Is he a stooge for the Merck Pharmecutical company? Does he despise his conservative base? Does he have a political death wish?

On Friday (no doubt to try to bury it in the news cycle) Perry signed an EXECUTIVE ORDER mandating that all incoming 6th grade girls, beginning in September 2008, would be forced to receive the HPV vaccine.

No consulting with their parents, no consulting with their pastor, or even doctors.

Legislators are upset:

"I think a lot of us were leaning towards having this available to young women and consulting with their parents and their physicians. I don't think many of us were leaning towards an outright mandate," says Rep. Isett.

Rep. Isett and other legislators are drafting a letter to Governor Perry addressing their concerns. They hope to send it in the next few days.

As are parents:

The main concern parents have is that the vaccine will promote sexual promiscuity. But in a statement released Monday Perry says, "Providing the HPV vaccine doesn't promote sexual promiscuity anymore than providing the Hepatitis B vaccine promotes drug use. If the medical community developed a vaccine for lung cancer, would the same critics oppose it claiming it would encourage smoking?"

Still many critics say he's walking a fine line edging on invading parental rights. NewsChannel 11 talked with a number of parents Monday as well as Representative Carl Isett of Lubbock to see where they stand on this issue

"I think every parent should have the right to decide what's best for their children," says Alice Escobebo, a concerned parent.

I am a proud son of the Lone Star State, but I am embarrassed by the unbelievable gaffe Governor Perry is making... and that by example he will be encouraging other state's to make in the near term. For example... The Newark Star Ledger has not run a story on anything to do with Texas politics in ages, yet today saw fit to highlight the Perry decision, and advocate for as much to happen in New Jersey as well.

It is a poor decision by Perry on a purely constitutional level, but it is an enormously idiotic move as it plays to his base.

Check Perry's deposit slips... if Merck surfaces all will be explained.

Actually the Dallas Morning News was reading my mind...