Rick Perry says "debates are not my strong suit"

CBS News ^ | Oct 11, 2011

[Ripliancum]

HANOVER, N.H. -- After a two-hour debate on the economy, earnest GOP operatives headed straight to the spin room to tout the merits of their respective candidates. As for Texas Gov. Rick Perry,he headed straight to the Beta Theta Pi fraternity house.

"Debates are not my strong suit," Perry told about 100 fraternity brothers gathered to see him at the house, a few blocks from the debate site on the campus of Dartmouth College. No keg stands were in view.

[RightOnTheLeftCoast]

"Newt is brilliant on the level of a Churchill. He understands how Washington works which is necessary if we want to start dismantling the mess. Maybe we need to over look his past person indiscretions and go with him. Other wise it is Mittens for us all."

Newt had his chance and blew it. He's great with the sound-bites and a talented promoter, and no one can accuse him of being unintelligent, but he cannot lead. As a leader he is mercurial, erratic, unfocused. He proved this rather conclusively, and those who were in the trenches with him after the triumph of the Contract With America who have told many stories of his windmilling, scattershot, and ultimately impotent attempt at leading at a time he had Washington eating out of his hands. It amazes me that Freepers cannot remember his inability to follow-through on his great sales pitch.

We've had enough slick talkers in the Oval Office. Time for someone who can get things done, methodically and relentlessly. That, sad to say, isn't Newt.

[RightOnTheLeftCoast]

"I have no plans to vote if some RINO like Romney is the nominee."

In other words, you will support Obama.

[Texan]

If you can’t debate, you can’t beat Obama. Look at the dismal failure of John McCain. His communication skills were horrible

McCain's debating skills weren't what lost us the election. McCain was this old white guy with thinning hair and the country was all anxious to show that we weren't racist.

And after 8 years of a Republican President were ready for (dare I say it?) hope and change. (gag)

Agree that Newt dominates every debate. I can't decide if he's worth over-looking his past.

[lawnguy]

Newt will go down in history as one of the greatest disappointments ever...He had it all, and his skill is amazing.,

His judgement sadly doesn't match, and he can never recover from those bad decisions..

What might have been....

[dragnet2]

"Debates are not my strong suit"

This is like Indy car driver saying, "Racing and going fast are not my strong suit"

[Texan]

he (Newt) cannot lead. As a leader he is mercurial, erratic, unfocused. He proved this rather conclusively, and those who were in the trenches with him after the triumph of the Contract With America who have told many stories of his windmilling, scattershot, and ultimately impotent attempt at leading at a time he had Washington eating out of his hands

Thanks for reminding me of that. I'd forgotten.

[dragnet2]

Pilot to passengers:

"Everyone buckle up tight, flying is not my strong suit"

[Texan]

This is strange. People used to say that Perry was a master debater.

I've never heard that but have heard he's a "master campaigner". That I believe.

[toddausauras]

He was better tonight, don’t count him out.

[JDW11235]

Yes, tonight, rather than insult everyone and sound incompetent, he just was incompetent. He just rambled and rambled saying next to nothing so as to not accidently tell us how he really feels. I nearly thought I was listening to Obama 2 years ago, no wonder he’s (Obama) refused to take questions for so long.

[Explorer89]

LOL!

[newzjunkey]

His judgement sadly doesn't match, and he can never recover from those bad decisions..

What are these unredeemably bad decisions? I see folks like you posting as if Newt knifed a woman in a back alley.

He's been married to Callista for 11 years. I don't care about some photo-op on a sofa with Pelosi about clean energy.

[jonrick46]

"I’d rather Obama win and the curtain be pulled back for real, while going Galt."

Don't get demoralized if Romney gets the nomination. Hell could freeze over and I would never vote for Zer0. It would be like selling my mother to a slave trader. Just say to yourself:

"America may be down, but we cannot let it go to Zer0."

[VRWC For Truth]

His coddling of illegals ain’t either. A loser.

[stonehouse01]

What about Cain/Newt? Cain strikes me as someone who fits your criteria of someone who can get things done, methodically and relentlessly. His CEO experience certainly proves this.

As for Newt, he is brilliant and has a precise command of the issues at hand.

I do not approve of the womanizing/and/or Nancy Pelosi sofa shot - however is that enough to not consider him when he clearly has a lot to offer? (rhetorical question, actually, I am still pondering this).

Everyone makes mistakes. Intelligent smart people learn from their mistakes and try not to repeat them - Newt is very bright and most likely has learned not to repeat his earlier Contract with America weak points.

I am not necessarily a huge Newt fan, yet he seems to have a lot on the ball, policy wise. If he knows and understands the issues, perhaps he is more than merely a smooth talker, and has some good perspective on how to come up with real solutions. I see Newt as a person capable of more than just talk, and capable of producing concrete solutions.

Whatever happens we cannot have RINO Romney. We can’t let the liberal left pick our candidate a la McCain. Romney is a liberal in wolf’s clothing.

[Condor51]

Here ya go :-)

"Debates are not my strong suit," Perry told about 100 fraternity brothers ..

Does this guy even have a 'strong suit'?
Hell how about a Blazer and some Dress Slacks?
...............

[lawnguy]

Yes, I should be more clear... I can overlook Newts past, but it seems much of the base wont...But I would be happy to be wrong..I think he’s brilliant...

[dk88]

No, I will continue to support myself in the knowledge the system is rigged.