Posted on 12/21/2011 2:20:34 AM PST by Cincinatus' Wife
I risk being accused of endorsing Rick Perry by saying nice things about his campaign two days in a row, but this is genuinely worth commenting on and is not an endorsement.
Yesterday, I wrote a post that started with Perry as one of the best candidates to beat Barack Obama, but commented on what I perceive to be one of the flaws in his campaign. I wrote, “Of all the candidates running, I think he has one of the best shots, though his internal campaign situation has badly served him and he never should have left Ray Sullivan in his position.”
My issue with Ray Sullivan is not personal, nor (as some have speculated) does it derive from his wife assisting the Romney campaign. He is the communications director and, having worked both inside and outside campaigns, it has struck me that the Perry campaign’s messaging is erratic — much improved, but still erratic.
But I have to tip my hat to Ray Sullivan and the Perry campaign. Despite my criticisms of Ray, he sent out my post yesterday from the Perry campaign leaving my criticisms in tact.
An amateur campaign does not do that. It takes a lot of testicular fortitude to be willing to do that as a candidate and as a communications shop within a campaign.
This is precisely why I think Iowans and others would be out of their minds if they did not take a look again at Rick Perry before settling. After the MIchigan debate disaster, Perry has retooled, refocused, and executed a very solid game plan. Rick Perry has finally found his voice and Iowa tracking polls suggest the voters there like what they are hearing.
His conservative populism on the economy and Wall Street is pitch perfect. His message on values connects with voters in Iowa in a way few others do. He has finally hit his stride.
Perry should never have gone into the debates as early as he did. But I say that with 20/20 hindsight that he should have spent a month on the trail doing retail first. It seems clear to me he had a lack of preparation and serious back pain issues, which he is only now becoming comfortable telling the truth about.
The campaign has found its voice, found its stride, and has the strength to send out someone else’s writing that contains staff level criticisms. Again, few campaigns would be willing to do that.
I don’t know whether Rick Perry can get into the top three in Iowa. It may be too late. But I think with Gingrich’s collapse, the rise of Ron Paul, and a Rick Santorum candidacy that has never been vetted (Arlen Specter anyone?), Perry remains perhaps the only candidate who can take on both Mitt Romney in a primary and Barack Obama in a general election.
A veteran, a farmer, and a solid job creator who has never lost an election — I think he deserves another look before we look elsewhere for the Not Romney candidate who can beat Obama.
If you don’t like what you see, that’s fine by me. It’s the second look that matters.
......"Perry was the first in town and his event that was held at the Copper Cup early Friday afternoon with a large crowd that gathered in the quaint coffee house. The event however was more of a press conference than the typical campaign appearance, due to several members of the national media following the Perry Campaign.
Television camera crews, print media, photojournalists, web bloggers, and radio broadcasters all descended on to Cherokee.
News stories about Perry's stop in Cherokee were done by NBC, CBS, ABC, Newsday, New York Times, Wall Street Journal, New York Daily News, Associated Press, The Dallas Morning News, Des Moines Register and the Sioux City Journal.
John King of CNN broadcasted his show live from Cherokee and featured a sit-down interview with Perry at The Copper Cup.".....
Rick Perry for Commander in Chief
"As I have stated before, I am a full-spectrum conservative. I believe in common-sense, Constitutional conservatism based on the “three-legged stool” – fiscal, social, and national defense conservatism. All three of those legs are important, but my heart is especially with the national defense concerns.
Many long time Redstate readers know me from the posts I started writing on my first deployment. Some of you may think of me as the guy who keeps writing posts nagging us to remember that we are still at war.
As a veteran who served two tours in Iraq and saw good men and women lost, this issue resonates with me more than any other. Although our government has been bent and twisted from the founders’ intent, it still holds true that the central role of the President of the United States is that of Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces.
Many have watched with dismay over the last few years as the military has been shackled with insane rules of engagement, resources that matched political expediency rather than mission requirements, more concern over the cultural sensibilities of our enemies than the lives of our Soldiers, and frankly – a CinC who appears to lose more sleep over a bad day at golf than over the deaths of America’s finest.”…….
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“You can’t tell me that America is not exceptional. You can't tell me that because I've seen it”
"Rick Perry has always remained faithful." -- First Lieutenant Daniel P. Moran
[6:45] Medal recipients tell of their sacrifice and the sacrifice of their fellow heroes -- and why they support Rick Perry.
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The day after Pete was killed, I was sitting at the dining room table with Hardtail, just trying to make sense of all that was going on.
My cell phone rang. "Unknown" said the caller ID.
Thought about letting it pass, but I answered it.
"Alan, this is Rick Perry."…..
Has anyone else noticed how different Perry projects himself when he wears a tie versus when he wears a more rugged open collar shirt. In coat and tie Perry looks like a deer caught in the headlights which detracts from the image of a forceful leader while in less formal attire he comes across as a leader of action.
He says he hates debates.
So do I.
Doesn’t mean he’s unfit. In fact, I think he’s the best choice for the USA now.
He’s back after healing from his spinal fusion surgery. You could see the change about a month back when he started running — wearing a back brace and working through pain was wearing.
GO Perry!
YES!
He’s warmed up to the debates and the voters like what they seen in person.
Perry draws people in — a strength of spirit and love of country and a “joy” about him that people speak of as he stumps.
I think Perry has a very good chance at the top 3 in Iowa, but by perception of the masses has always been flawed.
I am going through back problems myself.
They don’t make you come off so great with the meet and greet stuff.
It makes you mutter under your breath and come off hostile (Well I do)
Very few have any time for your pain, particularly if you are asking them to be their leader.
I Pray that Perry is on the mend and that he can turn folks around.
Me too!
Good healing for you with your back. My husband had big-time back surgery about 20 years ago. He'd be in a wheelchair today if it hadn't been successful.
Hope the voters think about when hiring someone you do so on their record not what they say what they will do.
I just get darn grumpy if my legs are on fire or I cant stand straight without pain.
I get to be real kurt pissin around with BS.
Perry has never done this.
I do believe he has zoned out a few times because of his condition, but At least he hung in there.
Herman Cain tossed in the towel.
He is really just now getting started. He’s a man in charge alright, it’s fun to watch him with the crowds.
Bump!
TRUST.
I’m thinking of changing that tag line to “If you’ll have my back when I go to Washington, I’ll have yours” I love that line and I think it really appeals to the American people.
Perry is campaigning with Bobby Jindal, another doer, and that is encouraging.
It's time to get some doers out of the states and into Washington D.C.
Enough of the retreads and Fox News analysts.
I don't want a person who was doing 4 or 5 years ago or 15 years ago for that matter. I want the guy who has been fighting Obama while he has been President and not from behind a camera.
Do it.
Good.
I liked it when I first heard Perry say it.
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