I was standing in the center of the Texas Motor Speedway Monday morning, staring up at my … now I guess I could say friend … Governor Rick Perry of Texas as he was giving a brief welcome for the annual Sprint Cup, when he boomed out the words with his fist thrust in the air:
“In Texas, we love our guns, religion and NASCAR!”
The crowd went wild and I knew I wasn’t in the Hollywood Hills anymore, Dorothy. I was in reddest of red state America and this blue state boy — born in NY, father from Massachusetts, educated in New Hampshire and Connecticut, most of his life in LA — was lovin’ it.
Yes, this was my first NASCAR race and, truth to tell, I can’t say how much I would normally enjoy it because this was like going to your first Laker game as the guest of Jack Nicholson.
I had been invited down by Gov. Perry’s people for a weekend of auto racing and barbecue as opposed to my visit to Texas earlier this year when they invited me down for a weekend of shootin’ and barbecue (notice the common denominator).
Of course, there was, in both cases, a more serious side, some politics and new media thrown in, but we’ll get into that later.
About NASCAR. I was able to be inside the garage, the pits with the crew and the hauler (new word for me), a kind of all-purpose trailer (don’t say “trailer,” you dumb city slicker!) where the gear is stowed. It was all administered by an outfit called TRG – The Racer’s Group.
This particular race was something of a marathon since most of us arrived on Saturday evening for brisket at Cooper’s in the Ft. Worth stockyard. There Perry said a few words, which evolved into his pro-Tenth Amendment stump speech, and then introduced Bobby Labonte, who was driving the Rick Perry for Governor sponsored car in the race.
Now Bobby is something of a NASCAR star, though I didn’t know him from Adam, since the only drivers I ever heard of drove Ferraris. (Okay, I’m exaggerating, but not by much). Anyway when we met, he was a perfectly regular guy, which I’m told is the normal case for NASCAR.
More importantly, he was my height! When I go to Laker games, if I’m lucky enough to sit down close, I feel like I’m part of a race of midgets.
Remember when NBC did a “investigative reporting” piece where they sent in Middle Eastern looking people to NASCAR events, and were severely disappointed that the hate didnt rain. But they are in possession of the larger Troof, regardless, those people are intolerant racist haters.
Yes indeedy. The left is always trying to expose us awful right wingers as the racist, bigoted, homophobes that they know we are. Trouble is us damned right wingers won’t play fair and BE racist, bigoted and homophobic. Of course they can use the leftist Tea Party Crasher tactic too: Send in the pseudo right wingers with racist, bigoted and homophobic signs to prove that right wingers are the racists, bigots and homophobes that the they just know we are. Quite a plan.
I must say, we are living rent free inside their heads.
Roger: Welcome back to the Lone Star state! I always enjoy your posts, and can’t wait to share some Piney Woods BBQ with you some time. You are very insightful, and quickly grasp the truth of the moment, wherever you are. Carry on! Have a safe trip back to LaLA land. Lakers better watch out for the Mavs…
The odds at this moment favor Rick Perry to be the next GOP presidential nominee. Mitt Romney, Sarah Palin, Newt Gingrich, and Ron Paul have too much baggage to carry around. The governor, of course, is not giving this a lot of thought. He is still committed to his reelection as governor. Perry might even have to be reluctantly drafted.
Rick has to much baggage, imo. Me may do very well nationally, but a lot of conservatives here in Texas are still upset with him over various initiatives and handouts he was offering to businesses. The TTC was just one small part of it, imo. He is imo a lot better governor than most states have, and light years better governor than Mayor White will ever be, but under his leadership we conservatives keep losing seats in the legislature, and we keep forking over more money to green energy crap.
maybe we might want to be thinking about the green “crap”.. #imjustsayin
- (R) lifer.. =)
RICK PERRY FOR GOVERNOR!!
Ummm, no. Most conservatives in Texas are NOT upset with Rick Perry for anything. Real conservatives know that in all instances that he has his heart in the right place and if he brings up a plan (whatever it may be) that may not sound like a very good idea, he had never gone against the will of Texans and he puts their will above his own. He has never gone against the will of the people and for anyone who claims that he has, they use out-dated information or examples that have already been disproven by numerous sources.
Rick Perry is the greatest Governor of all time and that’s not an overstatement.
“Too much baggage”???
To be honest, I want a candidate to have baggage and not somebody who suddenly emerges from the shadows of Chicago or some other place. Gingrich disciplined the Republican congress, balanced the budget and lowered taxes and thats really the kind of baggage im lookin for.
I wouldnt support Perry because he is running for a third term in Texas. If 2 terms were good enough for Washington they are good enough for the Governor of Texas. I think its suspicious when politicians cling too much to their offices.
Yeah, in Daytona the NASCAR owners gave so much $$$$ for Kosmas to be elected! Kosmas was one of those in Congress who flip flop her vote on Obamacare. So, Thank you NASCAR and to all the France (very rich) Family who are a bunch of Liberals making tons of money out of conservative rednecks!
Michele Bachmann ought to give it serious consideration as well. Nobody ever runs from Congress for the presidency, but she has what it takes.
Roger, they don’t have barbeque where you live? MOVE, NOW. Humans have been known to die prematurely due to lack of barbeque.
we got room for ya down here.
Texas ain’t that great.
So would all you damn yankees go home already.
You are being mean. I used to be one of those damn Yankees. We only want to prevent any Democrats from entering the state. They must be stopped at the border.
I was dead serious earlier when I said that Rick Perry is currently the favorite to be the next Republican presidential standard bearer. That is my dispassionate and objective conclusion. I would be saying the exact same thing if I resided in Rhode Island. Think about it for a minute. Perry will likely defeat his Democratic opponent in November by minimally twelve percentage points. Hello, this is Texas—the second largest state. Are there any genuine scandals haunting him? I am not aware of any. Who else is on the list?
I’m afraid the country can’t afford another ex-governor from Texas as President. LBJ and GWB were record setting spenders until BHO lapped the field.
Roger: Great post. Jim: We’ve had only one President who was a governor of Texas, GWB. LBJ was elected to the House of Representatives, the Senate, the Vice Presidency and the Presidency—never governor of Texas.
BHO has spent more tax payer dollars then a few of them put together. including mr. bush. threw me, my US Army Ranger son, and my grand babies into debt. so jim, if you want to bad mouth, use ALL the facts.
ya’ll cant blame bush no more. been too long. wake up and smell the TEA.
novembers coming, i hope leftist have an appetite for crow.
Perry has lots of baggage: George W. Bush.
Bush did to his presidency what McCain did to his candicacy, but worse, Bush let all the lies stand! And now 60% of the population (poll in Nov ’08 that gave O the pres) believe the lies. Thanks, George.
Perry looks like Bush as well. Something that doesn’t help.
Any so-called independents will wobble back to =:0bama when given a Bush look alike with what everyone not from the South consider a hick accent. (BTW, I’m from the South.)
Bush could only wish he looked like Rick Perry!! I knew Rick Perry from his years in the Texas Department of Agriculture and he is a very nice man. Politically, he at least has the knowledge and finesse to keep his mouth shut in front of our biased liberal media. He could just have a chance.
I’ve taken the stealth approach: have two out of three children born in Texas and the third one consider Texas the home of his heart, so you always have an excuse to come back. Work took us up north, where I consider myself to be a missionary on behalf of the Great State. This is certainly presumptuous of me, as I was born in Wisconsin.
I dread that the Stupid Party will find a way to make Obama the lesser evil in 2012.
Rick Perry for President? Consider:
1. LBJ
2. Read My Lips
3. Mission Accomplished
‘Much of America says “No New Texans”‘, and I’m with them. (As for you good people who miss Bush, hey, Jeb is eligible…)
Also, as Charles Johnson has been enthusiastically pointing out, Perry’s creationist beliefs are proactive. (In contrast, Ronald Reagan did not deny his creationism but he did not highlight it either.)
Dude, you quoted Charles Johnson.
You’re automatically wrong.
I just looked up Charles Johnson. You’re right, quoting this guy disqualifies you from taking part in any intelligent conversation.
DaveP. and Kathy Leicester,
So quoting someone you disagree with makes one ‘automatically wrong’ and ‘disqualifies you from taking part in any intelligent conversation’?
Okay, I’ll just trust Karl Rove’s giant brain and his Permanent Republican Majority D.G.
IMO people with your attitudes have: acquiesced in the corrupt incompetence of Bush/Rove/DeLay/Lott governance; alienated the swing vote; and gotten the likes of Obama and Pelosi into power in this center-right nation.
Mission Accomplished, indeed.
No, quoting a pig like Charles Johnson disqualifies you from taking part in human society, let alone intelligent conversation.
gs, I have to agree with Dave, Kathy, and Akatsukami against you and CJ. The guy’s a nutter.
Furthermore, your three points are non sequiturs! You just whiffed three times in a single post. You’ve struck out.
It might be more accurate to say that the national election process selects for the statist liberals regardless of state of origin, be they stealth or otherwise, and therefore you and CJ don’t have anything to worry about since Perry is unelectable if this is true.
I was surprised to learn that there is no love lost between Perry and the Bush people, most of whom endorsed Hutchison in the primary.
No matter. Should the GOP nominate Perry, Deomocrats will depict him as a Bush clone in search of a third term. And I don’t rule out a decent 2012 economy during the hiatus before the full impact of Obama’s policies hits (if they are not modified).
Has the race happened yet?
So move your ass to Texas! Whatinhell does Hollowwood have that we ain’t got (except high taxes, high cost of living, bad schools and low opportunity for growth)?
“The Negroes in the forest are brightly feathered.
And they are saying, ‘Forget the night.
Live with us in forests of azure.
Out here on the perimeter there are no stars.
Out here we is stoned immaculate’.”
Charlie (with apologies to Jim Morrison)
There is NOTHING that compares with a NASCAR race – you’ll be a fan for life! : D This CA gal is heading for Talladega this weekend! : )
Perry is doing a great job for Texas. #1 economy for a reason. Freedom! Conservative principles in action. California is beautiful, but Texas is where it’s at for starting a business.
Bill White is a pale, boring version of Obama.
Firearms, BBQ, and NASCAR. That is a great combination, Bubba! As a bonus, the people in Texas are friendly too.
Roger, they will let you back into Calif if you bring a couple of U-haul trailers with you. Too many of them went one way to Texas.
Roger is a dreaded ‘Clinger’?
Sounds like a blast!
G-dropping must be de rigueur
For pundits who want us to purr
Like hillbilly cats,
Or yokels with brats,
As Rog serves as Perry’s chauffeur.
Guns and religion! Check out the humorous cartoon comparing what Sarah and Obama “cling” to at http://drawfortruth.wordpress.com/category/compalinsons/ . I think it will make you laugh.
Another humorous gun cartoon showing the new Obama approved military rifle at http://drawfortruth.wordpress.com/2010/04/09/the-politically-correct-militarily-stupid-national-defense-strategy/
I went to a NASCAR event a few years ago at Dover, Delaware and loved the experience.
Beats being at a major league game.
Roger, delighted to hear that you enjoyed your time in my birth state. I also think Rick Perry would be a splendid candidate for President in 2012 and I’d love to see Bachmann or Paul Ryan as VP. Perry can handle the Chicago gang and their Alinsky ways.
Guns, Religion and THE VOTE!
DFW airport.
I think it would be pretty hard for a Texas governor, regardless of who he is, to be elected President any time soon.
We NASCAR fans welcome you to the sport and hope you had a good time. What took you so long?
Roger,
I fear you are being played. They claimed
to be feeding you Barbecue made from “Brisket”?
That had to be beef. I never heard of a pig part
called “brisket”.
Real barbecue is made of pigs. We can argue
vinegar or tomato based, but it needs to be pork.
I understand that Texans are poor in pigs, but still.
Come to Virginia ( or Carolina, N or S ) and get
some real Barbecue. We also have NASCAR and bird
shooting.
Quibbles aside, good story.
Will
Texas is indeed a great state but so are the rest of the Southern States. Great places to live, great opportunities and great people. The South is always given short shrift in most of the media, but believe me, once people come down to live, they don’t want to leave. As for barbecue, this is the part of the country to get it, trust me, you will not find it in some swanky New York restaurant.
I moved to California from Texas 57 years ago. But being a Texan is like being a Marine. No Ex Texans.
I lived in TX and miss everything about it. Especially the people and the freedom.
Lived in a lot of places in USA and across the world.
I live in NC now. I like eating pork. It’s a good breakfast meat.
BBQ in TX IS better.
Now Ramage Farms BBQ is the BEST BBQ I have ever had. It was right on the border in Texarkana (in Hooks TX).
And there is Goode Company Barbecue in Houston that is tied with Ramage Farms. Ate at Goode Company for years before running into Ramage. That has to be the best pecan pie EVER!!!!
And Bollners in San Antonio marinates the most awesome brisket. You buy it and bring it home and bbq it yourself. The best outdoor bbq’s have Bollners brisket.
And besides all that, you get to eat your BBQ with the FRIENDLIEST and HAPPIEST people in the USA. People are always happier when they are free and pay less taxes! Even liberals are happy there – they just won’t admit it.
Texas is incredibly unique and is very representative of the best of the USA.
More than one Texas governor has gone on to higher office? Who, other than George W?
Sam Houston, and maybe another one or two, went to the U.S. Senate, but no right-thinking person would consider that a “higher office.”
And, no, LBJ never held any state or local office. He was a pure creation of the New Deal.
Don’t forget John Connally — Governor of Texas, who was in the front seat (technically, the “jump seat”) in the limousine in which President Kennedy was shot; he took a bullet, too. He went on to become Secretary of the Treasury under Richard Nixon.
And technincally, Sam Houston served in the Senate (from Tennessee, if memory serves) before coming to Texas, where he commanded the army — all 286 of them — in the Battle of San Jacinto, which won the state’s independence from Mexico, then served as the republic’s second President (the first was Mirabeau B. Lamar), and was Governor when the Civil War broke out. He resigned when the Texas Legislature voted to secede — he hated the institution of slavery, and adamantly opposed secession.
I was working in Memphis when Bud Adams inked the deal that moved the Houston Oilers to Tennessee, and I felt really bad about it — not because I was much of an Oilers fan, but because…, well, Tennessee gave us Sam Houston, and we gave them the Oilers. Who was on the short end of that stick?
“Real barbecue is made of pigs.”
this is crazy talk.
You only use pigs if you cannot obtain really good beef. Vinegar??? Tomato-based??? You should come to Texas and try real barbecue sometime. Until then, you’re just making do…
Will tells half the truth. As all who are true Southerners know, the phrase “pork barbeque” is redundant. As I understand it, the only reason that Texans ever decided to dress up a beef brisket with sauce and call it “BBQ” is because it is physically impossible to steal a pig while on horseback.
Where Will misses the mark, though, is in geography. Virginia? Why go to Kabul when the BBQ Mecca of Memphis is so much closer. Get your dry rub on at Rendezvous, grab a quick sandwich at Corky’s or get it pulled at the Commissary. Throw in Interstate, Neeley’s, Pig and Whistle and a host of other internationally known smoke houses and there’s no reason to go anywhere else to grab that que fix. Virginia? Hell, even Big Bob Gibson’s in Decatur, AL beats anything VA has.
Roger! I was at Cooper’s on Saturday night with my daughter to meet the Governor. My daughter is 14 and had her picture made with THE Governor. Not only was the barbeque fantastic, but I have never had peach cobbler that good in my life. My daughter remarked how Governor Perry is so much like her late grandfather in his beliefs, charisma, and mannerisms. My father grew up 30 miles from Gov. Perry in a podunk part of West Texas, attended Texas A&M like the Governor and was also in the Corps of Cadets. I think that because of the Governor’s background being so similar to my father’s I can honestly say that I know what kind of man he is. Rick Perry is a straight shooter, an astute political populist, and I know that his background at A&M and in the Air Force makes him a real leader. He is probably only next to Sam Houston in Texas history. Sam Houston is the only American to ever be the Governor of two states, Senator of two States, and the only Governor or Senator to ever be a foreign head of state. That’s quite a list of accomplishment, and if Houston had been elected President in 1860, there probably never would have been a War of Northern Aggression.
But do you think they’ll let me back in California now?
—
If you’re lucky, they won’t.
I found this post linked from Power Line, where they can’t think of anything “more painful than watching cars race around a track.” Like many well-educated, white collar folks – I, too, looked down my nose at NASCAR. And then one day I decided to learn a bit about the sport, what was really happening on the track, and who the personalities and stars were. Guess what? I am HOOKED ON NASCAR. It is no more “driving around in circles” than baseball is “grown men playing catch.” I am glad you had a good time at the track, Roger, and I hope you will take some time to read about the cars that are hand-built by teams of PhD-level engineers, how much different the many oval tracks are, and the athleticism required to steer a 3,500-pound car on 10-inch tires when the cockpit is 130 degrees, the driver is battling four G’s of pressure, and an incorrect set-up of shocks has the car fishtailing as it enters a corner at 200 miles-per-hour. There is nothing like NASCAR. It is every bit as American as baseball – and much more exciting!
Yes, as Palin might saw, welcome to the Real America! Good stuff. Though Perry would be too polarizing and honest for a pres. candidate.
“Real barbecue is made of pigs.”
You should broaden your horizons. Come to KC and we’ll show you how to barbecue the way God and Arthur Bryant* intended.*
I almost never get BBQ with a single meat; my favorite mixes beef, pork/ham, and turkey in alternating layers.
(The invocation of Arthur Bryant is not intended to disparage Ollie Gates, or any of the other fine practitioners of the art.)
Go for it Rick.
He has been the only one with the guts to even mention secession which is where the Decalaration of Independence leads us.
Why fight these dirtbag Leftists for all eternity? We have to come to grips with the fact that we can’t and separate from them.
Its time to seriously put separartion on the table.
I moved from TX to NM 15 years ago. There were things I immediately noticed. The folks in Texas ARE friendlier (and I’m from the Midwest originally). Even TX teenagers are more polite. The girls in TX are definitely prettier. In Texas it’s harder to find really good good chili but in NM it’s damn near impossible to find really good BBQ. In TX I could shoot my guns in my backyard. In NM I have to drive for 30-60 minutes to find someplace “legal”.
I’m not much into the sport of left hand turns, but I love my guns and I sorely miss that great TX BBQ. My girlfriend gave me quite an elaborate (full size) smoker for Christmas. I can’t wait to smoke my weight in brisket. Oh…you can smoke pig (pork tenderloin is fantastic), you can smoke turkey and chicken, you can smoke fish…but REAL BBQ is made from beef.
Pretty girls in TX, maybe, but Ms Texas would get redshirted in Mississippi.
But the most beautiful girls in the world are in Tel Aviv. And they all pack serious heat. And best of all they LOVE American men. Serious.
Lester,
Serious heat makes any gal more beautiful. My girlfriend is positively stunning when she’s sporting my S&W .460 mag. BTW…I’ve heard that about Mississippi…from Texans no less.
Dr. Dave, SPOT ON! I should have said that too – prettier, friendlier, kinder, just happier and nice people all across the board. Seriously. Not even bragging. Texans are just really amazingly nice. Even the liberals – gasp. Cause they get to live in a Republican economy and they love it!
And I got to TX by the way of New Mexico. Left Montana, worked in New Mexico and ended up in TX. Loved it! Miss it! Every single state should be just like Texas!!!!!!
The Founders told us what we should do -
“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. That to secure these rights, governments are instituted among men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed. That whenever any form of government becomes destructive to these ends, it is the right of the people to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new government..”
Why waste our lives arguing with liars, racists and communists. Time to separate.
I can think of quite a few so called conservatives who would be the first to call TJ a traitor had he written these lines at any time after 1776.
Look at the controversy over whether the south had a right to seceed.
Pelaut: I think George Bush looks better with every passing day. I doubt that after several years of Democrats running things the idea of a Republican from Texas will bother people.
Attending the Bilderberg meeting in May of 2007, and violating the Logan Act should cause concern to Nationalist Americans.
Governors and Politicians from Massachussetts, California, New York and Texas. The major parties just keep throwin em at us dont they? We have Illinois right now, that was a nice change (sorry, no pun intended). Well, at least it was change. How about another state next time? like …..like…. well ok, I guess it will have to be one of them again. Ok, I will go back to sleep now. Oh, I like my steak well done and well done on the article too…
I haven’t looked at Rick Perry too closely. I’ve been looking at our senator from South Carolina, Jim DeMint. He’s going against his party as far as not automatically endorsing the “chosen one” by the RNC. He’s going out on a limb politically by endorsing constitutional conservatives over more “main stream” candidates.
As far as BBQ, I’m a fan of The Carolina Smokehouse in Cashiers, NC. I’ve been eating lunch there almost daily for the last 15 years. It was featured on the TV show, “Feasting on Asphalt”. The owners are good conservative folks. Too bad they live in a democrat controlled county.
I’m leaning towards him NOT running for POTUS.
However, if Sarah wins the GOP Primary, she may ask Rick to be her Veep. If so, I believe he would accept.
Palin/Perry 2012? I think that would be a good enough ticket to beat the Marixt-in-Chief.
> “In Texas, we love our guns, religion and NASCAR!”
Yeehaw! We have the collective IQ of a nine-year-old! We like shiny loud things and imaginary fairies! ‘N we shure’s hell don’t like THINKIN’!
Johnny B,
you just keep on thinking these things, amigo. I have always subscribed to the idea that it’s a good thing to be underestimated by your adversary.
I gotta go. There’s some shootin’ goin’ on out in the front yard, and I hear “yee hah” all over the place.
Sounds like fun, I”m gonna join in!
While Rick Perry has a certain eye catching look about him, they don’t come more attractive or masculine than that old RINO “W”. I miss he and Laura terribly. Don’t forget to make a contribution to his new presidential center at SMU in Dallas.
More importantly, no thinking individual can attend a NASCAR race and come away unimpressed. Talladega is my favorite track by far with Bristol next. I deplore crowd scenes but actually look forward to NASCAR races because, and no joke, a good percentage of the attendees have southern mothers and thus good manners. They have to be among the best sports fans in the world.
JB, your Mom’s not calling you and she’s not from the South.
Texans are the best thing that ever happened to America! I’m from Montana and moved there in the 80′s. I am PROUD to have lived there for a total of 14 years. Husband was raised there. Family from both sides still there – so, our hearts will always be there even if we aren’t.
All the Texas haters on here are simply jealous because they haven’t had the chance to visit or live there. I have Finnish friends who lived in Houston for many years and still pine for it. They loved it there and miss those unique Americans and culture. They are now on the east coast where we miss our barbecue, our TexMex, happy people, and lower taxes.
Once you go Texan, you don’t go back. It’s in you for life. YeeHaw!