- Rick Perry for President 2012, part 1: The Elevator Pitch – Evan, Texas Iconoclast
- Shuttle debris found in drying-up East Texas lake – Eric Berger, Houston Chronicle
Sadly, this seems to be the extent to which Texas will have a “retired” shuttle orbiter in the state. - On the Records: Texas a Migration Hot Spot – Becca Aaronson, Texas Tribune
- Staples Takes a Swing at Combs — for 2014 Race – Ross Ramsey, Texas Tribune
- Politics at 'The Response'? That's against the rules – Ken Herman, Austin American-Statesman
Before I get into the rules set out by organizers of “The Response,” allow me to relay the best one-liner I’ve heard about the event. I’d credit the creator (of the joke, not the universe) if I could remember who it was. It’s based on long-suffering fans of the Houston Texans, Reliant Stadium’s prime tenants:
” ‘The Response’ will be just like a Texans game at Reliant: lots of people in the stands screaming, ‘Jesus Christ!’ “
Ouch!
- Will Rick Perry answer the religious right's prayers? – Brian Montopoli, CBS News
Perhaps, but he potentially draws from a number of conservative constituencies. - Rick Perry's Prospects Look Good – Cal Thomas, RealClearPolitics
- Texas first: Prison is closing – Mike Ward, Austin American-Statesman
- ‘Team effort’ seen in parole denial for killer of gay banker – Carol Christian, Houston Chronicle
Apparently, there are some instances in which favoring a “tough on crime” approach doesn’t warrant mockery and derision. - Did Houston schools trustee Larry Marshall play role in doc's $600,000 no-bid contract with HISD? – Mike Cronin and Jennifer Peebles, Texas Watchdog
- “School district funding” political scam marches on – Weston Hicks, AgendaWise Reports
- Jason Embry “tough” on Dewhurst – Weston Hicks, AgendaWise Reports
Texas politics daily reading (2 August 2011)
- The Outsider – Abby Rapoport, Texas Observer
A lengthy piece on Gov. Perry’s super strategist, Dave Carney. - Texas A&M Years Launched Perry — and a Rivalry – Rick Perry, Texas Tribune
- Perry and Romney, frenemies on a collision course – Jason Embry, Austin American-Statesman
- State Senate seat may draw crowd of GOP House members – Aman Batheja, Fort Worth Star-Telegram
- Residents rally in Central Texas for Dublin Dr Pepper – Barry Shlachter, Fort Worth Star-Telegram
Texas politics daily reading (1 August 2011)
Top Stories
- AG says Forensic Science Commission can't consider Willingham case, others before Sept. 2005 – Tim Eaton, Postcards
- Rick Perry's Roots: A World of Difference From Washington – Erin McPike, RCP
- How the Texas Governor Could Win in 2012 – Jill Lawrence, The Daily Beast
- Perry’s Legion – The Folks Behind the Man – Ross Ramsey, New York Times/Texas Tribune
Recommended
- Williams Pulls a Switch – Ross Ramsey, Texas Tribune
- Michael Williams Switches Races, Again – Lawrence Person's BattleSwarm Blog
- Straw polls and campaign realities – Cory Crow, Texas Iconoclast
- Bachmann Stumbles, Perry Closes in on Romney in Rasmussen Poll – Alana Goodman, Commentary
- Perry a Distant Second to Cain In Denver Straw Poll – Jay Root, Texas Tribune
This likely says more about the particular straw poll than the candidates. - Perry interviews with South Carolina AP – Jim Davenport, AP
- Lampson Coy About Which Texas Seat He May Seek – Shira Toeplitz, Roll Call
Are we sure it will even be in Texas? - Response to SAEN editorial board – Ken Mercer, Dallas Blog
- Perry's flip-flop – Paul Burka, BurkaBlog
In which Paul Burka joins a growing number of Texas political journalists whose understanding of American federalism/constitutionalism is inferior to that of Governor Perry. - Despite states’ rights stand, Perry supports federal amendment ‘to protect innocent life’ – Peggy Fikac, Chron Texas Politics
In which Peggy Fikac joins a growing number of Texas political journalists whose understanding of American federalism/constitutionalism is inferior to that of Governor Perry. Memo to Texas political media: The Tenth Amendment AND Article V are parts of the very same federal constitution. Seriously, go look! - Ten reasons why the Texas economy is growing that have nothing to do with Rick Perry – Jeanna Smialek, Texas on the Potomac
Remember earlier this year when the Hearst Austin intern editorialized laughably about the Texas economy? Apparently, Hearst DC apparently thinks such amusing editorializing is good for its interns as well. - History offers clue to higher-ed saga – Patricia Kilday Hart, Houston Chronicle
Widely dismissed as facile and simplistic in academia, [Jeff Sandefer’s] “solutions” found a champion in Gov. Rick Perry…
Most coverage by the Texas political media of the ongoing debate about the higher ed status quo in Texas might as easily be described as facile and simplistic.
- Sure-fire way to land Perry in White House – Rick Casey, Houston Chronicle
Perry presides over a Republican state where he gets to take credit for cutting the public school budget by $4 billion…
Public education spending increased slightly in the most recent budget, yet the lockstep Texas political media continues to repeat this error.
- Teacher merit pay is imperiled – Pierre Bertrant, San Antonio Express-News
Legislators recently cut billions from education funding, and with it funds for the program.
See above. Add Pierre Bertrant to the list of Texas journos committing journalistic malpractice.
- Mark Jones talks about Rangel interview – Weston Hicks, AgendaWise Reports