Community | August 25, 2011 | 77 comments

Rick Perry's Neocon Friends

source: http://www.thenation.com/blog/162782/rick-perrys-neocon-friends

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Tuppy54
No one seriously believes that Republicans will nominate the wild-eyed, certifiable Michele Bachmann for president, and Romney the Robot isn’t setting Tea Party hearts aflutter. So it looks like Rick Perry, the Bible-thumping, secessionist hawk—who’s already assembling a team of neoconservative advisers—will get the nod to challenge President Obama in 2012.


Were Perry to win, his victory—especially if the GOP, as seems likely, conquers the Senate—will speed the United States down the merry path to oblivion at least a couple of decades before the rise of China and India do anyway. Worryingly, Perry might be exactly the know-nothing hawk who decides to use US military power to forestall America’s inevitable decline by force, even if it leads to World War III. Like Tea Party fanatics who courted financial Armageddon by insisting that reneging on US debt obligations wouldn’t be so bad, Perry’s own Tea Party Pentagon, staffed by neoconservatives, might decide the nuclear Armageddon wouldn’t be so bad, either, as long as it makes the world understand how exceptional American exceptionalism is.

Indeed, as James Lindsey points out for the Council on Foreign Relations, in his screed, Fed Up: Our Fight to Save America from Washington, a book that he allegedly wrote, Perry declares that “exceptional” America has to be prepared for war with China and India:

“We are now confronted with the rise of new economic and military powerhouses in China and India, as well as a Russia that is increasingly aggressive and troublesome to its neighbors and former satellite nations that are struggling to maintain their relatively newfound independence. There is no reason to believe that armed conflict with any major power is imminent, but the world is rapidly changing, and the United States must be prepared for the ramifications of shifting balances of power.”

And Perry adds, concerning the “reset” in relations with Russia:

“It was a slap in the face to a number of our allies. As a Wall Street Journal article put it, ‘Some prominent figures in the region, such as former Polish President Lech Walesa, worried the new US administration was turning away from its traditional allies in Central Europe to placate Russia’.… Surely we can’t be serious?”

In his speech proclaiming his candidacy, in which he said elegantly that “we don’t need a president who apologizes for America,” and he added: “What I learned in my 20’s traveling the globe as an Air Force pilot, our current president has yet to acknowledge in his 50s—that we are the most exceptional nation on the face of the earth.”

No surprise, of course, that Perry is consorting with left-over neocons from the Bush administration, as National Review reported in July, such as Douglas Feith, the ¨uber-hawk who oversaw the war in Iraq, and Bill Luti, Feith’s compatriot in the Bush White House, who joined with Vice President Cheney to persuade Bush that an unprovoked attack on Iraq was the right thing to do, and Dan Blumenthal, another Bush veteran who’s taken up residence at the American Enterprise Institute.

http://www.thenation.com/blog/162782/rick-perrys-neocon-friends
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77 comments // Rick Perry's Neocon Friends

  • smithtownNY
    • 0
      smithtownNY  
    • Image

    • new private sector jobs in texass? think big oil. new public sector jobs in texass? think fort hood and fort bliss. government jobs so to speak.

    • 9 months ago
  • PoliticalAmazon
    • 0
      PoliticalAmazon  

    • "Worryingly, Perry might be exactly the know-nothing hawk who decides to use US military power to forestall America’s inevitable decline by force, even if it leads to World War III. "

      ___________________________

      Pardon, but isn't that what Obama is doing now?

    • 9 months ago
  • PoliticalAmazon
    • 0
      PoliticalAmazon  
    • Image

    • This is how it looks to me:

      1. Obama is one of the biggest neocons in D.C. The neocons could not wish for a more neocon-friendly president than Obama.

      2. For that reason, the GOP is not running a viable candidate in 2012 because they are using Obama as a placeholder, so Jeb Bush can run unopposed in 2016.

    • 9 months ago
  • insaintity
  • cztheday
    • 0
      cztheday  

    • I continue to believe that Mitt Romney is the only Republican currently in the field who is capable of defeating Barrack Obama. Perry carries too much baggage in the form of embarrassing statements made over the past 4 years to shore up his ultra-conservative Texas base. I will be interested to see if either of them would pick Michelle Bachman as a running mate. She is more seasoned than Palin was when she joined the McCain ticket, but I still think she would be a stake in the heart of any Republican Presidential campaign. Biden may be getting a little long in the tooth and is prone to the occasional gaffe, but he would eat Bachman for lunch in a televised debate.

    • 9 months ago
  • freecrack
  • nikonwilly
  • insaintity
  • insaintity
  • freecrack
  • EdJoyProductions
  • Hardytoo
  • Hardytoo
    • +2
      Hardytoo  
    • EdJoyProductions:

      Hi Joy - I made a comment to Bill (above re Parry, the Bushes, Rove, etc).
      If you get a chance, please comment about your thoughts on the matter. No hurry - when you can, and only if you want to.
      Just wondering.
      Thankyou.

      p.s. And everyone else too, pls comment away.
      thks

    • 9 months ago
  • ithink
    • +4
      ithink  

    • It looks like Obama is doing great considering the gop has been campaigning against him nonstop since the 2008 elections it,s going to be fun watching them when he gets into campaign mode and bites them in the butt while they are turning tail and running away

    • 9 months ago
  • Vic_Romano
  • Leen61
    • +6
      Leen61  

    • I would like to believe this idiot doesn't have a chance....but I can't. That was the one take away I got from Bush being president. Anything is possible and any idiot can be president in this country. This Perry is even more dangerous than Bush...if you can believe that...but he is Bush on steroids. There are still people who are nostalgic for Bush. Scary.

    • 9 months ago
  • SIBob
  • tverdell
  • Leen61
  • Leen61
  • Buckeye_Bill
    • +4
      Buckeye_Bill  
    • Image

    • Rick Perry Sought State Profits From Teacher Life Insurance Scheme

      WASHINGTON -- Two weeks before Thanksgiving in 2003, top officials from Texas Governor Rick Perry's office pitched an unusual offer to the state's retired teachers: Let's get into the death business.

      Perry's budget director, Mike Morrissey, laid out a pitch that was both ambitious and risky, according to notes summarizing the meeting provided to The Huffington Post.

      According to the notes, which were authenticated by a meeting participant, the Perry administration wanted to help Wall Street investors gamble on how long retired Texas teachers would live. Perry was promising the state big money in exchange for helping Swiss banking giant UBS set up a business of teacher death speculation.

      All they had to do was convince retirees to let UBS buy life insurance policies on them. When the retirees died, those policies would pay out benefits to Wall Street speculators, and the state, supposedly, would get paid for arranging the bets. The families of the deceased former teachers would get nothing.

      The meeting notes offer the most direct evidence that the Perry administration

      http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/08/25/rick-perry-texas-life-insurance-scheme_...

    • 9 months ago
  • Hardytoo
    • +4
      Hardytoo  
    • Buckeye_Bill:

      Sad, Bill but very true; this man is hateful.
      (I see UBS is being investigated cuz it was discovered that they knew in 2006 that the bad mortgages they were buying, were illegally processed (robo-signed, etc.) (Maybe during the investigation it'll be discoverd that THIS speculation will be discovered. Let's hope.)
      Perry is a disgusting excuse for a human being.

    • 9 months ago
  • Buckeye_Bill
    • +3
      Buckeye_Bill  
    • Hardytoo:

      The big difference between Perry and GWB is, Perry's Daddy wasn't the Director of the CIA/VP/P who could bury ANYTHING bad about his family including George's "uh ohs", so I think if a smart journalist digs deep and long enough, crapola can be found on Tricky Ricky!

    • 9 months ago
  • Hardytoo
    • +2
      Hardytoo  
    • Buckeye_Bill:

      I'm wondering if, because of the "true hatred" between the Bush's and Perry, do you think they might be at the bottom of this push within the "thuglicans to start this ABP (Anybody but Parry) movement that's already underway.

      The big guys in the party are really "leaving no stone unturned" trying to find another, better candidate. Heard Ol' Jebbie speaking yesterday re the present wannabe-candidates and how they shouldn't be blaming Obama for everything (he said, including the common cold l!!). I'm sure about old Piggie Turdblossom either - would he do anything for the bucks, or does he hate Parry (or Palin - does he have the gaul to be her campaign mgr, or is all just the psychiatric stuff with him re his suicided mother baggage. Would he do it just for the money? Lee Atwater would have, and Lee was his mentor (shiver). What do you think?

      I'd like to hear other posters' views on this too, if they read the post. Which way's the wind blowin'??

    • 9 months ago
  • Buckeye_Bill
    • +2
      Buckeye_Bill  
    • Hardytoo:

      I konw that GHWB doesn't care for Tricky Ricky...I KNOW Turd Blossom -who set Perry up from the beginning when he chose Perry to replace George as Governor of Texas - HATES Perry and will GRUDGINGLY lend his support for Perry...IF he HAS to...because Perry would have a decent chance at beating Obama...more than Palin, Bachmann or Romney and Rove wants above all else is SOMEONE to be able to BEAT Obama.

      BUT...GWB LIKES Perry! They are two peanuts out of the SAME shell kind of idiots!

      So...as I said DAYS ago...the prime candidate for the Republican nomination for president willmost likely be Perry!

      And.....I also said Bachmann could be the VP choice...to bring in the Tea Hadist vote to the Repub ticket.

      I could be wrong.....but I hope not....because that's what will guarantee Obama wins!

    • 9 months ago
  • Hardytoo
    • +2
      Hardytoo  
    • Buckeye_Bill:

      Thanks Bill, great info. You guys are really "arming" me (Buffin answered too) - I didn't know that Dubya liked him - Perry never misses a chance to say that he got HIS education at A&M, not that big north-eastern school like Bush - he always takes a swipe.
      I'll watch for your predictions re Perry,Bachmann - holy cow that's a scary picture - may gimme nitemares (makes me glad I'm working tonite, and won't take a nap on my break);.
      Talk about "children of the corn."
      Again, thanks for taking the time.

    • 9 months ago
  • Buckeye_Bill
  • wynnmeg61
    • +2
      wynnmeg61  
    • Buckeye_Bill:

      I saw this story too, bill. I was completely horrified. I know that Republicans would do almost anything to make a profit, however, I was still under the delusion that there were some places even they wouldn't go. How wrong I was. Truly, sick; betting on the deaths of retired teachers.

    • 9 months ago
  • Hardytoo
  • EdJoyProductions
    • +2
      EdJoyProductions  
    • Hardytoo:

      I often wonder if the reports of the hatred might be bullshit because they think that people that hated Bush will support Parody (my new name for Perry).

      It would not be the first time that Bush and his cohorts misrepresented something for the sake of getting what they wanted.

      As clearly as I saw Bush being a disaster prior to the 2000 election, I see that Parody may actually usher in armageddon. The report of this hatred is irrelevant. The only thing that should be important is that Perry is dangerously ignorant, corporately owned and criminally dishonest.

      Never rule out smoke screens with the republicans. They can never legitimately run on issues so they resort to gossip, fear and lies.

    • 9 months ago
  • Joeydee44
  • Hardytoo
    • +3
      Hardytoo  
    • EdJoyProductions:

      THANK YOU,E-JOY. What interesting perceptions, very intuitive and I fear, correct. I'd agree totally about the lying, no matter what or about whom, and his ushering in armageddon. That's a huge factor (hell, that's why Beck's in Jerusalem - he simply CANNOT WAIT for the destruction of Syria and the horrendous implications (Lebanon, Hamas, Hebezollah, and general explosion) which would bring about his bibllical armageddon - that's what all the teabaggers are waiting for). I'm not the only one who thinks that's why the 'baggers and other 'thuglicans continue to want to invade Syria - to bring about our destruction. And I agree with you that "Parody" would lead the "mission band."
      Thank you for the great information and your perspective.
      "Oh no - Canada"

    • 9 months ago
  • Hardytoo
  • EdJoyProductions
    • +2
      EdJoyProductions  
    • Hardytoo:

      You're welcome. It saddens me beyond belief that the republicans are parading out these mental asylum escapees. Every American should feel that his/her intelligence is insulted by the republican notion that these candidates should be considered acceptable for any position.

    • 9 months ago
  • EdJoyProductions
  • Buckeye_Bill
  • faye59
    • +2
      faye59  
    • wynnmeg61:

      A couple of years ago they had a similar scheme going on in churches; asking their membership to buy life insurance policies and name the church as beneficiary. Yes, that was in Texas, too.

    • 9 months ago
  • faye59
  • Vierotchka
  • Hardytoo
  • EdJoyProductions
  • Hardytoo
    • +1
      Hardytoo  
    • EdJoyProductions:

      You're full of "spit 'n vinegar" Miss Gertie.
      Sent the link to everybody I know (and some of them don't have a clue-one who HE is). Thanks you for always giving me a laugh; (last nite was a difficultt one at work, extremely and I needed that laugh, and voila, you supplied as usual).

    • 9 months ago
  • EdJoyProductions
  • bike10
  • moodyblue
    • +8
      moodyblue  
    • Image

    • Perry is a dangerous idiot,even if he only believes half of what he spouts off about. If he were to be elected, we would be in serious trouble. A theocracy would be the least of our worries. Im thinking he would be happy to take us back to the dark ages..on a side note - I saw this yesterday and laughed my ass off.

    • 9 months ago
  • faye59
    • 0
      faye59  
    • moodyblue:

      These people don't believe in God. If they did they would not do half the things that they do to people. The reigion is just so that the sheep will follow willingly.

    • 9 months ago
  • jacksonN
    • +4
      jacksonN  

    • another moronic gov from tx with a three day old cow chip for a brain ,somebody cover this yahoo with tumble weeds and call dumbya to clear em out !!!

    • 9 months ago
  • Hardytoo
    • +7
      Hardytoo  

    • "NO NEW TEXANS" - my new mantra.

      His bragging about creating new jobs? - they're mostly McJobs, and no one is "calling" him on it - WHY? (The only one I've heard (so far) is Jim Hightower - he called them "Jobettes.")

    • 9 months ago
  • Warren_Merrill
  • budsnews
  • Hardytoo
  • Hardytoo
  • tlbuffin
  • Hardytoo
    • +2
      Hardytoo  
    • tlbuffin:

      Buffin, Parry is terrifying. I made a comment to Bill, above, and I'd like your view on the subject too, re who's zooomin' who and who's helping who, in the 'thuglican part.
      When you can, no hurry.
      Thanks.

    • 9 months ago
  • tlbuffin
  • Hardytoo
    • +2
      Hardytoo  
    • tlbuffin:

      Thanks much for the information - it seems like the R Party is mounting an ABP ("AnyTHING but Parry) movement. Excellent - thanks for taking the time. Appreciated.
      "Canada"

    • 9 months ago
  • faye59
    • 0
      faye59  
    • budsnews:

      There was an article in the Dallas Morning News(business section) about Perry gleaning companies from other states with the nuggets of lower taxes and low wages. I saw that with my own eyes. Everything being said about Perry so far is documented.I'm an avid reader and even I missed the stunt with the insurance policies. I'm a retired teacher and they do not return a cash value on the policies that you buy. I called when I decided to retire and it was like what...what...Noone could say what happened to the thousands of dollars (double indemnity) that I paid over a thirty year career.I got screwed and so do other teachers that I talked to about it.

    • 9 months ago
  • tlbuffin
  • Tuppy54
  • tlbuffin
  • Tuppy54
    • +4
      Tuppy54  
    • tlbuffin:

      He scares the shit out me more than anything.Can you examine PRick Perry commander & Chief of the Armed forces?

      Guaranteed invasion of Iran, and hell, probably a full fledged war with China.

      What's even scarier is the idea of Prick Perry in charge of a nuclear arsenal....

    • 9 months ago
  • Hardytoo
    • +3
      Hardytoo  
    • Tuppy54:

      Yes, he's stated that he would like to see all out war against China and India. He's in lock-step with Donald the Trump. With the number of nukes both countries possess, I'd like to see 'im try. What a jack-boot-cowboy, this asshole is.

    • 9 months ago
  • faye59
    • 0
      faye59  
    • Tuppy54:

      That poll is suspect. Who in their right mind would want that loud-mouthed idiot representing this country. The thought alone is frightening. We barely survived one faux cowboy who never admitted he's wrong about anything. Could people really be that dumb?

    • 9 months ago
  • EmperorThan
  • gypsysailor
  • cabinettags
    • cabinettags  
    • This comment was removed as a violation of community guidelines.
  • moodyblue
  • Tuppy54
    • +6
      Tuppy54  
    • cabinettags:

      Sorry douchebag.. judge a man by the company he keeps. Especially an empty brained idiot like Perry. He is merely an empty vessel waiting to be filled with the orders and objectives of those that surround him.

    • 9 months ago
  • cabinettags
  • moodyblue
  • Hardytoo
  • maasanova
    • -2
      maasanova  
    • Image

    • The Nation is actually promoting Rick Perry by omitting Ron Paul as a legitimate GOP frontrunner.

      The reason?

      The left needs a Rick Perry nomintation because that practically guarantees another four years for in-the-closet-neocon Barack Obama in the event that the Democrat party can't come up with an incumbent.

      Rick Perry may have surrounded himself with "neocons," but let's not forget that some of these same "neocons" like Bill Kristol and Senator of Tel Aviv Joe Lieberman have been some of Obama's loudest cheerleaders.

    • 9 months ago
  • Joeydee44
    • +4
      Joeydee44  
    • Image
    • maasanova:

      BTW, the latest Gallup poll shows Ron Paul battling for 3rd place with Bachmann around the 10-13% mark. When non-candidates like Sarah Palin and Rudy Guiliani are added to the mix they garner roughly the same support as Bachmann and Paul. So much for the groundswell.

    • 9 months ago
  • maasanova
    • -1
      maasanova  
    • Joeydee44:

      Anyone can be a frontrunner when you have the backing of the media and by extension, "the neocons."

      The only media support that Ron Paul gets is when he's talking about the economy and the war, of which he has been proven right over time, or when leftly outlets want to smear him as a racist.

      And Ron Paul is not backed by any "neocons," who have been proven wrong about both the wars and the economy.

      Palin, Romney, Bachman, Cain all get very favorable and extensive media promotion and are all coincidentally supported by various "neocons." Even their gaffes are turned and spun into media promotional events.

    • 9 months ago
  • tverdell
  • budsnews
  • maasanova
    • +1
      maasanova  
    • budsnews:

      "I disagree, Perry is charismatic and I think the tea party will get behind him."

      You're right tverdell, the Tea Party will back Perry. But that's the same as saying "the labor unions will back Obama."

      It's not not enough to have just one faction's support to get the presidential nomination; you need the big media (all the alphabet networks plus Time, Newsweek, etc) putting your face out in front 24/7, which is what they are doing for Perry and Romney.

      And it just so happens that all of these big media outlets have many of top neocons either appearing as "experts" on one thing or another, or writing highly influencial op-eds.

      It's such an obvious rigged game!

    • 9 months ago
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