Replies

My mind was made up before Perry announced... seen his record as Governor of TX over the past decade. I'd vote for him over Obama if that was the choice, but suffice it to say he'll never be my first choice in a GOP primary. I find it unfortunate his fans talked him into running for President and now he's helping split the conservative vote.

Generally, this has been my experience with Perry supporters:

1) Perry supporters come up with some new spin-of-the-week why Perry is such a great tea party conservative (stuff like "Al Gore was more conservative than most Republicans when Perry endorsed him")

2) I respond that latest virtue being touted about Perry is untrue.

3) Perry supporters call me a liar.

4) I post irrefutable evidence that their claim is untrue (in the aforementioned example, proof of Al Gore's far left voting record in 1988)

5) Perry supporters respond by calling me a "HATER"/"BIGOT"/"PURIST" ... (e.g. "You just HATE bible beliving Christians, don't you?! Well, nobody's PERFECT! You anti-immigrant BIGOTS never give up!)

6) Return to step #1 the next week.

I met Perry in 2001. In Del Rio, working border security issues. I've watched him grow into the role, and for the most part, his 10 year record, I think, is very good.

His "tea party" persona didn't emerge until the tea party emerged. Perry identified with it, and joined the fray. I don't think it was insincere. It was a good fit. Perry's attraction to the tea party was what most of us saw: The violation of the will of the people with that Obamacare push-through. Perry had to deal with the extra costs, and etc. of this overreach. And the tea parties gave Perry a great forum for his excellent speeches.

I don't think Al Gore was more conservative, and I imagine Perry was holding his nose in 1988 when he endorsed him. I don't think that the Republican party was a great vehicle for an upstart west Texan politician to begin a political career in 1984. I published this about the Al Gore issue. (Opens in new window)

The immigration issue was handled badly. But then again, there are a ton of people with agendas to not have Perry succeed. I fear that Romney will be forgiven for giving health insurance to illegals, and Perry will continue to be punished. It's too bad, because no one running for POTUS 2012 understands the intricacies of border security more than Perry.

If you watched what he did in Texas, you know he's pretty serious about slashing spending and implementing his against-the-Washington-grain revenue 'de-enhancement' that his flat tax will cause. And that's the agenda of many who opposed Perry: They have to stop Perry before he really does what he says he'll do. He will be their undoing. Perry is running against the Establishment without the right (the guys who should be supporting him) having his back. He's got a long row to hoe.

You ain't a liar. Change your mind, dammit!