"Texas Governor Mobilizes Evangelicals": "I can legislate morality"

[Bluebear]

DALLAS - Even for Texas, the scene was remarkable: The governor, flanked by an out-of-state televangelist and religious right leaders, signing legislation in a church school gymnasium amid shouts of "amen" from backers who just as well could have been attending a revival.

It wasn't just the blatant blend of church and state that made the gathering in Fort Worth unusual. Advance publicity also attracted about 300 angry protesters — unheard of for the routine business of ceremonial bill signings.

Now some wonder whether Gov. Rick Perry overplayed his hand last week trying to stick to the playbook used by old friend George W. Bush and political whiz Karl Rove, mobilizing evangelicals for last year's presidential race.

"Governor Perry and his people are just not as good as Bush and Rove," Southern Methodist University political scientist Cal Jillson said. "Governor Perry knows the steps, but he's got no rhythm."

More.....

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20050612/ap_on_el_gu/texas_governor_religion

[colonel odis]

1. didn't perry's wife divorce him because she caught him in bed

with another man?

what do his evangelical buds think of that?

[derby378]

2. No such luck

Mrs. Perry was convinced to giver her hubby a second chance. So she's still around to prop him up at photo-ops and such.

[southernleftylady]

3. I heard this from someone who lives in texas nt

[Wright Patman]

4. Not true

Anita Perry is still with the guv and I think the bloggers did him a disservice last year when they went after him without any proof.

It is emblematic of the current state of Texas politics that one of the worst governors in our history, from strictly a policy standpoint--I don't care what he does in private, is going to be reelected next year by a comfortable margin.

The big money is behind him and in Texas that is determinative, unless you can prove he REALLY DID have the rumored affair with the former Secretary of State.

[Bluebear]

5. They like that "blatant blend of church and state" evidently. nt

[silverlib]

6. Carole Keeton Rylander Strayhorm (State Comptroller R)

was accused of starting the rumors. It wasn't the liberals. They are just starting to eat their own.

[Bluebear]

7. Isn't Senator Kay the favorite now?

[Wright Patman]

8. Kay Bai came out of a meeting crying

last fall in El Paso. The big donors told her they were loyal to Perry.

She could win if she got nominated, but the nomination is not hers for the taking. The GOPers are all about the money. And she's not going to have enough.

[Bluebear]

10. The poor dear, nt

[EVDebs]

9. GOP = The Party of Mammon