Rick, Rhymes with.....

“I absolutely understand they want to get back to their homes … I’d like to get back to the mansion.”

Those were the words of our venerable and compassionate Governor Rick Perry in response to the worries and frustration of Texans displaced or evacuated from thier homes due to Hurricane Ike. Perry was comparing himself to those unfornate people victimized by the hurricane because he and his family have not been living in the traditonal residence of his position due to remodeling and then a fire by vandalism at the Governor's Mansion. Instead Rick Perry and his family live in a 5,000 square foot home that is owned by a contributor to Perry's re-election fund and furthermore the state(i.e. us taxpayers) is footing the $10,000 a month rent for the set-up Perry and his family enjoy in one of Austin's nicest neighborhoods.

Meanwhile, it's nice to see the NFL, Houston Texans owner Bob McNair both kicking in $500,000 each to start a fund raising money to aid in the relief and recovery efforts being done in Texas post-Hurricane Ike. The Chevron Corporation added in $25,000 and McNair has stated they are encouraging other corprations and businesses to donate to the cause. Corporations don't have to be totally evil, do they? No, I didn't think so. Mostly evil, sure, but not totally.

I've spoken with several friends in the Houston and Galveston area and they are thankfully doing well, just having to deal with minor damages and lack of power and running water in all areas. It's ridiculous how quick Governor Perry and the rest of the government were so quick to pat themselves on the back for not letting Hurricane Ike turn into a Katrina-level disaster and granted emergency preperations and response have been handled very well, but then he goes and says something stupid like the mansion comment.

Not going to turn this into a rant on how Senator John McCain is similar in trumping the success of this past year's troop surge in Iraq at the expense of remembering or even acknowledging the repeated failures of the previous 5 years in this war, not to mention the lies leading us into the war in the first place. Oops, there I go.