Bachmann won't back down

You can look at Michelle Bachmann's countless mistakes as petty. Or, if you're like me, you can view these flubs as indicators that she isn't up for the challenge of the campaign trail, let alone the presidency. She can't even admit to a mistake, which is usually a sign of low character and the inability to improve.

Less-than-sharp people tend to surround themselves with even dumber people. And Bachmann's fact-checking crew must rank right at the bottom of the intellectual scale. I sure wouldn't want her choosing a cabinet. You and I can afford the occasional flub or bad advisers. Presidents can't.

The latest error was in getting the anniversary of Elvis Presley's death confused with his birthday. She did it in grand, over-the-top Bachmann style at a rally on Tuesday.

I also noted that Bachmann has stopped using a Tom Petty song at her campaign events. You see, like most (non-country) musicians, Petty doesn't agree with Bachmann or anyone on the far right and has asked her to stop playing his music to promote herself.

Creative types, such as Petty, Bruce Springsteen and others, don't want to be associated with the lunatics on the GOP fringe. Yet, these right-wingers keep using the music of our best creative songwriters to pump up their political rallies. The problem is, creative people tend to loathe everything Republicans stand for these days, leaving candidates only the music of country stars or dead musicians to use as theme music.

I find it interesting that creative folks -- musicians, actors, poets, painters, etc. -- tend to shy away from the political right. With the exception of Ted Nugent, I can't think of a popular rock 'n' roll act that would support a Bachmann, Rick Perry or Sarah Palin. Although I do wonder where ZZ Top stands on Perry? You know, the whole Texas thing.

Our most thought-provoking, substantive songwriters have almost always favored Democratic principles, and so have many college professors, journalists and other thinking, introspective people. I'm not claiming that you can't be a smart, feeling person and be Republican. I am just saying that it's getting harder because of the character decay and extreme political shift in the party.

I am not sure where Elvis would stand on Bachmann politically, but I am guessing "the king" is looking down with a bit of what many of us feel about politics these days -- total disbelief and disgust.

Keep this cowboy away from D.C.

Gov. Rick Perry scares me.

Why?

Well, besides being another Republican governor from Texas (the last one in the White House didn't work out too well), he's the only candidate who could actually beat President Obama in 2012. And that would be a disaster for America.

You see, Perry has one very big gun in his arsenal. He can point to data that supports his claim for having created jobs in Texas -- lots of jobs -- during rough times. That one surface fact, without further examination, could lead Americans to believe that Perry is the solution to our biggest problem, which remains high unemployment.

Perry could become a bumper-sticker candidate for bumper-sticker voters, a champion of the unemployed. His supporters won't bother to look at what kind of jobs have been created in Texas. The fact is, many new jobs in Texas have been at or near the minimum wage level. Some have been public jobs, which I thought was against all that is Republican, and have helped artificially inflate the total figure. But Republicans don't like to be bothered with analysis these days, particularly when they smell Democratic blood in the water.

While I made reference to our previous president, Perry is no George W. Bush. He's worse. Far worse. He fits the new GOP mold better than any Bush ever did. He can appeal to Tea Party fanatics and mainstream Republicans. His pathetic macho swagger often crosses the line and hints of violence. Not real presidential stuff. His flaunting of his time in the military is about as classless as it comes, especially when you consider all the politicians (past and present) who have paid a much more costly price through their military service.

My hope is that Perry self destructs from stupid comments on the campaign trail. However, even if he controls his tongue, there is enough in the Perry record that could give Republican voters some doubts.

Under Perry, Texas ranks as one of the worst states in terms of funding education. At least Bush pretended to care about providing a quality education. For the record, Perry has already criticized Bush for funding educational programs. That's truly remarkable, even for this shallow Texan.

Environmentally speaking, Texas has become the new New Jersey. Perry's hands-off-big-business approach to governing has turned sections of the state into toxic pits inhabited by corporate polluters, who in return create crappy jobs for under-educated Texans. This is the cycle of Texas life for many people.

And this is a feather in Perry's cap?

If I believed in the Biblical prophecy relating to the existence of an "anti-Christ," the words "President Perry" would send chills down my spine. In the race for who is the biggest evangelical candidate since Pat Robertson, Perry wins by a Texas mile. Or does he? (Insert spooky music here).

Republican candidates to this point have been laughable. This GOP field is probably the weakest I've seen in my lifetime. By weakest, I mean clownish, crazy-eyed and just idiotic. I bet even "W" is going to have a hard time endorsing any of these people.

Enter Rick Perry with his big Texas smile and forceful hand gestures, shooting from the hip at every opportunity he gets. His emotions are his strength, and they are also his major weakness. I like to think Americans want a president who is passionate but under control. However, I am not sure enough voters will take the time to distinguish between passion and just plain craziness, especially if we're still sitting at over 9 percent unemployment next year.

While Obama left the door wide open for a GOP win in 2012 by not addressing unemployment from day one in the White House, I can't stomach another president who is going to lean on God, Satan or Dick Cheney types to solve our serious problems. Yes, compared with the rest of the field, Perry and his firm handshakes, jobs talk and longevity in an executive office probably looks pretty good to some people. However, that says a lot more about the other candidates than it tells me about the Texas governor who presides over a state that tends to favor boots and twang over substance and progress. Perry knows how to play to that crowd, but will that cowboy "charm" work on the coasts where Bush fatigue still lingers and basic requirements for living differ vastly from Texas?

• Read more about the importance of creating good jobs
• An ugly start to Rick Perry's campaign