Free Republic

......Perry also leads a state whose population is growing as its economy grows, a stark contrast to the debt-ridden, job-killing stimulus the Obama administration imposed on the country. It picked up four new congressional seats in the 2010 census as businesses and job-seekers flocked to the state. The issue of the economy would be Perry's trump card in a potential race against Obama. Texas leads the nation in job creation: From 2008 to 2010, as California lost 1.2 million jobs, Texas added 165,000. Michael Cox and Richard Alm of the Center for Global Markets at SMU's Cox School of Business...

EXETER, N.H. - Texas Governor Rick Perry has telephoned influential Republicans in early-voting New Hampshire and Iowa in recent days as he weighs whether to enter the race for the GOP presidential nomination. “He was looking for my thoughts in terms of what the presidential field looked like and what might happen if someone came in and shook things up a little bit,’’ New Hampshire Senate President Peter Bragdon said yesterday.... The conservative Texan also called several GOP leaders in Iowa, which will hold the first contest in next year’s GOP presidential race. Among those contacted, Lieutenant Governor Kim Reynolds.......

...[Gov Rick] Perry regularly asserts that primary and secondary education are the state's top priority, noting that more money will go to schools in the next budget even amid deep cuts elsewhere. The state, however, is underfunding schools by $4 billion — or 6 percent — based on what was called for by state law to keep pace with costs, including those generated by 80,000 new students starting school each year. .....The Texas Education Agency attributed the success on the math test to high standards and quality teachers. Others point to the jump early in the decade to an improved...

...With Perry's history of straddling the establishment and tea party wings of the party, [Andrew] Hemingway [chairman of the New Hampshire Republican Liberty Caucus, told RCP] offered a bold prediction for the unique assets that the Texas governor could bring to the table in New Hampshire. "I think ultimately Rick Perry is a candidate who secures Haley Barbour's money with Sarah Palin's endorsement," he said.

Should we be more amused or appalled at the prospect of Rick Perry as a presidential candidate? Certainly, over the centuries, the republic has endured worse, most recently Ronald Reagan and Bush II. But Gov. Perry brings to the subject a unique political cynicism that would be fascinating to watch, if only one didn't have to consider the public consequences. As a young pol on the make and feeling the prevailing Texas winds, Perry moved effortlessly from conservative Democrat to reactionary Republican with nary a backward glance. Stuck behind and below the always anointed Dubya, he patiently bided his time...

Question: If the Texas Republican primary were held today, which presidential candidate would you be most likely to vote for? Ron Paul – 22% Rick Perry – 17% Herman Cain – 14% Newt Gingrich – 11% Gary Johnson – 9% Mitt Romney – 8% Michele Bachmann – 7% Tim Pawlenty – 2% John Huntsman – 2% Rock Santorum – 1% Undecided – 7%

Two major names remain on the 2012 bench. Each has a giant persona, comes from a giant state, and has a giant following. Yes, it’s Texas Gov. Rick Perry and former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin. Their political friendship, while somewhat recent, seems real — so real that it would be easy to imagine one endorsing the other if only one of them would jump into the race. That would give an instant charge of credibility and buzz to the endorsee, and likely set either Palin or Perry as the Tea Party favorite. Their friendship goes back to their days as...

The New York Slimes today published an editorial witht the premise that Bush hates Perry and vica versa...ok, I don't necessarily care about what the MSM thinks or is agitating to undermine us. But I am intrigued and curious as to the truth of such "rivalry". What is the real story on this? Bush did spend too much money. Do Bush and therefore Rove both hate Perry? Is there really a rivalry? Will Bush endorse Perry with any VP namely (IMHO) Palin? or Bachman? I believe if Bush doesn't endorse him/them (and I am predicting Perry runs, obviously - and...

When Sarah Palin’s “Going Rogue” was released in late 2009, people around the country stood in line for hours to meet her at book signings, and to shake her hand and ask her to run for president in 2012. And this was after the MSM had spent nearly a year and half dragging her and her family through the mud, accusing Palin of every misdeed imaginable, and going out of their way to remind us how unprepared Palin was for the vice presidency (according to MSM standards of course). From the release of “Going Rogue” through the November 2010 elections,...

WASHINGTON — Rick Perry is the 100 million dollar man of Texas politics. Over the past decade, he has been a political money machine, raising more than $100 million for three gubernatorial campaigns and another $50 million for GOP candidates as chairman of the Republican Governors Association in 2007-2008. But the Texas governor's fundraising prowess will be tested as never before if he runs for president in 2012. While he's raised more campaign cash than anybody not named Bush in Texas history, Perry faces different rules and greater demands should he set his sights on 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. "In order...

Rick Perry may just be the guy. The country's longest tenured governor, from its second-largest state, is generating a lot of buzz in conservative circles as he contemplates entering the wide open Republican presidential primary. There are plenty of reasons that Perry is an attractive option: he is a no-nonsense decision-maker with solid conservative credentials. A man who not only speaks about family values, but lives them, Perry's power to persuade voters to see things his way is proven -- battle-tested in a state known for independent-minded citizens. But what serious political analysts on both sides of the aisle will...

Foreward By Newt Gingrich – August 2010 I wish this book had never needed to be written. It almost came too late. America is recklessly accelerating toward economic disaster. Fed Up! may be the last warning sign to the danger that lies ahead. Rick Perry, Texas governor for the past decade, is uniquely qualified to offer a firsthand perspective on why the United States—the most successful civilization in human history—is being threatened with economic collapse. First Principles Faith, freedom, and free enterprise are the pillars of a strong, safe, prosperous society. Rick knows that when these principles are protected, America...

If Texas Gov. Rick Perry decides to run for president, his team is more than prepared for a re-airing of unsubstantiated rumors, circulated on and off for years in the Lone Star State, about his personal life. The crusted-over rumors were in the ether among some attendees at a dinner hosted last week by the Manhattan County GOP, where Perry gave the keynote speech. The rumors, which have never been proven despite repeated review by media outlets, were addressed by the governor himself in a lengthy 2004 American-Statesman story that is sure to see new life if he runs

Meet Rick Perry The lackluster group of candidates currently vying for the 2012 GOP presidential nomination has created a great deal of angst among conservatives. From Mitt to Newt to TPaw to Ron Paul, there hasn't been anyone who's truly inspired the base and inspired hope. Enter Texas Governor Rick Perry, the movie-star handsome, devout evangelical and fearless governor of Texas who has overseen impressive economic growth in the midst of The Great Recession. Over the weekend, Governor Perry addressed the Republican Leadership Conference, giving an inspiring speech that seemed all but certain to announce his candidacy for the...

TX governor panders to 'The Race' Chad Groening - OneNewsNow - 7/21/2010 5:20:00 AMThe head of a grassroots borders enforcement organization says it's completely inappropriate for Texas Governor Rick Perry to speak to a radical Hispanic organization that supports granting amnesty to millions of illegal immigrants. The Republican governor recently addressed a crowd of 1,800 members of the National Council of La Raza, which calls itself the largest Hispanic civil rights organization in the United States. Critics, however, point out that La Raza means "The Race," and claim the organization is nothing more than a Hispanic supremacist organization. One of...

Perry said that texting while driving "is reckless and irresponsible" but that he saw the bill as "a government effort to micromanage the behavior of adults." "I am proud Texas will continue to live within its means while encouraging job creation and maintaining essential services," Perry said in a statement. "After thoroughly reviewing all legislation that reached my desk, there were some bills that would have done more harm than good to Texans, and I have used my authority to veto them."