One Texan Brings About Another

Ultraconservative, populist and a fanatical Christian, he ran for the Republican nomination for the 2012 U.S. presidential election. George W. Bush? No, Rick Perry.

In the race for the Republican nomination for the 2012 elections, Rick Perry is a bit of a bull in a china shop. Having come late into the running, the governor of Texas has since dominated the competition. According to recent polls, he is even ahead of Mitt Romney, who has been the longtime favorite.

Former Boy Scout Perry, 61, is the embodiment of the hard-right-wing American. With cowboy boots and a predatory smile, he is a purebred Texan, born in the desolate plains in the western part of the state.

To Ben Bernanke, chairman of the Fed — the Federal Reserve — whom he accused of breaking down the economy, he promised a strong welcoming committee if, by chance, he had the urge to go to Texas.

He is the tea party in terms of ideas: populist through and through. He does not have words strong enough to criticize the big government and unashamedly wishes for the dismantling of Social Security, an institution that he compares to a “Ponzi scheme,” treasured by scam artist Bernard Madoff. His rallying cry? “Fed Up,” the title of his second book. In terms of morals, it is in the same vein. Like the good Boy Scout that he remained, he calls for an overhaul of America’s morality, but appears extremely fierce when it comes to enforcing compliance of the order. For the 11 years he governed Texas, he oversaw the execution of more than 230 detainees — a sinister record.

Homily

Yet, God is at the heart of Christian Methodist beliefs. In early August at a stadium in Houston, he celebrated in front of 30,000 people in a high mass-like meeting. A selected piece in his sermon read, “Father, our heart breaks for America. We see discord at home. We see fear in the marketplace. We see anger in the halls of government, and as a nation we have forgotten who made us, who protects us, who blesses us, and for that we cry out for your forgiveness.” Edifying, right?

Strangely enough, Perry has not always been the frenzied conservative that he has become. 20 years ago he was a Democrat and well-acquainted with Al Gore. In 2007, he even suggested that girls in Texas be vaccinated against a virus that causes cervical cancer — a moment of madness for which he has since apologized.

A gifted showman, Rick Perry is following in the footsteps of Sarah Palin (whose presidential intentions remain a mystery) by periodically making high-profile blunders. Examples? To him, gay men are similar to alcoholics: “Even if an alcoholic is powerless over alcohol once it enters his body, he still makes a choice to drink.” Faced with the chaos that prevails in Washington, he went as far as to threaten secession of Texas!

But Perry’s biggest handicap is his resemblance to George W. Bush, one of the worst presidents in the history of the United States, to whom he was the successor as the governor of Texas in 2000. Both rough around the edges — same drawl — one can understand that he will do anything to distinguish himself. To mark his difference, as “GWB” is the heir of an illustrious political dynasty, Perry evokes, at every chance, his popular roots — he is the son of a farmer, and his animal science degree is from an obscure Texas university.

The primary elections effectively began with the televised debate on Sept. 7. With the exception of an unforeseen surprise, the Republican nomination is expected to be played out between Perry, Romney and, perhaps, Michele Bachmann. The first has a major advantage: He governs the state that created the most jobs over the past decade — a performance in an America where the unemployment rate remains stuck at 9 percent….

He has everything to be the righter of wrongs that conservative America desperately awaits — one that will bring jobs and restore the pride of a disoriented nation. If he wins the primary election, he will have a fine card to play in 2012, facing a weakened Obama.