Posted on 09/13/2007 9:30:12 AM PDT by SwinneySwitch
AUSTIN — He skipped Texas' GOP straw poll, but Gov. Rick Perry delivered a red-meat speech at the California Republican Party convention scoffing at Al Gore over global warming and taking on Nancy Pelosi and the Clintons.
"I've heard Al Gore talk about man-made global warming so much that I'm starting to think that his mouth is the leading source of all that supposedly deadly carbon dioxide," Perry said in last Friday's prepared speech, a week after the presidential straw poll in Fort Worth.
House Speaker Pelosi?
"Let's make sure the Nancy Pelosi speakership is just an asterisk in the history of our country."
New York Sen. Hillary Clinton's effort to follow her husband as president?
"We must move heaven and earth to make sure we never see another Clinton in the White House."
California, where Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger urged a centrist approach?
"California is too important ... to allow a bankrupt, liberal political philosophy to dominate the direction of this state."
Perry promised more of the same in 2008.
"I may not be on the ballot, but I will campaign next year like I am, in Texas, in California, and anywhere else I can spread the word," he said in his speech.
If that holds true, it will be an unusually active national schedule for the GOP governor, said Ray Sullivan, who once worked for him and is close to the Perry camp.
"If he does indeed fan out across the country giving similar speeches, I believe that will be a bigger, newer role for him nationally," said Sullivan, a lobbyist.
Perry spokesman Robert Black said more national travel is expected, but presidential campaigning will depend on what Perry is asked to do by the nominee.
Black noted this will be a presidential election without a Bush on the GOP presidential ballot, and that Texas being "a bit more in play than in previous elections" makes a difference in Perry's plans.
Perry also has a prominent role in the Republican Governors Association and will work to help elect other GOP governors, Black added. Perry is the RGA's chief fundraiser and is rumored to be in line to be chairman. He was raising money in California for the group last week.
As for the Texas straw poll, Black said Perry had a scheduling conflict and sent a video. (High-profile presidential candidates also missed the event.)
Ron Nehring, California Republican Party chairman, said Perry was invited to the convention with several other governors and got a "tremendous" reception, an opinion echoed in news accounts that said Perry's conservative message got a far more enthusiastic response than Schwarzenegger's speech.
Some have suggested Perry might be a vice presidential contender. Others call that an impossibility, partly because of the unpopularity of President Bush, who preceded Perry as Texas governor, and because Perry most recently was re-elected with less than a majority vote in a crowded field.
But political science Professor Samuel Popkin of the University of California at San Diego — who has advised Democratic campaigns including Gore's in 2000 — said the GOP nominee is likelier to choose a running mate from a more worrisome state like Florida or Ohio.
"Being cheered by the faithful doesn't mean they think you're electable," Popkin said.
Political scientist Bruce Buchanan of the University of Texas at Austin said he thinks Perry is working to build his national profile.
"I think he does want to have a profile that could lead him to some higher office at some point," Buchanan said. But he added, "Right at the moment, Texas is kind of radioactive."
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pfikac@express-news.net
LOL!
Good for Texans! Unfortunately, it’s not so for the rest of the union. I find it hard to get enthusiastic when viewing the actions of the Republican Party as a whole.
Right at the moment, Perry couldn’t get re-elected in Texas.
No wonder he’s looking outside the state, hoping good looks and good hair will compensate among those who don’t yet know that he’s incompetent and corrupt.
Must be in Perrier' Perry's hairspray.
What you're spreading doesn't have anything to do with letters. Try a number..... or two.
Perry is sooo plastic. He reminds me of a GOP pull-string toy. Pull the string, and he says what you want to hear.
Not to mention he's the main cheerleader for the business/government cabal.
Agh!
Governor 39% needs to be in jail for robbing the Texas taxpayers of billions of dollars of road funding.
Perry Ping!
The GOP in California must be in desperate straits if Rick Perry gets them fired up.
All he could do here is get himself fired!
Well, frankly... I don't particularly care if you Texans have turned on him. What he said at this aborted CA GOP CONvention really did need to be said to a state GOP that truly IS in desperate straits at the hands of Schwartzenpecker!!!
Personally, I'm thrilled that SOMEBODY... ANYBODY... came on that scene and spelled out the truth to Arnold's insane lie that conservatism in CA ruins Republicanism at the polls and likened the voting franchise people have died defending to the moviehouse ticket window!!! Thank you TX Governor Perry!!!
Have a good weekend all you Cauleeforneeuns...
we had a true blue conservative in 2003 but the folks who said they would vote for him didn’t and look where we are...
and after three more years of RINOld;
it may be ten more friggin’ years before we can get another “R” elected governor of CA.
Go Angels
Go Dodgers
Go Irish
Go Vols
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