Rick Perry Ambushes Obama In Classy Publicity Stunt

[Themightytom]

http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/20 ... ore-117046

(CNN) - Governor Rick Perry, R-Texas, greeted President Obama at the base of Air Force One in Austin Monday with a letter requesting 1,000 additional National Guard troops be sent to the Texas-Mexico border amid growing drug cartel violence, claiming federal support so far was "insufficient."

Obama was in Texas for two political fund-raisers and a speech on higher education. Perry's opponent for re-election, Democratic gubernatorial candidate Bill White, did not attend any of Obama's events. A Perry spokesman said the governor would meet Obama at the airport in hopes of pressing his concerns on border security.

Perry clapped as the president came down the steps of Air Force One at Bergstrom International Airport in Austin. The two shook hands, with the President grasping Perry on the right arm. The pool report said Perry pulled a letter out of suit pocket, handing it to senior White House adviser Valerie Jarrett walking behind the President. Their conversation lasted just a few seconds.

Perry's office a short time later released a copy of the four-page letter to the president, on immigration and border security issues.

Perry called the deployment of National Guard troops to the border so far "clearly insufficient.” He wrote, "I respectfully but urgently request that the federal government quickly deploy 1,000 troops to the Texas-Mexico border, as well as additional law enforcement tools and technology. We must show the cartels that Washington will no longer tolerate their terrorizing and criminalizing the border region.”

Perry cited recent violence by drug gangs and Mexican cartels in the letter, saying "the need for border security along the Rio Grande should no longer be underestimated by the federal government, Mr. President. An unsecured border is a threat to our national security and to the safety and security of all our citizens."

The Republican Governor also recommended an "expeditious deployment of unmanned aerial vehicles to provide real-time surveillance and intelligence" to law enforcement officers on the border.

Perry repeated an invitation for President Obama, Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano and Defense Secretary Robert Gates to meet with his homeland security staff and local officers.

"Better border security is an issue all Americans can agree on, regardless of political party or ethnic or regional differences", he wrote, "American lives, jobs and safety depend upon a more robust federal commitment to border safety and security".

Aboard Air Force One before Perry's letter was delivered, White House spokesman Bill Burton said, "the president has put more assets on the border to secure the border than has ever previously been there. That includes National Guard troops, technology, things he has done on enforcement. That's something that he is working very hard on."

Playing down the meeting with Perry, Burton said, "you know these tarmac greets with elected officials, Governor Perry will be there. It will probably be a very brief conversation."

But Burton said the White House was willing to discuss border security issues with Perry, noting, "We've been in contact with Governor Perry. I know that our staff has contacted him for meetings and briefings to discuss the matter, and it's something that we will continue to work on with them. Today, the schedule just didn't allow it."

Whaaaaaat the fuck...? I thought Governors could deploy their own national guard?

[General Zod]

Only if the governor declares a state of emergency.

[Themightytom]

Only if the governor declares a state of emergency.

So... if its not an emergency why does he need more...

If my brother in law ::cough cough:: who is from PR by the way.... gets fucking shipped down to Texas so help me...

[Ritterin Sophia]

As much as I dislike Perry, I'd hardly call asking Obama to give permission for him to deploy more soldiers for securing the border against the Mexican cartels an 'ambush'.

[eion]

Someone correct me if I'm wrong, but if the Federal government deploys national guard troops, don't they pay for it, but if a Governor deploys them the State pays for it.

There's your motivation right there, Perry's got a budget crunch and can't fund his publicity stunt himself.

[SirNitram]

As much as I dislike Perry, I'd hardly call asking Obama to give permission for him to deploy more soldiers for securing the border against the Mexican cartels an 'ambush'.

Guy literally just got off a plane. Perry couldn't make a call? PR Stunt.

[Sea Skimmer]

Someone correct me if I'm wrong, but if the Federal government deploys national guard troops, don't they pay for it, but if a Governor deploys them the State pays for it.

There's your motivation right there, Perry's got a budget crunch and can't fund his publicity stunt himself.

That is correct, however equally important is the fact that POTUS can simply order the National Guard back to base if he doesn’t like what they are doing. Since Obama is suing Arizona on some dubious grounds of soul federal authority to enforce immigration laws, it would only be rational and consistent if he countermanded any state order to deploy the National Guard to the boarder too. Of course I will never count on Obama to be rational or consistent, since if we are consistent his position on the Arizona Immigration Law would also equate to states also being banned from enforcing federal drug and gun control laws. And well, all other federal law too.

[Ritterin Sophia]

Guy literally just got off a plane. Perry couldn't make a call? PR Stunt.

How is that a PR stunt? He showed up to the nominal leader of the nation's arrival to his state, presented a letter asking politely for the President to consider discussing with him the matters of the unrest in Mexico and how to prevent that unrest from spilling over the border. If he wanted a PR stunt he could've written a strongly worded demand that Obama do something about it.

[eion]

... and then released the letter to the press, forcing Obama either to concede and appear weak, or refuse and appear imperious and detached.

The gentlemanly thing to do would be to provide the President with the written request, and then keep it private.

[Dalton]

Guy literally just got off a plane. Perry couldn't make a call? PR Stunt.

How is that a PR stunt? He showed up to the nominal leader of the nation's arrival to his state, presented a letter asking politely for the President to consider discussing with him the matters of the unrest in Mexico and how to prevent that unrest from spilling over the border. If he wanted a PR stunt he could've written a strongly worded demand that Obama do something about it.

The letter was delivered personally, by the governor and not one of his aides, in front of cameras and reporters, followed by an official press release. It's a fucking PR stunt, carefully designed to take full advantage of the media presence, including photo opportunities (see article).

[Alphawolf55]

... and then released the letter to the press, forcing Obama either to concede and appear weak, or refuse and appear imperious and detached.

The gentlemanly thing to do would be to provide the President with the written request, and then keep it private.

I agree that this is a publicity stunt, but your solution isn't really the right one either since in a democracy it's legitimate that if a Governor makes a request of the President that the knowledge of that request and the Presidents decision is made to the public.

[Themightytom]

... and then released the letter to the press, forcing Obama either to concede and appear weak, or refuse and appear imperious and detached.

The gentlemanly thing to do would be to provide the President with the written request, and then keep it private.

I agree that this is a publicity stunt,but your solution isn't really the right one either since in a democracy it's legitimate that if a Governor makes a request of the President that the knowledge of that request and the Presidents decision is made to the public.

Wow you're just full of shit. There's such a thing as professional courtesy. If the governor is making a formal request, fine, do it through regular channels, if he's making a personal plea, do it in person, don't sandbag him. You already conceded this was a publicity stunt don't try to dress it in legitimacy.

[General Zod]

... and then released the letter to the press, forcing Obama either to concede and appear weak, or refuse and appear imperious and detached.

The gentlemanly thing to do would be to provide the President with the written request, and then keep it private.

I agree that this is a publicity stunt, but your solution isn't really the right one either since in a democracy it's legitimate that if a Governor makes a request of the President that the knowledge of that request and the Presidents decision is made to the public.

Most governors just issue a press release of their requests, instead of having a full compliment of reporters on hand when they make them.

[Alphawolf55]

... and then released the letter to the press, forcing Obama either to concede and appear weak, or refuse and appear imperious and detached.

The gentlemanly thing to do would be to provide the President with the written request, and then keep it private.

I agree that this is a publicity stunt,but your solution isn't really the right one either since in a democracy it's legitimate that if a Governor makes a request of the President that the knowledge of that request and the Presidents decision is made to the public.

Wow you're just full of shit. There's such a thing as professional courtesy. If the governor is making a formal request, fine, do it through regular channels, if he's making a personal plea, do it in person, don't sandbag him. You already conceded this was a publicity stunt don't try to dress it in legitimacy.

Yeah because I'm totally defending what he did and not just disagreeing specifically with Eion when he says that the information should be kept strictly private.

[eion]

There's no law requiring a private request to be released at the time it is made. If that was the case, no counselor of the President would ever offer any advice if every single action they recommended would be announced at the press briefing.

You tell the President what you think he should do, or what you want him to do, PRIVATLY. If he agrees with your action, fine, if not, ask again.

It was a stunt, and the way you know it is that the situation is win/win for Perry. If the President agrees, then Perry looks strong and the President looks week. If he refuses, then Perry looks anti-federal government and Obama looks pro-illegal immigration, soft on crime, ant-Texas, etc. In fact, it's actually win/win-more.

[LMSx]

Isn't the violence on the US side of the border surprisingly low? I heard there was a remarkably safe US city just on the opposite shore of the Rio Grande from a total warzone city owned by the cartels. Does Rick Perry's complaint have any support in statistics, not just anecdotes?

[HarrionGreyjoy]

There's been a noticeable uptick in drug-related crime in El Paso, at least; hardly as dramatic as Perry makes it sound, though.

Then again, he IS a grandstanding asshat.

[Themightytom]

... and then released the letter to the press, forcing Obama either to concede and appear weak, or refuse and appear imperious and detached.

The gentlemanly thing to do would be to provide the President with the written request, and then keep it private.

I agree that this is a publicity stunt,but your solution isn't really the right one either since in a democracy it's legitimate that if a Governor makes a request of the President that the knowledge of that request and the Presidents decision is made to the public.

Wow you're just full of shit. There's such a thing as professional courtesy. If the governor is making a formal request, fine, do it through regular channels, if he's making a personal plea, do it in person, don't sandbag him. You already conceded this was a publicity stunt don't try to dress it in legitimacy.

Yeah because I'm totally defending what he did and not just disagreeing specifically with Eion when he says that the information should be kept strictly private.

It reads as passive aggressive resistance, specifically because you made a blanket claim that having a democracy requires public awareness of all communication between President and Governor.

Did you want to elaborate on how and why you came to this belief or just leave the implication out there that someone's acting undemocratic

[HamsterViking]

This is utter bullshit. I live in South Texas, and I can tell you for a fact that the violence in Mexico almost never spills over here. I would say never, but there could be stuff going on that I just don't hear about.

I really hope we can get rid of Perry.

[Alphawolf55]

It reads as passive aggressive resistance, specifically because you made a blanket claim that having a democracy requires public awareness of all communication between President and Governor. Did you want to elaborate on how and why you came to this belief or just leave the implication out there that someone's acting undemocratic .

Did you actually read my original comment? The actual communication between leaders is irrelevant. If Governor Perry had called Obama's mom fat that's irrelevant to a democracy. What relevant to a democracy though is that when a Governor makes a specific request on a specific issue to the President, that the people know the President's decision about that request since it informs people how the President will act on similiar issues in the future.

Democracy requires people to know the candidates positions on issues and knowing how they acted in office gives the best idea on how they'll act in the future.

[General Zod]

It reads as passive aggressive resistance, specifically because you made a blanket claim that having a democracy requires public awareness of all communication between President and Governor. Did you want to elaborate on how and why you came to this belief or just leave the implication out there that someone's acting undemocratic .

Did you actually read my original comment? The actual communication between leaders is irrelevant. If Governor Perry had called Obama's mom fat that's irrelevant to a democracy. What relevant to a democracy though is that when a Governor makes a specific request on a specific issue to the President, that the people know the President's decision about that request since it informs people how the President will act on similiar issues in the future.

Democracy requires people to know the candidates positions on issues and knowing how they acted in office gives the best idea on how they'll act in the future.

None of those things require a press corp follow a governor to each and every request.

[Alphawolf55]

And yet no where did I claim it does. Try reading for a change.

[General Zod]

And yet no where did I claim it does. Try reading for a change.

it's legitimate that if a Governor makes a request of the President that the knowledge of that request and the Presidents decision is made to the public.

Wanna try that again? What part of Perry's tactics were "legitimate"? Unless you reasonably expect all Presidential decisions to be made on the spot like Perry was trying for. If you weren't defending Perry, then you were certainly making a mountain out of a very tiny molehill.

[Alphawolf55]

Nope, don't need to try again because no where in that statement did I say Perry's tactics were alright, again learn to read.