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Rick Perry is rethinking his pledge not to run for president
Yahoo News ^ | May 25, 2011 | Holly Bailey

Posted on 05/25/2011 9:20:37 PM PDT by UniqueViews

"In a press conference Tuesday, the Texas governor notably declined to "rule out" a White House bid, amid calls from Rush Limbaugh and others that he should enter the 2012 race."

(Excerpt) Read more at news.yahoo.com ...


TOPICS: Extended News; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections; US: Texas
KEYWORDS: 2012; 2012gopprimary; elections; elections2012; perry; perry2012; rickperry; rino
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To: Windflier
Governor of the state of Texas for 10 years.

Lt Gov. of Texas for 2 years.

1st Lt. Governor ever elected in Texas

Texas Ag Commissioner (actually responsible in part for promoting the sale of Texas ag products outside the state.)

Texas House of Representatives, 1884

I know he was a Democrat once, so were alot of Texas politicians, especially from rural Texas. If Perry gets no credit for Texas, how logically can Palin get any for Alaska? I'm not even against Palin or Pawlenty, I will vote for them against Obama, but damn, to deny Perry his due is plain intellectually dishonest.

201 posted on 05/26/2011 1:10:31 PM PDT by normy (Don't take it personally, just take it seriously.)
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To: BillyBoy
I suppose where we part ways is the claim that Perry would somehow be "more electable" in the other 49 states than any of the other Governors running for President. I don't think he would be, and aside from Rush Limbaugh that seems to the sentiment of everyone else I've met who lives in those 49 states Perry would have to campaign in.

We can agree to disagree on that point. If you are correct that people in the other 49 states see Perry as another "compassionate conservative," I would contend they have that opinion because they don't know enough about him. He's not a high-profile governor.

He has a charm factor that tends to sway non-Texans when they encounter him. He's very good at extolling his conservative virtues when he campaigns. He'd quickly win over non-Texans if he ran.

To me, Pawlenty is just boring. He couldn't match Perry's charm to win over the superficial voters who make elections a popularity contest. And, IMO, Romney has the healthcare albatross around his neck. I don't think he can overcome that no matter how he spins it.

If Perry has a significant negative to overcome in the other 49 (as opposed to his negatives with Texans,) it would probably be the "not another governor from Texas" syndrome.

202 posted on 05/26/2011 1:15:25 PM PDT by BuckeyeTexan (There are those that break and bend. I'm the other kind. *4192*)
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To: normy
Untrue. We were discussing this on another thread and there are many popular GOP governors around the country with much better conservative track records than Perry AND who won elections with much tougher competition. Examples are Don Carcieri of Rhode Island (he is an unabashed Reagan conservative elected twice in one of the most Democrat states in the country)and Mike Rounds of South Dakota (he won the GOP primary in a HUGE upset and has been a rock solid conservative governor). Even Christie of NJ would better. It's amusing the Chris Christie bashers on FR call him a RINO because he's a NJ politician, even though he has 10X the balls that Perry has when it comes to confronting Democrats. Christie doesn't just talk tough at tea party rallies when he's up for election, he governs that way. I could think of a half dozen Republican governors I'd prefer to draft.

If Perry's presidential timber, then so is Pawlenty. You don't need to “draft” Perry because you already have someone with the exact same credentials running: a successful multi-term Governor running for President with an acceptable conservative record who can point to “jobs creation” and “balenced budgets” during his tenure. Perry doesn't add anything to that except a Texas twang.

203 posted on 05/26/2011 1:16:18 PM PDT by BillyBoy (Impeach Obama? Yes We Can!)
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To: RobbyS
Well I suppose you got me there. Bush went to prep school and Perry didn't. One difference in their bios. Of course, the Obama camp was able to convince people that McCain would be "Bush's 3rd term" when he had almost nothing in common with him, so I think they'd have a much easier time portraying Perry as GWB II when their background, persona, and positions are 90% alike. But if you think the "he's not an ivy-leaguer like Bush" card will win us the White House, go for it! More problems with the "Draft Perry" arguement though: most of our existing GOP presidential candidates aren't ivy leaguers, either.
204 posted on 05/26/2011 1:20:49 PM PDT by BillyBoy (Impeach Obama? Yes We Can!)
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To: luckystarmom
Every candidate has warts. Herman Cain runs a pizza chain. That is more than Obama ever did for sure but Perry can stand toe to toe record to record and crush Obama just on job numbers alone.

I find it incredible that the Governor of the most successful state in the Union and the one sitting governor who has actually fought Obama face to face on federal gov't overreach is actually considered un electable by some Republicans.

As far as people not liking Perry, the reason he wins is because no one else is better, but who wants the same Governor for 10 years? It's time for a change but we know better than to change just for the sake of changing.

If Perry runs, David Dewhurst will become Governor and will be a great hand off for Texas.

By the way, Perry loves America and will govern it with American interests in mind.

205 posted on 05/26/2011 1:21:31 PM PDT by normy (Don't take it personally, just take it seriously.)
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To: BillyBoy
Except Pawlenty comes off as a nerdy geek. Sad but true. If Perry and Pawlenty are the same guy then Perry wins just on the fact he's already confronted Obama face to face and punked him out.I want to win. Face the facts that Pawlenty doesn't have the balls to take it to Obama face to face, Perry is just as cocky as Obama and will embarrass him. Pawlenty is "nice".

I love Christie but I believe he is a social moderate and he's been gov. only a couple years. I would take him in a heartbeat but he ain't running.

206 posted on 05/26/2011 1:27:00 PM PDT by normy (Don't take it personally, just take it seriously.)
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To: normy
I'm not even against Palin or Pawlenty, I will vote for them against Obama, but damn, to deny Perry his due is plain intellectually dishonest.

Normy, did you not see my previous post to you? I told you that I'm willing to give Perry his due, but that I'm simply not comfortable with him.

I'm not trying to dump on the man. The negatives I mentioned are historical fact - not hyperbole, and they do color my personal views of him. That is all.

207 posted on 05/26/2011 1:27:42 PM PDT by Windflier (To anger a conservative, tell him a lie. To anger a liberal, tell him the truth.)
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To: UniqueViews
...who? I mean someone who can defeat Obama. Name ONE conservative who can get both the GOP nomination and defeat Obama.

Sarah Palin. Plain and simple.

208 posted on 05/26/2011 1:29:02 PM PDT by Windflier (To anger a conservative, tell him a lie. To anger a liberal, tell him the truth.)
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To: Windflier
Fair enough FRiend. This is the hashing out process isn't it? This is why we love the political fight.
209 posted on 05/26/2011 1:30:22 PM PDT by normy (Don't take it personally, just take it seriously.)
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To: normy
Fair enough FRiend. This is the hashing out process isn't it? This is why we love the political fight.

Full disclosure: I've given Rick Perry my vote twice now, and was glad to do it, given the alternatives. However, he got my vote for the same reasons that McCain did. Not good - hence my statement that "we can do better."

I sincerely hope we do, but if he's in, and winds up being the last man standing, then he'll get my vote a third time.

210 posted on 05/26/2011 1:37:33 PM PDT by Windflier (To anger a conservative, tell him a lie. To anger a liberal, tell him the truth.)
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To: BuckeyeTexan
I think your arguments are basically the GOP version of why the Dems went with John Kerry in 2004. Howard Dean was a lunatic, Edwards was an empty suit, and Wesley Clark was a flip-flopped, so they tagged the stable, reliable, non-controversal, continually re-elected John Kerry as the "more electable" choice.

Once he emerged as the nominee, however, they discovered Mike Dukasis' Lt. Governor didn't play well in the other 49 states. People outside of his homestate reacted with "Geesh, not ANOTHER Massachusetts liberal elitist for President?" There was no enthusiasm for Kerry, anyone who voted for him was voting "anti-Bush" more than anything else.

A different Massachuttes Democrat like Paul Tsongas might have broken out of that stereotype but Kerry was too much of a retread of past Democrats despite the fact he tried to make himself Kennedyesque instead of Dukasisesque (as Perry would no doubt try to run on Reagan's mantle instead of GWB's). Kerry running on "but I'm different -- I won THREE purple hearts!" didn't help.

I could see another Texan winning the White House in my lifetime, but Bush's right-hand guy Rick Perry won't be the one, IMO.

211 posted on 05/26/2011 1:38:55 PM PDT by BillyBoy (Impeach Obama? Yes We Can!)
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To: BillyBoy

Perry’s strength is that he has dominated the scene for ten years and by that fact been able to use a comparatively week gubernatorial office to put himself on top of the heap. I don’t find him personally likeable, but he plays the game pretty well.


212 posted on 05/26/2011 1:41:42 PM PDT by RobbyS (Pray with the suffering souls.)
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To: UniqueViews

If it’s between Perry and Obama, of course Perry would be better. But we can do better than Perry. It’s in large part because of Bush that Obama got elected in the first place.


213 posted on 05/26/2011 3:00:37 PM PDT by Clintonfatigued (Muslims are a people of love, peace, and goodwill, and if you say that they aren't, they'll kill you)
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To: normy; BillyBoy

Don’t welcome any damn Yankee opinions on your apparent hero eh?

Well then poll your fellow Texas freepers. Tons of them have called him RINO or worse.


214 posted on 05/26/2011 3:56:50 PM PDT by Impy (Don't call me red.)
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To: xzins; UniqueViews; P-Marlowe
IOW, Perry, in terms of electoral college votes, would be an absolutely formidable candidate.

I agree.

FWIW, I'm starting to like the candidates to pick from. Pawlenty is solid. He has executive experience and has admitted he was on the wrong side of cap & trade. Cain has a great resume coming from the private sector, but looks weak on foreign policy. If Perry jumps in he has executive experience and comes from a huge state dealing with immigration. If Bauchman runs she has the accounting background and congressional experience. Santorum is very strong on social issues and if he can carry PA it's a huge plus.

IOW, out of this group we should find a good POTUS and maybe VP. I'm not a big Palin supporter because she resigned under pressure. Rommney, Huntsman and any other rino's will force me to vote 3rd party for the first time in my life. Gingrich is toast after throwing Ryan under the bus.

215 posted on 05/26/2011 3:57:41 PM PDT by wmfights (If you want change support SenateConservatives.com)
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To: wmfights

Gingrich and his attack on Ryan’s budget probably cost a lot in Jack Kemp’s NY congressional seat just won by the dems.


216 posted on 05/26/2011 6:22:12 PM PDT by xzins (Retired Army Chaplain & proud of it: Truly Supporting the Troops means praying for their Victory!)
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To: wmfights; P-Marlowe

The real question for me is this: would I accept George W. Bush back in the presidency. My answer is yes. He drove me nuts with his unwillingness to defend himself, and he had to be beat with a buggy whip to get him right on amnesty, but this country was in better shape with GW.

I would vote again for GW Bush.

Therefore, I will vote for anyone similar to Bush in policies.

I will NOT vote for any anti-life, pro-choice candidate. That is my line in the sand. I have other things that are non-negotiable, but pro-life tells me about the candidate’s heart and character.


217 posted on 05/26/2011 6:26:56 PM PDT by xzins (Retired Army Chaplain & proud of it: Truly Supporting the Troops means praying for their Victory!)
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To: Arrowhead1952

Good maybe the legislators will reconsider. Alex Jones is right. If you call the Feds bluff about stopping airline traffic they will never go through with it. Half the flights going to CA have to connect through Dallas. I have done it many times. It would cause total chaos. The airlines would freak out.


218 posted on 05/26/2011 8:19:58 PM PDT by Georgia Girl 2 (The only purpose of a pistol is to fight your way back to the rifle you should never have dropped.)
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To: jospehm20

Yeah, it’s what he says now.... I noticed that McCain suddenly became pro-border security when it was convenient, as well. Sorry, your guy will never convince me.


219 posted on 05/27/2011 5:57:53 AM PDT by Bigg Red (Palin in 2012)
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To: Bigg Red

The difference is Perry was already changing long before he decided to run. People change. I think using a 10 year old article to impugn people is bogus. I used to be a democrat 30 years ago, but Reagan helped me get better. There are other people I would vote for instead if they got in. Out of the people already declared, I would probably go with Perry if he gets in, which he still may not. I guess we will just have to wait and see who declares and how it plays out. I like him better than anybody who is in the race right now but that may change in the next few weeks.


220 posted on 05/27/2011 7:06:41 AM PDT by jospehm20
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