-
SEQUESTER: The Horror!
March 1, 2013 | 4 comments
-
SOTU Preview: Human Props, Budget Fights, and Wedge Issues
February 12, 2013 | 0 comments
-
Hello, I Must Be Going
August 14, 2012 | 18 comments
-
Weekend Political Wrap-Up, Paul Ryan Edition
August 12, 2012 | 16 comments
-
Esquire Blogger Sees Paul Ryan, Shreds His Safety Net
August 11, 2012 | 13 comments
The Spectacle Blog
When a candidate swoops down and expects to win the nomination without any preparation or strategy, you get the Rick Perry campaign. An attractive candidate on paper, someone who seemed to solve the dilemma of how to find a nominee more conservative than Mitt Romney and more viable in the general election than Michele Bachmann and company, Perry’s early debate flubs made him seem both less electable and less conservative.
Perry seemed to attack conservatives who disagreed with him on the issue of in-state tuition for illegal immigrants, to whom he even more frequently seemed to have an inferior grasp of the English language. For every amusing “I’ll bump plans with you brother” moment, there was a disaster like his inability to name the three federal departments he would shut down.
From begining to end, it was clear that the Perry camp didn’t take the debates seriously enough. Based on the squabbling that leaked out to the press, it seems that some people were more attracted to that campaign by the money than the candidate. At times Perry’s team appeared divided between people who were loyal to him but didn’t know how to run a national, as opposed to statewide, campaign and those with a better feel for national politics who were less invested in Perry personally. The end result was that the Texas governor who once looked like the likely Republican nominee ended up underperforming Fred Thompson at every juncture.
View all comments (25) | Leave a comment
More Blog Posts by W. James Antle, III
http://spectator.org/blog/2012/01/19/perry-dise-lost
Follow us:
ADVERTISEMENT
SPONSORED LINKS
FLASHBACK TO: 1995
-
Pope Culture
A man of faith in a godless age is hitting Americans where it hurts.
-
Why the GOP Does Not, Like, Totally Suck
Mr. and Mrs. American Spectator Reader, let P.J. O’Rourke talk sense to your kids.
-
Dames at Sea
-
In the Absence of Guns
In Britain, defending your property can get you life.
-
The Metaphysical Martini
-
Counting the Costs of Clintonism
The debacle of this president’s administration is both a cause and a symptom of the decline of American values. Unless Congress impeaches him, that decline will go on unchecked. An eminent jurist surveys the damage and assesses the chances for the recovery of our culture.
-
Chuck McHagel
It won’t take long for conservatives to scratch this presidential wannabe off their 2008 scorecard.
-
The Legacy of Old John and Mother Fresh-Roasted
-
It’s the Best Time of the Year
The American Christmas, like the songs that celebrate it, makes room for everybody under the rainbow. Is that why so many people seem to be hostile to it?
-
The Bush Crack-Up
Was the President done in by the economy, or by the politics of the economy?
Clip of the Day
H/T to National Review Online
ADVERTISEMENT
Chuck| 1.19.12 @ 1:29PM
Fred Thompson had his own peccadillos like voting not-guilty on one of Bill's impeachment counts undoubtedly to stay in Hollywood's good graces.
Al Adab| 1.19.12 @ 1:36PM
The "No" vote was to save us from President Gore.
W| 1.19.12 @ 5:09PM
Al Adab,
I saw your comment about Zapata, and Brando's movie about him. Did not see Quinn in Shoes of the Fisherman, but read the Morris West book. West is good. Do you remember the Zapata mustaches?
Dai Alanye | 1.19.12 @ 3:26PM
Thompson's main "peccadillo" was lacking sufficient desire for the nomination. Had he worked half as hard as Santorum is doing, he'd be President today.
Derek Leaberry| 1.19.12 @ 1:34PM
Excellent post. Like other corporate Republicans from Texas, Perry is tone deaf on immigration. He was similarly tone deaf on the statewide issues of Gardisil and the Trans-Texas Corridor which led to his slim plurality victory in the four-way Texas governor's race of 2006.
Probably the only person saddened by Perry's flame out was comedian Kinky Friedman, one of Perry's 2006 opponents. Friedman could have resurrected his dead career on the shoulders of a President Perry.
PCC| 1.19.12 @ 5:59PM
Perry campaigned as if he were running for president of Texas, not president of the United States. That dog won't hunt, and it didn't.
Nite| 1.19.12 @ 6:58PM
Your comments are interesting. The instate tuition for children of illegal immigrants is not immigration. They have to pay for their own tuition. It was passed with only 4 NO votes. Gardisil did not pass, never given. He won with 60 percent of the vote in 2006 race. You obviously have another dog in this race. Be honest about who it is rather than trash Governor Perry.
Ken (Old Texican) | 1.19.12 @ 1:35PM
Antle...
screw you!
copy/paste alert:
Ken (Old Texican)| 1.19.12 @ 12:07PM
"GIVE US BARABAS...GIVE US BARABAS!!!"
And with that, "we the people" crucified Jesus.
Other than Sam Houston, Rick Perry may very well go down in history as the greatest Texas Governor in history.
If Obama wins in November, I am personally thanking God that Perry remains Texas' Governor...of the largest economy among the United States.
In case anyone here has forgotten...Texas IS the energy State of the Union and Perry is the Governor. In that first debate, Perry simply thought he had listed the Energy Dept first....lost his train of thought momentarily, and was gleefully leaped upon by the MSM...as well as some turds here at TAS.
OK, Turds, just who in the Republican contenders is more intimately aware of the devastation the Energy Dept. along with the EPA...has wreaked upon low cost energy? Duh!
ONLY Governor Perry........scared the living sh*t out of the Democrats, since Sarah chose not to run.
So,
the Democrats, their loving MSM, and some true dumbasses here at TAS fell for their propaganda.
Well,
I hope you turds enjoy your punch-bowl.
When Governor Perry gets back to Texas...whoa nellie!
If you think he was a strong tenth ammendment proponent before this trashing...just grab your asses and hold on tight!
He tried his best to EXTEND the blessings of liberty and prosperity Texans enjoy... to your own stupid bankrupt States.
You "the people" now have to choose among Mr. Milque Toast, Mr. Wife Deserter, or Mr. Prude.
One little fact you may have forgotten; Texas can charge any amount of $$$ "separation fees" we choose when exporting oil and gas interstate.
OOPS!
(the correct term escapes me at the moment, but watch your gas pump. Does anyone remember the proper term for "taxing depletion" ?)
Remember when the discussions erupted about Texas becoming a "no-fly zone" due to egregious searches to airline passengers here in Texas being objected to?
Hah!
You ain't seen nothing yet!
Since the day of his announcement to run...I found myself of two minds. On the one hand, I thought "what a great President he would be." On the other hand I thought " The stupids won't get it."
He was the only clean, Christian man in the race who had accomplished huge strides for his State and the country.
But the people screamed ..."Give us Barabas, Give us Barabas."
How did that work out?
Dai Alanye | 1.19.12 @ 3:31PM
If only that intellect thing hadn't tripped him up. It must be admitted -- however wonderfully Perry might have performed in Texas, he ran a pathetic campaign.
Margie| 1.19.12 @ 4:31PM
You're an idiot comparing Perry to Christ.
What a sick fool.
Reprobate scum.
Rick Perry was never into it, that's why he dropped out and fumbled constantly. His heart wasn't in it and he let it happen.
And you're ego is about a big as the Pope's. Phony liar.
When will you repent, along with the others here of bearing false witness against me?
Where is the "proof" you claimed to have?
You libeled me here openly and repeatedly, turning unsaved against the Gospel of Christ in so doing, you fool.
Margie| 1.19.12 @ 4:40PM
"Mr. Prude???"
Who, pray tell is this??
Do I smell bigotry here?
OOOh, where are the Papists??
Al Adab| 1.19.12 @ 5:19PM
Ken:
Texas may need Perry to lead them out if things keep going like they are. Some sort of southwest confederation along with Chihuahua, Sonora, NM, AZ or parts thereof?
Dan| 1.19.12 @ 2:09PM
Ronald Reagan spent YEARS reading and thinking about all the serious subjects of his time.
Years!
Rick Perry prepared himself to be Governor of Texas, and from all accounts, he's been about as good a Governor as can be expected.
But he's not spent the time preparing for the Presidency. I'm not even sure if he had the free time to bring himself up to speed to make a serious run for the nomination.
I'm not faulting him here by the way.
When polling indicated that he was running strong for the GOP nomination, when Perry hadn't even given much signal that he was interested, that kind of pushed him forward although he hadn't fully prepared himself.
That lack of preparation betrayed itself in the debates.
But I've no problem with Perry, nor did I ever have one.
I would have supported him had he won the nomination.
And I was rooting for him to do well when he entered, because I wanted a candidate with that kind of jobs record to sharply contrast against Obama's pathetic job record.
But Perry wasn't prepared.
His endorsement of Gingrich tells us that he sees the big picture, that there is only one candidate who is a national figure who can both defeat Romney and Obama.
And that's Gingrich.
Bob K.| 1.19.12 @ 2:43PM
Mr. Antle,
Only the clowns now in charge of the Republican Party and their shills in the media would take these "debates" and their subsequent series of Primaries as a serious way to select the President of the greatest country on earth.
How could any person with real concerns about the problems facing our nation take the questions of those vacuous, air headed "moderators" and not burst into sardonic laughter. Hell, most of them, not all, are dumber than the journalists who decide who won the debates and then write blogs and columns about who won and why they won!
Perry finally saw the light, gave everybody the finger, threw a monkey wrench into the gears of the nominating process by making an endorsement and went home.
Good for him!
W. James Antle III | 1.19.12 @ 3:21PM
Whether the debates should have any impact is a separate question from whether they do have an impact. Just looking at the poll numbers and talking to people, the debates clearly helped Gingrich and hurt Perry a great deal. Newt was even able to capitalize on the base's disdain for the moderators as a way to stay in the race when his campaign was broke.
Dai Alanye | 1.19.12 @ 3:40PM
If not debates and primaries, how shall we choose our nominee? Nobility of birth and level of formal education are out for me. We could use the ancient Chinese technique of quizzing potential sub-rulers on their knowledge of Confucius, but I suppose in our case we'd have to test candidates on Mark Twain or Hemingway.
Al Adab| 1.19.12 @ 5:23PM
Instead of the plethora of primaries, which in measure allow states not in play during the general electionto potentially select the nominee, why not a return to the shorter campaigns and party convention process which, it can be argued, often produced better more capable candidates?
Campaign skills needed to survive the prim,ary process are not the same skills needed to govern properly. Have we not seen enough of Presidents in constant campaign mode?
Al Adab| 1.19.12 @ 5:26PM
PS:
Instead of Twain or Hemmingway, what about Locke, Adam Smith, and the ratifying conventions.
ayrnieu| 1.19.12 @ 8:59PM
We should choose them debates, of course!
Too bad we choose them with 'debates'. Minute-long answers to "what reality TV show would you like to be in?" as asked by the other party's propagandists.
W| 1.19.12 @ 2:57PM
Perry is the victim of his lack of preparation. In a Republican primary, all you have to say in a clear forceful manner is: cut taxes, cut spending, cut the deficit, build a wall along the Mexican border, kill the terrorrists, and drill for oil. Perry looked like he just showed up to wing it.
I thought at first he had the best chance. He was friendly, likable, conservative, had a military background, and no scandals in his past. But he was not focused or prepared
bill| 1.19.12 @ 3:02PM
God Bless Gov. Rick Perry! He inspired millions, and it will never go in vain. His name will be next to Reagan, Goldwater, Jack Kemp.
Margie| 1.19.12 @ 4:32PM
bill: You're in about as much fantasy as the Reprobate Ken is.
Ken (Old Texican) | 1.19.12 @ 5:40PM
Margie,
I don't often reply to you. I know you depend on Vic for a roof over your head.
I "burned" your secret e-mail to me when you were desparate ...and I was sorely tempted. I burned the secret e-mail to let you eat.
So you just keep on.
God bless, and I forgive you.
Margie| 1.19.12 @ 8:46PM
You are one SICK Reprobate, guy.
You claimed you had emails to "prove" your false accusations, you scumbag.. and your posts are here in the archives.
I guess you didn't actually think I would stand up to you, did you?
You're an utter SLIMEBAG.
BURN IN HELL REPROBATE SCUM.
Bob K.| 1.19.12 @ 7:39PM
What we need is a process that will determine who the nominees are that does not start 18 months before the date of the election. As it is now candidate who threatens to separate himself from the pack becomes a target for the media and the other contestants. Time is on the side of the media and the candidates competitors. The media is ecstatic! Entertainment possibilities abound! Ratings will rise! The targeted candidates must spend money defending themselves.
The entire process should take 6 months at the most. It costs a fortune to campaign now and the constant bombardment from the media guarantees that the electorate will be bored with the process by the time the election roles around. More than 50 percent of eligible voters stay home from it now because they see only a choice between Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dum. The survivors last because they hunker down in their foxholes and make themselves as small a target as possible while they use their money to snipe at the opposition. That was Romney's plan and so far it is working.
The costs of running an 18 month campaign also makes it financially impossible for someone to run against the President in the Democratic Primaries. It would not be impossible if the campaign was 6 months long. The best thing that could happen to the Republicans is if the President was forced to defend his policies within his own party.