For every Texan like you against him, there are just as many Texans here that like Perry. I see no clear universal dislike of Perry.
I truly do not think Perry can win the Texas Primary if Palin is on the ballot. Just sayin...
Lazlo, perhaps you'd need to live here to see what we Texans who are less than enthusiastic about Perry see. The Republican base here is nowhere near wild about him.
He's an able manager and does his job, but he's not the Constitutionalist, harkening back to the Framers, Gadsden flag waving, bare-knuckled fighter, leading the patriot faithful into the fray against our determined, Socialist foes, that some try to make him out to be.
Mr. Inspiration, he is not.
In my six years of observing him while a resident of the state, he's a center-right Republican who can be best described as a Moderate at best. He's also one helluva politician, and can tell you exactly what you want to hear when he needs your vote.
He got mine twice, but he also hasn't run against a strong, inspiring conservative since I've been here, either. I don't dislike Perry, but I've learned where to set my limits on expectations with him. Better than Obama? You bet. Better than Palin? Not even close, for my money.