I like Rick Perry

As much as many of us admire Senators Rand Paul and Ted Cruz their winning the GOP nomination is problematic to say the least. With the help of a presidential father George W. Bush was able to win the nomination on his first try. All other modern day Republicans including Ronald Reagan needed at least one trial run. There is also the experience factor. In the wake of the disaster that is Obama Republican primary voters will be justifiably wary of turning over the presidency to another first term senator.
Governors can make a more compelling case for their nominations by virtue of having governed. They are the administrators who have faced recalcitrant bureaucracies, budget deficits, Mediterranean fruit flies, natural disasters, bridge lane closures and in some extreme case prison time. Their responses to these problems frequently decide the outcome of their aspirations to higher office.
If Republican primary voters would vote solely on the strength of a candidate's resume Rick Perry would be the only choice. If Rick Perry could focus solely on his resume he might be able to convince the voters to do the same. How does Politifact rate this statement, "Over the last 10 years, Texas created 33 percent of the net new jobs nationwide?" It rates it as true.
A third of all jobs in the country were created in Perry's state on his watch. That is an awesome fact! Yes, but he had the Permian Basin and the Eagle Ford Shale formations. He also had hurricanes, in migration both legal and illegal which create problem that can snarl growth and the drilling moratorium following the BP oil spill. My point is he has been an outstanding governor who has resisted the impulse to try to run economy but has contented himself to be a laissez faire custodian.
But will he be a credible candidate in the general election? You mean as compared to Romney or McCain? For my money he is the pick of the litter. If he stay on message he cannot be beat. After 14 years as a governor of a border state he probably knows more about the practical side of immigration enforcement and border security than the entire US Senate. His experience in immigration policy and energy policy are assets no other candidate can match.
When he's called upon he can excite the base like few others, save Paul and Cruz. Here he brought down the house at CPAC.
 




Leave your gun at home, Rick. The voters already know how you feel about the second amendment. The same with abortion and same sex marriage. Don't compare homosexuals to alcoholics and alcoholic to homosexual. Your long suit is creating jobs and that will be more than enough for most voters. People want to hear about their children's future not free condoms that you don't approve of or open carry that you do. Make the argument about jobs and no one in either party can touch you.