Texas governor [Rick Perry] seeks advice on a GOP bid (also being briefed on U.S. defense, trade..)

Boston Globe ^ | July 12, 2011 | Political Notebook

[Cincinatus' Wife]

EXETER, N.H. - Texas Governor Rick Perry has telephoned influential Republicans in early-voting New Hampshire and Iowa in recent days as he weighs whether to enter the race for the GOP presidential nomination.

“He was looking for my thoughts in terms of what the presidential field looked like and what might happen if someone came in and shook things up a little bit,’’ New Hampshire Senate President Peter Bragdon said yesterday....

The conservative Texan also called several GOP leaders in Iowa, which will hold the first contest in next year’s GOP presidential race. Among those contacted, Lieutenant Governor Kim Reynolds....

“He looked forward to the opportunity to have a face-to-face and talk about great things that could happen in Iowa as well as the nation,’’ Reynolds said. “He just said he looked forward to seeing me soon.’’

Perry’s efforts to reach out to Republican officeholders in both states come as polls suggest Republican primary voters in early voting states and elsewhere are generally underwhelmed by the current slate of candidates.

The field is largely set, with former Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney - who lost the nomination to John McCain in 2008 - ahead in most early surveys. Sarah Palin, the former Alaska governor and 2008 vice presidential nominee, and Perry are the only two major question marks.

Perry, Texas’s longest-serving governor, had spent months saying that he would not seek the nomination. He reversed course several weeks ago and has been openly considering a bid.

New Hampshire conservative leader and former Senate candidate Ovide Lamontagne said he spoke to Perry “for the better part of half an hour’’ on Saturday.

“I told him that I think this is a wide-open race. While there are some good candidates out there, I think folks are still looking,’’ said Lamontagne,....

[CitizenUSA]

I know Texas does a lot of things right, but the illegal immigration problem is high on my list. Also, there’s a difference between being around when good legislation passes and pushing for that legislation oneself. Did Governor Perry push for voter ID, lawsuit reform, etc., or did he just not oppose it?

I don’t want to come across as being dead set against the guy. I’m in the gather information mode more than anything else. If you know, give me the names of leading Republicans who are pushing for Perry. That will tell me a lot about him. I don’t want another Bush!!!

[Cincinatus' Wife]

......Can you give me some examples? That’s a good way to tell a lot about a person. Find out who they associate with.

A nice looking West Texas boy a couple of years from graduation.

Rick Perry 1969 TX A&M Yearbook, Aggieland

Perry attended Texas A&M University, where he was a member of the Corps of Cadets, a member of the Alpha Gamma Rho fraternity and one of A&M's five yell leaders (a popular Texas A&M tradition analogous to male cheerleaders). He interned with the Southwestern Company during the summer time as a door-to-door book salesman where he honed his communication skills. Perry graduated in 1972 with a degree in animal science. While at Texas A&M University Perry successfully completed a static line parachute jump at Ags Over Texas (a United States Parachute Association dropzone), the dropzone that was then in operation at Coulter Field (KCFD) in Bryan, Texas, just north of Texas A&M (in College Station, Texas).

Upon graduation, he was commissioned in the United States Air Force, completed pilot training and flew C-130 tactical airlift in the United States, the Middle East, and Europe until 1977. He left the Air Force with the rank of captain, returned to Texas and went into business farming cotton with his father.

In 1982, Perry married Anita Thigpen, his childhood sweetheart whom he had known since elementary school. They have two children, Griffin and Sydney. Source

Anita and Rick Perry dove hunting 2010

Perry Awarding Iraqi Service Medals

Texas Marines

Gov. Rick Perry participates in ceremonies at Camp Mabry to redesignate the 49th Armored Division as the 36th Infantry Division. The former 49th Armored Division, which consists of approximately 12,000 soldiers, makes up almost two-thirds of the Texas National Guard. The division's redesignation as the 36th Infantry Division is part of the Texas Army National Guard's transition from a heavy armored force to a more versatile infantry force.

Texas Gov. Perry receives a warm greeting from Ghazni Provincial Governor Dr. Usman Usmani at the flight line minutes after landing at Forward Operating Base Ghazni by UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter. Perry led a delegation of four other governors to visit

Lt. Col. Thomas J. Kleis (R) briefs Texas Gov. Rick Perry (C) as Command Sgt. Maj. Peter P.A. Collins (L) listens on the intelligence gathering successes the 636th Military Intelligence Battalion has achieved during their last six months of duty in

Texas Gov. Rick Perry stands with Texas service members from the 636th Military Intelligence Battalion, 71st Battlefield Surveillance Brigade and the 136th Military Police Battalion on July 20th under the Texas flag he presented to the 636th.

Rick Perry served in the U.S. Air Force after graduating from Texas A&M

C-130 Rick Perry: He flew the world before politics

Rank: captain

Hometown: Haskell

Crew job: C-130 aircraft commander

Served in the Air Force: 1972 to 1977

Dyess AFB tour: March 4, 1974, to Feb. 28, 1977

His story: Way back before he was governor of Texas, Rick Perry had two choices as a young member of the Air Force.

He could either follow his dream and work toward becoming an instructor pilot in the sleek T-38, or he could fly the hulking C-130, planes that affectionately were referred to as "trash haulers" by Perry and his cohorts.

"It was one of the great adventures of my life," Perry said. "I had a fairly pedestrian life until I was 23 years old."

Perry could count on one hand the number of trips he had taken out of his home state by the time he graduated from Texas A&M University, but everything changed when he joined the Air Force.

Flying C-130s, Perry lived in Germany and Saudi Arabia. He flew in Central and South America, North Africa and all over Europe.

"I saw all of these different types of governments and I made the connections to how the people acted and looked, and it became abundantly clear to me that, at that particular point in time, that America was this very unique place and that our form of democracy was very rare," Perry said. " ... That was the greatest gift I received from my years of being in the military, and they really shaped my outlook on the rest of my life."

[snip]

[jersey117]

I think he’s being pushed because of the success Texas has had creating jobs. That is obama’s major weakness. If we can put up the three term governor of a state which created jobs and welcomed fleeing businesses while the rest of the country is in freefall, I think that’s a good thing. I think he has the best shot at taking obama down based on that alone. Besides that, he’s A-OK on God, guns and country and he served his country. That’s good enough for me.

[Jim Noble]

“very, very senior retired defense department officials” who are briefing him on U. S. defense issues... Along with briefings on defense issues, “international experts in high levels of government”

In other words, the GOP-Bush family establishment have their hooks in this guy.

[Cincinatus' Wife]

....If you know, give me the names of leading Republicans who are pushing for Perry. That will tell me a lot about him. I don’t want another Bush!!!

I don't have that information but if I see it I'll post it.

I'm sure after he's announced we'll know even more. And the MSM will bring out the long knives, along with the special interest groups that fund and work for LIBERALS (a couple major ones listed above).

[Diogenesis]

[Cincinatus' Wife]

In other words, the GOP-Bush family establishment have their hooks in this guy.

Do you just toss bombs or do you ever try to learn some facts?

[Cincinatus' Wife]

Bump!

[dennisw]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_gQb7gZ0aIw

Here’s the hilarious Jerry Lewis doing it from circa 1947. Jerry Lewis sings ‘The army gets the beans’

[dennisw]

Texas ain’t big enough for the Bushes and the Perrys. There is bad blood. Rick Perry is not a Bush stooge

[Diogenesis]

Why don't you admit to Jim Noble, and the other
FReepers, that you appear to work in the Texas Ed system
and were instrumental in trying to force Gardasil
on chaste 6 graders by RINO Perry's Executive Order?

[dennisw]

Even if true who cares. Rick Perry is the best bet to serve an eviction notice on Moochelle and Bammy Boy. That is my number one priority.

[CitizenUSA]

Jim Noble: “In other words, the GOP-Bush family establishment have their hooks in this guy.”

Any evidence? Who on the Bush team is pushing for Perry? Name names.

[deport]

Last night on Fox News Special Report with host Bret Baier, Carl Cameron ended his segment on the GOP Primary by reporting that Texas Gov. Rick Perry is within 2 weeks of announcing his run in the GOP presidential primary.

---

The drop dead date for the Ames Iowa event is July 23rd I believe. That is 11 days out so it fits within the two week timeframe.

[TexasRedeye]

Where’s the beans?

REAL chili DOES NOT have beans or rice or crackers or any other filler. It is said that the chili serving was developed by the southern border states in the 1800's. Cattlemen (trail drivers) were served the mixture initially where beef was plentiful. Fillers were added during the Depression Era (especially in the northern states) when people couldn't afford meat and had to stretch the meal. If a filler is added, you don't have chili.

You have a spicy soup!

[CitizenUSA]

Oh my gosh! Please, please don't tell me you're an “electability is more important than ideology” types! Bush was electable, too. Are you for Perry for some reason other than his ability to beat Obama? I bet a lot of the Republican field could beat Obama. Even Romney could probably win even though his nomination would sicken conservatives. There's a lot more anger out there toward President Obama and the Democrats than what the media lets on.

[Diogenesis]

Sentient conservatives DO care.

If NOT true, Perry would follow Romney and Scott Brown
as RINO shapeshifters who waddled off as fascist Democrats.

NO MORE RINOS.

[Old Badger]

"Perry, Texas’s longest-serving governor, had spent months saying that he would not seek the nomination."

That statement right there is what indicates to me he's not to be trusted. Why, you may say? Because he could have been truthful and said he was undecided or hasn't made up his mind rather than saying he wouldn't seek it. He's cut from the same cloth as his buddy Romney who's a duplicitous flip flopper.

Would I vote for him? Only if he winds up being the nominee for the presidency but I would be under no illusions that it wouldn't be business as usual.

Read my tagline as to where my support and money will go! :O)

[Virginia Ridgerunner]

If the Republican establishment wants him, that bothers me...a lot.

BINGO!!!

Next for GOP leaders: Stopping Sarah Palin

And Rove and his American crossroads Outift is behind much of this.

Karl Rove says he and consultant David Weeks persuaded Rick Perry to switch parties and run for state agriculture commissioner

Always connect the dots.

[Jim Noble]

I presume the "very very senior retired DOD official" is Gates. "International experts in high levels of government"? The very phrase reeks of the Bush dynasty, or worse, of Xlinton.

Both say a lot about Rick Perry, who he rolls with, and who he would choose as counselors were he to become President.