I Thought Rick Perry Had What America Needs - Now I'm Not So Sure

Governor Rick Perry of Texas

UPDATE: October 28, 2011:

I am extremely disappointed in Rick Perry. I really thought (as I stated in my prior post below) that he had what it takes as a leader, veteran, and presidential candidate. Sadly, he has proven that he lacks many of the attributes I require in a president.

His stand on illegal aliens is unacceptable. To allow in-state tuition for illegals is simply another magnet to draw them across the border. Also, his refusal to build a fence to supplement our border security makes no sense whatsoever.

But the clincher for me has been his terrible appearance on the Republican debates. Failing to show up with a solid economic plan for the first couple of debates shows that he has not adequately prepared for this race. His almost childish criticism of Mitt Romney because one of Romney's subcontractors had illegals on the payroll was absurd and, truthfully, rude. Romney handled the situation as he should have. I'll just bet that some of Rick Perry's subcontractors had illegals as well and he never knew it. We all probably have landscapers, roofers, or other companies that do work for us. It is not our job to check the citizenship status of a company's employees. It should be the company's responsibility.

Now Perry has decided to forego some or all of the rest of the debates. This is a poor decision. But the real problem is what would happen if Perry debated Obama. Obama is a skilled debater and orator; he would rip Perry to shreds. The presidential debates will happen within a couple of months of the election. A failure by Perry then would surely leave Barack Obama in the White House for four more years. That will be a tragedy of epic proportions.

I don't know who I will support at this point, but it won't be Rick Perry unless he wins the nomination.

After all, I'd vote for Bugs Bunny over Barack Obama...

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Original post of June 30, 2011:

You can't argue with success, and you have to admire real world experience. Governor Rick Perry of Texas seems to have it all. Not only is he the most successful governor in America, he also served in the Air Force as a captain and a pilot. That makes him a fellow warrior. Although he has not yet announced that he's running, he has all the attributes to be a terrific President of the United States.

His tremendous success as governor of America's second largest state has been a great achievement. Of all the jobs created in America over the last few years, almost half of them were in Texas. He has molded a business-friendly environment that has encouraged many corporations to relocate to Texas from failing states like California. If he used the same formula for the entire country, he could put an end to the Obama Depression, give businesses the incentive to bring their factories home to America, and get millions of jobless Americans back to work.

Here is his biography from the Texas governor's website:  http://www.governor.state.tx.us/about/

Take a good look at Rick Perry. If he decides to run, he may be the right man to punch a hole in the Obama windbag...

Charles M. Grist
www.MyLastWar.com