Home > Alex Massie

Tuesday 22 May 2012

Rick Perry: Texas Gaullist

Wednesday, 7th September 2011

I'm sure Karl Rove is, on this at least, correct: Rick Perry's book will cause him problems for as long as he remains in the race for the Republican nomination. To put it gently, few Americans believe that Social Security and many other federal programmes are unconstitutional; even fewer are likely to vote for a candidate who was on record, as recently as last year, suspecting that they might be and that these matters were properly the purview of the 50 states, not Washington.

So it will be interesting to see how, if at all, Perry is attacked in tonight's debate*. There is no shortage of large-bore ammunition. Against that, a book titled Fed Up! pretty accurately captures the mood in the United States even if disgruntled voters might differ from Perry on any number of specific issues. On the larger question of Happy vs Mad As Hell he may be closer than the President to the people.

Nevertheless, there's enough in Perry's record to annoy just about every part of the Republican coalition. How could there not be given that Governor Perry has spent so little time as an actual Republican? Let me explain. Perry was once a Democrat but that don't matter much; he was a Texas Democrat and we all know that's a different breed. No, the thing is that for the last decade Perry has, effectively, been a Texas nationalist.

If you think of Perry in this light then many of the apparent contradictions in his record begin to fit together. And it makes a difference that he's the Governor of Texas, not any other state. Perhaps only the Governor of Alaska and the Mayor of New York City occupy offices that are so self-contained. That is, they are the places that have an identity - and a swagger - that sets them apart from the rest of the United States. Each, in their very different ways, could plausibly be thought of as an independent state (or state of mind) in ways that, say, Kansas or Tennessee do not quite reach.

So when Perry jokes about seceding from the Union, he's making a statement about Texas just as much as he is complaining about Washington. Similarly, when he talks about repealing the 17th Amendment (ie, the direct election of Senators) he's talking about something that a) won't happen but b) if it did would tie the Senate still closer to the interests of the 50 states. That is, it would reassert the primacy of a long-lost federalism that, implicitly but also substantively, makes the states Top Dogs and restricts Washington to certain enumerated powers. Again, this is less a practical policy and more an expression of state-based, Texas-sized sentiment.

Remember too that Texas has to all intents and purposes become a one-party state and the Governor's job is to be head of the Texas Party. Think of him - if you can wrap your mind around the comparison - as a Texan kind of Eamon de Valera. If that's too strange for you then consider Perry as a Texas Gaullist. All governors have something of this, of course, but the particulars of Texan history and identity make it a more powerful force in Austin than such small-n nationalism can ever be in ~~Knoxville~~ Nashville [edit] or Harrisburg or Olympia. L'etat, c'est moi and all that.

That helps explain - as Erica Grieder shows - why Perry can be a social conservative but take a risk on the HPV vaccine. That's why he can seem to share some aspects of the Tea Party agenda while also acting as a standard corporatist Governor. It's why he can blast Washington but accept great dollops of Federal largesse. It's why - because it is Good for Texas - he can be more relaxed about immigration than most (though not quite all) Republicans who aspire to national office. Similarly, he can decry global warming but be a booster for renewable energy because, again, this is Good for Texas.

It's why, in fact, Perry's campaign is mainly the result of a moment of opportunity rather than the product of any long-held aspiration for national office. (This latter aspect, mind you, makes one wonder how effectively he can make the leap from Texas, big place though it is, to the continental stage.)

Again, there's plenty here to antagonise most parts of the conservative coalition. But if the United States and France are more alike than they often like to admit then Texas is, if you like, the France of the United States. This is not a matter or policy or even, necessarily, of outcomes, but a question of a state of mind and, consequently, a certain idea of Texas. This seems reflected in their governor's contradictions but I suggest Rick Perry makes plenty of sense if you view him as a Texas Gaullist. Though, then again, it might make him too French to be the nominee...

*UK readers or anyone else without access to MSNBC may be interested to know that Politico will be live-streaming the debate.

Filed under: 2012 (167 more articles) , Americana (479 more articles) , France (246 more articles) , GOP (332 more articles) , Rick Perry (48 more articles)

Previous Back to Alex Massie Next

Blogs: Martin Bright | Susan Hill | Melanie Phillips | Coffee House | Faith Based

Actions: Print this article | Email to a friend | Permalink | Comments (12)

Post this entry to: del.icio.us | Digg | Newsvine | NowPublic | Reddit

Post comment

Craig Strachan

September 7th, 2011 8:49pm Report this comment

"Think of him - if you can wrap your mind around the comparison - as a Texan kind of Eamon de Valera"

Not such a bad comparison. De Valera was half-Latino, as is Texas!

DavidDP

September 7th, 2011 10:32pm Report this comment

It's amusing to see him demanding federal aid though.

Rhoda Klapp

September 8th, 2011 9:03am Report this comment

I ought to like Perry. On paper, he is my kind of coandidate. But I don't like him. There's something about him which raises the hackles at a visceral level, something about the square-jawed looks and the ready smile. Of course, this is not the way one decides in theory, but in pracrice it pretty much is. I look at him and I see Blair, or Cameron, somebody who is willing to adopt any position because it looks good, to this audience, today.

(I like Cain. Yes, I know he is not credible, but I hope he can get selected as VP or get a cabinet post)

An interesting look at the debate and the coverage on Pournelle today. You may think Jerry Pournelle is just a science-fiction writer, but he is an old-school GOP activist, so agree with him or not his opinions are interesting.

ConservativeCabbie

September 8th, 2011 10:07am Report this comment

Rhoda

I'm with you on Perry, finding it very hard to get interested in his candidacy. For me though he makes me think of bad old republicanism - Good ol' boys gathered in the country club, pinching girls bottoms and smoking cigars whilst handling envelopes of cash. No evidence for it, that's just what he puts me in mind of. Maybe it's the Texas connection and I keep thinking about JR.

As you know, I'm a Palin fan and whilst I don't think she can be elected, my remaining hope is that she endorses Perry, delivers him her not insignificant support and puts him over the top and gets energy secretary or secretary of the interior. A few heads will explode if Palin is in charge of oil and energy or the environment. That's my remaining hope short of Palin starting her own party.

Helen

September 8th, 2011 1:45pm Report this comment

Not to be picky, but even in Texas we know that Nashville is the capital of Tennessee.

RegularJoe

September 8th, 2011 1:47pm Report this comment

DavidDP >> It's amusing to see him demanding federal aid though.

I hear this from many people, insinuating it makes him a hypocrite. Bull. What Perry wants is for Texas to opt out of a lot of BOTH the paying AND the collecting; it's unreasonable to expect them to opt out of collecting before they're allowed to opt out of paying. It's like being stuck in a time-share; you may want out, but as long as you still have to make your payments you're going to keep using your week.

More Liberty

September 8th, 2011 3:12pm Report this comment

Gov Perry, who has done a good job as a state governor, is just another status quo, Bilderberg Group approved establishment candidate that was Al Gore's Texas campaign manager in '00. Romney is just another leftie/RINO - another Obama. The media is simply trying to make the race out to be between liberal Romney, and liberal neocon Perry. They are scared of Ron Paul, as his actual record is consistent to what he says, unlike the idiot Obama, Bush, Romney or Perry. Perry, like Bush and Obama, will do nothing but continue illegal wars, bailouts of huge banks and squash individual liberty at every turn.

ellens

September 8th, 2011 3:24pm Report this comment

If Perry is willing to try to run this country in a way that is Good for America and especially for the American economy then I am all for him. Who cares about his 'persona'? It is time to vote for substance over style. Perry, or any of the other GOPers have better ideas on the economy than Obama.

Fred Taylorf

September 8th, 2011 3:35pm Report this comment

I see "RegularJoe" sees fit to compare the United States of America to a timeshare. Now that's a country worth fighting and dying for, don't you think?

RegularJoe

September 8th, 2011 6:20pm Report this comment

Fred T, please read more carefully. I am comparing the lousy deal that is big daddy government with a timeshare. Our oft-ignored constitution, and the mostly-forgotten rule of law is worth fighting and dying for. A government that has to grope me before I get on an airplane, not so much.

Fred Taylor

September 8th, 2011 10:38pm Report this comment

How does "big daddy government" (whatever exactly that is)resemble a timeshare? Please explain. You can only rent the government a couple of weeks a year? It's cheaper in the winter than the summer? I did read your post carefully. There was no indication of this interpretation of things.

I ask as someone who has serious doubts about President Obama, is a profound admirer of President Reagan, and who considers all these wannabes such as Perry pathetic historically ignorant losers who have turned the perfectly decent and rational Republican Party of earlier days into a bizarre cult.

As for groping you before you get on an airplane, what on earth are you talking about? Is this something to do with Big Daddy Government or, as I'm inclined to believe, with the continuing threat from terrorists? If you don't want that, travel by car or bus. There are people out there trying to kill us. Republican or Democrat, any government (sadly) would feel constrained to keep up airport searches while the threat of suicide bombers continues. You want to get on your own plane, on your own, you can go without being searched. You get on a plane with me, you get searched.

RegularJoe

September 9th, 2011 3:50pm Report this comment

Fred T,
Our current level of government is "like a timeshare" in that a lot of people buy timeshares thinking only about the advantages (as people have voted for big government thinking only of the benefits), then want out when they discover the costs are too high for the benefit. They may still love the PLACE, they just don't like the DEAL -- they want out, but can't get out. They want out of their timeshare (as many of us want out of the current paternalistic government paradigm -- which is what "Big Daddy" government means; you can look up paternalism if you're not familiar with the term); but until they DO get out of it they continue to have to pay the price (as those of us who are stuck in the paternalistic government of today are paying the price for it). But, as long as our timeshare owner is PAYING that price, he will continue to take the BENEFIT by using the property (as we continue to accept the benefit of paternalistic government, as long as we're paying for it).

I don't really think this was such a tough analogy.

As for the groping, I've flown exactly once since 9/11, because I refuse to submit to the ridiculous TSA rules. I drive a half-dozen trips per year of more than 1500 miles round trip, out of principle. It would be one thing if the invasive searches have been effective; but they haven't been. The reason we haven't had planes blown out of the sky is because those who have attempted to do so were thwarted by other passengers. The authorities, for all of their x-rays and molestation, haven't found anything but a few pairs of fingernail clippers, while high explosives -- again and again -- get smuggled on board airplanes.

One final word: Reagan said that too often government doesn't SOLVE problems; government IS the problem. He and Perry (and I) would be pretty much in agreement on that.

Post comment