
Recently I wrote, “It seems to me that Perry has been indicted for acting on his authority as governor.” The alleged problem is that Perry vetoed legislation funding a bureaucracy—something fully within his legitimate powers as governor. I have seen nothing to alter my view that the indictment of Perry is absurd, unjust, and politically malicious. Jonathan Chait has a similar view: “The theory behind the indictment is flexible enough that almost any kind of political conflict could be defined as a ‘misuse’ of power or ‘coercion’ of one’s opponents. To describe the indictment as ‘frivolous’ gives it far more credence than it deserves.” The headline calls the indictment “unbelievably ridiculous.” Hopefully Texas courts will toss this monstrosity promptly.