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4 ways Rick Perry could shake up the GOP race
The Week ^ | 7-21-2011 | The List

Posted on 07/21/2011 7:55:41 PM PDT by smoothsailing

4 ways Rick Perry could shake up the GOP race

The Texas governor is flirting with a run for the Republican presidential nomination — and he'd arguably make the contest a lot more interesting

July 21, 2011

Republicans disappointed with their party's current slate of presidential candidates are stepping up the pressure on Texas Gov. Rick Perry to enter the race. And it's looking increasingly likely that Perry will declare his candidacy soon. "I'm getting more and more comfortable every day that this is what I've been called to do," Perry told the Des Moines Register recently. "This is what America needs." How would a Perry run reshape the Republican primaries? Here, four theories:

1. Perry would make the early contests closer
The Texas governor has generated buzz aplenty, says John Whitesides at Reuters, largely because he'll challenge frontrunners Mitt Romney and Michele Bachmann head on. "If he gets in, he plans to run in each of the states with early nominating contests, directly challenging Bachmann in her top priority of Iowa and Romney in New Hampshire." Perry appeals to social conservatives who hate Romney, and has pro-business credentials Bachmann can only dream of, so he should be able to up the excitement factor in the early primaries.

2. Perry would overshadow Pawlenty and Huntsman
With Perry in the race, says Alex Roarty at National Journal, former governors Tim Pawlenty (of Minnesota) and Jon Huntsman (of Utah) would slide further toward oblivion. Both Pawlenty and Huntsman were "at one time considered among the most likely to win the party's nomination," but in a recent NBC/Wall Street Journal survey, they won the support of just 2 percent of Republicans. Without even declaring his candidacy, Perry earned twice as much support, trailing only Romney and Bachmann.

3. He'd unite the establishment and Tea Party
"Perry is clearly the flavor of the month among Republican insiders," say Chris Cillizza and Aaron Blake at The Washington Post. But he has broader appeal than other contenders. Perry is a critic of federal power, has a record of creating jobs in Texas, and boasts party ties that would almost certainly give him the second biggest warchest behind Romney. Add it all up and Perry's "the candidate perhaps best positioned to bridge the gap between the establishment wing and the Tea Party wing of the Republican Party."

4. Perry would give disgruntled Republicans someone to root for
"There's a hole in the Republican primary field you could drive a truck through right now," says the Texas Tribune's Evan Smith, as quoted by WNYC.org. He'd be someone evangelicals could get behind, instead of settling for Bachmann despite her broader electability problems. He'd give Southerners a candidate. He'd also be a powerhouse the Tea Party could get behind to build on the momentum they created last year. Big chunks of the GOP base are still looking for a candidate, and Perry "checks a lot of those boxes."


TOPICS: Extended News; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: formerdemocratperry; gardasil; gardasilperry; openborders; presidentperry; rinoerry; romneychesspiece; rovespuppet; transtexascorridor
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To: normy
Why would he need Palin to win the election?

Mind reading is your MO, not mine. I'm not interested in his needs but thanks for asking.
121 posted on 07/22/2011 7:17:41 AM PDT by presently no screen name
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To: presently no screen name

What Rush has to say about Perry’s book, ‘Fed Up’:

“Rick Perry has hit the proverbial nail on the head in FED UP!, making a powerful case for a return to limited government and the restoration of the proper balance of power between Washington and the states. As Governor of Texas, he has seen firsthand the greatness of America and the prosperity we can enjoy when we empower people and get government out of the way. He explains in detail the historical, constitutional, and practical reasons why a government closest to the people protects liberty, and lays out the path to right the ship - citizen involvement and engagement to hold politicians accountable. No citizen should skip this book - your future depends on getting this right.” (Rush Limbaugh )
http://www.amazon.com/Fed-Up-Fight-America-Washington/dp/0316132950/ref=sr_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1311343432&sr=1-2

You’re not helping Sarah by spewing vile remarks and
trashing other prospective candidates.
Your kind will turn America against her.

.


122 posted on 07/22/2011 7:24:23 AM PDT by patriot08 (TEXAS GAL- born and bred and proud of it!)
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To: patriot08
I'd be delighted with Palin/West ticket-but I'm just deathly afraid America won't buy it.

I don't live in fear - so I can't relate. But neither do SARAH or WEST - I guess it's a conservative thing.

They just don't have the crossover appeal-

More commie media mimic - it's repulsive. You go your feaful way and I'll go the conservative way. How's that? Fearful people are so boring and cramp a PATRIOT's style. Have fun carrying the water.
123 posted on 07/22/2011 7:24:51 AM PDT by presently no screen name
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To: presently no screen name

Don’t address any more remarks to me.
We’re done.


124 posted on 07/22/2011 7:27:23 AM PDT by patriot08 (TEXAS GAL- born and bred and proud of it!)
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To: bgill

Ok, 4 things...Lessee...

#1 Run as a democrat...

#2 Pick McCain as his VP on the ticket...

#3 Get his buddy Algore on his cabinet...

#4 Change his hair tonic...


125 posted on 07/22/2011 7:27:23 AM PDT by stevie_d_64 (I'm jus' sayin')
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To: patriot08
That was a very rude reply, by the way.

Oh great - thanks for telling me. I'm glad I returned some of what I received from yours.
126 posted on 07/22/2011 7:29:15 AM PDT by presently no screen name
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To: presently no screen name
You're hilarious. What is weird is I saw a thread about Palin being very high in the polls and it had only 2 hits in an hour and a half. I guess the Palin supporters are all on Perry threads tearing down a decent man instead of building up a decent woman.
127 posted on 07/22/2011 7:39:33 AM PDT by normy (Don't take it personally, just take it seriously.)
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To: patriot08
CLUE: Sarah doesn't need my help. How does that grab you?

And my remarks always appear vile to the commie media water carriers.

trashing other prospective candidates.

Really? Who did I trash? Let's see who did the trashing. Wait - these are your words, not mine over zealous Sarah Palin supporters and a few Bachmann supporters. (I love Sarah and Michelle Bachmann as much as anyone else, but we MUST face reality when it comes to our beautiful Conservative ladies’ chances of winning this thing!)

There you go! Trashing came from you but you blamed me - that's a liberal tactic. And so much for your reality. I hope you appreciate me trying to clean up your posts for a more honest look and by pointing out your fallacies. We wouldn't want anyone to think it was intentional now, would we? However, I hate to be the bearing of bad news for you but the 'can't win' mentality left the building awhile back - you need the updated commie media talking points.
128 posted on 07/22/2011 7:54:19 AM PDT by presently no screen name
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To: normy

Uh....... that would be ... sister but thanks for the Amen! :D


129 posted on 07/22/2011 7:55:13 AM PDT by Ditter
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To: Ditter

lol


130 posted on 07/22/2011 7:58:24 AM PDT by normy (Don't take it personally, just take it seriously.)
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To: normy

No one can tear down Palin - it’s been tried for three years and the results were FAIL. And one day for Perry and you are already singing the blues. What will you do when the media gets a hold of him - but they may not - he’s not a threat like SARAH is.

BTW, Palin hasn’t declare she’s a candidate, so I’ll give you some wise advice - shake loose and enjoy the quiet time while you have it.


131 posted on 07/22/2011 8:03:49 AM PDT by presently no screen name
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To: patriot08
Your kind will turn America against her.

LOL! How cute - another fear tactic you found in your left side pocket. I bet it was right with your slingshot aimed at Sarah and Michelle and their 'no chance' of winning message.
132 posted on 07/22/2011 8:12:20 AM PDT by presently no screen name
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To: presently no screen name
Was George W. Bush a Rino? I say yes but not in the way Mitt is a Rino. George W. Bush spent too much and was too nice but he was a decent man and loved America. He did what he thought was best for America and was honest in his dealings.

That said he was treated worse than Palin. So if you have an R by your name you are going to get it. Palin has endured a couple years of what W. Bush has endured for 10 yet her followers, yes followers act as if no one ever had to have their children mocked (Bush girls) burned in effigy, called Hitler, called stupid and so on. Reagan got it, Bush I was a WWII hero painted as a wimp and coward. Palin followers seem to be becoming more cuckoo as Perry pushes ahead with his plans.

133 posted on 07/22/2011 8:16:13 AM PDT by normy (Don't take it personally, just take it seriously.)
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To: BereanBrain
No, I am suggesting that “politicians” will put money behind one of their own, and the media will tout someone (on the republican side) that won’t energize the base. This is how we got Dole and McCain.

OK, I see what you're saying now about the establishment and the media, and Dole and McCain fit that template. Perry doesn't by a longshot, so there's the flaw in your theory.

From the point of view of the mushy GOP and the secular media, Perry is some crazed Slim Pickins cowboy pilot, knuckle-dragging, bible-thumping inbred cotton picker who went to the wrong schools. They'll do everything they can to destroy him, right out of the box. That makes him pretty likable in my book.

134 posted on 07/22/2011 9:00:58 AM PDT by smoothsailing
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To: jersey117
If you are going to let the Gardisil thing allow obama four more years to put the final nail in America’s coffin, you and obama deserve each other.

LOL!!! Don't be ridiculous, I'm the guy who started the thread. I support a Palin/Perry ticket. See post #1.

135 posted on 07/22/2011 9:10:45 AM PDT by smoothsailing
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SAVE  FREEPER  UPCHUCK!
BECOME  A  MONTHLY  DONOR!
*

Boop His Cute Little Nose!

*FReeper  Upchuck

136 posted on 07/22/2011 9:39:37 AM PDT by TheOldLady (FReepmail me to get ON or OFF the ZOT LIGHTNING ping list.)
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To: presently no screen name

Hey, what’s the matter with you? You’re acting like a jerk. There’s no need to be rude to other freepers.


137 posted on 07/22/2011 10:13:35 AM PDT by smoothsailing
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To: smoothsailing

Are YOU now some self proclaimed town crier coming to the rescue of some whiny freeper??

Now THAT is what I call rude - SO STOP IT! Grow up and allow the whiners to grow up.

And don’t try that ‘gang’ mentality on me - WATCH it!


138 posted on 07/22/2011 1:19:56 PM PDT by presently no screen name
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To: normy

What kind of rant are you on? LOL! Don’t use me trying to prove something - whatever it is - you are ALL over the place. LOL!

SARAH/WEST


139 posted on 07/22/2011 1:29:07 PM PDT by presently no screen name
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To: dusttoyou

****************************************
Quality Free Republic Perry Links : 2007 (Part I - Gardasil)
****************************************

Downright eerie how Perry’s people talked about Merck product on same day Merck gave Perry money
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1790722/posts
I wonder how many people actually believe it when the governor’s office says it was just a coincidence that the drug company Merck
donated $5,000 to Rick Perry’s campaign on the same day Perry’s people discussed Merck’s HPV vaccine.

Perry orders anti-cancer vaccine for schoolgirls
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1778223/posts
I find it to be a huge intrusion by goverment to MANDATE that any American be injected with ANYTHING.

Gov Perry’s HPV vaccination order angers pro-family group
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1780119/posts
I held my nose and voted for him the last election, The last time I will ever vote for the least evil.

Passed Signed Into Law (Texas Legislature)
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1841432/posts
PASSED, BECOMING LAW WITHOUT SIGNATURE
Cervical Cancer Vaccine: Blocks state officials from following Gov. Rick Perry’s order requiring the vaccine against the
human papillomavirus for sixth-grade girls. The vaccine protects against strains of the sexually transmitted virus
that cause most cases of cervical cancer.

(Vanity) Gardasil and the Reproductive Rights Agenda
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/1786731/posts
Today, Texas governor Rick Perry signed the order requiring this vaccination.

Injecting Speed - Why the rush to require the HPV vaccine?
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1788355/posts
Texas Gov. Rick Perry skipping the debate entirely this month by issuing an executive order which, he insists, cannot be repealed by the legislature.

Mandating Gardasil: A Gross Infringement On Parental Rights
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1782135/posts
In a statement released Jan 22, the American College of Pediatrics noted that mandating Gardasil
for school attendance “is a serious, precedent-setting action” replacing parental medical decision making with government regulations.
Likewise, Focus on the Family warned last year, that state officials, not parents, would become the
primary sexual-health decision makers for America’s children

Merck’s [HPV] vaccine tied to 3 deaths [Company lobbied states for shots to be required]
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1840290/posts
Texas Gov. Rick Perry in February issued an executive order requiring those vaccinations,
but the state legislature rescinded it, citing those concerns.


140 posted on 07/22/2011 1:32:55 PM PDT by truthfreedom
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