How Rick Perry Won The Debate

NPR ^ | September 8, 2011 | Jonathan Chait, New Republic

[cuban leaf]

BTW, that question was a set land mine. Perry avoided stepping in it. If he had given ANY answer discussing an actual solution, and that solution took race into account in any way, he would be toast. He’d have been skewered by both the left and the right for exactly opposite reasons.

He handled it brilliantly, IMO.

This is weird, but the more I read of what he actually SAID, especially when offered as evidence on why he did a “poor job”, the more I like the way he handled himself here. I mean, the guy has done his homework. He is doing what it takes to get elected by the likes of those that elected Obama. That is no small task.

[nathanbedford]

On one level the author is clearly pandering to elites by showing them how to condescend to the unwashed Republican Neanderthals who react viscerally to visual stimulus rather than analytically.

On another level, he is laying the predicate for a very difficult debate experience on the merits from his point of view. He is telling the left that Perry will serve up a debating experience which will actually diminish Barak Obama but their faith in liberalism should remain undismayed because both Perry and his porters are primitives. In other words, believe Obama not your own eyes.

I think the author is reacting to fear in a passive aggressive way. However, I think his basic premise concerning Perry's virility is basically true.

[cuban leaf]

—did anyone else notice how dark the hair color was for both Romney and Perry last night?—

Whichever one gets the presidency, it will be salty enough in five years. 8->

[The Bronze Titan]

One more thing, while I’m at it. At least Rommey is upfront and we know he’s a liberal. This guy is an out and out PHONY! Another McCain!

[Nervous Tick]

Well, on the one hand there’s truth, and on the other hand, your hatchet jobs, which are more aptly described as repetitive noise.

[Huck]

P-Marlowe vs Perry

P-Marlowe: Statement: Social Security is a Ponzi scheme.

Supporting argument:

--You need increasing numbers of bottom investors to feed the recipients at the top.

-- Because we aborted 50 million of the last generation we are running out of lower tier investors.

--If it wasn't[sic] for all the illegal aliens giving birth to anchor babies, the system would be destined to collapse in the next 10 years. But if they ever start aborting their children or start practicing birth control, then the system will collapse even sooner.

Perry:

Statement: Social Security is a Ponzi scheme.

Supporting argument:

--Social Security is a Ponzi scheme.

Winner: P-Marlowe.

[The Bronze Titan]

I put out there Perry’s own words! If you want to ignore his words, and just say “hatchet job”, that tells me that you have no response to his words. So, I rest my case!

[Nervous Tick]

Video: Bronze Titan "informs" the class

[cuban leaf]

—Just acted like he always does.—

That may be the plan. It is discussed often enough that one of the things strangling the economy and industry investment is an unpredictable government. The candidate that can demonstrate business friendly STABILITY will win the day with both business owners and people who have or are looking for jobs.

The more steadfast and predictable a candidate, the more likely they are to win this thing in the end, other things being equal (or maybe even not equal). The winner will give a perception, or maybe even an overt message of “If I am elected president, this is what business environment/policies this country’s going with and it will stay that way for the foreseeable future.

It is especially effective against a primary competitor who has a reputation for “flip-flopping”. Regarding Obama, however, It is no contest. Obama is not even in this. He has only a tower of failures on which to stand.

[Cincinatus' Wife]

I was hoping Perry would fire his sidearm into the air to officially kick off the debate

LOL

A lot of opinions out there on the debate. Most people don't know anything about Perry, whereas a lot of people have been cheering him or cursing him here on FR. I almost wish I could have watched last night's debate not knowing all that I do (and it is darn good imh and informed o) to gauge his appeal. The MSM don't really count for much when it comes to dissecting the impact on voters (except for the rare, unbiased, honest broker). Those who already were predisposed to not want him to do well, watched for anything that they could attack him on and even invented a few.

[IM2MAD]

When the time come to vote, I’m going with whatever candidate I can TRUST. I’m weighing trust heavily in my choice. So far, I think I trust Cain and non-candidate Palin the most.

[mikhailovich]

If you think about how the debate was designed last night, it gave practically all of the candidates a responsibility and a command to be critical of Perry's answers. With little exception, Perry would take the leading questions on a particular issue FIRST. Then, the moderators would ask other candidates to comment on Perry's response.

"Governor Huntsman, what do you have to say about Governor Perry's response?"

"Mr. Paul, what do you make of Governor Perry's remarks?"

"Mr. Santorum, do you agree with Mr. Perry's answer to that question?"

I was pissed how they set the debate up to be a Perry counter-point operation. He even said he felt like a "Pinata."

[cuban leaf]

That and the harrassment of Gibson Guitars (CEO is openly conservative) for no reason while Martin Guitars (openly liberal and Obama supporter) is given a free pass for the same activity.

And Fast and Furious, et-al.

[wolfcreek]

Nope just giving a POV response.

I know how drained I’ve been the last few days dealing with these fires and the massive amounts of nasty. smokey air.

[justice14]

Point taken.

[Nervous Tick]

>> that tells me that you have no response to his words

Not one that I’d waste on a clanging cymbal like you, anyhow.

[Hemingway's Ghost]

So far, I think I trust Cain and non-candidate Palin the most.

I thought Cain did extremely well last night. Twas my first exposure to him.

[RichInOC]

This is why you really should read the article…if not before you reply, certainly before you post it.

[The Bronze Titan]

"Video: Bronze Titan "informs" the class"

That's funny. Now you're starting to run campaign ads against 'me'. I feel so honored since I haven't "announced" yet!

[cuban leaf]

Michelle Maulkin would Skewer them all. It doesn’t mean I would want her to be president.

You don’t have to be a good mechanic to be a good race car driver, and vice versa. They are different skill sets. Likewise, this “debate” arena has nothing to do with what kind of president one would be. It’s kinda sad that the “gotcha question” arena is even taken seriously in American politics. And that is really all these are. They are a competition between the “moderators” and the “Debaters”. The former, to get the latter to somehow slip up or at least offer some juicy sound bites that can be effectively used against them out of context, and the latter, to get their message out without really saying anything quantifiable or qualifiable.

That’s how the two “sides” see it. It’s kinda like the moderators are Gladiators and the debaters are their hapless victims. They win if they are alive when it is over.