Rick Perry Stretches the Truth? Nooooooo….
So, to justify calling up the Texas National Guard, Rick Perry is telling everybody that “criminal aliens” have been charged with 642,000 crimes in Texas.
That sounds just awful, doesn’t it? But, Rick Perry left out some stuff.
1. Crimes is rather a broad thing. That number includes minor class B misdemeanors — minor graffiti and first-offense drunken driving.
2. These crimes were not all committed by people who crossed the border illegally. To make things seem dire, Perry throws in the 40% of those here illegally because they have overstayed their visas.
3. That number covers a 10 year period.
4. According to the Texas Department of Pubic Safety …
More than 8 percent of the total arrests per month are foreign nationals, regardless of immigration status,” it said of the period between January 2012 and July 2014.
That actually compares favorably with the general population. In 2012, noncitizens made up 11 percent of Texas’ population, so they were arrested at a lower rate than Texans as a whole.
In short, someone who is here legally is more likely to commit a crime than someone who is here illegally.
5. While there are no specific crime rates only for those who cross the border, we do know that the recent influx of unaccompanied children has not caused crime to increase along the border.
State Rep. Robert Guerra is a Democrat who represents Hidalgo County — the scene of the heaviest influx of Central Americans. In preparation for an interview Thursday, he called the heads of all of the county’s police agencies, who said crime either is the same or down.
Guerra said Perry’s inaccurate claims about border violence do material harm to border cities that have lower crime rates than most Texas communities.
Oh, so what would be Rick Perry’s reason for wanting to hurt economic growth along the border? Because they are all Democrats?
Look, I’m not saying that Rick Perry fudged on the truth maliciously to make himself look good, but … oh hell, that’s exactly what I’m saying.
He’s a sumbitch, y’all.
I love the shadow of Goofy. And I love that you keep pointing out Perry’s lies. What I think the biggest crime right now is Perry swiping twelve million dollars a month from Texans for guys dressed up in SWAT outfits to stand along the border.
1He is, indeed, a lying sumbitch! All republicans know how easy it is to make statistics lie in whatever direction they choose. Lying is one of the only things Perry is good at — and he obviously isn’t even very good at that.
2Yeah, yeah, pRick! And rain makes applesauce! Used cars you cannot sell, sez Yoda.
3“He’s a sumbitch, y’all.”
Yes, we know!!
4How many crimes (felonies) have been committed by Canadian Justin Bieber? Where is the justice dept on that one?
5Corinne Sabo, a big touché and where is the justice dept on on the crimes committed by Congress varmints, pRick & other GOP pals?
The children are dining on the generous charitable provisions at a rate of approximately $1.09 per meal. We’ve seen the expense accounts of politicians; they’re unlikely to eat a steak dinner costing less than $109.00. If the pols want to continue complaining, we can move on to a discussion of their bar tabs.
Yeah grumpy McCain, I mean you, too. Can’t even accurately count the number of houses you own, but no food and shelter for children. McShame on you.
6If Gov “Cojones de Acero” is going to call up 1000 Guardsmen he has to conjure up a fierce enemy. And everybody knows 1 Texan = 642 of Them
7And don’t forget Perry is not gay,not at all,not even wearing that ridiculous looking hat. If we talk about gay Perry,it is the one in France,Europe,not the fearless leader of Texass.
8Almost forgot. Hi,Deb and others.
9Rick Perry is telling everybody that “criminal aliens” have been charged with 642,000 crimes in Texas.
I’m going to tell everyone Rick Perry has told 642,000 lies in Texas. Of course it depends on whether you include lies on the telephone to out-of-state callers, lies in airplanes (over Texas, but not in Texas) and the time period we are talking about, but I’m betting my number is still more accurate than his.
10I know this is a bit off topic, but it’s related to “immigrants.” Or, rather, those perceived as such.
11I just spent four days in San Antonio. I haven’t been there for over 20 years. I think all I ever did when I was there was visit the Alamo and go on the river boat. But this time I did two things that were beautiful, inspiring, eye-opening.
First we went to the Mission de San Juan. The mission itself is a great place, but what was awesome was the film shown in the visitor’s center. Those of you who grew up in Texas, do you remember learning about the native tribes that were here when the conquistadors came? And how they were such great stewards of the land? I don’t. The film tells the story. It was marvelous.
The second thing was the light show at the Cathedral San Fernando. It tells the story of ALL the people who built Texas. Completely beautiful!
So…the point of this is although I knew the population of Texas was and is very diverse, I have never had it presented it to me in such a vivid way. I wish *everyone* could experience what I did.
I now think Rick Perry and his ilk are even more despicable. Why is it so impossible to celebrate our differences and how they work to shape a great society?
Noncitizens “were arrested at a lower rate than Texans as a whole.”
Sounds like Perry should send the TX Guard to keep an eye on the Anglos. The ones in the State House would be my place to start.
What is with the “Perry’s not gay at all” thing every time? Are you saying it would be nasty if he were? I assume you’re just pointing out another potential hypocrite, but it may be a little out of hand, folks. For me at least it’s gotten old.
12@Jan, I really appreciate your post, since what you said explains why I moved to San Antonio when I retired after working for 30+ year in Los Angeles.
131000 National Guardsmen my a$$. Send one Ranger. There’s only one border.
14Micr, I’ll buy the bus ticket, if we give “Ranger” pRick his dream of patrolling the border, alone. With the help of the wonderful ladies at The World’s Most Dangerous Beauty Salon, Inc., we could keep governor play actor supplied with hats, too.
One “man” and a thousand hats should be enough shiny objects to divert pRick from further damage.
15Rick Perry is a conservative. That means he will piss on your head and then try and tell you that it’s raining. In conservatism, this is not a bug. It’s a feature.
16“1000 National Guardsmen my a$$. Send one Ranger. There’s only one border.”
You’re not thinking one Ranger — chuck Norris, Texas Ranger — are you? That would really screw things up.
17@ montag – Captain Queeg would click his steel bearings together when he got stressed. Two nut cases playing with their balls.
18Rhea-the not gay comment was for a friend/visitor from another blog who had commented on Perry’s hat. I acknowledged her in my second post. She is a big fan of JJs and is an ordained minister,I believe. My apologies if I offended your sensibilities. I cannot say with any certainty that it won’t happen again. 🙂
19If Perry’s crime stats were true it would still make no sense to send the Guard to the border. The Guard does not have the power to arrest and enforce. He might as well send the Boy Scouts.
20e platypus, my comment about the “not gay” stuff wasn’t directed at you specifically but the crew generally — I haven’t kept track, but it seems to come up almost every time Perry’s mentioned. Enough may be enough with that joke, but it’s JJ’s call.
21What amazes me is that anyone, anywhere, still pays any attention to what Rick Perry says. I don’t. It’s a waste of time.
22It’s a narrative folks. When you can’t find facts to support your narrative you make them up. Conservatives have to keep selling the “dangerous immigrants” narrative anyway they can. It is the downside of having some shame for progressives. Conservatives will relentlessly peddle garbage until it begins to look like sound policy.
23@Rhea……..I agree with you that the comment “not gay”, or its equivalent “at least he’s not gay” has become very tiresome indeed. It’s also insulting to the gay population. How many times, when a congresscritter is caught with someone else’s wife, do we hear “at least it wasn’t a man”. You may not think you are insulting gay people, but as a gay man, I assure you that you are. It’s time to put that nonsense to rest. Thank you Rhea for your input.
24@W. C. Peterson:
25I was thinking of Captain Bill McDonald, around whom the “One Riot, One Ranger” legend lived.