Rick Perry on Principles & Values Republican Governor (TX)

Studied as veterinarian; organic chemistry made him a pilot

I always wanted to be a veterinarian, went off at Texas A&M, and about two years into that adventure, organic chemistry made a pilot out of me. I volunteered to join the United States Air Force and became a pilot and flew.

Western ideology respects others; ISIS ideology does not

It is time for a little rebellion on battlefield of ideas

My friends, our country is in peril. Our debt is at record amounts. Our economic recovery is stagnant. Our place in the world weakened. So I have a simple suggestion--It is time for a little rebellion on the battlefield of ideas.

But instead of looking to Washington to find the front lines of this battle, I ask you to look to the states, where we find the laboratories of innovation, and 50 different experiments in democracy taking place. Among the states we see two visions for America. There's the vision common in blue states, where the state plays an increasing role in the lives of its citizens. And then there's the vision common to red state America where the freedom of the individual comes first, and the reach of government is limited.

Obama's a socialist; Founding Fathers didn't want socialists

PERRY: I make a very proud statement and a fact that we have a president that's a socialist. I don't think our Founding Fathers wanted America to be a socialist country. So I disagree with that premise that somehow or another that President Obama reflects our Founding Fathers. He doesn't. He talks about having a more powerful, more centralized, more consuming and costly federal government. I am a Tenth Amendment-believing governor. I truly believe that we need a president that respects the Tenth Amendment. The states will considerably do a better job than a one-size-fits-all Washington, D.C., led by this president.

Debates are just not my thing

Repudiates pastor's opinion that Mormonism is a cult

PERRY: I can no more remove my faith than I can that I'm the son of a tenant farmer. Are we going to be individuals who stand by our faith? I have said I didn't agree with that individual's statement. And our founding fathers truly understood and had an understanding of freedom of religion. But we also are a country that is free to express our opinions. That individual expressed an opinion. I didn't agree with it, Mitt, and I said so. But the fact is, Americans understand faith. And what they've lost faith in is the current resident of the White House.

Q: [to Romney] Is that acceptable to you?

ROMNEY: With regards to the disparaging comments about my faith, I've heard worse, so I'm not going to lose sleep over that.

I converted from Democrat at a younger age than Reagan did

PERRY: I, like most people in the state of Texas and in those southern states, grew up a Democrat. Michael Reagan and I were talking just the other day, that I came to the Republican Party sooner in age than his dad, Ronald Reagan did.

Obama is "hell bent" on taking America towards socialism

ROMNEY: Pres. Obama takes his political inspiration from the socialist democrats in Europe. Guess what? Europe isn't working in Europe. It's not going to work here.

Unelected judges shouldn't tell us when & where we can pray

They are also fed up with unelected judges telling the when and where they can pray or observe the Ten Commandments.

This simmering frustration erupted in an overwhelming landslide of conservative voices on election night including members of that new, legitimate force the TEA Party movement.

Modern liberals shifting back to term "Progressive"

Have you noticed that modern liberals are trying to shift back to the term "Progressive"? They are doing this because they know they have lost the war in defending liberalism. Who can be against progress, after all? But it's a fraudulent use of the word, because ofr the Progressive, progress is marked not by how free you are, but by how much government can "do" for you.

This view--that government should be an interventionist force in American society--remains alive and well today. To me, the idea of living under a distant government that dictates those circumstances and what I may and may not do is not comforting but intolerable. But that is the ethos of the Progressives.

Take back America: Stand up and lead

Taking Back America: So, can we do this? We are Americans. Of course we can have the world we want to live in. Here are the steps we must take to wrest the reins of the federal government from those who have let it run wild for far too long:
1. Repeal ObamaCare:Under no circumstances should Republicans forsake the clarity of this single mission.
2. Stand Up and Lead:States have to begin to make the hard choices and to quit blindly accepting money from Washington.
3. Sustain a National Dialogue About Limited Constitutional Government.
4. Elect Leaders Who Respect the Constitution and Hold Them Accountable.
5. Adopt Certain Important Structural Reform: First, we must restrict federal spending. Second, we should restrict its unlimited source of revenue,

America is great; Washington is broken

Now, do not misunderstand me. America is great. Our nation has done, and continues to do, more for the cause of freedom around the world than any nation in the history of man.

But American is in trouble, and the people know it. We sense that our way of life and, perhaps more importantly, our ability to decide how we shall live, is no longer in our control but in the control of an increasingly powerful and oppressive national government--a government run by people who simply do not share our values or our beliefs and blatantly ignore its limits.

In short, it is not America that is broken; it is Washington that is broken.

Route to success is lower taxes & smaller government

Indeed, the Texas unemployment rate is the lowest among the nation's ten largest states, as is our state's level of debt. Texas was named the top exporting state in the country for the 8th straight year. That's what happens when you free up citizens to compete. And as a result, we were able to finish our last legislative session with a balanced budget, a tax cut for 40,000 small businesses, and over $8 billion set aside for our state's "rainy-day fund." In fact, Texas & Alaska are responsible for 2/3 of all state dollars set aside in reserve. A sad indictment on the rest of America, this is a source of pride for those of us in Austin.

Some GOP not on right page; but Dems can't find the library

What I mean by that is simple. Republicans, in general, believe in low taxes, low regulation, less spending, free-market health care, constitutional judges, protecting innocent life, enforcing our laws and our borders, peace through strength, empowering the states, and generally advocating principles of limited government. On the other hand, most of my Democratic friends--unfortunately--generally believe in higher taxes, more regulations, capitulation to our enemies, and generally a bigger and more active government than not.

Prohibiting school prayer is federal overreach

But the problem goes far deeper than that. Prohibition on school prayer, the redefinition of marriage, the nationalization of health care, the proliferation of federal criminal laws, interference with local education, the increased regulation of food --even telling us what kind of lightbulb we can use--there is seemingly no end to the reach of Washington.

What happened to our country? Such policies represent an almost complete abandonment of a limited central government rooted in federalism.

Supreme Court shouldn't choose how & where we may pray

That the Court makes policy can hardly be debated--and that many of these policy choices affect the citizen at the core of his personal conscience is equally beyond question. Consider that it is our courts that routinely decide, with little or no chance of further appeal, how and where we may and may not pray to God, when life begins, whether contraception must be allowed to be sold, whether and how we can celebrate religious holidays, what those other than man and woman must be allowed to marry, what level of discrimination may carried out (in the name of ending discrimination), whether a state must allow women to attend an all-male military academy, who may be executed and whether we may execute criminals at all, and generally any issue involving social preference, morality, and our collective concept of right and wrong.

Elected Democrat; switched to run statewide as Republican

Two years later, in 1990, two more Republicans (Rove clients as well) were elected to statewide office, and they would shape state politics for 2 decades. Kay Bailey Hutchinson was elected treasurer, succeeding Ann Richards. Democrats then abolished the position, which made me wonder if political payback is about the only grounds on which Democrats abolish government posts. The other winner, Democrat Rick Perry, had planned to retire from the legislature until his best friend and I talked him into switching partied and running for th GOP nomination for agriculture commissioner. Perry swept rural counties because, as a rancher, he actually knew something about agriculture; he won the suburbs because of his marquee good looks and conservative values. He became governor in 2000.

Hometown of Paint Creek TX is a "throw-back in time"

Entered politics in 1984; 5th generation in political family

It's about freedom OF religion, not freedom FROM religion

Romney disallowed Boy Scouts to participate in Olympics

Several years have gone by, and neither Mitt Romney nor anyone else who served as an official of the 2002 Winter Olympics has given a clear and logical explanation of why the door to volunteerism was shut on a willing "army" of Boy Scout volunteers.

No state-sponsored morality; but sponsor value organizations

Secular humanism emanates out of man's sin of pride

The life of the secular humanist has a depressing end. Regardless of how great they may consider their accomplishments in life, or how much money they make, it is still the case that they have lived their life for a philosophy that elevates self instead of a worldview that elevates the Creator.

Member, National Governors Association/Economic Development.

The National Governors Association (NGA) is the collective voice of the nation’s governors and one of Washington’s most respected public policy organizations. NGA provides governors with services that range from representing states on Capitol Hill and before the Administration on key federal issues to developing policy reports on innovative state programs and hosting networking seminars for state government executive branch officials. The NGA Center for Best Practices focuses on state innovations and best practices on issues that range from education and health to technology, welfare reform, and the environment. NGA also provides management and technical assistance to both new and incumbent governors.

Since their initial meeting in 1908 to discuss interstate water problems, governors have worked through the National Governors Association to deal with issues of public policy and governance relating to the states. The association’s ongoing mission is to support the work of the governors by providing a bipartisan forum to help shape and implement national policy and to solve state problems.

Fortune Magazine recently named NGA as one of Washington’s most powerful lobbying organizations due, in large part, to NGA’s ability to lead the debate on issues that impact states. From welfare reform to education, from the historic tobacco settlement to wireless communications tax policies, NGA has influenced major public policy issues while maintaining the strength of our Federalist system of government.

There are three standing committees—on Economic Development and Commerce, Human Resources, and Natural Resources—that provide a venue for governors to examine and develop policy positions on key state and national issues.

[Note: NGA positions represent a majority view of the nation’s governors, but do not necessarily reflect a governor’s individual viewpoint. Governors vote on NGA policy positions but the votes are not made public.]

Member of Republican Governors Association.

Founded in 1963, the Republican Governors Association (RGA) is the official public policy and political organization of the Republican governors and governors-elect of the United States of America

RGA Mission Statement
1. To assist in the solution of significant national public policy problems.
2. To enable the Republican governors to take their proper position in expressing the philosophy of the Republican Party within the national party framework.
3. To assist in the election of Republican gubernatorial candidates and the reelection of incumbent governors.
4. To provide a mechanism to facilitate communications and cooperation among its members; with local, state and national Party organizations; with Republicans in the US Congress; and with Republicans in the Executive branch of government during a Republican administration.

The RGA will enhance the visibility of the Association as a unified policy-making and political force with the national media, business community and government through a coordinated communications strategy. By building more awareness of the policies of the Republican governors, the political and policy objectives of the Association as a whole can be achieved. Currently, there are 29 Republican governors representing roughly 60 percent of the American people.

Member of Southern Governors' Association.

The Southern Governors’ Association first met in 1934 to discuss the repeal of discriminatory rates for transporting goods by rail, [and since then SGA] has represented the common interests of southern states’ chief executives and provided a vehicle for promoting them. The ongoing mission of SGA is to support the work of the governors by providing a bipartisan, regional forum to help shape and implement national policy and to solve state and regional problems.

Objectives:
1. Identify Vital Issue Interests of Southern States. Through SGA, governors identify federal issues of regional concern. SGA then closely follows these issues, analyzes their regional impact and communicates information back to the governors’ offices through reports and meetings. On select federal issues, governors and their staffs formulate regional policy and make recommendations.
2. Advocate Regional Interests in Washington. Through SGA, governors advance their mutual interests in Washington and speak with a unified voice on issues important to the region. Through resolutions, joint letters, Congressional testimony, meetings, and other vehicles, SGA communicates the region’s concerns to Congress, the Administration and federal agencies.
3. Enhance Regional Cooperation. SGA serves as a forum to expedite cooperation among the southern states in solving regional problems. State initiatives reduce dependence on the federal government, maximize state resources, benefit the individual states, enhance interstate relations and place the South in the forefront of regional cooperation and innovation.
4. Promote Innovative Southern Programs and Practices. SGA provides comparative policy information to its members on pressing issues. Through report and other mechanisms, SGA facilitates the exchange of information on individual state responses to pressing regional concerns or federal government actions.

Member of the Western Governors' Association.

Established in 1984, the Western Governors' Association is an independent, non-partisan organization of governors from 18 western states and three U.S.-flag Pacific islands. The Association was formed to provide strong leadership in an era of critical change in the economy and demography of the West. The Western Governors recognize that many vital issues and opportunities shaping our future span state lines and are shared throughout the West.

Mission

The WGA has six basic objectives:
1. Develop and Communicate Regional Policy
2. Serve as a Leadership Forum
3. Build Regional Capacity
4. Conduct Research and Disseminate Findings
5. Form Coalitions and Partnerships to Advance Regional Interests
6. Build Public Understanding and Support for Regional Issues and Policy Positions

Member of the Tea Party movement.

The Tea Party movement is a populist conservative social movement in the United States that emerged in 2009 through a series of locally and nationally coordinated protests. The protests were partially in response to several Federal laws: the stimulus package; te healthcare bill; and the TARP bailouts. The name "Tea Party" refers to the Boston Tea Party of 1773, the source of the phrase, "No Taxation Without Representation."