Perry Watch - Texas Identity Edition

Sept 19th, 2011

Josh Harkinson observes that Gov. Perry has made some fairly vacant contributions to a certain Texan custom:

"In Austin, where state identity is the manna of politics, governors have long upheld the tradition of naming worthy outsiders "honorary Texans"—a title that Crockett, a Tennessee native who died fighting for Texas, would have deserved. 

Foreign dignitaries, actors, and musicians have been the most popular picks, though some governors have gotten more creative. (Check out the stories behind 10 of the more unconventional picks.) Ann Richards named a breast cancer victim and a women's basketball star. George W. Bush named a Catholic nun and an insurance lobbyist.

And Rick Perry named Glenn Beck, Sean Hannity, Rush Limbaugh, and Sarah Palin."