He has been gaffe free while Perry sadly was not. Romney may say things he can be criticized for or that can be used against him but he never makes the kind of mistakes in what he says that Perry for whatever reason did all too often.

He has the squeaky clean personal life that Newt Gingrich did not have in the past at least  and that Herman Cain was strongly suspected of not having.

He can keep focused on the issues that matter most right now as Santorum has not done, and he has done it cheerfully, which Santorum has not done. He also has the executive experience that Santorum lacks.

We that were loyal supporters of each of these candidates saw the strengths of each as out weighing the disadvantages that undeniably existed. Perhaps sadly, the majority of voters did not see it our way.

I believe that the process has worked out pretty well however. I believe that voters looked at each candidate in turn and took a conservative approach. Each of these ABR candidates in the end was seen as being too risky. Voters went with what what seemed safest. We may regret that people looked at it this way, but I believe they did this because they really really want to see Obama defeated. The candidate who looks to have the best chance of succeeding has been chosen.

I do not like it that so many of us in the later voting states don’t seem to have had  a say in the process. However no system will ever be perfect and it is too late to change things for this election.  We ought to work to get it changed for next time, but for right now I believe the wise approach is to take advantage of the fact that if we rally to the Romney camp asap, we will have more time to prepare for the huge fight that lies ahead of us.

Like many of us I have known in my heart for a long time that Romney was the most likely to win. Because of that and because I knew that not supporting our nominee was going to be unthinkable for me, I have not delved deeply into the flaws of Romney. I am not going to focus on the negatives going forward either. I plan to defend and support him as much as I possibly can because he has GOT to win. I am thankful that if he can be held to the promises and plans he has laid out we will have a real chance of restoring what we have lost as a nation in the last several years.

It will a day of incredible relief and joy when he becomes our president elect and the horrible Obama years finally draw to a close. I have not a single doubt that we will be so very much better off in so many ways with President Romney at the helm.

I agree with the wonderful post Ace of Spades wrote the other day in which he talked about how people who have put their hearts and souls into promoting whichever not Romney candidate they thought was best need time now to adjust their thinking. We do have time. I got there faster than most but I want to go easy and be patient with those who haven’t got to this point yet.

I must admit I have been annoyed with people who insist they will not vote for Romney or will vote 3rd party in the general election. I am very bad at math, but I just cannot get over my strong conviction that voting either of these ways is equivalent to voting for Obama. Also I am tired to death of hearing people say that there is no way Romney can win, mostly because they seemingly will be doing their part to make sure their frightening prediction comes true.

However I have decided to give even these individuals time to come to their senses. They have about 6 months to wake up and smell the coffee. I just pray that they will do so in time.

This is my first diary since Perry dropped out. I still miss him, but I guess I’m over the grief at last. He will always, always be my favorite politician however!  :)

Personally when he suspended his campaign, I was ready to move on. Governor Perry moved on and endorsed another candidate. I was resolved to do the same. However within a week or two, I was strangely turned back to supporting Perry again for what I don’t know because I really can’t hold onto much hope of him becoming our next president by this year’s end. I imagine scenarios where he could be our president in 4 years.(these scenarios, in my mind, cannot include  Obama winning because I don’t think we can survive another 4 years of that.)  I calculate how old he will be in 8 more years…almost too old… Anyhow, somehow I can’t leave him behind…Then today I saw a quote that well explains my feelings about Rick Perry.

‎”It does not take a majority to prevail … but rather an irate, tireless minority, keen on setting brushfires of freedom in the minds of men.”   Samuel Adams.

This explains so well how I see Rick Perry. He has started brushfires of freedom in hearts and minds throughout the country.  Those whose imaginations were kindled by this man’s ideas may indeed be a minority, but Sam Adams maintained that a minority CAN prevail. And this one MUST prevail. These fires ought and shall not to be allowed to dwindle and go out.

Though many feel that he is a poor communicator, I now see oh so clearly that he is just the opposite. It is precisely because Perry clearly and simply articulates a cherished dream that many of us have that we find it impossible to now leave him behind.  He has spoken for us in a way no one else ever has.

When he articulates his ideas for a leaner and less powerful congress, a judicial system reined in and kept within the bounds our forefathers planned for it  (rather than one which has now slipped its leash to our immeasurable loss and harm)  we find ourselves nodding our heads in agreement.  We share his dream of a country unhindered and unhampered by the multitudes of unneeded and unwanted bureaus and agencies that cripple us today. A dream of a country where personal liberty prevails. Where the federal government is inconsequential in all of our lives. Where states indeed become laboratories of innovation.Where people make their own decisions close to home about how to educate their children and keep their air and water clean. Where my bold, intelligent, and ambitious children will have the opportunity to risk their capital of both talent and treasure in order to realize their dreams of being independent agents who employ others in work as well as themselves.

Perry’s ideas are unique and different. He sees and articulates things of importance before others do. For example, he was the first to note the war on religion that is now confirmed by Obama’s recent actions against the Catholic Church. He says we need a part time congress. We say, why not?  We still desperately need that campaign for a Balanced Budget Amendment, and those great plans for a secure southern border still need to be implemented.  His book Fed Up is a treasure trove of ideas whose time has more than come today. Now there is a book worthy of starting a revolution!

Seeing Rick Perry’s speech at CPAC this week and the interview with Ed Morrissey that is over at Hot Air today gives me hope that president or not, Governor Perry is still a standard bearer for our cause. Someone tweeted to me the other day that Rick Perry is marinated in the Constitution. How true that is!

In my humble opinion,  Governor Rick Perry was the catalyst of something huge the day he resigned and endorsed Newt Gingrich. Sarah Palin recommended  voting for Gingrich in South Carolina as a strategy to stop Romney from becoming the inevitable nominee. Perry went much further and gave the Christian, small government and socially conservative stamp of approval to him. Chuck Norris and Michael Reagan then followed suit, adding emphasis.

Perry tanked in the polls because he did not initially prove himself to be an effective spokesman for grass roots conservatism, not because people did not believe in his cause or his sincerity. This gave far greater weight to his endorsement than would be expected from his poll numbers. The timing was also perfect to offset Marianne Gingrich’s interview. Perry’s statement about redemption along with Gingrich’s intelligent, forceful self defense in the Charleston debate turned a negative into a positive for him.

Gingrich stomped on his opponents in South Carolina, and followed up his stunning victory with an inspiring speech. I imagine that I was not alone as a Perry supporter in this being my first real exposure to Gingrich. I saw him in the debates but didn’t pay close attention. I never saw him give a speech or interview before. He made a great first impression on me. I for the first time saw in him a man I could picture as my president.

Here is a must read article by Dan Riehl explaining how conservative groups are beginning to coalesce around Gingrich and how that can lead him to victory in the days ahead. In his article, Riehl states:

“Mitt owns the political and financial establishment that has run Washington post-Reagan and gotten us to where we are today. For all his imperfections, I see the possibility for a coalition to come together around Gingrich with names like Tea Party, Palin, Perry, Jindal, the conservative grassroots and Americans just interested in serious political reform. There is also plenty of room for reform-minded evangelicals and libertarians in that coalition, given the various factions and leaders.”

http://www.riehlworldview.com/carnivorous_conservative/2012/01/newt-the-tea-party-palin-perry-reform-evangelicals-etc-.html

As Rick Perry said in his resignation speech, this is far bigger than any one person.  I haz hope again.

“Rome is burning, and we need to appoint the best firemen possible to rush in and put out her fury. What’s critical at this point is to appoint a commander in chief who can clearly lead America to a more solvent and secure future.”

He quotes Governor Perry who said of Newt that he  ”has the heart of a conservative reformer.”

Norris also states that  ”he is the best man left on the battlefield who is able to outwit, outplay and outlast Obama and his campaign machine.”

He offers a challenge to Newt to fulfill a strategy he outlined in November. At that time Newt said:

“I do approach this whole campaign, I think, differently from everybody else. We have a number of friends who are also running. We have no opponents except Barack Obama. I think that’s very important. I think [Abraham] Lincoln was very wise, as was captured in a book called “Team of Rivals,” in actually developing literally everybody who [was] his opponent ended up in the [presidential] Cabinet, because he needed all of them in order to be able to put together the political power during the crisis that we faced. I would say the same thing. I don’t know a single person currently running who wouldn’t be a very effective member of an administrative team who doesn’t have real talent and in some way would bring a unique strength. I don’t have any opponents on the Republican side.”

Gingrich is apparently already acting to bring at least one of his former opponents on board with an active roll on his team. As we heard from Erick Erickson, “I’m told reliably that Governor Perry will head up a 10th Amendment project for Speaker Gingrich to rally Governors and state legislators toward a plan of devolving power from Washington. This project will include helping shape the Republican platform for the general election, something small government conservatives have been concerned about.”

Norris nails down a couple very important things that Newt has going for him. He does have the smarts and the fighting spirit to get the better of Obama in the general election. He also has shown a different attitude than the other candidates in that he never forgets that we are all on the same team with the same goal of beating Obama. He shows great wisdom in his plans to use all the talent available in this greatest of all quests, the reclaiming of our nation.

Like Governor Perry he realizes that “This mission is greater than any one man.”

Please read the whole article as it is well written and it is an encouragement  especially to those of us that have followed the leadership of Governor Perry by becoming Newt Gingrich supporters.

http://www.wnd.com/2012/01/my-endorsement-for-president/

Update: He landed another big one. Michael Reagan. Things seem to be falling into place rather nicely for Newt today

http://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/news/205495-michael-reagan-endorses-gingrich

Today in his resignation speech he convinced me that he is not through fighting with all his resources to get our country back on the right track.  He will be out there fighting for the 10th amendment and states rights, and for limiting the federal government.

I feel inspired to fight by his side, and I invite all you other Perry supporters to join me. It does not surprise me that Perry would immediately endorse another candidate upon suspending his campaign. To me it signals that he truly does still want to have an impact and influence in the direction our country takes.

Gingrich does match Perry closely in his plans for our country.  I don’t see us losing anything by supporting Gingrich now. Let him prove his case against Romney. I will be watching with great interest how he carries on his campaign. He has a real chance to stop Romney in S. Carolina. Nothing but good can come of that.

By what I saw on twitter yesterday, aren’t the attacks looking more effective and focused? Hey Mr. Romney, show us the tax returns. Show us some proof about those eleventh million jobs you created at Bain Capital. And what about raiding the pension funds and sending the bill to the US government? Mr. Romney, fill your hand. (I just watched the new True Grit the other day- love that movie.)

Any way I have a question. What chance does Gingrich have with his semi load of baggage and his lack of relevant experience? Can his massive brain and the experience he does have as Speaker of the House help him over come these disadvantages? I have just heard that historically it is a long shot for a non governor, non vice president, and a non military general to pull this off. If I thought Gingrich could do it and if my dear Governor Perry doesn’t survive the firefight, I just might be giving Newt another look. I was fixing to go for Romney but I need a backup plan for in case he ends up being carted off to Boot Hill.

What this says to me is that the government has a legitimate role to play in moderating all forms of human behavior where we are able to harm one another. The truth that my freedom ends where the next guys nose begins is used to justify making abortion illegal and at least limiting many other forms of behavior that we conservatives agree ought to be controlled. Why does that not apply to capitalism as well? The attitude of many conservatives toward any limitations on capitalism reminds me of my liberal relatives’ attitude about abortion. They cannot stomach the idea of making something as extreme and evil as partial birth abortion illegal because proposing any limitation at all on a woman’s “right to choose” is seen as a threat. I know this is not a perfect parallel because capitalism is not intrinsically evil as abortion is but still I see a similar attitude.

Right now any candidate who calls into question Romney’s Bain Capital activities is being accused of “attacking from the left” as if any questioning of capitalistic activities is automatically a threat to the whole system and therefore not to be allowed.  I would propose that a capitalist whose activities harm others solely for his own benefit can be acting in an immoral fashion which might legitimately be limited by the government. Thinking that does not mean I don’t believe in capitalism. It just means that I know humans are sinners and thus any activity they engage in can be corrupted. Limits must be set and imperfect as it is, human government is one of God’s instrument for accomplishing that in our time.

The attitude seems to be that if Gingrich and Perry attack Romney about Bain Capital, that it means they do not believe in capitalism, and that just is not true. They are said to be attacking with the weapons of the left. Well the reason those weapons are often effective is because they appeal to our inborn sense of fair play. The truth is all is not fair in love and war or anything else including capitalism, and everybody knows it.  It is the leftist solutions to the unfairness that is wrong, not recognizing that unfair behavior is happening.

It is legitimate to raise questions about something that a candidate has used as a major feature of his claims of fitness for the job. This is a battle the candidates are fighting and it is logical to attack where they see a weakness. Romney has made much of his claim that he is not a career politician, and Bain Capital is what he was doing when he was a non career politician. So lets do take a very close look at that. I don’t know if the attacks are justified or not but I do believe the attacks are acceptable. Let them have at it!

It makes sense for both Perry and Gingrich to attack Romney this way. They both were attacked relentlessly by Romney in ways that could be seen as unfair. They cannot be faulted for fighting fire with fire. Gingrich has stated that he wants to slow Romney down. Perry is portraying himself as unique in being an outsider.  Thus Romney is a Wall Street insider, the others are D.C. insiders. So he must attack Romney for Bain Capital, if he attacks him at all. The big question for me is whether Perry and Gingrich will damage themselves too much by doing this. I sure hope not in Perry’s case at least.  (I am remembering Bachmann and guardisil…)  Also they may be laying themselves open to return attacks if they have been guilty of similar behavior themselves. We shall see.

I believe that the Republican Primary system is working rather well at this point. If these attacks slow down Romney’s progress and stop him from becoming the inevitable candidate too soon that is a good thing. I was annoyed that McCain became inevitable in 2008 before I ever got a chance for a say in the matter.  It is good that Romney is being attacked now about Bain Capital instead of later.  I am waiting with great interest to see how ably he defends himself. This will hopefully  only make him stronger if he ends up being the nominee. Far better to make sure he can get this straight now than when it is too late for us to make a different choice.

A great article about this issue which expresses better some of what I am trying to say:

http://www.weeklystandard.com/blogs/how-many-cheers-bain_616558.html?nopager=1

However I have refused to read all the negative stuff on the other candidates. I am well aware that I will be requiring myself to fight tooth and nail for whoever the nominee ends up to be. I don’t want to be so negative that I can’t work up enough enthusiasm to continue on with the fight.  I think the idea that we are doomed if we end up with Romney is destructive to our cause. We must be ready to get solidly behind the candidate who wins the nomination. Is that not our best chance of achieving the ultimate goal of defeating Obama?

Rush says that any one of them is better than Obama. This may be true, but there is another  issue involved here- the candidates qualifications to actually hold the office of president.  I believe in ABO but not ABR. Anyone but Romney seems to be the way most are thinking right now and I just don’t buy it. So from my perspective of absolutely requiring competence and relevant training to do the job, here is how I break down the field.

Perry:  The best because he will wage a spirited, creative, and effective battle against big government as our POTUS.  I could of course go on all day enumerating the many other reasons why I believe he would be among the greatest presidents to ever serve our country, but my most important reason is his resume as an executive successfully managing the 13th largest economy world wide for 11 years. No one matches that record. Texas has a bigger GDP than lots of countries. Perry has dealt with foreign policy because of the long Texas- Mexico border. He also has CIC experience and is a veteran.  He has managed Texas in an exemplary manner, far better than how Obama has managed our country. I have not even a single reservation about Perry’s ability to do a bang up job leading our country.

Romney: my second choice, just because he has the experience. He served as a governor, he was a very competent businessman for many years as well. Competent is in fact the word that best describes Romney. He has run a competent campaign, he always has his ducks in a row. No one else can claim that. He did his job most effectively at Bain Capital.  I get the impression that he loves to fix things. That would serve us well with him as president. Before the primaries ever started, I said I would be for the person who would attack Obama the hardest. I think Romney is already showing he can pass muster in this area. I could not abide how McCain pussyfooted around with Obama.

Huntsman: The other governor has to be my third choice. I know he polls really poorly just like my Governor Perry, but he has good conservative plans in place and he was a very successful governor. If he ever gets his chance to be at the top of the polls, I will be taking a serious look.

Gingrich: He is the next best after the governors from an experience stand point. Gingrich has some of the same flaws as Romney, such as unreliability and a seeming deficiency in sticking to core principles. However he falls short of  Romney in two areas- relevant experience and his private life. I  do forgive Gingrich his failures in his private life, and I believe there is a good chance he has things in order with that now and for the future, but he can never have the advantage Romney has with his history of being a faithful loving husband and father.

Santorum: Please not a novice in the White House again! I feel almost how I felt when Caine topped the polls. What are people thinking? It is true that Santorum would be a better choice than Cain was. At least Santorum has campaigned and won national political positions before, he has that going for him. He is a good and appealing human being, a vibe I decidedly did not get with Cain. As a social conservative, I like Santorum’s unapologetic stands on social issues. However social issues can’t trump the day right now. As long as a candidate has a pro life platform he is running on he is acceptable to me. No one can deny Santorum has questions to answer about his fiscal record. That wouldn’t stop me from supporting him though. He is really no worse than most of the others in this area.  (Perry, of course is head and shoulders above the rest, being the only true small government fiscal conservative in the race.)  The deal breaker for me is Santorum’s total and complete lack of relevant job experience for being the president. Why do we even consider a candidate that has no experience running anything to take the most important and difficult job in the whole wide world? If we were hiring a CEO for a big company, a family doctor, or even a mechanic to work on our car, experience and training would be paramount. Why in heavens name would we not have the same standards when hiring a man to be the president of our country? I can’t believe we would even consider making the same mistake that was made with our current POTUS. A great deal of the damage Obama has done to our poor bruised and battered country is directly related to his lack of experience.

Ron Paul: No relevant experience. Plus my husband thinks our country will get bombed by Muslim extremists as soon as he takes office, if our country ever goes totally insane and elects him. It is a scary thought.

I don’t think any of us should be dissuaded or made to feel foolish for faithfully supporting whoever we have chosen at this point. I scoff at the idea that I must give up supporting Perry or that Perry must drop out before he is ready  just because someone thinks we thereby hand the nomination to Romney by fracturing the conservative vote. All the candidates are on a continuum as far as being conservative goes. The notion that there is a non conservative camp with only Romney in it and a true conservative camp with everyone else in it is just laughable. I also don’t believe that where a candidate sits on the conservative continuum is the only factor to be considered. Competence to actually do the job as reflected by the candidates relevant experience and training ought to be first thing we look at not the last.

http://yfrog.com/odz8ujrj