Texas Gov. Denies Rumors About Divorce

[Khephra]

AUSTIN, Texas -- Texas Gov. Rick Perry is denying widespread rumors that he and his wife plan to divorce over his alleged infidelity and that he will resign from office.

Political enemies are responsible for "the smear campaign," Perry told the Austin American-Statesman for a story in Friday editions.

The first-term Republican, who was elected in 2002, said Thursday he was forced to respond publicly because the "obvious, orchestrated effort" had reached critical mass, with rumors transmitted by e-mail and on Web sites.

Perry said the rumors "are not correct in any shape, form or fashion."

Anita Perry declined to comment to the newspaper.

more...............

http://www.newsday.com/news/nationworld/nation/wire/sns-ap-texas-governor-rumors,0,4429380.story?coll=sns-ap-nation-headlines

[joshdawg]

1. If he denies all,...

the rumors must be true. Hmmmmmm.

[Khephra]

2. Especially if a Republican wife isn't "standing by her man"

and echoing his comments.

[Demonaut]

16. "any,shape,form or position" would be more accurate.

his wife will spill the beans at her bridge club

[Bandit]

26. That was certainly our reasoning with Saddam

:shrug:

[Judi Lynn]

3. This is hilarious!

Governor Perry speaks out forcefully:

Perry declined to blame a specific source for initiating the rumors, but said he decided to speak out to shine light on what he sees as a dangerous new political trend.

"I don't think a rumor can just get to critical mass by itself," Perry said. "I think you have to have a well thought-out, organized effort to disseminate that kind of information and keep it going day after day after day after day." (snip)

Hmmmmm. Rumors which go on, and on, and on, day after day........ Does that remind anyone of anything from another time? Sure sounds familiar.


President George W. Bush and Governor Rick Perry visit the summer reading program at the George Sanchez Charter School in Houston. President Bush and Governor Perry are reading, "America: A Patriotic Primer" by Lynne Cheney, with the children.

Perry got this deep from reading the compiled thoughts of Lynne Cheney.

[Jivenwail]

4. Governor Goodhair

Don't let the doorknob hit you in the ass on the way out, you putrid little man. Can't wait to hear what Molly Ivins has to say.

[bearfan454]

21. She will tear him a new one.

Big time !

[WonderGrunion]

5. Is he implying that there is

a Vast Left Wing Conspiracy (VLWC) against him.

Leave it to a republican to combine the stupidest words out of both Clinton's mouths (I did not have sex with that woman... & VLWC)

[GOPisEvil]

8. Actually, my bet is a fellow Republican is behind this rumor.

I wouldn't be shocked if it is our esteemed State Comptroller of Public Accounts Carole Keeton McClellan Rylander Strayhorn Cougar Mellencamp (little Scotty McClellan's mommie).

[bearfan454]

22. That very well could be.

We will see.

[anarchy1999]

17. Yes sir, just another ugly bunch of "Right Wing" conspiracy nuts!!

Trying to take "them" down.

Delay "The Bugman" has to go first, then Frist.

Texans, be you native or transplanted, it is time to stand up and take it all back.

No ifs, no ands or buts. It is just, quite simply time. Let's GO!

[Ilsa]

6. Here's the link from Austin AMerican Statesman:

http://www.statesman.com/metrostate/content/metro/03/0305perry.html

Long article about it.

snip
"For almost two months, variations of the rumors have swirled around the Capitol, been repeated among friends across the state, been investigated by reporters from around the nation, been gossiped about in Washington and been posted on Web sites that harbor political ill will toward Republicans in general and Perry in particular."

I can't help but wonder if it was someone in Comptroller Carol Keeton McClellan Rylander Strayhorn's office that started it, though.

[Gman]

9. Has Kay Baily Hutchinson decided if she's running or not?

Last I heard she wouldn't say. Attacking a Republican with a rumor about an alleged affair especially a homosexual affair is classicly GOP. They're softening him up now for the GOP primary in '06.

[Ilsa]

15. I haven't heard anything definitive on KBH yet.

She might not want to tangle with "One Tough Grandma" Carol K.M.R. Strayhorn, who, I suspect, might be able to fight really dirty.

I think KBH is also the mother of two adopted young children. Maybe she wants to spend more time with them.

[Gman]

18. If we absolutely HAVE to have a GOP guv in TX

Carol KMRS is the absolutely least of all the GOP evils. I could at least live with her as guv. Isn't she former mayor of Austin? And she used to be a Democrat. You can't be an anal retentive fundie and get elected mayor of Austin.

I know a good friend of CKRMS who has said all along that she's not the GOP type of person.

[argyl]

28. Wish KBH would run for governor.It would show her stupidity to all.

The Texas governorship is a weak office.The Lt. Gov. has more power than the Gov.The power is in the legislature,which was as the framers of the post Reconstruction Constitution wanted.Something to do with fear of executive(federal)power.Streamlining it has been attempted several times,with little success.Not sure about the number of admendments,but they number over 200.

But back to KBH.Going from US Senator to Texas governor would be a dramatic decrease in power.The difference between a weak governor state such as Texas and a strong governor state such as California is dramatic.I'm reminded of Pete Wilson foregoing Senate reelection in favor of being governor of the most populous state, a strong governor state.That was a trade up in power.

[0007]

7. Rumors, 'eh? What a hoot!

[Bridget Burke]

10. Wonderful!

The story had fallen out of the news; this will kick it back up to the top.

I've really enjoyed seeing Gov. Goodhair featured on the Gossip page at Datalounge.

www.datalounge.com/datalounge/gossip/index.html

[oneighty]

11. Critical mass

another senseless phrase.

180

[Politicub]

12. I just love republican rumors

I hope that you don't mind that I'm going to add a bit of fuel to this fire.

Is Gov. Perry gay?

Could explain why his wife wants a divorce. :crazy:

[NashVegas]

13. Houston Chronicle Link

no registration needed

http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/ssistory.mpl/metropolitan/2434593

[Judi Lynn]

19. Ouch!

Maybe he should have targeted someone else as being responsible for the rumor! From your article:

The governor declined to blame a specific source for initiating the rumors, but had harsh criticism for Texas Democratic Party Chairman Charles Soechting, who referred to them at a Feb. 24 political rally in Houston.

"Yes, I think he crosses the line of everything decent. I think he crosses the line of good behavior," said Perry.

Soechting, told of Perry's accusation, said, "What crosses the line of everything decent is the utter hypocrisy of Rick Perry injecting his mean-spirited politics into everyone else's personal life while insisting his own personal life is off limits.

"What is truly indecent is the state of children's health care, public schools and insurance rates under Perry's regime," Soechting said in a statement issued by the Texas Democratic Party. Voting in the state's primary is Tuesday.
(snip)

Charles Soechting, Chairman, San Marcos

San Marcos attorney Charles Soechting was elected October 25, 2003 to serve out the remaining term of outgoing chair Molly Beth Malcolm as chair of the Texas Democratic Party during a meeting of the State Democratic Executive Committee (SDEC). Soechting was previously the Hays County Democratic Chair and has been the Texas Democratic Party General Counsel for the last two years. Charles Soechting is a fifth generation Texan and a lifelong Democrat.

Yaaaaay! Woo HOOOOOO! :bounce:

[Loki]

14. Ladies and Gentlemen let me introduce the next Governor of Texas

http://www.kinkyfriedman.com/raceguv.html

[northzax]

20. see? it't the Gays again

destroying another good, Christian marriage. First we let them marry, and then the little women will start to get uppity ideas in their heads about not letting their man have a little extra something on the side, and the entire central aspect of american life falls to pieces.

[supernova]

23. Hey wait a minute,

He thinks this is a VLWC? A Dem witchhunt?

We're the gay-friendly party. (We pretend to be anyway). Why would we think it was pointing out something bad by saying Perry might be gay? LOL!

[bearfan454]

24. Kick for reality

.

[Vogon_Glory]

25. Anita and the Bahamas Trip

I don't have a firm opinion about the rumors concerning Governor Blow-Dry's alleged trysts. Texas Governor Perry's campaign fund-paid trip to the Bahamas may only be typical right-wing Texas political skulduggery (Having Grover Norquist along to discuss public school finance is about as reassuring as having a practicing pyromaniac as a fire marshall), but it does remind me of the sorts of "penance" some philandering spouses have to do if they've been caught straying out of the home corral.

[sonias]

27. Enemies in both parties

"Perry declined to point fingers at a particular political foe — and he has some in both parties — but had harsh criticism for Texas Democratic Party Chairman Charles Soechting, who referred to the rumors at a recent political rally." (Statesman article quote)
http://www.statesman.com/metrostate/content/metro/03/0305perry.html?urcm=y
(/snip)

Hey excuse me, but that looks like finger pointing to me when he has harsh criticism for Soechting. My take is this, this thing never ever would have gotten any traction at all, if it didn't start or get flamed by the TX repukes themselves. I agree with GOPisEvil, I think one tough granny is laying the groundwork for a gubernatorial run. She is one tough bitch and perry is going to be road kill by election time.

I support political euthanasia and if the repukes want to take down one of their own, I say let's set the table for their fight. I'm am certainly enjoying watching it.

It's Okay to be Gay either way Guv!!

Sonia

[Bridget Burke]

29. Another story of Love Among the Republicans

(from a wire service, printed in the Houston Chronicle today but no link).

Neil Bush will marry his girlfriend in Houston this weekend. Dubya will be at the ranch but can't make it to the wedding--he's expecting a visit from Presidente Fox.

Dubya probably COULD fly down long enough to witness the ceremony, but may wish to avoid being linked to the happy couple. The results of the paternity tests on Girlfriend's youngest kid have not been announced; born during her first marriage, he's suspected of being a Bush. (Hope he isn't, poor kid.) The stories of Neil's dallying with Asian cuties might come up; or the bare fact that he dumped wife #1 for his current flame. Wife #1 got a house from the marriage--nothing else to show for 20 years & 3 kids. Then there's Beil's business past--crooked savings & loan, plus recent suspect deals involving Ignite! educational software.

Must uphold the sanctity of marriage....