# Fallout from Rick Perry's "Debate Performance" **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [September 24, 2011, 1:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fallout-from-rick-perrys-debate-performance/597407 "2011-09-24T01:04:15Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![twickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2011, 4:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fallout-from-rick-perrys-debate-performance/597407/21 "2011-09-25T16:09:05Z")
> [@G-SE](#): > > Holy fuck you’re retarded. This language is unacceptable outside the Pit. Warning issued for personal insults. **twickster** , Elections moderator ---
**Author:** ![Lago\_Ys-Transform](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/a587f6/32.png) [@Lago\_Ys-Transform](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lago_Ys-Transform)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2011, 7:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fallout-from-rick-perrys-debate-performance/597407/22 "2011-09-25T19:44:16Z")
Ultimately meaningless. It may have been something more if Romney had gotten more of a bump out of it (and Romney did perform well in my opinion) but since his numbers aren’t looking too good either and there’s no credible conservative alternative Perry will limp along for about a month and honing his attack strategy. If Perry messes up on the second or third straw poll then there’s going to be a reckoning. But this pretty much preserves the status quo, if making Perry sweat for a few more weeks. ---
**Author:** ![ShibbOleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/848f3c/32.png) [@ShibbOleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ShibbOleth)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2011, 12:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fallout-from-rick-perrys-debate-performance/597407/23 "2011-09-26T00:41:57Z")
> [@Boyo\_Jim](#): > > Don[t forget poor whites. No help for them either. > > I’m reminded of an old Monty Python skit. Some commission is looking at designs for a public housing project, and these two guys show up and start up with, “Inside the entry, people are drawn into the rotating blades, and there’s a trough here to carry off the blood…”, and it’s immediately clear they’ve designed a slaughterhouse for the poor. THE ARCHITECT SKETCH! [/The Gumbys] ---
**Author:** ![Voyager](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voyager/32/133_2.png) [@Voyager](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Voyager)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2011, 6:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fallout-from-rick-perrys-debate-performance/597407/24 "2011-09-26T06:35:24Z")
> [@foolsguinea](#): > > [del]Wow, stammering aside, Rick Perry won that[/del]–nope, two drunks fighting. > > Really? Our frontrunners are Willard Layoffs and Pray-for-Rain? Herman Cain is going to take this after all! Cain did take Florida, though as far as I can tell the electorate for that one was ten good old boys and their hounds hanging around a bar drinking beer. But Perry seemed to be trying. How typical of the Republican party today that the two or three things he has done which don’t qualify as evil are the things that he is in trouble for. Letting that good Texas justice kill a couple of hundred people, that gets cheers. Supporting education for kids in the US through no fault of their own - horrid. Little known fact - the Phelps’ used to be Republicans, but quit in disgust because the place was just too evil for them. ---
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2011, 12:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fallout-from-rick-perrys-debate-performance/597407/25 "2011-09-26T12:57:27Z")
> [@Naxos](#): > > If he’s a Republican, then he should not be in favor of dark skinned people receiving any kind of assistance. That’s what conservatism is all about. Unless you’re a conservative black Republican who can write a semi-coherent op-ed column. Then the whole wingnut welfare system opens up for you. ---
**Author:** ![Merijeek](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f05b48/32.png) [@Merijeek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Merijeek)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2011, 2:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fallout-from-rick-perrys-debate-performance/597407/26 "2011-09-26T14:17:12Z")
> [@RTFirefly](#): > > Unless you’re a conservative black Republican who can write a semi-coherent op-ed column. Then the whole wingnut welfare system opens up for you. Cal Thomas? -Joe ---
**Author:** ![Meatros](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b4bc9f/32.png) [@Meatros](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Meatros)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2011, 2:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fallout-from-rick-perrys-debate-performance/597407/27 "2011-09-26T14:37:13Z")
> [@Frank](#): > > I haven’t watched the debate myself yet of course, but reviews & discussion ranging from the [Los Angeles Times](http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-gop-presidential-20110924,0,7212561.story) to the [Huffington Post](http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/09/23/conservative-pundits-rick-perry-debate-performance_n_978250.html)are painting this in rather dire tones. And yet, the SDMB elections forum is oddly quiet on the subject. > > So, anyway. William Kristol doesn’t appear to be any secondhand Kitty Kelly gossip monger here: he watched the debate and talked with all the people they’re writing about in real time. What’s the fallout? From what the video discussed with the source, it sounds like it would be very discouraging to Perry supporters. One of my ex-FB friends was a strong Perry supporter and was very unhappy with Perry’s debate performance. I didn’t want to get into it with him (He’s an **ex** FB friend after all), so I’m not entirely sure why he thought Perry got trounced. ---
**Author:** ![Fenris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fenris/32/498_2.png) [@Fenris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fenris)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2011, 4:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fallout-from-rick-perrys-debate-performance/597407/28 "2011-09-26T16:09:25Z")
The “have a heart” comment killed Perry because it was an idiotic comment. The answer to the question “Why should we give education discounts to kids who are illegal aliens?” could be [ul] [li]Being illegal aliens wasn’t their fault/choice. or[/li][li]We don’t want a permanent second-class, uneducated underclass. or[/li][li]Regardless of their parent’s status, they were born here so they’re citizens.[/li][li]Etc.[/li][/ul] What _isn’t_ an answer is a “sob-sister” snivelly bit of hyper-emotional drivel like Perry gave. “Why should we give education discounts to kids who are illegal aliens?” "Anyone who asks that question just doesn’t have a _ **HEART!!!** _ \< sob \> ☹ " ---
**Author:** ![Jophiel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jophiel/32/66_2.png) [@Jophiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jophiel)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2011, 4:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fallout-from-rick-perrys-debate-performance/597407/29 "2011-09-26T16:17:43Z")
I watched the first two post-Perry-entering debates and Perry was miserable in each one. Stammering, missing obvious attack lines, falling all over himself when he needed to defend something, etc. He just looked unprepared. I’m no fan of any of the GOP candidates but Romney dominated both of those debates. I skipped the third but haven’t heard that it was any different. Prior to Perry’s first debate, I kept hearing that he was going to be a powerhouse and, despite refusing to debate during most of his term as governor, the few times he did he crushed his opponents. ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2011, 12:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fallout-from-rick-perrys-debate-performance/597407/30 "2011-09-27T00:08:06Z")
> [@Fenris](#): > > The “have a heart” comment killed Perry because it was an idiotic comment. The only idiotic aspect to it was that he said something honest and true without first calculating what to say based on its intended effect. ---
**Author:** ![Captain\_Amazing](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6de8d8/32.png) [@Captain\_Amazing](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Captain_Amazing)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2011, 8:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fallout-from-rick-perrys-debate-performance/597407/31 "2011-09-27T08:09:23Z")
> [@Merijeek](#): > > Cal Thomas? > > -Joe In what world is Cal Thomas black? Are you thinking of Thomas Sowell? ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2011, 8:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fallout-from-rick-perrys-debate-performance/597407/32 "2011-09-27T08:17:50Z")
I’m thinking Clarence Thomas. ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2011, 8:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fallout-from-rick-perrys-debate-performance/597407/33 "2011-09-27T08:23:33Z")
BTW, I wonder what the ratings are for these debates? I’m thinking they’re gonna be relatively high. I figure non-dogmatic Republicans and conservatives will be glued to the set looking for indicators who is sane enough to vote for, and the wingnuts will be equally enthralled trying to figure out who’s the craziest. ---
**Author:** ![Merijeek](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f05b48/32.png) [@Merijeek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Merijeek)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2011, 1:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fallout-from-rick-perrys-debate-performance/597407/34 "2011-09-27T13:14:54Z")
> [@Captain\_Amazing](#): > > In what world is Cal Thomas black? Are you thinking of Thomas Sowell? It was a joke. Mostly because I can’t figure out why The Mustachioed Wahwah still has a column. -Joe ---
**Author:** ![saoirse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/5daacb/32.png) [@saoirse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/saoirse)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2011, 3:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fallout-from-rick-perrys-debate-performance/597407/35 "2011-09-27T15:43:20Z")
> [@Typo\_Knig](#): > > … then Perry deserves to still be Governor of Texas on 01/21/12. My nomination for username.post combo of the month. I expect Perry will be Governor of Texas on the eve of the New Hampshire Primary, regardless of how he does in the debates. ---
**Author:** ![Jas09](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/d07c76/32.png) [@Jas09](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jas09)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2011, 3:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fallout-from-rick-perrys-debate-performance/597407/36 "2011-09-27T15:53:07Z")
> [@Boyo\_Jim](#): > > BTW, I wonder what the ratings are for these debates? > > I’m thinking they’re gonna be relatively high. I figure non-dogmatic Republicans and conservatives will be glued to the set looking for indicators who is sane enough to vote for, and the wingnuts will be equally enthralled trying to figure out who’s the craziest. Apparently the Fox News one (the latest) got 6 million viewers - roughly double their normal viewership in that time slot. I have to think that the post-debate reviews and headlines will reach far more people than the debates themselves. ---
**Author:** ![Typo\_Knig](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/cdc98d/32.png) [@Typo\_Knig](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Typo_Knig)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2011, 4:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fallout-from-rick-perrys-debate-performance/597407/37 "2011-09-27T16:31:24Z")
> [@saoirse](#): > > My nomination for username.post combo of the month. I expect Perry will be Governor of Texas on the eve of the New Hampshire Primary, regardless of how he does in the debates. :smack: :smack: :smack: ---
**Author:** ![Scuba\_Ben](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/278dde/32.png) [@Scuba\_Ben](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scuba_Ben)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2011, 4:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fallout-from-rick-perrys-debate-performance/597407/38 "2011-09-27T16:55:37Z")
> [@Boyo\_Jim](#): > > I’m reminded of an old Monty Python skit. Some commission is looking at designs for a public housing project, and these two guys show up and start up with, “Inside the entry, people are drawn into the rotating blades, and there’s a trough here to carry off the blood…”, and it’s immediately clear they’ve designed a slaughterhouse for the poor. I didn’t expect the other architectural firm to be the Spanish Inquisition. \ This morning’s editorials included a discussion of Perry’s both-feet-in-mouth-sucking-toes performance in the debates. The editorial implied to me that Perry’s debate style got him kicked out of the Non Sequitor Society for excessive irrelevancy. He could upgrade his performance by hiring and listening to a debate coach, plus hiring a writing staff that _doesn’t_ make him sound like BLFC dishonorable-mention winners. (I was going to say **Boyo Jim** but then I realized that wouldn’t be kind to Boyo Jim.) ---
**Author:** ![Lantern](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/d26b3c/32.png) [@Lantern](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lantern)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2011, 5:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fallout-from-rick-perrys-debate-performance/597407/39 "2011-09-27T17:00:06Z")
The latest [poll](http://www.pollingreport.com/wh12rep.htm)shows a small drop for Perry and a small rise for Romney. So the debate hasn’t had a huge effect yet but it’s stopped Perry’s momentum and has probably hurt him quite badly in the “invisible primary” of donors and opinion makers. What impact that has on the race depends on whether it induces someone else to jump in the race. There is a lot of chatter about Christie but I have to imagine he will hurt Romney more than Perry. The saving grace for Perry is there is no really serious current or potential candidate in his ideological space. That probably gives him time to recover if he can sharpen his message and improve his debate performances. ---
**Author:** ![ShibbOleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/848f3c/32.png) [@ShibbOleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ShibbOleth)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2011, 8:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fallout-from-rick-perrys-debate-performance/597407/40 "2011-09-27T20:56:48Z")
> [@Fenris](#): > > The “have a heart” comment killed Perry because it was an idiotic comment. The answer to the question “Why should we give education discounts to kids who are illegal aliens?” could be > > [ul] > [li]Being illegal aliens wasn’t their fault/choice. or[/li][li]We don’t want a permanent second-class, uneducated underclass. or[/li][li]Regardless of their parent’s status, they were born here so they’re citizens.[/li][li]Etc.[/li][/ul] Does Texas Education only cover US citizens, or all illegal immigrant children? My understanding was that he was covering kids who ended up “in the US through no fault of theirs”. This can clearly include kids who are moved here by their parents, even if their parents are not legal residents. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fallout-from-rick-perrys-debate-performance/597407.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fallout-from-rick-perrys-debate-performance/597407.md?page=3)