Perry: I’m comfortable that the direction I’m heading is the right direction

Hot Air ^ | July 14, 2011 | Ed Morrissey

[Cincinatus' Wife]

Don’t expect any Mitch Daniels-like concerns to keep Rick Perry out of the presidential race. In an interview with Janet Mefferd on the Salem Radio Network (owned by Salem Communications, also Hot Air’s parent company), Perry told the audience that his wife is not only enthusiastically supporting the idea of a presidential bid, she’s inspiring it. A former nurse, Anita Perry is “disheartened” about ObamaCare and the government intrusions into health care that have accelerated in this administration. While Perry says that being governor of Texas is “one of the great jobs in the world,” he’s feeling the call to “get out of his comfort zone”:

[af_vet_rr]

Have we heard why Rick Perry was campaigning in California while the sanctuary cities legislation that he considered to be an "emergency" was being killed off in the Texas legislature with help from Perry's biggest donors?

It seemed like an interesting coincidence that Perry considered the sanctuary cities legislation to be important enough to call a special session for, but then he's conveniently out of state when it's being killed off with help from his biggest donors, one of whom is a home builder, the other a grocer, two industries that benefit from illegal immigration.

[af_vet_rr]

Perry has NEVER lost an election, so you can bet dollars to donuts he is making sure he can win, before he decides to play.

Agreed, although after he got 39% of the vote in the general election in 2006, he went off and supported Rudy Giuliani for President, which was an odd choice for somebody who was only able to win because the left was so heavily divided. Luckily Perry only had to deal with Kay Bailey Hutchison and a Clinton Crony last year.

As for planning, Perry benefits from running for office in Texas where his billionaire backers can give him as much money as he needs. In a national race, they'd have to be extremely careful since they are limited on the amount they can donate. Perry won't have access to the kinds of money that he has now, and I doubt he wants to spend it defending his record against other Republicans. Other Republican contenders are not going to let his record of supporting illegal immigrants for nearly 10 years pass unnoticed, nor will they allow the TTC, him helping his friends out time and time again, etc. to all go unnoticed. That would get very expensive for Perry to have to defend against really fast.

My guess is that Perry is angling to be on somebody's ticket as VP. This way he doesn't have to put as much energy into defending his record until the primaries are over, and he doesn't have to worry about most Americans finding out about the past 10 years until he's already on the ticket.

[af_vet_rr]

A Perry Administration would look EXACTLY like a Bush Administration.

A Perry administration would get "guest worker" legislation passed through Congress, something only Bush and McCain could dream about. A few years back, Perry actually said Congress wasn't mature enough to pass legislation that would make it legal for illegal immigrants to work here in the US. He's been angling for something like this for the better part of 10 years, and while his biggest donor being a home builder has probably shaped his views, I think if Perry got in and got guest worker legislation passed, he'd pick up the Hispanic vote for the GOP, and then the Democrats would be finished. Perry is governor of a state made up of 45% whites, 38% Hispanics, he knows what the GOP needs to do to destroy the Democrats.

[Randy Larsen]

You ask why politicians (Palin, Perry) waiting so long to get in?

Money!

The shorter the campaign is the less it costs. Obama has oodles from shady sources so it is better to swamp the airwaves when they have enough $ to fight Obama’s ads.

Plus, it gives the MSM less time to put a target on their back.

[shield]

Good grief...Ronald Reagan announced in NOVEMBER 1979...

[Cincinatus' Wife]

It seemed like an interesting coincidence that Perry considered the sanctuary cities legislation to be important enough to call a special session for, but then he's conveniently out of state when it's being killed off with help from his biggest donors, one of whom is a home builder, the other a grocer, two industries that benefit from illegal immigration.

Time for you to eat CROW!

In anticipation of the usual comments, I did a search for the 2010 contributions of HEB and Perry Homes and found:

2010 With the notable exception of Lamar Smith (R), mostly Democrat giving, including a PAC contribution for Sen Chuck Schumer (D-NY), also gave to Bill White (D) who lost in his 2010 gubenatorial challenge to Rick Perry – DIDN'T FIND Rick Perry: Charles Butt [HEB CEO] Political Campaign Contributions 2010 Election Cycle [HEB is the largest private company (grocer) in Texas]

2010 With the exception of $1K to Shelia Jackson-Lee and Gene Green -- both democrats, ALL GOP giving but DIDN'T FIND Rick Perry: Bob Perry Political Campaign Contributions 2010 Election Cycle -- Bobby Jack Perry (Bob J. Perry); Houston, Texas homebuilder, owner of Perry Homes, and major contributor to a number of 527 groups: Swift Vets and POWs for Truth and the Economic Freedom Fund. ---- In 2010, Perry donated $7 million to the 527 group American Crossroads -- largest single donation that the organization has received to date -- they primarily work to elect Republican legislators; is a member of the Heritage Club. Donated to Tom DeLay’s Texans for a Republican Majority and to Tom DeLay’s defense. In 2006, Perry was the largest political donor in Texas. 2006 donations included nearly $400,000 to the campaign of GOP Governor Rick Perry (no relation).

On a side note, HEB CEO Charles Butt is a piker compared to Perry Homes CEO Bob Perry's giving.

[Cincinatus' Wife]

A Perry administration would get "guest worker" legislation passed through Congress, something only Bush and McCain could dream about. A few years back, Perry actually said Congress wasn't mature enough to pass legislation that would make it legal for illegal immigrants to work here in the US. He's been angling for something like this for the better part of 10 years, and while his biggest donor being a home builder has probably shaped his views, I think if Perry got in and got guest worker legislation passed, he'd pick up the Hispanic vote for the GOP, and then the Democrats would be finished. Perry is governor of a state made up of 45% whites, 38% Hispanics, he knows what the GOP needs to do to destroy the Democrats.

Eat more CROW!

The "donor bit is debunked above with your first helping of CROW! Now here is your second helping of CROW! And you can add that to the other day when you were pushing a Houston lawyer called Bob Perry (not the builder Bob Perry) and Karl Rove saying he was his big time friend and you edited and sold it as being said about Rick Perry. You are not to be trusted with the truth.

Gov. Perry and The Texas Dream Act

[snip]

It’s important to point out that there is a huge difference in the Texas Dream Act and the The Dream Act that was pushed in Congress and failed. The Dream Act in Congress was full of all kinds of goodies other than allowing children of illegals to receive in state tuition. The Texas Dream Act was focused only on that. I happen to agree with The Texas Dream Act, and so did everyone in the Senate in Texas. It passed with ZERO “no” votes. Add to that, it has been proven to be successful.

These are a few things you need to know about the [2001] Texas Dream Act. The child has to have lived in Texas the three years leading up to high school graduation. These students are given no special treatment in getting into Texas colleges and universities. They must get in on their own merit. They are paying the tuition (with or without financial aid). It’s estimated that these students make up about 1% of those entering college.

[snip]

Most of us agree that border control MUST be dealt with first. The problem with all other efforts on this issue in the past is that the borders were not sealed. If there is anyone who we can trust to do that it is Gov. Perry (if he decides to run for President). He knows what goes on down at the border. He has gone there many times. He knows what needs to be done. There is no doubt in my mind that if he were President, he would seal our borders. But Perry also understands Hispanic outreach.

[snip]

[af_vet_rr]

You've done this twice now, and I'm not sure if you understand the meaning of eating crow or that you are linking me to a Rick Perry speech that proves my point, because the article from the thread that you just linked me to features as its centerpiece, an excerpt from a Rick Perry speech at http://governor.state.tx.us/news/speech/10688/.

Let's go ahead and quote the last half of the Rick Perry speech you are basically linking us to, shall we?

Legislation authored by border legislators Pat Haggerty and Eddie Lucio establishes an important study that will look at the feasibility of bi-national health insurance. This study recognizes that the Mexican and U.S. sides of the border compose one region, and we must address health care problems throughout that region. That’s why I am also excited that Texas Secretary of State Henry Cuellar is working on an initiative that could extend the benefits of telemedicine to individuals living on the Mexican side of the border.

As a compassionate state, we know that for our children to succeed, they must not only be healthy, but educated. The future leaders of our two nations are learning their fractions and their ABC’s in classrooms all along this border. Immigrants from around the world are being taught in Texas classrooms, and our history is rich with examples of new citizens who have made great contributions. 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. That’s why Texas took the national lead in allowing such deserving young minds to attend a Texas college at a resident rate. Those young minds are a part of a new generation of leaders, the doors of higher education must be open to them. The message is simple: educacion es el futuro, y si se puede.

We also know that poverty is not unique to either side of the border. Some of Texas’ poorest citizens live in colonias all along the border. They often lack basic infrastructure many of us take for granted. Just today, the North American Development Bank announced it will provide $6.3 million in funding to hook up colonia residents in six border cities to water and wastewater lines. More than 18,000 residents will benefit from these water or wastewater hookups. And this November, by approving Proposition 2, Texas voters can ensure that their neighbors in colonias have quality roads so that school buses, emergency vehicles and postal trucks can reach residents, and residents can get to a job or a school reliably.

President Fox’s vision for an open border is a vision I embrace, as long as we demonstrate the will to address the obstacles to it. An open border means poverty has given way to opportunity, and Mexico’s citizens do not feel compelled to cross the border to find that opportunity. It means we have addressed pollution concerns, made substantial progress in stopping the spread of disease, and rid our crossings of illicit drug smuggling activity. Clearly we have a long way to go in addressing those issues. At the same time we must continue to deepen our economic ties, expanding opportunities for Mexican and U.S. companies to do business on both sides of the border. The outlook is promising, even if the road to prosperity is a long one. We share a bond as neighbors, and we find our culture north of the Rio Grande to be increasingly defined by the strong traits of people of Hispanic descent. Texas has long enjoyed a unique identity, an identity forged by an independent spirit, and the convergence of many different peoples. We must welcome change in the 21st Century as we have in every century before it.

Today, as we look to the south, we see a rising sun. It is perched above a people whose best days are in front of them. Let us endeavor to make the most of this new day through a new dialogue. Let us work together to combat disease, expand trade and provide educational opportunities. If we do, there are no limits to what we can accomplish for the betterment of all of our citizens. Thank you, and God bless you.

[af_vet_rr]

Time for you to eat CROW!

So you just proved my point that Bob Perry is Rick Perry's biggest donor, something that is a commonly known fact in Texas. I don't understand why you are proving my point or why you proved that Perry is friendly towards illegal immigrants in the other post. I've posted links showing that Bob Perry has donated millions of dollars to Rick Perry over the years and that Bob Perry and the HEB guy helped end the sanctuary cities bill, but again, thanks for the effort, I guess? I really think you need to look up the definition of eating crow though.

You backing me up is kind of bizarre, and it must be backwards day, but I'd still like you to address the fact that some of Perry's richest donors, including Perry's biggest donor, helped kill off the sanctuary cities legislation, and that Perry considered it so important that it warranted a special session of the Texas legislature, but not important enough for Perry to stop campaigning in California and come back and try to keep it alive.

[servantboy777]

I think Sarah has stars in her eyes.

[Cincinatus' Wife]

No my dear. He wasn’t on the donation receiving end.

But thanks for bumping the thread.

[irish guard]

We’ve got a long time for candidates to declare. No one is a true front runner just yet and I’m sure he, like others, is weighing options. I don’t share any sense of urgency.

[af_vet_rr]

You're trying to cherry pick years (and glossing over indirect contributions), and it's just not working, just like it doesn't work when you cherry pick certain aspects of an article or speech that ultimately makes Perry look bad when people dig down. As an example in this thread, you deny my claim that Perry supports illegal immigrants, and yet you link to a thread that praises him for signing the Texas DREAM Act, and the very same newspaper article you cite in that thread as proof of Perry's greatness is running excerpts from a speech where Perry praises open borders and talks of bi-national health insurance for Americans and Mexicans.

I'm asking you again, and this has been asked of you several times now, what was up with Perry being AWOL in California while the sanctuary cities bill was being killed off in the Texas legislature. Perry considered this bill and the TSA bill so important that he called a special emergency session for them, and yet he's shaking hands of boy scouts in California while the bill is dying with the help of some of Perry's richest donors, including his biggest donor over the past decade. What's up with that, surely you have an opinion on that?

[Cincinatus' Wife]

You cherry pick and spin.

The entire picture is important.

I try to present that.

In fact, that’s why I have such lengthly posts — AND links.

You’re not even reading what I’m presenting for you to look over.

You believe others will just read your opinion and not bother to read the facts.

[af_vet_rr]

In my eyes, you don't try to present the whole picture, or you try to confuse things on a lot of issues, and you're not the only one when it comes to defending Rick Perry, but maybe we just aren't listening to you or able to see your full answer. There are several examples, but I'll present one that I would be more than happy to hear your full explanation for it, because I think it's a very serious issue.

You defended Rick Perry campaigning for Rudy Giuliani in 2007-2008 for President because you said Giuliani was strong on national security and crime. From what you have said, you clearly believe that it had nothing to do with Giuliani's lawfirm helping to try and get Perry's corridor built and everything to do with Giuliani's national security or law enforcement stances. In addition to those stances, he also happens to support abortion, gay marriage, and gun control which means a lot of us here do not care for Giuliani which is why we consider Perry's support of him to be a serious flaw.

There had to have been a threshold reached where you as a Christian, a woman, possibly a mother, and most likely a pro-lifer decided you were going to defend Rick Perry's campaigning for Giuliani for President. I don't see you making that decision lightly.

What did Rudy Giuliani say about national security or law enforcement that made you defend Rick Perry's support of him, and made it okay for Rick Perry to set aside his pro-life beliefs and campaign for Rudy Giuliani for President?

[af_vet_rr]

Since you’ve been busy posting, it’s possible you missed it, but I wanted you to see #55 and give you a chance to defend some of your arguments for Rick Perry and the decisions he’s made. It’s very possible that we aren’t hearing your full story or giving you a chance to defend your side, so please read #55 and give us your side of the story, so that we can better understand where you are coming from.

[lonestar]

Plus-—he said he wouldn’t announce until after the prayer meeting in Houston, I think.

[Cincinatus' Wife]

Some people like my wife will never vote for somebody who supported a pro-abortion candidate for President, like Perry did in 2008. I bet there are a lot of interesting rules like those out there.

......."During his time in Congress, [Al] Gore was considered a "moderate" (he referred to himself as a "raging moderate") opposing federal funding of abortion, voting in favor of a bill which supported a moment in silence in schools, and voting against a ban on interstate sales of guns. His position as a moderate (and on policies related to that label) shifted later in life after he became Vice President and ran for president in 2000…”…… Source

[af_vet_rr]

You have now proven without a doubt that you are clearly trying to spin or confuse things. The question I asked you had nothing to do with Al Gore, it had to do with Rudy Giuliani and Perry’s support of him and what made you think that it was okay for Perry to support Giuliani.

[Cincinatus' Wife]

Sorry troll.

You are correct I confused two of your trolling topics — Al Gore and Rudy Giuliani.

Al Gore the conservative Democrat before he wasn’t.

Rudy Giuliani the conservative national security candidate.

Up most of the night with an elderly dog I’m sitting, who managed to “fall in the pool” during his midnight “walk,” just to make things more interesting.