Rick Perry: A Probable Presidential Contender

Rick Perry, Governor of Texas, was a Republican Presidential Candidate whom would ultimately lose the race for his party’s nomination to Mitt Romney in the 2012 Republican primaries. It is commonly believed that Rick Perry has his eyes set on the presidency.

Governor Perry was lampooned by his own party for two (Primary reasons) seeming uniformed and (more importantly not being conservative enough, a man not ready to lead the United States of America. Furthermore Perry did not come off conservative enough to gain the votes required to emerge as his party’s nominee for President of the United States.

For the past two years Perry has attempted to reinvent his public image. Who he is trying to be seems simple (and may prove effective) a zealous defender of American conservatism.

This new image has already shown. As we have seen during the border crisis which involves underage immigrants slipping over the Mexican-Texan border, Perry is attempting to come off as an uncompromising conservative whom will not allow for US sovereignty to be violated.

Such a persona has manifested itself in several ways. For one Perry issued his famous quip “I appreciate the offer to greet you at Austin-Bergstrom Airport, but a quick handshake on the tarmac will not allow for a thoughtful discussion.” After refusing President Barack Obama’s invitation for a handshake on the tarmac immediately upon Obama arriving in Texas via Air Force One.

Perry as stated above must appear to be a fully entrenched conservative. The issue wasn’t Perry not wanting a photo-op, he would go on to release several of those, instead (as all far right Republicans know) Perry must be publicly against Obama on all issues (ranging from simple photo-ops to the implementation of a national healthcare system) in order to have a shot at a presidential run.

For a guy whom appears to detest so called photo-ops Perry is sure good at setting one up. It wasn’t long after refusing Obama’s invitation that he released this picture.

The above picture is simply an example of Perry’s tough guy conservative persona. Perry as stated above cannot positively associate himself with Obama, lest the Republican voter base catch wind.

I undoubtedly believe that Perry will seek the Republican nomination for President of the United States in 2016, will he win such a covet prize, that remains to be seen.

 

Immigration, Obama, and the Children

President Obama must confront an immigration crisis, one that touches the very fabric of America’s national character. Children from Latin American countries, countries often with high rates of crime and poverty, are encouraged by their parents to make a dangerous hundred miles long journey to the United States. These parents do care and love their children, they believe that the only way for their children to live a life free from poverty and crime is through immigration to the US, whether that be legal or otherwise.

President Obama along with Congress must respond to the children coming over our borders and into the Unites States. President Obama is being criticized by Republicans for not going to the border and confronting the issue personally. While I do believe President Obama should go down to the border to show that he is taking an active interest in the well being of these children I also believe that such a gesture would be largely symbolic.

President Obama is on the right path (or should I say the left path, pun intended) asking Congress to appropriate him $3.7 billion to deal with the influx of youth immigrants from Latin America. Yet Republicans seem to be addressing political brinksmanship then attempting to solve the problem of the illegal minor immigrants. Instead they blame Obama for the current problem for not providing the US-Mexico border with enough security throughout his tenure as President of the United States.
I do not agree with the GOP on this issue. There is more border security personnel patrolling the border under President Obama then under President Bush yet Republicans still blame President Obama for the current immigration crisis.

If the Republican Caucus of Congress wishes to solve this crisis, instead of shifting blame upon President Obama, they should agree to his $3.7 billion appropriation measure.