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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: smoothsailing

Woo - I didn’t address you calling me a jerk - you are way over the line with that and you better check who you are trying to protect - because now you made yourself a jerk with that one.

SARAH/WEST


141 posted on 07/22/2011 1:34:38 PM PDT by presently no screen name
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To: normy

http://www.politifact.com/texas/statements/2010/mar/19/karl-rove/karl-rove-says-he-and-consultant-david-weeks-persu/

Karl Rove says he and consultant David Weeks persuaded Rick Perry to switch parties and run for state agriculture commissioner

Texas Gov. Rick Perry draws mention in GOP consultant Karl Rove’s autobiography with attention
focused on Perry’s win for lieutenant governor in 1998 and Rove’s role in his pivotal earlier
switch from the Democratic to Republican party while he was a third-term member of the Texas House.

Rove writes: “Rick Perry had planned to retire from the legislature until his best friend,
David Weeks, and I talked him into switching parties and running for the GOP nomination for
agriculture commissioner.” His book, “Courage and Consequence, My Life as a Conservative
in the Fight,” was published March 9.

Karl in a Corner
http://www.opednews.com/articles/genera_scott_ho_080408_karl_in_a_corner.htm
Second, Rove’s opponents would regularly find that they had suddenly become the target
of a criminal investigation, and details concerning the investigation would be
aggressively fanned to the press. Rove mastered this technique in a contest
for the Texas Agriculture Commissioner’s post that he managed for now-Governor Rick Perry.

It Started in Texas: Karl Rove’s Political Prosecutions
http://www.harpers.org/archive/2007/07/hbc-90000569
1. Rove was hired to run the campaign of Rick Perry, the current governor,
for the powerful Texas office of Commissioner of Agriculture, then held by
Democrat Jim Hightower. Shortly thereafter, it was clear that a major
FBI investigation had been launched into the workings of the Texas Agriculture
Department (TDA), focusing on Hightower and his senior lieutenants, who had been
pursuing a populist, anti-corporate agriculture and pro-small-farmer agenda.

http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=TfUbAAAAIBAJ&sjid=f1gEAAAAIBAJ&pg=5710,3519076&dq=rove+perry&hl=en

Jim Hightower talks about his new book, “Thieves in High Places: They’ve Stolen Our Country and it’s Time to Take it Back”
http://www.buzzflash.com/interviews/03/08/21_hightower.html
HIGHTOWER: Rick Perry, back then (currently Texas Governor), was his client, so to speak,
and Perry had been recruited. He was sort of a nothing Texas legislator who had been brought
in — again as an affable fellow without any brain muscle. Perry was essentially sent to
wander around out in West Texas during the campaign so he would be out of the way,
while Rove worked this FBI agent and raised money from the chemical industry
and other corporate interests that opposed me. Rove had George Bush go on
television against me. Then Rove ran a series of television ads that
established a new low in negative advertising.

For example, they showed a long-haired guy setting a flag on fire,
and throwing it on the ground. And then my picture came up out of the fire, and said
“Hightower supports flag burning,” which, of course, I don t. But it doesn t matter,
you know. I had to go around answering: “Why do you support flag burning?”
Rove had another ad of me campaigning with Jesse Jackson, who I supported in 1988
in the Presidential campaign. And Rove ran this ad that essentially was a smear
on Jackson and then tying me to him. The ad so angered the Black Caucus in the State Legislature
that they convened their own press conferences in Houston and Dallas to assail it. But again it was too late.
All this was happening in the last three weeks of the election. So, I mean, that s just who the guy is.


142 posted on 07/22/2011 1:35:11 PM PDT by truthfreedom
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To: presently no screen name

You will influence no one to see things your way as long as you carry on like a jerk, and that’s just a fact.

Rant on, if you must, but don’t expect anyone to care.

Civility and respect for others will serve you better.


143 posted on 07/22/2011 1:38:08 PM PDT by smoothsailing
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To: smoothsailing

Really? So I’m a jerk because you little friend lied about me? From now on - I’ll address PERRY threads - the threads where the liars hang out and whoever doesn’t lie are jerks.

You guys asked for it - now you got it! Don’t mess with conservatives!

SARAH/WEST


144 posted on 07/22/2011 1:45:45 PM PDT by presently no screen name
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To: smoothsailing
Civility and respect

That's rich - coming from you who agrees with liars and calling those who don't lie - jerks. And stop with the gang mentality - you seem to need this reminder - so thank me for it and abide by it.

SARAH/WEST
145 posted on 07/22/2011 1:51:39 PM PDT by presently no screen name
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To: dusttoyou

****************************************
Quality Free Republic Perry Links : 2007 (Part IV - Bilderberg)
****************************************

Secretive Bilderberg meeting set for Turkey
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/1842676/posts
Texas Gov. Rick Perry To Attend Bilderberg
AUSTIN – Gov. Rick Perry is flying to Istanbul, Turkey, today to speak at the super-secret Bilderberg Conference,
a meeting of about 130 international leaders in business, media and politics.

Perry’s push for super highway raises conspiracy buzz
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1883116/posts
Perry’s push for the Trans-Texas Corridor super highway is part of a secret plan, the conspiracy theorists say,
to create the North American Union — a single nation consisting of Canada, Mexico and the United States with a currency called the Amero.
Perry enhanced the conspiracy buzz earlier this summer by traveling to Turkey to attend the secretive Bilderberg conference, which conspiracy
theorists believe is a cabal of international monied interests and power brokers pressing for globalization.
Republican presidential candidate and U.S. Rep. Ron Paul of Lake Jackson was asked about the trip on the syndicated talk radio show
of Alex Jones in June. Paul said the trip was “a sign that he’s involved in the international conspiracy.”


146 posted on 07/22/2011 1:51:56 PM PDT by truthfreedom
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To: smoothsailing

One way Rick Perry could screw America.

He’s a RINO.


147 posted on 07/22/2011 1:55:07 PM PDT by Republic of Texas (Socialism Always Fails)
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To: smoothsailing
You will influence no one to see things your way

I'm not here to influence anyone - and anyone of my caliber can read and read your little friends posts and see you for what you are for coming to the aid of such posting and then call me a jerk. See the result of that - you're the one who ends up being the jerk - next time learn to read first and not so quick to jump into quicksand by MINDING YOUR OWN BUSINESS.

SARAR/WEST
148 posted on 07/22/2011 2:01:20 PM PDT by presently no screen name
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To: presently no screen name
You guys asked for it - now you got it!

Now that is funny!!!

Photobucket

149 posted on 07/22/2011 2:03:54 PM PDT by smoothsailing
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To: Republic of Texas; smoothsailing

Warning - don’t tell the truth on PERRY threads - you’ll be called a liar and then gang mentality rushes in and calls you a jerk. Just passing on my experience on the Perry thread. That’s seems to be type of supporters Perry has.


150 posted on 07/22/2011 2:08:47 PM PDT by presently no screen name
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To: smoothsailing

I know and I’m the one laughing and at your quicksand stunt that FAILED.


151 posted on 07/22/2011 2:13:02 PM PDT by presently no screen name
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To: presently no screen name

I didn’t call you a jerk, I said you were acting like one, and you still are.

I offered you friendly advice, that’s all I can do. If you choose to stew in your own juices, I can’t do anything about that.

FRegards.Farewell.


152 posted on 07/22/2011 2:17:31 PM PDT by smoothsailing
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To: truthfreedom

Might want to check lithium levels, may be low. Smokin too much paul will mess you up too.


153 posted on 07/22/2011 2:22:26 PM PDT by dusttoyou ("Progressives" are wee-weeing all over themselves, Foc nobama)
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To: presently no screen name

right, Perry’s minions are almost as bad as Perry himself.


154 posted on 07/22/2011 6:09:48 PM PDT by truthfreedom
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To: dusttoyou

I don’t follow. I guess you want more Perry links

****************************************
Quality Free Republic Perry Links : 2007 (Part V - Other)
****************************************

Perry says he supports in-state tuition for illegal immigrants(R - Gov Texas)
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1766787/posts
Gov. Rick Perry said a state law allowing illegal immigrant students to pay in-state college tuition
serves a good purpose, and he will fight efforts to repeal the measure.

Texas Eminent Domain Bill Vetoed By Govenor Perry
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1852635/posts
“With this veto, Governor Perry has left every home, farm, ranch and small business owner vulnerable to the abuse of eminent domain,”
said Steven Anderson, director of the Institute for Justice’s Castle Coalition, a national grassroots
advocacy group committed to ending the private-to-private transfer of property using eminent domain.

Campaign to impeach Gov. Perry launched online
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1884086/posts
Perry’s an Rino. This will never happen, but it’ll be fun watching.

Senators: Perry evading law with expired appointments
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1889198/posts
“I think it’s a deliberate effort to expand the powers of the governor,” he said. “I think it smacks of arrogance.
In my 19 years in the Legislature, I’ve never seen such obstinacy and abuse with regard to such critical appointments.”


155 posted on 07/22/2011 6:11:12 PM PDT by truthfreedom
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To: smoothsailing

The likes of you offering advice - now ain’t that a joke? You reached the bottom w/your lying water carrying friend - no credibility. Time for you to zip the lip and stop your back tracking. What was said/done cannot be undone. And marked Perry threads as lying threads with a rat pack mentality.

SARAH/WEST


156 posted on 07/22/2011 9:17:42 PM PDT by presently no screen name
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To: truthfreedom

Actually, I have respect for Perry but none for his pushers. Anyone reading their posts can see why.

SARAH/WEST


157 posted on 07/22/2011 9:20:20 PM PDT by presently no screen name
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To: truthfreedom
Gov. Rick Perry said a state law allowing illegal immigrant students to pay in-state college tuition serves a good purpose, and he will fight efforts to repeal the measure.

So their vote must be more important to him than TX taxpayers. Interesting. So those who built America are on the back burner with open pockets by law. Now how would he differentiate himself from Zero with that one. The media will have a field day w/him on their choice of questions - and they'll have him come out looking worse than Barry when they are finished.
158 posted on 07/22/2011 9:29:59 PM PDT by presently no screen name
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