BOR: - Debate

The Media Applauds the Romney Campaign of Deception and Distortion

David Feigen — Fri, 05 Oct 2012 22:00:00 GMT

Media pundits from around the country agree, Mitt Romney crushed President Obama in the first Presidential debate. Romney was poised, robust, and energetic, while the President too often seemed professorial and disengaged. Romney's hair was perfectly swooped to the side, his complexion was absolutely immaculate, and his hand gestures were positively authoritative. Mitt Romney swept the pundit class off their feet. By the standard that perception is reality; the press seems to have forgotten they have a role in reporting on truth beyond perceptions. By the standard that style beats substance, the press seems to have concluded that a Presidential debate should be covered more like a Mr. Universe contest than a discourse between the two possible leaders of this country. Mitt Romney did win Wednesday's debate. Not because he won on the issues, but because he is attempting to steal this election by unleashing a string of complete fabrications and campaign reversals, while the media drives the getaway car.

Taxes

In his sudden effort to sprint to the center before Election Day, Romney made perhaps his most audacious assertion when he turned to the President and said: "My view is that we ought to provide tax relief to people in the middle class. I'm not going to reduce the share of taxes paid by high-income people. High-income people are doing just fine in this economy. They'll do fine whether you're president or I am." However, independent analysts assert Romney is being untruthful here, and anyone who has even remotely followed his campaign could perceive this complete reversal. Analysts at the Brookings Institution reported that households with incomes over $1 million would receive average tax cuts of $87,117 under Romney's plan, while those earning $200,000 or less would pay higher taxes. The Brookings Institution explained, "even when we assume that tax breaks -- like the charitable deduction, mortgage interest deduction, and the exclusion for health insurance -- are completely eliminated for higher-income households first, and only then reduced as necessary for other households to achieve overall revenue-neutrality, the net effect of the plan would be a tax cut for high-income households coupled with a tax increase for middle-income households." So Mitt Romney is lying about his tax plan, and completing a campaign 180 when he claims he does not want to lower taxes for the wealthy. Still waiting for the conservative cries of "class warfare."

Bank Bailouts

In explaining why he would seek a repeal of the financial regulation bill "Dodd-Frank", Romney asserted that the law designated five banks as too big to fail, and gave them "a blank check," contributing to the collapse of smaller banks. "We need to get rid of that provision because it's killing regional and small banks", Romney claimed. But Bloomberg News explains that this understanding is inaccurate. They explain "there is no connection between the failure of community banks and the provision in Dodd-Frank designed to contain the harm from the failure of a big bank." In addition, "FDIC statistics show that 37 banks, not five, have enough assets to come under that provision." Romney wants to frame Dodd-Frank as another big government regulator inhibiting growth and crushing the little guy, but the facts are not on his side. In fact, the opposite is true. Bloomberg News reports that "The trend (of small banks closing) is down since Dodd-Frank. After peaking in 2010 at 136, the small-bank failures declined last year to 86 and are down to 42 through the first nine months of this year."

Clean Energy

According to FactCheck.Org , Romney "made numerous bogus claims" about the $90 billion in grants, guaranteed loans, and tax breaks for energy companies found in the stimulus package. For example, Romney falsely claimed "about half" of the clean-energy companies that received U.S.-backed loans have filed for bankruptcy. But 26 companies received loan guarantees under a loan program cited by Romney, and only three of those have filed for bankruptcy and the three firms were "approved for about 6 percent of the loan guarantees." But in Romney's defense, "about half" certainly sounds better. Romney's energy lies would not stop there. FactCheck.Org explains, "He stated at one point that Obama put $90 billion into solar and wind. But only $21 billion went for renewable energy projects, such as the installation of wind turbines and solar panels, according to a White House document cited by the Romney campaign. The spending also included $18 billion for transit projects and $10 billion to upgrade the nation's electrical grid." So does Governor Romney truly have a problem with investing in an all of the above energy plan and upgrading America's infrastructure? Probably not. But hey, it sure sounds good when you say he spent $90 billion on windmills.

Healthcare

Mitt Romney made a number of dubious, misleading, and hypocritical claims about Obamacare and Medicare. Romney 10 times, including in his closing statement, stated that the President was taking $716 billion from Medicare patients' pockets to pay for Obamacare. Romney and VP candidate Paul Ryan have been spouting this lie for a long time now. CBS News backed up the Obama campaign, reporting that the Congressional Budget Office reports that "it's not the patients who would lose money. It's the providers." Beyond the inaccuracy is the hypocrisy. CBS News points out that Paul Ryan's plan that Romney has described as "bold and exciting" and "very consistent" with his own plan makes the very same deductions.

These are just a few of the many lies that permeated Romney's entire performance Wednesday night in Denver and indeed his entire campaign. Mitt Romney and Paul Ryan have lived by the motto set by the Romney pollster who asserted that "Our campaign won't be dictated by fact checkers." They have lied from the starting gun and the media has decided to let them get away with it. To them, it's about performance. Romney sounded like a candidate should sound, and President Obama did not. He looked like a candidate should look, and President Obama did not. But as mediocre of a rhetorical performance as the President put on and as puzzling as his pacifist strategy was, he won in the most important score: he told the truth. He treated the American people like adults. He laid out a vision of equal opportunity and shared prosperity. As the President put it the next day, "Governor Romney may dance around his positions, but if you want to be president, you owe the American people the truth." It is due time the media does its job and let the American people hear the facts, not an evaluation of the performance. But hey, Mr. President, you have two more chances to wipe the smirk off that smug, tax dodging two-face and show the media and the American people that you still have some fight left in you. Please?

Texans Deserve a Debate Between Paul Sadler & Ted Cruz

Deja Vu — Sun, 12 Aug 2012 20:52:53 GMT

We now know that Paul Sadler is going to be our candidate for the U.S. Senate race. We also know that Ted Cruz is the Republican candidate. A Tea Party candidate no less. There are a lot more sane people in Texas than the Tea Party. Texans need to know what they would be getting with Ted Cruz.

We don't need a repeat of the 2010 Governor's race when Rick Perry refused to debate his Democratic opponent. Texans didn't get all the information they needed in order to make an informed decision. We didn't get a sense of where each candidate stood on issues that matter to Texans. People ended up not knowing why their vote counts. Why vote? Texas ranked 50th in 2010 with a 32% voter turnout. Rick Perry was reelected by less than 20% of registered voters.

We need to get our voters out to vote. One way is to let them know that they have a choice. Paul Sadler. A debate is a great way to do it. I have started a petition to the League of Women Voters asking them to step up and organize a debate. Please go and sign the petition. It will let them know that people are interested.

http://www.change.org/petition...

Thanks!

MKC

2010 Texas Gubernatorial Debate: Bill White, Kathie Glass, Deb Shafto

Phillip Martin — Wed, 20 Oct 2010 00:01:22 GMT

Find where you can watch the debates here -- or stream online and watch it live!

8:00pm - Back soon with wrap-up and final thoughts.

7:58pm - Bill White closing argument: "While Rick Perry and his friends can run the state over the last several years, during times when polls are open you can decide the direciton of this state. Get out the vote, get others to do so."

7:56pm - Shafto wants to construct the kind of world where we can care for each other, and what car you drive isn't as important as how close you are to your neighbor. Says many of our green values are human values.

7:54pm - Glass' closing argument: Says she will be a fighter, and she's heard the top two people spend $50 million to tell everyone why each other is wrong, and says they are both right. You can vote for Rick Perry on November 2, but the next morning he still won't respect you.

7:53pm - Missed that last lightning round question. I was shooting whiskey. Closing statement!

7:52pm - "Beer, wine, whiskey or green tea?" Shafto: Green Tea. Glass: wine. White: coffee.

7:51pm - Favorite philosopher? Glass: Ayn Rand. Shafto: Pass. White: St. Augustine. "Socrates had his moments."

7:50pm - How would you rate Barack Obama's performance as President? White: won't give running commentary, but will give him respect and call him President. Glass calls Obama, "the worst President ever." Glass says, "6.5-7" and is constrained by forces that aren't always obvious.

7:49pm - Lightning round! What law do you want to repeal? Shafto wants to end the death penalty. White wants to end unfunded mandates -- for example, the one that doesn't give local school districts setting school calendars. Glass: property tax.

7:47pm - Glass goes back to her answer on Medicaid, which is a shame. I wanted to hear more on Taj MaStadiums. She gave some answers, so did Shafto. Not gonna lie -- I'm losing a little steam.

7:46pm - Next question focuses on children's health care and how we can afford to provide more health coverage for Texans. I think. Kathie Glass just said "Taj MaStadiums" and I got a little distracted.

7:43pm - The next questions asks candidates to identify where they would collect $1 billion to stem the tide of the $23 billion budget shortfall. Shafto wants to tax the rich. White says that he would bring a more hands-on-style management to eliminate waste -- points to TxDot's $1billion accounting error. Glass would cut taxpayer services for non-citizens, or opt out of Medicaid.

7:37pm - Bill White answers the dropout question - "We ought to treat it as an emergency." Says he hasn't run into a single person who thought dropping out of school was a good decision. Calls for more flexible schools, to ensure that work is attending school -- hours on Saturdays and on weekends. Wants to make sure there are programs in place for early childhood education where students can go into the classroom -- says he would have signed the Pre-K bill that Perry vetoed. Says he would not lie about the dropout figures, which Perry has done -- and then Perry cut a program for summer school and after school tutoring that was proving to work. (The Texas Observer's Bob Moser wrote about that one in his feature on Bill White).

7:35pm - Dropout question -- how do the candidates plan to address the problem? Glass says to let the dropouts go, because sometimes people learn better out in the real world than inside a classroom. Shafto says we test people at Kindergarten and set students on paths to fail.

7:33pm - Bill white asked about the legalization of marijuana. White says no. Glass says not unless someone brought the bill to her. Shafto says yes, she'd legalize it.

7:29pm - Glass answers the question to raise taxes: "No, No, No, No!"

7:25pm - Next question is on school finance, and how to solve/address the issue with considering a state income tax and new tax system. Shafto is up first. She says she would consider it, but not good. White says any kind of proposal like that would be dead on arrival -- points out that 2006 plan led to gross inequities. White wants every school to have adequate funding, and says we have not had the balance yet.

7:24pm - White says he supports the death penalty, but we need to have clear processes for evaluating new evidence.

7:22pm - Shafto gets into the cost of executing someone and how it's bad. Let me just say this -- be glad I'm watching this for you.

7:20pm - Question #5: Gets into the death penalty, via the Cameron Todd Willingham execution case. Should capital punishment be continued in Texas, and if it should there be new safeguards to protect the execution of an innocent person? Glass is first up this time. She says she's in favor of the death penatly, but she's seen how it works and how there are some flaws in it and she would take all the time she needs to review everything and be fully confident that solid evidence and solid science was used before she went forward with an execution.

7:20pm - Shafto can't think of anything positive off-hand, says as a teacher she can't think of anything positive with the way he's handled the Teacher Retirement System or the State Board of Education. Can't think of anything positive.

7:18pm - Glass says she's heard that it's good Perry only keeps a seven-hour a work week, because if he kept a full work week the state would be even worse. Glass has all the most clever answers tonight, no question. Chides Perry for only talking and not acting.

7:17pm - Fourth question. Has Rick Perry done anything positive as Governor? (WTF?!) White says Perry has visited the military, when he represents all Texans and he respects the office of governor. But he goes back to the "lack of leadership and diirection in this state." Finishes with "We will never move our state forward with that kind of leadership. It's about theater not management" and returns to his greatest hits.

7:17pm - Rick Disco Chicken Perry.

7:16pm - Glass points out that the lottery may be a better bet than a 401k these days. Supremely charging, even if her positions are way out there. She says that if the Legislature passed a law to do gambling, she'd sign it, but that's not the way she would be going.

7:13pm - White goes to gambling question, points out that the governor doesn't make the law, that'd have to be a constitutional amendment. White says he's not going to go around promoting that law. White goes straight to Perry doubling state spending and increasing debt by nearly 2.5 times.

7:11pm - Third question is on the budget shortfall and where the candidates stand on gambling. Shafto is first. She does not support gambling, calls it "sleazy."

7:09pm - White talks about recent trip to Tyler, where people lost their jobs at the Goodyear plant -- the largest private employer in town. White points out that our unemployment is higher in neighboring states and almost double what it was when Perry took office. White pivots straight to Perry's ETF scandal -- saying how the folks in Tyler applied to Perry's office to get some of the funds, but none of them were big donors so they didn't get any money. BURRRN.

7:08pm - Shafto takes it on. Talks about investing in small businesses. her purple jacket is sublime. She shifts to clean energy incentives for small businesses.

7:06pm - Second question is about Texas' one million unemployed. Glass answers first: "I want to cut state spending in 50%." Glass hammerls Republicans for calling for a statewide property tax, says Republicans are "going to use this problem to institute taxes they wanted all along." Also wants to eliminate licensing laws, red tape barriers for businesses. Just hammering, hammering, hammering Republicans. "We're not in nearly as good a shape as we're being told by our government."

7:06pm - Deb Shafto answered, as well.

7:05pm - Glass, answering the same question, says she has a strongly worded letter she will give to Rick Perry the next time she confronts him. "We have to take these measures to get our fiscal house in order."

7:01pm - First question to Bill White is about children of illegal immigrants at Texas universities. (Really?!?! Not the $23 billion budget shortfall?). White: "It's in our best interests if all our citizens are as educated as can be." White immediately starts hitting Perry, chiding his 8-hours of work a week, saying that laws are not enforced when you have a slacker like Perry in charge.

7:00pm - Here we go! "Regrettably, incumbent Governor Rick Perry has declined to join us in this debate and for that we are all the poorer.

6:58pm Tonight is the 2010 Texas gubernatorial debate featuring Democrat candidate Bill White, Libertarian candidate Kathie Glass, and Green Party candidate Deb Shafto. The Chicken Party candidate, Rick Perry, could not make it here tonight because he had to sell some more taxpayer-funded deals to his donors.

I'll be live-blogging the debate all night. I'll also be making lots of Rick Chicken Perry digs, without shame, so leave a comment if there are any you want posted now or after the debate. As always, the newest updates will be atop the page.

Rick Perry Refuses to Debate So He Can Hide From Texas' $21 Billion Budget Deficit

Phillip Martin — Wed, 15 Sep 2010 15:14:13 GMT

Houston Chronicle editorial cartoonist Nick Anderson: "Saddle bags"

Governor Rick Perry wants to distract from the massive financial crisis that is bearing down on the state of Texas. Today's stunt -- and that's all it is, pure stunt -- is his way of ducking the tough issues facing the state of Texas, as he has throughout his ten years as Governor and twenty-five years as a career politician.

Democrats must stand up to Perry on this. We must tell our friends about this. There is a political element, of course, but this is an extremely grave public policy concern. We've only now -- seven years later -- started to recover from the disastrous cuts that were made in 2003, and they didn't even cut that much then. It is going to be twice as worse in 2011, especially if our elected officials continue to hide from this grave problem.

Editorials From Across the State: Rick Perry Should Debate

Phillip Martin — Thu, 26 Aug 2010 14:35:24 GMT

Today is Day 122 of Rick Perry refusing to debate. And while Rick Perry's spokesperson Mark Miner has tried to steal that line from me, remember - they earned a "Pants on Fire" rating from PolitiFact Texas for trying to flip that claim around and pin it on Bill White. Ever since the Rick "Chicken" Perry campaign hosted a Bill White press conference, the Perry campaign has been on the losing side of this issue.

Dave McNeely, a long-time Texas political observer and columnist, writes: "We'll see if Perry's strategy of not debating White works" --

Perry has assumed he can ignore the newspapers, whose stories usually run just one time. If he wants publicity, he’ll buy it in slick TV ads that run dozens of times, and fly around the state for carefully staged and controlled photo ops.
That’s particularly so since a Miner news conference several months ago to blast White’s ethics, in front of White’s Austin campaign headquarters, was co-opted by Democrats. The TV news cameras featured the raucous Democrats, including one in a rather large chicken suit, underlining Perry’s refusal to debate.
Since then, Perry’s People are guarding him almost more tightly than the state troopers who shadow him everywhere.

Meanwhile, there's been lots of pointless hand-wringing about how the Back to Basics "Coward" ad was somehow to mean, or nasty, or negative to Rick Perry. As if Rick "Adios Mofo" Perry can't handle a newspaper ad, and as if their entire campaign hasn't lived in the gutter for months. Democrats throw a single punch and -- WAAAAA!!! -- the Perry campaign cries fowl. The fact is that the ad simply echoed what many across the state are saying: it is past time for Rick Perry to saddle up and debate Bill White.

People from across the state of Texas are calling for a debate. If Rick Perry wants to play chicken with Bill White on this issue, he can. But I promise you -- he's gonna lose even quicker if he does.

The following is a list of editorials calling on Rick Perry to debate, as provided in a press release I received yesterday from the Back to Basics PAC:

1.   Larry Blackerby: Perry Should Debate Bill White
(KPRC Houston; August 10, 2010)

“It's time for Gov. Rick Perry to drop the political smoke screens and make himself available to debate Bill White…Shame on you, Governor Perry, for putting politics first, over the people you say you want to represent.”

2.   Editorial: Perry needs to face opponents
(San Antonio Express News; June 10, 2010)

“Perry apparently thinks this is a sound campaign strategy. Texans have good reason to wonder why a person seeking to hold the state's highest office won't face his opponents or take questions from the public and the media.”

3.   Editorial: Hey, you two, let's debate
(Amarillo Globe-News; August 9, 2010)

“Instead, the governor's campaign is obstructing efforts to have the two men meet face to face. Texans would be disserved badly if they don't get a chance to watch these men take each other's measure.”

4.   Editorial: Texas governor Perry shouldn't duck debates
(Austin American-Statesman; June 18, 2010)

“The debates, we believe, belong to the people — not to the governor nor any candidate.”

5.   Editorial: Perry shortchanges voters by refusing to debate
(Dallas Morning News; August 16, 2010)

“While ducking debates might be a defensible political strategy, ultimately, it's lousy leadership. Perry is seeking an unprecedented 14 years in the state's highest office, and Texans deserve the chance to hear more details about his plans for the next four years. A steady stream of canned stump speeches delivered to partisan crowds won't suffice.”

6.   Editorial: Perry's decision to bypass editorial boards disappointing
(Midland Reporter-Telegram; August 18, 2010)

"It is with great disappointment that we learned Texas Gov. Rick Perry again will bypass talking with the editorial boards across the state as he campaigns for a third full term.”

7.   Editorial: Gov. Perry should answer White's challenge by debating him and facing editorial boards.
(Beaumont Enterprise; August 24, 2010)

"Any major candidate should have the confidence and gumption to handle tough questions. How about it, governor? Will you man up and wade into the political arena, or remain in the shadows?"

8.   Editorial: Perry owes it to Texans to debate White
(The Eagle, Bryan-College Station)

“What is he hiding from the people he was elected to serve? It's fine to speak to groups of supporters. His ego certainly gets a boost.
But he is governor of all Texans and answerable not only to those who love him, but to the rest who aren't sure.
Perry might not like the questions asked and the issues raised in public debates. That's too bad. If he wants to keep his job, he needs to let Texans raise them. “

9.   Editorial: Gov. Perry must agree to debate Bill White even if he doesn't meet all of his conditions
(Beaumont Enterprise; August 12, 2010)

"In the end, a candidate's main duty is participating in a debate, not setting the terms for it."

10.   Editorial: Bob Krueger: No more Hiding.
(San Angelo Standard-Times; August 24, 2010)

“Texans don’t have anointed emperors; we have elected governors, accountable to the people who elect them. Refusal to meet before press and public in open debate suggests that an officeholder is a “face man” — all show and no substance, unwilling to stand accountable for his opinions and actions.”

Day 119 of Rick Perry Refusing to Debate: "COWARD"

Phillip Martin — Mon, 23 Aug 2010 14:56:55 GMT

The following full-page newspaper ad from Back to Basics is going to run in twenty newspapers across the state on Tuesday, ten weeks from election day:

A h/t to Mean Rachel, who got the scoop and had the ad up first late last night.

Today, the Eagle in Bryan-College Station editoralized against Rick Perry refusing to debate: "Perry owes it to Texans to debate White":

Perry should debate White, but he won't. He would rather make scripted appearances before groups of cheering, sycophantic Texans who are going to vote for him anyway.
That's fine, but what about the rest of Texas voters who are trying to decide for whom to vote? Debates could help them make their choice.
Perry wonders what White is hiding but not releasing his 12-year-old tax records. We wonder what Perry is hiding. He refuses to meet with editorial boards at Texas newspapers large and small. Now, he won't debate.
What is he hiding from the people he was elected to serve? It's fine to speak to groups of supporters. His ego certainly gets a boost.
But he is governor of all Texans and answerable not only to those who love him, but to the rest who aren't sure.
Perry might not like the questions asked and the issues raised in public debates. That's too bad. If he wants to keep his job, he needs to let Texans raise them.

Previously on BOR:

KPRC-TV in Houston: Video Editorial Calls on Rick Perry to Debate

Phillip Martin — Wed, 11 Aug 2010 13:54:48 GMT

Houston TV station KPRC (Click 2 Houston) Vice President and General Manager Larry Blackerby voiced an on-air editorial yesterday calling on Rick Perry to debate Bill White. You can watch the editorial here:

VIDEO EDITORIAL - http://www.click2houston.com/video/24565808/index.html

Here is a transcript of the on-air editorial. Emphasis is mine:

"In a democracy, public debates are a must. It is one of the most direct ways voters can compare and contrast their choices for public office. It's time for Governor Rick Perry to drop the political smokescreens and make himself available to debate Bill White.
Until now, Governor Perry, using all the advantages of a n incumbent, has refused to debate until White releases all tax returns related to his time while in public office. That's a case to make to voters during a debate and shouldn't be used as a reason not to have one. We think it's a lame excuse to avoid facing an opponent, and a disservice to all Texans.
KPRC has made an offer to host such a debate on our station, on our sister station in San Antonio, and any other stations in the state of Texas who want to carry it. Millions of Texans could then decide for themselves who they'd vote for as Governor. Bill White has said yes; Rick Perry is using a political maneuver to avoid it.
Shame on you, Governor Perry, putting politics first over the people you say you want to represent.
I'm Larry Blackerby. That's our take. What's yours?"

Rick. Chicken. Perry.

Day 100 of Rick Chicken Perry Refusing to Debate

Phillip Martin — Wed, 04 Aug 2010 16:21:06 GMT

Rick Chicken Perry:

Perry's approach is dramatically different from what it was in 2002, when he said, "If two debates are good, twelve will be great."

Let's go back to how this all started. From the Dallas Morning News, "Perry refuses to debate until White releases income tax returns"

Gov. Rick Perry is refusing to debate Bill White unless the Democratic challenger releases income tax returns covering his years in public office.
The Perry campaign told WFAA-TV (Channel 8) in Dallas that it won't discuss debate dates until White makes his past income taxes public.

I could see how, maybe, that was a somewhat reasonable argument, if Perry wasn't the world's biggest hypocrite:

Fact: Perry debated in 2002 even though his opponent didn't release his complete income tax returns per Perry's request.

On April 26 -- 100 days ago -- Perry decided he didn't want to debate Bill White. There are plenty of reasons why:

Bill White is Rick Perry's "nightmare" according to former RPT political director, Royal Masset.
Rick Perry lied about his campaign's involvement with the Green Party scandal
Rick Perry doesn't want to answer questions about the likely illegal land deal he secured from two business partners.
Rick Perry wants to continue to ignore Texas' $18 billion budget shortfall

Rick Perry ony works part-time, so he doesn't have time to debate.
Rick Perry is in it for himself.

Rick Chicken Perry knows that any time he debates, he will lose. He knows that his vision for Texas can't stand up next to Bill White's vision for Texas. He knows that if voters ever truly saw the two candidates, side by side, that Rick Perry would look worse than Bill White. Rick Perry is in this election for himself -- not to answer unscripted questions, not to appear before the general public, not to actually engage in an honest campaign.

Rick Perry is scared of Bill White. Rick Perry knows Bill White is his worst nightmare. Rick Perry will refuse to debate, refuse to engage, refuse to answer questions, refuse to act honestly, refuse to act ethically, refuse to behave like a man. No macho man, tough guy would rather spend time in California or laying by the pool in a taxpayer-funded $10,000-a-month rental mansion than show up to his job. But Rick Perry isn't a macho man -- he's a chicken who is in it for himself.

Let's watch this chicken dance:

Day 70 of Rick "Chicken" Perry Refusing to Debate: Bill White Debates Libertarian Kathie Glass

Phillip Martin — Mon, 05 Jul 2010 16:47:59 GMT

Today is Day 70 of Rick Perry refusing to debate Bill White.

Today also marks the first debate of the general election season, as Democrat Bill White and Libertarian Kathie Glass will square off at a league of women voters debate in Kerrville tonight, at 7pm. The debate will be streamed live on the KVHC website. Before the weekend began, R.G. Ratcliffe wrote a piece about the debate, "Debate will go on without Perry"

The first debate in the Texas governor's race will be between a pair of Houstonians in the Hill Country on Monday, minus Gov. Rick Perry. [...]
Kerrville Area League President Donna Robinson said Perry was invited to attend but turned it down. Robinson said Perry remains invited to show up Monday if he wishes.

And I don't mind highlighting what Bill White had to say about tonight's debate on his Facebook page:

The League of Women Voters is a mainstream, non-partisan group promoting voter education and candidate accountability. I accepted their invitation to debate others running for Governor tomorrow in Kerrville. Kathy Glass, Libertarian candidate, also accepted. Perry's handlers don't want him to answer questions about the state's financial condition or all the insider dealing and mismanagement, so he won't show up.

Rick "Chicken" Perry has now held a Perry-White debate ransom for 70 days. There is no justifiable reason for Perry not to debate:

White agreed to Perry's original demands for tax returns. Perry is still too chicken to debate.
Perry's move has been called "crap" by the Texas Tribune. The San Antonio Express-News straight up asked the question: Is Rick Perry afraid to debate?
Former Republican Party of Texas political director Royal Masset has described Bill White as Rick Perry's "nightmare."

Tonight's debate, meanwhile, will only hurt Perry more. As Charles Kuffner writes, "It’s all right, he wouldn’t have contributed anything to the debate anyway":

I’m pretty sure White is going to spend his entire allotment talking about Perry, Perry’s miserable failure of a record as Governor, and the fact that Perry didn’t have the stones to show up and talk about his record.

Agreed, Charles. And in the mean time, the chicken suit isn't going anywhere for a while...

Previously on BOR:

Rick Chicken Perry Meets Disco Chicken: "Ask Mee! Ask Mee!"

Phillip Martin — Thu, 17 Jun 2010 16:21:07 GMT

Today is Day 52 of Rick Perry refusing to debate Bill White.

Rick Chicken Perry continues to refuse to debate Bill White. Enjoy this viral video, and help us spread it around:

The clip of Perry is from the Hispanic Leadership breakfast he hosted last Friday at the Republican Party of Texas convention in Dallas. Rick Chicken Perry is refusing to debate Bill White for absolutely no good reason. As I wrote in my post, "Rick "Chicken" Perry Campaign Hosts Bill White Press Conference":

Last week, Bill White released his tax returns for his first six years as mayor -- fully answering to the Rick Perry campaign's original request. Editorials have come out against Perry's continued stalling in full force -- with the San Antonio Express-News even asking, "Is Rick Perry afraid to debate?"

Rick Chicken Perry's press conference has certainly gained plenty of attention online. Here's all the mentions I've found so far, not including repeat AP mentions:

VIDEO
News 8 Austin: Gov. Perry camp shouted down in front of Bill White HQ
Texas Tribune: Video: The Press Conference Crashers

Austin American-Statesman: Postcards: Dems hijack Perry press conference

PHOTOS
Burnt Orange Report: Flickr Slideshow: Rick Chicken Perry! Debate Bill Now!

AUDIO
Texas Tribune: TribCast (Audio podcast, discussed from 13:45 - 21:05)

NEWSPAPER STORIES / BLOGS
Associated Press: Perry camp shouted down in front of White's office
Austin Chronicle: This Week in Campaign Fail: Perry Special
Austin American-Statesman: First Reading: A rare miscue from the Perry campaign?
Dallas Morning News: Trailblazers Blog: Perry campaign event runs afowl of White supporters
Texas Observer: Everything's Better With Friends?
Houston Press: Hairballs: Rick Perry Vs. Bill White: The Chicken Suit Has Been Unleashed
Austinist: Perry Press Sec Gets Fowl Treatment
Austin Post: Campaigns Rumble at Bill White Headquarters
Austin Citysphere: Bill White Supporters Drown Out Perry Spokesperson

Huffington Post: Rick Perry Protesters Call Texas Governor 'Chicken' For Not Debating Opponent Bill White (VIDEO)

DEMOCRATIC BLOGGERS
Bay Area Houston: Now Serving Rick Chicken Perry
Burnt Orange Report: LIVEBLOG - Rick Perry Campaign Tries to Host Press Conference at TCDP Coordinated Campaign
Burnt Orange Report: Rick "Chicken" Perry Campaign Hosts Bill White Press Conference
Brains & Eggs: Perry Campaign Punk'd
Daily Kos: Rick "Chicken" Perry
Daily Kos: Rick "Chicken" Perry Campaign Hosts Bill White Press Conference
McBlogger: 39% and his minions
Musings: Which Came First, the Chicken Suit or Egg on Perry's Face?
Off the Kuff: Maybe having a press conference in front of your opponents’ campaign HQ isn’t such a hot idea
Texas Kaos: The Silliness of a Chicken Called Perry
Who Is Playin'?: Perry Campaign Gets Owned With Stunt Backfire

Previously on BOR: