Rick Perry

Greetings from the Great City of Austin in the Great State of Texas in the Good Old U S of A on this, our Independence Day.  Just spent three hours under the 105 degree Texas sun (in addition to walking back and forth to the capital...about 2 miles in each direction).  Before I collapse from Heat Stroke, let me share a few observations:

Attendance: Roughly 3000.  Substantially lower than the April tea party @ the Capitol.  Then again, at the April party the temperature was 75.

Crowd: Mostly folks in their 50's and 60's.  Some families with children.  All in all, an older crowd than April.  About 30% Ron Paul types, 50% more traditional GOPer, 20% assorted other.

Signs: Generally quite clever.  Personal favorites: any of the several that referred to Waxman/Markey as "Crap and Trade."

Sleeper GOP Gubernatorial Candidate: Debra Medina.  I might be biased because I met her today (also briefly met Sen. Cornyn and Gov. Perry) AND got to talk to her a bit.  She's a down the line, SERIOUS, conservative.  Like the message, concerned about viability.  I told her I intend to re-elect the incumbent, but that if she could prove herself a viable candidate in BOTH the primary AND general, I'd consider giving her my vote.

Most Embarrassing Moment for a Speaker: Sen. John Cornyn being greeted by a loud chorus of Boos as he took the stage due to his vote on TARP.

Most Embarrassing Moment for the Ron Paul supporters: Continuing to Boo Senator Cornyn after he acknowledged their concerns and moved on to Porkulus/Crap and Trade/Obamacare where he's firmly on our side.

Best Speaker, Runner Up: Wanye Allyn Root.  The 2008 LIbertarian Party Vice Presidential Nominee gave the crowd an inspiring speech on the value of limited government with a whole lotta quotes from Goldwater and Reagan thrown in.  Gets brownie points in my book for his rousing (by libertarian standards) defense of President Bush's overspending and bailouts being several orders of magnitude less bad than President Obama's overspending and bailouts.

Best Speaker, Overall: Governor Perry.  No one else even came close.  Whatever his alleged flaws, Governor Perry has done A TON over this past decade to have left us the strongest economy in the country right now.

In many ways, the attitude of people in Texas towards Governor Perry right now reminds me of the attitude in NYC of people towards Rudy in July 2001.  The man's gotten so much right that his citizens now take these things for granted.

All in all, an Afternoon well spent!

I hope this helps.

That is all.

Cahnman out.

The left-leaning Center for Budget and Policy Priorities released a report discussing tax increases. (H/T Derek Thompson at the Atlantic)  They found that 36 states either have or are considering tax increases. Here's the picture:

Several observations on the list.

California and Florida budget fights have gotten national attention. For California, it was a bunch of ballot initiatives failing. In Florida, Governor Charlie Crist broke tax pledge by signing a number of tax increases, and this has become a rallying cry in the Senate primary. 

Six states with Republican governors who are looking at their future are on the list of states that have done nothing. In Minnesota, Governor Tim Pawlenty is clearly looking at running for President. As are South Carolina's Mark Sanford and Alaska's Sarah Palin. Indiana's Mitch Daniels has been put out there and is being considered by some. And Louisiana's Bobby Jindal and Texas's Rick Perry (looking at a primary)

But what I want to know about is the state legislators that are fighting this stuff. Who are the articulate state legislators who are going on the radio and local TV, rallying against these tax increases. Those leaders are redefining the Republican party. They are rebranding the Republican Party by their actions. And they may be winning some of these fights.

Let's hear about them.

Note: All the Phone ##'s on Here are 512 area code. A special and timely message from our National Committee Chairman, Bill Crocker: THOUGHTS FROM YOUR NATIONAL COMMITTEEMAN Dear Friends,      Today a conference committee composed of members of the Texas House and Texas Senate will meet to consider a bill concerning the Texas Department of Transportation.  Included in the Senate version of that bill is an amendment which would authorize additional gasoline taxes in certain parts of the state under certain circumstances.  In this economy, Republicans do not need to be advocating additional taxes for anything, especially anything like gasoline that affects every person and every part of the economy.       If you cannot be present to encourage your Representative and Senator to vote against this bad idea, please take the time to call their office and express your opinion as a concerned Republican.       Please additionally contact the offices of Representative Carl Isett, Representative Wayne Smith, Representative Linda Harper Brown, Senator Glen Hegar and Senator Robert Nichols, all Republican members of the conference committee.  Thank them for their opposition to additional gasoline taxes and encourage them to continue to stand fast.  They will each be subjected to incredible pressures to change their position, and need to know how much you appreciate their commitment to Republican principles and common sense as they deal with this issue. Bill Crocker Republican National Committeeman for Texas

 You are expressly authorized to forward this email.     Rep. Carl Isett             463-0676 Rep. Wayne Smith      463-0733 Rep. Linda Harper-Brown 463-0641 Sen. Glen Hegar          463-0118 Sen. Robert Nicoles    463-0103 

Many of us rallied in support of the people of Texas to keep our taxes within liveable levels and definitely AGAINST the Gas Tax Amendment.  These legislators are getting incredible lobby pressure to vote for the tax, please take time to give them a call to thank them for standing strong for the citizens of our state. NOW is not the time to saddle citizens with a new tax! Thank you for your support of conservative public policy,   Rosemary Edwards, TCRP Chairman

Every Day nearly 400 people move FROM California.

Every Day over 1000 people move TO Texas.

Which Model Works Better?!?

The Texas legislature might put an end to attempts by the Texas Board of Education, to allow the teaching of evolution in the schools. The Wall Street Journal reports:

Texas state legislators are considering reining in the Board of Education amid frustration with the board’s politically charged debate over how to teach evolution.

The board last month approved a science curriculum that opens the door for teachers and textbooks to introduce creationist objections to evolution’s explanation of the origin and progression of life forms. Other parts of the curriculum were carefully worded to raise doubts about global warming and the big-bang theory of how the universe began.

While the science standards have drawn the most attention, the 15-member elected board has been embroiled in other controversies as well. Last year, it rejected a reading curriculum that teachers had spent nearly three years drafting. In its place, the board approved a document that a few members hastily assembled just hours before the vote.

Some lawmakers — mostly Democrats — say they have had enough.

The most far-reaching proposals would strip the Texas board of its authority to set curricula and approve textbooks. Depending on the bill, that power would be transferred to the state education agency, a legislative board or the commissioner of education. Other bills would transform the board to an appointed rather than elected body, require Webcasting of meetings, and take away the board’s control of a vast pot of school funding. Gov. Rick Perry, a Republican, hasn’t taken a position on specific bills, a spokeswoman said.

This guy.

I hope this helps.

Cahnman out....

I live in Austin and I'm voting for Rick Perry.

That is all.

Cahnman out.

Governor Perry went to 3 separate tea parties yesterday.

Just got off the phone with her office, who confirmed that Washington D.C. Senator Huchison ("R"-D.C.) didn't have the guts to attend a single tea party yesterday.

Vote Rick Perry!!!

Greetings all.

The drive-by's are out to make Governor Perry look nuts for his speech at today's morning tea party in Austin.  I just saw an Olbermann segment on the topic.  They're taking Governor Perry so far out of context, it's almost cute.

While the drive by's are trying to portray Governor Perry as some sort of seccessionist nut, the fact is he spoke mostly about how Texas has Low taxes, a Stable Regulatory climate, an educated workforce, Tort Reform, and is the #1 exporter in the United States.  Don't let the drive by's fool you.

I can't find the full speech anywhere, so I'll leave you with this YouTube of the Governor

Update: Here's the full speech.

I hope this helps.

That is all.

Cahnman out.

Fearless Prediction: Within a year, the Gross State Product (GSP) of Texas will Surpass the GSP of California.

Do Not Doubt Me.

Which model works better?

That is all.

Cahnman out.