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SIOUX CITY, Iowa -- With less than 48 hours to go until the Iowa caucuses become fodder for the history books, Texas Gov. Rick Perry says that the "marathon" of the presidential race is actually just beginning.
"This is the first, let's say, mile one of the marathon," Perry said during a Caucus Eve appearance in Sioux City. "I've run a marathon before. I felt great at mile one. As a matter of fact I felt pretty great at mile 17 and 18. At mile 21 you kinda start hitting that wall a little bit. And we'll see who's still running at mile 21."
"I finished my marathon," asserted Perry, an avid runner who says he tries to lace up his track shoes at least four times a week. "And I expect to finish this marathon as well."
The argument continues a case that the campaign has been making privately to potential supporters but that Perry himself did not publicly assert until this morning: that Perry's campaign -- unlike socially conservative rivals Michele Bachmann and Rick Santorum -- has the nationwide infrastructure and fundraising ability necessary to go the distance and win the GOP nomination.
The campaign hopes that his 1,500 Iowa precinct captains and throngs of out-of-state volunteers will help boost the candidate above the fourth or fifth place finish predicted in recent polls. Exceeded expectations could remind disappointed supporters of the organizational and financial muscle flexed by Perry's campaign before a series of poor debate performances tempered his brief status as the campaign's frontrunner.
The candidate was introduced Monday by onetime presidential hopeful Steve Forbes and was joined by a throng of Texan lawmakers and supporters in addition to about 100 Iowans at a rustic hotel festooned with taxidermic creations.
Perry, who yesterday appeared publicly only for a brief visit toa West Des Moines church, exhibited renewed energy Monday as he echoed past swipes at rivals Rick Santorum and Ron Paul.
"I understand what pork-barrel politics is all about. I scratch your back, you scratch mine," he said of Santorum, whose past earmarking is also the target of a new web ad by the campaign. "That is not conservative governing, That is fleecing America and it's gotta stop."
But, as usual, Perry saved his harshest language for the man whose job he's eying.
"America, on the cusp of bankruptcy?" he asked incredulously. "Because [Barack Obama] truly believes if you print enough money that you'll create jobs. And we will expose him for the fraud that he is every day," he said. "I look forward to the opportunity."
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at a rustic hotel festooned with taxidermic creations.
How fitting, cause these Republican candidates are some pretty odd birds and strange animals, and they are going to get stuffed.
Amy,
Best comment, best definition. Bound for the Webster's Ilustrated.
heh heh heh
Are they playing
Twist and Shout. They all seem twisted to me.
Please, Please stay in it Rick! The circus must continue!
Tex Dufus, the guy that is ready to go the distance could not even get himself on the ballot in Virginia.
Perry may have the money but not the mental capacity to go anywhere.
The problem with all the Losers staying in the race is that Romney could win the nomination with only 23% of the vote. Anyone but Romney, please!
Rich Perry just dosen't get it. Thats because hes thick, just like every other candidate thats ever come out of texas. I will never ever vote for someone from texas and I will never vote for a republican. I want my children to live by these guide lines also unless something drastically changes, which I doubt ever will. People that vote republican are cutting their own throats and sure, theres some thick headed ones out there that still will. It looks to me like the repubes will sacrifice Santorum this time. Flip-flop Mitt wasn't good enough the last time and McCain lost big time to the President so Mitt wouldn't have a chance again this election. I figure since Santorum dosen't have a chance either but since he has no political future either, they will toss him out as their sacrifice this election. He's shameless and that makes him perfect for this election. He gets his cookies off, thinking he's actually a valid candidate and theres no big loss to the repubes making him the sacrifice lamb. Roomney just won't cut it and maybe even do worse than Santorum, but they dont care for Mr. Flip-flop because he's a cult member. So he's out and then theres Rich Perry, lol, how funny him even thinking he has a chance yet. I'm not even going to comment on him, thats just wasted words there.
And that brain surgeon we have in there now is is doing the job?
Democrats screw up everything by giving away everything to all the other democrat losers who have there greedy, little non working, non producing (except for children they can't afford to feed)hands out!!!
We are in the shape we are in now because of the low life, immigrant democrats blleding and abusing the system dry.
Wake up America, you use to give a damn!!!
Why are you all so excited about Obama when HE is the one that SIGNED the NDAA? YOu know, the ones allowing American citizens to be INDEFINITELY DETAINED?
Ypu mean that bill...
That he promised to veto if those questionable provisions were in it, they were and he broke his promise again and SIGNED IT! His only concern with it was the Army CID getting in the way of the FBI...
The only one who can beat OBAMANATION is Rick Perry. Newt cannot do it (Hold 'er Newt, she's headin' for the barn); Romney cannot do it (was he born in Colonia Romney in the States of Sonora or Chihuahua, Mexico? - the old Mormon polygamists colonies there); Bachmann can't do it (the only thing the tea party will do is split the GOP vote); Paul can't do it (never was a strong candidate); Cain could have, but he got a "head"ache; so let's quit pussy-footin' around and get with Perry. He can do it.
Yo Amy - The American people have already been stuffed. It is terrible to have an unqualified person elected as president by a coalition of minorities, queers, abortionists, illegal aliens, uneducated youth, and the liberal communist/socialists. This terrible election does not represent the land mass or the population of the U. S. Think about it and try to imagine what is going to happen in the next election - not just for president, but for the congress as well. Kagan and that other new lady in the Supreme Court will both be impeached. Republicans will win the majority in both houses of congress. OBAMANATION will not even come close to winning, even if he is opposed by the dog catcher of Podunk, Alabama or that little town in Alaska.
This clown doesn't have a clue ..that America doesn't trust or want him !
Rick... read our lips .....NO NEW TEXANS !
Perry ready to run the distance, just don't ask him to walk and talk at the same time.
BTW: that's "no Newts or Texans."
..... or anyone named Bush ........ the country wouldnt survive another one.
So, Perry's newest strategy is to win by losing one state at a time. Apparently the 21st primary he loses will be the one after which he admits what we all know now.
Amazing the level of delusion you must posses to run for president. Rick Perry has zero chance of being the Republican nominee. He stumbled out of the gate, was done in by his own lack of intelligence and campaign flubs, and has enjoyed no traction in the weeks since he fell from the top of the pile. Perry may buy a few votes in Iowa and South Carolina with a campaign war chest made up of the fortunes of his political cronies, but he will not do much beyond that. Time to move on from this Texas loser... http://www.sunstateactivist.org
fascinating your thoughts on someone having a "zero" chance of being a candidate. lets take a look back 4 years ago and ascertain how many democrats had a "zero" chance:
How about Mike Gravel? Dennis Kusinich? Christopher Dodd? Joe Biden? Bill Richardson? and maybe throw in John Edwards.
How many of these guys had a legitimate shot -- none of them. so i guess you would agree that they were also delusional!
Spoken by someone who cannot spell nor has any clue about what's happening in Washington with THE WORST PRESIDENT EVER!! He is worse than Jimmy Carter and by God, that's saying a lot!!
Have you read any american history?
@james, Mickey Mouse could of won after Dubya destroyed the repubes. All those people you mentioned could of won, even Edwards after his affair.
joe -- after we had to put up with clinton shaming the presidency because he cant keep it zipped the democrats probably would support white trash like edwards.
Worse President ever? Heck, he hasn't even opened his mouth to show just how dumbed down the average republican is at this point. Really, he doesn't need to. They are doing a very good job as it is. Did you know that the less education you receive, the more job opportunities open up for you? You might have to work 2-3 part time - 50 hour a week positions offered up by the republican corporate world as they attempt to replace their under the table, illegal immigrant workers with real honest to god citizens eventually but by jesus if ya work them private contractors, " the new republican terminology for part time workers", hard enough and they don't get sick, they just might even make the minimum wage mark by the end of the year and the republicans are even trying to make reaching this mark an even easier goal by wiping out minimum wage laws so this goal will become more easily attainable for the average citizen.
James
Amazing how much you cared about 'keeping it zipped' until:
Larry Craig
David Vitter
Mark Foley
Newt Gingrich
Bob Livingston
Mark Sanford
Strom Thurmond
(I can give you well over 100 more...then we can start on the Pedophiles if you like)
Republicans spent Tens of Millions of Dollars trying to get Clinton, for all that money they found out men like BJs and don't like for everyone to know about it. Hell I could have told you that. For Free. For $50 I can tell you were to get one!
Oh and that two of their own who were the loudest to attack (The lady doth protest too much) were hypocrites and cheating too.
How in the world does Perry think he can run the rest of the gauntlet considering the number of times he has wiped out in the "first mile"? Thank goodness for his pearly-white direct line to GOD telephone - as he said, he needs to pray often because of his constant trip-ups.
Politicians are, by their nature, self aggrandizing and delusional. In some ways, to run for President of the United States, you have to make yourself believe that more people like you than really do. If you show the slightest sign that you don't believe that, you are toast.
Rick supporters have PAC money to spend. Gotta spend it.
A stumble bum uses a marathon metaphor, a liar cries while talking about his honest mother, a Christian hypocrite declares herself biblically qualified, a Libertarian liberally denys his own anti liberty and anti equality statements, a former ambassador won't even visit the state, and a Catholic talks about problems that don't exist.
Have I entered an alternate Universe again where everything is the exact opposite of what it purports to be?
And an egotistical a%#hole is now President......lol
Yep, there it is, further confirmation, I am in an alternate Universe!
Still too early to write this bozo off. He's still capable of pulling a win out of his a$$ in South Carolina. Major difference between Perry and Santorum is that Perry will win his home state in a national election against Obama while Santorum will get blown out in his home state. Perry would likely carry a number of Southern states as well. This has to carry some weight with the far right. Romney can not count on far right votes to get to the White House; his surest path includes winning the independent and conservative Democrat vote, votes Perry could care less about.
Love the Marathon Man comparison. You've got to wonder if he ever suffered from jock itch and used Tiger Balm as a treatment.
Disagree. Perry is done.
Yep Perry may take Texas in a General election, but so will every other Republican. Similiar for the Southern States too. It is the states that Mitt Romney can take that makes the race interesting. For example, Michigan, Massachusetts and maybe even NJ with Christy as a running mate! Now that would really hurt the democrat big spender, deficit rocketing, job destroyer on the other side.
Correction, the job destroyers are to the right.
They are going to give it to Santorum, the guys shameless and can't win, but neither can anyone of the other ones. So this gets Santorum out of the picture in the future, its going to be an embarassing outcome for Santorum or any other one so they sacrifice Santorum. The vote will be so onesided that its not even going to be funny, Santorum will concede about 3pm. They'll close the polls around 5pm. Right now Santorum is riding high thinking he has a chance, but hes a sacrifice. He's actually started wearing depends right now. He can't control his bowels and he's getting wet just thinking he's going to be the new president. But the shameless part to Santorum, he's thinking he's just like Reagan since he started getting a little attention lately and relieving himself in his pants. Yeah, I bet he takes South Carolina and he's the one. I can't wait for the debates with him and Obama. Thats going to even be better then these primaries. Beautiful. I do have to give them credit for coming to their senses and sacrificing Santorum, to save fate in the repube party. Hey this country can use a good laugh.
I wouldn't count Perry out. Good gwad!, these candidates rise and fall like ass pimples. He may yet become the nominee. Remember, this is the republican primary. If enough puss can be uncovered committed in his past, to justify his new relationship with his personal savior, He will have a good chance to win. Debating ability, qualification, and Virginia be damned.
As they speed through the caucus the votes go down.
The candidates get up, and get out of town.
Iowa is empty except for one man,
Still driving and striving as hard as he can
The sun has gone down and the moon has come up,
And long ago Romney left with the cup,
But he's driving and striving and checking the polls,
And thinking of Obama against whom he still trolls.
He's going the distance.
He's going Perry.
Sincerest apologies to Cake.
Well out of any of them it's Perry for me. I can't stand flip flopping fake Romney. I will never ever vote
for him. So it maybe a third party for me if he gets the GOP.
Yes I thnk you definitely need a true conservative running third party....can I be of any assistance getting that off the ground for you.
Lets See
Romney/Huntsman (Rep Party)
Bachman/Palin (The insane Biotch Party)
Perry/Santorum (The Clueless Party)
Ron/Rand Paul/Paul (The Paul Party)
Gringrich/Reagan (The Both Careers are Dead but one is more obviously so--and I don't mean Ronny Party)
Cain/Red Baron (The Pizza Party)
Trump/Trump (THis stage is only big enough for me and my Hair Party)
RUN THEM ALL! YES!
This GOP field reminds me of a pack of Hyena's. Each one is only and inch from eating the other one alive, but they will hunt as a pack because they need each other to stay alive. (Which none of them will be politically after the general election in 2012.)
I suspect that Romney will get the nomination but he wont even be able to carry his own state (MA).
you do of course remember the attack ads that hillary and joe used against obama; now one is his secy of state and the other is the vp. this part of the race means very little when it comes to what they say about each other as we learned in 2008.
If Perry doesn't stay in the race, this means he will go back to being governor full time. This race is keeping him out of Texas, and that is a very good thing for us Texans!
You are correct Karen keep him away from here please. This state is a cluster for sure but what southern state isn't ??? I love it here but the Texas Goverment is one of the biggest cluster F%@*s in the U.S. know brag just fact. HAPPY NEW YEAR everybody.
he's not smart enough to realize it's hopeless
I am a Texan and a Repubican.
I will vote for Obama rather than a ticket with Rick Perry.
As Perry said "I understand what pork-barrel politics is all about. I scratch your back, you scratch mine."
Please take a close look at Texas, Give Rick a donation, get a Grant or appointment policy.
Can you say "ole' buddy"?
He has gutted the State public education system from top to bottom to "Balance the budget"
Most of the "jobs" created are minimum wage so the people get Federal WIC to help them eat.
GB no real Republican would vote for that moron we have as a president. Do all of us "real" Republicans a favor and call yourself what you really are, a confused moron....aka democrat
Keep drinking that Kool-Aid fool that you are. I almost forgot what flavor is it this week ???
MBranner your personal attacks on GB are unwarranted and uncalled for.
If you can't remember what cabinets you will do away with, how can youy remember what state you're in? We don't need another rambo President. Thjat's one of the reasons President inherited the mess he had to fix. Syat in Teaxs and keep the good old oil boys happy. Stop wasting your time. Obama four more then Hillary at least a four year term, therefoire so over the next 8 years we can get more liberal justices to the supreme court.
IOWA=1 out of 50 states or is it 57? ha!ha!
God help us all if you are correct dmill.
so when obama could not remember which country he was in everybody just said he was tired but that he really did know that he was in America (Hawaii) and not in Asia (Indonesia). so if obama can make a mistake i guess we all can
I can't help myself... Rick Perry just has me laughing.
Stay the course Rick, stay the course!
He should run that marathon all the way back to Texas and stay there. He along with the rest of them are helping Obama get reelcted. The GOP doesn't have a repudible candidate.
Slick Rick is not the smart one.
For you Santorum supporters, I ask only one thing. Go to the wikipedia site for "Rick Santorum biography"
and read what is there. Please. This is a man who brought his dead (just born) son home from the hospital
and showed him to his other children and then slept with him overnight befofre returning him to the hospital.
This was written by his wife in her book. She said thst he told his other children that he wanted them to meet
their brother. Q.E.D. Wikipedia has show a rather bipartisan approach to their articles. Just read. OIt will take
less than 20 miinutes.
Mathteacher I thought you must be making that up,it was just too strange and I did not believe you.
So I did look it up
All I can say is DAMN!
It is true
Eww
Where is the Fiesty redhead on this one? I am surprised we are not seeing any of her venom.
Not sure who I will vote for. But it will not be Obama.
You know it takes true obsession for someone to be so wrapped up in what one blogger on these boards might say, and to note that she is not here at the moment.
Are you a stalker?
Perhaps she has a life
I suggest you get one too
Every party line waco here pointing fingers at the other side needs to get a clue.
Using current income, spending, and debt ratios, if the US Government was a family, they would be making $58,000 a year; they spend $75,000 a year, & are $327,000 in credit card debt and the tax payer is their drinking buddy enabling the behavior.
"Someone . . ." . . . . veerrrry well put!
Perry is in denial. Why in the world would anyone want Christy from New Jersey as a running mate. Christy is a coronary waiting to happen. He definitely hasn't missed a meal in years and if you asked him to haul a@@, he'd have to make 2 trips. I'm waiting for next year in May to see if Donald Trump will throw his hat in the ring. I'd feel more comfortable voting for him since he verbalized the question most Americans were asking. Where was Obama born and why didn't anyone know Obama when he was growing up. I guess he sealed his records so the public will never find out. Even Obamas grandmother said she was there in Kenya when he was born and then grandma conveniently died. I'll take Trump over all these yayhoos.
OMG, my parents (good republicans ) just rolled over in their graves on Republican remarks last year and the last couple of days.
Perry...........................Go home, call it a day, and you better cover your bases if you plan on being a govenor of Texas come next election. I wouldn't give you a nichols chance of winning for dog catcher, flipper Billie.
"America, on the cusp of bankruptcy?" he(Perry) asked incredulously. "Because [Barack Obama] truly believes if you print enough money that you'll create jobs" Printing money? No, money borrowed from others, thanks to the incompetence of the GOP members in Congress who jumped over every cliff Bush and Co pointed to, destroying our economy through deregulation, tax cuts for "job creators", and two wars with no tax increases to pay for them, requiring massive bailouts and stimulus packages which like it or not, converted an impending depression to a bad recession. Then we have the GOP blocking every sane attempt to create jobs, all to accomplish their most important job, defeating Obama in 2012, regardless of the consequences or suffering of the voters they expect to blindly vote them back into power.? Fat Chance!
if it was up to Rick Perry's intelligence to run the "marathon" --he wouldn't make it off the block.
It should be pointed out to the idiot who has managed to increase poverty in his state by creating "millions" of new low paying jobs that it was the fraudulent George W. who set us on this debt spiral starting two needless wars and giving huge tax cuts to the needy wealthy "to create jobs" that never materialized. The cost of these deeds put us $5 trillion dollars in debt and led to the near collapse of the world economy and the movement of vast of amounts of money to the top one percent. It is clear that his memory has either failed or is selective and self serving. It should be remembered also that this country is on the mend and over 50 percent of voters would pick him over any of the losers trying to oppose him on the Teabag side.