Posted on 12/13/2011 1:16:44 AM PST by Cincinatus' Wife
If you go out to dinner at a local Margarita's restaurant, it is hard to miss one of the most popular dishes — the fajitas. The unmistakable sizzling, popping sound of a cracking hot plate covered in steak draws attention from diners throughout the restaurant, and that sound is an integral part of the dining experience. But no one would order fajitas if all they got was the noise — we enjoy the sizzle, but what we really want is the steak.
While several of the candidates for the Republican Presidential nomination have proven themselves more than capable of producing sizzle, I believe Governor Rick Perry is the best choice for those seeking steak. While his troubles in debates have been well documented and acknowledged — Top Ten excuse #4: "I had a five hour energy drink six hours before the debate." — he is a demonstrated champion of small government, and his reform proposals during the campaign have been unmatched in their audacity, their insight, and in their willingness to attack the core problems plaguing our nation.
While other candidates have turned to bureaucracies to solve problems, Perry has a record of smaller government. As the only Texas governor since World War II to actually reduce spending, Perry has also returned tax revenues to the people, reducing property and business taxes. Recognizing the strangling effect of frivolous lawsuits, Perry signed reforms that discourage irresponsible legal action, a change which resulted in thousands of new doctors practicing in Texas. These physicians not only increase access to medical care, but bring or create thousands of new jobs.
While others claim conservative views when it suits them, ignoring records of inflating government's footprint, Perry's record buttresses his claim that he is a "conservative of conviction, not convenience."
For New Hampshire voters today, his record as Texas Governor is just an appetizer — what makes Perry particularly appealing is his slate of proposals about taxes, jobs, and reform of a Washington establishment that has clearly grown out of control. Recognizing that Washington is the problem is easy — proposing meaningful reforms that can actually be implemented is much harder — but Perry has accomplished that task.
The flat tax he proposes is elegant in the simplicity of its design, but also in its implementation. By giving individuals the choice between the current bloated system or a more simple calculation, Perry allows the free marketplace of ideas to determine which tax system will dominate, and avoids the problems which could arise from forcing taxpayers to adopt a new process of taxation.
Perry has also outlined a clear plan for reducing government spending. He would eliminate all earmarks, require that emergency spending go for actual emergencies, and cap spending at 18% of GDP —a standard that is lower than that proposed by Mitt Romney, but roughly equivalent to our spending levels over the past 60 years. In conjunction with a call for a balanced budget amendment, Perry's plan would balance the budget within this decade.
Another juicy course of Perry's plan was recently unveiled, this one focused on reforming how the federal government operates. Reacting to our current fiscal woes, the plan would freeze federal hiring and salaries until we reached a balanced budget, the exceptions being that Congressional and Presidential salaries would not be frozen; they would be cut in half! If our leaders are not able to adequately manage our fiscal affairs, it is only logical that they should feel the effects of their mismanagement. This is exactly what would happen in the private sector, and it is exactly the kind of bold thinking we need in Washington.
Perry's plan goes further, calling for a review of federal regulations, elimination of the Departments of Commerce, Education, and Energy (yes, all three!), as well as dramatic changes in Homeland Security and the EPA. His plan does not tinker at the margins or envision long term glide paths to recognize benefits at some unknown future date — it grabs Washington bureaucracy and uproots it in favor of responsible governance and increased liberty.
If you believe in small scale, incremental changes in taxes, regulation, and government operations, there are other candidates in this race. And if you require a slick, polished style, you may make a different choice.
But if you want a candidate with the vision to propose radically reducing the size of government, the executive experience to make it more effective, and the tactical ability to implement his plans, Rick Perry is the right choice. Don't settle for sizzle, hold out for steak. Vote for Rick Perry for President.
Eliminating the Department of education and turning that responsibility back to the states would be the single best act any sitting president would do to improve the US education ranking, from its current place of #38.
As well as tackling the cost and value of a university degree — on Perry’s radar big-time.
At this point I will be happy so long as anyone other than Paul or Romney gets the nomination.
I’d actually rather have loser McCain than Romney.
We get it! You really like Rick Perry! Unfortunately (for you) it doesn’t look as though he’s headed for the nomination. You may know him better than the rest of us, but for me he’s inarticulate and unsure of himself to the point where I think he would not be an effective leader. That said, if he gets the nomination, he will get my vote in November of 2012.
Yes.
Instapundit suggested that Khan Academy is probably at the forefront of education, by providing videos that are produced by top-notch teachers that anybody can watch over the internet, in reducing the costs of education.
One professor giving a lesson for the entire country. Not 10,000 professors or assistant profs.
Get Perry some great speechwriters and a great public speaking coach if you want him to win.
Looks can be deceiving. And this isn't "for me." Gov. Rick Perry is what the country needs now. He will stop the Marxist march over the cliff, energize the economy, balance the budget, stand with our allies and move power back back to the states.
Keep listening and watching. You must have missed some of his appearances.
Why are you bothered so much by CW posting a piece on Perry ?
And Thomas Jefferson could barely dress himself (seriously!).
The fact is that Perry has a great record as governor and he’s laid out a doable plan to reduce spending by hundreds of billions of dollars.
That is what I see in Rick Perry, too. Debates are not his forte, but when he speaks from the gut-like when he said, Newt's comments about the Palestinians being an invented people was not important. Obama letting the Iranians have our spy drone with no attempt to protect, retrieve, or safeguard our technology was important.
That was the real Rick Perry-passionate, fed up, and telling it like it is in a straight forward fashion.
I was surprised Perry kept his cool on Sunday with Chris Wallace who seemed quite contemptuous of Perry, rather than just a neutral interviewer.
I’m one native New Englander who has zero interest in eating fajitas. Not at all appetizing.
A lot of people have commented on that. You could have cut Wallace's contempt and annoyance with a knife.
Gov. Perry (TX has world's 13th largest economy) is the only candidate that understands what needs to be done, understands how to navigate government -- but wants power returned to the states -- and who will do it!
And the joker we have in there now is........
Right, because someone inarticulate and unsure of himself wouldn't be able to run the 13th largest economy in the world or turn an ordinary state into the thriving, pulsing with with growth and prosperity economic miracle that Texas has become under his watch.......oh wait.....
Perry is a proven leader, just ask all those businesses that are relocating to Texas who talked them into that.
To all those who are against Perry for Pres........He sure as h e l l would better than Buckwheat and his band of merry robbers.
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