Story here.
Rick Perry has officially thrown his hat into the ring for the Republican nod. He seemingly has nowhere to go but up after his campaign/debate debacles 4 years ago.
I put him in the “snowball’s chance” category, especially with the already crowded clown car. But he promises to make the election season a little more fun.
So he’s now memorized the 3rd department?
Yeah, but he’s now blanked on the 2nd one.
Well, it explains the glasses: he’s having his talking points projected onto the lenses in case he forgets them again.
He’s wearing glasses and regular shoes now, so he must be smarter.
What do these guys (the snowball’s chance guys, i.e. most of them) gain from doing this? I guess Huckabee got a talk show gig out of it last time. Do they loot their campaign funds before their inevitable withdrawal?
Influence. When they drop out of the primaries, they offer to endorse the leading candidate in exchange for the candidate’s agreement to work on their pet causes (or give them cabinet jobs.) In theory, their voters should then support the endorsed candidate in subsequent primaries.
See? They’re job creators!
I’ve always wondered if anyone actually does this. Endorsements mean nothing to me, although maybe I resent being told what to do more than the average person.
I would guess they mean more to donors and PACs than to individual voters.
Among all the candidates, he’s the only one who can truthfully say he’s under felony indictment.
So he’s that going for him.
I’m surprised nobody threw it back.
Does it also allow them to raise their speaking fees? I would think that would be a reason for some of them, so that they can say “former presidential candidate” in their accomplishments and charge $50,000 more per lecture. But Perry can already say that, so I’m not sure what’s the benefit of running again.
Two time former Presidential candidate. He can charge twice as much.
He’s a pro-life candidate, because nothing says “pro-life” like executing more people than any other governor in US history.
Are his chances really that bad? Bush’s pre-campaign to date has been fairly inept and I can very easily see Rubio wiping out spectacularly as he’s more thoroughly vetted. Walker had a boomlet back in April but ISTM Perry easily beats him in the charisma department and has equal or better credentials as longtime governor. Not that I support any of the above-mentioned candidates. I just don’t think Perry’s candidacy is that much of a long shot vs the rest of the field.
It’s possible, but I can’t imagine anyone wants to hear Carly Fiorina speak because she once (well, twice now) ran a hopeless campaign for the Republican presidential nomination. I’m sure there are people who want to hear her speak as former CEO of HP, even if she did a bad job.
Having said that, I’m having trouble wrapping my brain around the idea that anyone would pay Rick Perry to speak under any circumstances, but apparently 'tis so.
The Pubbies do themselves nothing but harm by allowing these many-times-passed-by candidates to keep running for each election. Granted, they probably can’t prevent them from spending their money in whatever way they see fit, but they do nothing but divide out votes that a better qualified candidate would need and should receive. Surely there must be some behind-the-scenes types that can discourage these bleed-off candidates.
I’m no Pubbie myself, but I know some very intelligent and capable ones. Why can’t this Party ever seem to find any?
Apparently (according to that site) Ricky is a “celebrity speaker”. I agree! I’d pay to have Ricky come to a one-on-one debate with either Jon Stewart or Bill Maher. The condition would be that I get to tape it and have full rights to sell it to the highest bidder, be it SNL, the Daily Show, Real Time, or just its own standalone comedy special. I know it’s cruel, but damn, the guy is funny! 