The last time I fired a gun I almost killed somebody. Well, not really. But it sure generated a lot of guffaws from my hosts, a group of Russian filmmakers. I was up in Siberia, of all places, about seven years ago, as a juror at a film festival and was taken rifle shooting on a frozen biathlon course. I missed the target by about twenty yards, knocking several branches off a nearby tree.
So naturally I had a moment’s trepidation when invited to go shooting with Governor Rick Perry of Texas as part of an event he was staging for bloggers in his home territory of Austin. On the other hand I had never been to the Texas capital and the charismatic governor interested me. So I accepted his invitation with pleasure. But just to be careful – I figured Perry had to be a good shot and didn’t want to embarrass myself – I went over to the LAX Los Angeles Firing Range to take a half hour lesson with a retired Marine.
As it happened – you’re probably not going to believe this (I almost don’t myself) – I turned out to be a crack shot or sort of. To the shock of the ex-Marine, I hit a number of near bull’s eyes with a 9mm Smith & Wesson semi-automatic.
I assumed it was beginner’s luck and was still a bit nervous when I lined up with several bloggers yesterday at the firing line of Red’s Indoor Range South in Austin, but I was almost as good with the Glock they gave me there. This time I even have video to prove it, which will appear on PJTV in a few days replete with a shot of the Governor praising my shooting. (Yes, I asked him to do it.) Of course, I was nowhere near as good as Perry who, as expected, was about as schooled a governor with firearms as we have. He was also an extremely gracious host, showing several of us how to operate laser guided pistols and so forth.
Later, a smaller group of us had dinner with the Governor at a place called the Moonshine Grill. There I got a chance to talk with him at length and I have to say, of all the politicians I have spoken with since the beginning of PJM, of whom there have been at this point more than a few, he seems to be the most genuinely interested in new media. He believes in it – in an odd way – perhaps even more than I do. As evidence, while we were at the dinner table, he pulled out his MacBook Pro and went online. Not even Andrew Breitbart, seated next to me, was so wired.
I have to say we were impressed. He is also a very affable, down-to-earth person who is no doubt well-positioned for the new Tea Party era. Indeed, recent polls have shown a tremendous swing in his favor in his race for the Republican nomination against Kay Bailey Hutchison for the position he already holds. Hutchison is supported, titularly at least, by the old guard – Rove, Bush 41, etc. But in these Scott Brown days, it’s not particularly good to be an old guard – or associated with one.
I did make one blunder, however. I started to eat before the Governor said Grace. Of course, that’s not surprising, since I am the last of the village atheists (or close). I have to admit I expected to be put off a bit by Perry’s religiosity, but I wasn’t at all. Perhaps that has more to do with me than with him. Although I am agnostic (not an atheist – who could really be one?), I have a growing respect, maybe even an envy, for religious people. And it’s not just because they seem to have better values than most people and often actually seem to behave better. It’s self-interest. The older I get, the more I want to believe in an after-life. (So far no luck.)
Now I’m off to appear on a panel – payment, I suppose, for the shooting instruction and the free meal.
Roger, as a Texan and a supporter of Gov. Perry, you are very astute. Rick Perry gets it. He is out front with the new media, yet has become a rock-ribbed conservative in all things fiscal. The recent multiple comparisons of TX to CA in our economic paths over the last 20+ years makes this all too clear. You know where he stands, and more importantly, you can trust that stance. Unlike a former TX governor, who lost his way. Will he run for President? I am sure he eventually will. I think he will easily dispatch KBH. She makes Boxer look like a rocket scientist as far as policy decisions.
A former lefty to gunslinger conservative. What a long, strange road it’s been. More people ought to pay attention to Texas politics. They’re obviously doing something right to the same degree California is doing it wrong. But it’s hard for me to see how GWB can still have influence anywhere. He went from a seemingly conservative governor to a full blown RINO like his old man when he got to Washington. Still, it’s amazing how effective Obama has been in rehabilitating Dubya’s reputation.
Perry is a RINO, a Bush Jr., nothing nore, nothing less. If someone gave Perry enough money, he’d be against guns.
Remember Giardasil? Paid for by Merck. Remember the TTC debacle? Paid for by Cintra-Zachry.
Rick Perry has my vote. His number one opponent in the primary, Kay Bailey Hutchison, is too much of a Washington insider. She seems fairly similar to a squishy moderate named John McCain. Perry realizes that a more adversarial approach is required when dealing with Washington, DC. This is especial true during the Obama era. Texas must shield itself off from the threats of the blue states to steal our money. Governors like Arnold Schwarzenegger are trying to get the rest of America to help pay for their state’s self-inflicted financial woes. The future of Texas is bright—but also in jeopardy. Senator Hutchison has not even come close in presenting a case to justify her candidacy. It’s best to stick with someone who already has a proven track record.
Such a smile I have on my face!
My son took me shooting once; I bought a .22 pistol; we both took a class to improve our shooting, and now I’m hooked. The class instructor is a very bright, affable conservative, as is his wife; and my shooting buddies as well. I have a modest but respectable gun collection (in a strong safe of course); have shot (not well) in a few “action pistol” competitions. Like my conservatism, for me it took a little while to migrate all the way over. Same with my Christian beliefs.
Anyway, Roger, when I read your story it reminded me how much I’ve enjoyed watching your “growth” since 9/11.
And yes, Rick Perry is a heckuva shot. I’ve seen video of his visit to LaRue Tactical’s range. This is not new to him–I think he was a shooter in the military.
Bravo!
Shooting is a sport that unites all types of people. I see more diversity at the range than I do at Circle K!
Everyone should learn to shoot, if for no other reason than to learn how to handle firearms safely. At some point in life it will be necessary to deal with a gun: How do you load it? How do you unload it? Where’s the safety?. If you put the safety on is it really safe? Simply picking a gun up with the thumb and forefinger, and putting it on a high shelf, isn’t good enough.
Bravo for Gov Perry too. I do admire that man.
Charlie
Roger
We are FORMER Marines there are no ex Marines! And remember an armed society is a polite society.
Good for you. Guns, like a lot of tools, are nothing more than inanimate, potentially dangerous tools. To use a tool properly takes time, practice, due caution, and respect for the good and the damage that it can do. But the fact is, that guns give the weak a chance against the strong. Guns will put food on the table. Orwell recognized that guns in the hands of the peasants and the workers are the first and best line of defense against tyranny. Lenin knew it. Alinsky knew it.
Every American who is otherwise of age, sane, and law abiding should own a gun. And have the right to do without a lot of paperwork and bullshit from the local, state, and national authorities to prove you are of age, sane, and law abiding. Abuse that right and lose it. Respect that right, and you should be able to keep. And the government should have to prove you can’t own a gun rather than the other way around.
Perry is a Scott Brown kind of Republican. We need more like that. Could Maine possibly retire their two RINOS soon?
Noone should ever trust that the Buah family has the best interests of We the People at heart.
The new conservatives will preserve our liberty and the Constitution. The old blue blood Republicans are one-worlders. It is an ill wind that blows for them.
A blogger shooting party followed by dinner at the Moonshine Grill. Fabulous! How wonderfully Texan.
Although I don’t know all that much about him, I like Gov. Perry, too. Generally speaking, I have little use for the females in the Senate and Bailey Hutchinson is just one more of them. I can’t for the life of me figure out why she is choosing to challenge Perry at this time. Won’t he be term limited out? Couldn’t she have waited? I hope he smacks her down big time.
I have a great eye (and I mean that literally–my left eye vision is better than 20/20 and never has deteriorated while my right eye vision has deteriorated normally) and can see with my naked eye objects in the far distance that most people can’t. I’ve often wondered if I might have the shooting skills to match ’cause, if so, I’d make a hell of a sniper.
And, Roger, don’t worry; the after-life believes in you.
I like Gov. Perry because he is willing to stand for TX against the whims of Washington. His comments on Federalism (alluding to the right of secession) drew snotty sarcasm from the blue circles in Austin, but he struck a chord with most of the rest of the state. He understands the entrepreneurial spirit grows in an environment where government gets out of the way.
Your comments, Roger, have made me like him even more. He uses a Mac, can handle a gun, and prays at meals. I am looking forward to the video.
PJMedia seems to have a fairly uncritical love affair with Slick Rick. I have voted for Perry in the past, but he’s lost my vote through his handling of the Willingham case and the dreadful hacks he has appointed to a variety of positions, especially as regents of the state’s major universities. For a Republican who decries picking winners and losers, Perry is awfully fond of throwing multimillion dollar grants to connected companies, using universities as cover.
Good for you Roger. If you visit a shooting range like Red’s you will find that gun hobbyists are fanatics about gun safety and will tell you about it bluntly if you do anything foolish with a gun in their presence. My big regret is that I chose the wrong night – my son and I were at Red’s indoor range for two hours the night before you. Would loved to have met you – and Perry.
I’m a Texan that has gone from lukewarm to an big admirer of Rick Perry in the last year. It’s amazing what Obama has done to shifting perceptions.
Good show, Roger! Your open-mindedness puts to shame the left-wingers who talk of being open-minded but march in ideological lock-step with the rest of their tribe. And firearms, as commenters have already pointed out, are to be respected but not feared. So too computers, BTW. Good on ya for taking the time to get some training before you went to Austin. Fun, isn’t it? F
Yep, Perry’s the winner in my book. One has to look no further than our economy to know he’s doing something right…and today, that’s a BIG plus.
Signing the Castle Doctrine bill didn’t hurt none, either.
“I can’t for the life of me figure out why she is choosing to challenge Perry at this time.”
There are rumors of bad blood between Rick Perry and Kay Bailey Hutchison. What happened between the two individuals? I have absolutely no idea. This remains one of the existential mysteries of all time to most Texans. Is this all about revenge on her part? If so, I simply don’t wish to get involved. Running for governor of Texas should be more than an opportunity to get some payback. I keep getting the impression that Hutchison has no real idea what to do if she somehow defeated Perry.
This is a Republican year. The Democrats are most unlikely to capture the top elected job in a red state like Texas. Thus, the winner of the GOP primary should easily win the general election. It would not even surprise me if the eventual Democratic Party gubernatorial candidate refuses to put much effort into their campaign. The odds are currently so much against them.
Roger – problem is that the only way to know is when it may be too late. I like the comfort from assuming there is one but I am not too comfortable because I am not sure I am going to get there. Makes me work a bit harder at it
Glad you enjoyed your trip to Texas and the shooting. I make NO bones about being a proud Texan. We have no state income tax, house prices are extremely reasonable, no more poverty than any other state (probably much less than average), 70% of new jobs created when they were still being created were created in Texas, we have a balanced budget, and a 9 billion dollar surplus for emergencies. We also took in thousands during Hurricane Katrina and many stayed here. That placed a heavy burden on many of our school districts.
Yet….our liberal politicians in Washington seem hell bent on making the federal government as much like CA’s as possible and don’t give a second thought to coming down here to see what WE are doing right.
Go figure.
Last night I was reading an article about him (Texas Monthly–of course they don’t like him. They’re old-school lefty media.), and they said he surfs the internet, including the blogs, diligently every night.
Now that is honest:
you WANT to believe because you’re getting old !!!
Very honest indeed.
And honestly funny (well, in a way).
Just say no to the blind faith in the sheer nothing, think well about the idiot assumption that what IS would have been originated by nothing at all.
Then the Help will come.
Congrats for the good shooting !
The Greek for SIN, amartia, means missing the mark. (The Hebrew means “missing” in the same sense).
Perry is a rare politician that actually seems to have gotten better (more personable, more fiscally conservative, etc) the longer he’s been in office. I’ll definitely be voting for him over Hutchinson, but one thing to keep in mind when people routinely compare Texas to California is the way our state government is laid out. Our state legislature meets very infrequently (only once every TWO years, and only for 140 days), gets paid next to nothing, and the governor has very little actual power. Honestly, if the US congress was only allowed to meet once every two years I think this country would be in much better shape.
Stace:
Texas Monthly doesn’t like him?!!!
That settles it.
I can’t think of a better reason to go for him.
-
Too bad you couldn’t have eaten at an actual barbecue place.
The Moonshine Cafe might be nice, but let me give you a hint: if it serves baked brie, artichoke anything, or horseradish encrusted salmon, it ain’t a barbecue joint.
Next time you’re down this way, ask a local with a welding machine in the back of his pick-up for a recommendation. His suggestion will be cheap, have a limited menu, line your arteries with glop, and be the best meal you’ve had in years.
As a Texan, a blogger and very occasional contributor to PJM I gotta say, I really do like Rick Perry. However, his push to mandate vaccinations for young ladies, support of toll roads (I’m not convinced of the need yet – but I am open) and the advent of a terrific conservative Debra Medina running for the Republican nomination makes me hope that Roger will take time to talk to her at some point.
Don’t worry. Am planning a trip to The Salt Lick before I leave.
Roger, glad to hear you will partake of real barbecue before you leave.
I have a beef about the PJ website layout, which is not related to barbecue. I very much dislike not seeing all of an article on one page. Would it be possible to include the option to include both pages of an article in one view ? IIRC, Commentary has that capability.
Dear Roger, We will pray that you find the Consolation of Israel.
RS, IMO there’s a significant omission in your piece. No offense, but I hope you didn’t leave it out to facilitate future access to Perry and similar politicians.
Washington Monthly reports:
Don McLeroy is a balding, paunchy man with a thick broom-handle mustache who lives in a rambling two-story brick home in a suburb near Bryan, Texas. When he greeted me at the door one evening last October, he was clutching a thin paperback with the skeleton of a seahorse on its cover, a primer on natural selection penned by famed evolutionary biologist Ernst Mayr. We sat down at his dining table…McLeroy cracked the book open. The margins were littered with stars, exclamation points, and hundreds of yellow Post-its that were brimming with notes scrawled in a microscopic hand. With childlike glee, McLeroy flipped through the pages and explained what he saw as the gaping holes in Darwin’s theory. “I don’t care what the educational political lobby and their allies on the left say,” he declared at one point. “Evolution is hooey.” This bled into a rant about American history. “The secular humanists may argue that we are a secular nation,” McLeroy said, jabbing his finger in the air for emphasis. “But we are a Christian nation founded on Christian principles. The way I evaluate history textbooks is first I see how they cover Christianity and Israel. Then I see how they treat Ronald Reagan—he needs to get credit for saving the world from communism and for the good economy over the last twenty years because he lowered taxes.”
Your amiable tech-savvy pistol-shooting host appointed McLeroy to head the Texas Board of Education.
Two questions come to mind:
1. Why is supposedly benighted Texas in better shape employmentwise than supposedly enlightened California?
2. Progressive policies in CA looked plausible for a time but ultimately ran the state into a ditch. Bush/Rove/DeLay governance looked good for a time but ultimately led to a failed Presidency, a critically weakened economy, and election of a far-left government in a center-right nation. In a century poised for dramatic developments in biotech, what are the longer-term consequences of policies like McLeroy/Perry’s?
I really enjoyed this article. Would that there were more people like Perry to balance out the extra-ordinary, progressive, way-left-leaning government bodies with the socialistic propensities that have come to the fore since Obama’s election. Ah, to dream.
And, yes, my dear Fellow, there is life after death. Even common sense would declare that the immaterial part of man cannot be destroyed as it is eternal. As You are such a delightful writer, I can’t help but believe that you have much more at your disposal than mere common sense.
Thank you for a bright moment in my early morning.
Ever since Gov. Perry tried to use his position to bully a highway patrol officer (“do you know who I am?” or something to that affect when pulled over for speeding. I can’t believe I the video is not on YouTube) I haven’t held a high opinion of Rick Perry. He says the right things to garner support, but he seems convictionless to me. From the shady deals with friends to his idiotic statements about succession, he says what will make him popular, but I doubt he believes a word of it. I may not agree with KBH on all the issues, but at least I can trust that she has some integrity.
Incidentally, the good Gov. Perry of the great state of Texas is my odds on choice to head the Republican Party’s 2012 Presidential ticket.
The Vice Presidential pick will, in my opinion, be Sarah Palin. A more handsome ticket you will never find. A more
competent ticket you would not believe. The perfect choice to spend our money not on lawyers to defend terrorists, but on new weapons systems
to kill them.
Roger for God’s sake isn’t it about time you believe in HIM? God bless you my Facebook friend!More power to PJTV!
Roger,
Being an agnostic is not a good thing. You need to resolve for yourself one way or another which side has the truth.
Is there a God? There is an answer for this. Find it for the sakes of your own clarity in writing and conviction in life.
I find the following argument to be very illuminating: http://arc-tv.com/morality-without-religion/
Rick Perry may not be the perfect politician. Few make the jump to Reagan status. But on the Washington-friendly-politician-o-meter (with Reagan at the right end and Daddy Bush on the left end…Perry sits definately to the right of center-line and Kay Bailey’s gone past Daddy Bush on the left end.
Unless Washington corruption is your idea of nirvana…ya’ gotta go with Rick Perry in this deal.
GS, it’s true that no entity should ever become complacent. But bio-and other tech companies are moving and starting here because of the favorable business climate, and I don’t see that changing anytime soon. The voters last fall authorized a resolution to fund the upgrade of a bunch of our universities to top-tier research level. We’re not going to stop teaching evolution in the schools.
And McLeroy is right that the history books need some course correction. They’ve been too tilted to the left, and they need to go back the other way, at least a bit. My son’s textbook isn’t too bad, but I’ve drummed it to him in gruesome detail that the communists and other statists were by far the worst mass killers in history, and that communism is not compatible with life on Earth. His book isn’t strong enough on that subject.
Eye-hand coordination: its part of the DNA. And you, Roger, are graced with excellent eye hand coordination. Interesting that you only now have realized that! You would have been good on a Spitfire back in WWII. Really!
Roger,
Growing up, I began scoffing at religion while still quite young, not long after I learned Santa Claus was a fraud. I was an agnostic for a number of years. Even today, I have a hard time with the minutiae of religious doctrine, and the squabbles and splits and mutual excommunications that have marked the progress of Christianity along with all the other world religions. I would now categorize myself as a Christian Deist who attends Catholic services as much to celebrate tradition as to please my wife. I am a believer in a higher power that is not susceptible to scientific inquiry, and that in some unknowable sense there is a Heavenly Shore upon which we will find ourselves when this life is over.
One of the mileposts marking this journey to faith came in medical school when I was studying embryology. How does a spherical blob of developing cells know that there is a “left” and “right” and “top” and “bottom” to things? How does the aorta nearly always come to lie on the left and the liver on the right? Why are not 50% of us mirror images of the other 50% in the arrangement of our internal organs? When I raised these questions in class, my embryology instructor shrugged and told us there was no better explanation than the finger of God pushing each little blob of tissue in the direction it should go.
I also found God in my studies of calculus. At the heart of the field of complex analysis, studied in the second or third year of a college physics or math degree, there is a jewel known as Euler’s identity: e^(pi * i) + 1 = 0. This combines the five most important constants in mathematics in one simple and achingly beautiful equation. There is no logical reason such fundamental numbers should have this relationship, especially e and pi. These are not just irrational numbers but also transcendental, meaning they are not roots of any polynomial with rational coefficients. This identity is at least as beautiful and mystical to mathematically educated individuals as any of the world’s finest works of art. It seems inconceivable that this relationship is random chance.
In physics, there is great mystery surrounding the so-called “natural constants” such as the strength of gravity , which can be thought of as the controls and dials on the engine of Creation. Martin Rees has shown how there are at least six of these fundamental numbers that seem to be fine-tuned for the maintenance of life. If they were changed by even a tiny percentage, catastrophe would result. The oceans could freeze solid, or carbon could not form the chains of proteins or nucleic acids in our bodies, or the very stars themselves would be dark clumps of mud and dust with no such thing as sunshine. Why do they have the values they do? Can it be that they arose by happenstance in a universe with no beginning or end? I can’t accept that.
It’s not just science that led me back to God. I came to read works of authors like Merton, Chesterton, and C.S. Lewis, powerful intellectuals who make strong cases for a prime mover outside this plane of existence. Lewis’s book “Mere Christianity” is particularly compelling, and many intelligent skeptics have been persuaded by his exploration of the source of moral law. How do men know, even in childhood or a state of savagery, that some things are “right” or “fair” while others are not? The answer to this question leads inexorably to a God standing apart from all time and space and knowledge. If you haven’t read Lewis, I highly suggest you set a day or so aside to explore this crystal-clear and absorbing book.
Of course, the most important events in my journey were the births of my children. Knowing the odds against such a wondrous being developing out of the dust of the earth, I have no choice but to recognize the work of Him Who created us all.
Stay with the search and don’t worry about sectarian details and dogmas. One day you’ll know, and it will bring you great peace.
It amuses me that all these non-Texans think Perry’s so great. I’ll probably vote for him over KBH, but I see him as a slick opportunist with no real conservative principles. You need to see the video of him trying to intimidate a state trooper during a traffic stop, asking “Do you know who I am?” and “Why don’t you just let us get on down the road?” Why would I support someone like that over KBH? She’s marginally worse! Perry’s opportunistic and insincere but he’s smart enough to at least mimic a principled conservative. The only good thing I can say about KBH is that she did kick Ronnie Earl’s ass.
God and guns – gotta love Texas. Shooting is fun and takes skill. I have a number of rifles and handguns but my favorite is my WWII vintage M-1 .30 caliber carbine. Its a little nicked up but otherwise in great condition – same rifle my father carried in the South Pacific. When shooting a Glock be a bit careful because its “safety” system is little more than 1/2 pound of extra pressure on the trigger – there is no safety switch or button.
God lives and there is a spiritual world more powerful than our earthly world – just gotta plug in. When Einstein finally figured out his general theory of relativity he was stunned because it was clear evidence of a creator – that is the universe started at one point in space and time. Einstein tried to add a fudge factor to address this issue but it didn’t work so he dropped it and later concluded that yes there may be something bigger than us.
A good book for you to read is Dinesh D’Souza’s “What’s So Great About Christianity.” Its an intellectual and reasoned book that explores much of the evidence for God and Jesus Christ. It will give you some things to ponder.
I also heartily endorse C.S. Lewis – a brilliant man and writer who spent much of his life as an atheist.
Re John Skookum’s comments.
Reminded me of something I recently heard (on a science/math tv program) that made a big impression on me and it was a statement to the effect that: 1 + 1 = 2 is true everywhere in the universe — including other worlds where life may exist.
One other book is worth reading and it has a great title, ” I don’t have enough faith to be an atheist.” It lays out scientific, physical, mathematical and moral/philosophical evidence for God.
Roger, There is an “after-life”, now that Obamacare is dead!
My daughter and I met Gov. Perry, when he came to the San Antonio Tea Party’s 4th of July bash; his appearance was arranged at the very last minute, and everyone expected that it would be one of those quickly-helicopter-in-hop-up-on-stage-make-a-few-remarks-hop-off-and-helicopter-out; basically come and gone in a cloud of dust. Instead, he hung out in the back-stage area for simply hours. My daughter and I and the husband of one of the other SATP committee members were sitting quietly in a corner, eating BBQ brisket, when “Da Gov” came up and began ragging on the spouse, as he was an elderly veteran wearing an 82nd Airborne ballcap: why on earth, he asked, would you go around jumping out of perfectly good airplanes? Turns out Gov. Perry had been in the Air Force, as a transport pilot. I’m an AF retiree, and my daughter was in the Marines, so we had a very funny, very lively conversation going on there for quite some time. My daughter thinks he stayed so long with us because we were about the only ones in the room NOT talking about politics.
I think he is one of those gregarious people, who actually does seem to enjoy getting out there among the crowd; my daughter said afterwards that he seemed quite gleeful about slipping the restraints for a bit. But I also think he was about the first significant politician to realize exactly what the Tea Parties were all about, and to take them seriously. So, it’s a bit of shrewd positioning on his part, having realized ahead of everyone else, that there is a huge and deadly serious crowd of people out there, and it might be an excellent career move to appear to be out in front of it.
The best thing about Rick Perry? He’s an Aggie! (and a former Yell Leader, to boot….)
Love, love, love Rick. A Perry/Palin ticket? They would be unstoppable – and they see eye-to-eye on so many things, so there wouldn’t be much chance of friction between the Prez and VP.
I’m glad you liked your visit to the greatest state in the union – come back anytime, and stay awhile next time!
Tort reform in Texas:
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB121097874071799863.html
Texas has had an influx of MDs from around the Country. Here in NY we have a State Assembly speaker who is the most powerful politico in the State and who is of-counsel with a NYC malpractive law firm from which he, reportedly, receives a substantial income. He has successfully blocked all attempts at medical malpractice reform here in NYS.
Roger, Loved the article , the description Of Governor Perry but hated the agnostic remark. Lots of recommended reading here by commenter’s and they’re all good but the book that convinced me was ‘More than a Carpenter ” by Josh McDowell. If you are seeking truth by intellectual reasoning you may never find it. You must open your heart and consider the possibility that Jesus Christ is alive and his salvation is awaiting you. But you must open the door to him. God Bless you, may Faith find you.
If one is willing to accept an imperfect
candidate as the lesser of two evils, it
would be hypocritical to critisize her for
choosing her appointees the same way.
P.S. LBJ got a cop fired for giving him
a speeding ticket; There is also a picture
of a couple of Texas officials (LEOs?)
laughing whilst seated next to a box of
ballots that got LBJ elected one time;
Wonder what the joke was ?
Looking forward, the political game is
going to be simpler, more difficult, and
more demanding on the players; Perry has
what it takes to win for Texas.
Anyday at the range is a good day, Mr. Simon. Hope you enjoyed it enough to go back for more.
Only know a little about Gov. Perry, but intend to find out more. Seems like a decent man (and being from MA, seeing a sitting Gov. on the range is just, well, miraculous!)
Charlie @7, I too, think gun safety should be a more talked-about subject, particularly at schools. Libiotic teachers claim that teen-pregnancy is a problem, so we must teach sex-ed (makes sense), teen-drinking is a problem, so we must discuss it (makes sense), driving a car is a big responsibility so we must teach driver’s ed (makes sense), kids die by foolin’ around with guns, but we can’t even broach the subject (makes no sense). We don’t have to glorify guns, as I’m sure the libiots would claim, but what’s more important, teaching a kid gun-safety or teaching them “fisting”?
Perry’s certainly a 10th amendment supporter and that speaks to his TP creds. The best way to limit Fed power (centralized) is to elevate State power (decentralize). State power IS the best tonic for Fed power – as long as you dodge succession and all that.
Whether he keeps the deal once he’s in the Senate is (always) the big question. I hope he does. We need more noble people in high places in DC. People who stick to their guns and don’t sell us out.
Ditto on CS Lewis. Second only to Paul.
John Skookum (#39):
Couldn’t agree more about Euler’s identity.
I even have a coffee cup (from Café Press) that boasts it.
Mathematical analysis is a satisfying pastime…
Jamie Irons
“Perry is a Scott Brown kind of Republican.”
Scott Brown also doesn’t care when innocent people are exectued?
I’m a Texan living in exile near the Beltway, so I really enjoyed the article! My family members back home all support Governor Perry. What I’d like to know is KBH’s motivation for leaving the Senate to govern one of the largest and most complex states in the Union. It doesn’t “compute.”
My reading recommendations would be Psalms and John.
God bless you and guide you in your search, Roger.
Rick Perry’s vaccine mistake at the beginning of his term made me wonder what sort of power-hungry emperor he planned to be, but we got that sorted out. He’s grown in office, IMHO. My senator KBH, answers my emails to her in a week or two, and normally holds the positions I wish she would hold.
Let it be known that I would have Dick Cheney’s baby, but will not vote for KBH for Guv even though he endorsed her. We all make mistakes. KBH doesn’t seem to me like what we need as Governor, when what we’ve got ain’t broke.
I like that Perry sort-of threatened to seceed. Makes you feel alive when your governor’s knee-jerk reaction to over-reach by Washington is “come and take it!” Obama should be asking for instruction from Rick Perry on how to fix things; instead he thinks money comes from taxes, and jobs come by telling businesses to hire.
We have an economic engine cranking here in Texas, and even now, Texas makes 51% of all the new jobs being made in this country. I meet newly arrived doctors from Ohio every week – it’s tort reform that brought them here. We benefit, believe me. My family has personally benefited from a deep bench of great doctors, just a month ago when my husband needed emergency surgery. We had great doctors the whole way, from the first emergency room, to the hospital where he got his successful repair job.
I have to admit that, as a Scout Mom and mother of a special needs son who made Eagle Scout, I like that Rick Perry is an Eagle Scout, too.
Now, Roger, as to heaven. I was raised in a Lutheran home, baptized as an infant, and really had Christianity put into my bone marrow. I’ve questioned over the years, but mostly my faith stayed with me. In very hard times, of which I’ve had a lot, it has sustained me. But it was when I read a book about the Near Death Experiences of children that I realized they don’t have any reason to lie about seeing heaven, their stories are not coerced, and their stories all sound the same. I think they’ve seen the same thing. There is a difference between one who believes, and one who knows. Because of the stories of these children, I Know. I hope you’ll do some reading, but you know, God may just come open your heart and tell you He’s there. That will be best.
Children Of The Light
http://www.amazon.com/Children-Light-Startling-Near-Death-Experiences/dp/0451185331/ref=sr_1_14?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1264289171&sr=8-14
Thanks for all you do.
Rick Perry, is a New World Order RINO, soldier. He will try again to bring back the Trans Texas Corridor. If you want to get to know a true Texas conservative, check out his opponent, Debra Medina. She is not so smooth, not so wealthy, and not so beholden to foreign interests.
We Texans know Rick Perry is a Rino of the big gov/biz foreign interests.
State toll roads, forced guardasil for girls. A late comer to the Tea Party, hoping to claim some of their heat. Forget it Slick Rick.
Debra Medina will beat you like a redneck on a Mule- and Texans will once again be proud of their gov. A true states rights leader, who believes in Liberty
Enjoyed meeting you at the range yesterday, Roger (I’m the guy who had the gun case with the “illegal in California” sticker on it.
You’re right about how gracious Gov. Perry was with everybody on the range. While it must have been a security nightmare of his Secret Service detail, the Gov. pressed on.
At one point, he invited me into his alley, handed me his cocked and loaded Ruger LCP .380 and told me, “It’s live.” There I am, standing 12″ from the Governor of Texas, holding his loaded weapon.
I said it then, and I’ll say it again…we have the coolest Gov. in the state.
Oh, and I didn’t get any pictures of you putting rounds down range, but here you are in the foreground filming Perry while he gives shooting tips to Breitbart’s friend Larry:
http://urbangrounds.com/images/Simon_Larry_Perry.jpg
Actually, I have to say, I support Medina over Perry.
She imo also did better in the debate than the other two.
Here is my problem with Rick Perry: He talks a very conservative game about a year prior to election day and then spends the rest of his time pushing the limits of that conservatism.
Case in point: How can this man stand there and criticize Obama and Congress and talk against BIG government when he’s enrolled us in a University of Iowa study where they strap GPS units on our cars and tax us by the mile?
Witness the US Hwy 281 debacle: The people voted to set aside tax money to build overpasses and freeway connectors to upgrade the highway into a freeway. The tax money was set aside. Have the upgrades happened? Nope. Perry refused to release the tax dollars to fund the upgrades as promised. Instead he wanted to take the highway (built w/ taxpayer dollars) and turn it into a toll-only road. The reason? Why, “rich” people live near that highway and they ought to have to pay more to drive home everyday. Let’s see…who else has proposed taxing the rich? And he refused to guarantee that any $$ taken in by the govt would be set aside *only* for transportation. The tax dollars that were raised from the people for this project? They’ve disappeared.
And how about the Trans-Texas corridor and his abuse of imminent domain? And his attempt to force young girls to be vaccinated for a sexually transmitted disease? Or how about his Bloomberg-esque attempts to get the legislature to pass an obesity tax on junk food?
The truth is he’s savvy. He has attached himself to the tea party movement and rallied them with his cry of secession. But the truth is if he hadn’t done that he and Kay Bailey Hutchison would be neck and neck in the race for governor.
Yes, he’s extremely conservative today. But that will fade once he gets through the next election. And he, just like Obama, will take his win as a “mandate” to push through the tax-by-the-mile scheme. He’s walking around saying no more toll roads–but that’s only because he’s in the process of working out a plan to strap a GPS on our car and tax us by the mile–which will in essence make every road a toll road.
I am not fooled by Perry. I am surprised by how many Texans seem to be, however.
All script writers should have to learn to shoot. This would make for much better gun scenes in movies. Perhaps a course is in order.
They would learn things like guns only hold so many bullets then they must be reloaded, guns can have stoppages and jam for no reason, holding guns sideways when you fire doesn’t make you a better shot, and that firing guns off in an exclosed space with out earplugs or some sort of ear protection results in temporary threshold shift.
Also the advanced course could involve winter shooting where writers could learn that changing a magazine in the winter conditions is challenging and that below certain temperatures guns just won’t fire at.
A multitude of plot complications that have never been explored!
The Tarrant County GOP sent me an email the week before last announcing that Gov. Rick Perry would appear at their office for a news conference Wednesday the 20th. Going thru the internet blogs and such as how to affect the next elections I found out I could be a precienct chairman. I applied and won the chairmanship as is was vacant, the grassroots way to quit your bitchin and get involved. So I went to the Tarrant County office news confernce to see what Gov. Perry had to say. As I approached I saw dudes with big cowboy hats and suits and ties. I kind of felt intimidated. I was coming from work and had no tie being a regular factory worker. Outside the GOP offices he was greeting people and going on about Scott Brown winning, Perry came up to me to shake my hand -as I felt out of place- I told him I contributed to Browns Campaign 3 weeks ago. Of course he said good for you. Into the office for his -so called news conference-. there were 2 speakers before him who were from liberty lawyers.com that had a whole litanny of why Obamas agenda was unconstitutional( not reported by the local/FT Worth Star telegram/mcclatchy state media) We celebrated Obamas first year in office. NOT! But he continued to rail against the Fed Governments takeover of our state. I hate to say it but I was a friendly heckler even making his stoic state secret service rep smile once when Perry dished against the EPA declaring the C02 was poisionus, I heckled ‘dont exhale’. I quietly left after the news conferece, but I was hopeing it was a small taste of who Tea partiers are but left with a sense that Perry is genuine. As the author observed Perry seems to have grown into a conservative and I agree. As to Roger L Simons ambivilence towards religion (agnostic) I find myself torn the same way, hopeing for a higher power. But gosh now I feel so honered to have that same chance to be assoiated by the greats of conservatives as Andrew Brietbart and this author. A humble patriot, thank you
Nice piece.
Just remember Roger that salvation is a come-as-you-are proposition. God has offered you and everyone else eternal life, based on what Jesus Christ did for you, for free; but it’s only yours if you reach out and take it. Godspeed.
I will be voting for Perry in the Fall. KBH is only interested in extending her political career.
Thanks for an interesting article Mr. Simon. I’m glad you liked Austin and Governor Perry. Me too.
I like Kay Bailey Hutchinson too but I am not going to vote for her just so she can enhance her resume. If she wants the Governor’s job she’s going to have to explain why I should want her as governor.
I’m not a Texan, but a Californian unfortunetly so take this for what it is. But from what I’m hearing of those with complaints and issues with Perry I have to say while valid they are all quite mild. I mean come on have you seen the last two governers we’ve had?! You my friends have got it GOOD if you’re biggest complaint is him yelling at a Cop. (Which is bad mind you but really?)
As for being politically slick, um duh? He’s a politician. No matter how great they are all politicians, are by their deffinition, slick and craft their message for their audience. While the good ones try their best not to be completely false and talk out both sides of their mouths, they all are opportunistic and attempt to say what will give them the votes. Even the Great Regean.
Mr. Simon,my only question is why you don’t already have a legal working example of the military rifle that was in use when you were eligible for military service? Along with a pistol,shotgun,knife (a Bowie will do if you can’t find a quality kukri) and tomahawk to round it out.
Yeah I know,a tomahawk might be over the top for all the non hillbillies out there.But do I care?
What an enjoyable read.
I hope you enjoyed yourself while here, Roger… it was nice meeting you, and I wish you continued success with all your projects. Please tell Zo that AnnaZ says “hi”.
After reading these comments, I’m stunned at the vitriol over the Gardasil. I am a physician here in TX. The vaccine is a God send, and will prevent many cancer deaths. It should (will be)a required vaccine in all children, male and female, much like Hep B is now. (You should know that you need to engage in “risky” behavior to contract Hep B.) Yet, nary a peep about this when it became a routine vaccine recommendation.
#4
James, why do I get the feeling you’d consider Hitler a NINO (Nazi in Name Only)?
#70
Michael,
Some people see The Crab as preferable to crabs, or anything that may encourage young women to engage in fornication.
Shootin with the Guv. Awesomely awesome. Lucky bast*rd.
The only thing I can think of better is a caribou hunt with Sarahcuda.
Now, depending on where you live, get concealed carry.
Glad you enjoyed your visit, come back often!
Re. endorsements: Sarah has backed Rick, GHWB has backed Kay B, and GWB hasn’t said.
Personal opinion: I will vote for Rick. Kay B has spent too much time in D.C. to make a good governor for Texas. Debra may be somebody we want to look at down the line, but right now she’s a little bit too much of an unknown. It may well be that to know her is to love her, but this election, not enough of us know her yet. I’ve seen some ads on TV; Rick’s talk about Texas and Rick, and Kay’s talk about D.C. and Rick. Sure wish she would tell us why we should vote for her instead of against Rick.
As for shooting, I inherited my brother’s single barrel shotgun at age 12, got my first rifle at 14 and my second at 16. That was over 50 years ago. I still have them, plus three more rifles, two more shotguns, and three pistols. I don’t hunt much anymore, but I go to the range fairly frequently, and I do carry.
I really enjoyed meeting you at the shooting range and the conference (and I am REALLY glad I helped you find your wallet!!!)
I wish I could have talked to you more. I think you will find the more you are around us religious folks, you aren’t put out by it. We kinda bring you in, right?
Here is my picture with the Governor teaching me how to shoot with the Ruger. I’ve never met a more down to earth politican either.
http://kathleenmckinley.com/2010/01/23/governor-perrys-online-conference.aspx
Texas, hmmmm, let me think.
Didnt they have Bush as a governor?
My question is, whatever happened to Texas?
Texas used to be … well Texas … but it also had some great legislative-legal thinkers and politicians. Seems they took that program Dallas a bit too seriously down there. Been on the downhill ever since….
Maybe it will make a comeback someday eh?
All it take is a tiny seed of faith, Roger–as tiny as a mustard seed.
Waaaay cool Roger! Way to go!
Nice going, Michael! Now get yourself a glock,join the NRA and practice,practice,practice!
Nice going, Roger! Now get yourself a Glock,join the NRA and practice,practice,practice!
John Hay: Theodore! You are dangerous. You might even shoot somebody – accidentally I mean.
Theodore Roosevelt: John, I’d never shoot anyone accidentally. I need their votes.
John Hay: Madness!
Roger himself: “The older I get, the more I want to believe in an after-life. ”
Rog, you don’t have to believe in an after-life in order to be a Believer! You just have to believe that it works. It can’t get much simpler than that.
We would have a much safer nation if, as a condition of entering high school or of obtaining a driver’s license, every child was first required to take and pass a firearms safety course. This simple step might avoid the all too repetitious lament, “I didn’t mean to shoot. I thought the gun was unloaded.”
My parents insisted upon many things while we children were growing up. Included among them were: 1.) learning to swim, and, 2.) successfully passing the firearms safety course offered by our state’s department of natural resources. My own children have had to do the same.
Guns are tools which can be safely used or dangerously abused. Target shooting and hunting are very fulfilling hobbies.
God save our Republic.
As another Texan-in-exile (Mexico,) who owns a little house up the road from Austin, and actually get to visit once a year (if only to eat some REAL BBQ and REAL chili – no beans!)…I have a Perry anecdote that confirms your appraisal, Roger.
A couple of years ago, while visiting family in Houston, I wandered into my favorite Barnes and Nobles to waste some hours browsing. It was packed with people and lines for a book-signing with local SEAL war hero an author Scott Latrell (“Lone Survivor”.) Not one much for lines, I just walked up to Scott and shook his hand and told him I’d buy the book later. While browsing I started bantering with some huge Texas Rangers standing around. Kiddingly, I said, “Here protecting the Navy Seal?” “Naw, he don’t need it. We’re here protecting him.” He pointed over to a guy in a suit by himself bending over some books. It was Perry, who was accompanying Lattrell, just hanging out with him, and the Ranger told me to go ahead and chat, so I did.
In our talk, we mentioned conservative writers, and I mentioned that I’d written a few articles for Pajamas (in the early days), and right off he responded, “Yep. Victor Davis Hanson. Read him all the time.” I remeber thinking,”Wow, A politician who gets it. Just wow.” As an exile, I am not up on all the issues and his stumbles, but I think Perry
defintely is a major politician who gets what so many Americans are thinking and feeling. How can you go wrong reading Hanson?
Sidenote: Yes, this ex-atheist (objectivist), now a missionary, prayed with him at the end of our talk. The man is real.
Roger L Simon said: “Don’t worry. Am planning a trip to The Salt Lick before I leave.”
Mr. Simon, someone’s been giving you good advice. Let me add only that you owe it to yourself to visit The Iron Works as well, next time you’re in Austin. Not only is the BBQ first rate, but the place is right in the central down-town district. And it was originally, in fact, a working smithy; its new proprietors had the good sense and ingenuity to keep a great deal of the original smith’s equipment on hand. One has much to ogle at while in line for the grub.
If you wish to find God, seek him.