Last night's big winnner? Easy -- Rick Perry

Renew America ^ | 8-12-2011 | Bryan Fischer - Commentary

[smoothsailing]

Last night's big winnner? Easy -- Rick Perry

Bryan Fischer

August 12, 2011

The big winner in last night's GOP debate was Rick Perry. This is for the simple reason that no one else won. The race from this point forward is Rick Perry and the Eight Dwarves.

The exchange between Pawlenty and Bachmann was spirited, and there was nothing inappropriate about it. Politics ain't beanbag, as Lincoln famously observed. It's a contact sport, and part of what you must do in the primary season is distinguish yourself from your competitors. You have to throw some elbows to do that.

Pawlenty was hurt by the exchange, because he took a swing at a girl. No matter how much progress we think we've made on gender equality, there is still something deep inside us that says men should use their strength to protect women, not attack them, and Pawlenty put on the full-court press last night.

But Ms. Bachmann chose to get into the ring, and can't complain if punches are thrown, nor should anyone complain on her behalf. That's one of the reasons to question whether it's a good idea for women to get involved in the rough and tumble of politics. I hate to see a woman attacked like Bachmann was last night, but she made herself vulnerable to it by throwing her hat into the ring.

What has been done to Sarah Palin and what is being done to Michele Bachmann — the grotesque beating they have taken from the hostiles on the left (I'm not talking about Pawlenty here) — is a travesty and a shameful embarrassment to any culture which claims to have an enlightened view of the treatment of women.

But this is what conservative women who enter politics are choosing to accept. It is not right, but it is inevitable, since too many on the left are consumed with bitterness and hatred toward conservatives in general and conservative women in particular. They are enslaved to a driving, brooding passion to destroy, and the more attractive the conservative woman is, the more it feeds their blood lust. As captives to this dark, driving vitriol, they can't help themselves. It will take the power of God to set them free from their own bondage to this mindless anger and rage. This means that a woman must count the cost, as Jesus taught, before jumping into the fray.

Part of the problem here is that when a women mixes it up in the political arena, and gets punched, she must punch back. The danger to the woman here is that every time she punches back, which she must do, she hardens a little bit of her soul and sacrifices a little bit of her femininity. I'm not sure that's a good trade. But each woman needs to make that choice for herself. No one else can or should make that decision for her.

Quick hits on the rest of the debate:

Romney came across as plastic. He completed his abject flip-flop on marriage, going from being the man who imposed same-sex marriage on America by executive fiat in 2004 to a man who now supports a federal marriage amendment to undo what he himself did in Massachusetts. He has a real credibility problem on social issues.

He defended RomneyCare despite the fact that it served as the blueprint for ObamaCare. He said the first thing he would do as president would be to give a waiver from ObamaCare to all 50 states, which obviously then includes Massachusetts. So once again, he'd use the power of his office as president to undo what he did as a governor. All in all, not a sterling record of consistency and believability.

Ron Paul's policies would be a positive menace to our national security. He is clueless about the danger Islam poses to the West, and doesn't even mind if Iran nukes up. And he is one with Obama in blaming us for Iran's hatred.

In Paul's confused thinking, whatever the CIA did to Iran in 1953–1953! — explains and justifies their lasting and eternal hatred of our country. That's no different than urging us to maintain an abiding hatred of Japan because of what they did to us in 1941. It's ridiculous.This is absurd and dangerous to an alarming degree. It's hard to see how a man this out of touch with reality regarding Islam can be trusted with the power of the Oval Office.

Plus he wants to Mirandize foreign Muslims who kill us, even though they have no constitutional or Geneva Convention rights whatsoever.

Newt and Herman both gave disappointing responses when pressed on their views on Islam. Both had taken strong and correct positions in the past, and both got squishy and squirrelly last night. Grassroots Americans are aware of the threat Islam poses to the West (when Herman said sharia law does not belong in American courts, he got spontaneous applause), and are looking for a leader who understands that. It increasingly looks like neither Newt nor Herman will fill the bill.

Newt got testy when Chris Wallace exposed his flip-flop on Libya, and tried to justify his contradictory positions with an answer nobody could follow. Romney was exposed as a flip-flopper on Afghanistan. Romney continues to appear to be disconcertingly inconsistent and unpredictable, not good qualities in a chief executive.

Paul did remind us that liberty comes from the Creator. But his understanding of liberty includes the liberty to snort cocaine, shoot up heroin, and indulge in prostitution and sodomy. That's not liberty, that's bondage. His views promote license, not liberty.

Santorum was the strongest on the platform on the pro-life issue. He rightly would make no exceptions even for rape, since in America we don't punish a child for the sins of his father. He's absolutely correct.

Huntsman made himself a non-factor by admitting he has no economic plan on his website, which should have been his first order of business. He also indicated he'd be for amnesty once the border is secure, a position anathema to most conservatives. Romney repeated the canard that we are a "nation of immigrants." We're not. Eighty-five percent us were born here.

Huntsman also argued that he as governor has the best record in the field on jobs. He loses that argument once Perry gets in the race tomorrow.

Bottom line: the race is Rick Perry's to lose.

[La Enchiladita]

Thompson was in it as a spoiler, and I suspect that Perry is running in the same capacity.

[nathanbedford]

the whole sorry mess was a waste of my time.

What exactly did you want them to do, move a bill of impeachment against Obama? They were explicit and they were thorough in setting forth remedies for our fiscal and economic problems. It was one of the most substantive debates in a long time. The principals engaged. The questions for the most part were on point with a minimum of "gotchas" and a relatively rich content on substance compared to the usual run in debates.

Why was it a waste of your time? You must understand that the bulk of the country are not political junkies like we are and are not tuned in to the issues as we are. Yet Romney made his 7 points and Gingrich laid out his proposals as did the other candidates.

The debates were a great success.

[smoothsailing]

A great lady. I just finished re-reading a book titled; “Ronald Reagan and Margaret Thatcher-A Political Marriage” by Nicholas Wapshott. It contains much of their personal correspondence with each other over the years. I highly recommend it!

[mikhailovich]

I tend to believe the Perry hype is not from any brigade of rich conglomerates or establishment elite. I honestly think its because he looks like a president and brings a high level of poise, polish, self-confidence, swagger, and charisma. It only takes a few minutes watching him on tv before the average person reaches that conclusion. Nor is the media or (Fox News) pimping him. The fact is, he has the Clint Eastwood factor, along with a super story to tell. He comes from extremely humble roots - no aristocracy. The hype exists because people are damned excited to have him come on board. And the media fears him. Put that in your book. The liberal media and the White House are scared to death.

Having said all of that, I expect Perry to stumble and face his own issues on the campaign trail. I also fear that his slow-talking Texas style will come off noticeably different than the rest of the candidates in the debates. Last night sounded like a yankee-fest to me. Pardon me for that, but it did. Everyone was zipping and zappin' at 100 mph. Perry is going to be a huge contrast when he starts speaking.

But that also can come off as presidential and assured. So it should be interesting to say the least.

[smoothsailing]

The debates were a great success.

It's nice that you enjoyed them. Perhaps I just found it all too predictable. Unlike you, I wasn't particularly impressed. I must admit, however, it was fun to see Newt bitchslap Chris Wallace.

[Allegra]

[smoothsailing]

You got me, I have no idea who that is! :)

[Allegra]

You got me, I have no idea who that is! :)

That's Perry the Platypus. Also known as Agent P. :-)

He has a tendency to appear on Perry threads.

[smoothsailing]

LOL! Perry the Platypus, I’m gonna have fun with that!

[Allegra]

I love Perry the Platypus.

[smoothsailing]

He's a furry little flatfoot who'll never flinch from a fray!

:o)

[Allegra]

Come to think of it, that would make a most excellent campaign song. :-D

Disney would never allow it...

[Scythian]

Wow, the FR has totally lost it !!!

[houeto]

So you read the article from the Dallas Morning News...

Nope, got this from another thread this a.m. I don't read the Dallas Morning News but it certainly APPEARS that you do if you KNEW it was in there. I am not going to make an unsubstantiated accusation though. That's why I used the word "appears". Have a nice evening.

[houeto]

The front of her shirt says something like I am sweet, loving caring" and the back that you are showing says "I am MOM."

Thank you normy for the clarification.

[raptor22]

Rick Perry is the perfect candidate to explain why Barack Hussein isall hat and no cattle.

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2762967/posts

[smoothsailing]

[casinva]

I agree with the writer that Rick Perry, and Sarah Palin for that matter, helped their campaigns by not being there. Disagreeing with an earlier poster, my take from last night’s debate was that SEVERAL of the candidates did not look very presidential, and the couple that perhaps look presidential either have baggage or seemed last night to be still a little inexperienced for such a job as the POTUS.

Of the ones who were there, Newt showed very well, and he certainly raised the intellectual level there. If Newt will continue on, he will make it much easier for us voters to see who really has an understanding of things and who does not!

However, while some may have taken themselves right out of the race last night, no one rose to a higher level either. The added factor that the debate questions were a joke and the atmosphere was one of the panel rooting for a pit bull fight or girl mud wrestling made last night’s EXTREMELY unprofessional. THEN add to the fact that the panel focused on questions that may have exhibited personalities but did not touch much at all on issues, answers, or visions. I sure would not have wanted to have been associated with last night’s Fox News debate because it came off as so amateurish.

I feel badly for the candidates that were exposed to last night’s debate. It was, overall, I believe, a lackluster environment for a debate and an uninteresting platform where no one could really stand above others, for whatever reason might have allowed them to. I don’t think it helped any of them save maybe Newt who still carries baggage but at least was able to shine despite the panel members.

However, Rick Perry and Sarah Palin were the winners by not being associated with that debate at all. My take on it as stated here doesn’t quite give Rick Perry or Sarah Palin credit for anything. It just discredits last night’s debate. I’m just glad neither of those two hard working, experienced stallions had to be confined in the horse stalls which last night’s panelists were in.

That said of the debate, I’m looking forward to seeing / hearing Rick Perry’s official announcement tomorrow!

AND... I am not afraid if Sarah Palin were to decide to join in either.

I’m good with a Perry-Somebody ticket or a Palin-Perry ticket.

I hear some say “wait til Rick Perry starts getting vetted, and we’ll see”, some saying that because they actually are waiting for information to help them decide and others saying that believing people won’t like him once he’s vetted. I say “bring the vetting on!” He’s grown up in politics and he’s been the governor of Texas for what, 12 years or so now? There’s plenty of vetting to do, but he’s also plenty of a good man overall to help get our country back to what America should be.

Thanks for the article, smoothsailing!

[casinva]

Everyone was zipping and zappin' at 100 mph. Perry is going to be a huge contrast when he starts speaking.

I think the contrast, Governor Perry's slower and more deliberate pace, will be just the thing that will give us all a better sense that American will be OK after all.

[normy]

I woke up this morning to a fine soaking rain. Much needed relief here in Texas, one week after the Response and on the day Perry will announce.

I have learned from experience that God responds to faith and it took faith and guts to openly proclaim the name of Jesus and leadership to call for all Governors to fast and pray with the citizens.