We should be so lucky. That would actually imply that he’s more capable than other members of his party. It’s more like they picked the guy who was the best at being unable to see.
I really, really hope Try2B Comprehensive is right, and we’ll be able to get him out of office in the next election.
By the way, Perry has almost three years left on his current term in Texas.
TPM’s polling average for SC has Mitt at 33.4% and Newt at 29.3%.
Yeah but the argument works better for Newt because polls indicate that he is gaining ground and within striking distance of Romney whereas Santorum has no chance whatsoever.
Perry’s endorsement probably doesn’t matter that much directly in terms of his supporters moving over to Gingrich. However it’s a positive news story which cements Newt’s position as the conservative candidate precisely at the last serious opportunity to put a brake on Romney. And it comes right before a debate so Newt will be able to milk the endorsment to the fullest.
I guess in that sense his wife’s interview comes at a really bad time since it ruins a potentially triumphant day for Newt. I have a feeling it will hurt him even if there isn’t any bombshell because it puts a face to his marital problems and reminds primary voters of the baggage he brings if he becomes the candidate.
And it’s already out of date:
:snicker:
Why would that be a problem?
As a Texas resident, let me just say that there are many of us who have been asking this question for many years.
ETA: Don’t blame me, I voted for Kinky!
IMO Republicans have a problem grooming true national leadership because of “epistemic closure” among conservatives.
Basically, nearly all conservatives have the same general set of principles and opinions, so arguments within conservatism based on clashes of ideaology are extremely rare. So, the various debates, caucuses and primaries where Republicans challenge each other for leadership roles turn more on the ability to fire up the crowd with red meat. This is why–when they venture outside the right-wing bubble to make policial arguments against Democrats–their criticisms often seem ridiculous, and when they’re actually challenged on the merit of what they’re saying–something that, again, rarely happens within their own caucus–they sound like parrots (who just repeat words they don’t understand) or bumbling stooges (unaware of the likely points where their argument or position is weak).
Take a look at, say, the career of Rush Limbaugh. He hosts the most successful (by far) radio program on the AM dial, but every time he’s ventured outside the bubble of his studio and ditto-head callers (hosting for Pat Sajak, his arguments with FAIR, providing pre-game NFL commentary), he inevitably fails pretty quickly.
True, Limbaugh hasn’t run for public office, but then again Rick Perry has repeatedly called Barack Obama a socialist–a charge Limbaugh makes every day on his show. If he thinks that assertion isn’t going to be met with outright laughter from the vast majority of non-conservatives in the US, he’s not very smart and has spent way too much time in the bubble.
Santorum’s next!
‘May the Froth be With You’…
I appreciate the sentiment, buddy, but if one of us is going to have froth, its gonna be you.
I didn’t even realize Newt was running for Governor in Texas.
He is referring, of course, to the legendary Kinky Friedman, of Kinky Friedman and His Texas Jewboys. Released “Get Your Biscuits in the Oven and Your Buns in Bed”. You probably never heard of them, they aren’t very mainstream.
Hey! “The Ballad of Charles Whitman” was huge!
What happens to Perry’s (and Huntsman’s) delegates? Are they free agents now, or yesterday’s news?
Perry never got any delegates. Huntsman got 2 in NH - I believe they go wherever he wants them to.
Interestingly, Gingrich also has zero delegates at this point in time.
Cite: Republican Delegate Count - Election 2012 - NYTimes.com
If someone drops out totally, the delegates become free agents. If they “suspend their campaign”, then the delegates are still bound until the candidate releases them (hmm, that sounded a little kinkier then I intended).
Most candidates suspend instead of drop out so that they can continue to use their campaign funds and so that they can have an extra fifteen minutes of fame at the convention, but I’m not sure which Huntsman actually did.
Although I think Perry would have had to drop out eventually, the more I think about the timing–with a debate tonight and two days until the election–I’m starting to think this move was prompted by cowardice. He didn’t want the humiliation of finishing last, and he was afraid of embarassing himself yet again in a debate.
Seems to me most candidates at this point drop out right after a vote, not before, and it’s not like he’s saving any money by folding it up two days early.
Perry was actually saying a day or two ago that they should do more debates. I thought it was kind of hilarious. It was just about the only theoretical way he could have made up a bunch of ground, but given his past debate performance it was a goofy dream. I think he dropped out now because it’s conceivable his endorsement could mean something.
Huh? CNN’s Election Center has different numbers than The New York Times? 