Washington
First, a disclaimer: The poll was completely unscientific. Some 160 tea partyers from around the country had gathered at the Washington headquarters of FreedomWorks, a conservative group that trains tea partyers in political organizing and advocacy. With reporters watching, the assembled activists were asked for a show of hands on the Republican presidential candidates.
The winner: Texas Gov. Rick Perry. He isn’t a candidate yet, and it’s not certain he ever will be. But Governor Perry’s “victory” is just one small indication that, were he to run, Perry would start with the goodwill of the GOP’s most energetic wing.
Texas Tribune boss Evan Smith tweeted a hint to Michele Bachmann's peeps about a story in the Texas Tribune about Rick's allegedly controversial views on things...
Maybe some wishful thinking by Evan Smith, no fan of Rick's, or maybe he just wants conflict because conflict gets more eye balls on his website...
Jay Root wrote up a story on Rick's book and some of the things he wrote in it (link). Excerpt follows...
Months before liberal Congressman Barney Frank, D-Massachusetts, teamed up with Republican U.S. Rep. Ron Paul, R-Texas, to back an effort to de-criminalize marijuana, Perry was making essentially the same point in his book, writing that Washington has greatly overstepped its bounds by making pot use a federal crime.
“It ought not be the federal government’s job telling them they can’t do it,” Perry said in that November interview. “I totally and completely disagree with the concept of legalizing marijuana, but it ought to be California’s decision.”
Perry has made the same argument about same-sex marriage. He’s against gay marriage himself — reflecting the conservative state he represents — but he has argued in favor of allowing each state to decide for itself what its policy will be.
“If you don’t support the death penalty and citizens packing a pistol, don’t come to Texas,” Perry says. “If you don’t like medical marijuana and gay marriage, don’t move to California.”
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Larry Sabato, a political scientist at the University of Virginia and veteran presidential campaign analyst, said the 2012 GOP primary is a good forum for Perry to be putting forth edgy proposals. Tea party enthusiasts are demanding that politicians shake up Washington and enact deep spending cuts.
“I don’t think he has a thing to worry about on these items in the Republican primary. There are a lot of cross currents that will protect him,” Sabato said. “So many of them have unorthodox positions. It’s a choose your poison type of election year for Republicans.”
I don't know that these positions are even very controversial... most Americans oppose gay marriage but probably don't mind if some other state allows it... most Americans don't smoke marijuana or want it legal near them, but they don't care if California makes it legal... if you believe in states having rights, you have to take the good with the bad I guess...
Rick's positions on entitlements being a ponzi scheme are spot on as well.... and will only help in 2012... Rick is ahead of his time maybe but controversial seems to be an overused word by the msm.... they declare it controversial therefore it is... technically anything is controversial if you have more than one side on the issue... even mom and apple pie are controversial because you could always find people to support and oppose anything...
I want to see the look on the people's faces when Perry does NOT run.
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