The American Spectator : Perry, Texas

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Perry, Texas

There was no plausible reason for Kay Hutchison to run, not this year.

DALLAS -- It got down to this in Texas on primary day, March 2: Who's in charge here? Who's telling us what to do -- and are we going to take it?

March 2 -- the day Republican Gov. Rick Perry whammed, slammed, and crammed his gubernatorial rival, U. S. Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison by almost 20 percentage points -- happened to be Texas Independence Day: a great day for contemplating the bossiness of Washington, D.C. under Barack Obama.

With an enormous Lone Star flag to his back as he accepted the voters' acclaim, Perry said, in the muscular style he has all but patented during the past year: "Texas voters said no to Washington bureaucrats…and yes to leadership that controls spending [and] fights for individual freedom and the United States Constitution."

Yeah, man. That's just about what Republican primary voters did say as they signaled Perry to go get 'em -- meaning both the Democratic gubernatorial nominee, ex-Houston mayor Bill White, and any Washington, D.C., Democrat you might care to name.

This politics thing, with due apologies to Aristotle, is at least half theater and sometimes a good deal more than that. Like now, when the woes and griefs of an aggravated nation play themselves out in terms of votes and policy calls. The voters yearn for a champion: someone to speak in their behalf, someone to walk up to the likes of Nancy Pelosi and say, "Look here, lady, what's this about trying to take over health care?"

Nor was Perry the only gubernatorial candidate vying for that cherished privilege. Debra Medina, the pugnacious libertarian ex-nurse and small business owner who jumped in the race toward the last, racked up 18.6 percent of the vote. Eighteen-point six -- think of that. Every one of those votes under other circumstances would likely have gone to Perry, who reached out with great assiduity to Tea Partiers and similar salt-of-the-earth types who can't believe what their national government is up to these days.

For that matter, the candidate who wore the established mantel in this contest -- Kay Hutchison -- delivered her own quota of karate kicks to the bloated body of Big Government. Her problem, from an electoral standpoint, was that a U. S. senator is widely and often accurately seen as part of the problem with Washington. Perry somewhat unfairly called her Kay Bailout Hutchison -- on account of her vote for the 2008 bailout that most Republicans supported because they thought they had to, and which even the Wall Street Journal saw as probably inevitable.

At that, Kay had a bigger problem -- one she might have discerned were she, which I don't believe she is, a diligent reader of Russell Kirk. Say she was, anyway. She would not have failed, from exposure to the eminent Dr. Kirk, to have learned one of his favorite, much-repeated maxims, coined by the 17th century English royalist Lord Falkland, to wit: "When it is not necessary to change, it is necessary not to change."

Whatever Rick Perry's shortcomings as governor, and not even his wife probably would extol him as the new Solon, Kay couldn't come up with plausible reasons to replace him with herself: not with the Texas economy performing noticeably, albeit not grandly, better than economies elsewhere and the jobless rate at least a couple of points lower. Things aren't blissful here, but, oh, my, what if we had the bossy, high-taxing methods of states such as California, New Jersey (under Jon Corzine), Michigan, New York, and such like? This here race horse of a state duly trots and runs.

No one I ever talked to in Texas could explain exactly why Kay wanted so much to be governor that she was willing to spend millions denigrating the incumbent Republican governor while in the process removing herself from the scene of battle in Washington, D.C. What was the point? A very very ambitious lady indeed, Kay evidently wanted a change of political scenery. Why indulge her? was the obvious point. Was it necessary -- truly necessary -- to change chief executives? Not so's a majority of folks around here could see. Conservatism's sound preservationist streak asserted itself. We could do a whole lot worse than Perry, a majority of Republicans appeared to reason.

So what now? Kay hadn't as of Wednesday morning responded to media questions about her intentions regarding the Senate. Stay? Go? One can't see any compelling reason for her to quit now and let Perry pick her interim replacement -- who would have to go to school with Scott Brown to learn what a rookie senator has to learn. My own guess: She'll stay. Which would be good. She's not instinctively what the late great John Tower of Texas was -- an intellectual monstrance for the display of conservative thought -- but conservatives can nearly always count on her vote.

The Democratic gubernatorial candidate, Bill White, is pro-business in the way that Democrats, when trying to "reach out" center-ward, are called pro-business. He's far from the worst thing the party could be offering. Yet this isn't shaping up as a Democratic year in Texas or anywhere else. It's hard to see the bald, earnest White competing successfully with an exuberant big-government basher like Perry -- who, besides, has 10 times as much hair.

What's our takeaway from the Texas race? It's watch out, Nancy; watch out, Barack. The folks are showing once more how unhappy they are with the state of things, with health care likely at the top of the list. For high-minded, soporific politicking this isn't the year in Texas. And if I may be allowed a low-minded sentiment concerning that state of affairs: Yippeee!

About the Author

William Murchison, a Dallas-based columnist for Creators Syndicate and author of Mortal Follies: Episcopalians and the Crisis of Mainline Christianity (Encounter Books), is completing a biography of John Dickinson..

Letter to the Editor View all comments (64) | Leave a comment

Kenny| 3.4.10 @ 7:11AM

The Texas race has another message for Republicans who want to listen.

Kay Bailey Hutchison is not a RINO. One of her mistakes, however, was not in being nearly vocal enough in attacking the Obami leftwing agenda.

Kay's votes were alright, but her voice was weak.

As this article say, the mood of the country is for Republicans to stand to the Democrats, especially Obama, Reid, and Pelosi, and confront them head on for their lies and corruption of government and the culture. Kay wouldn't do this; Rick Perry will.

whitneymuse| 3.4.10 @ 3:57PM

Thank you for answering: "why did KBH run?" We were in CA watching this one. We have a term-limited ego man as governor; but,
TX didn't so it was a bit of a mystery why KBH would do that and she's now ((((gone)))). Sorry to see you go that way; saw your last act was to pork up the space shuttle program, Kay. guess you had to go.

conservativeVoice| 3.5.10 @ 12:47AM

Well I was kinda hoping for Rush to open his mouth and ruin it for Perry like he did it for McCain by getting Obama elected, but what do you expect from a college drop out... Check the story out

http://bit.ly/ch10Lg

Believe me I was shocked too

ptson| 3.5.10 @ 7:59PM

Absolute Non-sense! The ONLY criticism of 0-dumbo (in either the primary OR general election)came from Clinton. McCain was too "moderate" to criticize 0-dumbo so Rush had some fun and encouraged the criticism from Clintion. Just because an article is on the web DOES NOT make it true. Blame the "anyone but Clinton" Democrats, like Kennedy, Cuomo and the mobsters in the Chicago Democratic Party.

ray bob| 3.4.10 @ 8:21AM

The problem with K is she did not separate her self from Perry, most of her ad's posted issues related to the 'dreaded' trans-TX corridor project (now buried). Also, and I believe the greatest issue is we want someone to fight with the Washington crowd, not be one of them. Best to K, I will continue to support her if she decides to stay in the Senate, and might just support her in a future Gov run, but not just now.

Bill Hussien O'Stalin| 3.4.10 @ 8:22AM

Kay Bailey Hutchinson is not a RINO? That's odd. She single handedly amended a law in 2007 which stopped work on the border fence. I always thought that was what RINOs do, but you learn something new every day. Apparently you have to be much more liberal to be termed a RINO now. That's a very interesting development. I never knew that.

http://www.rightsidenews.com/2.....ction.html

The Secure Fence Act of 2006 originally required DHS to build 700 miles of double-layer fencing along the border, but Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchinson (R-TX) later amended the law in December 2007 (in the Omnibus Appropriations Act) to allow DHS to use discretion to choose other forms of less secure fencing, including single-layer fencing or vehicle barriers. (FAIR Legislative Update, January 14, 2008) Thus, DHS now reports that there are 661 miles of "fencing" along the border: 303 miles consists, of vehicle barriers, while the other 358 miles consists of chain-link fencing. Of the 358 miles of chain-link fencing, only 32 miles are double layered. (GAO Report)

Tom| 3.4.10 @ 11:42AM

While I disagree with her actions on the border fence her overall voting record can hardly be consider that of a RINO. She has a lifetime ACU rating of nearly 90% which is difficult to paint as RINO.

dave| 3.4.10 @ 3:17PM

Who cares about the border fence? Is this a republican issue? I think not. It's clear from our applause for Bunning that we don't really care about American workers, so we might as well open up the borders and let people who want to work - and are willing to do America's dirtiest work - to come on over and git 'er done! When are we going to stop being the party of transparent racists and simpletons? For example, if we'd stop scaring the bejeepers out of ourselves about universal, government supported health care, we could give US companies a tool for redressing competitive imbalances they have with companies from countries that do have national health care. In the US health care gets added to the labor costs of our most likely exporters; under universal, government pay, it doesn't. Socialism, bah!!! We're idiots for even using the word. Immigration reform, bah!!! It's just a cause for bigots and those afraid of competition in the labor force. As for Hutchinson, better her than Perry who's basically crazy and makes the rest of us look bad by association. No wonder most of America rejects us in greater numbers than they reject the Dems.

Roy| 3.4.10 @ 7:24PM

"Us", kemosabe?

Nick| 3.4.10 @ 11:17PM

dave,

Don't go away mad, just go away!

loulou| 3.4.10 @ 3:26PM

Well, maybe Kay Bailey isn't technically a RINO but she sure did act like one at times. Kay was just one of those go along to get along genteel Republicans who liked comity. Typical Republican Senator. Ho hum.

Go Texas!

Curly Smith| 3.4.10 @ 8:28AM

KBH came back to Texas seeking power. She went to Washington in 1993, when the Republicans controlled the Senate. The Republicans took over the House in 1994. The Republicans were rising, they had the power. Over time, with the able help of Republicans like KBH, they lost that power. KBH liked the power, she wanted it back. Her campaign demonstrated the problem that the Republican Leadership has... they still have no idea why the voters tossed their sorry behinds out.

Ken (Old Texican)| 3.4.10 @ 8:39AM

Kenny,
You hit the nail on the head. I commented several months back that Kay was "too much of a lady" to get down and noisy with the communists, (pardon the shorthand), in DC.

We don't want a "genteel lady". Not in these days.

I was castigated on another thread concerning innoculating our little girls. I don't have a little girl and am not up on all the pluses and minuses, but check out the pedophile being put in charge of sex education from DC. Our little girls might need innoculating, and ain't that a hell of a note?

That aside, Mr. Perry did in fact "grow a pair" last April. Until then, I was not all that wowed by the man, OK?
...But he did stand up and spoke for us at a crucial moment. The ripple effects of that one speech spread all over the country.

A lot of States began looking in the mirror, and saying "Yeah", and remember, this was when Obama was still on his honeymoon. Rick was the first Governor to my knowledge who stood up and said "not only NO, but hell no" to all the federal encroachments.

I'm very proud of him for that.

TejanoPete| 3.4.10 @ 9:05AM

Ole Kay is a darlin'. While she ain't no RINO pardners, she sure shoulda been a tad more vocal 'bout Obamie and his Liberal Socialist THUGS. I still love her and will vote for her fer Senate, but fer Guvner, ain't nobody better than our man Rick Perry. In the meantime, I shur hope that Ole Kay will crack down on the Libs and give what fer!

moron| 3.4.10 @ 9:10AM

Big rivalry between T A&M and the University of Texas in this state. My entire family graduated from the later as did KBH. I voted for the Aggie. And contribute to his campaign. Thank you Governor. KBH is good but has been described as John McCain with a dress on. John, up there in D.C. are you listening? Do you still consider BHO's relationship with "Reverend" Wright off limits? Are you deaf?

loulou| 3.4.10 @ 3:29PM

Speaking of that Arizona guy who can be described as KBH in a suit--don't forget to donate to JD Hayworth. McCain the uber-RINO has got to be put out to pasture.

maverick muse| 3.4.10 @ 10:00AM

Ken,

What Perry proved is that given the opportunity to make a hefty profit on the PAC side, he will abuse the executive powers of his office and abuse the Constitutional rights of his constituents. Furthermore, he won't admit his mistake when exposed and refuted by Texans, but frames his cover-up pro-life excuse that proves fraudulent.

Merck gave Perry PAC a kickback for his executive order requiring all Texan girls to be vaccinated with Gardasil. Aside from the financial corruption in office, THAT IS AN INFRINGEMENT ON CIVIL RIGHTS. Perry's executive order was UNCONSTITUTIONAL. Parents and girls have the right to decide personal health choices. And Perry promised in his last televised debate that given the chance to do it again, he would do it the same. The known side effects from Gardasil include strokes, permanent paralysis, and DEATH. To date, there is NO long term research performed to determine the long term affects from Gardasil. This gross abuse of executive power from Perry would not only provide Merck immediate profit in sales, but females used as guinea pigs for Merck et al. pharmaceutical research to devise new drugs to counter the 'unintended' side effects of drugs administered by statewide mandate to an entire population of young female humans.

Given that LACK of knowledge at present, it is unwise and inappropriate for any governor to irresponsibly issue Perry's executive order that performs the Big Brother role of ordering all citizens of X class (non-adult non-voting females) to be forcibly inoculated or else denied their public education paid for by their parents who repudiate the inoculation as well as repudiating their taxes being used to fund abortions. Furthermore, the decision to only inoculate girls and not boys was sexist since all participants in illicit sexual intercourse would EQUALLY carry the STD.

Ken: "I was castigated on another thread concerning innoculating our little girls. I don't have a little girl and am not up on all the pluses and minuses, but check out the pedophile being put in charge of sex education from DC. Our little girls might need innoculating, and ain't that a hell of a note? "

Regarding the perversions and corruption being mandated from Washington, specifically the infamous "safe school czar" nip that in the bud by deleting what is corrupt at its source. Bear in mind that neoconservative Republicans convinced Reagan to "solve" our nation's illiteracy and drop out rate by establishing the federally unconstitutional Dept. of Education. The problem with drop outs is not all the responsibility of teachers, but of the students themselves, and since students are not yet adults, it reflects on poor parenting. No legislation can successfully cure a social ill through mandates. Look at every federal bureaucracy failing to achieve their stipulated duties, and progressively augmenting in size and self invested coercive powers in order to tackle the problem "better" with worse results. You mentioned the Dept.of Education. Don't overlook our intelligence community augmented into another bureaucratic imposition, the DHS.

Any politician (or party) caught in corruption who repudiates correction and excuses the fraud is a fraud.

JB1| 3.4.10 @ 12:18PM

Stop the talking points. The votes have been counted.

Quartermaster| 3.5.10 @ 6:40PM

The FDEpartment of Education was established under Carter vice Reagan. Reagan had promised to close it down.

Conservative| 3.4.10 @ 10:19AM

Nobody's perfect.

maverick muse| 3.4.10 @ 10:21AM

William Murchison,

I enjoyed reviewing your previous Texas GOP gubernatorial election article before reading this one.

Given, Hutchison enjoys playing politics where she participates within the majority. Unless there had been a private agreement between Perry and Hutchison to switch jobs (and Perry realized he could stay safe in Texas and still try his 2012 potus bid), her determination to replace Perry never made any sense, except to satisfy a spoiled lady and/or to accomodate a determination made by Bush's friends to take Perry out of the picture if he didn't fall in line with their plot for his career.

Yes, Hutchison represents the "kinder, gentler" neoconservative Bush brand of progressive politics that augmented federal powers and expenditures without providing better services to tax payers, but in fact deplete our civil rights.

That willingness to augment executive powers beyond Constitutional limits is a basic feature that both Hutchison and Perry share.

Should Hutchison resign her senate seat, it would improve Perry's reputation "befriending" the Tea Party should he arrange a Congressional musical chairs appointing Ron Paul to the Senate, and Debra Medina be appointed to his Congressional chair until elections. Far fetched pipe dream for Libertarian Republicans. But it would determine a strong fiscal conservative Texas coalition between Constitutional Conservatives against the revisionist neoconservatives who vote for progressive socialism that enables the politically correct destruction of our Constitutional Governance.

Perry might smile at Libertarians in public; he want's their vote. But Perry won't actually strengthen any movement to eliminate corruption from government. That goes against his own vested interests.

maverick muse| 3.4.10 @ 10:41AM

If it strengthens the Constitution, it is Conservative.

If it disregards the Constitution and augments authoriarianism, it is Progressive Revisionism, aka Socialism.

A Republican who ignores the Constitution is a revisionist neoconservative with leanings that evolved from Lenin towards PC progressive socialism representing the Republican Party today.

The Tea Party represents all American citizens against government corruption and who want our country to be the Constitutional Republic Governance as designed and managed prior to the Civil War and subsequently Wilson's production of progressive socialism that eschewed the Constitution for getting in the way of elitist authoritarianism.

Wilson's progressive fraudulent argument that disregards anything so "outdated" as our Constitution fails to admit that Socialism via Rousseau is just as "outdated".

Our Constitution delivered America Liberty from authoritarianism. Perish the thought that the elitists armed by the ignorant destroy our Constitutional Government and deliver America authoritarianism that dismisses Liberty for being "inconvenient" and making progressives feel "uncomfortable".

Ken (Old Texican)| 3.4.10 @ 11:05AM

Maverich,
I truly do detest someone who mixes truth with lies to make a barbed hook within the bait.

We are all fallible human beings here....except for you and Bob of course.

Why don't you run for office and endure a rectal exam of your entire life. Probably wouldn't do would it?

David Homer| 3.4.10 @ 2:31PM

Ken, Maverick's post is much better written and more informative than yours. Don't just call names and ridicule. Use some facts to make your point. I don't remember all the facts that well myself, but as a Texan I can't consider Perry to be a true conservative. I watched the debate between Perry, Hutchison, and Medina. Medina was the only on with a conservative position on the questions they were asked. The other two just used a lot of weasel words.

RED| 3.4.10 @ 10:45AM

I though KBH's campaign advertising was terrible---it didn't just insult Perry; it insulted TEXANS. If anyone knows the name of her campaign manager and the advertising agency, please leave a note here, for future candidates.

JB1| 3.4.10 @ 12:22PM

I agree. Not only was it inflammatory, it was well off base in priorities. Even the Dallas Morning News fact check kept giving her low marks for truth in advertising, as well as the moderators of the second debate.

docdave| 3.4.10 @ 10:58AM

I agree with Red on KBHs campaign which was way too inflamatory against Perry. However the reason I voted for Perry is that I didn't think it wise to change captains on a ship (Texas) while it's on the steady keel that it is.

Serp| 3.4.10 @ 3:20PM

I agree. That's why Perry got my vote.

Chief| 3.4.10 @ 11:04AM

Folks the real rivalry isn't between the Repubs and the Demos, it's a gang war between the liberals and the CONSERVATIVES. KBH has always been a fence jumping liberal and she begged for what good liberals should beg for (Greed) and she damned well got it. Liberals look out and don't look back, we're gaining on you.

Oldefarte| 3.4.10 @ 11:08AM

Congratulations to the state of Texas, since they elected the right person. I too do not understand WHY Hutchinson ever considered running for governor, but obviously it was due to some political reason. She is personally close/friends with the Bush family; and Perry was W's leutenant governor and maybe there's some intra-Texas political friction involved. If so, then shame shame on the Bushes for causing this unnecessary political fight in the Republican Party. As William accurately proclaimed, the Democrats had better LOOK OUT [November is almost here] !!!!!!!

Skinner| 3.4.10 @ 8:42PM

Oldefarte
I won't pretend to understand politics in the great state of Texas, but I have to take exception to part of your post.
KBH is a grown up, and if intra-Texas political friction was involved, she made up her own mind. Blaming her political career decisions on the Bushes is like blaming your neighbor for not watering your lawn.
Granted, if they tried to influence her, shame on them, but if she allowed that, more shame on her. She's a big girl (figuratively speaking), let her take responsibilty for what she does.
Isn't that what Conservative philosophy is all about?

Fran in Houston| 3.4.10 @ 11:21AM

I think KBH got her hat handed to her because she alienated her own constituency. Meaning a lot of Republicans are ticked off with KBH for going after a fellow Republican. We need her in Washington to fight the good fight, especially at this crucial time. Instead, she chooses to come home and risk dividing the party for own political gains. For that, I suspect she will have a lot to answer for should she run for re-election.

Jon B| 3.4.10 @ 11:28AM

K is also the one who attached riders to key bills for years allowing US oil companies to set the prices for oil they received on Federal land, as most of you must know. I'm against this type of welfare program, which ends up as wealth redistribution since the revenue was then made up by the US taxpayer who owns the federal land.

CSC| 3.4.10 @ 11:43AM

Maverick Muse,

Debra Medina lost the election, and her behavior during and after the vote will hopefully doom her chances for appointment or election again.

Medina is not a constitutional conservative. She is a libertarian who sits on the board of a Ron Paul front organization (Campaign for Liberty) that advocates legalizing hard drugs, pulling our military out of virtually every foreign outpost, and which posts articles calling Bush a war criminal and castigating Sarah Palin for wanting to murder women and children. She is on the BOARD of this organization. Medina also supported Ron Paul for president, a man who in a debate argued for no legal standard of marriage: men with men, women with women, multiple spouses, whatever.

During the campaign Medina gave credence to 9/11 Truthism, then issued multiple contradictory statements trying to cover over her cultish tendencies. Now Medina, who once sued the GOP, refuses to endorse Perry. That's because she is neither a conservative nor a Republican, and neither is her cult leader, Ron Paul.

Her CFL openly says they want to infiltrate and take over the Republican Party, and their zombies are to be found at CPAC and elsewhere pushing for gay marriage, drug legalization, and radical isolationism. So blow hard against the "neocons" and other conspirators all you want, but hopefully Medina's sorry performance will expose them for what they are and they will get out of the way of true conservative change.

Margie| 3.4.10 @ 12:13PM

Excellent information and good job of exposing the truth about these people who are destructive. I've been saying the same thing about R. Paul and his "believers", the ones who think like him. Paleo-cons think the same way.
You know them by their fruits~they usually hate real conservatives, like Sarah Palin. They can't stand anyone who doesn't agree with their hard core non-interventionisim. Like Toddard, Red Phillips, et al.
You've helped to explain and expose. Good job.

Jon B| 3.4.10 @ 12:51PM

Sarah Palin a conservative? For God's sakes! She ran up Wasilla's debt to $22 million, increased taxes by 38%, increased Govt expenditures by 62%. As Governor, she asked for and received the most pork of any Governor in all 50 states during her time in office ($450 million requested from her office alone), and redistributed oil profits to her constituents by pushing through a 50% increase in the amount oil companies pay out to Alaskans. 3/4ths of the cost of every barrel of oil goes to the State of Alaska. She also pushed through a bill to sell US LNG (liquefied Natural Gas) to Asia and Japan as Alaskan businesses like Agrium went under due to a lack of local supply. She was a dingbat, and an embarrassment to true conservatives.

RAMIII| 3.4.10 @ 1:22PM

Sources please. Do you have them or are you just throwing around numbers to try to prove your point?

And don't try to say that this is all public knowledge. We would like to know specifically where you are getting your information from.

BTW I had trouble with Sarah Palin recently endorsing John McCain in AZ.
That however is another matter.

Again, your sources are . . . . .?

Jon B| 3.4.10 @ 3:20PM

Alaskan newspapers are my sources. I spent 14 hours researching Palin when she hit the scene. The Alaskan State paper, and the Frontiersman. I think Sarah enjoyed high popularity specifically because she pushed through an increase of $1,200 a year for every Alaskan, man, woman and child. And because she acquired a $750 million total in Pork in only 20 months. I spent hours looking it up in 2008. I'm not doing that again, but it is the truth as far as Alaskan newspapers are truthful.

Wasilla is another story. She was almost recalled from office for ethics problems: she fired 5 or 6 well like people immediately. Instead they made her hire a City manager to take care of these issues and let her stay in office. She's hardly a conservative.

loulou| 3.4.10 @ 3:32PM

Jon B: You spent 14 hours researching Palin??! What are you, an Obama/ACORN/SEIU operative?

Get out of here, troll.

Jon B| 3.4.10 @ 3:44PM

I had a lot of time on my hands, and I'd never heard of her before. It became very interesting as it went along. I'm always amazed at what the media doesn't report. If you'd like any further control over what I do with my life, please let me know. I'm here to serve.

Ken (Old Texican)| 3.4.10 @ 2:23PM

Jon B You are a bald faced liar and scumbag eater.

Proof?
If any...ANY...of what you said above were true, the lady would not have enjoyed an 85% approval rating in Alaska until she accepted the VP nomination and brought down scumbag eaters like you upon her head.
Go play at huffington.

Margie| 3.4.10 @ 3:40PM

"An embarrassment to true conservatives.."
TRUE CONSERVATIVES?
You mean like Ron Paul?

Jon B| 3.4.10 @ 3:46PM

I thought Ron Paul had a few interesting angles, but that he was mostly nuts. However, in this era of bought out politicians in both parties, he is a breath of fresh air. I voted for a true conservative, though, not RP.

Margie| 3.4.10 @ 6:28PM

You mean like~ He's nuts, but other than that, he's ok?
:^)~

Jon B| 3.5.10 @ 12:41PM

I think the whole political scene is nuts now...So as far as nuts go, Ron is a new flavor.

Ryan| 3.4.10 @ 2:00PM

THANK YOU for finally using the paleocon label.

Margie| 3.4.10 @ 2:42PM

Paleo-cons have labeled themselves. PaleoCons. Staunch Paul supporters and non-interventionists. See above.
BTW~are you in agreement with Jon B?

Ryan| 3.4.10 @ 4:24PM

That RP is principled, yeah. Don't want a paleocon as president, though. Too much gold standard, non-interventionism, and pro-choice for my tastes.

I'm sort of a libertarian (hard-liners wouldn't call me one), but not THAT far.

I don't buy the "real conservative" label, because that's what every conservative of every stripe thinks he/she is. Probably closer to "small government conservative" than anything else.

Margie| 3.4.10 @ 5:32PM

Actually I was asking if you agreed with him about Sarah Palin. From what I've seen, staunch Libertarians can't stand her. It makes sense because staunch Libertarians are are for letting immorality reign and Sarah represents the opposite of that.
Paleocons can't stand her because she's for a strong Military defense and they are anti-war fanatics. Sarah also recognizes Israel as our friend and ally and they cannot stand Israel.

Sarah represents real conservatism, plain and simple. And I'm not afraid to say it.
Liberals and Leftists cannot stand her. Whatever they happen to call themselves

AuntieMadder| 3.5.10 @ 3:23AM

Whew! I adore Sarah Palin so that means I pass the test: I'm no stinkin' libtarded lefturd. :)

Ryan| 3.5.10 @ 10:18AM

I like her personally, but she's got a little ways to prove to me that she can really be worth my vote. She's saying all the right things at the moment, and is showing a lot of the parallels to Reagan's career, but governing California and governing Alaska are two different animals, and I wonder if she is right for the job.

I think she was DRASTICALLY unprepared in the 2008 campaign (national scene, going against seasoned pols, travel, etc), and it showed at times; I think the issues brought up about her administration at several levels are fairly petty points (that Jon B posted) and are similar to what any politician does. Not excusing it, just the fact of the matter.

She's doing pretty well now - the campaign was a crash course for her on how to handle herself on a national level - if the Sarah Palin we're seeing now were the one that McCain picked, the race would have been a bit closer (though Obama would still have won).

The one thing she REALLY has to do - as well as many of the Tea Party movement - is distance herself from the radical fringes (birthers, conspiracists, white supremacists, etc), but still maintain that conservative, down-home air which made so many of us like her.

Plus, you know, she's rather attractive (and I've heard she's a LOT better-looking in person).

Margie| 3.5.10 @ 7:26PM

Well Ryan, you certainly are a nice enough guy and thanks for responding!

I obviously get angry at Sarah's maligners, and rightly so, in my humble opinion of course, which isn't so humble I suppose.

It's one thing to not like her but another to lie about her, as some do. The whole issue of Alaska and the Oil industry was taken and twisted. There was a great write up at Townhall.com that I posted once explaining it and what Sarah really did. I couldn't find it again, but I will and repost it.
She basically did very well for her state.As far as governing being different in Calif. as opposed to Alaska~ it's still an executive position, and she had to make decisions just like Reagan did. I don't think it's a matter of how many or how long, but how well one governs, don't you agree?

I've said it before that I prefer a man for the job of President yes, call me old fashioned, what can I say? But if she were to become the nominee I would back her.

As far as the McCain campaign. Ugh. I think we all know about that by now, don't we? She wasn't allowed to be herself for one thing. I haven't read her book yet, but I've read things she and others said about it. McCain losing had nothing to do with her, she only helped him, it had everything to do with John McCain. Personally, I believe if SHE were the one running, she would have won the Presidency! He was a mush in his debating w/ Obama for the most part.

Wow though as for what you said about her distancing herself from the fringes~conspiracists & white supremacists??? Huh? Now Ryan, I gotta say.. that does make you look just a tad bit uninformed! Where did you get that from? It is SO not true. Better read her book, at least.
And yes, she is very beautiful, both inside and out, and I really admire her. If any woman could be said to be a role model, it's her.

Ryan| 3.8.10 @ 8:38AM

Governing Alaska as a Republican is a LOT easier than doing so in California. There's a LOT of status quo to maintain there - Alaska essentially runs itself. The job of the governor is to look for new oil contracts and not screw up. That's about it.

The Tea Party movement is drawing a LOT of fringe right-wing extremists, as well as good, honest folk. There's a detachment from the fringe that needs to be made, and I think Palin would be well-served in doing it. A lot of Tea Partiers are looking for her to "jump out in front" as it were - they're a natural constituency and base for her to build on, but she has to be VERY careful.

Paul from SA| 3.4.10 @ 12:07PM

Kay, like all senators, thinks she should be president. McCain did it, almost, and he's not conservative. Governor was just a stepping stone.

Kay ran a disgusting campaign full of lies, smears and innuendos against Rick Perry. It's odd because there are legitimate criticisms of Perry, but she chose the low route. She seemed to be courting liberal voters who hate conservatives.

She began her campaign by blaming Perry for the economic downturn and all the lost josb in Texas. Nobody believed her and she dropped that one quickly.

She accused Perry of not accepting Federal stimulus money. Most citizens understand that accepting the unemployment money ($550 million) would have cost Texas billions in the future. She never comprehended that.

She repeately accused Perry of being corrupt and inferior, claiming he's a criminal, greedy, selfish, stupid, dishonest..... Begala and Carville would be proud.

She wore Longhorn jacket in one commercial. She was correct to note that Longhorns are the most popular team in Texas. What she doesn't know is that the Longhorns are the most hated team in Texas. She forgot about Texas A&M, Tech, Baylor, SMU, TCU, Houston... and the millions of Texans who hate the Longhorns.

She bragged about bringing home pork to Texas. But she didn't say how much pork she approved for the other states. She didn't tell us how much all the pork cost Texas.

However, most notably is that Kay never, never attacks Democrats the same way. She never never attacks Democrats.

The political landscape has changed dramatically in the last year. Kay does not know about it.

McCain is in trouble too.

Paul from SA| 3.4.10 @ 12:20PM

Anybody remember how the liberal media attacked KBH?

Anybody remember how KBH attacked the liberal media?

I can't recall a single time.

Neo-libertarian| 3.4.10 @ 12:23PM

The “my turn” mentality that ushered in Obama certainly found its gender equivalency in KBH. The step to Presidential candidacy could have been managed much more successfully from the governorship of a vibrant economic state than as a compromise-oriented pseudo RINO minority member of the Senate.

mujalan| 3.4.10 @ 1:34PM

Murchison: "My own guess: She'll stay. Which would be good."

No. We don't want her in Austin and we don't want her in Washington. She may vote with the Republican establishment most of the time. That doesn't say much. We need conservative people, not pork barrel queens.

shipley130| 3.4.10 @ 1:58PM

We the people need to start telling our lawmakers that we are not paying for Teapot museums and other junk anymore. Congress are a bunch of ribbon cutters. Now they are letting the President write the laws.

loulou| 3.4.10 @ 3:35PM

Kay Bailey is the darling of the liberal media because she is genteel and knows her place. She's no threat to them so they like her. Now Sarah Palin on the other hand...

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AuntieMadder| 3.5.10 @ 3:20AM

Now more than ever, Texans need our reps in WA DC to be on the job, fighting for us (and the rest of the conservative US). She, and every other conservative rep should be at the Capitol day and night, doing and saying anything and everything they can think of to convince libtarded reps to vote against Obamao's health care reform and keeping their eyes and ears open for backroom deals and bribes, both new and perhaps even old deals that haven't yet been brought to light. They should be doing the same in regards to crap & tax, Porkulus II, Obamao's terrorist-loving DOJ, and a host of other bills and issues. In short, KBH and the rest should be raising hell for us right now, making Obamao's and the libtards' days and nights as stressful and full of worry as they're making ours.

Instead, KBH spent most of the last six weeks campaigning for another position while we were paying her to do the job she campaigned for and won in the Senate. To me, this indicates that KBH's primary concern is KBH. Had she been as concerned about Texas and the US, she would have put off until next term her run for governor.

PS: A commentator at a conservative blog suggested that politicians in elected positions should not be allowed to campaign for other positions during their terms. No other employer allows their employees to seek other employment while on the clock and neither should we.

PPS: Rick Perry isn't perfect and I've not agreed with everything he's done as governor. However, as he stated in one of his campaign ads, no two people are going to see every issue and solution the same way, it total agreement. Overall, I think he's done a fine job for Texas so far and I look forward to helping elect him to another term.

Margie| 3.5.10 @ 7:34PM

I especially agree with your last paragraph. No candidate is ever going to be perfect. Politics is politics. It is what it is. People, especially me :^) are flawed. Who was it that said you vote for an idea and not put your faith in a person so much. Why.. that was Sarah Palin that said that! GOOD idea!

As for KBH, I've always admired her. But I like what Old Tex had to say. She's a genteel Lady and we (you Texans) don't need that now.

Congratulations Texas!

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