Posted on 06/28/2011 10:04:28 AM PDT by Kaslin
Okay, so here are some unsolicited but heartfelt words of caution for Governor Rick Perry of Texas as he contemplates whether to enter the Republican primary for President of the United States.
As you and your trusted aides crunch numbers, take the pulse of major donors, look at various match-ups in states like Iowa, South Carolina, and Florida, please keep this in mind: The conservatives, Republicans, independents, and even the growing number of Democrats who embrace traditional values and strongly oppose Barack Obama and his socialist tendencies, are tired. They are bone tired, worried beyond words, and quite frankly sick of one pretend GOP candidate after the other leaving them at the altar. Enough.
Governor Mitch Daniels of Indiana, Governor Haley Barbour of Mississippi, or former Governor Mike Huckabee--all teased voters in desperate search of a candidate who might spare the nation further damage from the far-left ideology of President Obama and his allies, with a potential or pending run, and all finally declined the challenge. All offered plausible and personal reasons for not entering the area. Fine. We can respect if not understand those choices.
For tens of millions of Americans who see our Republic coming off the rails as unemployment rises, public employee unions cripple the financial well-being of a growing list of cities, counties, and states, the housing market continues to tank, corrupt teachers unions putting themselves well before public school children, our health-care system being hijacked by liberal zealots, our sovereign borders becoming more porous, and Islamic terrorist groups outside and inside our borders plotting their next horrific attack, its become harder and harder for them to understand why the minute handful of Republicans who could possibly make a positive difference have decided to take a powder on the fight of our lives. Very hard.
Now we have Governor Rick Perry. Over the course of the last few weeks, I have heard from a significant number of conservatives asking me if I thought Perry was serious? They, like me, think he is a talented, ethical, and traditional values espousing public servant and are beyond desperate for him to enter the toughest and most crucial of electoral arenas.
During his exceptional and stirring remarks at the Republican Leadership Conference in New Orleans on June 18th, Governor Perry spoke like a man who got it. During the course of his speech -- which inspired a majority in the audience to jump up from their chairs on numerous occasions -- the Governor wondered if nothing was done to stem the liberal destruction of our values, would future generations ask, Why didnt someone do something? He quickly followed up that question by saying, In Texas we truly believe that you cant defer tough decisions for tomorrows generation.
Finally, as the Governor of a state which is responsible for over 47% of all jobs created in the entire nation over the last two years, he asked, If we dont do it, who will? If not now, when?
Indeed.
During his remarks, the Governor stressed the need for, and the power of conservative principles. Millions of Americans believe Rick Perry to be a highly principled conservative. Because of that, they are willing to take that one last walk down the aisle.
However, should they be abandoned at the altar once again, not only will their hopes for a better, more prosperous, and more secure country dashed, but their faith in their leaders will be damaged to the core.
Run, Rick, run.
If we dont do it, who will? If not now, when?
Hard to argue with that. While far from perfect, Texas should be the model of how a country is run.
Perry has liabilities, no doubt, but so does every other candidate. This race lacks a perfect candidate, if there is such a thing.
I am a Texan, and thought I do think he shares conservative values, I’m not sure he can woo a national following. He has made some mistakes, but he’s also done good for Texas.
Besides, we still need him in Texas....even though the governor’s job here is a weak one in comparison to other states. He finally has a legislature he can work with to get some things passed that have been needed.
He has a lot of detractors that will no doubt argue with what I said. :)
Just sayin’.....
Ping....and ping your group if you think this is important enough for discussion. :D
Thanks!
That's because Americans believe anything they see on TV. Would a highly principled conservative serve as campaign chairman to that Armand "Lenin is my best pal" Hammer protege, Al Gore?
There will never be a perfect candidate, because the candidate can not please every one. Nor should he or she
Perry is a longtime, unwavering supporter of the NAFTA Superhighway
and related infrastructure projects. Perry has
been quietly selling out Texas to globalist interests, auctioning off highways
to foreign companies to turn them into profit-driven toll roads. And the whole forced vaccination of teen girls concerns me about his mind set. I do not know if I trust him.
This is the very conversation I've had with my conservative friends. There are a number of conservative-leaning politicians who are making these same kinds of statements about our country going over the cliff, and that it's not only dire, but potentially fatal for our Republic. If they truly believe what they're saying, then it's incumbent on them to do whatever they can, at any cost, to get on the battlefield. Otherwise, they need to STFU about it because they have lost all credibility. This doesn't apply only to Perry, but to many others.
Agreed. My husband went to school with him and says he was a total jerk. Never liked him, always voted for him, as he was the lesser of two evils.
Is Perry the next John McLaim?.. or is that still Myth Romney?.. Hinstman is the straight man..
All three are obviously Progressives..
He's running.
After this TSA debacle in Texas I’m witholding making a decison about Perry. I think he is not going to do what needs to be done on the border. On the positive side Perry has said that the first 100 days of a Perry Presidency would include closing down the EPA and the Dept of Educ. that would be huge. He needs to get in the race and start answering the hard questions. I wonder if Chris Wallace will ask him if he’s a flake?
Ricky Ricardo Perry is ‘soft’ on immigration. Did not support Arizona’s efforts to eradicate the illegal’s invasion across our borders. He will be content to ‘play nice’ with his ‘neighbor’...MEHICO! Ricky Ricardo Perry is not my first choice!
My Dad has met and dealt with Perry several times for Texas related business and has similar feelings. He thinks Perry is a tool, but a good Gov. nonetheless.
Gov Perry for possible POTUS ping.
Let me know if you want on or off my ping lists.
That's not true no matter how many times it's said.
You just signed up today to bash Rick Perry and Michelle Bachmann?
Normally we welcome new people to Free Republic, and I would like to extend that greeting to you at some point, but not quite yet.
From the link below, I copied this part:
The swing state that had voted for Democrats in four of the previous five presidential elections turned into a deep red one that has chosen Republicans for president eight straight times and does not have a single Democratic statewide elected official.
Do you think Texas is still a "swing state"?
This is a pretty weak argument. At the time, both Perry and Gore were Democrats. Gore was pro-life and was considered the most conservative Democrat running for president that year. Perry left the party the next year because it had moved so far to the left that there was no room for a conservative (as did many other Southern Democrats).
If you told me Perry was a campaign manager for McGovern, Mondale or Dukakis, I would say you might have a point. But this is pretty weak tea...
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.