August 25, 2011

Perry Knocks Romney on RomneyCare
— Ace

One advantage Romney has in a battle with Perry is that most of Romney's flaws are already known and, as they say, "baked in the cake." Romney's counterattacks will probably do more damage, because that will be new information (or new supposed information) for voters.

He says that "Mitt" is finally starting to realize RomneyCare is a problem (? -- I think he knew), and calls it a "total debacle."

More interesting, to me, is his effort to define himself in general terms.

Perry used the radio appearance to help advance his image as a candidate who deplores the Washington establishment; he also worked to distinguish himself from former President George W. Bush, to whom he's often compared despite the reputedly poor relationship between Perry and the Bush family.

"I'm Rick Perry and I am who I am and I've got my own record. I'm not George Bush, I don't try to be," Perry said. He griped that some opponents criticize him because "I speak plainly."

"I am not an establishment figure," Perry said. "I dislike Washington; I think it's a seedy place."

Posted by: Ace at 07:53 AM | Comments (106)
Post contains 193 words, total size 1 kb.

1 Rick Perry promises to return the National Mall in DC to its native state: marshland! 'Cause it would be less seedy!

Posted by: No Whining at August 25, 2011 07:55 AM (HmCnI)

2
Yeah I heard this too this morning.

Laura was a bit tough on the guvnah, which is good because he's in for a tough battle.

Posted by: Soothsayer at August 25, 2011 07:56 AM (G/zuv)

3 Lookin' for some squatters here -- time to go to lunch ...

Posted by: No Whining at August 25, 2011 07:56 AM (HmCnI)

4
Gov Perry flubbed on the China question.

All he had to say was: The first thing we need to do is get our financial house in order -- no more borrowing from China.


Posted by: Soothsayer at August 25, 2011 07:57 AM (G/zuv)

5 Obama is a Stuttering Clusterfuck of a Miserable Failure.

Posted by: mpfs, TPT at August 25, 2011 07:58 AM (iYbLN)

6 Washington DC is a seedy place.  Like the sofa in living room that has that stained cushion no one wants to sit on.

Posted by: mpfs, TPT at August 25, 2011 07:59 AM (iYbLN)

7 I've resigned myself to the reality that Perry may be the nominee.  But I'm still going to do everything I can to get Romney the nomination.

Posted by: Paris Paramus at August 25, 2011 07:59 AM (N3MsF)

8 Oh boy! A new Perry thread complete with Romney hate.

Posted by: Vic at August 25, 2011 07:59 AM (M9Ie6)

9 Do not overlook the advantages Perry has over Romney: (1) he's been serving in office for the last eight plus years and compiling recent accomplishments and (2) he's conducted campaigns for office during that same period against both GOPand Dimbulb candidates.
I do not anticipate that he will get weak in the knees if someone wants to throw down with him.

Posted by: No Whining at August 25, 2011 08:00 AM (HmCnI)

10

Romney's perfectly happy with his failed Romneycare.  He was pimping it far, far longer than what would have been politically helpful or even neutral.  Any flip at this point is naked political posturing.

 

Interesting point:  Romney was the most-conservative choice in 2008.  He's nearly the most-liberal choice this year.

 

I like our chances.

Posted by: Truman North, TPT at August 25, 2011 08:00 AM (K2wpv)

11
brb, creatin more 400,000 new unemployment claimants

Posted by: lolobama at August 25, 2011 08:00 AM (G/zuv)

12

He says that "Mitt" is finally starting to realize RomneyCare is a problem

 

Nice. Is Mitt gonna double down? Or is he going to roll?

Posted by: Thomas Freidman, Woody Allen and other useful idiots at August 25, 2011 08:01 AM (326rv)

13 "I'm Rick Perry bitch!! and I am who I am and I've got my own record."

Posted by: better at August 25, 2011 08:01 AM (qzoN5)

14 5 Obama is a Stuttering Clusterfuck of a Miserable Failure.

No thread will be complete without reminding everyone of this fact, .

Perry can tout Texas' own record as being more friendlier to doctors and health providers than the Obama-care light state of Mass.

Posted by: Kratos (Ghost of Sparta) at August 25, 2011 08:01 AM (9hSKh)

15

Interesting point:  Romney was the most-conservative choice in 2008.  He's nearly the most-liberal choice this year.

 

I like our chances.

Posted by: Truman North, TPT

 

Great point. If this is articulated, we could do far more with the base than 2008.

Posted by: Blue Hen at August 25, 2011 08:02 AM (326rv)

16 LOL @ the comments on The Hill article; the axe has his turfers out in large numbers.

More importantly, is Hugh Hewitt sobbing uncontrollably?

Posted by: Captain Hate at August 25, 2011 08:03 AM (yKL37)

17 Like all Hill "news" stories they try to push Romney and tear down Perry.

Posted by: Vic at August 25, 2011 08:03 AM (M9Ie6)

18
Perry needs to start referring to Obama as the Community Organizer when anyone tries to challenge the governor's management of Texas.

Posted by: Soothsayer at August 25, 2011 08:03 AM (G/zuv)

19 10
Interesting point:  Romney was the most-conservative choice in 2008.  He's nearly the most-liberal choice this year.
Posted by: Truman North, TPT at August 25, 2011 12:00 PM (K2wpv)

You said "nearly"1 You know me, you really know me!

Posted by: Jon Huntsman (can I be your running mate?) at August 25, 2011 08:04 AM (HmCnI)

20 70%+ with the morons... you bet you ass boys... we're gonna ride this one hard and put it away wet...

Posted by: I'm Rick Perry, B!tch at August 25, 2011 08:07 AM (T3vCe)

21 The really interesting thing right off the bat will be the Iowa caucuses. I have been predicting that Bachmann would take that for a long time. According to recent polling though it appears that Perry may actually have a chance to beat her there.

In that even Bachmann would take second there and Romney would be lucky to even get 1%.

Romney will take NH though and he will stay in the race until FL following his Rudy 2008 strategy. I hope he gets the same results as Rudy.

I am hoping that after NH a lot of these stupid also-ran candidates drop out to clear up the field.

Posted by: Vic at August 25, 2011 08:08 AM (M9Ie6)

22 The next couple of months will be interesting.

On the one hand, Romney still has a better than even chance of being the nominee.  He knows that. 

On the other hand, Perry has so much momentum and he has a much better chance of grabbing a bigger chunk of the base, who I think will become much more enthusiastic supporters for him as other conservatives drop out because priority #1 to those folks is getting rid of Obama.

I know a lot of you really dislike Romney on a personal level, but my read of him is that he is basically an honorable guy and more of a team player than, say, a guy like Huntsman or Ron Paul.  So I am holding out hope that he will assess the situation, recognize the importance of enthusiastic turnout in order for the GOP to defeat Obama, and at some point (sooner rather than later) withdraw and back Perry. 

I hope that neither Perry or Romney has to demonize the other to such an extent that there's massive bad blood between them and their supporters, because I still think that if Rubio declines, Romney would be a very solid VP pick for Perry. 

Posted by: Y-not at August 25, 2011 08:09 AM (5H6zj)

23

Interesting point:  Romney was the most-conservative choice in 2008.  He's nearly the most-liberal choice this year.

I like our chances.

He was more conservative than whom in 2008?  His positions were all over the place.


Posted by: Hollowpoint at August 25, 2011 08:09 AM (Jl4kG)

24 A commenter at the Kinky Friedman article on Perry at the Daily Beast used the Stuttering Clusterfuck meme.....lol.

Posted by: Jane D'oh at August 25, 2011 08:10 AM (UOM48)

25 I dislike Washington; I think it's a seedy place.

I'd love to hear what he thinks of Austin.

Posted by: Bob Saget at August 25, 2011 08:10 AM (F/4zf)

26 "I am not an establishment figure," Perry said. "I dislike Washington; I think it's a seedy place."

Can I vote more than once? I'm truly loving this guy.

Posted by: Hobbitopoly at August 25, 2011 08:10 AM (h1p5V)

27 Obama is a stuttering clusterfuck of a miserable failure, or so I've been told.

Posted by: Jane D'oh at August 25, 2011 08:10 AM (UOM48)

28 Anyone has any designs on saying anything mean about Rick Perry, you'd better think twice. In fact, you'd better not even think once. Actually, why don't you just go die in a ditch somewhere, because that's where you belong.

Posted by: RICK. PERRY. RULES. at August 25, 2011 08:12 AM (nrX2Y)

29 The most "conservative" candidate in 2008 was teh Fred but he waited too late to get into the race due to commitments to a damn TV show.

Posted by: Vic at August 25, 2011 08:12 AM (M9Ie6)

30

I disagree that Romneycare was "baked in the cake", because the other candidates have not aggressively challenged Romney over it. Perry is the first candidate to state the obvious - that the MA healthcare system enacted by Romney is/was a "debacle". It REALLY IS a debacle, another failed dysfunctional govt. bureacracy that Romney championed and defended.

One reason I was so let down by Pawlenty was because he was talking about "Obamaneycare" before the debates, but then refused to push the issue when face-to-face with Romney. Fuck that. If Pawlenty doesn't have the stones to say the same thing to Romney's face that he's said behind his back then he's not qualified. Good riddance to Pawlenty for that alone. 

Romneycare is a huge issue that Romney has not sufficiently explained. Until Perry, he hadn't been pressed over it by any of the other candidates. Not baked in the cake, but Perry is adding it to the cake mix.

 

Posted by: Mook at August 25, 2011 08:12 AM (eP5IM)

31
now the question is how will Mitt respond?

a) retaliate by pointing out TX's shortcomings
b) ignore it
c) put his magic underwear on his head and speak telepathically to Mor-mon, leader of the planet Provo

Posted by: Soothsayer at August 25, 2011 08:12 AM (G/zuv)

32 "I'm Rick Perry bitches and I am who I am and I've got my own record. I'm not George Bush, I don't try to be," Perry said. He griped that some opponents criticize him because "I speak plainly."

Fixed for Rick

Posted by: Jane D'oh at August 25, 2011 08:13 AM (UOM48)

33

Romney has not done himself any favors in the way he's addressed Romneycare.  He could have saved himself a lot of trouble if he'd just said, "you know, we tried it on the state level (where it belongs), it blew up the budget, and we learned that using this model on a national scale would be catastrophic."  Instead, he dug in.   

Posted by: Insomniac at August 25, 2011 08:14 AM (v+QvA)

34 Aren't the primaries going to be a real wild card in terms of who ends up being nominated?
And don't we have the same problem we did in '08, that too many are open and let non-Republicans choose the candidate?

Posted by: real joe at August 25, 2011 08:14 AM (j+oeN)

35 @33
Yep.

Posted by: Y-not at August 25, 2011 08:14 AM (5H6zj)

36
Can I vote more than once? I'm truly loving this guy.

Posted by: Hobbitopoly at August 25, 2011 12:10 PM (h1p5V)

You in Chicago?  Sure you can, but it'll cost you. 

Posted by: Mayor Daley at August 25, 2011 08:14 AM (v+QvA)

37 I was still living in Texas when Perry was governor and I have no illusions that Perry isn't a politician.  I think he's also pretty laissez faire with respect to a lot of things.  But I also think he has a strong sense of what is the right thing to do.  I think he is a genius at surrounding himself with competent people.  And the biggest thing is that he knows how to take someone to the woodshed when they deserve it.  Bottom line, I think he'd be awesome as President, especially now.

Posted by: Hussein the Plumber at August 25, 2011 08:15 AM (jx2j9)

38 I know a lot of you really dislike Romney on a personal level, but my read of him is that he is basically an honorable guy and more of a team player than, say, a guy like Huntsman or Ron Paul. So I am holding out hope that he will assess the situation, recognize the importance of enthusiastic turnout in order for the GOP to defeat Obama, and at some point (sooner rather than later) withdraw and back Perry. FWIW, I am softening on him some.. I wasn't sure about him because of the Gardcil issue.. (WTF?) but he has apologized.. backpedaled.. whatever.. on the issue.. So there is that..

Posted by: Dave C at August 25, 2011 08:16 AM (vYdFh)

39 Over at HA, it appears that Mitt is reconsidering his AGW stance.

We are the chorus and we agree! We agree! We agree! We agree!

Posted by: Mittens' Chorus of Flopping Fishies at August 25, 2011 08:16 AM (HmCnI)

40 And don't we have the same problem we did in '08, that too many are open and let non-Republicans choose the candidate?

Well, the non-Republicans would have to back the same candidate for it to matter and, basically, that candidate would have to be Romney.  It's practically a two-man race already and I don't see any of them picking Bachmann, even for an Operation Chaos strategy. 

So voter enthusiasm in the primary is key.  And campaigning hard.  Perry sure looks good at generating both so far. 

Posted by: Y-not at August 25, 2011 08:17 AM (5H6zj)

41 I hope that neither Perry or Romney has to demonize the other to such an extent that there's massive bad blood between them and their supporters, because I still think that if Rubio declines, Romney would be a very solid VP pick for Perry. 
Posted by: Y-not at August 25, 2011 12:09 PM

Huntsman is demonizing repubs enough for any two candidates.  He'll be on every network in the next few months creating soundbites for the DNC.  No need to pile on.

Posted by: huerfano at August 25, 2011 08:18 AM (kD+se)

42

If you morons let Romney become president (Anybody But Obama, y'know)... good grief.

That fucker would betray us and damage small-gov conservatism far more than Obama can.

-Voice In the Wilderness, signing off for now.

Posted by: Bat Chain Puller at August 25, 2011 08:19 AM (SCcgT)

43 @33 Yep. Posted by: Y-not Yep yep..

Posted by: Dave C at August 25, 2011 08:19 AM (vYdFh)

44 Huntsman is demonizing repubs enough for any two candidates.  He'll be on every network in the next few months creating soundbites for the DNC.  No need to pile on.
Posted by: huerfano at August 25, 2011 12:18 PM (kD+se)

Huntsman: D turd in R punchpowl

Posted by: No Whining at August 25, 2011 08:19 AM (HmCnI)

45 I'm a Perry supporter, but I think Perry will have to be much more effective than this.

Truth is, Perry IS more effective than this when bashing Obama.  Perhaps he's only saying the obvious stuff about Romney to avoid being too hard on a fellow Republican.  We'll see.  Mitt is a very effective campaigner, so we'll see what Mitt responds with.

Mitt is in a very weak position and will likely flip on yet more issues, but he's a great attack dog.

We probably need him after the primary is over, and I know it's going to be difficult for Mitt to accept defeat (he's been invested in this for a lot longer than Perry has).

Posted by: Dustin at August 25, 2011 08:20 AM (519+h)

46 >>So voter enthusiasm in the primary is key. And campaigning hard. Perry sure looks good at generating both so far. You know who else came out of the gate swinging and rocketed up in the polls with great voter enthusiasm? Donald Trump. The game is on, Perry takes the first shot. Now the race is beginning.

Posted by: JackStraw at August 25, 2011 08:20 AM (TMB3S)

47 33 Romney has not done himself any favors in the way he's addressed Romneycare.

I think Romney sees it as a possible vote getter among those who see "universal health care" as a viable alternative. He's dead wrong that they would vote for him because of his politics. They might possibly vote against the SCFoaMF and for him but not out of conviction.

Posted by: The Great Satan's Ghost at August 25, 2011 08:21 AM (UrPTC)

48 Over at HA, it appears that Mitt is reconsidering his AGW stance.

We are the chorus and we agree! We agree! We agree! We agree!

Posted by: Mittens' Chorus of Flopping Fishies at August 25, 2011 12:16 PM (HmCnI)

He's doing the same garbage he did 4 years ago proving that he hasn't learned a fucking thing.  No wonder the donks love him.  Next!

Posted by: Captain Hate at August 25, 2011 08:21 AM (yKL37)

49 "I dislike Washington; I think it's a seedy place.........and I'm bringing the RoundUp, bitches!" 

Posted by: Rick (45) Perry at August 25, 2011 08:22 AM (gh6F5)

50

 "I dislike Washington; I think it's a seedy place."

That means he's going to want to rent mansions in other places!! Spending money to be away from DC is evil!!1!

Wait, what?

Posted by: MFM at August 25, 2011 08:22 AM (XdlcF)

51 I wouldn't weep for Romney if he doesn't win the nomination.  He's got a better than 75% chance of being Perry's choice for SecTreas in a Perry Administration anyway, so it's not like his career in public service is going to end here.

Posted by: Jeff B. at August 25, 2011 08:22 AM (TADg9)

52 Perry is a poor decision maker. He has been saved from this flaw because of the political make up of Texas. It is my hope that he staffs his campaign and administration, if he wins, with competent people that he will not be afraid to express their opinions. I'm waiting for a Bolton endorsement to make my primary race selection. It will probably never come.

Posted by: polynikes at August 25, 2011 08:23 AM (0FEvE)

53 Huntsman is demonizing repubs enough for any two candidates. He'll be on every network in the next few months creating soundbites for the DNC. No need to pile on. Posted by: huerfano No way is he getting my job..

Posted by: David Frum at August 25, 2011 08:24 AM (vYdFh)

54 Bottom line; Karl Rove wants to be able to say that he picked the Republican nominee.  He's kind of out there past the point in the bend where you can't really see him anymore. 

Posted by: Hussein the Plumber at August 25, 2011 08:24 AM (jx2j9)

55 From the people who know Rick Perry best:
Kinky Freidman endorses Rick Perry (I cannot do that tiny url thing so just go to The Daily Beast and look up "Kinky Freidman")

As a Texan, I have voted for Rick Perry in every election I could since he started running as a republican in 1991. My assessment of Rick Perry is that he was, for the most part, an unobtrusive governor. Yeah, the guardisill, trans-Texas corridor and open borders controversies....and in typical Texas fashion, Texans slapped him back. He took his licks but did not take his "failure" out on "the people" as the J.E.F. does.

I do believe if Perry says his goal is to make government less invasive, that will be what he does. Imagine the raft of executive orders that have hamstrung the economy being lifted after Perry's inauguration. Envison a Republican house and senate repealing Ogabecare and Dodd-Frank. What about a serious reform of the tax code? Imagine the engines of the economy being super-charged by the freedom and the capital that has been sidelined by current policy. People are ready to move forward. If Ogabe can't see that, America will move forward without him. And guess what? If we freeze government spending and allow the economy to be unleashed, we will reduce the deficit and make head way on entitlements.

Just as the deficit has expanded exponentially in these tough times, so the deficit can be reduced exponentially if we are willing to be disciplined as Americans. I point to Wisconsin as the case study in what some sacrifice can produce.

Folks, its difficult out here but we can see the new day ahead. Obama has failed.

Posted by: BigDaddy1964 at August 25, 2011 08:25 AM (DueYW)

56 Kinky's article was really nicely done.  Perfect blend of humor and reason. 

Posted by: Y-not at August 25, 2011 08:27 AM (5H6zj)

57 >>I'm waiting for a Bolton endorsement to make my primary race selection. It will probably never come. Bolton's former chief of staff already endorsed Romney. I doubt the stache will make his own endorsement in the primary.

Posted by: JackStraw at August 25, 2011 08:29 AM (TMB3S)

58 Bolton is thought to be a Romney supporter, sub rosa.  Wonder if he'll make a public endorsement.

Posted by: Jeff B. at August 25, 2011 08:31 AM (TADg9)

59 Damn, JackStraw sort of beat me to it.

Posted by: Jeff B. at August 25, 2011 08:32 AM (TADg9)

60 Hmmm... Romney signed a state form of obamacare and Perry signed a state form of the dream act.

Can't decide.  But I likely won't have to.

Posted by: Guy Fawkes at August 25, 2011 08:34 AM (4nfy2)

61 Perry is the first candidate to state the obvious - that the MA healthcare system enacted by Romney is/was a "debacle". It REALLY IS a debacle, another failed dysfunctional govt. bureacracy that Romney championed and defended.

Is there something in the conservative blogosphere between "debacle" and "success"?  Like, maybe, "mixed results", or "disappointing", or, "maybe", "didn't change that much," or even "got everyone insured for almost nothing extra"?  Quit pretending that either MA, or any other state (to say nothing of any urbanized state!) had this lovely free market healthcare system that Romney socialized.

Posted by: Paris Paramus at August 25, 2011 08:36 AM (N3MsF)

62 Can't we just vote for Bolton's mustache?

Posted by: Insomniac at August 25, 2011 08:36 AM (DrWcr)

63 Re the conservative candidate for 2008.  By the time my primary rolled around, the choices were Romney, Huckabee, and McCain.  I think the way Romney ran in 2008, he was the most conservative of that group. 

Posted by: Y-not at August 25, 2011 08:37 AM (5H6zj)

64 I would not be surprised if Bolton did support Romney. After all I supported him until I got pissed at his AGW statement. The funny thing is if Bolton did give a public endorsement he would turn from hero to zero for a lot of morons. Talk about a plantation.

Posted by: polynikes at August 25, 2011 08:38 AM (0FEvE)

65 I don't give a jack crap about the differences or disagreements between my Mom and Dad, I need to know who is going to do something about the out of control wack jobs next door that keep assaulting and mugging me!

Posted by: Shiggz at August 25, 2011 08:38 AM (v8Pb8)

66 Bolton should endorse himself.  That's what I would like to see.

Posted by: Guy Fawkes at August 25, 2011 08:39 AM (4nfy2)

67 From what I understand, ParisParamus, access to health care as measured by wait times has increased considerably since Masscare. I think I read increases on the order of 30% (measured in weeks and months, not days and minutes).  If health care becomes less available even if you can afford it, then that's a big fail compared to what our old baseline was in this country. 

I don't think I've seen a detailed, quantitative analysis from Romney on the impact of Masscare on health care access and costs. 

Posted by: Y-not at August 25, 2011 08:40 AM (5H6zj)

68 Medved did an analysis of O's strategy for '12, and suggested that Huntsman going 3rd party was O's best shot.  However, if Romney is Perry's VP, I suspect that is pretty much a nonstarter. 

Posted by: pep at August 25, 2011 08:42 AM (GMG6W)

69

 

The recent "Romney still has the edge" theme here reminds me of a cartoon I saw during the 1976 primaries.  It showed Jimmy Carter taking the oath of office.  

Seated behind him in the front row, Gerald Ford advised Rosalyn Carter that "After all is said and done, Mrs. Carter, I predict Hubert Humphrey will be the Democratic nominee in the 1976 General Election!"

Posted by: NCC at August 25, 2011 08:44 AM (lDsmT)

70 From the Kinky Friedman article:

I have been quoted as saying that when I die, I am to be cremated, and the ashes are to be thrown in Rick PerryÂ’s hair. Yet, simply put, Rick Perry and I are incapable of resisting each otherÂ’s charm. He is not only a good sport, he is a good, kindhearted man, and he once sat in on drums with ZZ Top. A guy like that canÂ’t be all bad.

Hahahaha!

http://tinyurl.com/3oe69pz

Posted by: Tami at August 25, 2011 08:44 AM (X6akg)

71 Thought experiment:

President: Rick Perry
Vice President: Marco Rubio
Attorney General: Rudy Giuliani
Secretary of State: John Bolton
Treasury: Mitt Romney
Energy: Sarah Palin
Commerce: Herman Cain

Posted by: Jim B at August 25, 2011 08:47 AM (QD3//)

72 Just in case it isn't clear, I am saying at this point I really really don't care about the differences between Romney and Perry.  I just want to know who is going to dismantle the cultural left and government behemoth by:

*turning health care and education + the money and responsibility back over to the states.
*dismantling media and telecom monopolies
*expanding internet allowing any work from home types to move to rural areas and out of cities.
*take our troops out of Japan-Germany etc..  and put them on our own borders.
*sign a bill protecting "Freedom of Religion" from endless lawsuits and hate crime charges from the expansion of gay marriage.

If you think through my points both short term intended consequences and long term side effects I think you will be impressed by how many holes it pokes it the far-left cultural and statist Titanic.

Posted by: Shiggz at August 25, 2011 08:48 AM (v8Pb8)

73 @71
Press Secretary: Mark Levin
Defense: Bolton

Posted by: A Balrog of Morgoth at August 25, 2011 08:49 AM (9CM5J)

74 @71 I like the look of that Dream Team

Posted by: Shiggz at August 25, 2011 08:49 AM (v8Pb8)

75 Press Secretary: Mark Levin

Posted by: A Balrog of Morgoth at August 25, 2011 12:49 PM (9CM5J)

OMG...could you imagine that?  Levin would stroke out....he nearly strokes out on callers.

Posted by: Tami at August 25, 2011 08:50 AM (X6akg)

76 EPA: Inhofe

Posted by: Jim B at August 25, 2011 08:50 AM (QD3//)

77 Posted by: Hussein the Plumber at August 25, 2011 12:15 PM (jx2j9)

+1
Perry seems to know what he doesn't know
Perry keeps the focus to a few important issues (4 things speech)
Perry surrounds himself with people who are smarter and more capable than he is.  (Weak leaders have to be the smartest in the room)

All great marks of a great large organization CEO... This is in contrast to Palin who is the dynamic entrepreneur who can build the small, vibrant organization, but at a certain point as the major growth spurt is slowing down, needs to step aside for the organization to maximize its potential....  That's said, I'm hoping she pulls a Steve Jobs in 2020, takes back the reigns and brings the political equivalent of the ipad and iphone to the market...

Posted by: phreshone at August 25, 2011 08:51 AM (T3vCe)

78 >>I would not be surprised if Bolton did support Romney. After all I supported him until I got pissed at his AGW statement. Meh. Romney has been running a general election campaign since the start for good or bad. He has focused less on hitting conservative hot buttons during the process and more on statements that will play in a general. Look at what he has said about AGW, it's likely that man has played some part and we need to reduce pollutants but the science is not definitive and we shouldn't be sinking billions into unproven solutions to a problem we aren't sure even exists. Not exactly algore. It's a dicey proposition. The base is decidedly anti-AGW and that includes me. The electorate as a whole including indies is a lot less so. As much as it's unpopular here to say, you need those votes if you actually want to win the presidency not just the nomination. More importantly, look what Romney actually did as governor. He refused to join the RGGI (Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative) which was an early cap and trade debacle, the same one Christie pulled NJ out of a few months ago. I guarantee you Perry will be a lot less strident on this topic as the campaign goes forward and take a more "nuanced" approach.

Posted by: JackStraw at August 25, 2011 08:52 AM (TMB3S)

79 Hair/Stache 2012

Posted by: mpurinTexas, Evil Conservanatrix, supports Rick Perry, bitch at August 25, 2011 08:52 AM (ignDe)

80 "I'm a big believer that the answer to our healthcare problems can be found in our states," Perry said.


Right, so then why are you chastising a former governor of perhaps the most liberal state for crafting a liberal plan for their state? That's was his job.

This IS Mitt Romney's argument.

Ace, what's up with the post?

Posted by: Uriah Heep at August 25, 2011 08:57 AM (0lc8C)

81 @80 He's being "chastised" for being a liberal on healthcare, ie mandates. Pretty simple.

Posted by: Dave at August 25, 2011 09:01 AM (Xm1aB)

82 "He says that "Mitt" is finally starting to realize RomneyCare is a problem (? -- I think he knew), and calls it a "total debacle."" What do you mean here Ace? Romney continues to defend it.

Posted by: mare at August 25, 2011 09:02 AM (A98Xu)

83 #80 - You can be against the federal government doing something AND against a state doing it to. Just because a state CAN doesn't mean a state SHOULD.

That's the heart of the 10th Amendment: get the federal government out of it, but governors will disagree on which solution is the right one. Experiments succeed and experiments failed. Perry is saying that Massachussetts is a failed experiment. He's also said that high taxes, high regulations, forced-unionization states are wrong about their policies too. What exactly is so difficult to understand about that?

Posted by: Jim B at August 25, 2011 09:03 AM (QD3//)

84 Ace, The RomneyCare thing is NOT baked in the cake for one simple reason: Romney wasn't our candidate in 2008. YOU may think it's all been covered before, but it hasn't. Only the politifag junkies are familiar with this issue. I guarantee you, if Romney is the candidate, he's going to get that smelly flop of a suppurating goatfuck hung around his neck. The RomneyCare argument hasn't even begun yet. Not unless and until he gets the nod.

Posted by: Empire of Jeff at August 25, 2011 09:06 AM (2tTzd)

85 That's gonna leave a mark since Perry is out there admitting that the mandatory HPV vaccine thing was a huge mistake.

Posted by: bebe's boobs destroy at August 25, 2011 09:09 AM (WA05a)

86 " 85 That's gonna leave a mark since Perry is out there admitting that the mandatory HPV vaccine thing was a huge mistake.

Posted by: bebe's boobs destroy at August 25, 2011 01:09 PM (WA05a)"

huh?

What mandatory HPV thing?  You mean the one that wasn't mandatory? 

Let's see a link to Perry saying it was a "huge" mistake?  I think he more said he went too far too fast and heard the will of the people.  He's explained his reasoning and it makes sense.  It's not comparable to Mitt's mandate.

I would resent the living hell out of what Mitt did to MA.

Posted by: Dustin at August 25, 2011 09:12 AM (519+h)

87 >>Experiments succeed and experiments failed. Perry is saying that Massachussetts is a failed experiment Given that Texas ranks dead last in the percentage of insured citizens I'd say whatever experiment he tried failed pretty miserably as well. Healthcare will be an issue during the general. Who's in a better position, a governor who tried a plan, admits there are things about it that don't work yet his state has the highest percentage of citizens covered or a governor who has done nothing and has the least?

Posted by: JackStraw at August 25, 2011 09:14 AM (TMB3S)

88 If I was a RINO squish hoping to be President, I'd be looking at automatically winning every state that McCain won in 2008, and then plan to use my squishiness to appeal to all those "moderates" who have given up on the SCOAMF.  Of course I'd have to attack everybody to the right of me, jeopardizing winning the nomination, but in 2012 anything can happen, right? Too bad for me that Rick Perry scrapes RINO squishes off his boots everyday when he comes in from the barn.

Posted by: Idaho Spudboy at August 25, 2011 09:16 AM (1+CnU)

89 "More importantly, look what Romney actually did as governor."

Jackstraw is undoubtedly right.

We need to look at Romney's performance as governor, and compare that to Rick Perry's.

I think that's much more important.

Unfortunately Jack said he doesn't give a shit what Rick Perry did in Texas, which seems pretty irrational to me, but makes sense if you want to support Mitt instead.  Because Rick did a better job as governor.

One way you can tell that Rick did a better job is that he was reelected.  He's the longest serving governor in Texan history.  Mitt was unpopular at the end of his term, his major policy changes were disasters, and he didn't even run for reelection (polls show he clearly would have lost).

That's very important.

Mitt has Romneycare, and Perry has jobs.  It's a million subtle little acts and resistance to acts that are Rick Perry's fingerprints on the Texan economy, but indeed he deserves credit for how his state has been.

All this political stuff is important too.  I hope Perry can really get those attacks out clearly.  Romney is very sharp about that.  But I think the voters really want to see someone who can handle elected office professionally.  I think the voters will be happier with someone who was reelected.

Posted by: Dustin at August 25, 2011 09:17 AM (519+h)

90 Perry/Romney would be fine with me. The critical mass of hair alone would drive Bambi to resign out of terror.

Posted by: joncell at August 25, 2011 09:26 AM (RD7QR)

91

 Why is it that every politician who claims to be an 'outsider' has been in politics for more than twenty years?

 I don't think that word means what they think it means.

 Obama was supposed to be an outsider. Hillary tried to play that card, but it didn't stick. Sarah, Plain and Simple played that card- after a twenty year long political career. Ol' G.W. played that card,.too. Hell, even McCain plays the card. Maverick? An outsider? 

 Politicians aren't using the same dictionary the rest of us are using.

Posted by: Warren Bonesteel at August 25, 2011 09:27 AM (E7Z1r)

92 The RomneyCare argument hasn't even begun yet. Not unless and until he gets the nod.

Posted by: Empire of Jeff at August 25, 2011 01:06 PM (2tTzd)

Exactly; the nanosecond Mittens gets the nomination the MFM will turn on him like a pack of rabid hyenas.  Call it McCain v2.0

Posted by: Captain Hate at August 25, 2011 09:29 AM (yKL37)

93 >>Unfortunately Jack said he doesn't give a shit what Rick Perry did in Texas, which seems pretty irrational to me, but makes sense if you want to support Mitt instead. Because Rick did a better job as governor. I don't remember saying that but if I did what I meant to say was that it's more important to look at what he did and didn't do in the context of his state. Perry had the advantage of governing in a very conservative state. Many Dems in Texas would probably be Republicans in MA just as many have said was the case with Perry when he was a Dem. In that context, I don't think it's all that impressive that he was able to get more conservative legislation passed. I also don't think he gets as much credit for the jobs issue as you do because the policies that attracted those jobs were in place long before Perry was in office. But that's a political issue and he gets the credit. He also gets outsized blame for things like the Dream Act, the HPV thing he tried to make mandatory but gave parents an out after big push back, the Trans Texas Corridor which he got hammered on and never went anywhere, using the Stimulus to plug an enormous budget deficit, etc.. Lets look at his whole record, not just the jobs record which he only tangentially gets credit for. Romney, on the other hand, took over a union state that was bleeding jobs, that had a big budget deficit and a veto proof liberal, not Dem, liberal legislature of 85%. He balanced the budget without new taxes, fought to reduce the state income tax (liberals overrode it), and started to bring jobs back to the state. People like to point out that Romney had a low percentage of job growth as governor. No kidding. When he took over it was negative. How about Perry? Yeah, Romney wasn't nearly as popular with the liberals who own this state when his term was up. He fought them on everything from taxes to gay marriage. I really don't get how people don't understand that governing in different states with different cultures offers different challenges. Rick Perry may have done a good job in Texas. He wouldn't get elected dog catcher in MA but if by some miracle he did become governor his HPV and instate tuition for illegals, something Romney fought, would have been winners here.

Posted by: JackStraw at August 25, 2011 09:31 AM (TMB3S)

94 Full disclosure, I'm a Perry supporter right now, and lukewarm on Romney. I'd crawl over broken glass to vote either one against the stuttering clusterfuck of a miserable failure though. Part of my lukewarmness towards Romney is kinda Ace's point of neutral goods and the general feeling of what have you done lately. Since the last primaries nearly 4 years ago, I can't recall Romney doing much besides being out there waiting for 2012. Did he do something in the private sector or was he pretty much campaigning for '12? Perhaps its willful ignorance on my part but I just don't remember any significant fights or policy ideas coming from the man. Hoping the Romney guys here might have some links to read for what he's been doing for almost 4 years now. If he took time out of politics to be productive and make some money, then huzzah, but if all this time has been on the campaign trail then I would hope there was something to show for it.

Posted by: CaveJohnson at August 25, 2011 09:40 AM (3YZNS)

95 Obama is a stuttering clusterfuck of a miserable failure.

Posted by: steevy at August 25, 2011 09:50 AM (pV6cO)

96

#78 - Exactly.   Romney has been playing for the general and sounding moderate to attract the independents and right leaning Dems.  This makes him sound squishy to the conservatves.  Perry has jumped in and focusing on getting conservatives   Still TBD which will be the correct approach although as noted before the worse O looks the more the GOP will be willing to risk a more conservative candidate.

#84,85,87 - I live in MA.  I'm not happy with Masscare eiither.  But you need to remember that a) the Masscare was widely hailed when it was enactted (even by conservatives like DeMint) and was considered a strong positive for Romney in 2008, b) no other state has come up with the health care answer ether, c) independents/Dems still support it, and d) Romney has repeatedly vowed to repeal Ocare if elected which is all we can expect a GOP president to do now.

 

Posted by: nobama12 at August 25, 2011 09:56 AM (ykY2u)

97 Obama is a stuttering clusterfuck of a miserable failure.

Feels good to cut and paste that; and Romney needs supporters who aren't too nice.

By the way, shouldn't it be
95 Obama is a stuttering clusterfuck of miserable failure? The "a" diminishes

Posted by: Paris Paramus at August 25, 2011 09:56 AM (N3MsF)

98 Jim B @ #83: That's the heart of the 10th Amendment: get the federal government out of it, but governors will disagree on which solution is the right one. Experiments succeed and experiments failed. Perry is saying that Massachussetts is a failed experiment. He's also said that high taxes, high regulations, forced-unionization states are wrong about their policies too. What exactly is so difficult to understand about that?


It's not difficult, I think I understand what you're saying.

The problem is that it's incorrect. There are orthogonal concepts being presented here which leads me to believe that you likely don't understand the basis for federalism.

It's one thing, and a correct statement, to claim that the 10th Amendment is about decoupling the federal government from local decision making. The basis of this can be formally shown to be a very efficient governing hierarchy, namely its an analog of the No Free Lunch optimization theorems (NFL). The basic idea being that the mapping between a policy and the preference of the citizen population has an inherent trade-off whereby the larger the population size, the looser the mapping. Federalism corrects this by subdividing the population into smaller, more homogenous pieces where a single policy is more likely to fit tightly to citizen desires.

So, if liberal motherfucking Massachusetts wants to impose via fiat a state mandate in the hopes that it can offer greater healthcare coverage or quality - so be it. THAT'S THEIR RIGHT.

It's another thing, a very wrong statement, when operating under the 10th amendment, to render a value statement on someone else's opinion. It's not alright to impose your fucking conservative values left rendered to the state on another person in another state, even if they're a dumb dirty hippy and the policy sucks.

You might consider it failed, you might consider it silly given your set of preferences and inputs; but consider that out of the 300 million citizens there are likely to be many who consider it a damn good idea and worthy trade-off. And as long as it doesn't cross the US Constitution, which it didn't, there's no problem.


If you believe in the 10th Amendment, as you and many of your tea-party followers so claim, then you will stand and defend Massachusetts right to enact whatever policy they wish.

- V

Posted by: TheInverseAgonist at August 25, 2011 09:58 AM (0lc8C)

99 But you need to remember that a) the Masscare was widely hailed when it was enactted (even by conservatives like DeMint) and was considered a strong positive for Romney in 2008,

That is not exactly correct. He did not defend the healthcare bill. He defended Romney. He said Romney had some good ideas in the original bill for reducing the cost of medical care and it was hijacked by the Democrat legislature in MA.

The bill that wound up getting passed was a socialist POS so instead of vetoing it Romney praised it and took credit for it.

Posted by: Vic at August 25, 2011 10:03 AM (M9Ie6)

100 Empire of Jeff: "The RomneyCare argument hasn't even begun yet. Not unless and until he gets the nod."

True. That policy inoculates SCoaMF from his Obamacare. In fact SCoaMF already used RomneyCare against Romney (to defend himself) several months ago. That horse will be beaten until dead. So will its zombie.

Posted by: AnonymousDrivel at August 25, 2011 10:42 AM (r4t7/)

101

"Given that Texas ranks dead last in the percentage of insured citizens"

Maybe that is significant somehow but how does that point to Perry as a failure?

Lot's of people are uninsured. Doesn't mean that ObamaRomneyCare is the anwer.

Posted by: Dick Nixon at August 25, 2011 11:16 AM (kaOJx)

102 "Given that Texas ranks dead last in the percentage of insured citizens"

Maybe things like this, where people get to live their own fucking lives without assholes like Romney or Obama forcing them to solve problems they didn't want to solve if free to their own devices, is why Texas is such a better place to live and do business?

I am Texan.  I did not have insurance for most of my life.  I wentto the doctor anyway if I really needed to, which was pretty rare since I take care of myself.  Yeah, there's a risk of something soooo bad happening.

Life is full of risks.  Texas did not intrude into my choices and that's OK with me.  There are a lot of great doctors in Texas because of tort reform, so healthcare here is actually exceptional.  There's a reason Gabrielle Giffords didn't go to Massachusetts when shot.

People want to 'rank Texas dead last' for problems they insist the government needs to solve for us, but the truth is maybe people just don't want to live their lives the way Mitt Romney thinks we need to live our lives.


Posted by: Dustin at August 25, 2011 11:40 AM (519+h)

103 Rick Perry is a stuttering clusterfuck of a miserable failure. And a RINO.

Posted by: Jon Huntsman at August 25, 2011 12:21 PM (alG/t)

104 I hope you never stop!  This is one of the best blogs Ive ever read.  Youve got some mad skill here, man.  I just hope that you dont lose your style because youre definitely one of the coolest bloggers out there.  Please keep it up because the internet needs someone like you spreading the word.

Posted by: Watership Down AudioBook at August 25, 2011 05:04 PM (z3/Dt)

105 Hmmm. It seems the Kinkster's opinion of Rick Perry may have evolved just a tad... http://tinyurl.com/3exp2h6

Posted by: richard mcenroe at August 25, 2011 06:03 PM (qvify)

106 Pot meet kettle.

Posted by: Molon Labe at August 26, 2011 06:00 PM (JyCYK)

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