Posted on 10/19/2011 6:39:17 PM PDT by PSYCHO-FREEP
In previous debates, the adviser explained, Perry had tried to abide by time limits, leading some observers to say he seemed passive and withdrawn. Perry intended to make sure that didn't happen in Las Vegas.
It didn't. The Las Vegas debate was Perry's fifth, but the first one in which Perry really showed up to play. That doesn't mean he won, doesn't mean he was particularly likable, doesn't mean he always had cogent answers. But it does mean that Perry, on the verge of being completely written off as a candidate, gave himself a chance to get back in the game.
And Perry, for the first time in any GOP debate, rattled former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney. He did it by bringing up a 2007 charge that Romney hired illegal immigrants to do lawn work at his Massachusetts home. Jobs are the magnet for illegal immigrants, Perry said. "And Mitt, you lose all of your standing, from my perspective, because you hired illegals in your home and you knew about it for a year. And the idea that you stand here before us and talk about that you're strong on immigration is on its face the height of hypocrisy."
Romney tried to laugh it off and to deny the story. "I don't think I've ever hired an illegal in my life," he said. Romney tried to explain, but Perry kept pushing, leaving Romney protesting that Perry was ignoring the rules -- just as Perry had planned.
"I'm speaking," Romney said. "I'm speaking, I'm speaking, I'm speaking. You get 30 seconds. This is the way the rules work here…Anderson?"
By the time Romney appealed to CNN moderator Anderson Cooper for help, Romney seemed flustered, almost frantic. "Would you please wait?" he said to Perry. "Are you just going to keep talking?"
(Excerpt) Read more at campaign2012.washingtonexaminer.com ...
In 2008, Thompson was said (by his detractors) to lack a "fire in his belly". They said he seemed to be asleep. He never really engaged. His supporters thought that he was sort of biding his time, but he would really explode when the time was right.
The title to this thread is "In fifth debate, Perry Finally shows up"
So, yes, you are right. Perry is not Fred Thompson. Thompson slept through all the debates. Perry only slept through the first four.
I am not sure we have heard the last of this, since that soundbite from the debate was played over and over all day on all 4 cable networks, etc. America notices when a holier-than-thou hypocrite like Ronmey gets exposed.
It was classic, watching Romney squirm and cry to Cooper to please make him stop! I laughed my butt off!
At this point I just want all of them to shake Romney out of the tree.
No more Obama, no more Romney.
I prefer— Perry/Gingrich or Gingrich/Perry.
It was classic, watching Romney squirm and cry to Cooper to please make him stop! I laughed my butt off!
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Especially since Romney had no problem talking over Gingrich and interrupting or Santorum.
Can’t stand that greasy-headed man and his plastic, weasel smile.
Perry attacking romney for hiring a lawncare co. that uses illegals is moronic. I don’t think there’s anything more obvious in the U.S. than 99% of paid for lawncare is done by illegals. WTF!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
This was the most ham-handed attack on an opponent’s illegal immigration stance I’ve ever seen.
This is the best Perry or his advisors could come up w to deflect Perry’s own illegal issues?
No wonder he’s started spouting flat tax. His romney/illegal attack was top 10 in political history stupidity. Maybe he should get biden off his campaign team.
FR seems pretty divided on Perry. He’s got many conservative positions, but others think he’s limited in debates and charge that he can be “bought”.
Nobody here likes Romney for obvious reasons.
Many like Cain’s common sense conservative approach, but others argue that introducing a federal sales tax is dangerous.
Paul is good on cutting out entire federal agencies, but his insinuations that we had 9/11 coming to us immediately disqualifies him.
The guy I’m left with, then, is Gingrich. Everyone talks about “baggage”, but with all the other candidates having glaring flaws, I’m not so sure this baggage is such a big deal. Newt has the most command of the issues on the stage at every debate. His 3 marriages aren’t ideal, but he can answer that the same way Bill Clinton did in the ‘92 Dem primary: “They want to make this election about my past; I want to make it about your future.”
It might seem impossible to some that Gingrich could win at this point, but consider this: McCain was in 4th place as late as December 12, 2007 in the RCP average.
It all boiled down to the fact that Romney has trouble connecting with the average person or voter. He comes across as arrogant and above the cut, every where he goes. This is what will defeat Romney for us. Romney just being himself.
I’m still waiting for Cain to lay one punch on Romney. He’s been in the race even longer then Perry so what’s his excuse.
Yeah, I’m biased. Perry kicked serious butt. Like that one time when he completed an entire sentence. That was SO cool!
Another performance like that and he may need to bring in Harkin to hold his coat afterwards.
in the Luntz group last night even the Perry people thought he was petty, mean spirited, argued about a non issue and didn’t look Presidential.. the majority of the Perry supporters in the group before last night’s debate are now for somebody else... the only one bleeding is Perry from punching himself in the mouth so many times...
The “$17 Million Man” is running behind Captain Steubing (Michele Bachmann) in Iowa, New Hampshire, Florida and Ohio.
The hypocracy of that attack was stunning. LOL Both lost in that little dustup.
Gingrich is a complete embarrassment. But it is obvious that he has you totally buffaloed, so there is no point in discussing his countless issues.
Perry is a true conservative, unlike your candidate.
His peformance was still quite poor, just not as big of a disaster as the previous once. He did improve a bit, though, but only looks good by comparison.
once=ones
He can do it if his advisors leave him alone. His back may also be better and he can concentrate more. Give 'em hell President Perry!
I’m buffaloed by no one. They’re all flawed. I’m not sold on Gingrich at all. I’m just impressed with his debate performances is all I’m saying.
So instead of throwing my hands up and giving up on the GOP, I’m trying to find a reason to throw my support behind one of them. Who’s your candidate?
No he is not a good debater, but he can certainly lay out his plans in speeches. He is thin articulate and knows what he is talking about. These so called debates have little to do with their ability. Notice that Perry supporters are not trashing Cain. To bad that Cain supporters can’t have the same courtesy.
Nope you are wrong on this one. Perry is no Fred Thompson. In fact Perry has never lost an election. I know how he campaigns.
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