Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

5 myths about Rick Perry
Washington Post ^ | August 18, 2011 | Evan Smith, Texas Tribune Editor

Posted on 08/20/2011 1:13:35 AM PDT by Cincinatus' Wife

You’re probably thinking, “I’ve seen this movie before: West Texas boy makes middling grades in college, gets elected governor and — to the consternation of gobsmacked Democrats, who misunderestimate his folksy appeal — runs for the Republican nomination for president.” But if that’s all you know about Rick Perry, you should be asking whether the country is ready for another White House occupant from the Lone Star State. The fact is, the most recent entrant into the GOP race is nothing like the caricatures being promoted on the left and the right. Here are some myths that need debunking, and quick.

1. He’s a Bush clone.

Biographical similarities aside, Perry is not the second coming of George W. Bush, either stylistically or substantively. Bush governed Texas with a light touch and had a good relationship with the Democratic majorities in both chambers of the Texas legislature. Perry is more hard-knuckled in his dealings not only with Democrats (now a minority in the House and the Senate) but with insufficiently conservative Republicans — what we in Texas pejoratively call “moderates.”.....

2. He’s a hillbilly dimwit.

That’s bias against Texas, pure and simple. Just because he wears cowboy boots and drops his G’s doesn’t mean he’s a dummy. Perry may be a small-town boy who went to an ag school (Texas A&M University), but he’s an extremely cagey and strategic politician who has been among the state’s most successful governors at getting what he wants. (Put another way: Even if he’s not book smart by University of Chicago standards, he’s plenty street smart — and street smart is still smart.) The better lens through which to regard Perry is inside vs. outside, establishment vs. anti-establishment, elitist vs. jus’ folks. Don’t make the mistake of thinking that jus’ folks is jus’ dumb.

(Excerpt) Read more at washingtonpost.com ...


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Editorial; Government; Politics/Elections; US: Texas
KEYWORDS: 2012; campaign; gopprimary; laraza; maldef; msm; perry; perrytards; rickperry; texas; texican
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-4041-6061-80 ... 141-151 next last
Governor Almost Wasn't--After years on ranch, Perry saw climate was right for politics


Perry,, elected to the Texas House of Representatives in 1984, came to be known as one of the "Pit Bulls,"
members who sat in the lower pit of the House Appropriations Committee and bitterly fought spending increases.

August 13, 2011 Rick Perry's Announcement Speech at Red State Gathering [YouTube]

2:12 Rick Perry: Time to Get America Working Again

Students for Perry -- 3:34 YouTube Video: IT'S TIME FOR RICK PERRY

Rick and Anita Perry

…….”She tries to help the governor not get too carried away with his own role. "I try to keep him grounded. Sometimes I wonder," she said. When he gets a little too puffed up, "I'm always saying: 'Who told you that you were cute today?' "

Still, she intends to get out on the campaign trail and play a more visible part.

"Not that I'm a vote-changer or a vote-getter or anything like that," she said. "But I'll do whatever I need to do because I think it's important that he get re-elected."

You have to grow thick skin, enjoy people, tackle big projects and, in all of it, keep family as a priority, she said.

The governor has also set his priorities. The staff knows to keep his schedule clear every Sept. 9. That's not his wedding day or an important birthday.

It's the anniversary of their first date.”………Anita Perry, a no-nonsense nurse, overcomes shyness in signing on to win votes for her husband

1 posted on 08/20/2011 1:13:45 AM PDT by Cincinatus' Wife
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: Cincinatus' Wife
Rick Perry's to liberal for me.
He doesn't want to deport the illegals, and the PRESStitutes are pushing him too much.
No thanks.
2 posted on 08/20/2011 1:17:11 AM PDT by Yosemitest (It's simple, fight or die.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: All
A nice looking West Texas boy, an Aggie, couple of years from graduation.

Rick Perry, Corps of Cadets 1969 TX A&M


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 …….

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."

.....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.

Anita and Rick Perry dove hunting 2010

Perry Awarding Iraqi Service Medals

3 posted on 08/20/2011 1:41:43 AM PDT by Cincinatus' Wife
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: Yosemitest
For starters, the Wasington Post praising a Republican? (looking over shoulder for ELE Asteroid) That doesn't happen.

Second, Gardasil. Doing what you think is right without regard for the Constitution or individual Rights smacks of the sort of 'ends justify the means' mentality we're seeing out of DC now. I don't need any more of that, no matter how well intentioned.

Illegal aliens are, by virtue of being here illegally, doing something illegal. (D'oh.) Regardless of other criminal acts, that is one, and one should be enough.

Islam isn't our friend, although it might play nice to get more of what it wants before the vests go on and the bombs go off.

EVERY, yes, every candidate needs to come under the microscope.

This isn't some d@mned Texas A&M game (kindly save the pep-rally for after the vetting), this is the election which will likely decide the future of this country.

We've all seen candidates who made the 'right' moves, did the 'right' things, said the 'right' stuff, and did not deliver.

We've seen people promise the moon and stars, and when the election is over, they moon you.

We don't have the time to diddle around with another term or two of half-fast measures and sentiments.

As for Gov. Perry, I'm glad he knows which end of the horse is which. That way, there'll be no excuse for being on the wrong end of things.

I haven't made up my mind, but I'm seeing as much not to like as there is to like, and much which could be 'packaged' either way.

But my impression remains that he is the one to split the Bachmann vote and get Mitt the nod.

4 posted on 08/20/2011 1:44:56 AM PDT by Smokin' Joe (How often God must weep at humans' folly. Stand fast. God knows what He is doing.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: Smokin' Joe
Whatcha smoking Joe?

Seventeen (17) things that critics are saying about Rick Perry

5 posted on 08/20/2011 1:51:39 AM PDT by Cincinatus' Wife
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 4 | View Replies]

To: Smokin' Joe
But my impression remains that he is the one to split the Bachmann vote and get Mitt the nod.

Mitt's toast and why the Bushes and Rove are trying to push Paul Ryan into the race.

6 posted on 08/20/2011 1:54:04 AM PDT by Cincinatus' Wife
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 4 | View Replies]

To: Cincinatus' Wife

Another liberal publication comes out with a pro-Perry piece. It would seem that Perry is becoming the new Romney, as far as democrat political strategists are concerned.


7 posted on 08/20/2011 2:20:58 AM PDT by snowrip (Liberal? You are a socialist idiot with no rational argument.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Smokin' Joe

I agree, and I think your "moon" statement is right on.
8 posted on 08/20/2011 2:23:38 AM PDT by Yosemitest (It's simple, fight or die.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 4 | View Replies]

To: Cincinatus' Wife
Is there something I heard about Perry blocking the move to eliminate TSA groping in Texas?
9 posted on 08/20/2011 2:25:15 AM PDT by marbren (I do not know but, Thank God, God knows)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 6 | View Replies]

To: Cincinatus' Wife

That he’s loyal to his wife says a lot. He’s a politician, through and through, but he’d be a good nominee, conservative standard-bearer and President I don’t doubt. Keep up the good work.


10 posted on 08/20/2011 2:28:32 AM PDT by 1010RD (First, Do No Harm)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: Cincinatus' Wife
The msm likes him so my knee-jerk reaction is to question. It aint right. It's not a question of where's the catch, it's how many catches are there? They seem to be geared up to protect him until he defeats the ‘other’ republicans in his field. A weak opponent is needed. They like him, ergo I question.
11 posted on 08/20/2011 2:28:40 AM PDT by allmost
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Cincinatus' Wife
I MOSTLY like the guy but he's gotta walk that amnesty thing back....Truly, he needs to get

'GUMBALLED'

If you are reading this gov. you need to go here, WATCH THIS and TAKE THIS TO HEART.....

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=5871651411393887069#docid=7762829387729129076

AHEM, EARTH TO GOV. on this amnesty issue....

RICKEE....

'CHU GOT A LOTTA 'SPLAININ' TO DO ! FIRST STEP...GUMMM BALLL.
12 posted on 08/20/2011 2:39:17 AM PDT by flat
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Yosemitest
These two items contain some red flags:

4. He opposes federal stimulus money.

Perry made headlines during the 2009 legislative session when he turned down $555 million in federal stimulus funding to extend unemployment insurance , citing the strings attached, and he has made a talking point out of the “failed stimulus.” But Texas took more than $17 billion in stimulus money in 2009 to balance the budgets from that biennium and the previous one. Perry defends the decision by saying Texas is a donor state — and, true enough, it sends more money to Washington than it gets back in benefits and services — but the fact is, he kept the state solvent by taking what he now rails against.

5. He has presided over an unqualified economic miracle.

When Perry says Texas has less than 10 percent of the nation’s population but has created more than 40 percent of its jobs in the past two years, or that more jobs have been created in Texas in the past decade — that is, on his watch — than in all 49 other states combined, he’s not exaggerating. In an election that’s likely to be about jobs and the economy first and foremost, he has quite a record to run on. But there’s more to the story than those top-line statistics.

The unemployment rate in Texas, for instance, was 8.4 percent as of Friday — less than the federal unemployment rate but worse than that of 25 other states, and it could move up a tick or two after Sept. 1, when budget cuts passed during the most recent legislative session will reduce the public employee rolls. Texas has more minimum-wage jobs than every state other than Mississippi, a superlative you brag about if you don’t care about what kind of jobs you create and are only trying to run up the numbers. And growth in public sector (i.e., government) jobs in Texas has been 19 percent over the past 10 years, vs. just 9 percent growth in private-sector jobs.

The argument about minimum wage jobs is goofy. A job a job and in Illinois we've got black unemployment in double digits and in some demographics it reaches near 50%. We could use more minimum wage jobs, but the above items are worth noting.

There isn't going to be the perfect conservative candidate, if there was one he/she wouldn't be electable. We're going to have to compromise and keep our eye on the prize - Congress.

Taking Congress is the most important and by margins that insulate us from Obama.

13 posted on 08/20/2011 2:43:21 AM PDT by 1010RD (First, Do No Harm)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 8 | View Replies]

To: Cincinatus' Wife
When details of the plan became public, critics became concerned that it would lead to a “NAFTA Superhighway” that would facilitate the United States, Canada and Mexico merging into a North American Union (a fringe conspiracy theory).

A remarkable statement, considering that city commissions in this neck of the woods were bubbling with excitement about proximity to the NAFTA Superhighway up into Canada--it is part of the old Agenda 21 UN thingy which can still be found on the UN website. Not just a "conspiracy theory", but the real deal.

So, what am I smoking? Nothing.

I am concerned that someone being presented as a Conservative would have even considered either mandating a vaccine (even if you could opt out, provided you jumped through the hoops), and the TTC, which was to connect with the rest of the NAFTA highway, warts and all. The latter reeks of the sort of abuse of eminent domain we are seeing in the EPA and other agencies who are still busy snapping up more land.

Now, those may have been errors in judgement (political 'growing pains'), or they may have been the tip of a well concealed iceberg. No one is going to convince me either way quickly, and, for those who might feel so inclined, neither snarky comments nor spamming me will alter my decision to observe and learn more.

This is America and folks are free to jump on whatever bandwagon they want to--or to look before they leap.

I'm not deriding anyone, but when Mitt flagged in the polls behind Bachmann, Perry threw his hat in the ring.

Hmmmm.

Looking outside this box, the country-clubbers' last chance to snatch the control of the party from us 'miserable TEA party ruffians' is to get Romney back in the lead. Perry might be able to split the vote, not on the Country Club side, but 'in the sticks' and let Mitt slide by. Just a thought.

I just haven't decided yet, but there is something there that just doesn't flange up for me, and I'm not done looking.

14 posted on 08/20/2011 2:47:25 AM PDT by Smokin' Joe (How often God must weep at humans' folly. Stand fast. God knows what He is doing.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 5 | View Replies]

To: Smokin' Joe; Cincinatus' Wife; Yosemitest

Smith is not praising the Governor. He manages to end with a smear every time. Not surprising, since this is the guy from the NPR/UT online news that took money from George Soros this year.

The jobs smear is especially bad. Texas’ unemployment would be 2.3% if it weren’t for all the people moving to Texas. Our median income hits just about the same as the average in the US;$15 or so, meaning that a lot of those jobs must pay very well. The fact that we do have so many employed affects that “most minimum wage jobs” number.

for more on jobs and economy, see this:
http://www.politicalmathblog.com/?p=1590

As to the “middling grades, we’re still waiting on Clinton.’s and Obama’s transcripts. Why do only Republican’s grades end up on the ‘Net?


15 posted on 08/20/2011 2:50:40 AM PDT by hocndoc (http://WingRight.org)(I've got a mustard seed and I'm not afraid to use it.)(RIAing))
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 4 | View Replies]

To: marbren

No, he added it to the Special Session after it didn’t pass in the Regular. It failed, again.


16 posted on 08/20/2011 2:52:37 AM PDT by hocndoc (http://WingRight.org)(I've got a mustard seed and I'm not afraid to use it.)(RIAing))
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 9 | View Replies]

To: hocndoc

Interesting, I heard the opposite. Amazing misinformation out there.


17 posted on 08/20/2011 2:56:02 AM PDT by marbren (I do not know but, Thank God, God knows)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 16 | View Replies]

To: allmost

Well, “allmost” (as some of your fellow anti-Perry FReepers above) you didn’t read the article did you?

Yeah, the media “likes” him — just like Andrew Ferguson of the Weekly Standard “likes” him.

http://www.weeklystandard.com/articles/rick-perry-annotated_590440.html?nopager=1


18 posted on 08/20/2011 2:56:40 AM PDT by Cincinatus' Wife
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 11 | View Replies]

To: Cincinatus' Wife
I don't need details to support my opinion. I try to limit my bs intake. I didn't attack Perry, I am simply skeptical. The more I hear about him from less informed sources, the more concern I generate. I am skeptical by nature, but this guy has my bs meter going in every direction.
19 posted on 08/20/2011 3:03:39 AM PDT by allmost
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 18 | View Replies]

To: Yosemitest
"He doesn't want to deport the illegals."

Even if you rounded them all up and sent them back across the border, it would be wasting money you could be spending keeping them from coming here in the first place. What needs to be done is seal the border. Then you wouldn't have the trouble sending them back every time they came back in.

The Texas-Mexico border is 1256 miles long. That's farther than the distance between New York and New Orleans. To seal that border would require resources more than Texas could bear. Governor Perry has begged for federal assistance from the Obama regime. There has been no answer from Zer0. So, the border situation lingers as the State of Texas tries to deal with the situation the best they can. One thing for certain, it will cost more money that the state of Texas has.

20 posted on 08/20/2011 3:15:43 AM PDT by jonrick46 (2012 can't come soon enough.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-4041-6061-80 ... 141-151 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson