The American Spectator : The Spectacle Blog : Blowback vs. Perry

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Michelle Malkin, of whom it can be said that her conservative bona fides are absolutely beyond doubt, provides some necessary scrutiny of Rick Perry's record. (OH, NO, MR. BILL! Scrutiny of a conservative! Only a RINO would do that! A RINO Rockefeller establishment Bilderberger moderate! Fight back! Send Malkin out of town on a rail!) It follows last week's important piece in the Wall Street Journal about Perry's crony capitalism. In the days since the WSJ piece appeared, I have been appalled that a lot of conservative ideologues miss the whole point. The point isn't that Perry set up a pubic-private partnership, in semi-contradiction of ideological purity. The ideology of the state fund isn't at issue. What is at issue is the ethics of how Perry and his appointees ran the fund. The problem is that so much of the money was doled out to major campaign contributors of Perry or to those with other close connections to Perry or to the fund's board -- sometimes even when the recipients offered, apparently, very little reason to believe that their businesses would actually succeed. In the ethical sense if not the legal sense -- and, believe me, the legality will indeed be re-examined as well, and it will be a campaign issue if Perry gets the nomination -- it all certainly looks corrupt.

But Perry's a conservative, so maybe I shouldn't say that. Or maybe I shouldn't complain about Perry actively providing Texas tax money to the children of illegal immigrants. Nor about anything else.

Maybe we'll just let Malkin do the dirty work. Because she has guts. And integrity.

View all comments (64) | Leave a comment

martin j smith| 8.17.11 @ 10:07AM

No I think we need to vett EVERY CANDIDATE--WITHOUT EXCEPTION. But that does not mean issues equal out of the running. We will not find a perfect person. That is what we have to face. The question then becomes which is the least of the worst
or the best of the least worst--or is it liverworst ? Whatever.

O liked Perry's braodside towards Bernanke. It had to be siad. But that does not make him " the candidate" . Lets see how this all unfolds.

Clint| 8.17.11 @ 10:29AM

Notice How Perry & Other Candidates Are Now Parroting What Dr.Ron Paul Has Said For years.

Interesting, That The Media Attempts To Ignore & Marginalize Dr. Ron Paul, And Gives Publicity To Those Who Now Are Saying What Paul Has Said For Years.

Occam's Tool| 8.17.11 @ 2:26PM

Ron is quite reasonable on many domestic issues. On foreign policy, he votes with Kucinich. Many people are not comfotable with Red China calling the shots internationally. That's why he's at 9%.

Clint, of couse, is too much of a puss to take my bet---I will stop posting here if Paul wins a single race or caucus. You will stop posting the day after he loses.

Note the sound of crickets. No courage of convictions---typical of a Paulbot.

Clint| 8.17.11 @ 2:57PM

"Occam's Tool| 8.8.11 @ 4:30PM

Pawlenty is going to wipe the plate with Paul."

2. Congressman Ron Paul (4671, 27.65%)
3. Governor Tim Pawlenty (2293, 13.57%)

The Tea Party Rebellion Steps On Israel Firster Tool Jobs Face.

Wipe Your Feet.

Occam's Tool| 8.18.11 @ 6:54PM

OK, not Pawenty. But Paul is going nowhere. Don't worry, Clint, your boy is in the trashcan.

Occam's Tool| 8.18.11 @ 6:55PM

I note that the big PUSS, Clint, still avoids the bet. The Attwatter Prairie Chicken is stalking the Spectator.

By the way, Clint, I might be leaving town this weekend. Bite me.

Suejay| 8.17.11 @ 3:42PM

Paul's ideology marginalizes him!

smokedaddy| 8.17.11 @ 10:19AM

This looks like exactly the type of thing one Sarah Palin fought against in Alaska. Suggest you take a look at your friend Stacy McCains thoughts on her potential candidacy, (as well as his reporting on the Pappas contretemps) .
http://theothermccain.com/2011.....lin-drama/

Conservative Bob| 8.17.11 @ 10:20AM

Quinn is the petulance in this a carryover from yesterday? This piece reads like piece from a 16 year old girl telling her friends she is not going to go to the mall with them any more for the way they treated her…

simon templar| 8.17.11 @ 10:21AM

We do not mind scrutiny and professional journalism. In fact, that is what we are demanding. What we do object to is pettiness, conjecture, cheap shots, sensationalism, and 'it sure looks corrupt' without any substantial evidence. We also do not like conservatives atacking other conservatives with the talking points of our opposition. We also like to see fair play and a chance for the candidate to tell their side of the story. We certainly do not like circular firing squads either. We also do not like it when people who claim to be conservatives are playing games of subterfuge and dirty tricks against other conservatives so as to promote their selfish agendas.

The idea here is that you have a very special role and responsibility and platform that can do a great deal of good or evil. Second, it impacts our lives in a very direct way. When we see that abused or taking for granted we are going to say something. I suggest you listen.
-We, the People, of Hobittville

Conservative Bob| 8.17.11 @ 10:27AM

We need to take a hard look at the substance of the entire field and find someone that is as conservative as possible and can win. We know that the left and the dems will exploit any perceived flaw and try to make as much out of it as possible. When they can’t find one they will attempt to create one out of whole cloth so if any of our field of contenders have substantive issues we need to examine them and get answers. We have too much at stake in this election. That being said it is important to remember we are talking about politicians and we are not going to find anyone that is perfect.

Bill Hussein O'Stalin| 8.17.11 @ 10:30AM

He made a mistake. He did something related to women's vaginas and for that he will pay politically through the nose.

Clint| 8.17.11 @ 10:32AM

We Tea Party Patriots Are In A Media War.

The Media Is Unprofessional & Agenda Driven.

Occam's Tool| 8.18.11 @ 6:56PM

Paul is an antisemitic scumbag. He will lose.

simon templar| 8.17.11 @ 10:39AM

This will put a smile on your face..Quin...you might just enjoy it as well...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?f.....gTon6TOfKc

Bill Hussein O'Stalin| 8.17.11 @ 10:45AM

The Republicans should buy that and play it 24 hours a day on every channel. It really sums it up.

Oldefarte| 8.17.11 @ 3:20PM

Outstanding, ST [and sadly I'M OLD ENOUGH to remember being excited by the Beatles' release of their MMT album]!!!!!!!!!

Oldefarte| 8.17.11 @ 3:29PM

Hellfire, I can't quit laughing at that ad! Oh, and BTW, that black cadillac-looking bus that he now riding around in COST US TAXPAYERS ABOUT $1-MILLION [and I don't recall any prior president having that one or any similar bus.....yeah, armor plated limos and Air Force One etc, but a GD BUS??????]!!!!!

NANCY | 8.18.11 @ 8:15AM

Then you missed Dubya's bus your in '04. There are 2 busses as well. Ordered by the Secret Service Any candidate may use them.
In 2004, Dubya's campaign bus was from the same Canandian company. Repugs always bet on the stupidity, ignorance, and amnesia of Human-Americans. ...

ml| 8.17.11 @ 10:55AM

I have stopped reading Michelle's articles because I don't agree with her issues. I don't think she is not conservative enough.

Wayne | 8.17.11 @ 11:15AM

Why do the conservatives need to eat its own. I am one of those people who likes to let the candidates have an opportunity to make the case to me that I should vote for them. I appreciate facts, but the over-the-top criticisms leave me cold. It is a losing strategy.

Bill Hussein O'Stalin| 8.17.11 @ 11:29AM

Although I think it was an awful concept, there really isn't much difference between the HPV vaccine program and the Salk Vaccine we were forced to take as children. Medicine vaccines are a touchy subject in many ways.
http://www.vaccineethics.org/s.....script.php
Polio vaccination efforts continued with great enthusiasm and success for the remainder of 1955 and into 1956 and 1957. In fact, by 1957, the incidence of polio in the United States had dropped by as much as 90%.

The success of polio vaccination efforts in the first few years of the program is illustrated by a 1958 statement from President Eisenhower (Document M). In an eight-sentence press release, the president "join(s) with millions of other Americans in supporting the drive for polio vaccinations this spring."

As a result of the massive effort to produce and distribute the vaccine since 1955, the flurry of activity requiring the president's personal attention in the early days of the vaccine was replaced in only three years with a short, routine statement endorsing ongoing vaccination activities.

Purple Lips| 8.17.11 @ 1:35PM

Ah, but Eisenhower didn't create an executive order to force the vaccine on people. As far as I know, one cannot get polio through intercourse. And Eisenhower's chief of staff and sister-in-law didn't cash in on it.

But, let's dispense with the bull. I recently read a post from a person defending Perry's actions. He put it bluntly. Hispanic children, you see begin having sex at much earlier ages. And we all know how many Hispanic children there are in Texas. Poor Govenor Perry was just protecting the little tykes from thier overly mature libedos!! Those rascals in the Texas Legislature didn't see the light; therefore the executive order.

Perry is either a bigot, or just another lousy Protestant pol who plays his evangelical brethren for suckers. All the while, the former Democratic operative, is nothing more than another Progressive Statist.

Occam's Tool| 8.18.11 @ 6:57PM

The oral polio vaccine does allow for group immunity. My daughter is getting the HPV vaccine when old enough. That's it.

Derek Leaberry| 8.17.11 @ 11:32AM

I would like to know why Perry's view on immigration was nearly a duplicate of George W. Bush's until very recently. Third World immigration is my most important issue and I won't vote for anyone who supports the Bush-McCain-Kennedy-Graham open borders policy.

Ken (Old Texican)| 8.17.11 @ 12:12PM

OK, Derek...vote for Obama.....arse.

TennesseeVolunteer| 8.17.11 @ 12:15PM

Ken, what's your take on Perry?

Suejay| 8.17.11 @ 3:56PM

Wayne, if you are waiting for the "candidates" to inform you about themselves, then WHY are you reading political blogs? The whole point of the sort of reporting that Michelle Malkin does is to inform us about issues to which we might not other wise be privy to. And what's up with all you weak kneed conservatives ranting about "eating our own" and "circular firing squads" and similar sentiments? For pete's sake, are we to just sit on the side line like bobble head dolls, just accepting whatever we are told by candidates or the 'liberal' media?

Well, this is one conservative, who is unaffraid to turn over the rocks, because I've lived long enough to know that's where the snakes slither. I don't want to end up in 3 years saying, "What have we done?"

cpaguy| 8.17.11 @ 11:12PM

You are a true Patriot.

Rick Perry is a RINO. Don't be afraid to listen to the truth!

O Tamandua| 8.17.11 @ 11:28AM

I'm seeing and hearing Rick Perry do things that in today's climate I NEVER thought I'd witness. God bless him. Nonetheless, let's vet everyone and (as conservatives should be wont to do) prayerfully make up our own minds as to who the best candidate for the U.S. presidency (in this VERY dangerous time) should be.

Teflon93| 8.17.11 @ 11:38AM

When will Mitt Romney and the other RINOs be getting the body cavity search, Quin?

Everybody in the pool, says I.

I look forward to your dissection of Romney's finances.

Sean| 8.17.11 @ 11:52AM

Perry, Al Gores former Campaign manager in Texas, is a Democrat.

Teflon93| 8.17.11 @ 1:37PM

Perry is a Republican. Has been since 1989, which is, oh, 19 years longer than Romney's been pro-life.

cpaguy| 8.17.11 @ 11:13PM

Rick Perry is an Establisment, Tax Raising, Amnesty Loving, Big Government RINO who has stolen funds from Texas taxpayers to spend $600k+ over a two year period on a rental home.

Ken (Old Texican)| 8.17.11 @ 12:13PM

Sean,
OK you got paid by Soros today. Go take a nap.

Sean| 8.17.11 @ 1:17PM

Sorry Ken, I don't support nanny government like you do.

Teflon93| 8.17.11 @ 1:38PM

Watch out, Ken--Soros likes to choke defenseless women. He's a real tough guy.

Clint| 8.17.11 @ 3:00PM

Kenny The Squirrel,
OK you got paid by Bibi today. Go take another drink.

Occam's Tool| 8.18.11 @ 6:58PM

OOOh, it's Clint the chicken! Won't take a bet, won't take a bet.

Ken (Old Texican)| 8.17.11 @ 12:19PM

Quin,
where in the hell are you going these days?
You are pithing me off.

I have looked forward to your articles for years. Did you have a mid-life crisis?

Did your wife cheat on you?

Lord, guy, get it together and stack it tight.

Walt G.| 8.17.11 @ 12:34PM

Malkin believed Rachael Ray and Dunkin' Donuts were terrorist sympathizers.

http://michellemalkin.com/2008.....kerfuffle/

WFB,Jr.| 8.17.11 @ 3:22PM

No, Malkin pointed out that they were dupes for wearing Palestinian scarves that call for the destruction of Israel. You forgot to mention that MM called out Ricky Martin for also being a dupe.

Walt G.| 8.17.11 @ 3:50PM

Except that it was not a Palestinian scarf -- which makes the whole controversy even stupider.

Occam's Tool| 8.18.11 @ 6:59PM

It's Caribou Coffee that's owned by the terrorist.

ejp| 8.17.11 @ 1:07PM

Quin, I recommend a saucer of milk as befitting the cattiness of this column that reflects your peeved petulance over being called out for your journalistic malpractice re: Palin.

Nick| 8.17.11 @ 1:16PM

Mr. Hillyer,

Spare us, please. Quit whining and feeling sorry for yourself.

If your opinions are backed-up by facts, why do you care what others think or say about you? You are beginning to sound like Allahpundit, who is the reason why I don't visit Hot Air as much as I used to in the past.

Nobody like a complainer.

michael| 8.17.11 @ 1:48PM

Well, gee. Perry is a politican, and worse yet, a Texas politician--which necessarily means he knows how to play ball with the big guys. Just like GWB and his father played ball for Enron and the House of Saud. The disclosure of those ties didn't stop them, and it won't stop Perry.

Perry is an unusaul politician. He isn't a soft, backstabbing type. He is an upfront fighter, and he can and will put any name he chooses on what he has done, without apology, and if you don't like it, tough.

Of course the media will beat up on him, but nothing now known will stop him. The only thing that can stop him is being painted as crazy-extreme....in which case Obama's temperamental "moderatrion" and "cool" will be more attractive to voters.

Perry makes GWB look like Mr. Rogers.

Teflon93| 8.17.11 @ 2:17PM

Immigration and the HPV thing are problems---but RomneyCare and being pro-abortion until it was politically inconvenient to be are MAJOR character flaws.

Cronyism is also to be frowned upon but let him who is without Texas Mafia (talking to you, Dubya) cast the first stone. Obama certainly tried to make the Oval Office into State Street West.

Derek Leaberry| 8.17.11 @ 3:41PM

In 1994, Romney tried to run to the left of Ted Kennedy on the homosexual issue as well. He is deceitful and not to be respected. The Republican Tallyrand.

Teflon93| 8.17.11 @ 5:09PM

I'd forgotten about 94 but you are correct, Derek. He's had more positions than the Kama Sutra.

TexasMom2012| 8.17.11 @ 2:23PM

About time we had an Aggie in the White House, whoop!
For all of his flaws, he is way way better than Romney on both fiscal and social issues. His total record is long... One or two bad decisions of which he is apparently educable( because he will respond to pressure from constituents) should not disqualify Perry. Please stop eating our own!

cpaguy| 8.17.11 @ 11:14PM

Aggies are the only ones dumb enough to believe that slick Rick Perry is a Conservative.

TexasMom2012| 8.17.11 @ 2:23PM

Looking forward to all the new Aggie jokes sure to come.

Jeff| 8.17.11 @ 2:25PM

he's not perfect ... Burn the Witch !!!!

whiny children posting link bait for Huffpo and Daily Kos ...

try again Quin ... (one n ... really ?)

WL| 8.17.11 @ 2:42PM

I like Malkin...but I think her analysis is a little too critical of Perry...

Now...Mr. Quin...

Malkin's critique (right or wrong).....is about POLICY....

Therein lies the difference...

Your Palin Vomit was about a reporter getting talked down to...

You want them to be the same so you can say they were the same situation....

BUT THEY ARE NOT...

You are a rube...
And Malkin is not correct on this one...

cpaguy| 8.17.11 @ 11:15PM

What is wrong with telling the truth?

OLDRAY| 8.17.11 @ 2:44PM

First of all we need a Republican candidate who is honest. Malkin is correct . Who can trust Perry??

Teflon93| 8.17.11 @ 2:52PM

Fine by me---Bachmann/Cain '12!

Paul Zummo| 8.17.11 @ 2:48PM

Quin, I'm sorry, but you come off as a petulant whiner with this post. On Michelle's own blog she had to admit that the evidence doesn't support the idea that Perry was just doing the bidding of his corporate masters at Merck.

Yes, look into the record of these candidates and do the type of digging that the left would never do to their own, but let's overdo our objections.

Suejay| 8.17.11 @ 3:38PM

Well after reading the WSJ article the other day, the point was not lost on me! My first thought was, RINO. Secondly I thought, "Don't we already have this sort of stuff in the WH now?"

Personally I don't trust Perry. He acts all, "ah, shucks" and "evangelical", but to me that's just him being a politician. He's only as sincere as he needs to be to influence conservatives, and that's smarmy in my book.

In two days he was ahead 18 points. He just entered the race, how does that happen? Where's the money flowing from, and who's getting paid to advance his campaign? Perry hasn't paid his dues yet, and he's already shooting ahead in the field...that's hinky to me.
Everyone else has been working the state for weeks, and Perry swoops in like a Jim Swagert knock off and zooms ahead of the whole batch?
Either conservatives are just as starry eyed and stupid as liberals, or the fix is in on Perry. I bet the later.

Oldefarte| 8.17.11 @ 3:39PM

Call me RINO/CINO or whatever, I'm just not particularly concerned about this issue. If mamory serves me, the FDA has to APPROVE any drug that dispensed, so all this excrement about it being EXPERIMENTAL appears to me to be hogwash. Also, if as an FDA approved drug, if it futuristically contributed to these childrens' improved health, wouldn't that call of his being praised from his mandation? So what if he made a little political payoff/MULLA from a drug company [doctors do this 24-7 ...if you've ever witnessed drug salesmen wheeling/hand-trucking into doctors' offices boxes of dispensable drug samples while in their waiting rooms; are doctors therefore guilty of PAYOFFS/GRAFT?]. What is of concern to me is his chumminess with these Muslim organizations, but not this vacinne thing!!!

Occam's Tool| 8.18.11 @ 7:00PM

I NEVER made money off of drug samples. Period.

cpaguy| 8.17.11 @ 11:09PM

Herman Cain is the best choice for President. A true conservative with real experience and accomplishments (not just winning political races).

Most of all, he is not a politician, just somebody who gets things done.

Slick Rick Perry is a D student who is a Tax Raising, Amnesty Loving, Big Governmnet RINO.

Perry has done nothing for Texas. The office of Texas Governor is weak and has very few responsibilities (the light weight Bachmann has more responsibility...and she is probably the weakest in the current field in regards to experience).

Unlike all other states, Texas is lead by its legislature (as it should be), not at all through the Governor's office.

What Perry has managed to do is:

1. Raise Taxes billions of dollars on businesses and consumers

2. Executed health mandates against the will of the legislature and the people of Texas

3. Forced the citizens of Texas to pay for the college education of illegal immigrants

4. Engaged in the abusive use of eminent domain

5. Attempted to sell Texas roads to foreign interests

6. Pro Amnesty (in the recent campaign cycle he has taken to reversing this stance as the Tea Party has become more of a threat to him than the Hispanic caucus)

7. Engaged in wide scale cronyism by signing contracts for Texas projects to companies that give him campaign cash or for which is his former staff now work.

8. Misused the resources of Texas by having sizable security details travel with him at all times (abnormal for a governor)...even on foreign trips...all at the expense of Texas taxpayers.

9. Misused (i.e. stole) Texas taxpayer money by spending $600k+ on housing over a 2 year period.

Occam's Tool| 8.18.11 @ 7:02PM

As an Out of State medical student, I had to pay a 1000 percent increase in tuition over three years---the tuition increase was passed after my Freshman year---the TMA stood by and did NOTHING!

Perry PISSES ME OFF! Why a Legal American can't get instate tuition after going to a Texas school for 4 years for undergrad and an ILLEGAL Alien can is despicable.