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December 06, 2006
Fancy That
We read R.G. Ratcliffe's afternoon offering today in the Houston Chronicle with interest. Just a month removed from running a weak but successful reelection effort, Texas Governor Rick Perry told the Texas Border Coalition that "building a wall along the border with Mexico is a 'preposterous' idea."
We can hear the faithful over at KSEV saying told ya' so already. Perry, who isn't particularly popular with anyone these days, fell out of favor with many in the ideological conservative crowd (who used to be his friends) over the business tax, the Trans Texas Corridor, and a lack of action on the hot-button immigration issue.
These conservative die-hards believe Perry sold out to big government and political correctness. His comments today constitute throwing a big, fat combustible yule log on that fire folks.
Perry's comments may also leave those Texans who saw (almost without a choice, given how many spots the Guv ran) his recent campaign ads -- many of which touted his get tough approach on immigration -- scratching their heads. Is this the same Rick Perry from just a month ago?
Far be it from us to accuse the good Governor of having pandered to his base to win an election (highly unusual behavior for a politician, no?), but he seems to have changed his tune awfully quickly. Gee whiz, his line about the ladder industry even sounds a lot like the one his Democratic opponent Chris Bell used on the campaign trail. In this case, we happen to agree with the Guv. Selected fencing may be a good option in certain areas, but a wall across the entire border is folly -- hugely expensive to build and maintain and likely ineffective.
But then, we didn't vote for Governor Perry, so our expectations of him are, let us say, low. We're guessing, however, that many already angry Texas conservatives who sucked it up and voted for him despite serious misgivings about doing so, have quickly gotten back in touch with that anger.
Perry's words today seem to strongly signal what many already believed, he will not seek another term as Governor in 2010. Perhaps Perry, a former Democrat, is intimating a tack back to the center for his final four years in charge. It wouldn't bother us, as it would probably benefit the state.
We're betting it doesn't bother a certain popular local radio host and newly elected State Senator either. As he potentially eyes his own 2010 bid for the Governor's Mansion, expanding his AM radio soapbox across the state, he needs an ever-present bogeyman against whom he can rally the troops to his side and use to raise his own profile. Perry unwittingly played this part to perfection in 2006.
With the holiday season upon us, for Dan Patrick, Governor Rick Perry may be the gift that keeps on giving.
Posted by houtopia at December 6, 2006 03:34 PM