I haveĀ lived in Texas for 32-plus years.
For most of that time, Rick Perry has been in the public eye: as a then-Democratic state legislator from Haskell County, as Texas agriculture commissioner, as state lieutenant governor, as governor and as a two-time Republican candidate for president of the United States.
I’ve never rooted for him to win anything.
Until now.
He has been selected to compete on “Dancing With the Stars.”
Our paths have crossed a few times over the years. I first met him in Beaumont, when he ran for agriculture commissioner. I would talk to him again after he was elected lieutenant governor and then governor. The late state Sen. Teel Bivins once introduced Perry to my wife and me while we were attending a Chamber of Commerce event in downtown Amarillo.
I’ve never particularly cared for the man’s politics, nor his personal demeanor for that matter.
He’s going to cut a rug, so to speak, on the ABC-TV network show.
I have no earthly clue as to why I actually am pulling for him to win. It might be that he’ll be a huge underdog. I don’t know who else is in the mix, but I’m sure there’ll be a healthy complement of athletes whose athletic skill requires them to be nimble on their feet.
I remember when Tom DeLay, the Republican U.S. House majority leader, kicked up his heels on the show. He was a great sport when he lost out early in the competition. Will the same fate await his good friend and fellow GOPer Rick Perry?
The world awaits … with bated breath.
First, though, I have to remember to watch the show!
That, right there, is going to be a challenge.