Posted on 06/09/2011 8:01:07 PM PDT by smoothsailing
He recently mentioned that since being asked by several friends to run that he is reconsidering. Had him on my list before, then he adamantly said that he was NOT running, now he is “reconsidering”. So he’s back.
Good that it wasn’t a problem for you and the rest of Texas.
As far as I’m concerned, for those attracted to Perry, the attraction runs only skin deep.
If he’s a RINO why did Palin campaign for him?
I hope Paul Ryan stays out. Last thing we need is conservatives going after him. It seems like anyone who is running or is thinking of running gets trashed.
I don’t know anything about Perry, but there seems to be a complete disconnect here. He is supposedly a RINO but yet the Tea Party loves him? What gives?
To help put this into perspective here is how Perry did against two opponents in the GOP Primary. He won with 51.14% of the vote so it's not like he was the run away winner.
---------------------------------------- Governor Kay Bailey Hutchison REP 450,087 30.31% Debra Medina REP 275,159 18.53% Rick Perry(I) REP 759,296 51.14% ----------- Race Total 1,484,542
In the General election agains four opponents he garnered 54.97% of the vote. He's not just walking away with the elections as you can see. He wins but sometimes it maybe because of the choices presented to the electorate.
Governor Rick Perry(I) REP 2,737,481 54.97% Bill White DEM 2,106,395 42.29% Kathie Glass LIB 109,211 2.19% Deb Shafto GRN 19,516 0.39% Andy Barron W-I 7,267 0.14% ----------- Race Total 4,979,870
It could just as easily be said that Perry defeated all opponents by double digits and the closest challenger lost by 12 points.
Doesn't that also help "put this into perspective"; as you say?
Exactly. He's a hack with great hair and political skills. So... better than the incompetent hacks the GOP usually offers up, I guess.
Perry has excellent political skills and got out in front of the Tea Party wave. He's a disciplined communicator and knows how to push the right buttons. He pushed states rights and went after Obama, and tied Kay Bailey Hutchison to the corrupt Washington establishment (which was absolutely true).
He's not a True Believer, more of a populist who says (and sometimes does) what the people want.
“Honestly I don’t know enough about Perry or any of the candidates “
Then I suggest you find out more about Perry — as far as I can see he is a solid conservative and someone who can actually beat Obama.
“Honestly I don’t know enough about Perry or any of the candidates “
Then I suggest you find out more about Perry — as far as I can see he is a solid conservative and someone who can actually beat Obama.
From what I’ve seen as a lifelong Texan who’s voted for Perry in three general elections (because he was better than the Democratic alternatives), Governor Perry is just another good looking, smooth talking politician who pays lip service to conservative ideals while pushing his own left-of-center agenda. He’s built a reputation as a supporter of state sovereignty by making comments about secession and as a supporter of Fourth Amendment rights by suggesting that TSA agents would better serve this country by guarding our borders rather than our airports, but he didn’t lift a finger to support the TSA anti-groping bill during the regular session (where it had strong support but was killed by the TSA’s strong arm tactics), and he’s refused to add it to the current special session. He’s built a reputation as a Second Amendment supporter by saying that CHL holders should be able to carry their guns everywhere and by claiming that he shot a coyote on an Austin jogging trail, but he’s never thrown his weight behind a gun rights bill, he’s refused to add the campus carry bill (which was killed on a parliamentary point of order during the regular session) to the special session, and it looks like he’s not going to sign the bill that prevents employers from firing somebody for keeping a firearm in their car. In fact, during the past ten years, the only time I can remember him going out on a political limb was when he tried to enact an executive order that would have required 12-year-old girls to be inoculated against sexually transmitted diseases.
While I think Perry has impressive positive arguments he can make, it's the negatives that need to be addressed.
From what I can gather, there seems to be three major bones of contention. The Guardasil E.O., the Trans Texas Corridor, and illegal immigration.
Perry will have to be able to deflect all three with compelling explanations, because it's obvious his detracters will unload on him. The passion displayed by a number of freepers, and notably a small but vocal segment of the Texas contingent, shows that to be the case.
I believe Perry would trounce Obama on the immigration issue, although he could take heat in the primary.
He could probably deflect TTC as an internal state matter than voters outside of Texas won't focus on, although he would have to be ready to state his position on imminent domain and unregulated Mexican truckers in the primary.
The Guardasil E.O. is his biggest liability, as I see it. He'd better be ready for that one. When you start messing with children's health and parental rights you better have your ducks in a row. Particularly in Texas, where individual liberty is taken seriously by so many, as it should be but isn't elsewhere.
The opt-out feature and the built-in 18 month delay in implementation are probably politically to his favor.
Putting aside the charges that he and his staff were joined at the hip with Merck, it could be argued that his intentions were good, but he didn't let his head catch up with his heart. Nevertheless, what he did was boneheaded, unilateral, and dangerous. Hopefully he learned from the experience and has the character to admit it.
I've no doubt left alot out, considering Perry's long history, but the three points I mention seem to be the highest flying red flags.
All said and done, and given the existing Republican field, I'm not prepared to dismiss Perry at this point. My main goal is the defeat of Obama in 2012, and I'll support the most conservative candidate who has the best chance of doing that.
I’m not so sure Perry could beat Obama; to be honest with you. I’m telling you, the guy is a light-weight, an empty-suit. Are you a Texan? If so, you know I’m telling the truth.
I’m sure that he’s better than the others in Texas, but that’s not good enough when we have an EXCELLENT candidate to vote for in Sarah Palin. I’m sick of Republicans who cave in on illegal immigration. I don’t want Perry. I had enough of a lousy President in Bush.
EXACTLY!
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