Post-Iowa straw poll open thread

This weekend has been a big one in Republican politics as the dash to elect the nominee who we hope will defeat Barack Obama in November 2012 is on. Michele Bachmann won the Iowa straw poll, with Ron Paul finishing 2nd and T-Paw a distant third. As a result of that finish, T-Paw announced today that he is dropping out of the race. Mitt Romney, I should note, had no ground game in Iowa.

The other big news story of the weekend on the GOP 2012 front is the official entrance of Texas Governor Rick Perry into the Presidential race via an announcement/speech at the Red State convention in Charleston, SC yesterday. Many are speculating that the support of T-Paw’s disappointed followers will go to Perry. The WH has also began its attack war on Perry as well, playing the “Perry=Bush” card that even some conservatives (some of who support Palin, from what I’ve seen) are throwing out on the table.

At this stage in the game, I’m a Perry girl – although that could change if Sarah Palin were to announce her candidacy, which she’s hinting around at doing no later than next month.

Looking forward to reading your thoughts on the state of the race and what you expect to happen going forward.

24 Responses to "Post-Iowa straw poll open thread"

Zilla says:

August 14, 2011 at 1:44 pm

I’m sorry, but it’s not so much Perry = Bush as Perry = Christie in that he is an islamocoddling dhimmie who has enabled the indoctrination of students for islam with whitewashing of jihad and historic revisionism, both in Texas classrooms and in his own speeches. America simply cannot afford to have another islamoapologist/islamoappeaser in the White House.
There is only ONE candidate in the current field who truly understands the threat of islam with its relentless jihad and sharia – that candidate is Rick Santorum, and I am not buying the MSM nor the RNC RINO factory’s hype about him not being viable, these are the same people who have been claiming Romney as the “front runner” and look at how Ames turned out. I live in NY, a blue state where even our “Conservatives” are left leaning and not a single person I know liked Mitt Romney – TRUMP is more popular here among our “Republicans”. Seriously.
Which brings me to my next point, the MSM has NO credibility and really neither does the RNC, so it is vitally important that Conservative blogs get support. You can read about that here:
Do You Want America’s Future Decided by the MSM or by The People?
arcman46 says:

August 14, 2011 at 1:50 pm

I would vote for a mushroom before I voted for Obama. I would, however, have to think twice if our nominee were either Huntsman or Paul. That said, we need our strongest candidate. Perry is good, but has a lot of negatives, both on the conservative side, and the liberal side. We need our best player in the game, and that would be Sarah Palin.
Paul says:

August 14, 2011 at 2:05 pm

I won’t vote for Palin or Perry. Bachmann seems better to me…
Phineas says:

August 14, 2011 at 2:12 pm

While I’m a Palinista (though not a rabid, uncritical one), I like what I’ve seen of Perry so far. The key, though, is that I would crawl over broken glass even to vote for road kill, just to get Obama out of office.

(Aside to Zilla: I think Santorum may be the next to drop out, unless it’s Huntsman. Rick finished behind Pawlenty, who called it quits.)
Lisa says:

August 14, 2011 at 2:40 pm

I’m a fan of Perry, too. I look forward to seeing the kind of campaign he runs.

As for Pawlenty, he’s a good guy, but never had a real chance. He’ll probably have more of a voice now as a commentator instead of a candidate.
ml says:

August 14, 2011 at 4:02 pm

If Romney, Palin, or Bachmann get the nominee, the Republican Party will lose the election in 2012. Obama will be in the White House for the next four more years.
Dana says:

August 14, 2011 at 6:15 pm

In a shameless plug, I gave my early endorsement to Governor Perry. Unlike North Carolina’s prettiest blogger, I won’t be changing my mind if former Governor Palin gets in the race.

No candidate is perfect, and there are things I like about several of them, but I am as concerned with who can actually do the job of President as much as who can win the office, and as our 44th President has proved, being able to win the job didn’t mean that he could do the job.
Rick Perry for President! « Common Sense Political Thought says:

August 14, 2011 at 6:28 pm

[…] I wrote that I wasn’t sure how Sister Toldjah viewed the Perry candidacy, but then I found this: At this stage in the game, I’m a Perry girl – although that could change if Sarah Palin […]
My early endorsement: Rick Perry for President! « Truth Before Dishonor says:

August 14, 2011 at 6:30 pm

[…] I wrote that I wasn’t sure how Sister Toldjah viewed the Perry candidacy, but then I found this: At this stage in the game, I’m a Perry girl – although that could change if Sarah Palin […]
ml says:

August 14, 2011 at 6:49 pm

I am going to support Gov. Rick Perry of Texas for President. Perry is a good choice on the 2012 Republican Party ticket. I know that Perry can beat Obama. It is the liberal news media and the Democratic want Romney to run because of the Obamacare. Also, it is going to hurt Romney and Bachmann.
Great White Rat says:

August 14, 2011 at 7:39 pm

ST says:

The WH has also began its attack war on Perry as well, playing the “Perry=Bush” card that even some conservatives (some of who support Palin, from what I’ve seen) are throwing out on the table.

Its not that those conservatives are necessarily opposed to Perry; on the contrary, many of them like him. It’s that they could see this Obama strategy coming from miles away.

For example, more than two months ago, this perceptive political genius predicted the tactic:

The only thing that gives me pause is his current position. It’s ready-made for Democrat scare tactics. I can see the ads already: remember how awful it was the last time a Texas governor went into the White House (dark ominous music playing in the background)?
ST says:

August 14, 2011 at 7:52 pm

Some who are saying that do like him, but my impression is that most don’t. I’ve watched on Twitter and FB all wknd the “true cons.” battle play itself out. Most of the Perry=Bush stuff is coming from the more militant Palin and Bachmann supporters. As you noted, it’s an obvious talking point and it’s unfortunate that a lot of conservatives on Twitter and FB are using it.
Dana says:

August 14, 2011 at 9:01 pm

To me, it’s pretty simple: Governor Perry has a record of accomplishment, while President Obama has a record of failure.

The Democrats have given up trying to tell us how great the President is; all they have now is trying to scare people into thinking it would be worse under a Republican.
Dana says:

August 14, 2011 at 9:09 pm

Our honored hostess wrote:

Most of the Perry=Bush stuff is coming from the more militant Palin and Bachmann supporters.

They really have no choice. Like it or not, congressmen simply do not build up great records, because theirs is a job of constant compromises and fine points and creating wiggle room, and Representative Bachmann, for all of her great talk, has no real record.

Former Governor Palin was doing OK at assembling a good record, but then she resigned. I understand her stated reasons, but, to most people, she’ll simply come across as someone who quit when the going got tough. Her record as Governor of Alaska is simply too short.

Governor Perry, on the other hand, has an eleven year, solid record as Governor of Texas, and it’s a record of success, and it’s hard to argue with success. The problem that faces Mrs Bachmann and Mrs Palin is that they are running on what they say they will do, while Mr Perry has the luxury of running on what he has already done.

It’s regrettable that the primaries are nothing but exercises in tearing down other Republicans, but that’s what they’ve become, and it sure won’t get any nicer in the general election campaign.
Dana says:

August 14, 2011 at 9:10 pm

Of course, it’s also true that I like to see the Democrats just plain annoyed. And the only thing that would annoy them more than seeing another Texas Governor in the White House would be seeing Jeb Bush elected President. :)
Chris in NC says:

August 14, 2011 at 9:12 pm

“Romney, Palin, or Bachmann get the nominee the Republican Party will lose”

Totally disagree. It’s not going to get any better before the next election. In fact it’s only going to get worse. When that happens, a Casey Anthony/OJ Simpson ticket would beat him.

We are not just picking the next republican nominee. We are picking the next president.
Great White Rat says:

August 14, 2011 at 9:14 pm

it’s an obvious talking point and it’s unfortunate that a lot of conservatives on Twitter and FB are using it.

Agreed 100%, ST. What should be happening right now is for the presidential aspirants should be making the case (1) why Obama should be voted out, (2) why each of them can make that case best, and (3) what positive achievements and sound principles each of them bring to the ticket. And then let the primary/caucus voters judge. I don’t like the internecine warfare.

Another consideration – and another reason it’s not a good idea for the Bachmann or Palin supporters to bring this up – is that in the two months since those words were written, the tactic has become far less viable. The more Obama destroys the economy, the less success he can expect from using Bush as a bogeyman. That assumes the GOP nominee, whoever it might be, focuses on real issues and doesn’t permit such distractions.
Chris in NC says:

August 14, 2011 at 9:16 pm

Dana, the last 3 Texas presidents have sucked so badly that the man from Texas might be the only one to that can lose to Obama.

I know the thought of another Texan really digs at the libs, but there is the ick factor from the indy’s and even some on our own side.
Great White Rat says:

August 14, 2011 at 9:29 pm

Dana @#12 says:

Governor Perry, on the other hand, has an eleven year, solid record as Governor of Texas, and it’s a record of success, and it’s hard to argue with success.

Exactly, and that’s where I was going with point #3 in my last comment, at least in the area of positive accomplishments. On principles, that’s another matter. I’m much more comfortable there with Palin, but more than willing to listen to Perry.

Good analysis regarding Bachmann and Palin, by the way.
Marshall Art says:

August 15, 2011 at 2:10 am

If Perry focuses on job creation, he would be tough to beat. His record in that regard surpasses all other governors with a good job creation record put together. People are dying to get work and the fact that Perry has put Texans to work will draw even unemployed Dems to his camp. I know lots of people still un-or under-employed.
Svensk says:

August 15, 2011 at 2:40 am

If Palin only had Bachmann’s mellow voice and depth of policy. I love Sarah, but, sorry, that shrill voice is annoying. Oh, me, Oh, my…Perry/Bachmann? Perry/Christie? Would love to hear Gingrich debate Barry “Little Caesar” Obonzo. Know it will never happen. But mopping up thereafter would be a real treat. Maybe a dark horse will appear on the horizon…….
ml says:

August 15, 2011 at 1:04 pm

I read an article about Karl Rove isn’t not happy about Gov. Rick Perry is running for President. What is wrong with Rove? I think Rove wanted former Gov. Jeb Bush to run for President in 2012. Jeb Bush have decided not to run until 2016. I don’t want to see another Bush in the White House. Jeb Bush supported the border between US and Mexico to stay open door for the Mexican.
nina says:

August 15, 2011 at 1:32 pm

This straw poll is worthless as is who can place enough people under the tent .I see the Palin hate trolls are out again.
Chris in NC says:

August 15, 2011 at 3:41 pm

“I don’t want to see another Bush in the White House.”

ml, you and me both. 2 disasters are enough… He would lose BIG to Obama.

“Jeb Bush supported the border between US and Mexico to stay open door for the Mexican.”

Do you know what Perry BELIEVES about the border. Not what he says, but what he actually believes and does? I haven’t seen anything yet.

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