Posted on 09/08/2011 7:17:47 AM PDT by Cincinatus' Wife
Anyone hoping or fearing that Rick Perry would crash and burn in his first GOP debate last night can either feel depressed or rest easy.
In his debut on the national stage, Perry proved he possesses a somewhat indefinable star quality -- exactly what Republicans were distressed to feel was missing from the field.
That quality emanated from him even when he struggled with difficult questions about his views on climate change and Social Security that present complex electoral challenges for him and his party in a national race. He knew when to speak strongly and when to underplay.
......The real controversy arose from his decision not to run from the attack he launched on Social Security in his 2010 book “Fed Up,” but rather to say that politicians need to be honest about the Ponzi-scheme nature of the old-age pension system.
......He’s right -- it is a Ponzi scheme. The challenge for Romney now will be making the case to primary voters that it will be fatal for the GOP’s shot at denying Barack Obama a second term to have a candidate who calls it a Ponzi scheme. He’ll have a strong case to make.
But there is something striking in the contrast between the two men. Romney looks like a casting director’s idea of a president, and after running for the office for four years solid now, he has an enviable fluency and command of the stage.
Alas for him, there’s a reason he was unable to solidify his own status as a front-runner: He just doesn’t seem to have “it” -- that elusive quality populist politicians who find a connection with ordinary voters seem to possess.....
(Excerpt) Read more at nypost.com ...
In before the “You Suck Because You Like Perry” begins...
Podhoretz, like his fellow neocons, are always opportunitically ready to attach themselves to the perceived winner.
Well, you suck because you don’t like Perry....
No YOU suck
Not yet. He did not impress me last night. I will wait to make final judgment.
>> ......He’s right — it is a Ponzi scheme.
I sense there is now coming together not only a man who will tell the truth, but also a people who are ready — hungry, even — to *hear* the truth.
Nationally, polls show voters in general oppose major changes to Social Security. Earlier this year a pro-Social Security interest group said its polling found 76 percent of Florida voters opposed cuts to Social Security to lower the deficit. Among Republicans, it was 66 percent. Among tea party members, 56 percent.
Then again, maybe voters don't care as much as the polls say they do. U.S. Senate candidate Marco Rubio in his GOP primary battle with Charlie Crist said during nationally televised debate that he was open to changes to Social Security. Crist ran ads against him. But Rubio won easily. [end]
YES!!!
>> Well, you suck because you don’t like Perry....
>> No YOU suck
Thanks for posting that illuminating discussion! I’m sure we *all* feel better informed now, regardless of our prior position. :-)
I’ll say this for Perry: he was the only one on that stage who actually has a job and actually has been working at it, rather than just running for president for the past months/years. Since he just came from the disasterous fires in his state, I’ll cut him some slack for seeming a bit distracted. Go ahead, anti-Perrys; bring it on.
You want the truth ?? YOU CAN'T HANDLE THE TRUTH ! (sorry, couldn't resist. feeling goofy today)
Were there two different debates last night?
NEVER go on what Perry says, watch what he DOES.
I still don't see how a pro abortion, anti gun Northeast liberal like Romney has a chance. This is the Republican primary we're talking about here.
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Every so often, the jackass in me comes out (I make myself laugh, heh heh heh).
The meds DO help.....
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