embraced the viper, as they say.
But is this issue dear enough to tea partners to make a significant number of them drop their support for Perry? Hmm, I don’t think so. They’ll stick with him. I think Perry is as close to a perfect candidate as the tea party can hope for.
It’s like that time when I dated that super hot swimwear model. Even after I caught her eating her boogers, I still wasn’t willing to break it off with her.
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anita Reply:
September 20th, 2011 at 1:40 pm
Personally, I think the tea partiers who signed on to the letter and are pushing this are likely Bachmann or Paul supporters who are just messing with Perry. It’s a pretty easy hit, and smart of the other candidates to use the locals to muck things up a bit.
The problem with booger-eating hot girls is that booger eating is a recognized ‘gateway’ habit that leads to other things that are not so easy to blowoff. And in the end she’ll just be old and saggy, staring at you on Sunday morning while she eats her boogers with reckless abandon.
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Jed Reply:
September 21st, 2011 at 1:00 pm
all this, and the only thing i want to know is what else booger-eating leads to.
Texun says:
The Tea Party isn’t alone in its take on the immigration issue. Obama has to tred lightly on this one, too, because it’s a live wire in northern states that have high unemployment, closed factories, and dead towns.
If immigration becomes an issue in the general election, Obama will trot out figures: increased personnel, increased observation, increased apprehension and deportation of immigrants, especially those with criminal records. And Perry will be left mumbling, “but we should give their children tuition grants to attend our colleges and universities.”
However sensible his position is in the long-run, it won’t play in Peoria. He’s better off chewing away on Darwin, global warming, involuntary vaccinations, crony politics, and the like. Perry loses on the immigration issue nationally.
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Anonymous Reply:
September 20th, 2011 at 11:57 am
Immigration isn’t responsible for “closed factories”. That came from owners moving them first to the worker unfriendly south and then overseas.
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The House is Not a Home Reply:
September 20th, 2011 at 12:56 pm
“Worker unfriendly?”
Now thats a crock of crap.
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Anonymous Reply:
September 20th, 2011 at 3:21 pm
Wow, hard to argue with that thoughtful, data filled post.
retrocon says:
The immigration issue has come to the forefront repeatedly over the years, and for conservatives, the consensus each time has seemed to coalesce around FIRST, stemming the flow of individuals illegally coming into the country, THEN determining what to do next, as Rick Santorum described during the last debate. Some will continue to think Perry is putting the cart before the horse in his approach.
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Bodhisattva Reply:
September 21st, 2011 at 9:04 am
“Some will continue to think Perry is putting the cart before the horse in his approach.”
That’s crazy talk. Rick Perry led the nation in using cutting-edge technology and the Internetz to allow God-fearing, beer-swilling Americans to sit in their Barcaloungers and patrol the border via webcam.
I bet McCain wishes he’d thought of THAT before the 2008 election.
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AreYouKiddingMe says:
Anybody who thinks we are going to find, catch, and extradite all the millions of illegals in this country are kidding themselves. And, if you think a fence will solve the problem, you are wrong, too. The only way to truly make an impact on this issue is to fully document, and HEAVILY fine ANY business (big or small) who hires illegals. Make it so costly that businesses will not hire them without knowing they are here legally. Come up with a documentation program to document illegal workers if you want to. But, we are going about this all wrong. They are coming here for JOBS and they are willing to WORK, something many of our fellow LEGAL Americans are not willing to do. Take away the jobs and you will slowly make a dent in this problem. We would still need to find “legals” who will do the jobs the illegals are willing to do. I see lots of jobs open in the classifieds. Seems that if unemployment were truly as high as they say it is, classifieds should be empty? Is this truly a case of no jobs, or no jobs I am willing to do???
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Tellnitlikeitis Reply:
September 20th, 2011 at 12:39 pm
One of the Texas Tea Party leaders extolled the virtues of capitalism and free markets yesterday.
Fine.
But you can’t pick and choose. Free markets come with the immutable forces of supply and demand.
So long as employers demand cheap wages, the supply will come.
What makes that so hard to understand?
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tee potty Reply:
September 20th, 2011 at 1:48 pm
Wee our for free markets, just nots for those brown peoples who refuse to learn Americun english. They bring sexual tranmited diseases and destroy are cultures. They are violent and drinks lots of beers. The governmetnts just needs to build a wall and thens get out the way and lets us create some jobs. Wee can do it.
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John Johnson says:
Let me see if I have this right…Perry says that we should allow immigrants without permission to be here a break on in-state college tuition. Correct?
He futher states that this is a good idea because it will help to educate and place them in a better position to contribute to our state’s economy instead of being on the “dole”. Correct?
They are only going to be on the dole if they are allowed to stay. Is this correct? Is it a given that amnesty is going to be granted to those immigrants here illegally or is it still up for debate?
It would seem that our Governor, and Paul, have concluded that their staying is a done deal. Maybe this is why the TeaParty crowd is not happy.
Just saying ….
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JohnBernardBooks Reply:
September 20th, 2011 at 1:35 pm
70% of illegal immigrant families with children get some form of gvmt aid says the Center for immigration studies @ http://www.cis.org/immigrant-welfare-use-2011
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Alan Reply:
September 20th, 2011 at 2:15 pm
If you are born in America, you do not need “permission” to be here. We all make choices in life, but whose uterus we emerge from to begin our lives is not one of them.
If you make it virtually impossible for the children of illegal immigrants to do more in life than mow yards for minimum wage like their parents, you will have done nothing to preserve the “American values” you claim to care about. All you will have done is turned Texas in the 21st century into South Africa in the 20th.
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Tellnitlikeitis Reply:
September 20th, 2011 at 3:33 pm
A kid who is 4 or 5 when their parents arrrive here without legal papers has not choice.
What are you going to do when they are 18?
Send them to UT …or to the University of Havana?
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One Old Vet says:
The statement alleging the Tea Party views all immigrants as ILLEGALS is simply not true and is just another way of playing the race card.
BTW, I am not a member of the Tea Party or a Dem or Repub for that matter.
Perry is unfit to be President, unless of course he runs on the Democratic ticket.
OOV
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Red Reply:
September 20th, 2011 at 1:25 pm
If Perry is a Democrat, I’d be frightened to see the GOP.
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Ashley says:
Perry is not right for this country or Texas. He’s been voted in because the choices were worse.
TEA parties do NOT think all immigrants are illegal just the ones that enter our country without permission or documentation.
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JohnBernardBooks says:
Once again the left gets it wrong. The “tea Party” is not a unified group, but rather many groups who are tired of taxes and deficit spending. Thats where the group’s strength comes from, there is no leadership to attack. Some groups are friendly to republicans some are not, none are friendly to the democrat party. The democrats brought this upon themseves for calling them “tea baggers and racists.
Most groups are not supportive of illegal immigrants. The tea party will be around for a while and they will continue to be a thorn in the democrats side.
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Anonymous Reply:
September 20th, 2011 at 3:24 pm
and from 2000-2008 when bush was racking up more deficits than all presidents before him combined these “patriots” were where???
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Crom Crom Reply:
September 22nd, 2011 at 8:47 am
How is this even relevant? We are here and now. Not there in 2008.
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Robert Morrow Reply:
September 21st, 2011 at 1:59 am
Yep.
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Anonymous says:
Because racism never goes out of style, right JBB?
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JohnBernardBooks Reply:
September 20th, 2011 at 2:16 pm
“Because racism never goes out of style, right JBB”
as long as racists are welcome in the democrat party.
After watching Obama and the Clintons call each other racists, its so refreshing to listen to the republican debates, where no one is called a racist. Thats how the grownups do it.
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Natalie says:
We don’t need to build a wall or deport anyone. We do need to stop the incentives that attract illegal immigrants and are a burden to taxpayers.
In state tuition for someone who is here illegally is just wrong.
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anita Reply:
September 20th, 2011 at 1:58 pm
Natalie,
Your conclusion avoids the question at hand. We are talking about children who were likely brought here at an age where their opinion on the matter was not elicted. They’ve also taken affirmative steps to seek citizenship. Why do you want to punish these people? If a 14-year-old commits a burglary, should we give up on them and ship them off to jail? No — we send them to TYC or other program to try to get them on the right path. If a 14-year-old sits in the backseat of the station wagon while his parent cross into the US illegally, should we give up on the non-citizen child and take away all practical avenues for them to improve themselves? No — we should invest a small amount in them for the greater return over the lifetime of earning and paying taxes.
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JohnBernardBooks Reply:
September 20th, 2011 at 2:27 pm
“we should invest a small amount in them for the greater return over the lifetime of earning and paying taxes.”
and when they take their education back to their country of citizenship, should they reimburse me for my investment?
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Anonymous Reply:
September 20th, 2011 at 3:26 pm
and your evidence for this is??? oh, that’s right, repiglicans don’t need facts, they just make up their own reality.
JohnBernardBooks Reply:
September 20th, 2011 at 3:43 pm
You need evidence illegals go home?
Anonymous Reply:
September 20th, 2011 at 4:02 pm
Is that not what I asked??? Reading comprehension, try it sometime.
JohnBernardBooks Reply:
September 20th, 2011 at 5:59 pm
The reason I asked is because I’ve gotten alot of stupid question, however that may be the cream of the crop.
Anonymous Reply:
September 20th, 2011 at 6:27 pm
still no answer I’ve notice.
anita Reply:
September 21st, 2011 at 10:28 am
I believe they have to agree to pursue American citizenship and agree to stay in the country (among other things).
Don’t fall for JBB’s false arguments. He’ll pull you in with a crazy statement and then try to get you to prove the negative. It’s a fool’s game.
JohnBernardBooks Reply:
September 21st, 2011 at 12:02 pm
@anita
what do you know about being a fool?
Crom Crom Reply:
September 22nd, 2011 at 8:51 am
@ JBB
Seriously, dude? This rarely, if ever, happens. Quit making up stuff to be upset about.
Hilarious Reply:
September 22nd, 2011 at 8:40 am
What “affirmative” steps? They don’t have to prove they are going through the process, and don’t have to complete it. I’m fine with people getting in-state tuition if they have legal right to it, but the law for children of illegal immigrants does not require anything beyond swearing they’ve taken steps. An affadavit that proceedings have begun, and further evidence furnished before a diploma is granted, would go a long way toward making this palatable. I mean, our universities have been known to hold diplomas for overdue library books – why not for proof that a person doesn’t owe more tuition based on residency?
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Another Wilco Voter says:
In re: responses to JBB:
“I learned long ago, never to wrestle with a pig. You get dirty, and besides, the pig likes it.”
-George Bernard Shaw
He wants people to “wrassle” with him. Not responding will drive him crazy.
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JohnBernardBooks Reply:
September 20th, 2011 at 2:24 pm
I’m not afraid to get down in the mud where democrats live, never have been never will be.
George Bernard Shaw was one of the founders of the Fabian Society. What self respecting socialist wouldn’t look up to him.
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Charles Darren says:
1. I am a Tea Party “member” if you want to call it that. I disagree with these idiots on their characterization of how things went down this year, and I REALLY disagree with anyone claiming to speak for the Tea Party. Stick to taxes and spending, and stop pretending to speak for me.
2. Perry pushed sanctuary cities, but the legislature didn’t give it to him. Why would they suddenly cave in another legislative session? Makes no sense.
3. Another legislative session would be a waste of money. At least a million dollars, maybe more.
4. Another legislative session would potentially allow other poor legislation in through the back door. Keep those idiots away from Austin. The less they are in Austin, the better chance that our liberty and our pocketbooks are safe from them.
5. While I think Perry is doing fine (he’s still the frontrunner, after all) and this “he is missing chemistry” stuff is overblown, I agree that something has been not quite right about Perry’s team this time compared to 2010. I am willing to give them the benefit of the doubt and the time to get it right, though. I assume they are still hiring basic positions and opening field offices in early primary states at a very basic level.
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Crom Crom Reply:
September 22nd, 2011 at 8:56 am
I found myself nodding at all of your statements until I got the bottom where it seemed as though you endorsed Rick Perry. Tell me I’m wrong, please.
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Julie says:
The Tea Party offers this opinion of the GOP leadership: “Republican leadership is avoiding responsibility, trying to convince the American people with their rhetoric that this time we can trust them.” The Tea Party doesn’t trust Republicans and it doesn’t trust Democrats. The Tea Party does say if you have Christian or Jewish values, you’re welcome to be part of the movement. If you’re of any other faith, the Tea Party doesn’t care about you. The Tea Party certainly has a strange idea of how to bring unity to the country.
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JohnBernardBooks Reply:
September 20th, 2011 at 3:45 pm
@Julie
kinda painting with a broad bush.
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The House is Not a Home says:
Perry can’t call a special session because he would lose the Capitol staffer vote. God forbid those guys have to lift a finger or do a lick of work once session is over.
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Blue Dogs says:
Perry should have WAITED until 2016, but his ego got in the way and he ran for 2012 anyway.
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Crazy Uncle says:
The tea party will be a force in this country as long as it keeps it’s limited goals. Rational and provable fiscal and monetary policy and a fear of the judicial branch taking on the powers of the executive and congressional branch.
The majority of the tea party are people who believe that Liberty is the natural order and equality is element of justice and can only be a way of life with dictatorial powers which does away with individualism.
Hopefully these type of citizens will not be influenced by the charlatans who put themselves out as tea party leaders.
I am not a tee party participant but I do see that they do bring value to our political discussion and should not be vilified.
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capman says:
Paul, they’re ILLEGAL ALIENS, not immigrants. You liberals just can’t help yourselves. What other laws should we just ignore???????????????????//
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anita Reply:
September 21st, 2011 at 10:31 am
Exactly what law is being “ignored”?
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Robert says:
Don’t confuse self-appointed “leaders” for the mass of a loose movement.
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JohnBernardBooks Reply:
September 20th, 2011 at 6:00 pm
democrats are ok with ignoring any law that doesn’t bring in revenue.
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H. S. says:
It looks to me as though Mr. Perry is acting on principle, which is a time-honored prerogative of true conservativism. He may also have watched some of his Mexico border cameras long enough to realize that our fellow nation has lapsed into chaos and is in the process of becoming the primary threat to our national security. If so, he realizes that our neighbors across the river need our help and that we will–if we don’t already–need their help, regardless of our wealth and power. If Mr. Perry has a mind of his own and an understanding of this critical issue, more power to him. The Northern candidates don’t really believe Mexico exists, and they could care less about the urgent need we now have for good will, clear thinking, and bold judgement regarding our policies affecting this deeply troubled nation.
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Julie says:
It’s the The Tea Party’s brush and it’s the party that’s using that brush. The party has some worthy goals but it needs to work on being inclusive if it truly wants to enjoy long-term success.
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JohnBernardBooks Reply:
September 20th, 2011 at 6:01 pm
so far the only people that have been excluded from joining the tea party are democrats and their’s is self exclusion.
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Anonymous Reply:
September 20th, 2011 at 6:26 pm
so far the only people that have been excluded from joining the klan are blacks and jews and theirs is self exclusion.
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JohnBernardBooks Reply:
September 21st, 2011 at 5:54 am
even pedophiles are welcome in the democrat party
Julie Reply:
September 20th, 2011 at 8:10 pm
Self-exclusion is not enough for the Tea Party. That’s why it says it welcomes only those with Christian and Jewish values.
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JohnBernardBooks Reply:
September 21st, 2011 at 5:57 am
“That’s why it says it welcomes only those with Christian and Jewish values.”
Where does it say that? Democrats love to make up stuff then they belive it, even though they are the ones who made it up.
Julie Reply:
September 21st, 2011 at 6:18 am
You obviously don’t keep up with what the Tea Party says, especially when they put it out there for all to see. Living in your world of denial is unbecoming.
JohnBernardBooks Reply:
September 21st, 2011 at 8:08 am
as liberals love to post, “where’s the link”?
Julie Reply:
September 21st, 2011 at 8:35 am
You continue to live in denial. Since you think you’re so smart, you should be able to find it. Go educate yourself.
Crom Crom Reply:
September 22nd, 2011 at 9:01 am
Please cite your evidence.
Anonymous Reply:
September 21st, 2011 at 9:14 am
Wow, what an intelligent and witty response. You must be quite a hit with the ladies. What’s that you say? You still live in mom’s basement. I’m shocked, absolutely shocked.
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JohnBernardBooks Reply:
September 21st, 2011 at 9:24 am
spoken like a true pedophile
texun says:
Perry’s position on this issue, as on most, is purely dollars and cents–dollars to him and pennies to other Texans.
His latest coup is advocating Israeli control of Jerusalem, reversing our bipartisan foreign policy on that issue since 1947.Utterly reckless! Guaranteed to stir the pot even more. How many $$ from AIPAC does Perry expect for this one? Like Minnie Pearl, he never removes the price tag from his hat! kaching-kaching!
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John Johnson says:
I’ll say it again …forget that most of the people we are addressing as illegal immigrants are Mexican American. What if they were Canadian and had surnames like Smith and Jones? If they were a drain on our education system, our medical facilities, prisons, etc., and here without proper documentation, would we not be having the same debate? The answer is “yes” so quit the b.s. about the discussion being about race.
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Anonymous Reply:
September 21st, 2011 at 6:47 am
you wouldn’t even notice if they were white canadians so quit the b.s about the discussion NOT being about race.
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John Johnson Reply:
September 21st, 2011 at 8:15 am
This might be the lamest retort I have ever gotten to one of my posts, Anny. “..you wouldn’t even notice if they were white canadians”.
It’s all about the money drain and has nothing to do with the color of skin. It’s about the cost of hospital stays being jacked up because we are subisdizing the cost of those who can’t pay; it’s about the additional cost of school feeding programs; it’s about the overcrowding of our prisons; it’s about jobs lost.
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anita Reply:
September 21st, 2011 at 10:36 am
They pay the same exact taxes that you and I pay, and actually in higher proportion of their income.
I’ve yet to see the box you can check to avoid sales or property taxes in Texas if you are not a citizen — it doesn’t exist. This is just a canard.
Mr. Smith says:
Illegal immigration is only 20% of what it was five years ago. Yes, thats right. The awful US economy plus a Mexican economy that is booming, plus a rapidly improving education system, is keeping most Mexican nationals home, and luring illegal aliens back home. The President’s stepped up enforcement, and mass deportations, helped accelerate the process. Anyone who posts on this site who says its about the jobs, stupid, is right. Even John “Mom cooked French Toast for Breakfast” bernard books crazy far right web site admitted that illegal aliens want to work, and get Welfare as a result of low educational status, not an unwillingness to work. So JBB, why didn’t e-verify make it to the state house floor this last session? Whats the point of electing a supermajority if they won’t do anything? unless their corporate masters yanked their chains back a bit, and said “No Perry’s steakhouse for you if you cut off my supply of cheap labor!”
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JohnBernardBooks Reply:
September 21st, 2011 at 6:03 am
“So JBB, why didn’t e-verify make it to the state house floor this last session?”
you may want to ask the DEMOCRAT who CHAIRED the Local & Consent Calendars (Procedural)Committee.
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Mr. Smith Reply:
September 21st, 2011 at 6:22 am
With 101 members, John “mom, not scrambled eggs again!” bernard books, the superwaste of a supermajority could pull ANY bill to the floor at ANY time. The Dems, including any chair, could not stop that, or any constitutional amendment, from being passed. All those technical points of order were the result of rules approved by the superwaste supermajority. Explain why they didn’t do that. Or were the big bad Democrats so skeeeery? They Skeeered the poor befuddled Tea Party members. Is that it?
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Mr. Smith Reply:
September 21st, 2011 at 7:08 am
Also, John “I make up the facts as I go along” bernard books, HB 3252, the e-verify bill, went to calendars, not local and consent. Todd Hunter was the Chair of Calendars. Republican Todd Hunter. Go ahead and make up another crazy not accurate spin, now…
JohnBernardBooks Reply:
September 21st, 2011 at 8:09 am
The Chair (the most loved democrat ever) controls what’s brought to the floor. Why did Speaker Strauss appoint a democrat to this position?
Mr. Smith Reply:
September 21st, 2011 at 11:56 am
Johnnie, you’re arguing with too many eople at once. Catch up. the e-verify bill, after passing committee, went to general calendars, not local and consent. Republican Todd Hunter chaired that committee, which had a preponderance of Republicans. No Democrat ever chaired a committee that the bill went to, at all. Not that reality or facts matter to you at all. Now say somthing not relevant, or related, or with facts. just something quick, and snarky. Go…
JohnBernardBooks Reply:
September 21st, 2011 at 12:00 pm
you win you can make up facts faster than I can….who knew?
Robert Morrow says:
Well, let’s see of Mr. “Toxic to Independent Voter” Perry is doing today… I think we have FINALLY found someone who appeals LESS to independent voters than Obama: Rick Perry.
Let’s see the results from Texas:
PERRY LEADING OBAMA BY LESS IN TEXAS THAN JOHN McCAIN MARGIN OF VICTORY
Governor remains under water in job approval and continue and suffers two to on disapproval among Texas independents
From Public Policy Polling today:
“45% of Texas voters approve of the job Perry is doing to 48% who disapprove. Those aren’t good numbers but they do represent improvement from a June PPP poll of the state when Perry was at 43/52. The better numbers are attributable to Republicans really rallying around him. He was at 73/21 with them before but now it’s 78/14. He continues to be very unpopular with independents though (32/61) and even in a state that still has a lot of conservative Democrats his crossover support is virtually nonexistent with just 13% of voters approving of him across party lines. The numbers with independents are particularly troublesome for Perry- if that’s where he is with swing voters where they know him best, can he expect to do well with those folks in key swing states like Ohio, Colorado, and Virginia?”
My sentiments exactly: Rick Perry is Hindenberg designed to explode in spectacular fashion over the swing states of Florida, Ohio, Colorado, Iowa, Wisconsin, New Mexico and on and on and on.
So let’s just hope Perry’s campaign implodes in the GOP primary and not as a nominee.
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Anonymous says:
No one cares what Robert Morrow says – Morrow please go away. You only help Rick Perry out with your weirdness.
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JohnBernardBooks says:
the kooks on the left help the moderate Guv Perry too.
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southtexasdemocrat says:
Perry is going to win South Texas because of his moderate stance on the Wall, Immigration and the Texas Dream act. The Hidalgo/Cameron County Democratic Party want to know why our President, Congressman Hinojosa, Cuellar are for more Border Walls, when we passed a No Border Wall resolution in our State convention. Democrats are fleeing the Democratic party because the democrats are acting like crazy Nut Jobs(Wall Profiteers) and not listening to the people on the ground!
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JohnBernardBooks says:
My prediction for Friday’s headline
“Perry loses debate”.
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Kenneth D. Franks says:
Perry has about a 7 point lead over Obama in Texas mostly because of his high unfavorable polling with independents and almost non existent support from Democrats. Even Democrats especially conservative ones, voted for Bush in 2000 in Texas. Next year with Perry could be different and Perry will be forced to fight for his own turf. That is if Perry gets the nomination.
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Michael says:
You refer to denying education scholarships to “immigrants”.
I don’t support denying such to “immigrants” either, BUT I do not support giving one thin dime to ILLEGAL immigrants who already steal identities, don’t pay taxes, and abuse our medical system. All this at great cost to the taxpayers.
You are playing with words here and it is obvious you do not understand the issues.
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anita Reply:
September 21st, 2011 at 10:41 am
Michael,
We live in Texas. Please explain what taxes “illegals” don’t pay. Be specific. Show me the exemption they receive from the sales tax, and the property tax. For your ease, the exemptions are listed in Chapter 11 of the Tax Code. Go ahead and cite the exemption listed there for non-citizens. That should clarify things for you and all readers. Thanks in advance.
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leon on the leon Reply:
September 21st, 2011 at 11:24 am
Anita,
What typically happens when employees are working using forged documents is they maximize dependants on their W-4 to minimize withholding for federal income tax. Since these workers don’t file a 1040, they pay little or nothing towards income tax. The Social Security Administration does periodically provide notice to employers informing them that the SSN provided by these workers does not match their data base but employers are NOT allowed to use this information to terminate employment, however, they can then maximize withholding for federal tax.
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anita says:
First, we’re talking Texas taxes.
Second, anyone can be fired for any reason in Texas — we are a ‘right to work’ state, no just cause, nothing is needed to justify a private employer for firing an employee.
Third, if you want to discuss Federal taxes and the use of false documents, you should also point out the huge amount of money that goes into Social Security in withholding, but is never drawn upon by these workers. It’s a great deal for SS.
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leon on the leon Reply:
September 21st, 2011 at 2:09 pm
Anita,
Simply pointing out there are taxes non-documented workers don’t pay that the rest of us do, often resulting in a lower cost of operations for US businesses. Not necessarily a good thing for the workforce in general.
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anita Reply:
September 21st, 2011 at 5:49 pm
Not in Texas. They pay the exact same taxes you and I pay.
Even if I were to concede that their may be a slight drain on governments, how do you quantify the amount not being placed on the consumer, the end-user of goods and services performed by illegals? How much would you have to pay to get our car washed, your lawn mowed, your fruits and vegetables pick, your meat butchered, your home re-roofed, your home cleaned, the dishes washed and bathrooms cleaned at restaurants — every person in our economy enjoys the (arguably exploited) fruits of the labors of illegals. At the end of each month, think of how much you have in your bank account that you wouldn’t if you had to pay for a citizen, with health insurance, to perform the services or produce the goods. Where do you quantify this?
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John Johnson Reply:
September 21st, 2011 at 7:25 pm
Weak argument, Anita. If the illegals were gone, maybe the neighborhood kids would go back to mowing our lawns and helping out with construction in the summers like they used to. The ones who drop out and say they can’t find a job might actually find fulltime work in these fields if we took them off the dole. Hourly rates might go up, but the money taken in will be staying here and not going out via Western Union to Mexico, and Central America.
If we raise the tariffs on imported goods from China to the level they charge us, we will pay more for consumer goods also, but I’m for it for the same reason …our money stays here, creates more jobs, and is spent here.
Please tell me you understand this. It is not rocket science. If you disagree, fire back your best shot.
anita says:
I know Michael is dying to get in here and defend his statement, and I’m sure he has some very persuasive cites to the Texas Tax Code.
Michael?
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Mike says:
Paul…the comments section is becoming a joke. Is there any way that TM could rework it to require registration and real names? That might at least cut down on some of the stuff here.
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Governor Toolshed Reply:
September 22nd, 2011 at 1:37 am
Governor Toolshed is my real name “Mike.” Why are you hiding behind the most common name in the US?
Fascists and their lists… gotta register now? Is it for security? Will it make us safer from The Devil?
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John Johnson says:
Anita:
You are just flat wrong about illegal immigrants “paying their way”. This is a ridiculous statement based on phoney, biased reports from both sides. I say “both” because neither the Dem base, nor Repub base wants to sent them back home. Dem’s want the votes; Repub’s the cheap labor.
Who pays for crossover births? Who pays for the disporportionate numbers going through our courts, county jails and state prisons? Who pays for emergency room healthcare? Who pays for school feeding? Get my drift?
The taxes they pay through their rent does not pay the full amount to educate a child in public schools; they don’t have health insurance; many don’t pay into the SS system: they send U.S. dollars out of the country: and most don’t make enough money to be taxed enough to keep the rest of us from having to subsidize every service they receive.
Obama’s aunt is a prime example of what’s going on. She got here on a green card, did not leave when it expired (umpteen years ago). She is now living in an apartment that taxpayers pay for, and is receiving a reported $50+K per year in disability income.
Are you blind to what is going on around you? Are you that naive? At times you seem downright sharp; occasionally, not so much. This is one of those times.
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Anonymous Reply:
September 21st, 2011 at 3:29 pm
reported by whom, faux news or rush limpdick?
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John Johnson Reply:
September 21st, 2011 at 3:39 pm
Please take a look at Obama’s illegal immigrant aunt unapologetically telling it in her own words:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QHoAuk76fT8
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Anonymous says:
Gee, John, you usually make such sound arguments, and then you come out with this “Democrats want their votes” speaking of undocumented workers.
John, illegals can’t vote. Yeah, like felons. They can’t vote. They can’t get Earned Income Credit, they can’t draw Social Security.
They can’t. No matter how long they live here. No matter if they have a green card. Voting is for American citizens only.
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Anonymous Reply:
September 21st, 2011 at 3:51 pm
And if the bleeding liberals get their way, the criminals here illegally will be given the right to vote along with their laminated citizenship card and “Welcome to America” goodie bag.
You need to go pull up the link to Obama’s aunt, too. You might learn something about what we “give” to illegals.
Let the part about U.S. citizens standing in line behind her for the apartment she is in sink in. She is in subsidized housing while U.S. citizens are out in the cold. Go on – take a look – then come back and justify your ignorant statements. Get Anita to watch with you.
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John Johnson says:
The Hispanic vote, Anny. If I’m the governor or political party that sends my uncle back to Mexico, you can bet you’re not going to get my vote. Duh!!!
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curious says:
Back to Burka’s question on the Perry campaign. I’m curious. If Rick Perry is not the nominee, who is? I don’t believe the right and/or the tea party will designate Romney as the nominee.
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Anonymous says:
Romney doesn’t need all the far right or TP people to get the nomination. All he needs is some of them. There are more indepdents and moderate Republicans out there than there are far right. We are just keeping quiet and watching and listening.
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Anon100 says:
Sounds like McCain. Over Rover. Obama again.
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JohnBernardBooks says:
“On Tuesday, the San Antonio Tea Party was holding an open forum to discuss the DREAM Act and the problem of illegal immigration.”
When the panel responded “we should enforce our laws” the liberal responded as all liberals do”
You’re a Nazi
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Anonymous says:
The Republican nominee is already there – its Romney. All this competition is for Fox’s ratings, make things exciting. The GOP ticket is going to be Romney/Rubio. They will win and O will be sent packing.
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retrocon says:
If the Tea Party really is all about fiscal conservatism and limited government, there is no reason many will not support Romney. He has advocated, even during his 2008 candidacy, the cleaning up of the administration, the reduction of the federal budget, and the paring down of agencies, especially the dead wood of redundancy.
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John Johnson says:
If it becomes clear that Perry cannot get enough midstream votes to defeat Obama in the general election and that Romney is the only one who can, don’t you think that the TP will then support Romney?
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Anon100 says:
So Perry is too conservative to get mainstream votes, but on immigration and other issues he is too moderate for the tea party?
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