The Influential Rick Perry
Perry defends hiring of Vegas firm to draft slots bill
See how many things you can spot wrong in this blurb alone ...
Gov. Rick Perry on Thursday defended the state's hiring of a Las Vegas law firm, with ties to casinos and companies that make gambling devices, to draft the legislation that could legalize slot machines in Texas.Perry said the decision to hire Lionel Sawyer & Collins was made on a recommendation from Jim Cox of Austin, a Texas Lottery Commission member and a former casino industry executive.
Jeez, how can the guy drafting legislation be bad? I mean, a) he knows the biz, b) he was recommended by a similar crony who's also worked in the industry, and c) HOW IN THE HOLY HELL DID TONY SANCHEZ LOSE TO THIS GUY????
Yes, yes ... I know ... Sanchez was labelled a drug dealing bank exec from the nefarious Mexican border, that's why. Still. This one boggles the mind. Mind you, I'm not about to suggest that any and all people who have experience in industries being regulated need be excluded ... that'd put me at great odds with Bill White's own experiment, also. But there has to be SOME counterbalancing factor at work here besides "If you don't like it, vote out the rascals in November." Democracy is "supposed" to be at least a little more efficient then that ... right?
After reading this story, however, I'm reminded of a recently replayed Simpsons episode ...
Lisa: Dad, I think he's an ivory dealer! His boots are ivory, his hat is ivory, and I'm pretty sure that check is ivory.Homer: Lisa, a guy who's got lots of ivory is less likely to hurt Stampy than a guy whose ivory supplies are low.
There's also this one, which is more tangential to the point, but still hilarious:
Lisa: "Mr. Blackheart, are you an ivory dealer?"Mr. Blackheart: "Well, I've had lots of jobs in my day: whale hunter, seal clubber, president of the Fox network. And, like most people, yeah I've dealt a little ivory."
OK, I'm a little better now ...