Why ‘tricky’ Rick Perry scares Republicans

Smart Republicans worry that Rick Perry is a loose-cannon loser. Conservative Republicans worry that "Tricky Rick" is not a conservative at all, but a Trojan horse for the big-government crony capitalism they despise. Ron Paul, who has earned the respect to be treated as a major candidate, scored a hit in last night's debate when he joked about how his taxes in Texas have gone up under Rick Perry. Michele Bachmann, who should not be casually dismissed, scored a hit when she attacked Perry for his program that came dangerously close to mandatory injections for young girls.

These debate moments tell one big truth about the campaign: Rick Perry is scaring the hell out of savvy Republicans who fear he will self-destruct and be swamped by Barack Obama. He scares many conservatives who fear that Perry is a phony and a Trojan horse who talks conservative but acts like a big-government crony capitalist and uses government programs to raise campaign money.

Smart Republicans are terrified by Perry's loose-lipped hostility to Social Security. True conservatives are worried about his mandatory injections, immigration policies, rise of government jobs in Texas and "Tricky Rick" shape-shiftings that conservatives fear suggest there are reasons Perry once adored Al Gore.

Perry and Romney now lead in the polls, but:

There is now, in some conservative circles, an "Anybody But Romney" move, while there is, in some high-level Republican circles, a growing "Anybody But Perry" move.

In my view Rick Perry is the most overrated politician since Donald Trump and will end, sooner than pundits think, the same way. So what next?

If and when Perry falls, Ron Paul and Michele Bachmann would rise. Paul will either gain even more traction and become the leading conservative finalist or would be the third finalist and potential kingmaker between a moderate and conservative. Ditto Bachmann, who should not be written off, unless ...

As Barack Obama must be licking his chops to run against Perry in the general election, Sarah Palin must be licking her chops to run against Perry in the primaries. She would blow Perry the crony capitalist away in a heartbeat.

If Perry falls there would be a battle royale between Paul and Bachmann for the conservative seat among finalists, unless Palin jumps in. Then it's Sarah versus the moderate, and Ron Paul the potential kingmaker.

As for the moderate, every politicial instinct tells me that Mitt Romney will not be able to rise above a certain level. I could be wrong, but Romney is thoroughly distrusted by many Republicans (as Rick Perry once adored Al Gore, healthcare-mandate Mitt once said he was more liberal than Ted Kennedy). So watch for a late surprise move toward ...

Gov. Mitch Daniels of Indiana, whose chances today are as underrated, I believe, as Perry's are overrated.

As for Rick Perry, understand this: He scares the hell out of many of the most savvy Republicans, and is starting to scare the hell out of many of the most principled conservatives.

Yesterday I wrote that Ron Paul scares Rick Perry, for good reason. Today I write that Rick Perry scares Republicans. As more conservatives see through his act, Tricky Rick may go down in history like The Donald, not Ronald.