Posted on 09/22/2011 9:10:58 PM PDT by SeekAndFind
Mitt Romney is an incredibly vulnerable Republican candidate, from his numerous policy reversals to his championing of the Massachusetts health care law that served as the basis from Obamacare. But for him to lose, somebody else has to beat him. And like Tim Pawlenty before him, Texas Gov. Rick Perry is blowing his chances to exploit Romney’s weaknesses.
The defining moment in this debate may well have been the point at which Perry went on the attack against Romney for being a flip flopper. As I noted earlier, there’s a long file to choose from. And Perry had clearly rehearsed such an attack – you can tell he was starting to go through the list of issues Romney had reversed on, and even used the “for it before he was against” phrasing, a not-so-subtle reference to the infamous Massachusetts flip flopper, Sen. John Kerry. But the exchange came toward the end of the debate, and as has been his habit, Perry began to fade as the debate wore on. During this particular answer, he wrestled for words and stammered. He couldn’t finish his sentences. If you weren’t a political junkie who knew all of the background, you’d have no idea what Perry was mumbling about. And Romney's smooth response made him come off as more steady and reassuring, even though on substance, Perry should have owned him.
The rest of the debate was hit or miss for Perry. But when he received an admittedly difficult question about what he would do if he got a 3 a.m. phone call informing him that Pakistan’s nukes had been taken over by Islamists, he struggled. He ended up giving an incoherent answer that was more of an information dump of random stuff he had been briefed on about the region. It was not very reassuring for those of us who are waiting to see if Perry can prove his dissenters wrong and come off as someone substantive, capable of beating President Obama, and of running the country competently.
Romney remains vulnerable. And unlike Pawlenty, Perry is starting from a stronger position in the polls, so he certainly has a good chance of ultimately winning. However, he’s going to have to step up his game by showing a better grasp of the issues, more stamina in these debates, and by being able to take apart Romney’s endless contradictions. In short, Perry has not blown it, but he is blowing it.
He has screwed himself regarding his bowing to illegals and foreign policy.
If it doesn’t work out for Rick maybe he can try running for president of Mexico.
a revealing night.
What Perry can’t do in the debates, he will succeed in doing with MASSIVE ads.
No worries, we are electing a president, not a debate captain.
Announcing that conservatives that don’t want in-state for illegals are “heartless” is sure to help in the primaries. lol. His opponents should use that in their commercials.
Since rino Perry calls us “heartless”, we should not even consider voting for him.
Romney is now the prohibitive favorite. We lose even if we win.
The GOP has screwed itself again.
“No worries, we are electing a president, not a debate captain.”
Nice spin, but let’s face it...he stunk on ice tonite. Looked like there was no substance, not just no style. And you think debates don’t count? Really?
I think Perry should run against Obama IN A DEMOCRAT PRIMARY.
Perry was definitely channeling his inner Lindsey Graham tonight.
Apparently, that bill went through with a veto-proof majority.
Perry might be better off debating en espagnol. In english, not so much.
did he call Obama “heartless” ??
or does he reserve that for conservatives like a good rino?
He simply acts like he is in pain. He was the same last week. He had back surgery the end of July and this is still too early for someone who had recent back surgery to stand up front for two hours. Severe pain also affects your thought processes. I am not excusing him, just believe that I have made the correct observation. I also saw him at a major speech in Virginia, and there was no problem. Some people are not debaters. That does not mean that he would not do a good job. I simply can’t vote for Romney and don’t think the others could beat Obama. So Perry it is for me, come hell or high water.
Perry must be saying to himself-Can I take my toys and go home!? How he ever thought he could win the base???????? Anyone but Obama, must be the logic, I guess. He is just another branch of Rove’s compassionate conservatism.
A guy with a great record on guns, abortion, taxes, spending, business regulation, job creation, etc. definitely has no place in the Republican Party.
No one watches these debates. heck, I am a political junky who lives and breathes this stuff 12 hours a day and I almost missed watching it!
The debates are good practice for the candidates, and an opportunity to sort of introduce themselves to the public a bit, but that’s about it. If they were as important as some here seem to be claiming then Cain and Gingrich would be skyrocketing in the polls, instead of lanquishing in the low single digits.
“No worries, we are electing a president, not a debate captain.”
That might be true against anyone other than Obama. I’m sorry but that man is the smoothest talker. Look at all the people he fooled.
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