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Romney, Dems Look to Weaponize Bachmann (Hopes Bachmann Will “Rip [Perry’s] Eyes Out”)
FoxNews.com ^ | August 30, 2011 | Chris Stirewalt

Posted on 08/30/2011 7:52:12 AM PDT by markomalley

Mitt Romney is going into the lion’s den today.

Romney is neither a veteran nor a Texan, but he is heading to San Antonio, Texas to address the Veterans of Foreign Wars convention one day after Gov. Rick Perry, who is both a veteran and a Texan, fired up the crowd with a patriotic paean to American exceptionalism.

But with poll after poll showing Romney slipping into Perry’s wake, the former Massachusetts governor is keen to show that he’s not backing down. The latest CNN survey has Perry nearly doubling Romney among all candidates running or considering a run and with a share of voters larger than Romney and third-place Rep. Michele Bachmann combined when only declared candidates were offered.

While Romney has a low and slow strategy that relies on his presidential plausibility and big fundraising to outlast more exciting contenders, including Perry, that strategy would cease to be viable if the insiders and money men backing Romney came to believe his candidacy was doomed. To avoid being marginalized, Romney must demonstrate to the political press that he has a plan to knock down Perry.

(snip)

This is backed up in Romney’s oft-repeated implicit argument that Perry has spent an awful lot of time in government for a guy who opposes big government, while Romney spent only four years in public office (Not for lack of trying, though. Romney lost previous bids for a Senate seat and the presidency.)

But the heart of the Romney strategy seems to be to stand back and allow Bachmann to tear apart Perry – to “rip his eyes out,” as she did to Gov. Tim Pawlenty.

(Excerpt) Read more at foxnews.com ...


TOPICS: Extended News; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: brewer; laraza; maldef; openborders; perry; perrytards; ricardo; rinofreeamerica; romney; sb1070
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To: Noamie

We don’t agree on Michele Bachmann...in this sense.

I’m focused on what she brought to the Tea Party Movement. And how she brought that into the Halls of Congress and into the living rooms of Americans.

She staked out a very consistent, very conservative, pro-Tea Party position on Federal Government financial issues. She has had great influence, because she represents many grass roots activists, in pulling Republicans in the little people’s direction.

For that she gets my permanent thanks and admiration.

The things you castigate her for supposedly being or doing seem like personal judgements on her, and I don’t go there. That’s not where I’m focused. I don’t know her heart.

I do know she has accomplished great political good, and it has nothing to do with her running for President, it has to do with her grass roots activism and the positions she’s advocated in Congress.

We do agree she isn’t a stalking horse for Romney or anyone else.


41 posted on 08/30/2011 8:50:43 AM PDT by txrangerette ("...HOLD TO THE TRUTH; SPEAK WITHOUT FEAR." - Glenn Beck)
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To: markomalley

Romney just needs to take a lesson from Rick Perry and stop being boring.


42 posted on 08/30/2011 8:50:47 AM PDT by Force of Truth (Intelligence and virtue are preferable in a candidate, but I'd much rather he or she be chinchy.)
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To: shield

>> Not coming against you in the least.

I understand. But you should always feel free to, when I deserve it! :-)

Carry on, and FRegards


43 posted on 08/30/2011 8:51:47 AM PDT by Nervous Tick (Trust in God, but row away from the rocks!)
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To: txrangerette; shield; Nervous Tick

If Perry can actually take Iowa and then South Carolina while maintaining this kind of a gallop over the rest of the field, we will be looking at a “walk” to the nomination. Even if it narrows after then, in the bluer states, the cash and enthusiasm will have already broken out for Perry, because we all know the singular issue this election is about—reversing economic catastrophe orchestrated by Marxists.

Then their will be Perry, left standing, having drug that great and awesome exhibit of his around, TEXAS! Game over.


44 posted on 08/30/2011 8:52:17 AM PDT by RitaOK (TEXAS. It's EXHIBIT A for Rick. Perry/Rubio '12)
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Those blaming Rollins for Bachmann’s behavior are really insulting Bachmann.

Rollins ultimately works for Bachmann. She can do and say whatever she wants. She can take his advise or ignore it.

I had early hopes for Bachmann and still see her as a powerful force for the conservative movement, but the suggestion that Rollins is the problem requires one to believe Bachmann is not in charge of her own campaign. I find the notion absurd...she is a force of nature. Rollins does not control her.

45 posted on 08/30/2011 8:55:58 AM PDT by Tex-Con-Man
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To: caww
I’m with you on door #3...no more RHINOS!

This is your cut-and-paste refrain on every Perry thread, so a word of unsolicited advice: learn the proper acronym for Republican In Name Only.

46 posted on 08/30/2011 9:02:55 AM PDT by Constitutionalist Conservative (Two blogs for the price of none!)
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To: shield

***Reagan always did it beautifully...he did it with jokes...he was a master at it.

I agree it is sad how so called level headed conservatives behave...a friend who visits christian forums a lot tells me how awful supposed christians act toward each other. Of course, they do that here in the religious forum. All one can do is shake their head.***

Christians used to believe that they owed God respect for showing them mercy and were humble and respected for it, now they think God owes them respect for being such smarties and use their Christianity as a status symbol and are laughed at because of it. If fact this carries over into politics. Americans are such status-seekers anymore they can’t address a fellow-American who stands on the opposite side of an issue without childish personal attacks and delusional self-promotion. Americans just need to grow up.


47 posted on 08/30/2011 9:04:05 AM PDT by Force of Truth (Intelligence and virtue are preferable in a candidate, but I'd much rather he or she be chinchy.)
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To: Force of Truth

Very nicely stated. Thanks.


48 posted on 08/30/2011 9:09:03 AM PDT by shield (Rev 2:9 Woe unto those who say they are Judahites and are not, but are of the syna GOG ue of Satan.)
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To: shield
Kay Bailey tried that. I like Bachmann, I hate to see her do Milt's dirty work but if she takes that roll she is gonna look stupid.

Milt is gonna get his ass handed to him too.

49 posted on 08/30/2011 9:15:35 AM PDT by normy (Don't take it personally, just take it seriously.)
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To: Constitutionalist Conservative

Some people do seem to have a bug bite they have to scratch. Mr. Jim has said time and again no more Rhinos...and as others....no cut and paste to it.

I am opposed to Perry and have many times posted why I oppose him. Those who favor him are not doing the country any favors. I do not want to see our country go the way of Texas....which the media and Perry followers are pushing.

I’ve seen you stir up fights on many threads...and others have told you as much more times than not. Just as you’re doing here. So one does learn quickly to consider the source.


50 posted on 08/30/2011 9:18:24 AM PDT by caww
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To: ken5050
That is not how he treated Kay Bailey. He treated her like an opponent,and adversary.

Perry would more likely to say "Michelle, running a state of 24 million with a is a lot different than being one of 435 congressmen. My state has created over a million jobs since I became governor, how many have you created?"

51 posted on 08/30/2011 9:20:37 AM PDT by normy (Don't take it personally, just take it seriously.)
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To: normy

We actually don’t know if there is any truth in this. Hey...who knows Mitt may have promised her the VP position.


52 posted on 08/30/2011 9:22:28 AM PDT by shield (Rev 2:9 Woe unto those who say they are Judahites and are not, but are of the syna GOG ue of Satan.)
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To: shield

“Perry, on the other hand, is no wimp...he can dish it back harder than Michelle ever thought of.”

I could vote for either of them, but he holds the high ground on executive experience and accomplishment. He just has to ruthlessly compare resumes and she will be crushed by the comparison. They are actually my two favorites of the announced candidates, and I am not surprised the jackal Romney is circling and sniffing around, hoping for scraps from conservative infighting.

I agree with some others who do not expect this to play by the liberals’ script.


53 posted on 08/30/2011 9:37:15 AM PDT by Psalm 144 (Voodoo Republicans: Don't read their lips - watch their hands.)
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To: Bigtigermike

“The day Bachmann hired Ed Rollins was the day any chance she had of winning flew out of the window.”

S’truth.


54 posted on 08/30/2011 9:41:34 AM PDT by Psalm 144 (Voodoo Republicans: Don't read their lips - watch their hands.)
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To: bwc2221
1. Romney

2. Perry

3. No of the above

I’ll take door #3.

And, behind door #3 -- Barrack Obama. Congratulations, you just decided to help put a Marxist back into office for four more years who will have the ability to shape the direction of the Supreme Court for the next 30 years.

Maybe Communist Party USA or George Soros will send you a prize.

55 posted on 08/30/2011 9:50:03 AM PDT by Kazan
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To: RitaOK

“...[W]e all know the singular issue this election is about—reversing economic catastrophe orchestrated by Marxists.”

Yes. Unprecedented in its obviousness this time. FDR was as bad, but the socialism of that era ran its course with stealth rather than defiant confrontation. This will be a truly unique campaign cycle.


56 posted on 08/30/2011 9:50:19 AM PDT by Psalm 144 (Voodoo Republicans: Don't read their lips - watch their hands.)
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To: caww
I do not want to see our country go the way of Texas

So, you'd rather continue to see job losses rather than job growth?

57 posted on 08/30/2011 9:56:00 AM PDT by Kazan
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To: txrangerette
She is Romney’s opposite number and would not knowingly or wittingly be his stalking horse. That was true before Perry got in, that is true now.

You're on the right track, but think like a politician, and the game plan is clear.

Bachmann is a strong conservative, and well liked by the base. She's not going to be President, though. She doesn't have the right resume to win in the general. Arguably, she's less qualified than Obama. Not as far as ideals go, but in background. Obama's was Ivy League educated and Senator, and even he was an anomaly. Bachmann can fire up the base, but she can't close the deal with independents.

Romney's got the right resume. He was a governor. Business experience. Able to raise cash by the truckload. What he doesn't have is any measurable fan base. He was beaten by McCain, who ran a 'last man standing' operation. Now Romney's trying the same gambit. If he wins, he'll face the same problem. He'll need a strong conservative who can fire up the base.

In other words, Romney has no path to victory without a Bachmann-like VP, and Bachmann has no path to being President unless she's VP first. She needs a moderate governor who needs conservative street cred. Romney needs a major bone to throw to the conservative right who despises him.

These two need each other. That's why they haven't laid so much as a glove on each other on any debate so far.

58 posted on 08/30/2011 10:08:49 AM PDT by Steel Wolf ("Few men desire liberty; most men wish only for a just master." - Gaius Sallustius Crispus)
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To: markomalley

Anyone who flies, or has flown, military fighter aircraft makes more critical decisions in 30 seconds than Obama (or Romney) makes in a career. Other than the addled McCain, I am thinking of GHWB, GWB, Perry.


59 posted on 08/30/2011 10:19:03 AM PDT by SERKIT ("Blazing Saddles" explains it all......)
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To: Kazan

Not about jobs....though Perry’s cheap border labor does speak volumes where his reports come from. I do not want to see our President recruting and co-operating with the Islamic push in our country as Perry has done in Texas.

It matters not what sect they are... they all adhere to the Koran and Mohammeds teachings...Perry has favored Muslims in his state and actively participated with them establishing a Muslim base to be the “Mineret of the West” just as they have they have stated on their website.

Perry s ways of bringing jobs to his state is not the way i want to see our country going. Establishing a beachhead for companies on his southern border for companies to obtain cheap labor is not the way to go....open borders..are his game and he wants them secure in order to establish that coporate beachead....but he will not close the border.

Further he will be seeking, and has, Federal Taxpayers monies to pay for that security. Let Texas pay for their own security.....or do what Americans want...close the border. I dare not imagine what Perry will do on all our borders and who and how many Muslims he will invite in.

Further there are other conservative candidates who don’t play the “Pay to Play” games Perry does...Plugging the job issues with foreigners so you can claim the jobs you’ve made is NOT the way to go.


60 posted on 08/30/2011 10:19:20 AM PDT by caww
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