There's not much that Texas Governor Rick Perry and I have in common. Oh, I love Texas, the land and its people. If my Eastern friends don't get that, I can't explain it. It's a you-had-to-be-there sorta thing.
But Perry strikes me as a rhinestone cowboy rather than the real thing.
First off, there's that varmint claim. I don't think he really shot a coyote to protect his dog. Why?
Because if I did, I would have it mounted -- or at least take a picture of it. He didn't and his friends don't even ask him to prove he shot it.
If I pulled that, my Texas friends would laugh me out of the state. Every single one of them knows that if they shot a coyote, they would keep at least the tail. And if they shot a coyote with a pistol, they would have commemorative photos and probably a custom made coffee table book of pictures.
Yet they believe Perry. I think he maybe saw a coyote. Or he saw something. Or he shot a collie thinking it was a coyote. And then buried Lassie and made up a story.
Plus, he's just too picture perfect in his wardrobe. I think Ralph Lauren, not Lonesome Dove. He is far more Lexus than Texas.
In cowboy garb, he dresses as something he isn't. It's a little like that shot of him dressed as a fighter pilot at the cockpit of a jet. He served in the Air Force, and good for him. I respect those who serve. But he flew cargo planes, not fighter jets. So why dress up as a fighter jock? If he can ride a horse, good for him, but why dress up as a Village People dude rancher cowboy?
There is an obvious extension to politics of course. Hyperbole is one thing. A good rant can be fun. But Perry's campaign against government -- as a career politician -- strikes me the same as the coyote story. In fact, there's plenty of proof that if federal dollars would leave Texas, the economy would deflate like a soggy pinata.
Nothing proves the worth of government, at least some of it, than the heroic effort federal fire fighters are waging against the fires in Texas. This is as it should be.
But it should make people think twice when they listen to Perry. Or to any of the "starve the beast, government is evil" folks. Much in government can be improved. But eliminated?
It is a false cockiness Perry has. Romney called him on it well during the debates. Texas has many blessings that has helped its economy. Surely Governor Perry is not taking credit for those, or he would be like Al Gore claiming he invented the internet.
But that is how Perry comes off to me. He is someone banging through the saloon doors angry and looking for a fight. But he is all hat, no cattle. He is the cock crowing in the morning, proud that he has raised the sun.
Those aren't the Texans I know.
But Perry strikes me as a rhinestone cowboy rather than the real thing.
First off, there's that varmint claim. I don't think he really shot a coyote to protect his dog. Why?
Because if I did, I would have it mounted -- or at least take a picture of it. He didn't and his friends don't even ask him to prove he shot it.
If I pulled that, my Texas friends would laugh me out of the state. Every single one of them knows that if they shot a coyote, they would keep at least the tail. And if they shot a coyote with a pistol, they would have commemorative photos and probably a custom made coffee table book of pictures.
Yet they believe Perry. I think he maybe saw a coyote. Or he saw something. Or he shot a collie thinking it was a coyote. And then buried Lassie and made up a story.
Plus, he's just too picture perfect in his wardrobe. I think Ralph Lauren, not Lonesome Dove. He is far more Lexus than Texas.
In cowboy garb, he dresses as something he isn't. It's a little like that shot of him dressed as a fighter pilot at the cockpit of a jet. He served in the Air Force, and good for him. I respect those who serve. But he flew cargo planes, not fighter jets. So why dress up as a fighter jock? If he can ride a horse, good for him, but why dress up as a Village People dude rancher cowboy?
There is an obvious extension to politics of course. Hyperbole is one thing. A good rant can be fun. But Perry's campaign against government -- as a career politician -- strikes me the same as the coyote story. In fact, there's plenty of proof that if federal dollars would leave Texas, the economy would deflate like a soggy pinata.
Nothing proves the worth of government, at least some of it, than the heroic effort federal fire fighters are waging against the fires in Texas. This is as it should be.
But it should make people think twice when they listen to Perry. Or to any of the "starve the beast, government is evil" folks. Much in government can be improved. But eliminated?
It is a false cockiness Perry has. Romney called him on it well during the debates. Texas has many blessings that has helped its economy. Surely Governor Perry is not taking credit for those, or he would be like Al Gore claiming he invented the internet.
But that is how Perry comes off to me. He is someone banging through the saloon doors angry and looking for a fight. But he is all hat, no cattle. He is the cock crowing in the morning, proud that he has raised the sun.
Those aren't the Texans I know.
Oh come on. Aren't any of you Texans going to argue with me? At least admit he made up the whole coyote thing. Honey, you're late. What have you been up to? Uh, well, dear... there was this...uh...coyote.....yeah a coyote!!! And he was going to attack my dog! But I...uh....drilled him through the heart with my Ruger 380...Yup, that's the story. A....coyote...
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