Strong leaders stand with, probably out in front of, their constituents during tough times.
Think Rudy Giuliani about 10 years ago, and wow, nearly 10 years.
Gov. Rick Perry, though, has been nowhere to be found in Texas during one of the coldest weeks in decades to hit the state.
According to an Associated Press piece, Perry skipped out to California before the sleet hit the fan earlier this week, so he’s missed all the fun of rolling electric blackouts and forced “curtailment” of natural gas supplies. Probably afraid of suffering from a blow-dryer jones.
The AP report stated that Perry stayed “in constant contact with emergency management officials back home,” while those emergency management officials were probably thinking, “Dude, I gotta get off the phone and handle stuff. You enjoy the warmth.”
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So Perry leaves Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst to act in the governor’s stead while Gov. GoodHair takes his act on the road to raise his national profile.
Yes, undoubtedly, the trip had been planned for weeks, perhaps months, but it would have been a welcome gesture for him to have said, “I’m staying home, guys. The state and its people need their boss-man to put up a strong front.”
Inspired by his strength? Didn’t think so.
Bruce Felps owns and operates East Dallas Times, an online community news outlet serving the White Rock Lake area. He wishes he could have taken a trip to California this week.
