If entertainment is what you’re looking for in Texas, one would only need to travel up Highway 290 for a couple of hours to Austin. This week’s bill board feature is Medicaid expansion, which has many around the country, second guessing Governor Rick Perry’s stance on the program.
Most people unfamiliar with Texas politics is under the impression, Texas is the Reddest of the Red states, but on deeper examination, you’d be surprised to discover, Texas suffers from the same diagnoses as Washington D.C. It’s Red in name only, Republican in name only and lastly, Conservative in name only.
Erick Erickson, Red State, reports ‘Rick Perry’s Failure to Lead Leads Texas Closer to Obamacare.’ On the surface, that’s true, but beneath the surface Perry is leading, but in a East Coast direction. Texas Moderate Republicans, like those in Washington, have turned to the wasteful use of theatrics as a means to deem themselves worthy.
Erickson cites a vote earlier this week in favor of expanding the program, as well as, a later change of heart and having that vote rescinded. That’s typical Texas politics and is in no way reflective of Perry’s ability to lead this flock of supposedly Conservative misfits.
Texas House Speaker Joe Straus, leads by special interests, bullying and anything else that will retain his power. In Moderate fashion, he strong arms, step on toes and will get the job done, even if he has to do it the Chicago political way, yet he continues to be re-elected to Speaker.
Perry, once upon a time, was a Democrat who saw the writing on the wall in Texas and as such, grabbed a bucket of paint thinner to remove the Blue, got another bucket of primer and turned himself Red, almost over night. Red on the outside, but Baby Blue on the inside. It’s theatrics with a Conservative twist.
Putting that aside, here’s something else to consider. In 1997, the program CHIP was introduced and Texas debated this program for two years, lost revenue, but finally gave in and accepted the expansion. Typical Texas political.
Consider this, if it takes two years to come around on Obamacare’s expansion, perhaps Obamacare won’t even be around. Perhaps there’s a method to Texas’ madness.
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