So when does an anti-government conservative switch sides? Answer: When a drug company bent on government requiring use of its products offers support.
The flap over Texas Gov. Rick Perry’s executive order to vaccinate teenage girls against cancer usually misses the point. Some say it proves he’s a big government believer, but the truth is more complicated: It proves he’s for sale.
Perry signed an executive order a few years ago to administer a drug made by a company, Merck, that just so happened to be one of his biggest political supporters and cash contributors. Conservatives then and now bristle at the notion of government mandating drug injections. Perry, who typically advocates such anti-government rhetoric, had his reasons to veer from that course:
Associated Press (2007): Merck is bankrolling efforts to pass laws in state legislatures across the country mandating its Gardasil vaccine for girls as young as 11 or 12. It doubled its lobbying budget in Texas and has funneled money through Women in Government, an advocacy group made up of female state legislators around the country. Perry has several ties to Merck and Women in Government. One of the drug company’s three lobbyists in Texas is Mike Toomey, his former chief of staff. His current chief of staff’s mother-in-law, Texas Republican state Rep. Dianne White Delisi, is a state director for Women in Government.
Perhaps this is a warning sign for conservatives and potential comfort for liberals. For the right price Rick Perry is not a right wing ideologue after all.
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13 Responses to Perry’s Situational Ideology
Now on The Trail
After a bit of an absence…. I got wild turkeys under my bird feeders again… a big mamma and 6 little ones.
ps… Craig… all politicians are for sale at the right price, IMHO.
pss… woo woo!
repub-licanthropes, led by my senator dirty dave durenberger, redid Soc Sec in ’88 so it would be solvent until 2020. Despite the fact that Soc Sec was doing better than anticipated in ’88, the rippers reedid soc Sec a second time a few years ago. These rippers claimed Soc Sec would now be solvent ’til 2040. Now the goldman liars are bleating once again that Soc Sec is in a crisis, despite the fact that it is once again doing better than expected during the by the last fixer-uppers. When Soc Sec does better, I suspect that life expectancy is falling for people who earn less than $5k/mo, ie 80+% of the population.
Premise 1. – ALL politicians are for sale once they get into office.
Premise 2. – Until we get the money out of politics, politicians will be for sale.
This is why we need a Constitutional Amendment that will create a Federal Campaign Finance Reform funding for Congress and the President.
“I got wild turkeys under my bird feeders again…”
renee, so do i but they’re all empty.
funny how fifths nowadays just don’t hold as much nor go as far as they used to…
query: did the critters accomplish anything yesterday on their first day back?
this would be a good time to start a day-to-day account of what they’re doing and how much they are costing us to do it…. you know, the usual in session expenses like lights, electricity, janitorial service, senate/house dining food and labor, barbershop, gym, security, printing, it mgmt…
I thought all politicians are ideologically and ethically situational--
Actually, I’d call Perry a corporate whore (heck, I’d call MANY of ‘em such) but I have too much respect for sex workers--just sayin’--
BTW, happy 114th Bday to the Singing Brakeman, Jimmie Rodgers--
Okay, having clicked a few ads I’ll say good night, y’all--
patd…
you should have seen all the little margaritas dancing around in my backyard this morning…. they even brought their own mariachi band….
When a man comes across as an incompetent used car salesman, you say he is for sale?
Wow! Who would have thunk it
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Jack
Perry has the Al Gore problem , stiff and weird posture. doesn’t look like Gore, more like the central casting caricature of a slimeball politician.
He needs to buy a bigger shirt so that he doesn’t look like his tie is choking him.
Prediction, the more people see him the less they like him.
Jack
Huntsman would be a great independent candidate, might even win, but is a long shot in the primary. Amazing how many Democrats are saying, “Yeah, I could see myself voting for him”
Jack
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