Dear Yankee > Eight things you ought to know before you start writing stories about Rick Perry…

From texasmonthly.com

1. Perry is not George Bush.
2. It’s not a big deal that Perry was once a Democrat.
3. Perry is cannier than you think he is.
4. Texas is not a “weak governor” state.
5. Perry is not a male hair model.
6. Perry is from the middle of nowhere.
7. Perry is an Aggie
8. Don’t discount the luck factor.

So there you have it. In closing, I would like to request that you please do your best to avoid tin-ear clichés about barbecue, cattle, oil, football, and the Alamo. Remember, this is an urban state of 25 million people. We don’t go to sleep at night dreaming of William Barret Travis drawing a line in the sand. We do admire our rural history, as this month’s cover attests, but our vitality is in the cities. Enjoy your visit, best of luck, and please get it right this time.

[I add: 9. Don’t attack his Christianity! – JS]

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