Sunday's On the Phone to Monday: August 6th and 7th

Ricky Perry's Prayer Summit

Separation of what?

Over the weekend, Texas Governor Rick Perry, having not received the memo regarding the separation of Church and State, held a "prayer" summit called The Response in Houston to appeal to God to help us solve the nation's problems, which had apparently, not been thought of to do before.

More relevantly, Perry gave no indications that he was going to run for President, though insiders have all suggested that his announcement regarding a potential campaign would be in the coming weeks.  

The general perception is that he's far more likely to run than former Alaska Governor Sarah Palin, because of his supposed appeal to fiscal and social conservatives. 

However, the article does note that the Anti-Defamation League and the ACLU protested the event because only Christian speakers were invited to attend and present.

The fact that the event was not made with more protestation should be an indicator to everyone that no one is paying attention.  George Washington, John Adams and Thomas Jefferson didn't hold national day of prayers and the GOP, despite their love of the Founding Fathers, never see it fit to illuminate this fact.

Also, the event drew more than thirty thousand attendants, many reporters and journalists who were looking for something from Perry regarding a run.  They were disappointed to find that there would be no comment.  However, this is to Perry's credit.  He had announced the event months ago and the interest in the event has grown strictly on his possible involvement in the nomination campaign.  He didn't hijack the event for his own presidential aspirations, though should he chose to run, it's pretty clear that mention of this event would find its way to the voters.

Perry at the event remarked that God was wise enough "to not be affiliated with any man-made institutions."  This is going to come as a disappointment to the hip-hop music industry and that other man-made institution, the United States of America.

This blogger hopes that Rick Perry doesn't run because I don't have the energy for it.

Tim Pawlenty Doesn't Want A Talk Show.  In case there was any confusion about that.

Read my lips:  No 3pm timeslot!

When former Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty announced his bid for the White House, I thought to myself "That fool is just trying to get a talk show on basic calbe!"  I assume that this was the mindset of most Americans.  After all, Tim Pawlenty seems like the talk show type: he has some vague charm and charisma, talks about things that are unpopular and doesn't mind being associated with sleeze (he is a politician, ZING!)

Pawlenty said this weekend in Iowa that "I'm not doing this to get a cable TV show or some sort of gig down the road... I'm doing this because our country is in trouble and we need real leadership to solve real problems and that's what I offer."  Tim Pawlenty:  He's the guy that won't take a conciliatory position or a job in the meantime, like that asshole Mike Huckabee.  Tim Pawlenty doesn't care if his band from college is getting back together for a minor tour of the Upper Midwest, no, sir!  Pawlenty is interested in only one thing and that is the White House and that's his offer.

In honesty, though I make fun, there's nothing wrong with a statement like this.  Pawlenty is desperate to try and break away from the heard.  Really, I'm doing the guy a favor by writing a portion of a post about him.  But that's not the real trouble behind the Pawlenty campaign.  He's spending a lot of his campaign money on the Ames Straw Poll, which is coming up this week.

I've mentioned the futility of the straw poll in the previous week poll, but since Pawlenty must have somehow missed my post on it, I shall reiterate:  it doesn't really matter who wins the straw poll or not.  The person who wins the straw poll rarely goes on to win the state caucus.  Ask Mitt Romney: he won last time and then had to spend the next six months explaining to everyone that Mormons don't have horns growing out of their heads.  This is in spite of whatever they were talking about The Response.

And speaking of Straw Polls:

The Ames Straw Poll is this Saturday August 13th at the Hilton Coliseum in (you guessed it) Ames, Iowa.  The straw poll is intended as a bellweather for the GOP campaigns in Iowa, and generally does nothing to change the nature of the debate.  No serious candidate for President became cock-of-the-walk because they won the Ames Straw Poll.  

But two candidates, Romney and Hunstman, are not involved the poll on Saturday.  Huntsman has made it clear that he's not really going to pay attention to Iowa and is making his serious play in New Hampshire (an effort that this blogger applauds but will also point out that this may bite him in the ass later on).  Romney on the other hand has the capital on hand to maintain a campaign and can certainly outspend candidates like Pawlenty handily.  However, Romney isn't completely ignoring the state.  After all, he was doing extremely well before Bachmann stepped in (and in some polls, is still doing pretty darn well.)  Buddy Roemer is also putting his chips on New Hampshire and undoubtedly will not make much of a showing at the Ames Straw Poll

I wonder how she feels about America... hmm...

Candidates who are  in the straw poll include Newt Gingrich, Rick Santorum, Michele Bachamnn, Ron Paul (who I keep forgetting is running for President) and Herman Cain.  The general consensus on the blog-o-sphere is that the straw poll is going to have to weed somebody out.  The candidate that would have the most to lose would be Tim Pawlenty.  Again, he has spent a good deal of money in Iowa and needs something to show for sit.  Bachmann can take the win or leave it.  Newt Gingrich, Herman Cain and Rick Santorum need a publicized shot in the arm for their campaigns and the Ames Straw Poll might give a little bit of a boost, but it certainly won't give them the caucus votes outright.

This blog isn't going to make any predictions as to who they think is going to win the Straw Poll, again, I don't think that it necessary and history has shown that it's not an accurate predictor.  However, if Tim Pawlenty doesn't win the Ames Straw poll, he'll have nothing to show for his campaigning efforts and he may pack up shop within a month of the dreaded results.

Well, shucks, here goes somethin'!

---

You can also follow me on Twitter @truthissoap