Posted on 12/22/2011 7:19:22 AM PST by stillafreemind
IMHO (warning: the following is an 'assertion'), the difference between the non-Romney GOP candidates on the issues is negligible. The problem is that Gov. Perry will not get the opportunity to be on the stage against 0bama with the stark difference on the issues mattering at all. If not Newt, it will be Romney.
SUPER! Thanks for that little lift!
Hate to admit remembering the Kennedy/Nixon debate but the win went to the most attractive, likeable candidate not on substance.
That would be an advantage to Perry in debating Obama.
Yes, it did. But my point in bringing it up was that the differences between Dems and Republicans back then were minor compared to today. Kennedy was probably as conservative as either Romney or Gingrich. So the appearances mattered. This time the differences in policy will be so stark that it will come down to issues, not appearances and delivery.
Maybe Perry wrote it out for the kid.
It’s possible. Remember Quayle and “potato.”
As you asked, here is how I see it: I give Perry about a B+ because, all in all, he is generally not so bad.
To start with, he is very pro life and very pro second amendment, that’s a BIG “A+” for each category. Business environment? Perry took great pride in reducing a business tax, but those of us with a bit of memory know that he was reducing the same business tax he created; yet it is fair to say that his administration is very reasonable when it comes to business issues, so I give him a B on business environment. Border issues, despite the rhetoric, I give him a B- overall (average of 10 years of Perry, he is trending up, starting off with a D and getting a bit better over the years).
He has done a bunch of good, and a bit of potential harm; but I do consider him to be a better Gov than most, and would make a pretty good Republican candidate for President. In person, he is very friendly, and he has always helped out our local party when we had a need (for example, purchasing adds in our local party newsletter, stopping by our county, etc.). I can’t think of a seriously contending candidate that would be better.
Thus, I rate Perry a B+.
If the Texas primary were tomorrow, I would probably vote for Perry. Things may change by April. I put Newt at a B. Romney is a C-. Obama, and most Democrats, are Fs.
[By the way, I put Ron Paul as an A on domestic budget, deficit, and federal spending issues; unclear on domestic social issues; but he gets disqualifying low grades on poise, foreign policy, quality of political machine, and chance to beat Obama. All in my opinion; other reasonable opinions may differ, of course.]
Thanks. Very interesting analysis of Perry from someone who is obviously an insider.
Insider? Me? No way!
Active Precinct Chair, active participant in our local Republican Executive Committee, help organize and participate in our local party conventions, attend state conventions?....yes.
When you made your prediction, you already had an understanding of the psyche of uninformed Republican primary voters. The past is prologue.
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