'When You Look at the Way That He Governs, You See That He is Very Inclusive'

At the current rate of progress, the Washington Post hit piece series on Rick Perry may result in him being awarded a Nobel Peace Prize for his stellar role in race relations. Judging by this article he's done a lot more to reach out to blacks than most any Democrats I can think of.

As governor of Texas, Rick Perry appointed the first African American to the state Supreme Court and later made him chief justice. One of Perry’s appointments to the Board of Regents of his alma mater, Texas A&M University, became its first black chairman. One chief of staff and two of his general counsels have been African American.

Perry, who is seeking the Republican nomination for president, also enjoys warm associations with many black leaders, who say he regularly reaches out to them and has personally backed some of their causes.

“When you look at the way that he governs, you see that he is very inclusive,” said Brian Newby, an African American who served first as Perry’s general counsel and then as his chief of staff before returning to private law practice in Fort Worth. “You see that in his appointments; you see that in his friendships; you see that in the way that he deals with minority legislators.”

Still, you know there's a but coming. There has to be. They've gone all in on painting him a racist and even after the humiliation of the racist rock story, they can't let go of their racism chew toy.

But many of those minority legislators say Perry has a long history — dating to his first race for statewide office more than 20 years ago — of engaging in what they see as racially tinged tactics and rhetoric to gain political advantage.

What they see as racially tinged. Not what his actual record reflects, but what one person sees as racially tinged, whatever that's supposed to mean.

Let's forget about the president marching with some of the most odious racists on the planet and attending a racist church for two decades. Rick Perry has supposedly engaged in racially tinged politics.

He could have an entire staff of African-Americans, could be married to an African-American, could call himself the First Black Governor of Texas and none of it would matter. He's a Republican and therefore must be destroyed.

I can't wait for the general election when the WaPo laments the politics of personal destruction any time Obama's faults are pointed out.

Obama Craters in Florida

It's time to ratchet up the class warfare and scare the daylights out of granny.

Whether it’s in a crowded field or one-on-one, Rick Perry is the man to beat in the party’s race for the White House, a new poll shows.

The Texas governor leads rival Mitt Romney by 9 percentage points in the crowded race for president, according to the survey from Quinnipiac University that also found Perry would best Romney if Sarah Palin hopped in the race or if the contest was a simple head-to-head matchup. The other seven candidates poll in the single digits.

The poll also suggests Romney won’t get much political mileage out of attacking Perry for calling Social Security a "Ponzi scheme." More than half of Republicans — the only ones who can vote in the upcoming winter primary — say it’s "fair" to describe the entitlement program that way.

Perry’s comments, though, could prove more problematic in a general-election race, with 58 percent of all voters saying the comment comparing Social Security to a criminal-funding swindle is "unfair." Also, voters in Florida — where more than half of the electorate is older than 60 — aren’t sure if he wants to end or fix Social Security, which they don’t want changed.

Romney’s relative weakness in the eyes of Republican voters — that is, his perceived moderation — would be a strength in a matchup against President Obama, whom the former Massachusetts governor bests by a 47-40 percent spread thanks to the support of independent voters.

Perry is statistically tied with Obama, who earned his lowest job approval rating ever in a Quinnipiac poll. Only 39 percent approve of the way Obama’s doing his job, while 57 percent disapprove. More than half of voters say Obama does not deserve a second term. Only 41 percent say he should be re-elected.

“Gov. Rick Perry has the lead — and the momentum — among Florida Republicans, while former Gov. Mitt Romney can point to a better general election showing,” Peter A. Brown, assistant director of the Quinnipiac University Polling Institute, said in a written statement.

Tonight's debate should be a barn-burner as Romney tries to make up ground on Perry. At this juncture it matters little that Perry is in a statistical tie with Obama. If Obama's numbers remain anywhere near as low as they are now he can kiss Florida, and likely his presidency, goodbye.

Never Trust A Liberal For Your Math Homework

A lot is being made of budget cuts made in Texas to the budget for fighting fires in light of the wildfires wrecking havoc in the state. There was one headline that I came across again and again proclaiming "Governor Perry Cut Texas Firefighting Budget By 75%"

Well we can either wait on Poltifact to do another one of their insightful fact checking jobs or we can go look for ourselves. This is what I was able to find out so far.

Fact: Texas legislature cut budget to their Forest Service and Wildlife Management by 30%. Most of Texas' firefighting forces are supplied by volunteer firefighter services. These volunteer firefighters get their funding in part from the Forest Service.

Local volunteer fire departments and the Texas Forest Service are reacting to possible cuts as the Forest Service could lose $34 million in funding over the next two years, as legislators continue to look at ways to balance the budget.

Okay, that is one source. How about another?

The Texas Forest Service faces almost $34 million in budget cuts over the next two years, roughly a third of the agency's total budget. The cuts are in both the House and Senate versions of the proposed state budget.

Psst, liberals, I found that bit from an article over at Huffington. It will be our little secret, m'kay.

All funding in Texas is done on a two year basis since their legislature only meets every two years. The effect of this budget proposal is to return the funding to the levels in 2009 when it received a big shot in the arm in it's funding.

The Forest Service finds itself in a very different situation compared to 2008, when it was warning lawmakers that it was underfunded and that wildfires around the state were getting bigger and more destructive as a result. The Legislature responded by boosting the agency's funding in 2009 by more than $15 million.

So let me get this straight. In 2009 you boosted the budget by $15 million and now you are cutting it by $17 million. Let's see cross out the 7, carry the one and that equals a $2 million net cut.

So with funding being cut I wonder what the biggest need is for these volunteer fire departments across the state is.
One volunteer fire department spokesman cites a reason.

The economy also has cut the number of firefighters volunteering, she said, recalling that when she started with the department in the 1980s, about 30 firefighters were volunteering. Today, the number is 16.

Another chief adds:

"Nationally, there's just been a real down trend in the number of people volunteering their time," he said. "Everyone's very busy trying to provide for their own families."

Yet another.

He said he'd like to see an increase in volunteers.

"We could realistically have 35 firefighters and pay for their gear and everything they need," he said. "But we're doing well with what we have. Ideally, I'd love to have 50, 100 firefighters, even a waiting list, but that takes more budget money."

So it's not so much equipment as it is volunteers.

Texas also has a special fund set aside to handle disasters which it could tap into, but one of the biggest impediments has been the Obama administrations unwillingness to declare Texas a disaster area. It is quite simply Chicago style politics and the liberals in Washington don't mind wasting a few lives in the red state of what is shaping up to be their biggest opponent to holding on to power.

One last piece of bad news for Texans. It seems a large quantity of firefighting aircraft are sitting on the ground in California all because of a contract dispute.

So budget cuts that are yet to take effect, which makes very little difference in the agencies affected are somehow supposed to be to blamed for a record drought in the state of Texas which has spawned a serious outbreak of wildfires the the federal administration refuses to acknowledges, even though it can be seen from International Space Station, all the while they cause firefighting equipment and emergency funds to be denied to a political opponent.

Well Obama's field general did say this weekend to take the sons of bitches out.

Quinnipiac: Obama Tied With Romney, Leads Perry by Three

Fourteen months out from the 2012 elections and the president is in deep trouble. Meanwhile there's some good news for both Rick Perry and Mitt Romney in a new Quinnipiac national poll. Perry has surged to the head of the GOP pack but Romney currently fares better when matched against Obama.

Texas Gov. Rick Perry has zoomed to the front of the line of GOP presidential candidates with a 24 - 18 percent lead over former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney among Republican voters, according to a Quinnipiac University national poll released today. Romney and President Barack Obama are in a dead heat while Perry trails the president by 3 points in 2012 matchups.

Republicans and Democrats are tied 38 - 38 percent when the independent Quinnipiac University survey asks American voters who they would vote for in the 2012 races for U.S. Congress - the so-called "generic ballot."

The percentage of all registered voters who say President Obama deserves a second term in the Oval Office has fallen to a negative 42 - 51 percent, matching a 41 - 50 percent all-time low reading on whether he deserves another four years in office from a March 30 survey.

"Gov. Rick Perry has sprinted out of the gate as a candidate for the GOP nomination," said Peter A. Brown, assistant director of the Quinnipiac University Polling Institute. "Being the new kid on the block has benefitted Perry. But with prominence comes scrutiny and both his Republican competitors and the Democrats are doing their best to convince voters he's not Mr. Wonderful. The next few months will be a race between Perry and his Republican and Democratic opponents to define him for the vast majority of the American people."

Among Republicans and independent voters leaning Republican, Perry gets 24 percent to Romney's 18 percent, former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin's 11 percent, Minnesota U.S. Rep. Michele Bachmann's 10 percent, Texas U.S. Rep. Ron Paul's 9 percent and businessman Herman Cain's 5 percent. Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich gets 3 percent, while former Utah Gov. Jon Huntsman, former Sen. Rick Santorum and Michigan U.S. Rep. Thaddeus McCotter get 1 percent each.

If Palin doesn't run, Perry leads Romney 26 - 20 percent with Bachmann at 12 percent.

Let's be blunt: Things are bleak for this failed president.

"The president is now dead even with one top Republican and just inches ahead of the other. He needs to improve his standing among men, whites and independents to ensure his re- election," said Brown.

He'll be going 0-for-3 with those groups.

Gallup: Obama Losing to Romney, Tied With Perry, Leads Ron Paul By Two Points

Please, lamestream media, keep reminding us how Obama is a shoo-in come 2012. He's already losing to Mitt Romney, is tied with Rick Perry a week after Perry entered the race, and is barely edging Ron Paul. Ron Paul!

The grim news for King Putt:

President Barack Obama is closely matched against each of four possible Republican opponents when registered voters are asked whom they would support if the 2012 presidential election were held today. Mitt Romney leads Obama by two percentage points, 48% to 46%, Rick Perry and Obama are tied at 47%, and Obama edges out Ron Paul and Michele Bachmann by two and four points, respectively.

Bachmann has been demonized from day one, and she's within four points.

These prospective election ballots -- measured Aug. 17-18, well over a year before the Nov. 6, 2012, election -- indicate that the race for president at this point is generally competitive, with voters fairly evenly divided in their preference for giving Obama a second term or electing a Republican candidate. Even though the four Republican candidates tested have varying degrees of name recognition, they all fare roughly the same.

He's under 50% against all of them, which spells almost certain defeat. No wonder we're already seeing stories that Obama is the conquering hero of Libya.

Rasmussen, meanwhile, has some very unfavorable news for Sarah Palin.

Update: Forget Paul Ryan running.

Epic Fail: Obama's Education Secretary Blasts Texas School System Under Perry

It's quite obvious who Obama fears, isn't it?

Education Secretary Arne Duncan, coming out early and tough against Texas Gov. Rick Perry, said he feels “very, very badly for the children” in Texas who go to public schools under Perry’s administration.

It was entirely predictable that Duncan would blast Perry, who just entered the race for the Republican presidential nomination and who has made it something of a sport to attack the president.

Just the other day, I wrote that no U.S. governor has been at public odds with Obama’s education policies more than Perry, and that tensions would only escalate. It’s safe to say they have.

Even as other Republicans have found bipartisan ground with Obama on education reform, Perry has repeatedly criticized Duncan’s Education Department, accusing it of attempting a “federal takeover of public schools” with the Race to Top competition in which states vied for federal funds by promising to implement specific education reforms.

Perry opted out of Race to the Top last year in a very public way, blasting the administration.

Now, in an interview on Bloomberg Television, airing today and tomorrow, Duncan said that public schools in Texas have “really struggled” under Perry.

“Far too few of their high school graduates are actually prepared to go on to college,” he said. “I feel very, very badly for the children there.”

“You have seen massive increases in class size,” Duncan said of the Texas public school system during Perry’s terms as governor since December 2000. “You’ve seen cutbacks in funding. It doesn’t serve the children well. It doesn’t serve the state well. It doesn’t serve the state’s economy well. And ultimately it hurts the country.”

So obviously the Chicago public schools under Duncan's stewardship must have done a bang-up job, right?

Um, uh...

But what about the fact, I responded, that on the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), Texas' fourth- and eighth-graders substantially outperformed their peers in Chicago in reading and math?

Naturally, Obama's stooge replies with a non-answer.

"I would have to look at all the details, but there are real challenges in Texas. And like every other state, they should be addressed openly and honestly as in Illinois, as in Chicago, and everywhere else."True, the national averages aren't great, but Texas is right there with the pack. So why is Duncan dissing the Lone Star State? Its minority students outperform minority students in Chicago, albeit by smaller margins. And with a high school graduation rate of about 73%, Texas may be slightly below the national average, but it's doing a lot better than Chicago, which only graduates about 56% of its students.

So much for that lame line of attack.

As if those kids in Chicago are prepared for college.

Wednesday's legislative hearing came after the Tribune reported last month that the South Side public university intentionally allowed failing students to remain in school to boost its enrollment numbers.

Maloney, who requested state financial aid information after the Tribune report, said that during the 2008-09 academic year, 449 Chicago State students received state grant money even though, under university policy, an untold number of them should have been dismissed for poor academic performance.

Of those students, 106 had a grade-point average of 0.0 and still received aid from the taxpayer-funded Monetary Award Program, known as MAP.

Who was it who represented Chicago's South Side?

Oh yeah, some guy named Obama.

I wonder whether those college kids could even find Martha's Vineyard on a map?

Woman Who Used Child to Ambush Perry Worked for Education Department, Went to UT

It's always so predictable with these people. You saw it made painfully clear this woman Kristin Bunce had an agenda and wanted to humiliate Rick Perry. Well, it turns out Bunce is really Marna Kristin Bunce, and we can confirm from earlier she indeed did work for the Department of Education. Note this is from 2000.

Mrs. Beane, 32, is a senior policy adviser in Seattle for the United States Education Department. She graduated from Wellesley College. She received a master's degree in government from the University of Texas and a master's in public policy from Harvard. Her father is the director of development at Hampshire College in Amherst, Mass. Her mother is the reading specialist at the Monroe Elementary School.

Dr. Beane, 35, is a research associate in nuclear theory at the University of Washington in Seattle. He graduated from Lafayette College and received a doctorate in physics from the University of Texas. His father retired as a partner in J&H Marsh & McLennan, the insurance brokerage firm in New York.

Hmm. So she and her husband both graduated from the University of Texas. Well, then, they must be familiar with Perry already, even though they now reside in New Hampshire. I wonder when she dropped the last name? According to the New York Times, her name was Bunce. Who knows, maybe she's trying to hide something.

No doubt the media will be sure to follow up on her background, right?

Update: As Jeff Emanuel points out, she hates Perry because he's an Aggie. Heh.

Good Grief: Pushy Mother Has Kid Ambush Perry With Evolution Questions

Goodness. Rick Perry has been in the campaign for what, six days now? And this is what we have to expect everywhere he goes? Look, politicians are fair game for these types of questions, but this vile woman uses her child to score cheap political points, and repeatedly has the kid ask more questions. Hey lady, you're standing a foot away from Governor Perry. Why don't you ask the damn questions yourself?

What a horrible, horrible woman. Wouldn't surprise me in the least to find out she's a Democratic Party plant.

Having said that, you'll note Perry handles himself gracefully. Recall just a few days ago when Obama couldn't even handle Ryan Rhodes asking him a question without unraveling and sniveling that it was Rhodes who wasn't listening.

H/T Ben Smith.

By the way, I could care less what Perry thinks about evolution, abortion, gay rights, nonexistent global warming, you name it. It doesn't matter in the current climate and economic meltdown we're in. But this is how it's going to be with the left and the media (I know, same thing). Every day Perry will be inundated with tangential issues, every day will be an effort to produce a gaffe, call him racist, find old girlfriends, whatever.

Republicans are vetted and subjected to the crudest form of gutter politics.

Democrats just preen and the adoring masses swoon. Who cares what they've done before, they can read a Teleprompter. Maybe instead of enabling cruse ambushes designed for a gotcha moment, perhaps the media should reflect on why they didn't do their jobs in 2007 and 2008. The result of their neglect is flying into Martha's Vineyard today while they're busy trying to trip up a decent man who would replace him.

More here.

Update: The very uncritical NY Times identifies this woman as Kristin Bunce. This story is making the rounds on the left and I can't find a single instance where anyone even mentions the boorish behavior of Bunce.

This is who they are.

Can't find much on anyone by that name, but the name Kristin Bunce appeared as an editor on the Harvard Law & Policy Review. The same name appears here identified as being with the U.S. Department of Education.

Perry Speaks in NH: Hey Look, No Teleprompter!

Via NECN.

Boy, is he ever a man after my heart.

Rick Perry says he does not believe in global warming. The newest Republican presidential candidate also says he would not have signed the debt-ceiling compromise brokered by Republicans and Democrats.

The Texas governor made the comments as he launched a two-day New Hampshire campaign tour. He was speaking at a packed breakfast event with business leaders Wednesday.

Perry said global warming is based on scientists manipulating data. He said he wouldn't devote federal resources to battling the environmental concern.

The warm-mongers are going to lose it.

Perry's First Campaign Ad

Nice rollout ad. It takes five seconds to list more accomplishments than President Downgrade could ever dream of.

Especially the part about jobs.

See If You Can Spot the Illiterate Blogger

Headline of the day from the fever swamps:

Gov. Perry talks succession for Texas at a tea party: “Texas Can leave Union If It Wants To”

Hyperventilating kook John Amato left us that gem and apparently someone corrected him, but the URL leaves the trail of evidence: http://crooksandliars.com/john-amato/gov-perry-talks-succession-texas-tea-pa.

Although he failed to correct the text:

These republicans are talking treason in my mind. As soon as a Democratic president is inaugurated after conservatives led the charge and collapsed our economy, these freak show conservatives are now talking succession. OH, Lord---help us all.

Funny how after eight years of well, treasonous activities, the left is now worried about people supposedly being treasonous.

Granted, Rick Perry needs a cold shower and a slap upside his head. Such talk of secession will only give the left more than enough ammunition to deride tea parties and any anti-Obama sentiment. Just incredibly stupid on his part.

Perry would be wise to step up and clarify his remarks, pronto. As for Amato, he's left a permanent trail of his own stupidity.