RICK PERRY MISSES A GOLDEN OPPORTUNITY

The Huffington Post, citing "Republican insiders," says Rick Perry seems increasingly likely to run for president -- but one unnamed insider quoted by the HuffPo does say, "Historically speaking Rick Perry has not been a disciplined, focused person."

And, well, maybe that's true, because look at the opportunity he squandered: Last night Humberto Leal, a Mexican national convicted of the rape and murder of a teenager, was executed in his state, after the White House sought a stay of execution from the U.S. Supreme Court on the grounds that Lael wasn't informed by police of his legal right to seek assistance from the Mexican consulate. The high court rejected that argument and the execution took place -- but come on, Rick: if you want the Republican nomination for president, you should have linked an announcement of your candidacy to the execution! You should have held a press conference saying, "The SOB's dead, Texas justice has been served, and guess what? I'm running for president. YEE-HAW! U-S-A! U-S-A! Praise Jesus!"

Rick, I'm telling you: instant #1 in the polls in Iowa if you'd done that.

Oh, sure: some handwringing pantywaist liberal journalists would have declared such an announcement to be unseemly. Your obvious response would have been to denounce "political correctness" and walk away smirking. Objection rebutted!

C'mon, Rick, you missed your chance. Look at what's been the lead story all morning at Fox Nation -- a story about this case. This is the media organization that has its finger on the pulse of your potential voter base:

(Strange: You know the media cliche "If it bleeds, it leads"? At Fox, that cliche seems to have been turned on its head. You've got a Mexican accused of rape and murder who's been facing execution and is now dead -- and yet the story is about the Supreme Court rejected an Obama administration appeal. At Fox, therefore, it's "If it rebuffs Democrats, it leads, even if something else bleeds.")

A real coup for Perry would have been to wangle a postponement of the execution so that it took place on the same day as his big prayer meeting, which, of course, will take place one week before the Iowa straw poll. Pray to Jesus, kill the brown guy, flip off the Mexican consulate and the Obama administration, then announce for president -- that would have to be any Republican's idea of a perfect day! Michele who? Mitt who? The nomination would be Perry's for the asking.