Posted on 07/18/2011 7:40:25 PM PDT by smoothsailing
July 18,2011
Texas Governor Rick Perry seems to be getting closer to entering the 2012 Republican Presidential Primary. Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-Minn.) is already a committed candidate and in all respects, has earned “frontrunner” status.
This leads many political analyst and pundits to wonder: Could Rick Perry and Michele Bachmann be the ideal “Dream Team” for Republicans in 2012?
Perry successful executive experience, combined with Bachmann’s conservative legislative credentials could make an interesting combination, but could present some challenges at the same time.
Kyle Kondik, a political analyst at the University of Virginia, works with Dr. Larry Sabato and has been following the presidential race closely.
“The Republicans aren’t going to have a problem motivating the base in 2012, so that’s not the issue,” said Kondik. “The Democrats love to paint Republicans as extremists so the Republicans may have to decide if Perry and Bachmann are too conservative in a general election. I think Obama would certainly prefer to run against a more conservative ticket than one made up of Romney and another moderate, but Romney would certainly need a conservative on the ticket to keep the base excited.”
Both have an extensive political background and in many ways they parallel each other.
An Eagle Scout and graduate of Texas A&M University, Perry was an Air Force pilot before resigning with the rank of Captain in 1977 and returning to West Texas to farm with his father.
In 1984 Perry was elected to the Texas House of Representatives as a Democrat and joined a group known as the “Pit Bulls,” earning their name by sitting pushing straightforward budget ideas on the Appropriations Committee. In 1988 he served as Al Gore’s presidential campaign chairman in Texas, before switching parties and becoming a Republican in 1989.
As a new Republican, Perry ran successfully for Agriculture Commissioner in 1990, defeating a longtime Democrat Jim Hightower. He was reelected in 1994 and in 1998, was elected Lieutenant Governor of Texas. He later assumed the office of Governor when then Governor George W. Bush was elected President in 2000.
Perry has been elected as Texas Governor three times – in 2002, 2006 and 2010.
Like Perry, Bachmann also began her career in the State Legislature and has long taken conservative stands on fiscal and social policy. She also grew up in a Democratic family but says she became a Republican during her senior year of college.
After obtaining a law degree from Oral Roberts University in 1986, two years later, in 1988, Bachmann received as LL.M. degree in tax law from William & Mary School of Law. From 1988 to 1993, she worked as an attorney for the Internal Revenue Service, before leaving her position to become a full-time mother.
Bachmann’s political career began in earnest when education issues motivated her to run for school board in 1999 – a campaign that she lost.
However, in 2000 she was elected to the State Senate in Minnesota, where she served until she was elected to Congress in 2006, and the first Republican woman to serve represent Minnesota in Congress.
Bachmann has claimed substantial support from Tea Party activists and serves as chairman of the Tea Party Caucus in Congress.
Another commonality between the two Republicans have in common is being targeted by liberal groups such as atheists and pro-homosexual activists.
In an interview last week about on Marcus Bachmann’s Christian Counseling centers, Exodus International President Alan Chambers indicated many homosexual groups are determined to try and do everything possible to defeat any candidate who advocates conservative fiscal or social positions. The bigger issue would be how independent and swing voters respond to the issue.
Atheists groups, on the other hand have targeted Perry over his upcoming prayer conference in August.
Joe Zamecki is the Texas State Director of American Atheists Incorporated, a component of the national group founded by the late Madelyn Murray O’Hair.
Zamecki told YNN in Austin, Texas, “The Texas government right now is having such problems that if our governor can’t solve them or even address them or own up to his responsibility with them, I don’t think a prayer is going to help.”
There are also other names Washington insiders throw out when they talk about potential republican Vice Presidential contenders. Ohio Governor and former Congressman John Kaisch is often mentioned as is California Congressman and House Majority Whip Kevin McCarthy. But Senator Marco Rubio is the one most are talking about. Said one such insider who did not want to be identified, “Rubio is the person I feel President Obama wants to avoid as a Vice Presidential nominee. He’s the right person – young, bright, a proven legislative leader, Hispanic and from a swing state. Biden would probably not fare well in that debate, but then again, Biden doesn’t do well against many others either.”
Preach on.
Perry is bad news, and most of us Texans know it, but try telling the rest of the country. We’re suckers for a slick tongue and pretty face.
That is in the top ten reason I have for saying hell will freeze over before I will vote for Perry.
Perry has had some issues for sure. Anyone being GOV for so long would have trouble pleasing us all the time, but his best trait is the dems in Texas have hated him like a red-headed stepchild all along because he’s been effective and that says a lot.
Palin, of course!
Demint, I think he is comfortable being able to ride in like the Calvary, run over em, cut and slash. Would be hard to do a POTUS.
Herman, has some kickass ideas, but needs to run for and get elected to something before reaching for the biggest brass ring his first rodeo. Treasury Sec material at the least.
Right..... his lack of popularity is the reason he’s been re-elected so many times. Some logic you have there!
Tell us, freefromtruth, who is it you would like to see get the nomination. Surely you have someone you like or do you just have some PDS thing about Perry?
Figured you’d be too cheap to pay ten bucks for a movie ticket just to get a little education. So here just for you is a chance for an absolutely free lesson in accomplishment.
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2750449/posts?q=1&;page=51
Read post 69. Then send the ten spot you saved by no longer needing to see the flick in to Free Republic. Then everybody wins.
‘Nother Texan chiming in...nope. I don’t see Perry winning either the nomination or the general. Will he try? Dunno. He may.
It's all fun and games, until she wins the nomination. Then the heads begin exploding.
Oh, and she's got a 20 year track record of public service - not 2.
Good luck!
Perry/Rubio would ensure us the white house for 16 years, barring a major scandal or an economic calamity.
You can find who I support on other threads. It’s Texas, a very popular governor there would not have such hard primary races and/or tough general election races.
that’s a link from the Houston Chronicle website. I’m not commenting myself, just giving people a picture of what’s out there.
Perry as President means OPEN BORDERS
and drugs by his mandate.
NOPE.
No RomneyCARE. No PerryCARE. No ObamaCARE.
And no RINOs.
Bachmann is not the “frontrunner” and Perry is not (that) stupid. If he’s the candidate she’s nowhere near the ticket.
Won’t say who you support. Very telling! Obviously no one with the GOP label.
Like I said, just a troll with Perry Derangement Syndrome.
Palin 2012 or bust!!! Anything less is unacceptable period
And they both seem to have forgotten this, particularly Bachmann. How much of the 2 million that MB transfered to her other account on July 15, was SP responsible for?
Also a very wise Freeper said just the other day, Sarah could raise that much before lunch
BWAHAHAHA!
Got a good chuckle out of reading this.
For one thing, Bachmann probably wouldn’t give Perry the time-of-day. These two are about as far as you can get from seeing eye-to-eye, and still be in the same party.
Perry would need help in the Great Lakes region if he somehow climbed far enough up the ranks to get the nomination, but he’s not going to get it from Bachmann. He’ll probably tap one of his RGA associates. T-Paw or Santorum (maybe even Palin) would be far more likely VP picks.
In the event Bachmann wins the nomination, she won’t need help beating Obama in Texas or the deep South. She might need some help in Florida, and would probably go with Rubio, or someone with more cache in the Sunshine State than Perry.
Others have mentioned a Perry/Rubio or Perry/West matchup. I could support either one and it would certainly all but guarantee the Fla. electoral votes.
As for Bachmann, I like her, but she’s probably peaking too soon.
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