Quote of the Day

Sorry, make that "quotes."

Quotes, indeed.  Quotes, oh, my.  So many quotes to choose from, so little time.  And all from the soul of one man.

Gov. Rick Perry (R-TX) did land office business today in the Quote Department, and it's almost too hard to know which to pick from.

There was, of course, his most news-getting quote, going into the gutter to attack state Sen. Wendy Davis (D-TX) who personally had an 11-hour filibuster that helped defeat a Texas anti-abortion bill, SB 5.  The governor referenced Sen. Davis being the daughter of "a single woman" and then commented, ""It is just unfortunate that she hasn’t learned from her own example that every life must be given a chance to realize its full potential and that every life matters."

This got enough comments from most decent-hearted sources -- including Ms. Davis herself, who said, "Rick Perry's statement is without dignity and tarnishes the high office he holds.  They are small words that reflect a dark and negative point of view."  So, it's hard to stop or add to all that.

There was also his comment about the loud protests the proposed Texas law has engendered.  "The louder they scream, the more we know that we are getting something done.”  The problem, of course, is that he didn't get something done.  The bill was defeated.  Mind you, being proud about doing something so horrific that you force people to scream doesn't seem like a really great claim to fame to brag about.

He also said that fighting abortion was "a way to remember the 55 million who have been robbed of life.”   I would suggest that someone ask Gov. Perry if he could name one fetus or zygote who he wants to remember.  Given that he has 55 million to choose from, it shouldn't be hard to come up with one.

Additionally, he noted that there 80,000 unborn children were lost to abortions last year in Texas, and "It breaks my heart."  No word from the governor about whether his heart is equally broken from actually-born human beings who were killed by guns.  And no word from the governor about the zillions of unborn children who weren't born for any reason in Texas last week.

But my favorite quote may have been one that relates specifically to his duties as chief executive of the state.  He said, "We are under no obligation to make things easier for the abortionists."  Actually, you see, abortions are legal in the United States, so the governor, in fact, is obligated to make things easy for them.

It's been pretty clear for a while that Rick Perry is interested in running again for President of the United States after his last, abortive (no pun intended), disastrous attempt.  It's possible that is position and statements on abortion will move him to a position so far to the right that he can get the GOP nomination.  I don't expect it, but it's possible.  But it's equally clear that his positions and statements are so far to the right that not only will he risk dragging the entire Republican Party over the edge with him, he risks tipping over the entire flat earth he lives in.