The Case for Rick Perry’s 2012 Presidential Bid

There has, of late, been a good deal of hemming and hawing over whether or not Texas Governor Rick Perry will soon throw his hat into the 2012 Presidential Race.  There is good reason to be skeptical.  After all, Perry has repeatedly said he’s more interested in benefiting Texas than putting himself in a position of national leadership.  On top of that, rumor has it that more time needs to elapse before another Texas governor seeks the White House.  Or maybe that’s just until another Bush runs for President.

In either case, last Friday saw a great deal of buzz over the longest-serving governor of Texas.  Will he or won’t he?  To be or not to be…

I believe Perry can run.  I believe Perry should run.  Why?  Because I believe Perry can win.

Allow me to explain.

I’ve been considering what is likely to be the #1 issue for the average voter in next year’s election, and it seems to look like this:

• Christians like to say that it is abortion, and push their pro-life agenda – demanding that abortion be declared illegal at the national level.

• Others say that it is war(s) and our level of participation in the Middle East conflicts.

• Most (and I believe the polls support this) flip between the issue of an overgrown and overweight federal government and the problem of unemployment and the need for jobs.

While I am repeatedly confused by the American public’s push for government-created jobs, I do understand their overall concerns.  Our country is in trouble financially, we are continually taxed higher than necessary, and unemployment rates are high.  The problem isn’t that the government hasn’t created jobs, though (that will only cost taxpayers more money – who do you think lines the governments’ pockets?).  The problem is that the government won’t step out of the way.

Enter Rick Perry, governor of the most successful state in the nation over the last decade.

Governor Perry has learned what it takes to create jobs.  Over and over again, Perry has done what he has needed to at the state level to make sure that government stays out of the way of businesses.  The result?  Texas added 732,800 jobs over the last 10 years.  Arizona came in 2nd at 90,200.  While California, which is wallowing in debt, has struggled for answers to their struggling economy, Texas has been sweeping up the tormented businesses leaving the Golden State with low taxes and little government intrusion.

“The door is open for business in Texas, and the Texas Enterprise Fund allows us to put that sign up in neon.” 
-Gov. Rick Perry

Perry created the Texas Enterprise Fund, which is designed to  to attract new businesses or assist with the substantial expansion of existing businesses.  TEF has been remarkably successful since its inception in 2003.  Perry also pushed the Texas Emerging Technology Fund, which was created by legislation in 2005.  The $200 million fund is designed to help create jobs and to develop Texas’ economy over the long-term by expediting the development and commercialization of new technologies and attracting and creating jobs in technology fields. (See http://governor.state.tx.us/ecodev/etf  and http://www.texaswideopenforbusiness.com/ for more details.)

“In Texas, we understand that high-tech companies don’t just happen overnight but are a product of forethought, sound vision and planning, and strategic investments by both the public and private sectors. Through our Emerging Technology Fund, we are bringing the best scientists and researchers to Texas, attracting high-tech jobs and helping start-up companies get off the ground faster.”   — Gov. Rick Perry

It’s not without reason that for the sixth year in a row, CEOs ranked Texas as the #1 state for business and job growth. (Chief Executive Magazine, March 2010)

Perry has proved that he has the know-how to create an environment where businesses thrive and jobs are created by the thousands.  He knows what it takes, and he knows what it doesn’t need.  For instance, government involvement is almost always a bad thing.  At a time when the national economy is stuck in a rut and people are looking to the federal government for answers, someone in the federal government needs to be turning the focus on small businesses and encouraging innovation… by getting out of the way.

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If the economy is the #1 problem needing solved by a 2012 candidate, there’s no better person with a proven track record than Rick Perry.  Every candidate will give their story and their plan to create jobs, but no one has said it better, or more consistently, than Perry.

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Here are a few additional reasons for Perry to run:

• Perry is a figurehead.  His charisma and commanding presence attract people.  He’s not weak, he’s not afraid to speak out, and he leads.  Our country is in need of a President who will lead it toward a more conservative agenda.

• Relating to that, Perry is not too extreme.  Democrats can’t stand Perry due to his “in your face” attitude about some things, particularly the federal government.  Many Republicans wish that Perry was even more conservative.  But as extremely liberal as Obama is, an extreme conservative is not the answer.  A slightly moderate conservative will take the lead on what needs to get done, and will work with the current situation in a way that doesn’t completely destroy our current economy.  I believe Perry can make the right sort of changes at the national level.

• What we can’t have is four more years of Obama.  If we do, we’ll be working our way out of this mess because he has completely wiped out the US economy and destroyed our relationship with the rest of the world by making our country meaningless.  In order to do that, someone who has stood up against Obama ideologically from the very beginning will need to win the primary.  Romney doesn’t fit that description.  Perry joined up with the Tea Party before it was cool, and established himself as anti-Washington.  If he joins the race and runs with that attitude, he’ll win.

• Perry already has a national audience.  His track record regarding the Texas economy alone is enough.  Combined with his anti-Washington work, Fed Up, he’s made all of the right moves.  It’s time for that next step.

I’ll finish with this parting video, describing many of the ways that Texas has established itself as the top state in the country, and all during Perry’s governorship.

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