Republican Presidential Debate

[The Thriller]

That is hard to watch. What an idiot.

Awesome analysis:

https://www.cnn.com/2011/11/10/opinion/graham-debate-perry/index.html?hpt=hp_t2

It will do major damage. Here's why.
First, I've been evaluating debates for 20 years, and can tell you -- if you doubted it for a second -- that Perry's mental block was very, very bad. One reason is that the question he was asked at the time wasn't even about cutting agencies. It was about how he could work with Democrats across the aisle. But Perry wanted to add some flair, so he looked at Ron Paul in order to brag about how he would cut three different agencies (although still not as many as Paul's five) and then gave himself the self-induced wound.
What then made it worse was that Perry was asked twice if he could remember the third agency and he continued to draw a blank. Whatever credibility he had disappeared like his memory. It was a perfect example of a gotcha question, which everyone from Newt Gingrich to Sarah Palin complains about -- except that nobody even asked it. Perry did the gotcha on himself.
The more damning reason his mistake will hurt in the long run is because it gives the audience a consistent (and unfavorable) impression of Perry. One of the things I tell my communications classes is that people cling to first impressions. It's why first impressions are so difficult to overcome, especially if they are negative.
Unfortunately, if you have been watching these Republican presidential debates, your first impression, along with that of many other viewers, is that Rick Perry does not have the best grasp of the issues and he has a difficult time answering questions. Fair or not, this may turn people away from voting for him.
Lately the entire focus of Perry's team has been trying to change the public's first impression of their candidate. They believed these upcoming debates would help. After all, Perry couldn't get any worse, right? Oops. It turns out he could. And since many in the public have an unfavorable first impression, Perry's performance fed right into that.
Because of his poor first impression, Perry was the candidate who could least afford a slip-up of this magnitude. Instead of overcoming that negative first impression, he did the opposite. He cemented it.

There are other Republicans that voters will now begin to gravitate toward.

Bye bye ricky! Guess he can go on and concentrate on creating new jobs in Texas that pay $8 bucks an hour...

 

[PearlWatson]

I'm sick of polished turds. Any one of the Republicans would be better than the clueless teleprompter reliant bloviater we have now.

 

[sirkickyass]

I'll defend Perry here: who hasn't had a brain fart? Is that really the difference between a qualified candidate and an unqualified one? If the ghost of Ronald Reagan debated Jerry Rechtenbach and he forgot a platform segment for a minute would everyone decide they wanted to vote for ol' Jerry?

I mean, come on. There's some anecdotal evidence that Reagan himself was starting to suffer from forgetfulness prior to Alzheimers while he was a sitting president and I'm pretty sure he's basically a religious figure at this point.

As always, there are many many reasons not to choose Rick Perry. That he forgot the name of the Department of Energy that one time is not a good one.

 

[Gyp Rosetti]

I'll defend Perry here: who hasn't had a brain fart? Is that really the difference between a qualified candidate and an unqualified one? If the ghost of Ronald Reagan debated Jerry Rechtenbach and he forgot a platform segment for a minute would everyone decide they wanted to vote for ol' Jerry?

I mean, come on. There's some anecdotal evidence that Reagan himself was starting to suffer from forgetfulness prior to Alzheimers while he was a sitting president and I'm pretty sure he's basically a religious figure at this point.

As always, there are many many reasons not to choose Rick Perry. That he forgot the name of the Department of Energy that one time is not a good one.

I don't disagree. We've all had brainfarts. But we're not running for President. Just for Taylorsville City Council. And for me, it wasn't your typical brainfart. He sat there for a good 20 seconds, was given the chance a couple times to come up with the third department (a topic he brought up on his own mind you), and couldn't. But again, I don't disagree with general sentiment.

 

[NUMBERICA]

I'm sick of polished turds. Any one of the Republicans would be better than the clueless teleprompter reliant bloviater we have now.

 

[LogGrad98]

I'll defend Perry here: who hasn't had a brain fart? Is that really the difference between a qualified candidate and an unqualified one? If the ghost of Ronald Reagan debated Jerry Rechtenbach and he forgot a platform segment for a minute would everyone decide they wanted to vote for ol' Jerry?

I mean, come on. There's some anecdotal evidence that Reagan himself was starting to suffer from forgetfulness prior to Alzheimers while he was a sitting president and I'm pretty sure he's basically a religious figure at this point.

As always, there are many many reasons not to choose Rick Perry. That he forgot the name of the Department of Energy that one time is not a good one.

This, from top to bottom.

But it sure was awkward to watch.

 

[Gyp Rosetti]

Love that scene. I well up and get chills every time.

 

[candrew]

The larger issue is deep down, I'm fairly convinced Rick Perry has no desire to be president. He was pushed in late by the money people because of the void of viable candidates in the republican field. And instead of filling the void he's just become part of it.

I lived in Texas for four years under this guy and I can tell you he did nothing of note other than "looking the part". That's because Texans don't want much from their politicians other than to stay out of the way of private industry, keep the executions going and say something religulous every once in a while.

This guy can't wait to get back to Austin.

 

[TroutBum]

I don't care for him one bit, but I feel his pain. I had a very similar experience in one of my debates, and it ended poorly. Of course, the three people in attendance probably weren't going to vote for me anyhow.

 

[LogGrad98]

The larger issue is deep down, I'm fairly convinced Rick Perry has no desire to be president. He was pushed in late by the money people because of the void of viable candidates in the republican field. And instead of filling the void he's just become part of it.

I lived in Texas for four years under this guy and I can tell you he did nothing of note other than "looking the part". That's because Texans don't want much from their politicians other than to stay out of the way of private industry, keep the executions going and say something religulous every once in a while.

This guy can't wait to get back to Austin.

You are probably pretty close to the truth there.

 

[bat]

Rick perry choked big time and it can't be chalked up to a simple brainfart in this situation.

If these are things you believe in, you don't forget the name, then call it the wrong name, then struggle to remember it all together.

That screams of not believing what you are talking about, and forgetting points that have been presented to you, not by you.

A brainfart is calling your kid the wrong name, not forgetting who they are for 15 minutes.

 

[GoJazz]

The larger issue is deep down, I'm fairly convinced Rick Perry has no desire to be president. He was pushed in late by the money people because of the void of viable candidates in the republican field. And instead of filling the void he's just become part of it.

I lived in Texas for four years under this guy and I can tell you he did nothing of note other than "looking the part". That's because Texans don't want much from their politicians other than to stay out of the way of private industry, keep the executions going and say something religulous every once in a while.

This guy can't wait to get back to Austin.

Don't you wish more places were like Texas?

 

[Scat]

Don't you wish more places were like Texas?

I was in Dallas 2 weeks ago and they definitely believe that motor vehicles have the right of way. If you are a pedestrian you better know how to run. Fast.