manicchill:

(image courtesy of CNN)

Perry-Romney Rivalry Heats Up: Former Pawlenty Staffers Join Perry’s Campaign

Even though former Republican presidential candidate Tim Pawlenty is throwing in the towel, it doesn’t mean the former Governor of Minnesota’s will no longer play a role in the election process. Monday morning, shortly before the Republican debate began, Pawlenty appeared on Fox News to throw his support behind candidate Mitt Romney.

From the New York Times:

Mr. Pawlenty, the former governor of Minnesota who ended his quest for the Republican nomination last month, chose Mr. Romney over Gov. Rick Perry of Texas, whom he was close to from their years serving on the Republican Governors Association.

Many of Mr. Pawlenty’s contributors and supporters had been waiting for a signal from him in the escalating contest between Mr. Romney and Mr. Perry. And Mr. Pawlenty had been looking for help in retiring a campaign debt of at least $500,000.

In a statement announcing Mr. Pawlenty as a national co-chairman of his campaign, Mr. Romney said: “Tim will be a trusted adviser as I move forward with my campaign. Tim has always been an advocate for lower taxes, reduced spending and an environment where jobs can be created. It is an honor to have him serve as co-chair to my campaign for the presidency.”

Unfortunately, it would appear that those who helped make Pawlenty a household name don’t share his opinions. This morning, Rick Perry announced the addition of several new staff members to his campaign:

From The American Independent:

Texas Gov. Rick Perry today announced additional staff joining his campaign’s Iowa leadership team, including five former members of former Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty‘s 2012 presidential campaign.

 Matt Whitaker, formerly Gov. Pawlenty’s Iowa chairman, will join the Iowa Perry campaign as statewide co-chairman, serving alongside current statewide chairman, Robert Haus.

“We have a strong Iowa team that will help me take my vision to get America working again all across the Hawkeye State,” said Perry. “I am proud to have these top-notch individuals leading our efforts in Iowa, helping carry my record and vision for job creation and fiscal conservatism to caucus voters.

Read More

A new survey of Obama voters by Survey USA found that by a margin of 82%-18% they are more likely to support him again in 2012 if he raises taxes on the rich.

The good news for Obama is that 66% of those who voted for him in 2008 approve of his handling of the economy compared to 27% who disapprove. Sixty three percent of those who disapprove are doing so because they believe that Obama has been too willing to compromise with Republicans. The president’s voters made it very clear what they want. Eighty one percent of those who voted for Obama said that they want to see the president lay out a broad jobs plan next week. Only 16% wanted him to focus on smaller measures.

What Obama voters don’t want is any kind of deal that would cut government programs in exchange for GOP support of his jobs plan. Forty one percent of respondents said that they would be less likely support his reelection campaign if Obama cuts government programs, and 21% said that they would be more likely to support him in 2012. Thirty two percent said that it made no difference in their support if the president cut government programs. Over 2/3 of Obama voters (67%) said that they would be less likely to support him in 2012 if he cuts Social Security or Medicare.

Read More

manicchill:

It’s official. There is no doubt in my mind that Rick Perry will be this election’s top culture war candidate. I first started to believe it when he announced “The Response”, a prayer rally, which turned out to be step one in a voter mobilization drive . That feeling was bolstered as his ties to religious extremists came into the light, and again when his Dominionist beliefs were confirmed. Then Perry passed former Iowa-frontrunner Michele Bachmann in the primary race, according to Public Policy Polling. Now, in my mind, Perry has taken the final step on the road to becoming a culture war candidate.

From The Hill:

Texas Gov. Rick Perry on Wednesday signed an anti-abortion-rights group’s presidential pledge, making him the seventh Republican presidential candidate to do so.

Perry’s decision strengthens his hand with conservative voters while drawing attention to front-runner Mitt Romney’s decision not to sign on. Candidates Herman Cain, Jon Huntsman and Gary Johnson have also so far refused to sign the pledge and are under pressure to do so.

“I not only pledge to protect unborn life, but have a record of doing so in Texas,” Perry said in a statement. “I have signed legislation requiring parental consent for a minor to obtain an abortion, and have long advocated adoption as an alternative to abortion in order to protect unborn children.”

The petition, called the Pro-Life Presidential Leadership Pledge, was created by the Susan B. Anthony List. The SBA-List is an organization “dedicated to electing candidates and pursuing policies that will reduce and ultimately end abortion.” The organization topped the list of Pro-Life PAC donors for the 2008 and 2010 election cycles.

Read More

bethanypost:

~ Bachman and the Rise of the Soviet Union

lilmaj132:

thepoliticalfreakshow:

theatlantic:

Bachmann Staffer Arrested for Terrorism in Uganda in 2006

The evangelical organizer who helped Michele Bachmann win the Ames Straw Poll in Iowa Saturday was previously charged with terrorism in Uganda after being arrested for possession of assault rifles and ammunition in February 2006, just days before Uganda’s first multi-party elections in 20 years.

Peter E. Waldron spent 37 days in the Luriza Prison outside Kampala, where he says he was tortured, after being arrested along with six Congolese and Ugandan nationals for the weapons, which were described variously in news reports as having been found in his bedroom or a closet in his home. The charges, which could have led to life in prison, were dropped in March 2006 after a pressure campaign by Waldron’s friends and colleagues and what Waldron says was the intervention of the Bush administration.

 Read more at The Atlantic

So, the anti-Islam, anti-Muslim, anti-gay Tea Party representative from Minnesota falls victim to a condition known as “hypocrisy.” 

It’s not like other diseases, it being more rampant in American politics.

-Drew, Concerned American

Wait. So she won’t answer a yes or no question on whether or not she’ll have someone who’s gay or lesbian in her administration, but she’ll hire someone who has been charged and arrested for terrorism. Right….

silas216:

producermatthew:

BREAKING: Texas Governor Rick Perry is running for president, a spokesperson has told the Associated Press. [AP]

A brief reminder for all the voters out there:  back when Dubya and Perry were governor and lieutenant governor here in Texas, Dubya was widely known as “the smart one”.

Chew on that one for a while.