Posted on 10/07/2011 7:01:48 AM PDT by Cincinatus' Wife
Last week Republican presidential hopeful Rick Perry announced to an audience in New Hampshire that he would be willing to use American troops to battle Mexican drug cartels. In Mexico. Yes, really.
I’m sure the comment has already faded from public memory. Or if it hasn’t, it will soon, given the length of our collective attention span. But this kind of foreign policy suggestion should concern any sane individual. Let’s think about some of the details of such a plan.
Some of its prominent features would include: a tropical climate, guerilla warfare, a civilian population that is, at best, indifferent to the U.S. military. And at worst, actively hostile to it, and best of all, loosely defined objectives for victory that could never really be achieved because they are so nebulous.
Maybe I’m wrong, but that sounds vaguely similar to another situation we found ourselves in. It starts with a V ... oh yeah, Vietnam. One of the jewels of American history.
It seems like a lovely idea to send American men and women to fight in unfamiliar territory against a well-funded and well-armed guerilla army again. After all, it worked so splendidly before.
I’ve also heard drug lords are the kind to give up easy, so it shouldn’t take long. As much as I enjoy needless interventionism in foreign policy, I do have another question for Governor Perry: How exactly would we pay for such a delightful excursion? I can tell you, for certain, the answer isn’t tax cuts.
As we consider cutting funding for education, health care for the poor and the elderly, and social security to fix the deficit we already have, I can definitely see how going into Mexico to kill marijuana growers seems like an awesome idea. What’s more glamorous? Shootouts in the Mexican jungle or grandma having money to pay for her medication?
Maybe we could get Mexico to pay for it. They’ve got a thriving economy and no major political issues, right?
The cowboy attitude is fun in movies. We all enjoy a good straight-talker with a six-shooter on his hip, always ready to pull the trigger if the situation calls for it. I have to say, though, I really don’t think that attitude makes for solid leadership in the real world with real consequences.
If this is a sign of what we can expect from President Rick Perry, I want absolutely no part of it. I’ll be honest with you; I wasn’t going to vote Republican in this presidential election anyway.
But if the best the Republicans can do is a hot-headed, shoot-first- and-ask questions-later kind of candidate, they are in deep, deep trouble.
Maybe I’m wrong about the Republican chances with Perry as a candidate, but if we choose to elect him, we are all in deep trouble.
LOL! At least Perry's IN the race. Don't worry though...he'll be on top soon enough.
The thought of which, I'm sure, keeps Perry up worrying late into the night. LOL.
One more time.
Perry is on the ropes and you do not help his effort lying about Reagan’s record and comparing him to Romney. Do you understand that?
That doesn’t matter to me.
lol
Brilliant...that makes a lot of sense.
Perry is not on the ropes. But I understand your point and it is well taken. [My taxes did go up under Reagan. The changes made in the tax code hurt me badly as a self employed person.]
17.1 million dollars raised in 49 days even after the 3 debate his daily fund raising increased. That and that alone says PERRY IS NOT ON THE ROPES.
Perry is on the ropes, however. That is a boxing term for a fighter who is getting hit by some shots and blocking some shots coming at him from all directions, but he's hanging on with guts and determination. If Perry can show the last debate was a fluke and he can perform well on his feet at the Oct 11th Dartmouth forum, he will recover some of his lost support and be seen once again as someone who can be a viable alternative to Romney. Perry still offers by far, the best executive governing experience out of the entire field of candidates.
I'd like to put your disappointing remarks calling Reagan a rino and comparing Reagan to Romney aside. But the damage has been done. I see no upside to such drivel. In reality, it doesn't help Perry, it hurts him.
Being a woman...I didn't understand the meaning of 'on the ropes' with your explanation, I have to agree with you.
Sorry. I am afraid today here at FR Reagan would be considered exactly how Perry is being considered. It is a sad fact when a person does not line up with you perfectly they are called that. NO one seems to measure up to that perfection.
Oh, I was part of the Reagan Revolution. My son in law pointed that out to me a few months ago. Being raised in Texas parents were always dems. So of course I was but I was the first one in my family to break out and it was totally because of Ronald Reagan.
>>>>>I am afraid today here at FR Reagan would be considered exactly how Perry is being considered.
Not so sure about that word "exactly". It may be true in some cases and to a certain degree, but its still no reason to pile on Reagan. Its no reason to call him a rino or to compare Reagan to Romney. You need to just say, sorry, I was wrong and move on. End of story.
There were photos of rangers and law men on the walls all around the room and there were photos of a HUGE snake.
It is truly amazing how political correctness infects even Free Republic.
Are you familiar at all with the history of the Conquistadors? For example, do you know how many conquistadors Cortes had with him when he took control of Tenochtitlan?
For God's sake, the Indians were sacrificing infants and children on a routine basis. Fernando de Alva Cortés Ixtlilxochitl who lived the in the late 16th century and was the great-great-grandson of an Aztec emperor, estimated that up to 20% of the children from captive populations were sacrificed by the Aztecs.
Anyone who stopped that is a good guy in my book.
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