Is Texas Governor Practicing Presidential Announcement Speech?

COMMENTARY | Texas Gov. Rick Perry spoke to New Yorkers Tuesday. What he told them might have been practice for a speech to the nation.

Perry's rousing speech at New York City's Grand Hyatt Hotel came off as a possible preamble to a bigger announcement. While addressing New York County Republicans, the governor hinted at running for the party in the presidential race.

Conservative

Perry announced, with no uncertainty, his conservatism and staunch confidence in applying its principles. "I'm proud to call myself a conservative, because conservatives have won the war of ideas," he said, as quoted in National Review Online. He pointed to liberals having changed their name to progressives, charging them with something less than pride in who they are.

Hiring

The allusion to the "war of ideas" must indeed be referring to jobs. The idea that jobs make the engine of the economy run isn't new to Perry. He's been putting people to work in Texas far better than any other state in the union. The state government gets out of the way of business in Texas. Perry has even recruited Californians closing up shop at home for the opportunities abounding in Texas.

Down to size

Limited government is another idea that plays in Texas. The antithesis of the current administration, Perry stands for what President Obama does not. For those seeking some hope for that change, they will find Perry already walking that talk in Texas. The nation needs more of that small government idea at the federal level. Perry would dissolve central power to the states.

Experienced

If Perry joins the party of runners, he would come with more experience for the job than most others -- certainly more than the little-experience, no-accomplishment credential of our president. Perry has been governor of Texas longer than anyone one else.

Texas-fearing

That experience comes from Bush territory. Many folks say they can't vote for another Texan. Rick Perry is not the second coming of Bush, however, as noted by Pajamas Media. I like to enlighten such Texas-fearing folks with my favorite analogy: That's like saying everybody named Stephen is stupid. Guilt by association: It's just not right.

Running?

While Perry was posturing in New York, the Republican runners vied for win, place and show on TV. In their first appearance together, the candidates presented themselves for relative comparisons in what some believed to be a flatline performance. Perry wasn't among them, at least not yet, and perhaps by choice. Many of us are waiting for his burst on the scene.

Sources:

http://www.nationalreview.com/corner/269631/perrys-draft-stump-speech-rich-lowry

http://www.nationalreview.com/corner/269653/rick-perry-speaks-stanley-kurtz