# The Rick Perry for President Thread **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [August 14, 2011, 8:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-rick-perry-for-president-thread/592720 "2011-08-14T20:51:31Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 6
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2011, 7:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-rick-perry-for-president-thread/592720/101 "2011-08-17T19:10:34Z")
[Rick Perry says he doesn’t believe in global warming](http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_PERRY_2012?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2011-08-17-14-11-10) > [@Rick Perry](#): > > I think we’re seeing almost weekly, or even daily, scientists that are coming forward and questioning the original idea that manmade global warming is what is causing the climate to change. > [@Rick Perry](#): > > I don’t think from my perspective that I want to be engaged in spending that much money on still a scientific theory that has not been proven and from my perspective is more and more being put into question. He _thinks_ we’re seeing scientists come forward daily questioning climate change. Are we or aren’t we seeing that, Mr. Perry? I would think it would be pretty easy to show this to be true, if it were actually happening. This guy was unelectable to begin with; the secession speech shoots him down easily enough. It’s amazing that anyone is still giving him money so that he can run, unless it’s coming from people who support another candidate and they just want to dilute the pool. ---
**Author:** ![XT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/xt/32/456_2.png) [@XT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/XT)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2011, 10:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-rick-perry-for-president-thread/592720/102 "2011-08-17T22:18:46Z")
I’m not sure if someone has posted this link yet (sorry, doing this from my iPad and haven’t read the whole thread), but [here](http://www.cnn.com/2011/OPINION/08/17/moore.perry.bush/index.html?hpt=hp_c1) is a CNN article comparing and contrasting Bush to Perry: > [@](#): > > Austin, Texas (CNN) – If Rick Perry and George W. Bush had been born in the same family, W would have become known to friends as “the smart one.” > > Perry is not W. That’s the simplest statement about the two Texans. But there is subtlety and confusion abounding in the comparison, which is probably best articulated by Dale Berra, former professional baseball player and son of the Yankee great Yogi, who was once asked to compare himself to his famous father. “When it comes to my dad and me,” he said, “our similarities are different.” > [@](#): > > Perry also likes to affect the boots and suits couture that is a part of Texas politics. Bush had a similar style, and even though many Texans viewed him as an East Coast “outlander,” he appeared far less the poseur than Perry. In Iowa, the current governor lifted his leg, put his boot on a hay bale and threw his knee back to make sure his boots (or something) were clearly visible to onlookers. In spite of the fact that Perry was raised by cotton growers on the South Plains in West Texas, W effortlessly out-Texans him. > [@](#): > > When Bush came to Austin, he held private meetings with each of the 181 state senators and representatives from both parties. He asked them what their legislative agenda included, shared what was on his radar and discussed how they might work together. An astonishing notion, cooperation, but in politics common sense often passes for genius. > > Perry, though, was having none of that stinking compromise and kumbaya business. A coalition of hard-right conservatives had taken control of the Legislature, and they weren’t interested in a governor who cut deals. But they didn’t have to push Perry to the right-hand edge of their flat earth; he bravely led them. > [@](#): > > When W was preparing his run for the White House from Texas, Karl Rove was trumpeting the idea of a Defense of Marriage Act, which was a linguistic head fake to ban same-sex marriage. Bush didn’t like the idea. A longtime staffer and close policy adviser was gay, and Bush accepted homosexuality as a consequence of biology. When I asked him how he could support such a ban, Bush said quietly, “It’s just politics.” The Rove tactic was to motivate fundamentalist conservatives, and it worked. > > Political strategy for Bush, however, is religious dogma for Perry. A devout fervor informs Perry’s resistance to same-sex marriage, as if he had just wandered a desert for 40 years and had been handed the dictate against it on a tablet of stone from a bearded man. > [@](#): > > Perry thinks of W as a country club Republican, a politician too willing to work out deals. Bush doesn’t think of Perry much at all. The people who want Jesus as a screensaver on every computer in public schools, call women who have had abortions “baby killers,” think that being a homosexual is a “lifestyle choice,” and are convinced that humans once saddled up and rode west on dinosaurs; these people all made Bush uncomfortable. But Perry loves them. He shares many of their beliefs. They helped elect him governor. > > And they might just make him president. Apologies if this has already been posted and addressed, but thought it might be relevant. Gods help us if this bozo gets elected. -XT ---
**Author:** ![Martin\_Hyde](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/47e85d/32.png) [@Martin\_Hyde](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Martin_Hyde)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2011, 10:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-rick-perry-for-president-thread/592720/103 "2011-08-17T22:30:04Z")
> [@Sam\_Stone](#): > > I haven’t seen this mentioned yet, but Perry is on video essentially threatening Ben Bernanke, saying that it would be treasonous if he prints more money, and that if he came down to Texas people would know how to deal with him. > > I’ve got to say that this is one of the most reckless, undisciplined, stupid things I’ve heard a serious Presidential candidate say. It violates the principle of the separation of the Fed from politics, it coarsens the debate, it shows that Perry is either ignorant of the basics of the banking system or he knows how it works and he’s issuing threats to a guy just trying to do his job for political purposes. > > As far as my rhetorical support goes, he’s dug himself a damned big hole and he’s going to have to be amazing from here on out for me to be able to get over that. > > I hope the Republicans find a better candidate. I actually mentioned in post 80. What’s interesting is Perry has done a few things since he declared for President that most politicians would back off from a little bit. In response to negative reactions from several prominent Republicans (including Karl Rove, who one can never think is truly out of the game) Perry has actually double-down and re-emphasized his comments about Bernanke. ---
**Author:** ![gonzomax](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e8c25b/32.png) [@gonzomax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gonzomax)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2011, 2:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-rick-perry-for-president-thread/592720/104 "2011-08-18T02:32:14Z")
Parry gets to be a bigger joke everyday. i can’t wait for what stupid thing he wills say tomorrow. Better yet, some of you will have to twist yourselves into pretzels trying to prove he did not mean what he said. I wait for the next days fun. \ ---
**Author:** ![Harborwolf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/c89c15/32.png) [@Harborwolf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Harborwolf)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2011, 10:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-rick-perry-for-president-thread/592720/105 "2011-08-18T10:26:27Z")
> [@Sam\_Stone](#): > > I haven’t seen this mentioned yet, but Perry is on video essentially threatening Ben Bernanke, saying that it would be treasonous if he prints more money, and that if he came down to Texas people would know how to deal with him. > > I’ve got to say that this is one of the most reckless, undisciplined, stupid things I’ve heard a serious Presidential candidate say. It violates the principle of the separation of the Fed from politics, it coarsens the debate, it shows that Perry is either ignorant of the basics of the banking system or he knows how it works and he’s issuing threats to a guy just trying to do his job for political purposes. > > As far as my rhetorical support goes, he’s dug himself a damned big hole and he’s going to have to be amazing from here on out for me to be able to get over that. What hole? The base is going to eat that line up. While it certainly sounds threatening and was meant to sound “tough,” there’s no clearly stated threat in it. It’s all implied, meaning that while you hear an essential threat those amongst the core of true believers can say that he didn’t threaten anyone and that it’s just them liberals takin’ things outta context and readin’ too much into somethin’. I personally find it funny that this is a guy who says that he and the tea party aren’t “angry” preferring “indignant,” and then he turns around and calls Bernanke treasonous and makes what could be interpreted as a threat. He certainly makes the case that “angry” isn’t the right word. Closer to “unhinged.” ---
**Author:** ![Merijeek](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f05b48/32.png) [@Merijeek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Merijeek)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2011, 12:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-rick-perry-for-president-thread/592720/106 "2011-08-18T12:59:49Z")
> [@Harborwolf](#): > > I personally find it funny that this is a guy who says that he and the tea party aren’t “angry” preferring “indignant,” and then he turns around and calls Bernanke treasonous and makes what could be interpreted as a threat. He certainly makes the case that “angry” isn’t the right word. Closer to “unhinged.” Or, you know, “dog whistling into a megaphone”. -Joe ---
**Author:** ![gonzomax](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e8c25b/32.png) [@gonzomax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gonzomax)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2011, 3:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-rick-perry-for-president-thread/592720/107 "2011-08-18T15:36:52Z")
Perry is making it easy. His remarks about Bernanke, are crazy. His backing of secession for Texas is documented. You don’t have to dig deep to find the crazy in Perry. They will have to gag him if they want the campaign to move forward. ---
**Author:** ![Hentor\_the\_Barbarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/8edcca/32.png) [@Hentor\_the\_Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hentor_the_Barbarian)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2011, 1:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-rick-perry-for-president-thread/592720/108 "2011-08-19T13:04:52Z")
Here’s a Rick Perry story that is both a specific indictment of him, but that I like because it also illustrates a more general observation I’ve been making here as well: [http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/political-animal/2011\_08/perry\_parties\_and\_pragmatism031653.php](http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/political-animal/2011_08/perry_parties_and_pragmatism031653.php) Essentially, the specific point is on Perry’s inability to distinguish pragmatics from morality in regards to employing abstinence-only programs. The larger point is whether one uses an empirical approach to guiding policies and practices. I’ve repeatedly come across a conservative mindset here that pushes for policies and practices that just simply have been shown not to work empirically. This is especially true as regards economics. Do what works! If taxing corporations and the wealthy at 5% led to solid employment and economic prosperity across socioeconomic classes, I’d be all for it. ---
**Author:** ![Bridget\_Burke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7cd45c/32.png) [@Bridget\_Burke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bridget_Burke)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2011, 1:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-rick-perry-for-president-thread/592720/109 "2011-08-19T13:42:32Z")
Remember The Response, that prayer & fasting meeting Perry promoted at Houston’s Reliant Stadium? There was no reported specifically political content at the event, but here’s [some information on the aftermath](http://www.burntorangereport.com/diary/11303/rightwing-group-using-perrys-response-list-for-christian-voter-mobilization): > [@](#): > > This afternoon, right-wing religious organization The American Family Association, one of the co-sponsors of Rick Perry’s Totally Not Political Prayer Event, sent a message to The Response’s email list in an early effort to begin registering and mobilizing 5 million conservative Christians to vote in the upcoming election… > > Make no mistake about it. Right-wing groups affiliated with Rick Perry are already organizing archly conservative religious voters for the 2012 election, and using the infrastructure provided by The Response to do it. That email went to everyone who RSVP’ed for the event, hosted a satellite house party, or an event in their own local community of faith. The Response was a tremendous grassroots organizing tool to begin infiltrating affinity groups of faith in preparation for Rick Perry’s run for President, which today’s message from the American Family Association to The Response email list makes abundantly clear. Gosh, what a handy little list for Perry’s campaign! ---
**Author:** ![gonzomax](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e8c25b/32.png) [@gonzomax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gonzomax)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2011, 2:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-rick-perry-for-president-thread/592720/110 "2011-08-19T14:50:41Z")
[http://www.rawstory.com/rawreplay/2011/08/former-reagan-aide-rick-perry-is-an-idiot/](http://www.rawstory.com/rawreplay/2011/08/former-reagan-aide-rick-perry-is-an-idiot/) Here is a Tv response from a Reagan /Bush aide abd treasury officia explaining it simply. He says Perry is an idiot and no body would disagree with that. ---
**Author:** ![humanafterall](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/humanafterall/32/19654_2.png) [@humanafterall](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/humanafterall)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2011, 12:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-rick-perry-for-president-thread/592720/111 "2011-08-20T00:58:51Z")
I don’t know if this has been presented yet, but here is more [Rick Perry nuttyness](http://www.texasobserver.org/cover-story/rick-perrys-army-of-god) Hope you enjoy it as much as I did. ---
**Author:** ![Martin\_Hyde](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/47e85d/32.png) [@Martin\_Hyde](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Martin_Hyde)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2011, 2:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-rick-perry-for-president-thread/592720/112 "2011-08-20T02:39:35Z")
I’m a life long, traditional conservative Republican. I am an American first, and if Rick Perry is nominated I’m pledging my vote for Barack Obama. I disagree with him on most of the fundamental issues but I can’t in good conscience vote for a lunatic. ---
**Author:** ![Koxinga](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/4af34b/32.png) [@Koxinga](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Koxinga)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2011, 2:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-rick-perry-for-president-thread/592720/113 "2011-08-20T02:52:17Z")
I don’t think you guys get it that Perry is focused on no small challenge of winning the primary first. The Republican establishment clearly doesn’t like him, so he has to serve up plenty of red meat for the tea partiers – who, after all, are simply [the white conservative base in disguise](http://www.salon.com/news/opinion/joan_walsh/politics/2011/08/17/getting_to_know_the_tea_party/index.html). By saying some things juuust outrageous enough, he’s goaded both Karl Rove and Obama himself to respond – which does Perry a tremendous favor in his efforts to win the primary. A sizable proportion of Republicans don’t like Bush, didn’t even like him at the time. Bush’s consigliere doesn’t like Perry? Good! Obama’s fearful enough of Perry to start attacking him t this early stage? Good! C’s in gym notwithstanding, I think anyone who believes politics is a stupid person’s game is looking to get burned. If Obama lulls himself into thinking Perry is stupid, then Perry is going to wipe the floor with him come November. ---
**Author:** ![Love\_Rhombus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/love_rhombus/32/10694_2.png) [@Love\_Rhombus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Love_Rhombus)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2011, 3:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-rick-perry-for-president-thread/592720/114 "2011-08-20T03:19:37Z")
[Rick Perry wants to change the constitution.](http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/ticket/seven-ways-rick-perry-wants-change-constitution-131634517.html) Oooook. ---
**Author:** ![Koxinga](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/4af34b/32.png) [@Koxinga](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Koxinga)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2011, 3:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-rick-perry-for-president-thread/592720/115 "2011-08-20T03:26:03Z")
Well, each point is debatable, but it’s about time we started thinking outside the box on the role the federal government plays in everyone’s life. The Constitution is to be respected, followed and defended, but is not immutable holy writ. ---
**Author:** ![Implicit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Implicit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Implicit)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2011, 3:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-rick-perry-for-president-thread/592720/116 "2011-08-20T03:41:48Z")
> [@Koxinga](#): > > Well, each point is debatable, but it’s about time we started thinking outside the box on the role the federal government plays in everyone’s life. The Constitution is to be respected, followed and defended, but is not immutable holy writ. Uh, except for that whole “I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will faithfully execute the Office of President of the United States, and will to the best of my ability, preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States.” [bit](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oath_of_office_of_the_President_of_the_United_States). ---
**Author:** ![Koxinga](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/4af34b/32.png) [@Koxinga](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Koxinga)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2011, 3:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-rick-perry-for-president-thread/592720/117 "2011-08-20T03:53:57Z")
> [@Implicit](#): > > Uh, except for that whole “I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will faithfully execute the Office of President of the United States, and will to the best of my ability, preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States.” [bit](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oath_of_office_of_the_President_of_the_United_States). So you feel that makes it impermissible for the President to suggest that the Constitution be amended? ---
**Author:** ![Implicit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Implicit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Implicit)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2011, 4:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-rick-perry-for-president-thread/592720/118 "2011-08-20T04:21:00Z")
> [@Koxinga](#): > > So you feel that makes it impermissible for the President to suggest that the Constitution be amended? The President of the United States has no role in amending the Constitution. Congress can propose amendments (which still have to be ratified by the states) or the states can convene a Constitutional Convention (hasn’t been used so far). ---
**Author:** ![Koxinga](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/4af34b/32.png) [@Koxinga](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Koxinga)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2011, 4:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-rick-perry-for-president-thread/592720/119 "2011-08-20T04:38:35Z")
> [@Implicit](#): > > The President of the United States has no role in amending the Constitution. Congress can propose amendments (which still have to be ratified by the states) or the states can convene a Constitutional Convention (hasn’t been used so far). Not the question I asked. In mentioning the oath of office, you seem to be suggesting that it’s impermissible for the President, or a presidential candidate, to advocate that the Constitution be amended. Is that in fact your view? ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2011, 4:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-rick-perry-for-president-thread/592720/120 "2011-08-20T04:40:35Z")
Any citizen, including the President, can recommend any legislation, including a Constitutional amendment. Even though the President has no official special role in this process, he does have the ear of everyone who does, and therefore often recommends legislation, and often sees his recommendations acted on. It’s therefore not at all absurd for the President, or a presidential candidate, to suggest amendments, in and of itself. The absurd part comes in the specific amendments that Perry wants. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-rick-perry-for-president-thread/592720.md?page=5) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-rick-perry-for-president-thread/592720.md?page=7)