Posted on 09/28/2011 10:29:25 AM PDT by SeekAndFind
Yesterday, I wrote that Rick Perry needs to stop worrying so much about his competitors in the Republican primary fight and start laying out his own plans for a Perry presidency in order to claim the mantle of a front-runner. Jill Lawrence at the Daily Beast decided to take a look at Perry’s website to see what kind of argument that might be, and discovered why Perry might be a little too focused on attacking Romney:
In public at least, Rick Perry is among those writing off his stumbling debate performances as a verbal problem—as in, he’s not a slick, smooth talker like President Obama or Mitt Romney. But Perry would be less of a piñata, and sound more like a president, if he had laid out a full platform.
In his three debates so far, the governor has attacked Obama and Romney, defended himself, explained himself, and talked about Texas. But the biggest missing piece is his blueprint for America.
When Perry is under fire over some aspect of his Texas record, he hasn’t pivoted to signature plans for jobs or foreign policy. A spin through Perry’s website underscores the problem. Under “Jobs,” we find five paragraphs of conservative boilerplate. The most detailed sentence refers to “low taxes, reasonable regulations, a predictable civil litigation system and an educated workforce.”
Perry has only been in the race for a few weeks, Lawrence notes, and the campaign tells her that full policy papers will come “at a time of our choosing.” That makes sense for a candidate who is just entering the race when it’s early in the cycle, but it’s not early any more. Voters will have to make choices in four months, and the debates are taking place right now.
Perry’s competition have already laid out specifics on economic policy, especially his toughest foe, Mitt Romney, whose plan is detailed enough to be a 160-page book. Herman Cain has his 9-9-9 plan, and even Jon Huntsman — who may not qualify for the next debate — has an economic plan that the Wall Street Journal takes seriously enough to review and praise. Not having anything beyond a few boilerplate conservative concepts doesn’t give voters a reason to positively support Perry, and being this far behind the others on stage puts him in a weak position to answer policy questions on the most important issue in the upcoming elections. Not only does it make Perry sound unprepared, it has forced him into an explosion of cliches during the debates, according to Eric Ostermeier at Smart Politics.
That would still be all right if Perry focused on introducing himself rather than just go on the attack against Romney, but that’s not the direction Perry has taken. Instead, he’s gone on the attack over Romney’s book (getting a three-Pinocchio review from WaPo’s Glenn Kessler for his second campaign ad), and doesn’t appear ready to change direction at all:
Rick Perry’s widely panned debate performances? Just a hiccup. Any major changes in debate prep? None planned. His unexpected and deflating Florida straw poll loss last weekend? Not a big deal.
Even as some of his supporters grow anxious, the Texas governor’s top aides insist they have no plans for real or even symbolic changes to their campaign. The only pivot they’ll make, they say, is to become more aggressive with Mitt Romney.
The defiant response in the face of nearly a week of sharp criticism is a reflection of Perry’s own pugnacious style — the best defense is a good offense. But it’s also a signal from the Austin powers about what they view as the bed-wetting within the GOP political class.
The Texan’s aides downplay the tele-town-halls Perry had Monday night with Iowa and South Carolina Republicans as having been long-planned – not exercises in reassurance. And the economic speech Perry has slated for Friday won’t feature a major policy roll-out.
“We’re not going to change what we’re doing,” said Perry spokesman Mark Miner. “It’s a long race.”
This points out the problem of late-race entries, because the time for introductions and policy rollouts gets crunched into weeks. Unfortunately, Perry’s team doesn’t seem focused on doing either. Perhaps Perry can pull it off, but at some point he’ll have to give more detailed answers to policy questions than just “Texas.”
>>> “ He has a plan but it’s a secret. “ <<<<
Seriously, that is funny!! I love Rick but don’t disagree with the column.
A turn around in his campaign and a staff shake up needs to make an immediate appearance. It is necessary that Perry’s campaign live up to Perry, on giving no quarter. His campaign obviously lacks savy in the form of a media control guy/gal, a war room similar to the ALAMO, and a policy platform that roars, with a solid attack army of supporters out there selling his astounding JOBS record, and a RUBIO performance on how to voice your principles. Riding on ripping Romney goes only so far, before it becomes a bore since Romney is already vetted by the same old complaints. That’s why Romney is not running away with it just yet. He is about to however, and has plenty of help in the other candidates in finishing Rick.
Yes, Perry has a plan for you but it’s in Spanish.
Amnesty for illegals
Open borders
Crony capitalism
Outside of Texas people don't vote for a candidate just because he acts like a cowboy and talks like a conservative when he's really not one.
“La respuesta del Gobernador Perry es simplemente no, la respuesta al problema de la migración no es cerrar las fronteras, sino al contrario, abrirlas”
“People from Texas oppose a fence because of eminent domain, for about 1000 miles, much of which is in the middle of nowhereville. “
If they don’t want to help defend the country from criminals and terrorists who want to sneak in then maybe we should build the fence around their property.
He has the management skills, he has the people skills, he just needs the debate skills and someone to make sure he isn't working 24 hours a day.
He did say those things, but someone needs to be teaching him that you can’t just say something once. You have to repeat it over and over and get forceful with what you are saying. Most people have the attention span of a knat, so it’s not like talking to folks, you just have to go over and over something.
RE: “La respuesta del Gobernador Perry es simplemente no, la respuesta al problema de la migración no es cerrar las fronteras, sino al contrario, abrirlas”
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En realidad, se prefiere el uso de la guardia nacional. Eso es lo que dijo durante el debate.
Hot Air is a RINO site and while liberal, Politico hardly falls into a class with Media Matters.
Media Matters is self-described as progressive. Politio is more mainstream media, so it leans left, but not entirely. But HotAir? I'm sure Michelle Malkin would be surprised to hear that her baby had turned out a lefty.
Okay, I'll bite. What do you consider to be a reliably conservative news and commentary site? (apart from FR, of course).
National Review has become wishy washy for quite a while.
You do realize that HotAir is part of the Townhall network. And their associate editor is formerly of Heritage (which you list).
Sorry, still don't see a basis for the claim that HotAir is leftist.
OK I’ll relent.
Under “Jobs,” we find five paragraphs of conservative boilerplate. The most detailed sentence refers to “low taxes, reasonable regulations, a predictable civil litigation system and an educated workforce.”
Exactly.
Can any Perry supporter tell me how much he would cut the federal budget and what level of deficit he would veto? Is $1T too much? What about $500B? When will he start to veto if it’s not balanced? 2014? 2015?
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