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All the President’s Props
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Mitt’s Masquerade
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Political Hay
A Fling With Federalism
Lamenting the loss of Rick Perry.
One representation of the volatility of the Republican presidential primary this year has been in the positioning of the candidates on the debate stage. Television producers, perhaps imagining the podiums as a football offensive line, place the frontrunners in the middle, then fan out the rest of the candidates in order of relevance. With the exception of perennial bookend Jon Huntsman, just about every GOP contender enjoyed his or her time at center stage.
Not long ago, Texas Governor Rick Perry stood in that coveted middle, alongside current frontrunner Mitt Romney. But at last week’s candidates’ forum in South Carolina, the deck was once again reshuffled and Perry was (perhaps ironically) positioned on the far-left side. And all this in the state that became the linchpin of his post-Iowa campaign. How far the mighty had fallen.
About halfway through the debate, Mitt Romney and Rick Santorum got in a dust-up over a bill that Santorum had supported in Congress which would have given felons who exhausted their sentences the right to vote. After several rounds of slings and arrows between the two, Perry managed to interrupt. “And this is a great example of the insiders that are having the conversation up here. And the fact of the matter is this: Washington, DC needs to leave the states alone and let the states decide these issues and don’t do it from Washington, DC.” The line received wild applause. Later on, Perry declared, in a sound bite that probably autopenned a few Huffington Post headlines the next day, “South Carolina is at war with this federal government and this administration.
Perry received accolades for his debate performance from many conservatives that night. But the damage had already been done. Lassoed by stagnant poll numbers in the Palmetto State, he dropped out of the race three days later.
During his brief ride across the presidential frontier, Perry was often compared to George W. Bush. Both were Texas governors. Both ran as credentialed conservatives. Both moved with a pluck and a crackle in the air that seem native to the Lone Star State. But this ham-handed metaphor obscured something worth noticing: Perry’s ideas — states’ rights, interstate competition, and the superiority of local governance — are unique; not just unique among the current candidates, but representative of an ideological strain in the Republican Party that seems to have gone dormant over the past decade and may be awakening from its slumber.
States-rights conservatism has historically been in the Republican wheelhouse, embodied in its most unvarnished form by Barry Goldwater back in 1964. In his seminal Conscience of a Conservative, Goldwater wrote, “There is a reason for the reservation of States’ Rights. Not only does it prevent the accumulation of power in a central government that is remote from the people and relatively immune from popular restraints; it also recognizes the principle that essentially local problems are best dealt with by the people most directly concerned.”
But somewhere along the way, the GOP’s taste for states’ rights was discarded as a nettlesome impediment to Republican governance. The new fad was wielding the g-forces of government to produce “conservative solutions.” Thus did the Heritage Foundation dream up the individual mandate: rather than collectivize the entire health care system, they would foist personal responsibility on people by forcing them to purchase insurance. Then the free market would sputter to life and all our health care woes would be solved. (Though forcing citizens to buy a product seems to clash with the whole “free market” idea just a smidge.) It was this obsequious, technocratic swamp that produced ideas like the federalization of education under No Child Left Behind and Medicare Part D.
So when Rick Perry talks about federalism, he’s lobbing stones not only at progressive Democrats who view the very term “states’ rights” as cursive for racism, but also at many old-guard Republicans.
But it’s curious that the idea of federalism should sound so novel in the first place. Empowering the states and enforcing the Tenth Amendment would necessarily neuter the federal government. But it would also maintain a scaffolding of laws to preserve order. Federalism means dividing and devolving power, not eliminating it. “States’ rights” often gets tagged as a “libertarian” ideal. But it lacks the flavor of libertarianism desired by some doe-eyed Randian utopists who believe you can strip away laws and Americans ultimately won’t drive through red lights because the free market will kill them. Federalism is an ordered liberty. What could be more conservative?
When Rick Perry drawls, “Let the states decide,” he’s expressing a remarkably intricate and authentically American idea that dates back to our founding documents and the writings of James Madison. The Constitution was written as an elaborate labyrinth teeming with trip wires and booby traps for any aristocrat or mob energetically seeking power, keeping them at arm’s length so the individual had room to prosper and thrive. Back then, the challenge was painstakingly balancing the rights of the states while still sculpting an effective national government. Today the seesaw has lurched so far in the federal direction, restoring federalism means bringing the states back to life. This should be a levelheaded goal of conservatives everywhere.
Perry was the candidate who kept the Tenth Amendment closest to his heart. This isn’t to say that he drew his theories into practice flawlessly. Stacks of articles have been written pointing out his inconsistencies. Perry also fell victim to sporadic gimmickry, represented best by his tax plan that literally had it both ways by allowing people to either subscribe to a flat tax or remain under the current code. But as an insolent Texas governor who indefatigably battled the Obama Administration on a host of issues and preached about states’ rights at every turn, he was the most potent embodiment of the federalist ideals that once inspired Barry Goldwater.
One of the great whodunit cases of this election will be why Perry, once advertised as the GOP’s next redeemer, never caught on. It could have been the debate gaffes, or his claim that those opposed to in-state tuition for illegal immigrants “don’t have a heart,” or his ill-advised barn-coat ad attacking President Obama’s “war on religion,” or the volatility of the Republican electorate, or all of those things, or none of them. But Perry’s ideas, however imperfectly they were practiced, hearken back to a buried cornerstone of conservatism worth unearthing again in this age of federal overreach. Perry won’t make it to the White House. But let’s hope his torch is carried there by the eventual nominee.
Letter to the Editor View all comments (84) | Leave a comment
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Jack in Wi.| 1.23.12 @ 6:25AM
This race is turning out bautiful. The old Republican party is being destroyed. The Israeli candidate with his millions of Israeli extreemist money Gingrich isdestroying the candidate of the old bush elites Romney? Why are the most extreme elements in Israel, not backing Romney. Perhaps they see that he is not as pliableble as they want. Well I don't have to worry about Newt ever being President. He would be luckey to get 20% of the vote in a 3 way race. What women, independent, young person, or disaffected Democrat will vote for Newt and all his baggage? Obama will destroy this guy. He is a chickenhawk calling for endless war for Israel in a country that hates these wars. Obama can credibly run as the peace candidate. He got Bin Laden, can claim he ended the Iraq war, and can claim he is bringing the troops home from Afganistan. How you going to beat that with Mr. blowhard who got kicked out of Congress because he was a crook and ineffective , by his own party? All Gingrich guarentees is that there will finally be a third party that will supplant the Republicans. It is about time.
Jack in Wi.| 1.23.12 @ 7:24AM
The only guy running who is a true federalist is Ron Paul. Perry just was a pale immitation of him. he used to spout some states rights talk because it is good Texas politics. He is just another Bildiberger like the rest of them.
JGwen| 1.23.12 @ 8:11AM
Governor Perry did attend a Bilderberg meeting in June, 2007, and now some say (mostly Ron Paul supporters) that he is their hand-picked candidate for the job of POTUS in 2012. Since attending four years ago, his detractors would have us believe that he’s been studying his Bilderberg bible, taking classes in New World Governing, and polishing his Illuminati lapel pin. Does this mean that the Bilderbergers are ready to dump President Obama (who they also supposedly put in office) in favor of Rick Perry?
Following are a few of the prominent persons attending one or more Bilderberg meetings: Presidents Bill Clinton and Gerald Ford, George Soros, Chris Dodd, John Corzine, and Kathleen Sebelius among others.
Only in science fiction (and conspiracy theories) can someone like Rick Perry be turned into a mind-numbed robot following the Bilderberg’s nefarious instructions to take over the world … instructions that they somehow implanted in less than three days … four years ago … right.
During an interview by Maggie Haberman on 8/15/2011, Perry said that he was invited to the Bilderberg meeting and attended out of curiosity. “I found it to be an interesting group of people. I have yet to find out why they want to keep it a secret,” he said. “I haven’t been invited back and that was 5 years ago, so I guess I didn’t impress them.”
Vern Crisler| 1.23.12 @ 9:32AM
Paul is not a federalist. He'd be closer to an anti-federalist. Perry's mistake, besides bad debate performances at first, was leading with his chin on such issues as illegal immigration and mandating inoculations (or whatever). Same mistake made by Huntsman, leading with his chin on global-warming and Darwinist swill. You can't do that sort of thing in a conservative primary or you'll be toast by the time you reach South Carolina. When will candidates ever learn?
Dick Nome| 1.23.12 @ 1:04PM
Sorry Jack, Rube Paul is more along the lines of returning to the Articles of Confederation.
Hobbes| 1.23.12 @ 2:35PM
Israel, recipient of $3 billion in US foreign aid, provides universal healthcare to its citizens. So according to the GOP we should subsidize healthcare for Israelis but not Americans?
Dai Alanye | 1.23.12 @ 2:59PM
We subsidize Israel so they can maintain the strongest military in the Near East. Who else can we depend upon to take out Muslim nuclear programs?
Joe Gause| 1.23.12 @ 6:25PM
Jack, we can always count on you to stick your head where the sun doesn't shine. You don't know jackshit.
chuck| 1.23.12 @ 8:48AM
Jew-hating Jack is sounding increasingly desperate.
Jack| 1.23.12 @ 2:57PM
chuckie: If the zionists were not desperate they would never be dumping untold millions into Gingrich's campaign. The jig is up on you guys. The world hates Israel and all it stands for. Sooner or later it will vanish on the ash heap of history like the Soviet Union, apartheid South Africa, and Nazi Germany.
Dai Alanye | 1.23.12 @ 3:00PM
I'm betting RonPaul ends up on that notorious ash heap first.
Al Adab| 1.23.12 @ 3:09PM
Sooner the better and Romney needs to put his ego aside and realize his 30% won't do it come November.
Quartermaster| 1.23.12 @ 6:01PM
The first Republican President, Ol' Dishonest Abe hisself, kind of repudiated the founder's idea of state sovereignty back in 1861-65. It's no surprise that Reps have trouble with it today, and have very few weapons with which to fight the communists with.
Perry is quite correct about state's rights. But his party's flagship Prez disagrees with him, just as Dishonest Abe disagreed with the founders. Funny how these things work.
Michael Tomlinson| 1.23.12 @ 6:33AM
Sadly, now that the only consistent conservative and real adherent to the Tenth Amendment and the Constitutional principle of separation of powers is out are the pundits finally waking up to why solid conservatives (not flaky libertarians, big union social conservatives, Tea Party populists, isolationist paleocon know-nothings or Reagan fawning sycophants) are so underwhelmed by the final four (all to the left of Perry or in the case DC insider Ron “RINO” Paul to the left of Obama).
As for the rumblings to draft Mitch Daniels – HELL NO! If we’re going to draft a conservative make it Perry or someone that shares his same love for the Constitution and true federalism – Jindal or Pence.
Clint| 1.23.12 @ 7:23AM
Uh Oh !
Mickey, The Ricky Perry AlGore Cheeerleader Is Hissy Fittin' Over Dr.Ron Paul Again.
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,"
The Tea Party Rebellion Heads To A Brokered Convention.
Clint| 1.23.12 @ 8:50AM
Uh Oh!
I Think I Pooped My Pants!
The Tea Party Rebellion Heads To The Bathroom For An Underwear Change.
Dick Nome| 1.23.12 @ 1:06PM
Hey, Clint you Clod. Rick Santorum beat your crackpot by a significant number.
Clint| 1.23.12 @ 6:45PM
Hey Dick, You're Mama Knew Exactly What To Name Ya.
Big Government Ricky Santorum's Record On Voting For The Medicare Prescription Drugs, Earmarks, Even The Bridge To Nowhere, His Support For The Lobbyist "K-Street Project" , His Tariff Votes, , No Child Left Behind,Etc. Is Gonna Sink Him With Tea Party Patriots.
The Tea Party Rebellion Is In Florida.
Clint| 1.23.12 @ 6:34PM
The Gutless Coward Israel Firster Smear Bund Poseur Punk Poster Is In The Building.
The Tea Party Rebellion Steps On The Coward.
Vern Crisler| 1.23.12 @ 9:26AM
Why do you keep quoting Ronald Reagan when all the Ron Paul supporters (over at Lew Rockwell's site) hate Ronald Reagan, and also Sarah, Rush, Buckley, Lincoln, & Washington?
Clint| 1.23.12 @ 6:38PM
Because Ronald Reagan Was Right About Libertarianism,Silly Ass.
The Tea Party Rebellion Is In Florida.
Vern Crisler | 1.23.12 @ 11:56PM
Or perhaps Ronald Reagan had a different definition of libertarianism. Your type of libertarianism comes from the anarchist and conspiracy crank Murray Rothbard, not from Mises or Hayek. Reagan honored Hayek.
Indy| 1.23.12 @ 8:22AM
Pence was my first choice from the beginning but he decided to run for governor, I don't think he wanted to put his family through the nastiness of a national election. I don't agree with all of his positions but he would be a much better candidate than the choices we have now.
JimP| 1.23.12 @ 7:06AM
I was quite sad that Gov. Perry didn't do better and now has dropped out. I really like him and think he would have done well as POTUS. He's a real class act IMO. I wish him, and Texas well. Thanks for running Governor!
richard ryan| 1.23.12 @ 7:32AM
Perry is a great guy. Finally a conservative who has the GUTS to endorse a non-Romney while it still can make a difference. Romney = Milquetoast
chuck| 1.23.12 @ 8:45AM
"Romney = Milquetoast"
Absolutely!
I always used to describe Dennis Hastert as milquetoast. Like Romney, Hastert was no conservative, and spending sky-rocketed under his Speakership. We went from a balanced budget with surpluses paying down debt, to huge deficits under Hastert. Romney is cut from the same cloth. If you want to cut and balance the budget, Newt is the man.
Tired Taxpayer PRM| 1.23.12 @ 1:22PM
Just to pick a favorite nit.
Please realize that the total amount of debt in this country has NEVER gone down since 1950. "Surpluses", budget or otherwise, are a figment of political and MSM imagination. Every president since Eisenhower (yes, even Clinton and the sainted Reagan) has added to the debt.
If we were “paying down the debt” wouldn’t you expect the total amount of debt to go down?
Hasn’t happened, don’t trust me though, look it up. I would give you the link but then you could accuse me of making up figures. Go to the US Treasury web site and search (it isn’t easy, they love to give you the numbers as a percentage of GDP but never the absolute numbers).
chuck| 1.23.12 @ 3:22PM
You,re right. The problem is the games they play. Keeping some things "off budget", like the war.
But we certainly weren't racking up the debt like after Gingrich was ousted and replaced by Hastert.
bill| 1.23.12 @ 9:52AM
Perry dropped out but endorsed Gingrich. We saw the revolt in SC on Saturday night, as it happened in 1861, 1994, 2010. It's just the beginning.
de reichenbach| 1.23.12 @ 12:37PM
I agree JimP. Gov Perry was my choice as well. Very sad for us that it did not work out. What we are left with is nuts!
c.j. acworth| 1.23.12 @ 7:14AM
The power to tax is the power to destroy. With the Feds grabbing ever larger shares of the wealth of this country, they have the ability to disburse it back to the states IF the states will do their bidding. How many regulations are passed at the federal level along with a threat of witholding highway funds if a state will not fall in line? The states have sold their (our) birthright for a mess of pottage. The Feds must be cut back to their Constitutional role. It will take a few generations to do it, and will be painful to many however well managed, but it must be done. As a start, I would like to see a Republican president write some program out of his first budget. Start small, say the National Endowment for the Arts. Peanuts, I know, but just give me some hope that eventually we will get to the Dept. of Ed. You gotta start somewhere.
Mike 3/505| 1.23.12 @ 12:38PM
"As a start, I would like to see a Republican president write some program out of his first budget. Start small, say the National Endowment for the Arts. Peanuts, I know, but just give me some hope that eventually we will get to the Dept. of Ed. You gotta start somewhere."
Hear! Hear!
Purp| 1.23.12 @ 1:50PM
Won't happen - campaigning is about division, governing is about union, and they must govern ALL the people, not just the ones that like them or who they agree with.
Drunken Sailor| 1.23.12 @ 4:11PM
Please forward your memo to 1600 Pennslyvania avenue, Washington DC. I don't think your guy got it.
Purp| 1.23.12 @ 1:49PM
And, yet Federal taxes are at their lowest levels in over 60 years - how can the Feds be taking a larger and larger share, when it keeps getting smaller? Hmmm?
Dick Nome| 1.23.12 @ 2:48PM
You are plain stupid.
Drunken Sailor| 1.23.12 @ 4:12PM
Come on Dick. Be fair. He is exceptionally stupid, not plain.
Purp| 1.23.12 @ 7:05PM
No, you just can't refute any facts. Didn't you know that the Federal Tax % is the lowest it's been in over 60 years? you didn't did you? come on, be honest.
Gordon B| 1.23.12 @ 7:55AM
Mr. Thomas has written an excellent article. Rick Perry articulated 10th Amendment doctrine very well, especially in his book "Fed Up". Perry seems like an astute guy, so perhaps his endorsement of Newt can give hope that, in the midst of all of Gingrich's passions, there is a simmering love of States Rights.
bill| 1.23.12 @ 9:50AM
Also, without states' rights, personal liberty and private property rights will be diluted. States are the guardian of our civil liberty, not the Feds.
Harry Beadle| 1.23.12 @ 8:28AM
We don't need states rights. We need state SOVEREIGNTY! That's what the Founders envisioned.
bill| 1.23.12 @ 9:48AM
States' rights transform/prompt/generate into sovereignty.
JGwen| 1.23.12 @ 8:34AM
IMO, our Nation has sadly lost its opportunity to elect the candidate with a solid record of Effective, Conservative, Executive Governance, who would have been the most able to quickly address our dire needs (as inflicted by our current leadership) in January of 2013. His plans to address our needs for (domestic) energy, jobs, cutting spending, reforming tax policy, refining the Congress and the Bureaucracies would have served as a road map to follow in addressing needed reforms.
Just a few of his successes include:
Last Into the Recession, First Out: Texas Tax Revenues Bounce Back
Texas rated the number one business-friendly state in America.
Texas is the number 1 exporting state nine years in a row and is pulling away from resource-rich California.
Texas has about 8.1% of the nation's population, but only 4.7% of the nation's foreclosures
I would note further, he was the candidate with the most balanced view regarding climate change.
rnd| 1.23.12 @ 9:52AM
The nation did not so much as lose its opportunity as Rick Perry decided to take it from all of us.
Do you live in South Carolina? No. Nor do I and most here. MOST all of us are in states still 6 - 8 weeks away from our primaries -- our chances to "speak up" and "vote"/choose.
Like Huntsman, and Pawlenty, Perry just decided his ego couldn't take it -- I guess.
Why do people pay attention to polls? For example, the polls in SC did not indicate the Newt G. would so handily win the Palmetto State.
The only poll that matters is at the ballot box. And up until that point all we are served is lies, diversions, mistruths, lousy figures, poorly obtained stats/polls.
Or do you really trust the media? Do you? Do any of us really trust Gallop or Rassmussen?
So ask: Why. Rick Perry, were you campaigning then from August through December? What were you doing, Mr. Perry? What were you thinking?
And then you bowed out like a coward before letting us decide the matter.
Purp| 1.23.12 @ 1:53PM
Yep, and 25% of Texans have no healthcare at all. They are lowest in education and are the minimum wage State, with the lowest wages in their huge growth in jobs. What good jobs they have come from the Oil Industry and the jacked up prices the oil companies suck out of the rest of us. And, they are the #1 death penalty State. You can keep Texas.
Al Adab| 1.23.12 @ 3:00PM
Everyone on this country has healthcare Purp. It is simply a matter of paying the bill like we do for every other product or service we buy. Do you really believe that we have a right to have our bills paid by other people?
Wages are best set by market forces not by monopolies (unions) which seek to control supply. Oil prices are the result of our over controling federal government which won't allow the companies to drill, build refineries or pipelines to meet demand. Policies which seek to turn this country into a low standard of living nation are simply wrong.
BTW people executed for crimes have a very low recidivism rate. Thank you for not moving to Texas as I may one day soon.
Purp| 1.23.12 @ 3:40PM
Sorry, but that's right wing theoretical baloney. Oil prices are a result of the world market price for oil. There is no such thing as "American Oil" and the Keystone Pipeline would just add to Global Oil supply - it can go through Canada and have the same effect on Americans - minus the few thousand jobs created. BTW Canada doesn't want the pipeline either - wonder why?
Breaking up of Unions, Right to Work States and TransNational Corporations taking over markets all create a race to the bottom of the wage scale. The government has not stopped oil companies from creating refineries, they just don't want to. They carefully balance world demand and supply to prop up prices. Why else would world oil prices rise during worldwide recession? It's a manipulated market - and it isn't the Government doing that! That is not free market economics. It's just control of the market by other means. The government provides the balance to the large entities that can drown the individual and his rights.
As far as I'm concerned, I want airline regulation back - where airlines competed with customer service, not price and schedule. I prefer the days where air travel was pleasant, not like the cattle cars they are today.
I'd like the phone company regulated too, with sturdy telephones that don't break if you drop them and you can actually decipher your phone bill.
I'd like trucking to be regulated again, so we had safe drivers on the road again, not poor drivers driven to drive over 12 hours to make good time and make the almighty buck by how much ground they can cover pushing their speeding 80,000 pound truck to the limits.
Some things need regulations, and in my mind, those things that become necessities in our lives and critical to our businesses or daily jobs are amongst those. Just like regulating everything is bad, so is regulating nothing. The trick is picking the right regulations for the right industries.
Al Adab| 1.23.12 @ 5:47PM
1/2 right Purp on the fact that oil is a fungible commodity. The rest is just blather. Have a great evening.
Redatheart| 1.23.12 @ 8:38AM
It didn't take long for someone in the media to notice that Rick Perry had some very bold and exceptional ideas for this country. Once touted as the only one with debate skills, Romney is now sweating and stuttering in the face of the same type of tough questions asked of Perry.
Presidential elections should be about records of accomplishment, proven experience and in 2012, it should have been all about going to Washington to shake things up rather than going to snuggle in.
Otis the Hand | 1.23.12 @ 8:46AM
Wow. The anti-semetic Paul kooks have already pooped on the thread. They do us a great service by reminding us who they are.
Good article. The Perry campaign will continue to influence the party specifically in regard to the 10th amendment. Gingrich knows where his bread and butter is -- at least for the moment.
****quote****
"His passion is implementing the 10th Amendment," Gingrich said of his former adversary-turned-supporter. "We’re going to work with him to return power to the states to local governments and get it out of Washington, D.C."
All but one of the 22 state officials who endorsed Perry early in his campaign transferred their loyalty to Gingrich after Perry pulled out of his race and bestowed his remaining South Carolina political capital on Gingrich.
http://www.bostonherald.com/ne.....ion=recent
chuck| 1.23.12 @ 8:52AM
Perry would make a good VP.
bill| 1.23.12 @ 9:47AM
GOP Dream Team:
President: Newt Gingrich
VP : Rick Perry
AG : Rudy Giuliani
Secretary of State : Rick Santorum
Treasury : Paul Ryan
DHS : Joe Arpaio
Commerce: Mitt Romney
The "Freedom March" has begun. Please join us!
Louis Jenkins| 1.23.12 @ 9:07AM
No use crying over spilt milk. Perry is toast. Either the voting public is dissatisfied with his policies, or with his gaffs. I personnaly wish he could have stayed in as it made for a better debate. Perry wasn't high and mighty acting, and as far as I know, he didn't have three wives.
Len| 1.23.12 @ 9:11AM
So again dismiss Ron Paul, who has for 30 years or so stood in the congress refusing to give in to the continual encroachment by the federal government of those powers reserved to the states?
During the recent debate when the gun rights issue was brought up, Santorum tried to portray RP as someone who would not stand for gun rights, but RP reminded him that tort laws belong to the states. The little victories being achieved by using the 14th amendment (wrongfully) against the states will be realized as setbacks down the road as they only allow the federal government to accumulate more power.
Bachmann also erred in this by supporting a bill that would give the federal government power over torts in the area of health care.
As for Perry, he has had many years as a governor to refuse the federal governments intrusions. Forgotten, apparently, is that last year Texas' legislature had a bill regarding the TSA under their reserved powers which Perry refused to forward during their special session. He backed down at the threat to stop flights into Texas. This was a bluff that should've been called, as there was no way that would've flown (no pun intended).
BTW, for those not already familiar with this organization, here is a link to the Tenth Amendment Center, with many good articles, some from a prominent scholar by the name of Robert Natelson.
http://tenthamendmentcenter.com/
zane| 1.23.12 @ 11:13AM
It would be nice if people who are going to comment on Texas politics, and legislation, would at least get their facts correct. So let me just destroy your claims about the TSA bill in Texas.
The bill was written by Congressman Dan Patrick (R-Houston). It seemed to have enough supporters to get it passed when the U.S. Attorney's office penned a letter to David Dewhust, Lt. Gov., who presides over the Congress, and Joe Strauss, Speaker of the Texas House, warning that any action taken against the TSA would force the federal government to shut down the air traffic over Texas due to security concerns. The letter can be found on line (never mind that not ONE terrorist has ever been thwarted by a TSA shoving his hand down the pants of a young child or feeling up a Catholic nun). The bill was pulled.
Not to be thwarted by an over reaching federal government, Perry personally put the bill back on the docket in the special session. Again, Patrick worked the bill, but the threat from the feds, along with Dewhurst/Strauss allowing representatives from the TSA to work the Congress, the bill was, once again, killed.
When the bill was being discussed, and shelved by Joe Strauss, the gallery was full of Texans who wanted to see it passed. It was NOT Perry's fault the bill didn't pass; that dishonor goes to David Dewhurst (now running for U.S. Senate) and Joe Strauss.
So please, remember when you start to talk about Texas politics, we Texans are here to make the record straight, and you did not.
zane| 1.23.12 @ 11:22AM
Oh, and about Ron Paul who was (unfortunately) my Congressman for some years: he has not been in Congress for 30 years, only 23. And in all that time, he has authored, and managed to get passed, ONE bill. And that was to simply have the feds hand over a building to his district that was scheduled to be torn down. WoW! Count me as unimpressed.
Paul is a poseur. He loads bills up with pork for his district when he knows the bill has the votes to pass, then votes against them so he can hang on to his claim of being against pork. But he piggied up to the trough to the tune of $28 million in 2008 alone. Anyone who supports Ron Paul does so only because they either don't know his past or choose to ignore it. Spend a month reading Lew Rockwell's site and you will learn everything you didn't want to know about Ron Paul.
Paul says he will not run for Congress again if he loses the nomination (he will lose) and hopefully, his family will have enough sense to get him a room at Shoal Creek Hospital that he can share with another lunatic, Shiela Jackson Lee.
Dick Nome| 1.23.12 @ 2:47PM
He might go back home to Pittsburg.
Clint| 1.23.12 @ 6:53PM
It's Spelled Pittsburgh,You Dick.
The Tea Party Rebellion Steps On The Dick.
Clint| 1.23.12 @ 6:51PM
Your Full Of Crap.
Dr.Ron Paul's Constituents Know He Never Votes For Earmarks On A Principled Stand, Regarding The Usurpation Of Congressional Power By The Executive Branch.
Dr.Ron Paul,
" I have never voted for an earmark. I voted against all appropriation bills ( with the exception of veterans). So, this whole thing about earmarks is totally misunderstood.
Earmarks is the responsibility of the Congress.
If you cut off all the earmarks, it would be 1 percent of the budget. But, if you vote against all the earmarks, you don't cut one penny. That is what you have to listen to. We're talking about who has the responsibility, the Congress or the executive branch?
I'm saying, get it out of the hands of the executive branch. Just listen again about what I have said about the TARP funds. We needed to earmark every penny. Now we gave them $350 billion, no earmarks, and nobody knows..."
Dr.Ron Paul Gets It About Earmarks & Congress Having It's Responsibility Usurped By The Executive Branch.
bill| 1.23.12 @ 9:42AM
Gov. Rick Perry understood the 10th Amendment, unlike nobody else, and he made states' rights be the primary issues of his failed bid for presidency, but he waged a spirited campaign and taught us about this burning issue. He led the charge of litigation against the federal government over ObamaCare, EPA's overreach, the Voter ID Laws, and so on. Perry is a crusader and continues his fights for states' rights. If we ever let the Feds win, then we are doomed once and for all. We salute Perry for his committment and contribution on this issue.
rnd| 1.23.12 @ 10:01AM
Rick Perry's failed bid for the presidency?
What do you mean?
Oh, you mean to word it this way: His FAILURE to keep in the race.
I.e. to not be a quitter.
He ain't alone in this; Bachmann, Huntsman, Pawlenty and a real chump too, Cain.
Hard to believe that Texas puts up with a yellow-bellied quitter like Perry.
I mean, only 0.5% of the electorate had 'spoken' by a vote in caucus state Iowa and primary state NH. That's it.....and he wanted to -- after that -- turn tail and run?
(No "Alamo" in Rick Perry at all)
Thanks to Perry's cowardice, now all we have is Washington, D.C. insiders and pork specialists. So forget about changing Washington, paring down mightily the national government, rolling back taxes, canning the IRS, Dept. of Education, etc.
Rick Perry sneaks quietly back to Texas, tail between his yellow legs.
bill| 1.23.12 @ 11:04AM
I guess I misspoke. I was an ardent supporter of Perry to the end. His debate performances and poll numbers prompted his exodus from the race. he will remain the governor of TX, a crucial state GOP cannot afford to lose in 2012.
I also blamed the "flaws" primary system, in which, smaller states like IA, NH get a bigger impact (except SC and FL) than larger states. If that happened, it would have been changed the dynamic of the race. We might see Perry and Gingrich come out on to, instead Romney or Santorum.
I wish Perry the best.
Richard Blaine| 1.23.12 @ 10:07AM
Maybe he can become President Perry of the Republic of Texas.
zane| 1.23.12 @ 11:31AM
It would serve the rest of the nation right. We could keep all our oil, beef, cotton (used for your tony pair of jeans), build a fence at the Red River so that when you flee your failing state you could not come to Texas looking for work, economic freedom and low taxes.
Hey, maybe you're on to something.
Soljerblue| 1.24.12 @ 4:47AM
I'd move there in a heartbeat!
Al Adab| 1.23.12 @ 10:28AM
Now that we finally have had a primary in a state where electoral votes matter and with another in FL coming up, it is time for Romney to realize that his consistent 30% might gain him the nomination but that the interests of the nation demand that a strong, united GOP face Obama in November.
Romney needs to evaluate not what his ego demands, but what the best interests of the nation are. Another losing GOP moderate will accomplish nothing. Attacking each other from this point forward only helps Obama and after FL a single GOP candidate must emerge. Romney needs to put the country above his ego and get out in order that a single candidate with majority, not simply plurality support can emerge.
dcd| 1.23.12 @ 10:33AM
It's hard to arrgue that states are closer to the people when many states are more populous than nations. It is time to cut the states down to size so that they can be more responsive to the citizenry.
100 states would be a nice round number and fit on the flag neatly as well.
Tommy Frisco| 1.23.12 @ 10:37AM
"Perry also fell victim to sporadic gimmickry, represented best by his tax plan that literally had it both ways by allowing people to either subscribe to a flat tax or remain under the current code."
Mr. Thomas, I agree with most of your article, but, as Newt says, Americans must be given choices. That's why Newt criticized Ryan's medicare reform plan. Ryan's plan now includes the choice of going with his plan or staying with the existing plan.
Perry went down in the polls simply because he and his campaign staff was completely unprepared for a national campaign. He was insecure on the debate stage because he wasn't prepared to defend his policies and hadn't done his homework on national and foreign policy issues.
As for the 10th amendment issue, Perry was right on! Newt recognizes the importance of moving most of the Feds activities back over to the State level. I've read that Newt will sponsor Gov. Perry in touring the country this summer to promote State's rights. Awesome!
bill| 1.23.12 @ 1:35PM
Perry dropped out because
-"horrible" debate performance
-smear attacks on him by the MSM 24/7
-overblown criticisms of "in-state tuition" and the "Oops" moment in the debate
-Romney, Cain, Santorum, and Huntsman were overrated by the MSM, and now they all are sinking like the Titanic.
God bless, Perry!
ella8| 1.23.12 @ 10:42AM
The Catholic's also have a name for this, the principle of subsidiarity, which has also been all but abandoned. If they want true social justice and truly have concern for the common good, it might be a good idea to get back in touch with this principle.
bill| 1.23.12 @ 1:31PM
GOP Dream Team:
President: Newt Gingrich
VP : Rick Perry
AG : Rudy Giuliani
Secretary of State : Rick Santorum
Treasury : Paul Ryan
DHS : Joe Arpaio
Commerce: Mitt Romney
The "Freedom March" has begun. Please join us!
bill| 1.23.12 @ 1:38PM
Perry quit but his legacy remained in the GOP race: liberty, states' rights, fixing the economy, and cracking down on the federal bureaucracy and the Washington politicians.
If Obama steals the election in 2012, Perry will become the inevitable GOP nominee for 2016.
The Dems has nobody to beat Perry.
Soljerblue| 1.24.12 @ 4:52AM
You may well be right. But if the Termite-in-Chief is reelected without a solid Senate Republican majority -- and some leadership with spine -- it won't matter who the GOP nominates in 2016. The country will be fudamentally socialist and the Democrats will run Hillary. Good-frikkin-luck then!
Purp| 1.23.12 @ 1:46PM
First off, Perry's a loser and that's why he's gone. He doesn't reflect the views or values even of most conservatives. He tries to be a flamethrower, but he just is not good at it. Oops.
"So when Rick Perry talks about federalism, he's lobbing stones not only at progressive Democrats who view the very term "states' rights" as cursive for racism, but also at many old-guard Republicans." - you can add in here women's reproductive rights, gay marriage, immigration, it's not just about race.
bill| 1.23.12 @ 2:20PM
Obama is "stupid socialist radical liar child-molester pervert incompetent loser."
And you purp, a liberal Obama-Dog. Screw you!
Purp| 1.23.12 @ 3:44PM
You're just mad 'cause your guy didn't win anything.
bill| 1.23.12 @ 3:53PM
If Gingrich wins in FL on Tuesday, then Obama is doomed. A one term President. It's 1980, all over.
Soljerblue| 1.24.12 @ 4:55AM
Your guy didn't "win" anything either, Perp -- he stole it; with an illegal, unconstitutional eligibility scam, and the help of ACORN, the MSM, the union thugs, a wave of electi0n fraud in key states, and George Soros's money.
Naturalborn Texicanette| 1.23.12 @ 2:34PM
Perry was the one true conservative who is a doer...who could have got things done.
Period.
The liberal media sharks ripped him apart and then, ignored him. I wonder what our country would REALLY be like if the news really was "fair and balanced" as they say..........????????
Purp| 1.23.12 @ 3:45PM
Ha! "Oops" ripped himself apart ... "when he was for it and then for it against it "... he's a retard and that's why he lost.
bill| 1.23.12 @ 3:54PM
Purp, your man, Obama is a "serial pathological LIAR plagiarist uneducated Chicago Mobster."
Purp| 1.23.12 @ 4:08PM
Doesn't change the fact that Perry ran back to Texas with his tail between his legs - and threw his support to the Grinch? Another loser tactic. The man's a hopeless cause, except in the State of steers and queers.
viewpoint| 1.23.12 @ 4:58PM
I don't think that Governor Perry showed himself to be very astute. He sure did not show himself to be a fighter.
Sports guys have that saying, "In it, to win it!" In other words, unless you are in this match, game, league, division, season to go the distance and WIN it all, don't even bother stepping on the practice field the first day of training.
Yet this is all Gov. Perry did. He was just on the practice field. Goofing around from August to December.
Question: Where was he when it came time for game day?
Answer: He'd chickened out and stayed home. Nay, he'd run scared and ran home.
I'd love to hear what Vince Lombardi would say to that kind of athlete. It's the kind of vitriol I'd spew at a quitter.
Perry looks even more stupid with Gingrich's handily defeating of Romney in South Carolina. See, the polls (if you are stooooppiid and believe the polls) did not have Gingrich winning South Carolina. The pundits did not predict Gingrich winning or coming close to Romney. The media? Gasp, you think they can make an accurate prediction of what real voters will decide?
And...what was Gov. Perry listening to in December? What advice did he choose to follow?
I imagine he's kicking himself all over and around his Texas statehouse office. Kicking himself for being a quitter, not letting the voters voice their preferences. He can't believe that Gingrich now has Romney on the run. Perry's sayin' "That should be me!"
Quitters never prosper. (Texas, please don't consider Perry for a 4th term. He showed no character. He's a weak man with a very weak spine.)
POST American| 1.23.12 @ 9:31PM
----------------------FINAL WORD----------------------
---Putting this 'KNEE--Oh' CON-job
to one side---
Reports reveal over 74% of ALLLLL
donations from our serving military
are NOW going to
------------------RON PAUL---------------.
Surely the call for RETRO-actrive IMPEACHMENT
of our past 4 CFR RED China
TREASON OP front administrations
is looking less 'fantastic' by the day.
----------------HUAC/ Nuremberg 2012--------------