What a difference a week makes! The news has been surreal of late. We had one nut case finally losing it and opening fire on a crowd of defenseless people killing six, including a federal judge and a nine year old girl. A handful more are wounded, including a sitting U. S. Congresswoman. Following the tragedy, we have certain members of the national press and local officials, including a strangely unprofessional law enforcement officer, attempting to blame the political opposition for inciting the mad man’s actions. Next we have a memorial service for the lost in which the crowd behaves like a bunch of football fans at the Super bowl. And finally, the government of the State of Arizona is forced to move in order to block the protests of another group of crazies from protesting at the funerals of the victims. What is going on in our country?
Well the strange news stories continue. It turns out that Tucson shooting victim has himself been arrested and hospitalized after publicly threatening the life of Tucson Tea Party founder Trent Humphries, over the weekend. Now it sounds like James Eric Fuller may himself be a little unbalanced. He’s definitely had a rough couple of weeks. I hope he gets the help he needs; (it seems like I’ve heard myself saying that a lot lately). But I cannot begin to imagine how this story would have been treated by the press had he been a conservative. Mr. Fuller has recently appeared on numerous leftward leaning programs and websites, including the radical “Media Matters” where he blamed among others, Sarah Palin for the actions of lunatic shooter Jared Lee Loughner. Now I am not suggesting that his actions are typical of those of his political stripe, but I am suggesting that there is an obvious double standard between how the left is depicted in the media versus anyone else. The evidence is mounting that Lougher is merely insane with no political persuasion at all. Yet he was immediately (and unsuccessfully) labeled as a Tea Party member and talk radio listener. What’s more no one comes anywhere near blaming the media for firing up Fuller’s rage against prominent conservatives even though he had been directly impacted by the Tucson tragedy and was certainly very vulnerable to anti- conservative rhetoric.
Ok look I’m not honestly blaming the left for Mr. Fuller’s disorderly behavior. We all have our own issues and hang ups in life. But those are our individual issues. The sooner we all take responsibility for our own actions, insist others do the same and stop pointing the finger at those with no culpability, the better off we will be.
Is Governor Perry Going to Run for President?
May 23rd, 2011Is another Texas governor going to seek the presidency in 2012? Reports were trickling out last week that Governor Perry may seek the Republican nomination for president. In a race that thus far, promises to be populated largely by governors, Perry would constitute another moderate southerner (which means relatively conservative in today’s political climate), with a solid chance winning the party’s nod.
The electorate typically tends to favor governors being promoted to the Whitehouse. Of the last eight presidents, five have been former governors. It seems that, for the most part, voters are most comfortable with strong executives holding the highest post in the land, rather than legislators, whose stock in trade tends to be compromise and deal making. If the Texas governor did enter the race he would be one of a crowded field of State executives running, or who have considered running. They include the following names: Tim Pawlenty(MN) running, Mitt Romney (MA), running, Sarah Palin (AK), considering run, Mitch Daniels (IN) just decided not to run, and Mike Huckabee, (AR) who also decided not to run. In addition to these potential candidates, are popular favs, who, were they to enter the race, would probably inspire a ground swell of popular conservative support. They also happen to be governors and include names like: Bobby Jindal, (LA) and Chris Christy (NJ).
Reports of whether or not Mr. Perry will throw his name into the race are still sketchy, but in recent years Texas voters seem interested in a change. Even republicans are dubious of their governor’s conservative credentials, despite his attempt to shore them up around election time. Perry’s victory over Bill White last year was more of a vote against the contender than it was a wholesale endorsement of the incumbent. A move on the nomination would potentially do a couple of things for the Texas Governor. First, it may reunite his base at home with the prospect of another Texan running for President. Secondly, it would be an opportunity for upward mobility in an election year when the nation is again going to be largely concerned with voting against an unpopular incumbent. And lastly it would provide a capstone to a political career that will otherwise, likely end with this term in office.
Would I vote for the governor’s promotion? Not sure. He certainly has accomplishments to his credit, but there are certainly other candidates I’d like to see whose conservatism I find more authentic, and who are more willing to fight in a sure to be contentious campaign. As a Texan, I’m generally prone to support our candidates when they go national, but I have to be a purest on this one. I will support Governor Perry if he wins the nomination, but until then, I’ll have to hold out a while and see how the field shapes up. At the end of the day I’ll be surprised if Mr. Perry takes the plunge. The public mood seems to want something new and different. Personally, I think the governor looks too much like an establishment candidate. But that’s just me…
Tags: Bobby jindal, Conservative Support, Contender, Election Time, Electorate, Favs, Governor Perry, Ground Swell, Mike Huckabee, Mitch Daniels, Mitt Romney, Political Climate, Republican Nomination, Sarah Palin, Southerner, State Executives, Texas Governor, Texas Voters, Tim Pawlenty, Tyler Texas, Whitehouse
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