Truth be told, the Governor of Texas really doesn't have that much power. It is a pretty weak and ceremonial office. The Lieutenant Governor has more pull in government and we all know that the Railroad Commissioner is the one who really runs the state anyway. Once, as a form of protest, I voted for independent candidate Kinky Friedman for Governor. Some years later after denouncing both parties he started to run for Agriculture Commissioner as a Democrat (a campaign that went nowhere fast). People seemed shocked when I said I would never vote for a joke like Kinky Friedman for Ag commissioner. When asked why since I had previously voted to make him Governor, my honest response was that I really would have had no problem with Kinky being Governor, but I would never trust a man like that with the power of Agriculture Commissioner (and I'm not joking)! Besides which, when he ran for Governor he did have some good ideas, like his "10 Mexican Generals Plan" for illegal immigration and he had a great campaign slogan: "Let's Get Kinky in the Mansion!" But, anyway, keep in mind, I voted for that guy over Perry.
To be fair, I'm not totally down on Perry. The sad state of American politics means that there are many, many I consider far worse. It is true, Texas has done much better than most other states in the Union during the economic crisis and Perry did pretty good in forcing the reps to stay in Austin and forcing them to cut spending and he refused to dip into the rainy day fund just to save wasteful government programs. However, like many Texans, even Republicans, I have some serious issues with Rick Perry. Alot of people seem to think that just because he's Governor of Texas every Texan should be for him. Well, we already have a "Texan" in the race: Congressman Ron Paul (who's not a real Texan of course but neither is George Bush and I'd rather claim Ron Paul). However, as we all know, Ron Paul is a congressman and a libertarian and congressmen and libertarians don't get to be President. Those are the rules handed down from on high by the gods of democracy (and I'm sorry Bachman but that applies to congresswomen too). So, everyone is already assuming it is going to be Romney vs. Perry, even though we have yet to have a single primary! Let me say, if those are the choices, they STINK and the GOP has learned nothing from the pasting they took at the hands of B. Hussein Obama and Joe "we have to spend money to get out of debt" Biden.
Rick Perry is just, well, he's just SUCH a politician. I don't know if he honestly believes anything he has ever said to anyone. I would prefer Santorum, Ron Paul or "Rad Thad" over Perry any day and twice on Sunday because all of those men, though I may disagree with each on some things, have always been consistent. Especially Ron Paul, who I do have some problems with, but one thing he has been is consistent. Rick Perry, who we are told represents the conservative right-wing of the Republican Party -used to be a Democrat. He has been good at cutting spending, but when the cash was flowing he also spent money like crazy too and it may seem like I'm nitpicking there, but it should be common sense to cut back when you're broke but the smart people are the ones who save when times are good. He's supported benefits for the children of illegal aliens, which I oppose, he tried to pass a bill that would give school girls VD vaccinations without their parents knowledge or approval, which I didn't like and he opposed the border fence idea which I support. He said it couldn't work. Well we don't know if he we don't try and don't tell me we "can't". If the Italians could fence in Libya and the Chinese could fence in Mongolia we can certainly fence in Mexico.
He has also tried, continuously, to slip in toll roads on us. Now, I have nothing against toll roads -nothing at all, they are usually the best roads. However, in this case it would be turning roads that taxpayers already paid for into toll roads and to make things worse the contract would go to a foreign company. Not cool Rick. Not cool. My biggest problem with him, and to many this will seem the most silly, was his support for the Trans-Texas Corridor. I remember in the last GOP primary Ron Paul mentioned this project and that smug little Toobin jerk on CNN dismissed it as a conspiracy theory. Well, trust me, it is not. We have talked about it down here alot, had meetings about it with the government and seen the plans for it and everything. No one in Texas liked it. There would be land seizures (not about to happen here) and it seemed tailor-made for the people (who do exist) who are pushing for a "North American Union". Now, that issue would not have been so bad were it not that, like the toll road issue, Perry would not take our "no" for an answer. Like a frustrating game of 'whack-a-mole' every time voters would shoot it down it would get stuck into some other bill until someone spotted it at the last minute, told the media, raised hell and got it voted down again. This happened several times and that alone was enough to make me never totally trust Rick Perry.
So, to re-cap, as someone who has spent a considerable portion of my life knowing Ricky as our Lt. Governor and Governor, I can say he seems to be right on alot of issues but he's wrong on some too and what he is wrong on worries me and I don't trust him. I don't buy his sudden surge of religious devotion either. Would he be better than Obama? Well, I think so but only because I don't think Rick Perry is on a crusade to purposely destroy his country. I hope he's not the nominee but I hope Romney isn't either. I don't trust either one of them. I'm sorry if that seems a little bleak but, what do you expect? I am, after all, ... The Mad Monarchist.
About Ron Paul...
ReplyDeleteDon't forget, in 2002, no one though Le Pen would make it to the second round of the French elections, but he did. I think Dr. Paul may have a shot.
And always remember that if you must vote, you should vote for the least worst candidate.
He's the only one that really "gets" the root of our economic problems I think, but he really doesn't have a prayer. He's run many, many times, both as a Libertarian and as a Republican and though he can really excite a small group of people and make alot of money he's never been taken seriously. The media certainly will not take him seriously, they only pay him any attention as a way to try to draw support away from the Republicans they fear could actually win.
ReplyDeleteRon Paul is, first of all, a Congressman and Congressmen don't get elected President -it just doesn't happen for some reason. Demographics are also against him. Most Black people wouldn't vote for anyone other than a Democrat if their lives depended on it, Hispanics won't vote for him because the majority also always vote Democrat and he wants to put troops on the border, the Jews won't vote for him because he's against foreign aid or military support for Israel, big business won't support him because he wants to end their sweetheart deals with the government and I doubt the military would support him because he wants to cut defense spending and said taking out Osama was a mistake. Religious conservatives won't back him because he doesn't think the government should have any laws dealing with morality and he wants to legalize drugs. So, at the end of the day, he's left with a small minority, within a minority, mostly young, White college Libertarians and Randists. You just can't win on a core of support that small.
An expert rant on US politics MM, but then who? I mean, who would you vote for? You said you would vote for Santorum but then again, you also said that he doesn't have a chance. You're saying right now that Ron Paul doesn't stand a chance. Mitt Romney then?
ReplyDeleteIn the end, for me personally, it really doesn't matter. I don't think I've mentioned him much but Thaddeus McCotter seems like the smartest guy running, but he's also a congressman and he's bald and the US would never elect a bald president. But who I would choose won't really matter because there will be probably be no doubt as to whom the "chosen one" is before the Texas primary is even held. And, after that, there is no doubt Texas' electoral votes will go to the GOP candidate whoever it is.
ReplyDeleteWhich is not to say Texas is 100% conservative. In the area I live, local, state and House elections go to the Democrat every time. In many races down here the GOP doesn't even bother to run anybody anymore because the population is 80-90%+ Latino and they vote for the Democrats regardless of the situation. This is also an area where political machines are still going strong. Some of us can still remember the "Dukes of Duval" or the Martin empire in Laredo. In most cases my vote is pretty much useless with the outcome determined far in advance of the election.