August 30, 2011

Poll Watch: Gallup 2012 Republican Favorability Survey

Gallup 2012 GOP Favorability Survey

Name Recognition
  • Sarah Palin 97%
  • Rudy Giuliani 91%
  • Mitt Romney 88%
  • Michele Bachmann 85%
  • Newt Gingrich 85%
  • Ron Paul 78%
  • Rick Perry 75%
  • Rick Santorum 52%
  • Herman Cain 50%
  • Jon Huntsman 43%

Among Republicans/GOP-Leaning Independents Who Recognize Candidate

Herman Cain

  • Strongly Favorable 28% (29%) [26%] {24%} (27%) [29%] {26%}
  • Favorable 46% (45%) [48%] {53%} (49%) [48%] {46%}
  • Unfavorable 12% (13%) [12%] {12%} (11%) [10%] {15%}
  • Strongly Unfavorable 1% (1%) [1%] {1%} (2%) [2%] {1%}

Rick Perry

  • Strongly Favorable 27% (25%) [25%] {24%} (26%) [26%] {23%}
  • Favorable 44% (44%) [45%] {46%} (48%) [47%] {44%}
  • Unfavorable 12% (13%) [11%] {14%} (13%) [12%] {14%}
  • Strongly Unfavorable 2% (2%) [2%] {1%} (2%) [3%] {3%}

Rudy Giuliani

  • Strongly Favorable 21% (23%) [22%] {22%} (21%) [22%] {22%}
  • Favorable 54% (54%) [54%] {56%} (57%) [56%] {57%}
  • Unfavorable 15% (14%) [13%] {14%} (14%) [14%] {14%}
  • Strongly Unfavorable 4% (4%) [3%] {2%} (2%) [3%] {2%}
Mitt Romney
  • Strongly Favorable 15% (18%) [17%] {17%} (18%) [21%] {19%}
  • Favorable 55% (55%) [57%] {55%} (55%) [53%] {54%}
  • Unfavorable 16% (15%) [14%] {15%} (15%) [13%] {14%}
  • Strongly Unfavorable 4% (4%) [3%] {3%} (3%) [3%] {2%}
Michele Bachmann
  • Strongly Favorable 19% (21%) [24%] {22%} (20%) [23%] {24%}
  • Favorable 49% (46%) [46%] {47%} (44%) [44%] {50%}
  • Unfavorable 17% (16%) [16%] {17%} (18%) [15%] {12%}
  • Strongly Unfavorable 6% (5%) [4%] {4%} (6%) [5%] {3%}
Rick Santorum
  • Strongly Favorable 13% (9%) [9%] {9%} (11%) [13%] {13%}
  • Favorable 49% (53%) [55%] {53%} (51%) [54%] {56%}
  • Unfavorable 20% (18%) [17%] {16%} (16%) [16%] {14%}
  • Strongly Unfavorable 3% (2%) [2%] {4%} (4%) [2%] {1%}
Sarah Palin
  • Strongly Favorable 25% (24%) [24%] {26%} (25%) [26%] {26%}
  • Favorable 44% (45%) [47%] {43%} (43%) [47%] {47%}
  • Unfavorable 20% (18%) [17%] {20%} (19%) [17%] {16%}
  • Strongly Unfavorable 9% (10%) [9%] {8%} (9%) [8%] {8%}
Ron Paul
  • Strongly Favorable 11% (14%) [15%] {13%} (13%) [12%] {11%}
  • Favorable 49% (47%) [48%] {52%} (52%) [49%] {51%}
  • Unfavorable 23% (22%) [21%] {20%} (20%) [21%] {22%}
  • Strongly Unfavorable 5% (5%) [4%] {4%} (4%) [4%] {3%}
Newt Gingrich
  • Strongly Favorable 15% (12%) [10%] {9%} (8%) [10%] {11%}
  • Favorable 45% (45%) [43%] {47%} (49%) [46%] {44%}
  • Unfavorable 26% (27%) [29%] {27%} (27%) [29%] {29%}
  • Strongly Unfavorable 8% (8%) [7%] {7%} (7%) [7%] {7%}
Jon Huntsman
  • Strongly Favorable 6% (6%) [7%] {8%} (8%) [6%] {7%}
  • Favorable 42% (44%) [44%] {42%} (47%) [49%] {48%}
  • Unfavorable 30% (27%) [24%] {26%} (22%) [20%] {21%}
  • Strongly Unfavorable 5% (4%) [3%] {2%} (3%) [4%] {5%}

Favorable / Unfavorable {Net}

  • Herman Cain 74% (74%) [74%] {77%} (76%) [77%] {72%} / 13% (14%) [13%] {13%} (13%) [12%] {16%} {+61%}
  • Rick Perry 71% (69%) [70%] {70%} (74%) [73%] {67%} / 14% (15%) [13%] {15%} (15%) [15%] {17%} {+57%}
  • Rudy Giuliani 75% (77%) [76%] {78%} (78%) [78%] {79%} / 19% (18%) [16%] {16%} (16%) [17%] {16%} {+56%}
  • Mitt Romney 70% (73%) [74%] {72%} (73%) [74%] {73%} / 20% (19%) [17%] {18%} (18%) [16%] {16%} {+50%}
  • Michele Bachmann 68% (67%) [70%] {69%} (64%) [67%] {74%} / 23% (21%) [20%] {21%} (24%) [20%] {15%} {+45%}
  • Sarah Palin 69% (69%) [71%] {69%} (68%) [73%] {73%} / 29% (28%) [26%] {28%} (28%) [25%] {24%} {+40%}
  • Rick Santorum 62% (62%) [64%] {62%} (62%) [67%] {69%} / 23% (20%) [19%] {20%} (20%) [18%] {15%} {+39%}
  • Ron Paul 60% (61%) [63%] {65%} (65%) [61%] {62%} / 28% (27%) [25%] {24%} (24%) [25%] {25%} {+32%}
  • Newt Gingrich 60% (57%) [53%] {56%} (57%) [56%] {55%} / 34% (35%) [36%] {34%} (34%) [36%] {36%} {+26%}
  • Jon Huntsman 48% (50%) [51%] {50%} (55%) [55%] {55%} / 35% (31%) [27%] {28%} (25%) [24%] {26%} {+13%}

Positive Intensity Score (Strongly Favorable minus Strongly Unfavorable)

  • Herman Cain +27% (+28%) [+25%] {+22%} (+25%) [+27%] {+25%}
  • Rick Perry +25% (+22%) [+23%] {+23%} (+24%) [+23%] {+21%}
  • Rudy Giuliani +17% (+19%) [+19%] {+20%} (+19%) [+20%] {+20%}
  • Sarah Palin +16% (+14%) [+15%] {+18%} (+16%) [+18%] {+18%}
  • Michele Bachmann +13% (+16%) [+20%] {+18%} (+14%) [+18%] {+21%}
  • Mitt Romney +11% (+14%) [+15%] {+14%} (+15%) [18%] {+17%}
  • Rick Santorum +10% (+7%) [+6%] {+5%} (+7%) [+11%] {+12%}
  • Newt Gingrich +7% (+4%) [+3%] {+2%} (+1%) [+3%] {+4%}
  • Ron Paul +6% (+9%) [+11%] {+9%} (+8%) [+9%] {+8%}
  • Jon Huntsman +1% (+2%) [+4%] {+6%} (+5%) [+3%] {+2%}

Survey Methods:

Results are based on telephone interviews conducted as part of Gallup Daily tracking August 15-28, 2011, with random samples of Republicans and Republican-leaning independents, aged 18 and older, living in all 50 U.S. states and the District of Columbia. Questions asking about the 10 potential candidates measured in this research were rotated among randomly selected samples of Republicans each night; over the 14-day period, each candidate was rated by approximately 1,200 Republicans and Republican-leaning independents.

For the overall ratings of each potential candidate among Republicans and Republican-leaning independents, including recognition scores, one can say with 95% confidence that the maximum margin of sampling error is ±3 percentage points. Results from the poll conducted August 8-21, 2011 are in parentheses.  Results from the poll conducted August 1-14, 2011 are in square brackets.  Results from the poll conducted July 25 – August 7, 2011 are in curly brackets.  Results from the poll conducted July 18-31, 2011 are in parentheses.  Results from the poll conducted July 11-24, 2011 are in square brackets. Results from the poll conducted July 4-17, 2011 are in curly brackets.

-Data compilation and analysis courtesy of The Argo Journal.

by @ 2:38 pm. Filed under Poll Watch
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264 Responses to “Poll Watch: Gallup 2012 Republican Favorability Survey”

  1. Perry/Bachmann for 2012! Says:

    PERRYBOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM!

    And a minor CAINQUAKE!

  2. Perry/Bachmann for 2012! Says:

    OVERALL SCORES

    Who Is Running

    •Herman Cain +27% ..he’s earned himself a job in the Perry administration

    •Rick Perry +25% ..Bush except waaaay more conservative

    •Michele Bachmann +13% :)

    •Mitt Romney +11%
    •Rick Santorum +10%
    •Newt Gingrich +7%
    •Ron Paul +6%
    •Jon Huntsman +1%

    Who Is Not Running

    •Rudy Giuliani +17%
    •Sarah Palin +16%

  3. Massachusetts Conservative Says:

    Mitt Romney
    :•Strongly Favorable 15%
    •Favorable 55%

    Rick Perry
    •Strongly Favorable 27%
    •Favorable 44%

    And therein lies Mitt’s underlying problem. A lot of people think he’s good. But not a lot of people think he’s the best thing since sliced bread.

    Perry, on the other hand, is a little more toxic, since less people view him favorably, but the ones who do have latched onto him like he’s the Messiah.

  4. wow Says:

    palin’s negatives were MUCH lower than i was expecting. if you are a palinite this is the poll you need to look at to show people that palin is decently well liked. is there something about the sample group i’m missing? did they only survey republicans?

  5. Thunder (Any body but Perry) Says:

    Yes, but can Perry survive the Debates, since it has been years since he has debated anyone

    Recent history doesn’t provide much of a guide for how Rick Perry will fare in the upcoming debates, in which he needs a solid performance, because they’ve happened fairly infrequently in the past six years.

    The debates will force Perry — who did not take part in any debates in his 2010 reelection campaign — to prove his mettle.

    “These next three debates are either going to make or break Perry as a national candidate,” said Scott Reed, a veteran Republican consultant.

    Read more: http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0811/62342.html#ixzz1WXklqaVS
    ==============================================================================

    Romney advisers also want to give Perry plenty of rope with which to hang himself in the three debates coming in September. The Romney camp believes that Perry’s penchant for talking off the cuff could cause a meltdown, so they see no need to rush toward a confrontation.

    “We went through Hurricane Palin and Hurricane Huckabee and Hurricane Trump,” the Romney adviser said, referring to the bright light celebrity names that stoked interest earlier this year: former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee, and businessman Donald Trump.

    Referring to Perry, the adviser said: “This is just one more hurricane, but I think we’re at the end of hurricane season.”

    …………
    Perry will launch attacks of his own against Romney, but the Texas governor is the one undergoing a full-scale presidential vetting for the first time. Much of the race, at this juncture, comes down to how he holds up under this process.
    ………..
    The debates will force Perry — who did not take part in any debates in his 2010 reelection campaign — to prove his mettle.
    =======================
    http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/08/30/mitt-romney-jab-at-rick-perry_n_941982.html?1314724028

  6. Massachusetts Conservative Says:

    4 wow

    Yes, this is a Republican primary poll.

  7. Dave Says:

    The level of ignorance concerning Rick in current polling is exemplified by his 2% strongly negative in this poll. This number will go up markedly with the dissemination of information already aired here at Race.

  8. Thunder (Any body but Perry) Says:

    Looming Arizona Decision is Key to 2012 Primary, Caucus Calendar

    But two important swing states, Arizona and Florida are rebelling against the new RNC rules and calendar, insisting on voting early for greater impact on the selection of the nominee.

    Led by Gov. Jan Brewer, Arizona Republicans have been eyeing January 31 for their primary. Arizona law requires the governor to announce the primary date 150 days in advance, which means Brewer has to make a decision by Friday.

    Florida Republicans are watching Arizona closely and are determined to vote fifth; right after Iowa, New Hampshire, Nevada and South Carolina. Florida has coveted the attention and influence of an early primary date for decades and next year will also host the Republican National Convention in Tampa.

    By state law, Florida must empanel a commission to set its primary date in the next few weeks. But they are waiting to see what Arizona does first.

    If Arizona goes ahead with its primary on Jan. 31, forfeiting half its delegates for violating RNC rules, Florida is expected to jump ahead too, perhaps squeezing in on Saturday, Jan. 28. South Carolina, to keep its first southern primary, would likely land on or around Tuesday Jan 24. That would in turn push Nevada’s caucuses to sometime around Saturday, Jan. 21. New Hampshire’s first-in-the-nation primary would shift to Jan. 10. And that would land the lead off caucuses in Iowa on Jan 2.

    Read more: http://politics.blogs.foxnews.com/2011/08/29/looming-arizona-decision-key-2012-primary-caucus-calendar#ixzz1WXoeFk4T

  9. wow Says:

    oh, well this poll still surprises me. republicans like Palin WAY more than i would have thought. it’s clear she could walk away with the nomination if she wants it.

    her general #’s arent as good, though.

  10. Conservative Gladiator Says:

    Listening to Perry on Hannity and I have to say…the guy is toast.

  11. Conservative Gladiator Says:

    Perry will not be treated nicely by the media in the debates

  12. Thunder (Any body but Perry) Says:

    Conservative Gladiator Says:
    August 30th, 2011 at 3:18 pm

    Listening to Perry on Hannity and I have to say…the guy is toast.
    ============================================================
    Can you explain??? Couldn’t answer questions???

  13. Fredrick (Romney/West) Says:

    Yes, CG — please elaborate and what he is saying? What was the interview like? Is Hannity asking him tough questions or just softballing him?

  14. Try Not To Laugh At My 1.9 GPA perry Says:

    10:

    Did he mention how much he liked HillaryCare?

    http://www.rightspeak.net/2011/08/rick-perrys-letter-to-hillary-clinton.html

  15. asparagus Says:

    I see Sarah has lost a few points. Time for a new reality series.

  16. Conservative Gladiator Says:

    Listening I could hear a lot of hemming and hawing about his once being a Democrat. His explanation was that he thought that he could stem the tide of his party becoming overrun by liberals (paraphrasing actually better than he said it) and believing that Gore was the best “conservative” at the time. He then mentions that this was his last straw before becoming Republican. He then goes on the say that he voted for Bush 41 but doesn’t mention whether he voted for Reagan although he tells Michael Reagan that he told his father that he (Perry) was a Republican before Reagan was…something to that effect.

    Perry was also asked about his letter to Clinton in ’93. You’ll have to get the the transcripts but his answers to say the least are left wanting and if this is how he’s going to answer them with Hannity, he will be toast. For me, I hear fear in the guys voice but that’s me.

  17. Steven S Says:

    Huntsman just looks awful

  18. Conservative Gladiator Says:

    Hannity did ask tough questions and I could hear in Sean’s voice that he wasn’t impressed with the answers. I can’t say how he felt overall.

  19. Massachusetts Conservative Says:

    Rudy will make his decision some time after the 10th anniversary of 9/11.

    http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0811/62351.html

    (Proud of him for making the correct moral decision, but I want him to stay the Hell out of this race. No pro-choicers for me. And I want Mitt to have NH all to himself.)

  20. Fredrick (Romney/West) Says:

    Thanks CG, I’m sure the interview will show up somewhere like Perry’s interview with Laura Ingraham did.

  21. Fredrick (Romney/West) Says:

    One thing I remember from the Laura Ingraham interview is that when Laura asked “How are you?”, Perry immediately jumped into giving a speech on how awesome Texas’ economy is and that we need to get America down the same road, blah, blah, blah, blah…

    Perry also spoke in generalities which did not impress Laura all that much. Then Perry criticized Romneycare because it was a blueprint for Obamacare, but then two minutes later said that he believes that solutions to our problems with healthcare are found within the states. HUH???

    The man cannot present a coherent message or answer!

  22. Conservative Gladiator Says:

    I’m listening to Hannity defending Perry’s book against a liberal. Interesting.

  23. jaxemer11 Says:

    Remember the stories about Obama getting a sweet deal on property in Chicago? Wonder why no one in the conservative blogosphere is paying any attention to this?

    http://www.star-telegram.com/2011/08/28/3319362/perry-became-a-millionaire-while.html#ixzz1WN72aU8G

  24. Matt "MWS" Says:

    “•Rick Perry +25% ..Bush except waaaay more conservative corrupt”

  25. Conservative Gladiator Says:

    Generalities will always keep you above the fray. The problem for Perry are the specifics and in debates and one on one’s he is toast.

  26. jaxemer11 Says:

    People clearly aren’t paying attention yet. Those numbers haven’t moved in months. If they were paying attention, their opinions would be changing.

  27. thunder (Any body except Perry) Says:

    # Conservative Gladiator Says:
    August 30th, 2011 at 3:48 pm

    Generalities will always keep you above the fray. The problem for Perry are the specifics and in debates and one on one’s he is toast.
    =============================================================
    Perry is starting to remind me of Forest Gump. Always being at the right place at the right time. I know liberals like to call all conservatives dumb. But believe this time they may be right. However, Perry could easily change my mind if he ever gives a coherent interview or does well in the debates.

    I have a feeling he will try to find an excuse to dodge the debates like he did in Texas, but that will back fire. You can skip one or maybe two and be okay, especially if its early. But you can’t skip them all. In 2010, Perry did not debate anyone and found lots of excuses not to do so.

  28. Fredrick (Romney/West) Says:

    Very interesting Thunder. Considering that Perry came late to the party (heck, a candidate dropped out the day after he entered), I don’t think Perry can have any excuse for missing even ONE debate. He will be excoriated for it if he tries.

  29. casuist Says:

    This just in:

    Rick Perry Is A Lot Closer To The 2012 GOP Presidential Nomination Than You Think

    Read more: http://www.businessinsider.com/rick-perry-is-a-lot-closer-to-the-2012-gop-presidential-nomination-than-you-think-2011-8?op=1#ixzz1WY36rLi9

  30. Fredrick (Romney/West) Says:

    Adam X, YOU WISH!

  31. thunder (Any body except Perry) Says:

    casuist Says:
    August 30th, 2011 at 4:00 pm

    This just in:

    Rick Perry Is A Lot Closer To The 2012 GOP Presidential Nomination Than You Think
    =========================================
    seen it, don’t believe it…… Talk to me come November or December…. It just a fluff piece for Perry.

  32. jaxemer11 Says:

    Texas debt doubled under Perry. Why should we believe he is going to solve our debt problem?

    http://www.politifact.com/texas/statements/2010/mar/04/bill-white/white-says-texas-debt-has-doubled-under-perry/

  33. Fredrick (Romney/West) Says:

    32 — Guests on BOR last night were discussing how Perry exploded the debt in Texas.

  34. thunder (Any body except Perry) Says:

    In the mean time, are we heading toward Armageddon??

    Military sources tell AP Israeli Navy sent additional warships to maritime border with Egypt following intelligence indicating viable terror threat. Meanwhile, Iran set to send 15th fleet to area as well as ‘to thwart pirate activity

    …..

    “The presence of Iran’s army in the high seas will convey the message of peace and friendship to all countries,” he said.

    http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4115781,00.html

    You know Obama will not side with Israel. Perhaps the Arabs believe they need to try to take Israel out before Obama loses the next election.

  35. Perry/Bachmann for 2012! Says:

    Thanks for the article, Cas… And no doubt DURING EACH OF THE DEBATES Perry will school Romney about jobs, etc. etc. in Rick’s TX versus jobs (what jobs?) in Mitt’s MA.

    The Republican “establishment,” such as it is, is quickly coming to the realization that the 2012 GOP presidential nomination is Texas Governor Rick Perry’s to lose.

    He leads in Iowa and he hasn’t even really campaigned there yet. He’s running second in New Hampshire, which is all he needs to do. And he’s running comfortably ahead in South Carolina (again, without much campaigning), which is the gateway to the South.

    The South is the base of the modern Republican Party. Perry has become, in less than a month, the Southern states’ de facto favorite son.

    (…)

    Romney’s problem is four-fold: he’s politically “fungible” (to put it politely), he’s from the wrong region of the country (New England), he’s of the wrong religion (Mormonism) and he’s too closely identified with Wall Street (Bain Capital). The Republican base would prefer to nominate a strong conservative, evangelical Christian from the Sunbelt who, at the least, shares their disdain for Wall Street’s reckless stewardship of the nation’s financial system.

    Read more: http://www.businessinsider.com/rick-perry-is-a-lot-closer-to-the-2012-gop-presidential-nomination-than-you-think-2011-8?op=1#ixzz1WY5HSYh5

  36. teledude Says:

    The top two ‘front runners’ are both fatally flawed candidates.

    Perry will fall to earth, Romney has hit his zenith and fallen back.

    Governor Palin’s negatives are falling because people are beginning to see her real record, not the Tina Fey caricature.

    Governor Palin is going to be like a breath of fresh air once she enters this race.

    Once she jumps in everything is going to change.

    It is foolhardy to doubt me.

    You know that.

    :-)

  37. thunder (Any body except Perry) Says:

    he’s of the wrong religion (Mormonism)

    Nothing like turning off a large segment of the base. If Perry wins based on Religion, you can kiss the Mormon vote away. I frankly am tired of a candidate being judged by his religion and not his ability. Perry has come on strong for one reason, he plays the Evangelicals like a fiddle.

    If this trend continues, I may have to look for another Party.

  38. teledude Says:

    You guys might want to tune in to C-Span this Saturday, if you can’t make it to Indianola Iowa.

    You will see real leadership on display.

  39. Perry/Bachmann for 2012! Says:

    36.

    You said T-Paw would beat Bachmann.

  40. teledude Says:

    Sarah Palin, the Perry destroyer.

    She’s coming.

  41. teledude Says:

    36. I was listening to Smack, a foolish endeavor, I should have known better.

    Her had me convinced. Call me gullible on that one.

    BTW, how’s the old corn dog eater doing these days?

  42. Perry/Bachmann for 2012! Says:

    Wha’ happened at Ames, Telly? How could you be soooo wrong?

    And how many folks are expected at the Christine O’Donnell/Sarah Palin shindig on Sat?

  43. teledude Says:

    sporry, that was for 39.

  44. Fredrick (Romney/West) Says:

    37 — Amen Thunder. I am so sick of people in the Republican party using religion for political purposes and seeking to destroy a candidate, who is most qualified for the Presidency, because of his religion. Sick of it.

    I too will probably leave the Republican party if Perry wins the nomination. He’s the worst candidate in the entire field, yet after the National Day of Prayer — it’s no wonder why his poll numbers are so high. Evangelicals treat him like a Pastor-in-Chief.

  45. teledude Says:

    42. It’s just Governor Palin and I expect up to a couple thousand, maybe more.

    How many came to hear Bachmann wish John Wayne Gacy Happy Birthday in Waterloo? 100?

  46. Perry/Bachmann for 2012! Says:

    41.

    LOL! Fair enough.

    Listening to Smacks garbage will do it every time.

  47. teledude Says:

    44. Not to worry.

    See my post # 40.

  48. Perry/Bachmann for 2012! Says:

    45.

    No, It’s Christine, too!!! Woo-hoo!!!

  49. CF Says:

    44

    Same here. Fool me once in 2008, shame on you. Fool me twice in 2012, shame on me. Enough is enough.

    The SoCons can’t keep smacking the rest of the party upside the head and expect us all to fall in line during the general election.

  50. asparagus Says:

    For me, it would take a lot for me to leave the party. It doesn’t bother me that evangelicals like Perry. What bothers me is the difference in treatment from the conservative media (talk radio, hotair, foxnews, etc.) that Mitt gets versus other candidates, and especially Perry, who has a list a mile long of problems. I expect the liberals to pick Mitt apart, but I expect fair treatment from conservative media. I have been astonished that he hasn’t even come close to being treated fairly.

  51. Perry/Bachmann for 2012! Says:

    WOW!

    Palin endorsed O’Donnell in her campaign to replace former Sen. Mike Castle — but now she gets her kicked off Sat’s event.

    Stay classy, Palin.

  52. teledude Says:

    48. You are a clueless Moron. Emphasis on CLUELESS

    You have never been right about ANYTHING, Mr. “I guarantee Huckabee is running and he win win.”

    You sir, are a waste of bandwidth. And probably oxygen.

  53. CF Says:

    Liberal ———————————————-Conservative
    Perry, Huntsman, Gingrich, Romney, Cain, Palin, Bachmann, Santorum

    I could vote for anyone in this field over Rick Perry, even Jon Huntsman. Any of them would be better fit to fix Washington corruption, reduce our debt, and get unemployment down. Perry did the opposite on all three fronts.

  54. teledude Says:

    53. I like it.

  55. Sojourner Truth Says:

    The SoCons can’t keep smacking the rest of the party upside the head and expect us all to fall in line during the general election.

    Sure they can. Bush would have won Utah even without the Mormon vote.

    I don’t see Perry doing anything to exclude Mormons. If you want to take your ball and go home that’s your prerogative.

  56. Perry/Bachmann for 2012! Says:

    I thought Romney was a socon in 2008. At least that’s what he told EVERYONE with a tv set.

    So, was he lying?

  57. Fredrick (Romney/West) Says:

    50 – That’s also a HUGE part of the problem. The conservative media has unfairly viscerated Romney over the past several months, and now that Perry is in the race, they completely overlook so many of his faults which are far more numerous and egregious than Romney’s faults. Makes you wonder…

    Levin has been completely irrational towards Romney, Limbaugh has gone mental, and Hot Air is exactly that.

  58. asparagus Says:

    56 stop being an ass. Romney hasn’t changed.

  59. teledude Says:

    Sarah Palin, the Perry destroyer.

    She’s coming.

    It is foolhardy to doubt me.

    Because somewhere

    deep down inside

    the darkest crevasses

    of your fevered minds

    You Know.

  60. Perry/Bachmann for 2012! Says:

    58.

    Is he a socon or not? And if he is, he’ll endorse our nominee, Perry. :)

  61. Mark in PA Says:

    I’ll support Perry with gusto if he wins the nomination. But I think Mitt is more qualified, more electable in a general, and has more ability to help solve some this country’s biggest problems!

    Don’t care what religion they are, but I do care about their morals.
    Perry wouldn’t lose the mormon vote… Clinton took 3rd in Utah!

    It is pretty annoying how talk radio and such touted Mitt as the conservative answer to McCain, but this year treat him like he’s McCain.

  62. teledude Says:

    50. NOW you may understand how we Palinista’s felt.

    Not fun, is it?

  63. Perry/Bachmann for 2012! Says:

    59.

    You are such a troll here. Anyone ever tell you that?

  64. asparagus Says:

    60 Don’t get ahead of yourself. Noone said Romney wouldn’t endorse the eventual nominee if he wasn’t the nominee.

  65. teledude Says:

    I’m voting for the candidate who’s church was burned to the ground!

    There si some real religious intolerance in this country.

    Can you imagine the media uproar if Obama’s church had been fire bombed?

  66. thunder (Any body except Perry) Says:

    # Perry/Bachmann for 2012! Says:
    August 30th, 2011 at 4:35 pm

    I thought Romney was a socon in 2008. At least that’s what he told EVERYONE with a tv set.

    So, was he lying?
    ==========================================
    No, we are talking about the hard Core Evangelicals like yourself. You can not expect Mormons to support an Evangelical then tell us that a Mormon candidate is to be rejected because of his Religion. And you can make all the excuses you want, but that’s how it appears. As long as a candidate says he is Evangelical, he immediately goes to the top of the list. Never mind his long history of Liberal Positions and lack of intelligence. I mean, we are talking about a guy who got a D in economics for crying out load. Supported Hillary Care, support international Health Care, supported illegal immigrations, and the list goes on.

  67. Fredrick (Romney/West) Says:

    Who is that religious leader that is in cahoots with Perry (one of many extremists) that described Mormonism akin to a social scurge that needs to be destroyed?

    Bush would have lost Utah without the Mormon vote. The state is about 70% Mormon. He would have lost Nevada without the Mormon vote (which is about 7% Mormon).

  68. CF Says:

    63

    “You are such a troll here. Anyone ever tell you that?”

  69. teledude Says:

    63. Projection.

    Who should we say Happy Birthday to today?

  70. Mark in PA Says:

    …but then, McCain did win the nomination, despite having NOT lead ANY polls since the beginning of summer!!!

  71. asparagus Says:

    Teledude is NOT a troll. Deluded perhaps, but not a troll. Craig for xxxx, you are the definition of a troll. There is no hour of the day, or minute that you are not posting comments. And now that Perry is in, the comments havegotten more vicious. I don’t think anyone can tell from your comments what your philosophy of government is, or what a candidate should be to earn your vote.

  72. teledude Says:

    I meant 68. of course.

  73. Try Not To Laugh At My 1.9 GPA perry Says:

    I’d love to see a Palin/perry cat-fight. Palin would squash him so fast he wouldn’t know what hit his 1.9 brain.

  74. Fredrick (Romney/West) Says:

    71 — Perhaps not being a Mormon is an important factor.

  75. casuist Says:

    The conservative media has unfairly viscerated Romney over the past several months, and now that Perry is in the race, they completely overlook so many of his faults which are far more numerous and egregious than Romney’s faults. Makes you wonder …

    Levin has been completely irrational towards Romney, Limbaugh has gone mental, and Hot Air is exactly that.

    Hey, friends and well wishers, do you know what I hear when I hear what I hear about the awful unfairness of the unfair in its unfairness conservative media to his most excellent of excellencies whose excellencies no one but his excellency can apparently recognize, one Willard “RomneyCare” Romney? I hear WHAAA! WHAAA! WHAAA!

    The conservative media knows its audience. And just who is this audience, you ask? Its audience is … wait for it, wait for it … conservatives. Do you want better coverage? Advance a better candidate.

  76. Sojourner Truth Says:

    Bush would have lost Utah without the Mormon vote. The state is about 70% Mormon. He would have lost Nevada without the Mormon vote (which is about 7% Mormon).

    Wrong. Bush won among the non-Mormon minority population of Utah.

    Only way Bush would have lost would have been if the Mormons voted for Democrats.

  77. Mark in PA Says:

    71
    Yeah… I agree that it is difficult to say what exactly you (Craig) want in a candidate or expect from a good leader except someone who is not Mitt. Maybe a little more substance to your comments, please?

  78. Perry/Bachmann for 2012! Says:

    1. Huck
    2. Bachmann/Perry (tie)
    3. Rubio
    4. Pence
    5. Kasich
    6. Romney
    7. Palin
    8. Ryan
    9. Christie
    10. Giuliani

    I went with 11 – about that order. But first five are SOLID.

  79. CF Says:

    71

    Exactly. I haven’t heard Craig for Losers ever post anything that he actually believes in. His posts comprise entirely of one liners, or blockquotes, and he spams them all day, late into the night and early in the morning.

    If that isn’t the definition of trolling, I don’t know what is.

  80. Sojourner Truth Says:

    The conservative media knows its audience. And just who is this audience, you ask? Its audience is … wait for it, wait for it … conservatives. Do you want better coverage? Advance a better candidate

    Seriously. Why does this have to devolve into some sort of “You’re rejecting Romney because he’s Mormon” rant?

    If you complainers want a Mormon candidate to win the Republican nomination then why don’t you try to nominate a CONSERVATIVE Mormon candidate before you whine about religious discrimination?

  81. asparagus Says:

    At least Palin has or has had her defenders in the conservative media. All Romney has is Frum! With friends like that, who needs enemies?

  82. Mark in PA Says:

    78
    Good post. Thanks.

  83. teledude Says:

    73. It won’t come to that.

    She has the velvet hammer.

    She does it with a smile.

    A look is all it takes.

  84. Sojourner Truth Says:

    But no – instead the rest of us are supposed to stomach a statist Massachusetts moderate – or else WE are all being unreasonable.

    Okay.

  85. teledude Says:

    81. Oh, I think BOR and Laura Ingram do a fine job of promoting Willard.

    They are almost sickening to listen too anymore.

  86. Mark in PA Says:

    83
    LOL!!
    Velvet hammer – BaAAhhaaa! I love it! Stop – you’re too much!!

  87. CF Says:

    79

    Come to think of it, I haven’t heard any of the Perry people (former Bachmann/Trump/Huck people) EVER really give a meaningful reason why we should support their candidate. The only thing I hear from them is baseless epeening about their guy or bashing Romney.

    I get the feeling from them that their goal isn’t to support someone they really believe can fix America, but to ensure that they find a candidate who can defeat Romney. At the moment, they perceive Perry to be the guy best able to do that so they cling to him. Facts or baggage about Rick Perry be damned.

  88. asparagus Says:

    Who is BOR?

  89. Fredrick (Romney/West) Says:

    Bill O’Reilly

  90. teledude Says:

    Two flawed candidates.

    RomneyCare and HillaryCare/Gardisil

    Thin of a breath of fresh air…

    “Palin’s commitment to free-market competition and transparency is well-evidenced by her establishment of the Alaska Health Care Strategies Planning Council (HCSPC) and her introduction of the Alaska Health Care Transparency Act.

    The American Spectator points out that although it didn’t make it through the legislature, “The Alaska Health Care Transparency Act confirmed that Sarah Palin means it when she says she’s in politics to ‘challenge the status quo and to serve the common good.’

    Moreover, her push for greater competition also demonstrates that she understands the potential of the free market to cure much of what ails American health care.”

    http://dailycaller.com/2011/08/26/what-pundits-should-be-talking-about-when-it-comes-to-palin/

  91. jaxemer11 Says:

    56 – He is a socon. But Socon’s rejected him for no good reason, so he has moved on to people that will give him a chance.

  92. casuist Says:

    81. Oh, I think BOR and Laura Ingram do a fine job of promoting Willard.

    Yes, but you can hear the incredulity in their voices. It’s like their always holding crossed-fingers behind their backs, or trying to blink to you in code a message like “I MEAN THE PRECISE OPPOSITE OF WHAT I AM SAYING” “SAVE ME FROM THIS MIND-CONTROL RAY”.

  93. teledude Says:

    86.
    It is foolhardy to doubt me.

    I’m just here to help. :-)

  94. Sojourner Truth Says:

    I get the feeling from them that their goal isn’t to support someone they really believe can fix America, but to ensure that they find a candidate who can defeat Romney. At the moment, they perceive Perry to be the guy best able to do that so they cling to him. Facts or baggage about Rick Perry be damned.

    Assuming that to be true – how is that unreasonable if partisan conservative Perry supporters don’t believe Romney is ideologically fit to be the Republican nominee?

  95. Sojourner Truth Says:

    But Socon’s rejected him for no good reason

    That’s YOUR opinion. Many so-cons would be perfectly justified in not trusting someone who was pro-choice until he was 60.

  96. asparagus Says:

    Its not unreasonable. All I am asking for is fair treatment from the conservative media. Let the voters decide who is ideologically compatitable.

  97. teledude Says:

    Perry has the ‘anti-establishment’ vote.

    They don’t like Willard and have passed on him. He’s done.

    But they have shown a propensity to jump from one ‘flavor of the week’ to the next.

    From Cain to Trump to Bachmann to Perry.

    You know who they are really waiting for.

    She’s coming.

  98. ogrepete Says:

    Mitt’s team just released the news that they will be attending Jim DeMint’s forum in South Carolina after getting his schedule rearranged.

    http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/right-turn/post/exclusive-romney-to-attend-demints-south-carolina-forum/2011/08/30/gIQAx1cKqJ_blog.html

  99. CF Says:

    90

    As annoying teledude, TEX, and Smack can be, I respect them for really, TRULY believing in their candidate and at least attempting to back them up with reason and fact.

  100. Perry/Bachmann for 2012! Says:

    I’m kind of partial to 10 1/2 year conservative governors of the socon, populist, and inspirational bent.

    But, hey that’s me, Rombots :)

    How ’bout y’all? Let’s see…you hated Huck check!, hated McCain check!, hated Rudy check!, and hated Thompson check! and on and on…

    What do they all have in common? Answer: They ALL challenged Romney’s conservative credentials. BINGO!

    Why?

  101. casuist Says:

    Come to think of it, I haven’t heard any of the Perry people (former Bachmann/Trump/Huck people) EVER really give a meaningful reason why we should support their candidate. The only thing I hear from them is baseless epeening about their guy or bashing Romney.

    Thank you for the opportunity to repeat my rationale again: (a) sitting governor from a state continuous with the GOP regional base with (b) a solid record of pro-growth economic policies–there, that’s it, all the rest is detail. I don’t care whether you agree or not. If you are a Mitt “RomneyCare” Romney supporter than you’re at one remove from the healing balm of human reason anyway.

  102. teledude Says:

    The Velvet Hammer!

    You can’t touch this

    Hammer Time.

  103. Fredrick (Romney/West) Says:

    95 — Oh, you mean like Reagan? Oh, wait!

  104. jaxemer11 Says:

    95 – Signed Ronald Reagan

  105. teledude Says:

    99. Thanks CF.

    I will try to be not so annoying.

    I’m just here to help. :-)

  106. Shaw Says:

    Romney will now attend Jim DeMint Forum in South Carolina.

    http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/right-turn/post/exclusive-romney-to-attend-demints-south-carolina-forum/2011/08/30/gIQAx1cKqJ_blog.html

  107. jaxemer11 Says:

    101 – Since when did doubling the state’s debt become a pro-growth policy? Never mind. It isn’t worth the time to argue with you anymore.

  108. thunder (Any body except Perry) Says:

    # Sojourner Truth Says:

    That’s YOUR opinion. Many so-cons would be perfectly justified in not trusting someone who was pro-choice until he was 60.
    =========================================
    Then why support Perry, who was a Democrat when Reagan was President???? Who only switch so he could run for state office. Such a hypocrite.

  109. Fredrick (Romney/West) Says:

    http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2011/08/27/MNNV1KSTO0.DTL

    President Transparency II

  110. casuist Says:

    106. Really?! Romney’s head must be spinning with all these disastrous poll numbers–first he decided to attend a tea party rally for the first time on the very day of DeMint’s event, and now he changes his mind again to attend the DeMint event.

    Aaaahhhhhh. You see? This reminds me of Romney circa 2008. Running in all directions. Ineffective at every turn.

  111. Perry/Bachmann for 2012! Says:

    98.

    Pete,

    Now, that’s stepping up to the plate.

    Let’s get it on in SC!

  112. asparagus Says:

    The big difference between Perry and Romney people is that Romney people have answers to the problems conservatives have with Romney, while Perry people have offered nothing. Problem with Gardasil? Look how good-looking Perry is! Problem with crony capitalism? Look how Perry has an undefeated record! Either that or jabs back at Romney. We are still waiting for answers.

  113. teledude Says:

    106. Amazing what a few bad poll numbers will do, isn’t it?

  114. Sojourner Truth Says:

    108 – Perry was pro-life while he was a Democrat in the 1980′s. Just like Al Gore.

  115. Sojourner Truth Says:

    Romney will now attend Jim DeMint Forum in South Carolina.

    Well well well. RIP Romney Rose Garden Strategy.

  116. asparagus Says:

    110 Soo predictable. I’m glad he will be there. Unlike some people, the Governor doesn’t like to cancel appearances at the last second.

  117. CF Says:

    112

    Another great point. Romney apologists have done a pretty good job of defending and explaining (with logic and reason) his record.

    I have not heard any Perry supporters do anything other than deny, ignore, or simply attack the messenger when a skeleton comes out of the closet. It reminds me a lot of Obama mania syndrome – a disease where people turn into chanting brainwashed drones, incapable of discussing or defending their guy’s record.

    It’s really sad that many who accused Obama supporters of this in 2008, are now guilty of the same thing.

  118. teledude Says:

    I say,

    let’s you and him fight!

    I just can’t stop smiling. :-)

  119. teledude Says:

    117. This is correct and actually a sign of how shallow the Perry support really is.

    They are not so much FOR Perry as against the establishment GOP…who they perceive as Romney at this time.

  120. thunder (Any body except Perry) Says:

    # Sojourner Truth Says:
    August 30th, 2011 at 5:04 pm

    108 – Perry was pro-life while he was a Democrat in the 1980?s. Just like Al Gore.
    =======================================
    Before the ladies get all dreamy eyed over Rick Perry, maybe they need to look a little closer. In 1987, as a Democratic state representative (yes, I said Democratic), Perry voted for the highest tax increase in Texas.

    So after experiencing the most popular Republican president of modern times, did Democrat Perry change to Republican? No. In 1988, Perry decided to help Al Gore run for president, as his Texas campaign chairman. Only after Al lost did Perry change to Republican in 1989, maybe the last one to do so.

    Before Christians get all teary-eyed emotional about a candidate who stumbles through a staged public prayer, and then raises his hands like it was a campaign speech, let’s see how he treated young girls in Texas. As governor he did an end-run around the Texas Legislature and pushed young girls to take Gardasil shots. Luckily, the Texas Supreme Court stopped his unconstitutional act, which he was doing for the Merck drug company, one of his heavy campaign donors.

    But women, you know, they like the good-looking smooth talkers and wouldn’t care that his high and lofty goals were to graduate and be a yell leader. Forget that he got a C in gym class, a D in math, a C in history and a D in economics. Gee, gals, thanks! Vote for a guy who knows nothing about history or math or economics to get us out of the worst morass since the Great Depression.

    Read more: http://www.newsherald.com/articles/perry-96365-republican-campaign.html#ixzz1WYKxDsIh

  121. mac Says:

    75. Not always, Huck is just as conservative (I’d argue more) than Perry, but Huck got reamed by Rush and the gang while Perry, only heaven knows why, is their darling.

  122. teledude Says:

    I think the focus on Perry’s grades is misguided.

    It smacks of elitism and just reinforces the anti-establishment fervor.

    When you do that you are helping solidify Perry with his base.

  123. Sojourner Truth Says:

    Hahaha. Oh man it’s amazing how strong the stench of DEATH has gotten here at Romney42012 over the past few weeks.

    It gets stronger every day.

  124. CF Says:

    119

    “They are not so much FOR Perry as against the establishment GOP…who they perceive as Romney at this time.”

    I agree, except I have a hard time figuring out if Romney is really more establishment than Perry. Perry supposedly has a huge amount of billionaires and millionaires who have and will donate to his campaigns. He’s got the entire right-wing media on his side. He also has a history of giving kickbacks to his donors in the form of legislation and staff positions.

  125. thunder (Any body except Perry) Says:

    1988 Democrat Platform (The year that Perry supported Al Gore)

    We further believe that we must work for the adoption of the Equal Rights Amendment to the Constitution; that the fundamental right of reproductive choice should be guaranteed regardless of ability to pay; that our machinery for civil rights enforcement and legal services to the poor should be rebuilt and vigorously utilized;

    Read more at the American Presidency Project: Democratic Party Platforms: Democratic Party Platform of 1988 http://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/ws/index.php?pid=29609#ixzz1WYMDKCzx

  126. Sojourner Truth Says:

    I think the focus on Perry’s grades is misguided.

    It smacks of elitism and just reinforces the anti-establishment fervor.

    Especially when the focus is made to benefit His Royal Mittness.

    Some of the Rombots have no sense of optics in a presidential campaign.

  127. Perry/Bachmann for 2012! Says:

    Hmmm…

    INTRADE: New Hampshire Primary (Republican)

    NEW.HAMP.ROMNEY
    Mitt Romney to win the
    2012 New Hampshire Primary M Trade 48.0 +0.9
    NEW.HAMP.PERRY
    Rick Perry to win the
    2012 New Hampshire Primary M Trade 28.0 +4.0
    NEW.HAMP.HUNTSMAN
    Jon Huntsman to win the
    2012 New Hampshire Primary M Trade 10.0
    NEW.HAMP.PAUL(RON)
    Ron Paul to win the
    2012 New Hampshire Primary M Trade 7.5

    NEW.HAMP.PALIN
    Sarah Palin to win the
    2012 New Hampshire Primary M Trade 4.0

  128. teledude Says:

    Let’s face it…the rocket scientists in government and high finance have kind of screwed the pooch now, haven’t they.

    People are looking for a little more ‘common sense’…not so much egg-headed ivory tower theory.

    Far better to focus on the candidates actual record while in office.

  129. Sojourner Truth Says:

    Thunder – but part of the reason Gore was REJECTED in 1988 – was because (at the time) he was too conservative for the platform.

    Much like today – you’re finding out that Romney is too liberal for his party’s respective platform.

  130. casuist Says:

    Well well well. RIP Romney Rose Garden Strategy.

    At some point Romney had to yield to the laws of physics. He reminds me of Wile E. Coyote, hanging in space and running like mad before he inevitably falls to earth.

  131. CF Says:

    121

    “Not always, Huck is just as conservative (I’d argue more) than Perry, but Huck got reamed by Rush and the gang while Perry, only heaven knows why, is their darling.”

    Both Huckabee and even Christie got hammered by a large chunk of Conservative media. It is really stunning, especially in Huckabee’s case. I’m at a complete loss as to what the heck is going on.

    Huckabee is the spitting image of Perry (other than the accent). Huck’s even more Conservative in that his state actually got rid of a big debt like Mass and also had good job creation. Even Craig touted Huckabee’s budget balancing cred as a good thing.

    Yet all of a sudden, the Conservative media are completely in love with Perry after they detested Huckabee. Can someone explain what the big difference is here?

  132. thunder (Any body except Perry) Says:

    Sojourner Truth Says:
    August 30th, 2011 at 5:19 pm

    Thunder – but part of the reason Gore was REJECTED in 1988 – was because (at the time) he was too conservative for the platform.
    =================================================
    False, Jesse Jackson came in and took the rug out of his southern Strategy. Try reading a little history!

  133. Perry/Bachmann for 2012! Says:

    Has Perry ever even been to New Hampshire? ;)

  134. Perry/Bachmann for 2012! Says:

    Perry balanced his 11 budgets just like Huck did!

  135. casuist Says:

    Hahaha. Oh man it’s amazing how strong the stench of DEATH has gotten here at Romney42012 over the past few weeks.

    Smells like … teen spirit. No, wait, I mean, victory, only not for that big throbbing brain of a guy who gave us RomneyCare.

  136. thunder (Any body except Perry) Says:

    # CF Says:
    August 30th, 2011 at 5:21 pm

    Huckabee is the spitting image of Perry (other than the accent). Huck’s even more Conservative in that his state actually got rid of a big debt like Mass and also had good job creation. Even Craig touted Huckabee’s budget balancing cred as a good thing.
    ======================================================================
    Actually, Huckabee is a lot smarter than Perry and Huckabee has great debate skills, Perry has neither. Its his other problems that turned me off on him.

  137. thunder (Any body except Perry) Says:

    Unfortunately,wife wants me to do some work, so off for now.

  138. Sojourner Truth Says:

    132 – I’m well aware of history. Sort of like how I schooled you yesterday on Mitt’s support of the 1994 Chafee bill when you spontaneously disappeared.

    The party decides which candidate is a best fit for each party’s respective platform. The Dems weren’t going to nominate a pro-lifer. Either Gore would have to change his mind (like he did later, a la Mitt) or he was going to lose.

  139. Perry/Bachmann for 2012! Says:

    You desperate Rombots got nothing on Huck and Perry.

    NOTHING!

  140. ogrepete Says:

    Just so everyone sees it and recognizes it for what it is…

    First Romney was “afraid” of Perry so he wasn’t going to attend the South Carolina/Jim Demint Forum. Now that Romney has rearranged his schedule to attend the forum, Romney is “afraid” of Perry’s rise in the polls.

    This sort of partisan stupidity isn’t uncommon; it does come from Romney’s fans as well as those of Perry and Palin. Just remember that it is inanity when reading the posts from those who would paint Romney as “afraid” now that he has accepted Jim Demint’s invitiation to attend the upcoming forum.

  141. casuist Says:

    False, Jesse Jackson came in and took the rug out of his southern Strategy. Try reading a little history!

    Hey, logic-guy, your proposition and Sojourn’s proposition that Gore at the time was too conservative are consistent. Yes, Jackson rallied in the South by appealing to Southern minorities who tend to vote progressives, and white urban progressives, and, yes, there were really were such creatures in that era.

  142. jaxemer11 Says:

    I take it back. I am going to ask for an answer. How is doubling the size of the Texas debt a pro-growth policy?

  143. Sojourner Truth Says:

    140 – It’s not quite like that.

    I think Romney was indeed afraid of Perry. He wanted to stay above the fray and not go to the debate, because that would have made it appear that Perry was Romney’s equal at the time Romney was leading in the polls.

    Now that circumstances have changed, Perry is polling ahead of Romney by double digits and by a TON in South Carolina – Romney has no choice but to engage.

    So the theory is not at all inconsistent.

  144. casuist Says:

    I take it back. I am going to ask for an answer. How is doubling the size of the Texas debt a pro-growth policy?

    Who said that government debt promotes growth?–I mean, except for Willard Romney who supported the disastrous Troubled Asset Relief Program, or TARP, which the poor guy probably thought was something he could throw over his yacht. Perry’s pro-growth policies were his pro-growth policies, e.g. the energy sector.

  145. teledude Says:

    Perry does have one thing on Romney that Romney can’t buy.

    It may be the most important factor for that large ‘swing vote’ in the middle, who voted for Reagan and Clinton and Bush and Obama.

    They are obviously not ideological (they couldn’t articulate the differences in the parties if you paid them)

    But they recognize this.

    And as Huckabee learned, if you can fake this, you’ve got it made.

    Authenticity.

  146. CF Says:

    In years past, that famed body of water has been seen by many as a dividing point, If you were to walk along its banks and look to the other side, based on the stereotypes of the past, you would think you were seeing things a million miles away, instead of a stone’s throw away. But I am here today to say that while we have honest differences, there is more that unites us than divides us. The Rio Grande does not separate two nations, it joins two peoples. Mexico and the United States have a shared history, and a common future. And it is along this border where we will either fail or succeed in addressing the education, health care and transportation needs of our two peoples.

    Critical to our future is meeting our border infrastructure needs. We must get traffic moving along the border so that businesses along the border and thousands of miles away can deliver products on time, and continue to grow.

    http://governor.state.tx.us/news/speech/10688/

    What the #$@% is wrong with this guy? Does this sound like a Conservative, or a hardcore Liberal having an Open Borders Orgasm?

  147. Sojourner Truth Says:

    I take it back. I am going to ask for an answer. How is doubling the size of the Texas debt a pro-growth policy?

    I’m far more interested in how raising fees to the tune of $700M and earning the name “Fee fee” so eloquently bestowed upon Romney by the late Tim Russert was anything close to a conservative approach to better Massachusetts’ 47th out of 50th rank in job creation.

  148. asparagus Says:

    122 Where do you think he is vulnerable? I think the grades play into a narrative that he is intellectually lazy. Grades are more a reflection of errort than intelligence. Here you have a guy who basically aims low. He walked into the governors job by being Bush’s LG, and is doing just enough to get by. This year’s budget deficit is a perfect example. Instead of coming up with a long term solution, Perry punted. Now parents are having to dig further into their pockets for basic government services like school busing. If you want someone who is going to make sure you get conservative results, I’ll take Romney or Palin. If you want a guy who is going to say the right things and talk tough, maybe Perry is the guy for you. I don’t trust a person too lazy to follow up to see if the programs they put in place are working or not.

  149. casuist Says:

    What the #$@% is wrong with this guy? Does this sound like a Conservative, or a hardcore Liberal having an Open Borders Orgasm?

    He sounds like he supports free trade as a way of opening markets for U.S. exports, as do I. Perry’s state shares an international border.

  150. CF Says:

    President Fox’s vision for an open border is a vision I embrace, as long as we demonstrate the will to address the obstacles to it. An open border means poverty has given way to opportunity, and Mexico’s citizens do not feel compelled to cross the border to find that opportunity. It means we have addressed pollution concerns, made substantial progress in stopping the spread of disease, and rid our crossings of illicit drug smuggling activity. Clearly we have a long way to go in addressing those issues. At the same time we must continue to deepen our economic ties, expanding opportunities for Mexican and U.S. companies to do business on both sides of the border. The outlook is promising, even if the road to prosperity is a long one. We share a bond as neighbors, and we find our culture north of the Rio Grande to be increasingly defined by the strong traits of people of Hispanic descent. Texas has long enjoyed a unique identity, an identity forged by an independent spirit, and the convergence of many different peoples. We must welcome change in the 21st Century as we have in every century before it.

    Today, as we look to the south, we see a rising sun. It is perched above a people whose best days are in front of them. Let us endeavor to make the most of this new day through a new dialogue. Let us work together to combat disease, expand trade and provide educational opportunities. If we do, there are no limits to what we can accomplish for the betterment of all of our citizens. Thank you, and God bless you.

    How can any true Conservative want this guy as the President of the UNITED STATES if he is onboard with this stuff? This is the kind of stuff you hear conspiracies about, but never believe a real poltician wants it. The American public is being duped here by Perry big time.

  151. Perry/Bachmann for 2012! Says:

    131.

    Not me, I’ve been consistent with the govs, Huck and Perry.

    Both staunch but practical conservatives

    Both lifelong socons

    Both great budget balancers — 11 budgets each ain’t too shabby

    Both master communicators/debaters/speechgivers and all around retail politicians who will outwork their opponents 24/7

    But had to go with another one — Bachmann, a conservative so-con extraordinaire who deserved at least one supporter here at Race in the post-Huck, Pre-Perry hot summer days.

  152. teledude Says:

    148. I explained it.

    If you can’t see it, fine, fire away.

    I’m just here to help. :-)

  153. ogrepete Says:

    #143

    I have no knowledge of why Romney did not make room in his schedule initially to attend. You have no knowledge of that, either. To ascribe “fear” to his actions is just as baseless as someone ascribing it to a head cold or temporary insanity would be.

    If you want to be taken seriously, don’t make baseless accusations. If you want to make baseless accusations, anyway, be my guest.

  154. Sojourner Truth Says:

    143 – Dude. We all have our theories. All I said was that ascribing fear to both actions isn’t contradictory – as you asserted.

  155. teledude Says:

    Perry was against Governor Brewers efforts to secure the border in Arizona.

    Governor Palin went to Arizona in solidarity with Governor Brewer.

    Mitt was hiding under the bed.

    It’s a perfect example of what the voters will have to choose between.

    I cannot find a single example that Governor Pain doesn’t shine as the best candidate by far…all it’s going to take is a campaign and a comparison of records.

  156. CF Says:

    Obama recently attacked Conservatives by saying: “(T)hey’ll want a higher fence. Maybe they’ll need a moat. Maybe they want alligators in the moat.”

    So I guess Rick Perry is the lone “true Conservative” that agrees 100% with Obama on the border.

  157. jaxemer11 Says:

    144 – You said Perry’s policies were pro-growth, yet he doubled the size of the debt in Texas.

  158. Sojourner Truth Says:

    CF – Maybe Perry opened the borders to the very immigrants who would later work on Mitt’s lawn.

    I don’t know why Mitt would have a problem with it though.

    After all, he called McCain’s amnesty bill “reasonable” and thought it was a good idea.

  159. asparagus Says:

    Texas by law is required to balance its budget. Whatever doesn’t get covered gets passed down to counties and cities. That’s why Texas debt has doubled over Perry’s tenure. When it comes to making tough decisions, if it doesn’t make his friends rich, he punts. That is why Texas parents today are having to pay for school bus service in addition to their local property taxes, which, by the way, are also the highest in the country.

  160. jaxemer11 Says:

    147 – If your too stupid to know the difference between a fee and a tax, there isn’t anything I can do to help you.

  161. CF Says:

    158

    See, another example of attacking the messenger or ignoring the accusation. Why don’t you just defend the guy instead of attacking me for bringing it up?

  162. Sojourner Truth Says:

    Well – if “your” too stupid then you’re too stupid.

  163. jaxemer11 Says:

    151 – So your Bachmann support was just an act? You are a clown.

  164. casuist Says:

    How can any true Conservative want this guy as the President of the UNITED STATES if he is onboard with this stuff? This is the kind of stuff you hear conspiracies about, but never believe a real poltician wants it. The American public is being duped here by Perry big time.

    What are you talking about? So Perry wants good relations with his neighbours to the South. His state hosts an international border. Why would that be a problem for any conservative unless you assume conservatives are racist xenophobes or something–which, since you support Romney, you probably do.

  165. Sojourner Truth Says:

    161 – Because the whole point is that a mudslinging contest isn’t going to benefit the guy that the base already doesn’t like.

  166. asparagus Says:

    CF, why are you posting a John McCain quote or a La Raza quote on this Perry thread?

  167. CF Says:

    158

    How is Perry going to respond when he gets asked about his past liberal immigration policies? Romney already defended the illegals working on his lawn in 2008. Romney has been VETTED and raked over the coals over everything in his life. When is Perry and his supporters going to man up and defend it?

  168. jaxemer11 Says:

    159 – What doesn’t get paid for goes to debt. Perry is a fraud, and no one here seems to be able to defend him. Yet, they are all still in love with him. Pathetic!

  169. asparagus Says:

    164 so conservatives that oppose the free flow of labor from Mexico are racist? Is that Gov. Perry’s position. I’ll have to scour that book of his, if there are still any left in print.

  170. Perry/Bachmann for 2012! Says:

    159.

    Parents should have to pay for school transportation, you communist troll!

  171. asparagus Says:

    170 I do pay, through high property taxes. Perhaps you are suggesting we dismantle the public school system. Is that another Perry position?

  172. Sojourner Truth Says:

    I just don’t understand why the Romney supporters, whose #1 man was fine with John McCain’s bill – are now attacking Perry on immigration.

    It seems to me that they like the man, for one reason or another, more than they like his policies.

  173. Perry/Bachmann for 2012! Says:

    Jaxoff,

    The key words were POST-HUCK and PRE-PERRY

  174. jaxemer11 Says:

    170 – Wow! That is the perfect post from you. You can’t possibly believe that given the people you support and the things they advocate.

  175. casuist Says:

    159 – What doesn’t get paid for goes to debt. Perry is a fraud, and no one here seems to be able to defend him. Yet, they are all still in love with him. Pathetic!

    Rather than curse the immortal gods for placing Romney in a position where he no longer controls his own fate but must instead pray for Perry to implode, the question you should ask yourself is why your candidate underperforms among GOP primary voters. Why is your candidate so ineffective as a candidate? I wonder.

  176. jaxemer11 Says:

    173 – And you said it was because she deserved at least one supporter. Do you even have any principles?

  177. CF Says:

    165

    “Because the whole point is that a mudslinging contest isn’t going to benefit the guy that the base already doesn’t like.”

    Last I checked, as you RomNots have so gleefullly pointed out, the reason people don’t like Romney is because of his “moderate” record. Maybe it would benefit Romney and others in the race if people knew that Perry was liberal.

  178. teledude Says:

    Has Romney ever reduced the size of government?

    No.

    Has Perry?

    LOL.

    There is only one candidate who has actually done that.

    It’s not Tricky Ricky.

    It’s not Flip Floppney.

    It’s not the Happy Birthday you’re dead Girl.

    It’s not even the Von Mises student and Dr. of Libertarian Free Drugs who’s been running since 1948.

    The only candidate in either party who has actually reduced the size of government in real dollars is…

    Governor Sarah Palin from Alaska.

  179. MarqueG Says:

    146 & 150. That’s exemplary of the diplomatic rhetoric that the presidency requires.

    What would you expect the guy to say to a Mexican audience? “Get off your stinking wetback hides and get out of America, mofos!”

    BTW: When is the last time ultra-right immie killer Mitt “Rambo” Romney frisked his Guatemalan gardeners for their work permits (and insurance cards)?

  180. jaxemer11 Says:

    172 – Whose attacking? I just think people should know where he stands. Do you think he should hide it?

  181. Perry/Bachmann for 2012! Says:

    Talking to Rombots is like talking to five year olds.

    They are sooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo slow.

  182. asparagus Says:

    Romney has been consistent on illegal immigration. He opposed John McCain’s amnesty program, and stated that illegal immigrants not be given a place in line ahead of legal applicants.

  183. jaxemer11 Says:

    175 – More dodging. Why don’t you tell us about the greatness of Perry without making up crap like the idea that he supports pro-growth policies?

  184. Sojourner Truth Says:

    182 – Nyet.

    Top Romney Flip Flops: #5. Immigration:

    In a November 2005 interview with the Boston Globe, he described immigration reform proposal advanced by McCain as “reasonable.” He now denounces it as an “amnesty plan.” In December 2006, he signed agreement authorizing state troopers to round up illegal immigrants.

    http://www.ontheissues.org/2012/Mitt_Romney_Immigration.htm

  185. CF Says:

    184

    Again. DEFEND RICK PERRY. Stop dodging the accusation. Romney has been VETTED on his issues for 5 years in the national spotlight.

    DEFEND RICK PERRY. It’s simple.

  186. casuist Says:

    Last I checked, as you RomNots have so gleefullly pointed out, the reason people don’t like Romney is because of his “moderate” record. Maybe it would benefit Romney and others in the race if people knew that Perry was liberal.

    Perry a liberal? It’s a charge that won’t stick because it’s inconsistent with Perry’s general record. Tort reform. High employment. Energy sector growth. These sorts of things stick. Just like RomneyCare. RomneyCare sticks. Like glue.

  187. Sojourner Truth Says:

    185 – Why would I need to do that when every single Rombot attack can be turned back onto His Royal Mittness?

  188. casuist Says:

    DEFEND RICK PERRY. It’s simple.

    Yes, only I would prefer to talk about RomneyCare, a massive entitlement regime that Romney foisted on the people of MA, a progressive solution from a progressive candidate. Did you know RomneyCare would become the basis of ObamaCare? Yes. It’s true.

  189. Sojourner Truth Says:

    And despite being VETTED for five years – it’s funny how all of Romney’s flipfloppery is strangely still a force to behold.

    Maybe old flip flops are still flip flops?

  190. asparagus Says:

    If you don’t stop with the cute nicknames for Romney I’m going to have to go back to calling Perry, Rick P.Rick. None of us want that. Its really very juvenile.

  191. hamaca Says:

    Unfortunately, some of my fellow Rombots don’t get what this new crop of Romnots is all about. They are here purely for their own entertainment purposes to push the Rombot buttons–and they are clearly very talented at it.

    That’s why any counter regarding Perry’s record is met with a dodge and a clever change of subject back to Romney. It’s bobbing and weaving at it’s finest. No substance of course–no defending the indefensible (Perry). They take the art of spin to a new level–these guys are good!

  192. Perry/Bachmann for 2012! Says:

    What? Am I going to choose the co-architect (with his fellow liberal pal, Teddy Chappaquiddick Kennedy) of ObamneyCare mandates, exchanges, regulations, and subsidies OVER…

    Bachmann Makes List Of Congress’ Most Conservative – Politics …
    http://www.theindychannel.com/politics/28988753/detail.htm
    4 days ago – Jim DeMint takes the top spot as the most conservative legislator, but
    Bachmann is the highest ranking 2012 GOP presidential contender with a …

  193. casuist Says:

    Hotair is hyping Perry’s interview on some guy named Hannity’s show. Didn’t that guy used to be a Romney shill?

    Perry on Obama: How “smart” do you have to be to let the economy get this bad?
    http://hotair.com/archives/2011/08/30/perry-on-obama-how-smart-do-you-have-to-be-to-let-the-economy-get-this-bad/

  194. Sojourner Truth Says:

    Here’s what the Rombots need to understand…

    In NO UNIVERSE is Romney more conservative than Rick Perry.

    Romney has all sorts of smelly attributes that the GOP base doesn’t like.

    Tar and feather Perry but Romney’s warts are worse.

    And in a mud-flung battle where both candidates get covered, Romney CAN’T win.

    The base has rendered their judgement on Romney. The only way Romney wins the nomination is if he can point to reasons that the Republicans would WANT to vote for him.

    I don’t see any way he does that.

  195. Perry/Bachmann for 2012! Says:

    Bachmann Makes List Of Congress’ Most Conservative

    South Carolina GOP Sen. Jim Demint Takes Top Spot

    Washington (CNN) — Just how conservative is tea party darling Rep. Michele Bachmann?

    According to new rankings released Friday by Heritage Action, sister organization to the Heritage Foundation, a Washington right-wing think tank, the Minnesota congresswoman is the ninth most conservative congressional member.

    Described as “a comprehensive and revealing barometer of a lawmaker’s willingness to fight for conservative policies in Congress” on the organization’s website, the Heritage Foundation’s legislative scorecard ranks members based on decisions made through “30 votes and 5 co-sponsorship scores in the House and “19 votes and 4 co-sponsorship scores in the Senate.”

    The scorecard compares each congressional vote against a “preferred” vote by Heritage Action, the grassroots arm of Heritage Foundation, one of the oldest and most-recognized conservative policy centers in the nation.

    South Carolina GOP Sen. Jim DeMint takes the top spot as the most conservative legislator, but Bachmann is the highest ranking 2012 GOP presidential contender with a score of 94 percent.

    Texas Rep. Ron Paul scored 76 percent, followed by Michigan Rep. Thad McCotter at 68 percent.

    http://www.theindychannel.com/politics/28988753/detail.html

  196. casuist Says:

    The base has rendered their judgement on Romney. The only way Romney wins the nomination is if he can point to reasons that the Republicans would WANT to vote for him.

    This would require a level of pandering so intense that time would move backwards. Rivers would run uphill.

  197. asparagus Says:

    192 – you mean The Heritage Foundation system of exchanges and mandates. Exchanges are a good idea, at least on a state level. It becomes burdensome when absorbed by the mammoth federal government. Why you kneejerk people can’t embrace that concept is beyond me. The fact that none of you can propose a system where people who are uninsurable can get health coverage is a testament that despite the bugs in the system, Romneycare is the best health care plan this country has, as witnessed by the coverage rates, as opposed to the rest of the country.

    But what do I expect from Perry backers. They don’t care if it works or not. They don’t care if Joe Blow who makes minimum wage can afford or qualify for health insurance.

    As for the regulations, the regulations have always been there and I challenge you to present to me a Rick Perry health plan in Texas that doesn’t have regulations. Try running on that in a general election. Women in this country will run you out of office. Romney’s plan actually relaxed health care regulations. Its not his fault if Dems went ahead and made more regulations. They could have done that with or without the new system.

  198. teledude Says:

    194. Let the mud slinging begin!

    I think pretty as a picture and smelling like a rose will be quite advantageous to Governor Palin.

    Of course I’m talking about her stellar record of frugal conservative governance that these two guys can’t hold a candle to.

  199. casuist Says:

    192 – you mean The Heritage Foundation system of exchanges and mandates.

    I just never grow tired of refuting this ridiculous lie!

    Mitt Romney’s Romneycare dilemma: Heritage Foundation disowns mandates

    Continue reading on Examiner.com Mitt Romney’s Romneycare dilemma: Heritage Foundation disowns mandates – Boston Top News | Examiner.com http://www.examiner.com/top-news-in-boston/mitt-romney-s-romneycare-dilemma-heritage-foundation-disowns-mandates#ixzz1WYZRRFcp

    Please keep defending RomneyCare’s mandates! Please-please-please!

  200. Ogrepete Says:

    #191

    Amen, brother.

  201. Fredrick (Romney/West) Says:

    You know, I must conclude that Craig for Losers (who I was beginning to respect), Sojourner Trust, and Casuist are nothing but complete @$$HOLES!!!

    DEFEND PERRY, YOU IMBECILES!!!!!

  202. asparagus Says:

    What Romney needs to do is run on results. The results in Texas are not miraculous. Perry is leaving the state in a mess. Romney left his state in better shape than he inherited. Perry did the opposite. He also can potray Perry as callous and lazy. He doesn’t have much interest in the consequences of his policies. If I’m a senior Floridian, his callousness towards the ponzi scheme that keeps food on my table would be troubling.

  203. casuist Says:

    But what do I expect from Perry backers. They don’t care if it works or not. They don’t care if Joe Blow who makes minimum wage can afford or qualify for health insurance.

    You should consider it a failure of your imagination if a collectivist solution is your only answer to this problem. Either that or your a progressive, like Romney, which is perfectly OK but you shouldn’t count on a lot of support from conservatives.

  204. Perry/Bachmann for 2012! Says:

    193.

    Yeah, that Ivy League education sure is overrated in Obama’s case. I’m sure he’s not the only one.

    Remember..

    “I’d rather entrust the government of the United States to the first 400 people listed in the Boston telephone directory than to the faculty of Harvard University.” -William F. Buckley, Jr.

  205. casuist Says:

    DEFEND PERRY, YOU IMBECILES!!!!!

    Oh, pluh-eeze. I get tired of praising Perry. I would prefer to talk about RomneyCare, a massive entitlement regime that Romney foisted on the people of MA, a progressive solution from a progressive candidate. Did you know RomneyCare would become the basis of ObamaCare? Yes. It’s true.

  206. Ogrepete Says:

    Casuist doesn’t live in the US. I’m betting he doesn’t even get to vote in our elections.

    Why, then, is he posting 7 billion times a day on a US political blog?

    Because he’s a professional arguer. Feed the beast at your own peril. Why try and convince someone who probably doesn’t even get to vote that he should change his mind? WHY???

  207. teledude Says:

    There is no defense of this.

    It is fatal.

    http://thespeechatimeforchoosing.wordpress.com/2011/08/30/the-letter-in-which-rick-perry-praises-hillary-clinton-for-her-socialized-medicine-scheme-shows-a-pattern/

  208. CF Says:

    205

    Look at this little turd in front of his computer.

    https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-weE7h8vR-gs/AAAAAAAAAAI/AAAAAAAAAJQ/q5PEX38Ndfw/photo.jpg?sz=200

  209. Perry/Bachmann for 2012! Says:

    Please feel free to keep defending ObamneyCare all the way up to the IA, NH, SC, and FL primaries and caucus.

    Don’t hold back for a day, Mittens. You gotta believe!!!

  210. Sojourner Truth Says:

    207 – It’s not fatal. It’s not even a wimper. All he said was that he hoped that Hillary remember rural farmers in the very preliminary talks about health care legislation. There was no bill, there was no Perry support for a bill. Perry never said he would approve anything like the HillaryCare legislation.

    And who is going to challenge him on that? Romney? Romney actually TOLD John Judis that he supported John Chafee’s bill which included a national mandate. Then he went on to implement a state-level one after he was narrowly elected to a single term as governor.

    If that is what the Rombots are relying on as a “Get out of RomneyCare Free” card they are in big big big trouble.

  211. casuist Says:

    Casuist doesn’t live in the US. I’m betting he doesn’t even get to vote in our elections.

    Attacking the messenger!? I’m shocked! Why, I thought Romney supporters as a group strove to emulate the dignity and the bearing of your candidate … oh, wait … you do.

    For the record, I am a U.S. citizen who votes in PA, a critical swing state if the polling is accurate.

  212. Ogrepete Says:

    I remember thinking Casuist had a very nice looking family and is probably a great guy. He’s also a card sharp in a game of Texas Hold ‘Em. We Romney fans are the “marks” in his Sting Operation.

    Again, arguing with a professional arguer seems rather pointless.

  213. casuist Says:

    Look at this little t*** in front of his computer.

    Hey, way to front for your candidate!

  214. Perry/Bachmann for 2012! Says:

    Romney: “No apologies for Romneycare’s mandates, regulations, exchanges, and federal subsidies!!! Never ever!!! I’m proud of my program — my crowning achievement!!!”

    Oh yeah, that will get him the nomination. The Democrat’s nom…

  215. CF Says:

    Edit: OK, this comment is too much for me… You are banned from commenting for two-weeks.-KWN

  216. Franklin Says:

    If Arizona goes ahead with its primary on Jan. 31, forfeiting half its delegates for violating RNC rules, Florida is expected to jump ahead too, perhaps squeezing in on Saturday, Jan. 28. South Carolina, to keep its first southern primary, would likely land on or around Tuesday Jan 24. That would in turn push Nevada’s caucuses to sometime around Saturday, Jan. 21. New Hampshire’s first-in-the-nation primary would shift to Jan. 10. And that would land the lead off caucuses in Iowa on Jan 2.
    =============================================
    The most likely scenario I’ve seen if Arizona moves to Jan 31 then Florida moves to Jan 24. If NH sticks to allowing 7 days before the next contest then Iowa could be forced into December.

  217. casuist Says:

    “Get out of RomneyCare Free”

    ftw.

  218. CF Says:

    213

    “Hey, way to front for your candidate!”

    That wasn’t a front for my candidate. Just making fun of someone who looked like they crawled out of my butt. :)

  219. Ogrepete Says:

    Casuist has a link to Leon Trotsky’s Internet Archive on his website. Not the first think I think of when I think of staunch Conservatism.

    And I hope you vote Republican in PA. It’s a nice state, though it is certainly aging quickly. I lived there briefly in 1997.

  220. casuist Says:

    Rick Perry loves taking little girls, tying them down to see if they’re whores and shoving needles up them.

    Uh-oh, guys. The Rombats are going insane.

  221. casuist Says:

    Casuist has a link to Leon Trotsky’s Internet Archive on his website. Not the first think I think of when I think of staunch Conservatism.

    Then you haven’t read The Revolution Betrayed.

  222. CF Says:

    220

    Would you be cool if Rick Perry came into your house and do that to your little girl? I think the answer would be, “HELL YES!”

  223. Sojourner Truth Says:

    Hahaha. Like I said earlier, CF is the Rosenberg of the Rombots.

    He has to be a double agent. A plant. There’s not a soul in the world that will lead waivering Republicans into the arms of someone other than Romney like CF.

  224. teledude Says:

    Don’t you guys see how much happier you would all be if you just came over from the dark side and admitted it.

    Governor Palin is the answer.

    All this drama is a disconcerting…it can’t be helpful.

    Look to the light.

  225. CF Says:

    219

    casuist isn’t a Conservative. He’s a liberal plant, just look at his blog. Every other word he slams the Tea Party.

  226. Sojourner Truth Says:

    224 – Oh come on, tele.

    I’m having fun :)

  227. Ogrepete Says:

    #221

    I’m betting no more than one person (you) on this board has read that. Should I read it?

  228. Rightgal. Says:

    38. I think I’ll take a pass on watching ms. quitter queen speak. My ears can’t take it, and I promised the family to spend time with them.

  229. Perry/Bachmann for 2012! Says:

    215.

    Wow, is Romney doing that bad you have to stoop so low?

  230. Perry/Bachmann for 2012! Says:

    Rightgal,

    But they’re gonna get 2,000 PEOPLE from all over the country to show up for three hours. Can you believe it? Not one thousand but twoooo. ;)

  231. Perry/Bachmann for 2012! Says:

    CF,

    Tea party and non tea party supporters all agree, Obamneycare MUST go.

  232. Ogrepete Says:

    #215 was bad.

    It’s quoted in #220, Kavon, if you want to get rid of that one, too.

  233. Franklin Says:

    Perry balanced his 11 budgets just like Huck did!
    =================================================
    “Turns out Texas was the state that depended the most on those very stimulus funds to plug nearly 97% of its shortfall for fiscal 2010, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures.

    Texas, which crafts a budget every two years, was facing a $6.6 billion shortfall for its 2010-2011 fiscal years. It plugged nearly all of that deficit with $6.4 billion in Recovery Act money, allowing it to leave its $9.1 billion rainy day fund untouched”

    “Much of the overall savings came through cuts to university and state agency budgets, but the bulk of it came from accounting sleight-of-hand and putting off the biggest problems until lawmakers come back in 2013. At that point, lawmakers will be bound by the balanced budget law to tap the Rainy Day Fund to cover any existing deficit and House rules will require fewer votes to do it.

    In Texas, the elected state comptroller — currently a Republican — can certify the budget is balanced if the spending does not exceed the revenues she expects over the next two years. That leaves lawmakers with a lot of leeway to use ploys that have been practiced for more than a century.

    The first accounting shift was to delay a $2.3 billion payment owed to public schools in 2012-2013 by one day, so that the bill isn’t technically due until 2014, thereby going into the next budget. The new budget also assumes there will be no growth in the number of school children in Texas, even though it is one of the fastest-growing states in the nation.

    Republican leaders came up with another $800 million on paper by ordering the Legislative Budget Board, essentially the Legislature’s accountants, to forecast a faster increase in land values in order to show more property tax income for schools.

    But all the deferred bills and payments will come due eventually, and the Republican victory in not tapping the $6.5 billion Rainy Day Fund is for this year only. Conservative lawmakers readily admit that one of the first things they’ll do when they come back in 2013 is tap that resource.

    “This is a really big deal,” Sen. Steve Ogden, R-Bryan, said. “We cannot kick the can down the road on everything.”

    The Texas budget is balanced on paper only. If Perry were the CEO of a private company, he would be the guest at a government hotel where you are a
    number rather than a name.

  234. Ogrepete Says:

    Franklin.

    Are you a Palin fan? I’ve mostly seen you attack Romney, but here you are attacking Rick Perry.

  235. Perry/Bachmann for 2012! Says:

    Frankie,

    If Perry can get America back to work and balance the US budget on paper, I’ll call that a GREAT START!

  236. thetruth Says:

    I no know that most of you Perrywinckle supporters don’t really know what a conservative is. Look it up, it will NOT have a picture of Perry. When the perry implosion happens it will be a slow day on this blog.

  237. Perry/Bachmann for 2012! Says:

    Intrade gives Frankie, Telly, and Frenchy’s candidate about a one in three chance of running..

    Will Sarah Palin announce a run for President?

    Last Trade : 35.6 -2.5

  238. Perry/Bachmann for 2012! Says:

    236.

    I prefer Perrydoodles if you wanna know the truth. :)

  239. Founders Says:

    This whole notion of who is favorable and unfavorable should be banished from consideration. The category should change to who we think is qualified. The choices should be: Highly qualified, qualified, not qualified, absolutely not qualified or something like that.

    I challenge all of you, and all voters in America, to pretend they are on the hiring committee to pick a new CEO for America.

    First off, decide what skills you’d be looking for, what experience would be relevant, and what education would be a requirement.

    Keep in mind that the selected candidate will be running the largest and most important enterprise in the free world and nearly every person on earth will be affected by the job they do.

    Picking a President is serious business and we shouldn’t base our decision on feelings or trivial concerns.

    In picking the best CEO for America, it matters not whether they are from Texas or New England or whether their Sunday mornings are spent inside a Methodist Church or a Mormon Church. If their feet are shod with cowboy boots or Ferragamo loafers should matter to no one. If we were picking a CEO for any organization, those questions would never even be entertained. We’d only be looking for evidence of competence and considering whether they could do the job. Whether we’d feel comfortable having a beer with someone? Honestly, including that in the mix of considerations is wholly reckless.

    America is in trouble. Tremendous challenges lie ahead for us. The founding fathers entrusted this great land to the collective wisdom of her people. They placed the reins in our hands and believed we would take stewardship of the country seriously. We must prove to them we are worthy of their trust.

    I don’t believe for one second that the voters considered any of the above in 2008. They treated Obama like a contestant on American Idol. There was nothing in his resume’ to suggest he was qualified for the job he sought but because Americans became enraptured in his words and moved by the narrative of his ‘improbable journey’ through life they selected him for the most important position in the world. His selection has proved to be a colossal mistake. I’m certain our founders would be stunned by the lack of serious thought we applied to our decision.

    I see consideration being given to attributes of candidates that truly don’t matter and polls measuring things that are irrelevant but ultimately we must go beyond those considerations. For there were brave men with names like Jefferson, Adams, and Franklin that risked it all to give us this land and all that it represents. They believed in the notion of self-governance.

    We must exercise great care in picking the next man or woman to lead us. I think our very existence depends on whether we pick another likable person whose story appeals to us or we pick a competent, qualified person with the skill to lead us through these perilous times.

  240. Ogrepete Says:

    Casuist.

    Loved the Keynes vs. Hayek Sequel Preview video you have in Tumblr. That video was flat out AWESOME! Rather strange seeing the audience just look passively at the stage, but what else are a group of economists going to do?

  241. Perry/Bachmann for 2012! Says:

    On Fox News just now, O’Reilly (a Rombot) emphatically said there is “NO WAY” Romney can run to the right of Perry — who is much more conservative.

  242. Matt Y. Says:

    #121:

    75. Not always, Huck is just as conservative (I’d argue more) than Perry, but Huck got reamed by Rush and the gang while Perry, only heaven knows why, is their darling.

    Might be because Perry hasn’t called the Club for Growth the “Club for Greed.” Perry might come across as more of a “true believer” on fiscal issues, even if their records are similar. He’s less willing to challenge orthodoxy, and more likely to make bombastic or far-out statements on Social Security, Medicare, bank regulations, the Fed, that sort of thing. Huck, on the other hand, did not come across as a hard-core “true believer” on anything but social issues. Certainly he was no “liberal” economically speaking, but he and Perry don’t come across alike.

  243. Matt Y. Says:

    Ogrepete, #140: I tend to agree with you.

  244. ogrepete Says:

    Thanks, Matt Y. :)

  245. Matt Y. Says:

    101 – Since when did doubling the state’s debt become a pro-growth policy? Never mind. It isn’t worth the time to argue with you anymore.

    I’m not much of a Perry fan, and I’d prefer various candidates including Romney and Palin over Perry, but perhaps I can answer, since these Perry shills (Casuist and Craig, especially) are so obstinate.

    It could be argued that “pro-growth” is not as broad a term as “conservative.” I think “pro-growth” does not encompass all economic policy, such as spending or balancing the budget, but only policy on taxes, regulations, and other things to encourage job growth. Perry has raised some taxes, but lowered others, including a $15.7 billion reduction in property taxes. Texas has no state income tax, and it also has low regulation, and anti-union laws, all policies which Perry has supported or maintained. So it could be argued that Perry has been largely pro-growth; the size of the Texas debt doesn’t have much to do with that. However, doubling the debt certainly has not been a “conservative” policy of Perry’s, nor a good one for the state’s future. So while Perry has been “pro-growth,” I am wary of him as possibly another “big-government conservative” like George W. Bush.

  246. Perry/Bachmann for 2012! Says:

    Founders,

    I hear what you’re saying – but I’m just not sure if Herman Cain can defeat Obama.

    I know Perry can and it’s always best to elect the most conservative candidate that we can get by with.

  247. LV Says:

    ……If the Tea Party and the religious right voters take the Republican party to the far right wing edges of the Republican party and nominate Rick Perry, then the Republicans who are left would either stay home or they would be looking for someone else to vote for in the General election.. Enough independent voters would go back to Obama with enough support to reelect him for another 4 years… with the GOP in shambles, and the voter’s scattered the Republicans would likely lose the House.

  248. Perry/Bachmann for 2012! Says:

    Of course, Perry’s been pro growth. You don’t create half the jobs in America otherwise.

  249. Perry/Bachmann for 2012! Says:

    LV,

    I guarantee that if the economy remains poor with unemployment high, Perry will win in a breeze.

    Get on board or get out of the way!

  250. casusit Says:

    If the Tea Party and the religious right voters take the Republican party to the far right wing edges of the Republican party and nominate Rick Perry

    Wot? I thought Perry was a “liberal” according to the Rombat chorus. Now he’s too far right.

  251. LV Says:

    #249 Perry/Bachmann…

    Did you say something?

  252. ogrepete Says:

    #249

    I lose track of which train you’re riding. Is this train #3, or train #4???

  253. MarqueG Says:

    If the Tea Party and the religious right voters take the Republican party to the far right wing edges of the Republican party

    Wait, wasn’t the constant refrain from the Choir Rombotic four years ago that Mitt was the consummate three-legged-stool Republican, to whose right there would be no breathable air?

  254. casusit Says:

    Wait, wasn’t the constant refrain from the Choir Rombotic four years ago that Mitt was the consummate three-legged-stool Republican, to whose right there would be no breathable air?

    I remember the 3 legged stool line. The Rombats would assess all their rivals with claims like “he only has one leg”! or something. That was the Romney version that demanded that we double Guantanamo because he thought it made him sound manly instead of heartbreakingly naive. The other candidates wept tears of laughter behind their podiums once they got over their stunned silence at Romney’s self-immolation. Good times. Great memories. Sigh.

  255. Matt Y. Says:

    ……If the Tea Party and the religious right voters take the Republican party to the far right wing edges of the Republican party and nominate Rick Perry, then the Republicans who are left would either stay home or they would be looking for someone else to vote for in the General election.

    The “far right wing edges?” Perry has made some far-right statements, but what about his opposition to a border fence with Mexico, or to the Arizona immigration law? What about Gardisil? What about doubling the state debt? Perry can’t be pinned down as a far-right extremist, but neither is a moderate to the left of Romney. Perry-nots have to get the story straight. I see him, on the negative side, as part nutty far-right winger, part phony panderer, part crony capitalist, and part big-government conservative. Positively, I see him as part pro-growth governor, part genuine social conservative, and part moderate/pragmatic, when the situation calls for it. All these positives and negatives are wrapped in one package that would be much better than Obama, at least. But I think all of our candidates would be better than Obama.

    What about the Republicans who would be left if Romney were to be nominated? Do you care about them? I think the Party should come together for either candidate (or Palin, Bachmann, etc.).

  256. Matt Y. Says:

    Oops, blockquote fail. Apologies.

  257. casusit Says:

    Oops, blockquote fail. Apologies.

    Formatting aside, your argument is splendid.

  258. Robin from Indiana Says:

    59. Wow. I swear you were going to say, “I’m only here to help at the end of that sentence.”

  259. Robin from Indiana Says:

    Correction: “I’m only here to help.” Excuse me, I was thinking of the great Smacks when I was typing that.

  260. Robin from Indiana Says:

    What is this about Rick Perry’s support for bi-national health insurance with Mexico?
    http://www.redstate.com/rightwingnut2/2011/08/28/rick-perry-wanted-bi-national-health-insurance-with-mexico/

  261. Robin from Indiana Says:

    I’d also like to know why people are not making more of the fact that Rick Perry supported letting children of illegal immigrants attend Texas colleges at resident rates:

    “We must say to every Texas child learning in a Texas classroom, “we don’t care where you come from, but where you are going, and we are going to do everything we can to help you get there.” And that vision must include the children of undocumented workers. That’s why Texas took the national lead in allowing such deserving young minds to attend a Texas college at a resident rate. Those young minds are a part of a new generation of leaders, the doors of higher education must be open to them. The message is simple: educacion es el futuro, y si se puede.”

  262. TEX Says:

    Ian Lazaran:

    “High level Iowa Republicans tell TheIowaRepublican.com that Sarah Palin will fly to New Hampshire following her September 3rd appearance in central Iowa”.
    =================================

    But,but,but…..she’s not running,she will not run,according to PDS suffering degenerates,Libs,corrupt and frightened GOP Quislings and
    the rest of Palin haters.

    Why would she deliver major speech in Iowa(of all places) and then fly
    to N. Hampshire?!

    Makes no sense!
    Does it?!

  263. TEX Says:

    @shushwalshe Shushannah Walshe
    SarahPAC confirms that Palin will speak at the Tea Party Express event in NH on Labor Day.
    …………………….

    The morons must be right!

    Sarah Palin is not running!

  264. casuist Says:

    Romney is dead wrong about climate change, new studies show:

    http://opinion.financialpost.com/2011/08/26/lawrence-solomon-science-now-settled/

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