Althouse: "Perry Zooms to Front of Pack for 2012 GOP Nomination."

August 24, 2011

"Perry Zooms to Front of Pack for 2012 GOP Nomination."

New Gallup poll (from Aug. 17-21).

88 comments:

trumpetdaddy said...: Flavor of the month. We'll see how well he wears over time.; 8/24/11, 2:18 PM
Carol_Herman said...: How can you tell?

What does "in front of the pack" mean? He's being fitted for his inauguration suit? His wife's bought her dress?; 8/24/11, 2:18 PM
rhhardin said...: The pack wasn't very inspiring, has a lot to do with it.; 8/24/11, 2:19 PM
Pragmatist said...: Probably the best of the pack. Hopefully for him he will not tack wacky like McCain and step on some appendage. Leave Shelly Nutz on the sideline and pick a rational human. But is the country ready for another Texas Cowboy?; 8/24/11, 2:20 PM
trumpetdaddy said...: Amen.

This is all academic until Sarah decides yes or no. And that's true whether you support her or not, or think she can win or not.

Everybody is waiting for Sarah, either to get in herself, or to endorse one that is already in.; 8/24/11, 2:21 PM
rhhardin said...: I'm not waiting for Sarah.

If she's any kind of statesman she'll support somebody else.; 8/24/11, 2:23 PM
Scott M said...: Doesn't she have a big to-do coming up on Saturday?; 8/24/11, 2:28 PM
roesch-voltaire said...: I think they mean the front of the PAC.; 8/24/11, 2:30 PM
Ann Althouse said...: "or to endorse one that is already in"

I don't think she should endorse anyone for a long time.; 8/24/11, 2:31 PM
AllenS said...: Why not? He's new, fresh and hasn't been savaged by the MSM yet.; 8/24/11, 2:34 PM
Trooper York said...: Hold on to your balls.

GO AGGIES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!; 8/24/11, 2:36 PM
Anonymous said...: Obama vs Perry. The ultimate Yin and Yang. This could be one FUN election cycle. Pass the popcorn...; 8/24/11, 2:36 PM
X said...: I don't understand why Huntsman's tanking. Obama and the media love that guy.; 8/24/11, 2:39 PM
Cedarford said...: 1. Probably good for Romney in the sense that he is no longer the Inevitable One, the "designated front runner" as Hillary was. And he can fundraise just as easily, build his organization and platform, hit Obama..with less scrutiny.

2. Flavor of the month. Some truth to that. Right now he is that Savior to many Republicans, especially those tired of Whackadoodle Michelle and tired of the Cult of Goddess Palin Adpration. How another Texan will fare, one with some hard to swallow elements...is to be seen after his honeymoon period is over.

3. At least like Romney and the now-departed Pawlenty - he is experienced, not a Greenie "anti-Republican" like Huntsman and likely more palatable than the dog pick of McCain last cycle.; 8/24/11, 2:45 PM
traditionalguy said...: That is a small step for a male cheerleader, and a giant step towards the conservatives staying in the GOP.; 8/24/11, 2:56 PM
trumpetdaddy said...: "I don't think she should endorse anyone for a long time."

Agreed.

None of the current declared candidates has shown anywhere near enough to earn an endorsement this soon in the process.

We forget that of the last three two-term presidents, only the one whose father had his same name and had also been president were official candidates until the very end of the pre-primary process.

Reagan announced in November and Clinton in October, I believe. The only hurry is for consultants who want contracts and media that need copy for 24/7 news cycles.; 8/24/11, 2:59 PM
MadisonMan said...: They always love a new face, as Tuppence Beresford said to Millicent Sprot.; 8/24/11, 2:59 PM
Christopher said...: He does have one major advantage over the rest of the candidates though.

If Obama talks about inheriting his economy from Bush, Perry can simply say "so did I".; 8/24/11, 3:06 PM
Nora said...: I give Obama and MSM credit for this. They tried too much to discredit Perry and brought him to prominence.; 8/24/11, 3:12 PM
Anonymous said...: PERRY HAS NOWHERE TO GO BUT UP. BUT, HE IS AT THE TIPPING POINT. DO YOU ALL KNOW WHAT THAT IS? HE WILL THEN CRASH-AND-BURN. HE IS LIVING IN THE WILD WEST OF 1876. THIS IS 2011. HE IS NOT READY AT ALL.

FACE IT, THERE IS NO ONE - GASP, NO ONE - AMONG THE CURRENT CANDIDATES THAT CAN DEFEAT THE POTUS: OBAMA.

I AM TOLD THAT THE SUPER K-STREET CONSULTANTS ARE HAPPY THAT RYANS AND CHRISTIES ARE NOT IN THE RUN FOR THE WH.

AFTER THE ELECTION, EVERYONE HERE WILL BE EATING CROW.

YOU HEARD HERE FIRST.

THE ELECTION IS ALREADY IN THE BAG. THE K-STREETERS ARE PLANING THE FIRST 100-DAYS OF TOTAL AND COMPLETE RE-ELECTION VICTORY.

NB: IF PERRY IS ON THE TOP OF GOP TICKET, THE DEFEAT WILL BE BY 60%. IF BACHMAN IS ON THE TOP, THEN THE DEFEAT WILL BE BY 75%. THANK GOD FOR GOP FOR ELIMINATING ROMNEY! GOP IS SO GOOD AT KILLING EACH OTHER THAT WE SEND OUR LOVE.

GOP, PLEASE KEEP DIGGING YOUR OWN FUNERAL. WE LOVE YOU.; 8/24/11, 3:14 PM
Writ Small said...: Doing some very crude math. . .

In a month Perry took about 25% of Romney's support, 25% of Bachmann's, a third of Gingrich's, and most of Pawlenty's. Ron Paul is the only upper-tier candidate whose milkshake didn't get drunk.

Impressive.; 8/24/11, 3:15 PM
Joe said...: (The Uncredentialed, Crypto Jew)

AP is really getting both more and less annoying, less annoying in that the Romanian to English translator seems to be working much better these days, but really must It be ALL CAPS, ALL THE TIME?

So, AP I take it you are of the opinion that Obama squeaks by for another, term, then?; 8/24/11, 3:17 PM
Phil 314 said...: Howard Dean

Wesley Clark; 8/24/11, 3:18 PM
Anonymous said...: Mr. Joe: Obama defeats every current GOP candidate so easily, that he can do this at any time, any place, on any date. GOP has no idea. It is going to be a massive loss for the GOP. If I was in the GOP, I would think about moving to another country or changing my party. There is no room to hide. When I see GOP, I see people who are about to be defeated.; 8/24/11, 3:21 PM
Scott M said...: Is all of that said with a thick Arabic/English accent, AP? Because that's the way it reads. Can't figure why...; 8/24/11, 3:23 PM
Lauderdale Vet said...: InTrade has him in the lead, as well.; 8/24/11, 3:24 PM
garage mahal said...: Perry calls Social Security a "bad disease", and also unconstitutional. Wonder how that plays to the masses.; 8/24/11, 3:25 PM
Paul said...: The natives are desperate to get rid of Obama.... before the nation sinks into the ocean.

But at least Perry has 10x more experience than Obama and HIS state is 10x better than Obama's state as for the economy.

You see Illinois is going down the tubes... taxes up, revenue down, government bankrupt.

But Texas... hahahaha is so far ahead. Damn Yankees all over the place trying to get jobs here.; 8/24/11, 3:27 PM
Joe said...: (The Uncredentialed, Crypto Jew)

Since Obama is barely beating that crank, Ron Paul, AP I might doubt your assertions.; 8/24/11, 3:28 PM
The Dude said...: AP is from Nepal. He knows America and English better than anyone born here. All hail AP - he has never been wrong in any prediction.; 8/24/11, 3:29 PM
Phil 314 said...: And some Gallup poll historical perspective; 8/24/11, 3:30 PM
Phil 314 said...: And from that same 2003 Gallup report (I find this very disheartening):

A combined sample of black Democrats from the last three Gallup Polls show Sharpton as the leading candidate among blacks. Twenty-two percent of blacks say they support Sharpton for the nomination, giving him a nine-point edge over Clark and 10 points over Lieberman. No other candidate gets double-digit support among black Democrats, and about one in five do not express a preference.; 8/24/11, 3:32 PM
cubanbob said...: America's Politico said...

Will you promise, pinkie swear, that you will kill yourself after the republicans win the whole enchilada next November? And please do so in an environmentally correct way and have a nice day.; 8/24/11, 3:32 PM
David said...: Let's see if he zooms back again. He could get the nomination, especially if Romney stumbles. This probably means that Jeb Bush is really, truly, for sure, not kidding on the sidelines. The war between Jeb Bush and Perry would be brutal.

Memo to Palin: If you are waiting, you have waited long enough.; 8/24/11, 3:33 PM
Phil 314 said...: Perry calls Social Security a "bad disease", and also unconstitutional. Wonder how that plays to the masses.

Surprised you asked that question given this is a thread about how well he's doing in the polls.

(I'm assuming they polled "the masses"); 8/24/11, 3:36 PM
Anonymous said...: CubanBob: After the Obama re-election victory, I will be back on K-street with regular invites to the WH. Hey, you will never see me again but I will be living well. Revenge as they say is best served when you are living well. GOP, lots of love for agreeing to be defeated so thoroughly and so convincingly that I can scarcely believe it myself.; 8/24/11, 3:36 PM
Phil 314 said...: ...a third of Gingrich's

Does that round up to zero?; 8/24/11, 3:37 PM
cubanbob said...: Christopher said...
He does have one major advantage over the rest of the candidates though.

If Obama talks about inheriting his economy from Bush, Perry can simply say "so did I".

8/24/11 3:06

You should have added that Perry should tell Obama to man up and stop acting like a whinny little bitch by blaming Bush. He said he had a plan when he ran in 08 and if he can't pull it off then he ought to resign and get out of the way.; 8/24/11, 3:38 PM
Ipso Fatso said...: Obama seems to be tanking at the worst time for R's in that he has no where to go but up from now until the election next fall. If there is any kind of recovery between now and then he and the press will be dancing for joy.

Also remember, Perry or whoever, will not only be running against BO but the MSM as well. The MODO's of the world will spank their little BO for being a bad boy but come January watch how they change their tune. Much as I want BO out of office, it would not surprise me if he wins. I hope I am wrong.; 8/24/11, 3:40 PM
cubanbob said...: America's Politico said...
CubanBob: After the Obama re-election victory, I will be back on K-street with regular invites to the WH. Hey, you will never see me again but I will be living well. Revenge as they say is best served when you are living well. GOP, lots of love for agreeing to be defeated so thoroughly and so convincingly that I can scarcely believe it myself.

8/24/11 3:36 PM

After Obama gets fired you will be living well on Mars but thanks for being so consistenly delusional. And don't use all caps, it's very annoying. Yes revenge is best served cold, it will be a delight while sipping cold champaign and smoking a good cigar to step on the cold exploded brains of progressives after the ass whipping of biblical proportions they will handed from up above.; 8/24/11, 3:45 PM
JohnJ said...: I can't imagine what circumstances would result in a Perry victory in November. This at least may force Romney to get his hands dirty for the nomination, which may steel him a bit.

But, again, by what astrological calculation could Perry possibly beat Obama? A billion bucks will transform the election into a referendum on Perry, not the sitting president. That orchestrated slander would be extraordinarily more difficult if the nominee were Romney.; 8/24/11, 4:02 PM
traditionalguy said...: Perry is being contrasted with Huntsman and the issues of the day.

Huntsman seems to be a moby sent by Obama to draw away moderates for a Hunysman third party campaign.

That would be Obama's only hope.; 8/24/11, 4:02 PM
Scott M said...: A billion bucks will transform the election into a referendum on Perry, not the sitting president.

My alternate timeline sources say otherwise. It took 3.5 billion. Any less and the probability lines skew Perry. It doesn't matter, of course, because 100% of the timelines end in 2012.; 8/24/11, 4:09 PM
edutcher said...: It's really a two man race. Mrs Bachmann is looking more and more like a placeholder for a better Conservative. And that would appear to be Perry.

And, yes, I think Miss Sarah will eventually endorse the Governor of TX.; 8/24/11, 4:11 PM
Paul said...: "But, again, by what astrological calculation could Perry possibly beat Obama?"

They said the same thing about Reagan .vs. Carter at about the same stage we are now.

Reagan was the 'cowboy' who 'shot from the lip'. And Reagan doubted Darwinism and evolution.

And who won that race?; 8/24/11, 4:14 PM
YoungHegelian said...: I'd bet on Perry to win the nomination, if not the election.

Whatever advantages Romney has are negated by the fact that the center of Republican gravity lies in the South and Southwest, and he is from the Northeast, in particular, Massachusetts.

You know how Northeasterners think that Southerners are all stupid? Well, Southerners think that Northeasterners are all arrogant shits. That, combined with Christian unease with his Mormonism, will sink Romney, big money or not.

Don't believe the press & pundits on who's #1 among the Repubs. They thought it was going to be Guiliani in 2008! Anyone who knows anything about the heartland knows that they think nothing good comes from NYC.; 8/24/11, 4:18 PM
YoungHegelian said...: And, Trooper, don't get started on me about no good from NYC.

I don't agree with it, I'm just calling it as I see it.

I'm a Southern boy and I personally (heart) NYC.; 8/24/11, 4:21 PM
edutcher said...: FWIW, according to Gallup, Mrs Bachmann is now running 4th behind Ron Paul.; 8/24/11, 4:45 PM
Roger J. said...: All way too early--I believe that Perry is going to resonate with a lot of voters and he has been tested in Texas politics and kicked a lot of ass. He will be a good campaigner and run rings around jug ears in debates. Look for the Obama slime machine including the msm running dogs to start this week.

Ms Palin? I suspect, as others have noted, is not going to jump in the race but will more than satified to play "kingmaker."

Gonna be an interesting race--After listening to excerpts from jug ears speech blaming every body but himself on conditions, that kind of bull shit isnt going to fly with anybody except his base constituency. Sounds like a third grader complaining about being shut out from the slide. What a fucking douchenozzle.; 8/24/11, 5:09 PM
Trooper York said...: YoungHegelian said....
Well, Southerners think that Northeasterners are all arrogant shits."

Well you are sort of right. Most New Yorkers are arrogant shits. I admit it freely.

I think it is a speed thing really. Whenever I am out of the city everybody goes so freakin slow. And down South? I could lose my mind.; 8/24/11, 5:10 PM
Roger J. said...: OK troop: you might lose your mind but where else is mac and cheese considered a vegetable, you can have fried pickles, and 98 kinds of bar b cue. The answer of course is the south! The best you new yorkers can do is 3 kinds of nova salmon.; 8/24/11, 5:15 PM
Alex said...: garage see everyone as part of the "masses". It's like some writhing entity unto itself. This "mass".; 8/24/11, 5:52 PM
Jeff in Oklahoma said...: It is true that Perry is the flavor of the month. But, he also does seem to embody most of what the conservative base are seeking AND he has a track record.

IMO Bachmann is slipping because although she does talk a conservative game, she has no record to back it up.

I also suspect that Romney appeals only to the center/right and the ABO crowd.

Perry/Rubio - in a landslide in 2012.; 8/24/11, 6:45 PM
garage mahal said...: 47% of all new government jobs in the U.S. since 2007 were in Texas. Perry is a big/small government conservative.; 8/24/11, 7:07 PM
FleetUSA said...: I'm with AAltH. She shouldn't endorse anyone until much later. Her endorsement will help but she should stay above the fray (just in case she is needed) -- but she has a serious resume problem in my mind even though I like her.; 8/24/11, 7:11 PM
Michael said...: Garage. Try again. Math is not your specialty so, please go back to your sources and look again.; 8/24/11, 7:28 PM
Jeff in Oklahoma said...: If any of you are interested, check out Senator Rubio's speech at the Reagan Library - impressive.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5BypW8Ev3lM; 8/24/11, 7:31 PM
Trooper York said...: Roger J. said...
OK troop: you might lose your mind but where else is mac and cheese considered a vegetable, you can have fried pickles, and 98 kinds of bar b cue. The answer of course is the south! The best you new yorkers can do is 3 kinds of nova salmon.

Roger baby! New York City is food!

You get to eat the best that Mom could make when you visit your friends house. You get perogies at Killer Kowalski's house and brisket at Scholmo Screibers house and fried chicken and collard greens at Leroy Jefferson house after the game. The history of New York is the history of great food.

You can get better Southern cooking at the Country Kitchen at Atlantic Avenue at the corner of Saratoga.

Someday I will have a TV show called "Trooper York's Brooklyn" where I will take you to all of the great places to eat.

Your head would explode.; 8/24/11, 7:36 PM
Trooper York said...: Oh and Carol Herman is a lunatic.; 8/24/11, 7:36 PM
hombre said...: Perfect. Perry is just the guy to hammer Oblahblah mercilessly about his lies, broken promises and spending. Meanwhile the Repubs find a competent strategist and take back the Senate.

And if Perry should win??? He might hold the RINO/Dem spendthrifts in check and Oblahblah has already shown us one doesn't have to be too bright to be POTUS.; 8/24/11, 7:42 PM
garage mahal said...: Over the last few years, government jobs have been awfully consequential in Texas: 47% of all government jobs added in the US between 2007 and 2010 were added in Texas; 8/24/11, 7:42 PM
Phil 314 said...: 47% of all new government jobs in the U.S. since 2007 were in Texas. Perry is a big/small government conservative

That has actually been one criticism Perry has heard. But Garage surely you're not suggesting that President Obama is vigorously working to reduce the number of governmentally-paid or funded jobs?

Again you're basically complaining about a candidate on the "other side" on an issue THAT THE OTHER SIDE IS CONCERNED ABOUT. Let the Republicans decide.

They can do without your advice on the appropriate candidate.; 8/24/11, 7:47 PM
Phil 314 said...: Trooper;
You just figured that out?; 8/24/11, 7:48 PM
hombre said...: 47% of all new government jobs in the U.S. since 2007 were in Texas.

That's a bit simplistic, even for a Wisconsin lefty, Garage.

Even if true, how does the hiring of federal and municipal employees, undoubtedly a large percentage of gov't employees in Texas, reflect on Perry?; 8/24/11, 7:58 PM
garage mahal said...: But Garage surely you're not suggesting that President Obama is vigorously working to reduce the number of governmentally-paid or funded jobs?

I'm suggesting Perry is a fraud who happily takes federal help quietly while publicly rails against it.; 8/24/11, 7:59 PM
hombre said...: I'm suggesting Perry is a fraud who happily takes federal help quietly while publicly rails against it.

How does a governor "take federal help quietly?"

I wonder, garage, would Perry's responsibilities and loyalties differ as POTUS and as Governor of Texas? Maybe he should have passed the money on to California - that great lib success story. lol

It really strains the bounds of credulity for an Obama supporter to call any other politician a "fraud."; 8/24/11, 8:09 PM
kjbe said...: Didn't he used to have grey hair?; 8/24/11, 8:26 PM
grackle said...: A wonderful painting.

A false, outdated political metaphor that is unintentionally ironic in a tragic way. Integration across the board, affecting staff as well as students was achieved but came with some inadvertent side effects for some communities. Once race became the dominate hiring and human resource factor, competence took second place and it apparently takes only a bit of this to tip the scale toward disaster. Then – Pow! Reality intrudes. Atlanta is a case in point.

http://tinyurl.com/3okswae

On the misleadingly worded link to the Christian Science Monitor. The graph shown there is meaningless without identical graphs from other states to compare it to. Also, it doesn’t go into enough detail. For instance, I’ll bet many of the government jobs were the result of unfunded mandates from DC. The author doesn’t give the source of his data, which is also a suspicious omission.

How would a steep rise in population affect the size of government in order to deal with the influx? A lot of people have migrated to Texas. If you have more trashcans on the curbs you have to hire more trash collectors. Typical Progressive pundit tactics; 8/24/11, 8:28 PM
Trooper York said...: Phil 3:14 said...
Trooper;
You just figured that out?

Phil I try to give everybody a chance. So I withhold judgement for a couple of weeks.

But those baseball comments were beyond the pale. We have to go to the mattressess.; 8/24/11, 8:31 PM
garage mahal said...: The graph shown there is meaningless without identical graphs from other states to compare it to

Here you go.; 8/24/11, 8:34 PM
richard mcenroe said...: I'd keep in mind this poll gave Ron Paul 13% and he's never gotten more than 2% in any real primary...; 8/24/11, 8:38 PM
Anonymous said...: The truth is that Perry and GOP cannot handle the truth.

Perry is living in 1876. He is a dinosaur. The asteroid POTUS OBAMA will arrive on Nov. 2012 to wipe him out.

He has no chance, because:
- He has no real accomplishments.
- He is a bully and uncouth person.
- He is not bright and cannot read an intellectual book. (He really is "Lite of Bush-lite". Go figure.
- Etc. etc.

Remember: If Perry is the GOP nominee, then POTUS OBAMA will win by at least 60%, not only in the US of A but in Dont-Mess-With-Texas as well.

GOP: You are finished. Timing is running out. Lights out.; 8/24/11, 8:55 PM
Jeff in Oklahoma said...: I'm not sure what to make about Garage's claims on Texas jobs, but I saw this article the other day and it clearly puts the issue at odds - and the author obtained his data from the government:

Texas has 100,000 unsustainable Public Sector jobs that inflate the growth number . .

Counting from the beginning of the recession (December 2007) the Texas public sector has grown 3.8%, or a little under 70,000 employees. This is faster than normal employment, but it's not off the charts.

Given that the Texas economy has grown so much and private sector jobs have grown so much, that doesn't strike me as an unsustainable growth in the public sector.

Additionally, the author also disputes that the TX jobs are "low wage." Worth a read if you are so inclined:

http://www.politicalmathblog.com/?p=1590; 8/24/11, 9:02 PM
chickelit said...: I'm late to this thread but it sounds like garage is working OT to make it sound like Perry is failing as a governor--just like he does for his own governor, Scott Walker.

Image having a whole city or even a state full of garage mahones.; 8/24/11, 9:53 PM
Phil 314 said...: A photographic comparison

(HT NRO); 8/24/11, 9:56 PM
Mike said...: Perry might be the best on offer, but he is not exactly a small government, fiscal responsibility guy, is he?

I am quite happy to let the process unfold.; 8/24/11, 10:32 PM
hombre said...: America's Politico wrote: He is not bright and cannot read an intellectual book. (He really is "Lite of Bush-lite". Go figure.

The AP is, of course, able to make this assessment because he is a summa grad from Yale, or is it an Hons grad from Oxford, just like all the lefties. rotflmao; 8/24/11, 10:47 PM
Dustin said...: "Perry might be the best on offer, but he is not exactly a small government, fiscal responsibility guy, is he?"

He's actually pretty much that. He's deviated a few times out of thousands of decisions and many years of experience running a state that could be a large country.

Really, I think Perry's the best candidate we have simply from a 'ready to do the job properly' perspective. And I think his fingerprints are all over Texas's success. The talking point lately is that he can't really be associated with it, but that's what they will say about any small government leader who presides over the prosperity a non-intrusive government tends to cultivate.

It's not easy to have an effective government that isn't really growing much (per capita). But when the shit hits the fan, Texas does put those fires out and handle those hurricanes, frankly with the biggest problem being the idiot or even hostile federal government.

He ain't perfect, and by all means let's have a hard primary to see that he's up for a national contest, but his record is impressive.

And he's the only veteran in the running. The only successful governor running.; 8/24/11, 11:02 PM
Anonymous said...: At the Oval Room Happy Hour for Drinks, I had this conversation with a super, really super, K-street consultant:

Me: Hi Jon.
J: Hey Ali. Still stressed out GOP. Man, you ought to relax or we will have dis-invite you to these events. Relax, will you? We can take the entire GOP like taking a walk in the Central Park. Don't sweat. The game is a foot.
Me: Man, the blogs are all over the POTUS, this and that. It is scary. What to believe or what to not believe.
J; Believe this: GOP is finished. They don't even know what is coming. When this happens, it will be sweet. You will be happy. Now, cheer up. Bar-keep, get this nervous guy, a double-shot of your best whiskey.
Me: Thanks!; 8/24/11, 11:18 PM
Steve Koch said...: Quite predictable that Perry passed up Romney among GOP voters. It will be interesting to see how Perry does WRT the media's efforts to destroy him.

Maybe the best approach for Perry and the GOP is to relentlessly attack the lefty media as biased and corrupt to put them on the defensive. The soft approach of pretending that the media is fair is certain to fail. Perry is probably the most hard nosed GOP candidate so he may do a good job of putting the media on the defensive. I also think Perry will be aggressive in attacking Obama. This may be disorienting to Obama since, up to now, Obama has been given the kid gloves treatment.; 8/25/11, 12:11 AM
Joanna said...: America's Politico said...
Man, the blogs are all over the POTUS, this and that. It is scary. What to believe or what to not believe.

Calm down, AP. The Obama Nightmare will be over soon.; 8/25/11, 12:36 AM
hoyden said...: Reimaging AP:

J: Hey Ali. Still stressed out over the hole in the boat?. Man, you ought to relax or we will have dis-invite you to these events. Relax, will you? We can take the water pouring in like taking a walk in the Central Park. Don't sweat. The game is a foot. We got a plan.
Me: Man, there's water are all over the place, this and that. It is scary. What to believe or what to not believe.
J; Believe this: That iceberg is finished. It doesn't even know what is coming. When we get to NYC, it will be sweet. You will be happy. Now, cheer up. Bar-keep, get this nervous guy, a double-shot of your best whiskey. WE ARE UNSINKABLE!!11!!
Me: Thanks!; 8/25/11, 5:41 AM
Hoosier Daddy said...: "... 47% of all new government jobs in the U.S. since 2007 were in Texas. Perry is a big/small government conservative...."

Funny your link doesn't break down federal vs state vs municipal.

I wonder why?; 8/25/11, 7:22 AM
Writ Small said...: Couple of thoughts on Garage's linked charts showing high proportion of new jobs in Texas being "government" jobs.

1) The author is Joe Biden's former economic advisor, who has a strong political interest in not telling the whole story. Doesn't mean his fact are distorted, of course. It's just a warning to consider the source.

2) The relative size of government jobs to the economy as a whole per state as a baseline is not stated. It's possible Texas started out unusually low in this regard, and given George W. was Perry's predecessor, rather likely.

3) There have been absoluely massive population shifts to Texas during Perry's reign. Texas has been the fastest growing state both in numbers of people and as a percent over this time period, and that is on a hugh base population to begin with. See the "political math" website for additional details. The point is that government jobs will naturally grow as population grows, all other things equal, so a relatively large growth in govt. in comparison to other states is at least partially a function of the comparitive attractiveness of the state.

4) Does maximizing your state's benefit to a law of which you don't approve make you a hypocrite or a fraud? I think the answer here is obviouly no. Warren Buffet says we should raise taxes on the wealthiest. He wants the rules changed across the board. Meanwhile he continues his buy and hold strategy, which is designed to minimize taxes paid. Playing by the rules to win, but advocating those rules be changed for what you believe is a better total result does not make you a fraud. It mainly demonstrates that you're not a fool.; 8/25/11, 7:26 AM
Hoosier Daddy said...: "... I'm suggesting Perry is a fraud who happily takes federal help quietly while publicly rails against it..."

I stating Obama is a fraud who happily leaves Gitmo open after promising to close it.

Or being against the mandate before he was for it.

Or demanding a new debt ceiling when a few years prior railed against raising it.

But being the loyal partisan hack, you'll cheerfully vote for your fraud won't you garage?

Or promising to end the war and dragging us into a new one.; 8/25/11, 7:27 AM
Scott M said...: ...or slamming Bush in 2008 for running up the debt 4 trillion in eight years, calling him unpatriotic for doing so, citing our children's burden...and then doing it himself in less than 3 years.

Fraudulent? I'd say so with a heaping helping of hypocrisy ladled right over the top.; 8/25/11, 7:35 AM
Calypso Facto said...: Dig into garage's referenced statistics at BLS and what you'll REALLY find is that Texas added 10,000 general state employee jobs since 2007 during a period that the state's population grew by 1.6 million people. Yawn.

At 1.44% of total population, Texas' state government employment is still lower than Wisconsin's 1.62%, and to have increased the state government employment by ONLY .6% of the increased population since 2007 is actually a pretty significant accomplishment of hiring restraint.; 8/25/11, 8:36 AM
Jim at Polimerican.com said...: For those trying to shoot down the Texas jobs success (including the myth of government jobs) or tout other potential negatives about Perry:

Blogged about them here

A couple of bloggers have done extensive work on employment as well as a host of other issues that are "must bookmarks" for the upcoming election season.

You're bound to hear a bunch more garage's as Axelrod deploys his army of AstroTurfers again, so it will be handy to have links to answer the propaganda.; 8/25/11, 8:39 AM