'California is looking at our backside,' Texas Gov. Rick Perry says in San Francisco

[alp227]

Source: San Jose Mercury News

Declaring that his conservative state had knocked California off its perch as the nation's business leader, Texas Gov. Rick Perry on Monday bragged that the Golden State is now "looking at our backside."

A year after his presidential bid ended in falture, Perry returned to the West Coast Friday for visits to San Francisco, Silicon Valley and Los Angeles in an attempt to lure businesses to Texas following a state-wide ad campaign last week. It's part of a push by low-tax states to entice California millionaires hurt by recent tax hikes that have left California's wealthiest to stomach the highest income tax rate in the nation.

In a wide-ranging one-on-one interview with this newspaper, the Republican politician fired return shots at California Gov. Jerry Brown, said Austin, Texas is poised to become the "next Silicon Valley" and characterized California as a great state that has lost its way.

"Some time in the past, California became uncompetitive with other states because of their tax (and) regulatory policies in particular," said Perry, wearing a red tie, dress shirt, slacks and sneakers in a downtown San Francisco hotel room. "There is somebody that wants to knock you off your perch. That's what's happened to California."

Read more: http://www.mercurynews.com/business/ci_22566837/california-is-looking-at-our-backside-texas-gov

---

Umm, isn't Austin (home of the University of Texas flagship campus) politically the San Francisco of the Lone Star State?

[benld74]

1. All Hat No Cattle I believe the phrase is

[Plucketeer]

28. I got a good vhuckle outta the title of the OP

I'm a happy Californian - If we're lookin' at Perry, then we're definitely lookin' a Texas' backside!

[Lobo27]

2. Perry is an idiot

Texas isn't doing great because of him. Its because of laws that existed before him. He is also scared reps are loosing their grip on the state. I believe this last election every major city other then Ft. Worth went dem.

[Scairp]

27. He wore sneakers?

With his dress slacks, dress shirt and a tie? What, does he think we aren't quite convinced that he is marginally retarded he has to try and remove all doubt?

[pscot]

52. His mother was a Clampett

[louis-t]

108. Haww!

[DonCoquixote]

3. With all due respect to Austin

Which -->IS<-- one of the great liberal cities of our nation, most of the high tech types do not want to touch Texas with a ten foot pole, because they know that Texas is led by loons.

Imagine you are a high tech company based in San Francisco. First off, you know that you will have a hard time moving your current personnel over there, especially in this economy, and even MORE so because there is a good chance that many of your IT folks are

A) LGBT or
B) Like San Fran because it is LGBT friendly.

Let's not even get into the fact that if your employees are any sort of minority, the idea of moving to Texas is less appealing. Yes, there are Latinos, Asians, and others in Texas, but there is a big difference between being a minority where you have established networks of support, and one where the populace does not like you, and does not want you. Yes, there are racist cops in San Fran, and liberal cops in Austin, but any Minority who buys a nice new car with that Texas salary will always know they will be the target for every would be southern hero with a badge, and even a few without.

Lastly, if you are an IT professional, and you have a kid, you want GOOD SCHOOLS, without religious baggage. Even the better private schools are often places where the Texas version of Jai-zuzz will be fed to your kids, especially if it makes them hate you.

[jsr]

14. It's self-important and overhyped

Last edited Mon Feb 11, 2013, 11:03 PM - Edit history (1)

Austin really consists of Lance Armstrong, Michael Dell, panhandlers, grackles and weeds. And corrupt politicians.

[LeftInTX]

16. LOL - Grackles!!!!!

Come to Texas, see the birds!!!

[jsr]

119. Live Music Capital of the World:

[LeftInTX]

17. And Oak Wilt!!!

It's infesting Austin and San Antonio. Killing our beautiful live oaks just like Dutch Elm disease killed the elms.

[kentauros]

46. I'm sorry to hear that about the oak-wilt.

My father took all the naturalist classes the state offers some years ago and correctly identified oak-wilt on their property out west of Dripping. The state Forestry Service sent people out with a big and skinny trenching machine to cut a path between the diseased trees and the healthy ones, so they couldn't spread the disease. It worked and they kept it from spreading across the property and beyond.

I hope the forestry service is doing similar treatments around Austin and SA. I'd hate to see those lives oaks die, too, especially in Landa Park...

[TexasTowelie]

19. But some of us who live or lived there still vow to

[Scairp]

29. Oh come on

They have music, and it's a great town for musicians so don't knock all of Austin. The rest of Texas sure, but Austin is an island of tolerance, mostly.

[Amonester]

49. Well, you forgot Austin is also host of the USGP at the COTA.

But the F1 USGP is just three days each year.

[jsr]

51. Okay, Grackles and Grand Prix.

[AndyTiedye]

55. And Bats

[Evasporque]

75. Dick Cheney and Ann Coulter's favourite.....

They prefer Texas' dead bats over other states...

[jsr]

82. And batshit crazies

[KatyMan]

67. Your last statement is not supported by facts

Texas has many great schools- public and private. I live within walking distance to two high schools listed in the top 1000 of the nation-- and both are listed in the upper third of that number.

And when did cops in LA get to be so upstanding and tolerant????

[DonCoquixote]

121. La Cops

La cops may be bad, but in texas, the police have been nationally ridiculed for being the arm of White authority:

http://www.dallasjustice.com/dallascriminallawyerblog/category/corrupt-cops/
http://www.shtfplan.com/headline-news/corrupt-texas-cops-judges-attorneys-kidnap-child_04252011
http://www.aclu.org/racial-justice/racial-profiling-texas-report-shows-significant-disparities-stops-and-searches
http://gritsforbreakfast.blogspot.com/2011/03/central-repository-for-tx-racial.html

and yes, that includes blue little Austin, as the last link shows:

"For that matter, agencies exhibit widely disparate patterns in how they approach searches in general, particularly how frequently so-called "consent searches" are used. At the Austin PD, for example, just 5.7% of searches conducted were consent searches, while at Houston PD they made up 30.4%. "

Wow, when your cops ask for consent to search at a much lower rate than Houston does, that says a lot. 5.7 percent.

As far as schools go:
http://saveaustinschools.com/

Looks like the good schools might not be around for much longer.

The point is not to dump on you, but rather, the BS that Perry is trying to sell. If a guy sitting on his keyboard could find this data, so can an executive who is researching whether or not to move a company to Austin. Ok, we both know the intern will be doing the research, but the fact is there. And the fact is, with all the problems California does have, I know that many of the employees are not going to move to a place where being Gay, Black or Brown means that any cop can harass you and get the approval of most voters.

and while we are talking about schools, let's not forget how Texas is responsible for the dumbing down of textbooks.
http://www.npr.org/2012/06/20/155440679/revisionaries-tells-story-of-texas-textbook-battle
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/03/17/AR2010031700560.html
http://www.nea.org/home/39060.htm

From the post article:
Because the Texas textbook market is so large, books assigned to the state's 4.7 million students often rocket to the top of the market, decreasing costs for other school districts and leading them to buy the same materials.

"The books that are altered to fit the standards become the bestselling books, and therefore within the next two years they'll end up in other classrooms," said Fritz Fischer, chairman of the National Council for History Education, a group devoted to history teaching at the pre-college level. "It's not a partisan issue, it's a good history issue."

When the Washington Post slams you for being too conservative, that is a Black eye. You think executives want their kids being taught that Dinosaurs were the Dragons that walked the earth along with Adam and Eve?

[KatyMan]

125. Whatever.

I went to Texas public schools most of my school life (with the exception of some stints in Catholic school). I was never taught creationism in school, even Catholic school. I live within walking distance to two of the top 500 high schools in the nation.

We have a gay mayor; a huge gay, Latino, Asian population. Houston is very multi-cultural and has a great arts/theatre district. To paint Texas as redneck and backward is both false and defamatory.

And more Texans voted for Obama than citizens in 45 other states. And that is without ANY campaigning by the DNC in any part of Texas. Think what it could have been.

DUers need to stop dumping on Texas. After all, California gave us Reagan; Minn gave us Bachmann, Wisc. gave us Ryan. Every state has outliers.

[gcomeau]

4. *cough*... *cough*

Declaring that his conservative state had knocked California off its perch as the nation's business leader,

GDP:
CA: 1.935 Trillion
TX: 1.308 Trillion

GDP Per Capita:
CA: 51,550
TX: 50,312

And the primary sources?
CA: Silicon Valley and Hollywood.
TX: Oil.

Which has its days numbered and is supported by massive government subsidies again?

Keep yapping Ricky boy.

[KeepItReal]

5. Perry, nobody in CA is worried about Texas

I had a choice between the two, and am happily paying State Tax, higher gas prices, and a higher cost of living to be in a state with (still) some of the best culture, natural beauty, and entrepreneurial business environment anywhere in THE WORLD.

[AsahinaKimi]

61. Oh you got that right....

right on the money, KeepItReal.

[Faygo Kid]

6. Gov. Jerry Brown has balanced California's budget, and by the way . . .

. . . nice presidential campaign run there, Rick. I do like San Antonio and Austin - the rest, I wouldn't bother with. How's that future blue state workin' out fer ya?

[Coolest Ranger]

7. Hey dufas Gov. Perry

How come CA has balanced their budget then

[cosmicone]

8. Most Californians would rather pay higher taxes

than move to bumfuck Texas.

The only people who leave California are the ones who came here from one of the backwoods states.

[olddad56]

37. Amen, I'd choose death over living in Texas.

[Capt.Rocky300]

45. 'fraid not..............

My wife and I are both California natives born in 1950 (S.F. & L.A. respectively) and we bailed 25 years ago. We moved to the San Juan Islands of Washington for the tall evergreens, fresh clean air, to live in a nice home on the water for the price of a one bedroom condo in San Jose, the opportunity to sail our boat to an actual destination and not just go around in circles in the S.F. Bay. Yup, the winters suck, but the summers are close to perfect. When we go to California to visit relatives, we can hardly wait to get back home. But yeah, Perry is a total ignorant ass and we could not live in Texas. I know, I temporarily lived in Dallas for about 2 months for my job. Every time I got on the George W. Bush freeway my blood pressure went up about 30 points just because of the name.

[Kolesar]

59. How far would you have to drive to ski?

My wife and I are trying to pick a place to retire to. Is there cross country skiing near you?

[Capt.Rocky300]

90. We went to Mt. Baker on Sunday......

It offers downhill as well as XC and snow shoeing. It's a 2 hour drive on one of the most scenic roads in North America. It's also 2 hours to Stevens Pass which has the same offerings.

[Kolesar]

113. Stevens Pass has the groomed trails

Mt. Baker is in a national park with trails for the "backcountry skiers". That would be for the fit and adventurous. I would have to prepare carefully to ski there. I would have to train a lot, too.

I have vacationed twice in Washington. If you have not seen Slate Peak, take the drive to the trailhead off of the Cascades Highway. There is a day hike to the Slate Peak view point. Very fun

[NV Whino]

9. Jesus, who let that asshat in California?

Send him back to Texas.

[alp227]

15. Easy, just let Texas secede, and Perry & his ilk all become ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS.

[NV Whino]

25. I like your thinking.

[kentauros]

47. I don't.

I'd rather let Perry secede. I love my state (that doesn't mean I love all of the politicians)

[NV Whino]

85. You're right.

Better answer.

[Sophiegirl]

10. Perry makes a good point and was determined to prove that...

...he's a ass.

"Here....let me show you!"

[underpants]

11. Can you provide us with three examples Guv'nuh?

[LeftInTX]

12. Most Californians who move here don't like it

The weather, the schools are the main complaints.

The weather is horrible. The scenery doesn't compare. There is a horrific shortage of parks and natural areas. It's not good for outdoors types.

This does not include politics.

[DBoon]

44. The pastrami is terrible

the pizza is lame

Nothing here is as good as it is in Baltimore/Pittsburgh/Akron/Atlanta/Boston

Even worse, taxes are higher on {name your favorite hobby}

[AndyTiedye]

54. I'm One of the Outdoors Types

It would never work.

I have friends in Texas. The ones that moved there all gained 50 pounds very quickly.
I'm sure I would too, between all that Texas barbecue (yum!) and no way to burn it off except in a VERY air-conditioned gym (yech).
Too effing hot to play outdoors much of the year.

Went mountain biking this afternoon.

[CreekDog]

95. i had a friend from Texas move here to the Bay Area and she said that people were different here

she said people out here go hiking and to the beach and things like that.

and that unlike Texas, people don't think it's fun to go shopping all day at the mall.

seriously, she said this.

[xxqqqzme]

120. I'll agree w/ that

On a cross country road trip a couple of years ago (CA to WV), I started comparing rest stops in each state. Texas had the worst. There was usually no water source, so no restrooms. Frequently no shade for the picnic tables. No big maps, history or sheltered information board.

BTW, Illinois had the best rest stops.

[awoke_in_2003]

13. Well, if Californians see Rick Perry...

then they are definitely seeing our backside

[JDPriestly]

18. In Southern California, we have a serious water shortage.

You need water if you are going to have economic development.

In the San Francisco, Silicon Valley area, there is so much demand for housing that prices are shockingly high even now.

In my opinion, if Texas wants to take on our problems, they are quite welcome to do so.

Texas can deal with huge demand for education and no tax revenue to pay decent teachers. Texas can deal with patrolling streets and roads and drug cartels. Texas can deal with funding Medicaid and providing healthcare to a growing population of immigrants.

As long as we get to keep our Mediterranean climate and our beautiful beaches, we will be fine out here in Southern California.

What I look forward to most when California companies move to Texas is the bluing of that state as it welcomes more and more liberal Californians. I already know a couple of very liberal Californians who have moved to Texas.

Hey, Texas we look forward to hearing from your Democratic members of Congress in the future.

[catchnrelease]

36. That's what I was thinking

Does Perry think that Californians moving to Texas will magically start voting Republican? It should only make the 'blueing' of Texas happen faster.

[AndyTiedye]

111. The Only Ones Who Would Move Are the H1b's, and They Can't Vote

[cstanleytech]

20. Isnt texas the leader in McJobs now?

Maybe thats what Gov. Perry left unsaid.

[muntrv]

21. Hey (P)Rick! I bet about half the folks in Silicon Valley that you are inviting are outside of the

teabagger talibornagain demographic.

[pinto]

22. FU

[Crowman1979]

23. I'm sure your male escort was looking at your backside last night Ricky!

[Iggo]

81. Hmm...

[dkhbrit]

24. Perry is an idiot

But there are a lot of ill informed people here regarding the state of Texas. But of course, everyone in Texas must be like the man that governs here.

[kentauros]

48. Welcome to DU!

Both sincerely, and how we Texans are treated here

I've been complaining about it for years. Some people hate us no matter what you tell them about us or the state...

[muntrv]

26. They're looking at your backside and saying pull your pants up, buttcrack!

[broadcaster75201]

30. Rick Perry said something. So?

It's as irrelevant as what the barking Yorkie next door is saying right now.

[liberalmuse]

31. Perry has an unhealthy obsession with California.

WTH?

[Crowman1979]

32. What a hypocrite! We all know that Ricky-boy can't wait to check out San Fran once he leaves office

[Ned Flanders]

33. inferiority complex

My Texan relatives are constantly boasting about Texas, usually contrasting it with a negative example found in California. What's up with their huge inferiority complex? You know what they say, "Nice truck, sorry about your penis."

[jsr]

79. But 4 out of 5 dentists prefer Texas for summer vacation

In fact it's a year-round favorite tourist destination.

[Zoeisright]

34. Well, Perry, you are a fucking ASS.

I'm sure that's the "backside" you're referring to, you fucking piece of shit.

[wiggs]

35. CA is 9th largest economy in the world, Texas is 14th. nt

[ReRe]

38. Rick "Big Hair" Perry....

.... picking an economic war with CA. What a fucking joke. When is his term up? I thought there couldn't be anyone dumber than GW, but I was wrong.

[Tom Ripley]

39. When many Texans die, you can give them an enema, and bury them in a shoebox

[Liberal_in_LA]

40. no we aren't!

[Turbineguy]

41. And where

would you like them to pound in the 3 inch splintery damage control plug?

[DBoon]

42. CA Taxes?

Now what would be the property taxes in TX compared to CA?

"California actually ranks 45th in the nation for property tax rates. "\

http://www.selectsmart.com/DISCUSS/read.php?16,810137,811003

[erpowers]

43. The Facts Do Not Support Perry's Argument

I understand that Perry probably does not care about the facts, but they do not support his case. Based on the facts, California is far from looking at Texas's "backside".

Yes, Texas' unemployment rate is 6.1 percent while California's unemployment rate is 9.8 percent. Also, housing prices are much higher in California than in Texas. However, that is where the advantage ends for Texas.

According to the article, California has a 3-to-2 companies advantage over Texas. More California residents have college degrees. The median household income is 21 percent higher in California. There are fewer people below the poverty level in California. In the fourth quarter, the Bay Area of California alone had 12 times ($2.5 billion) the venture capital funding of the ENTIRE state of Texas. Finally, even though California companies such as Apple, Facebook, eBay, Visa, and Chevron have either relocated to Texas or expanded their operations in Texas, a number of companies in Texas have expanded in California. Texas Instruments, Dell, and Samsung have all made investments in California. Yes, according to the article, five companies in California have either relocated to Texas or expanded in Texas while only three companies in Texas have expanded in California. However, that fact is not that bad for California in that California holds a 3-to-2 companies margin over Texas. So, California is still doing fairly well to say the least.

[Amonester]

50. peRRy is just another Republican liar

like rMoney, Lyan, cheney, bu$h, et al

[Mr.Bill]

53. The story is:

A man in a restaurant in Texas told his waitress that Governor Perry had created more jobs than any other governor in the country.

She said yes, I know. I've got three of them.

[oldandhappy]

56. sorry!

I am not even looking! I am grateful to be in the golden state.

[King_Klonopin]

57. ARE YOU LOOKING AT THE MANGO ?!!

[triplepoint]

58. Fabulous!

[SemperEadem]

60. must be some strong drugs he's on again...

to keep him farting like that....

[tanyev]

62. Yeah? Then they must be pointing and laughing.

STFU, Governor Goodhair.

[stevenleser]

63. The first segment of my show from two weeks ago shows what BS this is

The red states are a virtual innovation desert. No firm is going to leave Silicon Valley to go there.

http://www.blogtalkradio.com/lesersense/2013/01/28/making-sense-with-steve-leser--week-in-review-120-12713

[kentauros]

65. First off, I would ask you to educate yourself,

and stop calling us "red states":

http://politicker.com/2012/11/the-purple-election-map/

Next, I would ask you to look at what the various universities and tech centers here are doing. I highly question your "virtual innovation desert" comment. And yes, I listened to you segment on that. It's not good enough to back up your comment here.

Wasn't Reagan from California, anyway?

[KatyMan]

66. I agree....

and I wish DUers would remember that more Texans voted for Obama than citizens in 45 other states. Only California, Penn, NY and Florida had higher numbers for Obama.

And Austin's biggest claim to fame is not Dell or legislators. It is THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS.

[stevenleser]

89. Then you are also wrong. nt

[KatyMan]

114. Really?

What exactly is wrong in my post? Please proceed, governor.

[stevenleser]

88. I gave a citation. The facts are on my side. Here is a link

http://www.forbes.com/2009/05/07/ibm-xerox-intel-entrepreneurs-technology-patents.html

See also http://www.forbes.com/2009/05/07/ibm-xerox-intel-entrepreneurs-technology-patents_slide.html?thisspeed=25000

[kentauros]

91. You gave a citation for ONE peer reviewed study.

How about twenty more, as one would get for most other scientific studies trying to prove a hypothesis?

The other thing is that you "removed" Dallas and Houston from your findings. Sorry, you have to take the whole state or not at all.

My point is that DU loves to bash Texas. ANY reason at all, and we're the brunt of the worst DU has to offer. I counter your assumptions because you're simply promoting more of the same, and I'm tired of it.

[stevenleser]

93. I didnt remove Dallas and Houston from my findings at all. Texas is not in the top 15 per capita

for intellectual property creation. Of the top spots in Texas where intellectual property is being created, Dallas and Houston, the vast majority of the patents and similar I/P is in the petroleum industry. That is not removing or excluding them.

It's still not enough to put Texas in the top 15 states for per capita intellectual property creation. Only one state is, and that state wouldnt be top 15 if one company moved.

[kentauros]

94. One issue I had with your citation that's not mentioned anywhere

is how many of those patents are put into production. It's one thing to make a patent, and quite another to actually produce something with it.

You also seem to have ignored a rather important part of your Forbes citation:

Indeed, individuals of all backgrounds may play more of a role in keeping the U.S. on the cutting edge. While roughly 90% of patents granted go to corporations, universities, nonprofits and state governments, individual inventors, as a group, rank in the top three patent recipients for the 14 of 15 most patent-prolific states. That fraction may increase as large firms cut back on R&D to conserve cash.

That part alone negates your whole argument bashing those of us in Texas and other "red" states. I noticed, too, you didn't say anything about that map of the US I posted. Perhaps because it shows there's truly no such thing as a "red state"?

[stevenleser]

97. Now you are grasping at straws

Indeed, individuals of all backgrounds may play more of a role in keeping the U.S. on the cutting edge. While roughly 90% of patents granted go to corporations, universities, nonprofits and state governments, individual inventors, as a group, rank in the top three patent recipients for the 14 of 15 most patent-prolific states. That fraction may increase as large firms cut back on R&D to conserve cash... That part alone negates your whole argument bashing those of us in Texas and other "red" states.

You havent said how it negates my argument. I dont see it as affecting my argument or the Forbes data at all.

I noticed, too, you didn't say anything about that map of the US I posted. Perhaps because it shows there's truly no such thing as a "red state"?

I'm not going to debate with you the commonly used labels of blue and red states.

[kentauros]

103. It negates your "per capita" argument

because corporations are not individuals, no matter what the SC says or interprets. The fact that those same corporations represent 90% of the patents created says it all. Corporations are not the State, the people are. So, a mere 10% of the patents created were represented by individuals living in those states. That's not much.

Remember, too, that of all those thousands of patents mentioned in that article didn't necessarily come from any of those top states. Corporations love to buy up patents, whether they intend to use them or not. Did you notice that IBM is making their billion in the licensing of their patents? They aren't actually producing anything with the patents themselves. And in which states are those licenses being used? I saw nothing about that part.

The so called "common usage labels" of "red and blue" states is still wrong. That map proves it, and I'm not the only DUer to try and get people to stop using those incorrect terms.

[jsr]

64. Who wants to look at his dumb ass

[marshall]

68. California's too busy watching North Korea

No time to pay attention to small fries like Texas.

[mulsh]

69. Why does he have to leave Texas to get this message out?

I'd think that business leaders would see something as obvious as what the Gov. believes exists.

[Dustlawyer]

70. Perry doesn't fit Austin! Austin is the surviving bastion of common sense, not counting State Gov.

[MurrayDelph]

71. Of course we are looking at his backside

it's the only way to have a face to face conversation.

[tclambert]

72. Oh, I get it. The people there looking at Rick Perry were looking at Texas' backside.

Nice equivalence, Governor Backside.

[wasserman]

73. UT??? 71 Nobel Prizes out of Berkeley alone

UT is a corrupt school that's building a medical school on the backs of local homeowners
instead of using its vast wealth which includes $1 BILLION in gold.

They already gave the school to Michael Dell to put his name on it.

[marble falls]

74. There are many good reasons I live in Texas and Gov Perry ain't one of them, .....

bless his pointy little head. All buckle, no oil. All stetson, no cattle. All hair, no brains.

[kentauros]

78. Yeah, but it's very good hair.

Kind of like your average evangelical hairstyling

from another fellow Texan

[marble falls]

102. Quite like that. He and his wife are some sort of "wealth as reward from G*d" offbrand releigion.

[bamacrat]

76. Yes, Austin in very left...

Its just the rest of that big ass state that is not. With all of the Mexicans that live there it could go blue at some point but it is very puky.

[hamsterjill]

77. Perry is an idiot. Perry is an idiot for picking a fight with California.

I mean, come on...why even go there? That was a stupid thing for him to say, even for him, and we all know he's too damn stupid to even complete a sentence.

Peace to California from a lifelong Texan.

[Iggo]

80. Yeah, we're lookin' at an ass alright.

[Moonwalk]

83. I think both us Californians and Texans should not let Perry win here and make us divisive...

...and chauvinistic. The man is certainly a backside, and I think we can both agree on that. And we need to remember what his REAL aim is here. To argue that states should lower taxes on big corporations (and by extension, that the U.S. should do the same). That we should allow such corporations to retain loopholes and not pay their fair share, etc. Because it's working for Texas. Or so he says.

THAT is what his real message is. That raising taxes on big business doesn't work. If we, instead, end up bickering over Texas vs. California, or mistakenly see Perry as Texas and make rude comments on Texas rather than on Perry, then he has succeeded--he's gotten us to divert our anger at big business not paying its fair share and got us sniping at each other instead. He's played the diversion game and won.

We need, instead, to counter his arguments about taxes on business being bad. And stay angry businesses that don't pay their fair share. Otherwise he's going to put doubts not only in the minds of Californians but in the minds of any one living in a state thinking of raising such taxes, and doubts in the minds of Texans who might be suffering from this business practice of low taxes on the rich--that is to say, they may think, "Well, at least we're getting other businesses from other states...." Yes, but what good does that do the state if they're not investing in the state (with tax money) while weighing the state down with more people that taxes can't pay for?

Let's look at the big picture here and avoid the "my state is better than yours..." sniping. Perry WANTS us to do that. He wants a Texas vs. Cali war like a football game. That's where he wants our attention, not on what he's trying to really do, which is get everyone who is angry at the rich angry at each other. That's the GOP game. Make the middle class angry at the poor rather than the rich. And now, make one state angry at another state by insulting it, rather than angry at politicians who cater to big business rather than to average people. I'm dismayed that his ploy is working here and we're insulting Texas and Texans. We, of all people, should know better. We should know how this game is played and not be falling for it.

[northoftheborder]

84. good post.

[justabob]

99. +1.... thank you

You are right, and we would all do well to keep this divisive strategy in mind when reading stories like this.

[kentauros]

105. Well, I keep it in mind, anyway

[justabob]

106. good work

Thanks for standing up to the haters. It gets so tiresome reading about how awful Texas and Texans are.

[kentauros]

107. Thank you :)

It's also draining. Thankfully, I can't do this all day, and have my day job to get back to

[olddad56]

86. Rick Perry, what else could we be looking at, you are all backside.

[Arkana]

87. Pssst...hey, Rick--that's because California just knocked you to the floor

on your face and has your arm in a half nelson.

[Downtown Hound]

92. We've lost our way?

I guess that's why we now have a balanced budget after disastrous Republican rule and obstructionism and being raped by Texas-based energy companies.

[Myrina]

96. .. only because Texas keeps showing the world it's backside ....

Try acting like you have some common sense, Texans ... we'll welcome you to the party!

[kentauros]

98. Yes, because ALL Texans are republican

and voted Parry into office

[Myrina]

101. Oh ferchrissakes take a pill

Is that cross you're carrying getting heavy yet?

[kentauros]

104. In a word, no.

I'll stop this when the rest of y'all boot all of the republicans out of your own states.

Broad brushes are neither allowed nor wanted on DU. Clear now?

[Downtown Hound]

115. Tell your shitfuck asscrack of a governor to stop basically declaring war on us then

From Enron to Charles Hurwitz and now Rick Perry, oh, not to mention George W. Bush, we Californians have had enough bullshit from Texas. Here's your governor basically taking aim at ours and trying to steal our jobs. Guess what? That pisses us off. Sorry if you don't like it.

[kentauros]

116. And how am I personally supposed to do that?

Attack Parry, not the state. Do you like it when people speak badly of California for giving the rest of us Ronny Raygun, or Nixon? I wouldn't think so.

[Downtown Hound]

123. I'm not bashing everybody in Texas

I am most definitely bashing "Texas values" of letting corporations run amok. California has experienced enough of that from Hurwitz murdering our Redwood forests to Enron shutting off our power. And now here comes Perry the dickhead trying to sabotage our economic recovery.

How about Texas just leave us the hell alone?

[kentauros]

124. How exactly are corporations run amok part of "Texas values"?

Sounds more like you're confusing standard operating procedures of any big corporation with the values of a region. Corporations don't give a shit where they're located so long as they get the perks they demand of the local populations.

How about we demand that Parry shut the fuck up for the benefit of everyone? Do that, and you won't have to worry about violating DU rules against bashing regions

[Downtown Hound]

129. Are you actually going to deny that Texas has a culture that celebrates

big business? Isn't that the whole point of Perry's, "Come to Texas and exploit your workers and pay no taxes pitch?"

[kentauros]

130. Yes, I am.

Now, you may be incredulous about that, but I then have to ask why you haven't been paying attention to how corporations work in the great U. S. of A.

So, I'll reiterate. They do not care what state they end up in so long as the locals and the states give them the perks they want. And they will get those perks any way they can, even in "perfect" California

[Downtown Hound]

131. Never said California was perfect

We have a whole host of problems here. But last I checked, our governor hasn't threatened to secession from the union over things like Obamacare and taxes or gone to another state and told them to close up shop and come here because you can save money on things like labor and taxes 'n' stuff.

And hey, you are cordially invited to Northern CA and I will be happy to show you the devastation done to our forests by Texas-based Maxxam energy. For decades, Pacific Lumber was a model of sustainable logging, until Maxxam did a hostile takeover and used it to plunder and rape our environment. And then, as I said before, there was the Enron fiasco. And then of course, there's the fact that for years, Texas-based oil companies have been trying to open up our coastlines to oil drilling. Thank God they never succeeded, because I'd hate to be the victim of the next Deepwater Horizon spill. Our coast is quite beautiful. We'd like it to stay that way.

Funny how of all these corporations coming in and fucking with our state and its economy and natural resources, they always seem to be from Texas. And now your politicians are doing it too.

Kindly tell them to knock it off, will ya'?

[kentauros]

132. No, you didn't say California was perfect; I did (with quotes.)

But you have also said nothing good about my home, while ignoring the dynamics of corporations and how they work. Any of those corporations could have been from anywhere else, including California. The point is not that they're from Texas, but how they operate. Would you be bashing California if they all were from your state? I think not.

Your intent is to bash Texas by any means, and I'm calling you on it.

[Downtown Hound]

133. No, not by any means

Believe it or not, I didn't just wake up and decide to bash Texas. My views stem from personal experience and research. And I also know there are many Texans that are not to blame. Just as there were many Americans that weren't to blame for the Iraq War. Unfortunately, we all have to live with the shame of what Bush did there even though many of us were adamantly opposed to it. And even though I hate being associated with it, I can at least acknowledge that America, my country, has many problems, both with our values and our system. That there are many of us that are aware of it and don't agree with it doesn't mean the problem isn't there.

Same goes for Texas. If you're going to deny that there's a problem with the way Texas does business, well, I can't stop you, but I really think you're kidding yourself. That doesn't mean every Texan is a greedy corporate worshiper, it just means there's a problem in the state. There's a reason why just about every Republican I've ever known thinks the Texan way of doing business is the greatest thing ever. Because Texas loves deregulation and unfettered capitalism, the two things that got us into this mess.

[kentauros]

135. That's funny.

I didn't know Texas single-handedly put Bush into the office of the President. I guess I can then blame California for having equal power in putting both Reagan and Nixon into the office of the President.

But, no, I won't blame them because I'm not into bashing regions just for their politics.

And again, you're ignoring what I've said, and even putting words in my posts that aren't there. I have never said that I agree with how businesses do their work here. I have simply attempted to explain that corporations, such as Enron and Maxxam, think far differently than you're depicting them. I'm not going to go over it again, as you can always go back and reread.

Nor am I denying the damage they've done. Please point out where I've said that. I will state that the west coast's own PG&E has done some rather horrible damage to your state, too, including deaths (remember that neighborhood they blew up some years back?) Not to mention their complicity with Enron.

As for Texas loving deregulation and unfettered capitalism, again, you're bashing Texas for commonly held beliefs by corporations the world over. Give it up. You're not going to win this.

[Downtown Hound]

136. Sorry, I'm doing just fine.

Yeah, corporations hold the same views all over. It's just that some areas provide greater support for it than others, and Texas would be one of those. Your own governor's "sales" pitch to California-based businesses would seem to support my belief there. You might as well give it up if you're going to continue to deny that. Everything you're saying is contradicting what your own governor said while "visiting" my state.

And yeah, PG&E was definitely complicit in Enron's criminality. But it was Enron that was turning the lights out and saying that there was a shortage of power so they could manipulate the market. Enron more than anybody else is to blame, and there is no putting lipsitck on that pig.

[kentauros]

137. I hate having to repeat myself.

Your beef with Texas seems to be that there are companies here that do bad things. Hello? There are companies all over the world that do bad things. Enron could very well have been located in California, had they greased the right hands. I guess then you'd have to find some other Texas-based boogieman to fuel your bashing.

Has it ever occurred to you that one reason Texas might seem more business-friendly is because the businesses have managed to get themselves into our politics deeper, much the same way they do with the federal government? I'm going to make an educated guess here that the tech companies in California have done similar backroom deals over the decades. No, that can't be proven, but as I say, it's an educated guess.

Corporations do dirty deals everywhere.
Oh, and here's something you might want to read about Gov. Goodhair's success with business in Texas:
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10786130

And thus, my educated guess above.

[Downtown Hound]

138. That or, maybe because Texas is a strongly Republican state

and they've voted for less regulation?

Oh well, who cares? It's not my fault you don't have the emotional maturity to hear something negative about your state. I take it all back. Texas rules! M'kay?

[kentauros]

140. We the people haven't voted for less regulations.

However, the corporations have bought the right people in order for them to vote for less regulation. You know, same as what happens in every single state, city, and municipality in our country.

I was wondering if you'd given up. Not that I cared, either. I was tired of tediously arguing with a wall. A wall that still won't acknowledge that it's continuing to bash a region instead of a person or group of people, as the rest of the posters to this thread have been doing.

Perry is indeed an asshole, yet he's not Texas. And I'm going to defend my state from those that can't tell the difference.

[LanternWaste]

126. If Texas stops "basically declaring war" on California, does that mean melodramatic statements like

If Texas stops "basically declaring war" on California, does that mean melodramatic statements like ""basically declaring war on California" will finally end? Or will yet have to put up with dramatic hyperbole in place of actual substance?

"Sorry if you don't like it..."
Bless your little heart...

[Downtown Hound]

128. Yes, such melodramatic statements like that will end.

If Texas keeps it's big fat corporate-worshiping butt out of our affairs.

[The Second Stone]

100. Texas is no California

and I wish the residents all the best. But our economy is much bigger, our people more educated and the weather here is quite nice.

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2011/08/15/1007146/-Blue-California-s-Economy-vs-Red-Texas-Not-What-the-Conventional-Wisdom-Suggests

[KamaAina]

109. Brain bleach!

That's going to be one tough image to shake.

[MADem]

110. Uh, "Looking at your backside" is not the same as "Showing them your ass."

Why didn't Mitt Romney dump his seaside manse and scurry of to Texas if the place was so swell? Instead, Mittsy's gonna rebuild the joint from the car elevator on up....

[mitchtv]

112. I shudder to think of having a major disaster in CA

The envy is palpable, Our wealth and influence is staggering to the"confederate leaning" sort that abound.Look at Jersey and the rockaways, wait til CA has her turn, there will have to be found proof that we ever joined the Union.Besides Gov Brown is target one with the Teabilly set.

[olddad56]

117. Rick Perry makes me very proud of Governor Brown...

I'm proud of the fact that he would never go to another state and beg companies to move their operation to California. Why would Rick Perry do this. Is the overall intelligence of Texas such that nobody is smart enough or creative enough to develop a business. Is it so bad that they have to go begging in states that are able to afford their citizens the creative license and freedom to create a new business. I think the social climate in California is such that people feel free enough to be creative while in Texas, people have to be more concerned with just toeing the line so they can exist without fearing that they will be ostracized for thinking outside the box.

I had a friend who has a high paying and interesting career with a company that did move to Texas. He was offered a lot of money to relocate. He and his wife visited the area in Texas where his company was relocating. Housing was extremely affordable, but he said no. He said that he was a democrat from California and knew he and is family could never be happy there. Then a few others he worked with followed suit. Today, they all still work for the company, but in small satellite office in Northern Ca.

It worked out for my friend. But he is a bright creative guy and it would have worked out for him in Ca. whether he left the company or not.

Rick Perry is living proof that smart, creative people have no business in Texas.

[calimary]

118. Yep. Every time we look at YOU, rick.

[sendero]

122. Pretty easy to do.

.... when you are ALL BACKSIDE.

[Evasporque]

127. not surprising coming from an asshole....nt

[Politicub]

134. Ironic - Perry bashing Calif. from one of the most beautiful cities in the world

And this douche was running for president?

He's doing the equivalent of nanny-nanny boo boo. Grow the fuck up.

It's not just about taxes. The quality of life in the Bay Area can't be beat, and I would go back there in a heartbeat if not for my familial obligations.

Texas? I only go there if I absolutely have to.

[suffragette]

139. Molly Ivins said it best about Rick Perry

and said it often.


http://www.motherjones.com/mojo/2011/08/rick-perry-molly-ivins

Here's one gem from that link about Perry and Enron. Many more there:

During the "grand old slugfest" between incumbent Perry and the Democratic challenger, Tony Sanchez, Ivins highlighted Perry's misleading smear campaign against his opponent, as well as his eyebrow-raising deployment of the word "coincidental":

This, in turn, brings up the interesting role of coincidence in the life of Gov. Goodhair. Last summer, the Guv appointed an Enron executive to the state's Public Utilities Commission and, the next day, Perry got a check for $25,000 from Ken Lay. He explained this, to everyone's satisfaction, as being "totally coincidental."



How I wish she were still here to give him another well-earned ripping.

[kentauros]

141. There's always Juanita Jean's blog:

Juanita Jean's - The World's Most Dangerous Beauty Salon, Inc.

Molly would probably have loved that blog, too