Rick Perry "Fiddlin' With The Campaign" Cartoon by Troy Johnson
A bid for the Presidency leaves no room for error. How to make everyone happy? It's really a pick your poison proposition. The conservative right has latched onto Perry since making his entry into the race in August. During the Summer months Texas has also seen a continuing Texas size helping of wild fires. Initially Perry came back to Texas from the campaign trail when fires were roaring, particularly the Bastrop Fire which is now 80% contained. This week brought 114 wild fire reports to the lone star state. The Texas triple digit heat returned for a stint this week as well, while cooler temps came toward week's end.
With both his Presidential bid and the Texas wildfires heating up, Perry finds himself challenged by his own philosophical positions. You will remember he chided Obama for not offering enough Federal aid to Texas to help fight the fires. This doesn't sit well with Tea Party folks who espouse a smaller federal government while advocating states' rights. Yet fulfilling his duties as governor has required a "do what's best for the state" approach, which means at least temporarily looking to big brother for some help.
After his return to Texas from the campaign trail earlier this month to wear the governor's hat, it appears that the fires rage on. Trying to play the campaign fiddle as well as the governor fiddle may prove cannibalistic. Too much attention to one may draw critical views from the other. Time will tell if all this fiddlin' with the campaign may ironically weaken his ability to manage his state, which in turn may weaken his Presidential bid which touts the prosperity of Texas under his watch.
Troy Johnson
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