Defender Of The Constitution

In spite of his statements in the past that Texas might be better off if it seceded from the United States, The Texan Republican Governor and officially declared presidential candiate, Rick Perry claims to be a real patriotic American and defender of the constitution.
He is all for a constitution that includes a line-item veto for the president or prohibits protective tariffs (free trade!). Or rejects Henry Clay-style federal financing of internal improvements (no stimulus!).

That's Rick Perry’s understanding of the Constitution, but it seems to be a whole lot closer to the Confederate Constitution that it is to anything resembling the Constitution of the United States:

Social Security and Medicare. Rick Perry thinks that Medicare and Social Security are unconstitutional, but America’s Constitution empowers our nation to “lay and collect taxes . . . and provide for the common defense and general welfare of the United States” — a power which unambiguously enables it to enact essential programs such as Social Security and Medicare. The Confederate Constitution only permitted its congress to “lay and collect taxes, duties, imposts, and excises for revenue, necessary to pay the debts, provide for the common defense, and carry on the Government of the Confederate States.” Without the power to “provide for the general welfare,” Medicare and Social Security would be unconstitutional in the Confederacy.

Infrastructure: The U.S. Constitution permits elected officials to build bridges, schools and other internal projects within a state. The Confederate Constitution, however, forbids its congress from “appropriat[ing] money for any internal improvement intended to facilitate commerce.” Such a ban would not only eliminate earmarks, which Perry falsely claims are “an unconstitutional perversion” on page 64 of his book Fed Up!, it would also have forbidden much in the way of economic stimulus — something Perry vehemently opposes.

Presidential Power: In 2006, Perry called for expanding President Bush’s power by granting him a line-item veto enabling him to unilaterally alter federal appropriations. Line-item vetos are unconstitutional under the U.S. Constitution, but the Confederate Constitution provides that the President may “approve any appropriation and disapprove any other appropriation in the same bill.” 
In other words, you can now cast away any lingering doubts you might have had about Rick Perry.

What would America be like under a Rick Perry presidency? Well, if Rick Perry’s Texas is any indication, the country could look forward to 85 mph speed limits, hog hunting from helicopters and a security check “fast-lane” for concealed handgun carriers.

Any minor concerns you might have had about casting a vote for a man who…

drastically cut eduction funding as governor

is not quite sure about that evolution thing which know-nothing scientists keep talking about

believes climate scientists are in it for the money

prays for rain

thinks Medicare is unconstitutional

wants federal income tax scrapped

would work to make abortion illegal in all 50 states

would gives states the right to opt out of Social Security and Medicaid

prays for an end to EPA regulations

wants same-sex marriage made unconstitutional by redrafting the Constitution

So what? On Thursday, in Texas,the ‘pork chopper’ law came into effect !  That’s right, for $500 Texans can now shoot  an unlimited number of 400 pound hogs with semi-automatic rifles from low flying helicopters.  Nice.

I think it’s a fair trade-off.  You get a loud mouth, in your face religious, gay-hating, science-bashing, shit-for-brains president in exchange for the right to shoot animals from helicopters in all 50 states.  It doesn’t get much better than that.  And you can consider those security check fast-lanes for concealed handgun carriers as a bonus gift from President Perry.

In other words, there seems to be a pretty good explanation for why Perry recently published Fed Up!, an anti-government manifesto claiming that pretty much everything that protects ordinary Americans’ ability to live fruitful and productive lives is unconstitutional. He must have been working off the wrong constitution.

"I wouldn't have written this book if I was going to run for president
of The United States"