The Perry Possibility
Aug/17/11 10:26 AM
So the Republican race for president finally seems to be heating up now that Rick Perry has joined and snoozer Tim Pawlenty has quit. Rasmussen released a poll today showing that Perry has skyrocketed past Mitt Romney 29% to 18% in the few days he has officially been in the race.
Most know that I’m a big Mitt Romney fan and I think he’d make a great president. So, what do I think about the emergence of this serious challenger? I’m intrigued by Perry. On the one hand, he’s the ultimate politician, which I generally don’t like. If one could win shaking hands and kissing babies, it would be Perry. But on the other, he’s been governor for over a decade, with mostly successful results. He espouses conservative positions, even though he endorsed Rudy Giuliani in 2008 and Al Gore back in the late 1980s. And he seems like a human character.
But, what I like most about Perry is his energy and refusal to apologize for his political opinions. He shows unending enthusiasm and optimism, while beaming with seemingly genuine pride in America and all it stands for. These are traits we haven’t seen in the White House for quite some time. Watching his announcement speech in South Carolina on Saturday, I could almost feel the positive aura in the room from the Red State convention.
Perry has already stirred some trouble with his freewheeling comments, even among Republicans. He recently stated that Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke would be beat up if he visited Texas after printing more money. However, after eight years of George W. Bush letting the media and his adversaries walk all over him, I’m ready for a president that speaks his mind and refuses to back down on his principles.
As the primary season begins, I look forward to seeing how Governor Perry performs under the spotlight- or should I say microscope- of a national election. In the mean time, I’m still with Romney.
Most know that I’m a big Mitt Romney fan and I think he’d make a great president. So, what do I think about the emergence of this serious challenger? I’m intrigued by Perry. On the one hand, he’s the ultimate politician, which I generally don’t like. If one could win shaking hands and kissing babies, it would be Perry. But on the other, he’s been governor for over a decade, with mostly successful results. He espouses conservative positions, even though he endorsed Rudy Giuliani in 2008 and Al Gore back in the late 1980s. And he seems like a human character.
But, what I like most about Perry is his energy and refusal to apologize for his political opinions. He shows unending enthusiasm and optimism, while beaming with seemingly genuine pride in America and all it stands for. These are traits we haven’t seen in the White House for quite some time. Watching his announcement speech in South Carolina on Saturday, I could almost feel the positive aura in the room from the Red State convention.
Perry has already stirred some trouble with his freewheeling comments, even among Republicans. He recently stated that Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke would be beat up if he visited Texas after printing more money. However, after eight years of George W. Bush letting the media and his adversaries walk all over him, I’m ready for a president that speaks his mind and refuses to back down on his principles.
As the primary season begins, I look forward to seeing how Governor Perry performs under the spotlight- or should I say microscope- of a national election. In the mean time, I’m still with Romney.
|