It’s true that Perry appears pretty good at aping Reagan’s trick of talkin’ bad and actin’ moderate. Despite his bloodthirsty rhetoric, Perry’s record on crime is, I guess, not as bad as it could be. And he’s reasonably steadfast in his support for the right of allowing children of illegal immigrants to attend public universities in Texas.
Yeah, but Dub Ya started out moderate too, and look what happened to him. When the opportunity for enhanced arbitrary executive power rose, he embraced it like a long-lost mama. And what is Perry’s claim other than that he’s badder than Bush? Way badder. I’d like to believe that, since Perry hasn’t done anything too crazy in three terms as governor of Texas, he would maintain the same record as President. But he’s running as the head of the crazy party. Maybe the Republican Party has had enough of “military adventurism”—though, of course, that’s a “philosophical” term, according to Perry, and accordingly doesn’t mean anything. But trusting to the good sense of the Republicans does not seem like a good way to go. President Obama has seized the initiative, at least for a week or two. That does feel good. Let’s hope he can keep it up.
