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Campaign Crawlers
Return of the Phantom Menace
Will Rick Perry help Mitt Romney clinch in South Carolina?
One Thursday night in August I returned to my hotel room in Des Moines, Iowa, and turned on the TV to catch up with the news I had missed while out on the road covering Atlanta businessman Herman Cain’s campaign visit to Oskaloosa. It wasn’t just the news I wanted to see, however, but also the political ads. Being “on the ground” during an election campaign provides an opportunity to watch local TV and see how frequently the ads are running, which is not something you can evaluate accurately unless you’re there. With less than 10 days remaining until the Aug. 13 Iowa GOP straw poll in Ames, those ads were running pretty heavy on TV in Des Moines on the night of Aug. 4. Most of the ads were either for former Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty or Minnesota Rep. Michele Bachmann, who were going head-to-head in the crucial straw poll, but there was also an ad promoting a politician who wasn’t going to be on the ballot at Ames and who, at that point, had not even publicly confirmed that he was going to be a candidate for president.
“What if we had a candidate for President with a real record of creating jobs?” the TV ad asked Iowans. “A conservative with proven leadership in tough times. The leader of a state that created more jobs in the past two years than the other 49 states combined.”
That ad, from a so-called “super-PAC” called Jobs for Iowa, was touting the not-yet-official presidential candidacy of Texas Gov. Rick Perry. And as I worked that Thursday night in my Des Moines hotel room, writing a column for The American Spectator (“Showdown in Corn Country,” Aug. 5), the ad appeared several more times, in roughly the same frequency as the ads for Pawlenty and Bachmann. This made no sense to me. Why would Perry’s supporters be spending money to air TV ads in Iowa, where the first-in-the-nation caucuses were still several months away and the Texan wouldn’t be participating in the straw poll? Something weird was happening and I wrote on my blog, “Having Rick Perry’s potential campaign looming on the horizon casts a certain shadow over the proceedings here.” I began referring to Perry’s strange campaign as “The Phantom Menace” of Iowa. And a few days later, on Tuesday, Aug. 9, when I arrived at a Pawlenty event at the state capitol building, I was surprised to find a group of college girls, dressed in “Americans for Rick Perry” T-shirts, on the scene promoting Perry as a write-in candidate for the straw poll.
By then, it had already been announced that Perry would declare his candidacy on Aug. 13 — the same day as the Ames straw poll — at the “Red State Gathering,” a conference in Charleston, S.C., sponsored by a popular conservative blog. This made his TV ads and proxy campaign in Iowa even more difficult to explain. Iowa Republican officials told me that the Perry campaign had actually approached them about participating in the straw poll and had decided against it. So it seemed that Perry, having consciously made a decision to upstage the Iowa event with his South Carolina campaign announcement, was also trying to circumvent the state GOP through this conspicuous effort to woo Iowans with TV ads and solicit their straw poll write-in votes at Ames.
It was downright strange, suggestive of extreme hubris on the part of the Texas governor and his staff and, at least to me, it seemed to be an ill omen. When I tried to explain my sense of foreboding, however, some commenters at my blog — evidently swept up in the Perry hype — were skeptical of my sense that it would lead toward catastrophe. To one of these skeptics, I responded: “What I fear will happen is that Perry will spend several months sucking up media oxygen and burning through GOP donor cash, only to collapse early next year. This will have the effect of suffocating other conservative candidates, and thereby lead to … Romney 2012.”
Now, more than five months after that premonition struck me, we can see how close the prophecy is to fulfillment. Perry’s campaign is quite obviously near an irretrievable collapse. He finished a weak fifth in the Iowa caucuses Jan. 3 and reportedly considered quitting, only to tell reporters the next day he was “headed to New Hampshire and then to South Carolina.” Instead of going to New Hampshire, where his name was on the ballot but he got only one percent of the vote, after a trip home to Texas, Perry began campaigning in South Carolina, where the latest poll shows him in sixth place. Even his single-digit support in the Palmetto State, however, might translate to several thousand votes and, if the race is close there in the Jan. 21 primary, could be enough to make the difference in a narrow victory for Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney. There is evidently no hope at all that Perry will win South Carolina, nor does he have a chance in the Jan. 31 primary in Florida (where the latest poll by Rasmussen also shows him sixth) and thus the obvious question presents itself: Why is Perry still running?
Whatever the answer to that question, it is far less interesting than another question: What would have happened if Perry hadn’t run at all?
The first casualty of Perry’s decision to run for president was the campaign of former House Speaker Newt Gingrich. In June, Gingrich’s campaign manager and a half-dozen senior advisers quit. Several of those staffers — who disparaged Gingrich to the press as they left his campaign — soon re-emerged in the hire of the embryonic Perry campaign. The damage done to Gingrich seemed irreparable at the time, but the former speaker recovered enough that polls now show him Romney’s leading rival in South Carolina. So… what if?
A similar “what if” scenario involves Pawlenty, who quit the race the day after he finished a disappointing third in the Ames straw poll. Would Pawlenty have been able to continue his campaign, had it not been for Perry’s splashy entrance to the GOP field? And what about Bachmann, who won the straw poll in Iowa but — because of the buzz surrounding Perry’s announcement — was deprived of the bounce she might otherwise have gotten from her hard-fought August victory? The same could be said of former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum, whose low-budget campaign exceeded expectations with a strong fourth-place showing in the Ames straw poll. Santorum’s encouraging boost, however, was buried in the media swirl surrounding the campaign debut of Perry, who immediately zoomed to the top of the polls. Weeks of media hype and millions of dollars in campaign contributions, however, were not enough to sustain Perry’s instant ascent to frontrunner status. In three TV debates in September, Perry stumbled badly trying to defend his decisions to mandate Gardasil injections for Texas schoolgirls and provide in-state college tuition credits for illegal immigrants. His campaign reportedly spent $250,000 in their effort to win a Sept. 24 Florida GOP straw poll, only to be embarrassed by a lopsided loss to Cain.
Attempting to revive his candidacy, the Perry campaign spent millions of dollars to air TV and radio ads in Iowa — the same state where he had made the fateful decision to skip the GOP straw poll in August — and achieved nothing but a fifth-place finish, draining off enough conservative votes to enable Romney to eke out an eight-vote win over Santorum. Now Perry is desperately flailing around South Carolina, where he has denounced Romney as a “vulture capitalist,” which caused one of Perry’s major donors to shift his support to Romney and also caused Rush Limbaugh to compare Perry to Fidel Castro.
It is difficult now to remember that there was a time, in August and early September, when the Perry campaign appeared to be an unstoppable juggernaut, a bandwagon that many conservatives climbed aboard in the belief that it would roll all the way to the White House. Nobody believes that anymore, and the catastrophic failure of his 2012 campaign has not only marred Perry’s previously admirable reputation, but it has also put the GOP on the verge of fulfilling my August prophecy. Unless Gingrich or Santorum can rally to defeat the current Republican frontrunner in South Carolina, the ultimate result of Perry’s ill-advised campaign will almost certainly prove to be what I warned it would be five months ago: Romney 2012.
About the Author
Robert Stacy McCain is co-author (with Lynn Vincent) of Donkey Cons: Sex, Crime, and Corruption in the Democratic Party (Nelson Current). He blogs at The Other McCain.
Letter to the Editor View all comments (108) | Leave a comment
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Jack in Wi.| 1.13.12 @ 6:42AM
This essay is laughable. It doesn't mention the man who is tied head to head with Barack Obama in several polls, over the last 6 months, Ron Paul. Perry was a couple week wonder. I happen to tune in to his announcement speech for a few minutes. It was clear to me, in that time, that he was un-electable nationally. He sounded and looked like Bush Jr. without Bush's name and family connections. The country is so sick of Bush that I never expected him to do well. In the debates, he showed himself to be tongue tied and not and intelectually quick on his feet.
The really laughable part of this essay was the author's belief that Gingrich or Santorum ever had a chance to be elected President. They both were creations of talk radio and Fox News, to stop Ron Paul from being the obvious oppostion to Romney. The only good thing about this talk radio villification of Ron Paul is that the ratings of Rush Limbaugh and Sean Hannity have collapsed, one third, in the last 3 months.
It has always been between Willard Romney the elites and neocons favorite, and Ron Paul and his young insurgents. All the rest have been diversions to splt the conservative vote or in the case of Huntsman, the libertarian vote, for his fellow rich Mormom.
The party right now is split between the 2 camps. I don't see it getting together to beat Obama. Unless there are honest and thoughtful debates between Ron and Mitt about the future of the party and country say hello to another 4 years for Barack Obama. Jim Demint has just called for the same thing. It is laughable that Perry is even in the CNN debate. He meets not one of their criteria to be included.
Doctor Right| 1.13.12 @ 7:48AM
Your self-delusion is increasing.
The GOP is NOT split between "Mitt and Ron" that statement is palpably absurd.
Your Messiah, Dr.Ronnie, has NEVER been able to get more than 25% of the vote except in dinky little New Hampshire, which has an open primary.
Here's a math lesson for you, Jack..."split" means 50%, or as they say in the parts of Wusconsin where normal people live, "half."
Ron Paul has ZERO chance of ever getting 50% of the GOP vote.
ZERO.
When he's NOT the nominee, what will you do? Where will your take your need to be led?
Jack in Wi.| 1.13.12 @ 8:04AM
Dr. Wrong 25% is a split. The country agrees with Ron Paul on ending the wars, ending foreign aid, no attack on Iran, auditing the Fed, and slashing the Federal budget, by over 70% majorities. The Republican nominee is going to have to sound a lot more like Ron Paul then Mitt Romney, if he is to win.
Doctor Right| 1.13.12 @ 8:23AM
Logic, please, Adolph in Wi...
If Ron Paul only has about 18% of the GOP vote, then how does "the country" support his viewpoint on the war.
Additionally, Heinrich...Saying that the nation "wants to end the war," and linking that to support for Ron Paul is idiotic and intellectually dishonest. Of course they want to "end the war," you jackass!!! The difference is in how to secure the nation's safety, and on that score, Ron Paul is a dangerous dim-wit.
That's like the propaganda clap-trap that Paul's brain-dead supporters spread about Ron Paul and the Constitution...as if Dear old Doctor Ronnie was the FIRST politician to ever be concerned about the Constitution! What a joke!!!
Like I said, when Ronnie goes down in flames, where will you go?
chuck| 1.13.12 @ 9:00AM
I can just imagine the polling question:
Do you want to end the war, or do you want it to go on forever, costing trillions of dollars and thousands of American lives, like those of your sons, daughters, grandchildren, and neighbors?
I'm surprised it's not 100% for ending the wars.
I heard Eric Erickson from Red State say that 3/4 of Republicans do not want Romney as their FIRST choice. But 2/3 of Republicans do not want Paul AT ALL! Therein lies the difference.
Paul is getting his support from Democrats and liberals. Hell a few days ago on a post here we had a self-proclaimed "full blown Marxist" who was supporting Paul.
What is wrong with Paul that he draws so little support from Republicans, and so much support from the left?
He's not a conservative. and his foreign policy is dangerous.
Jack in Wi.| 1.13.12 @ 9:16AM
Ron Paul is tied head to head with Obama Dr. Wrong. The latest CBS poll hasWillard and ron in a virtual tie, head to head against Obama.. Ron gets a lot of independents, young people and diaffected Democrats. No Republican can get elected without these votes. Ron also gets 21% of the vote if he runs as an independent vs Willard at 32%. If that isn't a split I don't know what is.You better be nice to us because we have the swing in this election. Like I say the only way this party has to come together is by having respectful debates beween Willy and Ron. You neocons can go to hell. You are electoral poison.
Crassus| 1.13.12 @ 11:03AM
RuPaul is 76 years old and half senile already. How is he going to make it through four years of the toughest job in the world? Answer me that, Junior. You can't or won't.
Jack in Wi.| 1.13.12 @ 11:24AM
Romney is brain dead and run by his consultants and handlers. Ron Paul gets the youth vote because of his vigorus mind and intellect. Nobody runs him. The Pope, Rupert Murdoch, and Warrren Buffet are a lot older then Ron and run huge worldwide operations.
WL| 1.13.12 @ 4:01PM
Ron Paul is a crank, just like you!
Drunken Sailor| 1.13.12 @ 4:54PM
"Ron Paul is tied head to head with Obama"
Umm that's because even the Liberals have fallen out of love with him and are looking (and voting) for their second choice.
TrueBlue | 1.13.12 @ 7:00PM
They also have Santorum in a virtual tie with Obama, but I notice you Ron Paul supporters can't seem to stand that.
21% means that 79% don't want him. Granted it's a significant portion of people, but it isn't anywhere close to a split in the party. COMBINED with Romney it would be a split, but not alone. Basic math is your friend...
Jack in Wi.| 1.13.12 @ 11:27AM
Hows the weather in Haifa Dr. Wrong. Its cold as hell here. Have a peaceful sabbath as you ad chuckles plan more murders of Palistinian women and children.
Nick| 1.13.12 @ 6:05PM
Little Jack-boot from Wi.: Grandpa, yesterday Jimmy said I was prejudiced.
Grandpa: Do you know what prejudice is?
Little Jack-boot from Wi.: No
Grandpa: Well, prejudice is when you react to someone because of their religion, or their color.
Little Jack-boot from Wi.: But I don't do that!
Grandpa: Who is Jimmy?
Little Jack-boot from Wi.: Jimmy's one of my Jewish friends.
Grandpa: Then you are prejudiced, because you think of Jimmy as your Jewish friend, and not your friend.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZBJXtTIbDTo
rhoetus| 1.14.12 @ 11:34AM
After the first debate RP has been controlling the issues debated. The attacks between candidates are a side show.
runningdeer| 1.16.12 @ 2:49AM
I must jump in here and disagree . 'The country' doesn't agree with saint Paul on much. His supporters seem to believe that he is the answer to all problems and the only last hope for America but the country doesn't see Ron Paul as his supporters see him.
No doubt his supporters won't bother to vote when their man does not get the nomination. that is just stupid and childish as well as being destructive for this Country.
Clint| 1.14.12 @ 3:31AM
Mittens' Campaign Money Trail.
Goldman Sachs $367,200
Credit Suisse Group $203,750
Morgan Stanley $199,800
HIG Capital $186,500
Barclays $157,750
Kirkland & Ellis $132,100
Bank of America $126,500
PriceWaterhouseCoopers $118,250
EMC Corp $117,300
JPMorgan Chase & Co $112,250
The Villages $97,500
Vivint Inc $80,750
Marriott International $79,837
Sullivan & Cromwell $79,250
Bain Capital $74,500
UBS AG $73,750
Wells Fargo $61,500
Blackstone Group $59,800
Citigroup Inc $57,050
Bain & Co $52,500
The Tea Party Rebellion Is In South Carolina.
Red in Denver| 1.14.12 @ 11:14AM
I'm not a Perry fan by any stretch of the imagination; and question why he continues in the race at all with his long-term poor showing since all the gaffes/stumbles during debates and interviews.
It is odd that the networks set their own criteria as to who can participate. For instance, I believe CNN requires a minumum of 7%; while Fox only requires 1%. I would think the criteria would be better if CONSISTENT and set, perhaps by the RNC, rather than the various networks.
Michael Tomlinson| 1.13.12 @ 6:48AM
Which conservative will Perry undermine Nancy Pelosi's global warming buddy Newt who just couldn't say enough nice things about Bill and Hillary? How about the friend of socialist big labor unions Rick Santorum who rivals Ron "Pork King" Paul in his love for earmarks? Surely you don't mean former Ambassador to China Huntsman. I know he might undermine the most popular American on Iran's English language channel -- Ron "Jihadist" Paul who is the epitome of a big spending DC insider.
Why don't the union loving, Democrat crony, Obama hireling and Iranian apologist get out of the way of the only conservative in the pack -- Rick Perry.
Dai Alanye | 1.13.12 @ 10:08AM
After his embarrassing Iowa loss Perry read a letter from a supporter who called Perry not merely good but "great."
Ego is standard -- even required -- for successful presidential candidates but so is having the judgment to hide the ego. I don't recall Reagan referring to himself, even indirectly, as "great." Neither GHW Bush nor Jimmy Carter, each a man of great but undeserved self-evaluated worth, ever called himself "great." Indeed, has any American President prior to the present occupier of the White House referred to himself in such a narcissistic manner?
The problem isn’t ego but a failure of judgment that should make every supporter of Perry cringe, especially coming on top of Gardasil, tuition for illegals, and the debating skills of a marmoset. How many more critical errors will this man make before showing some shame and exiting the race?
VBMax| 1.13.12 @ 2:03PM
"tuition for illegals".... I think referring to conservatives as heartless is what sank Perry.
Nite| 1.13.12 @ 10:44PM
Gardasil never passed, non-story. Tuition for children of illegals passed with veto proof majority. These students pay their own way at community colleges. Mitt Romney lied and said they got 100,000 in tax payer money. Nope, they don't get tax payer money period. You have a dog in this race. Humm, wonder who it is ?
VBMax| 1.14.12 @ 9:42AM
"You have a dog in this race. Humm, wonder who it is ?"
I'm an *anybody but Obama* kinda guy. I'm not anti-Perry...just telling you what messed him up.
RCV| 1.15.12 @ 12:16PM
In the latest South Carolina polls, Perry is really giving Huntsman a run for his money. The two are virtually neck-in-neck in a tie for last!
Clint| 1.13.12 @ 6:56AM
Do Your Homework.
Dr.Ron Paul,
" I have never voted for an earmark. I voted against all appropriation bills (Except For Veterans ) So, this whole thing about earmarks is totally misunderstood.
Earmarks is the responsibility of the Congress.
If you cut off all the earmarks, it would be 1 percent of the budget. But, if you vote against all the earmarks, you don't cut one penny. That is what you have to listen to. We're talking about who has the responsibility, the Congress or the executive branch?
I'm saying, get it out of the hands of the executive branch. Just listen again about what I have said about the TARP funds. We needed to earmark every penny. Now we gave them $350 billion, no earmarks, and nobody knows..."
Dr.Ron Paul Gets It About Earmarks & Congress Having It's Responsibility Usurped By The Executive Branch.
The Tea Party Rebellion Is In South Carolina.
Doctor Right| 1.13.12 @ 7:50AM
...But Clint is in his Mom's basement in Pennsylvania watching porn on the Internet...
L. Ross| 1.13.12 @ 8:31AM
Don't be knocking internet porn. It is the backbone of the entire internet.
L. Ross| 1.13.12 @ 8:31AM
Don't be knocking internet porn. It is the backbone of the entire internet.
Drunken Sailor| 1.13.12 @ 4:55PM
It seems to be making you stutter as well.
Clint| 1.13.12 @ 10:03PM
Doctor Reich Is In His Mommy's Basement Directing Her Dog Barky, In An Internet Porn Movie Starring Barky & Momma Reich.
Crassus| 1.13.12 @ 11:04AM
RuPaul votes against earmarks unless they're for his home district in Texas. Then he's all for them.
Clint| 1.13.12 @ 9:59PM
Do Your Homework.
Dr.Ron Paul,
" I have never voted for an earmark. I voted against all appropriation bills (Except For Veterans ) So, this whole thing about earmarks is totally misunderstood.
Earmarks is the responsibility of the Congress.
If you cut off all the earmarks, it would be 1 percent of the budget. But, if you vote against all the earmarks, you don't cut one penny. That is what you have to listen to. We're talking about who has the responsibility, the Congress or the executive branch?
I'm saying, get it out of the hands of the executive branch. Just listen again about what I have said about the TARP funds. We needed to earmark every penny. Now we gave them $350 billion, no earmarks, and nobody knows..."
Dr.Ron Paul Gets It About Earmarks & Congress Having It's Responsibility Usurped By The Executive Branch.
The Tea Party Rebellion Is In South Carolina.
WL| 1.13.12 @ 4:06PM
You are 100% goofball. I don't know if the assertions about you being a basement pervert are true or not, but one thing you AREN'T is normal.
You need go get off the internet and quit peddling this Ron Paul Garbage...
By the way...Ron Party Ain't the tea party...
The MSM guys labeled him "The Tea Party favorite" to destroy it's reputation because he is a loon just like you.
Clint| 1.14.12 @ 3:49AM
" Tea partiers in two camps: Sarah Palin vs. Ron Paul
Tea party activists are divided roughly into two camps, according to a new POLITICO/TargetPoint poll: one that’s libertarian-minded and largely indifferent to hot-button values issues and another that’s culturally conservative and equally concerned about social and fiscal issues.
The survey, an exit poll conducted Thursday by Edison Research at the massive Tax Day protest on the National Mall, found that the attendees were largely hostile to President Barack Obama and the national Democratic Party — three-quarters believe the president “is pursuing a socialist agenda.”
Yet they aren’t enamored of the Republican Party as an alternative. Overall, three out of four tea party attendees said they were “scared about the direction” of the country and “want to send a message to both political parties.”
Palin, who topped the list with 15 percent, speaks for the 43 percent of those polled expressing the distinctly conservative view that government does too much, while also saying that it needs to promote traditional values.
Paul’s thinking is reflected by an almost identical 42 percent who said government does too much but should not try to promote any particular set of values — the hallmarks of libertarians. He came in second to Palin with 12 percent.
When asked to choose from a list of candidates for president in 2012, Palin and Paul also finished one-two — with Palin at 15 percent and Paul at 14 percent. "
The Tea Party Rebellion Is In South Carolina.
TrueBlue | 1.13.12 @ 7:02PM
If earmarks are the responsibility of Congress, and Ron Paul has never voted for an earmark, wouldn't that mean Ron Paul has been shirking his responsibilities in Congress?
shoelessmusic| 1.13.12 @ 7:15AM
Perry needs to bow out now before he does any further damage to the other conservative candidates -- he has no chance at the nomination.
Old Soldier| 1.13.12 @ 7:29AM
Rick Perry is dead to me.
I can forgive the poor debating to some extent. I can sort of forgive his hubris - although Gary Johnson's response to the "creating jobs" nonsense was infinitely better.
http://dailycaller.com/2011/06.....z1Q8acF3zO
The Anti-Capitalist attacks on Romney are unforgivable. The dumbest, most ignorant, nasty, leftist crap I've ever heard from the mouth of a Republican.
Any politicians crass and unprincipled enough to make these attacks is not to be trusted at all.
John Navratil| 1.13.12 @ 8:55AM
Old Soldier,
Gingrich and Perry didn't just violate Reagan's 11th commandment, it was almost as if they were working for the Dems. If anything good is to come of this, it is that the issue will have become old news by the time Obama starts his negative campaign.
Still, what is one to do? I'm certainly not for Romney and Santorum is providing disappointing results.
David Warren's piece in the Ottawa Citizen from Wednesday (http://www.ottawacitizen.com/news/sliver+light+Santorum/5977231/story.html) is thoughtful. He concludes if Santorum cannot pull a big win in SC, it's a sure thing for Romney.
About the only thing to say there is that not only could it be worse, it IS worse today.
TrueBlue | 1.13.12 @ 7:06PM
Look at it from another point, with Newt and Perry being so obviously anti-capitalist wouldn't that mean they'll get even less of the conservative vote?
I AM curious why Romney has such a large failure rate with Bain Capital's investments (20+%), and why the cycle of buyout->profit->decline->bankruptcy on all of those companies is about the same timeline, but there is nothing wrong with investing in other companies for the purpose of making money. If it was unintentional it shows a significant series of bad choices (most companies I know of would fire someone with a 20% failure rate, that's a significant loss of cash) or that someone in each of those companies was cooking the books (a repeated problem shows a lack of leadership ability or wish to keep his people under control); if it was intentional, THAT is where I would have a problem with it.
Nite| 1.13.12 @ 10:48PM
Romney has made millions from Bain. That is no consolation for the thousands of people who lost insurance, pensions, jobs, and homes as a result of his making millions. He said he saved 100,000 jobs, but has provided no proof.
John Navratil| 1.13.12 @ 9:10AM
Old Soldier,
I read your link... There is a lot to like in Gary Johnson. His view of the relationship between government and the people is as correct as it is rare in politics today.
Old Soldier| 1.13.12 @ 9:43AM
The humble truth is a rare thing these days.
Al Adab| 1.13.12 @ 10:47AM
Very disappointed in Niki. What cabinet post do you suspect she was promised?
Mriordon| 1.13.12 @ 7:32AM
I liked Perry then and I like him now. He is much more qualified to lead the country than any of the others you mentioned. I personally wish that some of the real conservatives who could talk better had entered the race, but as my sainted grandmother used to say, "if wishes were horses beggars would ride". The idea that because a man ran for office he assured the victory of someone you don't like is ludicrous.
Bobridon| 1.13.12 @ 1:46PM
He's not "more qualified" because that would imply he's actually qualified -- which he certainly isn't. The man is a bumbling idiot who cannot articulate anything, let alone his vision for the country. His message is a joke -- Obama's war on religion? Really? He's an embarrassment to that stage, as are and have been many others.
TrueBlue | 1.13.12 @ 7:07PM
We don't have a war on religion, but a religious faction certainly has a war on us.
Nite| 1.13.12 @ 10:53PM
Perry has been elected Governor 3 times of the second largest state in the US. Texas has added the most jobs of anyone, so he is doing something right. Perry is articulate and has a good plan for the country. Too bad you aren't listening.
Bobridon| 1.15.12 @ 4:57PM
Perry didn't add jobs. The market added jobs, and where the market didn't add jobs, Perry took Obama's stimulus spending so his bureaucrats could create jobs for people.
Carol| 1.14.12 @ 10:35PM
I liked Perry then and still do too. I live in MA so my vote doesn't count but I will vote for Perry if he's still in it March 6.
Pawlenty's third place in a straw poll that candidates pay for them to vote, doesn't mean anything to me. Pawlenty said something on a Sunday am show - Obamneycare but when asked about that at the next debate, it could have been the next day, and Pawlenty didn't have it in him to say that directly to Mitt. If he refused that opportunity he would not make a very good commander in chief. Instead he dropped out and endorsed Mitt the next day.
My father used to say it is a small word, but the word "if" means a lot.
bnuckols | 1.13.12 @ 7:47AM
Rick Perry has governed Texas for 11 years and is consistently pro-life, pro-marriage, pro-Constituion (including Amendments 1, 2, 10), and the best of all the candidates on cutting spending and taxes, while protecting the national and individual security. He has much less "baggage" than the other candidates. There's no reason to dismiss him before the real primaries even take place.
chuck| 1.13.12 @ 9:05AM
He's been a great governor, that's for sure. But he had all the money, the name recognition, the momentum, and everything else going for him.........and he blew it.
He just sucks as a Presidential candidate. And his "vulture capitalist" comment will be around forever to be used by the left. Just like another Texan's comment........"voo-doo economics".
Gee thanks, Mr. Governor!
Clint| 1.13.12 @ 7:53AM
Mittens Romney And His RINO/CINO Elitist Paymasters In Tel Aviv Are No Different Rhan Obama.
The Tea Party Rebellion Prefers Romney To Ron Paul.
Clint| 1.13.12 @ 10:08PM
Uh Oh !
The Israel Firster Smear Bund Poseur Punk Poster Is In The Building.
We Are Being Set Up By The Israel Firster RINO-CINO Flunkie Stooges For The Ruling Elites' Frontman Mittens Romney.
These Are The Israel Firster RINO-CINO Flunkie Stooges Who Gave Us The Serial Traitor To Conservatism, John McCain Of McCain-Feingold, McCain-Kennedy,McCain-Lieberman,Gang Of 14, Opposing Bush Tax Cuts Of 2001 & 2003,TARP.
Now They Are Trying To Give Us RomneyCare,TARP, Cynical Flip-Flops On Abortion, Gays, Refuses to Sign Pro-Life Pledge, Illegal Immigrants, "Little Chain Saw Al" At Bain, Crony Capitalism Campaign Money Trail.....
The Tea Party Rebellion Is In South Carolina.
chuck| 1.13.12 @ 8:49AM
The only way to beat Romney is for Perry to leave, he's a goner anyway, and for Newt and Santorum to team up. They need to come to a private agreement that whoever does the best in SC between them, the other one drops out and throws all his support behind the other. At this point it would be Romney, Paul, and a single conservative. The mushy moderate, the nut-case, and the conservative.
Otherwise it's going to be Romney.
John Navratil| 1.13.12 @ 8:57AM
chuck,
I believe you are correct.
kf451| 1.13.12 @ 1:51PM
If Newt and Santorum want to team up, whatever Perry does will be inconsequential. He could drop out now, and even if all his votes went to Gingrich, who's now running higher than Santorum, Romney still might win.
Hoewver, if Santorum dropped out right now and endorsed Newt, that could actually swing the vote to Newt and defeat Romney.
McCain just doesn't like Perry, and is suggesting he is the root of all evil. How pathetic. McCain should grow up.
Doug| 1.13.12 @ 3:18PM
Bottom line:
Newt/Perry/Santorum will beat Mitt like they have in Iowa and NH. And they will again in SC.
Unfortunately we cannot combine their delegates into one big Anti-Mitt. The 3 of them need to decide which one the other 2 will back and get the Republican party going in the right direction.
TrueBlue | 1.13.12 @ 7:12PM
Santorum has the best chance simply because he has the most consistent record and has no baggage or serious gaffs. For VP I would investigate the resolution of the Cain accusations, and if they proved baseless (given the fact they all evaporated when he suspended his campaign lends credability to this) take Cain as the VP choice, otherwise pick up Perry. Make it clear that Newt will be his financial advisor, using the government reforms that resulted in significant turn arounds to government spending a revenue as proof of his credentials. That way you get the supporters of all of those camps. After that try to cut a deal with Ron Paul to set him up as the next head of the Federal Reserve, where he can do that audit he wants (and the place needs) so badly.
The combination would overwhelm anything Romney could conceivably come up with.
VBMax| 1.13.12 @ 7:58PM
Cain is damaged goods and would be a liability on the ticket. Suspending his campaign, as he did, makes him look guilty as charged.
kf451| 1.14.12 @ 12:09AM
Santorum is sinking fast, as well he should. He's the worst choice of the three. The Cain accusers didn't continue after he dropped out because there was nothing but liability to them at that point. Look at how they were trashed by the media and Cain supporters. Why would they want to continue? If he was suggested for VP, however, it would all come back.
fckewe| 1.13.12 @ 10:08AM
First, aweak fifth is known to honest people as DEAD LAST!
Second, who is going to believe that Perry created one single job WITHOUT taking Barack Obama's moeny for Recovery and REinvestment? NO ONE. Most of the jobs in Texas are FEDERAL , Federally contracted and Federally funded.
kf451| 1.13.12 @ 1:52PM
This is completely untrue.
Nite| 1.13.12 @ 10:55PM
I am from TX and your comments are not true. A lot of those jobs are from companies moving in from Blue States, which have taxed the companies out of existence. If you aren't from TX, then you don't know what is actually happening in that state. Federal jobs? Not true!
chuck| 1.14.12 @ 9:14AM
Barack Obama's money? Really? Are you REALLY this stupid?
Must be, you can't spell,there is such a thing as spell-check, and everything you wrote is factually wrong.
JGwen| 1.13.12 @ 9:09AM
“Would Pawlenty have been able to continue his campaign, had it not been for Perry's splashy entrance to the GOP field?”
As a voter considering Pawlenty, I listened to his underhanded attacks on Bachmann in the debate. She, in my mind, successfully parried them, exposing his chicanery. He had demonstrated who he really was and how he operated. He was OFF my list. In my opinion, that was why he exited immediately thereafter.
Attacks (are) on Romney’s management approach at Bain. As chronicled in “Special report: Romney's steel skeleton in the Bain closet,” at that time Bain’s approach was to see they obtained a substantial feed of moneys up front regardless of the implications on the health/survival of their “patients.” This raises a question as to whether Romney would put maintainance of his power, his control and his legacy before that of our rapidly sinking ship of state when approaching his Presidential decision-making (I personally question - how he would address environmental issues in view of his beliefs in global warming that may be caused by humans which needs to be addressed and whether he might not just “peck” around the problems of Social Security and Medicare and end up papering them over and kicking the can down the road).
Governor Perry’s record of Effective, Conservative Executive Governance stands and continues. Texas success shines in illustrating the merits of the conservative approaches being employed. That the MSM and others continue to malign this candidate plays into a voter base that fails do any meaningful research and learn of and appreciate his outstanding qualifications!
Neither Gingrich or Santorum have the Executive experience or the immediate personal familiarity with the evils of the Bureaucracies the current administration has in place. The Governor has the most immediate familiarity with critical priorities to be addressed as of January 2013.
There Are Those of Us Who Continue to Hope Voters Will Come to Their Senses and Support the Governor’s Candidacy in Our Time of Peril!
In re Congressman Paul:
Legalizing drugs will not make the United States a better nation.
Folding our nation’s tent, shutting our eyes and putting our heads into the sand wont keep us safe from the building Russia, Iran, Venezuela, Cuba alliances.
IMO electing the very senior citizen Paul would be a perilous approach to our Nation’s future.
Perry - 2012!
Ken (Old Texican| 1.13.12 @ 3:44PM
JGwen
thank you. Well spoken.
Naturalborn Texicanette| 1.13.12 @ 10:25AM
I will support Perry to the bitter end. I wont support or vote for any one else unless I am FORCED to do so to kick Obumbler OUT !!!!!!!!!!
I greatly regret that many of you know only about his small shortfalls. Mainly thru the great efforts of the liberal media, whose main purpose is "dirty" ALL conservatve candidates.
However, I will hold my nose and reluctantly vote for a lesser candidate and pray Obumbler will be moving OUT of the White House at the end of his 1st term..................
Bobridon| 1.13.12 @ 1:49PM
So it's the "liberal media's" fault that Perry stumbled on the national debate stage? Their fault that he can't even remember the evil programs he'd purportedly cut? That he really didn't create jobs in Texas so much as took Obama's stimulus money and bought government positions for people?
kf451| 1.13.12 @ 1:54PM
Perry's initial stumbles were because of his recent back surgery. It wasn't good timing for him, but he was being urged to run, and so he did. I for one am grateful he made the effort.
Ken (Old Texican| 1.13.12 @ 12:18PM
McCain...how DARE YOU, YOU WHORE?
From now on, I shall screw with you at every opportunity......whore!
Who the hell are you to decide if Governor Perry should not have entered the contest???!
Who are you to decide WHEN he should have entered given his back surgery and partial recovery?
You have PROVEN yourself a whore... the only question is what is your price?
I expect a timely apology for this article you whored.
kf451| 1.13.12 @ 1:55PM
No kidding, right? Perry is guilty of "hubris"! McCain is guilty of incredible bias, and should find another line of work. Maybe Michael Moore is looking for someone.
WL| 1.13.12 @ 4:22PM
I knew it...!!!!!! I saw the Castrol GTX guy behind Perry whack him with something and tell him "not to be a dipstick!!!!!
Zilla | 1.13.12 @ 5:17PM
And you've proven yourself to be a hostile jackass.
Margie| 1.13.12 @ 9:04PM
Speaking of whores... Ken.
Whoring for Satan?
Where's the "evidence" you claimed you had???
"He who speaks the truth gives honest evidence, but a false witness utters deceit." Prov. 12:17.
Old Dude from TX| 1.13.12 @ 3:43PM
I hate to say I told you so, but I did. Texas conservatives had grave doubts about Perry's capabilities and his record. Non-Texans were too hasty to jump on board, hoping that he'd be the strong conservative candidate to rally around, which was understandable, but sadly mistaken. "Downright strange, suggestive of extreme hubris" - could not have said it better.
Ken (Old Texican| 1.13.12 @ 3:49PM
Old Dude,
and just why should we pay attention to you?
Have you cured cancer or something else we don't know of?
Old Dude from TX| 1.13.12 @ 3:57PM
You should pay attention to me because I was right then and I am right now. Perry is not a good presidential candidate - that's a proven fact. If he had principles, and really wanted a conservative to win, he'd drop out and throw his support to someone who can win. But he doesn't and he won't.
WL| 1.13.12 @ 4:25PM
Well aren't you Nostradamus???...
Is the world going to end in 2012 or are you going set your hair on fire so you can predict that you will throw yourself in a lake to put it out.
What a crank.
I guess you know everyhthing. We all have to listen to you dumb crack because the Mayans came to you in a dream too huh?
Get over yourself. Fool.
Old Dude from TX| 1.13.12 @ 5:03PM
Wow. I guess you didn't get the memo about addressing substance and avoiding gross impoliteness. As we say in TX, "you must be from New York."
Margie| 1.13.12 @ 7:38PM
Ken is posing as the "Pope" of Amspec.
MikeG| 1.14.12 @ 2:12PM
Margie, your obsession with the Pope is pathological. You are crazy.
Margie| 1.14.12 @ 4:43PM
Your obsession with him is why you post the way you do to me.. Papist!!
LOL.
Nite| 1.13.12 @ 10:59PM
I am an old woman from TX, and know Perry's abilities. I don't think you speak for Texas Conservatives and I never heard any mention doubts about Perry's capabilities and record. You have a dog in this hunt, it would be interesting to know who?
Old Dude from TX| 1.16.12 @ 5:22PM
Anyone but Romney or Huntsman or Paul. It could have been Perry but, honestly, he was an embarassment on the national stage. And he clearly hurt the chances of Santorum and Bachman.
David| 1.13.12 @ 5:24PM
THis is the first I heard about Perry's back surgery. If so, maybe he was on some sort of pain killers. I can excuse him for his poor command of the issue - AT THAT TIME. Maybe he is still on painkillers and that explains his current behavior.
Perry is my governor and I was as happy as any of his supporters when he got into the race and took the lead. But witnessing everything since then, I cannot support him when I see people like Santorum and Gingrich who have such a command and understanding of the issues with practical solutions to solve them.
Perry really should consider getting out of the race IF he does not do well in SC.
Rubio, Palin, Jindal, and DeMint: Please get together and decide on a candidate to support (hopefully Santorum).
runningdeer| 1.16.12 @ 3:04AM
I agree with you that Governor Perry should quit after South Carolina. I was all for him when he first got started but he let himself get caught in the downhill trap when he and his Dad were accused of racism. Then when he forgot 'energy' department,( which considering the fact there are so few working that department and it's size now verses the cash to keep it running, anyone could forget it. ) He has not acted as a Governor who is a Republican running for President of the United States should have acted in my humble opinion. He should not have trashed the other Republicans. His attack mode toward his opponents has made me get off his horse before it was out of the gate.
David| 1.13.12 @ 5:26PM
Folks, this is information on Santorum from RedState. It was published on January 6, 2012.
I keep telling everyone to get behind Santorum now - support him with five bucks. Forget Perry and Huntsman and Gingrich and Paul. Santorum can win - and win as a conservative.
The following is From RedState.
Here are his ratings from when he was in Congress:
American Conservative Union — 88%
National Right to Life Committee — 100%
Americans for Tax Reform — 95%
National Tax Limitation Committee — 92%
U.S. Chamber of Commerce — 88%
League of Private Property Voters — 94%
Now remember, this is Santorum’s House ratings, in a DEMOCRAT district. How many Republicans in Democrat areas vote this conservative? Kirk? Snowe? That’s conviction! Santorum is NOT a ‘big government conservative’ but an across-the-board mainstream conservative with a solidly conservative voting record, albeit marred with the support for earmarks and some spending bills that many Republicans in Bush eara fell prey to.
Yet another source that looks at Santorum’s record is Jen Rubin, who likewise absolves Santorum of the phony claim that he is a big-government conservative:
“While in Iowa, Texas Gov. Rick Perry tried to begin a line of attack on Rick Santorum claiming that the former Pennsylvania senator is a big-government conservative. That attack seems poorly thought through (shocking, I know from such a meticulous campaign) for several reasons.
First, Santorum is to the right of Perry in some important ways. Santorum opposed the Troubled Assets Relief Program; Perry wrote a letter on the day of the Senate vote urging Congress to pass legislation to avert a meltdown. Santorum, as we saw in the debates, is likewise to the right of Perry (and Newt Gingrich, for that matter) on immigration.
Indeed, Santorum’s supposed deviations from conservative orthodoxy are similar those of his rivals. He voted for earmarks and highway funds. Gov. Perry took the money. Santorum voted for Medicare Part D; Gingrich lobbied for it, and Perry said in a debate that he wouldn’t repeal it.”
“And finally, Santorum has put together an aggressive spending reduction plan. He’s for the balanced-budget amendment. He’s embraced Rep. Paul Ryan’s Medicare reform plan. He’s in favor of Social Security reform, against energy subsidies, for privatizing Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae, and in favor of repealing Obamacare. The guy is no liberal when it comes to spending taxpayer money. Is he to the right of Gingrich? Yes. To the left of Ron Paul? Yes. But so are most GOP voters.”
Where Santorum deviated from the conservative line, like his vote on NAFTA and his support for earmarks, he was doing the exceptional thing, and those deviations were in most cases catering to his constituents. But UNLIKE most Northeast Republicans, that ‘catering’ did not extend to abandoning conservative principles again and again. They’ve been the exception to the rule that Congressman and Senator Rick Santorum held. With his support for lower taxes, prolife and profamily policies, conservative Judges, for balanced budgets and entitlement reform, against McCain-Feingold, for school choice, against TARP and Frank-Dodd. Rick Santorum has had a solid and mostly consistent conservative voting record.
Santorum further has a solid and conservative agenda for President. Romney timidly talks of getting spending maybe down to 20% of GDP. Rick Santorum fully supports the Republican balanced budget amendment that caps spending at 18% of GDP. He wants lower tax rates for all, going to a 10%/28% two tier tax rate and lowering corporate tax rates.
While Gingrich criticized the Ryan roadmap, Santorum embraced it. Newt supported Medicare Part D, supported at one time healthcare mandates, and supported all the Bush programs that conservatives object to in Santorum’s voting record. Romney has gone further of course, embracing not just TARP, but healthcare mandates and failing to even fully criticize the Obama stimulus spending. Only Gingrich or Santorum will wage a campaign that fully challenges Obama’s whole agenda and actually works to repeal it. Newt has pegged Mitt Romney rightly as a Massachusetts moderate, but Newt is not without flys in his ointment either, from global warming to embracing Hillary, Pelosi and Al Sharpton (!) at various times in attempts to ‘reach across’ bipartisanly.
The bottom line is that between Newt, Santorum, and Romney .. Santorum is the one who is most fiscally conservative and who will have the most fiscally conservative administration as President.
Both Newt and Santorum are conservative. Just not perfect conservatives. For those who say that Santorum is not a ‘true conservative’, I would argue simply that if an 85% ACU rating and leadership on conservative issues in Congress for almost 2 decades is not enough, you will NEVER find a ‘true conservative’ in the Presidential field.
For the rest of us without that fine a filter, yes, Rick Santorum is a ‘true conservative’. Conservatives will be happy with his SCOTUS picks, his support of our military, his support for life, his tax reform and entitlement reforms, his pro-energy policies, his economic growth agenda, his fiscally responsible budgets, and his appeal to get America working again.
kf451| 1.14.12 @ 12:16AM
Santorum is kind of like Huckabee - a social con who pretends to be a fiscal con. He's not.
FeFe| 1.14.12 @ 2:01PM
Beautiful. Santorum 2012
POST American| 1.13.12 @ 9:14PM
---------------------BOTTOM LINE--------------------
Perry is a shill for Globalism and
the 4 decades on Globalist RED China
sellout and TREASON OP.
TREASON is the absolutely highest crime.
It has been always since history began.
We're dealing with long term, psychopathic,
inter-generational TREASON.
Accept NO subsitutes
USE no 'you-fem-isms'
-------WE ARE DEALING WITH TREASON------
Nite| 1.13.12 @ 10:37PM
This is a pack of lies and slander.
chuck| 1.14.12 @ 9:18AM
Cut poor PA a break, he's got some serious issues. He only comes out at night, under the cover of darkness, so the "black helicopters" have a tougher time spotting him.
runningdeer| 1.16.12 @ 3:07AM
Of course it's lies but this person isn't playing with a full deck it is just playing. Some folks are just born that way.
JGwen| 1.13.12 @ 10:11PM
Red State has offered several articles relating to Mr. Santorum. In an article on December 29th it described him as an earmarxist and pro-life statist. The article opined that Mr. Santorum sees expanding government as a means to reach "conservative"ends. It cites a number of instances that lead to such conclusions.
That aside, in my opinion ... given the track record and current directions of this Administration and the abusive oversight and regulations of the Bureaucracies, it has put in place are offering ... by January of 2013 ... I anticipate our Nation will likely be in a state of crisis.
Mr. Santorum lacks Executive Experience. He has not been on the inside of current congressional challenges. At this point he has added - Marino - the third member of Congress to endorse him, but none are members who served with Santorum when he was a senator. Will he have involved and insightful members arise to assist him? He fully lacks involvement with the activities and regulations the current Bureaucracies are issuing that are poisoning State and private sector activities and recovery.
I will not be planning to forget Governor Perry - who does have a current record of successful, conservative governance and a very current familiarity with the evils of the Administration and as manifested through its toxic Bureaucracies. He further has endorsements from congressmen (who offer substantial credentials) who can offer him a timely familiarity of the significant issues Congress will have been dealing with.
Perry - 2012
Gary B| 1.14.12 @ 8:29AM
The Democrats keep getting dirtier and the Republicans keep getting dumber.
The recent survey said conservatives are the largest self-identified political group in the country, yet who always pops up and claims to represent them? In every case it's the stupidest person available.
A Republican candidate could get better advice from his golfing buddies than from so-called campaign consultants.
Imagine an army that has a huge strategic advantage over the enemy when, suddenly, its commanding general stands up and surrenders. That's my vision of the GOP. Surrendering to the enemy is what it does. I can only conclude that it must pay very well.
rhoetus| 1.14.12 @ 11:41AM
GaryB: If I were a campaign consultant I would hang out with real people: small business owners, local groups, sporting events- not the talking morons on cable news shows and editors of conservative publications.
Clint| 1.14.12 @ 12:18PM
Barky Obama & Mittens Romney Are Bobbsey Twin Crony Capitaliism Poster Boys.
" In its recent look at Romney's record with in 77 companies he worked with at Bain, the Wall Street Journal said that 22% of them filed for bankruptcy reorganization or closed up shop within eight years of the fund's initial investment. "
Romney Is A Job Gravedigger.
The Tea Party Rebellion Is In South Carolina.
MikeG| 1.14.12 @ 2:13PM
Clint, you are as crazy as Margie. Get a life.
Margie| 1.14.12 @ 4:45PM
Lying Pope worshippers have a habit (for centuries) of trying to portray Christians who openly reject the CULT OF CATHOLICISM as crazy, et al.
Par for the course!!
Repent, Papist lair, and BELIEVE the TRUE Gospel of Jesus Christ.
Beginning with Mk.1.
There is NO KING BUT KING JESUS!
Margie| 1.14.12 @ 4:47PM
*LIAR, not lair.
Although lying Pope Idolators DO seem to have lairs in which they reside together.. in unity against the WORD OF GOD and them that preach it!!
David| 1.14.12 @ 12:37PM
As I said before, I wish Perry had done his homework and I would have supported. He obviously has not studied national and international issues. Perry took over Gov in Texas and the excellent business climate was already in place. He simply continued it.
How did he rise to the top of the heap, only to fall in a very short period of time. No scandals as with Cain. Perry simply left people open-mouthed and they left him droves.
Go Santorum. All he needs is a few conservatives with national name recognition and the nomination is his.
Blueboypink| 1.15.12 @ 8:44AM
Once Santorum is vetted, people will likewise be left open-mouthed. I doubt Santorum can carry his own state--PA.
FeFe| 1.14.12 @ 8:35PM
"The first casualty of Perry's decision to run for president was the..." EDIT: potential campaign of the former Governor of Alaska, Sarah Palin. Perry soaked up all the "other" big money to keep Palin from entering and coalescing the TEA Party base. Shrewd move Beltway.
That said, I know Santorum is the better candidate. There is no one who draws a clearer contrast between courage to ensure America's cultural inheritance with Justices Alito and Roberts, no cut and run from Iraq but a surge, and then respecting Consent of the Governed by facing voters as an incumbent like Santorum; or denying voters a say in his meritocracy as governor like Romney who quit his re-election campaign, and embracing a consultant crafted (and personally paid for) ploy to leap frog over the Conservative cause to the White House with Romneycare as a big enough down payment to the Liberal Lion of the Senate. Of course, what better way for Romney to get national name recognition than to run against the original Liberal Lion of the Senate, Teddy Kennedy, and lose while denouncing Reagan? And then what better way to get international name recognition than to be endorsed by the new Liberal Lion of the Senate 2.0, John McCain, and state your support for the Fed bailing out EU nation states with US taxpayer money on the Bloomberg Channel? If there's one thing the American people can count on the entrenched political class for (outside of dying in office), it's grab ass shortcuts. Hello, Perry's Ames consultant crafted shortcut.
The Man Who Shot OBL is afraid of Putin. Perry dreams of a part-time congress envoking the image of him herding cats afraid to lead. Ron Paul is the Boogie-Woogie-Bugle-Boy-of-American-Retreat still fighting the last war who covets his legacy of going it alone through his son's Kentucky Senate seat. Newt fears success like a pro athlete. Romney is afraid of the principled voter. All of them lack American cultural confidence. You know wherever Rick Santorum goes or any room he walks into, Santorum is always proud to be American. When a free man lays his hand on the Bible to take the Oath of Office and that 8 Second ride commences, America doesn't work unless he holds fast to virtue in the name of liberty and freedom, and peace through strength.
We seek not a coalition government in managed decline - no Mitt Romney as David Cameron. No #Occupy street theater during the day but a life commitment of Going Galt - free markets not tribal cronyism. No selfish, affluent wasters in our society who "take" drugs and bully parental rights away but natural law and order human dignity for our human capital. We seek economic prosperity in an increasingly bankrupt world. A tall order.
The TEA Party was a surge among the natural inheritors of free men, along with the 2010 elections, Restoring Courage rally, and consistently declining popularity poll numbers for Obamacare, among other free associations safeguarding the Constitution. We now need a Surge 3D for the world of Western tradition, of American cultural confidence with American exceptionalism, and only Rick Santorum 2012 will answer.
POST American| 1.14.12 @ 9:40PM
---------------BLAST from the FUTURE!-----------------
FOX News Update 2015:
"Bill Gates is going to be showing off
his new global command center on tonight's
edition of the news. You'll remember Gates
moved his headquarters to Shanghai about
three years ago ---and he's been busy.
The center can be linked instantly to ALLLL
satellite, wire and wireless faciliators----
anywhere and everywhere. This comes in handy
as America is working to more fully coordinate those
2.5 MILLION Red Chinese security operatives
helping to restore order and distribute food as the nation climbs
out from 6 months of nationwide unrest.
That was sparked last October as the government,
in tandem with Europe and the UN, pulled the
plug on currencies and much of the electricity.
It's ALLLL in a good cause though. Restructuring
for a better tomorrow. But still, there seem
to be some folks in a tizzy ---complaining about
their disappeared pensions and the 'Sterility
Wave' that has over 98% of people ---child free.
Guess some people are NEVER happy----."
------Keep a followin' them thar Globalists folks
----------Keep empowering them thar EUGENISTS
--------------Just keep on going
Blueboypink| 1.15.12 @ 8:54AM
Perry is the only candidate that I can vote for without any reservations.
I wonder where our country is headed when there are so few with any wisdom or insight.
Mike Hawk| 1.15.12 @ 9:46AM
If this whole charade is over after one straw poll and two open primaries in two small states, then the whole process is seriously flawed.
Ron Paul is an old crackpot and that's it.
King of Bain | 1.15.12 @ 7:09PM
Perry is an honorably veteran who served this nation.
Romney's record?
Five draft dodging deferments from the draft.
They say things with the Romney men come in fives...and so too is the Romney men disdain and loathing for military service
Romney has five hard backed sons: none of whom bothered to serve in our armed forces.
And the author calls Rick Perry a menace?
runningdeer| 1.16.12 @ 3:25AM
Rick Perry is a good man and one which I would be honored to fight beside if I had to fight. But Mitt Romney isn't a coward and neither are his sons.
This election is about getting the current president OUT of the White House and putting a good person from the other party IN to the White House. It is not about military or religion or gender for that matter. It is about who is the most able to put America back on track for the prosperity and American way of life that it has been before the current administration and the Democratic Congress began it's agenda of destruction.
By the way, for those who are unfamiliar with Mormonism, the Mormons consider the Constitution of The united States to be a divinely inspired document.
It is not considered 'a living thing that is subject to change like this current president and most liberal Democrats believe.
Mitt Romney believes in" making America strong enough that no foreign country will dare threaten her". Unlike this president now who thinks that America is to be blamed for everything her enemy's choose to blame her for.
He is also the only presidential candidate who is not liberal about immigration. He does not support the dream act. He wants stronger immigration laws. ( Considering that it was Germany's letter to Mexico being intercepted by Americans before world war 1) showing that America is too easily threatened by her enemy's from that direction we need stronger support for border patrol to really protect this country.
Those are only a few reasons for my support of Mitt Romney.
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