# Rick Perry Announces Presidential Bid **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [June 4, 2015, 5:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rick-perry-announces-presidential-bid/721643 "2015-06-04T17:28:20Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Jonathan\_Chance](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jonathan_chance/32/701_2.png) [@Jonathan\_Chance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jonathan_Chance)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2015, 9:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rick-perry-announces-presidential-bid/721643/41 "2015-06-05T21:05:01Z")
**Bush 13.2** **Walker 12.5 Rubio 12** Carson 9.2 Paul 9.2 Huckabee 8.7 **Cruz 8.5** Christie 4.8 Trump 4 **Perry 2.7 Kasich 2 Santorum 2** Fiorina 1.6 Graham 1.3 Serious contenders in bold. RCP even including the others (though I might include Paul) merely shows the lack of seriousness with which RCP is taking things at this point in the game. Perry has the ability to raise more money than anyone except Bush over any given week. That he’s polling so far down is more a product of his not being in the spotlight until recently. Seriously, listing Trump - whom everyone knows isn’t really running - is irresponsible in the extreme. ---
**Author:** ![Superdude](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/superdude/32/13450_2.png) [@Superdude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Superdude)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2015, 10:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rick-perry-announces-presidential-bid/721643/42 "2015-06-05T22:45:54Z")
> [@Sam\_Lowry](#): > > Also, this time around he’s starting off with a felony indictment. I don’t know how likely he is to get jail time, I’m guessing not very likely, but I would think that would dull some of his shine. Even if someone was the perfect candidate for me, I’d be hesitant to support them knowing that some of the money I donate would go towards their defense of abuse of power charges. While I realize it’s on a much smaller scale than the state of Texas, and the charges were different, I feel I’d be remiss if I didn’t point out that Democrats re-elected [Marion Barry](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marion_Barry#1990_arrest_and_drug_conviction) as mayor of DC after he served a prison term. ---
**Author:** ![adaher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dec6dc/32.png) [@adaher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/adaher)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2015, 11:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rick-perry-announces-presidential-bid/721643/43 "2015-06-05T23:53:57Z")
> [@DrumBum](#): > > Ahh. So basically a Reagan clone with glasses and a funny accent. 😃 It’s hard to compare anyone to Reagan because he was a unique figure. Not the most intellectual guy, but intellectual enough to be able to explain his worldview in a persuasive way, and an eternal optimist and dreamer. Perry, on the other hand, even looks a little like GWB. He’s got that swagger, impatience for wonkiness, yet doesn’t seem to have Bush’s confidence. The only thing worse than another Bush is an indecisive GWB clone. ---
**Author:** ![adaher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dec6dc/32.png) [@adaher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/adaher)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2015, 11:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rick-perry-announces-presidential-bid/721643/44 "2015-06-05T23:55:18Z")
> [@Jonathan\_Chance](#): > > **Bush 13.2** > **Walker 12.5 > Rubio 12** > Carson 9.2 > Paul 9.2 > Huckabee 8.7 > **Cruz 8.5** > Christie 4.8 > Trump 4 > **Perry 2.7 > Kasich 2 > Santorum 2** > Fiorina 1.6 > Graham 1.3 > > Serious contenders in bold. RCP even including the others (though I might include Paul) merely shows the lack of seriousness with which RCP is taking things at this point in the game. Perry has the ability to raise more money than anyone except Bush over any given week. That he’s polling so far down is more a product of his not being in the spotlight until recently. > > Seriously, listing Trump - whom everyone knows isn’t really running - is irresponsible in the extreme. I’d say that any one of those could win. They are all serious in terms of being able to win the nomination. Even Fiorina, who I would rate dead last, has been impressing activists with her political talent. But political talent is not the same as governing talent and we know how Fiorina governs. ---
**Author:** ![not\_what\_you\_d\_expect](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/not_what_you_d_expect/32/3246_2.png) [@not\_what\_you\_d\_expect](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/not_what_you_d_expect)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2015, 2:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rick-perry-announces-presidential-bid/721643/45 "2015-06-06T02:26:08Z")
Jon Stewart put Rick Perry in the spotlight on his show last night. Perry is coming across as very dim, in my opinion. Just a couple of his quotes that made me shake my head: “We must do right, and risk the consequences,” Perry said in his announcement video." What in the world does this mean? “There is nothing wrong in America today that a change in leadership won’t make happen.” What? I can’t even imagine him as president. ---
**Author:** ![adaher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dec6dc/32.png) [@adaher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/adaher)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2015, 2:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rick-perry-announces-presidential-bid/721643/46 "2015-06-06T02:35:13Z")
I can, if only because it’s happened before. That’s probably why he thinks he can win. And he can. He’s got the paper qualifications and the corporate world loves his pro-business record. ---
**Author:** ![The\_wind\_of\_my\_soul](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ecc23a/32.png) [@The\_wind\_of\_my\_soul](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_wind_of_my_soul)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2015, 1:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rick-perry-announces-presidential-bid/721643/47 "2015-06-08T13:14:40Z")
To those of you who are designating a top tier/serious contenders, could you please explain why you chose those people over the others? ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2015, 1:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rick-perry-announces-presidential-bid/721643/48 "2015-06-08T13:37:19Z")
My guess would be because they won significant primary votes or polled well in prior years, or because they haven’t run before but are seen as serious candidates. Most of the people on the list have tried and flamed out spectacularly. That includes Santorum; I am a little surprised to see anyone other than his mother suggesting he has a chance to win without every other candidate coming down with some deadly tropical disease. Rick Perry would be a serious candidate if we hadn’t already had eight terrible years of a Rick Perry presidency. ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2015, 2:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rick-perry-announces-presidential-bid/721643/49 "2015-06-08T14:00:12Z")
Santorum came in second last time. He may seem like a sick joke to most of us but a lot of voters supported him seriously, and still do. He also has no other apparent reason for running, unlike, say, Huckabee and his TV ratings. So, like it or not, he’s a serious candidate until the voters say otherwise. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2015, 2:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rick-perry-announces-presidential-bid/721643/50 "2015-06-08T14:05:08Z")
Technically Ron Paul came in second last time, but that’s a fair point. ---
**Author:** ![LonghornDave](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/a87d85/32.png) [@LonghornDave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LonghornDave)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2015, 3:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rick-perry-announces-presidential-bid/721643/51 "2015-06-08T15:03:12Z")
> [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#): > > My guess would be because they won significant primary votes or polled well in prior years, or because they haven’t run before but are seen as serious candidates. Most of the people on the list have tried and flamed out spectacularly. That includes Santorum; I am a little surprised to see anyone other than his mother suggesting he has a chance to win without every other candidate coming down with some deadly tropical disease. > > Rick Perry would be a serious candidate if we hadn’t already had eight terrible years of a Rick Perry presidency. Bush is far more intelligent and ethical than Perry. I think Bush played up the common man image; Perry is trying to sound intelligent. That they’re getting close to the same appearance is telling. ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2015, 3:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rick-perry-announces-presidential-bid/721643/52 "2015-06-08T15:30:20Z")
> [@not\_what\_you\_d\_expect](#): > > “There is nothing wrong in America today that a change in leadership won’t make happen.” Wait - is that actually what he said, verbatim? Because that’s an argument _against_ a change in leadership. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2015, 3:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rick-perry-announces-presidential-bid/721643/53 "2015-06-08T15:30:27Z")
Yes, he really said that. From the tone and inflection it was obvious he was supposed to say “fix” instead of “make happen.” Are there any specific ethical issues you’re referring to WRT Perry, **Dave**? I know he’s under investigation (indictment?) for firing the Travis County prosecutor but that seems like a largely political prosecution, since the law appears to allow him to do it. ---
**Author:** ![YogSothoth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/8edcca/32.png) [@YogSothoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/YogSothoth)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2015, 3:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rick-perry-announces-presidential-bid/721643/54 "2015-06-08T15:59:24Z")
> [@Lance\_Turbo](#): > > Current [RCP averages](http://www.realclearpolitics.com/epolls/2016/president/us/2016_republican_presidential_nomination-3823.html) as of 6/5/2015: > Bush 13.2 > Walker 12.5 > Rubio 12 > Carson 9.2 > Paul 9.2 > Huckabee 8.7 > Cruz 8.5 > Christie 4.8 > Trump 4 > Perry 2.7 > Kasich 2 > Santorum 2 > Fiorina 1.6 > Graham 1.3 > > I don’t know where you want to draw the line between top tier and everyone else, but Perry is polling behind Trump and Christie. This guy is forked. I’m actually quite shocked Rubio is up there. After Aquaboy there had a terrible SOTU response and support of immigration, I counted him all but out. If we threw him into the general though, I could see him polling higher than most of the GOP pile ---
**Author:** ![The\_wind\_of\_my\_soul](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ecc23a/32.png) [@The\_wind\_of\_my\_soul](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_wind_of_my_soul)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2015, 4:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rick-perry-announces-presidential-bid/721643/55 "2015-06-08T16:18:53Z")
> [@ElvisL1ves](#): > > Santorum came in second last time. He may seem like a sick joke to most of us but a lot of voters supported him seriously, and still do. He also has no other apparent reason for running, unlike, say, Huckabee and his TV ratings. So, like it or not, he’s a serious candidate until the voters say otherwise. Santorum only did as well as he did because Bachmann, Cain, Gingrich, and Perry all failed to be the anti-Romney they wanted. Santorum was the only anti-Romney left. (Paul veered too far from your typical Republican to ever be an anti-Romney.) I really don’t think Santorum stands a chance in this crowded field of candidates. (In the interest of full disclosure, during the last election cycle, I insisted that Republicans would never get so desperate for an anti-Romney that they would latch onto Santorum, and I was wrong, so that shows just how much I know.) ---
**Author:** ![YogSothoth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/8edcca/32.png) [@YogSothoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/YogSothoth)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2015, 6:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rick-perry-announces-presidential-bid/721643/56 "2015-06-08T18:45:38Z")
Who’s Sheldon Adelson supporting this time? I can see him propping up a bad candidate long after the nomination’s sewn up. No Gingrich this time (what did he ever see in him?), at least for now. In a crowded field, someone with money like that can definitely break one of his preferred guys out of the pack ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2015, 6:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rick-perry-announces-presidential-bid/721643/57 "2015-06-08T18:58:03Z")
Nobody yet, but apparently the smart money (so to speak) is on [Rubio](http://www.politico.com/story/2015/04/marco-rubio-takes-lead-in-sheldon-adelson-primary-117268.html). ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2015, 7:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rick-perry-announces-presidential-bid/721643/58 "2015-06-08T19:13:21Z")
I thought Adelson had already thrown in with Bush. Looks like he’s not that committed yet. ---
**Author:** ![Drunky\_Smurf](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/drunky_smurf/32/449_2.png) [@Drunky\_Smurf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Drunky_Smurf)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2015, 3:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rick-perry-announces-presidential-bid/721643/59 "2015-06-09T15:38:51Z")
> [@elucidator](#): > > Certain intelligent and acute observers have suggested that a Draft Romney! movement will soon be afoot. What a hoot that would be. ---
**Author:** ![PastTense](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pasttense/32/14550_2.png) [@PastTense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PastTense)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2015, 4:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rick-perry-announces-presidential-bid/721643/60 "2015-08-11T04:35:42Z")
> [@](#): > > Former Texas governor Rick Perry’s presidential campaign is no longer paying its staff because fundraising has dried up, while his cash-flush allied super PAC is preparing to expand its political operation to compensate for the campaign’s shortcomings, campaign and super PAC officials and other Republicans familiar with the operation said late Monday. > > Perry, who has struggled to gain traction in his second presidential run, has stopped paying his staff at the national headquarters in Austin as well as in the early caucus and primary states of Iowa, New Hampshire and South Carolina, according to a Republican familiar with the Perry campaign who demanded anonymity because of the sensitivity of the situation. [http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/post-politics/wp/2015/08/10/rick-perry-stops-paying-his-south-carolina-staff-as-fundraising-dries-up/](http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/post-politics/wp/2015/08/10/rick-perry-stops-paying-his-south-carolina-staff-as-fundraising-dries-up/) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rick-perry-announces-presidential-bid/721643.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rick-perry-announces-presidential-bid/721643.md?page=4)