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Perry Takes a Page from The Gipper
National Journal ^ | November 12, 2011 | George E. Condon Jr.

Posted on 11/13/2011 5:24:29 AM PST by Cincinatus' Wife

Taking a page from Ronald Reagan, Texas Gov. Rick Perry on Saturday sought to use humor to rebound from his much-noted debate flub earlier in the week. That flub, a 53-second brain freeze that was replayed endlessly on news shows, had him forgetting the name of the Department of Energy, the third federal agency he pledges to eliminate.

So Perry was quick to cut off CBS’ Scott Pelley, one of the debate moderators in South Carolina, when he began a question, saying, “Governor Perry, you advocate the elimination of the Department of Energy. If you eliminate the Department of Energy...”

“I'm glad you remembered it,” interjected Perry with a big smile as the audience broke into applause and laughter. Pelley responded, “I've had some time to think about it, sir.” And Perry shot back again to even more laughter, “Me, too.”

Far from being uptight after his earlier stumble, Perry was loose even before the debate. Backstage before the TV lights came on, Perry said to fellow candidate Rick Santorum, “So tonight if I need a lifeline, I'm just gonna look to you, OK?”

Santorum laughed and offered to “fill in the blanks” for the Texan. The two men then high-fived each other. At that point, they laughed about Rep. Ron Paul telling Perry after the Michigan debate that “everybody has that happen, most people just don't do it in front of four million people.” In South Carolina, Paul laughed and told Santorum, “I was trying to make him feel better.”

Perry’s use of humor was reminiscent of Reagan’s rebound in 1984 after the then-president's performance in that year's first presidential debate with Democratic nominee Walter F. Mondale raised questions about whether age had dulled Reagan's mental quickness. At the second debate, Reagan was ready when he question came up. “I will not make age an issue in this campaign," he said. "I'm not going to exploit for political purposes my opponent's youth and inexperience.” The lasting image from that debate is Mondale laughing heartily at the joke at his expense. And the question of Reagan’s age was put to rest for the campaign.


TOPICS: Extended News; News/Current Events; US: Texas
KEYWORDS: 53secondsofstupid; amnesty; gopprimary; heartless; hispandering; keywordkooks; leadership; michigantexas; nationalsecurity; openborders; perry; perry2012; perryastroturfing; rickperry; ricksantorum; romneyperry2012; ronpaul; scottpelley; seebs; southcarolina; texas
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Both Video Clips


1 posted on 11/13/2011 5:24:30 AM PST by Cincinatus' Wife
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To: All; shield
Perry in SC Nov 12, 2011

"Commander-in-Chief" Debate Recap, Winners and Losers ...."Overall Winner: Rick Perry. In the aftermath of Wednesday’s gaffe, we have seen a much more human side for Perry. He actually did well in that debate, except for the 53 second brain freeze. Saturday, Perry shined. While he might not have delivered the most style and substance, I believe he helped his campaign more than anyone else. That makes Perry the winner.".......

2 posted on 11/13/2011 5:25:56 AM PST by Cincinatus' Wife
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To: Cincinatus' Wife

Your support and loyalty are admirable. But Perry has been reduced to a caricature. If he didn’t have the war chest he does, he’d be getting as many questions as Bachmann.

Unless of course, he keeps botching things and providing hilarity.


3 posted on 11/13/2011 5:26:38 AM PST by Solaia (Ladies and gentlemen take my advice: pull down your pants and slide on the ice.)
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To: Cincinatus' Wife

Unfortunately since he’s Perry, when he begins to read the page the audience listens quizzically to what sounds like meaningless bubbling.

With his typical aplomb we find Perry actually took a page from the guppy.


4 posted on 11/13/2011 5:31:21 AM PST by MrEdd (Heck? Geewhiz Cripes, thats the place where people who don't believe in Gosh think they aint going.)
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To: Cincinatus' Wife

It was obvious Perry had not been drinking at all, this was his best debate performance yet, I was impressed, though; not enough to sway me away from Cain, who I thought had a lousy performance, but I kind of expected that, I had hoped he would surprise me.


5 posted on 11/13/2011 5:33:39 AM PST by PoloSec ( Believe how that Christ died for our sins, was buried and rose again for our justification)
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To: Cincinatus' Wife
Perry 2012: Remain Calm. All Is Well.
6 posted on 11/13/2011 5:34:18 AM PST by RichInOC (Sarah Palin is at war with the left. Most Freepers are just playing the video game.)
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To: Cincinatus' Wife; RoosterRedux; jonrick46; deepbluesea; RockinRight; TexMom7; potlatch; ...
Perry Ping....

IF you'd rather NOT be pinged FReepmail me.

IF you'd like to be added FReepmail me. Thanks.

*****************************************************************************************************************************************************

PERRY HAS NOT CHANGED HIS PHILOSOPHY. THIS PICTURE WAS TAKEN WHEN HE WAS RUNNING FOR LT. GOVERNOR.

7 posted on 11/13/2011 5:37:53 AM PST by shield (Rev 2:9 Woe unto those who say they are Judahites and are not, but are of the syna GOG ue of Satan.)
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To: Cincinatus' Wife

Frankly, I liked the self-deprecating humor. It’s very difficult to fake that, and I think it shows a basic humility that I like.


8 posted on 11/13/2011 5:40:00 AM PST by jagusafr ("We hold these truths to be self-evident...")
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To: PoloSec
It was obvious Perry had not been drinking at all...

If you're interested in seeing the Cornerstone speech in full, you'd enjoy it instead of giving Democrat talking points.

Full Cornerstone speech in NH

9 posted on 11/13/2011 5:40:13 AM PST by Cincinatus' Wife
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To: Solaia
Your support and loyalty are admirable. But Perry has been reduced to a caricature.

He's not been reduced (though you've tried) he's just getting introduced.

The Perry Plan: Energizing American Jobs and Security

The Perry Economic Plan: Cut, Balance and Grow

[snip] “Dynamic Tax Score for RickPerry.org, Inc. Proposal:

Based on the higher GDP estimates forecast by the dynamic scoring exercise, the Perry proposal will not only lead to an increase in overall economic activity and jobs, but will also lead to higher federal revenues in the long term. In fact, the analysis suggests that revenues could be as much as $406.8 billion higher than under the static model by 2020, and could be as high as 19.5 percent of GDP. The dynamic score of the proposal suggests that lower flatter taxes could generate both more revenue than the current tax code, and significantly more economic growth over time. With increasing demands on the Federal government from growing entitlements, higher pension expenses and interest on the debt, it will be necessary to increase the size of the economy – and the tax base – in order to generate significantly higher revenues. Table 7 shows how the Perry proposals would do this over a seven year period.’ [snip] Tax Proposal Score PDF

10 posted on 11/13/2011 5:42:50 AM PST by Cincinatus' Wife
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To: PoloSec

The reason Cain did so poorly was because the subject demanded experience and in depth knowledge of Foreign affairs and International Crisis. America cannot afford having someone like that in office again. Especially in the coming months and years.


11 posted on 11/13/2011 5:45:38 AM PST by PSYCHO-FREEP (If you come to a fork in the road, take it........)
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To: jagusafr

It was good humor and not staged.

Everyone liked that Rick Perry had the opportunity to give that laugh line (after the MSM had so gleefully beat him up over it). And the best part was that Scott Pelley of CBS unwittingly fed Perry the line that started the ball rolling.


12 posted on 11/13/2011 5:47:39 AM PST by Cincinatus' Wife
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To: Solaia
If Perry is still in the race, when Pa.'s elections along I'm going to vote for him.

I kind of like the fact that he's not a quitter and can laugh at himself.

Cain, btw, is starting to stumble a little now. Some of it's is his own fault (unclear policy statements, ignorance about foreign policy). Some of it's due to a vile hit job by the Dems and the old media.

Cain, like Perry, is one of us, though, and we should do what we can to keep him from being marginalized.

Those that make their really nice livings leeching off the taxpayers are going to do what they can to give us Romney.

13 posted on 11/13/2011 5:50:28 AM PST by Tribune7 (If you demand perfection you will wind up with leftist Democrats)
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To: Cincinatus' Wife
Even better was the way Newt reduced Pelly to a bowl of septic jello when Pelly tried to declare that traitors fighting against the US were demanded protection under the Constitution.

The way Newt tore the words right out of his mouth and corrected him with Constitutional and International Rule of Law was priceless. Pelly was left quivering in his chair while the audience cheered at Gingrichs’ razor sharp intellect.

14 posted on 11/13/2011 5:54:17 AM PST by PSYCHO-FREEP (If you come to a fork in the road, take it........)
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To: PSYCHO-FREEP

That was good!


15 posted on 11/13/2011 5:55:00 AM PST by Cincinatus' Wife
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To: Cincinatus' Wife

Agreed - the fact he got the last word in after Pelley tried to snark him on his original response was quite satisfying.


16 posted on 11/13/2011 5:56:32 AM PST by jagusafr ("We hold these truths to be self-evident...")
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To: Cincinatus' Wife

Awe....pity. Just what propels candidates to the nomination. If Perry only had Pelley to help him through all of his public engagements and lead him along.

Anything is possible, but, I don’t feel sorry enough for the Gov’ to vote for him for POTUS. I’ve lived with Mr. “Next in LIne” for eleven years and he leaves MUCH to be desired. Much.

Move on. Get another hobby. It’s not anywhere near the effort. He’s certainly not giving any effort. Why should you?


17 posted on 11/13/2011 6:03:07 AM PST by JoenTX (?)
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To: PSYCHO-FREEP

I will vote for Newt as Most Intelligent, but not for the POTUS.


18 posted on 11/13/2011 6:03:35 AM PST by not2worry
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To: Cincinatus' Wife
CW -

You are like the Japanese troops that held out for 30 years after WWII ended.

Loyalty is wonderful, but don't you have a better way to spend your time? Most of the other Fangirls have read the writing on the wall.

19 posted on 11/13/2011 6:03:43 AM PST by bwc2221
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To: PSYCHO-FREEP

Cain has good instincts and he’s the type that would appoint somebody who knows foreign policy.


20 posted on 11/13/2011 6:04:05 AM PST by Jonty30
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