39 << 100

There's not a whole lot more in this Clay Robison piece on the halfway mark of the 80th Lege than we'd already gotten from Paul Burka, but there is one thing worth highlighting:

[S]everal of Gov. Perry's priorities are in deep trouble, even among fellow Republicans, and the governor didn't help his cause by leaving last week on an eight-day economic development trip to the Middle East.

[...]

Spokesman Robert Black said Perry didn't leave the country to seek refuge from his detractors.

"Even during the critical 140 days of a legislative session, a governor has other duties and responsibilities that require attention," he said.

But that hasn't impressed the governor's detractors.

"He (Perry) has made some bad political moves," said Talton, noting that some of the strongest opposition to the cervical cancer vaccine and the Trans-Texas Corridor has come from conservative Republicans.

"When the relationship is on the rocks, it isn't the best time to leave," added Rep. Mike Villarreal, D-San Antonio.

Rep. Richard Raymond, D-Laredo, said Perry's problems stem largely from the fact that he was re-elected in November with only 39 percent of the vote in a five-candidate field.

"I think that's what you're seeing. The support for him is not strong," he said.

No matter what Perry may have said before the election, he's nobody's 100 percent Governor. Nobody fears him, far fewer people respect him, and nobody seems particularly inclined to help him out. Whatever you think this session has been, I think the 81st Lege will be even more so, especially if the Democrats continue their gains in the House. Perry may think he's running again in 2010, but he won't have a clear shot at it. Nobody is going to be talked out of taking him on in the primary, that's for sure. Like it or not, that campaign has already begun. It's just a question of how big the field is by the time the filing deadline passes.

Posted by Charles Kuffner on March 18, 2007 to Show Business for Ugly People