This Type of Talk Won't Help Either
Rick Perry: "It’s not who is the slickest candidate or the smoothest debater that we need to elect."
Has anyone said otherwise? This sounds more like he wants the bar lowered far enough so that those with very weak debating skills would be acceptable as the nominee, as if he's conceding right now that this is a skill that is beyond him. I'm not buying into the argument that Perry is dumb, but surely the Governor knows that one of his chief selling points for the base was that they could envision him taking on Obama in next Fall's debates and clearly laying out an alternative vision for the country. If that's not possible, what advantage does he have over the other candidates? While many of us are not impressed with Romney's record, it's not likely that he'd freeze up on stage next Fall. If no other candidates present themselves soon, this decision is looking easier and easier to make.
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Dec '10
Re: This Type of Talk Won't Help Either
You're not really gonna pull the lever for Ron Paul are you? Lol.
I understand what Perry is trying to say with this. In another quote from the piece he said, "The current occupant of the White House can sure talk a good game, but he doesn’t deliver." He tagged Romney as "Obama-lite" again with that quip. I still fear Romney as the Stepford candidate: perfect design, perfect creation, yet still not a real conservative. The whole quote that you drew from helps, "As conservatives we know that values and vision matter. It’s not who is the slickest candidate or the smoothest debater that we need to elect. We need to elect the candidate with the best record and the best vision for this country." Romney's record is Romneycare. His vision for the country, at least in 1994, was to not return to the Reagan revolution. If Perry implodes and Palin stays out, I'm flipping a coin between Cain and Newt.
Mar '11
Re: This Type of Talk Won't Help Either
When Perry was on the cusp of entering the race, the Republican primary electorate was told by some of our pundits that he was a seasoned campaigner who could bring a serious conservative perspective and gravitas to the stage.
But we were also warned about the dangers of Fred Thompson syndrome.
Right now, I'd say we have seen very little of the former, and we're in danger of seeing the latter come to pass (but not there yet). Perry has time to pick up his game and stay in this race--he has scored a point or two against Romney, and has even begun to convince some primary voters that Michele Bachmann is as radical as some of us have been saying she is all along (no small feat in this climate, Mr. Perry); but he's going to have to do some homework because his debate performances have been underwhelming.
Jul '11
Re: This Type of Talk Won't Help Either
KP, You're absolutely right - I get what he's trying to say too, and it's hard to find fault with the substance. But, given his poor outings, it comes across as particularly self-serving and comes from a position of weakness. Not inspiring for a standard-bearer.
I'm sympathetic toward Cain, but his forays into Islamophobia indicate that he would be a breath away from a campaign-killing gaffe all the time. And Newt, well, his baggage is a bit heavy ... oh the field-day the press would have with all of his off-the-cuff remarks from the past 30 years. This weakness of this field is really striking. A nicedescription was in yesterday's Weekly Standard: this field looks like that from 1980 if Reagan and Bush were not around - the choice would have been between Connally, Crane and Dole. And Carter would have cruised to re-election.
Edited on Sep 24, 2011 at 12:04pmJun '10
Re: This Type of Talk Won't Help Either
Prior to the age of television Perry may have been a shoe-in for the nomination but as Nixon realized in facing JFK a sense of ease and confidence, being articulate and quick on one's feet helps to assure the electorate that there is a deep, flowing intelligence that can instantly pull out thoughts that connect and resonate.
Perry has the ease and slick part down. He has a better tailor than Ron Paul (who doesn't?) He has nice hair. He can even recite the platitudes he's memorized. But it's his ability to think on his feet that is seriously in question. When he attempted call Romney out on his flip-flopping positions - which should have been easy - Perry looked disoriented and searching, almost as though he hadn't taken his medication.
Perry and all of the candidates should be watching the Hillary-Obama debates to see how Obama came across as more poised, articulate, thoughtful and presidential. From what I've seen thus far of Perry, in an Obama-Perry debate, Obama wins.
Platitudes won't be enough. Quick yet thoughtful, well-articulated answers drawn from a deep reservoir of knowledge will be required.
Oct '10
Re: This Type of Talk Won't Help Either
rick perry is the male sarah palin circa 2008.
Dec '10
Re: This Type of Talk Won't Help Either
Brian, you are 100% on. Perry is not fleet of foot enough to take on "The One" in debates. Romney is more poised and smooth, but he just does not have the ideological well from which to draw.
I'm still holding out hope for Perry. My reworked theory is that his handlers are restraining him in much the way Palin's handlers muzzled her in '08. Perry wants to say the crazy, unpopular things that just happen to be truth. If he is allowed to do that he can still pull this thing out of a nose dive. Andrew McCarthy has a fantastic piece today on where we're headed if we don't get someone (anyone!) who can really bulldog this thing. I think Perry could if he was allowed to. But, then again, I thought Fred Thompson was the second coming of Reagan.
Oct '10
Re: This Type of Talk Won't Help Either
If governing was about quick and well-articulated answers to TV debate questions we'd be living in a Golden Age. The system is broken. I'm not suggesting it should be fixed for Perry. But let's not pretend the current method of picking a President isn't a sick joke. Of course, I have no answers.
Jul '11
Re: This Type of Talk Won't Help Either
These two points are related - I'm not convinced doing more homework will solve his problems. He apparently did his homework in preparing to zing Romney and he still flubbed it. The truth of the matter may be that he might just might not have it in him to compete on the national stage ... despite all the hype of his candidacy, I've yet to see anything that indicates he does. It's a shame, because we need someone that resembles his initial billing.
Jul '11
Re: This Type of Talk Won't Help Either
Indeed, but we have precious few opportunities to see candidates think on their feet, and since we know he or she must do so in next Fall's debates, these forums, as vacuous and vapid as the questions are, do reveal something about their ability to articulate their thoughts. One of my concerns is that Perry has not been able to master the delivery of "quick and well-articulated answers to TV debate questions". That's a low bar and he hasn't cleared it. A red flag if ever there was one!
Aug '10
Re: This Type of Talk Won't Help Either
Hey KP, I know this is a widely held conviction among the more conservative cohort. I don't think it holds up in the real world of this primary.
It's pencils out fine, but when you build it and shake it down the wheels fall off.
Case in point, Bachmann. Ed Rollins wisely forsook the long work days in deference to his health, and the net effect was demuzzling Bachmann.
The result is an absolute train wreck. Like Ozzy, she has gone off the rails on the crazy train.
Apparently she sees herself as the Conservative Evangelical Rosa Parks who won't be forced to sit in the back of some metaphorical segregated bus.
In the real world, real people were really segregated, real people really died in not metaphorical hurricanes.
In her world she is Sigourney Weaver, strapped in the walking forklift, fighting to protect 12 year old girls from the evil Rick Perry wielding a statist syringe.
Mar '11
Re: This Type of Talk Won't Help Either
Cobalt Blue
Rick Perry: "It’s not who is the slickest candidate or the smoothest debater that we need to elect."
Given that our candidate will ultimately have to the go up against the slickest and smoothest performer in the history of the Universe, I am afraid I have lost all confidence in Mr Perry. To make matters worse, he seems to be a Rino squish.
My secret desire remains that Mrs Palin enters the race. Otherwise, we may have to muddle by with another Rino squish, Mr Romney.
Is this the best we can do, with the future of the country at stake?
Edited on Sep 24, 2011 at 12:32pmAug '10
Re: This Type of Talk Won't Help Either
David Williamson
Cobalt Blue
Rick Perry: "It’s not who is the slickest candidate or the smoothest debater that we need to elect."
Given that our candidate will ultimately have to the go up against the slickest and smoothest performer in the history the Universe, I am afraid I have lost all confidence in Mr Perry. To make matters worse, he seems to be a Rino squish.
My secret desire remains that Mrs Palin enters the race. Otherwise, we may have to muddle by with another Rino squish, Mr Romney. · Sep 24 at 12:29pm
I resemble that remark!
Re: This Type of Talk Won't Help Either
After ten years as Governor of Texas, Rick Perry ought to be able to defend what he has done in terms everyone can understand. Even where we might disagree with him, there is a respectable argument to be made on behalf of his more controversial acts. To date, however, he has proven incapable of articulating that argument.
That is an important flaw. Persuasion is one of the two or three most important parts of a President's job. If Perry cannot rise to the occasion, we need to find someone else.
Dec '10
Re: This Type of Talk Won't Help Either
Paul A. Rahe: After ten years as Governor of Texas, Rick Perry ought to be able to defend what he has done in terms everyone can understand. Even where we might disagree with him, there is a respectable argument to be made on behalf of his more controversial acts. To date, however, he has proven incapable of articulating that argument.
That is an important flaw. Persuasion is one of the two or three most important parts of a President's job. If Perry cannot rise to the occasion, we need to find someone else. · Sep 24 at 12:40pm
I want to see Sarah Palin enter the race and be put to that test. If she can persuasively make the case for her Commonsense Conservatism as an alternative to Romney, she will be a formidable candidate; if not, I don't see who else is going to stop Romney at this late date. And if Romney is the nominee, I am sure he can beat Obama, but I have little confidence that he will do what needs to be done to reverse the Obama era damage.
May '10
Re: This Type of Talk Won't Help Either
Bachmann's and Santorum's strident challenges come from two who have not governed, who have not lead a citizenry and put 'rubber to the road', so to speak. For example, Santorum's caustic attack of Perry on the idea of binational health insurance, as pointed out by Kevin Williamson here. The idea was to free health insurers to address the needs related to specific conditions at the Texas/Mexico border. Williamson also points out that the context of Perry's stand on the border fence is within the real world consequences of federal policy.
Edited on Sep 24, 2011 at 1:15pmAs Professor Rafe notes, Perry should be able to defend what he has done. I presume, because of his election successes, he has been able to do this within Texas politics. Perhaps some of his perceived slowness is finding an effective way to communicate the context to a national audience.
Aug '10
Re: This Type of Talk Won't Help Either
If what's required is an articulate, consistent conservative surely Gingrich is worth a closer look?
Jun '10
Re: This Type of Talk Won't Help Either
The latest rumor is that Chris Christie is about to throw his hat into the ring. On the plus side (or perhaps plus size is more accurate) Christie has the debating skills to turn Mr. Obama into a punching bag. But is he a true conservative?
I don't know whether or not to be sanguine that the process is actually working as we weed out potential candidates or terrified that we might be forced to settle for Romney as the best of the bunch. November 2012 seems so near yet so far away.
Edited on Sep 24, 2011 at 1:30pmDec '10
Re: This Type of Talk Won't Help Either
Here's my big question: if Rick Perry is just a figurehead for some machine that was able to elect him repeatedly in Tx, then where is this machine? Either he was a puppet or he was the guy we keep hearing about and not seeing. If he's not a puppet, then WTH? He surely didn't win repeatedly in Tx as the bumbling idiot he came across as in the last debate. Will the real Rick Perry please stand up? If, sir, you cannot stand without your puppet master pulling your strings, then will the puppet master please announce himself so we can give him some of what Texans would giver Bernanke?
Re: This Type of Talk Won't Help Either
The trouble is that this is not all that is required. If Perry were as articulate as Gingrich . . . Well, if wishes were horses, beggars would ride.
Jan '11
Re: This Type of Talk Won't Help Either
When Rick Perry said: “I don't think you have a heart if you oppose in-state tuition for children of illegal immigrants,” my immediate reaction was: Here’s another George W. Bush, or worse, a Jimmy Carter.
Is it possible that Governor Perry misses the material point of illegal immigration; the damage it does to the primary of our national principles: citizenship. Illegal immigration is a violation of our national integrity. Perry’s thinking begs two questions: Does citizenship have meaning or value? Is national integrity worth risking lives and treasure to preserve, protect and defend? If the answer to either is less than an emphatic yes, then what value do we place on the sacrifice made by thousands of our military men and women who suffered and died because they believed the answer was, emphatically, yes?
I believe that illegal immigrants are criminals; that’s why they’re called illegal. The heart Perry gives to illegals diminishes legal citizenship. No thanks. That kind of thinking lost me as a supporter. I’m back to thinking about the remaining Republican contenders.
Edited on Sep 24, 2011 at 2:08pm