Posted on 06/10/2011 5:05:40 PM PDT by Qbert
Matt Lewis is reporting that his sources in Texas are telling him that there is a "90% chance" that Governor Rick Perry will run for the GOP nomination for president:
Dave Carney and Rob Johnson -- the former top Perry aides who on Thursday left Newt Gingrich's floundering campaign -- are said to be heading to Texas soon to join in on preparations for the run. I am told this is now "ninety percent likely to occur." Additionally, Perry allies have begun holding meetings in the state and have been instructed to quietly reach out to contacts in early primary states.
The stars may have finally aligned for Perry, who, until recently, said he had no intentions of seeking the nomination. With no clear front runner emerging, and with Gingrich's campaign dissolving, Perry could enter the field as a top-tier candidate, surrounded by the same team that helped him defeat Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison last year in the Texas gubernatorial primary. And because Texas leads the nation in job creation, the recent national economic numbers provide an instant rationale for his candidacy.
If Perry does indeed jump in the race, GOP primary voters will likely be reminded of how conservatives were outraged when he signed an executive order in 2007, making Texas the first state in the nation to mandate Human papilloma virus (HPV) vaccinations for sixth-grade girls. They will be reminded that he endorsed Rudy Giuliani for president in 2008. And, of course, his controversial plans to create a Trans-Texas Corridor (which were finally dropped after a large public outcry) would come up. Perry would also have to find a way to extricate himself from his important duties as head of the Republican Governor's Association (RGA).
Matt may be overstating some of that baggage. Perry has impeccable conservative credentials - fiscal and social - and it is likely none of it will impact his candidacy substantially. The truck corridor was criticized mostly by the North American Union conspiracy nuts, while the vaccinations might save thousands of those 6th graders from getting cervical cancer later in life were criticized because some believed it validated teenage sex while others thought it took control away from parents. Neither criticism was true, as the Texas health department allowed for waivers for parents who didn't want to participate in the vaccination program.
There is little doubt Perry would be a formidable candidate. He is one tough campaigner as he proved in his primary race against Kay Bailey Hutchison. He's an inspiring speaker, a commanding presence on the stump, and good looking to boot. But is America ready for another Texas governor for president?
By election day 2012, given what the economy is likely to look like, I doubt whether it will matter much at all.
No clue, I'd defer to Texas FReepers for that kind of information and insight. My only point was that I think if Perry jumps in the race he would be an immediate 1st tier candidate with a fairly strong base of conservative support and LOTS of money.
I am supporting Palin, so there is no question who I'd vote for, but I'm not in Texas.
Perry looks like a good alternative to me ONLY if Palin doesn't run. In that event I had planned to support Bachmann, but would certainly take a look at Perry and might support him instead.
Yeah you’re right.
“I didn’t get a chance to listen today. What segment was it?:”
http://www.rushlimbaugh.com/home/daily/site_061011/content/01125106.guest.html
But he’s got his own baggage, folks. As governor of Texas, some of you are not going to be happy to learn, he was a big advocate for in state tuition for the children of illegal immigrants. People are going to have to understand: A lot of Hispanic votes in Texas; that’s one of the things you have to do.”
—Thanks. Well... I’m not going to twist myself into a pretzel attempting to defend something I fundamentally disagree with. I think when politicians support questionable (or stupid) positions it’s generally for two reasons:
1) They are doing it only for political expedience (and don’t really support it internally)
or
2) They really do believe in it.
Rush alludes to the former. Perry will obviously need to explain his position in the primaries if he does run.
He may have the best chance of unifying the party and that can't be a bad thing, although I'd be happier to see a Palin or Bachmann leading the parade. They've proven they have the nerve to go toe-to-toe with the Dark Star. I don't know if any of the men in the field have that nerve.
Probably one of the better posts I have seen on Perry. I have voted for him every time he has run for a statewide office in Texas simply because the alternatives were worse. He is not a true Conservative. You can track his career and see where he has moved left and right as the political winds blow. He is the consummate politician changing parties when it became obvious that a Democrat would not win a statewide office in Texas and moving further right with the election of Obama. If that is what you want, Perry is your man. If you want a principled Conservative LEADER, Perry will most likely disappoint once in DC.
I agree with what you said. Gov. Perry has been a good Governor (if you can get past the Tran-Texas Corridor issue), but does not inspire true conservatives, and has not been on the national scene at all, like Gov. Palin has.
As to who would win head to head in the Texas Primary Election, I think Gov. Palin would win easily. Too many Republicans AND Democrats have grudges against Perry and would vote against Perry just to see him taken down. Texas is a semi-open primary state and with no-one interesting at the top of the ticket in the Democrat Primary, there would be a huge number of Democrats cross over and vote against Perry too.
I will never forgive Bush for what he did to Ramos and Compean. This was betrayal. The whole illegal immigration fiasco is all about betrayal by powerful self-interests who put their selfish desires before what is good for the nation. Those bums are so stubbon when it comes to their votes and money. I have heard of the illegal immigrantion supporters described as the new slave-power and that is not too far from the truth.
“There are better conservatives out there but the RINO Beltway, having failed to lure Daniels, and with Huntsman not gaining traction, and with Romney a sure loser if he ever went head-to-head with Obama, are so scared a Tea Party favorite might get the nomination that they are willing to cozy up to Rick Perry as their last real hope to keep some control of things.
He may have the best chance of unifying the party and that can’t be a bad thing, although I’d be happier to see a Palin or Bachmann leading the parade. They’ve proven they have the nerve to go toe-to-toe with the Dark Star. I don’t know if any of the men in the field have that nerve.”
—I’ve been thinking many of the same thoughts.
(You left out Herman Cain on the Conservative side, though- I don’t know enough about him yet, but I think he’s been impressive thus far. Definitely somebody to watch- but the Beltway crowd might fear him, too).
Are you saying Rick Perry has done NOTHING on illegal immigration?
Not so. The rats used the WOT against W, can't do that with Perry.
It's the economy, y'all.
I'm utterly dismayed (deja vu '08) that Perry has been chosen for me. I have serious fears that his dismantle-the-fed is just showboating.
Notice the SRM hasn't uttered a peep against Perry.. sure sign he's a go. All we can hope for now is that he includes Sarah, as VP or Energy... zero does not want to run against them.
I would caution the anybody but Palin crowd against making too much of this and her recent kind words toward Perry. Governor Palin is genuinely one of the most gracious individuals one would ever want to meet. She does "kind words" regularly. She even had some kind words for Mittens. And that takes a lot.
Little and late.
It looks like we are about to have another choice in the race. Without Palin running, Governor Good Hair is not a perfect candidate, but he would make a stronger and better one than the ones currently running.
My current favorite is Herman Cain. I love his message and energy. He brings a fresh voice to the field. I just don’t know if he will be able to finish his rise if Perry gets in the race.
Unfortunately we are stuck with a very hard choice. I think it boils down to me is, who can win and help repair the damage done to Texas.
Perry has all the draw backs that have been listed and probably a few more that haven’t.
On a lighter note, can you imagine Perry’s announcement to run with Chuck Norris and Sarah Palin up there with him when he does? The libs would just explode right then and there.
I pray for wisdom in this decision and for Texas.
Which is exactly the case with the order. Parents could opt out if they did not want their daughters taking it. That tends to be left out by the people posting this.
I'm tapped into the tea party movements in the DFW area and East Texas, and he's pretty damn popular with them.
I find that hard to believe. Most concervatives around Houston that I have met dont care for him, since he is weak on illegals and after the gardasil fiasco.
What!!!...I ask you a question...you are screaming about his lack of illegal immigration policies...and all you can say to is ‘little and late.’ You’ve not stated what the hell you are talking about.
Perry is wasting his money and time.
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