Considering the kind of crap Texas gets for it's backward education system (it is!), it's archaic and crazy taxing system (it is), it's crazy politicians (John Cornyn), this is a great way to lead the nation in something that could really save lives and change people's attitudes.

So did Perry, who plays often to his anti-abortionist and religiously extreme base, suddenly grow some brains and a heart? Nope. Perry reasons for signing this executive order had nothing to his concern for "the safety and welfare of our children." The reason - the only reason - is that Merck, the maker of the vaccine, gave Perry alot of money and lobbied him hard.

Perry has several ties to Merck and Women in Government. One of the drug company's three lobbyists in Texas is Mike Toomey, Perry's former chief of staff. Perry also received $6,000 from Merck's political action committee during his re-election campaign.

Merck better get Perry a job too while they're at it, because once his base realizes they were sold out and Perry, like Tom Delay, has just been using these religious "wackos", Rick may need a new job.

And just in case, you needed a reminder that it wasn't his heart that changed but his bank account, here's a photo of Rick Perry at another signing. It was at a church, where he signed an Anti-abortion bill. It was at the same signing that he told gays to find some other state to live in.

So, it wasn't safety or intelligence that won. It was money. However, at least this time, young women and girls of Texas won't be losing to the political pressure of the religious reicht and the politicians who kiss up to them.