Ricochet is the best place on the internet to discuss the issues of the day, either through commenting on posts or writing your own for our active and dynamic community in a fully moderated environment. In addition, the Ricochet Audio Network offers over 50 original podcasts with new episodes released every day.
What’s Rick Gotta Do?
A few moments ago, Rick Perry finished giving perhaps the best announcement speech of any Republican candidate who’s jumped into the presidential field. Were this his first time angling for the Oval Office, he’d be sending shock waves through the field. But “were this his first time” is probably a phrase we’re going to have to get used to where Perry is concerned.
Now, the former Texas governor still has a pretty decent fan base at Ricochet. When we asked our members to choose between potential presidential candidates in May, Perry came in third (with 9%), although nowhere close to the top two, Scott Walker (39%) and Marco Rubio (21%). He also finished a respectable fourth when members were asked about their second-choice candidate. That’s far better than he’s faring in national polls, where the RealClearPolitics average has him tenth, behind — God help us — Donald Trump. Those numbers will almost certainly change now that he’s taking on a higher profile, but he’s still got a ways to go before he cracks the top tier (assuming that the concept of “top tier” even applies in a field that is itself larger than the Iowa or New Hampshire electorates).
My sense for a while now has been that there aren’t a whole lot of conservatives, especially here at Ricochet, who are dead set against Perry as a presidential candidate. In fact, many seem like they would really like to support him. But, let’s face it: once bitten, twice shy. He had all the same things going for him last time — executive experience, a military background, the Texas track record, the look of a lost member of the Brolin family — and he still managed to roll the car into the ditch.
So, here’s the question for those of you who have misgivings based on the 2012 experience (although I’d love to hear from any of you): What would Rick Perry have to do to convince you to support him again in 2016?
Published in Politics
1. Be more articulate.
2. Not accuse other candidates of heartlessness.
Toss his hat in the ring.
(that pic on the NPR link is baaddd and needs to go)
This.
And to preempt the most likely retort, I acknowledge that he is likely an intelligent man. Being able to convey that voters with his words is a different skill.
He’s fool’s gold. Not a serious candidate. Cannot support him.
Last time he entered late and it really felt like he went, “Oh what the heck! I guess I’ll run for president.” This time I would assume he is better prepared and taking this more seriously . . . but I could be wrong.
Stop hiring enemies of the conservative movement such as Steve Schmidt and Henry Barbour.
I do consider Perry a strong candidate, and he’s clearly not coasting this time around. FWIW, I expect the field to ultimately boil down to governors Perry, Christie, and Walker.
Yeah. I mean look at the horrible job he did as Texas governor. The country would still be in recession without Texas economic growth.
If we make the campaign about feee-e-eelings Perry is not a serious candidate. If we make it about performance? Perry, Jindel, and Walker are your choices. Of the three Perry has the best record.
Seawriter
Get Avik Roy on his team?
To get my support, he has to explain his personal failures of 2012. If that means saying things like “I was drugged during that awful performance” and “I didn’t take it seriously enough last time” then so be it. I need to know he’s learned those lessons.
I realize that kind of thing is not suited to the slick show we’ve come to expect from Presidential campaigns, but I don’t like those anyway.
Great for him but everyone running has something to run on.
If we make the campaign about running for President he is not a serious candidate. He does not possess the necessary qualities to win votes.
I agreed 95%, the only caveat being that Texas is very open to conservative, pro-growth governance, so Perry’s success is due in part to a favorable environment. Walker had to fight for every conservative step he took.
-E
There’s a school of thought out there that he started wearing glasses to “look smart” for publicity photos and cameras.
A Perry/Walker campaign would be intriguing indeed.
If I recall, he did say almost exactly that on an Uncommon Knowledge.
But Joe DiMaggio caught the ball even when the sun was in his eyes. Not good enough.
Merge political acumen with solid policy positions. We seem to have one or the other in individual candidates, but rarely both.
I was pretty upset by Perry’s “vulture capitalist” accusations last time around. Romney didn’t deserve that, and I think it was harmful to his eventual candidacy.
Win the primary.
I know, you’re really asking what might cause me to support him in the primary? The answer to that is: Flame out on the part of all of the other candidates that I currently rank higher than Perry.
1) Perry needs to have patience and play the long game. He has one of the strongest resumes for a candidate in a Republican presidential primary, so he doesn’t need to grandstand to get attention – as many of his younger opponents will be forced to do. Being methodical and focusing on sounding and looking competent and experienced will build up an image which matches his resume, right around the time the upstarts start looking like blowhards.
2) Lose the “faux intellectual” look and switch into an appearance/presentation more comfortable. The hipster glasses and polished suits really make it look like he is trying to make people forget about his careless blunders last time, which then draws attention back to exactly those blunders. Act like yourself, own up to the mistakes from last time, and move on.
He’s since said that he got in too late, and was still suffering some hangover from back surgery and the medications for it, I believe (which interestingly, involved using his own adult stem cells in the procedure).
Promise not to take pain killers during debates.
I had early reservations about Perry last time around, but came to like, and prefer him to the field, as I learned more. His famous “oops” moment didn’t phase me. I knew he was dead when it happened, that’s politics, but it struck me as a very human moment. I’m far more interested in his principles and policies than I am a mental hiccup we’ve all experienced at some point.
This time around I still like him. His vow to fight everyday to make Washington as inconsequential in our lives as possible still rings in my ears, and while I don’t trust any politician to adhere to that principle to the degree I’d like, I do believe he is sincere and will attempt to push things in that direction.
That said, I’m intrigued by what I know of Walker’s record and by Rubio’s ability to compellingly make the case for conservatism. I can see me ending up in either of their camps as I learn more about them.
Aside from the “oops” blunder in the previous debates (and that was no small thing, granted), is the whole “be articulate” meme just a slam on the fact that talks like a Texan?
An additional link to the video of the speech.
http://www.c-span.org/video/?326324-1/former-governor-rick-perry-presidential-campaign-announcement
Regarding his past blunders, Perry needs to take two steps. First, partake in a serious interview on a visible network (i.e., something like Bret Baier) and admit that he rushed into the last campaign somewhat unprepared and under medication and that he normally wouldn’t do something that rash but the situation was exceptional (i.e., “the other candidates sucked”).
After that, he should just make fun of his own past slip-ups. Americans like a certain degree of self-deprecation, and Perry obviously has a good sense of humor and enough self-confidence to pull it off without being a clown. If he gets the first punchline in about “oops”, he neutralizes everyone else’s jokes – especially if he keeps the rest of his utterances error-free.
I was born in Texas and live in Georgia. So to answer your question, no.
He is a pro-small business, free-market thinker and I would support if… the question is, can a Presidential nominee win with a mug shot, no matter how undeserved?
see also:
http://ricochet.com/mr-perry-goes-to-washington/
http://ricochet.com/archives/defending-perry-or-shoot-the-messenger/
I grew up in Texas and I kinda do think the Texas accent drives that meme. Just my opinion. It’s easy for the MSM to poke fun at. But Perry showed no signs of being inarticulate in his Uncommon Knowledge interview with Peter Robinson.
I agree. Yes he’s made reference to his 2012 faults but not enough yet. How he does it will tell us a lot.
And here I thought you were just another pod person.
Rick Perry is one of us. And he knows exactly how to talk to us.
“SAN DIMAS HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL RULES!”
YAAAAAYYYYY!!!!
But not everyone goes to San Dimas High School.
A good candidate can win over San Dimas and Bonita.
No, but I do have nightmares when it comes to whirled peas.