Not so fast.... This became longer than planned...
Let's respect the personal strain running for office plays on the candidate and their family. I respect our current president and his predecessor. We live in difficult times. We need to support our leaders and not hope for our country's demise for political gain.

Everyone protects their vested interest and turf to protect. The congressmen from Iowa supports tax subsidies for ethanol. The senator from Michigan supported the auto loans. I don't see this guy or this party supporting my vested interests. His interests are big oil and big business. Big tax cuts for loss of services such as public safety, cutting tsunami warnings to folks on the coast need to be well thought out. Federal funding leads to cuts in your state and community. Hopefully we might learn more about his positions.

Jon Huntsman might be a better choice as he has more varied background as both a governor and ambassador. Perry has no experience in foreign policy.

I wouldn't quote Americans for Prosperity...FAR Right wing Koch funded anti-union mouthpiece. But I did find something later in this post. Not as bad as saying there are 57 states.
I think both George W and his mentoring student as VP, Rick Perry come across like something out of a John Wayne movie. You know the image of chopping wood and cutting brush on the ranch in Crawford. So the western boots are part of his image. Ok. His choice.
Texas was once an agrarian state. Today 6 of the largest 25 cities in the country are in Texas. Houston, Dallas, SanAntonio,Ft Worth, El Paso... From what I've read there is a technology center near Austin. Dell makes PCs in Red Rock. Petrochemical plants abound in Houston. I still envision miles of nothing from SanAntonio to ElPaso.

I really didn't know much about him other than he replaced GWB. Perry was a Texas A&M grad and was in the Air Force. After leaving the military worked in the cotton business with his father. He was elected to the Texas House as a Democrat. He was Al Gore's Texas campaign manager in the 88 primary. He switched parties in 89.Re won the Agriculture Commissioner seat, ran and won as the 1st Republican VP in 98. We succeeded GWB in 2000.
In 2010 he wrote a book called Fed Up! (didn't read it) in which he takes issue with the 16th Amendment which allows Congress to levy an income tax. He talks about state's' rights and keeping the money in the pocket of the taxpayer. He vehemently opposes gay rights and recognition of same sex marriages. He is pro life. He signed a bill that pregnant girls under 18 who decide on an abortion must notify their parents. He also believes that intelligent design should be taught alongside evolution. He supports the death penalty as Texas carried out 200 executions while he has been governor.He does not believe in climate change.He opposes greenhouse gas regulation. He did collaborate with T. Boone Pickens for alternative wind energy. I guess T.Boone has had a change of heart since. (It doesn't mean I disagree with all of these positions.)

He is a man of Christian faith. Two recent events were a state prayer service for rain in April. Since then fires in Texas and the southwest have worsened. He (Perry) tried. The Big Guy didn't intervene. Maybe it is climate change. Perry has also proposed and will host a Governor's prayer service this fall. Are these events sincere or to draw attention to himself and his campaign? GW relied on prayer and divine guidance too. I am not discounting this, but you need a plan of action and good advisors. Move quickly and decisively. Think Katrina and 911.
So Perry has been governor of Texas for 10 years. 26 years as a politician holding office since 1984. State rep, Ltnt. Gov, Agriculture Commissioner, and now Governor. He is the longest serving current governor in the nation. Another Texan, LBJ was a politician longer. So he's a lifer. For a party that wants less government that is a long time to be in government.
Some more stats...
The May Texas unemployment rate in May was 8%. Prior it was 7.7%. PA was 7.4, IL 8.9, NY 7.9,RI 10.9, MI 10.3. Texas ranked 23rd. Is that fantastic? Source Bureau of Labor Statistics http://www.bls.gov/lau/

On the AFP site he accepts the Boot Up Texas award in Minneapolis. He mentions some new online thing at the 2:30 mark in the video.Have any of you ever heard of Tweeter? Must be a teleprompter error. Maybe that Texas drawl? Or clueless. Who came up with that award? Why accept it in Minnesota? Why didn't they edit a gaffe?

25.4 % of state residents in Texas have a BA or higher, US average 27.5%, percent of population below poverty level in Texas 17.1%, US 14.3 (2009 stats) US Census Bureau This sounds like quite a few poor without much going for them.

How is Texas getting jobs? Port traffic, trade with Latin America, Oil and energy sector growth, and taxpayer funded incentives and subsidies to reel in businesses from other states. Two of the funds are the Texas Enterprise Fund
$412 million and $320 million with the Texas Emerging Technology Fund. Even if things are big in Texas that is a load of money. Maybe it was a good move. The question is will those businesses relocate again when the incentives run out?
One of his points of pride is job growth in Texas. Massachusetts had a higher rate.
More importantly, what kind of jobs are we talking about? Well Texas is tied with Mississippi with the largest percentage of workers on minimum wage. In 2007 Texas had 221,000 folks earning $7.25 an hour. Three years later 550,000 folks fit in that category. I know it is a big state, but that is a big jump.
A recent article in the WSJ praised Texas for job growth.
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB1000...710070472.html It didn't mention that the 2010 median hourly earnings per hour was $11.20 an hour while the US national average was $12.50.
As far as the budget being so great in Texas, he used the 2009 Recovery Act money to balance the budget. Not roads and infrastructure, money to schools, etc. At the same time he was touting no recovery act money and no government bailouts. Actually he didn't by himself. The legislature had to approve. We are talking about a $6.6 billion shortfall in 2010-2011 bailed out by $6.4 billion from the Recovery Act. They still have a $9.1 billion rainy day fund.

What do I think of him? He is a conservative Republican. Pro business. Not pro environment. No help for the average worker. Look how many folks earn low wages in Texas. It is tied for last place with Mississippi. Are these numbers distorted from low paying farm jobs? Or are adults trying to live on a wage of $1100 a month? Think of your adult children having a family with that kind of income. Imagine if their chid gets ill. Texas has one of the lowest rates of health insurance coverage. In 2007 the state of Texas ranked 50th in the nation with 25% of the population uninsured.The national average is 16%. Stats from Texas Medial Association.

Rick Perry should hide parts of his record. He better have good spin doctor. He will need them with the holes in his record. He runs a diverse state with climatic and environmental issues. Yet he stands behind big corporations at the expense of the average person. Hold your breath near the refineries. His state has a huge hispanic community. I know he proclaims no tax increases and less government. Yet he took the Recovery Act money. As a 51 year old male he has been in government over half of his life.
Regarding immigrants, what is the track record of controlling borders under his stewardship as governor?
I like the idea of less government waste and better efficiency. I want to see business flourish and folks keep decent paying jobs. I want to see affordable health insurance.
Maybe someone can shed light on how we would fund our country including our military with collecting income tax. Would there be a national sales tax and big business would pay their part through corporate tax?

American demographics have changed with an influx of Hispanics outnumbering the black population. White Americans are or close to being the minority. We don't see this living in a retirement community. The GOP better adapt or be left behind. A bad economy helps their chances. That is their best hope for 2012.

Finally, why do folks who want less government run if they don't like it? Then have to hire staff if elected. That creates more government.