Is another religious, conservative Republican governor from Texas the answer to our prayers?
FROM CNN's Jack Cafferty:
The great Yogi Berra said, "it's like deja vu all over again."
[cnn-photo-caption image=http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2011/images/08/09/art.rick.perry.jpg caption=""]
What we have here apparently is another religious, conservative Republican governor from Texas who wants to be president.
Only this one's last name isn't Bush.
Texas Governor Rick Perry is expected to strongly signal his intention to run for president in a speech in South Carolina on Saturday.
Perry's announcement is timed perfectly to upset the Iowa Straw Poll in Ames which is also on Saturday. Although Perry's name isn't on the ballot in Iowa, supporters are waging a write-in campaign.
After the speech in South Carolina, Perry is off to New Hampshire and then to Iowa to headline a fundraiser Sunday night.
The tea party favorite already has a certain appeal among conservatives who are looking for more options in a pretty sad Republican field. Working in Perry's favor, the Texas economy is doing better than most. Almost 40% of all the new jobs created in the U.S. since the recession started are in Texas. The state also has a balanced budget.
But Haven't we been here and done this? We already lived though eight years of a Christian evangelical governor from Texas in the White House... and we're still in therapy from the trauma of that little experiment gone awry.
This past weekend, Perry addressed believers at an all-day prayer vigil in Houston. Perry asked God to help comfort Americans stung by the troubled economy. He also prayed for President Obama.
He did all this in a stadium that was less than half full. And what about that separation of church and state thingy?
Here’s my question to you: Is another religious, conservative Republican governor from Texas the answer to our prayers?
Interested to know which ones made it on air?
Chris in Buffalo, New York:
No, Jack. I think another unknown, inexperienced, economically ignorant community organizer from Chicago is the answer to our prayers. I mean, the first one is working out so well, isn't he?
Craig in Vancouver, Washington:
No, but there is a Texas candidate that can at least get the ball rolling in the right direction and his name is Ron Paul. But whomever people vote for there is NO silver bullet and they need to get over it. It took a TEAM effort from all of us to screw this country up, and nothing short of continuing our founders' revolution will get us back to decency.
Eve in Texas:
Did God tell Perry to run for the presidency like the last conservative Texan said? If so, and Perry gets in office, don't expect any difference between the two. I'm hoping God uses her sense of humor to derail the latest rhinestone cowboy's efforts to screw up the presidency like the other one did.
Dave:
Absolutely not! If you want to know why, just look at Middle Eastern Muslim countries where their religion and their government have become one and the same.
Jeff in Bishop, Georgia:
Mr. Cafferty, If my only other choice is a secular, liberal, Democrat empty suit from Illinois/Hawaii/Kenya/Indonesia, then the choice is clear.... Perry 2012!!
Richard:
Absolutely not. I am sick of these phony balonies. These people should have to take a test before they can run for president. Did you see this guy's grade transcript from Texas A and M? A student he was not, a pretty boy phony he is!
Nan in Texas writes on Facebook:
As a Texan, I say NO! Perry prayed for rain and not a drop. He prayed for the economy on Saturday & the DOW dropped 600+ points on Monday. Maybe a higher power is trying to tell us something.
@jackcafferty on Twitter
Definitely not! We don't need prayers, we need action and informed voting! Elected officials should not let their religious beliefs influence and interfere with decisions made for the country.....we are all of different religions and beliefs.....religion should be a private matter......How about a "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy regarding religion and politicians?????
If prayer is how we call out for answers, Dominionists will always be at the ready to hear those calls. Something tells me we don't want to go there.
Jack,
Depends on who's doing the praying. If you hate America or enjoyed Bush's eight years, the answer would be yes. If you're part of the other 98%, GOD NO! PLEASE, NO!
It depends on what you are praying for. The last one doubled the national debt, took the country to the brink of economic colapse and oversaw the greatest transfer of wealth from the middle class to the already wealthy while reducing taxes for those most able to pay them. The country quite literally cannot afford another one. Those few who benefited the last time, and those not smart enough to realize they got taken to the cleaners financially under President Bush are likely the only ones praying. To the vast majority of the rest of us a repeat would be nothing less than a nightmare.
The answer to my prayers is that Obama is a one term president so we can start to reverse this leaderless country.
No Jack!! We do not need another religious right-wing governor from Texas to solve our problems because he will only make them worse. Rick Perry is no more an answer to the nation's fiscal and economic problems than George W. Bush was!! We need someone who has common sense, a strong sense of realism and can formulate sound fiscal and public policies to address our nation's problems. That someone is Barack Obama. The American people are lucky to have him than the above-mentioned alternative.
That all depends on who - or what - you're praying to or for. Last time a hyper-religious nutball conservative got into the White House, he left us with multiple wars, entire nations that hate us, a failed economy, joblessness, more homeless people on the streets, people losing their homes, and a border that leaks like a sieve. If that's what you're praying for - guess this could be your guy.
I'll avoid the obvious Bush remarks. I want a government that will simply live & let live. I don't want some zealot in my bedroom, doctor's office or other personal affairs. If no one is harming others, it's not our business what anybody does. We need to educate our children, provide employment, repair our crumbling nation, invest in alternative energies, stop warring & restore our self-image. Mixing politics & religion NEVER works!
No, he is not. And the sooner Governor Perry and his fellow wing-nuts get raptured out of their underwear, the better.
Dear, Jack
Don't be looking for
George Bush: The Sequel
to be playing any time soon in a White House near you.
It depends on what your "prayer" is....After all, are we not supposed to have "seperation of church and state"? So what are we doing praying about our politics?
If Texas Governor Rick Perry wins the nomination, he is definitely the answer to President Obama's prayers!
Jack - If he is a pragmatic, true leader who has been able to show positive results for all or the vast majority of the people he has governed, then, "yes." But, if he allows himself to be characterized as "another conservative Republican governor from Texas," then his candidacy will be DOA. I mean, would you want another fanciful, hope-and-change, liberal, intellectual academic with no leadership experience or demonstrable results from Chicago?
...because the last one we elected worked out so well???
If we prayed for another religious conservative Republican governor from Texas, then yes. If we prayed for a way out of the present cat's ass-trophy, then hell, no, he isn't!
What the world needs now isn't another sanctimonious, hypocritical, anti-tax-zealot right-whinger, so, no, Governor Good-Hair is not even in the running.
Bob
If Rick Perry or any other Tea Party backed candidate is elected president, we will have another Civil War. There is no way the majority of the citizens would accept a president with his Tea Party and extremist religios beliefs. He would make a much better evangelical preacher than POTUS plus he would make more money.
It sure beats a non religous Liberal. Under conservatives I had a Job. The unemployment was at approximately 5.0%. What has it been for the last 2 years?? All the liberals want is to give away the store. People have no incentive to work. Liberals want the low esteem to have food stamps, high unemployment checks, free medical, subsidized housing, but the Liberals never explain that the working people have to pay more and more for these freebies. Remember, lack of incentives destroyed communism in the Soviet Union. After awhile everybody wanted their government to take care of them. We need conservatives to save this country. Everybody quotes Bill Clinton's good times. Remember under Clinton we had the Republicans controlling both the Senate and the House. The worst that happenned in the 2010 is that the voters got snookered and re-elected Sen Reid and the rest of the Liberal Democrats.
Based on the comments in this blog you're going to read, released by you Jack, is that they will bad mouth the consevatives. They just don't get it, must have been brainwashed by their leader.
If you are talking about that religious, conservative Republican governor from Texas that made 1.1 million dollars in 2007 and gave a WHOPPING 90 bucks to his church...then he is NOT the answer to MY prayers......
I am praying for someone that understands that sharing the burden of maintaining our government is everyone's responsibility.
It is easy to talk about "tightening belts" to balance budgets when it's someone else's belt you want to tighten and Perry's 90 dollar donation to his church to pay its bills shows that his "talk is cheap" ....so......I would assume that his approach to sharing the burden of the cost of our government would be just as lopsided.
Vote for this phoney and you get more of Bush's baloney.
Nobody of any religion is the answer to this country's woes. He and his ilk are the reason this nation is in the toilet. Until congress can comes to grips with the fact we need to recognize obligations of the past, constrain spending as much as possible and raise taxes to cover the annual budget and have 1 or 2 % above that to pay down debt, we will continue to sink slowly in red ink quicksand and prayer sessions will do absolutely no good. How many unpaid for war will this goober get us into, or how many more tax cuts that do nothing and add to our economic plight? What works at the state level generally does not work at the national level.
Only if he has figured out that he doesn't have to buy everything that Wall Street is selling. Our last four Presidents have been in thrall of Wall Street and have either benefited from it or lost from it, but in all cases, it was misplaced reliance. We need leadership for all the people, not just the poor and the filthy rich. I hope that one candidate for President understands this need, and doesn't fall under the sway of the money changers in the temple of Wall Street.
Jack: Prayer is always a good idea, even when there is no crisis, prayer is an outstanding idea. I do not want another cowboy from Texas in the White House. I want someone who thinks before he or she opens their mouths to speak. When they do speak for my nation, I do not want to hear Texas slang, like the former President George W. Bush. I believe prayer is a private conversation with God, and not some public display to make political points. A serious person to solve serious problems this nation faces. I do not need some rodeo clown making decisions that get thousands of young men and women killed.
I am so sick of these religous conservative nuts. They love to talk about our forefathers, while usually misquoting the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution. They always skip over the separation of church and state part that was one of the main things that our forefathers were aiming for! They want government out of our lives when it comes to anything that is beneficial to the middle class (ss, medicare, unemployment insurance, healthcare.) but want to tell you what to eat, drink, smoke and who to sleep with. I am hoping some reporter is going to dig up some dirty deed he did in the past, although sometimes even that isn't enough for them to go away.
I sure as hell pray not!
Kinda like Bush and Obama, Perry is another my way or the highway guy. I don't think that would be good for the country. Unlike Bush and Obama, he is phiscally conservative. Answer to our prayers, not by a longshot but, at least he will come up with a plan rather than play the blame game.
That depends on what you are praying for. The Texas governor makes me nervous precisely because he is so religious. Personally I believe in the separation of church and state and I don't think touting one's religious beliefs in public is what God (or our country) has in mind. I tend to trust a person who is quietly spiritual much more than the likes of Rick Perry.
Jack: Did the last Republican President from Texas answer America's prayers? Human beings are compelled to live within a lie, but they can be compelled to do so only because they are in fact capable of living in this way. Therefore not only does the political system alienate humanity, but at the same time alienated humanity supports this system as its own involuntary master plan, as a degenerate image of its own degeneration, as a record of people's own failure as individuals.
Lord help US
That would be an answer to our nightmares.
But it would answer the fervent prayers of the terrorists as well as those of corporate America.
Radicalism will suck out whatever breath of life America still has.
Maybe to your prayers. Certainly not to mine.
Let's hope and PRAY that Gov. Prairie decides to retire to become a preacher instead.
Absolutely Not!!!
If you want to know why just look at middle eastern muslim countries where thier religion and thier government have become one and the same.
No, but there is a Texas candidate that can at least get the ball rolling in the right direction and his name is Ron Paul. But whomever people vote for there is NO silver bullet and they need to get over it. It took a TEAM effort from all of us to screw this country up, and nothing short of continuing our founder's revolution will get us back to decency.
Regardless of which side the candidate labels himself, what say we see if they area decent person and how they've lead their life so far? Because that will tell us how they will run things. If any of that has been hidden or they are lying "don't let the door hit you on the way out".
Jack,
If we do, we'll need to raise the debt ceiling much, much more!
Rick,
Medina, OH
Oh sure, that's exactly what we need. Another George Bush. God help us all!
And you fail to mention that Texas under this Governors leadership is one of only 3 states in the union which has a balanced budget and low unemployment... I'd take him....prayers and all, anyday over what we have today!!
If our nation wants more of the same BushCo, then they deserve another Tx Governor. I'm a Texan, and even WE don't all want this guy as Governor, much less POTUS.
Mr. Cafferty, if my only other choice is a secular, liberal, Democrat empty suit from Illinois/Hawaii/Kenya/Indonesia, then the choice is clear.... Perry 2012!!
Absolutely not, Jack, espcially considering that it was a religious, conservatie, Republican govenor from Texas that got us into this mess to begin with.
No Jack-
God is the answer to our prayers. Not man.
Really Jack, this is not an appeal to the heavens, its the public mislead to belief once again that a particular person will solve all our issues. What is needed is a revolution of ideas in the nation of what the roll of government should be. Why don't we all take a national day off were every citizen is required by law to read the constitution and declaration of independence, politicians be required to pass symbolically to bill of rights. If we all just stop to remember what our nation is all about, we would have a mind set to throw out Washington corruption, elect honest people to government. People are trapped into a mind set of not wanting to be free. The are trapped in a world were they see themselves as wanting more, rather then seeing that less is more.
The last religious, conservative Republican governor from Texas did such a great job with this country...NOT!!!!!
Rusty S.
Raleigh, NC
I seriously doubt it but the sad part is the GOP is currently its own worst enemy. Obama's a bum but the Tea Party extremeists are too. What main stream America is looking for is a main stream candidate.
Neither party has such a person at the present time.
Gary in Scottsdale, Arizona
Please, please, please, not another one. We have a good President now and all he needs is the support of Congress and the American people and we will see things turn around soon. The American people are very much behind him, but as long as there are idiotic Republicans out there whose entire goal in life is to see that this President is not re-elected, nothing will get done in a long, long time. Enough of this nonsense is enough. Support our President, and work with him. What do you have to lose? See if things turn around with the support of Congress and quit drawing stupid, ridiculous lines in the sand, just because you can. I hope all who do so are defeated soundly, including all the radical tea party idiots. And another president like the last Republican is the last thing we need. Support the one we have!!! And see what can happen. Again, what do we have to lose. Nothing, but a lot to gain.
As I consider Republican Rick Perry for president, I see another Texas governor, not too bright, overly religious and a member of the Tea Party. For any or all of these reasons, Rick Perry will never receive my vote. President Obama's intelligence and abilities are far above Perry and all other announced Republican candidates and he will receive my vote and my financial support. Had the Republicans not blocked everything the President has tried to do to help the country, the United States of America would not be in the situation we find ourselves today.
Do we really need another Bush clone? Do we want to send our children to war for oil or a mineral rich country. do we want our country in a depression or our country with a triple c credit rating or our education system to be totally depleted. than we need another texas republican or any republican. I am a indepent who will not vote for them.
No! That is what got us here in the first place. It would be groundhog day all over again. If god tells the governor of Texas what to do, I wonder why he sent an arsonist convicted of murder to his death? There was plenty of evidence for a stay of execution yet he would not even postpone the execution. It always scares the hell out of me when someone tells me they hear the voice of god, bcause the voice they hear might not be that of god. For proof of this, all you have to do is look around at all the wars that was started in god's name.
I really like this question. My comment is that I want both George and Jeb Bush to comment.
Absolutely not. I am sick of these phoney balonies. These people should have to take a test before they can run for President. Did you see this guy's grade transcript from A and M?
A student he was not, a prettyboy phoney he is!
Jack,
NO! And if you think he is then you've been out in the Texas mid-day sun way to long.
Oh Jack if the man calls I will serve otherwise wait and someone else will take your order. These people are jokes Jack when will it stop I'm going to have a hernia laughing at them. The light someone turn off the light it’s blinding me…. I gave myself to the lord just to find out it was Uncle Billy Bob. I’ve been called to do the lord’s work he thought it was useless…. Judge not others as they may ask you why me lord….
No, Jack. I think another unknown, inexperienced, economically ignorant community organizer from Chicago is the answer to our prayers. I mean, the first one is working out so well, isn't he?
The term dumb and dumber fits the description of these two people from Texas. Being from Texas and knowing the damage this man and his buddy, that would be W, have done only makes me hope that Americans wake up.
NO! I was taught this country had a distinct separation of church and state. It should remain that way. In no way does this country need a religious conservative, anymore than we need an aethist leftist. We need a calm, educated centrist who encourages bipartisanship and compromise. If only this type of individual would run for any political office.
You know I grew up understanding politics from Richard J. now we have the fruit cakes from hell, I mean wackoos. Why is it that Bobby doesn’t give Obama some of his dad’s old tapes to watch and learn how to play the game instead of being played, I’ll always remember the insurance Q&A Richard did about Bobby’s contract?
Did God tell Perry to run for the presidency like the last conservative Texan said. If so, and Perry gets in office, don't expect any difference between the two. I'm hoping God uses her sense of humor to derail the latest rhinestone cowboy's efforts to screw up the presidency like the other one did.
Eve of Texas
Religious , conservative, republican? What an oxymoron, Jack.
Just another smokescreen distraction to take our minds off the real
issue, Jack. The republicans and tea party is the reason we need
prayer in the first place. If they really followed the laws of God, they
wouldn't be hell bent on destroying the country as we know it.
This is exactly why the republicans have the reputation of being Hypocrites.
ya, SURE, Jack.
just what America needs. another gun toting, bible thumping, right-wing ideolog former Texas governor as President.
WHAT could POSSABLY go WRONG?
Jack these individuals that have been running around Iowa for the last month are crazy please take them and let it be over.
No, Jack. Billy Graham must be turning over in his grave.
Hell No! We needs presidents who believe in pragmatic policies, not prayer-based ones.
Jack, do you have a problem with religion? Right now that's what America needs because of the economic and weather turmoil that's happening here. We need some prayers to help us through these miserable times. Maybe if we got back to our religious beliefs, our country would be in better shape. Our current president does not seem to have a strong religious background in christianity and we do need some strong leadership in that direction. So my answer is yes, we do need a president who is religious and also conservative and hope we have not been led too far in the wrong direction. We need to get our country back to our christian beliefs and if anyone is offended by our faith then let them leave.
Is he running for President of the U.S. or President of the Baptist Convention? We've had 3 Presidents from Texas in the past 50 years and they all ended badly. This cowboy is all hat and no cattle, and certainly no answer to anyone's prayers.
Simply put, GOD NO.
Please no Jack...whatever happened to separation of church and state? Im a Christian but leave the church out of our government.
Ya SURE, Jack.
just what America needs. another gun toting, bible thumping, right-wing ideolog former Texas governor as President.
WHAT could POSSABLY go WRONG?
If so, our prayers are misguided.
Yes, another bible thumping hypocrite, that’s what we need. It really worked out well the last time, didn’t it? At least this time there won’t be a budget surplus to flush down the toilet and any more corporate tax breaks and deregulation won’t be noticeable. After 230 years, maybe it is time to incorporate the Bible into the Constitution. The GOP can then mean “God’s Only People”. That’s what I’d call real change.
Hello Jack. No, Governor Perry (aka successionist) is not the answer to the problems facing our Country. Not because he is religious or a conservative. I cannot support anyone Liberal or conservative who believe "States Rights" should trump the "Federal Government". I believe he would actively work against the WHOLE of the country and promote legislation that favors States Rights and conservative views only. Governor Perry does not love the United States of America. He loves the Sovereign State of Texas. Governor Perry is a "DIVIDER" and we need most desperately a "UNITER".
As quoted, Insanity is repeating the same mistakes and expecting different results
Let's see.... Chancellor Perry, Vice Chancellor Wildmon, Minister of Propaganda Hagee, Minister of Combating Homosexuality Perkins, Ministers of Social, Cultural and Racial Policy Dobson and Garlow....I think not!
No. We are not electing a pope or a pastor in chief. I'm much more concerned about their knowledge of government than their religion. Their religion is between them and God.
Lord, NO! The LAST thing our nation needs is another arrogant Texas airhead that gets his instructions from "God" and advisors like Dick Cheney. After Bush-43, I'll probably NEVER vote for another Texan or Republican or overly-religious conservative for President again...and I've been a Republican my entire 67 years of life.
Based on the Republican Tea Party trying to sabotage the country, Perry should save his money because Republicans will lose almost all of their elections in 2012. After watching all of the debt debates on C-SPAN and interviews on CNN they have shown that they only care about the wealthiest people in this country, not the country, and for some reason actually believe that everyone that makes over 250k a year is a job creator. As a Republican our seven voters in our immediate family will now be going to the Democrats in 2012 and I am sure we won't be the only ones.
Not that kind of religion. He's a Dominionist!
Jack,
Are any of the Republican Presidential Nominees the answer to our "prayers"? To answer my own question, No, no, no, no, no.
No more than Hidnu conservative or a Bhuddist conervative or a Muslim conservative.
The forefathers had the forethought to remove sectarian religions from government sponsorship. There is no reason for the Republicans to try and establish one.
Maybe along with a balnced budget amendment they want a Christian government amendment too?
Noel
New Mexico
Not for me, Jack. We don't need a Bible thumper in the White house. If I want religion, I'll go to church. The last time I set foot in one, Richard Nixon was president. There is, however, another candidate from Texas who has more credibility than he did several weeks ago.
That would answer my non-existent prayers.
I hope not but that is mainly because I don't trust Texas Republicans anymore ! Noactually, I don't trust ANY Republican anymore. If Perry would get in, it would be nice to think that his love of God would cause him to pay more attention to the poor and needy. And, maybe somehow we could have more of Godly attitudes in our government and country which is sorely needed. We have strayed terribly from Godly principles, values and actions.
Jack i don't think so. If your idea of a president is someone who holds a gathering to pray for rain then he is your guy. I can't speak for the rest of Texas but i would be happy to get rid of him. He has drawn business to Texas but by doing so has bankrupted our educational system. He refuses to allow casino gambling but has no problem with the lottery scratch offs and horseracing. His idea of border security is to let them come and does not believe in E-verify although it is free to check on legal status for employment he does not believe in using it for state highway and bridge jobs.
Answer to our prayers hardly Jack. This guy once was a democrat then switched to Republican when that was the thing to do to stay in power in politics. He has also said prior that he does not want Texas to be part of the Socialist States of America and has hinted for Texas to seced form the union. He is a states righter and is that right? Who can say. If he enters the GOP race he has a good chance at the nomination because most if not all of the candidates semm very weak and unable to put up a good fight for the office of President. He is also a person that wants the U.S. boarders to be safe and to stop the drugs and human traficing going on and that would be a hudge plus if he runs.
In a few days we will know but I would bet he will run in 2012.
Jack, that may be the answer to your earler question. This country can't stand another idiot from Texas that does more harm than good! Obama may be having trouble with the Wack Jobs in the House, but at least he isn't Stupid! And we can throw the Tea Party off the ship!
You know, they call Dems, "Tax and spend Liberals weak on Defense"? We have the lowest taxes in history, Bush spent more than any two Presidents, and Obama gave a kill order on Bin Laden! They just can't deal with truth or facts!
Poisonous pedagogy has always been mankind's nemesis.
When are we going to get it that being religious has nothing to do with who someone really is, or how they will lead. We have no idea how religious this guy is or anyone else, all we have is what they display to us, and that doesn't even matter.
Virtue, morals, compassion, empathy, and any positive human emotion or act, again, has nothing to do with being religious or what religion one may be.
We must stop measuring someone's convictions and character with a religious yard stick, it just doesn't work.
Don't pray much, don't like republicans and don't think much of Texas. I guess the answer is no Jack.
Theoldman3240 Marathon Fl. keys
If you look up "Rick Perry" in a dictionary, you'd see "Charismatic, Patriot, Loves the same God as you". Everything that Obama was in 2008. Jack, Americans have short attention spans. That's why we end up electing another Republican every 4-8 years.
Nope.nufsaid . GO WI , vote the gop out. We in Ohio wil do it l this Nov.l
you have to be kidding. he would be a nightmare. remember the 8 years of bush that got us into this mess????????
Jack, I believe he would make a great president. Texas is a right-to-work state and that is why he has been able to create jobs. I undertstand his connection with the evangelicals, but who cares if he can create work for people. After all, that is our biggest need right now.
We need a change of attitude in the white house and Perry would be a positive shift in the current direction. The Dems like to demonize Bush but don't demonize all Texans.
Malvern,PA.
The answer to our prayers is an individual who has actual, clear ideas for solving today's problems, one who thinks for themselves and is not swayed by lobbyists, partisan wrangling, religious doctrine or special interest groups. If that comes in the form of a conservative Texas governor, so be it. But I don't think it does.
Jack like it or not America needs the rest of the world as much as it needs the American economy to be growing. Electing another tiny or closed minded little twit with a we are the greatest that ever existed attitude is the one thing America doesn't need. I vote conservative myself but there is absolutely nobody on the GOP ticket I would vote for. None of them are trust worthy. President Obama may be a bit of a limp noodle and more talk than action but you can trust him to try to do what he says he will do. He also acts on whats best for the American people or like said he tries to.
I understand that Rick Perry wears cowboy boots which say, Come & Get It! Great! He also packs. Trust me, the educational system here in TX has taken quite a beating under his leadership. Teachers have lost their jobs, supplies diminished, some teachers take early retirement just to save their pensions. Texas has the highest uninsured health care rate in the US. And he threatened secession upon the election of Barack Obama. I did not once vote for him for Governor. Nor would I vote for him to be President of my country!
they are the reason were in this mess in the first place
paul
maryland
It would be ideal in my thoughts to have a REAL Christian person as our president regardless of their party. But, most of the candidates that profess their Christianity using it to gain a political advantage are besetting their actual beliefs! A real Christian does not flaunt his religious beliefs but lets his service as a Christian show his service to his God and country!
Dan K
Owens Crossroads Alabama
I just love the short-term memory of the general electorate. When asked if he consults with his father, George W. replied that he seeks advice from a higher authority, namely God. You see where that got us. Either W. misinterpreted God's message or God wanted the US to learn a hard lesson. Maybe governor Perry has more sway with the Creator, but I'm not willing to throw the dice. I'm know I'm old-fashioned, but I keep remembering something about the separation of church and state. I guess that's just not fashionable any more.
the last religious republican governer we elected led us into two unfunded wars ,collapsed the entire global economy and opened a prescription drug donut hole that has us in the situation we are in right now
I pray to God that does not happen.
No. As the saying goes – Be careful what you wish for. I would think many Tea Party supporters are having "buyer's remorse" these days. Of course, the same could be said of many of the President's supporters. Religion is beside the point; we need sound, workable ideas. Those won't be coming from anyone's religious books.
I see west Texas in my rear view mirror and I don't especially like what I see. Politics with a religous face is scary, be it Alaska style, Minnesota style or Texas style, or an style for that matter. The party that preys together dosen't necessarily stay together.
NO!!! The answer to the prayers to those who still believe in God is elect someone who can answer a simple question. How is giving tax breaks to rich people going to create jobs? Help me out, if there are enough customers to create sufficient demand for a businesses products and services isn't this what creates jobs? So instead of asking Obama "where are the jobs" Republicans and Democrats need to change their rhetoric to "where are the customers."
Ask yourself, If businesses (large corporation) are laying off workers while making record profits and sitting on tons of cash and still not hiring, what good would giving them more money (tax breaks) do?
For 17% of "our", the answer is yes, for the other 83% the answer is "not so much".
Hmmm. Maybe he or Bachmann will be easier for Obama to beat than Romney. Great choices we have! When you come to a fork take it. Yuk.
Carol in Northampton, Ma
The last thing this country needs is another Uber religious LOON! Thanks but NO THANKS! We need Reality thinking people...with Real ideas to deal with REAL problems our country is facing...NO Imaginary entitys need apply.
Oh god!! I hope not!! If our "educated" voters, vote that idiot in, or even Palin or Bachmann in. I'm moving to Tahiti.......forever!!
Watching Perry is like playing back movies of old Westerns, watching a fancy Dan Snake oil salesman, making his pitch to the gullible!
Jack, we need this joker like we need another financial crisis. As for crediting him for the thriving Texas economy, that economy relies in great part on the oil industry and defense contractors, two sectors that are have not been hit by the recession. As for his prayer rally, the governor called for three days of prayer for rain back in April to help with the drought. That didn't work out too well, either. On second thought, maybe this is God's plans to get President Obama re-elected.
The Tea Baggers have just about pushed this country into third world status, and while that makes them exceedingly happy, it ruins the lives and futures for everyone else. Scarry Perry can pray all he wants, but I'm hoping American is done with Republicans for the rest of history.
Religious? The last Republican governor from Texas FAITHFULLY sought after WMDs. Conservative? The last Republican governor from Texas did not restrict Wall Street and allowed many scandals to occur. I guess we might as well give it a shot. The worst thing another religious, conservative Republican governor from Texas could do is create another recession.
Didn't God already talk to W when he was President? do you need any more of this? I can't believe, even the American majority of Republicans, are as dumb as that!!
Hell No!! He just wanted to succeed from the U.S.. Thats like me hating everything about the High School so much that I want to leave,, but then I put in to be its principal. Mentioning schools, he cut billions from the school systems which are making them sum of the worse in the u.s.
Jack,
All I can say is "Good Lord..."
Yes, he is the answer. Ok, so we get that you don't like the fact that he is a Christian Jack, but, what our country needs right now is job creation and Perry is the ONLY one who has proven he can create an atmosphere that is condusive to job creation. We currently have a President that had no experience. Lesson learned.
No. He got a "D" in Economics in college and the governor of Texas does not have the executive power of the governors of other states. The power is inj the hands of the Speaker of the Texas legislature. Prayers well not solve our problelms, only brains and wise decision making. Republicans aren't capable of that today (but used to be).
Well, if his prayers are answered and the current drought and heat wave are remedied, maybe. Maybe then I would back someone who claimed that prayer was the answer.
But personally I will select honor and intelligence over prayer, any day. After all, those who are terrorists, who hate us and our way of life, and who would love to kill us and destroy our country, pray ALL THE TIME!
Griswold, Connecticut
We can only hope that the next republican Texas Governor, such as Rick Perry belives in the same things as Michele. Such as turning homosexuals straight. Such having schools teach that the planet started 5000 years ago.
No it isn't, Jack. Anyone who runs for office on even the slightest hint of religious platform should be disqualified...which means there goes the Tea Party, right out the door. The separation of church and state should be more strictly enforced in all aspects of government including political campaigning, because our government is supposed to represent the interests of ALL the people...and ALL the people are not Christian. I am not Christian and would not vote for anyone running on any religious grounds, even if that religion was the same as mine.
A tea-vangelist in the White House?
No thanks.
Jim Bailey
Cripple Creek CO
The founders of your country wisely separated religion in your constitution but the Taliban wing of what was The Grand Old Party are just waiting for a devout leader to correct that error. Do you want to take that chance with Perry?
God save us from religious politicians.
Answer to our prayers? You just got sucked into the same trap Jack, thinking some elusive daydream called a prayer is actually realistic.
Pastor Perry has a bright future an a televangelist, not a president.
I live in San Antonio,Texas; consider myself very religious and conservative. However, I do not see Gov. Perry as the answer to our woes as a country. I never thought that I would not be happy with a Christian conservative candidate, but I don't want more of what we've had in the last 10 years. I don't see Gov. Perry bringing anything new to the table. He'll probably just stick with the party line and continue with "business as usual". I'm tired of the "no new taxes", "cut government spending" rhetoric that my party keeps spouting but never any real solutions to the growing problems of our nation!
I think I represent a growing number of frustrated conservatives that are not drinking the tea party "Kool Aid". I want a president that is willing to work with both sides to get the job done. A president that will not cater to one side or the other and who is willing to make their "party" angry by doing the right thing and not necessarily the poplar thing. Right now, the person I see doing that is our current Commander in Chief... and no I'm not a "liberal" in disguise. I voted for McCain, I just call it like I see it.
I understand there is no official "separation of church & state" thingy. And even politicians are allowed to have a spiritual side. Would you dare to ask such a question if he were Muslim or Buddist or whatever and did the same thing? I do hope he didn't make you attend. That would be bad.
tampa, fl i'd settle for an atheist that can read the constitution.
There are evil people who use religion, to their advantage, whether or not they truly believe. Just look at that last religious governor from Texas who became President. He and his Administration; lied, manipulated intelligence and the media(faux news),outed CIA agents. To invade a country and a people that had nothing what so ever to do with the Attacks of 9/11. Over a million innocent people were murdered, maimed, tortured, or lives were destroyed in the process of bring his own agenda to create the huge profits to Big Oil and the Saudis(his friends) in the Oil Business. By the way 15 of the 9/11 Hi Jackers were Saudi and so was Osama Bin Laden. That President also borrowed money to give to already enormously rich people while causing extreme hardships for the poor. I've read the Bible and I have my beliefs and faith in the Jesus part of it, when I witnessed the actions of the last religious governor of the state of Texas, I was able to deduce that he may have pretended to be religious, but he was guided by evil, for the most part. Rick Perry was appointed to governor, by that same last religious governor from Texas that became President. Now I wouldn't care if Rick Perry was religious and governor from Texas, my concern is, will the same evil that controlled the last religious governor from Texas that became President, be controlling the next. Is it worth the gamble ?
Mycroft -Lake Travis
Of course not. We do not dare offend anyone. We cannot mix religion with Government. What is he thinking.This is the NEW America... Really. Or are there 2 standards now
If we are praying for another unqualified Republican candidate, then yes. He is the answer to our prayers.
Americans may be that stupid, but I'm praying we don't see this happen.
After all the damage the last one did, I pray we do not elect another Texas governor as president of the United States. If Cheney gets to be Vice President again, I'm immigrating somewhere where there are no Republicans.
Jack; Anyone I've ever known who parades behind religion has much more covert objectives. Almost every tyrant has used religion to sway ignorant masses. Just look at the world today and a recent poll said Christians are the most ignorant about their religion.
Why not? He seems to have done a good job in Texas – Religion and values tend to go together – we need a lot of that in our country – and let's face it – anything is better than voting Present when we need a leader – I blame the mainstream media for putting on their blinders during the last campaign and thinking Obama & God were one & the same
Jack where I come from we put Politics first not your personal life. I mean I come from a city where We have a Mayor that is gay but we don't care. We want to know if he can get the job done. Religon is something personal, just like being gay is personal.
The main reason jobs are being created in Texas is because of their state tax structure with the ability to compete very favorably with job markets in other states. Also, it puts more money in people's pockets to spend on products which enrich company's profits so they can keep growing. Unfortunately, the country has huge expenses not found at the state level like social security and defense, so a conservative, low-tax approach to the federal budget will not work as easily without across the board cuts, and he will need to come to the middle and be open to revenue increases in order to solve this issue if he were to become the President.
John
Mesa, AZ
Jack – Rick Perry has the looks and charisma to be President. He also has the backing of the Religious fundamentalists, the Tea Party and many Conservative Republicans. His call to prayer was well staged and you couldnt find a Hollywood script any better for this guy. My Father told me to watch out for 2 things in life – "if it looks too good to be true than it probably isn't true and "if it looks like a rat, and smells like a rat, it probably is a Rat." Thats how I feel about Rick Perry.
I hate to say it, but when someone tells me they're a born Christian, I cringe. I know I'm talking to a hypocrite. The best Christian I ever met was a Buddist.
Good grief Jack, Another president from Texas? Are you serious? Not in a hundred years and that might be too soon. This man wants his state to secede from the union for crying out loud, and he now wants to lead the country he doesn't like? What's wrong with that picture?
Jack...Anarchy is JUST WHAT WE NEED HERE IN THE U.S. I think that Americans have simply fallen behind in that department. I keep wondering exactly what it is going to take to get Americans riled up enough to take it to the streets, simply to get out point across. There is class warfare going on here and If I had enough money to put gas in my car to get me to D.C. to make the point that "were not going to take it anymore" I would have been there yesterday..
Jack, it's odd that some republicans preach smaller government but have no problem invading and regulating our personal lives. There's a reason we are supposed to have a separation of church and state. I live in Texas so I can honestly say that everyone should just say No to Governor Goodhair.
Just what we need. Another Texas governor but with a lower IQ than the last one.
well when he was being re-elected he stated that Texas was in good shape...since he has been in office we've laid off multitudes of teachers due to poor budget management. there has to be a better candidate out there....or not.
In Texas the "Railroad Commission" provides state regulation of oil production.
Since WWII the Railroad Commission of Texas has seen to it that no oil company abandons an oil well without capping it. With experience, the capping over the years became more sophisticated and very expensive. However, capping keeps the black, clabbered oil and salt water from reaching the water table and the surface.
When George W. Bush became governor of Texas in 1994, oil companies began abandoning oil wells without capping them.
When George W. Bush appointed Perry goveronor of Texas in 2000, oil wells continued to be abandoned in Texas without capping.
I had a pretty little place in Texas that had oil wells abandoned without being capped under both Bush and Perry.
The black salt water reached the surface in several of the wells and sterilized acres. It cost me big time. It ruined some of the prettiest acreage.
I think what happened to the Railroad Commission under George W. Bush as governor of Texas was what happened to the Securities and Exchange Commission under George W. Bush as President.
If Perry is elected President, get ready to bail out Wall Street again.
Bush and Perry each cost me thousands, personally. I never have and never will vote for them.
Not in my country...In my opinion that is when our troubles began, 2000. This attitude that if we feed the rich they will trickle back...That isn't going to be believable in my neighbor hood any longer, The Republican tax cuts, the scare tactics have left me and mine bitter and disgusted with government . And if you look at the polls and back to the bailouts after the banks and mortgage robbers, All under the encouragement of the conservative religious right. Vote for God's side and and everything will be all right, HA! Fool me once and now after the Devils mischief, thanks but no thanks. I'm going with those who care for the widow, the poor, children and elderly. My good book says render unto government what is due, and to God what is due. So I voting with A Generous party who believes in those concepts..
Jack.....One has to wonder whether you guys are serious with these kinds of questions.
Correct me if I'm wrong, but didn't the Republicans (under Bush) drive the Bus off the cliff, and then hand the keys to the 'black' man and say "It's your turn to drive!"?
Then the Tea Party (worse Republicans) comes along and makes sure the U.S. credit gets downgraded.....and you folks are talking about another Texan?
You've got people with serious 'reality' problems (like Romney) trying to make Obama out as the culprit! How much of this kind of stupidity can the American people take? You'd think 'someone' down there would be happy that you have a President with such 'class' and intelligence......too bad there are so many of the opposite variety!
Richard/Canada
We are still in the caves of Iraq & Afganistan from the previous 8 years of DubU. Why in the world would we ask for more of the same.
Then, again, if you were one of the wealthy that got millions in rebates during that time period...there's your answer.
Oh, shoot me now and get it over with...
I just wish Perry would hurry up and declair Texas a sovereign nation. Let him be President of Texas. The rest of the nation doesn't hold water compared to Texas anyway now, does it?
Jack, the answer to our prayers is to elect a President who will lead rather than make speeches about how good things are going to be........somewhere down the road. That particular road seems to be never ending.
UUMMM......Do I really need to answer that??
Just the start of a new cycle.1.Run. 2.Get nominated. 3.Have a convention.4.Election. 5.Sit in the oval. 6.Get hell for all the stuff you
inherited.7.Tangle with Congress and get nothing done. Leave office.
8. Goback to religion
We saw what happened last time someone came out of Texas and how that turned out. One more thing, I love how people who consider themselves "Christian Evangelicals" when they are the first to cut social programs for the poor. Who want to abolish abortion, but cut funding for those single moms and schooling.
Jax, FL
Gov. Perry is good only with his rehearsed "Short Talking Points", but I like his twin brother better in the movie, Batteries Not Included . You remember the guy in that movie who's only lines were commercial quips like, "Never Leave Home Without It", "In GOD We Trust", "Good To The Last Drop", and his most famous line, "Batteries Not Included".
Jack, We need more then prayers to fix our economy and get us all jobs. AMEN!
Terence , NJ
I don't trust anyone who uses religion to gain votes or uses religion as a weapon against anyone who disagrees with him. Besides, Gov. Perry wanted Texas to secede from the Union and has run his state budget into a deep hole. Is this the best the GOP has to offer? Now if former Gov. Pataki or JC Watts entered the contest, that would be noteworthy. Until then, wake me when the 2012 election is over so I can send Mr. Obama a congratulatory email at the White House.
Only if you're a devout moron. I mean, I've always wanted to live in a Christofascist theocracy headed by someone who MIGHT have an IQ of 95, haven't YOU?
Jack,
Our politics of the last 10-20 years are making the world wonder if the US model works, with the last five years really bringing to the surface. Unfortunately, watching here at home it is making a lot of us voters wonder too.
A prime example of what is wrong in politics is demonstrated by Perry. Here is a man that invoked the memory of Abraham Lincoln, but advocated separation of Texas from the Union. Says he want a Christian nation, but appears to violate the golden rule and teachings of Christ. Says he believes in the Constitution, but advocates violations of its amendments and the war that was fought to keep it together. Yet he considers himself a viable Presidential candidate and apparently enough others also agree that some think he has a chance. Congress is currently filled with many who want to destroy government from within. By his own words, Perry would be a great President to head up that effort.
Perhaps you missed the politico poll on this last weekend, he doesn't stand a chance.
Jack lets mix politics with religion , Hallelujah jack .
It doesn't matter whether he's devoutly religious or not. It's a smoke screen. What matters is money – the money contributed by secret donors, corporations, fat-cat friends, and evangelical groups. Thanks to "our" Supreme Court, the floodgates are open even wider now. Until that stops, it doesn't matter what a candidate says about religion. Stop the flow of money, and we'll finally have candidates running for what they can do for Main Street USA and not the moneyed interests.
I've lived in this state since this guy became Governor. He's nothing more than an evangelical snake oil salesman.
Jack, there isn't enough space on this site for me to list my reasons
for saying........ NO.
Only if your praying for the Rapture.
Oh he'll no, not another one. Isn't one enough? It will take years to recover from the last one.
What did you put in your coffee this mornng to come up with this one?
Another Texas Republican is definitely not the answer. If we have learned nothing else, we now are very aware that if you are poor, middle class, disabled or retired, Republicans are not your friend.
(And Tea Party Republicans would like to send you to another planet.)
What is the basis of this sterotipical question? "Is another religious, conservative Republican governor from Texas the answer to our prayers?" Another Religious conservative? Do you mean someone with a purpose in life? Someone with values? Someone who will take the fight to the terrorist? Or do we need another liberal without a backbone unable to take a stand for anything? The only reason anyone is not "conservative" is because they are to weak to stand for the truth. Were any of our four father's liberal or "democratic"? Were any of Harvard's founder's none "conservative"? Those men were Genious and Christian Minister's and everyone seems to forget what they stood for. These are perhaps better question's to pose to yourself Jack before you start worrying about religion. It's not about religion sir, it's about fear of God the creator of this universe and the inspiration of the Holy Bible. Ask yourself one question before you question another man of God please. Where are you going to be when you die? Is God going to be pleased with what you are doing? Ignoring his word and questioning his people? Tommorrow is not promised and that's a fact Jack.
Well Perry is a 2 term Governer, in the countries second largest state. The Texas housing market hasn't gone in the toilet. There isn't as much unemployment in Texas as other states. There are actually help wanted signs and companies hiring. Roads are being built, public projects are going. We have a balanced budget. True he's had some issues, made some dumb moves, said a few embarrasing things, but compared to the WH an DC politicians in general they haven't really been that bad in comparision. He doesn't need to form committees to make up his mind and he talks pretty good without using a teleprompter.
God help us. We haven’t begun to recover from the last religious, conservative Republican governor from Texas. I don’t pray, but if I did, it certainly would not be to anyone who would give answers like that to my prayers. I couldn’t afford it. My children couldn’t afford it. And my grandchildren couldn’t afford it, especially now that the small fortune I planned on leaving them has almost been wiped out by that last one. And now the current resident of the White House is trying to make what little is left go poof.
Not the answer to MY prayers, f"shure. Perhaps God did tell him to run, like He told Bush to attack Sadam?
We are in real trouble, Jack m'boy. Well, anyhow Perry has nice hair.
Jack,
I have been a Republican since shortly after coming of age. I am now 49 years old. Recently, I changed my party affiliation to Democrat. I can not in good conscience continue to belong to a party that would take the last pill from grandma's medicine chest just to put even more money into millionaires, and billionaires pockets. Their ideology has become in a word "Despicable". I now apologize to all for ever having been a member of the Republican Party, and vow not to vote for any of them in the upcoming election – not for president, senator, member of the house, or even dog catcher!!!
Todd Baker
Sioux Falls, SD
Is this the best America and the Republicans can come up with, There will be a Republican elected the only question is who
No, we don't need Rick Perry.
What we should consider would be to elect unemployed people to replace all incumbents running in the next election. Perhaps then we will get government for the people, of the people and by the people and perhaps fiscal policy that stimulates growth, lowers unemployment and heads back to budget surpluses with excess funds used to pay down the debt.
Now that would be the miracle we need. Also, if every incumbent on both sides lose, then both parties would start listening to the voters instead of to others.
No Jack, Rudy Giuliani is. He can and would be President Obama, because he is a moderate. America doesn't need another George Bush. Texas is done in the white house for a long time in my opinion.
Absolutely not, Jack, especially considering that it was a religious, conservative, Republican govenor from Texas that got us in this mess to begin with.
Perry is the LAST thing we need. This is a govenor who wanted little girls to be forced to have the HPV virus vaccine. This is a govenor who wants women to be forced to have a sonogram and listen to the heartbeat before she can have an abortion. Hitler much? I live in Texas and the LAST person I want in office – presidential or otherwise. Didn't we learn enough lessons from the LAST Texan president we had???????????????
We sure do. I love a good laugh. Will having a self proclaimed religious zealot in office solve all our personal problems. What we need is a level headed house wife.
No Way!!!! In fact, my god told me not to vote for him!!!
Ann – Allentown, Pa
Praise the Lord another Christian is going to save this country,
I go to church on Sunday and put my dollar in the basket and look
at the mess this country is in.
I don't want any Christian want a be telling me they can run
the country as I get enough of the them on Sunday morning
on Television asking for more money so they can buy another
mansion or jet airplane.
Leave your religion at the door and just do whats right for
the common people.
I pray not.
Joe from Delray Baach, Florida
No, but since the American people chose to put a "Community Organizer" with a practically blank resume in the White House in 2008, does it really make one long spit of difference, Jack?
no –no religious idiots...Impeach Obama 1st...and no mormans or morans
Rick W. Perry needs to pray for rain. I don't trust anyone who wares their religion on their sleeve. He made a big fuss over not taking stimulus money from Washington, then he took it. That is how he balanced the budget. With our tax money. So who really balanced Texas' budget. He's been Gov. since 2000. How many times did he have a balanced budget? He more than doubled Texas' debt. From $13.7 million in 2001 to $34.8 million in 2009. On 1-23-2011 CNN Money reported that Perry balanced Texas' budget with stimulus money from Washington. He talks of treason like it is a badge of honor. Doesn't he know the Civil War started with secession? He may be the answer to pundits and comedians prayers, but he is no answer to our country's problem. He's part of it.
The answer to "our prayers?" Perhaps if you're among the Promise Keepers or the fundamentalist mega churches. Texas Gov. Rick Perry is the fundamentalists' wet dream.
I love AJ Miller's proposal for "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" when it comes to religion and politicians. And you know, for all the fuss that comes about when someone wants to take "Under God" out of the Pledge of Allegiance, I don't understand why we don't just take the whole part after "And to the republic for which it stands:" out of the pledge. Because it is apparent we aren't "One Nation," we sure as hell aren't "indivisible," one party continues to attack our "liberties," and "justice for all" simply means for all those who can afford the most expensive lawyers.
If I wanted to elect someone who is a republican, I'd sooner look forward to Ron Paul. Rick Perry is not going to help this country by "praying" anything away.
I really wanted to add something worthwhile but after your comments about us still being in therapy from the last one, all I can say is AMEN!!
Dear god almighty, NO, Jack.
Dear God, NO...
Jack Ever Hear of Separation of Religion and State? Ok you have! Next thing you know "God" is going to run for President and We will all have to Bow down and go on an holy Crusade against "un-pure" religions
I pray not...
No more religious texans please. I'm sick of crazy people.
Answer to our prayers? Only if we all plan on going to hell.
Dear God; no more presidents from Texas!
Cincinnati, OH
As I understand, Gov Perry has repeatedly called for Texas to secede from the United States and become its own independent nation. Now he wants to become president??!! Not on my vote!!
Hi. I don't know if Perry is the answer to our prayers. Obama certainly isn't. I would like to correct something you alluded to on the news today. Separation of Church and State isn't something guaranteed or provided for in the Constitution of the United States. The Constitution merely provided for freedom of religion.
Jack, in my opinion, giving another Christian a try in the White House could help end the Obama Trauma. C'mon, isn't it about time he starts taking responsibility for his own poor left wing decisions?
The answer to your question is "God" forbid!!
Jack, why not? The one we have now, who espouses Christianity, himself is not doing so hot now is he?
Let's see, Jack. Lyndon had Viet Nam. Bush had Iraq/Afghanistan. Surely we're not ready for another president from Texas.
I would vote for an Atheist before I'd vote for another member of the Religious Reich.
By your question we can then agree, Barack H. Obama is not a religious person?
It takes more than a right wing and a prayer to get to the Whitehouse.
We don't need another President telling us he's doing God's will. We need a President who will do what's right for the will of the American people. I thought we were past the separation of church and state? Obama has so far shown the most amount of religion I would like to see from our President.
Mr. Cafferty:
To answer your question in a word; Amen!
No!!! Just another Texan who wants to " catch 'em teerists"!!
You Betcha!
Perry / Palin 2012
You Ain't Seen Nothin' Yet!
Please God, PLEASE! NO MORE CONservative self-professing "christian" politicians from Texas for President. GOD HELP US
No, Jack, but they sure are to the comediens in the country, though...
-Stephen
Yarmouth, NS Canada
Absolutely not, we do not need a president who is going to run the country based on his religous views. Christian conservatives usually support other Christian conservatives, and ignore people who are different.
Jack,
He would not be my cup of tea!!! In fact I think I am through with tea
of all kinds!!!
Jack,
I say let him pray.
I don't know about you Jack, but I'm praying for an alien invasion instead.
Matt
Saint Augustine, FL
No. He just added one more to mine.
I live in Austin and am one of many here who are not fond of Perry. Another cowboy from Texas is NOT what this country needs!
America was founded on Godly principles and we need a Godly leader to lead our country.
Emphatically NO!!! I reject politicians who get their marching orders from an imaginary friend, and think that prayer does anything except waste time. To Gov. Perry: You pray for me, I'll think for you.
I am of firm belief that it was God's will that George W. Bush became President of the United States ... as a form of punishment.
Jack:
Don't be fooled Texas may be doing ok but not with the help from the good governers leadership. Not only do we not need another President from Texas but certainaly not one who for month publicy pushed the concept of sucession now he wants to lead the very country that he wanted to leave? Really now...
Houston, Texas
Perry and jobs – the wonderful job numbers are for minimum wage. Please God, take Perry out of Texas. I only hope that the rest of the country will see what he really is.
Dallas Texas
The answer is yes. I'm from Texas, and if Perry becomes the President, he no longer will by the Governor of Texas. Our gain is the country's loss!
The problem is that most of the GOP's presidential wannabes do not believe in the separation of church and state and all of them seem to believe that that means that America is a "Christian" country. Perry is just one of the republican 'in' crowd who believes in a version of the Constitution that the founding fathers would not recognize. They all seem to suggest that they believe in freedom but reality speaks loudly against that myth–they believe in freedom as long as you live the way they want you to live.
The country definitely does not need another religious zealot nor does the world.
Lord, please spare us!!
Sure – if we're praying for a total disaster.
I dont think obama has done a good job
Jack, C'mon;get serious. The stadium wasn't even half full! Relax.
I agree with you completely, Jack! LBJ was a disaster.
Yes... if you are praying to Satan.
Definitely not. One only has to live in Texas to know what kind of politician he is. Balanced the budget with federal money that was to be spent on education. All of the jobs in Texas are minimum wages and are here because of the gas drilling. He is a hypocrite and caters to the rich. If you think George W. was bad, he doesn't compare with Perry.
The Constitution guarantees freedom of religion but it has also been upheld by the Supreme Court that we have freedom FROM religion. I am praying that we don't have another sanctimonious career politician in the White House. Bush should do enough for the next 100 years.
Ya right. He will run up the debt and blame it on the democrat who takes his place. The sad thing is people will believe it just as they do now and blame the economy on Obama not the last texan who has the record for deficit increase.
Jack the answer to your question NO. But it doesn't matter who is president the rules are written to protect the rich and to protect their wealth and the rules are not going to change anytime soon. The top .01 percent have bought and payed for those rules if you don't believe me just ask your congressman.
You have phrased the question to provoke No answers.
My answer is anyone but Obama! His policies are killing us, can't you see?
At this time in our society, it doesn't matter who is in the White House, because everyone outside of the White House is being stupid. The answer to our prayers is the actions of opinionated and educated people who are currently not doing anything. Maybe all the talking heads on TV or just talkers on the radio could do something. People in the media seem to know so much. How about they stop scaring people and do some good?
Yes, because President Obama will certainly be elected again.
If he does to the US what he did to Texas, the debt ceiling crisis will only be a small bilp in our economic problems. Even with all the draconian economic cuts, Texas has a $21 Billion budget shortfall. Just think what he could do for the rest of us. Can you say $21 trillion?
No, Jack. We are still bushed from dealing with the aftermath of the last president that was governor of Texas.
So, Jack, you wave the usual straw man of the irreligious; separation of church and state. Does not Gov. Perry have the right as an individual to stand before a crowd of evangelical Christians and lead in prayer? Where's the constitutional problem?
I don't know that I want another Texas governor running the country, but it isn't because of his faith! I'm more interested in his policies. Will he take us on more war adventures? Will he expand government and borrow my kid's future to fund it?
Surely you don't object to the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King's work on civil rights do you? He was a minister of the Gospel and worked mightily to change government policies precisely because of his Christian convictions about the dignity of every person.
Nope! It is easy to create jobs when a State charges no taxes and then invites business from other state to move to their state. That is not creating new jobs! That is taking jobs away from other States!
I think we have had enough from the Lone Star state. After Bush I would vote for that state to leave the union. Please Texas keep your boys at home!!!!
As a christian conservative I have to answer a resounding NO! Please, if have to parade your faith. Something is missing from your walk with God. I am distrustful of a politician who does this, you shouldnt have to announce it. your record should reflect it your life should announnce it.
We cannot let the right wing to get another texas governor into office again. We simply cannot afford it. What we need is to not look to the people in power for results, but look to ourselves. We the people means something in this country, we, with enough of us can get what we want done in this country, its our country to decide for. Not the right wing, they're un American.
Most certainly not. We don't need a president who believes a balanced budget can only be achieved through major cuts to education. I would know; I'm going into my first year of college this year, and I'm on financial aid. My class is the first class to not have state grants because of his cuts to education. He is not good for the future of America.
I am from Texas, I am a Christian and Absolutely No, No, No! Please No!
Unbelievable how so many "patriots" continue to pander to unification of church and state. This is surely a sign of the discord in the perceived values of what our great country is all about. After all, isn't that at the center of Radical Islam – Church + State ?
If we continue to go this way, pretty soon wearing miniskirts might become outlawed.
Then we will surely need God's help !
If you put all of the republican candidates together you still have a band of fools. There is always room for one more.
This country does NOT need religion in politics. Religion in politics is why the this country is not focused on what it should be focused on: unemployment, debt, health care, etc. What religious beliefs a presidential candidate has should not have any precedence over their ability to lead, the ability to solve problems, forge through adversity... put Americans back to work, take American out of debt... that should be the focus placed on presidential candidates.
No, Jack, it is not. In a time of political, economical, and social unrest, which are secular, we need secular leadership. This is not about religion. It is about the future of America. We must work together to get all these issues solved. Praying is standing idly by. Not active changes and progress.
You said it well. We have still unresolved consequencies left behind by presidents from Texas, like vietnam and iraq and debt ridden economies to boot. Let's see what ekse the country has to open before we switch to a presidentuak committe form of government.
Heck No! Are conservatives really that blind that they want to return to a far-right winger? This Tea Party, with it's blind arrogance, caused us to lose AAA because they couldn't accept 2 cuts for every 1 tax increase...and now they think putting one in charge will be good for our country?
America needs an upsurge of moderate independents to take a serious number of seats in the House, pragmatic independents that will make hard difficult decisions rather than fly a 'birther' flag.
ABSOLUTELY NOT Jack!! Answer to our prayers??? It will be the ultimate nightmare. We don't need another Religious Right nutcase from the one star state to continue the Neocon agenda that Junior started. I thought that Jesus said in no uncertain terms that if you want to pray, you can do it in your closet and that public prayer was for hypocrites.
Texas' economy is growing because of oil & gas not, Rick Perry.
He's going to do the same thing that any Republican does.
More money for the rich taken from the incomes of the middle class & poor.
So....do we rate leaders on their home state or religious beliefs? Or...do we make a judgement based on performance? The last time it was based on curb appeal, the media loves the current pres. howz that worked out?????
That depends, Jack, on who you pray to.:
Whether you pray to heaven or to the nether regions.
Wouldn't bother me. Jack, do you have to be an atheist to post, here?
The last thing this country needs is an executive in the White House who leads based on astrology, intuition or faith. Enough idiots still believe in the voodoo mechanism of "trickle down economics"/enrich the job "creators" (even though cash is liquid and there's no reason to think they wouldn't maximize profit by shipping their investments overseas - that's capitalism after all) that having one who seeks legislation based on his personal faith instead of the law of the land and the Constitution is just one more reason to downgrade our credit rating.
Above all, I'd hate to have a leader who would start a war because "God told me to", or in his misplaced attempt to make (his interpretation of) Scripture become true.
Our deist founding fathers separated church and state because they knew there weren't enough checks and balances in our system to deal with that, nor was a theocracy what they had in mind. I'm pretty sure a person of Perry's ilk doesn't have any interest in being checked or balanced when they act in the public and legislative spheres based on their personal and faith-based beliefs.
Nothing scares me more than fundamentalists of any religious persuasion. We don't need a Bible thumping evangalist as President. It means a reversal of the progress we've made in equal rights. I think the separation of Church and State is what made our country great
Jack,
I certainly hope that Governer Perry does not get the nod to continue on this escapade for the presidential nomination.
He is "ultra conservative". I would be very happy if he would no longer be the Governor of Texas..... however it would be totally wrong for him to "force" his "small minded" ideas on the entire country.
Well he sure can't do any worse than the liberal we have in office now.
Voted for Bush four times. Worst day of my life? Becoming a teacher shortly after Perry became governor. As an evangelical, it's embarrassing for a man who claims to be a Christian to make sweetheart deals for cronies on roads to no where, while CHIPS and AFDC payments are shredded. Rick Perry is a joke in Texas to all but the very rich. Please God America, if you want to vote for a Texan vote Ron Paul.
Texas has a $25B budget deficit..not a balanced one. It's attempts to balance it have cut thousands of teachers jobs. Texas has the highest number of residents without medical insurance, All of the new Texas jobs are at very, very low pay. Who needs more of that!
I'm living in Dallas the past 29 years. I wouldn't put another texan in the whitehouse if they were running against themselves. I can't recall one president out of texas that has left this country in good shape as they left office, can you?
How can anybody that considers seceding from the United States run for president of the very country he wants to secede from? He is a complete moron and a disgrace to the great state institution he attended (of which I also graduated from). If he were president S&P would downgrade the US again, because he would once again increase and extend the Bush tax breaks for the "job creators" causing us to go further into debt. A big part of the reason we were downgraded is because there is not enough tax revenue being generated to cover the debt incurred by fighting two wars and covering the banks lack of diligence that was allowed to occur due to deregulation and "less government". No jobs would be created by them and the money they gain from the tax breaks would not be pumped into the US economy, but instead spent and invested elsewhere. This is no different from what happens with the breaks they are getting now. Like Rich from McKinney said above, he has also destroyed our education system which is despicable.
Please, please no, republicans are using religion as a divisive factor as they know a majority of us are steadfast religious freaks as this is some thing we are born into and this leads to brain washing, we are at war with "terrorism" (but they have made it into a war against Muslim religion as this they know is a highly volatile topic). These republicans are slowly erradicating the middle class by saying we're Christians with christian values when they're values are more money for the wealthy less for the middle and hopefully turn the middle class into the under preveleged. If you come on a ticket of religion please leave, come on a ticket of jobs for Americans, and please have a proven record of that, not talking of what U'll do in the future but never done in your career.
Although being a Christian is not a negative aspect, I really do not care where the next president actually comes from, nor do I care about what party he or she represents. If you can find one that is a real leader and honest, then I am all for that candidate.
Please find him or her.
I dont think it would hurt that governor perry could lead this nation to prosperity instead of a bunch of unanswered promises and a double recession. Yeah the first one was not his fault but what about this next scareof possible of recession again. What are going to do borrow more from china to spend our way out of debt again? You can't keep blaming bush that story was so last year. Right now and candidate is better than the current one we have. You may not believe in God but we need a president who does!
I am a Christian and am tired of people trying to use Christianity as their primary qualification to run for any office. The only reason that Perry would be good as a candidate is that he might take our Kansas Governor to D.C. with him. Gov. Brownback was the only governor to go to Perry's meeting. If they run together, we can get rid of a poor governor and, hopefully, they will up Obama's chances to win reelection.
Jack – Regardless of a person's religious preference, what we need in the White House and DC is a leader and someone who can govern. I'm not sure if Perry is the right guy but I would like a third choice who is not a Rep or Dem. How about an Independent? Now I get to choose between Dumb and Dumber. The two party system does not allow the American people to truly choose. We have to choose between the lesser of two evils and this hasn’t worked too well over the last 20 years.
News for the republicans. The only way I would vote for a republican will be if they promote a true centrist who has a proven, many year successful career who does not claim to be told by god to run, evangelcize or crusade. I don`t see that happening in my lifetime and I am mid 50's.
Perry most definitely does not meet any of those criteria and neither does anyone in stable of republican candidate or pretty much any in office today.
Jack the reason the economy is thriving in Texas is because no one watches out for the environment while this horrible fracking goes on day and night. The rich land owners do not seem to care that their water is being polluted and the ground under them is being destroyed. This is one example of many reasons the economey is "good" in Texas. Lack of environmental control so big money can be made,,,,now is this Christian???? to rape and plunder the land that God gave us to care for! Do you want a leader who has no regard for the land? The last Christian from Texas was the same. Look out!!!!
What difference does it make Jack? We thought Hope and Obama could save America from it's troubles of unemployment, unpopular wars, terrorism. Are we any richer, safer, at more peace? Definately not....we most likely need someone who believes in something more than Hope but in something real like God...someone like Rick Perry...God save America.
I personally have not wasted my time praying the country will get fixed. Ive been doing the rational thing and have made every effort to vote out of office every entrenched,special interest,job for life boat anchor I possibly can. So I would have to say no to your qustion.......Rick Perry isn't the answer for anything other than the phone at his house.
George
Chester,Ct.
We came to the end of one long national nightmare just over two years ago with another Texan using his god as an opportunity. The last thing we need is another more rabid Texas governor who uses does the same thing...rather than a way to live your life.
As for your comment about 40% of the new jobs being in Texas...almost all of them are minimum wage jobs. You have homeless shelters housing the homeless and the working poor of these 40% new jobs in many of these shelters. The reason is that the workers can't make enough at their job to afford housing.
I live in Texas. Yes, we had had job growth but most of those jobs have been minimum wage. We are now tied with MS for minimum wage jobs. Kerry managed to balance the budget in 2009 USING STIMULUS MONEY FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT. Now, the state is having to slash funding to education and a lot of other programs and services to try to balance the budget. Texas is suing the EPA because it doesn't want to clean up its air! We have a high poverty rate and we rank the highest in those that do not graduate high school. Teachers and other public employees are losing their jobs and the legislature just passed a law to make it harder for minorities and students to vote. The state is in a mess. I have lived here all my life and have seen the state go down since Perry became governor. Yes, the state is good for business...our legislature doesn't believe in rules for business. But it is bad for people.
Yes Jack, maybe it is time to turn to God – let's just hope it's not too little to late. Actually i don't really care who runs for President. After the recent debacle in Washington, they only proved one thing for me, and that is to convince not to ever step in a voting booth again unless my names on the ballot. I'm sick of the games of politics, really sick. I'm done. Let us pray the rest of the people in our great nation that will continue to exercise thier constitional right to vote, gets it right for the rest of us.
Lu, sickof it all in Pittsford, NY
I'm from Texas and I haVe three words, "Please God, NO!