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The Spectacle Blog
By now it’s pretty clear that Rick Perry had his worst debate performance yet. When Phil Klein concluded that Perry will have to step up his game, he was probably too polite to note that’s what people were saying after Perry’s first two debates, though at least back then there was some expectation or at least hope he would do so. Now it’s pretty obvious that the game we saw all three times is the game he plays. Which doesn’t necessarily mean he’s done for.
Lost in all the piling on was the single most inarticulate reply he gave, this in reply to a question about how he’d react on learning at 3:00 in the morning that the Taliban had seized control of Pakistan’s nuclear arsenal:
PERRY: Well obviously, before you ever get to that point you have to build a relationship in that region. That’s one of the things that this administration has not done. Yesterday, we found out through Admiral Mullen that Haqqani has been involved with — and that’s the terrorist group directly associated with the Pakistani country. So to have a relationship with India, to make sure that India knows that they are an ally of the United States.
The Pakistani country? As in “the Iraq” of Miss Teen South Carolina fame?
Yet Pakistan doesn’t have to be the burial ground of presidential candidates. Recall George W. Bush’s contretemps from November 1999 with Boston TV reporter Andy Hiller, who tried to nail him as an ignoramus on foreign policy for not knowing the names of “hot spot” leaders.
Here’s the BBC’s account of what it called the “crunch question”:
“Can you name the general who is in charge of Pakistan?”
Mr Bush needed a breather. “Wait, wait, is this 50 questions?”
Hiller: “No, it’s four questions of four leaders in four hot spots, ” the reporter tried to put his victim at ease.
“The new Pakistani general, he’s just been elected — not elected, this guy took over office. It appears this guy is going to bring stability to the country and I think that’s good news for the sub-continent,” the Republican candidate offered.
Good news, but not an answer, and the interviewer insisted: “Can you name him?”
“General. I can’t name the general. General” was all Mr. Bush had to offer.
Of course, that general’s name was Pervez Musharraf, and in due course Bush as president would get to know him well — and to have the last word on him in his presidential memoirs. But that’s another story.
The point to remember is that frontrunners have survived worse. And isn’t it oddest that of all of Perry’s ineptly articulated remarks last night he’s been hit hardest for something he said with unmistaken clarity: “I don’t think you have a heart.”
Right there was the side of him that’s helped him win 10 straight political races. People complain Perry could never win in a general race, but it sure seemed to me that in defending his views on the children of “illegal aliens” he was making sure he would find a way to attract a significant Hispanic vote, without which everyone knows no Republican can win the presidency. Surely he’s in a better position to do so than a Republican rival who in anti-illegal harshness could give Tom Tancredo a run for his money these despite having happily employed illegal workers as gardeners on his estate while governor.
View all comments (27) | Leave a comment
More Blog Posts by Wlady Pleszczynski
http://spectator.org/blog/2011/09/23/perry-vs-romney-continued
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Simon Templar| 9.23.11 @ 7:12PM
It seems no one has noticed that the two most conservative candidates most aligned with the Tea Party having the greatest name recognition, aside from Cain who has none and is struggling, essentially destroyed themselves and each other and left the door right open for GOP establishment Mitt Romney to walk right through and onto the white house. Pathetic. Perhaps, they all should focus a little more on what they have to offer in the way of real concrete ideas and solutions rather than soundbites and mud throwing. Romney must be enjoying every minute of this as well as the weakest candidates.
What a circus!
Cain and Gingrich are the only ones that have solid ideas and solutions willing to share them and have presented a more adult statesmen demeanor and style.
One of the saddest aspects of all this is the complete blindness and lack of self awareness that the GOP and many conservatives have, including here at TAS, of the reality that average Americans are watching this and getting their impressions of what conservativism and the GOP stands for....and when they see the same old bullshit, political games, and one-upmanship, the conservative message is lost.
Twenty seconds was alotted for each candidate to describe what they would do to fix the economy. Over half of them gave the usual horseshit, meaningless drivel..no substance, no answers, no idea. The others struggled with such lack of time they could not give a full answer. This is pathetic. If this is all we are capable of, given the crisis were in, nothing will change in this nation.
Margie| 9.23.11 @ 10:35PM
Perhaps the candidates are reading your sobering posts, simon.
Clint| 9.23.11 @ 7:23PM
" Picking apart Romney's defense of Bain, when Bain took over companies, he said, "in each case we tried to make 'em bigger, make 'em more successful and grow" . Not so in the case of Dade International, a medical testing company acquired by Bain and Goldman Sachs in 1994. As Bloomberg reported, Bain cut 1,600 jobs from the company between 1996 and 1999 after merging the company with several others as part of Bain's restructuring plan. In 1999, Bain and Goldman sold Dade International, as it was later called, for a profit, but left the company buried in debt. It filed for bankruptcy in 2002."
The Tea Party Rebellion Is Here.
WJ| 9.24.11 @ 5:58PM
Who is this blogger with a jawbreaker of a name?
PCP Smoker| 9.23.11 @ 9:21PM
I'm glad little things like these are exciting the intellectuals around here. What's more noticeable, is Perry's inability to communicate conservative principles. This is Bush all over again.
Bob K.| 9.24.11 @ 4:15AM
Neither of these guys, Perry or Romney, seem to remember, or give a damn that we have a major unemployment problem here in our country yet they both encourage the entry of undocumented workers into the country to compete against our unemployed citizens who are looking for work.
And you can say the same thing about Wlady too!
The Republican chattering class should stop worrying about whether the party's candidate will get the hispanic vote and start worrying about whether he or she will get the Reagan Democrat vote. They won't win the election without that vote either.
martin j smith| 9.24.11 @ 8:31AM
Let us get rid of Obama and the Socialists. Lets have a candidate that will give the American People real Hope and Change.
I am troubled by the debate format the media role and the establishment Republican manipulations.
This post in my view is an example of manipulation. There are others.
We can all judge for ourselves such as this : There are on the stage what eight candidates( two I will not vote for ) not two. We are in very early days of judging candidates. We are past mid-September 2011. The convention will be what july/August 2012. So, I would say by March or April--possibly earlier we will have a much better idea of where candidates stand. In order to do that however, voters should be the ones asking the questions--not reporters . And these questions should challenge the candidates to show who they really are not their slick veneer.
The question that should be asked of all candidates is this: Why should you be chosen President at this time and what do you have to offer to get us out of the mess we are in ? What is your overall plan ?
Zbigniew Mazurak| 9.24.11 @ 2:09PM
Agreed. That was a very bad debate for Romney. He's not a good debater. But it isn't just because of what he says. It's also because of how he says it. During those debates, he says it in the tone of an inconfident, crying child, and looks scared, as if all other candidates were to suddenly attack him with knives.
WJ| 9.24.11 @ 5:51PM
I think you meant to say that this was a bad debate for Perry , not Romney. From what I watched most people believe that Romney won the debate.
Regarding the blogger and his last observation- it seems he approves of Perry's hispandering. As a former Texan I can tell you that the state non hispanic blue collar work force has been decimated by illegals. If it requires this type of hispandering then their will be no USA left.
Perry won't get the nomination.
WJ| 9.24.11 @ 5:57PM
This blogger is spouting ridiculous bs. Bush never got above 40 percent of the Hispanic vote and somehow managed to get elected. John Mcamnesty was an Hispanderer of the worst sort but it didn't help him.
If the blogger knew anything of American politics , he should know that those that kowtow to the illegal immigration lobby need to worry a lot more about American citizens not supporting them.
And so what if Romney had illegals working on his yard. Is it his responsibility to check their papers?
They can take that "you don't have a heart" crap and shove it up their arses.
Anthony M| 9.24.11 @ 6:42PM
The hispanics who vote for republicans do not support illegal immigration. They are usually social conservatives opposed to abortion and homosexuality who believe in law and order. We can never out-illegal the left.
workingclass artist| 9.25.11 @ 2:56PM
Except this is the only issue that unites them as a voting block because stats show they feel alienated and democrats exploit it by turning it into an ethnic issue. Romney,Santorum and Bachmann would turn the border security party into the anti-hispanic party. Don't kid yourself. Perry and Texas were attacked for educating hispanics who grew up in Texas as they get citizenship which they can't apply for till they are 18. And Romney the ass did this in Marco Rubio's backyard.
Education is the #1 issue for that voting block & jobs is #2
This is an election and the GOP can't win the general unless they split that vote. Bush won by splitting it with 41-44%
Obama won with 67%
Perry saved the GOP from going off the cliff which Romney was doing. Bad Tactics and stupid strategy. Do you really think 1.9 million hispanics serving in the military will vote for Romney now? Do you think their families and friends will?
Geraldo Rivera & Tx. Dem. Cuellar were defending Perry and Texas on TV the day after the debates. Even Huckabee (no fan of Perry's) was defending in-state tuition because they know Romney was a disaster in the attack.
Gov.Perry might have a bad debate performance but he'll be better for the next one and he won't destroy the chances of the party to win the general. The way to draw that voting block is to focus on border security which all of us want and is the priority as a national security issue. Gov. Perry has a long record on that issue and Texas has spent millions putting our own resources into it because the feds have been poaching our resources for years and it's gotten worse with Obama.
Bob K.| 9.25.11 @ 3:48PM
Of course Geraldo Rivera wants Perry! He used to be Jerry Rivers, son of a Jewish Father and a white hispanic mother. Then he changed his name and got affirmative action jobs in the media! What crap!
Concentrate on Border Security! More crap!
We have heard that from all the President's and would be President's from the border states of Texas and Arizona before on this issue and then they ignored it. Now another border state politician wants to be president and yells at the rest of the Republican's in the USA for not having the heart to come up with tax monies to give these illegal's in state tuition for college.
Sorry, it won't fly this time! Lots of Republicans will stay home if "Ricardo" Perry runs and Obama will get 4 more years.
And if that happens, so what! There is no difference between Obama and Perry on this issue. Unemployed Americans will still be competing with illegals for jobs. Tuition rates will still be high. These illegal's will get affirmative action status in college applications and in job preferences. The middle class will still be screwed.
With friends like Perry, who needs enemies? Might as well stick to the devil we know.
Margie| 9.24.11 @ 7:06PM
FLASH!!!
Drudge Reporting Herman Cain wins FL. straw poll!
Go Herman!
http://www.washingtontimes.com.....traw-poll/
Burt| 9.24.11 @ 7:10PM
Does this strange blogger work for Mittens ?
It appears AS has become just another DC self appointed DC beltway Mittens campaign site like the Weekly Standard , Nation Review , and the Daily Caller. The DC elites can only astroturf Perry since he threatens the arrangement in which Mittens is a nice loser to Obama sort of like Dole or McCain !
Why AS allows this sea of hate and flat out lies about Perry get posted here ?
Clint , Ron Paul is the ANTI Tea Party America hater, he hates America and blames US for 9-11, he aligns himself with Hamas, Iran, Muslim Botherhood against Israel, Supports Far left America hating Code Pink, and demanded 134,000,000 in ear marks in 2009 !
Ron Paul is a traitor , liar, and fraud.
C Bowen | 9.24.11 @ 7:44PM
Burt;
Were you scared of Saddam?
Margie| 9.24.11 @ 8:40PM
C Bowen;
Are you scared of your own shadow?
LOL!
C Bowen | 9.25.11 @ 11:08AM
LOL
Being scared of ones shadow is like being scared of Saddam, I agree.
Margie| 9.26.11 @ 9:06PM
Does your shadow murder, torture and rape countless thousands? Did your shadow gas the Kurds?
Clint| 9.25.11 @ 10:22AM
You're A Bullshit Israel Firster PropagandaBoy, Burtie.
"Tea party activists are divided roughly into two camps, according to a POLITICO/TargetPoint poll: one that’s libertarian-minded and largely indifferent to hot-button values issues and another that’s culturally conservative and equally concerned about social and fiscal issues.
The survey, an exit poll conducted by Edison Research at the massive Tax Day protest on the National Mall, found that the attendees were largely hostile to President Barack Obama and the national Democratic Party — three-quarters believe the president “is pursuing a socialist agenda.”
Yet they aren’t enamored of the Republican Party as an alternative. Overall, three out of four tea party attendees said they were “scared about the direction” of the country and “want to send a message to both political parties.”
Palin, who topped the list with 15 percent, speaks for the 43 percent of those polled expressing the distinctly conservative view that government does too much, while also saying that it needs to promote traditional values.
Paul’s thinking is reflected by an almost identical 42 percent who said government does too much but should not try to promote any particular set of values — the hallmarks of libertarians. He came in second to Palin with 12 percent.
When asked to choose from a list of candidates for president in 2012, Palin and Paul also finished one-two — with Palin at 15 percent and Paul at 14 percent. "
The Tea Party Rebellion Is Here.
martin j smith| 9.25.11 @ 7:50AM
I am glad to hear Cain trounced them all. Voters threw mud at the REPUBLICAN ESTABLISHMENT AND ITS CANDIDATES.
BRAVO FOR THEM !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
workingclass artist| 9.25.11 @ 3:04PM
Texas cannot deport illegal immigrants. No state can it is federal. Texas lost in court over educating illegal children. In 2995 Texas voted in-state tuition to avoid a law suit and lower costs. So Texas should not employ them but let them live on the government dole?
Gov. Perry is not for amnesty and he has been firm on that. Border Security is the priority and immigration enforcement...Then immigration reform.
Bob K.| 9.26.11 @ 7:15AM
More Bull Crap!
You RINO's have been calling for prioritizing Border Security before reforming our immigration policy for 20 years now and have done nothing about it! And you will keep on doing nothing. You have finally come up empty with this argument.
Reagan Democrats don't believe you anymore and will stay home this coming election rather than vote for people who do not recognize this policy as a big part of the reason why we have 12% unemployment in the United States.
Border state RINOS like McCain and the Bushes and "Ricardo" Perry are the worst in this respect!
ER| 9.25.11 @ 6:35PM
Conservatives will have to come to grips with the fact that in Presidential Politics, the votes of HISPANIC AMERICANS do matter. The Votes of ILLEGAL ALIENS DO NOT matter. Therefore a candidate must FORCEFULLY campaign to CLOSE the border, mandate E verify, and make requirements for LEGAL immigration ENGLISH proficiency; U.S. History testing; U.S. sponsorship, clean criminal record, good health, and job skills. A candidate must not sound like he or she dislikes Mexican people; otherwise many voting HISPANICS are swayed by the racial demogogues ( SEE CAlifornia Republican Party demise); c'mon guys, this is from the Marxist, Libby, Democrat playbook BASICS, from WAY back. In my opinion, Governor Perry, the ONLY candidate forced to deal with a 1200 mile border with Mexicao for TEN YEARS, is also the ONLY candidate who can convert VOTING Hispanics into AMERICAN CONSERVATISM; and CLOSE THE SOUTHERN BORDER; and bring the TEA Party to dominance of the REPUBLICAN Party. For example , his PRIVATE INSURANCE solution to BORDER (both sides) family's Health Care access is BRILLIANT! Santorum's ignorant rant comparing this to OBAMACARE is disingenuous, or truly revealing of the BORDER IGNORANCE among so many. Remember, Governor Perry had to deal with a HUGE ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION problem, a BORDER DRUG WAR, a foreign enemy (Mexico's government), AND the OBAMA administration's DISENGAGEMENT completely from U.S. border defense of our Soveeignty. For TEN YEAR, and ALL done with a STATE budget, and STATE revenues that DOES NOT INCLUDE STATE INCOME TAX. Well done Governor Perry! Many conservatives were wooed with OBAMA's smooth debating style and lofty rhetoric; but now sports fans, he has an actual RECORD; Afraid of OBAMA outdebating Perry? You gotta be kidding; remember , the Gotcha's going on right now with the lower tier Republican candidates, are media tantilizers, and often factually incorrect or trivial. May the best CONSERVATIVE candidate win; RINO's , 9/11 ap0logists and the screechers will not beat Obama, the Wretched.
Bob K.| 9.26.11 @ 6:58AM
More B.S., and with capital letters to boot, from another "Ricardo" Perry supporter!
9thID| 9.26.11 @ 10:19AM
On immigration & amnesty it seems painfully clear that Perry will continue the same failed policies of Bush and Obama. Of only Perry had the cojones that Gov. Brewer has on enforcing the rule of law. Perry shot himself in the arse and should have his concealed carry permit revoked...
yisong| 10.26.11 @ 10:09PM
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