Put up or Shut up Rick Perry

    http://www.politifact.com/texas/article/2010/oct/06/back-basics-ad-demands-rick-perry-face-texans-and-/
By Ciara O'Rourke, W. Gardner Selby
Published on Wednesday, October 6th, 2010 at 11:42 a.m.

        Screen grab of Back to Basics "Face Us" ad

          In an earlier post I discussed Rick Perry's avoidance of a public debate. I chose this article to give me further insight into what all the fuss is about concerning his reluctance to throw down if you will, and talk the talk, about his walk. The bare bones of it is Back to Basics ads on calling out Perry on some of his earlier claims and actions.
         The first topic is whether of not there is truth to the mudslinging claim made by competition Bill White stating "Perry spends 9,900 monthly rent, which cost taxpayers a total of $362,700 + ." I was appalled to find this is a true statement and I am disgusted for obvious reasons, such as that's almost what I pay in rent for a year in one month. The second topic up for scrutiny is the idea that Perry "balanced five state budgets and cut spending." This is also true, but he has to, it is in the state constitution so I was not impressed. The article  states "Perry brags about balancing the Texas budget, but he "always fails to mention, however, his letter to President Obama accepting his $16 billion share of Washington D.C. stimulus money to fill the gaping budget in his last budget."  And that is just the beginning for Perry when it comes to covering up too much spending.  The rest of the article discusses PAC's claims concerning alleged increases in tuition and whether or not a cap may be eased for the number of children in class rooms.
          Unfortunately for Rick Perry this article convinced me that it is time to be held accountable for his actions to us as Texans. It's time to "Face Us" and set the record straight.

Out in America

http://www.burntorangereport.com/diary/10868/coming-out-in-america-must-be-made-easier

Thu Oct 14, 2010 , by: Todd Hill


     In the original article "Coming out" in America must be made easier" by Todd Hill, he questions the very foundation in which our country is build on, the idea that made us the American we are today, our right to freedom to live how we choose. Cited is the increase in recent months of gay suicides, the brutality they suffered, and the fact that everyone has the right to make their lifestyle choice.  He uses the example of the recent Fort Worth city council meeting in which openly gay councilman Joel Burns shares his experiences on growing up and Coming out". This heart felt testimony as well as Hill's own are very moving and make a very sound argument for questioning our policy about these acts.  Implied is the idea that the this violence has something to do with political media today but unfortunately he shows no correlation between politic mudslinging and the abusive behavior we are seeing in our schools today. In conclusion he requests during this election we look toward the future community and moving forward in our search to continue to find unity, but he never states how that might be achieved. The article was over all very touching but I could not quite pinpoint a solution.

Perry vs White: Oct. 19 gubernatorial

http://www.statesman.com/opinion/perry-leaves-voters-in-the-dark-883714.html

  I wouldn't say I'm either for against Rick Perry as Gov. This article is clearly calling Perry out on his decision to go to the Oct. 19 gubernatorial debate on the stipulation that " White releases his income tax returns from the 1990s, when he served as Texas Democratic Party chairman and as a U.S. Department of Energy official"  It calls Perry misguided, and arrogant in the belief he can set conditions on whether he'll debate White and says that they're disappointed in Perry. That may be, but Perry was invited, usually an invite implies the right not only to decline, but to say I won't go unless stipulations are met. Either way Perry did not say he would not debate with White he just said he may decline at this time, which is his right to do. It also says "We believe White should release those records, as he has" in essence making the argument moot since Perry got what he wanted and in theory will be going to the debates.
 Under fire along with Perry's decision to attend or not is his decision to keep details of the Ranger Recon plan out of public knowledge. Perry has released information about the results of this program such as 22 arrests have been made, vehicles and  1,739 pounds of marijuana were recently seized, but apparently that is not enough, although specifically what they liked to know is not really stated. Personally, I find the results to speak for themselves as I think Perry intended.   But if you were an ranger under cover would you want it known to everyone where you were operating and what strategies were being employed ? Of course not it would  make going under cover too risky for the Ranger Recon personnel. 
So as to whether Perry leaves voters in the dark,  click turn on a light.

Lawsuits, Medicine, and Shenanigans.

     http://www.texasmonthly.com/blogs/burkablog/index.php  
      ( article on medical lawsuit tort reform)

     I found this article to be very interesting and I encourage a good read for multiple reasons. I, being a nurse found this article to affect me on a clinical and personal level. I do not say that every medical lawsuit is unreasonable, for I work with doctors and am aware how not all are created equal. I also encourage anyone who does not know whom to pick for a doctor to do research and ask around about your healthcare provider because your doctor may have a great bedside manner and be a not so great practitioner and vice-versa.  Having said that, I thought the article was very clear and concise without a lot of bs concerning the definition of certain things, such as if a lawsuit if legitimate or not. The writer mentioned his opinion which was just to state the need for great care when setting boundaries on the definition of frivolous lawsuit. I also appreciated the very easy to follow break down of exactly what the tort proposes to change.