“The issue in the book ‘Fed Up,’ governor, is you say that by any measure, Social Security is a failure,” Romney said. “Our nominee has to be someone who isn’t committed to abolishing Social Security, but who is committed to saving Social Security … I will make sure that we keep the program and we make it financially secure, and under no circumstances would I ever say by any measure it’s a failure.” – Fireworks between Perry and Romney erupt early in debate
Rick Perry failed über Reaganite Peggy Noonan’s basic GOP nomination test: Can you think about watching Perry “for 4 years and it would not make me throw up in my mouth”?
You simply cannot tell Americans, Perry speaking mostly to young people, that Social Security is a ponzi scheme over and over again without comforting middle class voters and seniors, who vote in droves, that the program won’t be threatened in their lifetime.
That Romney made Perry look small, mean and cranky was another problem.
Somehow I just kept wondering if we were watching Mitt Romney’s alter ego in Rick Perry, the Fonzerelli of his soul. A man who has every attribute Mitt doesn’t, but in the long rough road times ahead, his snarling, muscular machismo sets off alarms and urges you to unleash the dogs… on him.
At one point, after Rick “ponzi” Perry doubled down on Social Security stupid, he was asked a question, turning to the camera for his close up, which fell flatly on the subsequent silence. It revealed nervousness unbecoming a national presidential candidate.
But Mr. Perry’s preening sadism over a state slogan that basically screams WE EXECUTE PEOPLE should surely shock anyone over at GOP central who wants to beat Pres. Obama.
It’s over.
Say goodnight, Rick.
I had little doubt he’d implode, but tonight’s debate was a bonanza of kaboom. From ponzi politics to salivating over throwing the switch, to some weirdness about climate change, Perry proved unready for primetime.
Karl Rove can breathe a little easier.
…and those fat cat GOP donor hold-outs can finally rev up their anti-Perry PACS, because now it’s clear Perry’s a goner in a general election.
Meanwhile, Mitt Romney was sharp, direct and pushed the visionary envelope, through the economics he believes will work (it won’t – see Bush, whose people wrote Romney’s plan).
Romney was also presidential.
Perry’s curled-lip sourness didn’t match up next to Mitt Romney who exuded certain belief, knowledge that he is the president already. That Romney was also almost relaxed while revealing passion and expertise was a first for him since he started running for president six years ago.
Gov. Perry is out of a time Republicans cannot afford to revisit if they want to win the White House, which is closer to being possible than they ever dreamed.
Mitt Romney commanded the stage, was gracious when asked for criticism, sounded like he at least understood the U.S. economy, even if his answers haven’t worked for workers, as much as the stockholders.
The United States, all of us, are going up against an economic whirlwind that will leave the unprepared behind. This means eduction, innovation and investment. It also means at some point our juvenile but brilliant country has to choose to pull together on some things. There are just some issues where we all have to agree to the floor, like science and evolution, yes, and climate change, but also that we’re going to care for the most vulnerable and aged.
We’re doomed as a people if we don’t.
Surely Republicans understand this or at least understand that marketing anything less to voters won’t cut it in challenging economic times.
Nice sentiment, but idealogues don’t think that way. That’s why it’s different this time. That a man like Perry could even be in a televised debate for a national party’s ticket should give everyone pause. Were not in Kansas anymore
On one hand, Perry would be easy to beat in Nov 2012, so I’m kinda rooting for him. On the other hand, it means I’d have to keep looking at his ugly mug every day until then. Ugh…its a puzzler.
Heya Scott.
I’m not sure I understand at all why you seem so invested in Pres. Obama winning reelection.
What has he done for Democrats that would make you feel this way?
its clear if repubs want to win the general romney would b i think. look at his polling: romney today beats obama handily in pa,fl esp. i mean romney is cruching obama in pa and fl right now at least.
with the gop so nutty chris matthews is right- obsma’s nightmare debt cmte is set to issue its up or down votes on cuts to everything most americans hold dear right around the holidays when folks are home and together with family. this debt deal int he end is what may sink obama. every dem i know is so disenchanted they just pray someone half sane gets the gop nom.
with no way to primary obama, no viable 3rd party, there is a sense of resignation. and anger.
perry unites the left i think. romney doesnt. perry will drive dems out to vote, romney likely wont.
if perry implodes does this open it up for palin? will gop primary folks vote for a mormon?? i know many who watched this gop debate tonight- why? bc more and more are convinced its over for obama bc in effect obama has thrown us under the bus. those in need, the elderly etc are tosed to have their little checks cut by some super cmte and their medicare…
Will they vote someone who’s sane? Those are the questions…
I’m inclined to think that there are still enough Republican voters who actually care whether SS and Medicare survive that Romney scored some points tonight.
(No, I didn’t watch the debate, but Taylor and Josh Marshall seem to agree that Romney was trying to look like Mr. Safety Net, GOP Edition tonight.)
“IF” Perry implodes?
He’s going to spend the rest of the days ahead until the next debate backtracking & explaining what he said last night.
If you’re explaining YOU ARE LOSING.
the mormon card is and will be played on mitt in sc etc.. recal mccain and the black baby he “had” back in 2000 via team bush? both sides are looking at the mormon card. obama, perry etc all are ready on that. its pathetic but
I agree with your assessment of Romney’s performance tonight. I felt the same way…he was relaxed and in command and passionate. Wasn’t it you who opined that Perry would improve Romney as a general election candidate? My only concern is that if Karl Rove is against Perry…then maybe there is something I’m missing. Perry was articulate and I thought a fun addition to this first debate. And I don’t like Perry. This is about the Republican primary. The bit about execution was weird though. I also liked Huntman’s thoughtful answers. In fact, I was generally very impressed with the debate. It was substantive and interesting. Ron Paul was a good addition and I particularly liked his honesty about Reagan. At least we were listening to positions and not Obama’s false and aimless rhetoric.
Romney/Huntsman – I might vote Republican for the first time in my life.
IF Romney’s the nominee his veep will not be Huntsman.
Romney will need someone to help him in the south, but to also bring the Tea Party pack along.
Would Perry go for veep?
Would Sarah Palin 2.0 in the veep spot work? It won’t be Bachmann, that’s for sure.
Will Haley Barbour surface once again, this time as a veep alternative?
Then again, there’s Marco Rubio, which could turn everything on its head if he was chosen as veep. This is still the smart play, because if Obama can’t win Florida, considering he’s in trouble across the rust belt, it’s all over.
My take away of the debate is this.
Romney is postioning himself as the protector and savior of Soc Sec. I’ll say it again, Romney is postioning himself as the protector and savior of Soc Sec.
Contrast that right now with Pres Obama, who is being viewed quite properly, as someone who wants to change Soc Sec via raising the retirement age and/or chained CPI. Changes that are hurtful to seniors.
Who do you think wins on that messaging.
So we quite possibly have a Presidential campaign, other issues aside , in which the Repub Candidate may be viewed as someone who will probably campaign against the changes Pres Obama wants, and god forbid gets.
Show of hands -how many people think Pres Obama and the Dems win on that issue/positioning?
Not me.
This is how destructive Pres Obama has been to the Democratic brand, with the complicit agreement of DC Dems.
It’s early, but if I’m one the clown college graduates advising the Pres aor the President himself, I should start getting worried very quickly, as should the rest of the Dems.
Great post Taylor. But the reasons you delineated against Perry are the exact reasons the Republican primary voters will flock to him.
Hey Ramsgate.
As I’ve written before, I have no doubt at all that primary voters could nominate Perry.
However, what people are forgetting is there is a lot of establishment money sitting out right now that could be turned on Perry in negative ads.
Republicans want to beat Obama.
The GOP nomination process is now proportional, too, so if Perry can keep from sinking, Super PAC attacks could finish him, this could go well into late spring next year.
After the debt ceiling debacle & the backlash in polling from it, the GOP establishment will not let Perry take them down, I don’t believe.
Rick Perry is simply unelectable at a time when Barack Obama is very, very beatable.
The thing about Romney is that he is not scary. If the dems could keep the Senate and win back the House we might get better policy out of Romney. I wouls split my vote, wonder if others would? As it stands now Obama has zero coatails.
LL,
I can see a scenario where the Dems retake the House, hold the Senate and Romney is Pres. I think that is a very real outcome.
The challenges to that are to retake the House and hold the Senate, Dems have to turnout and vote, which means they are motivated to vote. If that happens Pres Obama could/would re-elected.
In thinking about a Romney Presidency with a Dem controlled Congress I think we get the reversal of Pres Obama. That is Ronmey goes left and takes positions to the left of Repub right wing orthodoxy and also to the left of Pres Obama. I think Romney would absolutly sign off on, and even endorsed deficit spending for stimulus. I think he is smart enough to realize it’s positve results and benefits. I wouldn’t doubt that he even secretly believes it.
So in the end we replace a Dem Pres who has been governing like a Repub with Repub Pres who governs like a Dem.
I think I’m on Mars.
Absolutely, I would vote for Romney and then vote for dems for congress. I do not see Romney as any worse than Obama (maybe even better than) and I think that Obama is doing tremendous harm
No surprises from Perry. This is who he is.
My only quibble with your analysis, Taylor, is one I tweeted to you last night: I think Perry is more 19th Century than 20th …
hehe-heh…
True. If he were a man of the 20th Century, he’d be waving an automatic around, not a six-shooter.
Every body here is going on like we are talking about sane, thoughtful people who take reality into consideration before they vote?!!! This is the REPUGNANTKLAN/TEABAGGER party we are talking about isn’t it?!!!!!!!!!
Since WHEN has being dumber then dog shit and meaner then a Klansman at a Dr. Martin Luther King Day event been a hinderance to winning a repugnantKLAN/teabagger primary?!!!!!!!
I think people are underestimating how important seniors are in Republican primaries. They are a key part of the Republican coalition and are a higher percentage of the vote in a Republican primary than in general. This will doom Perry in the Pennsylvania and Florida primaries.