Bye-Bye to Bearse

Another ranking staffer is saying goodbye to staff parking at the governor's mansion: Eric Bearse, director of communications for Gov. Rick Perry, will be leaving to go into private practice. Equally at home writing inaugural speeches and attack ads, he's been a decade-long fixture by the governor's side. No word yet on a replacement.

In a press release, the governor's office announces that, as of September 1, Bearse will be setting out his shingle as a pen-for-hire "specializing in speechwriting, public affairs and political consulting." He's done this before, having worked for a slew of clients seeking election before joining the Perry camp during his '98 campaign for lieutenant governor. Since then he's bounced between Perry's office and Perry's campaigns, so does anybody want to guess who his first client will be?

Of course, Perry has always liked keeping consultancy contracts in the family. According to filings with the Texas Ethics Commission by Perry's PAC, Texans for Rick Perry, a firm called Delisi Communications was paid $538,771.59 for services during his 2006 campaign. If the name Delisi rings any bells, because it's the last name of his former chief of staff Deirdre Delisi, wife of GOP consultant Ted Delisi, who happens to be the son of Rep. Dianne Delisi, R-Temple, and the man behind Delisi Communications. It's already recieved $36,632.21 in the first half of this year, and there's not even a campaign on.

So, here's some questions: why the maneuvering on the staff front? Why the recent announcement of the size of the TRP war chest? And why the recent foreign-policy-points-winning trip to Israel? Is the rumored Perry for Veep '08 campaign trying to pick up some steam?