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A Word of Caution for Rick Perry
Townhall.com ^ | June 28, 2011 | Douglas MacKinnon

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, it’s 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 didn’t someone do something?” He quickly followed up that question by saying, “In Texas we truly believe that you can’t defer tough decisions for tomorrow’s 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 don’t 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.


TOPICS: Editorial; Politics/Elections; US: Texas
KEYWORDS: 2012; amnesty; democratr; gorescampaignmanager; rickperry; rino; ttc
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To: CA Conservative
-"I'd like a little more objective source before making any determinations."

PERRY: "We must say to every Texas child learning in a Texas classroom, “we don’t care where you come from, but where you are going, and we are going to do everything we can to help you get there. And that vision must include the children of undocumented workers.""

Another one who doesn't like to use the word "illegal", and instead uses the code-word of liberals, socialists, and illegal MEHICANOS... "undocumented"!

61 posted on 06/28/2011 5:56:43 PM PDT by The Bronze Titan
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To: Old Teufel Hunden; All

“I think that Reagan guy turned out okay.”

Indeed he did. However, I often think that the real “Ronald Reagan” could not live up to the legend that has become RONALD REAGAN. I think were he able to see what has happened to his image, he would be amused. One of the best real men we ever had in office.


62 posted on 06/28/2011 6:14:13 PM PDT by Sola Veritas (Trying to speak truth - not always with the best grammar or spelling)
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To: danran72
Dan, you signed up at FR today and looking at the posts you have made today, you bad mouthed almost every Republican candidate. Is that the reason you signed up? I have a feeling it is. If I am wrong about you I will apologize but I’ll have to wait and watch.
63 posted on 06/28/2011 6:16:28 PM PDT by Ditter
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To: Windflier

Perry is not my guy yet, although I find alot to like about him. If he gets in the race, I would expect him to move quickly to the first tier. I’ll probably make a decision about my choice after Labor Day.

Defending Perry’s E.O. is a losing proposition, opt-in always was the way to go with a non-communicable disease. Debating the matter in the legislature would have been preferable to Perry’s hamhanded approach. It’s one of at least three contentious issues that Perry must address, the highest flying red flags. The TTC and immigation are the other two, IMO. I don’t defend the E.O. as I’ve made clear. I’ve only been interested in pointing out the options available to parents at the time.

By acknowledging that the opt-out provisions exist, the “forced vaccination” and “mandatory” arguments lose their meaning and ring hollow , which has always been my main point.

As far as arguing with Texans, well, I don’t mind doing that from time to time.


64 posted on 06/28/2011 7:04:12 PM PDT by smoothsailing
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To: Ditter; danran72

Ditter, danran really doesn’t like Michelle Bachmann, hardly a good way to introduce yourself on a conservative website.

The ozone may be near with this one.


65 posted on 06/28/2011 7:14:58 PM PDT by smoothsailing
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To: smoothsailing
I don’t defend the E.O. as I’ve made clear. I’ve only been interested in pointing out the options available to parents at the time.

By acknowledging that the opt-out provisions exist, the “forced vaccination” and “mandatory” arguments lose their meaning and ring hollow , which has always been my main point.

You're being contradictory, and I think you're splitting hairs on the precise meaning of Perry's order.

The vaccinations were indeed mandatory, UNLESS a girl's parents made special efforts to file the forms with the state to opt their daughter out of the program.

That is force, and an abuse of power, no matter how finely you parse the language.

Perhaps you're seeing this thing through a lawyer's eyes, and not a citizen's. It would be a great help to Perry's presidential aspirations if more people looked at the Gardasil episode as you do, but I'm afraid that isn't the case.

Parents in Texas were rightfully outraged at Perry over commanding us in such a heinous way, at the time. Most who were here (and who had minor daughters at the time) will never forget it, and will continue to have their perceptions of the man colored by the incident.

I was in Texas at the time, with a minor daughter who was directly threatened by this order, so I've got a bit of skin in the game, so to speak.

66 posted on 06/28/2011 7:20:29 PM PDT by Windflier (To anger a conservative, tell him a lie. To anger a liberal, tell him the truth.)
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To: Windflier
It would be a great help to Perry's presidential aspirations if more people looked at the Gardasil episode as you do, but I'm afraid that isn't the case.

That may well turn out to be the story, maybe Guardasil will sink him, or maybe the TTC. I don't know, no one can at this point.

What is known is that Perry will have to take the heat if he enters the race. How he handles that and explains himself will tell us alot about his worthiness for the office. That's as it should be.

67 posted on 06/28/2011 7:55:14 PM PDT by smoothsailing
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To: smoothsailing
If you go back and look at danran’s posting history, it goes all the way back to this morning, he doesn't really like much about any of our candidates.
68 posted on 06/28/2011 8:17:14 PM PDT by Ditter
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To: Ditter

Yep, first post at 11:00 AM trashing Bachmann. She’s his main focus.


69 posted on 06/28/2011 8:45:44 PM PDT by smoothsailing
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To: Sola Veritas

I agree. President Reagan has been mythologized to such an extent that you’re probably right. He would definitely be amused at the caricature that has evolved of himself. The sad thing is that every candidate has to live up to this mythologized person that not even Reagan himself could live up to.

I do believe one thing, Congress is much more partisan now than in his day. People talk about how he got so many things done and it is true. However, I wonder how much conservative idealogy he could have gotten passed before the assisination attempt. The plain truth is that his tax cuts were dead in the water before the attempt. When he recovered and came back, Tip O’Neil had to give in to the tax cuts and that started a snowball effect of generating the economy back to life. Today he would be passing the jar of jelly beans around a lot more than in his time.


70 posted on 06/29/2011 4:36:35 AM PDT by Old Teufel Hunden
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To: Ditter

I support Cain or Palin 100% but other than that I think the rest of the field stinks. No Romney , Gingrich Pawlenty or Bachmann or Perry or Santorum or Paul. Paul because he’s nuts and the rest because there are hints and traces in their histories that demonstrate they would sell out to the establishment faster than Boehner would cry at a funeral.


71 posted on 06/29/2011 9:12:56 AM PDT by danran72
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