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The Case for Rick Perry
5/27/2011 | anon

Posted on 05/27/2011 11:11:59 AM PDT by Flightdeck

Consider Barack Obama out for a stiff morning run, battling hills with his little Portuguese water dog. Halfway through his daily route, danger strikes. Secret Service nowhere in sight, a coyote charges Bo, beloved pet of Sasha and Malia. Before the coyote’s jaws can tear Bo's throat open, Obama levels his laser-sighted .380 Ruger. One shot, one kill. Heart still thumping from exertion, Barack re-holsters his weapon, checks his watch, and digs in for the final climb of the trail, a hard day’s work ahead.

What's that? You have trouble seeing Obama as a strong, competent leader with the ability to execute (pun intended)? Does this make Texas Governor Rick Perry--who saved his daughter's pet Labrador in this precise way--a better choice for President? No. Well kind of, but let's go with no for now.

Now picture Barack Obama , captain of industry, receiving his advance copy of the Labor Bureau's employment report in the Oval Office. He reviews the numbers carefully. After digesting the extraordinary number of private-sector jobs created, free-falling unemployment, and ballooning economic growth, Obama finally reclines his leather chair. The numbers are great, but Obama is disappointed, knowing that less government intrusion could have made them even better.

Yeah, neither can I. I have an easier time picturing Stephen Hawking in a Dallas Cowboys uniform, intercepting a Tom Brady slant pass over the middle. And now you may understand why Rick Perry is a better choice for President of the United States. The economy is the most important factor in our country's long-term health, with direct influence on medical care, immigration, national security, and defense.

As governor of Texas for over ten years, Rick Perry has presided over a state that has strengthened national equity and weathered a global economic recession extremely well. Dare I compare Texas to Jackie Earle Haley's character in the Bad News Bears--the chain-smoking 'Kelly' who brought talent to a bunch of underachievers? In a border state with monumental state personnel (and entitlement) requirements, the success of Texas is no accident. Along with state legislatures, Perry deserves credit for specific decisions that removed burdens on growth, and for vetoing others that sought to impose them. Perhaps the most passionate topic debated in the midst of the 2010 elections was the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, i.e. Obamacare. Unlike the front-running Republican candidate from Massachusetts, Governor Perry chose the fiscally conservative path to reducing patient costs while increasing the quality of their care. In a controversial stand which cost political capital, Perry sponsored a Texas state amendment limiting doctor malpractice liability. The amendment has been credited for decreasing malpractice insurance rates by greater than 21% plus renewal rebates, as reported by the New York Times. The result was an increase in doctors that doubled population increase in Texas, and initiation of care in previously neglected rural areas. Comparison of conservative medical reforms to the Obamacare prototype in Massachusetts is stark, which is principally responsible for a $20 billion state debt and skyrocketing individual premiums. And if you're pissing off the trial lawyers, you must be doing something right.

Conservative tax policy in Texas is an easy win. Texas has no state income tax, despite multiple democrat attempts to create one. Pending the 2010 numbers, Texas contributes more federal tax revenue than any other state, with the possible exception of California. More importantly, state tax policy frees Texas base equity to grow, which can now be compared as a peer to the economies of Canada, India, and England. Perry wasn't elected three times in a historically democratic state (yes, look it up), by ignoring the link between self-sufficiency and quality of life. The minimum tax and limited government policies supported by the Perry Administration can be directly linked to the job creation that currently defines Texas as a bulls eye for employers.

Texas balanced its budget, as required, on May 26. This fact should evoke both shrugs of disinterest and stunned gasps of surprise. Those of us who consider our children’s future with every waking decision will shrug, because balancing a household budget is no less necessary than having gas in the tank before driving them to school. Yet we also gasp, because there exists a strange genus of humans who are not required to fill up their tank: homo sapiens politicians. Real pain was required to balance the Texas budget, make no mistake. This pain has never been felt by federal politicians, Barack Obama for instance, who have had zero experience governing under responsible balanced budget amendments.

Pain is also required to run steep hills marked by dead coyotes with hollow points in their heads, but we exercise because our long-term health demands it. The United States can only avoid the analogous heart attack by undergoing immediate fiscal exercise. Perry and the Republican legislature deserve legitimate credit for observing discipline that has eluded their federal counterparts, and ensuring the future health of the state, in stark contrast to the suicidal spending policies of Obama, Reid, and Pelosi et al. Unlike California, Texas-based companies and citizens have enjoyed relatively minimal interference, leading to a pilgrimage of Californians to Austin, Fort Worth, Houston, and San Antonio. Their journey sheds a high-tax, entrepreneur-stifling environment for one of freedom to succeed or fail on their own terms.

Conservative Republicans may appreciate this performance, yet be quick to protest certain pedigree flaws. Most notably, Rick Perry ran for office as a democrat in 1984, and campaigned for Al Gore in 1988 before switching to Republican in 1989. He was 39 years old when he switched, certainly mature enough to recognize his grotesque lapse of judgment. I believe I was eleven, plus or minus a week, when my firm political philosophy was resolved. The demographic political map at the time surely played a role in Perry's initial political identity, and while it is always smart to cast a suspicious eye, Perry's record rejects the typical party-switcher mold. Perry is pro-life, and pushed a non-trivial campaign against elective abortion in Texas with results. Perry also respects and ratified the sanctity of heterosexual marriage, through words and deed. Importantly, Governor Perry has vetoed legislation that didn't sustain conservative policies more than any single Texas governor, save one, in the state's history. It is worth noting that Perry has forcefully rejected the politics of Gore and the left over many years. The perfect conservative candidate? No. But a good one, in my humble opinion. I leave the voter with two thoughts when considering a Presidential candidate:

1) The economic policies of Texas, when generalized, will liberate the inherent productivity of the USA.

2) Rick Perry Is Not Barack Obama.


TOPICS: Your Opinion/Questions
KEYWORDS: rickperry
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To: SamuraiScot

He made a mistake with making it mandatory. Any politician who has been in office long enough will have made a few. I’ll take Governor Goodhair’s™ mistakes over any other right now.


61 posted on 05/27/2011 6:10:34 PM PDT by BJClinton ("Worse" technically is "change".)
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To: Georgia Girl 2
Too bad the author left out Perry’s dream of the Trans Texas Corridor

Again, we need the infrastructure. No one wants to raise gas taxes so toll roads are the only option left.

and his association with the Bilderbergers.

I see that tinfoil hat hasn't been loosened up just yet...
62 posted on 05/27/2011 6:13:44 PM PDT by BJClinton ("Worse" technically is "change".)
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To: BJClinton

No i just think you should not confuse Rick Perry with a conservative who is interested in restoring the Constitutional Republic. If you were satisfied with GW Bush then you will love Perry. The borders will stay open, the North American Union initiative will push forward and the jobs will continue to leave the US for other countries.
Perry is not the Devil but don’t try to make us believe he is a Tea Party Conservative. He is not. You are the one with the tin foil hat if you think you are going to vote for Perry as a conservative.


63 posted on 05/27/2011 7:13:15 PM PDT by Georgia Girl 2 (The only purpose of a pistol is to fight your way back to the rifle you should never have dropped.)
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To: Arrowhead1952

Well, you’re right—ANYTHING is better than what we have now-—but there are degrees as to how much better some of the contenders are—and Perry is way down my list.


64 posted on 05/27/2011 8:34:11 PM PDT by basil (It's time to rid the country of "gun free zones" aka "Killing Fields")
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To: Flightdeck

Rick Perry close up w flag good

Our likely choices SUCK thus far.
I am not a huge fan of Perry, but
compared to Romney, Newt, and the rest of JOKES running for President he’s a rock star.
Texas has been voted #1 business climate for the last seven years.
Texas has been getting all of California’s jobs.
Perry must be doing something right.
We need a good business guy right now.
Perry has proved it.

. Sarah Palin threw her endorsement to Rick Perry for governor- and so did Nugent.

.Rush stated on Greta’s On The Record that Perry is his
dream candidate.
http://gretawire.blogs.foxnews.com/rush-limbaugh-on-the-record-3/

. Pro-life, Pro-guns, pro-spending cuts, pro-business

. He’s an outside-the-Beltway candidate

. He is not a Ivy League grad

. He was an Air Force captain who flew a C-130

. Speaks Spainish.
(Odumbo says everybody should speak a foreign language, but he CAN’T)

. Fighting with Obama on many fronts
Google Perry/Obama and you will see he’s been fighting him and his government for the past two years.

. Since Perry has been Governor of Texas, Texas has added more than 850,000 jobs, more than all other states combined. Texas has added over 180,000 jobs since August of 2009.

. There is no such thing as ‘Perrycare’

. Perry did not apply for federal “Race to the Top” education funds because he said it would force national standards upon Texas.

. He has vetoed a record 248 bills, including dozens after the 2001 session, angering many lawmakers.

. He said last year that President Barack Obama was “hell-bent” on turning America into a socialist country.

. Won governorship of state with lots of latinos

. According to this web site Texas is #1 this year and last year for business friendly.
http://chiefexecutive.net/best-worst-states-for-business
Obama would not want not run against a governor that has the BEST business climate in the U.S. when everything else is in a depression.

. He used to be a Democrat. So? So did Reagan.

. The Bush’s don’t like him

. Perry has a reputation for not sweating

• He refused to raise taxes when Texas faced a record $10 billion budget shortfall in 2003. Instead, he was the first Texas governor since World War II to sign a budget that lowered state spending (and has now done it twice). As governor, Perry has used his line item veto to cut over $3 billion in proposed spending.

• In 2005, Perry signed a historic $15.7 billion property tax cut for homeowners and businesses that also included new taxpayer protections against appraisal increases. In 2009, Gov. Perry secured a tax cut for approximately 40,000 small businesses in Texas and protected the Rainy Day Fund for future challenges.

• He led the battle to pass the country’s most sweeping lawsuit reforms, closing the door on junk lawsuits that had been making trial lawyers rich while driving countless doctors either out of the state or the profession all together. Since Texas voters approved these reforms, malpractice claims and premiums have fallen and access to healthcare is increasing across the state as doctors have applied in droves to practice in Texas.

. He has never lost an election, including an elementary school contest for “king” of the Paint Creek School Carnival. He secured that win by handing out pennies for votes.

.Perry is pro-life and opposes government funding for elective abortions. In 2005, Perry, a social conservative, signed a bill that limited late-term abortions and required girls under the age of 18 who procure abortions to notify their parents. Perry signed the bill in the gymnasium of Calvary Christian Academy in Fort Worth, an evangelical Christian school.

. Perry is also known for his socially conservative views on homosexuality, and he opposes same sex marriage. He condemned the United States Supreme Court decision in Lawrence vs. Texas, which struck down a Texas sodomy law. He called the law “appropriate”.

. Christian religious beliefs
In what was described as a “God and country” sermon at the Cornerstone church in San Antonio, attended by Perry and other mostly Republican candidates, the Rev. John Hagee stated, “If you live your life and don’t confess your sins to God Almighty through the authority of Christ and His blood, I’m going to say this very plainly, you’re going straight to hell with a nonstop ticket.” Perry was asked if he agreed with those comments and said, “It is my faith, and I’m a believer of that.”[39] Perry went on to say that there was nothing in the sermon that he took exception with. Humorist and entertainer Kinky Friedman, the Jewish independent candidate for governor in the 2006 election, said, “He doesn’t think very differently from the Taliban, does he?” Carole Keeton Strayhorn disagreed with Perry’s comments, and Democrat Chris Bell said that one who is in public office should “respect people of all faiths and denominations”. Conservatives then responded, arguing that Perry had a right to his religious beliefs, and that he was not disrespecting Americans of other religious convictions.[40] While visiting Israel in August 2009, Perry gave an interview to the Jerusalem Post in which he affirmed his support for Israel from his religious background, “I’m a big believer that this country was given to the people of Israel a long time ago, by God, and that’s ordained.”
. Environmental issues
Perry does not believe there is valid scientific proof of anthropogenic global warming. He has said several times that there is no scientific consensus on the issue.[69] In a September 7, 2007, speech to California Republicans, Perry said, “Virtually every day another scientist leaves the global warming bandwagon. ... But you won’t read about that in the press because they have already invested in one side of the story.”

. Inauguration concert controversy
Perry invited his friend, rock musician Ted Nugent, to perform at a black-tie gala hours after Perry’s second inauguration ceremony on January 16, 2007. Nugent appeared onstage during the inaugural ball wearing a cutoff T-shirt emblazoned with the Confederate flag and shouting derogatory remarks about non-English speakers, according to press reports.[79] The NAACP condemned Nugent’s flying of the Confederate flag, but he denied intentionally making any racially offensive comments and stated that the flag is a symbol of southern heritage
Misc:

. He played quarterback on the six-man football team for the Paint Creek Pirates. He also played basketball and ran track.

. He’s a runner and triathlete.

. He is an outdoorsman who enjoys hunting and fishing.

. He plays the drums. At a January 2005 inaugural party in Washington, he played with ZZ Top in front of 2,000 people

. Perry has Romney’s looks without the other baggage.
Raised on a ranch. Has hair. 6’ tall- presidential (especially after Obama)

Americans WILL get it:
Better looking
Better record
Rick Perry for President.

.


65 posted on 05/27/2011 9:32:15 PM PDT by patriot08 (TEXAS GAL- born and bred and proud of it!)
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To: Flightdeck
Image and video hosting by TinyPic Image and video hosting by TinyPic Image and video hosting by TinyPic
66 posted on 05/27/2011 9:37:45 PM PDT by patriot08 (TEXAS GAL- born and bred and proud of it!)
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To: Flightdeck; All

Where is all this hate and venom spewing coming form re;
Rick Perry? Every time he is mentioned, this board turns into something resembling DU.

A lot of it is coming from my fellow Texans- and the fact that you would tear apart our own governor is puzzling and embarassing.
What is it, really?
Is it the sour grapes Debra Medina fans?
What?

Look, I love Sarah as much as any of you, and I think Cain is a nice guy and a fine American, but sadly, we have to face the facts that these two are not electable.
They are just not.
Do you WANT another four years of the Marxist/Muslim usurper?
If not, then we need to start thinking of a man who CAN defeat him.

Rick Perry makes mistakes.
They all do.
He knows he should not have pushed the vaccine and the hiway thing. If that’s the worst thing he’s done, I can live with that.
It’s true he seems to slide to the left now and then, but a good slap upside the head by the people sets him straight back on the Conservative course. At least he LISTENS to the people.

Rick Perry is not a perfect candidate, but such a candidate does not exist and never has. But Perry is one of the few potential candidates with both the skill and record to build a credible national effort quickly, and turn the national political landscape around in his favor. If he were to run, Rick Perry would be a very strong candidate.


67 posted on 05/27/2011 9:46:17 PM PDT by patriot08 (TEXAS GAL- born and bred and proud of it!)
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To: Flightdeck; TXnMA
First of all, you disgrace yourself (and indirectly, FreeRepublic) by using an ethnic slur.

Did you really perceive the term "wetback" as an ethnic slur by TXnMA?

I honestly don't interpret it as a slur in any way. Instead, I find it descriptive and an apt term to describe the Mexicans who illegally came to our country via the Rio Grande. I see it no worse than "ridgerunner" as a term to describe people in the northern part of my native state of Pennsylvania.

And there was "Operation Wetback" back in the 1950's run by the INS to control the Mexican hordes invading America. Frankly, it's time we reactivate that program again regardless of what it might be called.

68 posted on 05/27/2011 10:11:54 PM PDT by re_nortex (DP...that's what I like about Texas.)
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To: hocndoc
Gardisil is a good vaccine.

The researcher who was on the team who invented it didn't think so for the application it was being put to—it took out a few strains, but left most alone—and went on a speaking tour against Gardasil.

I thought Perry got played, and the sequence of his EO on Gardasil and campaign contributions from Merck looked really bad. I don't want a gullible President who's willing to cheat.

69 posted on 05/27/2011 10:53:09 PM PDT by SamuraiScot
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To: re_nortex
"I honestly don't interpret [wetback] as a slur in any way."

Okay. The next time you come to Texas, we'll go hunting down in Laredo. When we stop in town for supplies, ask me to "grab you some of that jerky, right there next to the wetbacks." And so on. We'll see how that goes.

I don't disagree with you on reactivation of Operation Wetback, but what flies in the 1950's isn't relevant to today:


70 posted on 05/28/2011 7:18:01 AM PDT by Flightdeck (If you hear me yell "Eject, Eject, Eject!" the last two will be echos...)
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To: patriot08

You made a better case than the original post. Perry might not be perfect, but he’s better than most of the other candidates and way better than Romney—the media’s choice.

Primary time can be antagonistic around here...


71 posted on 05/28/2011 7:21:19 AM PDT by Flightdeck (If you hear me yell "Eject, Eject, Eject!" the last two will be echos...)
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To: basil

Well, Perry is NOT the #1 on my list either, but we have to get zero out of power.


72 posted on 05/28/2011 7:38:31 AM PDT by Arrowhead1952 (zero hates Texas and we hate him back.)
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To: Arrowhead1952

I know—it’s a real balancing act for us—if we pick a candidate that is “too” conservative, I’m afraid obammy wins. If we pick a middle of the roader, then the pubbies will probably stay home in droves.


73 posted on 05/28/2011 7:56:23 AM PDT by basil (It's time to rid the country of "gun free zones" aka "Killing Fields")
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To: basil

If you look at the DUmmie FUnnies Charles posted today, they are not happy at all.


DUmmie FUnnies 05-27-11 (DUmmie whines: “I hate where our country is right now.”)
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/2726339/posts


74 posted on 05/28/2011 8:08:23 AM PDT by Arrowhead1952 (zero hates Texas and we hate him back.)
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To: Arrowhead1952

Man! What a conglomerate of idiots!


75 posted on 05/28/2011 9:19:20 AM PDT by basil (It's time to rid the country of "gun free zones" aka "Killing Fields")
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To: Dr. Sivana

Dr.,
The only reason we do PAP smears is to look for changes due to HPV. The. Only. Reason.

99.7% plus of all cancerous, or precancerous cervical findings are due to HPV.

Now, you were writing about “misbehaving” girls? Virgins who marry “misbehaving” boys contract HPV, too.

None of the deaths were confirmed to be due to the vaccine. In fact, the CDC, JAMA, and the very conservative(Bush-appointed and media vilified for those conservative views) FDA panel that reviewed the VAERS in 2008 all confirm that there’s no causal relationship, only temporal. http://www.cdc.gov/vaccinesafety/vaccines/hpv/gardasil.html

Remember your statistics classes. With 33 million doses, there are bound to be deaths that coincide with the timing of the vaccine use. The teen death rate from all causes is 62 per 100,000 across the US. http://datacenter.kidscount.org/data/acrossstates/Rankings.aspx?ind=25 Most of those are boys, but still: In 10 million girls, 30 deaths are not outside the rate for the age group.

More likely the girls in question were at higher risk due to the population presenting to clinics giving the vaccine: those who present with worries about STD’s, the newly sexually active and those entering college. They were given new scripts for birth control pills and other vaccines and meds.

Also remember the silicon, SSRI, and the general vaccine scares that have been blown out of proportion through the years and later proven to be untrue.


76 posted on 05/28/2011 11:26:01 AM PDT by hocndoc (http://www.LifeEthics.org (I've got a mustard seed and I'm not afraid to use it.) (RIAing)
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To: Flightdeck; re_nortex
The term, "Wetback" is behavioral -- not ethnic.

I'll replace it with a more precise, 2011-class term:

"Criminal Alien Invader"

Does that suit your liberal hellhole (Austin) -attuned sensitivities better?

P.S. Just for you, I have "switched-in" another tagline from my "standby" list...

77 posted on 05/28/2011 11:30:29 AM PDT by TXnMA (There is no Constitutional right to NOT be offended.)
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To: SamuraiScot

I hadn’t heard about a given researcher, but may were worried that although the HPV4 protected against the 2 strains that cause cervical cancer and the two that cause genital warts, if we wiped out these 4, other strains would move in to fill the niches left.

Instead, we’re seeing what appears to be cross-protection from other strains. http://jid.oxfordjournals.org/content/199/7/919/F2.expansion.html (I don’t know why Cervarix has better numbers than Gardisil -— however, if you’ve ever seen a really large genital wart [google it], you’d be glad most in the US choose Gardisil._


78 posted on 05/28/2011 11:36:48 AM PDT by hocndoc (http://www.LifeEthics.org (I've got a mustard seed and I'm not afraid to use it.) (RIAing)
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To: patriot08
Rick Perry shoots down Arizona's harsh immigration law (April 2010)

Plus...I had to fight Rick-Rick (Perry/Williamson) on the TTC abomination.

No Sale!!!


79 posted on 05/28/2011 11:46:52 AM PDT by TXnMA (Remember the Alamo! Remember Goliad! REPEAT San Jacinto!!!)
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To: Flightdeck
:)
80 posted on 05/28/2011 11:48:29 AM PDT by patriot08 (TEXAS GAL- born and bred and proud of it!)
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