Posted on 08/12/2011 8:50:04 PM PDT by SeekAndFind
Given that Texas Gov. Rick Perry plans to announce his presidential candidacy tomorrow, my ears have been especially perked for mentions of his name out here in Iowa. So far, he’s only come up a couple of times, but those comments — not surprisingly — suggest Iowans, at least, feel slighted at his decision to skip the debate and straw poll. They don’t seem to feel obligated to welcome him here when he arrives on Sunday, either.
Yesterday, for example, at a pre-debate event hosted by The Heritage Foundation, Rep. Steve King told us he thinks Perry’s decision to declare in South Carolina and to skip out on this week in Iowa was a “colossal blunder.” That might be wording it a little strongly, but it does still raise the question: Will Perry lose more than he’ll gain with the mode and timing of his declaration?
All of the obvious observations come into play here: Sure, he’s not satisfying the parochial concerns of Iowans, whose (rightful) pride in their state (it’s quite nice!) and its “first in the nation” status obscures their perspective on this. But he is setting himself up, immediately, to receive equal media attention as the respective winners of last night’s debate and tomorrow’s straw poll, thereby establishing himself as a top-tier candidate (which, based on polling, we always knew he would be anyway). It’s late enough in the game for voters to begin to be ready to narrow the field down and Perry, by the timing of his entrance, has basically guaranteed he’ll make the cut. But it’s also early enough to ensure voters — even Iowans — have forgotten his neglect of the straw poll by caucus time.
From my vantage point here in Ames, Perry hasn’t made a mistake at all. Of course, he’ll still have to perform. One of the reasons I was so reluctant to declare him the de facto winner of last night’s debate stems from my dislike (however unfounded) of what I call “the declaration dance.” Some part of me wishes everybody who wanted in had to declare on the same day, just so candidate comparisons could be a bit more fair and accurate. It’s possible Perry will pale in comparison to the other candidates as soon as voters see him on the campaign trail or standing on the national debate stage.
Now, I don’t personally see that happening. Like Sarah Palin, I am “enthused” that Perry has decided to run — and think he would make a formidable opponent to President Barack Obama. But it is possible — and, in fact, at least one prominent pundit has declared it probable.
“You’ll see Rick Perry,” Ann Coulter said today on Sean Hannity’s radio show. “He won’t live up to expectations and the American people will throw themselves into the arms of Chris Christie. That’s my scenario.”
Of course, Coulter’s comments reflect her determination to see Chris Christie enter the race at least as much as they reflect any kind of negative appraisal of Perry (and she said the whole sentence somewhat laughingly), but still, her comments come as an important reminder. The presidential campaign process is, in fact, grueling. Perry will probably withstand it with grace and presence — he seems like gold to me, tough and solid — but he could also fade.
That’s just one reason to hope the candidates here in Iowa get their acts together again and appear tomorrow at the straw poll a little more like the bunch who appeared on the stage in New Hampshire — informed, energetic and solutions-oriented. It’s also a reason to appreciate more fully that Romney still appeared presidential on the stage last night. And it’s a reason to look forward to the competition to come, because, even if that competition causes some to falter, it will also help to refine the eventual Republican nominee to the point where he or she can easily beat Obama in the general.
Ann Coulter doesn’t live up to expectations.
Friend of Bill Maher. Supports the clear RINO Christie. Thinks Joy Behar is a smart funny comic. Thought the Tea Party would be bust in ‘10. She peddles her red meat books to put cash in her pockets. She is a typical North East Rockefeller Repub that enjoys sipping Chardonnay on the cocktail circuit with her insider friends.
..and Chris Christie will?
The Queen of Fabulous article cited by Mr. Mojo has this quote attributed to her:
"If you're born gay, why would you be liberal? Are you born liberal? Gays are a demographic group that have one of the highest incomes in America, they are victims of crimes. The Muslims don't think too highly of them. So, you know, basically the entire Republican platform is fighting the same causes any sane gay person should care about, and the entire Democratic platform is sucking up to soccer moms and women who want abortions."
If that quote is factual and not part of some larger context, Ann Coulter's Christian Conservatism is tenuous at best, in my estimation. She's stating that gays sodomites are born that way. That's simply not true. These sexual deviants deliberately choose their perversion.
Moreover equating the Republican platform to the causes of gay sodomites is beyond the pale. Unlike Ann Coulter, I reserve the word GAY for its historic and rightful meaning (happy). I personally refuse to use that perfectly fine word to describe those who commit what God has deemed an abomination.
“But She is right about Perry , he will not live up to expectations.”
Truth is, there isn’t anyone who is going to live up to expectations. That’s the real world.
The only expectation going on is that he’ll be a lot better than hussein. That’s a given.
What the hell else do you really want at this point?
True.
OK, maybe not that bad.
But she certainly has been acting weird lately...
The reason is people want to find a perfect candidate and that person doesn’t exist, never have - never will.
I am still waitng for the Departments of Energy and Department of Education to be abolished.
RE: I predict that in five years, Coulter will become an Arianna Huffington clone.
I distinctly remember how Arianna was shilling for Colin Powell to run for President in 2000. Luckily, he did not.
I totally agree. Iowa needs to get a grip. not important at all.
Anne Coulter completely confuses our message in the minds of people listening to her. Most of the time, it’s up to the listener to make sense out of what she’s saying. She mixes irrational tirades in the middle of seeming clear discussions of the issues.
Who knows what she’s trying to accomplish with all these broadsides against Conservatives.
That depends on what your expectations of him are. If you expect him to be soft on illegal immigration I'm sure he would deliver.
Perry is nothing like Bush. He didn’t grow up with a silver spoon is his mouth. He KNOWS what hard work really is.
You sound like the Dums in TX. Perry has been elected Gov. THREE times. Somehow that means he can’t win....seriously?
Saw the online commentators at Fox News talking about this last night. Surprisingly, their prediction was that Saturday (tomorrow) would be Perry’s best day.
A lot of Perry’s support at this point (outside of Texas) is from people who probably don’t know him and have relied upon a fairly positive media narrative (namely Fox News). Whether these same people will still have a positive feeling regarding Perry after some exposure and vetting is a big question, as it is whenever a new candidate jumps in.
I’m sure he’ll disappoint Coulter’s organization, GOProud.
There are few, if any, presidents who live up to expectations.
I agree
On this particular issue, Ann Coulter is correct.
Sorry, Ann, one this one you are quite wrong. Coming from a NYC city girl, I can certainly understand how a fat boy from New Joisey is more attractive than a cowboy from Texas. Your stance about GoProud is also understood. The many times city girls enjoy the company of feminine cutsie unthreatening boys. But on this political issue, you are quite wrong.
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