A non-Texan's questions re. Gov's Bush and Perry

[RandySF]

As upset as I was about the defeat of Anne Richards in 1994, I have to admit that GOVERNOR George W. Bush seemed like a nice guy. During debates, he talked a good game about reforming the juvenile justice system. When right-wingers pushed English-only in public schools, he talked about "English-plus". He got along well with Democratic House Speaker Bob Bullock, at least pretended to reach out to the Latino and African-American communities and never struck me as a gay basher. Of course, we all know how he turned out a president. From the time Rick Perry took Bush's place, he looked and acted like evil-incarnate and never distanced himself from the worst elements of the Republican Party.

All of my observations came from outside Texas. Therefore,I would like to ask Texas DUers this: How were they similar or different? Did my outside perceptions match how people saw them within the state?