[jmdickens]

As someone who lived in Texas I can promise you Perry did nothing with the private sector for the economy.


Perry is a neocon conservative who believes in Big Government. I love the deferment style accounting he got passed. TExas is in the red, and I mean Big time. The economy is good for plenty of reasons that arent a result of PErry

1. Military spending
two huge military bases in Texas and more troops brought in after 9/11 are just a coincidence with Rick Perry being in office

2. Rising Oil
Texas is and will always be an energy state. Perry had nothing to do with it. With the increase in oil prices, the more jobs created.

3. No hablo engles
YEs, there is a pretty decent labor market that works for much lower wages than spanish speaking folk

4. The techies
Michael Dell, the founder of Dell, is probably to thank for the tech industry coming to Texas from Cali. Yes, taxes played a role, but it wasnt until Dell changed the game did the TEch industry come to Tejas. also, tech jobs did okay in the severe part of the recession.


Now, you can thank Perry for Big Government that did aid the economy. But, that is the antithesis of conservatism.


Now, let us review Perry's mirror accounting skills that makes his claims to having a balanced budget appear marginally true.

1. Deferment
Yep, Texas has deferred a heck of a lot of debt, and yes that was Perry.
$282.6 Billion

Perry cut the budget by not accounting for all the people coming to texas with education funding. 160,000 new students and a cut in budget til 2013 means a big IOU, but why does he care? he will be gone and people will forget


I take it back, Perry is worse than Romney and NEwt

[jmdickens]

DICKENS. Socialism and Fascism are two different things.

i meant in the sense that while the left argues that the right is Fascist, and the right calls the left socialist, they both believe in a big central govt.

[R i]

Youre making a simple solution that doesnt address the complex problems....Our number one problem in Washington is that the people that represent the people only care about being that person. They dont care about the people.

I think we can all agree that the biggest issue is the economy. Both of these parties contributed to it's current state. The right direction is for a foundational change. I prefer people of moral upstanding character who will lead by example and not do as their party tells them. That is why I support someone like Ron Paul. It is about the individual in this country, not the party that leads this country. That is why the Republican party has lost its conservative votes to the other parties.

Well Said Dickens.

The problem in my opinion is not electing the wrong people, we generally put people in that care and dont vote for "party". The problem is the machine is too big , too powerful, it changes them. The influence , the power, and most of all the money can change a man's intentions. While I dont agree with all that Ron Paul stands for, and his leadership qualities are lacking, he stands for what HE, HE, thinks is best for the country, not some political alliances.

[jbock13]

What is up with Newt's fetish with FDR? I'm definately not voting for Newt now.

[TH Spangler]

I haven't made up my mind who I will be voting for yet ... but I know I wouldn't vote for Ron Paul .... if he was the only one running .... sorry

[ATrain]

I could vote for Romney...I could vote for Ron Paul...no way I'd vote for Rick Perry or Newt Gingrich, even if hell froze over and the devil offered free sleigh rides.

[jbock13]

What is all the hate about Perry? lol

[ATrain]

What is all the hate about Perry? lol

Well that whole "Strong," video didn't really sit well with me...plus the way he's governed and "balanced," Texas' budget is pretty similar to the way McDonnell and Kaine did Virginia...deferring debt/payments. See the post by JMDickens.

[Liberty4Life]

I'm just scared about a Newt presidency. I mean, he'll take the Oath of Office and swear to defend our country, but what happens when a younger, hotter country comes around?

The guy is a sleaze. But it's like they say, it's not you do that scares me -- it's what you hide. How many other skeletons are in his closet?

[ALUmnus]

But it's like they say, it's not you do that scares me -- it's what you hide. How many other skeletons are in his closet?

If that's how you make your judgements, I guess you'd have to rule everyone out.