Posted on 11/27/2010 4:13:48 PM PST by dselig
WASHINGTON — Texas Gov. Rick Perry (R) and Sarah Palin increasingly have more and more in common with one another, with Perry following in the footsteps of the former Alaska governor in what could culminate in a campaign showdown in 2012.
Palin became famous for quitting her job as governor of Alaska in order to hit the speaking circuit and become a national conservative voice. She has a best-selling book, a pundit gig with Fox News and even a reality television show on TLC.
Perry has a book called Fed Up! coming out soon, which casts federal policies as a “legitimate threat to America’s continued leadership in the free world.”
According to the Associated Press, Perry will be launching a national book tour — even though he insists it’s about not boosting his own profile.
While he stresses that he’s not interested in running for president in 2012, he is also refusing to commit to serving a full term if he is re-elected as governor — a scenario that immediately brings to mind Palin.
“I’m guaranteeing people that I’ll get in there and do the best job I can for ‘em as governor,” Perry told reporters. “I just think it’s always very premature to be making a statement about what you’re going to be doing two, four, six or eight years from now — I don’t ever take anything off the table.”
If Perry decides to run, he will be able to turn to Dave Carney, one of his chief campaign advisers who has been consulting him for more than a decade. Carney lives in the electorally important state of New Hampshire and commutes to Texas when needed.
James Henson, director of the Texas Politics Project and a lecturer in the government department at the University of Texas at Austin, believes that Perry’s dismissal of higher office may simply be temporary.
“I don’t think anybody should expect Rick Perry to announce any plans he has when he’s concluding a campaign that was hinged on defining Washington, D.C., as toxic,” said Henson, predicting that his supporters will draft him to come to Washington — reluctantly — to clean up the place.
Perry has also been paying more attention to the national media than reporters in his own state.
He caused much consternation amongst the Texas press when he addressed a gathering of national editorial writers. The president of the National Conference of Editorial Writers, however, later wrote a letter saying his group was “stunned and disappointed” that the governor did not stick around to answer questions.
Perry has also become known nationally for his far-right statements, including his comments last year in which he floated Texas seceding from the United States. He has also said Obama is hellbent on taking America toward a socialist country, awarded right-wing radio host Rush Limbaugh an “honorary Texan” award and expressed his sympathies with the so-called “tenther” movement.
Perry, of course, may not decide to run. Both he and Palin may decide to revel in making large sums of money as national conservative figures. whatever happens, it’s clear they will be watching each other closely.
...more like the next John McCain.
The country can do just fine without him in power. Take it from a Texan.
Why, when we have Pawlenty, Romney, Gingrich, and Huckabee to choose from? /MS
Take it from this 6th generation Texan—NO NO NO !
The country can do just fine without him in power. Take it from a Texan.
Party pooper!
Give it a few replies before stopping the fun for crying out loud.
Yea - it is SCARY. Luckily, the new media can also be used to out the Trojans...and we shall do that.
Rick Perry is another political chameleon.
No thanks!
Perry is not a Bear he’s a Salmon..
I hope not. Wouldn’t be a bad running mate but not going to be conservative enough to roll back the Socialist Agenda of this regime.
Looking at his record, it screams “Rino.” On the other hand, they are all Rinos. We need someone new, and quick.
Apparently a million anti-Perry voters voted for him in 2010 anyway because Bill White was much, much worse. “The lesser of two evils” lives in TX. Ditto, Cornyn and Hutchison.
/johnny
LOL, I agree
uggggggggh. NOT PERRY!!!!!!!!
Ship him to Illinois, we need Rick Perry. We have the biggest loser, Pat Quinn. Want to trade?
The Texans said No...Good enough for this Arizonan...
Mucho sarcasm?
Don’t know much about Perry. Could he be tapped as Czar of Dismantling Federal Fascist Unions?
Anyone seen him in a fistfight?
Anyone seen him in a fistfight?
Slick Rick’s forte isn’t fighting but rather saying what the particular group wants to hear. He’ll flow with the tide.........
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