Perry is blowing it (Needs better grasp of issues, stamina to pick apart Romney's contradictions)

Washington Examiner ^ | 09/23/2011 | Philip Klein

[Eva]

My concern with Romney is that he is a big government man. He thinks that he and the federal government have all the answers, just like Obama.

I don’t want someone who thinks that government is the answer. Government is not the answer, government is the problem. Romney’s answer on education hit like an epiphany that Romney still doesn’t get it.

[Reagan Man]

Agreed. Romney is another big govt liberal Republican and his record as Governor of Massachusetts proves it. He also just happens to be the GOP establishment candidate, the next in line to be handed the nomination.

After last night, my concern is that Romney will start picking up a head of steam, jump ahead in the polls and roll to the nomination. The last person we need as the GOP nominee is Myth Romney.

[The Sparrow]

You nailed it. It’s frustrating as heck.

[Eva]

Palin is NOT getting in the race. She and Bachman both blew it on the attacks on Perry over Gardisil.

The attacks on Perry help no one but Romney.

[rob777]

"I don’t think sitting the debates out is smart."


I agree. Debates give an indication of how good candidates are at articulating and defending their positions on the fly and under pressure. This ability is especially important for a President. One of the most important weapons a president has is the national "bully pulpit". I want a President who can effectively articulate and defend conservative principles under pressure to a skeptical audience. Any candidate who is passionate about their principles and confident in their ability to articulate and defend them wold relish the opportunity to participate in the debates.

[Polybius]

Just wait before long Perry will start in on the self depracating humor about how poor a debator he is, the expectations will start to lower and then BAM! he will hit a home run heard round the world in 30 second sound bites.

It has been reported that Perry declined to participate in any extra debate training and preparation.

Big mistake.

Right or wrongly, American voters form impressions from these Dog & Pony Shows that now pass for "debates". (For transcripts of genuine debates, click here.) Perry, like George W. Bush before him, does not seem to think that he needs to articulate the reasons behind why Policy A or Policy B is being followed.

Again, big mistake.

In the so-called "Dream Act", as Perry pointed out, only 4 Legislators out of 181 opposed it. In a conservative state like Texas, anything that gets 98% support must have something going for it. Perry, however, was just not ready with an answer to a challenge that was certain to come. In fact, Perry seemed surprised at the challenge and had nothing to offer except to blurt out the "no heart" line that is a red flag waved in front of Romney that is now posing as More Conservative Than Thou.

For example, Perry could have prepared and rehearsed something along these lines:

"Maybe the Dream Act should have been called the Sins of the Father Act. We are dealing with young adults that, through no fault of their own, were brought here as children by the Sins of their Fathers. They grew up in Texas, they know no other home but Texas and have been here for so long that they know English so well that they were accepted into college. The conservative Texas Legislature understands that. That is why 98% voted for this bill. Yes, we are all against illegal immigration. But we, in Texas, do not want to end up with college capable, uneducated, unemployed young people, who grew up in Texas and know no other home, though no fault of their own, because we want to punish them for the Sins of their Fathers."

There is your sound bite: "Sins of the Father".

It will take you a lot further than, "You have no heart".

[mad_as_he$$]

Well here in the rest of the West the invaders milk the system for every penny they can. Their “work” is going to every foodbank, welfare, foodstamp and other freebie office they can every day. There are families of 6-10 kids that were all fathered by the same guy who is not listed on the birth certificate. So, the taxpayer gets to support those kids and babysit them in school until they reach the age where they can go out and milk the system. Some work ethic.

[TexasFreeper2009]

You just don’t get it.

All the facts are on Perry’s side, and through ads, interviews, and speeches, the points WILL eventually get made. Just because he wasn’t able to get them accross in the debates so far, doesn’t mean he wont be able to get them accross.

You are acting like the debates are the only way for people to hear from a candidate, when nothing could be further from the truth.

Why do you think candidates raise millions and in this case possibly billions to run for office, if all they have to do is some debate prep.

[TexasFreeper2009]

lol

You keep comparing Perry to Bush as if that’s a BAD thing!

lol

BUSH WON TWO TERMS!

lol you just don’t get it.

[I cannot think of a name]

“Well here in the rest of the West the invaders milk the system for every penny they can.”

You know it is funny that you say that, because I have heard it before. One of my old bosses was a North Easterner who used to say, “well it’s different down here because they actually work.”

It may also be that Texas is a little bit tougher on welfare. Not saying people can’t cheat, and I’m sure many do, but it takes a little more creativity. And if you are willing to live on welfare wages, there’s no shortage of people wanting to hire illegals (or ‘wets’ as I grew up hearing them called) for somewhat more than welfare pay.

[Polybius]

You just don’t get it. All the facts are on Perry’s side, and through ads, interviews, and speeches, the points WILL eventually get made.

Well, as surgeons say, "One way or another, all bleeding WILL eventually stop."

Sometimes, "eventually' is simply not good enough.

You know what?

All the facts were on George W. Bush's side during and after Katrina too.

1.) New Orleans was below sea-level, in a storm surge zone, with levees rated to withstand a Category 3 storm when Katrina was predicted to be a Category 5 storm.
2.) Before Katrina hit, Bush was on the phone begging and pleading with the Democrat Governor and Mayor for an evacuation.
3.) The Democrat Governor and Mayor ignored Bush and ignored their own Evacuation Plan and left thousands of people trapped like rats in the Louisiana Superdome.

Who had "all the facts on his side"?

Bush.

Who got 100% of the blame after the Katrina disaster?

Bush.

Who did not articulate the facts after he was blamed?

Bush.

Who had from August 2005 until January 2009, with the entire resources of the Bully Pulpit of the White House, to set the record straight?

Bush.

Who was never able to set the record straight after the initial impression that "Bush screwed up" was seared into the brains of the American voters?

Bush.

Just because he wasn’t able to get them accross in the debates so far, doesn’t mean he wont be able to get them accross.

You are correct.

Just because a first string NFL quarterback shows up at the pre-season training camp, overweight, out of shape and never having studied the new offensive coordinator's new playbook during the off season, doesn’t mean he wont be able to be the starting quarterback when the regular season starts. It does mean, however, that he is at high risk for being benched during the regular season or even being traded away.

My point is that quality preparation matters.

My point is that Perry needs to get his butt in gear and start doing some serious debate prep and serious debate study so that he can start articulating the reasons of why he did what he did. Otherwise, Perry is going to end up being pummeled like a rented mule ..... Just as George W. Bush was.

These debates are introducing the new candidates to the American voters and you only get one chance to make a first impression. The first impression that Perry is giving is, "I did not take the time to bother to prepare well".

That needs to change and it needs to change FAST.

As I have posted before, I have no particular brand loyalty to any particular candidate. My candidate is "The most conservative candidate, other than Mitt Romney, that can actually beat Obama in the general election."

No matter how badly Perry does in future debates, Perry still fits the definition of "my candidate" and will get my support.

However, I do not believe in cuddling a slacker's Inner Child or making excuses for him.

What I am saying is that I do not have the final say about who gets cut from the team so Perry needs to start showing up at his playing weight, in shape and with his playbook memorized or else he could end up being cut before the general election game even begins.

[Polybius]

To: Polybius ....... lol You keep comparing Perry to Bush as if that’s a BAD thing! lol BUSH WON TWO TERMS! lol you just don’t get it. ... TexasFreeper2009

How many elections did Bush win after the August 2005 Katrina public relations fiasco, TexasFreeper2009?

See Post 171.

Who was the millstone around the GOP in the 2008 election?

Who is STILL the millstone around the neck of the GOP today?

August 25, 2011: With Pessimism Growing on Economy, More Americans Still Blame Bush Over Obama

If, after the Bush disasters that snowballed after the Katrina public relations fiasco of August 2005, you still do not understand how Bush's failures to articulate brought about the Obama disaster we have right now, it is you who just doesn't "get it".

[wolfcreek]

Offered the chance to respond, Perry stood by the Texas tuition law, saying that to deny opportunities to children who have been brought into the country illegally through no fault of their own would be callous.

To candidates who would take that stance, Perry said: “I don’t think you have a heart.”

“We need to be educating these children because they will become a drag on our society,” Perry said.

Read more: http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0911/64224.html#ixzz1YnoPKXxu

He didn't say *conservative* although there might be one or two on that stage.

And just to set the record straight, these are *children* brought here illegally not just some vagabond who snuck into this country.

[wolfcreek]

Because the GOP candidate won’t be a conservative?

[wolfcreek]

Oh boo hoo, Perry called me heartwess.

Fact is, you are but, compared to the things Obama has called us.

Stiff upper lip.

[mad_as_he$$]

Call me names at your own risk.

You think because I criticize Perry that I support 0? Nice try sparky, logic fail.

Oh yea and I left W when he called me “Vigilante”.

[comebacknewt]

I see you have bought the left wing spin hook, line and sinker.

Congrats. Hopefully either President Obama or President Romney will be more to your liking.

[mad_as_he$$]

Ah typical Perryista. Name calling just like Perry himself and conclusion leaping. No one calls me names and walks away free. Do you want to play?

Nemo me impune lacessit.

So you are willing to continue to allow the invasion to continue unchallenged?

[comebacknewt]

I'm impressed. I took Latin too.

Just curious, I see where you called me a "Perryista", but where exactly did I call you any names?

[goat granny]

Our of all the candidates on stage, he came across as the only one i’d like to have a cup of coffee with and talk to.