The Discrete Charm of Rick Perry
I was not thrilled by the suggestion that Rick Perry--another Texas Governor?--should run. I couldn't believe the claim that he had the charisma to win. But I had never seen the Governor speak, so I watched this Perry video, a speech before the Heritage Foundation.
You can just for yourself if Perry has enough charm, but I think there's no question he has it. Since no one that I know of has explained just exactly what kind of charm Perry has, I'm make the attempt. Some has said he's "comfortable in his skin". That's true as far as it goes, but it does not explain exactly what's going on in a Perry speech.
Watch Perry in the link, especially when he stops to acknowledge an individual in the crowd. He makes eye contact, pauses to let that contact settle, then he reacts, typically with a folksy-jokesy grin. The man is comfortable with taking time before a big crowd. He's not terrified by gaps, by silence. This courage gives him the freedom to manage the rhythm of his talk.Which he does, splendidly.
In the end, you feel you've experienced a conversation with a friend, not a set of bullet points fired from a machine gun. (The latter is Bobby Jindal's problem, who sounds like a man with 18 really brilliant points to make and not enough time to make them. Which is what he is.) Rhythm management: Perry has this specific talent to a degree I don't think I've seen in a politician, ever. It may be enough to put him over the top.
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May '11
Re: The Discrete Charm of Rick Perry
What you describe was also exhibited by Bill Clinton. In addition Clinton had a very facile vocabulary that allowed him to phrase things in ways that made you want to agree with him until you actually deconstructed his message. Too many people never bothered to deconstruct his message.
Perry's position on tort reform has made him my hero for the moment but it will also make him a target for the trial lawyers who have deep pockets.
Aug '10
Re: The Discrete Charm of Rick Perry
The title reminds me of how they listed a course in our college course catalog once:
Discreet Math
Jul '10
Re: The Discrete Charm of Rick Perry
Someone - I think it may have been Tevi Troy - observed the other day that the key to Presidential debates was exhaustive preparation; plowing through briefing books and memorizing every possible answer to every possible question.
I couldn't disagree more. The key to reaching American voters is to believe in a set of principles, to know how those principles apply in all circumstances and to be comfortable, forceful and fluent in communicating them.
It's the difference between ticking off a list of ways one intends to "fix" health care and saying, forcefully, that government has no Constitutional authority to mess with health care. It's the difference between presenting a laundry list of tax reforms and saying that government should be as small as possible and taxes should be consistent with that goal.
I don't know if adhering to core American values and principles is charming - but it sure works for me.
Re: The Discrete Charm of Rick Perry
Over at Instapundit, I read that Rick Perry jumped into politics as a Democrat, and he supported Al Gore in 1988. Would love to hear his conversion story...
Jun '11
Re: The Discrete Charm of Rick Perry
Kenneth: Someone - I think it may have been Tevi Troy - observed the other day that the key to Presidential debates was exhaustive preparation; plowing through briefing books and memorizing every possible answer to every possible question.
I couldn't disagree more. The key to reaching American voters is to believe in a set of principles, to know how those principles apply in all circumstances and to be comfortable, forceful and fluent in communicating them.
It's the difference between ticking off a list of ways one intends to "fix" health care and saying, forcefully, that government has no Constitutional authority to mess with health care. It's the difference between presenting a laundry list of tax reforms and saying that government should be as small as possible and taxes should be consistent with that goal.
I don't know if adhering to core American values and principles is charming - but it sure works for me. · Jun 20 at 2:39pm
Well put.
Oct '10
Re: The Discrete Charm of Rick Perry
Perhaps another question should be asked. Posture and charm aside..
What man would go sea in a seive ?
Not to see that would make a candidate what ? An egotist, arrogant fool ?
Something to consider, as well as the state of affairs... The playground is not what it used to be...
Nov '10
Re: The Discrete Charm of Rick Perry
Midget Faded Rattlesnake: The title reminds me of how they listed a course in our college course catalog once:
Discreet Math · Jun 20 at 10:09am
We must keep quiet about this notion of irrational numbers. The public just isn't ready!
May '10
Re: The Discrete Charm of Rick Perry
Kenneth, I'll agree with you to a certain degree because I think candidates can easily prepare themselves out of a groove. See Pawlenty, Tim.
I did take note of the following, though:
Kenneth:
I couldn't disagree more. The key to reaching American voters is to believe in a set of principles, to know how those principles apply in all circumstances and to be comfortable, forceful and fluent in communicating them.
Whither your criticism of Sarah Palin? (Not a "gotcha" question - I'm probably on your side there, albeit not as stridently.)
Aug '10
Re: The Discrete Charm of Rick Perry
Jan-Michael Rives
Midget Faded Rattlesnake: The title reminds me of how they listed a course in our college course catalog once:
Discreet Math · Jun 20 at 10:09am
We must keep quiet about this notion of irrational numbers. The public just isn't ready! · Jun 20 at 5:29pm
And God forbid that an innocent youth should lay eyes on an improper integral!
Jul '10
Re: The Discrete Charm of Rick Perry
Matthew Gilley: Kenneth, I'll agree with you to a certain degree because I think candidates can easily prepare themselves out of a groove. See Pawlenty, Tim.
I did take note of the following, though:
Kenneth:
I couldn't disagree more. The key to reaching American voters is to believe in a set of principles, to know how those principles apply in all circumstances and to be comfortable, forceful and fluent in communicating them.
Whither your criticism of Sarah Palin? (Not a "gotcha" question - I'm probably on your side there, albeit not as stridently.) · Jun 20 at 5:33pm
She lacks the fluency and the comfort.
Oct '10
Re: The Discrete Charm of Rick Perry