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Perry Takes a Page from The Gipper
National Journal ^ | November 12, 2011 | George E. Condon Jr.

Posted on 11/13/2011 5:24:29 AM PST by Cincinatus' Wife

Taking a page from Ronald Reagan, Texas Gov. Rick Perry on Saturday sought to use humor to rebound from his much-noted debate flub earlier in the week. That flub, a 53-second brain freeze that was replayed endlessly on news shows, had him forgetting the name of the Department of Energy, the third federal agency he pledges to eliminate.

So Perry was quick to cut off CBS’ Scott Pelley, one of the debate moderators in South Carolina, when he began a question, saying, “Governor Perry, you advocate the elimination of the Department of Energy. If you eliminate the Department of Energy...”

“I'm glad you remembered it,” interjected Perry with a big smile as the audience broke into applause and laughter. Pelley responded, “I've had some time to think about it, sir.” And Perry shot back again to even more laughter, “Me, too.”

Far from being uptight after his earlier stumble, Perry was loose even before the debate. Backstage before the TV lights came on, Perry said to fellow candidate Rick Santorum, “So tonight if I need a lifeline, I'm just gonna look to you, OK?”

Santorum laughed and offered to “fill in the blanks” for the Texan. The two men then high-fived each other. At that point, they laughed about Rep. Ron Paul telling Perry after the Michigan debate that “everybody has that happen, most people just don't do it in front of four million people.” In South Carolina, Paul laughed and told Santorum, “I was trying to make him feel better.”

Perry’s use of humor was reminiscent of Reagan’s rebound in 1984 after the then-president's performance in that year's first presidential debate with Democratic nominee Walter F. Mondale raised questions about whether age had dulled Reagan's mental quickness. At the second debate, Reagan was ready when he question came up. “I will not make age an issue in this campaign," he said. "I'm not going to exploit for political purposes my opponent's youth and inexperience.” The lasting image from that debate is Mondale laughing heartily at the joke at his expense. And the question of Reagan’s age was put to rest for the campaign.


TOPICS: Extended News; News/Current Events; US: Texas
KEYWORDS: 53secondsofstupid; amnesty; gopprimary; heartless; hispandering; keywordkooks; leadership; michigantexas; nationalsecurity; openborders; perry; perry2012; perryastroturfing; rickperry; ricksantorum; romneyperry2012; ronpaul; scottpelley; seebs; southcarolina; texas
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To: PSYCHO-FREEP

Exactly!!!


101 posted on 11/14/2011 10:50:52 AM PST by Sudetenland (There can be no freedom without God--What man gives, man can take away.)
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To: ridesthemiles
There is a difference between not being "an expert on every segment of being President" and not having a defined set of principles from which to pursue one's foreign policy goals.

Cain fails, because he hasn't got a clue on foreign affairs. He boasted as to how he was eager and ready for this debate and his sole achievement was to appear totally befuddled.

Herman Cain--not ready for prime time.
102 posted on 11/14/2011 10:58:07 AM PST by Sudetenland (There can be no freedom without God--What man gives, man can take away.)
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To: Allegra

>>>>(I think Liz is a guy)>>>>>>>

Maybe Liz is short for lizard, a creepy crawly critter.


103 posted on 11/14/2011 11:21:57 AM PST by Ditter
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To: no dems

You need to learn how to read.

Christians do not praise, nor embrace pluralism.

Perry’s words are his words. He condemned himself.


104 posted on 11/14/2011 1:08:21 PM PST by editor-surveyor (No Federal Sales Tax - No Way!)
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To: LUV W; Marse; Marthon; martifr77; marviec; Mask316; MASS-2 FAC; Master of None; Matt Fisher; ...

Thanks for your reply! Pinging some more Freepers for their opinions.


105 posted on 11/14/2011 1:42:11 PM PST by seekthetruth (We Patriots want a Commander In Chief who STANDS with Our Military!)
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To: seekthetruth

He didn’t have to call, but he did. It WAS a very nice thing to do.


106 posted on 11/14/2011 2:08:51 PM PST by I Drive Too Fast
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To: Cincinatus' Wife
I'm gonna fully support Perry in this one.

First it's ludicrous to believe that a normal person or even an extraordinary one has every word necessary on the tip of his tongue in an open question format. I often take a few seconds to retrieve the proper word in speaking about a subject the I have a premeditated firm fixed position on.

Secondly the important point is that the Federal Government must be made smaller and less intrusive, and that means more than just three departments must be reduced, so it's a large area of thought requiring a reasonably lengthy answer not favorable to sound bite timing.

Finally, Perry is doing his own thinking on this and in that way is like Reagan who was almost entirely responsible for his own conservative thinking and policy, he borrowed very little.

107 posted on 11/14/2011 2:16:10 PM PST by Navy Patriot (Join the Democrats, it's not Fascism when WE do it. (plagiarized))
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To: seekthetruth
Reminiscent of Reagan? Yeah, right.
108 posted on 11/14/2011 2:18:15 PM PST by Carry_Okie (Grovelnator Schwarzenkaiser: Fashionable fascism one charade at a time.)
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To: no dems
My friggin point is

Whatever!!!

You know Perry could hold his own debating Obama because Perry has had more direct involvement with him than any other of the candidates!

THAT is my friggin point!

109 posted on 11/14/2011 3:03:28 PM PST by lonestar (It takes a village of idiots to elect a village idiot.)
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To: Allegra; bevperl; maine-iac7; youscreamIscream99; manc; wymck; ghost26; PJammers; myuval; ...
I enjoy reading information and opinions of Texas Freepers who know Governor Perry and what he has accomplished in their state.

There are sure to be some Texas Freepers who do not care for Governor Perry, but I hope they would explain why they dislike him, and what he did that was upsetting to them. It is knowing the truth that is important. Disagreeing on some issues is to be expected, but I have heard mostly praise of Governor Perry from most Tesas Freepers.

110 posted on 11/14/2011 4:44:51 PM PST by seekthetruth (We Patriots want a Commander In Chief who STANDS with Our Military!)
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To: af_vet_rr; lilparakeet; AF68; morakheather; dtom; X-FID; NavyBaby; cutiepie24013; FreeRepFanIL; ...
How about we encourage Freepers we converse with that we vet the candidates in the Republican primary race with the facts. We all are not going to agree with every candidate on everything, but we can concentrate on the most important issues and look at each candidate's record. As we all know it is what they have done and accomplished we need to know about.

BTW, I thought I heard there was to be a debate tonight. Or perhaps I got the wrong night. If anyone knows about a debate being this evening, please let me know. Have been busy today and kind of out of the loop on the news. Thanks!

Pinging to post # 61.

111 posted on 11/14/2011 4:56:42 PM PST by seekthetruth (We Patriots want a Commander In Chief who STANDS with Our Military!)
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To: Liz; bevperl; BattleFlag; cyberaxe; Lazurus; Paisan; SCDogPapa; upchuck; estrogen; KristenRN; ...

Liz, Are you from Texas? I would like to know why you are saying Governor Perry has “sucked up to Islam & Mexico”. Please explain if you know Governor Perry’s record in Texas.

I am just a Floridian who works supporting real conservative candidates here in Florida. We will make sure Dizzy Debbie is reduced to one job...Head of DNC, but no longer in the US House come January 2012! We have a few more to get out of Congress too, including Senator Nelson!

Another ping here to post #61


112 posted on 11/14/2011 5:07:30 PM PST by seekthetruth (We Patriots want a Commander In Chief who STANDS with Our Military!)
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To: Jonty30
Reset the sensitivity on your bad pun meter.

Think affairs as in JFK and Marilyn Monroe, or Bill Clinton and half the US female population under the age of 60 in Arkansas and D.C.

Cheers!

113 posted on 11/14/2011 7:14:20 PM PST by grey_whiskers (The opinions are solely those of the author and are subject to change without notice.)
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To: grey_whiskers

I am now recalibrating.....


114 posted on 11/14/2011 7:33:59 PM PST by Jonty30
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To: seekthetruth

Pro dream act, Oh yeah, and I am heartless too! Sorry, he hasn’t answered that and the CONFLICT OF INTEREST for the Guardisil EXECUTIVE ORDER. Note I am not saying money I am saying CONFLICT OF INTEREST because it would be a gain for his former chief of staff! Improper use of Executive power. Don’t want that in the Commander in Chief.

Ravenstar


115 posted on 11/14/2011 8:12:02 PM PST by Ravenstar (Reinstitute the Constitution as the Ultimate Law of the Land --Cain 2012)
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To: seekthetruth

Thanks for the ping!


116 posted on 11/14/2011 10:16:59 PM PST by Alamo-Girl
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To: native texan
Now, that is the Rick Perry that I know and love. I don’t know why so many people, including some on FR, are so set on crucifying him and saying things about him that are totally not true. He will make a great president.

I have heard Governor Perry's comments concerning the Guardisil executive order, and believe him when he said he should have gone through the legislature.

I hope the Freepers who are totally against Perry will explain why with details, and I hope Texas Freepers who know first hand what Perry has done will provide more information. I want to deal with facts, records, and do want to know more about Governor Perry.

As far as I am concerned, National Security/Defense and Energy Independence are the most important issues. As far as I can see, Governor Perry would put his attention on those issues first.

CONFLICT OF INTEREST for the Guardisil EXECUTIVE ORDER

117 posted on 11/15/2011 7:10:47 AM PST by seekthetruth (We Patriots want a Commander In Chief who STANDS with Our Military!)
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To: seekthetruth

Meant to add, can you comment on the “conflict of interest for the Guardisil Executive order”.


118 posted on 11/15/2011 7:13:46 AM PST by seekthetruth (We Patriots want a Commander In Chief who STANDS with Our Military!)
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