Perry's Vetoes

I recently read about Rick Perry when he first took over as Texas Governor.  On his first year in, he struck down more laws with his veto then any other Texas Governor had before in the history of the state.  Now, of course the left wailed and screamed.  They attacked him in every way they could imagine, and called him every dirty name they could think of.  But he took it in stride, and instead of apologizing for it, he touted it as one of his proudest accomplishments.  This set the terms of the debate for his long run as Governor.  Instead of always pushing the envelope and seeing what they could get away with, he had the left on the run.  He wouldn't cave to their demands or allow them to frame the issue.  Instead they were just trying to protect the hideous programs that they already have on the books. 
I think this speaks to Perry's character, and shows that he might have the strength to be a real leader.  Not only that, but also an effective leader.  In todays political climate, if you are not as corrupt as the left, then they will try to discredit you in any way they can.  They frame the issue as them of course being the rational ones and you being extreme.  Then they try to talk you into "just compromising on this one issue".  Once you admit to their terms and compromise then you are accepting the terms they have set, that you are extreme.  Then it is only a matter of time before they have you compromising on issue after issue, until you are basically just a Democrat lite.  It is important to find politicians who not only understand the stakes in todays' issues, but also have a talent at being able to frame it so that they are in control of the conversation.  But most of all, they have to have the backbone to be able to stand up to the nonstop assault of liberal interest groups and pundits. 
Perry has shown that he has the backbone to stand up to these kinds of assaults.  He has shown that he can take control of the conversation, and lead it in the right direction.  He is well aware of the stakes in the modern game of political brinkmanship.  I would like to see him improve on his ability to coach issues in more politically palatable ways, but given how thoroughly Obama has wrecked the economy, that might not even be nessecary in this election cycle.  I think he could be a strong leader, and a bull for our economy.