Posted on 08/07/2011 4:24:22 AM PDT by Cincinatus' Wife
In 1986, I was running the Texas Democratic Party primary, and in walked an attractive rancher who submitted his filing to run as a Democrat for state representative for a district in rural West Texas. That rancher is now the state’s Republican governor, Rick Perry. I have known him for 25 years off and on, and I know his staff very well. And Perry is about to become a dominant force in the Republican nomination process for president.
Nearly a year ago, I wrote a column for National Journal saying that we need to watch out for Perry, that he would make a formidable presidential candidate, even though he had expressed no interest at the time in running. But the political environment and the Republican field made me think that Perry could have a legitimate shot.
Many people have asked me what kind of candidate he will be, or how I think his campaign will do if he makes the leap and enters the race.
Having observed and known the governor, both as a Democrat and as a Republican, through 13 election cycles, I offer a primer on Perry in five key points:
1. He is an extremely astute politician with a keen sense of where voters are, and he has great instincts on message. Perry has ruthless discipline and communication. They say in politics, “Don’t let your boot off an opponent’s neck till Election Day.” Perry doesn’t take his boot off till a year after the votes have been counted and the opponent has faded into oblivion. He is actually a better campaigner than George W. Bush (Perry’s predecessor as Texas governor) was when he first entered the national scene.
2. Perry has surrounded himself with a very loyal staff. His aides believe in him, and he in them. He is involved in campaign decisions, but he delegates well and doesn't stop being loyal because a mistake might be made. This is a huge advantage in the ebb and flow of presidential campaigns.
3. His statements related to possible Texas secession actually helped him in his recent race in 2010, and will help him in a national campaign in the Republican primaries and caucuses. In an environment where Republican voters despise the federal government, anti-Washington rhetoric is music to their ears. Conversely, this talk will hurt him in a general-election race. Moderate voters in the Midwest will see it as off-putting.
4. Although he has run many times for both district and statewide office in Texas, Perry has never been fully vetted by the media. He underwent some scrutiny in his races for governor, but he has never endured the full-court press that happens in a presidential race. What the media discovers will not be as important as how he and the campaign handle the intense spotlight for the first time. Perry and some of his staffers are known to have thin skins. They will need to grow calluses if they are to succeed in the show.
5. Perry has never lost a race. While many immediately list this as a positive (and it is laudable and suggests huge talent), losing at some point in your career makes you better when the inevitable problems hit. I have learned more from my losses in life and politics than from my victories. It’s the losses that really cause self-reflection and growth. President Obama and former Presidents Bush (father and son), Clinton, Reagan, and Nixon learned enormous amounts from setbacks in their political careers, and those losses eventually helped them win the White House. We know Perry can win. The real question is: Can he suffer defeat and rise to the next battle?
It’s anyone’s guess how Perry will do if he enters the race for president. So far, he has risen in the polls and been applauded more and more by Republican activists while he stays on the sideline. So it’s hard not to wonder whether he’s better as an abstract proposition than as an actual candidate. We shall soon find out. My guess is that Perry’s trajectory will go in one of two opposing directions: He will march consistently and strongly and become the nominee, or he will crash in a spectacular manner. I don’t see any middle ground. Either way, this is going to be great theater. And interestingly, looking ahead to a possible run against President Obama, the last really close general-election race Perry had was in 1998 for lieutenant governor, and the media strategist for his Democratic opponent, John Sharp, was a familiar name--David Axelrod.
“....and bitterly fought spending increases.”
Sounds like just what we need!
CBN -- 3 minute video interview in governor’s office: Perry: Free Private Sector Key to Economy
Talking heads discuss: Gov. Perry takes on college education
Texas Governor Rick Perry - Tax Day Tea Party 2009 in Arlington, Texas
Texas Gov. Rick Perry Speaks to Republican Leadership Conference - June 18, 2011
CBN one minute video in governor’s office: talking about states’ laboratories trying new things – ie Romneycare shot Takes subtle shot at Romneycare
Perry's July 29, 2011 Colorado speech on YouTube:Texas Gov. Rick Perry: "Let Us Restore the Nation's Principles - If We Don't, Who Will?"
CNN – King interview with Erick Erickson and Mimi Swartz : Could Rick Perry Shake up GOP WH Race?
I don’t klnow much about Perry. I cannot reccommend him to othes. I understand he isn’t perfect. He also is not a Muslim , does not support Muslims and is not out to destroy the economy of our country so he can replace it with socialism.
These points alone make him better than what we have.
“...the last really close general-election race Perry had was in 1998 for lieutenant governor, and the media strategist for his Democratic opponent, John Sharp, was a familiar name—David Axelrod.”
Ruh roh. this was a *really close* race? That means that ax knows Perry’s hotbuttons. And he will darn sure push them. Every one of them.
I ain’t liking the hint that he is vindictive too much either. Enemies list keeps popping into my head.
Still gathering info, but to be honest, the more I learn, I am liking Perry a little less as time passes. Even the Texans on this board are divided about him, some of whom I respect very much.
“bitterly fought spending increases”
Yeah, but he was a Democrat at the time. Forget what he did...he was a Democrat and supported algore in ‘88.
Nothing else matters.
/sarc
One of the very few Democrats I ever admired was Ralph Hall, of Rockwall TX. As a Democrat, he had the most conservative voting record on all issues in the House of Repesentatives. Eventually he switched to Republican because he could no longer serve under the Left Wingers of DC. He still serves, and recently voted against the Debt Ceiling bill.
Anyone remember Zell Miller?
Good ol’ Zell...
Reagan??
Now there’s a name...
Bookmark
I wouldn’t pay too much mind to Matthew Dowd.
But that’s just me...
and both are fine candidates—all things considered of course.
I especially admire RP’s recent open display of Christian passion—nothing more totally irks the Godless Left than that—though I'm not saying that is why he held the prayer meet—but it don't hurt to irk the Left if you wanna get on the good side of the Tea Party.
If only he didn't sound SO MUCH like George W Bush.Granted,it is shallow to judge somebody by their way of speaking—and I don't—I'm just saying that to the dumb masses,of which the hopelessly feckless “independents” hold sway—he is Bush3 and I'm afraid unelectable on a national stage.
A Texas accent is a fine Southern accent and nothing to be ashamed of—but there it is.
We can’t afford another wishy washy open border president.
That alone negates any claims of fiscal responsibility.
Oops,I meant this post for Cicinnatus Wife.
Sorry.
Ummmm:
http://www.vpr.net/npr/131048009/
The governor of this swiftly changing state works to take a nuanced approach to a minority group that’s been very much at the center of the news. “We have a huge Muslim community in the state of Texas,” he says, and many of these Muslims are “great businessmen and women, very good supporters of mine. ... We are an incredibly diverse state. I sell it as part of our strength.”
Perry was asked if he was comfortable with the way that some people talk about the problem with terrorism — their concern to say that the real problem is “Muslims” or “Muslim countries.”
“The radicalization of Islam is a great concern,” Perry said. “Islam of and by itself is one of the great religions, along with Christianity and Judaism.” He recalled meeting one of the Democratic candidates for Texas governor in the recent election. “He’s a Palestinian. And he and I were having a conversation about Ground Zero. How do you deal with this? He said, well, it’s pretty easy. He said, ‘Build a synagogue, a temple, and a church there. And bring these people together.’”
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-gop/2742014/posts
Rick Perry, the Mosque and his agreement with Muslims
The Ismali ^
Posted on Thursday, June 30, 2011 4:32:04 AM by BereanBrain
Austin, Texas, 30 October 2009 — At the invitation of Texas State Governor Rick Perry, Mawlana Hazar Imam traveled to Austin yesterday to sign an Agreement of Cooperation between the State of Texas and the Ismaili Imamat. During the visit, Hazar Imam and Governor Perry also held talks at the State Capitol on a range of issues of mutual interest
Describing the importance of the agreement, Governor Perry explained that “traditional Western education speaks little of the influence of Muslim scientists, scholars, throughout history, and for that matter the cultural treasures that stand today in testament to their wisdom.”
Anyone who watched 5 years of President Reagan's remarkable American revival based upon purely and successfully conservative precepts, and still wanted to run as a Democrat... seems to have possibly been severely principles-challenged... just sayin.
What caused him to change party? Was it a political calculation, or a heart change? Like I said, absent any additional data, just the fact that he was ever a Democrat makes me leery of him. Factor in that he's not even close to being the most successful conservative Governor as a current potential GOP candidate in 2012, and I really don't see the point.
We can do alot better. IMHO.
He is also an American and can prove it....He doesn’t have some kind of contrived, made up, bogus BC.
Pro-illegals?
Pro-Muzzies?
FAAGEDDABAATIT!!
I'm sure three enough wrong with Perry to disqualify him for many people but he was born in this country, doesn't seem to be actively trying to destroy it and understands that all of the amendments to the Constitution count.
Hes good enough for me
He was actually better looking—and stunningly so—in his middle years than as a young man or now, into his 60’s.
Ruh roh. this was a *really close* race? That means that ax knows Perry’s hotbuttons. And he will darn sure push them. Every one of them.
Interesting race that was. Rove and Bush were telling Perry and his campaign to go easy on Sharp in his campaign for Lt. Gov so Dubya could get Dem votes in his campaign for Gov., but Perry knew better.
That election caused a rift with Sharp, who had been a close friend of Perry's since their days at A&M but they've patched things up since then (in a gun shop, no less) and have worked together. Texas A&M Years Launched Perry — and a Rivalry
It will be good when the field is set and we can get on with it!!!
“You are as devoted to Gov Perry...”
I’m not *devoted* to Rick Perry. I *currently* see him as an excellent candidate who has the correct fiscal policies and who can slam-dunk a victory against Obama.
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