Perry avoids controversial topics

Rick Perry avoided controversial topics during his speech to the Values Voter Summit on Friday and instead played up the his conservative agenda as the governor of Texas.

During the address to the large gathering of conservatives, Perry focused on Texas' economic record during his years as governor and how low taxes, sparse regulation and tort reform helped the state grow jobs during the recession.

"The only kind of stimulus that will work is the kind that puts more money in your pocket, not governments," he said.

He addressed the topic of immigration but did not mention the Texas law allowing the children of illegal immigrants to receive in-state tuition. Instead, Perry focused on border security.

Perry upset conservatives last month when he referred to those who did not support his decision to allow in-state tuition for the children of illegal immigrants as "heartless."

"I have lived and breathed this issue as a border state governor," he said. "As a border governor I know firsthand the failures of our federal border policy, and I know the answers to those failures is not to grant amnesty to those who have broke the law to come to this country."

Perry also did not address an executive order he signed requiring Texas girls to get a vaccine against a sexually transmitted disease that can cause cervical cancer. Perry said later he should have made the program opt-in.

Instead Perry pointed to legislation he signed that banned third trimester abortions, implemented an informed consent form and defunded Planned Parenthood.

"For some candidates 'pro life' is an election-year slogan follow the prevailing political winds; for me it is about the absolute principle every human being is entitled to life," he said.

I'm wondering why the press hasnt questioned him about the wild fires where he was..!
If he runs the USA like he does Texas when hurricanes, fires, earthquakes or war happens; what will we do?!

Romney, Perry and Cain. 3-way tie

Three September debates have shaken-up the race for the Republican presidential nomination. Herman Cain has jumped into the top tier. Rick Perry’s stumbled. Mitt Romney's holding steady.

And Michele Bachmann is hitting bottom.

The new poll found Cain’s support has nearly tripled among GOP primary voters to 17 percent.

That is up 6 percent before this month’s debates, and puts him in what is essentially a three-way tie with Perry and Romney.

Cain has benefited not only from his debate performances, but also significant media attention after winning the Florida Republican Party’s straw poll on Saturday.

Perry now garners 19 percent, a drop of 10 percentage points from a month ago. That puts Romney back in the top spot with the support of 23 percent. Last month Romney was at 22 percent.

Republicans are much happier with the GOP field these days. The number saying they are at least somewhat impressed with their slate of candidates has increased 19 points -- from 44 percent in April to 63 percent now.

Charles Hurt and George Zornick talked about politics and the 2012 presidential race. Topics included the Republican 2012 presidential field, the New Hampshire Republican debate, President Obama's latest job approval ratings, the possibility of a double-dip recession, and Representative Anthony Weiner's political future.

http://www.c-spanvideo.org/program/2012PresidentialPolitics3/start/0/stop/352

Pennsylvania electoral college G.O.P

Republicans in Pennsylvania are considering a proposal that would award 18 of the state’s 20 electoral votes to the winner of each of its congressional districts, leaving the remaining 2 to the winner of the state at large.

If the proposal was in 2008, when Pennsylvania had one more electoral vote prior to reapportionment, Obama would have carried only 11 of the state’s 21 electoral votes despite winning Pennsylvania by a 10-point margin.

The plan would create the possibility, in fact, that the winner of the popular vote in Pennsylvania could come away with fewer electoral votes from the state. Pennsylvania’s congressional districts are heavily gerrymandered and the Democratic vote is concentrated in the dense urban areas of Philadelphia and Pittsburgh. Republicans have a 12-7 edge now in the state’s congressional delegation, and are in charge of its redistricting process. With Pennsylvania needing to lose one seat because of slow population growth, they will try to consolidate Democratic voters into six districts while reinforcing their own.