Posted on 08/14/2011 12:14:29 PM PDT by Nachum
My good friends John Hinderaker and Scott Johnson offer eulogies for the Tim Pawlenty presidential campaign today at Power Line, and as usual, they are quite insightful. Scott says that Pawlenty’s descent started when he backed down from challenging Mitt Romney in an earlier debate, and notes that Republicans in this cycle want a fighter. John laments the loss of the one candidate he thought could easily beat Barack Obama based on his record, and says that Pawlenty never got past “the first impression of him as just another guy in a suit.” Both are fair conclusions, and be sure to read both posts in their entirety.
However, both Scott and John express some reservations about Rick Perry and his ability to be a “viable alternative” to Mitt Romney and/or Obama himself. I’ve been covering Perry as a potential candidate since April 2010, when he rocked the house with a speech to the Southern Republican Leadership Conference in New Orleans. Even then, while being challenged in the primary for his third term as Texas governor by Kay Bailey Hutchison, his appeal as a presidential candidate was apparent:
I’ve seen Perry give speeches on television (mainly on YouTube) and knew he could be dynamic. Earlier in the day, I mentioned that alone among the other speakers on the ticket today, Perry had the only shot at matching the energy of Sarah Palin’s appearance. Perry has a very active delivery, in the same manner as a preacher. He doesn’t stand still, but instead puts his whole body into what he says. Perry’s speech turned a political conference into a Republican revival meeting, complete with the call to action at the end.
(Excerpt) Read more at hotair.com ...
Look at this obviously biased Wikipedia entry for Sarah Palin's second term as mayor. Now, imagine it was Rick Perry instead -- it would be blasted here on thread after thread as if it was gospel: Wikipedia Entry Sarah Palin:
During her second term as mayor, Palin proposed and promoted the construction of a municipal sports center to be financed by a 0.5% sales tax increase and $14.7 million bond issue.Oh the horror!! She's a tax increaser and borrower!! She's a big-government rino!!!
However, the city spent an additional $1.3 million because of an eminent domain lawsuit caused by the failure to obtain clear title to the property before beginning construction.She was incompetent and cost her city money!!!!
The city's long-term debt grew from about $1 million to $25 million due to $15 million for the sports complex, $5.5 million for street projects, and $3 million for water improvement projects. The Wall Street Journal characterized the project as a "financial mess."She left her city far worse than she got it!!!!
Palin also joined with nearby communities in hiring the Anchorage-based lobbying firm of Robertson, Monagle & Eastaugh to lobby for federal funds. The firm secured nearly $8 million in earmarks for the Wasilla city government, including $500,000 for a youth shelter, $1.9 million for a transportation hub, and $900,000 for sewer repairs.She's a big-spending pork requesting politician!!!
Seriously folks, we do need to look at the records of all the candidates (and I guess the so-far non-candidates who are expected to enter later). But we should try to put things in perspective when cherry-picking specific items. THe democrats will do enough of that for us.
From Hot Air............the name says it all.
And I’m sorry, I wasn’t really comparing you to him, that was kind of mean. It’s just that he published a column this morning with exactly the same theme — that Perry was stupid.
Of course, he also went on to say he used to where tight jeans and Paul was always staring at his crotch. But that’s another story.
Nothing wrong. In fact, that is the record I am happy to defend and identify with Palin. If she took that record and crafted a grander theme and prescription for this country, she could even be a credible contender in the POTUS race. Instead, she degenerated into a polarizing, sloganeering, celebrity politician. See, her current positions are so perfectly right (conservative). How convenient.
you left off the last part of the story
In 2008, Wasilla’s current mayor credited Palin’s 75 percent property tax cuts and infrastructure improvements with bringing “big-box stores” and 50,000 shoppers per day to Wasilla.[8]
Of course I did. The whole point of the exersize was to show how by selectively providing the “record”, you could make someone look bad.
There is an easy way, Charles.
-Find the candidate who does not play politics to Power. This is the public servant who governs for the best interests of the vast majority of people, and not for the benefits of the rich and powerful.
-Find the candidate who does not lie to other party members, or who bad mouths other party members (R.Reagan's 11th commandment).
-Find a candidate who reveres our nation's past, its exceptionalism, Constitutional liberties, and who upholds law and order.
Look for integrity and principles, Charles. That is truly telling about a person and how he/she would govern.
Great recording!
Thank you for introducing it to me.
Certainly I had heard that recording many times before, but this is the first time I have given it any real attention.
Thank you again.
I'll give him the benefit of doubt, pending his response over the speech and commemoration.
If it comes down to Perry or Obama, there's no choice, it's Perry.
All of them have skeletons they will need to address yet, so we'll see how it comes out.
what you are saying is i should not judge him or his record cause ive made up my mind on who i would support.. your right, i was wrong for saying what i said and posted about perry and bush. i guess im just POed that our country is in such bad shape..sorry if i offended anyone.
What blog? Do you think Free Republic is a blog?
Palin is the best GOP candidate to come along since Ronald Reagan. Name one example of something Palin “said”, “claimed”, “proclaimed” or “wrote about” in the past 2 years that was not actually true.
Just learning to be a jet pilot says a whole lot about Perry’s smarts.
Yeah, the dumbass should have scored himself a reality show.
You sound like a Reagan, Bush now Perry supporter. Perry is about as dumb as you are.
Her supporters are more the problem.
2 years of no authority or accountability to voters - she spent 4 months of that running for VP - after 2 years of little authority. She may have had line veto, but couldn’t even name her own judges other than choosing from a panel mandated to her.
When she resigned, she had the opportunity to start a new party. I was ready to follow her that day. In 2010, she did good work for Party advocates who were considered outsiders and some, like Governor Perry, who were “establishment.”
However, in the last few months I’ve seen her followers - not necessarily her - divide and criticize, not edify the Republican Party. As time goes on though, she has to take some of the blame because of her lack of decision.
I guess time will tell. thats why we have debates.. so may the best man or woman win the nom.
I'm a freakin' commie. I've been outed.
Blame it on the fact that I don't have cable and never saw any reality shows.
I suck, tell you what. I see the error of my ways.
I perdict a war.
On these pages.
Maybe the objection to Obamao that those who now support establishment RINOs have is that Soetero does not hail from their beloved establishment!
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