Perry “leaning” toward running in 2014
That’s what he says. I’ll believe it when he files. This seems more like a sign of weakness than a sign of strength — an effort to remain relevant in the wake of his failures in the presidential race, as if he is trying to fend off potential opponents. If Perry is planning on running in 2016 — which I do believe — he can’t take the chance he might lose a race for governor. That would finish him as a presidential candidate. Not that he has a realistic chance of winning the presidency.
I have expressed most of these opinions before, but if Perry is going to keep saying that he is running, it is important to recognize that he is speaking as a wounded and deeply flawed candidate who proved that the lack of respect for him over the years was well earned.
The worst thing about the likelihood that Perry may run for president again is that it means he will put the state through another bloodbath in the 2013 session, as he did in 2011, throwing the school children and the sick and the frail under the bus in the name of conservatism.
Before he talks about running, he needs to repair the damage he has inflicted on his brand. The way to do this, for a normal politician, is through good works. Perry doesn’t do good works. He revels in saying no. He immediately poured cold water on suggestions that he call a special session on school finance. In the middle of a horrible drought in the 2011 session, he refused entreaties to provide funding for the water plan — and, no, a few hundred million in bonds isn’t the answer. Perry’s strength is his understanding of his constituency. He knows they don’t care about school finance, or anything else having to do with governing. Old white guys don’t spend a lot of time thinking about the future.
Ted Fulmer says:
My suspicion is that back on his home turf Perry’s mojo will return and he will win re-election…although I personally think he’d be happier as president of Texas A&M than as POTUS.
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Texian Politico Reply:
February 23rd, 2012 at 8:41 am
“Old white guys don’t spend a lot of time thinking about the future.”
That’s a racist comment. Try replacing white with “African-American” or “Latino” and see how that flies.
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paulburka Reply:
February 23rd, 2012 at 9:02 am
Racism applies to minorities. Old white guys are the majority.
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Hooah! Reply:
February 23rd, 2012 at 9:34 am
Have you done the numbers on that Paul? They may be the most powerful, but the most numerous? Old (34+) white guys?
Texian Politico Reply:
February 23rd, 2012 at 10:48 am
That’s just stupid. Racism is (and always has been) a two-way street. Besides, old white guys are a minority. In fact, besides being racist, I think you comment is also ageist.
JohnBernardBooks Reply:
February 23rd, 2012 at 11:36 am
sadly racism exsists mostly because of democrat hatred.
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Bill James Reply:
February 23rd, 2012 at 1:31 pm
Moron.
JohnBernardBooks Reply:
February 23rd, 2012 at 2:41 pm
useful idiot
paulburka says:
Perry may end up at A&M but it won’t be as president.
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Robert Morrow Reply:
February 22nd, 2012 at 12:13 pm
I think he ought to be an unpaid greeter at the A&M rec center.
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Tom says:
One way for Perry to end his career would be to come out with an endorsement, of himself. After all, Newt plummeted in the polls right after the Rickster endorsed him. And just what would Perry run on? “Elect me again. I promise I’ll do for the state what I’ve already done for the schools.”
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Dan C says:
If Texas re-elects Perry again it will prove beyond a doubt that (1) the electorate here really is as dumb as the people who make fun of it claim it is, and/or (2) the Texas Democratic Party is the most pathetic political organization in the country.
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JohnBernardBooks Reply:
February 22nd, 2012 at 10:52 am
no, the democrat’s useful idiots are what’s really dumb http://www.realclearpolitics.com/video/2012/02/21/carney_obama_didnt_turn_down_the_keystone_pipeline.html
WOW!
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paulburka Reply:
February 23rd, 2012 at 11:01 am
Re Dan C –
Two for two.
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Whoa Nellie! Reply:
February 23rd, 2012 at 1:00 pm
You got that right!
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Ted Fulmer says:
paulburka says:
Perry may end up at A&M but it won’t be as president
Yell Leader Emeritus?
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Willie James Reply:
February 23rd, 2012 at 8:52 am
Perry very well may end up at A&M, and as the boss. He has all his cronies in place to make it happen. True, that the Texas electorate is easily led and easily fooled, particularly the arch-conservatives that allow such a fellow to be our governor. As “old white guys” dont think about the future, they dont have much of a political future left, either. Not in Texas.
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Mr. Smith says:
Please let Rick Perry run again. He will be weak as a kitten, and if, IF he survives a primary, he will open the door to Wendy Davis. And that will weaken the down ballot Rs and local election Rs. Like Monty Python’s knight, its not just a flesh wound.
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Robert Morrow Reply:
February 22nd, 2012 at 12:20 pm
Hmmm, you mean if Rick Perry were bold enough to run for governor again it would be like Mr. Creosote having just one “itty bitty, wafer thin after dinner mint?”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rXH_12QWWg8
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Blue Dogs Reply:
February 23rd, 2012 at 9:52 am
Mr. Smith, Perry is NOT running in 2014 and that I strongly guarantee you and everyone else on this blog.
He’s just toying with us (like Palin did) and he’s gonna throw his $$$ machine behind Abbott, whom you know Perry will easily control as a puppet.
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Art Reply:
February 23rd, 2012 at 10:58 am
Perry and Palin being two of the least likely to get elected again human beings on the planet. Frauds, both.
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paulburka Reply:
February 23rd, 2012 at 11:03 am
How is Perry going to control Abbott when Abbott is governor and Perry is out of office? Is Abbott going to sign a pre-nup, or what?
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Willie Reply:
February 23rd, 2012 at 1:33 pm
Agreed. Abbott and the rest of the party have too much damage to repair than to have Uncle Rick over their shoulder. The future is about moving away from Rick and the damage he has done, not giving him a place at the table.
Robert Morrow says:
Water plan? Ridiculous. We need rain from the heavens not a “water plan.” I agree with Perry that we need to pray for it.
The humans wasting our taxpayer money to steal water from others will not solve the problem.
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WS says:
Why did you insist on writing that irrelevant last line about “old white guys”? Maybe Perry doesn’t care about the future. Maybe “old” people are less likely to care about the future. Throwing in race in a manner like that is gratuitous and irrelevant, and makes you look like somebody who lives in stereotypes.
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paulburka Reply:
February 22nd, 2012 at 12:46 pm
Stereotypes are very usedful. I stand by what I wrote.
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anon Reply:
February 22nd, 2012 at 1:40 pm
so are invidious stereotypes about minorities also “useful”? do old hispanics and blacks sit around fretting about the future? how the hell did you get into rice?
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paulburka Reply:
February 22nd, 2012 at 9:15 pm
I turned off Main Street at Sunset Boulevard.
JohnBernardBooks Reply:
February 23rd, 2012 at 11:38 am
sadly racism because of democrats like Burka.
Whoa Nellie! Reply:
February 23rd, 2012 at 1:02 pm
“I turned off Main Street at Sunset Boulevard.”
ba-da-DAAH! (Cymbal crash)
Whoa Nellie! Reply:
February 23rd, 2012 at 1:02 pm
“I turned off Main Street at Sunset Boulevard.”
Also acceptable: “Studied hard and got good grades.”
WS Reply:
February 22nd, 2012 at 2:17 pm
Paul, I have to say that I am really shocked at your comment. Do you have any evidence that white people think about the future any less than anybody else?
Since ethnic and racial stereotypes are so useful, perhaps you would like to make a similar sweeping negative statement about blacks, Hispanics, women, gays, or any other group that might bolster our understanding.
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Jerry Only Reply:
February 22nd, 2012 at 3:00 pm
you guys are kidding right? paul was pointing out perrys constituency, which is made up of old white guys. its not even a stereotype, its the truth.
WS Reply:
February 22nd, 2012 at 3:12 pm
So if I said President Obama’s constituency was disproportionately minority(true), noted further that his budget does not even attempt to deal with the upcoming entitlement avalanche (also true), it would be okay for me to say blacks and Hispanics don’t think or care about the future? Of course not, and I suspect if somebody did write that they’d be fired. Using racial stereotypes is not only wrong, it is lazy thinking.
Tom says:
That old fat white guy Newt is really in trouble now. Now only has Perry endorsed him, now he’s going to campaign for him.
“Gov. Rick Perry will make his first major campaign appearance for one-time rival Newt Gingrich, an aide to the governor said Wednesday.”
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TLG Reply:
February 23rd, 2012 at 7:46 am
Paul left “angry” out of his description of the Governor’s constituency.
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Willie James Reply:
February 23rd, 2012 at 8:53 am
And scared.
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anita says:
Head of groundskeeping. He’s qualified for that.
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Jerry Only Reply:
February 22nd, 2012 at 2:58 pm
what makes you think he wouldnt kill the grass?
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donuthin Reply:
February 22nd, 2012 at 7:13 pm
Wait a minute, most groundskeepers are hard working, dedicated individuals. So how does he qualify?
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Fred Brown's Tanning Machine Operator says:
I think you all misunderstood Perry: maybe he meant, he’s just thinking about running again (as in jogging) after his back surgery heals up, with his six-shooter, on the hunt for coyotes.
But seriously folks, nothing would be better than to watch a real heroic turnaround… as Rob Johnson, Dave Carney, George Will’s wife, etc all rise like a phoenix from the ashes and fly that Perry mothership into the White House.
Afterall, what else can they do with the PAC cash?
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T. S. Umbra says:
In ‘honor’ of both major political parties?
“Shift Like the Wind” et al.
http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/shift-like-the-wind/
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Tom says:
Wasn’t JBB claiming Perry did not cut education funding. Darn those facts
“Spending on public school students in Texas has dropped sharply this year and the already large gap between the state and the national average has widened, according to new comparisons by the National Education Association . Texas schools are spending $8,908 per student in the current school year, well under the national average of $11,463 and also below the estimate cited by Gov. Rick Perry – $10,000 – in an interview with The Dallas Morning News this week.
Preliminary NEA figures show that per pupil spending in the state actually dropped $538 from the 2010-11 school year, when Texas ranked 41st among the states with an average expenditure of $9,446. It is the first time in recent history that average spending on students has declined in the state. Nationwide, the average went up slightly, about $158 per pupil, as other states also dealt with tough economic circumstances. The decrease in Texas follows unprecedented funding cuts approved by the Legislature last year to balance the state budget. Funding for schools was slashed by $5.4 billion in the current biennium, with many North Texas districts facing their biggest reductions in the 2012-13 school year.”
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Willie Reply:
February 23rd, 2012 at 1:36 pm
The only way to grow another generation of dumbasses so the conservate GOP can keep its ranks full is to lower education funding and standards. This is not education, its agriculture: building more conservative sheep.
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Hooah! says:
Oh, gawd…….
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Carousel Club Dancer says:
Perry 2014? The only thing that stopped me from fainting at the thought of this was that I threw up in my own mouth first.
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Blue Dogs Reply:
February 23rd, 2012 at 9:52 am
Carousel, he’s NOT running, he’s just playing with us in order to save face.
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retrocon says:
Here are the two quotes you need to understand the depth of Perry’s moral fiber…
1) If you’ll cheat on your wife you’ll cheat on your business partner.
2) I’m endorsing Newt Gingrich.
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AreYouKiddingMe says:
Perry is a joke, a buffoon and a cartoon character now. Only an absolute idiot would cast a vote for him in ANY race after he has embarrassed this state the way he has. Go away Rick. You are irrelevant. Nobody cares about you, wants to see you, or hear you speak (other than SNL writers). Go Away, you are done… Bye Bye…
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Jim says:
Those silly old Anglo guys!
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Jim says:
Wait a minute. While I made that last post tongue-in-cheek (obviously), aren’t you older than Perry, Paul? I’ll be the first to trumpet the fact that Perry is an incompetent buffoon, but your inclusion of “white” in discussing the desire/ability to think about the future is ludicrous. And I know plenty of old people who care very much about the future of our country.
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Harley Jones Reply:
February 23rd, 2012 at 8:55 am
All most old white folks in Texas care about is their taxes.
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JohnBernardBooks Reply:
February 23rd, 2012 at 11:39 am
all most democrats in Texas care about is having someone else pay their taxes.
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Art Reply:
February 23rd, 2012 at 1:37 pm
jbb, keep it up. Your comedy routine is great.
Tom Barry says:
Hey, it was only a joke, I’m sure. But to be serious for a moment, this 73-year-old is worried about the future, and I don’t mean mine. I mean the future of this country. Perry couldn’t even survive in a field of GOP presidential candidates that is the worst in my memory. So I don’t worry much about Perry.
One of the two major parties has been taken over by people who are either latter-day Know-Nothings or think they must pretend to be in order to win a primary. The other continues to be dominated by people who think the government has to do everything (which is why I believe Democrats have such a hard time winning in Texas). What’s left (if you’ll pardon the word) for those of us who are in the center? Abstention?
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Wilson Reply:
February 23rd, 2012 at 1:52 pm
I’m 57. I’m not worried about the future in terms of terrorists blowing us up or Obama taking my gun. I’m worried about the decline of civility, education and intellectual curiosity we once displayed. Americans were once open and brave, willing to sacrifice and help others. Now we are scared ideologues that use false boogymen to lure folks to one “side”. Last nights debates, Fox News, talk radio…all about dividing.
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Julie says:
His wife wants him to seek re-election. He’s going to have a hard time saying no to her unless his poll numbers remain in the tank.
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patriotone says:
Absent some REALLY big scandal, if Perry decides to run again, he wins again. Yes, Texas voters ARE that stupid.
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john johnson Reply:
February 22nd, 2012 at 10:01 pm
Not stupid…ignorant. Texans have the smarts… they just don’t pay attention. They don’t analyze; they don’t scrutinize; they don’t read, and they don’t watch.
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Distinguished Gentleman Reply:
February 23rd, 2012 at 12:05 am
Dear God, please give us TERM LIMITS in the State of Texas!
If Perry runs again in 2014, I fear that he WILL be re-elected.
We desperately need TERM LIMITS.
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Blue Dogs Reply:
February 23rd, 2012 at 9:54 am
Distinguished, STOP talking about term limits, you’ve been talking about this bull-crap since 2006.
Perry is NOT even running and I haven’t seen his fundraising report to see that he is and Abbott has over $12 million in the bank and counting.
Cowboy Bill Weed Reply:
February 23rd, 2012 at 8:57 am
Texans are very easily led. They have no curiosity. They do as told. They hate change and are fearful. We evolved form fronteir toughness to a herd that follows pastors and snake oil men.
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Kenneth D. Franks says:
Run Forest, run.
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Watchems says:
What patriotone said….X2.
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Big O says:
I’m an old white guy but I don’t counr since I’m not rich. Paul, sure hope you are right. I would like to live the rest of my life without Mr. Goodhair leading our state.
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Robert Morrow says:
Remember that Perry speech to the Cornerstone group in New Hampshire? Rick Perry was on a “religious high.” If the Perry camp starts using that one they can quit paying royalties to Burka for “sore back, painkillers” scenario.
http://amherst.patch.com/articles/video-perry-was-on-a-religious-high#video-9170428
“Rick Perry may be out of the race, but his former campaign manager is still defending the candidate’s eyebrow-raising speech he made in New Hampshire last year.
Many accused Perry of being drunk or on drugs during a speech he made to conservative group Cornerstone Action last October.
He denied being under the influence during the speech.
Former New Hampshire campaign manager Kerry Marsh explained his actions at a panel hosted by The New Hampshire Institute of Politics at Saint Anselm College.
Marsh said that Perry had just met with a small group of evangelical leaders and left on a religious “high” after speaking and praying with them.
“That is his core; he holds God really close to him,” she said.
She said that what viewers saw in the video was the “true Rick Perry” and that he was having a “very good time.”
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Distinguished Gentleman says:
Quoted above by Robert Morrow: “Marsh said that Perry had just met with a small group of evangelical leaders and left on a religious ‘high’ after speaking and praying with them. ‘That is his core; he holds God really close to him,’ she said.”
We must pray to God to institute term limits in Texas so that we in the Lone Star State need not endure Perry (the Uber Goober) again starting in January 2015.
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Blue Dogs Reply:
February 23rd, 2012 at 9:55 am
Distinguished, if you don’t like Perry, why don’t you LEAVE the damn state sonny boy because we don’t need your kind over here.
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Cowboy Bill Weed Reply:
February 23rd, 2012 at 10:16 am
I dont like Perry either and my family has been here for 7 generations. My kind will stay, and make your ilk look like fools.
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Blue Dogs Reply:
February 23rd, 2012 at 10:29 am
Cowboy Bill, my family has been here for 6 generations. I’m just saying that Distinguished Gentleman needs to ZIP IT with the same ole argument over and over.
retrocon says:
The problem may be that among Republicans within the current pecking order, there may not be anyone willing to take on Perry publicly out of decorum and the preservation of the order.
If Perry is committed to run, the only opposition he may get would most likely be from an outsider with little chance to topple Perry. That would leave it to the Dems to find someone really compelling (a conservative Democrat).
Unfortunately, if Perry really ramps it up for another run to stay in office, chances are probably better than half that he wins.
I’d like to see Abbott in there myself.
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Blue Dogs Reply:
February 23rd, 2012 at 9:58 am
Retrocon, Perry does OWE Abbott because the State AG is a Perry ally and strong supporter recently.
Here’s how I see it:
1. Perry saves his own face by doing good things in the 2013 legislative session.
2. Perry announces by June 2013 that he will NOT seek re-election to a 4th term in 2014.
3. Abbott gets the green light to run for the governorship.
4. Perry leaves quietly on January 20, 2015 after 14 years in office.
PS: If Obama wins in November, the GOP will set their sights on Christie for 2016, who I see the NJ Governor as a favorite to succeed Obama in 4 years from now.
Party out of power wins the White House after 8 or so years:
Clinton (D), 1993-2001
Bush 43 (R), 2001-2009
Obama (D), 2009-2017
Likely GOPer, 2017-2025
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Cowboy Bill Weed Reply:
February 23rd, 2012 at 1:54 pm
Blue Dog: got it, newcomer.
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JohnBernardBooks says:
lemme tell you why the republicans are most old white guys, because the party of minorities and females who hate white guys left them.
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Wilson says:
Hoot!
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JohnBernardBooks says:
nah, whats a hoot is the fact democrats haven’t won a statewide office in almost 20 years and don’t have a clue as to why.
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Calculatin Coke says:
I realize this is ancient history but Santorum lost his last Sen. race….Clearly, Gov. Perry would be stronger in 2016 with a W than an L in 2014. But Governor Perry can raise a heckuvalot more dough Citizen Perry.
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Distinguished Gentleman says:
Calculatin Coke, I fear that you are correct. Perry WILL run for another term as Governor in 2014 and he will catch yet another of so many “lucky breaks” here in Texas–that he could not catch on the national stage–and end up WINNING another term as this state’s Governor! Remember, whoever wins the Republican nomination simply coasts to victory in the November general election.
The best shot at defeating Perry for re-election as Governor was in 2010 with Kay Bailey Hutchison who, for some inexplicable reason, totally caved in. She had plenty of damaging ammunition to use against Perry and chose not to utilize any of it! So milk-toast was the 2010 Hutchison “campaign” that she practically handed Perry another term on a silver platter! I’m surprised that she didn’t just come right out and articulate: “Vote for Rick Perry rather than for me.” Very disappointing, particularly in light of the fact that had she not tossed her hat into the ring to begin with, who knows what other candidate(s) might have presented themselves as challengers but were dissuaded from doing so by the presence of Hutchison.
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Blue Dogs Reply:
February 24th, 2012 at 9:01 am
Actually 2006 was the BEST shot at defeating Perry that year, but Strayhorn and Kinky ran Indy campaigns, splitting the anti-diva vote.
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Robert Morrow says:
Here is good political map for 2012 general election. You can swing states republican or democrat and see how it affects the race to 270 electoral votes:
http://www.270towin.com/2012_election_predictions.php?mapid=gYW
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J L MCKINNEY says:
EXCELLENT ARTICLE ON PERRY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! HOPE HE DOESN’T RUN FOR ANY OFFICE EVER AGAIN………….HE IS SUCH A STUPID PUPPET FOR ALL “THE GOOD OLE BOYS” WITH ALL THE MONEY HERE IN TEXAS. BUT, IF HE DOES RUN, I WOULD IMAGINE HIM BEING ELECTED AGAIN. PEOPLE IN OUR STATE STILL DO NOT SEE HIM FOR THE DUFUS HE REALLY IS TO THE REST OF THE COUNTRY.
LOVED THE “BUM STEER” COVER…….HE CERTAINLY DESERVED THE COVER AFTER THE EMBARRASSMENT WE ALL SHARED HERE IN TEXAS!
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JohnBernardBooks says:
my bad I’m slow on the uptake…
You were referencing Bill Clinton, Harry Reid, Joe Biden et al when referencing the old white racists…..
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billdem says:
Blue Dogs, you have 2006 wrong. It is true that it was the best shot at defeating Perry, but that was due to the presence of the independent candidates (who diverted enough R support to get Perry down to 39%). The trial lawyers, who many think are synonymous with the Democrats, largely betrayed the Democrats and funded Strayhorn-always a non-starter in reality-to the tune of millions. They refused, until very late, to fund the Democratic candidate after he cleaned up in the only debate of the campaign a month before the election.The Dem establishment essentially flubbed that one.
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Distinguished Gentleman says:
Perry will seek another gubernatorial term in 2014 and he will win. What other Republican would dare challenge him in the GOP Primary? After all, that is currently the ONLY way of defeating Perry in the State’s present political environment. And Democrats are so week and disorganized that they cannot come up with a viable candidate for that office. Without term limits, we are stuck with Perry in Texas as Governor for the next several years.
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Blue Dogs Reply:
February 27th, 2012 at 8:10 am
Distinguished, the egostical folks in Texas GOP politics will NEVER have term limits because some folks will not leave their gigs.
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Distinguished Gentleman says:
Lawmakers respond to loud demands from the citizenry. If the people of Texas vocally demand term limits, then legislators will respond with term limits. Twelve years is quite reasonable for one particular person to occupy one particular elected office.
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Blue Dogs Reply:
March 1st, 2012 at 10:25 am
Perry is just toying with the media to say “he’s leaning toward running in ’14″ and I’ve always said that this term is his LAST.
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