RICK – AT 11:36 A.M. ET:  Texas Governor Rick Perry is emerging.  The buzz about him, and his excellent performance last week in confronting President Obama over the immigration crisis, is increasing. From ABC News: 

From the television airwaves to the U.S.-Mexico border, Texas Governor Rick Perry was everywhere this week, raising the question: Could Rick Perry make a comeback?

Perry, whose unforgettable “oops” moment derailed his presidential campaign in 2012, was front and center in the week’s most closely watched issue — how President Obama is handling the influx of unaccompanied minors streaming across the U.S.-Mexico border.

Donning his new hipster glasses, the Texas governor was everywhere, from flying aboard Marine One with the president to riding a patrol boat on the Rio Grande, managing to insert himself in a controversial debate that could lend him some credibility should he decide to make another run for the White House in 2016.

Here’s a recap of Perry’s week in the spotlight:

Appearing on ABC News’ “This Week,” Perry blasted President Obama’s response to the thousands of unaccompanied minors and adults crossing the border.

“I don’t believe he particularly cares whether or not the border of the United States is secure,” Perry said in an exclusive interview with ABC News’ Martha Raddatz. “And that’s the reason there’s been this lack of effort, this lack of focus, this lack of resources.”

Perry said thanks, but no thanks, to the president’s invitation to greet him at the Austin airport when he traveled to Texas later in the week. President Obama drew criticism from Republicans for not making the time to go to the border while on a two-day fundraising trip in the Lone Star State. Instead of meeting him at the airport, Perry proposed a one-on-one in-depth meeting between the two to discuss border security.

“A quick handshake on the tarmac will not allow for a thoughtful discussion regarding the humanitarian and national security crises enveloping the Rio Grande Valley in South Texas,” Perry wrote.

COMMENT:  Perry performed well and looked good – active, engaged, intelligent.  It's the Rick Perry Texans know. 

However, the Rick Perry who tried to run for president in 2012 came off as foolish and uninformed, not ready for prime time.  That image will have to be fixed if he expects to be a contender in 2016.  I think it can be.  Perry is this country's longest serving governor, with a fine record.  He'll be brutalized by the press, which regards "Texas" and "conservative" as curse words.  But Perry might be the right man in the right place at the right time.  The flood across the border is a huge issue, and Americans are furious.  Perry is the man on the front line.

Let's see if there's a second act here.

July 13, 2014