Gov. Rick Perry, a no-apologies conservative known for slashing government spending and opposing all tax increases, is about as Republican as you can get. Except when he wasn't.

Rick Perry has forged a coalition of economic, religious and social conservatives that helped him become the state's longest-serving governor, poised to run a national race.

On this week's TribCast, Evan, Ross, Reeve, and Ben revisit the Cameron Todd Willingham case, ponder the politics of The Response, and consider the possible conclusion of Ron Paul's career.

U.S. Rep. Ron Paul just appeared on CNN to discuss why he's giving up another run for his congressional seat and his view on the debate over raising the debt ceiling. 

Dave Carney, Perry's top political consultant, told the Tribune on Thursday that the Super PAC, which can raise and spend unlimited money on political contests, isn't affiliated with the governor of Texas or with his explorations of the presidential race.

In tough-on-crime Texas, Rick Perry has overseen the executions of 230 prisoners — more than any other modern governor. As he eyes a White House bid, his support of the death penalty could have mixed consequences.

Gov. Rick Perry had surgery this morning for a recurring back ailment, and will likely be in recovery for "a couple of days," his spokesman Mark Miner said. "It went according to plan," Miner said. "Everything went well." 

Gov. Rick Perry sent a letter to U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder this week calling plans by pro-Palestinian activists to protest and potentially disrupt Israel's naval blockade of Gaza an "unacceptable provocation."

You’d think the Aggie consultant would be working for the Aggie candidate.

Your afternoon reading: Could ghosts of Gov. Rick Perry's past affect his presidential intentions? Meanwhile, parents prepare for budget cuts in the classroom, and Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst says he'll reveal his next campaign move in July.

Gov. Rick Perry, who has acknowledged thinking about running for president in 2012, fired up Republican voters Saturday in New Orleans, where conservative activists were anxious to hear a game plan for beating Barack Obama.

The Rick Perry 2012 button is a hot item at the Republican Leadership Conference in New Orleans, where several major presidential contenders are fighting to win the who-is-most-conservative contest.

It’s about as unscientific as you can get, but the Rick Perry 2012 button is a hot item at the Republican Leadership Conference in New Orleans, where several major presidential contenders are trying to win the who-is-most-conservative contest.

Likely voters in Texas approve of President Barack Obama almost as much as they approve of Gov. Rick Perry, according to the third and final release of poll results from the Texas Lyceum, a nonprofit, nonpartisan group of civic leaders.

Gov. Rick Perry, moving closer to a run for the White House, took his anti-Washington message to New York City Tuesday, telling a gathering of Republican donors that the Obama administration had “promised jobs and … delivered economic misery.” It comes as Perry steps out increasingly on the national stage.

Somebody tell Assemblyman Dan Logue, the California Republican leading the charge to draft Gov. Rick Perry for president, that his Razorback reinforcements have arrived.

He bashed Barack Obama in Los Angeles over the weekend, fills in for The Donald today in the Big Apple and, on Saturday, Gov. Rick Perry will hit New Orleans for a GOP event that looks a lot like a cattle call for White House hopefuls. This is more like dipping an ankle than a toe into the presidential race.

As everyone waits for a certain Texan to announce whether he plans to run for president, another Texan made his intentions clear Monday night by participating — in feisty fashion — in the first major GOP primary debate.