Posted on 09/08/2011 5:39:28 PM PDT by The Bronze Titan
I have decided to post this as my own article, because everyone in the media (and blogosphere) is so focused with the "horse-race" aspect of this campaign, and the "gotcha" sound bites, that a critical moment with insightful importance during last night's debate has been shockingly overlooked (and/or ignored).
It is critical, because it relates directly to the national security and foreign policy thinking and requisite aptitude of a top-tier candidate for President of the United States.
The critical moment occurs when the questioner, in turning to Perry, diverts the debate towards a "national security" issue. At this point, I am attentive to hear what the candidate has to say national security-wise relative to the question being asked.
Simply speaking, during a debate you want to gleam some aspect of the candidate's foreign policy thinking, and how he/she would react as President relative to the issue being raised. Essentially, the question is an "opening" being provided by the questioner to the candidate for the candidate to expound on their national security / foreign policy thinking. You can either respond directly to the question at hand, or divert your response to a more pronounced aspect of your foreign policy.
What Perry does (AND doesn't do) is quite breathtaking, to the point of being scary, since it covers a huge issue in our nation's foreign policy. The question relates directly to something he wrote about in his book ("adventurism").
Perry's total lack of a coherent response to the question on such a (supposedly) important foreign policy pronouncement in his book, considering that the issue involves when to send our men/women into battle, betrays his shockingly inept ability and readiness to explain his thinking in matters of national security.
It was an odd and strange response to a very important question. Seemingly reluctant in wanting to answer the question by making a weird turn to deflect the subject matter, all the while quickly closing on the same subject matter,.
==========================================
HARRIS: Governor Perry, as we approach the 9/11 anniversary, I'd like to stick with national security for a moment. You recently said, quote, "I do not believe that America should fall subject to a foreign policy of military adventurism." Looking back, do you think President George W. Bush was too quick to launch military intervention without thinking through the risks?
PERRY: I was making a comment about a philosophy; I don't think America needs to be in the business of adventurism.
But let me just say something about the president of the United States. And I know he's -- he's taken lots of slings and arrows here today. But one thing that I want to say that he did do that I agree with is that he maintained the -- the chase and -- and we took out a very bad man in the form of bin Laden, and I -- and I tip my hat to him.
I give more props to those Navy SEALs that did the job, but -- and the other thing this president's done, he has proven for once and for all that government spending will not create one job. Keynesian policy and Keynesian theory is now done. We'll never have to have that experiment on America again. And I might add that he kept Gitmo open against the will of his base, and I'm glad he did that. America's safer for it.
==========================================
Here is the video of the entire debate, with a reference to the question and the response segment at the 1:17:52 time mark.
I have provided the transcript of this exchange below, and link to the entire debate transcript here.
(better viewing the video segment, since it captures the essence of how this was phrased and how it was responded to)
Here is the transcript page on the Perry comment: Page 19
I never thought I would say this, but...
The best way to stop illegal immigration is to remove the incentives, but Perry thinks it’s just great for legal native American taxpayers to subsidize college educations for anchor babies of illegals at Texas universities. He panders shamelessly to La Raza and CAIR, making G. W. Bush almost look like Tom Tancredo by comparison.
FYI, San Diego has this insurance available so that people have twice as much choice in where they can get healthcare. It’s INSURANCE for those who live in a specific area around the border. There’s a thriving medical complex on the other side of the border that provides excellent care for a lot less money for both US citizens and Mexican citizens.
IT’s a free market solution, not welfare as so many of the knee-jerkers think.
John Huntsman was an Eagle Scout also. George McGovern was a bomber pilot. Things like that really have no bearing, although their absence might. Someone can be a war hero (Hitler was) or a nice kid in his youth and turn out bad anyway.
Thank you!
But Bachmann’s minor stumbles are her death knell. Right? Perrybots use the same political tactics as the Marxist-in-Chief Onada. He lies about who he is. He lies about past positions he’s taken and area matter of record. Or he pulls the old “I voted for it before I voted against it ploy”. He throws wonderfully colorful one liners just to attract the dumbest of Pubbie voters. All the while he believes not a word he’s saying.
Aside from being loud and pushy, it does not appear Perry acquitted himself well in the faux debate at all. But he has the Marxist Onada’s propaganda organs go to bat for him.
By the way, exactly what is his position on America going to war anyway? What does he mean when he says America should not embark on military adventures? And what does any of that have to do with his bringing jobs into his answer? And that’s just one snippet.
Perry is better at what he does than you are with what you’ve tried to do.
You know, some of the folks here sound just like all those crtics when Sarah first came on the scene.
She also flubbed a few answers but we gave her a pass because we knew they were trying to trip her up. She couldn’t even name a magazine she reads.
Her foreign policy knowledge was summed up as “I can see Russia from my house” But we knew better and I wonder if you criticized her? I hope not.
No, Perry was not the most polished debater on the stage last night but he was pretty darn good.
What truth? The guy gave a clumsy answer. In one debate, of which there will be many. By the way, I totally agree with his point about “adventurism”. A country which is $15 trillion in debt cannot be the world’s policeman. I would have liked to have seen him spell that out, but like I said, I thought it was a clumsy answer.
Instead, we got paragraphs of bullcrap that amounted to: "Look! I discovered an awkward moment in the debate!" C'mon.
It’s because despite the hysteria to discredit him it fails due to the fact that he’s a been governor for over 10 years, and served in several other offices for the last 30. His experience and results of his leadership are what people see.
ROTFLMAO
No one is willing yet to spend the money to do what I think needs to be done on the border, but before you get all bent out of shape over the SS issue, might want to take a look at this website. We have several counties in Texas that do have an option which is, IMO, way better than any government run plan. http://www.moneyandmarkets.com/galveston-vs-social-security-39613
I get a strong feeling that Pres. Zero looks down on the men and women in the military. And their families.
He has shown this disdain, on tape during a brilliant little speech at a cocktail par-tay attended by his super smart and uber evolved Leftist buddies. Yes he went on for quite a bit about for the “bitter clingers”.
This creep makes me want to puke. Can you imagine fighting for your country...willing to give it your all, under miserable conditions...All the while knowing that the CIC of the U.S. thinks of you and your family with disdain? The people that voted for this scumbag, the "independents" that were swayed by emotion for this "historic" election...Should be ashamed.
Ummmmm...yes.
If a guy/woman has a solid background and is a great candidate....and if they turn out to be an Eagle Scout....it’s just a cool thing to be admired. It’s in the plus category.
Did you think I would only vote for him because he was an Eagle Scout? Geez.
Somewhere there is a tea pot missing it’s tempest.
Bless You,
I am aware of the great coverage just south of the border by trusted service providers, for a fraction of the price. I am also aware of the hacks that the media portrays as the mainstream. However if the good providers start doing bad work, they go out of business. The free market at it’s best, but still under a command/control structure (economic reference), just not as corrupt as in the US.
On that we can agree.
He has a plan, which he was kind enough to announce here a couple of weeks ago:
The plan is to post so many false stories, fabricated reports, and unfounded rumors, that perry supports will spend all their time refuting the canards.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.