White House 2016

On Friday, Texas Governor Rick Perry made for a very animated speaker who addressed the conservative Republican in a manner more conversational than oratorical. Yet what he may have lacked in poetic rhetoric, he more than made up for in a hard hitting discussion that struck at the heart of what troubles conservatives. As he put it, we are most bothered by an overly controlling federal government and deeply concerned with the federal governments willful neglect of their responsibilities.One such responsibility that he brought up was controlling our border. Perry said

Border security is one of Washington, D.C.s essential responsibilities. Yet they continue their record of abject failure in that area.

Perry also spoke of his love of the 10^th Amendment which so poetically declares a faith in the government closest to the people is truly the best government. He added that a constitutionally limited government is one of the most critical aspects of our nation and of freedom. In one of his most eloquent remarks, Perry stated;

Our responsibility is to unite in ending the federal binds that tie our hands together and return to the visions of our founders.

He added;

We must handcuff the big spenders by simplifying our tax code and adopting a balanced budget amendment to the Constitution.

Along the way, Governor Perry, like several others who spoke before CPAC, held up Texas as

the one state in the nation all others should aspire to.

This was in large part due to its status as the state that stands as number one in job creation, a distinction that the rest of the nation is sorely in need of improving. Perry also took the opportunity to promote Texas, or rather his leadership in Texas, by comparing his record to the liberal record of our federal government and that between all their regulation, taxation and spending, tell the federal government, enough! and urged everyone to pick up their cell phones and text 95613 Fed UP and he will keep you tuned in to what were doing in Texas.

Perrys speech was well received and well delivered but I could not help but notice one thing. I can see onesuperficial but stillproblematicimagethata potential Perry presidential campaignis likely torun in to. There were many times when I could not help but see a lot of President G. W. Bush in Perry.Aside from the understandable and obvious similarities in syntax and accent, Perry exhibited mannerisms that just made him eerily similar to the former President. One especially noticeable mannerism was what I would call the Bush shrug. Now for me this is not a problem, but for more moderate and even left leaning voters, this may be a silly draw back.

But then again, I have seen Perry deliver many speeches in a more statesman-like style, His recent State of the state Address is one example. When he focuses on his delivery, he doesnt come across quite so Bush-like. He might want to consider that when and if he campaigns outside of the South, where unfortunately George W. Bush is more of a liability than a benefit. For them, its bad enough that Perry is from Texas.