The Rick Perry stem-winder Rich describes sounds like a souped-up version of the speech I heard Perry deliver at the Heritage Foundation’s annual “Resource Bank” conference held this year in Dallas. Perry’s Heritage talk seems to have spent less time going after Obama than the NYC speech Rich describes, although hits at Oz-like DC bureaucrats were definitely included. Perry’s favored themes of job creation and devolving federal power to the states were also covered.
Perry’s style is very engaging. At times, he seems to act out virtually every word he speaks with his body. It’s all totally natural, and something you just have to see to understand. Impersonators would have a field day with Perry if he were to actually become president, but in ways I suspect would only help him. In this video of his Heritage talk, Perry starts out slowly, then grows more animated as he gets to his favorite themes. (Perry’s talk begins at 11:30. The inside banter with Heritage folks ends and the speech begins in earnest at the 15 minute mark.)
In ways that would only help him? I think you give way too much credit to the SNL crowd.
I know exact how they would caricature a republican who over-gesticulates: Mussolini, or Hitler.
Take your pick.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseThis is the first I've seen him speak. I find him awful. Too fidgety, seems unprepared, stops & starts, varying his voice volume & speed in a way that doesn't seem to match the content, staring down at his notes & wringing his thumbs together... I'm not impressed.
Plus he has the very W-like expressive face, which shows up when he uses an emphatic word at the end of a sentence, usually preceded by a pause -- as though he'd just thought up a pretty common word and is pleased by himself for it. Not that it's all that bad, but I don't think he wants to remind people too much of W.
On substance, I don't know much about him but what I do know seems decent. On speaking style, I'm not a fan. Why doesn't the RNC sponsor some acting & speaking lessons?
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseI didn't watch this whole video, but having heard Perry speak in person, I tend to agree with your overall assessment. In some elections, Perry's weakness as a speaker wouldn't bother me terribly. This isn't one of those elections. Obama is extremely deft at rhetorical obfuscation, and I think we need a *highly* articulate and impecabbly-informed nomineee to overcome Obama's pathological dishonesty.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseYawn.....let the vetting begin.
Welcome to the Jungle, Governor Perry
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseGovernor Rick Perry has a physical resemblance to President Ronald Reagan. He even parts his hair on the less common side of his head that Reagan used also. I wonder if he sometimes even wears brown suits. There is a less calm aspect to his appearance; and he is clearly more animated in his delivery, the classic over-actor. There are three main possibilities for speakers and performers. 1) Act in a disembodied and overly detached way, as if the message being delivered has not affected the person delivering it; it's disincarnate. It's the tendency of President Obama and Governor Pawlenty. Obama sometimes even gives the impression that he has not gone over the speech enough or not enough with the teleprompter. Note that Romney slipped up in his announcement of his candidacy by, for instance, saying "nine" when the teleprompter said "mine." 2) Act in such an overly animated fashion that the person overwhelms the message and also detracts from and blocks the message; it's overly incarnate. It's the tendency of Perry and Vice-President Biden and somewhat for Cain and Palin. 3) Act in a way that the person embodies the message being delivered without being detached from it and without blocking it by personality quirks, etc; it's incarnate or sacramental. At his best, Romney is this way; and so is Santorum and Huntsman.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseInteresting observations. I agree about Santorum. His delivery of prepared remarks is much better than he's generally known for, or given credit for. And, when he's speaking extemporaneously about issues that are in his wheel house, he's very good.
I have never heard Huntsman speak, so I'll take your word for it. Romney, as you suggest, can be good, but he can also be horrible, almost sounding unprepared.
I think the importance of great speechwriters marrying words to their subject's speaking style cannot be overstated. Take Palin - whomever wrote her remarks when she was initially introduced - in Dayton, I think - and the remarks at the convention, was a genius. Those speeches fit her style perfectly. When you compare those speeches with her disastrous resignation speech, you can immediately see and appreciate the importance of quality writers.
Maybe Perry just needs to find the wordsmith?
Reply to this commentLinkReport Abuserun rick run!!
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbusePerry's speaking style reminds me of a fire and brimstone preacher. He uses his whole body when he talks.
Reply to this commentLinkReport Abuse"Impersonators would have a field day with Perry if he were to actually become president"
I think Stanley completely underestimates "impersonators" in the age of new media. In politics perception is reality and 2008 proved without equivocation that big media and its legions of leftists entertainers can shape perception on a national scale. Sarah Palin never said, "I can see Russia from my house", but an overwhelming percentage of American voters think she did. Comedy sketches are routinely replayed on morning and sometimes even evening news programs. Jon Stewart and Tina Fey did more to establish the political reality of Sarah Palin than did all the DNC and liberal 501c3 commercials combined.
It's not fair to Rick Perry, but it's naive to think that the comparisons to Bush would be fast and furious, and its equally naive to believe those comparisons would be beneficial in any way. I think Perry would bring a lot of positives to the race, but his Texas affect and eerily similar delivery to George Bush are going to be significant challenges he'll have to overcome.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseThis is why Breitbart is so adamant that the right fight a media war and win. It wasn't only substance that created people's opinion of Palin; it was comedy shows. Really? Comedy shows? Yup.
So if we're going to win hearts and minds, we need to have a media army willing & able to fight. If we don't even enter the battle where it's being fought, we won't win.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseMeh.
Not sure if this guy is the "White Knight" some in the Punditry class proclaim he will be.
There seems to be this meme that if Perry jumps in, he will instantly be a top contender for the nomination. I am not so sure. He has already been included in several polls, and his best showing so far is 6%. Yes, that's better than Pawlenty, but that ain't saying much.
We'll see.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseThis is pure, modern, upmarket, Southern pulpit style. I think it will sell. It is not oily at all, nor is it simple-mindedly naïve and sappy in the Jimmy Carter way. Sure, they will despise it in the Northeast, but who cares? It will sell in Pennsylvania and Ohio and all of Red State America, IMO.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseI'm not so sure. "Southern pulpit style" comes across as oily even in Ohio (where I am, and where I'm from).
Actually, my first reaction when I saw him start to speak was "oily." My second reaction was, "my wife's gonna call him smarmy," which is pretty much...well, oily.
I gave him a chance because I wanted to like him, and I got over the oily, but I still don't think he's all that good. If he becomes more comfortable and stops fidgeting, I think the oil will rise to the surface again and he'll be "Oily George W. Bush."
Red state people aren't all the same. What might sell down South doesn't necessarily sell in the Midwest. We're pretty plain and we like plainness.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseThere is nothing "oily" about Rick Perry. He's a Texas farm boy who majored in animal science at Texas A&M. He served in the Air Force as a pilot and left as a Captain. He grew up in a Democrat family and started his career as one till he saw the light and became a Republican in 1989. Perry is personable and accessible. He's my governor and I wish he wouldn't run for president. Texas needs him and too many American morons will not appreciate his talent and his gift. I'll vote for anyone to defeat Obama, but I'd rather keep Perry in Texas.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseHe reminds me of Billy Bob Thornton of a decade ago.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseI like Perry but you know the Dem oppo folks already have an ad titled "secession" ready to run.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbusePerry does have some occasional similarities in voice and body language to
President George Bush.
Especially when Perry gets folksy.
That's not necessarily a bad thing , IIRC , the voters usually had
high opinions
of President Bush on a personal level.
Perry comes across as likable and competent .
His deliberative speaking style is a reminder that both
President Bush and Governor Perry
were military pilots.
The unflappable demeanor ,
typical of so many pilots ,
might be reassuring to the public .
Jason Sudeikis does a hilarious impression
Reply to this commentLinkReport Abuseof Joe Biden on SNL.
And surprisingly , SNL will obliquely
go after Obama ,
especially on the economy
using Sudeikis as Biden .
However, they continue to pull their punches with Fred Armisen as Obama.
Armisen is a gifted comedian who can physically
transform himself into Obama.
But, they waste his talents with their usual
bland and unfunny Obama bits .
SNL...that used to be a funny show. Now, I can't even remember what night it is on. Does it matter anymore?
(I really don't think it does, but, sadly, Stewart and Colbert and such probably do matter, although I, personally, really don't know when or what channel they are on. Anyway, we have too much to worry about besides being mocked; that's inevitable.)
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseI think they comedy shows will be too anxious to use the Bush comparisons. Let them come after him now and it will be all Bush comparisons, all the time. They will use up all of their ammo.
Perry's perfect for this field, not enough "competition" talk even from Romney. The anti-Romney will immediately be Perry who both the donors and the TEA Party can get behind. Since I think Romney's ignorance of the TEA Party will do him in anyways, it'll be nice to have a real conservative power past him to the nomination.
Perry/Rubio is a perfect ticket for 2012.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseThe name of the Flannery O'Connor short story is "The Displaced Person." The Polish immigrant is of the same faith as the priest who is trying to instruct the trashy Southerners. After the immigrant is murdered by them, the priest continues to steadily try to minister to them. One could say that the priest and immigrant add will and commitment to the mind and emotion. Of course, George W. Bush always highlighted the President as the one who must and does make decisions (a failing in President Obama). Clinton was high in both mind and emotion, but weak in commitment.
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