When Perry turned Republican, he left some helpful Democrats behind

Dallas Morning News ^ | November 5, 2011 | Scott K. Parks

[Cincinatus' Wife]

Democrats had ruled the state Agriculture Department for a hundred years. Perry immediately ejected Hightower loyalists and Democratic operatives from the agency. He pledged to cut the department’s staff by 20 percent and scale down the number of regional offices around the state.

Texas Agriculture Commissioner Rick Perry talked with a friend
in September 1991 while visiting a ranch outside Austin.

After Rick Perry switched from Democrat to Republican in 1989, he set out to become, in the words of his mentor Phil Gramm, more Catholic than the pope.

During the next 22 years, as he rose to the top of Austin’s power grid, Perry not only left his Democrat friends behind — he helped destroy them politically. And Texas evolved into a redder-than-red state.

Perry and the GOP took down U.S. Rep. Charlie Stenholm, Texas House Speaker Pete Laney , Texas Agriculture Commissioner Jim Hightower , Texas Comptroller John Sharp and many other Democrats...

Perry has portrayed his move as a matter of principle, while those Democrats, and others, say it was the result of political ambition. Expressing grudging admiration, Stenholm said, “Rick has become a master politician.”

Stenholm and Perry grew up where pump jacks, cattle and rows of cotton exist side by side on the plains of rural West Texas. Stenholm, a conservative “blue dog” Democrat, was already in Congress when he helped recruit a 33-year-old Perry to run for state representative in 1984.

....After graduating from Texas A&M in 1972, Perry spent six years as an Air Force pilot and then returned to Haskell County in 1977 to work the farm and ranch with his dad. He had gotten a taste for politics after joining the American Agriculture Movement, which brought the problems of family farmers and ranchers to public attention...........

[Cincinatus' Wife]

A very interesting article -- and from a news outlet (as are all MSM Texas outlets) that consistently tears Gov. Perry down. But despite their attempts this piece will help Gov. Rick Perry with the conservative base.

[Norm Lenhart]

I have to know. I have to. And I ask this not mocking, not wiseacre and in total honesty.

Do you actually believe the things you post? Deep down inside do you really? Like this post for instance. Do you really believe that conservatives will suddenly forget all Rick Perry’s non conservative ideals like his guardasil/TTC/border stances and just think “You know, none of my core beliefs matter to me. This one article has eraced all the facts. I’m gonna vote for Perry now.”

Do you really believe that? If not then why did you say it?

And again, this is a dead serious question and I’d like a yes or no answer please.

[Cincinatus' Wife]

Good morning.

I’ll leave it to them.

Why don’t you read it?

[Norm Lenhart]

I did not ask them, I asked you. You are the second perry supporter tonight that refuses to answer a simple yes or no question.

Do you believe the things you post? Yes or no?

[Darkwolf377]

Nobody asked me, but I have to say I just can’t get a fix on Perry. That’s what’s kept him sitting on the sidelines for me. I simply don’t know if he’s genuine or full of it, strong or mushy, able to communicate or not.

In terms of those running, most of them are not even up for consideration as far as my support. As of now, it’s between Cain and Gingrich. Perry might convince me, but I just cannot get a good clear read on the guy.

Not trying to troll, I post it here purely for feedback because you have posted many Perry articles and I have read many of them, so you’re my “Perry poster” so to speak, and I appreciate your postings. Sorry I couldn’t give you better news.

[Cincinatus' Wife]

Yes dear.

[Norm Lenhart]

Thank you.

[Cincinatus' Wife]

I appreciate your honesty. I’m posting information as I find it. Hopefully posters like the one already trolling this thread, working to keep others from “getting a fix” on Perry, won’t keep you from seriously looking at him. If anything, those posters are instructive as they should make people wonder why they feel it is necessary to hit every Perry thread as quickly and as often as possible to try and stop discussion.

[SWAMPSNIPER]

I’m a little bit cautious about converts, it’s hard for me to imagine ever being a democrat.

[Cincinatus' Wife]

In 1998 Rick Perry was elected the first Republican Lt. Gov. since Reconstruction. He became governor in 2000 when Bush moved into the White House. In 2010 the GOP took enough seats to have a super majority. Perry beat the Rove-Bush-Hutchison Machine primary challenge, going on to win re-election and becoming the longest serving Texas governor in state history.

Did you have anything about the article you wanted to comment on, highlight?

[Darkwolf377]

Yeah, I don’t get the posting just to say you don’t like someone.

It’s not like I have to make a decision today. I will keep my eyes and ears open. I don’t really care how many people call Perry or anyone else names, I don’t let other people make my decision for me. Just posting to derail people discussing someone you’ve already made your mind up about makes no sense to me. I don’t like Romney based on my long history with him as a pol in Massachusetts, but if people posted threads about him in support, I would hope I’d discuss points made and positions he had, and not just toss “RINO!” around. I just don’t get that.

Keep posting, I (and I’m sure others) will keep reading. It’s always cool to see your enthusiasm, since you are into pumping your guy up and not just tearing people down.

[Cincinatus' Wife]

I really appreciate that — thank you.

[NautiNurse]

How was the debate, Mr. Perry?

[Cincinatus' Wife]

The Perry Economic Plan: Cut, Balance and Grow

The Perry Plan: Energizing American Jobs and Security

Rick Perry Interview with NH Union Leader

Over an hour of discussion - a normal conversation - not "gotcha" or high-octane, political talking points.

economy
education
balanced budget
drilling
regulations
debates
Romney Care
in-state tuition
HPV shot
border security
Barack Obama
Federal mandates
no pandering for votes
terrorists using U.S. Mexican border
immigration reform
no Fed Dream Act or amnesty
AZ law
work-visa program
examine what our national work force needs are
jobs in Texas - full picture
free-trade
manufacturing in China vs U.S.
wages hurt by the cost of doing business - onerous regulations
Texas right to work state but he's always been endorsed by Teamsters Union (jobs)
multi-national companies (U.S.)
jobs, spending, taxes, regulations
trade laws and tariffs
subsides and tax credits
energy and market place
taxes and lobbyists
Marcus Luttrell
family decision re presidential run
Parade interview "birther" "news"
Afghanistan -- special ops war, troops, Obama policy, war on terror, more funding for technology and R&D
Foreign policy dependent on our economic strength
debating Obama
campaign commitment in NH
review candidates' track record
roughness of campaign -- in to win -- facts can be hard-hitting
Social Security, jobs, national security, being truthful
discusses education, EPA, Energy, HHS
states rights
state transportation infrastructure
ObamaCare, medicare, medicaid, healthcare
Tom Cobrun, Bobby Jindal, Paul Ryan
health care insurance - state by state
health care in Texas, access, tort reform
judges, Supreme Court, federal courts
baseball

[NautiNurse]

Dear Mr. Perry,

Your economic plan arrived three days after the economy focus debate. As a result, you didn't offer much at all to the discussion.

Sincerely,

Heartless in Florida

[Cincinatus' Wife]

Another informative piece just published on Gov. Rick Perry:

Nov 5, 2011: Rick Perry’s long faith journey culminates in presidential run

[LomanBill]

>>Perry turned Republican

 

Bullshit.

 

[A free market government has a vested interest in encouraging local enterprise;

--A.Perrywinkler]

 

swin·dle (swndl)

v. swin·dled, swin·dling, swin·dles

v.tr.

1. To cheat or defraud of money or property.

2. To obtain by fraudulent means: swindled money from the company.

v.intr.

To practice fraud as a means of obtaining money or property.

n.

The act or an instance of swindling.

http://www.thefreedictionary.com/swindler

 

 

Mozilo's Countrywide had been the first to embrace the homeownership push back in 1995 and had therefore become

a central player in Clinton's public-private partnership.

 

And since 1998, Countrywide had also become crucial to the fortunes of Fannie Mae, and the personal wealth of Fannie employees who received special mortgage deals from the lender...
--Reckless Endangerrment; pg 182

 

"Angelo Mozilo, thank you"

--Governor Ricar(D)o Perry

--Tuesday, December 14, 2004

http://governor.state.tx.us/news/speech/10202/

 

 

[Saundra Duffy]

Let us not forget that when Perry was a democrat he took upon himself the democrat platform. Just saying.

[edpc]

Expressing grudging admiration, Stenholm said, “Rick has become a master politician.”

“Rick switched, and I don’t know him anymore,” Stenholm said. “He recognized that if you were going to be ambitious on a statewide level, the GOP was the way to go in Texas.”

I'd hardly call this admiration, grudging, or otherwise. Stenholm is confirming what most of us already know. Perry is an untrustworthy opportunist who will do what is conveninet and expedient to advance his ambitions; not necessarily what's best for state/country.

[Cincinatus' Wife]

Rick Perry grew up in conservatism. He was small town boy who attended TX A&M and was in the Corps of Cadets. He went on to fly C-130s for the U.S. Air Force (5 years). In 1984 at the age of 33, Perry ran for office as a Democrat (most Texans were raised as conservative Democrats). Five years later as the party kept moving Left, led by their national leadership, Perry joined (along with others) the burgeoning Republican Party, as it was the ideological home of the same conservatism Rick Perry had been raised with.