Rick Perry Resumes Iowa Bus Tour, Hammers GOP Opponents
EmailCOUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa – After a four day hiatus from the campaign trail, Texas Gov. Rick Perry restarted his bus tour through Iowa, pounding his opponents for their Washington and Wall Street “insider” status and selling himself as the “authentic conservative” in the race for the Republican presidential nomination.
“Why should you settle for anything less than an authentic conservative who will fight for your views and values without an apology? Why should you have to settle for anything less than the real deal to go to Washington DC and to represent your values and work for you in Washington,” Perry asked the crowd of over 100 at the jam packed Main Street Café here.
“I’ve got all the respect in the world for the frontrunners in this race, but ask yourself: If we replace a Democratic insider with a Republican insider, you think we’re really going to change Washington DC?” Perry asked.
Without naming names, Perry listed the issues plaguing many of the candidates.
“You don’t have to settle for Washington and Wall Street insiders who supported the Wall Street bailout and Obamacare individual mandate. You don’t have to resign yourself to voting for wasteful Washington spending culture of earmarks and of deficits and this ever rising debt that we’ve got,” said Perry. “You don’t have to vote for a candidate who would allow Iran to wipe Israel off the face of the earth and then ultimately America. You don’t have to you don’t have to stand for that. You don’t have to settle for that.”
“I’m the limited government conservative in this campaign that’s going to get Washington a complete overhaul. I believe that the federal government should do a few things, do those few things real well, and get out of the way and leave Americans alone.”
With the controversial Sheriff Joe Arpaio standing at his side, Perry focused a good portion of his quick six minute speech on border security, drawing large applause from the crowd when he vowed to secure the border within one year of taking office.
“Here’s my pledge to you: We will secure that border. We will shut it down within one year after my hand comes off of that Bible,” said Perry to a boom of applause from the crowd.
The Texas governor promoted his part-time Congress initiative, a plan that’s drawn cheers from Iowa voters in the past two weeks. But in a twist from his other events, Perry injected a Biblical tone into his speech.
“When the Lord asked the prophet Isaiah, he said. ‘Whom shall I send and who will go for us?’ Isaiah said ‘Here am I, send me,’” said Perry. “This is your country. Taking her back is your calling. Join me in this mission. Echo the words of Isaiah: Here am I, send me.”
Perry, who has three other events in Iowa this afternoon, ended his speech with what has become the closing mantra in his pitch to Iowa voters, pledging to them, “You have my back on January the third and I’ll have your back for the next four years in Washington, D.C.”
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How this clown gets any traction is beyond me. And when you realize this guy covered up his executing an innocent man by firing the head of the Texas Forensic Science Commission in 2010 when he got wind they were releasing a report saying exactly that, well…
Posted by: Tyrone | December 27, 2011, 1:39 pm 1:39 pm
How any of the GOP clowns get any traction is a mystery…but I do like to think of them as being in a GOP clown car riding up and down the highways of America…as they drive into each city, they honk the horn on their clown car and yell out “…we’re here…we’ve come to save America…” Way too funny…
Posted by: RalphF | December 27, 2011, 2:25 pm 2:25 pm
Rick is a likeable guy. He has perfected his folksy public persona, but I’m forgetting something about Rick…I think it was important.
I’ll be happy if Perry comes in second behind the person I’m supporting.
I’ll give you an hint who that is:
This person is experienced, proven, managerial, competent, accomplished, and organized.
Posted by: Perry...for second place | December 27, 2011, 3:21 pm 3:21 pm
GO PERRY GO!!!
Posted by: JOE PTAK | December 27, 2011, 5:12 pm 5:12 pm
RALPH F. that person that you speak of has been running for six years, and can only garner support from establisment RINO’S…while 75% of conservatives prefer other candidates, The country needs a REAL LEADER that folks can rely on where he stands and what his core beliefs are…not change them in order to pander for votes.
Posted by: JOE PTAK | December 27, 2011, 6:04 pm 6:04 pm
Is Perry on meds? He seems mentally unstable to me. I don’t know who comes across as more crazy, Perry or Bachmann? They’re both creepy in a Jim Jones way.
Posted by: George | December 27, 2011, 6:36 pm 6:36 pm
Hey, Tyrone?
“when you realize this guy covered up his executing an innocent man by firing the head of the Texas Forensic Science Commission in 2010″
Perhaps you didn’t know the executive and judicial branches operate independently? Or that Perry didn’t fire Bassett – his term had expired Sept 1? Or that at *most*, the TX Governor can offer only one TEMPORARY 30 day stay of execution? Or that Perry rejected the the Hurst report just as the US Supreme Court, the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals and the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals had? Or that Willingham’s conviction was reviewed and upheld by multiple levels of state and federal courts, including nine federal courts – four times by the U.S. Supreme Court alone – over the course of more than a decade? If you didn’t know all that and more, well…
Posted by: Recon | December 27, 2011, 7:56 pm 7:56 pm
Rick Perry may be finally getting into the groove, taking off the gloves and “calling a spade a spade.”
In reality, he has a lot to talk about! Mitt Romney presents the “ideal wrapping for the package.” But he has “never found a side of an issue that he didn’t like!” Newt Gingrich is hardly better! In short, in Romney we have a R.I.N.O.. In Gingrich, we have a “new-con.” Romney’s stint as governor was hardly impressive! Gingrich did accomplish a lot as speaker, far more than Romney accomplished as Governor of Massachusetts! But his condemnation of Paul Ryan’s plan showed his true thought process. Ryan’s plan is sound. For Newt to refer to it as “right wing social engineering,” was a slap in all fiscal conservatives’ face!
Rick Perry is the real deal. Especially where “born again Christians” are concerned! In truth, an “LDS” is seen as a “cousin to a devil worshipper” in the “Baptist Bible Belt!” Gingrich is seen as nothing more than a “denominational opportunist.” Evangelicals throughout the nation can play an activist role. It is doubtful that they will be enthusiastic with either Romney or Gingrich. With Perry, they’ll “knock on doors!”
Ron Paul has some good ideas. Like Rick Perry, Ron Paul is “a constitutionalist.” But Paul will never win the nomination. His supporters can get the next best thing: Rick Perry. Perry and Paul are “10thers.” This is what separates both from the rest of the pack. Huntsman, like Romney, is a R.I.N.O.. Santorum and Bachmann are “neo-cons.” Ron Paul supporters should flock to Rick Perry’s wagon. He’s the nearest, closest thing they’ll get to returning America to constitutional principles.
The key for Perry is to not hold back any punches. All Republicans have played “softball” with Mitt Romney for fear of damaging him for the general election. But who truly wants him? At best, he will be Gerald Ford. At worse, he will be a “new England version” of Bill Clinton! That’s simply not good enough! I was shocked and disappointed to see Nikki Haley endorse him. She obviously will receive something in return, assuming he wins!
However, if Perry sheds the gloves and goes for the jugular, he can kill Mitt Romney. In short, the south will not elect “an LDS if they truly know what Morman’s believe.” Most actually don’t! That, in itself, is Romney’s saving grace. For now! However, once they learn, they will either stay home or vote for Ron Paul, which would ultimately re-elect Obama. It’s certain that Reince Pribus and the Republican Establishment would cringe with the thought of such a strategy! But, it’s time to shed “the New England yoke.” Eastern electoral votes will not determine the outcome of the election. It’s time these fine folks took a back seat.
Posted by: Jeff Willis | December 28, 2011, 12:31 pm 12:31 pm