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The Spectacle Blog
Texas Gov. Rick Perry is going to announce whether he’s running for president on Saturday. Given that the timing coincides with the Ames straw poll, where he is not on the ballot, I’m inclined to think that the answer is yes. Why else upstage the straw poll winner?
View all comments (26) | Leave a comment
More Blog Posts by W. James Antle, III
http://spectator.org/blog/2011/08/08/reports-perry-to-make-presiden
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Solo| 8.8.11 @ 3:14PM
Good! I hope he does run! Perfect timing too, by the way.
Following on the heels of the Obama downgrade, he will credibly claim:
"I was happy and content to be the Governor of the Great State Of Texas but it has now become painfully clear that I must put away my contentment and my comfort for the sake of my country and the future of my children and my grand children and before this Administration destroys that future forever".
Dai Alanye | 8.8.11 @ 9:41PM
Searching for the new Reagan:
We're always too willing to go overboard for a new candidate. Think a bit--Scott Brown, now acknowledged as a RINO. Cris Christie, soon to be acknowledged as a RINO. Rick Perry, probably not a RINO, but what the heck is he?
Since we won't know for awhile we had better go slow. To me he's beginning to look just a little bit like Charlie Crist, a politician before all else.
Wayne | 8.9.11 @ 11:15AM
I heard that he was a metro-sexual.
Derek Leaberry| 8.8.11 @ 3:28PM
If Romney can adopt a strategy of backing into the nomination, why wouldn't Perry try the same thing? Romney and Perry are too very flawed candidates but both have money and their only viable opposition is the other.
Bob Grant| 8.8.11 @ 3:56PM
Let's not get too carried away about Mr. Perry's chances of winning. Talk to any conservative/republican from Texas and you'll get luke warm approval at best.
He's been serviceable in a weak governorship state. He's pro-growth and has tended to handle his state relatively well in this economy. A decent to good steward of the state's affairs.
His demeanor, however, will be very off putting to many in addition to the cronyism charges will make him a flash in the pan candidate. The comparisons to GW will surely be an issue as well.
I would argue that if you wanted someone out of this mold with much more experience in Washington (knowing where the levers of power are and how to use them), then look no further than Haley Barbour.
Derek Leaberry| 8.8.11 @ 4:43PM
Perry is so wonderful a politician that he implausibly made Grandma Strayhorn and Kinky Friedman into plausible candidates in 2006. He is the Governor from Gardasil and Governor Trans Texas Corridor.
Bob Grant| 8.8.11 @ 5:09PM
Those two would have been disasters and I gladly threw my support behind Perry in '06. The Gardisil and TTC were a case study in cronyism, which stinks. However, if he runs again in '14 and handles affairs like as before, I'd gladly pull the lever for him again.
He will not be effective on the national stage for reasons previously mentioned. He's not everyone's cup of tea.
Occam's Tool| 8.8.11 @ 4:29PM
Bob:
Haley's not running, and has announced he won't run.
Bob Grant| 8.8.11 @ 4:41PM
Occam,
The grass roots movement to change his mind starts today.
Occam's Tool| 8.8.11 @ 6:58PM
Fine by me. I like Haley.
mysterian1729| 8.8.11 @ 4:54PM
The game is find the Jacksonian. Perry ain't it...
Rick V.| 8.8.11 @ 6:43PM
Mysteriani - fascinating character, Jackson. I'm now reading my second biography of him, "His Life and Times" by H.W. Brands (more detailed but every bit as engaging as "American Lion"). To read of Andrew Jackson's life and times is to think, "There was the man," the "Second Washington" as many proclaimed. Today we have ... absolutely no comparison. I'm not sold on Perry or any of the Republicans. Bachmann, somewhat. Ditto, Cain. I fear the crowded Republican field will self-implode and hand Obastard his second term. Who knows, maybe a third. He owns the unions, big business (at least the ones on which he has bestowed his largesse) and the Class of the Perpetually Aggrieved. We should all brush up on our Mandarin.
Solo| 8.8.11 @ 5:08PM
My point is that Perry is not Mitt Romney, has a successful record as a job creator in Texas. Is socially conservative, not an anachronistic crack pot and is not some High School Cheerleader-like opportunistic panderer like Bachman.
He would match well against Romney and Obama.
C Bowen| 8.8.11 @ 7:38PM
Actually, Rick Perry was a high school cheerleader, and a college cheerleader.
Anyway, his desire to vaccinate every 11 year old girl for a venereal disease is beyond the pale.
Wayne | 8.9.11 @ 11:16AM
"cheerleader-like", why the sexism?
PCC| 8.8.11 @ 7:25PM
The presidential well for governors from Texas (or people surnamed Bush) has been poisoned for at least one more election cycle. If the GOP plumbs for Perry, they'll be re-electing Obama.
Ken (Old Texican)| 8.8.11 @ 7:25PM
Hi Solo,
welcome.
Let me 'splain why Perry is a "weak" Governor. When Texas re-entered the Union after the War Between The States...the carpet-baggers were in charge.
We changed our State constitution...to keep a carpet-bagger Governor from having too much power....to be "weak".
If one has ever driven on Interstate 35...one could understand about a thought for a "corridor". Millions of (mexican) trucks hauling to 49 States beyond Texas.
Second, the guardisil deal was watching out for our little girls.
When I was a kid...the polio vacine was equally controversial.....
I GOT polio from the damned vacine...but probably a hundred kids my age were prevented from living and dying in an iron lung because of it. I'll deal with it.
Perry has grown a pair.. He has my vote.
C Bowen| 8.8.11 @ 7:39PM
Is venereal disease a big problem in Texas? I had heard the place was conservative, but I think that was a joke, and thank you for confirming that my boys should stay clear from girls in Texas.
Zbigniew Mazurak| 8.9.11 @ 5:06AM
So, Ken, you believe it's OK for the (state) government to dictate to you and to girls how you should live, in the smallest details, even what vaccines you should take, and to build a NAFTA superhighway (and conduct the largest land confiscation ever perpetrated in the US), and you claim I am the proponent of big-government here?
Perry is as RINO as one can get. Everything he does is aimed at increasing the size and scope of government - both state and federal. Here in Virginia, a RINO like him would never stand a chance of being elected.
But Perry has learned well from Dubya. He's scheduled to stage a prayer rally in Texas later this month. Don't get me wrong, I'm not opposed to a prayer rally. I merely realize that for Perry, it's not about prayer, it's about votes. Perry is trying to fool Republicans into thinking that he's the holiest candidate - just like Dubya.
Wayne | 8.9.11 @ 11:19AM
Ironically, I moved to Oregon so I could get tap water without chlorine and fluoride. It's amazing to me how many conservatives have no problem with the government telling them what dangerous chemicals must be in the water.
Solo| 8.8.11 @ 9:01PM
Thanks, Ken.
Yes....and, from what I've read, the whole Gardisil thing is a bit of misinformation.
Perry did not require teenage girls to take the Gardisil shots. They could opt out if they so desired.
The reason for his "mandate" was to force Health Insurance companies and the state Medicaid to offer the shots free of charge/ no co-pay.
As far as the so-called "Nafta Super Highway"..
More swamp fever conspiracy tripe! Route 35 has been there almost as long as Texas has. It is receiving upgrades such as truck stops/travel centers and is reputed to be privately owned by foreign investors. So what? Texas gets an upgraded highway system and doesn't have to fork over tax dollars for up-keep.
The trucks using the highway have to adhere to the same regulations and laws as any other truck does...as do the drivers.
It has the added bonus of avoiding the Ports in many cases which, as we all know, are completely controlled by the Unions. And....the Mexican truck drivers don't and won't join up with the Teamsters.
That's whats known as a "Win-Win" for conservatives of all stripes--Texan or otherwise!
JGwen| 8.9.11 @ 7:39AM
I have been diligently digging into Perry as a candidate. I have not found he believes Climate Change is man-made and that we need to do something about it (Cap n Trade?). I have not found he applauds RomneyCare or that his advisers applaud Exchanges. I have not found he says he knows how to make nice with Democrats. I have found he promotes fiscal responsibility and that he registers an awareness and appreciation for the views of his constituents.
I will be listening closely, ready to support what is likely our best and winning answer to "The One."
C Bowen| 8.9.11 @ 7:18PM
Make nice with Democrats? He was Al Gore's Texas Campaign manager so I assume he knows all of them.
Where have you been digging? The genital warts thing didn't jump out at you?
JimH| 8.9.11 @ 8:00AM
He has returned from the mountaintop with the mandate of heaven and a case of Jerry Jones hair spray.
Maxwell| 8.9.11 @ 8:12AM
As a Yankee that has both the Old and New Testament next to the bed and loves guns (45's, both AR's and Accuracy International's), and observes a man that wears a shirt from LaRue Tactical gets my attention pretty fast. Perry I have read carries a .380 which beats the 380 that Chris Christie packs. So far, I like what I see. Time will tell. In the mean time I'm behind enemy lines here in Jersey.
Wayne | 8.9.11 @ 11:21AM
You mean 380 pounds right?