This is the comment I made on Facebook about Rick Perry's debate fumble: "This is the least of problems I have with Perry. It's not his abysmal presentation problem; it's the content of what he does and does not remember. It's his arrogance and profound wrongness."
Last night we had yet another Republican debate, in which these people seem to compete with each other for taking the most outlandish, repulsive positions. I only turned it on just minutes before Rick Perry couldn't remember the third of three agencies he promised to get rid of. It was excruciating, and his fellow campaigners even tried to help him out with suggestions. He stumbled for awhile and then had to say "oops" - that he didn't remember.
Anyone who has done public speaking knows that such a thing can happen. Anyone whose memory isn't all they'd like has experienced a similar embarrassment. Anyone can blank. It really isn't the end of the world and in of itself does not disqualify a candidate.
Here is a man who has done his best to ruin Texas, who has nasty positions on women's health, on gay rights, on social programs, on education, a guy who is anti-Union and, probably at the bottom of it all, wants to establish this country as a Christian state run by his sense of fundamentalist rules.
But what are the pundits and columnists pointing to as his downfall? The fact that he couldn't remember a fact. He "stumbled badly" and it's the "end of his campaign." It's all about meltdown and gaffe. Forbes.com goes so far as to declare: "Why Rick Perry's Debate Flub/Fail Will End His Campaign."
For gawd's sake, this guy wants to end three important departments: Commerce, Education, and (the one he couldn't remember but which is especially dear to his Texan oil heart) Energy. Why aren't we upset about that?!
The Department of Energy oversees nuclear power plants. You think we should replace them with a President who says "oops"?
Posted by: Susan Bankston | 10 November 2011 at 15:12
Susan, you seem to have misread me. I'm saying that there are many many things worse about Rick Perry (and I've mentioned a few) than the fact that he is a lousy debater and an embarrassing public speaker. I'm saying that it is WHAT he is delivering that is so much worse than HOW he delivers it and that the mainstream press should be more concerned about his nasty political positions than about his awkwardness and inarticulacy.
Posted by: Sue Katz | 10 November 2011 at 15:16
No, I think we're on the same page. The "you" I referred to is the American public in general. I have a large picture of the mushroom cloud and Rick Perry saying, "oops."
I live in Texas. I know Rick Perry. His speech problems are the least of my worries. You are right - it's not how he says it, it's what he saying.
Posted by: Susan Bankston | 10 November 2011 at 17:03
Oh, I took the "you" as referring to me. NOW I get what you're saying. You live in Texas, Susan? Then you must know Mr Oops much better than the rest of us. Ugh.
Posted by: Sue Katz | 10 November 2011 at 17:23
Sue,
As always you're spot on in your political/cultural analysis.
Posted by: Jo-Lynne | 10 November 2011 at 19:01
Aww, I bet you say that to all the girls.
Posted by: Sue Katz | 10 November 2011 at 21:58