Posted on 11/09/2011 8:50:24 PM PST by This Just In
Why Rick Perry's Brain Freeze Matters
By W. James Antle, III on 11.9.11 @ 10:49PM
Everybody has at some point lost their train of thought. I've set out to make multiple points on television and forgotten one, or forgotten if I had run through them all, before myself. So on one level, Rick Perry's inability to remember the third federal agency he would eliminate is simply part of being human.
Unfortunately, it also seems to be a big part of what it means to be candidate Rick Perry. There are small debate gaffes that seem to sum up what's wrong with an entire campaign -- Bob Dole's "Democrat wars" line in 1976, George Bush looking at his watch in 1992, Al Gore sighing prissily and behaving like a lunatic in 2000. This is one of them.
(Excerpt) Read more at spectator.org ...
The problem of the debates with Obama can be easily solved by having Perry’s teleprompter debate TOTUS. Perry can go back to has mansion in Texas, and Obama can go on vacation.
Actually, the gaffe wasn’t all that bad. The problem was not knowing how to move on and dwelling on it.
Perry should have simply said, “It’ll come to me. It happens.”
His problem was in extending the moment into embarrassing silence and continuing to fumble it. Using that football analogy, you’re not supposed to pick up a fumble. You’re supposed to just fall on it.
That’s also the rule in public speaking. Short cover and then move on.
This is his signature issue. It should not require "thinking the issues through anew".
I have read your bio and done a little research on the organizations you highlight there. It seems that you have done considerable work with Mrs. Perry in the past and perhaps know the Perrys rather well.
With all due respect, (and I honestly mean respect) you may, perhaps, be too close to the family to be offering objective opinions regarding his performance tonight and his overall fitness for the position of President of the United States.
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No, I’m just a pro-life activist. I’ve talked to Mrs. Perry once, and to him only in meet and greet lines and events. The Governor is unfailingly pro-life and pro-family, and he has won my loyalty that way. He attends pro-life Rallies and stays the whole time - he doesn’t just speak and leave or send a video.
My usual line is “I’m like Ronald Reagan, and believe in voting with the candidate who agrees with me 80% of the time. It’s just that pro-life is 90%.”
Losing a word or phrase is not pathological, it’s normal. We were watching for gaffes, and it was more obvious to us than usual because he gave a number up front.
From what I can tell, he’s genuine, knows how to say, “I stepped in it,” and seems to learn from his mistakes. I’ve seen him be polite to a man that followed him around with a video camera, hounding him with “Truther” questions.
But he reacts to the interviewers and/or other speakers and the situation, mixing what he knows for the situation, rather than giving canned answers.
Fair enough. Have a blessed day.
Because the only choice left is Newt and we’re not ready to go there yet. Florida is January 31...we’ll see what happens at that point.
No, I’m not supporting Cain. He’s got absolutely nothing to offer with any substance.
No, I’m not supporting Cain. He’s got absolutely nothing to offer with any substance.
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PULEEEEEZE!!! He’s the ONLY one who has submitted an Economic /Jobs plan that is understandable and doable. Maybe you haven’t heard of it; it’s called the 9/9/9/ Plan. Whether you agree with him or not, he has offered a lot of substance in this process.
Have a nice day!
I’m really starting to wonder if, since his back surgery, Perry might be on some strong pain meds. Every Debate a disaster and the bizarre speech in NH where many thought he was drunk..... Something is seriously wrong here.
Debate Moderator: Question for you, Former Speaker Gingrich. What's your biology term paper on?
Newt: Juxtabronchial organ secretions in the higher mollusks.
Debate Moderator: And you, Gov. Perry?
Perry: Our Friend the Beaver.
Cheers!
It appears you are as frustrated as I am.
Sorry, can’t back anybody who wants to add another revenue stream for the Federal government...it’s a suckers bet.
RINO Rove gave the country RINO Bush and he’sw trying everything in his power to give the country RINO Romney.
If the liberal Romney somehow manages to buy the presidency, conservatives in the GOP is dead and two parties have effectively merged.
He still gets a pass for being the architect of ObamaCare and all the other candidates basically refuse to call him out on it. Fox News gives him a pass on his liberal ways and are in the tank for him. Hell would freeze over before I voted for the liberal Romney and I am not alone in that regard.
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