Posted on 11/10/2011 2:37:12 PM PST by Cincinatus' Wife
By facing the issue and joking about it, Perry frames his gaffe as a funny moment rather than a serious, and seriously stupid, one. He takes control of the discussion. Every minute he's on the air being interviewed about it is one more minute his moment isn't being replayed, one more minute some panel of pundits isn't fretfully analyzing its stupendous terribleness. By allowing his memory glitch to be the topic of discussion and owning up to it, he helps exhaust the subject.
Most of all, Perry is being humanized, albeit not in the way any politician would wish.
For all the talk about the Republican field's lack of a credible conservative to take on Mitt Romney, there's another, just as glaring void: the humanity gap. Romney's woodenness and lack of approachability are arguably just as much of an issue as his ideological heresies and lack of consistency. He's just not relatable. A little personality goes a long way in a politician -- just look at Herman Cain.
Perry's reputation in Texas is as a folksy charmer, but it's a persona he seems to have left back in Austin for most of this campaign. He's been stilted and spacey and unsure by turns, with flashes of a better politician occasionally showing through.
Now, though it may be too late, Perry is seizing the chance to show he's just like us. He, too, saw what happened on that stage and groaned. He, too, thought he looked awfully dumb. But in refusing to let it get him down, he can show forthrightness and sincerity, two traits voters are surely wishing they saw more of from this field of Republican candidates.
(Excerpt) Read more at theatlantic.com ...
To say La Raza Rick Perry is a conservative while ignoring his liberal record is dumb.
You ignore his conservative record and that is dumb. They all have warts some more some less. I’ll vote for the Republican whoever it turns out to be. Texas votes late in the primaries and it is usually all over and decided by then. I never see anything that you post other than bashing Perry, your candidate is who again?
I'm not the only conservative who thinks so either. The smart ones see Perry for what he is. Those enamored with their governor need to realize he's far from conservative and there are more conservative candidates in the race. Supporting Perry at this juncture just isn't wise.
OK Robert who are you supporting?
In all seriousness - he is much worse than I had expected.
Perry had quite a reputation and was highly regarded before he began his run for the nomination. He was the King of Texas and at the top of his game as far as the rest of the country knew. But moving onto the national stage has been a flop. His dismal debate performances have destroyed that cachet. He will return to the Texas Governorship a much weakened politician.
What we are seeing reminds me of football coach Jimmy Johnson. When he coached the Dallas Cowboys from a 1-15 season in 1989 to win consecutive Super Bowls in 1992 and 1993 he was looked on as almost infallible. If the NFL dispensed Knighthoods he would have been first in line.
Three years later when he took over as head coach for the Miami Dolphins he was the Golden Boy. It was expected he would bring them to the top of the league but he fell flat on his face.
He lost the aura of invincibility that cloaked him when he left Texas at the top of his game and became just another coach with a record that put him way back in the pack.
I have misgivings about each of the candidates, but none would I call a “moron.” None would I mock for a momentary lapse of memory.
It just seems over the top to me.
As for his record, at least he has one.
If you had bothered to look down and see my tagline you would know who I support.
Tag lines don’t show when you read on your comments page Robert.
Try paying attention, Erkel. I’ve been advocating for Cain for months. Did you just get out of the joint, or what?
It was one minute from a 2 hour debate and its all the MSM will show. Nothing else at the debate is newsworthy I guess.
The MSM will never cover the issues.
LOL! Did I just get out of the joint? That’s funny!
All I ever see of your posts are bashing Perry and being rude to Perry supporters, that’s it. There is a whole nasty little gang of you guys doing that. So you like Cain are you part of his paid staff?
“I have yet to hear something that Rick Perry is constitutionally conservative on. Not one thing.”
I’m sure if you were to look hard enough, you would find something. Problem is, it’s just not worth the effort.
Once I couldn't recall the name of the Cisco Kid's horse. Casual conversation with others after a meeting, we got around to naming movie cowboys' steeds - couldn't recall the name (which I hadn't thought about for 30 years). Oh well it's gone. Go to car park, start car "Diablo" just like that.
All I ever see of your posts are bashing Perry and being rude to Perry supporters, thats it.
“There is a whole nasty little gang of you guys doing that. So you like Cain are you part of his paid staff?”
I would say much the same about the perrywinkles.
You know there does come a point, and I think we’re pretty much there, where discussing a candidate is simply pointless. Gov. Perry is not going to be nominated by the gop, nor is he going to be President of the U.S. The question is not whether he withdraws, it’s if he does so soon with some shreds of his reputation intact.
The PerryBots know how nasty they are. Have you ever accused them of hating females and wanting them to die of cancer? Neither have I. But that’s the level they have taken the discourse only to accuse conservatives of being on the attack. Their whole argument is as laughable as is their worthless candidate.
I guess you missed the part where I told you I am not and have not supported anyone yet, but I WILL vote for the Republican nominee in the general election. Can you say the same about your vote in the general election?
The most egregious of the Cain people are posting with Mitt Romney’s money. Once you get past that, they cease to get under your skin.
“The question is not whether he withdraws, its if he does so soon with some shreds of his reputation intact.”
So you think if he withdraws right now after this debate, that’s really best for his reputation? Somehow I don’t think you are worried about his reputation.
I figured as much.
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