Texas for President 2016.

Texas for President 2016.

Listen To You Tell Me Texas Friday 8/8/14

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We’re starting to hear rumbles of another Rick Perry presidential bid.

My first reaction is to cringe.

I remember with all too much clarity that evening in November 2011 when, in a debate with other Republican presidential contenders, Perry couldn’t remember the name of the cabinet-level department he wanted to eliminate. (It was the Department of Energy.)

After several intensely awkward moments during which Perry scanned a brain that had ceased to function, he finally said “Oops.” It was embarrassing not only to Rick Perry but to the entire State of Texas.

If Perry runs, the Dems and their proxies will make sure that we all get to re-live that dreadful performance. Over and over.

Rick Perry is a smart man and a capable politician. His record as the longest-serving Texas governor is enviable. On paper, Rick Perry has every right to envision the White House as his next logical step.

Yet the prospect of having the “Oops” gaffe played ad nauseum, and the natural fear of a new one, is real and cannot be casually dismissed. Unfair though it is, “Oops” will be around so long as Rick Perry is.

Which is too bad because Rick Perry has a story to tell and it’s a strong one. And if Perry himself is not on the ballot, whomever the Republicans nominate should act as Rick Perry’s proxy in telling it.

The State of Texas is the very exemplar of what low taxation, light and predictable regulation and sane tort law will do for an economy. As a result of those polices – effectively and consistently promoted by Rick Perry – Texas has outpaced the country as a whole in very nearly every economic metric.

Moving vans are streaming into Texas from California, New York and Illinois for a reason – and it’s not the mild summer weather.

They’re coming because Texas exudes opportunity.

Compared to the rest of the U.S., Texas’s unemployment is consistently lower and the labor participation rate consistently higher. Since the economic collapse of 2008, Texas has created more new jobs than all of the rest of the states combined.

Critics like to point out that Texas leads the country in so-called low-wage jobs. They never seem to remember to also point out that Texas leads the country in high wage jobs.

Critics say that Texas’s economy is tied to oil and gas – as if that fact would be somehow delegitimizing. But they never remember to also credit Texas’s leadership in industries such as aerospace, information technology, life sciences, medicine and biotechnology – all of which are bigger economic contributors than the energy industry.

And critics conveniently ignore the success that Rick Perry has had in luring big employers here. The announced relocation of Toyota’s USA operations – and its 4,000 jobs – from California to Plano is just the latest example.

Rick Perry may or may not be on the ballot in November 2016. But in any case, the Texas success formula – of which Perry was a particularly effective evangelist – should be.

It could win the White House. It could save the country.

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Paul Gleiser

Paul L. Gleiser is president of ATW Media, LLC, licensee of radio stations KTBB 97.5 FM/AM600, 92.1 The TEAM FM in Tyler-Longview, Texas.

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4 Responses

  1. I totally agree. Our current president doesn’t even understand concepts as basic as the law of supply and demand. Obama wants a socialist/communist America. Rick Perry as president would be a welcome change. California-like thinking out, Texas know how in. But Texas is not perfect. Texas values prevail in most of the state, but not everywhere. I live in Arlington and here our mayor is working overtime to turn our city into a little piece of tree-hugging California. Want over regulation, oppressive zoning, building codes that increase costs and delay projects? Then come to Arlington, Texas.

  2. pk says:

    I love Perry.
    I love Texas.
    I am an avid politics follower.
    I moved here because I love Texas people .
    I am aware that Texas as a name & State has some who hate anyone from Texas whole heartedly w/o reason.

    Please do not run again, Perry.
    I love you too much to see you humiliated.

    You story will never be seen as it is;
    LOOK WHAT HAPPENED TO PALIN.
    YOU DO NOT NEED THAT ANYMORE.
    Your time is not yet.

  3. R. Eagleman says:

    Yep, my first reaction was also to cringe at the thought of an “oops” moment, which could allow the election of another smooth-talking empty suit to the white house. However, there may be a couple of things that could allay those fears. I have a strong feeling that Gov. Perry has refined his oratorical and debating skills, and if not, the nominating process will expose such weaknesses and eliminate him as the nominee. I also feel that the strong sentiment to elect and then re-elect our first Black president has waned, and could even have a negative effect on the party that foisted this disaster upon us. We can also hope that there will not be another blatant suppression of conservative voices by the I.R.S. Even though there is a large percentage of the “takers” that will continue to support the “Santa Claus” that the Democrats will nominate, regardless of race, sex, or anything else, there should still be enough motivated voters to elect someone of substance, even if not as glib. If the “makers” do not have an incentive to get to the polls in record numbers in 2016, I do not know what it will take. I fear that the election of another liberal/socialist president could be the death knell for this wonderful country! A little off the topic, but we must also get to the polls and support conservatives in November; maybe some of the past, present, and future damage inflicted by this president can be mitigated.

  4. Linda E. Montrose says:

    If there is one thing I have learned about politics is that if it make sense, it is OUT! If it is the most illogical and unbalanced concept ever, then it is IN! Case in point…clinton being elected twice and obama getting put in office at all, let alone twice! History HAS repeated itself in the case of Hitler and anyone who knows history and I mean the real history of Hitler’s Germany, knows of what I am speaking!
    If the USA doesn’t make some drastic changes NOW, we are doomed!

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