I've been following your story about Gov. Perry and I'm really interested in what you have to think about the recent goings on.

Also, congrats on being accepted into law school.

Jim's the one that got accepted into law school. I, myself, have another year to go. A note to all of our readers... there's four of us that post on here, so read the "Posted by..." line to read which one posts what...

This deal all goes back to my post from Friday: why is the Governor publicy responding (at his own request) to a rumor that was fizzling out?

The mainstream media most likely would not have mentioned the rumors in their analyses but for the Governor asking the mainstream media to cover it.

Once again I ask, what in the hell was he thinking??

This state needs to ditch Perry.

I'll take anyone, preferably a Democrat, but a common sense repug would work.

Someone who doesn't have Delay on auto-dial.

Maybe Strayhorn, but i think Hutchison is in a much better position to win.

Mr. Perry's hometown of Haskel knows all about this rumor. They always wondered why Perry would appoint such an openly gay man to office. Rumor is the man came clean to his parents the day before the story broke. This is no orchestrated plot or smear campaign. It is just people in gossiping about the guv. Perry should just keep his pants and his mouth shut.

KBH as a "common sense repug" -- the Senator from TI herself??? I'm going to have to beg to differ on this one....

We need a Democrat back in the Statehouse 2 years from now. Not Kinky Friedman, not an "agreeable" GOPub, but one of our own. Seriously, one of our own: no more nominating billionaires from Laredo just because they happen to be Hispanic. We need a Democrat in Austin who lives and acts like ordinary working people in Texas.

Who? I have a few ideas of my own, but I'm sure others have better....

I'm curious why, once the Guv decided to address the rumors, he didn't clearly and forcefully put them to bed.

Rick: "I have not, nor will I, break my marriage vows, because that would be wrong. Neither I nor any of my appointed co-workers are godless homosekshuls."

Anita: "I have not, nor do I intend to, hire a divorce attorney. I love Rick and want stay with him forever."

Just sayin...

PS: Carol K. R. S. M. is widely rumored to be making her own run at the Guv's job, so her comments should be seen in that light.

X,

I would hope that your post is just a bunch of satire, but the rumor spreader in that case is oblivious to the legal distinction between a private and public figure in defamation law.

Public figures must prove that the rumor spreader either knew the rumor was false or had reckless disregard for the truth. A difficult burden to prove and not possible in the case of BOA. A private figure does not. With private figures, it matters not whether the rumor spreader believed in good faith that the rumor was true - if it is false, it is libel. Therefore, Byron LaMasters (a private figure)has a very good libel case against such rumor spreaders, including YOU for repeating such gossip. Do you care to post where you could be served with a summons?

Really? Was everybody at the state capitol talking about it? Did you talk to dozens of people who are close to Byron who acknowledge that Byron probably cheats on tests? If so, I guess it may very well be true and might qualify as a news story. Or, it would, if Byron was a public figure and had recently passed a Texas senate resolution denouncing cheating.

"Public figures must prove that the rumor spreader either knew the rumor was false or had reckless disregard for the truth. A difficult burden to prove and not possible in the case of BOA."

FWIW, I've had my suspicions about Perry for a while.

At the time, I would have given better than even odds that the rumors were true.

I'm still not 100% convinced they ain't, either, but since the man is threatening a caning, I guess I ought just shut up.

"Do you care to post where you could be served with a summons?"

This is exactly why Phase 2 of the Burnt Orange Report is to build a top-secret moon base - so we can libel anybody we want without getting a summons.

ROFLMAO.

The previous comment should say "some of the rumors;" e.g. I really did believe Perry was leaving his wife, and I really did think there might have been infidelity.

Again, that doesn't make up for the fact that the man is clearly hurt, but I surely didn't make anything up, or purposively lie just to hurt or damage the man. And I presume strongly that Byron is of the same mind as I am.

How many people took offense at Strayhorn's comments? Is there enough democratic diversity in the Texas Republican Party to fire Perry for worrying more about his hair than the affairs of his state? That's hopeful, but even the good ones turn evil when they advance enough to be part of the cabal.

Looking forward to your commentary and analysis on the state of Perry and whether he is likely to be held accountable for how he has managed Texas.