Gov. Rick Perry a no-show at Bastrop wildfire site.

[Lone_Star_Dem]

Normally I wouldn't inflict this stuff on you folks here. It's bad enough having to deal with it on a daily basis in my life, don't ya know. However, since Perry has decided to shine a national spotlight on his actions, and since we're all political here, I think this is relevant GD discussion. You just may be able to use this to catch the asshat in a lie later on.

Perry a no-show in Bastrop

BASTROP, Texas (KXAN) - Gov. Rick Perry canceled a walk-through of destroyed Bastrop neighborhoods Saturday afternoon and then was a no-show a press conference where residents and media waited.

His press secretary, Allison Castle, was peppered with questions by media and residents. Castle said logistial issues and a late change in the location were factors in the governor's absence.

"I don't know what to think," said Frans Hendricks, a business owner who lost his home and chocolate business in the Bastrop fire.

The anger and confusion of residents overshadowed the good news that FEMA officials arrived and as of Saturday, the fire is 50% contained.

http://www.kxan.com/dpp/news/texas/perry-a-no-show-in-bastrop

My guess on the actual reason, he probably had a hair appointment.

[rurallib]

1. Ought of curiosity - is smoke really bad in Austin?

I am curious what kind of effect it would have on the football game and the crowd.
Just looked at the temp down there and it is 90 - wow.

[rdking647]

2. its not bad today at all.

it was bad earlier in the week. but its been much better since then.
i was in bastrop delivering emergency pet food supplies on wednesday. in the morning the smoke was horrendous. I actually needed my asthma inhaler and I never need it. It was like driving though fog. But by the afternoon id had cleared up. and hasnt been bad since.
If you look at the skyline from my house its a little hazy bu thats about it

[spanone]

3. hey, he's a busy guy making gubmint 'inconsequential' in our lives

[liberal N proud]

4. He might have to explain why he cut the fire fighting budget

[Lone_Star_Dem]

6. Not in Texas. Dewhurst is next in line to be Governor here if all goes according to their plan.

Perry is old news here on a local, state, political level. The only reckoning may be on a national level. I don't know if Republicans care that much about that sort of thing though. They're an odd breed of people.

[GreatCaesarsGhost]

5. Galileo didn't always show up at press conferences either.

[K8-EEE]

7. Maybe the Catholic Church has him under house arrest!

bwaaaa hahahah!

[Politicalboi]

8. Since cutting the firemen budget

He probably thought they would all die, so who is he showing up for again? And are there any corn dogs there?

[Historic NY]

9. some bird dog probably knows what important assignment he was on...

[cutlassmama]

10. didn't want smoke to get in his hairdo

[txwhitedove]

11. He's an ass and will never be President. Meanwhile, yes the air quality is

bad here in Houston due to fires. There are many other wildfires in Texas besides the Bastrop fire. Just north of Houston a tri-county fire has burned over 22,000 acres (Montgomery/Waller/Grimes). My boss's ex-husband lost his home Friday. My grandson's other grandmother was evacuated a week ago and is sheltering in College Station with friends, relatives and her 16-show dogs. Montgomery County issued face masks because the air is so bad. So, you'd think after this has gone on so long, Perry would show his concerned face somewhere here, right?

http://www.click2houston.com/news/29128410/detail.html

[Gman]

12. From the Texas Secretary of State's office in last year's gubernatorial election

Bastrop County
Rick Perry	REP	9,426	49.68%
Bill White	DEM	8,587	45.25%

Bastrop County didn't go very heavily for Perry. that may well be why he doesn't give a rat's ass. They're vindictive like that.

[Missy Vixen]

13. According to a woman I spoke with yesterday

There may be residents of Bastrop that are not rich. Of course Perry doesn't care.

She lived there most of her life before moving to Seattle a few years ago. She cried when she told me their former house was gone, her son's house was gone, her sister lost her home in Katrina and moved to Bastrop - guess what? Her house is gone, too.

I can only hope there is a toasty corner of Hell for those who believe their own agendas are more important than those who desperately need a helping hand, and Mr. Agenda has something much more critical on his plate, like running for President.