Posted on 01/04/2012 11:56:32 PM PST by 2ndDivisionVet
If Rick Perry was a legitimate conservative (which I always warned he was not) he would have dropped out of the campaign today and endorsed Rick Santorum, Ron Paul or Newt Gingrich. Yet "Pay-for-Play" Perry stays in, and heads for South Carolina. So what's the deal?
The big winner of Perry staying in, by far, is Mitt Romney. The big loser is the conservative movement and the candidates who appeal to that movement. Keeping in mind my long-held view that Perry is not conservative, just a "pay-for-play" guy, what is in it for Perry?
1. Perhaps Romney offered Perry a position in his administration, such as undersecretary of Agriculture.
2. Perhaps Romney offered Perry a diplomatic post suited to his talents, such as United States Ambassador to Bolivia.
3. Perhaps Perry spent more of his money than we realize, and Romney offered to go to his 1 percent wealthy fundraisers and raise for Perry a little more dough to sweeten the pie.
Who knows? I would suggest that by staying in and helping Romney, and hurting Santorum and Gingrich, Perry is to the conservative movement what Benedict Arnold was to the colonists. Or, since Rick Perry likes analogies from the Bible, perhaps a gentleman whose first name begins with "J" and ends with "-udas" fairly describes what Perry is doing to the real conservatives today.
This article is just plain silly. The author is making assumptions based on his wishes, and these wishes have no connection with facts. Rick Perry has no obligation to drop out of the race. Only a small number of people voted yesterday, and no candidate got anywhere near a majority. I think yesterday’s vote is much ado about nothing. We are in the early stages of the campaign, and no one know who will get the nomination in the end.
Essie, I agree. Iowa is WAAY overrated.
Rick Perry is a TRUE 10th Amendment conservative. If he dropped out, I’d have nowhere to go. Ron Paul is good on fiscal and domestic, but he has taken leave of the real world when he formulated his foreign policy. Mitt Romeny, Newt Gingrich and Rick Santorum are all cut from the same big government progressive cloth that got us into this situation in the first place.
Why not ask Mitt Rimeny to drop out? Or the hapless Newt Gingrich?
Let them fight it out. The race has barely begun and the crybabies are already moaning the blues.
Learn from Iowa, Rick! Refine your limited government, 10th amendment message, deliver it more forcefully, and take the fight to Obama in the Fall.
Before Rick Perry drops out, he should call Tim Pawlenty to ask him if it’s too soon.
Paul .. another disruptive force. With him and Perry out, Romney is overtaken by an acceptable candidate. He not a Republican and should not be in the Republican primaries. People are not reading him right. This is our version of O’Bots backing him. I’ll trade some of the Paul Bots for some Blue Dogs.
Excellent opinion piece. Thanks for the link. Maybe it deserves a thread of its own.
You’re right. It’s not as though Iowa has a flawless record when it comes to picking the nominee. It doesn’t. Some of us would like the opportunity to vote for our candidates before they are written off and driven out of the race. The Iowa caucuses do not accurately represent mainstream conservative thought.
Ninjas are skinny and lithe, but sumos are fat and tubby.
I’ve been griping here about posts that are all assume and attack and bagging on FR’s overall quality because of them. Guess it’s become an acceptable level of discourse for 2nd rate op-ed authors as well. Perhaps I should just accept this trend, skinny jeans, and the use of the word chillax. On 2nd thought - I’ll stick with my initial values.
I say, carry on Perry - and Godspeed. I don’t care what the media or pundits have to say. I like Rick, (Santorum too) so, I’m for either one winning.
Santorum raised 1 million just today. Perry just blew 6 million for a fifth place ribbon. How much money does Perry have anymore and is anyone bothering to send him any donations? Perry is the one who will be out of gas at the side of the road before he even gets to the SC election.
Romney smiles. More split conservative votes. Just like McCain did (or rather, had done for him). Sheesh.
This article hits the nail on the head. Perry is a narcissistic traitor and his only purpose after his embarrassing 5th place Iowa finish is to help Romney.
A vote for Perry is now a vote for Romney. Everyone in SC/FL...please don’t be useful idiots for the establishment.
Well, I guess we’ll find out soon enough.
I am also quite curious as to how much money Perry has currently. It would be interesting if someone had (reliable) numbers of how much powder Perry has. He went into Iowa with quite the powder keg, but yesterday there was a comment from someone in his camp that money is no longer an afterthought. I hope someone knows where he stands on funds, because from now on things will be getting more expensive. And not just for Perry.
Cornholia has spoken, now drop out! / sarcasm
Perhaps. Perhaps not. But, let's allow the process to play out.
Karl Rove mentioned on Fox that he thinks Perry hs about $4 million left. And Rove reckons Perry can raise more.
At this stage of the race split votes among several candidates is the norm.
And this year, with proportional allocation of delegates, the incentive to stay in is stronger than in the past, since it will be at least next April before anyone can wrap it up, even theoretically. . Candidates with accumulated delegates may become players at the convention, especially if no one gets a first ballot majority.
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