Rick Perry, Erick Erickson and Georgia maneuvering
Erick Erickson, the former Macon city councilman and current night-time talk jock, may finally be making his mark as a next-generation provocateur within Republican ranks.
A Saturday annual gathering of RedState.com, a conservative web site edited by Erickson, will be the site of Texas Gov. Rick Perry’s entrance into the 2012 GOP presidential race. From Politico.com:
Rick Perry intends to use a speech in South Carolina on Saturday to make clear that he’s running for president….
According to two sources familiar with the plan, the Texas governor will remove any doubt about his White House intentions during his appearance at a RedState conference in Charleston.
It’s uncertain whether Saturday will mark a formal declaration, but Perry’s decision to disclose his intentions the same day as the Ames straw poll — and then hours later make his first trip to New Hampshire — will send shock waves through the race and upend whatever results come out of the straw poll.
Erickson, the night host for AM 750 and 95.5 FM News/Talk WSB was already having a good day. A Washington Post history of the debt-ceiling debate named him a supporting player on the side of House Republicans:
Erick Erickson, editor of RedState.com, a conservative blog with a large following, attacked the House leadership’s apparent willingness to compromise. He implored rank-and-file conservatives to stand strong.
“Fear has no business entering into your negotiations,” he wrote. “There is no fallback. There is no alternative. Hold the freaking line.”
But Erickson aside, a Perry candidacy raises the pertinent question of what his Georgia operation is likely to look like. We’re picking up some talk of some Capitol heavyweights entertaining the idea of backing the Texas governor. Possibly Lt. Gov. Casey Cagle. Maybe Secretary of State Brian Kemp.
Former state senator John Douglas of Social Circle appears to be the current coordinator – and operator of the Georgians for Rick Perry page on Facebook.
Among those who have hit the “like” button: state Sen. Ronnie Chance, R-Tyrone, and First Lady Sandra Deal. Whose husband is still – at least formally – a backer of GOP presidential candidate Newt Gingrich.
- By Jim Galloway, Political Insider
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56 comments Add your comment
td
August 8th, 2011
4:57 pm
I think I could support Perry. He sounds like a good fiscal conservative and a social conservative. Texas looks like the only state in the nation that is producing jobs right now due to its business friendly environment. Need to hear a little more before I make up my mind.
Jon Lester
August 8th, 2011
5:05 pm
Has Herman Cain lost WSB support now? And for a candidate recently making a big show with his prayer rally (the kind of person Jesus himself told us to be wary of)?
Seriously, if you don’t believe there’s such a thing as “wingnut welfare,” which is the practice of moneyed interests paying people to propagate an ideology regardless of qualification, look no further than the Erickson’s career. It’s also why I haven’t watched the first second of CNN in a year and a half.
Jeffrey
August 8th, 2011
5:06 pm
Texas has a fairly strong economy, but they’re an environmental cesspool. You may have a job, but you’ll live in a wasteland. Just what the US needs. Oh, but Perry will pray away the environmental challenges. Oh goodie!
RetiredSoldier
August 8th, 2011
5:14 pm
Jeffery-
How is the rest of the country doing buddy? The dem’s have run New Jersey for years and it is an enviromental wonder land, right?
Ask the 9.1% unemployed and the 18% underemployed or have given up looking for work if Texas sounds good to them.
Not a Perry backer but it certainly is humorous watching the left attack on que.
RINO
August 8th, 2011
5:16 pm
Google is your friend. Rick Perry & “Gardisil” “Trans Texas Corridor” “Texas Dream Act” “China” He’s no conservative.
Shirley U. Jest
August 8th, 2011
5:17 pm
Social conservative?! Shirley U. Jest! He was just talking about supporting a constitutional amendment on marriage equality.
The Snark
August 8th, 2011
5:19 pm
The Republican Party doesn’t need any more “next-generation provocateurs.” It needs people who are competent, responsible, and serious about the business of self-government. Right now, it seems to be dominated by amateurs and fools. That’s what happens when you trade in your political philosophy for marketing slogans.
GaBlue
August 8th, 2011
5:24 pm
Oh, goody. SATAN… in a Sunday hat.
Another Cynic
August 8th, 2011
5:26 pm
@ td
Hmmm… Texas may have one of the lower unemployment rates in the country, but the state’s debt has nearly doubled since Perry took office in 2000. You might want to check that out before you get warm and fuzzy about this “conservative” guy.
Bob
August 8th, 2011
5:26 pm
How many of you are enjoying this “change” that you voted for? Bet you didn’t think it meant changing your 401K, too. The lesson here is don’t stack your cabinet and advisory boards with educators who only know theory. Just my opinion.
Centrist
August 8th, 2011
5:30 pm
I liked Perry until he wore his religion on his sleeve this week. Leaning toward Romney (I don’t care he is a Mormon as long as he doesn’t push it), or a 3rd party candidate.
Red
August 8th, 2011
5:30 pm
Erickson is all over the board…no pun intended. As one of Saxby’s biggest cheerleaders, he’s now shoving his foot down his throat, swallow that and his pride, and admit to those who told him years ago that Saxby is a RINO. He flopped with his tingling up his leg pushing of Fred Thompson’s failed campaign back in 2008 as well. Not to mention he’ll ban you from his sites if you disagree with his opinion. There’s a long list of bodies on his removal of dissent – Mr. Liberty has hypocrisy and failure all over him. Amazing that a guy who has nothing but web chats and rants as his career history is so powerful – telling of the state of our political discourse.
Bob
August 8th, 2011
5:33 pm
Here’s a radical thought. How ’bout we elect someone who is running a Fortune 500 company rather than another professional politician. Or maybe just outsource the job to Bechtel.
RetiredSoldier
August 8th, 2011
5:35 pm
Bob-
That was tried in Calif last election cycle. Good idea but our voters prefer style to substance.
Bob
August 8th, 2011
5:38 pm
Thanks RetiredSoldier, and thanks for serving our country. Maybe if the qualification for voting was changed so that you had to have paid into Social Security at least once for this privilege, you might see a more informed voter. When you have skin in the game, things make more sense.
GaBlue
August 8th, 2011
5:43 pm
Here’s a radical thought. How ’bout we take the corporate cash OUT of our election cycle and have some meaningful campaign finance reform for a change. Then maybe we’ll stop getting all these WH-O-REs in office who run on the “gubmint sucks” platform, get elected, and then prove it. Or maybe just outsource the job to the prostitutes our congressmen currently patronize. (Cheaper in the long run.)
Another Cynic
August 8th, 2011
5:49 pm
@GABlue
Agreed! Now that’s something everyone in this country can agree on. Conservative or Liberal…this country DESPERATELY needs campaign finance reform. it’s time to shake things up… otherwise why expect the future to be any different? Can we throw in some term limits too?
Bob
August 8th, 2011
5:51 pm
Count me in to, GABlue! But, I want term limits for those prostitutes.
Bob
August 8th, 2011
5:52 pm
Thant should be “too”…sorry.
JSH
August 8th, 2011
6:01 pm
I would welcome a Perry presidential run. He and Michelle might make a tough team to beat. If he is running, he needs to get started.
How about requiring a person to actually pay taxes to be able to vote? I bet we could balance the budget then plus pay the bills.
GaBlue
August 8th, 2011
6:12 pm
“How about requiring a person to actually pay taxes to be able to vote?”
The Constitution: a set of loose guidelines to be tweaked at will by those with the money to make it happen? WTF?
yuzeyurbrane
August 8th, 2011
6:25 pm
It will be interesting how Perry stands up to real scrutiny. But he looks formidable on paper. However, it would not be Perry/Bachmann ticket but Perry/Pawlenty—balance the ticket theory. If Romney wins it would be Romney/Bachmann.
hl
August 8th, 2011
6:25 pm
The Texas economy is doing better than GA because of existing regulations they have on mortgages and the increase in oil prices but they aren’t doing great. Their unemployment number is higher than several states. Someone needs to do their homework rather than to just listen to those opinion makers.
ladyliberty
August 8th, 2011
6:46 pm
Snark, you are so right. Why swoon over barely known “next-generation provocateurs.” when we have competent serious people like Ron Paul. No one is more competent or serious on monetary policy, national defense, or constitutional protection. And he’s conservative but not callous. Where I might just take people and companies off their subsidies cold turkey, his warm physician bedside manner comes out and he says we can’t abandon people whom the government has trained – for generations – to be wards of the state. (not an exact quote). He knows what responsible self government is.
ladyliberty
August 8th, 2011
6:47 pm
p.s. A cynical person might think Perry is entering the race if only to keep TEXAS delegates from Ron Paul
Sideshow bill
August 8th, 2011
6:51 pm
@JSH, ever buy anything? Then you paid taxes. If you mean income tax, then the wealthy had better start building moats and welcome everyone to feudalism.
Smoke
August 8th, 2011
7:11 pm
The President and Dems had a “my-way-or-the-highway attitude? Obama says comprehensive plan must have revenue increases. Ryan walks out. Obama says debate on a comprehensive $4 trillion plan with revenue increases. Boehner walks out. Tea Party says let the debt go into default. A plan passes with no revenue increases and Boehner says he got 98% of he wanted. S&P drops bond rating and says it expected a comprehensive $4 trillion plan. Mitt comes out of his hole and says the President is playing the “Blame Game,” and it is his lack of leadership. At what point does the Speaker of the House take responsibility for his leadership and the impact of getting 98% of what his Party wanted?
Smoke
August 8th, 2011
7:23 pm
Texas is so dependent on federal funds and has such a larget budget deficit that it would have to sell itself back to Mexico, and still be broke.
Jon
August 8th, 2011
7:28 pm
Perry and Bachmann split the neo-cons masquerading as fiscal cons vote, Romney wins.
Smoke
August 8th, 2011
7:29 pm
Bob. You give Fortune 500 CEO’s way too much credit. Their sole responsibility is to meet or exceed Wall Street “number” expectations by any means necessary. Wait a minute, conservatives are already doing that.
td
August 8th, 2011
7:49 pm
GaBlue
August 8th, 2011
5:43 pm
You take the union money and the trail lawyers money out and I will agree with you. Do you agree?
Georgians for Rick Perry
August 8th, 2011
7:52 pm
Mrs Deal did not hit our Like button, we hit hers. If Sen Chance is there on the Like list, we don’t see his name. However, we have added 11 new Likes so far today with the publicity. And we have passed Arkansas now as the state page for Gov Perry with the most Likes!
Rob Woodall has his free, socialized, government healthcare. Wants you to buy expensive, inferior healthcare from anyone but the government
August 8th, 2011
7:52 pm
Sure, Texas has lots of jobs. At minimum wage with no benefits.
Martha
August 8th, 2011
7:54 pm
I cannot believe how quickly people forget that Governor Palin is the one republican who can generate the most enthusiam from the base while also appealing to the important swing vote.
Governor Palin has given up her job in Alaska for the good of the country and made countless sacrifices within her family to provide direction and leadership for the Republican Party. Rather than worry about making money or being popular, Governor Palin has devoted herself to the good of the Party and the good of the nation.
Reading Republican web sites and listening to Fox News, you would think that Governor Palin has dropped of the face of the earth.
Governor Palin should be our next President of the United States and these other candidates should step aside for this splendid patriot.
td
August 8th, 2011
8:03 pm
My campaign reform plan: 85% of all money received in a house race must come from within the district (if a corporation is in the district then they can contribute). All donation must be posted within 48 hours of receiving on a publicly accessible website with the persons name, address, occupation with the companies name or union affiliation. If money is from a corporation then the CEO, COO and CFO’s name must be added with the corporation. Senators must receive 85% of their money from within the state. No PAC money allowed. All contributions must have a name or corporation name attached.
Bluto
August 8th, 2011
8:16 pm
Rick Perry was a D student in college. He is just another empty suit. The Republicans are stacked to the rafters with dimwits.
Smoke
August 8th, 2011
8:22 pm
If S&P rated Lehman Brothers an A one month before they went bankrupt, what to you really think of their status of US Treasury Bonds would be if we eliminated government as many conservatives want?
Smoke
August 8th, 2011
8:32 pm
Gov. Palin gave up her governorship for big pay checks, and has used her family as a prop or smoke screen. Name one thing to prove otherwise. Somebody tell us one tangible thing Palin has done to “help” the country? You know, like, what policies has she gotten passed that has been scored to confirm they created jobs, or reduced the debt or deficit, improved foreign relations, improved our infrastructure? There is smoke in the room, and I didn’t do it.
Smoke
August 8th, 2011
8:43 pm
We live in a conservative State where educated people are considered dumb, middle-to-lower class people look out for the welfare of rich people, and educated rich people get elected to political office. Is there a flaw in my statement?
Big Hat
August 8th, 2011
8:48 pm
Hey Sarah! how’s that “you’re daughter is the town tramp” thing doin’ fur yah?
Smoke
August 8th, 2011
8:55 pm
Forget Perry’s academic probation grades at Texas A&M while pursuing a degree in animal science. What gets me is that he was a slimeball door-to-door book salesman. At least it is documented that he served his country (moreso than another Texas governor). But he always new that he could, and did run home to Daddy who owned a cotton farm so he wouldn’t starve. There is always a smart one in the family, and it is seldom the offspring.
BRW
August 8th, 2011
8:58 pm
Martha, Your joking right? Sarcasm right?
Larry Craig
August 8th, 2011
9:08 pm
I just love governor good hair from the great state of taxes.
Flash
August 8th, 2011
9:08 pm
Thus far the republican party has offered very little in the way of a real viable candidate. Even if things with the economy slide further into disarray, it looks like a shoe in for President Obama.
MrLiberty
August 8th, 2011
9:32 pm
Mr. Perry is an open book. He used to be a democrat and supported Al Gore right up until he lost the presidency. Then he switched parties. As governor, he pushed for legislation to force all 14 year old girls in Texas to have the Guarasil vaccine for HPV. Not only is that highly presumptuous of the sexual habits of the 14 year olds of Texas, but even when he was promoting the bill dozens of girls were dying from the vaccine all around the world. Of course the huge campaign contributions from Merck, the vaccine’s maker probably had nothing to do with his support of the bill. Additionally, he actively promoted the grand theft of land from private property owners in Texas in support of the Trans-Nafta highway that would link Mexico, the US, and Canada. If you thought we have problems with open borders now…not to mention the blatant support for eminent domain theft of land. He also visited a Bilderberg conference in 2007 in violation of federal law (and how much more pro-american can you get then vacationing with the global elite?) Then of course there are his recent comments that our domestic and economic problems are beyond a solution by man. Funny, man caused the problems and way more than one man has some sound solutions that actually involve fiscal responsibility, private property rights, a sound foreign policy, and sound money.
Rick Perry is the establishment’s man. The establishment is the problem in this country. Rick entering the race will just make it more obvious that there is really only one candidate with a different message for saving america and restoring freedom – Ron Paul. End the Fed.
td
August 8th, 2011
9:52 pm
Flash
August 8th, 2011
9:08 pm
Thus far the republican party has offered very little in the way of a real viable candidate. Even if things with the economy slide further into disarray, it looks like a shoe in for President Obama.
What world are you living in my friend. Even Newt with all of his flaws would win 40 states against Obama if the election was held today.
td
August 8th, 2011
9:54 pm
MrLiberty
August 8th, 2011
9:32 pm
Although I agree with you that Ron Paul is a great man. His total libertarian views will not let him get the nomination of the Republican party much less compete for the White house.
Beth Merkelson
August 8th, 2011
10:11 pm
Erik has worked on my campaigns so that is good enough for me
Bill Smith
August 9th, 2011
12:42 am
You can read about the Beth Merkleson campaign at http://www.grassrootsfrenzy.com
Karl Marx
August 9th, 2011
6:31 am
Perry is a no go. I can’t vote anyone who supported Al Gore and if Erickson, the quitter, supports him that just seals the deal. No Perry or Erickson period. Why in the world did WSB hire that hack Erickson is a mystery to me. I started listening to 103.7 after that.
unpossible
August 9th, 2011
6:36 am
he’s dumber then gw
Ga Values
August 9th, 2011
6:55 am
Perry is just another Bush/ LBJ Texas politician.. I don’t trust Newt but would vote for him before Perry.
Beau
August 9th, 2011
9:22 am
The demagogic politics of the 21st century may have limits. There are in every society, goods and conditions to which every person feels they are fairly entitled. Such an expectation may include safety, satisfying employment, food, little government interference or it may include broad government social programs depending on the relevant political history of the regime.
When these value expectations are not met, societal dissatisfaction can have grave consequences. The riots we are seeing in the UK may be an example of the playing out of such a theory.
Let’s hope that our leaders are keeping a mindful eye and heart to the expectations of the US public and that they cast votes for policy that will avoid the relative deprivation between the voter’s expectations and the ability of government to meet them.
Will Jones - Atlanta Jeffersonian Exegesis
August 9th, 2011
10:28 am
With the UK’s masses awareness of the infamous treason of their “7/7″ subway bombing’s twin to Bush’s and Cheney’s “Northwoods” 9/11 for false war and Big Oil, England and its “royals” are getting what they deserve.
We must head off the same development by establishing Righteousness before the fact and bringing Bush’s and Cheney’s Anti-Christ Fifth Column faction to justice and full expropriation.
Rick Parry, like his “good buddy” George W. Bush, is no man. Any watching his fraud and not recognizing the same sociopathy that found Bush entertaining various gay lovers in the White House has some wisdom to achieve.
Erick Erickson is a flack for the same evil, born and raised as a scion of Big Oil “planted” in Georgia to be groomed as an apparent real American: he is not one of us.
Grover Norquist and Newt Gingrich have recently been publicly identified as homosexual lovers on national TV. Have there been any lawsuits by those one would think might otherwise have been damaged, were it not true?
A false spirit is on America and those who count themselves servants of G-d must expunge it by casting the Beast of the identified Fifth Column of the Roman Anti-Christ, and it minions like Erickson, Perry, Gingrich, Norquist, Boehner, and Pelosi, into the Pit. If we don’t “they” will destroy our Nation and our covenant.
Dick Cheney
August 9th, 2011
12:14 pm
I’d like to amend my earlier statement that ‘deficits don’t matter’ — what I meant to say was that deficits that are incurred by GOP Governors/Presidents don’t matter. Just cause Texas’ debts have doubled under Perry means he’s like my favorite President, also from Texas.
Thanks for your time.
Now please turn off that microwave, it makes my heart go pitty-pat a bit to fast.
DJ Sniper
August 9th, 2011
12:50 pm
Rick Perry as president? Give me a break. This guy needs to stay right where he is. First of all, people need to realize that a lot of these jobs that have been created in Texas are minimum wage jobs, so it’s not like people are making the type of money they should be. Also, he talks about state’s rights and what not, then turns around and says that there should be a federal ban on abortion. I’m very skeptical about any politician that wears their religion on their sleeve like he does. That prayer event he had last weekend was clearly pandering to the right wing evangelicals. How this guy keeps getting elected is beyond me.