A Perry Resurgence?

Rick Perry, as my partner here has pointed out, is receiving endorsements from conservative bloggers in something of a flurry as the recognition of a Romney-Gingrich fight for the nomination is regarded, rightly, as unacceptable. The present Gingrich, Romney, Paul scenario strikes many of us as a Tweedledee, Tweedledum, and Tweedledumber incarnation of the status quo. I have made no attempt to hide my displeasure with Gingrich and have documented his associations with Freddie Mac and the ethanol lobby along with a less than strong pro-life record. I have ignored Romney and Paul for the simple reason that I do not believe either of these two shop worn candidates can gather as much as thirty percent of the primary vote. The Republican primary voters would like to nominate someone like Rick Perry or Michele Bachmann, to establish a clean break with the past. Perry seemed to be on a glide path to the nomination until the debates but after two disastrous performances he wilted like a morning glory in the mid day sun. Now the question is can he get his act together and be about the serious business of sending Obama packing. Can the Perry the public has seen be the same Perry who gunned down long time Texas Senator Kay Bailey Hutchinson? Is this the Governor Perry who Texans compare to Bill Clinton for his campaign prowess? Clearly the Governor has been off his game and there may be a medical reason for that. Governor Perry had back surgery on July 1 of this year and entered the race on the sixteenth of August. There have been questions about the orthopedic style shoes he has worn in lieu of his cowboy boots. At the Miami debate Liliana Ros, Miami-Dade County Republican Party State Committeewoman said, "He grabbed my hand and held on to it. His hand was so cold, like ice. And he was sweating," Ros said. "He didn't seem well, like he was in pain or he was sick or something. I don't know what it was, but something was definitely wrong." Other insiders report that Perry was pained when forced to stand for the two hour debates and was fatigued after the first hour.

If Perry can get get his game back he has much to offer an excited Republican electorate. He has presided over the most vigorous economy in the western hemisphere. The Texas economic model of low taxes and limited regulation, which Perry inherited has created jobs while the rest of the nation languished in recession. Do not believe those who would sell the Texas economy short. It is both diversified and robust. Perry does indeed have a strong resume so what is the problem? The problem is Perry running in a party that as far as the Washington segment is concerned, defines winning as eking out a one seat majority in the Senate. Washington Republicans liked McCain better without Sarah Palin. Washington Republicans equate Perry with Sarah Palin. So do I and that is a positive. Palin and Perry have a flamboyance and optimism that is alien to a political establishment that frets about global warming and what the Europeans think of the country. Perry is prone to swing for the fences while they are content to place show bets on favorites.

The Washington Republicans are always ready to concede that their candidate is not intellectually on the same level as the media-hyped Democrat. In 2008 Peggy Noonan took a special delight in critiquing every statement, every slip of the tongue Sarah Palin made. Rick Perry has an eleven year record of success and Obama has a three year record of abject failure yet the Republican establishment thinks Obama with his undocumented academic record at three universities is someone to fear. If Perry is the nominee the election is not going to hinge on Perry's "d" in organic chemistry but rather Obama's documented presidential record of failure, cronyism, and corruption.