Positively Palin
Posted on 07/21/2011 1:56:21 AM PDT by Cincinatus' Wife
In the Russell Senate Office Building Caucus Room, Fred McClure was watching the crowd. It was March 1978, and the American Agriculture Movement — a pressure group for government support of farm prices — was meeting with Texan congressmen.
A legislative aide to Sen. John Tower (R.), McClure was leaning on a door when a rancher from Paint Creek, Texas, named Rick Perry walked past. Newly retired from the Air Force, Perry held a degree in animal science from Texas A&M. His class ring gave him away.
Spotting the ring, McClure, a fellow Texas A&M grad, introduced himself, and the two hit it off. Thirteen years later McClure, a notary public, would swear Perry into office as Texas’s agriculture commissioner, his first statewide office.
[snip]
Ken Luce, who managed Perry’s campaign for agriculture commissioner in 1990, believes the advantage extends beyond Iowa. “The agriculture economy is very important from Florida all the way to California and in between,” he says. As agriculture commissioner, Perry felt comfortable getting into the weeds of agriculture policy, such as inspecting gas pumps and determining funding for fire-ant programs. And, perhaps most importantly, the skills Perry sharpened in winning his first statewide race could be useful if he runs for president.
In 1990, Perry was an obscure state legislator running against one of the most popular Texas politicians of the 1980s: Jim Hightower. Although Hightower had the advantage of incumbency, Perry rallied several important constituencies to his side. Farmers were livid with Hightower over his opposition to pesticides and his favoritism toward niche markets such as organic foods. Perry argued that Texas should support its mainstays, such as cotton and wheat. When the European Community temporarily banned imports of hormone-treated beef, Perry urged Hightower to stick up for Texas ranchers (instead, Hightower suggested they could sell hormone-free beef to Europe).
“Hightower ignored mainstream agriculture for years, so they were riled up and Rick got them to cross over,” Luce says. Perry beat the well-liked incumbent, 49 percent to 47 percent, even while the Republican gubernatorial candidate, Clayton Williams, lost to Democrat Ann Richards.
[snip]
Perry also won his election the old-fashioned way, outspending his opponent by about $400,000. And many of Perry’s attacks on Hightower hit less on his agricultural incompetence and more on his unabashed liberalism (especially his endorsement of Jesse Jackson for president in 1988). Perry took the personality contest to such an extreme that when Hightower cut his finger in a lawnmower accident a few days before the election, Perry told reporters the event showed Hightower’s “total lack of common sense.”
[snip]
And as for Perry’s retail skills, Luce says they’re Grade A. “Rick campaigned in all 256 counties in the state,” he says. “He went to rural and urban areas; he did small and big events. Rick is a campaigner.”
Perry may be a latecomer to the Iowa race, but he is an old hand at face-to-face politics. This former Texas agriculture commissioner knows a thing or two about grass roots.
And Jim Hightower is still pissed off! Perry Is Peddling Texas Snake Oil
I believe the most dangerous thing Barack and his minions have done to our country is drive wedges between us. The people loved Ronald Reagan because he loved America and Americans. Rick Perry has the same appeal – and the country is hungry for it.
SacBee: “Romney not seeing the love or cash this time”
>>>> Billionaire Southern California developer Ed Roski, a Romney man four years ago, also remains on the sidelines, at least for now.
Sacramento consultant Rob Stutzman, a top GOP operative who was part of Romney’s effort in 2007 and 2008, hasn’t re-enlisted. Nor has Orange County GOP chairman Scott Baugh, who was key to Romney’s finance operation four years ago. Baugh isn’t endorsing anyone for now.
Former California Republican Party chairman Michael Schroeder was Romney’s California political director in 2007. This year, he is leaning toward Perry, though Perry is not expected to decide whether to enter the race until August.
“Donors and volunteers need to have a reason to get involved. You have to have someone who grabs your imagination, and there isn’t anyone yet,” Schroeder said.
Republicans are forever looking for their next Ronald Reagan. Assemblyman Dan Logue, R-Chico, believes that candidate will be Perry, and circulated the letter signed by 19 legislators, including Harkey, encouraging the Texan to run for president.
Perry is playing heavily to evangelical Christians, which could help in a GOP primary but not in a general election. The safe bet is that Romney will end up with the nomination. But for now, Republicans in his sometimes home state of California are having second thoughts that he is the one.<<<<
http://www.sacbee.com/2011/07/21/3783542/romney-not-seeing-the-love-or.html
What would Perry’s slogan be?
I personally like “Mama Grizzly For President!”
Kind of makes me want to growl in triumph as I vote for Palin.
* cue grizzly bear roaring *
LOL I’ve hated that cornpone socialist Hightower for a long time. I hadn’t heard about the lawnmower accident, but it didn’t take a lawnmower accident for me to know he has a total lack of common sense. (He had and may still have a column in one of the newspapers I used to read when visiting relatives in Oklahoma.)
>>>>Potential candidate meets Valley GOP leaders — Texas Gov. Rick Perry, who is mulling the possibility of seeking the 2012 Republican presidential nomination, was in and out of a Fresno meeting Wednesday afternoon in one hour.
But that was long enough to leave several invited business, political and agricultural leaders impressed.
“He was real competent, clear,” said former Fresno Mayor Jim Patterson. “He spoke 40 minutes extemporaneously, and he hit all the hot-button issues.”
Wednesday’s event – which was hosted by local businessman Richard Spencer and former Assembly Member Mike Villines – was held at Spencer’s office at Harris Construction.
It was closed to the media, and Perry’s only public display was to roll down his window and wave to the television cameras as he left the event.......
What Andreas Borgeas, Brand’s fellow Fresno City Council member, liked best was that Perry took the time to visit Fresno this early in the campaign. No other Republican candidate has bothered to do that, he said.<<<
http://www.fresnobee.com/2011/07/20/2471051/possible-presidential-candidate.html
Every time I see a photo of Sarah, I smile. She’s a kindred spirit that I call to help guide me out of the darkened valley of ObamaNation.
My vote for her will bring me peace.
Perry is just another con man.
You must have a very low opinion of Texans if you think they can be conned that badly.
I don’t think America for the most part is willing to cast support for another Texan just yet. Just not enough confidence.
Now then again maybe someone from yet a bigger state could win the heart of America instead.
>>>>AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — Should Rick Perry conclude that voter discontent has left him an opening to enter the presidential race, the longtime Texas governor would be among the GOP field’s most conservative candidates.
Primary voters would get a skilled politician with TV anchorman looks, a Southern preacher’s oratory and a cowboy’s swagger, matched by a disarming candor and sense of humor. The former cotton farmer from the village of Paint Creek in West Texas has never lost an election in nearly three decades as a politician.
What they wouldn’t get is a candidate whose politics are positioned to unite a Republican electorate that stretches from moderate pro-business fiscal conservatives to evangelical social conservatives, with the tea party falling somewhere along the spectrum.
“Texans, God love them, have that bigger-than-life persona about politics and that doesn’t necessarily play everywhere,” said Christopher Nicholas, a Republican political consultant who has worked extensively in the Northeast and Midwest. “I haven’t heard a lot of Republicans call Social Security a disease.”
Perry has. He branded Social Security and other New Deal programs “the second big step in the march of socialism,” according to a book published last year. The “first step” was a national income tax, which he has said stands alongside the direct election of U.S. senators as a major mistake among the amendments to the U.S. Constitution........<<<<
http://www.seattlepi.com/news/article/Perry-s-credentials-As-conservative-as-they-come-1469120.php
I agree with you 100% and we’re going to get our chances to vote for her!
First in the primary and then in the general election.
Keep praying for her and her precious family and for all her loyal supporters. Our Republic needs President Sarah Palin!.
I don't want you to leave the impression you wouldn't vote for someone because of their address, or was that your position?
“You must have a very low opinion of Texans if you think they can be conned that badly.”....
Because I also would never support Perry means I have a low opinion of all Texans?.....Hmmm.....That’s a strange statement on your part.....Maybe they weren’t looking close enough.....Or missed the video showing an insecure jealous politician cutting a press conference short that was for Sarah Palin in the first place....That said all I needed to learn about the man and his integrity right there.....Then add all the political RINO crap and.....No way, no Perry......
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.