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Perry, the GOP, and Cowboy Diplomacy
RealClearPolitics ^ | 9/1/11 | Colin Dueck

Posted on 09/01/2011 10:20:52 AM PDT by CA Conservative

Rick Perry’s dramatic entrance into the Republican presidential race has triggered within a few short weeks a remarkable amount of invective, clucking, and alarm on the part of leading critics. Perry, we are told in worried tones, cannot and must not win the presidency: he is too Texan, too Christian, too “extreme,” and altogether too provincial. Never mind that these concerns issue mainly from a Northeastern liberal-leaning commentariat that is amazingly inward-looking in its definition of worldly wisdom. The central fear seems to be that Perry is another George W. Bush – in a word, a cowboy.

--snip--

Here’s a crack at what the genuine version of cowboy diplomacy would look like: not reckless, but measured, backed up by strength, unwilling to tolerate insult, and ready to act with force and decision when necessary. So far as we can tell, this seems to be Rick Perry’s inclination.

--snip--

Perry has an excellent opportunity this month, in a number of televised debates between GOP presidential candidates, to clarify his foreign policy views so as to rally Republicans while undercutting his detractors. Critics who dismiss him as either a lightweight or unelectable are kidding themselves. Perry is a tough, shrewd, disciplined campaigner who has shown in multiple winning efforts that he can take a punch as well as deliver one.

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


TOPICS: News/Current Events; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: openborders; perry; perry2012
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A pretty good rejoinder for those who talk about "cowboy diplomacy" as if it is a bad thing...
1 posted on 09/01/2011 10:20:54 AM PDT by CA Conservative
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To: shield

Perry ping


2 posted on 09/01/2011 10:21:19 AM PDT by CA Conservative (Texan by birth, Californian by circumstance)
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To: CA Conservative; org.whodat; cripplecreek; TADSLOS; BobL; raybbr; truthfreedom; CowboyJay; ...

3 posted on 09/01/2011 10:23:50 AM PDT by South40 (Perry: There is a path to citizenship for ILLEGAL ALIENS who have served THEIR country)
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To: CA Conservative

Well cowboy diplomacy won the cold war. What has Obama diplomacy (i.e. inept diplomacy) done?


4 posted on 09/01/2011 10:24:43 AM PDT by Old Teufel Hunden
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To: South40

Here comes the PDS crew to brighten our day with their humor! They may not be smart or original, but they are funny...


5 posted on 09/01/2011 10:25:38 AM PDT by CA Conservative (Texan by birth, Californian by circumstance)
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To: South40

As tarheelswamprat posted: who woulda thunk the Pied Piper would be wearing cowboy boots........


6 posted on 09/01/2011 10:29:27 AM PDT by Liz ( A taxpayer voting for Obama is like a chicken voting for Col Sanders.)
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To: CA Conservative

” ....unwilling to tolerate insult... “ <<<

Another thing. Rick accomplishes the above description in a manner that does not make him appear as having even BEEN insulted! His confidence is palpable. No thin skin there. No one else has quite mastered that without looking a tad bitter, defensive and in a case or two, whiny. Rick makes a campaign fun, win, lose or draw. Oh. He always wins. Pray God, he will this time.


7 posted on 09/01/2011 10:31:22 AM PDT by RitaOK (TEXAS. It's EXHIBIT A for Rick. Perry/Rubio '12)
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To: CA Conservative

8 posted on 09/01/2011 10:33:37 AM PDT by kcvl
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To: kcvl


9 posted on 09/01/2011 10:37:37 AM PDT by AAABEST (Et lux in tenebris lucet: et tenebrae eam non comprehenderunt)
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To: AAABEST

Exactly!


10 posted on 09/01/2011 10:39:28 AM PDT by kcvl
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To: Liz
As tarheelswamprat posted: who woulda thunk the Pied Piper would be wearing cowboy boots........

lol! Ain't that the truth.

11 posted on 09/01/2011 10:43:17 AM PDT by South40 (Perry: There is a path to citizenship for ILLEGAL ALIENS who have served THEIR country)
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To: CA Conservative
All along, my choice for a GOP nominee has been, "The most conservative candidate, besides Romney, that can actually defeat Obama."

Until Perry came along, not a single candidate fit that description and, before Perry even announced, I said that Perry did.

Right now, Perry is my dog in the fight. That said, the dog does have problems. One of them is the "Cowboy" thing.

Rightly or wrongly, elections often turn on stupid things. (Remember, "Where the beef?")

Rightly or wrongly, the "Cowboy" image is considered a joke in many parts of the country. That's just simply the way it is.

Rightly or wrongly, for too many voters, "Texas" and Texas twangs brings back unpleasant flashbacks of George W. Bush.

Rightly or wrongly, superficial packaging makes a difference nowadays.

When Margaret Thatcher ran for Prime Minister, she used a speech coach to soften her regional accent. She was "packaged".

Likewise, Perry needs to soften the "Cowboy" superficial package that works great in Texas but not in other regions of the country. Perry needs to soften his Texas twang. Perry needs to lose the cowboy boots.

Is that superficial?

Yes.

Does it matter to many voters?

Unfortunately, yes.

12 posted on 09/01/2011 10:46:40 AM PDT by Polybius (Defeating Obama is Priority Number One)
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To: South40; CA Conservative
PhotobucketPhotobucket
South40
13 posted on 09/01/2011 10:48:53 AM PDT by smoothsailing
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To: South40

I’m confused. Are you talking about Mitt Perry or Rick Romney?


14 posted on 09/01/2011 10:54:02 AM PDT by DoughtyOne (McCain 5 yrs Left/1 year right "BAD!" - Republicans 3 yrs Right 1 year Left to elect RINOs. "Good?")
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To: DoughtyOne
I’m confused. Are you talking about Mitt Perry or Rick Romney?

Mick Promney! The Mormon Cowboy! :)

15 posted on 09/01/2011 10:58:30 AM PDT by smoothsailing
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To: CA Conservative

Look for these attacks to intensify. The more Perry leads in the polls, the more RUBBISH will be printed about him.


16 posted on 09/01/2011 10:59:35 AM PDT by BradtotheBone (Moderate Democrat - A politician whose voting record leans left and whose vote can be bought.)
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To: smoothsailing
Happy trails to Mick, da da, da da, da da...
17 posted on 09/01/2011 11:02:02 AM PDT by DoughtyOne (McCain 5 yrs Left/1 year right "BAD!" - Republicans 3 yrs Right 1 year Left to elect RINOs. "Good?")
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To: Polybius

Obama’s polling numbers being what they are, independents gone, even Democraps jumping ship, we could essentially run a vampire bat against him and win.

I’m not buying the idea that Ricardo is the only guy who can beat Obama.

Do you think Reagan was the only guy that could have beaten Carter?

Pick a Conservative. Pick any real conservative. They’ll win.


18 posted on 09/01/2011 11:05:49 AM PDT by DoughtyOne (McCain 5 yrs Left/1 year right "BAD!" - Republicans 3 yrs Right 1 year Left to elect RINOs. "Good?")
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To: CA Conservative

The chardonnay swishers have their panties in a wad


19 posted on 09/01/2011 11:06:08 AM PDT by yldstrk (My heroes have always been cowboys)
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To: DoughtyOne
Hey Doughty! Have you seen this one yet?

Michele Bachmann AWOL from N.H.

Looks like Michelle is already giving up on NH, just fighting to keep Perry from overwhelming her in Iowa.

20 posted on 09/01/2011 11:10:20 AM PDT by CA Conservative (Texan by birth, Californian by circumstance)
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