The only surprise is how long it took for Perry to surrender to the inevitable. He has been a non-factor since the Iowa caucuses.
During the past month, I have been working on a story about what happens when Perry returns to the Capitol. It will be posted on the TEXAS MONTHLY web site today.
BREAKING: House committee assignments »
Cornyn, Cruz oppose Kerry confirmation »
Not with a bang but a whimper »
Perry will deliver State of the State address on Tuesday; is it his last? »
SAEN: DNC finance chair Munoz’s career marred by fiscal debacle »
“Battleground Texas” »
Campbell, Davis draw two-year terms »
The way politics ought to be »
Recommended reading: John Weaver on the future of the GOP »
Guns in school and everywhere else »
January 2013 »
December 2012 »
November 2012 »
October 2012 »
September 2012 »
August 2012 »
July 2012 »
June 2012 »
May 2012 »
April 2012 »
March 2012 »
February 2012 »
January 2012 »
December 2011 »
November 2011 »
October 2011 »
September 2011 »
August 2011 »
July 2011 »
June 2011 »
May 2011 »
April 2011 »
March 2011 »
February 2011 »
ghostofann says:
Any chance he will get two Bum Steer Awards in a year, Paul?
Reply »
Hooah! Reply:
January 19th, 2012 at 10:24 am
For the first time, an individual SWEEPS the Bum Steers, garnering each and every award!
Reply »
paulburka Reply:
January 19th, 2012 at 10:40 am
Not unless there are two Januarys this year.
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ghostofann Reply:
January 19th, 2012 at 10:50 am
My bad. I meant two years in a row.
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Anonymous Reply:
January 19th, 2012 at 5:54 pm
Speaking of TM, please run more sketch artist portraits and his impressions of the accused. That was really facinating.
Texian Politico says:
He surrenders of Confederate Heroes Day. You can’t make that sort of stuff up.
The big winner here is Gingrich, if only because it may deflect some attention from what promises to be a very damaging interview ABC is set to run with his second scorned ex-wife. Nothing hurts with voters more, especially female voters, than to hear from an ex-wife that the candidate is a scum bag. Could Clinton have survived if Hillary didn’t stay with him?
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Robert Morrow Reply:
January 19th, 2012 at 10:12 am
“Newt Gingrich’s ex-wife: He wanted ‘open marriage’”
Ever wonder why the Republican party is known as the “Stupid Party?” Just look no further than Newt Gingrich. This is who the GOP base likes the most.
http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0112/71654.html
Reply »
Johnbernardbooks Reply:
January 19th, 2012 at 10:40 am
@Robert Morrow
You’re casting stones at someone with your lifestyle? Now this is getting funny….
Reply »
Robert Morrow Reply:
January 19th, 2012 at 1:05 pm
JBB, my “lifestyle” does not include being married to incredibly ugly women for most of my adult life then dumping them every 10 or 15 years for a somewhat less repulsive model.
And then carrying the banner for the religious right, morals and “family values” when running for adulter/hypocrite-in-chief.
Here is what happens to you when you are married to Newt Gingrich for 18 years: http://a.abcnews.com/images/Blotter/abc_marianne_gingrich_jp_120119_wg.jpg
Hooah! says:
Welcome home, Rick.
Reply »
Blue says:
I’m extremely nervous about a wounded Rick Perry as gov next session.
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Blue Dogs Reply:
January 19th, 2012 at 10:23 am
Blue, Perry is going to be VINDICTIVE and HARSH in the upcoming 2013 legislation session when he starts vetoing lots of legislation and I wouldn’t be surprised if he calls a special session this year just to piss his rivals off.
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Robert Morrow Reply:
January 19th, 2012 at 1:07 pm
Rick Perry needs to veto every damn thing that comes out of that pit of vipers.
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Willie James says:
History will not be kind to Rick.
Despite all the bluster, ego and money he ended up a charactature of the good ole boy backroom crony. He will be remembered poorly, the man that exposed the Texas right as ineffective and poor leaders.
I just don’t see a comeback. Texas politics is nasty and brutal and his enemies (some of whom he sees as friends) have seen his weaknesses, and his money will dry up.
Will he serve out his term? Probably.
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Blue Dogs Reply:
January 19th, 2012 at 10:24 am
Willie, Perry is likely to finish out his 3rd term and retire on January 20, 2015 by riding off the sunset as the state’s longest-serving governor and 4th to serve 3 terms.
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Anonymous says:
When Perry announced for his run I posted on here the lyrics to “turn out the lights – the party is over” as I knew in my heart he wasn’t up for such a task. I could crow on here forever – but I won’t. And I hope others will refrain from doing so. This man has gone through hell and back and we should recognize that fact and cut him some slack. I hope that they will have a welcoming party for him that is bigger than Texas. And as Texans, we should show some respect for him and his staff. They don’t need to come to insults, etc.
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ghostofann Reply:
January 19th, 2012 at 9:15 am
Thanks, but I will crow and gloat as long as I want. Of all the GOP’s candidates, Ricky Bobby deserves this humiliating defeat the most. The ego, hubris, and uniformed arrogance (e.g., Turkey as an Islamic state?) merit the biggest downfall for a politician since Joe McCarthy.
Of course, all the hoopleheads in Texas who have voted for him the past 3 elections will continue to love him. Oh well, you can’t fix stupid.
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Col. Mike Kirby Reply:
January 19th, 2012 at 10:31 am
cue jbb to prove you correct.
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Johnbernardbooks Reply:
January 19th, 2012 at 10:50 am
ahh you beat me to it everytime.
Col. Mike Kirby Reply:
January 19th, 2012 at 2:12 pm
Really?? And how is that, by pointing out that you’re a moron??
Johnbernardbooks Reply:
January 19th, 2012 at 2:18 pm
exactly, no one has to point out you’re a moron. Why state the obvious?
Crom Crom Reply:
January 19th, 2012 at 9:16 am
Cut him some slack? Hm. I’m all for giving respect where it’s due, and I’ll give the man the respect he deserves as the governor of our state, but I won’t cut him any slack for former or current mistakes and/or boondoggles, and for reaping what he’s sown throughout his political career. Sorry.
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Peter Reply:
January 19th, 2012 at 9:28 am
Hell and back? The man had some people on TV and the internet say some mean things about him … almost all of which were entirely deserved.
Reserve your sympathy and respect for those who have actually suffered and will continue to suffer as a result of his actions and inaction. Cameron Todd Willingham, the public school students of Texas, the innumerable babies who will be born to teen mothers who won’t have access to family planning services, the citizens of Andrews County after Harold Simmons’s radioactive waste inevitably leaks out into the water supply … and on and on and on.
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Reminder Reply:
January 19th, 2012 at 9:57 am
Very classy!
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Hooah! Reply:
January 19th, 2012 at 1:26 pm
Hell and back? Cut him some slack? My God, HE wanted to make the run. HE did the debates. HE got fewer than 15k votes in two states.
I’m sorry…Rick Perry has crowed to the moon and stars about personal accountability.
Now let him be accountable for the campaign.
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texun Reply:
January 19th, 2012 at 1:57 pm
But, I think that we should sympathize with the Perry True Believers, who now suffer from Cultus Interruptus.
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Adios, Mofo Reply:
January 20th, 2012 at 1:51 am
Anonymous at 9:06 a.m., you should remember the horrible damage that this Uber Goober has done to the State of Texas before you make comments like:
“This man has gone through hell and back and we should recognize that fact and cut him some slack. I hope that they will have a welcoming party for him that is bigger than Texas. And as Texans, we should show some respect for him and his staff. They don’t need to come to insults, etc.”
Rick Perry’s years as Governor have been very bad for Texas. I can only hope that the damage which he has inflicted upon this state can be undone as quickly as possible.
I now agree with other who advocate term limits.
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Crom Crom says:
But, but…according to JBB, Perry is the man to beat! He’s in it for the long haul! He’s going to make a big comeback! Hmmmm. What happened?
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John Johnson says:
Our Gov was allowed to refuse to debate in Texas; he has been allowed to take credit for every positive within the state without even acknowledging that negatives exist; he has been blessed by a Texas media that has refused to dig and follow up on important issues; and Texas voters have been shown to be basically ignorant and prone to follow good looks and a party name.
I wonder if we will learn anything from all this.
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Cowboy Bill Weed Reply:
January 19th, 2012 at 9:52 am
As I recall, only the Waco paper endorsed Perry last time.
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Johnbernardbooks says:
How funny, what are dems so afraid of rick Perry?
Maybe its ingrained from so many years of losing to him?
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ghostofann Reply:
January 19th, 2012 at 9:18 am
Going down with the ship, right JBB?
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Cappy M. Reply:
January 19th, 2012 at 9:21 am
Quitter. Real Texans aren’t quitters…..He is like Palin, in it for the money. Will Rick get a gig on Fox now?
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paulburka Reply:
January 19th, 2012 at 10:44 am
Not if K.R. has anything to say about it.
Crom Crom Reply:
January 19th, 2012 at 9:24 am
Yeah, sad isn’t it? That brand of divisive, uncompromising, ill-informed (or willfully ignorant) rhetoric is part of the problem in this country. It sure ain’t part of the solution.
And just for the record, I’m not a democrat.
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trowaman Reply:
January 19th, 2012 at 11:23 am
^This
This is the comment that has convinced me that JBB is actually just trolling.
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ghostofann says:
John–The answer to your question is “NO.” Texans will not learn anything from all this. The negative publicity from the rest of the country just makes us dig in our heels harder.
The hoopleheads will continue to vote for Goodhair simply because he has the letter “R” after his name.
Reply »
Johnbernardbooks Reply:
January 19th, 2012 at 9:59 am
well if we have to go the name calling route, the useful idiots will continue to vote for Pres Obama simply because he has the letter “D” after his name.
BTW many “republicans” were folled and voted for Pres Obama. How many “D’s” voted for Rick Perry?
so who’s the sheeple?
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ghostofann Reply:
January 19th, 2012 at 10:19 am
You contradict yourself here, JBB. On the one hand, you chide “useful idiots” who vote for Obama simply because he has the letter “D” after his name. On the other hand, you chide Republicans (using quotation marks) for NOT voting for McCain simply because he had the letter “R” after his name.
So, make up your mind.
Reply »
Johnbernardbooks Reply:
January 19th, 2012 at 10:42 am
maybe my point was too deep. R’s did not blindly vote for McCain, and D’s did blindly vote for Pres Obama.
Help you?
Cowboy Bill Weed says:
It will take another generation of Texans before folks will realize that the letter “R” is not in the best interests of the state. A good mix is. Our kids are watching and learning (at home, not in our schools) and see that the evangelical right is fading.
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Justin says:
I think this was a wise move for the Gov. I will agree with someone above that said this can’t bode well for his next run at the State level. I have always had a great respect for the man, but his poor performances during the debates made me shake my head. If Ann Richards would’ve been on that stage, she’d have sent them all home crying.
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Blue Dogs Reply:
January 19th, 2012 at 10:25 am
Justin, Perry already promised Anita that he would not run for a 4th term in 2014.
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Johnbernardbooks says:
Dems are so caught up in their hatred for Guv Perry, they missed the obvious again.
Guv Perry understands Duty and Honor and sacrificed his campaign to help defeat Romney.
He will be coming back to Texas a true Texas hero and his legacy intact. Job well done Guv., thanks for you service. You are a great Texan.
Reply »
ghostofann Reply:
January 19th, 2012 at 9:59 am
“Sacrificed his campaign!” That’s hilarious, JBB!
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Johnbernardbooks Reply:
January 19th, 2012 at 10:01 am
““Sacrificed his campaign!” That’s hilarious, JBB!”
I did not expect democrats to get “Duty and Honor” or have an inkling of what it stands for.
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ghostofann Reply:
January 19th, 2012 at 10:21 am
Oh, boo hoo, JBB. Would you like some milk and cookies? Maybe your mom will bring some down to the basement for you. Chump.
Johnbernardbooks Reply:
January 19th, 2012 at 10:43 am
“I did not expect democrats to get “Duty and Honor” or have an inkling of what it stands for.”
Bodhisattva Reply:
January 19th, 2012 at 10:05 am
I want some of what he is mainlining.
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Sherman Potter Reply:
January 19th, 2012 at 10:57 am
Duty and honor to his donors? His alma mater? His state? He has embarrased all and made a pile.
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Robert Morrow says:
Rick Perry – “If you Cheat on your wife, you’ll Cheat on your business partner”
http://www.breitbart.tv/perry-if-you-cheat-on-your-wife-youll-cheat-on-your-business-partner/
I wonder if Herman Cain will join in with his adultery endorsement of of Newt Gingrich, too?
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You down with JBB? says:
Yeah you know me.
Reply »
Johnbernardbooks says:
This may go down in history as one of the most brilliant moves in political history. Perry suspending, endorsing Newt, taking Romney out with one punch. The timing was impeccable.
The Perry/Gingrich team scores again.
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Vernon Reply:
January 19th, 2012 at 10:57 am
I don’t think the main goal is to take out Romney. The overall message I hear is that the priority is to beat Pres. Obama. By most accounts, Romney has the best chance of doing that.
But there was too much bad blood between Romney and Perry for Perry to support Romney in the end. Perry could’ve supported Santorum, but I don’t sense Santorum will make it too much longer. I’d wager Perry agrees.
So who remains with sufficient conservative credentials? Gingrich does.
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Sherman Potter Reply:
January 19th, 2012 at 11:00 am
Hoot!
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Robert Morrow says:
Here is my article, dated 8/10/11 “Tea Party Fraud Rick Perry is Political Herpes” Enjoy:
http://www.stuffedsuits.com/news/national-politics/721-fraud-rick-perry-is-political-herpes
And if Rick Perry is political herpes, the Newt Gingrich is the Ebola virus of the Republican party. I just have not had time to write that one up ..
Reply »
Blue Dogs Reply:
January 19th, 2012 at 10:26 am
Morrow, so this news on Perry dropping out hurts Romney and Obama is laughing his ass off as we speak.
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ghostofann says:
Once again, The Onion nails it!
http://www.theonion.com/articles/rick-perry-experiences-overwhelming-feeling-of-cla,27093/
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Sherman Potter says:
http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2012/01/19/paul-begala-to-rick-perry-adios-mofo.html
This is bit snarky, but spot on.
Reply »
Hooah! Reply:
January 19th, 2012 at 1:01 pm
I’m going to disagree with you about Begala’s piece on Perry in the Beast.
Begala calls Perry stupid and “a dope”. He is sadly tragically wrong.
Rick Perry is an extremely intelligent individual. Unfortunately he is also….by choice….completely and absolutely under-educated. His complete lack of experience north of the Red River and east of the Sabine was a potentially fatal handicap and his refusal to consider opposing points of view on ANY ISSUE WHATSOEVER doomed him from day one. He never ever wanted to know any more than it takes to be Governor of Texas. And let’s face it….that’s not very much.
I would sit down with Rick Perry and buy him a beer any day of the week. But his own self-certainty (a curious attraction to Texans Republicans) means his run…is over.
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Sherman Potter Reply:
January 19th, 2012 at 1:16 pm
I dunno….he barely graduated from A&M when it was a cow college at best and has shown no intellectual curiosity at all….maybe cunning and street smart but intelligent? no.
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Johnbernardbooks Reply:
January 19th, 2012 at 2:22 pm
exactly we all know the pednats with their deer in the headlights look have superior intelligence.
WUSRPH says:
Rick’s perryphrasing of several famous quotes:
• “I have just begun to fight”
• “..not leaving the arena”, etc.
are BAD NEWS. He clearly is not ready to quit and is probably even now on the plane back to Texas plotting his 2014 campaign…leading to another run for the big one in 2016.
Those who hoped for a Nixonian “You won’t have Rick Perry to kick around any more”—which he, unlike Nixon, would actually mean–are sure to be disappointed.
Reply »
Blue Dogs Reply:
January 19th, 2012 at 11:38 am
WUSRPH, you read the quotes of his speech today ?
According to the Austin American Statesman, many Capitol insiders don’t expect Perry to run again in 2014 regardless.
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Vernon says:
I’m just spitballing here, but what future implications can we extrapolate from Perry’s endorsement of Gingrich?
He could’ve endorsed Romney and said “although we have our differences, we share the same goal of unseating Obama.” That would’ve been very safe and satisfied the national GOP as a whole. We all know that would never happen; however, it also shows that Perry isn’t interested in the national party anymore. Not now or in the future.
But what does he get out supporting Gingrich? If I’m right, Gingrich is a staunch conservative. Since Perry has always played to the most conservative base to his success, this could suggest that Perry isn’t quite through with running for elected offices.
Of course if Gingrich wins the White House, that would bear more immediate fruit as well. But I have a hunch that Perry wanted to first satisfy conservatives closer to home.
I’ll make the prediction that we see Perry’s name on a Texas ballot for a statewide office…maybe a Senate run or governor again. Possible another office, who knows?
Reply »
Blue Dogs Reply:
January 19th, 2012 at 11:39 am
Vernon, Perry will NEVER win a Senate race in 2014 because Cornyn ain’t going anywhere.
Second, he’s retiring from the governorship in 2 years, so he’s just piling up the appointments for the upcoming 2013 session.
Reply »
Vernon Reply:
January 19th, 2012 at 1:12 pm
You might be right. Like I said, I’m just speculating.
But what I do know is that once someone has become accustomed to having people fawn all over him or her because they are an elected official, it’s very difficult to give up the power, the sycophants, the adoration and the attention.
Since Gov. Perry isn’t considered a wealthy man by politico standards, I can’t see him truly retiring without a better financial landing pad.
That’s why I think he’s going to stick around in some capacity.
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AreYouKiddingMe says:
JBB, Perry’s endorsement will have 0 affect on the race. The guy is polling at 2% and most of his supporters will go to Santorum or Paul, not Newt. You act like this is some major announcement. Endorsements from insignificant candidates mean absolutely nothing. Perry has been insignificant for a long time. And don’t even think he will be considered for anybody’s VP. Nobody wants that guy on their staff and whoever the R on the ticket is will not even need to campaign in Texas, so Perry would be no use. Now, if he will come home and immediately resign as governor, it will really be a great day!
Reply »
treehugger says:
With all those votes going to Gingrich, he’s bound to be qualified for something in a Gingrich admin…ambassador to Turkey??
Reply »
Robert Morrow Reply:
January 19th, 2012 at 2:36 pm
Perry? I think he should assume the role of “spiritual advisor” to the Gingrich campaign a la Jesse Jackson/Bill Clinton.
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anita says:
That would be a good gig for him.
This is horrible news for the economy. What’s going to happen to the local folks the Perry campaign had hired and positioned to pull the fire alarm when he got the debate question he couldn’t answer?
And kudos to Perry for endorsing Gingrich as the “proven conservative” on the same day Gingrich’s second ex-wife informs us of his desire for an “open marriage” so he could
continue his affair with a staffer. So much for the sanctity of marriage.
Reply »
Vernon Reply:
January 19th, 2012 at 1:23 pm
No doubt someone in the Gingrich or Perry camp suggested to announce it today to overshadow the negative story on Gingrich. Bury the story.
It’s a common pr/political tactic and one we’ve already seen during this race.
Reply »
anita says:
“This may go down in history as one of the most brilliant moves in political history” — JBB
So true, JBB. Because Rick Perry really planned to go from a contending frontrunner to consistent cellar-dweller, a laughingstock and object of ridicule, and then, in his severly-weakened position, being forced to endorse another candidate before he returned to Texas with his tail between his legs, now forced to rebuild some political currency just to remain viable in his own state. What a brilliant move.
Reply »
Johnbernardbooks Reply:
January 19th, 2012 at 12:53 pm
aww how cute anita has all the media’s talking points down.
Reply »
Col. Mike Kirby Reply:
January 19th, 2012 at 3:13 pm
wingnut = reality challenged.
Why don’t you apply to become the new Iraqi Information Minister jbb, they haven’t had someone as “special” as you there since Mohammad Saeed al-Sahhaf left.
Reply »
Johnbernardbooks Reply:
January 19th, 2012 at 3:45 pm
“they haven’t had someone as “special” as you there since Mohammad Saeed al-Sahhaf left”
sounds like an intelligent individual like you would be a perfect match.
Adios, Mofo says:
To Rick Perry: Adios, Mofo.
Reply »
William Ward says:
Glad he announced before tonight’s debate so at least he won’t have the opportunity to destroy our relationship with any other NATO allies. Oops.
Reply »
AreYouKiddingMe says:
Ambassador to Turkey, Ha!!
Reply »
Sherman Potter Reply:
January 19th, 2012 at 1:18 pm
He will be running Texas A&M.
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anita Reply:
January 19th, 2012 at 2:31 pm
Running it into the ground.
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Anonymous says:
First up for Perry is a national “10th Amendment” tour, announced by Gingrich this morning. There is money to be made and attention to be garnered. You would think being Governor of a big state like Texas would be a time-consuming job. But I guess Texas pretty much runs itself.
“At an event in Beaufort, South Carolina on Thursday, Gingrich said he spoke to Perry that morning and asked him to head up a ’10th Amendment enforcement project, reaching out to every governor in the country in both parties,” as well as other elected leaders…the project would result in a strong party platform plank…as well as legislation on the issue. We can then pass that legislation no later than the end of the first quarter of 2013 to return power to the citizens, to communities, and the states and get it out of Washington, D.C.,’he said. Gingrich said Perry agreed to take on the project.”
Reply »
anita Reply:
January 19th, 2012 at 2:34 pm
Do you think he’ll remember the third state he’s charged with visiting, or will he be befuddled in the airport.
“Let’s see, Ol’ Newtie told me to go to South Carolina, then Florida, then . . . (53 seconds later) . . . Dang, I can’t remember the third one . . .
Oops.”
Reply »
Anonymous says:
Reimbursing the state of Texas the $400,000 per month security detail Perry cost taxpayers would be a good start to rebuilding his image, especially after cutting $4 billion from education.
Reply »
Tellnitlikeitis Reply:
January 19th, 2012 at 2:07 pm
It was more like $5.3 or $5.4 Billion cut from education.
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Johnbernardbooks says:
The only people Guv Perry will put of out work or the people who live to blog here everyday putting down Rick Perry.
What are you bored state workers going to do all day now?
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ghostofann says:
What are YOU gonna do all day now, JBB? Don’t you “live to blog here?” Idiot.
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Johnbernardbooks says:
Idiot? I didn’t vote for Obama.
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garvin Reply:
January 19th, 2012 at 1:21 pm
I think JBB is really Burka. Trolling. There is no way anyone can come up with such great stuff. Even the John Wayneish moniker. This is Comedy Central material!
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Hooah! Reply:
January 19th, 2012 at 1:28 pm
That IS the best explanation so far. The only way to test it is for one of us to assume a persona WORSE than JBB and see if Paul throws us off! If he doesn’t, then he really IS JBB!
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Johnbernardbooks Reply:
January 19th, 2012 at 2:27 pm
I am happy to see yawl admitting to my superior intelligence.
But some posters here are the most bitter people I’ve ever seen.
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ghostofann Reply:
January 19th, 2012 at 3:15 pm
I guess you’re stuck with Romney now, JBB!
Johnbernardbooks Reply:
January 19th, 2012 at 3:47 pm
another astute democrat who gets it wrong.
didnthaveenoughmoneytogettheappointment says:
Good that he quit before he insulted any other of our allies. I guess a C average from Texas AM is not good enough to be the next leader of the free world.
Reply »
Anonymous Reply:
January 19th, 2012 at 1:30 pm
In his speech he said there is ” no viable path forward for me in this 2012 campaign”…..and he is “resolute to remain in the arena and in the the service of my country………..I have just begun to fight”
Hmmmm….keeping future options/runs open?
Reply »
texun Reply:
January 19th, 2012 at 11:50 pm
His full statement was more specific: Perry will return to Texas, stop in Austin to pick up his coyote-shooting armory, and move along to the Alamo, which he pledges to defend against the Mexican army single-handedly. Don’t know about you, but I’ll sure sleep better at night, knowing that he’s on guard again.
Reply »
texun Reply:
January 19th, 2012 at 11:52 pm
Sorry, I read that statement from one of his 1001 spokespeople too rapidly. Correction: he pledged to defend the Alamo against the Federal government single-handedly. Whew!
Vernon says:
Paul,
Assuming Gov. Perry doesn’t leave before his tenure is up, what would be the first signs that Perry will act benevolently or that he’ll act out of vengeance?
What might tip us off as to how he will choose to govern the state?
Reply »
retrocon says:
Here’s how I think it went down…
Perry wants to get SOMETHING out of turning over his 4-percent endorsement, so Gingrich feeds him a line about how Perry “compares well with Joe Biden.” Perry thinks this means Gingrich considers him to be Vice Presidential material and throws his support to Gingrich.
Reply »
jerry only says:
Soooo…what do we talk about now?
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Johnbernardbooks Reply:
January 19th, 2012 at 2:24 pm
who else do you feel the need to rundown?
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anita Reply:
January 19th, 2012 at 2:47 pm
Considering how much they like Perry in Turkey, they may string him up and urinate on him. And hey, that’s no big deal, according to Perry.
Reply »
Johnbernardbooks Reply:
January 19th, 2012 at 3:48 pm
@anita
clueless and classless as usual.
ghostofann Reply:
January 19th, 2012 at 4:58 pm
I feel the need to run you down, JBB. Idiots like you are always fun targets.
Reply »
anita Reply:
January 19th, 2012 at 2:51 pm
When are the fine conservatives going to open the investigation into voter fraud in Iowa? Surely, ACORN was involved.
Reply »
Johnbernardbooks Reply:
January 19th, 2012 at 3:59 pm
@anita
nuttin to worry yo pretty ‘lil haid about sweetie, it was just some dems voting and claiming to be republicans.
Reply »
Fr. Jacques says:
JBB and the GOP not only need photo IDs at these caucases to keep out the lib-rals they need a purity test. Keep calling him out, anita!
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houtopia says:
Paul, your piece up on TM is a good analysis of post-presidential Perry.
His primary M.O. has been to use the power of appointment to maximum advantage, and to intimidate his fellow state government elected officials (mostly fellow Republicans) into doing his bidding.
Obviously, as long as Perry remains governor, he retains the power of appointment. But I am dubious he can continue to intimidate others to the degree he has previously done so.
Once folks stop being afraid of a bully, his power declines.
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Anonymous says:
Foxs News…..CONSERVATIVE Fox News…said that Perry getting out of the race will not have an impact on the election. They went on to say that “you can’t get out of anything that you weren’t in” meaning that he was a non-factor in the race.
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W. B. Travis Reply:
January 20th, 2012 at 9:00 am
Fox News is the most biased, backwards hard leaning media in America and those carrots that are talking heads there may be right for once.
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jpt51 says:
What did Newt offer Slick for the endorsement? My guess is Ambassidor to Burmuda.
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Anonymous Reply:
January 19th, 2012 at 10:48 pm
that would get mine – or the Bahamas – that would be sweet!
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Reagan Republican Reply:
January 20th, 2012 at 7:03 pm
Bermuda doesn’t actually have an embassy so Perry may indeed have been promised the job since it doesn’t exist.
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John Johnson says:
A degree with honors from any university is not going to insure that someone is a qualified candidate for POTUS. Our Gov had the smarts, but did not apply himself. He relied on others to write his speeches, whisper answers in his ear, etc. Being Gov of Texas came easy to him…he could read the top two sheets on any issue and get by…after all, no one was asking him any hard questions, and if they did, his paid guru’s and mouthpieces went to work for him…and then for AT&T, Reliant Energy and other Big’s. He looked good. He sounded good. He grew bold, listened to those who called him great, and, as Bill Parcells would say, “He ate the cheese”. This is the way all classic literary tragedies end.
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Mark R. Yzaguirre says:
I agree with Houtopia, the new long piece is a good one. Also, I mentioned your shorter blog piece on this topic on a post up at Huffington Post.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/mark-yzaguirre/damaged-goods_1_b_1214856.html
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Anonymous says:
Texas Tribune has Perry advisor Ray Sullivan saying that Perry will not rule out running for re-election… ..oh my……when will it stop?
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Blue Dogs Reply:
January 20th, 2012 at 9:17 am
Anon, Perry won’t even bother seeking a 4th term in 2014 because the look of Anita Perry’s face tells it all: “Rick, you better not run for re-election as governor.”
This has been going on since 2006 and I don’t think she wanted Rick to run that year then either.
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Reagan Republican Reply:
January 20th, 2012 at 7:07 pm
Rick Perry has no marketable skills and he may be stupid but not too stupid to figure out he has no other good options. He is a professional politician whose only private sector experience is working for his daddy, of course he’s running again.
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Mr. Smith says:
Okay, I’m breaking a New Years pledge by posting, but here goes…What I like about Newt Gingrich is that he not only is a staunch supporter of competition and the ideals of the free market, but he employs them in his own life. Early on, he determined that he would get the most out of his wife and mistress by having them compete for his affections. “Come on Calista, my wife kisses better than that.” and so on. The man lives his ideals. You’ve got to admire that.
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Johnbernardbooks Reply:
January 19th, 2012 at 9:37 pm
of course dems admire that. Look at Clinton/Edwards/Kennedy/Gore. The clinton listed is both as Bill and Hillary as both compete for the same women.
Now we’re fun huh dems?
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Robert Morrow Reply:
January 20th, 2012 at 12:47 am
Why leave out Lyndon Johnson on a sex scandal list. He was as rampant as JFK and the Clintons.
And let’s not forget this gargantuan sampler of Republican sex scandals:
http://www.dkosopedia.com/wiki/Republican_Sex_Scandals
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W. B. Travis Reply:
January 20th, 2012 at 9:04 am
I’m not sure that sex is really the topic, but betrayal and denial,hypocrisy.
Newt just want to blame the media for bringing it up.
Does our country want a serial liar as President? Can we trust him? Not talking about ANYONE else, no deflection to Kennedy, Clinton, Craig. Can we trust Newt? History says no.
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Clements says:
Governor Perry has bowed out of the campaign and is giving his support to Newt Gingrich who will be the next president of the United States of America.
Come on home Governor, you gave them an opportunity and they declined, God bless ‘em. We’re going to need you more than ever if they re-elect that idiot so take a break and rest in Texas’ arms. We’ve got work to do. God bless you and God bless Texas. Welcome home.
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W. B. Travis Reply:
January 20th, 2012 at 8:58 am
Clements, you just have not been paying attention, but bless you anyway.
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Blue Dogs Reply:
January 20th, 2012 at 9:18 am
Obama is likely to win re-election regardless who the GOP nominates and Romney might go 1 for 3 after Saturday night.
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rw says:
Christie, Ryan, Palin, and Daniels were smart for staying out so that we can re-elect His Majesty for four more years.
Fine with me. That means more Republicans in the House and Senate.
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Willie James Reply:
January 20th, 2012 at 8:57 am
Now there is a list! Palin? Really?
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BackUpMembers says:
Please drop the re-election talk and be a problem-solver.
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Robert Morrow says:
Here is a great book on Lyndon Johnson that you can get for under $5, shipping included:
“Power Beyond Reason: the Mental Collapse of Lyndon Johnson”
http://www.amazon.com/Power-Beyond-Reason-Collapse-Johnson/dp/1569802432/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1327044069&sr=1-1
There was something very wrong with Lyndon Johnson. This book is about LBJ’s mental collapse which occurred while he was at his peak power – as president. LBJ was a manic-depressive and his mood and energy levels swung wildly.
“Johnson may have been the most psychologically unstable person ever to assume the presidency.” [p. 6, Hershman]
Beyond a mere manic-depressive, LBJ was a psychopath. A paranoid with literal delusions and hallucinations while he was president.
On some level, the man was insane and the people closest to him thought he was insane. With his finger on the nuclear button.
Johnson was also a full blown alcholic. He basically drank (cases of cheap Cutty Sark) and smoked and overworked and fretted himself to death. But he murdered a lot of others in the process. And I mean that literally… When one delves into the LBJ literature, it is astounding the bizarre and extremely disturbing anecdotes that are told about the man.
One example would be the time David Brinkley takes his wife to the LBJ ranch … and Johnson spent the whole weekend trying to seduce Brinkley’s wife. LBJ pulling his penis out and showing it to reporters to make a point. LBJ peeing on the leg of a Secret Service man, then saying it was “my perogative.” Driving 90 miles mph out in the hill country, drinking, passing cars going up a blind hill.
The Johnson City pharmacist called him the biggest pill popper in the county and would not give him any more drugs.
The rampant sexual promiscuity – every bit as much as Bill Clinton or JFK. One of Jack Valenti’s kids is really Lyndon’s: her name is Courtenay “Linda” Valenti. He had another one with Madeleine Duncan Brown in 1950: Steven. Who knows how many more he had.
LBJ was bisexual, too – homosexual if you will. I know that because Ray Hill of Houston used to work at the Kinsey Institute and he read LBJ’s sexual histories. LBJ also admitted having sex with his grandmother in these interviews – I estimated he was about age 16 and she was age 68 at the time..
I have another source on LBJ’s homosexuality as well. It is not in the history books – yet.
On top of all this, Johnson had a psychopath’s ability to turn people around him into slaves, treating them like dirt while brownnosing anyone he thought was above him and who he could use.
In one book there is an anecdote of LBJ discussing all the world leaders who have died or left office… then while on Air Force One, LBJ starts pounding his chest like Tarzan and yelling “I am the King of the World!”
Lyndon Johnson was one sick puppy of the first degree- as sick and evil as any North Korean dictator, Hitler, Stalin, Saddam Hussein, – he just did not kill as many as they did, unless you count Vietnam.
I also recommend the book LBJ: the Mastermind of the JFK assassination by Phillip Nelson, that is cutting edge JFK research.
The truth FINALLY needs to be told about Lyndon Johnson. The full picture of LBJ is a very ugly one.
If you believe in the death penalty (which I don’t) then Johnson should have been sent to the electric chair multiple times in Texas.
The *most dangerous* psychopaths are the ones who never go to jail and never get convicted.
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John Johnson Reply:
January 20th, 2012 at 8:54 am
Robert, you are just a plethora of information. I’m really surprised that 60 Minutes or 20/20 has not called you up for an interview.
Just a warning…they are probably going to want to verify what you are telling them before they take it national…maybe get a few of these people you are quoting as sources on camera. What do you think the chances of that happening might be?
Maybe all you say is the truth, but you cannot prove it, so you should stop all this nonsense until you can. It grows old.
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Robert Morrow Reply:
January 20th, 2012 at 11:42 am
Read a few books, you might learn something.
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Robert Morrow Reply:
January 20th, 2012 at 5:53 pm
One of the great thing about living in Austin is that there are still many people here who personally know Lyndon Johnson or had direct personal dealings with him. Or who know friends who did.
Today 1/20/12 I met another man, age 66, who was very familiar with LBJ. LBJ used to have local beauty queens head out to his ranch, even after he retired in 1969. This man used to date one of these beauty queens – an Aquafest beauty queen- who had the misfortune of being around Johnson.
There used be a Miss Austin Aqua Beauty contest – just learned about that today http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Austin_Aqua_Festival
So LBJ would invite these beauties out to the LBJ where he would do what LBJ specialized in – making crude, unwanted, insistent sexual passes at them. LBJ had this jeep which he would use to take them to secluded areas of the LBJ ranch. Talk about being trapped! (By an aging, horny, alcoholic psychopath.)
Or LBJ would make passes at them in his office.
I asked this man what time period did his girlfriend have to fight off Johnson; he said it was after LBJ left office – around 1969 or so. He had just gotten back from Vietnam.
This is the same time period Lyndon Johnson was obsessed with Doris Kearns (later Goodwin), an LBJ biographer. LBJ pressed Kearns hard for sex and he even asked her to marry him(!)I don’t know what Lady Bird was supposed to do – I guess throw rice at the wedding. Doris Kearns has admitted LBJ would crawl in bed with her, and in fact she has all but admitted having sex with the man. Read a 1974 article in the WashPost by Sally Quinn for that near confession.
Doris Kearns Goodwin has given us some insight as to how paranoid and bizarre LBJ was, but bec/ of her *close* relationship with Johnson, I think she will never let us know just how depraved the man really was.
LBJ was far, far, far worse then Robert Caro presents him, and I am not just referring to the sex stuff or his general abuse of people.
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Anonymous Reply:
January 20th, 2012 at 9:06 am
Morrow,
You are mentally unstable and need help. Really – please go see a doctor. I really think if you don’t you should be locked up soon for your own good.
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Robert Morrow Reply:
January 20th, 2012 at 11:51 am
The funny thing is, the really *crazy* people are often at the highest levels of society or politics. The most dangerous insane people are not the sociopath that steals your purse or your bike or the schizophrenic homeless man, but rather psycopaths at the highest levels of power who never go to jail because they control the government, media, law enforcement.
Did you work for LBJ … or some other psychopath?
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Johnbernardbooks says:
“The destructive, vicious, negative nature of much of the news media makes it harder to govern this country, harder to attract decent people to run for public office,” Gingrich declared. “I am appalled that you would begin a presidential debate with a topic like that.”
POW! a right cross to the liberal media’s kisser.
What a hoot.
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Col. Mike Kirby Reply:
January 20th, 2012 at 8:45 am
Hey there Baghad jbb, when are the Perry/Biden debates? Ricky’s victory over the liberal infidels is almost at hand.
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Willie James Reply:
January 20th, 2012 at 8:53 am
A low-life like Newt Gingrich isn’t appalled at anything. Past behavior is an indicator of future performance.
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Johnbernardbooks Reply:
January 20th, 2012 at 12:59 pm
“A low-life like Newt Gingrich isn’t appalled at anything”
How many bjs do you think Newt got in the Oval Office?
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Col. Mike Kirby Reply:
January 20th, 2012 at 1:04 pm
How many bjs do you think Newt got in the Speaker of the House of Representatives office? At least ask the correct question dipshit.
Johnbernardbooks Reply:
January 20th, 2012 at 1:40 pm
I’m not sure how many did you give him?
Bodhisattva Reply:
January 20th, 2012 at 12:00 pm
“destructive, vicious, negative”
Those three words could not better describe Newt Gingrich, his career and his approach to politics and governance.
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"Red Dirt & Sand," blog. says:
We need more decent people to run for office however Newt doesn’t seem to qualify for that title.
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Fr. Jacques says:
Of course Newt will blame the media. Like Bush blamed the media and Clinton blamed the media. It is really simple. If you don’t want the media to report it, don’t do it. Don’t cheat on your wife, give money to cronies, have Niggerhead on a rock. Don’t have affairs in the Oval Office. Don’t take millions as a lobbyist and claim to be a historian. Newt Gingrich is a hypocrite, a liar and a philanderer. He should not open his pie hole.
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John Johnson Reply:
January 20th, 2012 at 9:10 am
Did you hear Ron Paul? He told Santorum (and us) that you cannot force the citizens of the United States to be moral by passing laws…it has never worked.
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Willie James says:
Read Burkas piece on the TM website and it was pretty good. Good summation.
Ron Paul is right on social issues, but foriegn policy and econimic issues are another story.
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Dave says:
SCOTUS bounced the maps back, saying the new maps didn’t rely on the Lege maps enough. No challenge to VRA though.
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Johnbernardbooks Reply:
January 20th, 2012 at 1:01 pm
“Justice Thomas concurred with the result but said that he would have directed use of the state’s maps on an interim basis since his view is that section 5 of the Voting Rights Act is unconstitutional.”
Its dead in their sights.
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jpt51 says:
SCOTUS just screwed the SA District Court decision. Will there be a primary vote by November?
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Blue says:
The maps, they gone!
Too bad they didn’t just go with the Lege’s maps, but that’s a pretty darn big black eye for the SA court.
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retrocon says:
Regarding the Supreme Court decision to reject the judge’s maps, it makes sense since there were actual maps that had been passed by the legislature. But what can the judges do — what can they change — when no particular districts have been nixed?
One more thing, however… I don’t recall that back in 1991, the occasion that most closely resembles today’s situation, that Judge Nowlin and his fellow judges were giving deference to the Democrat’s plans (awaiting preclearance) when they were putting interim maps in place.
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John Johnson says:
Mr. Burka’s TM piece in Feb’s issue makes all sorts of suppositions. The one I find most laughable is Perry becoming Romney’s V.P. choice and the reason he lists for this possibly happening.
First of all, the ignorant voters of Texas make up a small portion of the total U.S. number, so I would expect all sorts of moans and groans from far and wide if Mitt his is head on something and pointed his finger at Perry. Did you see his numbers, Paul??? In the conservative states?
Second, you tout his fund raising ability. He, no doubt, was once ranked amoung the best, but now? If you gave him a pot full and he performed like a drunk college cheerleader and totally embarrassed you, would you pony up more? I’d give it to Rove instead.
Somewhere along the line you’ve lost it, Paul. Not one of your prognostications on Perry and his failed run at the presidency has come to pass. Not one. I’m afraid that, like longserving politicians, you are working and living in a vacuum and have no clue what the real world wants, likes or dislikes.
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Robert Morrow Reply:
January 20th, 2012 at 12:09 pm
Rick Perry as Romney’s VP is just laughable.
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Concerned Texan Reply:
January 22nd, 2012 at 7:19 pm
But Newt and Rick are not. Just watch. A deal was made when Rickdropped out. Newt has already referenced Texas and US/Mexico border too much in the last few days.
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Schama says:
So Morrow, now that Perry is out and as many here will gleefully maintain, without any hope or power, where are the hordes of whores who have previously refused to come forward with their claims? Surely now you and your completely pathetic friend Glenn Maxey will be overwhelmed with various gay men and drug-addicted strippers all begging to tell their stories on the record….I’ll just wait here…..
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Robert Morrow Reply:
January 20th, 2012 at 4:19 pm
Actually, Glen Maxey and I are not friends or even associates. In fact, we have been political enemies in various city councils races and on Prop 2 DOMA in 2005.
In fact, the only time that I have met Glen Maxey was in 2005 at the Capital when there were legislative hearings on DOMA. I and some friends were wearing some “protect traditional marriage” stickers and Maxey comes up to us and calls us “assholes.” That is pretty much the full extent of my relationship with Maxey.
So the interesting part is Glen Maxey and I for years have been hearing IDENTICAL and parallel stories about Rick Perry and his rampantly promiscuous and adulterous lifestyle. I was hearing it from multiple sources of strippers, female escorts, people who work in strip clubs or have friends who work there.
For years I never believed the gay rumors about Perry, I figured he was just playing around with the girls. But after I ran my “Have you ever Had Sex with Rick Perry ad” I got a lot of super leads on Rick Perry, including several high quality homosexual sources on Perry’s gay shenanigans, who I passed on to reporters.
And fyi, it’s not the “drug addicted strippers” you need to watch out for, it’s the drug incapacitated politicians who pay them $5,000 a pop for a little back seat limo play. Anyone who does that is obviously playing with someone else’s money.
Here is nice summary of Maxey’s book: http://gawker.com/5868489/all-your-rick-perry-gay-sex-rumors-collected-in-one-handy-book
I know just the tip of the iceberg of the “girl angle” to Perry. Maxey knows the “gay angle” including those hilarious and disturbing precious little Craigslist adventures.
I always figured the gay guys would talk before the girls would because of Perry’s rank hypocrisy on gay issues and the fact that most gay guys don’t have little kids, unlike some strippers, escorts. Kids that can be taken away in a custody fight.
The reality – not surprising, really – is that most strippers, female escorts, gay prostitutes, closeted gay men with good jobs have ZERO incentive to go public about sex with a high profile person. Pain, embarrassment, selective prosecution by friends of the Head Pimp, being on the internet forever, being lied about by his little pr flackeys … it is just not worth it even for $1 million (and you must have proof, most of these cases are he said/she said or he said/he said).
I will tell you this, if that fool Rick Perry had somehow made it to a general election, that gay prostitute being represented by Gloria Allred would be having a lot to say as well as some other folks such a Lane Denton. And probably a lot more.
Now that Rick Perry is out of the race, THANK GOD we have someone who had carry the banner of Christian morals and traditional family values for the Republican party: someone like NEWT GINGRICH!
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Brokeback Perry says:
Perry should go into acting. He sucks at politics. He already has the Health Ledger jacket and has researched the role by going to gay clubs like LaTe Da’s. He would be great to cast into the role of Ennis Del Mar for a sequel to Brokeback Mountain. He almost sounded like Ennis in his “strong” commercial. He is great at reading scripts and he already has his Screen Guild Actor’s card!!!!
Please retire Perry!!!! You would make a great actor and you can come out of the closet.
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Johnbernardbooks says:
Why do dems have these fantasies about Perry riding them?
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Schama says:
From Morrow’s post: I and some friends were wearing some “protect traditional marriage” stickers and Maxey comes up to us and calls us “assholes.” That is pretty much the full extent of my relationship with Maxey.”
About the only thing you and I will probably ever agree on–Glen Maxey has always been a pompous jerk.
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Robert Morrow Reply:
January 21st, 2012 at 11:33 am
Maxey may be a “pompous jerk” but he is telling you the truth about Rick Perry. Remember his political and “gay social” ties run deep in Austin.
And I am telling the truth about pompous Perry, too. The key thing to remember about Perry is that he is a liar; he told a lot of people, religious right supporters, campaign contributors that there was absolutely nothing in his so-called personal life that could embarrass them.
In a presidential campaign, you don’t have a personal, private life. You don’t get to hid all your lifelong dirty secrets in lockbox and not have a horde of people trying to pry it open.
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Concerned Texan says:
Rick Perry wasted nearly $2.7 million taxpayer dollars on airfare,baggage fees, food and even parking during his failed presidential campaign.
Join me and tell Governor Rick Perry you want him to pay back the $2.7million dollars of taxpayer money he spent on his race to Washington.
https://secure3.convio.net/pn/site/Advocacy?cmd=display&page=UserAction&id=1790&utm_source=email&utm_medium=top&utm_campaign=Jan20
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Reagan Republican says:
Perry’s final act of political hypocrisy was priceless and vintage Perry. For the past two years he has run against Washington and Congress and talks about the need for Congress to get “real” jobs and then to be sure we all get the joke, this career politician who has never worked for anyone but his daddy throws his support behind the former Speaker of the House (you can’t get anymore Congressional) and nearly 40 year resident of Washington, Newt Gingrich. You couldn’t sell a Perry character to Hollywood or apparently to Republican voters – too unbelievable.
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Concerned Texan Reply:
January 22nd, 2012 at 7:16 pm
Amen!
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Longhornfan says:
Thank God our nation has been spared the prospect of an Aggy President with a C- average at a$m. And God did it ever show. Now the ultimate irony would be if he took the job of Sec of Energy in the Romney Administration so he can steer all kinds of $$$$$ towards his oil & gas cronies back in Texas before resigning in 2 years and becoming an oil & gas lobbyist….
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