After 13 years having him as governor we in Texas have a pretty good idea who Rick Perry is. He is a conservative’s conservative – direct, personable, good looking and effective.
The “Texas Model” of low taxes and light regulation has been a huge success. Texas has created 30 percent of all private sector jobs in the United States over the past decade. Though down from their highs, poll numbers for Rick Perry in Texas remain strong.
Having announced that he won’t seek re-election in Texas in 2014, he refuses to rule out another White House bid in 2016. By all that’s right and holy in politics, he has earned that right. Rick Perry has been a very successful governor of a very big, very successful state.
But I hope he thinks long and hard before jumping in. His first attempt at the White House in 2012 turned into a Saturday Night Live sketch. His “oops” moment during one of the GOP debates when he couldn’t remember the name of the cabinet-level department he intended to eliminate was painful to say the least.
He will not be fairly treated by the national media. Any misstep, no matter how insignificant, will lead to portrayals of Perry as another tongue-tied Texas hick.
The election in 2016 is a “must win” for the Republican Party. If Rick Perry were to get the nomination and then have another “oops” moment, it would likely doom us to a Hillary Clinton presidency.
And if the GOP can’t win the White House following the eight year winter of Obama discontent, it may never win the White House again.
I don’t think Rick Perry was ready then, and I don’t think he’s ready now. He still has too many “oops” moments even now. It just doesn’t come to the forefront of the news like it did during the presidential campaign.
There are also too many Texans who remember his 2 biggest campaign promises that put him over the top in the last race for governor. he said, “If the federal government won’t close Texas borders, I will.” He hasn’t.
He said, “I WILL lower property taxes in Texas.” He hasn’t. They did some Al Gore math, and made it look like they did, BUT my property taxes have gone up every year on both my properties in Texas (Houston and Lindale).
I will, of course, support him if he runs against Hillary or any other lib, but to say he is ready for presidential bid….I have my doubts.
I agree; no to Perry.
Perry has too much baggage.
If you think the dems will assume a GOP ‘deserves’ to win , how you do not know them.
They will fight using everything they can manufacture.
Let’s not give them something to begin with.
Keep Perry at home where he is not pummeled each day. I love Perry but am humiliated by ‘oops’.
Stay home Perry, please.
We also don’t need another McCain either. He has been in lock step with the dems far too long.
We have to have a fighter who is not afraid to say what he stands for, and knows how to say it so that people understand clearly. I’m tired of GOP dance instructors who dance around the issues better than Fred Astaire. Tell it like it is or shut up and move on.
I’m liking Ted Cruz, Rand Paul, so far. Still early.