I don’t think Rick Perry makes much of a general election candidate. The country is still suffering from Texas fatigue after W and Perry looks too much like a fading gigolo with that preternaturally age-proof hair. But if he starts look like he has a shot, we can expect the Village to start telling us all what a serious guy he is. “Don’t let the Tea Party bromides and Walker Texas Ranger persona fool you, he’s a real wonk!” You know the drill.
As Library Grape points out, it was only a few years ago that Chunky Bobo laughed at the idea of Perry as a serious contender in 2012, presumably because he thinks Perry is an idiot and an embarrassment. In just a few months, though, Perry could be the embodiment of Sam’s Club Conservatism in all its glory. Michele Bachmann could be too.
Jennifer
I wouldn’t worry so much about Perry if not for his hair. He’s got some major powerful hair, and we know how much things like this signify in Republican circles.
As I’ve noted before, our worst-case scenario is that Perry gets the nom, and appoints his hair, Beauregard, as his running-mate.
stuckinred
Life goes on without me. . .
Villago Delenda Est
There are only three Rethugs in the current field that have the slightest chance of winning the general: Romney, Palwenty, and Huntsman. Romney is the only one who has a realistic chance of winning the nomination. Pawlenty self destructed at that moronic beauty pageant on CNN last weekend, and Huntsman was a member of the Near administration, so he’s a pariah to the batshit insane Rethug base.
Perry could win the nomination by being seen as a “reasonable” alternative to the outright loons, but in the general? I don’t think he could withstand the first 10 seconds of being on the same stage as Obama. His hair won’t save him.
Evolved Deep Southerner
If you close your eyes and listen to Perry talk, he sounds an awful lot like Dubya – not only the ideas, but the accent, the cadence and the timbre of his voice.
Not a good thing for Mr. Perry.
JR
He’s also a corrupt jerk who’s spent the last two years trying to cover up his part in a wrongful execution, subverting the independence of the Texas Forensic Science Commission in the process and lying through his teeth about the case at every opportunity.
Tim, Interrupted
Oh please…I don’t believe this for a minute. This is part of the great, comforting story establishment Dems tell themselves.
Never underestimate the short memory, stupidity, gullibility and willful blindness of the American voting public.
So what if he is corrupt and idiotic? He is also handsome, has good hair. Women can project their romantic/sexual/daddy fantasies onto him, and men can pretend that he might shoot animals and have a beer with them.
I’m guessing he’s a lock for the nom if he gets in the race.
Derelict
Well, ya gotta admit that it will make for interesting times to have as president a guy who openly despises the government he’s elected to run.
stuckinred
Evolved Deep Southerner
better get out in that garden ‘fore it gets hot!
Brian R.
If the Republicans nominate Bush’s replacement in Texas, it will be all that easier for Democrats to paint their campaign as a return to Bush’s policies for America. Not gonna happen.
MattF
A Perry candidacy would consist of starbursts + come-to-Jesus dogwhistles, not policy. Plus the added attraction of not-Obama, if you know what I mean.
Cacti
We will soon hear that Perry is a guy you’d like to have a beer with.
If he buys a ranch with no animals, where he goes to clear brush, we’re all doomed.
ChrisNYC
“Fading gigolo” — precisely! Every time I’ve seen him he looks like he’s recovering from a hard night of sex drugs and rock and roll.
Davis X. Machina
There are enough voters in this country for whom the occasional knowing execution of an innocent man merely adds to the Schrecklichkeit of capital punishment, and thus by its sheer capriciousness to its effectiveness, to definitely deliver the GOP the nomination, and probably elect a President.
Sometimes you have to shoot a few to encourage the others. It shows you really mean it; that you’re serious.
If I were Perry, I’d run on the Willingham case, not away from it.
Alex S.
Perry looks really good on paper. Southern white male, extensive executive experience, good relations with evangelicals and the teabaggers. He is the perfect representative of today’s GOP. We need to keep an eye on the Bobometer.
The Sheriff's A Ni-
Bingo. 62% of Americans believe Obama inherited the economic mess.
Throw in a ‘secession’ ad here and there, and it’ll be the closest the Dems can get to pulling off their own Reagan over Mondale.
Mark S.
I am more worried about Perry than I am of any of the other candidates. He’s an idiot, but so was Bush and we had eight years of him. If the economy is still in the shitter next year, Obama could be in a lot of trouble in a race against Perry.
JCT
Yes, well the “fun” part will be when/if the media uncovers his budgetary sleight-of-hand that has resulted in a crisis that is barely better than California’s and that Gov Good Hair is “balancing” on back of enormous K-12 educational cuts. Ugly stuff.
Oh, for goodness’ sake — I don’t know why I even bother because he will get a “pass” on this like all of his other hare-brained schemes.
But will independents in the general really be comfortable with his “praying for rain” and “prophets are never popular” and these tough times are actually a good thing because it will hasten our “return” to a more Biblically authentic life?
kdaug
“Next time I tell you someone from Texas should not be president of the United States, please pay attention.”
-Molly Ivins
Amir_Khalid
What is it with the Republican party this Presidential cycle? They keep putting up one idiotic and embarrassing candidate after another. It’s almost like they’re expecting to wind up with an unelectable nominee next year, for whatever reason, and they want a scapegoat to get hosed rather than a contender.
Davis X. Machina
A lot of them, yes.
It’s got novelty value, precisely because it’s old, and it’s deeply atavistic, hence a natural for non-reflective types, in hard times. An ancient, emotionally satisfying story-arc.
Besides, actual self-government is hard work, and independents can’t be bothered with it. All they want to do is replace the monarch, and get back to the plow.
90% of us were peasants just a heartbeat ago on a historical time-scale.
Villago Delenda Est
Actually, I think that’s it. The majority of Americans still blame the deserting coward for the state of the economy, and while they might think that Obama hasn’t done enough, the fact is, he’s done more than POWPOW McCain would have done. So the Rethugs still have that albatross around their necks. Which is why Huntsman is running this time…to set himself up for 2016, when the whole thing is wide open and you’ve got the best chance as a Rethug to take the prize.
Also, it’s hoped amongst the big money boys that the Teatard insurgency will lead the GOP to utter ruin in 2012 and that will defang the dumbshits, allowing the big money boys to resume their roles as kingmakers.
Violet
@ Evolved Deep Southerner:
This is so true. And his body language is very similar as well. I saw a short clip of him addressing some gathering a week or two ago, when all this “Will Perry run?” stuff was heating up, and it was shocking how much he looked and sounded like W. He didn’t look and sound so much like W. in the past. I don’t know if he’s tried to morph into Dubya (WHY?) or what. Very odd.
kth
There are several figures with whom it seems natural to compare Rick Perry, for various reasons: Michelle Bachman, George W. Bush, Haley Barbour. Each of those comparisons is unflattering to Perry, seems to me. The one person who might be harmed by a Perry candidacy is that other phony born-again wingnut Tim Pawlenty: an empty suit just like Perry but without the swagger.
mellowjohn
@ Derilict:
why? that’s been the republican approach since at least st. ronnie.
read my lips: NO NEW TEXANS!
priscianusjr
@ The Sheriff’s A Ni- – June 19, 2011 | 11:11 am · Link
azlib
The 2012 election will all depend on the economy. If we have a double dip, we could have a Bachmann or Perry presidency which would be really bad for a lot of obvious reasons. Bachmann at least is not corrupt like Perry, but her worldview makes most evangelicals look moderate. Scary stuff.
Violet
@ priscianusjr:
I agree. Perry didn’t say, “I’m going to take Texas out of the union.” or “We’re going to secede from the United States!” He said “who knows if it might come to that.” It was all teabagger catnip and nothing serious. You are right that if pressed on it, he’ll move along to “Texans are very independent. They don’t like being told by Washington what to do, just like most Americans.” Blah, blah, blah. It’s a big nothing.
Zagloba
You say that like it’s a bad thing…
JPL
As has been mentioned, it’s the economy. Pawlenty wants to reduce taxes at the cost of 8 trillion over ten years and basically bankrupt us all. If that happens say good bye to public schools, social security, medicare and medicaid. It’s the Koch’s dream come true.
JPL
BTW…Happy Father’s Day to the dads!!!
The Snarxist Formerly Known As Kryptik
@Tim, Interrupted
Don’t forget he’s a CONSERVATIVE! That already means he has more than three steps into the door already.
As far as the attempt to paint him as Bush Redux…I wish it could work, but the fact that they can’t still hang Bush as an albatross over the GOP as a whole makes me pessimistic about how well it would work on Perry, even with the much more direct connection.
All in all, I’ve given up trying to overestimate the inherent goodness and rationality of the electorate. I honestly believe Perry, or any other GOPer, can honestly win simply because the country fucking hates hippies so damn much, it’s willing to risk putting the idiots who gave us the economic shithole we’re working our way out of right now just to punch a few hippies.
WereBear
I just can’t agree with the “poor economy will sink Obama” thing. Even before the 62% figure understanding it wasn’t his fault. Fear makes people cling to the familiar; at least, that was the explanation for 2004 W; a much crappier model than 2000.
Allan
Meh.
You destroy him the same way Jerry Brown destroyed Meg Whitman in California.
You make a commercial intercutting footage of Perry and W saying the exact same things.
a hip hop artist from Idaho (fka Bella Q)
Perry is kinda a weathered T-Paw with better hair and a swagger. And of course the execution of an innocent convict and ensuing cover up. Thanks for the image.
Corner Stone
@Mark S.
With good reason. As Perry hasn’t entered yet, I still believe Romney will be the GOP nom.
But WTS, people should be very concerned if Perry enters. He will swagger and BS his way right into the dark heart of the national evangelicals.
And as the economy will be the only election concern he will have a very strong Texas to put on the shelf as display. It’s true we’re $26B in debt but he can hide that for another 18 months. I was discussing issues with a commercial realtor the other day and he told me downtown Houston has already started the climb out of depressed rates and is well back on its way to SQFT costs comparable to 2007.
The secession quips will only bolster him with GOP assholes.
Corner Stone
People trying to hang W around Perry’s neck have a long uphill road to hoe.
ChrisNYC
I think the tendency on the left to say, “Oh the GOP will pick the craziest crazy they can find because they’re all Bible thumpers and live on compounds and believe in black helicopters” is so misguided.
They never pick the crazy. They go establishment every time, except for Reagan and he had, by 1980, changed the establishment. This cycle, people are scared and battered by bad news. No one’s voting in the GE for a candidate who says “I’m going to change the last remaining pillars of security you think you have.”
Romney can win the middle. He’s got the money. He’s got the experience in pres politics. He’s deftly positioning himself as the non-crazy alternative to President Obama. It’s interesting because, in a lot of ways that’s what he is. His Achilles heel has been his inauthenticity. But stars are aligning so that he can be authentic and be a strong challenger this time. (Totally fascinating the way things turn out.) He’s seemingly the only GOPer left who cares a whit about policy. He’s not a vitriolic attack dog. He’s not a chaotic narcissistic mess. He’s uber establishment. He’s appealingly bland and inoffensive.
My gut says Romney is one of the legion who look Presidential in image and on paper but that don’t make it. But I think he’s the threat and the left is taking a risk by dismissing him.
Davis X. Machina
You need, give or take, half the electorate to win. And crazy, even The Crazy™, doesn’t get you there. It gets you to 40%. The other 10% have to come from somewhere.
So you need the dread low-information, decide-after-Labor Day, I-vote-the-man-not-the-party, independents. They’ll look up around October 15, and if the economy isn’t in a 2008-level freefall, they’ll pick The White Guy in the Blue Suit. Because that’s what Presidents are.
These people don’t do weird. They don’t even do interesting. They’re the people who keep chain restaurants afloat, because they’re chains.
Applebee’s. Olive Garden. Chili’s. Romney.
Yeah, once in a while they’ll go all edgy and eat ethnic. P.F. Chang’s. Obama. But that’s once in a while.
I’ll buy all your Romneys at the market. I think he’ll lose, but if I have to have a GOP position for portfolio-diversification purposes, he’ll be what I hold. Perry’s more your man for a crisis
(The Crazy™ is a trademark of the Republican National Committee. All rights reserved. Used with permission.)
WereBear
True, that. This is now the province of the VP pick.
Sly
I’ve thought that conservatism would turn to Perry for a while now.
The dilemma facing conservatives is that they want George W. Bush to be President again without feeling like or seeming like they want George W. Bush to be President again. Being equal parts country club and megachurch, Perry perfectly fulfills the demands of that neurosis.
The Sheriff's A Ni-
From where I’m sitting in Ohio, I’m pretty sure the establishment has changed yet again.
ChrisNYC
@ Zagloba. Ha! But, really, tack thirty years onto Perry, keep him away from the Just for Men, and you’re looking at “Death in Venice.” Guy could be a *fantastic* character actor with that demimonde vibe he’s got.
Kane
Rather than admit that the vast majority of the country does not subscribe to their extreme policies, republicans have convinced themsleves that all they need is a dynamic frontman and a new marketing slogan to make the sale. What the GOP fails to recognize is that their candidates are flawed not because they lack star appeal, but rather their extreme policies are flawed.
Bruce S
Haven’t read all of the comments, so if anyone hasn’t caught this yet, David Frum offers this on Perry:
Good-looking, not excessively brainy, and a fervent Christian conservative, Perry is the only candidate in the race with his own branded automatic pistol. Gun maker Sturm, Ruger and Co. sells a “true Texan” line of pistols that replicate the weapon Perry used to shoot a coyote that threatened his dog. More relevantly: the governor of Texas has access to the largest pool of Republican campaign dollars in the entire country.
Perry can appeal to those Republicans who feel that George W. Bush was too soft. Perry and Bush were rivals in the 1990s, and Perry has often criticized his predecessor in the years since. Bush’s team — including Karl Rove — publicly opposed Perry’s bid for a third term as governor, supporting instead U.S. Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison.
Perry has publicly criticized Bush’s education reforms and his prescription drug benefit, and his campaign manager Dave Carney scorns the Bush group as “country club Republicans.” It’s doubtful that the United States is waiting for a Texas conservative who has mused on videotape about Texas seceding from the United States. (That was tried in 1861, and the experiment did not flourish.) Or who has published a book that suggests that the U.S. began to go wrong when it amended the constitution to allow an income tax in place of protectionist tariffs. (end clip)
Poor Frum – reaping, while weeping, what he’s helped sow.
Zagloba
God, that’s depressingly true.
Davis X. Machina
I’ll run on that platform in Wisconsin, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Michigan, Illinois, and Indiana in a — pardon the expression — New York minute.
The Sheriff's A Ni-
Like how they hung Carter around Mondale’s neck?
Bruce S
When I look at Perry in a 2012 race, I see billboards with his chiseled visage and the line “Would you buy a used tax cut from this man?”
Perry looks like the kind of President who would offer an undercoating contract to one of his Texas buddies for the Army’s entire tank fleet…
Kane
The regurgitation of the same failed policies that were soundly rejected in 2008 aren’t about to excite anyone in 2012. But rather than adapt their policies to a changing world and appeal to those in the center, republicans are convinced that the answer is to move further towards the fringe and adopt right-wing extremism.
I say Bring Rick Perry On!
He is just what the GOP needs, a presidential candidate who proposes allowing states to opt-out of Social Security and Medicaid. He will be the constant reminder to voters about the Republican plan to dismantle Medicare. Good luck with that!
Davis X. Machina
If things take a turn for the worse — and the macroeconomic situation is pretty meta-stable — then the appetite for and interest in, extreme answers will go up.
That’s the opening for a God-botherer who thinks the answer isn’t increasing aggregate demand so much as increasing aggregate virtue. Prayer and fasting. Austerity. Responsibility. Deference.
That’s Perry’s moment.
Corner Stone
@Sheriff
Two very different times in our history. Not even a close call this time around. And people who convince themselves he’ll be easily dismissed (if he gets in) aren’t too bright.
trollhattan
Hoe a road with a hoe and you end up with a lot of bent hoes.
Candidate Dubya was a complete fabrication–a personality and set of “beliefs” crafted for the campaign. Few figured that out until after his inauguration, when the administration immediately began doing weird shit, at which point there was a collective, “Uh oh.” I suppose they can perform the same trick with Goodhair, presuming he has a Rove stashed somewhere. He’d get the cash behind him, pronto.
Zagloba
In my limited experience, hoes are quite adept at getting bent. Including and especially political hoes who’ll sell themselves to the brand-production machine for a pat on the head and a couple years in Congress, followed by a nice fat lobbying job.
Or, if they’re two-bit hoes like Scott Walker, a nice gig down by the river talking to the clowns.
ChrisNYC
One more on Perry.
He’s not raising money. Like, he’s raised zero. (Because he can’t because he’s not in?) But regardless, he’s got to get the money people now. See, e.g. David Geffen “I love Obama” dated July 2007.
There were a spate of articles this week about how Perry’s got *great* possibilities to be a massive money hog. Who were the sources for all this pro-Perry prop? Romney bundlers. Curious, that Romney’s guys are planting articles pumping up Perry. You’d almost think that they want Perry out there doing a crazy dance thru the dog days, seeming like a contender. While their guy cruises along with huge name rec, no press scrutiny, being his amiable self.
gnomedad
You bet. There’s no problem he doesn’t know how to call for prayer to solve.
handsmile
Contrary to what may appear to be my frequent practice around these parts, I’m not a paid shill for the Guardian newspaper. (I read it daily to be better informed on international events and as a welcome corrective to the crayon-scribbling of press releases that comprises so much U.S. journamalism.)
At the link is their article on the current Justin Bieber (hair so very important!) of the Republican Party and their media enablers:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/worl…..conference
Do please note the ardent prose recounting Perry’s attributes, both personal and political. Any distaste with This Month’s Flavor is confined to the article’s penultimate paragraph.
At Booman’s place, he has written a thoughtful piece detailing the prospects of a brokered 2012 Republican convention. It resonates with my own belief that the eventual nominee will not have suffered through the attritional warfare of the primary campaign.
A White (in all senses) knight to save the GOP will be summoned by public acclaim, a romance fable to make the Villagers swoon. Christie/Rubio is the ticket I fear the most.
[My apologies, I first posted this on the wrong thread. Insufficient caffeine.]
Amir_Khalid
@handsmile;
Link is borked. Please to fix?
handsmile
Amir Khalid: Damnable Intertubes! Hope this works:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/jun/19/rick-perry-republican-conference
Corner Stone
You should lay off whatever substance you’ve been imbibing.
This will never happen. But I pray it does. That combo may *may* possibly win FL. And nothing else, even NJ.
The Dangerman
I still think Perry is the VP as I still think Palin will run. She can’t announce because then she would be expected to show up at a debate and she is sure the fuck not debating. She would appear to be well behind in the money game, but she can make that up in a heartbeat (the racing heartbeat of the typical male TeaTard, I mean).
Jay
“Confederate Ken Doll” seems like the perfect phrase for Dennis G. to use when and if he finds himself writing about Rick Perry. Apologies if someone else got there first.
Gromitt Gunn (formerly JMC_in_the_ATL)
I don’t see it. He’s coming out of this biennial in Austin in the worst shape he’s been in since probably the Texas Transportation Corridor mess. If he does hit the campaign trail, it is going to be right when the major of less active Republican-leaning parents in Texas find out that Johnny’s gifted and talented program got axed while there are still several billion dollars in the Rainy Day Fund.
A poll earlier in the week showed him as the choice of 7% of Texas Republicans in the primary race. Ron Paul had 11% of Texas Republicans.
handsmile
Cornerstone:
Too early, sadly, to imbibe anything stronger than espresso.
My fear may be immoderate, but your flip rejection seems a little undernourished.
Chris Christie is a media darling. Absolutely no misstep, whether as gubernatorial candidate or as governor (e.g., connection to Gonzalez’s Justice Department; improper campaign loans; rejection of federal funds to build Hudson River tunnel; helicopter/limousine ride to attend child’s baseball game) has dented his imperious manner or cooled journalists’ ardor. Even here in New York City, home to the “liberal New York Times.”
Each time he contemptuously dismisses questions from New Jersey citizens at public or broadcast events, his anointed role as no-nonsense, straight-shootin’ Alpha Male seems to expand.
Thus far, he has demonstrated a variety of personality traits and adopted ideological positions that would be embraced by national Republican voters and functionaries.
Marco Rubio seems to be the ostensible VP choice for the GOP as forecast by a number of those paid to be political prognosticators. My hesitation with this selection is that I think party apparatchiks are simply too racist to accept someone with his melatonin.
Your post at #35 above suggests that you believe Romney will be the nominee. While not to comment on your own imbibing, I suspect that his tenure as Massachusetts governor and his unstinting efforts to trim his policy sails to prevailing winds will prove unacceptable to GOP orthodoxy.
batgirl
@ChrisNYC
I completely agree. The Republicans in my extended family (mostly libertarian leaning–socially liberal, fiscally conservative) would vote for Romney in a second (and likely will if he is the candidate). They will NOT vote for Perry.
Of course, this is completely unscientific but these family members voted for Obama, Bush II, Clinton, and Bush I so they seem to have a recent streak of picking the winner.
And if Romney can win the GOP primary anyone who thinks the fundie evangelicals will sit this out don’t realize how much having “godless, socialist, Kenyan, Muslim, n*****” in the White House is driving them crazy.
Spike
@handsmile:
You really think Ricky Rubio will be ready for the national ticket after only one season in the NBA?
FlipYrWhig
Perry even walks like Dubya, with his wrists tucked in, like an ape.
Joseph Nobles
Jesus God, I was watching Perry on C-Span at the Republican thingie they kept on rotation all weekend (when they weren’t playing the Netroots interview of the Obama guy). What a flippin’ moron! In desperate need of a TelePrompter, he stumbled his way through all the things he was supposed to say in his best Dubya. Since he was elected before I even got to Texas, I’d just paid no attention to him other than the occasional newspaper article. That numbskull pretends to run this state? Augh.
However, I did realize something.
Rick Perry
John Kerry
That may be prophetic.
Corner Stone
@handsmile
Let’s put a friendly wager on it. I’ll bet $100 to any charity you like that Romney is the GOP nominee. You match $100 for the field. Even odds. If I win I pick the charity, if you win you pick. $200 total to a charity.
What do you say?
Cassidy
We should let Texas secede. Imagine the money we’d save in our budget by not having to send them welfare, monitor the border, etc.
Chuck Butcher
I think the Romney crowd would love Perry to run and split the Bachman vote leaving him with the “remotely sane” vote and winning. Huntsman might be a wrench in those works.
Yutsano
The real beautiful part will be watching all their preachers suddenly do a 180 about how a Mormon cultist they’ve been railing about isn’t so bad after all. This also precludes any third-party rumblings that happen in between now and November 2012 as well. I’ve got my popcorn at the ready regardless.
Yutsano
I r modererted and I don’t know why. I R BEING REPRESSED!!
spark
He’s giving me nostalgia for the center part though…remember those huge plastic combs with handles that you carried in the back pocket of your designer jeans…
Corner Stone
As usual, you’re not being very bright. Texas sends back more dollars to DC every year than it consumes.