The American Spectator : The Piñata at the Party

Michael Tomlinson| 9.8.11 @ 6:19AM

Perry won.

Alan Brooks| 9.8.11 @ 7:29AM

All you've got that is good is Palin, mostly because she is a competent female politico.
I never said I didn't like her (save for jokes about 'Whore of Babylon' to get back at your picking on Obama), it's her corniness that is boring: "I love animals- they are so tasty!"
Hokey.

Teaghan| 9.8.11 @ 8:22AM

That wasn't corny Alan, it made the environmentalist wackos and PETA folks skwirm in their seats and she knows it.
God, I wish she would run.

Alan Brooks| 9.8.11 @ 8:27AM

"God, I wish she would run."

More reason that Obama will probably win. Anything to 86 the Bush dynasty; they are almost certainly finished- but almost doesn't count.

Alan Brooks| 9.8.11 @ 8:29AM

"God, I wish she would run."

BTW, Teag,
did you ever think that Palin is biding her time.. that she might run in '16?

Superficial| 9.8.11 @ 9:19AM

I think Palin looks better now than she will in 2016.

Superficial| 9.8.11 @ 9:24AM

Unless our scientists are wrong about gravity to.

Mike| 9.8.11 @ 10:52AM

If our scientists are wrong about gravity, they will development a new theory based on empirical facts. That's how science proceeds.

No "morning in America" last night, but this isn't the party of Ronald Reagan. The only decent candidate on the stage last night was Huntsman who doesn't have a prayer. He understands science and he has proven that he is willing to work across the aisle for the benefit of his country. Besides, ass a member of the LDS church, he is as welcome by the fundamentalist in South Carolina as Romney, although political correctness demands that such could not possibly be true (wink, wink).

Alan Brooks| 9.8.11 @ 11:18AM

Former Vice President Dick Cheney in an interview with ABC News' Jonathan Karl Wednesday offered glowing praise for the Secretary of State and 2008 presidential candidate, calling her a "pretty formidable individual" and suggested Clinton should challenge Barack Obama in 2012.

"I think she's probably the most competent person they've got ... in their cabinet. And frankly, I thought she was gonna win the nomination last time around," Cheney said. "Maybe if the Obama record is bad enough--and these days it's not very good, given the shape of the economy--maybe there will be enough ferment in the Democratic Party so that there will be a primary on their side."

stmichrick| 9.8.11 @ 9:33PM

Huntsman understands science? Anytime someone proclaims that science has embraced a theory, that's called an opinion. Hopefully Perry will do a little homework next time and show that Huntsman has not.

stmichrick| 9.8.11 @ 9:38PM

http://hw.libsyn.com/p/b/f/6/b.....id=2336201

Mike| 9.8.11 @ 9:56PM

You don't understand the difference between scientific theory and political opinion?

Sir, I hold your opinions in contempt.

Mike| 9.8.11 @ 9:59PM

Palin is biding her time so she can wring more money out of Teaghan.

Timothy L. Pennell| 9.8.11 @ 1:45PM

I'm sorry. Did I read that right? The guy from Telemundo called in with some "HISPANIC-RELATED QUESTIONS" ?
Were there any IRISH questions? What about VIETNAMESE questions? My wife is, originally, from Thailand. Were there any THAI questions?
I don't know about the rest of you, but I'm getting sick and tired of kissing these people's asses.
Bilingual Education. Not for Chinese Kids. Not for Ukrainians. Oh, no. Only for Pedro, Juanita, and Jose. How many other "Immigrants" get to take their Citizenship Test, in their own Language? How many other Languages, besides HISPANIC, are Government Documents, written in? Or, the Phone? Press 1 for English. What if ALL of the Languages were included? "Press 57 for Lithuanian"?
I thought we had a 14th Amendment? I thought we had EQUAL Protection? If that were true, these Government Documents would be in ALL of the Languages. Even AUSTRIAN. (Idiot)
If the 14th Amendment was REALLY being followed, there would be Bilingual Education for EVERY GROUP.
Obviously, those in Washington have come to the conclusion that HISPANICS are TOO STUPID to learn English. They're STUPIDER than all the other groups.
This needs to be put to bed, once and for all.
If there are any Attorneys, out there, this is crying out for a CLASS ACTION SUIT.
You cannot PROP UP one group, above the rest. It is UNCONSTITUTIONAL to keep Kissing the Hispanic's asses, while letting every other Ethnic Group fend for themselves.
You Attorneys. You have your Assignment.
Wait. The Telemundo guy, is about to ask a Hispanic-Related Question.
"Senor Huntsman. Carlos gets on a Midtown Bus, heading Downtown to meet his Ho. He wants to be there in 15 Minutes, but, on the way, the bus picks up one of his B*tches. They both get off at the next stop to score some Rock, and to grab a Burrito, before catching the next bus. My question is this. How many times has Jose been arrested, and do you know any Bail Bondsmen below 49th Street?"
Unbelievable.

rachel| 9.8.11 @ 1:56PM

Just love reading the truth without sugarcoating.
You made me smile....

steveo| 9.8.11 @ 2:15PM

Thailand?

JoetheG| 9.8.11 @ 2:11PM

Alan, you're urinating into the wind; you must love punishment.

Clint Brooks| 9.9.11 @ 5:36AM

Please note that my brother Alan is an idiot, he lives in fear of losing his entitlements or having to make a decision.

Jack in Wi.| 9.8.11 @ 7:57AM

According to the unique poll on Drudge this morning Ron Paul won by a huge margin of almost 50%. The big loser was Guardasill Rick Perry. He proved that he is no conservative. He issued a healthcare mandate by executive order for vaccinating young girls, by force if necessary, without parental consent. He did that with no legislative authority. At least Romney went to the legislature for his odious Romneycare. Both Romney and Perry had all the time in the world to make the case for consevative government. They both failed miserably to put out a consistant message on why they are conservatives. Perry looked very inept in trying to defend statements he made on Social Security, Evolution and climate issues. The Democrats would have a field day with this dumbkoff.

Ron Paul dispite the fact he is tied with Obama in most polls was ignored by the moderators and marginalized. Yet he, as always, won the intellectual debate. Everyone up there was against what the Fed is doing. Everyone up there was trying to put forth ideas about shrinking goverment and slashing taxes. No one up there tried to defend our wars or foreign policy. Huge majorities of the population by polling agree with Ron Paul on bringing our troops home now, ending the wars, closing the 700 foreign bases, ending foreign aid to everyone and auditing the FED and sound money. Ron Paul is the intellectual and moral giant pulling the whole country back to sanity.

Dai Alanye | 9.8.11 @ 11:27AM

The Ron Paul after-debate polls are always fakes. The paulbots get together to call in until their fingers get sore, and that's all there is to it.

Jack in Wi.| 9.8.11 @ 2:20PM

The old Texas blowhard Perry has his picture up on Drudge waving his finger in Ron Paul's face and grabbing his wrist. Boy does he look like a wild nut. The unique poll up on Drudge has Ron Paul winning almost 53% of the votes cast. Over 85,000 people went their computers and voted for Ron. In order to win primaries you need committed people behind you, the issues that people care about, and money. Ron Paul has all of that and more.

Colin Foy| 9.8.11 @ 2:46PM

Jack I like what you're saying.
In Romney and Perry the Washington/NWO establishment have their bases covered should Uncle Obamao lose.
They will both run to the right and govern from...? Oh yeah, the vainglorious "center" which apparently means unconstitutional or whatever makes demarxistRats stop peeing themselves. Cheers!

SpiralArchitect| 9.8.11 @ 4:45PM

No one comes close to Gingrich in any debate be it on the issue or his sheer oratory prowess.

Newt would redirect this country to where it once was and belongs - American exceptionalism.

Will Malven | 9.8.11 @ 5:21PM

Some polls are of significance, call in or web based polls are not. Paulbots have always had itchy dial and mouse fingers. The poll doesn't say who won, but how deeply emotional and attached [w]Ron[g] Paul supporters are to their cult leader.

By any objective measure Paul came out looking more irrational than usual; even worse than last time when he came out as an advocate for Iran's effort to obtain nuclear weapons.

Paul's support is deep, but very, very narrow--sort of like a latrine trench.

John Giles| 9.8.11 @ 8:11PM

Try voting twice in one of the MSM online post-debate "won won?" polls next time and see what happens. See what happens.

sirbourbon| 9.9.11 @ 11:42AM

That "latrine trench" is in Texas where the Perry camp buried GOP Ag commissioner Perry's letter to Hillary prasing her guv'ment healthcare plan>>>http://dc-cdn.virtacore.com/2011/08/Perry-Letter-to-Hillary.jpg

sirbourbon| 9.9.11 @ 11:47AM

I wrote This Babe a Letter---- by rick perry
I'm an Ag commisssioner down Texas way
Gotta write a letter to Hillary my way
I'm a gonna praise her
she's a hell raiser
I wrote this chick a letter
givin' her a Texas Highfive on guv'ment healthcare!

http://wonkette.com/452262/anc.....ry-clinton

sirbourbon| 9.9.11 @ 12:42PM

The Letter
April 6, 1993
addressed to:
Mrs. Hillary Rodham Clinton
Task Force on National Healthcare Reform
Office of the First lady
1600 Pennsylvania Ave., NW
Washington,DC 20500

Dear Mrs. Clinton:
I think your efforts in trying to reform the nation's healthcare system is most commendable. The National Task Force on Healthcare reform consists of many entities representing all types of health care providers and citizens.

I would like to ask the task force to give particular consideration to the needs of the nation's farmers, ranchers, agricultural workers , and other members of rural communities. Rural populations have a high proportion of uninsured people, rising health care costs, and often experience lack of services.

As the Agricultural Commissioner for the State of Texas, I have a strong interest in the problem of health care delivery to rural areas. Over 50 hospitals have closed in Texas since the mid-eighties. Most rural communities have problems with access to adequate health care due to shortage of physicians, clinics, and hospitals within a safe driving distance.

I have made economic development for rural Texas a high priority in my Administration. Leadership, education, infrastructure systems, and health care facilities can do much towards aiding a rural community to prosper.

Again, your efforts are worthy, and I hope you will remember this constituency as the task force progresses. Please do not hesitate to contact me if I can be of any assistance.

Sincerely,

guess who sent it/

Cpm| 9.8.11 @ 6:30PM

The real problem with Ron Paul is that his minions like him just a little bit too much. It's downright creepy.

sirbourbon| 9.8.11 @ 1:42PM

Which of the GOP presidential contenders has a grasp of the bigger picture and how to get America back on its feet?

Romneycare is not the way to fix things. Central control Mitt has no clue.

Rick Perry praising Hillarycare is no answer either.

Rick the Gardacil man and crony capitalist
Here is a full grown man praising a socialist "ponze scheme" called socialized medicine pushed by a gal who at the time hadn't even been elected to any office. Who would have thought the wife of Bill Clinton would be pushing socialism in her "health care plan? Golly only Perry the man who supported Ozone man Algore for president was fooled by her. Maybe it was her charm that took Perry in like a Gardacil salesman?

Next Newt?
Newt Gingrich stole Ron Paul's "audit the Fed" message and said he would give Ben Bernanke the boot. It was congressman Paul's bill that forced congress to open up the Fed's secret records. But I guess it was too much for Brian Williams and Politico man to ask Ron Paul if he was happy that his audit the Fed message was gaining high profile cheerleaders like Newt?

Paul
It was he alone that placed the Fed before the eyes of the people. Since it was his "audit the fed" bill that forced the Fed's records open that we have learned that the Federal Reserve handed a central bank in Libya, half owned by Gadhaffi, millions of dollars!

Paul's foreign policy is non-interventionism. In practical terms that means bring our troops home from countries whose dictators US Presidents and congress make make deals with and the Fed sends money to prop up their banks.

Dealing with terrorists
Libyan phony "freedom fighters" have connections with al-Qaeda terrorists. Our troops fight al-Qaeda in Afghanistan, but US foreign policy makers misuse our troops by ordering them to help al-Qaeda in Libya!

Constitutional angle
There isn't any constitutional authorization to subsidize foreign governments. Regardless of the "noble" reasons politicians give for fighting a war against communism as during the "coldwar era ," or a carrying on a war on a tactic the media labels a "war on terrorism." Waging a war on terrorsm is like waging a war on a style of fighting. But you certainly don't win a war on a tactic by stationing troops in foreign lands for decades that will continue to invite more attacks on our homeland.

Empire building
is an easy connection for a Muslim to make, especially after his family is the one hundred thousandth Muslim family wiped out by a NATO bomb dropped by a manned or dronned US plane.

Americans who are flocking to Ron Paul's campaign because they see the "war on terrorism" taking away their rights under the Constitution and a war being fought abroad that is changing America from Republic (rule of law) to an oligarchy (rule by a few).

Will Malven | 9.8.11 @ 5:25PM

People who continually arnd repeatedly tell lies are not credible. Perry did not support Hilary care and anyone who so asserts is simply a liar. Perry's letter was an appeal for the task force to turn their attention to the difficulty of rural communities in obtaining insurance and health care. Paul knows that, he is just so desperate and dishonest that he has chosen to lie.

http://www.thehoustonconservat.....-just.html

We already have a liar in the White House, we don't need another one.

sirbourbon| 9.9.11 @ 11:36AM

#1 Did Perry write a letter to Hillary Clinton?
Yes or No? Perry wrote that letter so yes is the answer.
#2 Was the letter in praise of Hillary Clinton's government "healthcare plan" or did he try to give her the free market plan? Answer: the Perry letter didn't point out that the Constitution gives absolutely no authority for the feds to be involved in healthcare.

Snipets of the Letter to Hillary when Perry was a GOP Ag. honcho: "I think your efforts in trying to reform the nation's health care system are most commendable," Perry wrote.

Perry asked Clinton to take special notice of the health care needs of farmers, ranchers and people in rural areas as she worked on trying to overhaul national health care.

"Again, your efforts are worthy, and I hope you will remember this constituency as the task force progresses," Perry said.

http://www.chron.com/news/hous.....914428.php

S&WM;&P| 9.8.11 @ 1:47PM

Thanks for that Jack. I also feel that Ron Paul is the only one with a plan. Ron Paul for President! I think the media is terrified by the prospect of a President Ron Paul.

Cpm| 9.8.11 @ 6:47PM

Add the American public to that list.

Oldguy in Arkansas | 9.8.11 @ 4:42PM

Perry's correct, Social Security is a ponzy scheme. Ponzy schemes take the money and pay off the first in the group; eventually those that come in later get nothing, since the money has been spent. In the case of our Government Ponzy scheme, money from my grandkids are paying for my social security. And each year the fools we vote into office add more people to the rolls and increase the tax they pay into the scheme. Wake up Jack! P.S. Ron Paul will never get the nomination. He's like Eugene Debs, the old socialist candidate that ran for president every 4 years during the 30s.

Jack in Wi.| 9.8.11 @ 4:49PM

Perry is a gone goose already. He is is just another old blowhard. Ron Paul can handle the questions and goes on any show that treats him with some respect. Rick Perry may try to sound like a constitutional conservative but he has countryclub written all over his face. If he won it would be just more of th merry go round, Bush, Clinton, Bush Obama, Perry. The country can't stand another unprincipled liar and blowhard for President.

Will Malven | 9.8.11 @ 5:29PM

"Perry is a gone goose already???"

More Paul-ette wishful thinking. Perry will be in for the long run. Perry has been a life-long constitutional conservative--not looney tunes like Paul--but definitely a constitutional conservative. I guess you missed the part where your cult leader said: "He [Rick Perry] even makes me look like a moderate."

Mrs. Vito| 9.9.11 @ 1:53PM

Ron Paul is a loony old man who is one step away from an Aricept prescription.

kate| 9.10.11 @ 8:18PM

Jack
You lost me when you misspelled "guardasill".
Perry asked for the mandate because the vaccination is so expensive and he wanted it available to the poor. Romney won the debate.
Ron Paul is too weird to get backing from the American people.
BTW-
Where was our president and first lady today? Why were they not in Pennsylvania? Too busy? What a shame.
Important day.
Biden's speech was pretty good.

Reality Check| 9.8.11 @ 8:49AM

And the winner…Obama.

Sophist Watch| 9.8.11 @ 8:55AM

The perfect poll for a paulbot. We wait for Rasmussen.

Not a Texan| 9.8.11 @ 9:07AM

Texas along with Mississippi has the highest percentage of hourly workers earning only the minimum wage in the nation about 9.5%.

http://www.factcheck.org/2011/.....-recovery/

Drunken Sailor| 9.8.11 @ 9:24AM

Minimum wage beats no wage

Not a Texan| 9.8.11 @ 9:28AM

Sure, Texas is better than Somalia.

Drunken Sailor| 9.8.11 @ 9:37AM

I knew you were a liberal when you used a leftist website to support your claims. Report back to your superiors that you have failed.

Michael Tomlinson| 9.8.11 @ 10:18AM

If you like Somalia so much go live there, but at least vote against Obama who wants our country to be more Somalia west.

Texas has done what most of other states -- notably the blue coastal ones -- have failed to do: create jobs. Over the past decade Texas has created 2.1 million jobs -- while New York, California, Massachusetts and Obama’s Illinois have all lost jobs.

Its relative performance since 2009 has been even more stellar, producing nearly 40% of all new jobs in the U.S. Its unemployment rate stands at 8.2, well below the national average of 9.1 -- an outstanding feat given the fact that the state grew 20%, twice the national average, over the decade. Texas is creating jobs for a growing workforce, while other states like New York or Massachusetts struggle to keep up with stagnant or even declining ones.

According to research conducted by the Praxis Strategy group, Texas has boosted mid-skill jobs -- those that require two years or more of post-secondary education -- by 16% in the past decade, That's the third-highest rate in the nation (after much smaller Wyoming and Utah) and three times the national average. In contrast, New York has grown such positions by less than 5%, while California and Massachusetts have expanded them by less than 2%. Illinois, President Barack Obama's home turf, was among the few states to actually lose mid-skill jobs.

This pattern also applies to the high-tech and science-based industries. Over the past decade Texas' number of STEM (science, technology, engineering and math-related) jobs has surged by 11%, one of the fastest rates among the states and four times the national average. California, Massachusetts and Illinois all lost positions in these fields.

Another reason people go to Texas is their wages get them more there than in the big blue metros. For example, houses in Dallas, Austin or Houston cost three times the median income in these areas -- or less. That ratio is twice as high, or higher, in places like New York, San Francisco or Los Angeles.

To be sure, Texas has benefited from higher energy prices, as Perry's detractors point out. According to an analysis by the EMSI economic forecasting group, the energy sector jumped from over 230,000 jobs in 2001 to just fewer than 490,000 in 2011. That's roughly 10% of all the state's overall job gains. This parallels job growth in other states that have experienced surges in energy-related employment -- such as North Dakota and Wyoming.

But some of this has to do with making your own "luck." Energy-rich California has all but declared war on its fossil fuel industry, once one of the nation's most important. Instead, the state has placed lavish bets on renewable fuel and the much ballyhooed notion that "green jobs" could provide a massive base for new employment -- something even the green-friendly New York Times has called "a pipe dream." In fact, employment in this field has actually started to tick down, and the prospect of ever higher energy prices associated with "clean" fuels could prove another nail in California's economic coffin.

While detractors will do their best to say Texas has not benefited under the leadership of Rick Perry and even imply a Democrat like Bill White, who Perry crushed in their gubernatorial matchup, would be just as effective or more effective is laughable. Where Democrats govern the states are in crisis and decline. Where Republicans govern the states are generally booming or at least doing better than their Democrat counterparts.

Leadership can be heavy handed and self-aggrandizing like Obama and other Democrats or light and supportive of growth and success like Perry. The proof that the Perry model works is self-evident in the reality of Texas’ success.

Not a Texan| 9.8.11 @ 11:20AM

Why not the Governor of New York, New York unemployment rate at 8.0% lower than both Texas (8.2%) and the national average (9.2%).

http://www.bls.gov/lau/

Trinacria| 9.8.11 @ 12:15PM

Which governor? The one who's been on the job for 7 months (yeah, he's responsible for the current employment rate), the one who used his credit card to pay for prostitutes, or the one who road the short yellow bus to work?

Trinacria| 9.8.11 @ 12:17PM

That's "rode"...(auto spell check)

Not a Texan| 9.8.11 @ 12:36PM

Well, actually any of them would be preferable to another disaster from Texas.

Trinacria| 9.8.11 @ 12:54PM

I know! Why just this morning I looked out my window and saw it was raining - Goddamn George Bush and his buddies in Big Umbrella were no doubt behind it!

And another thing - I'm far too refined and erudite to vote for someone who happens to have had the geographical misfortune of a Texas birth; nay, I prefer to arrive at an informed decision after a principled and rigorous assessment of the candidate's skin color...

TexasLighthouse| 9.8.11 @ 1:32PM

That was awesome! Very well said!

idalily| 9.8.11 @ 2:55PM

Ouch. That'll leave a mark. Well done Trinacria!

Not a Texan| 9.8.11 @ 12:44PM

P.S.

That was funny!

Will Malven | 9.8.11 @ 5:08PM

When your hemorhaging people as they leave for other states, one might expect the percentage of people employed to rise. Texas is growing rapidly as New York leads the nation in losing population.

http://realestate.yahoo.com/pr.....eeing.html

rachel| 9.8.11 @ 2:08PM

I also remember Texas as a State of compassion when they invited with open arms, a huge influx of people after Katrina. If I remember correctly, they did it with a precision that FEMA can only dream about. Oh, and they didn't whine either.

skip| 9.8.11 @ 5:16PM

Wasn't that the time Houston opened the Astrodome for them?

That time that, coinincidently, coincided with Houston's major crime rate increasing quadruple, or was it quintuple, or sextuple? Septuple? Octuple? Googleplextuple?

Scrapette Jones| 9.8.11 @ 1:43PM

Ok, that went too far. I am a Texan unlike you, and the simple fact is, a minimum wage down here goes a heckuva lot further than most other places in America. Nobody EVER brings that up. I'm willing to bet that my life down is as good or even better than yours, wherever you are.

idalily| 9.8.11 @ 2:58PM

This is an excellent point. In New York, one needs triple the wages one makes in TX (and most of flyover country), mainly because of the hideous taxes.

Michael Tomlinson| 9.8.11 @ 10:15AM

That's right. Unemployment went up unexpectedly again.

Of course, since Democrats are the party of the rich they don't give a damn for working men and women.

Clint| 9.8.11 @ 11:18AM

" Crony capitalism: Perry’s Achilles heel.

The Post looked at Perry’s top 50 donors, who collectively gave more than $21 million to Perry, and found that 34 received some benefit from Perry’s administration or the state, including grants, contracts and appointments. The donor list was compiled by the nonprofit Texans For Public Justice.

Twenty-three donors won Perry’s appointment to state boards, often the boards of regents at the University of Texas or Texas A&M.

Roughly one in three of the top Perry donors had business interests that secured grants, tax subsidies or project approvals under his administration, the Post review found. Five donors gained both an appointment and a state boost to their specific company or interests. "

The Tea Party Rebellion Is Here.

Rise Up.

Texan for life| 9.8.11 @ 5:32PM

Well, I've lived in Texas for 76 yrs, dear "not a Texan" where do you live and how many jobs have been created there in the past 3 yrs? Yeah, some of you are quoting from some liberal site that says all of the jobs being created here are minimum wage jobs...you need to get some facts.

Oh, and you Ron Paul supporters...how can you support a hypocrite who hollers about the money government is wasting and then takes more pork for his district than any other Texas congressman. And, even in spit of that, he can't get relected and his people who know him best won't vote for him again and so he's not running for relection. You Ron Paul supporters either haven't done your research or you just like to be fooled...I keep trying to figure it out. We, in Texas, know who Ron Paul is, and we don't support him at all...he's a nut case, just out to get all of the money and publicity that he can.

Perry is your man. He's the best and most popular governor Texas has ever had...just ask KBH or Bill White...they spent millions and he wiped the floor with them.

Will Malven | 9.8.11 @ 7:58PM

More to the point, "if we build a fence, it will keep us in." LOL! I wonder how all of those 747's coming out of Dallas and Houston are going to get over that fence.

DRed| 9.8.11 @ 11:22AM

In almost every state being wealthier corresponds with a greater likelihood of voting republican. It's true that wealthier states tend to vote Democratic, but within those states, the wealthier you are the more likely you are to vote republican. So a wealthy person in, say, Connecticut is less likely to be a republican than a wealthy person in South Carolina, they are still more likely to be republican than the average person in Connecticut. I'm not sure why you think the Democrats are the party of the rich, but I'm willing to listen to you explain it to me.

MikeBee| 9.8.11 @ 11:00PM

DRed,
Wrong again! Keep telling yourself the myth; it allows you to keep your head in the sand. The Rich in this country all vote Democrat. Many of them are far Left Liberals. Most of the Rich are also politically ignorant. Too busy running their companies to really care who runs the country. "Let's give it to the nice, black man this time, dear. It'll keep him and his kind out of our neighborhood, while he's busy in D.C."

You forgot to read the other article posted today on this very issue. There is a very strong Leftward leaning on the part of those in this country who are either Rich, or who think that they are rich.

skip| 9.9.11 @ 12:31AM

I think you're missing the point. Intelligent an honest rich people vote republican. Stupid and dishonest rich people vote democrat. This applies to every other social class as well.

Michael Tomlinson| 9.8.11 @ 11:30PM

Democrat billionaire vulture capitalists George Soros, Warren Buffett and Bill Gates illustrate that the Democrat party is the party of the rich.

Democrats now represent 57 percent of the 4.8 million households that had incomes of $200,000 or more in 2008.

RCV| 9.9.11 @ 1:10PM

Yes, people who are more educated and more successful in business are Democrats, Michael.

Margie| 9.11.11 @ 7:34PM

You're kidding, right?

David| 9.8.11 @ 11:26AM

Thats just a half honest point. Texas leads in jobs period. Low middle and high pay. If you're going to state somthing, state all of it.

Not a Texan| 9.8.11 @ 12:20PM

As of August 2011, 2,400,000, including Texas jobs, private sector jobs have been created since the bottom of the recession Obama inherited from Bush. Remember that job loss continued for about a year after Obama was inaugurated until the stimulant kicked-in.

Will Malven | 9.8.11 @ 5:05PM

Not a Texan, you would do well to inform yourself of the facts rather than just parrot what you have been told by MoveOn, DU, dKos and the other leftist sites.

The Texas miracle took place in spite of Obama's pathetic and destructive policies.

Read it and weep: http://www.politicalmathblog.com/?p=1590

As to the remainder of your comment:
1. Median hourly wage in Texas is $15.14 pretty much median in the states (28th of 50).
2. As stated earlier, minimum wage job is better than no job at all.
3. As for New York, Texas is gaining population rapidly as corporations move here and create more jobs, people are abandoning New York and all of the other high tax states.
4. Most of those "2,400,000,000" jobs are due to (typical of liberals) funny math.

Read it and weep: http://www.americanthinker.com.....ident.html

Also of those jobs that Obama and you claim were created, 500,000 of them were temporary jobs created for the census and have disappeared. OOPS! Wrong again Not a Texan.

LiveFreeOrDie| 9.8.11 @ 4:34PM

It's a border state, figure it out. Not to mention minimum wage in New York wouldn't cover your parking.

Redstateboy| 9.8.11 @ 10:17AM

Perry did win... hear the applause Before he answered the Death Penalty question and This was in the People's Republic of California!!

canuckistani| 9.8.11 @ 11:23AM

He won and he lost?

He is DOA in the general.

Doctor Right| 9.8.11 @ 11:50AM

Really?

How so?

Not a Texan| 9.8.11 @ 12:25PM

He won the accolades of the Republican audience with his execution comments but if nominated will lose the election to Obama because of his Social Security remarks.

idalily| 9.8.11 @ 3:00PM

We'll see. Right now, a ham sandwich could beat Obama.

Redstateboy| 9.8.11 @ 3:48PM

Fool.... So... Social Security ISN'T a Ponzi Scheme??!?! I'm so feed up with delusional, pompous, ignorant Liber-uls. These people are so stupid it's sad.

canuckistani| 9.8.11 @ 4:52PM

I'm not suggesting I disagree with him, but the dems have enormous funding and special interest groups like AARP and the senior scare industry will jump all over this perceived threat to their core program.....and it is the one program that crosses all party lines in popularity.

I truly believe his dance with the fringe GOP devil will reap enough fodder that anyone could frame him as another compassionate conservative bogeyman. Combine this rhetoric with the Ryan budget that also dismantles the other popular pillar - Medicare - and you have the makings of a bloodbath at the ballotbox. BHO is a good campaigner, and he now has the ammo to suggest the barbarians are at the gates.

We know the public starts paying attention about 3 seconds after the final pres debate, and unless Perry can conjure a workable message, he is doomed.

canuckistani| 9.8.11 @ 4:54PM

....forgot to add....the Life insurance on Seniors with Gramm has the makings of a new Swiftboat campaign - now it's the dems turn to play the whisper campaign.

Will Malven | 9.8.11 @ 5:36PM

True dat. As the saying goes, "A lie will travel half-way around the world before the truth can get its boots on."

Perry didn't self-immolate, but he does need to hone his arguments. On the climate change myth, if a candidate is going to challenge conventional thinking, he needs to be prepared for the "gotcha" questions . . . especially after the treatment both Bush and Palin received.

Perry's team should have been prepared for that sort of "name somebody: question. It would be fun to turn that question back on the Democrat shill questioner and ask him to name who he relies on for his climate change opinion.

Dai Alanye | 9.8.11 @ 11:35AM

Perry managed a few good quips but overall was weak. Not much intellect there, I'm afraid, and a weak philosophical grounding to his policies. I'm no Romney fan but Mittsy sure looked better than Perry last night. Further, had Cain and Santorum been given a fair share of opportunities to speak they would also have topped Perry.

He's going to need to get a great deal stronger to have a fighting chance against Obama--or Hillary for that matter.

Dai Alanye | 9.8.11 @ 11:36AM

And Newt, too, was better, by the way.

Trinacria| 9.8.11 @ 12:19PM

Yes, we need a prodigious intellect (cause that's working so swimmingly for us now...).

idalily| 9.8.11 @ 3:01PM

And HOW can this country survive with a weak philosophical grounding in policies? Oh, wait...been doing THAT for about 2+ years now.

Redstateboy| 9.8.11 @ 3:50PM

so.. with this 1.. ONE.. debate performance.. you write Perry off eh..?? How superficial of you.. I bet you're just shallow enough - that you voted for Hussein.

canuckistani| 9.8.11 @ 4:55PM

No, he has to come up with a better performance the next time. Ask any NFL starter how many games they get to stink before sitting?
This is the big leagues, and Bachmann proves that you have to be on all of the time.

RCV| 9.8.11 @ 3:53PM

Here's my take of the debate at Reagan, as a non-true believer:

Romney was as strong as I've ever seen him. On message -- jobs-r-me. Though he remains anathema to the right wing of the party, he scored some points with the general electorate.

Perry was extremely strong in the first half of the debate. He remains the front-runner and, in my view, the strongest GOP opponent of Obama. But his performance near the end still leaves open the question of whether he can transfrom his rhetoric to a national dialogue. He still hasn't fully learned that what wins cheers in Texas will turn off a lot of people elsewhere. Good performance overall, though.

Santorum came off like a deer in headlights. Bachmann's campaign is done, eclipsed by Perry. Paul was his usual out-in-orbit self. Cain was strong, but nobody seems to care. Huntsman remains invisible and unimpressive, no matter how solid on substance. Gingrich made a great GOP cheerleader, but noone is taking him seriously anymore, with good reason.

canuckistani| 9.8.11 @ 5:00PM

Good recap, agreed.

They had the MSNBC audience to entice with conservative ideas that have practical applications. Instead they chose to stick to talking points - and Newtie chose to shoot the messenger. Idiotic.
Willard was the least repellant to indies and dems last night - which suggests winning conditions are possible. Huntsman appears to be angling for a 3rd party run.

kate| 9.13.11 @ 1:59AM

I thought Perry blew it when he hit Romney on jobs . Made his point and then kicked Romney when he was down.
Romney was not my favorite going in, but made a great argument when he pointed out he was working within a very liberal state.
Wish I was Perry. I would have conceded "point won".
It would have gained Perry some respect.
Michelle is smart, but has a huge problem with her "anti-gay" husban, social issue, weird past.

The others are jokes, except Gingrich, who will never win because he has a catastrophic personal life.
We are looking at Perry or Romney folks. Face it.
They can easily beat Obama, unless WE blow it.

kate| 9.13.11 @ 1:33AM

Not happy with Michelle Bachmann.
Inferring that Perry mandated a vaccine for young girls, so that he could "enrich" a friend and gain a $5000 contribution is ridiculous.

She admitted at the end of an interview with Greta on FOX that she didn't know what was in his heart.
No kidding.
Disgusted.
No wonder Obama won.

The Bishop| 9.8.11 @ 6:24AM

The establishment media-sponsored "debates" are a joke and are clearly intended to diminish conservative candidates. Although Newt doesn't stand a chance of being nominated, I enjoyed his initial push back on the framing of these inane questions.

Perry is absolutely correct in his Social Security=Ponzi Scheme stance. Ron Paul, whom I'm sure is a terrific physician, serves only as a tool for the MSM inquisitors to try to trip up the more durable candidates. These events are a far, far cry from the Lincoln-Douglas classics.

Alan Brooks| 9.8.11 @ 7:31AM

Tell that to Southerners who still hate Lincoln. BTW, Douglas only really differed in small ways from Lincoln; for instance on Dred Scott.

Alan Brooks| 9.8.11 @ 7:35AM

And no I did not write that all Southerners hate Lincoln- but many do; take Red Phillips for instance.

TexasLighthouse| 9.8.11 @ 1:54PM

I'm sorry, but I live in the south and have NEVER met anyone who claims to hate Lincoln. I'm sure that in your mind hating Lincoln is equated to racism, is it not? How ironic considering that the south was mostly democrat and the north was mostly republican.

RCV| 9.8.11 @ 3:56PM

On Lincoln-Douglas, Alan: that's like saying that Luther and the Catholic Church only disagreed on one thing - his 95 theses.

W| 9.8.11 @ 4:16PM

Alan,
Douglass believed in popular sovereignty, that the people could vote on slavery. Sort of like today's pro choice.
Lincoln believed that slavery was immoral and it did not matter if the people wanted to vote for it. Sort of like pro life.
Lincoln belielved in the natural law of inalienable rights, although you can find some speeches he made on slavery, probably for votes, inconsistent with this.
Douglass was a politician, let the people vote, whatever government passes as a law is ok.

canuckistani| 9.8.11 @ 11:25AM

Newtie was amusing for his pushback, but it was boorish and showed he has no class. Bachmann's handling of the "submission" question was handled with tact and grace. He has lost any of his intellectual lustre and just another elite refusing to participate.
If he dislikes the MSM, then why attend? Oh yeah, he has no advisors so his ego takes over.....

Bill Hussein O'Stalin| 9.8.11 @ 6:24AM

Perry threw spears at many hallowed Washington concepts and made some direct hits.

While Romney defended Social Security Perry missed a great opportunity to point out that Ron Paul, Rick Santorum, Michelle Bachmann and Newt Gingrich supported the government taking of Social Security Trust Fund surpluses to spend on other government programs.

In that sense, Social Security is not only a Ponzi scheme but a con job deserving of Bernie Madoff status and all members of Congress have been in on it. Perry could have knocked out four of his fellow contenders with that fact.

As far as climate change there are scientists who have pointed out the falsehoods behind the theory. Man made climate change doesn't even rise to the level of pseudo science because there is no science or even anything close to science that supports it.

Perry also looked good on the Death Penalty issue. A majority of Americans are tired of the rampant crime in our society and this issue may be a gift for the Perry campaign.

In essence, there were many supporters of big government on that stage but Perry wasn't one of them.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/L.....al_warming

Hendrik Tennekes, retired Director of Research, Royal Netherlands Meteorological Institute:
"The blind adherence to the harebrained idea that climate models can generate 'realistic' simulations of climate is the principal reason why I remain a climate skeptic."[16]

"It is my professional opinion that there is no evidence at all for catastrophic global warming. It is likely that global temperatures will rise a little, much as IPCC predicts, but there is a growing body of evidence that the errant behavior of the Sun may cause some cooling in the foreseeable future."[17] "The political dichotomy about climate change is fueled by gross exaggerations and simplifications on both sides of the fence."[17]

Bob K.| 9.8.11 @ 8:26AM

I am from PA and it is my hope that not one freedom loving Texan, whether Republican, Democrat or Libertarian, supported Perry in his executive order forcing vaccinations on young girls!

This says more about his mind set than any statement he made in this so called debate!

It brings up the question that people used to ask quietly in countries in Eastern Europe under the thumb of the Russians about some unknown new leader: "What kind of man is he?"

Bill Hussein O'Stalin| 9.8.11 @ 9:13AM

You're right about that. But no candidate is perfect. Perry claims he made a mistake in that action. Is he sincere? It's hard to tell sincerity from political expediency with any candidate.

Michael Tomlinson| 9.8.11 @ 9:39AM

I think it speaks volumes that he admitted he made a mistake. That's the difference between a leader and a politician like Mitt Romney and RINO neo-liberal Ron Paul who defends the indefensible.

Clint| 9.8.11 @ 9:56AM

" Perry has troubled relationship with tea party

Tea Party groups from New Hampshire to Texas are collaborating to criticize Perry's record on immigration, public health and spending and his former affiliation with the Democratic Party.

Austin Tea Party activist Don Zimmerman, like many tea party activists in Texas and New Hampshire, prefer libertarian Rep. Ron Paul in his third presidential bid. Paul, Zimmerman said, is the true tea party favorite.

"Ron Paul pretty much invented the national tea party," said Zimmerman, a member of the Texas State Republican Executive Committee. "It's really unfair for these other candidates to come along and claim to be the tea party favorite. It's almost like it's starting to lose its meaning."

The Tea Party Rebellion Is Here.

Rise Up.

Michael Tomlinson| 9.8.11 @ 10:11AM

"One discouraging aspect of Reagan's October Surprise is the huzzahing by which the American public greeted the war in Grenada. It is over-optimistic to believe that the public is opposed to war; as was the case in Vietnam, the American masses are only opposed to a war that the U.S. has difficulty in winning. Give them a quick victory, with small loss of American life, and they love it. As one Pennsylvanian said after the invasion, "I'm glad our President is a man!" Americans seem to have little interest in the immorality or illegality of the invasion, in the principle of non-intervention, or in the fact that the closest modern analogy to the US. assault on Grenada was the much-reviled Soviet invasion of Afghanistan, where the Soviets invaded a country whose Commie ruler was too Commie for the Soviets to handle. No, the average Americano seems to glory in the vicarious macho thrill of war, provided victory is swift, and the resistance of the foreign victim disappears quickly. RINO neo-liberal Ron Paul

Dan Hirsch| 9.8.11 @ 9:56AM

Credit Perry for calling it "a mistake."

Compare that to Mitt's endless Romneycare tap dancing. Mitt's no Fred Astaire...

canuckistani| 9.8.11 @ 11:33AM

Willard is tapdancing because he knows in the general election, his tough choices will be a winner, the facts are the facts: the states are spending enormous amounts on healthcare and the ONLY practical way out is some form of universal healthcare, be it single-payer or mandated private insurance.
His business skills are preventing him from running away from healthcare, because he knows that the choice was a hard one, but the best of the options available.
His problem, however, is convincing the flat-earthers in the GOP that he is right on this point.

Bachmann made the standard talking point that on "day 1" Obamacare will be waived....Perry the same, but they have zero solutions.

My favorite is allowing plans to cross state lines - but would that not require an act of congress and acquienscence by the states? A conundrum.

Dan Hirsch| 9.8.11 @ 12:23PM

canuckistani;

No, NO, NO! the only way out is NOT single payer. Single payer is the only way DOWN.

In this country we have a simple problem:

A system which has Dr. A caring for Patient B using insurance premium or tax payer C's money.

There is no way in the world this system will ever be efficient. 'Single payer' applies this screwed up, unworkable concept and forces it on everyone.

Oh that'll work. In hell, and Canada, England; but (to paraphrase Mark Twain) I repeat myself.

Actually there is a short cut to solving the "healthcare crisis" (Paging Bill Ayers,paging Bill Ayers, Crisis in healthcare, crisis in healthcare.)

Get rid of the governmental requirements that hospital emergency rooms have to treat everybody who walks in.

People will buy a lot of health insurance then! Oh yeah, and since they are paying the premiums, they'll fight and scrap to make sure they are getting what they need and not a bunch of extras.

Oh yeah, and when the doctor tells them they need to lose 30#, they'll do it, because their insurance rate (absent government price controls) will fall, and they'll be healthier, requiring fewer trips to the doctor.

Oh yeah, and we need "Loser Pays." Gov. Perry did mention it last night, but you really had to be listening.

You know, the losing side in a (think John Edwards channeling some dead baby, here) ridiculous lawsuit has liability for the winner's legal expenses...

You won't go to court unless you are damn sure you are right, then, if you are, it's free! Ain't that sweet! It actually levels the playing field. It also makes the whole sport of ambulance chasing a lot less fun.

I wouldn't want to live next to a State that had loser pays, if mine didn't. All the doctors, all the jobs, and all the smart, honest people would be out of my State. (Not to worry, I live NEXT to Illinois - HeeHaw!)

DTOM

idalily| 9.8.11 @ 3:05PM

Spoken like a liberal. I'll ask you yet AGAIN: why is my responsibility to pay for your health care with my hard earned money?

Dan Hirsch| 9.8.11 @ 4:13PM

ida;

c-stani is either a socialist, communist, or a thief; but I repeat myself...

DTOM

canuckistani| 9.8.11 @ 5:13PM

You missed the point: the problem is not healthcare, but health insurance. I prefer a free market solution where people are rewarded for healthy living, just like life insurance premiums are lower for non-smokers etc.
However, no one can afford catastrophic illnesses these days, just like towns and counties need state and federal money to cover natural disasters. I believe Americans understand this parallel well.

But governments can't be academic about this issue. Texas is a good example of what happens when a large portion of people have zero insurance: hospitals are overstretched using acute acare facilities for basic services and even sending people across state lines to use services there, and then blaming Medicaid formulae for the calamity the absence of a strong health insurance mandate does to a state's balance statement. That's lazy and denies reality.

At 17% of GDP, it has to have serious reforms, and Willard was faced with this dilemma and did not run away from like Perry et al have.

idalily| 9.11.11 @ 10:57AM

So it is not my moral responsibility to pay for your health care? Is that your answer?

Redstateboy| 9.8.11 @ 10:15AM

uh... obviously you missed Rick Perry stating there was an: "opt out" feature?

Michael Tomlinson| 9.8.11 @ 10:23AM

Obviously you're not very well informed and up to date.

"Here's what I learned. When you get too far out in front of the parade, they will let you know, and that's exactly what our legislature did, and I saluted it and I said, 'Roger that, I hear you loud and clear,' and they didn't want to do it and we don't, so enough said," Governor Rick Perry

galloglass| 9.8.11 @ 10:23AM

Yeah, let's not forget those horrible polio, mumps,measles, and diphtheria vaccines too!

canuckistani| 9.8.11 @ 11:34AM

Don't start......

Next will be communism in the water, gay in the air......

Timothy L. Pennell| 9.8.11 @ 9:21AM

I'm sorry. Did I read that right? The guy from Telemundo called in with some "HISPANIC-RELATED QUESTIONS" ?
Were there any IRISH questions? What about VIETNAMESE questions? My wife is, originally, from Thailand. Were there any THAI questions?
I don't know about the rest of you, but I'm getting sick and tired of kissing these people's asses.
Bilingual Education. Not for Chinese Kids. Not for Ukrainians. Oh, no. Only for Pedro, Juanita, and Jose. How many other "Immigrants" get to take their Citizenship Test, in their own Language? How many other Languages, besides HISPANIC, are Government Documents, written in? Or, the Phone? Press 1 for English. What if ALL of the Languages were included? "Press 57 for Lithuanian"?
I thought we had a 14th Amendment? I thought we had EQUAL Protection? If that were true, these Government Documents would be in ALL of the Languages. Even AUSTRIAN. (Idiot)
If the 14th Amendment was REALLY being followed, there would be Bilingual Education for EVERY GROUP.
Obviously, those in Washington have come to the conclusion that HISPANICS are TOO STUPID to learn English. They're STUPIDER than all the other groups.
This needs to be put to bed, once and for all.
If there are any Attorneys, out there, this is crying out for a CLASS ACTION SUIT.
You cannot PROP UP one group, above the rest. It is UNCONSTITUTIONAL to keep Kissing the Hispanic's asses, while letting every other Ethnic Group fend for themselves.
You Attorneys. You have your Assignment.
Wait. The Telemundo guy, is about to ask a Hispanic-Related Question.
"Senor Huntsman. Carlos gets on a Midtown Bus, heading Downtown to meet his Ho. He wants to be there in 15 Minutes, but, on the way, the bus picks up one of his B*tches. They both get off at the next stop to score some Rock, and to grab a Burrito, before catching the next bus. My question is this. How many times has Jose been arrested, and do you know any Bail Bondsmen below 49th Street?"
Unbelievable.

canuckistani| 9.8.11 @ 11:36AM

Really?

Mike Hawk| 9.8.11 @ 6:27AM

The Paulbot freaks are going to be all over this place today bloviating about how great he was. I have no comment. Didn't watch it and never do. These game show prmat 'debates' are not of much interest to me. They are press forums, not contests to win or lose. Apparently the NBC poll (worthless) was flooded by Paullunatics. Have fun boys.

chuck| 9.8.11 @ 7:08AM

Paul looked like an old fool..............exactly what he is. Kind of like that "crazy aunt" that Ross Perot kept talking about.

Michael Tomlinson| 9.8.11 @ 7:22AM

Perot should know he's the late 80's version of RINO Paul -- kooks.

Clint| 9.8.11 @ 7:37AM

Ron Paul slammed Rick Perry on the HPV vaccine order he signed, both on policy and on the route that was taken to make it law.

"It's not good social policy and therefore I think this is very bad to do this," Paul said. "He did it with an executive order, passed it, the state was furious..."

Michael Tomlinson| 9.8.11 @ 9:03AM

Ha, ha, ha, ha, ha . . . .

RINO liberal Ron Paul's letter trashing President Ronald Reagan (the greatest President since George Washington) and leaving the GOP.

"As a lifelong Republican, it saddens me to have to write this letter. My parents believed in the Republican Party and its free enterprise philosophy, and that’s the way I was brought up. At age 21, in 1956, I cast my first vote for Ike and the entire Republican slate.

Because of frustration with the direction in which the country was going, I became a political activist and ran for the U.S. Congress in 1974. Even with Watergate, my loyalty, optimism, and hope for the future were tied to the Republican Party and its message of free enterprise, limited government, and balanced budgets.

Eventually I was elected to the U.S. Congress four times as a Republican. This permitted me a first-hand look at the interworkings of the U.S. Congress, seeing both the benefits and partisan frustrations that guide its shaky proceedings. I found that although representative government still exists, special interest control of the legislative process clearly presents a danger to our constitutional system of government.

In 1976 I was impressed with Ronald Reagan’s program and was one of the four members of Congress who endorsed his candidacy. In 1980, unlike other Republican office holders in Texas, I again supported our President in his efforts.

Since 1981, however, I have gradually and steadily grown weary of the Republican Party’s efforts to reduce the size of the federal government. Since then Ronald Reagan and the Republican Party have given us skyrocketing deficits, and astoundingly a doubled national debt. How is it that the party of balanced budgets, with control of the White House and Senate, accumulated red ink greater than all previous administrations put together? Tip O’Neill, although part of the problem, cannot alone be blamed.

Tax revenues are up 59 percent since 1980. Because of our economic growth? No. During Carter’s four years, we had growth of 37.2 percent; Reagan’s five years have given us 30.7 percent. The new revenues are due to four giant Republican tax increases since 1981.

All republicans rightly chastised Carter for his $38 billion deficit. But they ignore or even defend deficits of $220 billion, as government spending has grown 10.4 percent per year since Reagan took office, while the federal payroll has zoomed by a quarter of a million bureaucrats.

Despite the Supply-Sider-Keynesian claim that “deficits don’t matter,” the debt presents a grave threat to our country. Thanks to the President and Republican Party, we have lost the chance to reduce the deficit and the spending in a non-crisis fashion. Even worse, big government has been legitimized in a way the Democrats never could have accomplished. It was tragic to listen to Ronald Reagan on the 1986 campaign trail bragging about his high spending on farm subsidies, welfare, warfare, etc., in his futile effort to hold on to control of the Senate.

Instead of cutting some of the immeasurable waste in the Department of Defense, it has gotten worse, with the inevitable result that we are less secure today. Reagan’s foreign aid expenditures exceed Eisenhower’s, Kennedy’s, Johnson’s, Nixon’s, Ford’s, and Carter’s put together. Foreign intervention has exploded since 1980. Only an end to military welfare for foreign governments plus a curtailment of our unconstitutional commitments abroad will enable us really to defend ourselves and solve our financial problems.

Amidst the failure of the Gramm-Rudman gimmick, we hear the President and the Republican Party call for a balanced-budget amendment and a line-item veto. This is only a smokescreen. President Reagan, as governor of California, had a line-item veto and virtually never used it. As President he has failed to exercise his constitutional responsibility to veto spending. Instead, he has encouraged it.

Monetary policy has been disastrous as well. The five Reagan appointees to the Federal Reserve Board have advocated even faster monetary inflation than Chairman Volcker, and this is the fourth straight year of double-digit increases. The chickens have yet to come home to roost, but they will, and America will suffer from a Reaganomics that is nothing but warmed-over Keynesianism.

Candidate Reagan in 1980 correctly opposed draft registration. Yet when he had the chance to abolish it, he reneged, as he did on his pledge to abolish the Departments of Education and Energy, or to work against abortion.

Under the guise of attacking drug use and money laundering, the Republican Administration has systematically attacked personal and financial privacy. The effect has been to victimize innocent Americans who wish to conduct their private lives without government snooping. (Should people really be put on a suspected drug dealer list because they transfer $3,000 at one time?) Reagan’s urine testing of Americans without probable cause is a clear violation of our civil liberties, as are his proposals for extensive “lie detector” tests.

Under Reagan, the IRS has grown bigger, richer, more powerful, and more arrogant. In the words of the founders of our country, our government has “sent hither swarms” of tax gatherers “to harass our people and eat out their substance.” His officers jailed the innocent George Hansen, with the President refusing to pardon a great American whose only crime was to defend the Constitution. Reagan’s new tax “reform” gives even more power to the IRS. Far from making taxes fairer or simpler, it deceitfully raises more revenue for the government to waste.

Knowing this administration’s record, I wasn’t surprised by its Libyan disinformation campaign, Israeli-Iranian arms-for-hostages swap, or illegal funding of the Contras. All this has contributed to my disenchantment with the Republican Party, and helped me make up my mind.

I want to totally disassociate myself from the policies that have given us unprecedented deficits, massive monetary inflation, indiscriminate military spending, an irrational and unconstitutional foreign policy, zooming foreign aid, the exaltation of international banking, and the attack on our personal liberties and privacy.

After years of trying to work through the Republican Party both in and out of government, I have reluctantly concluded that my efforts must be carried on outside the Republican Party. Republicans know that the Democratic agenda is dangerous to our political and economic health. Yet, in the past six years Republicans have expanded its worst aspects and called them our own. The Republican Party has not reduced the size of government. It has become big government’s best friend.

If Ronald Reagan couldn’t or wouldn’t balance the budget, which Republican leader on the horizon can we possibly expect to do so? There is no credibility left for the Republican Party as a force to reduce the size of government. That is the message of the Reagan years.

I conclude that one must look to other avenues if a successful effort is ever to be achieved in reversing America’s direction.

I therefore resign my membership in the Republican Party and enclose my membership card."

Clint| 9.8.11 @ 9:32AM

Ronald Reagan,
" If you analyze it I believe the very heart and soul of conservatism is libertarianism. I think conservatism is really a misnomer just as liberalism is a misnomer for the liberals–if we were back in the days of the Revolution, so-called conservatives today would be the Liberals and the liberals would be the Tories. The basis of conservatism is a desire for less government interference or less centralized authority or more individual freedom and this is a pretty general description also of what libertarianism is.

Now, I can’t say that I will agree with all the things that the present group who call themselves Libertarians in the sense of a party say, because I think that like in any political movement there are shades, and there are libertarians who are almost over at the point of wanting no government at all or anarchy. I believe there are legitimate government functions. There is a legitimate need in an orderly society for some government to maintain freedom or we will have tyranny by individuals. The strongest man on the block will run the neighborhood. We have government to insure that we don’t each one of us have to carry a club to defend ourselves. But again, I stand on my statement that I think that libertarianism and conservatism are traveling the same path."

Michael Tomlinson| 9.8.11 @ 10:08AM

Politically isn't it true that RINO Ron Paul consistently opposed President Reagan's muscular and pro-American foreign policy? Going so far as to attack Reagan and supporting the World Court’s attacks on Reagan.

"The U.S. policy toward Libya further confirms our irrational foreign policy. Under Reagan we have been determined to pick a fight with Khadafi, defying him with naval and air maneuvers in the Gulf of Sidra. As we try to emphasize our right to navigate in international waters near Libya, we totally reject the territorial waters of Nicaragua by mining their harbors. The World Court rulings against the U.S. were ignored by the Reagan Administration...." RINO neo-liberal Ron Paul

Clint| 9.8.11 @ 10:17AM

Tell Us About Lybia Little Micky RINO.
Dr.Ron Paul,
“There is no doubt that Moammar Gadhafi is a bad guy, and that he has brought harm and misery to his country. However, our involvement in another country’s civil war is costly and unconstitutional.

“We have spent over $1 billion on a war that this administration has fought not with the consent of Congress but under a NATO flag and authorization from the United Nations."

Michael Tomlinson| 9.8.11 @ 10:25AM

"The U.S. policy toward Libya further confirms our irrational foreign policy. Under Reagan we have been determined to pick a fight with Khadafi, defying him with naval and air maneuvers in the Gulf of Sidra. As we try to emphasize our right to navigate in international waters near Libya, we totally reject the territorial waters of Nicaragua by mining their harbors. The World Court rulings against the U.S. were ignored by the Reagan Administration...." RINO neo-liberal Ron Paul

Clint| 9.8.11 @ 10:47AM

Tell Us About Lybia Little Micky RINO.
Dr.Ron Paul,
“There is no doubt that Moammar Gadhafi is a bad guy, and that he has brought harm and misery to his country. However, our involvement in another country’s civil war is costly and unconstitutional.

“We have spent over $1 billion on a war that this administration has fought not with the consent of Congress but under a NATO flag and authorization from the United Nations."

Disappointed| 9.8.11 @ 9:51AM

I Hear Ya, Brother. I voted for Obama I’m more than a little disappointed.

Dan Hirsch| 9.8.11 @ 9:58AM

If you had done your homework before November of 08, you would still be disappointed, but you wouldn't feel used...

Hope you learned something from that mistake...

Don't tread on me.

Michael Tomlinson| 9.8.11 @ 10:09AM

Welcome to the real America.

W| 9.8.11 @ 10:13AM

If Ron Paul resigned from the Republican Party in his letter to President Reagan, when and how was he reinstated to the party?

Dan Hirsch| 9.8.11 @ 4:12PM

Uhh,

Stupid Big Tent!!!!

Doh!

Margie| 9.8.11 @ 7:32PM

"I therefore resign my membership in the Republican Party and enclose my membership card."

He should have stayed out!

RCV| 9.9.11 @ 8:39PM

Do you guys really issue and carry membership cards around?

Clint| 9.8.11 @ 7:27AM

Dr. Ron Paul said: “You know, the governor of Texas [Perry] criticized the governor of Massachusetts [Romney] for RomneyCare. But he wrote a really fancy letter supporting HillaryCare. So we probably ought to ask him about that.”

The Letter:

"In a letter to Clinton, who is now U.S. Secretary of State, Perry wrote: “I think your efforts in trying to reform the nation’s health care system are most commendable.”

“I would like to request that the task force give particular consideration to the needs of the nation’s farmers, ranchers, and agriculture workers, and other members of rural communities,” Perry continued, noting his administration’s focus on economic development for rural Texans. “Rural populations have a high proportion of uninsured people, rising health care costs, and often experience lack of services.”

“Again, your efforts are worthy,” Perry concluded, ”and I hope you will remember this constituency as the task force progresses.”

Doctor Right| 9.8.11 @ 8:45AM

Clint, you moronic fool...

It's time for a history lesson, dim-wit.

When was "Hillary-Care" being debated? What year was it?

Here's a clue: 1993. Who was Governor of Texas in 1993? Ann Richards, a Democrat.

And what was Rick Perry doing in 1993? He was Commisioner of Agriculture for the State of Texas.

Ok, since you're not too bright, let's connect the dots:

Who was Rick Perry's boss in 1993?

Governor Ann Richards...Democrat.

At whose behest did Perry, in his official capacity as Comissioner of Agriculture, send a form letter to the Clinton administration asking them to consider the needs of uninsured Texans who work in the agriculture sector?

Governor Ann Richards...Democrat...His boss.

Clint, you really are an imbecile.

Clint| 9.8.11 @ 8:53AM

Oh !

Ricky Perry The Algore Cheerleader

Drunken Sailor| 9.8.11 @ 9:02AM

Balatro

Clint| 9.8.11 @ 9:14AM

Uh Oh !
The Ricky Parry Algore Cheerleaders are in the building.

Ricky Perry Leads His Cheerleaders :
We Want HillaryCare !
We Want HillaryCare !
We Want HillaryCare !

Boar Hunter| 9.8.11 @ 12:25PM

Clint the balatro performs again!

Clint| 9.8.11 @ 1:10PM

The Ricky Perry Algore Cheerleaders :

Give me a "T"

Give me an "A"

Give me a "R"

Give me a "P"

Whatdayagot !

TARP !

Woooooooooo !

Yaaaaaaaaaayyyy !

Michael Tomlinson| 9.8.11 @ 9:06AM

RINO Ron "Wild Shrimp" Paul is the Ronald Reagan trasher!!

Clint| 9.8.11 @ 9:16AM

Ronald Reagan,
"Ron Paul is one of the outstanding leaders fighting for a stronger national defense. As a former Air Force officer, he knows well the needs of our armed forces, and he always puts them first. We need to keep him fighting for our country."

Michael Tomlinson| 9.8.11 @ 10:05AM

"I personally believe that the most EVIL thing President Reagan did as president was to order the invasion of the tiny island of Grenada. Prior to the great U.S. military victory over Grenadian forces, which consisted of not much more than mowing down three men with fishing spears, the United States populace, because of Vietnam, was sick of war. The great "victory" in Grenada caused the taste for blood and pride in national military superiority to be reignited in the bowels of the American boobsie set..." RINO neo-liberal Ron Paul

Clint| 9.8.11 @ 10:23AM

Ricky Perry Algore Cheerleader Israel Firster Little Micky Rino here wants to use Our American Warriors as cannon fodder, to Forcefeed Democracy around the globe & police the world.

The Tea Party Rebellion Is Here.

Dan Hirsch| 9.8.11 @ 10:09AM

Ever hear a polite Congressman respond to an opposition party Mayor's mildly favorable introduction when they are speaking at a public function?

Every smart politician says some nice things about his opposition. Morons do not.

Lemme see now, what are they calling the Tea Party nowadays???

Besides, wasn't Reagan saying we need to keep Ron Paul in the Air Force, where we can keep an eye on him? HeeHaw!

Besides last night, the MSNBC moderators were being nice to DOCTOR Paul throwing him mostly softballs that would line him up to spit at Governor Perry. It is incredibly obvious that Perry scares the lamestream and Romney doesn't.

Paging Sarah Palin! Paging Sarah Palin!

Don't tread on me...

Dream ticket: Palin/Perry, with the top of the ticket being determined in a shoot off using long rifles with open sights....

Michael Tomlinson| 9.8.11 @ 10:39AM

While Ron Paul postures now as a supporter of Ronald Reagan isn't the truth that he fought against the Reagan agenda? Here is what RINO Paul's former chief of staff wrote demeaning and belittling President Reagan http://www.lewrockwell.com/pol.....epublican/

Doctor Right| 9.8.11 @ 10:24AM

TRANSLATION:

Dr. Right made me look stupid (again), so I'm going to type a meaningless, bizarre phrase intended as an insult and hope that no one notices that I'm factually challenged.

- Clint

Michael Tomlinson| 9.8.11 @ 10:27AM

Good one.

Clint| 9.8.11 @ 10:51AM

TRANSLATION:

Doctor Right: Wants Us To Believe He's Smarter Than We,The Great Unwashed.

Doctor Right| 9.8.11 @ 11:01AM

No, just you.

And trust me, it's not that hard. My hydrangea is smarter than you (that's a plant, by the way...)

Clint| 9.8.11 @ 11:35AM

Doctor Reich Wants Me, Tea Party Clint To Believe He's Smarter Than Me, One Of The Great Unwashed.

Go Sell Your Israel Firster Pseudo-Intellect Plastic Elitist Sand To The Arabs.

You're Scared Of The Tea Party & Hidin' In Joisey.

TexasLighthouse| 9.8.11 @ 2:04PM

Hahaha! I love it!

Lawrence Boccardi| 9.8.11 @ 8:58AM

That seems a little harsh, doesn't it Doctor? I think the Texas Ag Commissioner is elected in his own race, and not "bossed" by the Gov. However, that does not disqualify Perry, IMO.

Doctor Right| 9.8.11 @ 10:26AM

Not harsh at all.

First of all, you're not used to dealing with Clint, our resident Paul-bot drone. He IS an imbecile.

Secondly, the Agriculture Commissioner may be elected, but he does not make policy in a vacuum. The Governor is his boss.

canuckistani| 9.8.11 @ 11:42AM

Perhaps Perry is more nuanced after all, and that's why he terrifies Rove et al.

Crazy like a fox, pandering to the flat-earthers to get the nod?

Doctor Right| 9.8.11 @ 11:54AM

What do you mean by "flat earthers"??

Dan Hirsch| 9.8.11 @ 1:07PM

Doc;

I believe that canuckistani believes in AGW, single payer, and not in the death penalty, might be a Keynesian, too. People who disagree also believe the earth to be flat. Although it is, in places...

He means this as an insult to those of us too unschooled not to hold all of this received wisdom...

He also thinks of it as funny.

Very little that c-stani writes is even close to funny; it's more sad.

DTOM

skip| 9.8.11 @ 5:28PM

You left out fannie maeistani, freddie macistani, and politicianistanis like Carteristani, Clintonistani, and Frankistani didn't have anything to do with the housing bubble, it was the greedy financial bastardistanis looking to make all that money giving loans to innocent victimistanis who couldn't afford the mortgages in the first place much less would ever be able to pay them off.

canuckistani| 9.8.11 @ 5:28PM

Flat-earthers choose to refute the facts and evidence confirming they may be wrong about many important things. They cling to quaint ideas that somehow the clock can be rewound back to a happier simpler time that NEVER existed. That somehow they can be selective of what can be accepted and discarded about the history of policies we debate here, and somehow the genie of globalization and it's associated realities can be sucked back into the bottle. It's time to lead, follow or get out of the way.

Perry's Gardasil decision, support for TARP and pandering to evangelicals is all part of his nuance - possibly a demonstrated plan to deny his opponents the ability to frame him. It is also clear evidence that governing is difficult, and shouting plays from the cheap seats is amusing, but completely irrelevant in the big picture.
Boehner et al have shown they are not ready to govern. BHO has also demo'd his trainee failings, thus leaving the American people rudderless.

The fact Bushies despise him is enough to get my attention. The Gramm death deals will have legs when the general hits the populace's minds next summer. Nuance.

Sean| 9.8.11 @ 9:23AM

Seems to me Doctor Right is the fool. The Ag Commissioner in Texas is independently elected. In 1993, 1992, 1991, 1990 people knew what Hillary wanted in healthcare. It doesn't matter if the final bill was not made yet. This is like commending Obama for tackling health care in 2008. No conservative would do it because we knew what he wanted was bad.

Clint| 9.8.11 @ 9:37AM

The Ricky Parry Algore Cheerleaders are in the building.

Ricky Perry Leads His Cheerleaders:

Hillary, Hillary , She's Our Man
If Obama Care Won't Do It, HillaryCare Can !

Doctor Right| 9.8.11 @ 10:27AM

Seems to me that you're an idiot if you think the Texas Agriculture Commissioner, whether elected or appointed, makes policy on his own and doesn't consult the Governor, his Boss.

You're in over your head, Sean...

Clint| 9.8.11 @ 10:53AM

Doctor Right Is A Pseudo-Intellect,Who Thinks He's Smarter Than We,The Great Unwashed.

Doctor Right| 9.8.11 @ 11:02AM

So wash. Your Paul-bot smell is obnoxious.

Clint| 9.8.11 @ 11:52AM

I Bet You Say That To All Of Us , The Great Unwashed Pseudo-Elitist Faux Intellect Dr.Reich.

Your Breath Of Ass Is More Obnoxious Pseudo-Intellect Plastic Elitist, Dr.Reich.

You're Scared Of The Tea Party.

Sean| 9.8.11 @ 11:14AM

The Governor is Texas would have been free to praise Hillary care all she wanted. Perry as Ag Com didn't have to do it. Where is your evidence that the governor forced Perry to do it? All the evidence points to this as a decision Perry himself made.

Doctor Right| 9.8.11 @ 11:55AM

Did I say "forced", genius??

Sean| 9.8.11 @ 4:12PM

Doctor Left, So which one is it. Was Perry ordered by his boss to support Hillary Care or did he do it by his own free will? What an idiot.

Doctor Right| 9.8.11 @ 5:10PM

I guess you don't know what "at the behest" means, do you, dumbass?

Clint| 9.8.11 @ 11:56AM

The Ricky Perry Algore Cheerleaders:

We Say Hillary !
We Say Care !

Hillary !

Care !

Whatdaya Got !

Deficits !

Wooooooo !

Yaaaaaaaaaay !

Michael Tomlinson| 9.8.11 @ 9:05AM

RINO Ron Paul’s Letter trashing Reagan and resigning from the Republican Party.