Thursday Roundup: Going National

Rick Perry's hilarity has made it all the way to the Colbert Nation. Last night's Word: Bad Medicine.

I am an unabashed fan of good AltWeekly writing, because that's where I got my start in writing professionally about politics. Texas has its share of AltWeeklies - Texas Observer is classified as such, and it also encompasses the Dallas Observer and the Austin Chronicle. I was pleased to see some political reporting get the lead in this week's Fort Worth Weekly. The writing by Dave McNeely is pretty crisp, and the examination of Perry's latest activities is exhaustive in a way that you usually can't get in a paper that isn't published 7 days a week.

Man, it seems like this is the Rick Perry Show lately, but people keep making good points about what he's doing. This editorial from the San Antonio Express-News wonders why his public relations machine has been so terrible since the session started, and I think the question is worth asking. Perry's a pro, and there is likely very little that he does without some severe consideration. So it is all the more puzzling that the PR has seemed so out of whack lately.

If you'll remember, a few weeks ago a bill was entered that would move the Texas primary elections up from March to February 5. Today there are signs that Republican grassroots and party organizations around the state are supportive of the idea, and why not? A primary that matters raises the profile of state and county party officials significantly, especially considering that Texas is considered to be a foregone Republican conclusion in a general election.

Speaking of bills, the state Senate voted yesterday to give itself the ability to get around the constitutional spending cap. Most Republicans voted for it, save for Dan Patrick and Jane Nelson. Every Democrat voted against it except for Eddie Lucio. Eliot Shapleigh, of El Paso, wondered why anyone feels the need to make it okay to break the spending cap before any budget deliberations have begun — they don't even know what they will be spending money on yet.

Scooter Libby went farther down the spiral yesterday when the presiding judge admonished Libby's defense team for misleading him. The judge was certain that Libby was going to take the stand, largely based on what the defense counsel said, and upon learning that I. Lewis would not be testifying, accused his lawyers of "playing games with the system." As a result, the judge disallowed some evidence that may have helped Libby's case in the long run.

President Bush picked a public fight with Joint Chiefs Chairman Peter Pace by saying that he is certain of Iran's nefarious involvement in Iraq. Bush argues that it doesn't matter if the Iranian government is actively involved in the transport of weaponry to Iraq as was initially claimed. What does matter, apparently, is that stuff from Iran is showing up at all.

Also, did anyone else see how weird Bush's press conference was yesterday? If you have time, you should read the transcript or watch the video. It's just very bizarre. The Politico does pick up a shout out from David Gregory, so something positive came from it.