The Spectacle Blog
Many observers have remarked that Texas Gov. Rick Perry appears to grow tired during the course of debates, which seemed to happen again last night in Orlando. What could explain this? Brian Ledbetter, who blogs at Snapped Shot, e-mailed me to suggest that Perry’s debate fatigue may be a result of his having undergone back surgery in July:
Texas Gov. Rick Perry, who is considering a run for president, is working from home in Austin after minor surgery on his back . . .
Perry, an avid runner, spent two nights in the hospital after the surgery on Friday to “correct a reoccurring back ailment,” Miner said. “The procedure included a small nerve decompression and small fusion.”
If you know anything about back injuries (and I do, because my wife once worked in a hospital physical therapy unit), you know that chronic pain sometimes becomes worse after back surgery. If Perry is continuing to suffer serious pain issues, that certainly might affect his debate performance.
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Casey Abell| 9.23.11 @ 11:13AM
Yeah, the back surgery excuse is making the rounds. Jim Geraghty tried it a while back (no pun intended) at NRO.
Well, it's better than George Will stole my briefing book.
Ken (Old Texican)| 9.23.11 @ 11:28AM
Robert Stacy,
I wanted to make sure you saw my earlier posts on this subject:
T Volunteer
Just some thoughts from a Texan on immigration. We have a LOT of fine multi-generation citizens of Texas with Hispanic backgrounds. As I have mentioned before, there were several Hispanics that fought INSIDE the Alamo. (to real Texans, that is a passport signed in blood, just like Davy Crocket’s).
A lot of those citizens have nephews and nieces whose parents have NO passports…from anywhere, but who live across the border.
Third, we did no “ethnic cleansing” when we won our independence from Mexico “Tex-Mex” is more than a mix of dishes to us. It is a huge part of our culture. (Well, we did shoot a lot of Comanches.)
Fourth, being a blue eyed Anglo, if I brought MY nephew across to save him from abject poverty…or even having been orphaned, no one would even lift an eyebrow. “Hell, Ken, it’s the Christian thing to do.”
Fifth, I began my “real career” working for a Japanese company. Many of my Japanese co-workers were here on long term “business visas”. Well a poor mixed blood, (Indian/Spanish) laborer doesn’t have the connections or the money to obtain those niceties.
The Japanese were welcomed if they worked for their own company. Gazillions of “undocumented aliens” have THEIR own businesses here. Heh, many of us practice “Don’t Ask Don’t Tell”. Heck, my own lawn service may be one of those, and you know, I have NEVER had an Anglo knock on my door and ask me for my landscaping business.
Right or wrong, Volunteer, that is just the real world down here.
I know that Mr. Perry shares a lot of these thoughts…THAT’S WHY he probably believes the Federal government should enforce the borders…ALL the borders, with a workable guest-worker program. Heh, like Gingrich quipped: “Let Fed-Ex handle it.”
Seriously though, I hope you guys can forgive Mr. Perry for having mixed feelings. Hell, he grew up sharecropping a cotton farm. Some of the guys working right along side him in those cotton fields were probably “undocumented”, and chances are, some of them were childhood and lifetime friends.
Heh, I have been shot and blown up, and passed kidney stones that totally blocked the ducts. Only 24/7 back pain has done me in.
Perry will never make an excuse. Heh, he would rather chest-bump you...if it kept him up all night.
Occam's Tool| 9.23.11 @ 4:46PM
Yeah, I can see this, Ken---but we really can't afford them any more. Half of all the kids born in LA County (many of them born at USC-LA County) are undocumented. You already know my opinion on in-state tuition charges for illegal aliens, and why. My babies from Guatemala, Ike and Rebekah, are LEGALS, and now CITIZENS. They came here legally, and expensively.
I favor offering a lot of work permits, but I am death on Illegals. I saw too many of them in the wards in Los Angeles and in the Prisons of New Mexico. We owe Mexico NOTHING.
Margie| 9.23.11 @ 8:43PM
What a lying fraud!!
Dai Alanye | 9.23.11 @ 12:57PM
Naah---ole Rick's just kinda stoopid.
Israel Firster| 9.23.11 @ 12:58PM
Perry was the candidate du jour.
He already peaked
WJ| 9.23.11 @ 1:05PM
No excuses for Perry. Everything he said he meant even if he said it poorly.
He won't be president.
CalMark| 9.23.11 @ 1:24PM
So how will it affect him if he's President?
...the stress level and fatigue factor being just a wee bit higher in the Oval Office than onstage.
WL| 9.23.11 @ 1:46PM
I don't really worry about how he looked on stage...or sounded...but I do think his demeanor did leave something to be desired, and his answer on the In-state tuition business is not really sufficient...but the only other one REALLY capable of matching the Bamster is Romney...who has his own garbage bags to carry around...
But as for the comment above about "...the stress level.....Oval Office....onstage."
This is a really stupid comment. Back pain does not affect someones ability to lead...or be president like it does affect how tired you get standing up for several hours after a surgery....
With this kind of analysis, why don't you go comment on the democrat/liberal websites....because your brain isn't big enough for this blog....
You probably feel like the best "appearance" onstage makes a better president to don't you?
Come on...admit it...you probably vote based this garbage don't you...
Some people just don't know how ignorant they are...and never will.
CalMark| 9.23.11 @ 2:24PM
If someone has a physical condition that prevents him from performing adequately, like a governor having to work from home, maybe he shouldn't be President. It certainly affected JFK.
As for your vicious assertions, I have had three major back injuries in the last ten years. They affect my ability to stand, walk, run, lift, and do other normal activities--doctor's orders and (frankly) the realities imposed by discomfort and other effects.
We can agree or disagree. But I think I raise a valid issue. You're certainly entitled to your opinion, especially if you have major back problems. You're not entitled to berate and vilify me. You owe me a huge apology.
JGwen| 9.23.11 @ 4:10PM
I have back problems. I do not take medication for pain. The back problems are minimized when I have time to do relevant exercises. Certainly surgery with a fusion can cause discomfort. If the surgery does not fully cure the problem and/or scar tissue develops in the area, continuing discomfort can be a problem.
I find that extended standing, particularly in one position, presents very substantial problems.
Standing at a podium (under attack) for 2 hours could certainly aggravate any existing back discomfort.
I work with all the usual walking, step climbing, and moving about daily, quite successfully. My thinking is not effected.
To say back discomfort might be disqualifying is in the same category as migraines disqualifying.
Worth considering as an impact, but unwarranted as a dis-qualifier.
AVCurmudgeon| 9.25.11 @ 5:49PM
This could well be the case. I'm a back pain sufferer and among other things, the demands of standing on one's feet for an extended period can simply wear you down. It might also have something to do with his apparently stiff physical manner. If so, he should just make it known. People who are now querulous will know the facts, and others will even sympathize. In any event, people are not likely to hold the truth against him.