I don’t know what to think about Rick Perry running for President. I sure don’t have anything against him running, but several points as to Perry’s political strengths,
1. Perry gets a lot of credit because Texas under his governorship has had population increase and a (relatively) low unemployment while keeping taxes and spending low. What (if anything) does it tell us that Minnesota had a lower unemployment rate than Texas when Tim Pawlenty finished up as governor?
2. Perry won three terms as governor and that is impressive. Then again, the Democrats haven’t been able to win a race for Texas governor or Senator from Texas since 1990. During that time, the sorry Massachusetts Republican Party has won three governor races and one Senate race. Isn’t Pawlenty’s reelection in Democratic-leaning Minnesota in the horrible (for Republicans) year of 2006 more politically impressive than any Perry election result?
3. Perry has suggested secession if he doesn’t get his own way on policy, and suggested that Texas opt-out of Medicaid. Now, no one has to worry that Perry is going to lead a violent attempt to dismember our country. When Perry made the secession comment, he was trying to out “white Southern populist” Kay Bailey Hutchison in the race for the Republican gubernatorial nomination. The nursing home residents of Texas also don’t have to worry that Perry will pull out of Medicaid (and the state legislature of Texas doesn’t have to worry about laying new taxes to substitute for the resulting losses of federal funds.) All the indications are that Perry was just shooting his mouth off. How will this style play on the big stage?
