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BURLINGTON, Iowa -- It's a very Perry Christmas in Iowa.
On his final day of campaigning before the holiday break, Texas Gov. Rick Perry visited the press bus -- decked out by its road-weary journalists with colored lights -- to wish reporters traveling with him a Merry Christmas.
He shared how he likes to celebrate Christmas morning by videotaping his children (now ages 25 and 28) getting out of bed and opening gifts, a tradition that he joked has gone from charming to charmingly "lame" as his kids have aged.
"Here's what they hate. Because I take my video camera out, and I video them in bed. And they're pulling the covers over their head. And it's like 'C'mon Dad, I'm grown, would you cut it out?' I have them from every year -- like from when they were itty bitty, two or three years old getting up, going in to look at the Christmas tree."
By now, he jokes, the response from his children is less enthusiastic than when Griffin and Sydney Perry were still at the age of having sugarplums dancing in their heads. "It's kinda like 'Dad, you are so lame.'" he said.
But, Perry added, "I think they would be disappointed if I didn't" carry on the tradition.
Some of the other holiday facts the presidential candidate shared:
-- His wife Anita's gift is a "nice bag" that she picked out (their deal is that she picks, he pays, so he hasn't seen it yet). His gift from her remains "a big secret."
-- His favorite Christmas movie is "It's a Wonderful Life" (because of its portrayal of small community banks)
-- His family's favorite Christmas album is one recorded by Clay Walker (also the artist who performs Perry's campaign song "We're All American")
-- Dinner in the Perry household will be "turkey and dressin'" with a dessert of black cherry Jell-O with cream cheese topping
-- They will attend Christmas Eve service at Lake Hills Church in Austin
Perry said he won't be able to make the drive out to his hometown of Paint Creek this year to see his aging parents, although he plans to visit his in-laws in College Station, TX.
But his family understands that this holiday season isn't exactly like Christmases past, he said.
"They know this year's kinda different."
Leave a Comment:
Okay Ricky, why not celebrate Christmas back in Austin? Don't you have a state to run or something? The least you could do is be there once in a while just to make it look good. Actually since your are such a dud you should stay there and all of America will have a very Merry Christmas and an extremely happy new year. Except for Texas, of course because you'd be back.
But his family understands that this holiday season isn't exactly like Christmases past, he said.
"They know this year's kinda different."
Gov Opps it is nice to know the Ghost of Christmas Past visited. Just be careful, when Santa drops down the chimney he may have the elves put back in your cage, You have been very naughty calling people homophobic names, and lying about SS.
You think that was bad, you should see Scott Walker's sappy Christmas "blessings" ad. Here's a person who has devastated so many people's lives on behalf of tax cuts for corporations, yet has the audacity to talk about "blessings."
Beverly, I agree, these jagoffs deserve only a clump of coal (and not clean coal, because no such thing exists yet) -- especially Perry and his Big Oil connections.
I'm sorry, but am I the only one who finds this to be just plain CREEPY?
Feisty Redhead..........It all depends were you want your head to be!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
@MICHAEL
I was born in TX, but pal Gov. oops needs to go home. He used to be entertaining, now he is causing real damage in Texas politics.
Now I'll freely admit I have an eye for remembering goofy things often times looked over, but the "portrayal of small community banks"...really?
I will also have to confess that yes, videotaping 20 somethings getting out of their beds on to open gifts is a bit too much information.
You want to change Washington, but you're content to leave in place the "tradition" of sticking a camera in the face of 30 year olds wearing drawls and a t-shirt. Seems like you're not as much into change, no matter how much something should be. lol
Perry will not be the right's nominee. Why even write an article about him?? He isn't going anywhere.
Youd prefer they run a story on the vice president declaring the Taliban our BFFs? Don't hold your breath.
Earlier this week, the crew, along with an assortment of other "professional journalists" we're invited to the White House for coffee. There and then, they were given their narrative for this year- find and report anything embarrassing they can about republicans- but, most importantly, even if Obama or Biden commit first degree murder, DO NOT REPORT anything negative about this administration. Period. Or, no more coffees at the White House.
It is to this that the Fourth Estate has been reduced- sniveling lapdogs for a failed administration.
It would be nice of Santa brought them back their ethics- but somehow, I doubt even he could penetrate the haze of Obama worship in which they are enshrouded.
Seasons Greetings nojo! May the joy and happiness of the season be with you and yours!!!!
Want some proof of their following their marching orders?
http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/politics/2011/12/boehner-asks-white-house-to-negotiate-but-obama-declines-invitation/
So, Boehner asked Obama to get involved, to end the stand-off- and Obama said "NO".
Who wants to use this as a political football?
And why hasn't this bit of "politics" made it onto this "political site"?
Obama has one goal and only one goal -- saving his own hide.
The country mistakenly elected a political hack and now we are all paying for it. Just wait until he let's the bush tax cuts expire and obamacare starts to take effect.
" but, most importantly, even if Obama or Biden commit first degree murder, DO NOT REPORT anything negative about this administration."
Gosh, and it seems like just yesterday they were just strangling puppies on national tv again - now it's first degree murder!
I'm gonna go out on a limb here and guess that someone hasn't deemed it an "appropriate" time to display some Christmas spirit yet, huh?
Well, okay, then - Happy First day of Winter, everyone!
Seasons Greetings, JoAnne---your avatar is especially appropriate on this thread right now.
Note to all journalists who may browse here-----a cup of coffee at the White House awaits you all if only you would jump on the Obama bandwagon. What utter nonsense---No Joe has topped even herself and has reached a new height of inane comments.
Say, Steeler Fan: do you suppose it would rock poor no jo's dismal little world to know that Bush invited conservative "journalists" to the White House?
White House Soiree: Boortz, Hannity, Gallagher, Medved and Ingraham reportedly invited to meet with Bush at the White House. Media Matters: 9/18/07.
Limbaugh was invited too, but had prior committments.
Or is no jo too enshrouded in President Obama hatred to take that in?
Thanks, Steeler Fan! Trust me, the whole song will be on permanent re-play all day tomorrow!
Newday - Speaking of being enshrouded in a haze.....
NoJoe: "So, Boehner asked Obama to get involved, to end the stand-off- and Obama said "NO". Who wants to use this as a political football? And why hasn't this bit of "politics" made it onto this "political site"?"
Okay, I know I have a bad case of "selective reading", and I've been told that my reading comprehension skills are somewhat lacking, so could somebody else please verify that the following does in fact appear on the "A break in the payroll tax cut standoff thread" thread that appears right before this one?
"This morning, Boehner's office says he called President Obama to urge action on a one-year extension, but president Obama declined."
It goes on to quote Boehner's letter and the White House response, and there are a couple hundred comments on the thread. Including some from New Jersey! Maybe First Read should have run it twice like they did with First Thoughts this morning? :)
Good one, JoAnne.
I didn't think it was possible!
Sadly, her & her little black heart manages to prove me wrong!
Oh my gosh, please say it isn't so. Video tape the grown children opening their gifts, fine, but going into their bedrooms--that's just weird. If I were those kids, I'd lock the door and move the dresser in front of it just in case Dad Perry remembers his house key could unlock it.
He needs to ask God, in a prayer of course, if he should continue this kid-bedroom raiding practice, or if it should stop. As he said yesterday, he makes so many mistakes, he only takes his marching orders from a higher power.
Dear Texas, how embarrassing for you!
ideology,
(wink, wink) your prey has arrived. Must be the Texas embarrassment has appeal.
Oh my. Oh my. Oh my. I will say, no I can't say that. I will just stick with, oh my.
Got up, got something to drink, the article is still here. Not my imagination. Oh my.
...and loving it! I can see it now the Perry's White House Family Christmas...
...as they gather solemly, yet joyfully, around the N___Head rock out front, 'Santa Hats' perched atop their little, precious heads....
I personally don't wish serial murderers a Merry Christmas. Or powerful people making immoral amounts of money by trashing good American companies and sending American jobs overseas.
And on this blessed observance of the birth of Jesus, please remember that Jesus was a socialist, and that he was killed because he upset a bunch of bankers.
Wow VietNam Vet: Excellent, thought provoking point. Thanks for your service. A very merry Christmas to you!
It pays to read the bible carefully. And having traveled the world - both in service and in corporate life -I must say I am appalled at the number of morally degenerate and ignorant people living here in America.
Vet:
You live here too. I guess that makes you part of the ignorant class.......
@IntheMiddle:
It is amazing to me how quickly righties lose their moral compass when addressing someone who dares disagree with them. I saw your lot boo a marine who completed 2 tours in Iraq because he is gay. Now you mock Vet, because he notes how many Americans are at odds with the teachings of the very book they claim to live by. Do you give a reasoned counter argument? No you resort to the toddler tactic of "you too".
When the right learns to debate, free of personal invective, they might find their purpose. Currently, they embarrass their country and ideology.
Gee, that ranks right up there with the Romney family story of tying the dog to the roof for a long car trip.
Those Republicans sure have a different way of expressing their family values!
Steeler Fan: I know what my cherubs would do in a case like that. They would get up earlier, bring the video camera to catch us getting up.
Odd the Perry children don't do that. Wait. Look who I am talking about.
Thank goodness we don't have to see video of Mr. & Mrs. Perry in bed----that would be too much!
Happy Holidays to you & yours, New Day. So glad you are back!
Thanks Steeler Fan, same to you!
Here's a novel idea--how about going to the houses of ORDINARY people and finding out how they celebrate Christmas and the other holidays??? Just sayin...
Mrs. Perry: Ricky, dear, would you pass those mashed potatoes?
Rick: (drops huge bowl of mashed potatoes on wine glass of person sitting next to him, causing all of the above to fall into her lap) "Oops."
who is RICK, i thought it was katy perry