"I just hate the way we eat our own."
I saw that too, and had already read some of her columns on Perry. What ever happened to Ronald Reagan's 11th Commandment? Yes, Perry may have overstepped his boundaries with the Gardisil decree (I don't know if vaccination policy is normally done by the legislature). No, the 6th grade requirement was not too young (the CDC recommends vaccination at age 11-12). Yes, the opt-out option was not broad or easy. Yes, the Texas legislature slapped him down almost immediately. Yes, Perry admitted he screwed up.
The problem with Malkin's argument is it really is a red herring. She suggests Perry's overstep as governor means he is an authoritarian who would also be an authoritarian if elected President. But if he is an authoritarian, he would have continued to lead by executive orders in Texas.
But Malkin is an antivaxxer. And I put antivaxxers up there with people who think the moon landings were faked.
Personally, I would rather have someone who overstepped his boundaries and got slapped down than someone who has never been humbled.
There is no wisdom in Malkin's argument, only feigned paranoia. I say feigned, because it is transparent Malkin actually wants someone else, and fears Perry. It was this same insanity which gave us McCain in 2008. There were some in the conservative media who supported a candidate but would not admit it, and instead sought to destroy Mike Huckabee. The result was the second choice in South Carolina (John McCain) won. The idiots hammering Huckabee never considered who would win if Huckabee was weakened. If McCain had come in second in South Carolina, he would not have won Florida, and he would have been out of the race. In all likelyhood, if that happened, Fred Thompson would have won the nomination.
Bush/Rove can't stand Perry, and tried to defeat him with Kay Bailey Hutchison, and are actively trying to destroy him now. But many on the right don't like Perry either, but mainly because he is not a national-level firebrand. Destroy Perry and we just guarantee Romney gets the nomination.
Never knew Reagan himself followed it especially on important issues. Had he followed it GHW Bush would have won in 1980 instead of him. The 11th Commandment Nonsense every time a Republican for their policy is rightfully called on the carpet within the party is the Establishment RINO Distress Bleat.
President Bush is going after Perry? Funny, Perry says it was the former President who helped convince him the time was now to run.
http://politicons.net/rick-perry-president-bush-prodding-me-to-run-i-want-to-be-president/