Rick Perry Talks Like He is Running

Spend a couple of hours watching Rick Perry on YouTube, and you have to think, "Yes, he's running."

Here he is in New Orleans a couple of weeks ago, speaking both about compassion and the threat to liberty from the "entitlement culture" in Washington.

Here's Time magazine's account of Perry's deft outreach to Christian conservatives, culminating in:

Perry’s current project–a Christian all-day prayer event called “The Response” on August 6 in Houston. The governor is sponsoring the event along with the American Family Association, which is footing the estimated $1.5 million tab for the gathering.

Take note of the jabs he throws at other candidates in that New Orleans speech. Perry is calling himself a "disciplined conservative," ie, not like the disorganized Michele Bachman. Says he's willing to "take a beating" from the liberal media, ie, not like Jon Hunstman. Praises his "rainy day fund" so that his state is prepared for negative contingencies, ie not like Tim Pawlenty.

Take note that unlike Mitt Romney, Perry speaks only of economic and social conservatism - not foreign policy.