Yes, Yes, A New GOOPER: Texas Governor Rick Perry

Yes, there is another one, a GOOPER winner. Governor Rick Perry (R) from Texas is refusing $555 million dollars of stimulus money for the unemployed workers of his state. His reasoning is that after the money is used, the state will have to foot the bill for the extra money given to its unemployed workers. Politics before people? Yes unfortunately it is. This money when used puts an extra $25 dollars a week in every unemployed person´s pocket. Texas, this is your governor working for you. Though it is true that Texas´s unemployment rate, (about 6.4%) isn´t as high as many states, those out of work still could use the money for outrageous stuff like paying light bills, heating bills, phone bills, food, clothing, and other necessities, which apparently the good governor doesn´t see as necessary.

Maybe Governor Perry is too wrapped up with his current border problems to digest the burden his unemployed citizens are facing. I am not so crass as to think that Perry´s problems along the border are lighthearted fairy games, but I do think he should consider the pragmatic side of Federal assistance. He would like troops to be sent to his state to be placed in harm´s way of our new Narco State of Mexico. I believe Federal assistance is involved in that idea. Am I wrong? Come on Governor try to come back to reality. We´re in a recession here.

Here´s the deal Mr. Perry. I just happen to be unemployed through no fault of my own and am receiving a fraction of my usual salary, a fraction, but when Indiana started increasing my weekly benefits by twenty-five bucks I began buying toothpaste again. My wife just bought some Walmart imported blue jeans. Cool.

Unemployment is not easy. Not everyone on earth wants to be unemployed and supported by their state or previous employers. Believe me, the amount paid to individuals without a job is not on the same level as our good governors, congressmen, and senators. Oh contraire my friends. Being jobless equals being poor.

Of course, Perry is not alone in his refusal of Federal dollars. He stands in line with Jindal, Sanford, and other currently unnamed Republicans (not to worry…GOOPERS always manage to squirm out of their rat nests into the public eye). I do find humor in some GOOPER behaviors, you know, like Michael Steele´s recent gaffes regarding abortion and his love affair with Rush Lame Ball. But I don´t find humor in their inability to understand the working man/woman or the unemployed man/woman. Nor do I find humor in their inability to see the reality of the moment.

This inability will, I predict, lead the Grand Ol´ Party to its certain demise. The elections are coming in 2010 and 2012. If the GOP doesn´t wake up and smell the proverbial coffee they will continue in their downward spiral to "Zero." They will be the party of "0."

I digress, however. My congratulations to Governor Perry, this week´s GOOPER.