What’s so electable about Rick Perry?

The Washington Post's ComPost ^ | September 12, 2011 | Alexandra Petri

[2ndDivisionVet]

Electability.

It's an elusive quality. It's like chemistry, between movie stars. It's like tinnitus, for wine. Or is that tannins? You know what I mean — the quality of wine that keeps wine experts' voices ringing in your ears when you are stuck next to them at dinners.

It's like buzz. It's like the It factor.

It's what Bertie Wooster would call a certain indefinable Thingness.

Somehow, we have this idea that a person can be “electable.” Of course, you can’t be electable in a vacuum. If I am electable in the middle of a forest and no one is there to notice me or care — well, I’m probably Ron Paul. But the whole question of electability is, at best, a glorified form of guesswork. It's a study in group probability. “Do you think X can beat Obama?” is quite a different question than “Would you vote for him?”

I would define electability as “the vague sense that there are people out there who would vote for this guy.”

It's not likability.

Nowhere is this distinction more apparent than when it comes to Rick Perry.

If there's one thing that Rick Perry's current increasingly ineluctable progress toward the GOP nomination has taught us, it is that the two qualities are not only unrelated, they might not even have grown up under the same roof....

[PhiloBedo]

one word...........rhinoplasty

[Tucker39]

Perry just comes across to me as the stereotypical slick talking, Texas politician, BS artist. And just in case Sarah DOESN’T run, I truly wish that he would make a few statements now and then which sound SERIOUS and BEDROCK FUNDAMENTAL regarding the Founding Principles of our Country.

I wish he’d commit himself to fighting for oil exploration, cutting taxes, repealing Obamacare, curtailing illegal immigration, deporting illegals, etc., etc. If Sarah DOESN’T run I’m going to have to vote for one of these other candidates, and I’m not seeing or hearing much out of any of them, including Perry, which inspires me or gives me confidence that if THEY were elected they would have the sand to actually start making changes.

Oh yes they WANT THE OFFICE. They’d love to hear the Marine Corps Band play Hail to the Chief; but is there a fire in their gut regarding what Zero and the Corrupt Bastards in DC have done to our Nation? Are they DRIVEN by a workable PLAN to TACKLE these things and start turning our Country around? If any of them want the office for the right reasons they are failing to communicate it to me!

[Jedidah]

dragnet, the in-state tuition thing annoys me, too. And I’m a Texan, so I pay for it.

That said, the simple fact is that our state is full of illegal kids whom we are forced, by law, to educate. Not condoning it, just stating fact.

So what happens to them after they get out of high school? Without papers, they can’t get jobs like their legal peers.

Perry says to educate them and legalize them and turn them into taxpayers. It’s a practical approach, if ideologically abhorrent.

In truth, as much as it rankles to admit it, most of those kids had nothing to do with their parents’ decision to sneak in. They’ve grown up here.

It’s in the best economic interest of the state to develop a highly trained workforce. Fact is that Mexicans work their tails off, unlike some ethnic groups.

Just telling it like it is. I don’t like it, either, but Perry is a pragmatist. He’ll do what’s best for Perry, which generally coincides with what’s best for Texas — and we hope for America.

[ncalburt]

Are you this desperate to Trash Perry here?

Your posting a hit piece from one of the most FAR LEFT Obama front groups in the world !

Seek help. Your promoting the Compost on this website !!!!

[Just mythoughts]

I am not convinced that Perry understands the ‘Tea Party’.

Taxes/mandates without representation is what caused the first tea party. Mandates to pay for vaccines while taking a bit of walking around money will NOT fit ‘tea party’ principles. OR taxing/mandating education or health care benefits for illegals is NOT ‘tea party’ principles.

I am becoming even less convinced that some calling themselves conservative understand that we the people are government, NOT a politician in an elected office.

IF Texans want this kind of government, good for you, but do NOT attempt to outsource this kind of politician to tax/mandate over the rest of US.

[dragnet2]

Perry: I gave illegal aliens in-state tuition, it’s the American way!

And if you point out leftist country killing policies, you'll be labeled a leftist!

[Repulican Donkey]

Let’s see.... electable? It seems to me the $64K question is “what’s so electable about Barack Obama this time around?”. The WaPo is scared poopless.

[ncalburt]

what do you mean ?
the cnn format for everyone was awful.
you expected an Obama troll like Wolfies to be fair to Perry ????
Do you ever listen to Rush on Wolfie ?

[gardencatz]

Why not send the whole family home? Seems to me if you know who these students are then you know who their family is. It’s not like you have go looking for them. My cousin married a Mexican. He’s doing things the right way...got a green card, got a job & learned to speak English (met my cousin at this time), taking classes to get his citizenship. Sorry, but seeing how hard he’s worked & how proud he is, this is just wrong. What’s the point of laws you won’t enforce? Work to change them if you don’t like them but he is the chief law enforcement of his state. If he has such disrespect for the law perhaps he’s not the best person for the chief law enforcement officer in the country.

Cindie

[smokingfrog]

Don’t underestimate Perry.

[RobertClark]

Perry: I gave illegal aliens in-state tuition, it’s the American way!

This is true. Perry signed the bill six years ago. Under the law, any student who has lived in Texas at least three years and graduated from a Texas high school qualifies for in-state tuition. The law also requires noncitizens to apply for citizenship. “I’m for leaving the law like it is because I think it serves a good purpose,” Perry said. Texas was one of the first states to pass an in-state tuition bill for illegal immigrants. Ten states currently have such laws, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures. About 12,138 children of immigrants got in-state tuition in 2009, about 1 percent of students in Texas trade schools, colleges, and universities. Of that number, 8,406 were in community and technical schools, only 3,725 at universities, and 7 at health-related institutes. Read a good summary of the current status of this issue here at a Dallas Morning News article.

Critics have said it gives a financial advantage to illegal immigrants while U.S. citizens who are not Texas residents still must pay out-of-state tuition rates, which are higher. Personally, I don’t like giving illegals a favorable tuition rate over other state’s legal residents. I understand his reasoning, but I don’t have to like it. I do think that there was some pandering to the Mexican immigrants (legal and illegal) behind the overwhelming votes for this bill.

As a measure of Texas’ version of the “Dream Act,” popularity, it should be noted that it passed the Texas Senate with NO “no” votes – Perry was not out on a limb on this one, it was overwhelmingly supported. It should also be noted that the Texas “Dream” act should not be confused with the federal version. The Texas version relates to higher education only whereas the federal act also facilitates giving legal status to children who entered the U.S. illegally with their parents.

At the end of the day, is this one issue going to determine your vote? If so, you have some introspective analysis to perform.

[Repulican Donkey]

I own three mules - the long eared four legged variety - so for the record mules are not stubborn. They are pretty danged smart. They won’t do something if they are unsure for their safety and they will stand and fight rather than run away. They are also very strong and very tough. Just want to set the record straight.

[dragnet2]

Perry: I gave illegal aliens in-state tuition, it’s the American way!

At the end of the day, is this one issue going to determine your vote?

Tens of millions of illegals have compromised and underlined our entire system, including our electoral process, choked off our schools, jails, social services, hospitals, killed, raped, robbed shot, kidnapped, ran over, burglarized hundreds of thousands of Americans, turning our borders into a lawless national security time-bomb.

To answer your ignorant, naive question. Yes.

[dragnet2]

Compromised and undermined too!

[RobertClark]

To answer your ignorant, naive question. Yes.

Split the vote and re elect Obama - that is ignorant and naive.

[Ingtar]

He's offended by 5k bribes!

Because they are too small?

[Revolting cat!]

Petri (Alexandra) dishes out!

[Ingtar]

You were not, however, forced to pay for their college tuition until this passed.

[dragnet2]

Perry: I gave illegal aliens in-state tuition, it’s the American way!

At the end of the day, is this one issue going to determine your vote?

Tens of millions of illegals have compromised and underlined our entire system, including our electoral process, choked off our schools, jails, social services, hospitals, killed, raped, robbed shot, kidnapped, ran over, burglarized hundreds of thousands of Americans, turning our borders into a lawless national security time-bomb.

To answer your ignorant, naive question. Yes.

Split the vote and re elect Obama - that is ignorant and naive.

You want to support those who aid, abet and reward this country killing violent invasion?

Feel free.

[Jedidah]

I’m with you. I say send them all home.

However, deportation is not something the state can do. And the feds won’t. Which means the state is stuck with them.

The issue is complicated when younger children in the family are born here. Sending the whole family home would involve deporting US citizens.

Enforcing immigration laws and punishing those who breach a nation’s borders is a federal offense. State government does not have jurisdiction. Rather, the states just bear the burden that the feds force on us.

I’m not arguing, just stating the facts. That’s how it is, it’s complicated, and we’re doing what we can to deal with it.

Good for your cousin.