[winoneforthegipper]

Really, can't he read the tea leaves? Sheesh....in your face, Sarah.

[ConservativeDude]

we need to tax that corporate jet....

[Titus Quinctius Cincinnatus]

Obviously the whole state of Iowa has Palin Derangement Syndrome.

[Sacajaweau]

What's wrong with going around in a corporate jet.

Oh yeh...You need to take a bus to be more popular with hometown folks....like Obama and his little bus.

[smoothsailing]

That's a nice bird! Go Rick!

[sockmonkey]

Perry sauntered up to the state sipping a regular Coke

Oh, the horror..Everyone know cool people drink Diet Coke. /s

[Atlas Sneezed]

Are democrat campaign appearances ever “stage-managed”? Do we learn about the model of plan they fly?

[Irenic]

Perry’s use of corporate jets, a perk most other candidates lack
**************
Those evil corporate jets again.

I am so sick of the finger wagging towards corporate jets. Sick of it. I see one and I see jobs.

[Lazlo in PA]

Iowans demand to be personally genuflected to by the candidates yet they are going to squawk about someone actually trying to do it? Get out of here.

[gov_bean_ counter]

Oh I'm sure his political science brain trust has already plugged this into their UNIVAC and have determined that it is ok for Slick Rick to openly flaunt his big money, corrupting, corporate connections in flyover mainstream America. No Rick you are trying to appeal to Mainstream America, not Gulfstream America...

[Liz]

Mmmmmm....a corporate campaign jet? My, my, Ricky's come a long, long way. It was only yesterday, farm boy Rick sold Bibles door-to-door to get money to buy a car. Perry's hopes to become a veterinarian were dashed when he flunked animal science in college.

Then Ricky got into $$$Texa$ politic$-----and hi$ money worrie$ vani$hed.

=====================================

So how many political/personal slush funds does Senor Ricky have? This is what we know to date----could be many many more.

<><> “Texans for Rick Perry” committee is a $102 million slush fund he uses at will. Some PAC mega-donors paid in $100,000 each in order to influence Perry's official actions. Gov Perry paid for posh family trips to the Bahamas, Amsterdam, Madrid out of campaign contributions from his “Texans for Rick Perry” committee.

<><> Perry's "Make Us Great Again PAC" raised millions to flood Iowa, and other early voting states, with ads promoting their boy.

<><> At the time he was saying he WAS NOT running for president last year, Ricky's Super-Pac raised $55 million for a presidential race---in $2500 max per person/ $5000 max per corporate PAC contributions. Perry organizers would not say what the Perry presidential groups has raised to date.

<><> Perry bragged at the Tea Party debate that he raised $33 million for reelection that year and that he was "offended" at the inference that he could be "bought" with Gardisil mfg Merck's $5000 campaign donation.

<><> The $295 million Texas Enterprise Fund doles out millions of tax dollars to Perry supporters who then kick-backed to his campaign coffers. TESF also gave $20 million to Countrywide Mtge---the crooks at the heart of the US financial meltdown---- Ricky said the $20 million was to (cough) "create jobs."

<><> Perry raised funds for the Republican Governors' Association, and, in turn, Perry's 2006 campaign received two $500,000 checks from the RGA that he did not disclose as election law requires.

<><> His wife Anita Perry's $60,000-a-year salary at the Austin "nonprofit" "Texas Association Against Sexual Assault" comes indirectly from Gov. Perry's political donors, state contractors and companies that do business with the state or have issues before the Legislature. Of 37 major donors during Anita Perry's tenure as fundraiser, ONLY three have NO ties to the governor or state business. Anita Perry is paid from the "nonprofit" money pool that includes political contributions. TAAS also receives grants from state agencies AND the governor's office. Donating to the TAASA seems to be another way Perry dreamed up for those with an interest in state government to influence Perry. State grants to the "non-profit" could be easily laundered especially w/ Mrs P at the helm.

<><> Perry also has a pot of "inaugural committee" monies (bet that comes in handy).

<><> And do on and so forth, ad infinitum, ad nauseaum.

[Friendofgeorge]

I am starting now to dislike Perry before the rush. If ever there was a poster child for a politician that will do or say anything to be elected!

The biggest fib he would have us believe is this...while he was a Democrat campaigning for Gore in 88, he now claims that he voted for Reagan.

I for one did not just fall off a freakin turnip truck...yes I will say it...you lie (Perry)

[The Bronze Titan]

"...Perry’s use of corporate jets, a perk most other candidates lack,"

If Perry campaign pays for this, I have no problem with it.

But, if Perry is getting this as a free "perk", then I have a MAJOR problem with this, and so should anyone that is against Corporate Crony Capitalism.

[mtrott]

Come on people, this is America. Who cares if he flies in the fricken jet? Can he beat Obama and “make the federal government as inconsequential in our lives as possible”?, as he said in the debate.

[Keith in Iowa]

THe Iowa Republican... it’s not a news site. It’s the opinions of a former Iowa party exec that set up a consulting firm and pretends to report news on his web site, helped by a bunch of sycophants who wanna be like the guy pretending to report news.

Take nothing from TIR at face value, and keep a case of Morton’s salt handy.

[takenoprisoner]

The question is, what has Perry promised in return? This is a prime example of in your face cronyism.

And no, I don't envy Perry. Not in the least. But I do loathe him, mostly due to his cronyism associated with his politics. Admittedly, there are many other reasons as well.