Politico has an interesting piece up about Perry’s campaign relaunch, as he attempts to resurrect his chances in the primary race. The relaunch begins with the tax plan announcement today in South Carolina, and then moves to stage two: a blitzkrieg of negative advertisements, focused like a laser at Mitt Romney.
A negative ad campaign is the specialty of Rick Scott’s campaign team — which Rick Perry hired yesterday. And according to Republican operatives, this thing is going to get ugly:
“[T]hey believe that if they can kill Romney, no one else can get the nomination but Perry,” Castellanos said. “I expect that a few Perry positives will soon hit the TV airwaves, but they will just be cover for a brutal assault on Romney from the Perry campaign and his super PAC.”
He warned: “Perry won’t just go negative. He’ll make your television bleed and beg for mercy.”
One Republican operative familiar with the work of Perry’s new team expressed concern that the coming campaign could be so negative as to “jeopardize the general election.”
“They want to destroy Romney, and they don’t care if there is no GOP elephant left,” the operative said. “Total destroy mission. And Perry’s bought into it.”
Another Republican braced for a savage assault on Romney that could weaken the GOP for the fight against President Barack Obama: “If there’s no party left, there’s no party left, and that’s what Axelrod and Obama’s guys are hoping for.” (Emphasis mine.)
Rick Perry has $15 million to spend on this “savage assault”… and whether you’re a Romney fan or not, you’ve got to be concerned about Team Perry’s attitude. This does not bode well for the party after the primary is over.
October 25th, 2011 at 11:58 am
Cain’s attack dogs, Huntsman and Perry on a mission…
October 25th, 2011 at 11:58 am
Let’s see if this happens and if the media picks it up. Perry’s advisers might be more interested in burning bridges than he is.
However if Perry does this you know Romney will reciprocate. No one will be left standing.
That probably guarantees an Obama re-election and a Democratic House.
October 25th, 2011 at 11:59 am
But here’s the thing:
Perry wants to destroy Romney because he believes Romney is the only thing that stands between himself and the nomination.
Problem is, Perry’s going to damage himself in this whole thing, and Romney’s going to maintain at least 15% support no matter what.
Perry’s picking a losing battle.
October 25th, 2011 at 12:00 pm
If the party allows this to happen, I will forever leave the party. It is time to drum Rick Perry out of the Republican Party…..
October 25th, 2011 at 12:01 pm
egs, unfortunately I think you are correct. If Perry goes nuclear on Mitt, it sets off a chain of events that greatly boosts Obama’s re-election chances. And the chance that we not only fail to take the Senate, but lose the House as well. All for some childish personal vendetta by one of the worst GOP candidates I’ve seen in my lifetime.
October 25th, 2011 at 12:02 pm
Believe Romney has about as much money as Perry. Not to mention that he has VERY DEEP POCKET, should he need to supplement that war chest.. TWO can play that game…
October 25th, 2011 at 12:05 pm
Rick Perry, one corrupt politician, linking up with another THIEF,, Rick Scott, stole billions of tax payers dollars in fraud medicare payments, then paid a, fine.. HE should have gone to prison..
October 25th, 2011 at 12:05 pm
And you all thought perry switched from being a democrat all those years ago. Nope, he’s still fighting the fight for the enemy.
October 25th, 2011 at 12:06 pm
#4, I will be right there with you. I will leave this party that I have been a member of since 1964.. WATCH ME…
October 25th, 2011 at 12:07 pm
#5 I don’t think it’s a personal vendetta. I think this is how Perry operated in Texas and his advisers don’t see the problem with doing it nationally.
I’m still a little skeptical this will materialize. He has to know that the nomination won’t be worth anything if the party is demoralized and divided.
October 25th, 2011 at 12:07 pm
Go for it, cowboy. I guess the 11 year old girls in your state weren’t enough of a target. I have no sympathy for this guy.
October 25th, 2011 at 12:07 pm
Given the level of corruption during Perry’s Pay to Play tenure, one wonders how much money Obama’s paying Perry to play this way.
There are probably 6% of the Party who will prefer collective suicide to running Romney, so Perry’s numbers probably won’t go down any further…..but they won’t go up much. After Romney wins the nomination, they will leave a lot of ammunition for the Obama attack machine to use in the General.
The other thing that will happen, as always happens with large-scale unfair attacks, is that the forces of sanity in the party will rally behind the man being attacked.
This will cohere most of the party behind Mitt.
October 25th, 2011 at 12:08 pm
He made a statment that his likes and policies would not change, ONLY this time there would be an R by his name…
October 25th, 2011 at 12:15 pm
So for those of you anti-Romney folk that dislike him because of his “scorched earth” tactics last time and feel like that turned you off heavily against him – does the same apply to the presumed tactic to be used by the Perry campaign?
This seems like a non-winning strategy by bringing somebody down to your level instead of trying to raise yourself to theirs – but as I have witnessed over the last number of weeks – I do not believe DinglePerry is capable of “bringing himself up” so this may be his only choice left.
Pitty that pride and money will drive this guy to these lengths. Even Romney didn’t go to the point of having staff say they were going to “savagely assault” and “totally destroy” his primary opponents. Once he saw the writing on the wall he graciously bowed out. I can almost guarantee that DinglePerry will not say a word to Romney once he has it locked up.
October 25th, 2011 at 12:16 pm
This again isn’t about conservatism and never was. This is about power where power should never have gone in the first place in the Republican party. Politics can be won on honesty or flat out nasty negativity. One requires patience.
The best strategy for Romney now is to go full on positive. Let Perry punch himself out. Romney has a lot of energy as a candidate. I would put up candidate against negative campaign strategy any day. You have to have a competent candidate and I’m confident that Romney is that. Put Romney on all the shows. Buy some radio and TV strategically. However, nothing will say more than for Romney himself going on every show imaginable swinging at Obama allowing the media to ask questions about the attacks and answering them directly.
October 25th, 2011 at 12:17 pm
Folks, while Huntsman, Romney, and Perry atack, attack, and attack — Cain continues to go with an UPLIFTING positive campaign (as Reagan would do per his most wise 11th Commandment.)
Herman’s newest ads on Rush’s national shows … including the two LARGEST radio stations in IOWA are up and running this morn..
October 25th, 2011 at 12:18 pm
Perry:
Support – 6%, down from 30%
Money – $15 million
Baggage level: Very large
Achilles Heel: Corruption
Romney:
Support – 25%, up from a year-long average of roughly 22%
Money – $15 million
Baggage level: Large
Achilles Heel: RomneyCare
Winner: Romney.
October 25th, 2011 at 12:21 pm
15. I agree 100% I hope that Romney just lets the frothing dog get put down because he is seen as a danger instead of trying to fight with him.
Don’t wrestle with the pig! You both get dirty and the pig likes it.
October 25th, 2011 at 12:22 pm
15 million in neg ads in Iowa. Who ever won the Iowa cacus with 15 million in neg ads? I mean Gerharpt in 2004, Romney stop huck in 08?
October 25th, 2011 at 12:25 pm
After these two get through destroying eachother, look for Newt some serious gains in the polling.
October 25th, 2011 at 12:27 pm
19
Yes, you are right. Newt will benefit best out of this whole thing by being the positive candidate.
That is, if Romney stoops to Perry’s level… Something his campaign seemed ready to do in recent weeks but seems to have thought of things more closely.
October 25th, 2011 at 12:28 pm
Absolutely disgusting! Unfortunately, I believe every word of this. No one will vote for Perry because of this, but this might just reelect Obama. What a scumbag idiot!
October 25th, 2011 at 12:28 pm
Well, since I believe Perry is a sorry excuse for a badly needed RESPONSIBLE ADULT in the Republican party to run for POTUS…….and….I don’t trust the evil forces with EITHER letter beside their name (D or R)……PRAYERS for our country, for our way of life, for our liberties.
Another 4 years of Obama and I don’t know how we can recover. (Not to mention the DAMAGE he will do between now and then…..and after his election loss!)
October 25th, 2011 at 12:29 pm
People (non-Romney people) need to call Perry out for this if it gets too bad. This is not the direction we need to be going.
October 25th, 2011 at 12:31 pm
15 – Yep. Romney needs to ignore this guy. Defend himself when asked questions, but focus on Obama. Don’t legitimize this scumbag any more.
October 25th, 2011 at 12:33 pm
If you were here in Florida for the Scott-McCollum primary, you know how nasty Scott’s people can be. I mean really, truly, despicable attacks.
This is why Romney has kept the gas on the anti-Perry machine flowing.
October 25th, 2011 at 12:33 pm
Honestly, while I hate Obama’s policies and hate his ideology. And while I hate his smug attitude at times. I would prefer him over Perry any day of the week.
October 25th, 2011 at 12:34 pm
Romney co-attack dog – Huntsman almost offended one billion Chinese last night but Comedy Central censors bailed him out thankfully.
ABC News:
October 25th, 2011 at 12:34 pm
16. Craig – did you not see the 2nd released ad from Cain’s campaign? Even talking negatively about two other candidates being “negative” is still negative. No matter how you slice it. But if he wants to think he’s above the fray then more power to him.
October 25th, 2011 at 12:34 pm
I almost hope some news about an affair or something comes out against Perry soon. This guy needs to go now.
October 25th, 2011 at 12:36 pm
Hmmmmm,
You don’t suppose that this is what Mitt and his team planned on all along when they released that last anti-Perry ad? To goad Perry into going nuclear?
This should get interesting.
October 25th, 2011 at 12:37 pm
Craig,
Are you all
behind your 
?
October 25th, 2011 at 12:39 pm
I don’t see the attacks from Perry hurting Romney in a general election since most of what Perry will throw at him will be “Romney is a moderate, not a conservative”.
If anything, it will be much harder for Obama to paint Romney as some sort of extremist later to independent voters in the general, which is the only real play Obama has left in this current economic environment.
Money will no doubt tighten this race, but right now Perry is in 5th or 6th place in most national and state polls. Also, the latest “birther” nonsense is only going to hurt him more. I don’t see a plausible path for victory.
I do think though Romney needs to go nuclear on Perry and kick him while he’s still down. Perry is not the only one with a big war chest, and the money is still flowing to Romney unlike Perry.
October 25th, 2011 at 12:40 pm
30 – Interesting thought. I am sure of one thing — this won’t make anyone like Perry any more than they do right now. Maybe the Romney people think if they can get Perry to go nuclear now, he will be a non-issue a month from now.
October 25th, 2011 at 12:41 pm
32 – The problem is no one is reporting on the “birther nonsense”. Perry gets a lot of passes in the media. Part of that is because he is so low in the polls. Part of it is because the media hates Mitt.
October 25th, 2011 at 12:41 pm
I just pray the Romney camp has their marbles in order enough to hit back. hard.
Yes, negative campaigning is unpopular. But its also effective. If you ask me, the problem Romney had when he went after Huckabee was the fact that he softballed his criticisms, while his opponents had no such problem holding back.
A negative ad that starts out “two good men” just makes you look weak.
This is Romney chance to expose Perry for the blubbering, jibbering, hypocritical, no-nothing idiot that he is. Go for it.
October 25th, 2011 at 12:41 pm
If Romney plays this right, if he can deflect Perry in a somehow positive way… It could be a chance to refute all the lies that have become conventional wisdom, but are simply not true.
What is there to use against Romney? Mormonism, yes, that can be attacked and is, but we always come out the winner when they go after us, because the stuff they say is so opposite of what people’s personal experience with us is. I don’t want to see it, it is personally painful, but it will backfire on them, I’m sure of it.
Plus, there is a sense of fairness that kicks in for normal people and I just don’t think attacking Mormonism will work, we have been here for 200 years, if Joseph Smith was the horrible person they claim he was–the doctrines would have collapsed and we would be a bunch of depraved child molesters, ripping off money, and murdering, committing mass suicide or something, by now.
The fact that Mormons are who we are, just makes their claims stupid!!!
Besides, if we want to do a tit for tat, Baptists and Evangelicals are not going to come out all sparkly clean… they really should tread lightly here, there is a “Christian” past, especially in the South, that is better left unsaid!
What else is negative? A couple of companies Mitt worked with fired some people. But he was successful with about 95% of them so that is easy. He can be portrayed as successful, but not crooked, so most people would like to be him, be condemn him, I think.
The flip flop thing is too easy to turn around on Perry and all the others. They all flip flop, Perry couldn’t even stick what he put in his book for 6 months. Perry can’t get a way with it.
Mitt used a lawn company who hired illegals… who hasn’t? Or knows for sure they haven’t? Besides, private behavior is far different than public policy, and Perry already lost that battle.
Dishonesty, that has been a claim… it is hard to prove who is telling the truth, I think Mitt does need to boost his image on honesty. He is at least as honest as everyone else, I think more honest, but that is something that is a stereotype of Mormons that sticks… or maybe it is crazy, I don’t know but I know that attack works to some extent.
Perry will be harmed really bad with an attack on Mitt’s honesty. And so will all those who wanted to keep the wraps on the true author of the mandate in healthcare… Lot’s of dishonesty going around the Party.
Romney does need to find the way to counter the dishonest attack, it is simple and hard to fight.
What other negatives?
Not family issues, he strapped a dog crate on top of his car thirty years ago… But he didn’t go hunting last week-end… animal rights seems a long shot.
He didn’t support the NRA terribly strongly one time. But since then I think they endorsed him.
What can Perry go after him for? Religion and a false narrative about honesty. Which in the end would actually help Mitt because he is known for honesty in business and stuff so I think his real record for keeping promises would be helpful, not harmful.
I’m sorry this was so long… thinking out loud, you know?
But I don’t think Perry can destroy Mitt with negativity. I just don’t think this will work. There isn’t enough dirt out to do it! Mitt has been vetted.
Lying about Mitt will work, until the lies are exposed… I guess it depends.
Perry did beat Kay Hutchison and she seems pretty honest and clean, so he knows how to do something negative against good people.
October 25th, 2011 at 12:44 pm
I almost think that Romney put out he negative ads first to put them out there anticipating blow back. Maybe they know that Perry was going to negative all along and now they can use that blow back in their favor – kind a rope a dope.
Romney got what he needed from the last debate. He bit back enough to please some people and enough for those who don’t like to him to try and bring him down to Perry’s level.
It’s time now for a full on positive/ignorance of Perry until he cries himself to sleep.
October 25th, 2011 at 12:45 pm
Rick Perry folks! Making Texas proud.
October 25th, 2011 at 12:47 pm
I don’t think its fair to say that the media doesn’t like Mitt. I think his problems with the media stem from three things:
1) Mitt is clearly a clean, reserved, technocratic guy – he’s not very interesting to cover from a news perspective.
2) A Coronation, the result if nobody can sustain their position as the anti-mitt longer than three weeks, deprives the media of a major opportunity. The media wants a long primary fight – less because of their political views than because of the money they can make off something that keeps people glued to their televisions for months on end. This is why Fox, a right-leaning news organization, which would benefit IDEOLOGICALLY from a short and easy GOP primary, is nonetheless the biggest offender when it comes to building up – then tearing down – the latest FOTM.
3) A few people in media – AKA Limbaugh, etc. – truly don’t want to see Mitt win…this is about the only example of ideology really playing a factor. Limbaugh is a firebrand, he benefits when the party laps up every talking point, and when they want the hardest-core crusader that they can possibly find. That isn’t Mitt….and what does Limbaugh, who is good on ideology, but poor on actually offering political solutions, have to gain from a guy like Mitt in the White House?
October 25th, 2011 at 12:48 pm
It will be good training for Romney : Obama might go even more negative, class-war and all
October 25th, 2011 at 12:50 pm
27!!!
Huntsman is turning out so badly!!!
I thought he was doing good stuff in China and he was probably really running to be Secretary of State, but he just blew it!!! His whole campaign has been a personal vendetta!!!!
Huntsman’s personality just turned out so… sanctimonious!!!!!
Maybe the Chinese was about takeout food. Huntsman does speak Mandarin…
Huntsman has been the liberals favorite, I bet that little gaffe lost him support among them.
October 25th, 2011 at 12:50 pm
Perry has nothing to lose but the money folks donated to his campaign
October 25th, 2011 at 12:51 pm
41- Yes. The refiners fire.
October 25th, 2011 at 12:52 pm
41.
Good point, as long as Mitt doesn’t come out looking dirty too.
Romney really can not go negative!!! Every time he does, I don’t like him as much!!!
No body wants negative!
October 25th, 2011 at 12:52 pm
#37……that’s what I’d like to see….let Perry blather out his “ignorance” and make a fool of himself….and just STOP talking EVERY TIME PERRY interrupts him…..and just SMILE. “Are you done?” Stop immediately when Perry interrupts again.
Agree that from the last debate, he showed he can “fight”…..BUT….to wallow in the mud w/Perry is below Romney.
October 25th, 2011 at 12:53 pm
40 – The right wing media have been trashing Mitt since before he got into the race. From scathing and dishonest editorials in the WSJ to blathering on Fox News and playing the Mormon card on NRO. Some of it has to do with avoiding a coronation, but it is clear that many of them are actively trying to take Romney down.
October 25th, 2011 at 12:54 pm
“It will be good training for Romney”
I’m sorry, but this response makes my blood boil. The idea that Romney and his supporters should enjoy, or relish, or accept, this long and bloody primary in the place of a short and easy race is absurd.
Fact is, we KNOW Romney is capable of hitting hard when he needs to – but the ideal is that he doesn’t need to, particularly because he accepts the nomination in Tampa.
October 25th, 2011 at 12:54 pm
#42…..Huntsman (and even comments from his father recently) are a SHAME. A vendetta against Mitt is all Jr…..and now Sr…..are doing.
October 25th, 2011 at 12:54 pm
43 – He has nothing to gain either. This is not how you win elections. I guess I just don’t understand why he would spend millions of dollars trashing the likely nominee in a race he cannot win.
October 25th, 2011 at 12:54 pm
Romney needs to show he can take the cheap shots and keep on ticking. Obama isn’t going to spare any of his ammunition…
October 25th, 2011 at 12:56 pm
“43 – He has nothing to gain either. This is not how you win elections. I guess I just don’t understand why he would spend millions of dollars trashing the likely nominee in a race he cannot win.”
I think this is turning into a battle for the heart and soul and direction of the GOP…Yes Perry is selfish, as are those around them, and wants it to be “me or nobody”…but I also think, as with Rush, there are people who legitimately fear – though without just cause, IMO – a party under the direction of Romney.
October 25th, 2011 at 12:59 pm
Romney can just use surrogates to attack Perry and take the high road. Remember when Huckabee started saying, “Why is Romney attacking me? Iowans don’t like these negative ads.” It worked like a charm. Perry would get beat up so badly if he went hugely negative. And, what can he say that hasn’t already been said?”
October 25th, 2011 at 12:59 pm
This will force a very quick coalescence of the party around Romney. The RGA is already bashing Perry for his birther comments, including Branstad and McDonnell.
October 25th, 2011 at 1:00 pm
Rush is an idiot. He is just getting ratings. He is completely contradicting everything he said in 2007/2008 about Romney and for no reason. Romney hasn’t changed a bit since then. He doesn’t believe what he is saying, he is just going for the ratings and trying to keep the race alive.
October 25th, 2011 at 1:00 pm
28- What do you mean by co-attack dog? How could they possibly be “co-attack dogs”? I am puzzled by your linking them together. I don’t want to jump to conclusions, so maybe you could explain what Romney and Huntsman have in common to make you link them together as “co-attack dogs”.
October 25th, 2011 at 1:01 pm
The biggest problem is that Perry has a tendency to be a blatant liar. I would not put it above him at all to bash Romney with lies. That cannot be tolerated.
October 25th, 2011 at 1:01 pm
53 – Exactly!
October 25th, 2011 at 1:03 pm
“He doesn’t believe what he is saying”
Actually, I think he probably does…this is probably more genuine Rush than 2007 was.
Rush wants firebrands and partisans and flamethrowers and hardliners…he’ll still support the most Conservative candidate he can find (hence why he supported Romney in 2007, why he has said he’ll vote for him in 2012, and why he supported McCain in the general)….but I don’t think he has much use for, or interest in, the technocrats like Romney.
In fact, that might have a lot to do with why he waited so long to step into the last primary cycle – because his best alternative to stop McCain still wasn’t all that palatable – or at least savory – to him.
October 25th, 2011 at 1:03 pm
Guys, Perry believes that he has been chosen by the Almighty as the savior of the party and country. If he goes savagely negative, it will be because God has told him that this is the right path. You have to understand that this is how Perry operates.
October 25th, 2011 at 1:03 pm
All of us knew Perry would have to go this route. Heck, he couldn’t even help himself when he was wa ahead inthe polls! What else is Perry going to do, campaign on his merits??! Ha! This is his ONLY option. The only other option is dropping out…do you see him doing that? Nope. I don’t think people will like Perry anymore for this. I just hope Mitt responds without feuding by just swatting Perry and making him irrelevant.
October 25th, 2011 at 1:06 pm
Romney can come out and pre-empt some of this and say that while Rick Perry intends to use his donor money in a savagely negative way to attack, Romney prefers to use his donor money to promote his accomplishments and focus on getting our country back th where is should be….
October 25th, 2011 at 1:07 pm
49.
What did Jon Huntsman’s dad (who is worth like $6 billion) say negative about Romney?
And do you have a link?
October 25th, 2011 at 1:07 pm
What does perry have that will stick? I mean, you can go negative, but when you cross the line and become unbelievable, it’s over. Some would argue that perry is already there.
October 25th, 2011 at 1:08 pm
I don’t know if the remaining candidates have a dog in this hunt, but the negatives focused on Romney will not mean his votes go to Perry – they will go to the other tier of candidates who already have a foot on Perry’s throat – Paul, Gingrich and Cain. And Perry needs to remember that Romney has a lot of other GOP supporters – across the Establishment – and Chris Christie to boot. They will not be silent. I think Perry will self-destruct in this process.
October 25th, 2011 at 1:10 pm
47.
Yes, I don’t know if you have seen my theory about that but I will restate it here.
I think, someone up there, decided that Romney’s use of the mandate damages the chances for the repeal of Obamacare. And if the truth about where the idea came from gets out it will hurt the image of the Republican party in the eyes of the Tea Party.
Plus, it is the only really conservative idea that can be challenged in court as unconstitutional! That doesn’t make conservatives look good!!!
So they decided Romney was expendable. Obama and others said they used conservative ideas, and Obama did. But the idea didn’t come from Romney.
The mandate idea came from the conservative think tank, Heritage Foundation and Newt’s Congress, which I think Santorum was a part of as well.
If they could get Romney to take the fall for the mandate, the truth never had to come out. But Romney didn’t play along. He didn’t disown it, and he didn’t allow them to cover it up. Romney wouldn’t be the scapegoat they wanted him to be.
Now he is the best chance to beat Obama, and get rid of Obamacare, but Conservatives are going to have to take some blame for the mandate.
I think that is right, I think we should keep our feet firmly planted in truth. And conservatives should acknowledge they make mistakes, that it isn’t just Democrats who messed up healthcare.
But that is just me.
October 25th, 2011 at 1:11 pm
RUSH: “Romney stops by Kasich’s office but refuses to endorse Kasich’s referendum against the unions in Ohio today. It’s making it so hard to like Romney.”
October 25th, 2011 at 1:11 pm
Just when I thought I could not like Perry any less than I already do, he has a headline like this. Congratulations Rick, you have sunk even lower in my esteem. Who thought you could pull that off?
October 25th, 2011 at 1:15 pm
60.
That sounds like he is going after Mormonism then, that is the only reason he could think God didn’t want Romney in the Whitehouse.
I live near a Temple, like back yard near. The windows were getting broken so often that we now have a security guard walk the grounds all night, every night.
It’s just a little Temple in a little neighborhood. It is just sad what all this stuff politics has done to us.
This is why I didn’t want Romney to run in the first place. Sigh.
October 25th, 2011 at 1:19 pm
New Romney web ad:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UBWCYGj2Wcg&feature=feedu
October 25th, 2011 at 1:22 pm
Let’s be real here. Romney has been vetted to death. The people that would have a problem with him as a result of what Rick Perry does and says…already have a problem with him. Romney isn’t going to be hurt much by this, and the best course of action for Romney is to respond to each claim with the FACTS. Not to attack Perry…because people will leave him simply for his negative campaigning(not that he has much support left in the first place). Romney will be fine, and will likely still go on to win the nomination.
October 25th, 2011 at 1:23 pm
14. I don’t see what Romney did last round was anything close to scorched earth. Mitt focused on actual fact and on policies. While McCain and Huckabee went personal and spread falsehoods.
It really is sad to think that Perry will be doing Obama’s job for him — for free.
I want to remind our regular visitors that I predicted this right after Perry’s numbers fell and everyone was celebrating his demise with a chorus of “He’s finished”.
We’re in for a scarey few months, I think.
One hope (and my belief) is that Perry’s fundraising has probably tapped out, while Romney’s is likely to continue doing well.
October 25th, 2011 at 1:24 pm
15. Sounds like a very good plan.
October 25th, 2011 at 1:26 pm
#67 Let’s hear what Mitt has to say about it. Remember, he didn’t sign the SBA pledge but his own words were stronger than SBA’s. Mitt doesn’t like others putting words in his mouth. Let’s hear what he has to say about union reform in his own words.
October 25th, 2011 at 1:28 pm
69 — Do you happen to live in Dallas?
October 25th, 2011 at 1:28 pm
Does Perry speak and act like any true Christian you’ve ever known? Does a person who’s been endowed with the Holy Spirit exude this kind of spirit? Just sayin’.
October 25th, 2011 at 1:30 pm
I’m not sure why anyone would be worried if Romney is destroyed??!! The GOP wouldn’t nominate him anyway. We can’t fall in the trap the Democrats did when they nominated Kerry! They didn’t want him, but thought he was the one who could win…and he didn’t. Let’s not fall into the trap O’Reilly has fallen into, thinking Romney is the only one who can beat Obama! Romney is a lateral move from Obama! He can’t be trusted. Romney is Obama’s brother, from another Mother!!!
October 25th, 2011 at 1:30 pm
72,
Keith, will you please stop lying about Huckabee. Huck didn’t go negative. Yes, he produced 1 negative ad….showed it to the media and didn’t run it. But he didn’t say anything that wasn’t true….with the “possible” exception of his views on mormonism. I can’t stand this crap. If you guys want help, stop lying. I’m hopeful for romney, and have warmed up to him…but this lying crap from you guys makes me want to go back to disliking him. Thankfully, i’m not going to hold romney responsible for the views of his supporters. Romney is a good man…and he had a lot to prove. He still has a lot to prove as far as his RECORD on abortion goes. But i now believe him when he says he is pro-life. I didn’t believe him 4 years ago.
October 25th, 2011 at 1:30 pm
#67 Yes, this is also hitting the internet. I was leaning to Romney, but this is quite disturbing. Once again raises the questions about his true ideology.
Beginning to believe Obama will be re-elected. None of our candidates are very attractive. Romney is very articulate and smart, but waffles all over the place trying to please everyone. What is his true core? Cain is likeable, but the more he talks the worse he looks. Gingrich is full of personal baggage and hypocricy, although a great mind. Perry cannot even put two sentences together and will be eaten alive by Obama. The rest are forgettable.
Once these candidates get done destroying each other we will offer the winner as a sacrifice at the altar of Obama.
October 25th, 2011 at 1:31 pm
# 70 — EXCELLENT Web-ad by Romney. Let Rick go negative, Romney stay Positive!
October 25th, 2011 at 1:33 pm
Hello…this is still politics, unfortunately. His negative campaigns against Romney, are only speaking the truth!!! Let’s not forget, Romney was in 47th place as Governor. Aren’t Christians supposed to tell the truth???!!!!!
October 25th, 2011 at 1:34 pm
George W. Bush up against John Kerry – The SwiftBoat Crew destroyed John Kerry. Bush did not do it personally. Perry might want to be careful – does he really want a bunch of Rombots rooting around in his past and setting the Internet afire with his personal failings? Sarah Palin, of all people, already smacked him upside the head for “crony capitalism.” The fact is that Perry will get destroyed by Romney in the NH and NV primaries – Iowa and SC is where he will go after Romney, hard. Florida will be the trump card, and where he will have Scott’s team focus their fire also. That is where Mitt died last time – this time – we’ll see. We live in the age of the Internet, and Perry and his team might find out that it’s not so easy to destroy someone without getting a massive, withering return fire – not from Romney or his campaign, but from the Internet sleuths who are tired of such nonsense.
October 25th, 2011 at 1:35 pm
#79 Jay: Look before you leap. Give Romney a chance to state his OWN position on union reform not just sign on to whatever Ohio was able to negociate. Like I said: Romney’s not keen on getting bound up in other people’s specific policies.
October 25th, 2011 at 1:37 pm
#81 Come on kandace. We all know the 47th place narrative. And what was Mass’ unemployment rate at the time? 4.7 and dropping. What’s is TX’s today? Double that and climbing, I believe.
October 25th, 2011 at 1:38 pm
56. I think the post was saying Huntsman is a second attack dog against Romney. With Perry being the first. But, I agree, it wasn’t clear.
October 25th, 2011 at 1:39 pm
If you consider Perry’s position in the polls his slash and burn
strategy makes sense for his campaign, and his advisers / consultants pocket books.
Perry weaknesses consist of undisciplined off the cuff remarks and his inability to articulate
positions within debates or in Q & A’s. What other options do his team have when he is polling at single digits
in most poll?
The Mormon, and now Birther play, are being used to appeal to a particular
segment of the Republican party which Perry and Co. think will help them win. This is all part of
Perry’s team plan. It isn’t like Mitt’s team has never experienced this type of campaign before. It is useful to remember that Perry’s rhetoric is often heated but ineffective. When media expose your political intentions, or you announce what you plan to do, eg. release attack ads they tend to lose some of the bite.
October 25th, 2011 at 1:40 pm
78 waterseeds, let’s go over this one more time. Perhaps Huck didn’t play negative TV ads against Mitt. I don’t remember. What I do remember is the ugly, disgusting anti-Mormopn emails and robocalls that Iowa pastors carpet-bombed their flocks with. Huck, if not an instigator, was a jubilant recipient. And that’s a fact.
October 25th, 2011 at 1:45 pm
I just read half of the posts…you guys are letting a Media writer get you all worked up. He’s clearly not for Perry, probably pushing Romney, knowing the GOP conservatives won’t even vote if Romney is nominated!Common’ now you all are falling into the Liberal trap!!! I’m telling you, Romney will be another Kerry! Obama will beat him at the end of the day! A true leader doesn’t sit and work on the economy, etc. They are leaders because they have the ability to delegate to the best team possible! Perry hasn’t had to beg for his supper (debate) for over a decade! Let’s look at some records folks!!
October 25th, 2011 at 1:47 pm
88
No one is pushing Romney besides Krauthammer, Hume, and normal Americans.
The media is scared of Romney. How don’t you see that?
October 25th, 2011 at 1:48 pm
Perry-Gingrich…….
October 25th, 2011 at 1:50 pm
#90 Are you insane? You would vote a guy whose stated mission is to destroy the party in order to destroy a competitor?
Birds of a feather, I guess.
October 25th, 2011 at 1:52 pm
78. If I’m wrong about Huck then I apologize. I don’t recall specifics but I do remember my being very, very upset with him last round. I don’t THINK it was just because he was taking votes from Mitt. My vague recollection was that he was very negative and perpetuated falsehoods.
But, I don’t know how you or I can back up our divergent memories with proof.
Still, it MUST have been somewhat negative because Huckabee said, in his Romney interview, that people are probably tuning in to see if they can be in the same room and be civil.
October 25th, 2011 at 1:53 pm
O’Reilly is Totally pushing Romney. He freaked out when Cain was getting some fuel from his buddies.
The democrats are okay with Romney, because they know Obama will destroy him. His record (romney) can easily be destroyed.
I personlly prefer Newt as VP. Brilliant speaker, and well educated. He would be a strong back up for PERRY, and they wouldn’t focus too much on his past as VP.
October 25th, 2011 at 1:56 pm
#91….Roll the tape…
October 25th, 2011 at 1:59 pm
78 – LOL … whatever
October 25th, 2011 at 2:01 pm
93. that’s a pretty general and unsupportable claim. Got anything to back it up?
October 25th, 2011 at 2:01 pm
This could be a set-up it so insanely over the top. I guess we’ll see what the Perry camp has to say. Maybe a pledge to run a positive, fair, truthful campaign focused on Perry’s great abilities.
October 25th, 2011 at 2:02 pm
92 – I do recall specifics, and waterseeds is lying.
October 25th, 2011 at 2:02 pm
Either lying or really dumb.
October 25th, 2011 at 2:24 pm
#96…Back up which statement??? You can order, I’m sure the past month of O’Reilly. You then can see the proof for yourself.
You can also look up Romney’s record. You don’t have to do a lot of digging to destroy him.
Gingrich is brilliant. maybe an opinion? He was however Speaker…professor….you can look that up also.
October 25th, 2011 at 2:25 pm
jaxemer and other rombots,
I followed the 08′ campaign very closely. The first person to go negative was ROMNEY. Did romney lie? He didn’t lie but definitely fudged the truth in his tv spots. Huckabee had one thing that he did personally that was an attack on mitt, and that was the mormon comment. Which, HELLO…most evangelicals believe that is what mormons believe. And in fact, depending on the mormon…some do believe that. So he didn’t even lie. Was it a stupid thing to bring up? Yes. But i said it in 08′ and i say it now…the reason i didn’t support mitt had nothing to do with his mormonism. And i’ve never seen more diluted people…than romney supporters when it came to going negative. Romney ran a very negative campaign in 08. He was the one that attacked others…NOT the other way around.
And just so you all know…I DON’T LIE. I’m a truth teller through and through. I’m not trying to misrepresent history at all. Romney ran negative after negative.
October 25th, 2011 at 2:26 pm
Back to the FPP: please defund this idiot! The sooner he flames out, the better the party will be.
October 25th, 2011 at 2:28 pm
jaxemer,
You are the reason people don’t like romney supporters. You need our help, and Mitt needs our help…and i’m doing a lot better on Mitt than most people i suspect(i’m talking about people that didn’t initially want to support him). I would be very happy with Mitt Romney as our president. And i’m ready to campaign for him. But it’s fools like you that hurt him. You have no respect for other people and their viewpoints.
“Either lying or really dumb”
Hmmm……what do i even say to that? I deal with facts and positions. What you are dealing with is character assassination.
October 25th, 2011 at 2:30 pm
K.G.
I don’t know if Huckabee was behind those calls or not. I’ve had no direct knowledge of that issue as a fact. Do people blame him for it? Yes. But that doesn’t mean that he was responsible for them.
October 25th, 2011 at 2:33 pm
Keith,
I’m sorry i came off as harsh towards you earlier. I think it was an honest mistake on your part in regards to what happened in 08. And i understand the perception. I just can’t stand it when romney supporters bash huck for doing something that romney did as well. Maybe in different ways…and dealing with different topics, but 08′ was not a good campaign for romney. He ran negative after negative. This go around has been much better.
October 25th, 2011 at 2:34 pm
#97…Look, we are very fortunate Americans, that we live in a democracy. I don’t find anything wrong with everyone knowing the truth about someone. Most Americans don’t do their “due diligence” on candidates, and campaign managers do that for the folks. Everyone has the ability and resources to do it themselves, but most don’t. I have a very hard time electing someone who supports Romneycare…OOPS..I mean Obamacare….that’s factual
October 25th, 2011 at 2:35 pm
And if you don’t believe Romney went negative in 08, just go to youtube and type in romney attack ad. A lot of misrepresented statements in those ads.
October 25th, 2011 at 2:36 pm
People? People! Can we get back to the issue at hand . . . is this a good thing for the Party? For the primary race? This is not about Huckabee vs. Romney – it’s about the coming wave, if the article quoted is accurate. You might say a variety of things about Rick Perry versus Huckabee, but I’ll just say this – “Rick Perry, we all know Mike Huckabee – and you are NO Mike Huckabee!” Rick Perry doesn’t come with a cannon shot distance of Huckabee’s intelligence, charm, wit, or ability to speak in a debate or on the stump, much less his generally solid record of governance. In my opinion. And I’m not a big Huckabee apologist.
October 25th, 2011 at 2:38 pm
108,
Agreed. That’s one of the reasons i was so upset though. This thread isn’t about huckabee and mitt. It’s about Perry being a jerk and misrepresenting statements and facts. Perry is bad for us.
October 25th, 2011 at 2:39 pm
103 – It must be “really dumb”. The idea that Huckabee didn’t go negative in 2008 is objectively laughable.
October 25th, 2011 at 2:45 pm
110,
The idea that romney didn’t go negative, is the idiotic one. But the stupidest moment of the 08′ primary was when fred thompson joined the debate finally…and his announcement video was an attack ad. How stupid can you be?
Look, 08′ is in the past. And i am a huge mike huckabee fan. I’m very sensitive to how people talk about him….and i totally disagree with the characterization that huckabee went negative in 08′. All of the candidates were negative at some point in particular, but huckabe generally ran a very positive campaign that focused on issues and getting to know the voters.
I’m on board with Romney(though i have a small hope for Cain still…and Paul)….and i think it is a bad idea for romney supporters to bash huck. Because there are still a lot of people out there like me that loved huck(and still do)…but are ready to jump on board with Mitt. And that negative attitude towards huck can hurt romney(even if it isn’t romney’s fault).
October 25th, 2011 at 2:49 pm
Forget Huckabee…he’s not even running. Sorry you guys can’t handle the truth about Romney….Obama and Romney are one in the same….he can’t remember which story to stick with from week to week.
October 25th, 2011 at 3:02 pm
Bring it on perry carry, Mitt will come out ahead. It will be like hitting a steem roller with a baby stroler.
October 25th, 2011 at 3:11 pm
112. FLUFF! Back it up or be ignored.
October 25th, 2011 at 3:12 pm
111. Fair enough. I’ll stop posting about Huck in 08.
I WAS very pleased with his recent interview with Mitt.
October 25th, 2011 at 3:13 pm
#113…why do you think Romney can’t pass the 25% mark? All polls indicate, voters will possibly change their minds at the end. Romney has hit his mark….all of the other votes will go toward Cain or Perry. GOP’s are just waiting to jump on board. They don’t want Romney..that’s clear
October 25th, 2011 at 3:14 pm
Keith,
I guess i just thought that in a thread where we are all uniting against perry and his negatives….that it would be a good idea to solidify the uniting…by bringing in the camps that will come in. The huckabee camp is probably the hardest one to crack from 08 for mitt, and yet Mike has been very good to Mitt this time out. I suspect Mike feels like I do…that Romney can win, and that Romney will bring our country out of this darkness. He’s not the best candidate we “could” have, but he is the best candidate we do have, and Huck is going to eventually endorse romney.
October 25th, 2011 at 3:15 pm
Let’s hear the ads. I can’t wait.
Romney doesn’t deserve the nomination and if he gets it the Republicans deserve to lose.
October 25th, 2011 at 3:16 pm
Here’s a thought…
When Perry was in the lead, maybe if Romney had focused his attacks on Obama rather than attacking Perry, maybe, just maybe, Perry would not be returning the favor.
Romney has been inviting this strategy the past 2 months. It’s Romney’s own political mistake for making mortal enemies with Perry so early in the process.
Now Romney is getting the bad medicine returned.
October 25th, 2011 at 3:19 pm
#117…You just wrote, what I wrote about, when the DEMS nominated Kerry. They didn’t want him, but thought he was the best hope to win. Guess what? They lost…. why don’t we all let this campaign work its way through, and go for the Very best?? isn’t that what the GOPs stand for?? why sell out early?? Pre season just ended…
October 25th, 2011 at 3:23 pm
116. Why do you claim Romney can’t pass 25%. Several polls have showed up at 30% and above at times.
October 25th, 2011 at 3:24 pm
120,
The best is Ron Paul…and paul isn’t gonna win the nomination. Outside of Paul, they’re pretty close to the same. Except for Perry who is a liberal hack. His record is horrendous, and he’s just not a nice person in general. I don’t like him….i’m not voting for him. Romney is the best out of the viable candidates. I trust him to get our country back on track.
October 25th, 2011 at 3:25 pm
117. Good point and I agree. We should be working to unite. And, I did not consider that my comments about Huck in 08 might alienate folks, here. My apologies, again.
October 25th, 2011 at 3:25 pm
113. Oh look – kandace is already leading the smear campaign for Perry. How cute!
Glad to have another anti-Romney supporter join the ranks here.
October 25th, 2011 at 3:26 pm
Oops – I meant #116
October 25th, 2011 at 3:27 pm
119. That is a naive and unlikely thought. Perry had already shown his propensity for dirty attacks. Prior to that, Mitt was all about Obama.
October 25th, 2011 at 3:28 pm
120. We ARE going for the best. And, that’s Romney. I will concede that there may be better people but they are not running. Given the choices we’ve got, it’s Romney. Or Obama.
October 25th, 2011 at 3:30 pm
126. You are wrong.
October 25th, 2011 at 3:32 pm
126,
Totally agree. Mitt didn’t go negative on perry until AFTER perry went negative against him. And even then…mitt is trying very hard to restrain the negativity. Perry wants to take romney out….and all he’s doing is hurting himself. Romney has a solid base of support. 15% is going to vote for him…period. Everything above that is a result of mitt’s hard work and dedication to the cause. Mitt has run a near perfect campaign this time out. He’s learned from the mistakes of 08′ and he has gained serious backing.
October 25th, 2011 at 3:35 pm
Let Perry do his worst. I hope Mitt keeps his eye on the ball and continues to focus on Obama’s horrible record, he has one now, after all. No doubt about it. This is going to get ugly. I was just hoping it would wait until the general.
October 25th, 2011 at 3:36 pm
#121..I’m just speaking facts. He has his clear followers, and they won’t budge. This is not an opinion I’m speaking…every station will have a least one person on the panel explaining why he can’t break the 25% average.
#124…I’m thinking that the supporters of romney within this group, were not part of the countrys 80% who DID not support Obamacare – aka (romneycare). That’s just one easy example. Did you write this article?
October 25th, 2011 at 3:37 pm
129. You are wrong.
October 25th, 2011 at 3:38 pm
This is Romney’s political mistake.
October 25th, 2011 at 3:39 pm
Ditto #132
October 25th, 2011 at 3:46 pm
128. Oh. Well with such compelling arguments and facts to back them up, I guess I’ll have to concede the point… NOT!
October 25th, 2011 at 3:49 pm
131. Continuing to say that ObamaCare is the same as MassCare does not make it true.
Mitt’s plan is 72 pages and is for one state.
Obama’s plan is 2700 pages and shoves a one size fits all to the entire nation.
There are many other differences.
Saying MassCare is the father of ObamaCare is like saying using prescription drugs properly by those with proper symptoms is the father of drug addicts.
October 25th, 2011 at 3:50 pm
Romney went negative on Perry? Hardly, and he’s hardly alone in the few things he has said about Perry’s record. Look at the past 2 months. It was Ron Paul who noted that Perry has raised taxes in Texas and other economic issues. It was Michelle Bachmann who hammered Perry silly with the HPV vaccine issue. It was Rick Santorum who pointed out the absurdity of in-state tuition breaks for illegal immigrants. We could go on. Plenty of other candidates have raised Perry’s negatives along with Romney. It was Perry who went negative on himself, when he couldn’t complete a sentence, confessed to his positions on immigration, and figured that the best “negative” to attack Romney with was the “illegal immigrants worked on your lawn” canard. Sarah Palin nailed him to the wall on crony capitalism. Really? Santorum, Paul, Bachmann, and Palin are not liberal bomb-throwers – they are dyed-in-the-wool conservatives who seem to see Perry as a cheap imitation of a genuine conservative. I’d hardly blame Romney.
October 25th, 2011 at 3:50 pm
JOE has been taking political strategy lessons from Herman Cain. When you see a comment you don’t like, just insist: “You are wrong”. And to hell with the facts.
October 25th, 2011 at 3:51 pm
#135 very mature answer. Romney has made numerous slams on Perry..not to mention the hand on the shoulder while his face was turning purple. yeah, let’s elect that guy
FYI, the applause in the background during that debate for Romney, was the very high ratio of Mormons who populate Nevada.
October 25th, 2011 at 3:52 pm
This is absolutely wonderful. Mitt Romney needs all of Perry’s punch thrown at him as Romney moves forward to win the Republican nomination. Perry needs to attach, besmirch at every opportunity. This will prepare Mitt Romney the best for what Obama will launch at him in the General Election. All this shows is Mitt is fighting the far right of his party, the democrats who have already launched attacks at him daily. He’s fighting the tea party leadership who call him a liberal. He’s fighting the liberals who want to put him with the far right. Now with all this attack from both sides who is the real MAVERICK running for office? My guess is he represents the anti establishment candidate. Finally we have someone who will take on the mainstream media, the conservative talk radio, the liberals and the right wing of our party. This campaign has shown the ugliness of our own party as well as the democrats.
With all this venom being shown to this candidate, I have to remember why he is the best suited to be President and it comes to his resume. He did it in Massachusetts (balanced the budget, 4.7% unemployment, worked with the opposition party to get things done, balanced the Salt Lake Winter Olympics when it was in complete and total disarray, and fixed lots of companies.) Mitt is the complete package to compete with Obama and he will win.
In conclusion, this attack by Perry will actually end up helping Mitt be better prepared.
October 25th, 2011 at 3:53 pm
120 — Perry’s problem is completely his own fault…no one else’s…Period. I’m all in for Romney and have been for years and I thought when Perry got in there would be no stopping him…I would never have guessed any candidate at that level could speak so incoherently. His answer on Faith last debate was the saddest response I’ve heard in a long time…his answer on the Yucca Mountains was almost as bad…literally incoherent. And that was just last weeks debates which were probably stronger than his previous four. Mitt didn’t make those words come out of his mouth. This talk about smooth debaters is so ridiculous. Yes governing is about more than debates, but being president is also more than delegating from the oval office. There’s press confrences with a ruthless press, there’s foreign guests with foriegn press. Being a great communicator and quick on your feet may not be everything a president does, but it is a VERY BIG thing a president does. being able to articulate a message on your feet is very important. Romney does articulate a great conservative message…I know you don’t trust him, but your distrust doesn’t mean it’s so.
October 25th, 2011 at 3:56 pm
#137 They all know Perry is the one to beat. Why wouldn’t they go after him? It’s politics, after all.
Again, Romney #47 while Governor of Liberal Mass. Look up facts…he was given more money from the federal government, while in office, than any other state….Romney still failed.
This isn’t a tough argument guys….
October 25th, 2011 at 3:56 pm
If true, this FPP proves two things that I’ve been trying to hammer home:
1. Perry is an @sshole.
2. Mitt made a huge mistake with his Perry Is A Retard ad.
I think it’s really personaly now, to the point of irrational blood fued.
October 25th, 2011 at 3:59 pm
“2. Mitt made a huge mistake with his Perry Is A Retard ad.”
LOL! Oh wow. Yeah, i don’t think it does well for romney to go negative against any republican. He can waltz to the nomination by staying positive and focusing on obama.
October 25th, 2011 at 4:01 pm
marK,
“You don’t suppose that this is what Mitt and his team planned on all along when they released that last anti-Perry ad? To goad Perry into going nuclear?”
If so, I think it’s foolish. Mitt should be spending time mending and establishing ties with the base and the Tea Party, not getting into a Who’s The Purist battle to the death.
October 25th, 2011 at 4:01 pm
#136…A lot of pork was thrown into Obamacare, that will answer the additional pages comment.
They are one in the same…plenty of air time with Romney stating so…aside from the difference in pages of course
October 25th, 2011 at 4:02 pm
131. What portion of that same 80% of the county that don’t like ObamaCare really like the Herritage Foundation? Which portion like Newt?
They were 100% behind a mandate. But it looks like you and the rest of the Perry folk are going to try riding the same race horse that has been beaten to death and hasn’t taken a lap in months. Let us know how it goes.
October 25th, 2011 at 4:03 pm
#145 He can’t mend the ties…Romney is proven to be unreliable, and can’t be trusted.
October 25th, 2011 at 4:04 pm
#47 in job growth in a state that was at an unemployement rate that is considered “fully employed” – yup that smoke screen tactic isn’t gonna sell either – but feel free to keep at it.
How is Gov. Garasil doing today – BTW?
October 25th, 2011 at 4:08 pm
#147…I never said 80% liked Newt. That was just me.
We all support a revision of healthcare…it will, and has crumbled small businesses (obama-romneycare) review recent write ups within the Boston papers of how much those small businesses like Romneycare.
October 25th, 2011 at 4:09 pm
143 Matt, you’re probably right, but when Perry played the religion card…well for many people, and I’m sure millions of Mormons, that was just as bad and deserved some type of treatment in return. The religion card seems to be about as low as you can go…at least coherrent thoughts are desired by many in a president. Perry has been attacking Mitt’s integrity the entire cycle…but I guess he gets a pass on that since that’s what every Romney detractor has been fed for the past 4 years…guess I can’t blame him for tapping into that.
October 25th, 2011 at 4:09 pm
149,
Personally it isn’t job growth that i look at as much as unemployment. That’s one of the things i dislike about Perry. You can fudge job growth numbers to look like you’re creating massive amounts of jobs…but most people don’t understand that job creation doesn’t necessarily account for out of work people. Romney knows how to get people to work. I trust him to help us get back on our feet again using conservative principles.
October 25th, 2011 at 4:09 pm
#149….nice try. It’s all in writing
October 25th, 2011 at 4:10 pm
Facts, huh? How many jobs was MA losing a month when Romney came in as Governor? How long had that been happening? How fast can you turn around a blue state, Democrat-controlled economy that has been hemorrhaging jobs for months on end? Read up on those facts. I know context doesn’t matter to anybody, except for one thing: It Matters. “Facts” in political campaigns are pretty slippery.
October 25th, 2011 at 4:10 pm
146.
I claim BS on this one. However, again, it doesn’t suprise me coming from the DinglePerry camp – all just smoke & mirrors through half truths, if not outright lies as it has been pointed out by the fact check people re: his ads thus far.
1. pay to play
2. forced vaccinations
3. illegal immigration benefits granted and fully backed
4. 1,000,000 uninsured children in TX
Oh yeah – he’s a bastian of conservatism
October 25th, 2011 at 4:11 pm
150. nice dodge – but do you like the Herritage Foundation?
October 25th, 2011 at 4:12 pm
151,
On the contrary to your thought, i actually think religion is a valid issue. But personally it doesn’t matter much to me, and i think it should matter a lot less to others than it does. People aren’t going to sway me by saying so and so is a mormon. I already know what mormons are like and their basic believes(i have a lot of mormon friends). On the contrary, no one is going to sway me by saying so and so is a muslim either. But i’m much less likely to vote for a muslim in the first place. Values aren’t necessarily similar, but in some cases they are…and so then it comes down to the other candidates. In short, Romney expresses similar values to me, so his religion doesn’t matter to me. But i think people have every right PERSONALLY to make that judgment call themselves. But i think it makes for a crappy campaign strategy to attack someone for their religion.
October 25th, 2011 at 4:13 pm
Isn’t this exactly what Jeffress stated just a week or two ago? He doesn’t really care who gets the Presidency as long as that person falls within his view of Christian. He stated he was completely willing to let Obama stay POTUS if Romney was nominated.
I agree, this scorched earth policy is bad and if the Republicans allow it – that is, if they don’t address and condemn the issue, then this country deserves what it gets.
Finally, isn’t this what Obama wants to do? “Kill Romney?” If Perry goes negative and then Obama (as he’s promised) goes negative, this election could leave a distaste for politics in general, moreso than it is already. It’s the type of thing that invites division, enmity, and revolution. This country setup a way for peaceful transitions of policies and politicians, but when nobody is satisfied with their leadership… well, that’s why we’re standing when united and falling when divided.
October 25th, 2011 at 4:14 pm
153. What is all in writing? that he was 47th in job growth? Absolutely – but so is the statistic of being 4.3% unemployment in his state. Do you even know what the rate that is considered as “fully employed”?? It is generally accepted to be around 3-4%. What are you trying to prove?
October 25th, 2011 at 4:15 pm
Let me also say that the constitution makes it clear that we can’t use religion as a litmus test to get someone on the ballot. But it doesn’t disregard persons taking that into account when they vote. We are a free people…and disliking a religion doesn’t make someone a biggot. But disliking a person BECAUSE of their religion does. So if i were to say i hate mormons, that is a biggotted statement. But if i said i hate the mormon religion…that is not. It is just theology. But like i said, a ridiculous thing to focus on in a campaign.
October 25th, 2011 at 4:18 pm
#156…I was being Facetious about the Boston papers. Many complaints. I do not support Romneycare. I want the best for this country, and my opinion is…Romney isn’t our guy. Remember, political science class? It’s an opinion…and I’ve laid out my facts as to why I support mine. Best of luck to you Romney folks..I have to get back to work. I’m a commercial-mortgage banker
October 25th, 2011 at 4:18 pm
By the way, didn’t what’s his face in FL try this type of strategy? Then he came out and released an advert that completely twisted his opponent’s words to say exactly the opposite of what he was saying? That really backfired on him and his campaign and election tanked.
Oh, wait, Perry has already been doing this. And look at where it got him recently.
October 25th, 2011 at 4:20 pm
The best response Romney can offer is “Unfortunately, desperate campaigns will stoop to desperate measures. As Republicans we cannot afford to spend time and effort destroying on another, when we need to focus on solutions to get our Country back on track, and to make sure that Obama is a 1-term President”
That is it. DO NOT GO NEGATIVE ROMNEY! Please
October 25th, 2011 at 4:21 pm
157 — I’ve been to over a hundred different churches and I know people have the right to vote based on that conclusion…What I mean about it being such a low blow was that it was played at a political conference…not a Sunday meeting. Mitt said the same thing on the today show a couple of weeks ago. He’s not saying Pastors don’t have the right to speak to their flock in political terms…but it totally crossed the line when it was used at a political conference. I think we see eye to eye on this one I just think it’s dirty politcs and you think it’s a crappy strategy…love your thoughts on this though waterseeds..you’re pretty honest in your thoughts and writing.
October 25th, 2011 at 4:22 pm
Uh…..no you didn’t say much about your guy – you just said why you don’t like Romney and you didn’t share facts – you shared partial data points without any factual basis.
But good luck you you.
October 25th, 2011 at 4:23 pm
139.
What does my mature answer have to do with Romney slams on Perry? I was pointing out that in 128, his whole argument is, “You are wrong.” That’s like the old Bugs Bunny gags where the whole argument is “Oh no I’m not!” “Oh yes you are!” back and forth.
If he thinks I’m wrong he should back it up.
OKAY!!
And, how about the nearly unanimous disapproval of Perry’s actions in the Luntz focus group?
Perry’s initial question was fine (though it showed a real lack of either judgement or knowledge). It was his constant talking over Mitt’s answer that was out of line.
I’m certain that his coaches told him, “You looked terrible last debate when you let Romney shut you up. So, this time, you just keep talking over his answer no matter what he says or does. He’ll finally shut up and you’ll be the hero. You’ll be the guy who finally put Mitt in his place.”
Well, it backfired. Romney did not allow Perry to get the upper hand and it was the only reasonable response to such rudeness.
October 25th, 2011 at 4:25 pm
140. Here, here!
October 25th, 2011 at 4:27 pm
165,
I think they were saying they like perry because they hate romney. Is that right? LOL.
October 25th, 2011 at 4:30 pm
141. Exactly. These complaints that being a good debater isn’t important is just sour grapes.
I used to golf with a buddy who would sometimes jokingly complain after me or the other guy made a great shot, “Well, sure. It’s great shot if you like them long and straight!”
Or, a college buddy about another friend who just landed a gorgeous girlfriend, “Not bad if you like ‘em pretty, fit, and friendly.”
This strategy of taking the strengths of your opponent and trying to trivialize it is funny.
“Sure, he’s a great candidate if you like ‘em competent, coherent, and experienced!”
October 25th, 2011 at 4:31 pm
142.
Not when you’re willing to ignore and distort facts, it’s not.
October 25th, 2011 at 4:33 pm
Well yeah. Because Romney CAN’T WIN that battle.
October 25th, 2011 at 4:34 pm
146.
Got anything to back that up? You’re saying there’s plenty of air time with Romney stating that his plan is the same as Obama’s? LOL!
Put up or shut up.
October 25th, 2011 at 4:35 pm
Perry has done nothing but be negative, so it has led him straight down down down… I think he should re-think this plan if he wants to get better numbers.
He might damage Romney, but he will damage himself much more.
Cain is the one Perry needs to damage. It is Cain that took his supporters. He isn’t going to get Romney’s supporters by beating up on Romney. And if the people who left him liked negative they wouldn’t have deserted him.
Was it specific that Perry was only going after Romney? It makes more sense to go after Cain and Bachmann and the ones who might actually be open to him.
October 25th, 2011 at 4:37 pm
The only upside to this campaign strategy, is that he has no hope of building any long lasting and real organization for a future run. After this, he’ll be done. Perry is done…done…done.
October 25th, 2011 at 4:38 pm
#165 You’re right. I’m just stating why I’m not willing to vote for Romney. Perry has strong records, which are all public. Unfortunately, I’m not getting paid to campaign for him
..therefore…I have to get back to work. I just don’t want folks to do a quick sell out to Romney. Perry could be a bit more articulate 
, but he hasn’t been required to debate for many years. We’ll see how it goes. God Bless America 
October 25th, 2011 at 4:41 pm
Not really. Because if Perry goes after Romney and actually causes him to crash and burn then Perry will regain the confidence of Bachmann and Cain supporters.
October 25th, 2011 at 4:42 pm
perry is the classic fake tough guy…this only proves it
October 25th, 2011 at 4:43 pm
#176 I’m sure that’s in the works…
October 25th, 2011 at 4:45 pm
148.
This is like your 4th or 5th wild claim with nothing to back it up. So, you’ve just been added to my “don’t read. don’t reply” list.
Unless you can state instances where he’s proven unreliable an where he can’t be trusted, your words have no meaning.
He made 72 campaign promises when running for governor and kept every one of them.
October 25th, 2011 at 4:46 pm
#177..He’s fake tough because of his accent?Not sure where he get’s the tough guy from? He’s firm..we don’t need a flake dealing with the MiddleEast. Let’s not forget about the islamic movement
October 25th, 2011 at 4:52 pm
yes he loves to portray that image…whenever he is challenged his face goes into a rage in seconds because everyone has always cowered to the John Wayne image he has carefully constructed around himself….yeah a complete hothead as Pres..that what we need for the MEast
October 25th, 2011 at 4:53 pm
180. Yeah – he could go jump on a horse and start shootin’ his pistols up in the air shouting – hey you bad guys over there across the ocean – I’m not afraid to use these if you don’t listen to me!!
October 25th, 2011 at 4:53 pm
#181 who placed their hands on whom in the debate, and turned purple? You must have missed the debate in nevada
October 25th, 2011 at 4:56 pm
183. Turned purple? Have you seen any reviews of the debate at all???!?!?!!
Everybody thought that DinglePerry’s head was just about to explode when he was smacked down.
Sometimes the more mature one in the conversation has to settle the child down.
October 25th, 2011 at 4:57 pm
If Perry is a hothead then Romney is plastic, smarmy and insincere.
October 25th, 2011 at 4:58 pm
#179….sorry, just saw your comment. Common’…really? that’s why he can’t break the polls. Maybe google…”is romney a flipflopper, and why?” would take to long for me to list. Plus, you’ll believe it after you’ve done the research. If I tell you everything, you can just blame some stupid random girl named Kandace, for making wild comments. See for yourself…
October 25th, 2011 at 4:59 pm
#184…common’ you don’t beleive that.
October 25th, 2011 at 4:59 pm
thats nothing (and thats not the issue)… compared to the absolute look of rage in that dolt’s eyes when anyone actually challenged him and didnt let him off on his brilliant “i am a true conservative” “Obama bad” (followed by a John Wayne swagger of his chest, nod to the friendly indians after his side won the shoot out) type anwswers
October 25th, 2011 at 5:00 pm
oops #184 Believe….go ahead, and slam me
October 25th, 2011 at 5:02 pm
Really have to run…but it’s been entertaining. Best of luck to all. Glad people are getting involved at least
October 25th, 2011 at 5:02 pm
184 – Actually the collective reaction was that at that moment Romney lost his cool for the first time.
October 25th, 2011 at 5:03 pm
this guy is GW dumbed down if thats possible…and instead of being a compassionate conservative as GW tried, Perry has decided to market himself as one tough (lol) pistolero
October 25th, 2011 at 5:05 pm
187. I’m not just stating personal belief – I’m talking about the luntz focus group and every other blog I read about the scenario. Perry just about gave Romney a left hook after the daggers were coming out of his eyes.
Maybe Mitt was just trying to deflect the power of that upcoming hook by placing his hand in a leveraged point on Rick’s shoulder.
Just remember kandace – look at how badly he has slid in the polls – it isn’t just us Romney folk that think very little of his ability.
October 25th, 2011 at 5:06 pm
191. You mean he wasn’t plastic, smarmy, and insincere?
October 25th, 2011 at 5:07 pm
194 – That was what was so suprising. At that moment, Romney looked angry and ready to tell the principle, rather than his usual smarmy self.
October 25th, 2011 at 5:08 pm
Make that *principal.
October 25th, 2011 at 5:09 pm
195/196.
And yet he did it with a smile on his face nearly the whole time.
October 25th, 2011 at 5:11 pm
Jesus.. do people remember when he went after Paul?..the guys needs help and should be nowhere near governing authority
October 25th, 2011 at 5:13 pm
197 – I know. Scary, huh?
What DOES this guy actually believe?
October 25th, 2011 at 5:14 pm
191. Yes, but that’s better than what the headlines would have been had he let Perry shut him down. This was his only real option. The lesser of two evils.
The media is portraying it like Perry’s QUESTION made Mitt lose his cool. But, it was Perry’s rudeness in refusing to let Mitt answer that Romney was responding to.
October 25th, 2011 at 5:16 pm
I think that Romney should run some pre-emptive ads that are very complementary of Perry. Not “Perry for President” stuff; but “Two great Republican govenors, two strong conservatives, both with records of accomplishment, plesae examine their records and choose the one you feel would be best for the economy,” stuff.
That would do two things. First, it would expose Perry for the low-life that he is when he runs the attack ads. Second, the whole world would see the difference between these two “Christians.” If Romney “turns the other cheek,” Perry will have half his base walk away in disgust. What a great opportunity for Romney to demonstrate actual adult leadership–not high school politics.
October 25th, 2011 at 5:19 pm
and Perry’s gotcha moment was pathetic…does he not understand that Romney is not the party in that scenario who actually examines the I-9?….Romney should bring one to the next debate and ask him about the I-9 process…probably while being explained the process ol’Perry would pull out his six shooter and put a hole in it…then nod and smile to the crowd
October 25th, 2011 at 5:22 pm
195. Mitt called out for the moderator just once and rightly so. It was his job to keep the participants in line and Anderson was just back there chanting, Fight! Fight! Fight!
I’d rather he hadn’t called Cooper’s name, but it’s not as though he whined and kept calling for him over an over again. He called it once and went right back to dealing with it on his own.
October 25th, 2011 at 5:24 pm
The debate is in the past. We’ll just see how Perry handles his attack, how Mitt responds, and how effective it is.
After the “Perry is dumb” ad Mitt ran, and considering Perry’s past it would not shock me one bit if Perry takes out Mitt in a blaze of glory, knowing he can’t be president himself.
October 25th, 2011 at 5:26 pm
i agree there…Mitt doesn’t need to run ads like that, Perry proves it all by himself
October 25th, 2011 at 5:29 pm
204. (and yet you brought it up, again)
But, I agree with you that Perry’s goal is to take Mitt down with him.
October 25th, 2011 at 5:40 pm
Wouldn’t it be interesting to see Pastor Jeffress have to repudiate Rick Perry for such un-Christian behavior? It will never happen (because Jeffress would never do it), but it would be the ultimate irony.
October 25th, 2011 at 5:59 pm
There are six debates before the Iowa caucuses on January 3, and another six debates in January, not to mention the voting in NH, Nevada, SC, and Florida.
Perry’s track record says he will look like a fool, and his attacks on Mitt will only make him look worse.
October 25th, 2011 at 6:31 pm
204.
Mitt’s ad was a bad call IMO, but it put Perry on display based on reality. In fact, if he had just let the clip run through to let Perry complete his thought, it would have made Perry look even worse.
Perry’s counter ad “misleading” was a complete sham that flat-out lied about Mitt’s position through clever video clipping. And it was the third such ad he had run.
Acting as if Perry should hold justified feelings of retribution toward Mitt is idiocy. I know he holds those feelings, but it’s purely because he’s an idiot.
October 25th, 2011 at 6:37 pm
208. We’d better not have 6 more debates with candidates refusing to let their opponents talk. Unacceptable.
October 25th, 2011 at 6:51 pm
189: Absolutely right. Perry should be nowhere near the seat of power. Even if he is a born again Christian, filled with the Holy Spirit and can do no evil.
October 25th, 2011 at 7:25 pm
ROFL. Wasn’t Allbaugh a senior adviser to Rudy in 2008? The man who squandered over $40 million and didn’t win a single delegate. LOL. Yeah that’s the ticket. I see that Perry is already beefing up his florida team to build his firewall there LOL.
October 25th, 2011 at 7:39 pm
Meanwhile, you know who’s smiling and working hard behind the scenes accumulating precinct captains…
The Jobs and Fair Tax Guy, Cain
Btw, Cain’s Attack Dog A (Midwest/South/Southwest Divisions) is Perry with the $15+ mil.
Attack Dog B (West/Northeast Divisions and Guam) is the billionaire heir Junior Huntsman.
October 25th, 2011 at 7:51 pm
Perry probably noticed that on Intrade, Mitt’s even beating him in South Carolina now (and Iowa, and New Hampshire, and Nevada, and Florida, and nationally.)
October 25th, 2011 at 7:58 pm
Oh, and he’s beating Herman Cain too, Craig. Of course, its not the real voting, but I remember you constantly reminding us when Perry was winning IA and SC…
October 26th, 2011 at 8:17 pm
So it’s the same plan they’ve been using but bigger? He really is from Texas isn’t he.