Tag Archives: Rick Perry

environmental news, State news

Perry builds wind energy in Texas

Let it never be said that I am such a blind partisan that I fail to recognize the good things that politicians of the “other party” have accomplished.

Republican Texas Gov. Rick Perry is about to leave office and the Texas Tribune is doing a great job of looking back at the governor’s huge legacy.

All those wind turbines one sees turning along the High Plains or along the South Plains and the Rolling Plains down yonder? They’re a big part of the Perry legacy, to which I will provide high praise.

http://apps.texastribune.org/perry-legacy/energy/

The Tribune notes that most of the turbines didn’t exist when Perry took his initial oath of office in December 2000. They do now, in a big way.

As the Tribune notes: “In 2000, wind farms composed just 116 megawatts of capacity on the state’s main electric grid. That number has since soared to more than 11,000 megawatts, while wind fuels about 10 percent of all generation. (On average, one megawatt-hour of wind energy can power 260 typical Texas homes for an hour.)

“’His legacy on the fossil side of things is very sound, but on the wind side, he’s done tremendous things to move the state forward,’ said Jeff Clark, executive director of the Austin-based Wind Coalition, an advocacy group. ‘Under Rick Perry, wind in Texas has moved from alternative energy to being a mainstream component of our power supply.’”

Think of how vast this supply of energy is in Texas, particularly along the Caprock, where the wind blows incessantly — and where it will blow for as long as Planet Earth exists. I reckon that’ll be a good while, agreed?

Texas has become the nation’s No. 1 wind-energy-producing state, supplanting California at the top of the heap.

Perry’s predecessor as governor, George W. Bush, signed a bill in 1999 that deregulated the electric sector, opening the door for the development of wind energy. Perry would later sign legislation mandating an increase in wind energy production. The state has delivered in a big way.

Here’s the Tribune: “’That we were able to build thousands of miles of high-capacity transmission from West Texas to the Panhandle without landowners marching on the Capitol with pitchforks, it’s pretty remarkable,’ said Railroad Commissioner Barry Smitherman, whom Perry appointed to the Public Utility Commission in 2004 and reappointed in 2007. ‘And the governor had our back on that.’”

Rick Perry isn’t known as an environmentalist, but the wind energy that has developed on his watch has gone a long way toward conserving fossil fuels. It’s also producing arguably the cleanest energy possible.

Well done, governor.

 

political news, State news

Jobs vs. 'Oops' for ex-Gov. Perry

The task awaiting former Texas Gov. Rick Perry — gosh, it feels nice to write “former” in front of his name — will be to erase a singular moment from his first run for president.

He thinks “jobs” will replace “oops” in voters’ memory if and when he declares his intention to run for president in 2016.

(OK, he’s not yet a “former” governor, but the moment is close enough that I’ll take the liberty of using it here.)

http://www.realclearpolitics.com/articles/2014/12/31/perry_hopes_texas_jobs_record_can_trump_oops_from_2012_125105.html

He’ll have to sell the Texas jobs record to voters looking for an economic medicine man among the Republicans who’ll be seeking to replace Barack Obama in the White House.

But that one moment still stands out as the definition of Perry’s first run for president. As Real Clear Politics reported: “It all boils down to the moment when Perry, in the midst of a 2011 presidential debate, was unable to recall the third of three federal agencies he’d promised to shutter, finally muttering ‘oops.’ Asked about it in a recent interview with The Associated Press, Perry said, ‘That’s like going back and asking a football player who dropped a pass to win the Super Bowl: ‘Did that bother you?’ ”

His campaign staff and close friends said the governor didn’t prepare sufficiently for the 2012 nomination campaign. He had a sore back and was medicated heavily to relieve the pain, they say. There was little staff preparation and development, they contend.

It all added up to a political disaster in the making.

It arrived on that debate stage in late 2011.

Can the governor take the credit for all those Texas jobs? Should he take credit? Well, they occurred on his watch.

But by the same token, millions of jobs were added nationally to company payrolls during the Obama administration. Does the president deserve credit for those numbers as well? My trick knee tells me that ex-Gov. Perry won’t give the president a nickel’s worth of credit for what happened nationally, but he’ll scarf up all the credit he can find for the Texas job growth.

It should produce an interesting tale that Rick Perry will be more than glad to spin in his favor.

First, he’ll have to purge our memory of the “oops” moment.

 

political news, State news

Let’s not cherry-pick Scripture

Read this editorial carefully. It’s a brief but brilliant lecture on how politicians shouldn’t selectively quote Scripture to make a cheap political point.

http://www.beaumontenterprise.com/opinions/editorials/article/Gov-Perry-s-view-reflects-poorly-on-all-of-us-5974944.php

The target of this opinion from the Beaumont Enterprise is the lame-duck Texas governor, Rick Perry, who told the Washington Post that Scripture tells us there always will be poor folks. As the Enterprise noted, Perry’s comment to the Post is just another way of saying “What’s the use?” in helping the poor.

The editorial also notes that Jesus possibly was referring to an Old Testament reference that calls on us to reach out and help the poor whenever possible.

Conservatives and liberals alike have this annoying habit of turning to the Holy Word and cherry-picking passages, taking them out context, and turning them into their political ammunition to fire at their adversaries. Conservatives use the Bible to argue against gay rights, abortion rights and whether to teach evolution in public schools. Liberals use the Bible to argue for helping the poor.

I’ve always been leery of those who keep citing Scripture — Old and New Testament alike. It’s always good to examine all of what Jesus told his followers or what the prophets were saying many centuries before Jesus Christ’s birth.

Gov. Perry’s misuse of a biblical statement is just one more example that we must not follow.

 

International news, political news

Clinton's foreign policy far from 'feckless'

1 Comment

Rick Perry calls Hillary Clinton’ foreign policy record “feckless,” does he.

He doesn’t know feckless from freckles.

https://wordpress.com/read/post/feed/12395410/583466090/

I would argue that the outgoing Texas governor needs to clarify his entire meaning.

He’s sounding more like a probable Republican presidential candidate in 2016. For that matter, Clinton is sounding more like a probable Democratic candidate in two years.

My own hunch is that the governor should concentrate on his potential GOP primary competition than worry too much just yet about how to take on the Democratic frontrunner.

As for his “feckless” comment, he’s joined the GOP echo chamber in brining up “Benghazi” as a sign that then-Secretary of State Clinton somehow botched the response to that terrible tragedy. I’m waiting — still — to understand precisely what Hillary Clinton her own self could have done differently to prevent the Sept. 11, 2012 siege that killed four Americans at the U.S. consulate in Benghazi, including the U.S. ambassador to Libya.

Have there more attacks on U.S. soil by terrorists? No. Have we been killing the bad guys? Yes. Have we killed Osama bin Laden? Yes again. Did we rid Syria of chemical weapons? Yes. Have the economic sanctions leveled against Ukraine worked?

Yes. OK, so some of this occurred on John Kerry’s watch at State. The Texas governor, though, makes sure to equate our foreign policy with the president of the United States, who’s still on the job.

He compares her foreign policy record to California Gov. Jerry Brown’ record in handling the economy of his own state. Hmm. Actually, Gov. Perry, the California economy has rebounded right along with the rest of the country.

Well, the campaign is looking and sounding as if it’s beginning.

To think we’re still a whole year away from when it starts for real.

national news, political news

Iowa in January awaits ex-Gov. Perry

Ah, yes. Nothing says “vacation” quite like Iowa in the middle of winter.

That’s where the former governor of Texas is headed days after leaving the office he’s held longer than anyone in the history of the state.

Rick Perry is going to Iowa not for a little sight-seeing or some R&R, but to take part in a rally among conservative politicians — of which he is one.

http://blog.mysanantonio.com/texas-politics/2014/12/perry-slates-iowa-trip-after-leaving-office/

He’ll be attending the Iowa Freedom Summit. Its host is fiery conservative U.S. Rep. Steve King, the guy who once said that illegal immigrants with “calves the size of cantaloupes” are smuggling drugs into the United States. That, folks, appears to be one of the leaders of the conservative Republican movement these days.

Gov. Perry is going to be there, too. I guess he’s continuing to explore whether to run for president — again — in two years. Iowa, remember, is the first-in-the-nation state that holds those nominating caucuses that begins selecting the parties’ nominees for president.

He won’t be alone at this dog-and-pony show. Several other would-be candidates for president will be there as well: Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas, Gov. Chris Christie of New Jersey, ex-Gov. Mike Huckabee of Arkansas and ex-Sen. Rick Santorum of Pennsylvania. The most interesting attendee of the bunch will be retired neurosurgeon Ben Carson — whose name I’ve seen on a couple of presidential campaign bumper stickers here in Amarillo.

I’ll hand it to Perry. He’s not going to slow down even after leaving office. I’d recommend, though, he take a vacation. Rest up. Then get ready to go one more time, governor.

 

political news, State news, Uncategorized

Perry to Aggies: I'm thinking about running

Here’s a news flash: Texas Gov. Rick Perry said some other things to college graduates besides declining an offer to have a building named after him at Texas A&M University.

Such as — he’s thinking about running for president of the United States of America.

That’s kind of a big deal, yes?

Perry spoke at the Texas A&M convocation. He told graduates the school from which he graduated shouldn’t name the Academic Building after him. Then he went on to say that he’s pondering another run for the White House.

http://blog.mysanantonio.com/texas-politics/2014/12/perry-teases-presidential-run-in-speech-to-aggies/#13219101=0

He ticked off his credentials as someone who governed a state with the world’s 13th-largest economy and oversaw a group of individuals who “bicker a lot,” referring to the Legislature.

He told the A&M grads he’ll be looking for a job in about 30 days, just as they will.

Is this a precursor to a presidential run? Yes, it sounds like it to me.

I hope he jumps in. I’ve already spoken out in favor of Mitt Romney getting back into the game. I’m inclined also to welcome Jeb Bush into the Republican presidential field.

Why not — to coin the late Molly Ivins’s term — Gov. Goodhair?

He’s got the look, the charisma, some governing experience and he’s developing a pretty good gift of gab.

Perry’s ideas about the role of government, though, don’t quite set well with some of us out here. He’s inclined to be anti-federal government, which is sort of an dubious stance for someone who wants to oversee it.

But what the heck. He gave us a few laughs the last time he ran for the White House in 2012. Maybe he’s got a few more gag lines up his sleeve the next time around.

Bring it, governor!

 

State news

A&M regents get an earful from students

Renaming a building after a living politician can be a dicey proposition no matter the circumstance.

The Texas A&M University System Board of Regents has found that out. The board cancelled a meeting today in which it was to consider naming the Academic Building after outgoing Gov. Rick Perry. Students protested vehemently on social media about it, apparently upset at the lack of prior notice and the opportunity to comment on the proposal.

Then came the governor himself, declining to have the building named after him.

http://trailblazersblog.dallasnews.com/2014/12/am-students-protest-renaming-of-academic-building-for-rick-perry.html/

This all turned out for the better on at least a couple of levels.

I’ve said already that A&M shouldn’t name a building after a politician who’s got some felony indictments hanging over him. The case involving accusations of abuse of power and coercion need to be resolved. They’re a long way from that end.

Second, the students had a right to have their say. Let’s face it, higher education has taken a huge hit from the Texas Legislature and from the governor. Texas A&M, one of the state’s premier public university systems, has not been immune from deep budget cuts. Should students have the right to oppose naming a historic structure after a governor on whose watch the state slashed from higher education? Yeah, I think so.

For his part, Perry declined the “honor” of having the building named in his honor, saying in prepared remarks tonight that “do so because certain places on this campus, like our most sacred traditions, transcend any one individual. They are bigger than any one of us and represent our shared heritage. And I want to keep it that way.”

No mention, of course, of the legal trouble or of the student protests, or of the cancelled meeting.

That’s OK.

The A&M Board of Regents should set this bad idea aside.

 

State news

Rick Perry to be 'immortalized'?

Today is the day that the Texas A&M University System Board of Regents will decide whether to name a building after outgoing Gov. Rick Perry.

I posted a word of caution on this already.

https://highplainsblogger.com/2014/12/16/not-quite-so-fast-on-putting-perrys-name-on-building/

I am hoping the board pulls back on this idea until after a felony accusation against the governor — and Texas A&M graduate — has been settled.

I’ve long had a worry about naming buildings after living people, not to mention living politicians. Things can come back to bite the institution in the rear end. It’s happened.

If Perry’s indictment over abuse of power and coercion of a public official goes his way and he’s clear of all charges, they can name the entire university after him.

Until then, be careful, A&M regents.

 

political news, State news

Perry unaffected by Jeb Bush's plans

It’s a fair question to ask of the Texas governor.

Will the announcement by Jeb Bush to “actively explore” a presidential campaign in 2016 affect your own plans, your own timetable for making a decision?

Rick Perry’s answer. No change in plans.

Did anyone expect him to say anything else?

https://wordpress.com/read/post/feed/12395410/576002300/

The Republican field is starting to take some form with the former Florida governor’s announcement of an exploratory operation getting started. Many other Republicans are pondering their next move. Bush’s announcement might alter some decision-making and announcements — but not Perry’s?

An adviser to Perry told the San Antonio Express-News: “It definitely won’t affect the governor’s decision-making process,” the adviser said, adding that Perry plans to make his decision in the spring.

I doubt strongly that Perry and Bush would target the same GOP bloc of primary voters. Perry is a member of long standing of the TEA party wing of the GOP. Bush isn’t. He’s more mainstream, although the two men do share a compassionate view of immigrants, particularly those who are here illegally. Indeed, immigration is the one area where I support Perry’s agenda.

We shouldn’t expect Rick Perry to change a thing with regard to his own presidential campaign planning. He’s not wired that way. Bush will do whatever he plans to do and Perry will march ahead — to his own cadence.

 

 

State news

Not quite so fast on putting Perry's name on building

1 Comment

Texas A&M University is considering an idea to name a historic building on its flagship campus after one of its more famous alums, Gov. Rick Perry.

A word to the wise here: I’d wait just a little longer before making that call.

http://www.texastribune.org/2014/12/16/texas-m-may-name-iconic-building-after-rick-perry/

The governor has a felony indictment to put behind him and there’s no guarantee at all that he’s going to avoid conviction of at least one of the charges being leveled against him.

The Academic Building, which turns 100 soon, might get Perry’s name on it.

Hey, I don’t have a problem with putting the governor’s name on a university from which he is a graduate. Texas A&M wants to honor him for his lengthy service as Texas governor.

Regents, though, ought to wait at least until this legal matter is worked out before making the call.

Perry has been indicted for abuse of power and coercion. He’s fighting it hard. The case, though, has yet to run its course through the legal system. One judge already has ruled against a defense motion to dismiss the special prosecutor assigned to the case, which alleges that Perry threatened the Travis County district attorney with vetoing money for the Public Integrity Unit run out of her office after she pleaded guilty to drunken driving.

Let’s not get into a big hurry, A&M regents.

If the governor is cleared of the felony, then name the building after him. If he’s convicted, well, I’m sure you can find plenty of other Aggie alumni to honor.