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Rick Perry: Drawing the Lines Clearly
American Thinker ^ | June 25, 2011 | Peter Heck

Posted on 06/25/2011 2:28:50 AM PDT by Cincinatus' Wife

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 acknowledge as perhaps Perry's strongest attribute heading into 2012 is the stark contrast that would be evident in a potential Perry-Obama showdown. While Republican front-runner Mitt Romney capitulates to the left on global warming, refuses to sign a pro-life pledge, and ridiculously defends the RomneyCare failure in Massachusetts, the media is working overtime to tout their choice, former Utah Governor and Obama administration official Jon Huntsman, as the Republicans' best hope. What nonsense.

While Huntsman or Romney might please the same Republican establishment that brought us the mesmerizing campaigns of John McCain and Bob Dole, the best thing for the Republican Party -- and the country -- is for there to be a sharp distinction between the two parties' nominees. If there were any question about whether Rick Perry would provide a clear alternative to Obama, look only to the left's reaction to Perry's recent speech at the Republican Leadership Conference.

Following his remarks (which, though well-prepared and delivered, were nothing outside mainstream conservative thought), MSNBC's liberal commentator Mika Brzezinski proclaimed that she "felt like an alien" watching the speech.......I found myself applauding Mika's refreshing candor about the perspective of the American left.

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


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Constitution/Conservatism; Editorial; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: 2012; amnesty; arlenspectoresque; bilderberg; billionaireshenchman; bopilgrim; bush3; cintra; conservatism; economy; formerdemocratperry; gardasilperry; illegals; infrastructure; kelo; naftahighway; nasco; nwo; openborders; perry4gardasil; perry4illegals; perry4noborders; plutocracy; privateinvestment; privatization; rickperry; rino; silkypony2; spp; tollroads; ttc; veryprettyhair; vichyrepublicans; virtualfence
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To: Marie

I am stunned.

This is doesn’t happen in my school district. But, then, I’m in one of the reddest counties in Texas.


41 posted on 06/25/2011 8:26:56 AM PDT by Clara Lou
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To: xzins

This is just my opinion, but I don’t think Palin will run. I wouldn’t be at all surprised to see her endorse Perry.


42 posted on 06/25/2011 8:30:42 AM PDT by CharacterCounts (November 4, 2008 - the day America drank the Kool-Aid)
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To: lentulusgracchus

I’m not eager for another globalist. I’ve been going back and forth over Perry lately and I just don’t think he is what we need at this moment in history. I do think he is what we may well get. I’m going to stick with Bachmann until she wins, loses or gets out.


43 posted on 06/25/2011 8:31:10 AM PDT by Georgia Girl 2 (The only purpose of a pistol is to fight your way back to the rifle you should never have dropped.)
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To: Tainan
"I am curious to see what The Free Republic response to Gov. Perry as a potential GOP candidate for the 2012 POTUS election will be."

From Texas FReepers who know Perry:


44 posted on 06/25/2011 8:51:10 AM PDT by TXnMA (There is no Constitutional right to NOT be offended.)
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To: CharacterCounts

I agree with you on Palin not running, and I can see her endorsing Perry over others just because of Perry’s clear potential to garner electoral votes.

Pawlenty from Minnesota is not going to pull in the southern vote the way Perry would. Romney of Massachusetts definitely won’t. Bachman and Cain are in the same boat as Pawlenty. Gingrich is dead in the water. Paul doesn’t have a prayer...he comes across as a weirdo. And Obama’s governor friend is a non-starter.

I think you’re right that Perry is the most likely of that lot for Palin to endorse.


45 posted on 06/25/2011 9:10:52 AM PDT by xzins (Retired Army Chaplain and Proud of It! True Supporters of our Troops PRAY for their VICTORY!)
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To: Cincinatus' Wife

Opt Out, is tyranny. Opt In is freedom, of choice. This nonsense was implemented in schools long ago, when the tyrants recognized that people would not take the trouble to Opt In, so they reasoned quite correctly that if they made the option an Opt Out, then few would exercise that option, therefore it becomes de-facto mandatory.


46 posted on 06/25/2011 9:21:04 AM PDT by itsahoot (I Stand with Sarah Palin)
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To: Diogenesis

Another 4 years of Obama would be better? Or maybe Romney or Huntsman? Just asking because I would vote Perry, if he runs, over all of the people who are in now and have a chance to win. That may change if other people get into the race, but right now everybody has negatives.


47 posted on 06/25/2011 9:48:52 AM PDT by jospehm20
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To: Cincinatus' Wife

Compared to Romney, Newt, and the rest of JOKES running for President he’s a rock star.
We need somebody who can WIN this thing. That means somebody with cross-over appeal, which our Palen, Bachmann and Cain (no matter how much we love them) simply do not have.

Until 1989, Rick Perry was a conservative Democrat. He switched parties as, like many Democrats including Ronald Reagan and Phil Gramm, he saw that party moving farther and farther to the left. Under Perry’s decade as governor, hundreds of Texas Democrats have followed his lead and become Republicans. As a former Democrat, Perry can speak to that swath of his former party that has become disenchanted with their party as President Obama has taken it even farther to the left, in a way that few Republicans can. He can also speak well and credibly to all wings of the national GOP, from the fiscal cons to the social cons to the libertarian set.
He would appeal to all segments of the Republican electorate and would come armed with a record of economic success and a commitment to liberty that no other contender can match.

Texas has been voted #1 business climate for the last seven years.
Texas has been getting all of California’s jobs.
Perry must be doing something right.
We need a good business guy right now.
Perry has proved it.

. Sarah Palin threw her endorsement to Rick Perry for governor- and so did Nugent.
Sarah just restated the other day she likes Perry

.Rush said that Perry is his dream candidate.
http://gretawire.blogs.foxnews.com/rush-limbaugh-on-the-record-3/

. Pro-life, Pro-guns, pro-spending cuts, pro-business

. He’s an outside-the-Beltway candidate

. He is not a Ivy League grad

. He was an Air Force captain who flew a C-130

. Speaks Spainish.
(Odumbo says everybody should speak a foreign language, but he CAN’T)

. Fighting with Obama on many fronts
Google Perry/Obama and you will see he’s been fighting him and his government for the past two years.

. Since Perry has been Governor of Texas, Texas has added more than 850,000 jobs, more than all other states combined. Texas has added over 180,000 jobs since August of 2009.

. There is no such thing as ‘Perrycare’

. Signed into law sonogram and explanation by physician before abortion

. Signed into law, photo ID ident to vote

. Perry did not apply for federal “Race to the Top” education funds because he said it would force national standards upon Texas.

. He has vetoed a record 248 bills, including dozens after the 2001 session, angering many lawmakers.

. He said last year that President Barack Obama was “hell-bent” on turning America into a socialist country.

. Won governorship of state with lots of latinos

. According to this web site Texas is #1 this year and last year for business friendly.
http://chiefexecutive.net/best-worst-states-for-business
Obama would not want not run against a governor that has the BEST business climate in the U.S. when everything else is in a depression.

. He used to be a Democrat. So? So did Reagan.

. The Bush’s don’t like him

. Perry has a reputation for not sweating

• He refused to raise taxes when Texas faced a record $10 billion budget shortfall in 2003. Instead, he was the first Texas governor since World War II to sign a budget that lowered state spending (and has now done it twice). As governor, Perry has used his line item veto to cut over $3 billion in proposed spending.

• In 2005, Perry signed a historic $15.7 billion property tax cut for homeowners and businesses that also included new taxpayer protections against appraisal increases. In 2009, Gov. Perry secured a tax cut for approximately 40,000 small businesses in Texas and protected the Rainy Day Fund for future challenges.

• He led the battle to pass the country’s most sweeping lawsuit reforms, closing the door on junk lawsuits that had been making trial lawyers rich while driving countless doctors either out of the state or the profession all together. Since Texas voters approved these reforms, malpractice claims and premiums have fallen and access to healthcare is increasing across the state as doctors have applied in droves to practice in Texas.

. He has never lost an election, including an elementary school contest for “king” of the Paint Creek School Carnival. He secured that win by handing out pennies for votes.

. Perry is also known for his socially conservative views on homosexuality, and he opposes same sex marriage. He condemned the United States Supreme Court decision in Lawrence vs. Texas, which struck down a Texas sodomy law. He called the law “appropriate”

ABORTION:

. Perry is pro-life and opposes government funding for elective abortions. In 2005, Perry, a social conservative, signed a bill that limited late-term abortions and required girls under the age of 18 who procure abortions to notify their parents. Perry signed the bill in the gymnasium of Calvary Christian Academy in Fort Worth, an evangelical Christian school.

Perry signed into law a bill requiring a sonogram and doctor’s explanation before granting an abortion

In 2005, Perry signed a new law that requires minor girls to receive parental consent before getting an abortion. This law strengthens a parental notification law Perry supported as Lt. Gov. in 1999, which
helped reduce teen abortions by 26 percent.
Perry has also signed a ban on third trimester abortions, a ban on tax dollars being used to support abortion facilities, a prenatal protection act that protects
unborn children from assault, and an informed consent law that helps expectant mothers better understand the risks and consequences of abortion. Perry supports a ban on human cloning and will veto any
legislation that provides state dollars for embryonic stem cell research, a process that ends a human life.
Perry urges to keep up pressure to roll back the landmark 1973 Supreme Court decision legalizing abortion until “Roe v. Wade is nothing but a shameful footnote in our nation’s history books.

Perry, a frequent critic of the federal government, also bashed President Barack Obama for his administration’s policy allowing federal funding of embryonic stem cell research, saying he was deeply disturbed by studies that turn “the remains of unborn children into nothing more than raw material.”

Perry has faulted Obama for reversing the so-called “Mexico City policy” that banned giving federal money to international groups that perform abortions or provide information about abortions. Obama struck down the policy during his first week in office, saying it was too broad and undermined family planning in developing countries.
Under Obama “our federal tax dollars can now be used to fund abortion all over the world. With the stroke of a pen, abortion essentially became a U.S. foreign export,” Perry said.

IMMIGRATION:

Perry adds immigration issues to lawmaker session
Perry wants passage of a measure requiring every person arrested to be run through the federal immigration databases as part of the Secure Communities program. He also wants to provide the state Department of Public Safety with the authority to make sure someone is in the U.S. legally before issuing a driver’s license.
These measures, along with a ban on sanctuary cities, would “provide a clear message that Texas will not turn a blind eye to those breaking our laws,” Perry said in a statement.
“Texas owes it to the brave law enforcement officials, who put their lives on the line every day to protect our families and communities, to give them the discretion they need to adequately do their jobs,” Perry said.
http://www.rickperry.org/media-articles/perry-adds-immigration-issues-lawmakers-agenda-0?amp
.Gov. Perry has made numerous requests of the federal govt. to enforce the border in Texas including handing Pre. Obama a letter in person when he landed in Dallas last year.
.Perry signed into law photo ID required before voting.

CHRISTIAN RELIGIOUS BELIEFS:

In what was described as a “God and country” sermon at the Cornerstone church in San Antonio, attended by Perry and other mostly Republican candidates, the Rev. John Hagee stated, “If you live your life and don’t confess your sins to God Almighty through the authority of Christ and His blood, I’m going to say this very plainly, you’re going straight to hell with a nonstop ticket.” Perry was asked if he agreed with those comments and said, “It is my faith, and I’m a believer of that.”[39] Perry went on to say that there was nothing in the sermon that he took exception with.
Humorist and entertainer Kinky Friedman, the Jewish independent candidate for governor in the 2006 election, said, “He doesn’t think very differently from the Taliban, does he?” Carole Keeton Strayhorn disagreed with Perry’s comments, and Democrat Chris Bell said that one who is in public office should “respect people of all faiths and denominations”.
Conservatives then responded, arguing that Perry had a right to his religious beliefs, and that he was not disrespecting Americans of other religious convictions.[40] While visiting Israel in August 2009, Perry gave an interview to the Jerusalem Post in which he affirmed his support for Israel from his religious background, “I’m a big believer that this country was given to the people of Israel a long time ago, by God, and that’s ordained.”

ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES:

Perry does not believe there is valid scientific proof of anthropogenic global warming. He has said several times that there is no scientific consensus on the issue.[69] In a September 7, 2007, speech to California Republicans, Perry said, “Virtually every day another scientist leaves the global warming bandwagon. ... But you won’t read about that in the press because they have already invested in one side of the story.”

MISC:

PERRY ISSUES OBAMA A COUPLE OF BIG FUBOs:

1. “Texas to Allow Regular Incandescent Bulbs”
Reports are the governor will sign Bill HB2510 by June 19th.
Bill HB2510 allows for the manufacture and sale of incandescent light bulbs otherwise banned in federal legislation of 2007, applicable from 1 January 2012 onwards.
The legality, at least in the way the proposed law is framed, has apparently been cleared with the US Attorney General’s office.
The Bill has already passed in both House and Senate with overwhelming support.
While Texas has no current manufacture, relevant parties are being invited to restart it.
Texas has been a leading US state in providing new local jobs, and this is seen as a further contributive measure.
http://freedomlightbulb.blogspot.com/2011/06/texas-to-allow-incandescent-light-bulbs.html

2.Perry Adds TSA Anti-Groping Bill to Call
http://www.texastribune.org/texas-politics/tea-party/updated-perry-adds-tsa-anti-groping-bill-to-call/ ^

Gov. Rick Perry this evening announced the addition of TSA anti-groping legislation to the agenda for the special legislative session. In a statement, he said lawmakers could consider legislation “relating to the prosecution and punishment for the offense of official oppression on those seeking access to public buildings and transportation.”

. He played quarterback on the six-man football team for the Paint Creek Pirates. He also played basketball and ran track.

. He is an Eagle Scout and wrote a book about the Boy Scouts, ‘On My Honor’.
Rick Perry uses the Boy Scouts to draw a battle line in what he considers a “culture war,” defending them against the American Civil Liberties Union and what he sees as a moral struggle for the country’s future.
The book also traces a 30-year history of litigation involving the Scouts — most of which they won — which Perry considers an attack on traditional values and faith in God.

Perry targets the ACLU as the primary force behind a leftist push to accept homosexuality and challenge Scouting’s duty to God.
http://www.rickperry.org/media/perrys-new-book-supports-boy-scouts-attacks-aclu

. He’s a runner and triathlete.

. He is an outdoorsman who enjoys hunting and fishing.

. He plays the drums. At a January 2005 inaugural party in Washington, he played with ZZ Top in front of 2,000 people

. Perry has Romney’s looks without the other baggage.
Raised on a ranch. Has hair. 6’ tall- presidential (especially after Obama)

This Perry trashing comes from the Ron ‘truther’ Paul nuts, Debra Medina sour grapers and the resident FR Libs.

Freepers, don’t you think it more sensible to trust what the Conservative icons have to say about Perry?

. Sarah Palin threw her endorsement to Rick Perry for governor- and so did Nugent. Sarah just restated the other day she likes Perry

.Rush said that Perry is his dream candidate. http://gretawire.blogs.foxnews.com/rush-limbaugh-on-the-record-3/

Don’t you think it more sensible to trust what numerous politicians and scholars have said about Rick Perry than some haters on FR?

VISIT THIS SITE

Read the official statements of dozens of Perry’s fellow politicians and scholars (both Democrats and Republicans) have had to say about Rick Perry: http://www.politico.com/arena/archive/rick-perry-for-president-in-2012.html

All (including Democrat opponents) have called him a staunch Conservative, and not one of the dozens issuing opinions has mentioned the vaccine or TTC. Apparently they don’t consider these things an issue. They DID mention Perry threatening to secede from the unionas a strike against him. He did not issue such a threat- but I wouldn’t blame him if he did.

Americans WILL get it:
Better looking
Better record
Rick Perry for President.

.


48 posted on 06/25/2011 9:55:21 AM PDT by patriot08 (TEXAS GAL- born and bred and proud of it!)
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To: All
Image and video hosting by TinyPic Image and video hosting by TinyPic Image and video hosting by TinyPic
49 posted on 06/25/2011 9:55:50 AM PDT by patriot08 (TEXAS GAL- born and bred and proud of it!)
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To: patriot08

That does look good. As Lt. Columbo would say ‘just one more thing’. Does he have a plan to find jobs for most of the 150,000,000 unemployed in his first two years?


50 posted on 06/25/2011 10:02:43 AM PDT by ex-snook ("Above all things, truth beareth away the victory")
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To: ex-snook

I’m sure he could make a big dent in the unemployment figure...after all, look what he’s done for Texas.


51 posted on 06/25/2011 10:11:37 AM PDT by patriot08 (TEXAS GAL- born and bred and proud of it!)
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To: patriot08
"I’m sure he could make a big dent in the unemployment figure...after all, look what he’s done for Texas"

Hey that's the same as Obama's 'yes we can'. Obama's stimulus plan could not dent 9%. Perry has to beat that with a specific plan more than 'yes I did'.

PS I'm not ruling him out but he has to come up with something real for the nation.

52 posted on 06/25/2011 10:28:30 AM PDT by ex-snook ("Above all things, truth beareth away the victory")
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To: Virginia Ridgerunner
Perry seems to be the latest flavor of the month from the "Anybody but Palin" crowd.

EXACTLY!!

It's like I keep telling these unwilling-to-listen Perry boosters, the guy is a deep-dipped, board-certified NWO RiNO and Bilderberg fair-haired boy. He's open borders and gay-friendly to the max. The max, baby!

Rick Perry never met a Hispanic RiNO he didn't want to appoint to the Texas Supreme Court. And he never met a billionaire whose money he didn't want to take and whose water he didn't want to haul in office.

53 posted on 06/25/2011 10:42:22 AM PDT by lentulusgracchus (Concealed carry is a pro-life position.)
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To: itsahoot
Opt Out, is tyranny. Opt In is freedom, of choice.
You're right.
54 posted on 06/25/2011 10:53:43 AM PDT by Clara Lou
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The Flavor of the Month club........ Wait another week or so and someone else will be on the major news and they'll be the flavor for a few days/weeks. Primaries are a vetting process for all not just a selected one or two.

Perry -- Flavor as seen by another politican

"Rick Perry is true to conservative principles even when others think the party
needs to go a different direction. I like that about him: he doesn't care which
way the wind blows, he acts on his beliefs. That's why I am supporting
Governor Rick Perry for re-election", Palin wrote.


55 posted on 06/25/2011 11:02:55 AM PDT by deport
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To: itsahoot

Opt Out, is tyranny. Opt In is freedom, of choice.


Can’t say as I disagree with your position. But if opt in was the manner of doing things I suspect very few would opt in to do the many things we are mandated to do or have. If we had total freedom then I suspect anarchy would reign supreme. But we would have total freedom.


56 posted on 06/25/2011 11:08:51 AM PDT by deport
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To: SumProVita
I live in Tennessee and a lot of people here are excited about Perry getting into this race. They see him as a more formidable voice for conservative principles.

That's because Tennesseans are seeing a lot of MSM chum spread around. The RiNO's and MSM are pushing Perry hard now (three WSJ articles in just the last week, fainting over how wunnnnderful Perry is) .... He is not an authentic conservative.

Perry's an old Dem who switched parties but not priorities, and he's been wired in with a bunch of NWO types who've been pushing the boutique private-investment idea of privatizing public infrastructure for lush profits, for several years now. He's sponsoring toll roads near Austin and wants to sell off and toll a number of commuter routes into Austin.

Perry's man at Texas Dept. of Transportation (TexDoT), the late Rick Williamson, had the battle cry, "Toll roads or slow roads or NO roads!!"

Perry has also promoted the selling off of other publicly-built toll roads around the State of Texas, and he wants to sell off the Interstates to private parties as well.

Perry's also very big on using the notorious Kelo decision to seize private property for these toll-road projects, particularly for the NWO-sponsored SPP/NASCO "NAFTA Corridor" infrastructure project, which he was forced to downshift after a public outcry, but which has NOT gone away completely but is on the back burner, waiting to flare up again.

To compare Perry with Fred Thompson would be a good mental and political exercise; Perry's better, very solid, on right-to-life issues and is good on RKBA (I'm not sure where Fred is on 2A), but he has problems in a number of other areas to which conservatives are, and ought to be, sensitive.

57 posted on 06/25/2011 11:10:35 AM PDT by lentulusgracchus (Concealed carry is a pro-life position.)
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To: Cincinatus' Wife

Rick Perry is not the best conservative but he can whip Bammy Boy by 20 points and that is 99% of what I care about. Get Moochelle and Bammy Boy and Bammy’s boy toy Reggie Love OUT OF THE WHITE HOUSE.


58 posted on 06/25/2011 11:11:32 AM PDT by dennisw (NZT - "works better if you're already smart")
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To: Cincinatus' Wife; flat

Rick Endorses Rudy!

59 posted on 06/25/2011 11:27:43 AM PDT by trumandogz
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To: trumandogz

But, Sarah Palin endorsed Perry. What does this mean?


60 posted on 06/25/2011 12:43:12 PM PDT by Clara Lou
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