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Rick Perry: Rhinestone Cowboy
08/12/2011 | Brices Crossroads

Posted on 08/12/2011 9:56:32 AM PDT by Brices Crossroads

Rick Perry is rapidly becoming known as a politician who talks a good game, but whose actions belie his words. Last year, he waved the bloody shirt of secession, which horrified the New York Times...until they dug deeper and found that Perry wasn't just talking about seceding. He was aiming to hook up with Mexico in order to fulfill his "shared with [Mexican President] Vincente Fox for open borders." Seriously, though, Perry is becoming a caricature of himself. He first waved the tenth Amendment on gay marriage and abortion, first supporting the interpretations that states should be responsible for defining marriage and related issues, and in a flip-flop worthy of Mitt Romney, came out in favor of a federal constitutional amendment to ban both.

Perry's open borders positions tell us that he is not a conservative. His political pan-gyrations on gay marriage, abortion, and the Tenth Amendment suggest he is not reliable there either, but would trim his sails at the slightest pressure.

Well, he must be good on something. How would he handle judicial appointments, for example. Bear in mind that in Texas, in contrast to states such as Alaska (where a Commission presents the Governor with three choices from which he or she MUST select a Judge), the Texas Governor has pretty much unfettered control of the appointments process to fill judicial vacancies. In a conservative state like Texas, it would be easy to remake the courts in a conservative mold. In fact, it would almost follow de facto, since the appointed justices must face election state wide. No doubt Perry will try to take credit for the relatively conservative state of the Texas judiciary as he has done with the Texas economy when the relative health of both has been more in spite of, than because of, Rick Perry.

I have not done an exhaustive study of Perry's judicial appointments, although undoubtedly conservatives in Texas would have done so. I found one particular judicial appointment, the subsequent election, and Perry's reaction to it to be most instructive about his orientation toward strong judicial conservatives.

In 2001, one of Perry's first selections to succeed the staunchly conservative Greg Abbot (who had been elected Attorney General) was Xavier Rodriguez, a self-described moderate. In trying to move the Texas Supreme Court to the left, he drew the ire of conservatives in Texas. An up and coming young conservative, Steven Wayne Smith stepped forward to challenge Rodriguez. Smith, who was superbly qualified, had argued and won the landmark 1996 case of Hopwood v. Texas which successfully challenged affirmative action at the University of Texas Law School. In effect, he was a hero to conservatives in Texas and an anathema to the Establishment. The Establishment, including Perry and John Cornyn, no doubt detested Smith for dismantling affirmative action at the UT Law School. But when Smith stepped forward to challenge a self proclaimed moderate appointment of Perry, who happened to be Hispanic, that was the last straw. Perry and his cronies in the Establishment did all they could to stop Smith but he prevailed over Rodriguez easily and was in stalled as a justice of the Texas Supreme Court.

In 2004, Perry encouraged a challenger to run against Smith. The Establishment lined up with Cornyn and Perry on one side and the Texas Eagle Forum,Kent Hance and Ward Connerly on the other. This time the Establishment prevailed and Smith was defeated. He attempted a comeback in 2006, but Perry recruited another challenger, less conservative than Smith, and he lost by less than 1%.

Perry's actions, and his vindictive crusade against an up and coming conservative legal superstar, suggest that a Perry Presidency would be more likely to yield David Souters and Harriet Miers than Antonin Scalias and Clarence Thomases. When it comes to Rick Perry, the message to the Federalist Society and constitutional conservatives is caveat emptor.


TOPICS:
KEYWORDS: palin; perry; rickperry; rinoricky; sarahpalin; sourcelessvanity; vanity
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To: GunRunner

I don’t base my vote on Radio Personalities no matter who they select...and I would hope others don’t as well. It’s been known for some time Rush set in motion a movement to get Perry to run...so of course he’s going to back him...Dah!


161 posted on 08/12/2011 4:20:08 PM PDT by caww
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To: Brices Crossroads
If you want to talk numbers, Sarah Palin got 60 million votes for Vice President in 2008.

I thought we were talking about election "victories". She and McCain lost to Obama, by 10 million votes!

162 posted on 08/12/2011 4:20:13 PM PDT by GunRunner (10 Years of FReeping...)
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To: GunRunner
Back to the super highway; it's about Perry, not the highway. Perry favored the super highway idea including letting Mexican trucks freely enter the US, no inspections. American Thinker, June 18, 2011 by Jay Valentine; Perry states that the Arizona immigration law is not for Texas. Tom Tancredo asked Perry what his view is on illegal immigration and Perry responded (paraphrasing) by calling Tom a racist. As governor, Perry has been proactive against illegal immigration but he seems to be willing to go either way depending on the venue. There's a lot about Rick Perry that I do like but again, we don't need another self serving globalist as president. During their campaign, anything a politician says they'll do if elected but have already established a record of going the way of the wind is in my view not fit for public office. If I had my way, lawyers and politicians both would be illegal.

163 posted on 08/12/2011 4:24:39 PM PDT by drypowder
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To: drypowder
There's a lot about Rick Perry that I do like but again, we don't need another self serving globalist as president.

So does this mean you will not vote for him against Obama?

I've seen a lot of this over the past few days. Not just from just Palin folks, who are the ultimate "take your ball and go home" types, but from a lot of people.

I think we need to hold Perry's feet to the fire on a lot of his bad decisions, decisions that were made over a decade long governorship. But there are also a lot of lies going around about him, and they're not just coming from Palin people.

But I regard any claim to stay home and let Obama walk away with a second term an idle, empty threat.

164 posted on 08/12/2011 4:31:47 PM PDT by GunRunner (10 Years of FReeping...)
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To: caww
After going back and forth with you several times over the past few days, I take back my original assessment of you.

In your case, I absolutely believe that you will not vote for Mitt Romney or Rick Perry under any circumstances. You would rather have Obama be re-elected. When most people say this, I don't believe them. But with you I know it's not just an idle threat, but a promise.

165 posted on 08/12/2011 4:34:55 PM PDT by GunRunner (10 Years of FReeping...)
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To: GunRunner

I thought we were talking about election “victories”. She and McCain lost to Obama, by 10 million votes!”

**************************************

You are the one who switched the discussion from electoral victories to size of states adn started talking about student councils. I thought you wanted to talk about who got the most votes.

Unlike Perry, Palin has run in a national campaign. Had she not been on the ticket, McCain would have lost in a Goldwater style land slide. When she was named, McCain surged into the lead and he was taken down by the financial collapse engineered by the other great Texas governor, George W. Bush. But you knew all this.

Her electoral appeal is beyond cavil. Even your boy acknowledges it and he begged her to campaign for him. Read what he said. Don’t take my word for it.

And she didn’t back into the governor’s office either the way Perry did. She took it. And defeated an incumbent (who had won four times statewide) to boot. In a big Democrat year.

Perry hasn’t defeated anyone of any consequence in his career. He is all hat and no cattle. BTW, I see you are from Austin. Are you on Perry’s payroll per chance? You better come up with some better arguments than “Texas is big ... Alaska is small” or Ricky is gonna fire you.


166 posted on 08/12/2011 4:39:00 PM PDT by Brices Crossroads
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To: GunRunner

Too bad with all this exchange you still have it wrong. Romeny and Perry are hardly the only ones running....even Trump says he might yet be in and Bolten as well...not to mention Palin....the list is growing and better candidates than certainly Romney....which of course I will not be voting for...under any circumstances....I will indeed go third party if he wins...which he won’t thankfully.


167 posted on 08/12/2011 4:45:57 PM PDT by caww
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To: GunRunner

“Maybe the complexity of governing a state with 35 times less people was why she quit after two and a half years”

If she hadn’t resigned and come south to campaign for him, Rick Perry would very likely be private citizen Perry right now.

I guess she would have hung around collecting a check from the taxpayers of Alaska and campaigning for Ricky, even running for President. But that would be dishonest, wouldn’t it? Especially if, in order to get elected, you promised them you would not run for President?


168 posted on 08/12/2011 4:51:16 PM PDT by Brices Crossroads
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To: caww

Then what’s you’re big gripe if you don’t care? You seem like democrats who want to judge people collectively instead of on individual merit. My God, the man is born and bred to Islam. I look at what he’s done as an individual trying to raise up his people out of ignorant dogma and poverty.

I understand, if like most democrats you don’t want to give him credit for his individual accomplishments.

And I’m certainly not going to slam Rick Perry for praising this man’s effort to bring a little bit of sanity into the mad world of Islam.

But if you want to carry that can of KRAP for the democrats or from the Ron Paul campaign you go right ahead!


169 posted on 08/12/2011 5:01:21 PM PDT by RowdyFFC
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To: RowdyFFC

Bull crap!..... I’m like any other individual who will vet these candidates as I see them and as their history shows. And by the way we are suppose to make judgements not only for candidates but for those who oppose our constitution and live a life diametrically opposed to it.....it’s because people don’t we have Obama and his thugs to contend with.

If the Imam wants to lift his people out of their dust bin then build his businesses over in the M.E. and put his people to work there. As long as these people adhere to Islam and the Koran they will not conform to any other than what they have know. And by the way...the Imans keep the people in poverty so they can use and abuse them....this ones no different while he basks in his wealth and prosperity....and invests in building his Mosques.

Furthermore stating that my judgement is Democratic is a tactic they use....make iaccusations when there is zero evidence to that. I will say again. The guy is an Imam with a huge M.E. following who follows the Koran and it’s teachings. And I honestly wouldnt believe a word he says until he has turned away from Islam....it’s that simple...and regardless of what you perceive as his accomplishment for his people.

Perry’s not praising the guy for his accomplishments....it’s for the revenues his state took in from doing business with the guy.....fluff is purely to get the compliments you just gave him for doing so.


170 posted on 08/12/2011 5:29:39 PM PDT by caww
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To: Brices Crossroads
If she hadn’t resigned and come south to campaign for him, Rick Perry would very likely be private citizen Perry right now.

Or maybe he would have won by just 6 points instead of 12.

I'll repudiate (or as Sarah says, 'refudiate') Perry when he's been wrong since I'm not tied to any particular candidate. But I really think its wishful thinking to compare the executive experience of a half term as Governor of the fourth smallest state with 3 terms in the second largest state and the world's 15th largest economy. The Texas governorship is famous for being weak, but that's more because the Lt. Governor is so strong rather than it being a neutered position; it's not.

There's legitimate criticism that he didn't really beat anyone of merit, but I also don't think that Sarah being able to save McCain from a Goldwater loss by delivering him a Dukakis loss exactly fires me up to send her back up on the national stage, especially considering the fact that she has the lowest ratings against Obama than any GOP candidate. I don't think you'll be able to dance around that one when the time comes, if it does at all.

I don't see her winning the nomination, which is why I put money on it.

I think Perry will do better.

171 posted on 08/12/2011 5:33:31 PM PDT by GunRunner (10 Years of FReeping...)
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To: caww

Well, go figure, then. If you’re going to be intolerant and unreasonable, I’m not wasting anymore typing time.

Trash Perry all you want and carry the democrats water for them.


172 posted on 08/12/2011 6:28:19 PM PDT by RowdyFFC
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To: RowdyFFC
If you’re going to be intolerant

That's exactly right..I am..... There are far far too many things this country has been tolerant of where they shouldn't be. Illegal aliens is one of them. Islamic Infiltration is another..... Both of which come in over our borders....and of course by unwise and ill-informed politicians who still do not see the threat, and in fact invite it for being uninformed.

You may indeed follow the ideology of an all inclusive universal world...I do not.... Our world was designed with 'differences' and 'boundaries' and 'cultures' so that each can flourish as they will or not... But the choice is for each nation to determine the way in which shall go. The M.E. chooses Islam...and for that they have suffered not because of any other nation...but because of their own choosing.

I want to see America again....where those who come here become Americans and not some hyphenated other than. I do not want to adapt to their cultures, nor should I be made to..... rather... see them adapt to ours... and if they cannot then they need to go back to their own countries...for this is America...not the Middle East...nor is it Europe or any other country. It's the United States of America...and it's my country with it's own culture.

Anyone FR who call other Patriotic Freepers as carrying the Democratic water for them have simply bowed to Democrates agenda to divide us...... We have a choice of who we vote for in OUR primaries....that is a right men died for. But when ANY candidate "carries the water of the Muslim agenda" INTO our country I will oppose this....count on it.

We have a current President feeding the Islamic agenda in our country....do you really think I want to see another one doing like wise?.... Perry is clearly for merging the US with Mexico.....and clearly for assisting Islamic Leaders to build their Mosques here and their businesses..and to teach our children about Islam........how is that different from Obama since Perry is doing the same thing?

I want a President who will build up the people here that are Americans...and their businesses.... and their industries....and let the other countries do likewise among their own.

For this I owe no apology to anyone and I should not have to defend it among other Freepers....my father gave his life so I and my family and all American families would not have to contend with war on our shores.... My two sons have served both statewide and in Iraq and Yemen...... So do not tell ME I carry water for any but the interests of our country first and foremost.... and that most certainly over any Islamic Cleric...or those who support them.

Try googling what the Web is saying about Perrys Muslim associations. I am not hardly alone in how I see this....there are many...it is a problem Perry is going to have like it or not.

173 posted on 08/12/2011 7:20:42 PM PDT by caww
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To: caww

Oh get lost. I thought this was a sight for conservative republicans...not democrats.


174 posted on 08/12/2011 7:46:39 PM PDT by RowdyFFC
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To: RowdyFFC
I am a reformed yellow dog, bleeding heart liberal

Sounds like you still need a little more work done. Some of it's still sticking.

175 posted on 08/12/2011 7:53:27 PM PDT by caww
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To: MestaMachine

It doesn’t matter who the President is, they WILL be dealing with MUslims.

And guess what? The Muslim aren’t your only sworn enemy.

They too, will be dealt with by the CiC.


176 posted on 08/13/2011 8:07:35 AM PDT by wolfcreek (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lsd7DGqVSIc)
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To: Brices Crossroads
Myself and others have already told you you're misinformed.

I live in Texas and hear anti and pro Perry news everyday of my life.

Nothing he's done has been unreported.

The fact you *think* you've uncovered some *new* news is IMO, laughable. BTW: If you have your own blog or post regularly on FR or else where, providing links/sources is standard protocol.

177 posted on 08/13/2011 8:14:02 AM PDT by wolfcreek (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lsd7DGqVSIc)
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To: wolfcreek

Dealing with and pandering to are two distinctly different things. Bush pandered. It was a HUGE mistake. And I am very leery and very gunshy where it comes to pandering to anybody, especially muslims.


178 posted on 08/13/2011 8:14:32 AM PDT by MestaMachine (Mama always told me if you cain't say something nice/use duct tape. Ever try to ducttape a keyboard?)
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To: MestaMachine
I understand your leeriness and can provide no guarantees but, neither can any of the other candidates.
179 posted on 08/13/2011 8:34:41 AM PDT by wolfcreek (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lsd7DGqVSIc)
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To: Brices Crossroads

The *children* of illegals PAY in-state tuition, you idiot.


180 posted on 08/13/2011 8:43:53 AM PDT by wolfcreek (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lsd7DGqVSIc)
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