You other Southern states need to follow Texas' example. Our Leg meets for 120 days every 2 years and that's it outside of the very rare Special Session. Our elected officials outside of the Governor make $7600 annually. We don't give our Leg much of an opportunity for mischief because they don't have time.

The result? Our economy has been crushing everyone else ever since the GOP took over in '94. Does oil help? Sure, but Texas is a magnet for companies in all industries that have moved her or have started here because of our low tax, business friendly culture. We haven't elected a Dem to any Statewide office since '98 and our economy has continued to thrive in spite of what the rest of the country has done.

Hate on Perry all you like, it's not hard with his looks and style. Answer this though, is there any state that has been remotely as successful as Texas since '00 when he took over? It certainly isn't all him but he is a low tax, pro business guy all the way that is also opposed to growing government at just about every turn.

The only good government is limited government. Government by its nature is broad and inefficient and as it grows it is hard to eliminate and it takes more money and liberty at every turn.

Also, Texas is fundamentally more libertarian than most Southern states, it has some Western feel and an independent streak. We have some social conservatives for sure and we have some whack job liberals but Texas probably has the most libertarian leaning population and government in the US.