Obama rejects border security letter from Gov. Perry, accepts book from Chavez
Just having a little fun here. During a 30-some-odd second meeting with the president at the staircase of Air Force One, Gov. Rick Perry (R-Texas) tried to hand President Obama a letter concerning border security, which was sort-of, kind-of ignored by the president. Remember that book Obama took from Hugo Chavez?
I know, I know, Chavez practically shoved the book – which was written in Spanish, a languange the president can not read – into Obama’s hand during a photo op, but it’s worth noting the president seems to have refused acceptance of the letter from Perry, directing adviser Valerie Jarrett to take the letter from Perry.
I think this might be one of those amature mistakes the president has frequently made that will simply ensure conservatives, Republicans, Libertarians and even few whack-jobs will go into the voting booth and press down on that voting lever just a bit harder come November.
From the Houston Chronical…
Gov. Rick Perry’s meeting at the Austin airport with President Barack Obama on border security lasted a mere 34 seconds, and Perry had to hand a letter on the issue to presidential adviser Valerie Jarrett because Obama declined to personally accept it.
That did not dissuade the governor from inviting Obama to come back to Texas and tour the border with him to get a first hand look at what Perry describes as the threat from Mexican drug cartels.
“Look, he’s got the letter. I suspect he’ll read it. I hope he responds to it,” Perry said. “This is way past partisanship or politics.”
So the president refuses a letter from a sitting governor – one from the United States of America – yet accepts a book handed directly to him from a dictator? Why didn’t he wave off Chavez’s offer and have an aid accept the book from Chavez? Would that have been bad protocol?
If it is, then why can’t the president take a simple letter from Perry?
Again, I’m having a bit of fun here, but I’m on the record thinking the president is not doing nearly enough to secure the border. I’m pretty certain if you asked the commander of the 10th Mountain Division – or some other division – to “secure the southern border within 60 days” without giving them unreasonable rules of engagement I think they could do it. Hell, I know they could do it.
Sending 1,200 unarmed troops without the authority to actually do anything other than point out issues to the Border Patrol and count the number of aliens entering the country is a total fail in my book.
More from the Dallas News, with my emphasis in bold.
Gov. Rick Perry wants the White House to make a better offer on talking with Texas about border security.
Perry said Tuesday that he declined what a White House official described as a top-level briefing from the National Security Council – which is chaired by President Barack Obama and includes key Cabinet members – because he “doesn’t need to meet with some more down-level staff people.”
He mocked the invitation a day after greeting Obama in Austin, where he hand-delivered the president a letter about the “dire threat” from drug violence along the U.S.-Mexico border. Perry has previously invited Obama to Texas to discuss border security.
The two exchanged pleasantries for barely a half-minute when Obama arrived in Texas on Monday for fundraisers and a speech on higher education at the University of Texas at Austin.
Enough time for fundraisers and college speeches, but little for border security…
13 Comments
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Man of the people, Party of the people. Is it OK to say THEIR president yet?
He sure as $h&^ ain't ours or mine.
"Their" as in the illegals? 😉
"Their" as in liberal or progressive or commie or socialist or pacifist or moral-speed-bump or panderer. "Their as in not a patriotic American. "Their" as in not mine.
You would be amazed at how much I hear from people, including both my parents when I say "your" President, that he is THE president and that's how it is and I need to respect that. I'm sorry but I'm not at all willing to respect this administration. Respect is earned.
I could not agree more!
This guy is acting like a dictator not a president. He ego is so puffed up he is ready to explode. I can not but think of Nero when I think of him when he does these egomaniac things. Otherwise I think of him as not so long ago dictator of 1939 and I shutter to think of our future.
Wake up America
Perry should have joined his Democrat opponent, Bill White and shunned Øbama's arrival at the airport.
Two fundraisers and a speech, and on our dime with Air Force One. Why didn't Øbama just send a video recording like he did with the Boy Scouts?
Respected bloggers: I can't go along with you on this one. It all seems like the usual political theater designed to whip the faithful into a lather. You could say Perry was pulling a Chavez, designed to embarrass and humiliate the President, or that the President was a rude egotist. Either way, I think the best thing to do is ignore the theatrics, and keep the heat on both parties to address immigration reform. I think part of what maintains corporate control of the government is our naive belief that one party or the other is more sincere. We need to make both accountable.
I don't think Gov Perry was pulling a Chavez, but the letter to be personally handed to the One was definately a provication. Probably not to embarass or humiliate but to make a public spectacle. Maybe it was done out of frustration with being shunned on the subject. Realize that actions speak louder than endless campaigning and Mr Obama has shown repeatedly that he is the president of the left and that's it. He has no interest in Perry's concerns and his actions prove him to be an elitist egomaniac.
He could have just taken it, glanced at it, said thank you, and then put it in his pocket. Then ignored it.
Yeah but when it becomes a pi$$!ng contest both players gotta go. If ya know what I mean.
Obama doesn't send down the 1200 troops on 8/1 as promised, and is now on the campaign trail doing fundraisers. My belief is that he couldn't care less about the U.S. states bordering Mexico.
I'm starting to get very cynical about the possibility of anything ever being done to plug THAT hole. Now that it's known that contention exists between the federal government and AZ and basically ANY state that wants to do ANYthing to prevent illegals from crossing over into the U.S. I suspect that there will actually be an increase in illegal border crossing attempts. We have a president who is weak on illegal immigration and takes political correctness to a whole new level (but not when dealing with the Gov. of TX)…if I were sitting over in Mexico wondering when the best time to cross would be, my intuition would tell me "NOW".
I don't see anything different going on now then when Bush was getting bashed on a regular basis. He was not evil incarnate, like many made him out to be. Neither is Obama. Both have the best interests of the US in mind, and differ on how to serve and protect those interests, while there are political and corporate constituencies to please. Unfortunately, those same vested interests prefer that we see one or the other party as all bad. In addition there is a huge media empire that profits immensely from conflict. Reasonable and bi-partisan action is not good for energizing the base or for media profits. Isn't it too often about money?