Posted on 10/27/2011 11:05:28 AM PDT by Cincinatus' Wife
Numerous preemptive obituaries are being written for Governor Rick Perry’s campaign. These efforts are premature because they fail to understand and appreciate the fickle winds of political fortune.
Governor Perry has substantial political assets that make him a potent candidate and that will give him another chance to prove himself to Republican voters.
Each candidate brings their own set of positives and negatives to the game:
Mitt Romney has money to burn, establishment support, business experience, and passable debating skills. He also has a record far to the left of the majority of Republicans, a history of changing his position on major issues, and gives the impression that he will let you down when your back is turned.
Herman Cain has business experience, a high likability factor, and a fresh approach to conventional problems. He also has a propensity for confusing statements, no history of political success, and seems less vested in his own campaign than are his supporters.
Newt Gingrich has laser-like intelligence, a thorough understanding of policy choices, and excellent debating skills. He also has two ex-wives, a tendency to talk too much, and a manner that strikes many independents and women as smug or arrogant.
Rick Perry is not an able debater. In fact he seems to be bored with the entire exercise and I don’t blame him for that. The process that currently passes for “debate” is a valueless mixture of antagonistic press conference and TV quiz show. Rick Perry is not a policy wonk. Neither was Ronald Reagan. Neither was Dwight Eisenhower. Neither was George Washington.
What Governor Perry does have is:
A demonstrated ability to win elections.
A demonstrated understanding of how to lead and govern.
A Reaganesque capacity to touch the “mystic chords of memory” that bind us together.
A large stockpile of cash.
A set of opponents who all have significant electoral problems of their own.
While being ahead is intuitively always better than being behind, the clear political fact is that polls in October-November-December, don’t win elections in January and February. An Iowa State University poll published on November 18, 2003 showed Howard Dean at 29%, Dick Gephardt at 21%, John Kerry at 15%, and John Edwards at 8%. A Pew Research poll published on December 2, 2003 showed Dean at 26%, Gephardt at 22%, Kerry at 9%, and Edwards at 5%. (H/T nationalpolls.com)
The Democrat’s experience in 2004 is I think highly relevant as it was largely the mirror image of 2012. Eight years ago Democrats loathed George W. Bush just as conservatives today can’t stomach Barack Obama. Like Obama now, Bush was widely seen as vulnerable and thus there was a wide open scrum for the Democrat nomination.
For all his money Mitt Romney has been unable to close the deal with Republican voters. For all his current polling success, Herman Cain still appears to be a long shot to stay the distance. For all of his smarts and ability Newt Gingrich retains major downside risks.
The flaws of his opponents, together with his own considerable skill and potential, leaves an opening the size of Texas for Governor Rick Perry.
The Perrys did a lot for Marcus when he returned to Texas (a bunch of it very private).
Found it on a couple of places on the net.
They regard his relationship and support of Marcus Luttrell...
Don't know who or what Marcus Luttrell is? How about if I mention the book "Lone Survivor"? Or that he was featured at Glenn Beck's rally in Washington?
Here's a link for a refresher: Badass of the Week
So the anecdote goes like this:
"Here is another Rick Perry story:
Remember Marcus Luttrell from Lone Survivor fame? Well, Marcus was having a really tough time after he returned from Afghanistan. A trauma like that would make anyone a little off center.
So Rick and Anita took Marcus in. They gave him things to do and made sure he got to San Antonio for all his medical visits. Rick, having also been in the military, had long talks to the wee hours with Marcus about the aftershock of Marcus losing all his team members.
After Marcus moved back home, some thug teenagers killed his dog, the rehabilitation dog Marcus was given at Walter Reed. What happened then can be found on the internet. (See above link).
What is not reported is that Marcus called Rick on his cell phone and told Rick that punks had killed his dog. Rick sent the Texas Rangers to intercept the thugs. They are now in jail.
When Rick Perry tells you he’s a friend and will always be there for you, he means it. It is not just empty words he says before he throws you under the bus.
Now, Rick and Anita have taken in even more Navy Seals who have had tramatic experiences, trying to help them like they did Marcus.
You ever read about that in any newspaper? No, and you won’t. Like I said, the measure of a man is what he does when nobody is watching.
I know this much. Rick Perry is a good man. Yeah, he’s made a few mistakes, but so has every other candidate who is running.
But it is time that we have a really good person in the Oval Office, so if Rick decides to run, he not only has my vote, I will work my tail off for him."
Maybe there's some folks on FreeRepublic that know Mr. Luttrell personally and can get confirmation/denial of this story.
But...dudes and dudettes...if this story's true...or even partly true...it speaks mighty well and says admirable things of Mr. Perry.
Slam him if you must, because of your support for someone else, but he's still a mensch.
And boy, do we need that! I think there's lots of folks who find Governor Perry abrasive and hard to take. What I'm hoping is they'll realize that sometimes straight talk is hard to take.
And that what America needs now is a tough, straight-talking, military-loving, 2nd Amendment supporting...man.
Out.
“Yes. Perry’s Sheila’s puppet. Too funny. You should go on Leno.”
Why Thanks!
But, I doubt it is simply coincidence that one day Sheila Jackson Lee calls out Rick Perry on the Confederate License plate issue and the very next day, Rick Perry goes on TV to say that he opposes the Sons of Confederate Veterans.
Hey, you haven’t seen the internals...Perry’s are way up and Cain’s are way down.
Who forces you to read them?
You will be a great asset. Thank you for volunteering and for what you said.
Yeah, I heard Karl Rove say the same thing. He’s spouting that BS in an attempt to help Romney get the nomination. What’s your excuse?
You mean sort of like GW Bush, who lost every debate he ever had and served 8 years as US president?
Thanks for the great pics. I’m glad I posted that information for you to see.
Great post, CW! The vociferous yowling going on among the Neanderthalians cheers me! It is a given that something is up, and that Perry is coming. Why else all the heavy breathing? The Cainiacs have always preferred wordsmiths to substance and will settle for oratory, a clever mouth and no experience, because they were seen doing that once before. (clears throat.) Experience, and a ten year record will never rank high with visual types, if there is something flashy and unique to attract their eye. Like toddlers following the bouncing ball. LOL! Making celebrities out of personalities is a full time job, after all! The White House so wants to run against Romney, and it is convenient that Cain has held Romney off with his debate prowess. Now through the crease comes Rick Perry 2.0 with ALL the goods—the real RECORD, and GROUND EXPERIENCE to offer voters what they want and need on JOBS, ENERGY, TAXES, EDUCATION, BORDER SECURITY, and ten years of success governing a near nation-state, bordering Mexico. Rick has it, and the rest of the field would love to get it. He doesn’t have to rely on the lip service offered , by every other candidate, with only varying success I might add. I love substance, myself. Those who don’t get it, lose it. There are but a noisy few left who are nervous. They should be.
Was Reagan ever stupid enought to tell 75% of the country they didn’t ever have a heart?
Agreed, the more these Perry sycophants push him on us, the more revolting he becomes.
That's some memory you've got there. Bush kicked Gore's arse in their second debate and the third was called a draw.
Here's another Perry supporter and friend:
Ted Nugent: Rick Perry should make US 'more like Texas'
I love how he took it to the BBC. LOL
If I said to you, “Have a heart,” would you say I was calling you heartless?
Perry said, “if you don’t want to allow children brought to this country illegally — through no fault of their own — to pay instate tuition, you don’t have a heart. [paraphrased but has the “heart” part]
However, saying he used the word “heartless,” is in vogue -- just like RINO.
He has apologized for saying it. He didn’t say, “if anyone misunderstood..or was offeded..” He said it was inappropriate.
[Perry: “I was probably a bit over-passionate by using that word and it was inappropriate,” Perry admitted. “In Texas in 2001 we had 181 members of the legislature – only four voted against this piece of legislation – because it wasn’t about immigration it was about education.”]
Oct 6, 2011 Interviewing Rick Perry On Illegal Immigration [10 Questions]
I just wonder if you’re actually trying to help Perry win. If you are, you are going about it the wrong way. You’re turning more people off than you are attracting them.
Hey, if nothing else you know Perry keeps good company.
Actually, he has great speaking skills. He can get the room so wound up they’re screaming and whooping. He’s just not good at a 30 second sound bite because he’s a slow talking man. Americans actually LIKE slow talking men, but they’re not good at debates.
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