The skeletons in Rick Perry's closet

[pampango]

http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-503544_162-20082696-503544.html

Consider: Romney, like fellow Massachusetts politician John Kerry before him, cannot seem to escape the perception that he is ultimately an establishment figure - and is thus viewed with skepticism (or worse) by many in the Tea Party and social conservative circles. Rep. Michele Bachmann, by contrast, is beloved by many Tea Partiers and social conservatives, but she's largely dismissed inside the Beltway as a fringe figure with little in the way of legislative accomplishment or policy chops.

Perry can potentially bridge that divide: He aggressively embraced the Tea Party as it was getting off the ground, pushing a message of limited federal government (he's a strong critic of the federal health care overhaul). And his Texas swagger - the often cowboy boot-clad governor once shot a coyote that menaced his puppy during a jog - doesn't hurt. In a McClatchy-Marist poll last month, Perry was the most popular GOP presidential contender among Tea Party supporters.

Then there are the issues, chief among them immigration. Perry, who presides over a state with a large and growing Hispanic population. has been criticized by Texas Tea Party groups for not pushing hard enough to pass a "sanctuary city" ban and other hard-line immigration legislation. In 2001, he signed the Texas version of the DREAM Act allowing children of illegal immigrants access to in-state college tuition. As Arizona Sen. John McCain's reelection campaign illustrated last year, any perceived softness on immigration issues can become a major headache in a Republican primary.

And then there's the elephant in the room: Texas' debt problem. In the 2010 governor's race, Democrat Bill White pointed out that Texas' debt has doubled under Perry. Since 2001, according to the Star-Telegram's Mitchell Schnurman, Texas' debt has grown at a faster rate than that of the U.S. government. Perry assumed office in December 2000.

[hlthe2b]

1. Then there was the "young man" problem of a few years back...

Which, as I recall, coincided with GWB* assisting Perry with a conveniently timed visit to the WH with his wife, just as the story was breaking. Rove and the Bushies* were always masters at covering up those little emerging scandals, after all...

[roguevalley]

3. I think I remember his wife catching him in bed with the Attorney

General. Mr. Perry has a man problem.

[MelissaB]

9. I just moved to Texas a year ago. Can someone tell me

what happened?

[Gothmog]

10. I heard that it was the Secretary of State

The version of the rumor that I heard was that it was the Texas Secretary of State who was a male. The Texas GOP paid a great deal to keep Perry's wife happy. The $10,000 per month mansion being rented by the State of Texas for Perry was part of the price of keeping her happy

[HopeHoops]

2. Is one of the skeletons Laura Bush? She has always looked like one to me.

[Ian David]

4. Also, Rick Perry has no Kinky in him.

Mojo Nixon - Kinky is Everywhere
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=csLBSpbHNhU

[Bozita]

5. I seem to recall something about a hot tub and Governor Goodhair a few years back.

But I can't remember the whole story.

[DocMac]

6. This guy is not even a problem. He is dismissed.

[OHdem10]

7. And those jobs he supposedly created----Minimum Wage Jobs.

Texas at the bottom of the list in Education, Health Care
Lower Standard of Living, one of highest rates of poverty.

[pscot]

11. Those are all positive accomplishments

among the Teahadists.

[warrior1]

8. How about

the gay issue? Has he answer the question whether or not he's gay?