Gov. Rick Perry Our Next President?

[ronchamblin]

Lots of things scare me.  This really scares me.   

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/08/07/us/politics/07prayer.html

Perry Leads Prayer Rally for ‘Nation in Crisis’By MANNY FERNANDEZ
HOUSTON â€" Standing on a stage surrounded by thousands of fellow Christians on Saturday morning, Gov. Rick Perry of Texas called on Jesus to bless and guide the nation’s military and political leaders and “those who cannot see the light in the midst of all the darkness.”

“Lord, you are the source of every good thing,” Mr. Perry said, as he bowed his head, closed his eyes and leaned into a microphone at Reliant Stadium here. “You are our only hope, and we stand before you today in awe of your power and in gratitude for your blessings, and humility for our sins. Father, our heart breaks for America. We see discord at home. We see fear in the marketplace. We see anger in the halls of government, and as a nation we have forgotten who made us, who protects us, who blesses us, and for that we cry out for your forgiveness.”

In a 13-minute address, Mr. Perry read several passages from the Bible during a prayer rally he sponsored. Thousands of people stood or kneeled in the aisles or on the concrete floor in front of the stage, some wiping away tears and some shouting, “Amen!”

The rally was seen as one of the biggest tests of Mr. Perry’s political career, coming as he nears a decision on whether to seek the Republican nomination for president. While the event will be sure to help Mr. Perry if he tries to establish himself as the religious right’s favored candidate, it also opens him up to criticism for mixing religion and politics in such a grand and overtly Christian fashion.

In many ways, the rally was unprecedented, even in Texas, where faith and politics have long intersected without much controversy â€" the governor, as both a private citizen and an elected leader, delivering a message to the Lord at a Christian prayer rally he created, while using his office’s prestige, letterhead, Web site and other resources to promote it. Mr. Perry said he wanted people of all faiths to attend, but Christianity dominated the service and the religious affiliations of the crowd. The prayers were given in Jesus Christ’s name, and the many musical performers sang of Christian themes of repentance and salvation.

Mr. Perry, a lifelong Methodist who regularly attends an evangelical megachurch near his home in West Austin, has been speaking and preaching in sanctuaries throughout Texas since he was state agricultural commissioner in the 1990s. Organizers for the event, called The Response: A Call to Prayer for a Nation in Crisis, estimated that more than 30,000 people were at Reliant Stadium when Mr. Perry spoke. The seating capacity is 71,500, and tens of thousands of seats in the upper decks were empty.

“I wish you could see what I see here,” announced Luis Cataldo, a leader of the International House of Prayer, a Christian ministry in Kansas City, Mo., as the event began at 10 a.m. “This is the body of Christ.”

While those on the stage avoided making overt political statements or expressions of political support for Mr. Perry, many in the audience made it clear in interviews that they would vote for the governor should he enter the presidential race.

Liz Lara, 62, who lives in La Vernia, Tex., drove about 200 miles to Houston with her daughter and two grandchildren to attend the rally. She said the family came to support Mr. Perry and pray for God’s help in solving the nation’s problems. “I believe that God has prepared Rick Perry for such a time as this,” she said. “I believe he will be our next president.”

At one point, Mr. Perry asked those in the audience to pray for President Obama. “Father, we pray for our president, that you impart your wisdom upon him, that you would guard his family,” he said.

Mr. Perry addressed the crowd nine days after a federal judge dismissed a lawsuit filed against him by a national group of atheists arguing that his participation in the rally in his official capacity as governor violated the First Amendment’s requirement of separation of church and state.

Members and supporters of that group, the Wisconsin-based Freedom From Religion Foundation, were among dozens of people protesting outside the stadium. Others included gay activists who criticized Mr. Perry for supporting the American Family Association, which organized and financed the rally. The association is a conservative evangelical group based in Mississippi that is listed as an antigay hate group by the nonprofit Southern Poverty Law Center.

Mr. Perry had invited his fellow governors to join him, but only Gov. Sam Brownback of Kansas, a Republican, attended. Gov. Rick Scott of Florida made a video statement that was played in the stadium.

[Dog Walker]

Yes, there is an American Christian equivalent of the Taliban who would love to see their beliefs made into law and enforced on the rest of us.  Scary indeed.

[stephenc]

What's scary is to see how far our country has turned away for the God that has blessed us for so long. God bless Gov. Perry.

[ronchamblin]

What's scary is to see how far our country has turned away for the God that has blessed us for so long. God bless Gov. Perry.

Has some kind of god really blessed us?  Which one, as there have been many thousands through the centuries.  Apparently I've been too busy, and therefore unaware of this condition of being blessed.  How long has this been going on?  Do you have any evidence of this blessing activity?  Please place it upon this thread, as it seems to be a good thing, and I do not wish to miss any good thing.   

[MusicMan]

"A crowd of 30,000."    Let's see, Houston is the third largest population center in the US with about 12 million folks living in the greater metropolitan area, so 30,000 seems incredibly small to me. If they had offered free hotdogs it would have been full.................I don't think feeding hungry people is on their "TO DO" list.

Maybe they could just pray for rain. Then we could see some evidence of God hearing and then answering their prayers.

I love the way this is being presentred as a Republican event. This from the party that is opposed to free school lunches for poor students, that thinks that is a bad use of tax payers dollars, that wants to slash education budgets, that thinks unemployment insurance is used to pay for condos in Vail....................

But back to the topic, it was rather thoughtful to pray for President Obama. I guess if this event is succesful and God answers the prayers then we will come roaring out of this "recession," and Texas will again become the green and verdant place it was in the past. Oh yeah, and Obama is bound to be re-elected.   

[MusicMan]

Let me re-phrase my previous comment. 30,000 is pathetically small. Indivcative of Gov Perry's chances to become our next President. What is not mentioned is the 24/7 advertising this event received on many of the SuperPower Evangelical radio networks that stretch across our country and smother the geographical area that served this event. Those stations claim millions of listeners in their audience.  Were they busy, or on vacation?

Obama could have filled that stadium with 2 days notice.

"A Call to Prayer for A Nation In Crisis"??  How about this: have every church in America simply pay real estate taxes on their real estate holdings? That would be a huge help for a Nation in Crisis!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[JeffreyS]

The next President will be Obama or Romney. However Romney may not win the nomination. 

[Garden guy]

I wonder if we can force Texas to secede?.....that state is such an embarrassment.

[Lunican]

You can view Rick Perry's stellar college transcript here: http://www.scribd.com/fullscreen/61684192

[Garden guy]

Too bad we can't view any files pertaining to his thievery of our government.

[RMHoward]

Funnny how you leftists are terrified of folks like Perry who have actually been successful at presiding over a government.  And yet the current US regime led by the talking suit doesnt bother you one bit. Texas, an embarrassment?  Thats idiodic.  You people compare tea party folks to terrorists, and now compare Perry's religious views to being similar to the Taliban.  Like one of those comedians said; "You can't fix stupid".  How true.  You cant argue with them either. 

[KuroiKetsunoHana]

Funnny how you leftists are terrified of folks like Perry who have actually been successful at presiding over a government.  And yet the current US regime led by the talking suit doesnt bother you one bit. Texas, an embarrassment?  Thats idiodic.  You people compare tea party folks to terrorists, and now compare Perry's religious views to being similar to the Taliban.  Like one of those comedians said; "You can't fix stupid".  How true.  You cant argue with them either.

'current US regime'?  what about it is supposed to bother us?  for that matter, when you use the word 'regime', are you doïng so because ov the word's actual definition, or (as i suspect) because ov the implication ov authoritarianism?

...oh yeah, one more question:  can you define 'leftist' in any way more meaningful than 'anyöne who disagrees with you politically and distrusts republicans'?  because it's a dreadfully vague phrase, full ov implied invective, and i'd love to know at whom you're actually pointing it.

edit:  what the hell is this thread doïng in the downtown section?

[RMHoward]

Well, since you asked.  My definition of "leftist" especially as it pertains to this forum would be as follows:  If a Republican said the sky was blue, a leftists would argue tirelessly that the sky was any other color  than blue rather than be in the unenviable position of actually agreeing with the Republican.  A leftists would rather see the US fail at any endeavor led by a Republican President, whether it be war, economic health, etc. rather than see any credit given to that President, or his party.  A leftist will, in a heartbeat, call you a racist, homophobe or even a terrorist if you happen to disagree with this President's policies.  A leftists hates the thought of our international borders (especially the one with Mexico) being closed to anyone who wants to cross into our country.  A leftist will argue that: certainly the State of California should provide free college tuition (among other services) to the children of illegal immigrants just because they have been here forever, regardless of the fact that they 1.  cant afford it, and 2. its wrong, 3. the taxpayers foot the bill 4. children of legal immigrants are not given this.  A leftist will ignore the fact that unions in this country are out of control and hurting the competitiveness of our evil rich corporations.  Leftists will insist on continued exorbinate union benefits regardless of whether companies, states, local govts can afford them or not.  A leftist will insist on unending unemployment benefits for everyone.  If someone suggest otherwise, then they brand them as being uncaring or heartless. A leftist never accepts responsibility for his/her actions/policies and is skilled at shifting blame and will not hesitate to do so (talk to W about this).  There is no "the buck stops here" sign on current leftist desk.    So, now you hopefully have an idea of what my definition of what a leftist actually is.  Perhaps it doesnt match what you have been taught, or teach in your elitist circles.  And as for the word regime, I meant it in the negative way that it came across.  It fits nicely with the countless (how many) CZARs appointed by the talking suit that answer to no one and ride roughshod over all those evil wealthy corporations.

[ronchamblin]

edit:  what the hell is this thread doïng in the downtown section?

Sorry about that.  It should have been in the politics section.  First mistake I've ever maad. 

[KuroiKetsunoHana]

Well, since you asked...

by that definition, i'm pretty sure i've never met any leftists.  and i don't have an 'elitist circle', though i can't help but wonder why anyöne who's not ashamed ov their education is branded an elitist and treated with disdain, especially by republicans.  you guys gave us shit for jimmy carter because he was a (relatively) uneducated peanut farmer, then you turned around and gave us shit for obama because he has a better vocabulary than a third grader--what exactly do you want in terms ov education and intelligence?

regarding your usage ov 'regime', the past decade (longer, actually, but let's keep it reasonably recent) have shown that oversight is necessary, because those 'evil wealthy corporations' really do tend to behave in an 'evil' (or at least highly unethical) manner if left unchecked.  obama's administration hasn't done anything that interferes with my freedom, and i doubt it has done anything that interferes with yours.