The Perry video: can’t run for dogcatcher
I’m at a loss for words. I have never seen anything like it in presidential politics, except maybe Nixon’s breakdown in the final days of his presidency.
In the video, Perry ceases to be a politician. His gestures are those of an evangelical preacher. He waves his arms around, closes his eyes as if to summon the Almighty, and on several occasions, when he thinks he has delivered a good line, he gives the Aggie “Gig ‘em’ sign, thumb up.
Here is one passage:
“This is such a cool state, I mean, ‘Live Free or Die.’ You got to love that, right? I come from a state where they have this little place called the Alamo, and they declared, ‘Victory or Death.’ You know, we’re kind of into those slogans, man. Victory or Death! Live free or die! Bring it!”
From time to time his remarks are punctuated by nervous laughter from the audience, as if people doesn’t quite know how to take his remarks.
Early in his speech he urges people to “write your checks,” referring to a woman who is there to receive them. Then he says, “Gold is good, if you’ve got any in the back yard, because, you know, if they print any more over in Washington, then gold is going to be good, and she [the woman who receives the checks] will take it.” Huh? Gold in the back yard? Where did this come from?
“You know we spend half a trillion dollars a year on tax preparation, and any accountants or tax lawyers out there, I’m sorry dude, but that is too much money.”
“I’m sorry dude?” Can anyone imagine Mitt Romney saying that? Or anybody else in the Republican field?
Then he told what seemed to be an off-color joke:
“I grew up on a farm. I tell people, we lived so far out in the country that everybody had their own tomcat.” I think I get it. I wish I didn’t.
He slurred his words on at least one occasion, when he said, “The bottom line is this. If you want to stop Washington’s violations of the Tenth Amendment, then we must make President Obama a worn term president.” This would not have been noticeable, except that the rest of his delivery was more like a Saturday Night Live satire than a serious address by a presidential candidate. We haven’t seen anything like it on SNL since Will Ferrell was playing George W. Bush at a frat party.
The Rick Perry we saw on that video is not a viable presidential candidate. Something has gone terribly wrong in the Perry campaign, and that something is the candidate himself. That is all I am going to say on the subject. I’m not going to attempt a diagnosis based on a video. But I don’t see how the Rick Perry we see in this video can run for dogcatcher.
Real Texas says:
Bizarre! We know what a gig’em sign is, but not the rest of the world. When you start waving your arms around looking like a wild ass preacher, you need more help than you can summon….Bizarre!
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Willie James Reply:
November 1st, 2011 at 10:22 am
When under stress he appears to channel his cheerleader days at A&M, using nonsensical words and gestures. Surprised he didn’t shout our “Canek, Canek” at some point…..Sorry Gov, time to come home.
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retrocon says:
He’s trying to burnish his new “I’m a doer not a talker” image.
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Anonymous says:
He looked to me like a man who recognizes that, barring a miracle, it is over. Time to relax and have some fun. He sure didn’t look like someone recognizing and acknowledging the gravity of his position.
But I’ve never been much of a video image mind reader. Maybe he was just buzzed.
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Anonymous says:
….and how can he even come back and govern Texas??
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Jed Reply:
November 1st, 2011 at 12:11 am
roughly as well as ever.
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Jonathan says:
So how will his campaign respond? Say he was given an overdose of painkillers for his back?
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Steve says:
Yeah, I have to be honest. Fast forward 8 minutes into the video where he receives the bottle — and he sure looks and acts drunk to me. How embarrassing. Whether he’s running for President or not, he is our Governor, and he embarrassed us all.
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Glen Maxey says:
I’m pretty sure this is the last thing we’re going to be embarrassed about.
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Glen Maxey Reply:
November 1st, 2011 at 12:31 am
OK. I’m not drunk or high. I meant to say:
“I’m pretty sure this is NOT the last thing we’re going to be be embarrassed about.”
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W. B. Travis Reply:
November 1st, 2011 at 10:24 am
My friends from out of state are giving me quite an earful….embarrassing is what it is. We have a great, proud state being reduced to the image it had in the 50′s: loud, beligerent, uncultured rubes with big hats and longhorns on their cadillac hoods.
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anonymous Reply:
November 1st, 2011 at 9:51 pm
Glen:
It may be the last time he gets to embarrass us.
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Jerry Only says:
wow. im saving the text of that comment in notepad for future viewing as i cant imagine paul allowing it to stand.
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paulburka Reply:
November 1st, 2011 at 8:48 am
You are correct. I will not allow it to stand.
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JohnBernardBooks Reply:
November 1st, 2011 at 1:32 pm
Looks like Morrow fits right in here with the rest of you Perry haters.
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donuthin says:
Embarrassing for sure. Not funny, not cute but really corny. I wonder how he can even govern Texas after this fiasco. But perhaps we will be better off as the leg will have no respect or even fear of him and act responsibly. His appointees who have until now been willing to kiss the ring when necessary, may actually be a bit more independent which will be good.
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jpt51 says:
John Stewart asked the right question. Which is the real Perry?
Again I urge Gov. Perry to come on home and be content to be a big fish in a little pond.
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Dave says:
Maybe not the presidency, but Perry could be a good fit for the center box on Hollywood Squares.
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Ann Reply:
November 1st, 2011 at 7:17 am
Dave,
If that’s a veiled comparison to Paul Lynde, touché.
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Robert Morrow Reply:
November 1st, 2011 at 10:49 am
I don’t think Rick Perry is as hilariously funny or as bitter as Paul Lynde: http://www.nndb.com/people/953/000043824/
“Bitter homosexual, probably the best Hollywood Square ever. Selected “Best Confirmed Bachelor” by Entertainment Weekly.
MARSHALL: Why do the Hells Angels wear leather?
LYNDE: Because chiffon wrinkles so easily.
MARSHALL: According to the World Book, is it OK to freeze your persimmons?
LYNDE: No, you should dress warmly.
MARSHALL: What are “dual purpose” cattle good for that other cattle aren’t?
LYNDE: They give milk and cookies… but I don’t recommend the cookies.
After a police chase in Beverly Hills, a drunk Paul Lynde rolled down his window, saying to the officer, “I’ll have a double cheeseburger and a chocolate shake.”"
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Brown Bess Reply:
November 1st, 2011 at 12:11 pm
There’s a circle in the square.
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Bill says:
I know what the problem is! Starting at the 5:35 point in the video, you can plainly see that Perry is possessed by Robert Tilton.
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Jesus Wordsworth Reply:
November 1st, 2011 at 9:46 am
There’s a fine line between possessed by Robert Tilton and Robert Talton.
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Bill Reply:
November 1st, 2011 at 10:18 am
Indubitably!
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Anonymous says:
Perry must know a story is about to break.
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paulburka says:
Robert — You have got to clean up your act. No more calling Rick Perry gay, no more saying he was wired on coke, and certainly no more talk of hooker queens. I will not publish this kind of stuff. What you wrote here was disgusting, and you know it is not allowed. The comments column is not a place for you to indulge in your fantasies. I will kill this comment and any similar future comments.
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Anonymous Reply:
November 1st, 2011 at 9:16 am
Paul,
Is there any way you can block all comments from Robert Morrow? I don’t think that he contributes anything worthwile to this blog or any blog community.
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paulburka Reply:
November 1st, 2011 at 9:28 am
I sent the scummy post today to trash. I can’t block Morrow, but I can send his comments to trash, and I will do so.
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Bill Reply:
November 1st, 2011 at 9:50 am
That was a good decision, Paul. However, I don’t agree with Anonymous that “I don’t think that he contributes anything worthwhile to this blog or any blog community.” Even a blind pig finds an acorn every now and then, and Morrow makes a few good points, if you are willing to wade through to bog to get to them.
JohnBernardBooks Reply:
November 1st, 2011 at 12:13 pm
oh come on, Morrow fits right in with the rest of the Perry haters here.
judy morris says:
Because of Rick Perry, Texas is now the butt end of a bad joke as well as badly but deservedly humiliated. The rest of the nation has got to be wondering “what kind of morons would elect, over and over, such an incompetent, incoherent, babbling idiot”. Well, we deserve it!
What’s wrong with Texas? The freaking theocrats who worship public corruption, crony capitalism and raw and absolute stupidity are a huge problem in Texas. All you have to do to win an election in TX is scream “kill the Muslims, save the babies and bash the homosexuals”. I won’t get into the salacious rumors about Perry’s anything but pure private life.
This video is a fitting companion piece to Matt Taibbi’s Rolling Stone ‘must read’ article on Rick Perry title “The Best Little Whore in Texas”.
http://www.rollingstone.com/politics/news/rick-perry-the-best-little-whore-in-texas-20111026?link=mostpopular2
I’m so glad I vote Libertarian.
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Credentials Reply:
November 1st, 2011 at 11:33 am
Matt Taibbi wishes he were Hunter S Thompson. I tried to read that piece and I just couldn’t get through it.
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JohnBernardBooks Reply:
November 1st, 2011 at 12:14 pm
@Judy
I’m glad you vote libertarian too, the Rolling Stone piece was pure garbage.
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Another Wilco Voter Reply:
November 1st, 2011 at 1:21 pm
The Rolling Stone piece was highly inflammatory, but that being said, the underlying facts are true. Perry is the biggest crony capitalist this state has ever seen.
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Robert Morrow Reply:
November 1st, 2011 at 1:49 pm
No, Lyndon Johnson was … by far.
Willie James Reply:
November 1st, 2011 at 1:18 pm
Morrow is kinda funny….unlike JBB, who is neither insightful, factual or funny. Sorry to see him taken to the woodshed but it happens.
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JohnBernardBooks Reply:
November 1st, 2011 at 1:27 pm
@Willie
you’re a typical Perry hater, uninformed, ignorant and stupid. But that doesn’t bother me.
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Jerry Only Reply:
November 1st, 2011 at 6:04 pm
apparently it does, or else you wouldnt be back here constantly bitching about it.
JohnBernardBooks Reply:
November 2nd, 2011 at 9:25 am
so my responses are bitches? I find it interesting how liberals see life with thru blinders.
Actually I beleive my response was an observation of Willie’s and most liberal’s lack of intelligence.
Jerry Only Reply:
November 2nd, 2011 at 11:00 am
wheres the lack of intelligence? he said youre a blathering idiot. though true, it doesnt take a genius to realize that. but pointing it out doesnt mean hes stupid.
Anonymous says:
I have had back trouble for years – and have taken pain killers to get me through the flair ups. Perry is on pain killers – no doubt in my mind. He probably took two when he should have only taken one. When you take more than you should because your back hurts so bad it gives you a buzzy type energy.
I have noticed in some pictures Perry is not wearing boots like he normally does – he is wearing shoes my grandfather would wear. Another sign that is back is really bothering him.
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Ausowl Reply:
November 1st, 2011 at 9:29 am
In Vino Veritas.
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Mondalejones Reply:
November 1st, 2011 at 12:42 pm
I think your right. Based upon people I’ve dealt with, it may not be that he is addicted to pain killers but just took too much on this occasion.
Hope the other speculation about his personal life is wrong, if for no other reason than I would hate to see another human being and his family go through such a tabloid driven meat grinder that would inevitably await if it were. See John Edwards.
Would much rather beat Perry on substance, or lack their of.
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Col. Mike Kirby says:
good question. it’d be nice if Perry’s implosion would cause texans to take a good hard look in the mirror and ask how they could have elected such an obvious boob for 10 freaking years, but they won’t. Perry will be labled “liberal” and life here will go on unchanged.
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Willie James Reply:
November 1st, 2011 at 1:20 pm
I like. But getting Texans to look outside of the “lib-ral” label, to consider non-reactionary candidates will take more than introspection. It will take a demographic shift….wait….that is coming.
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Bill says:
Pay no attention to the man behind the curtain!
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Anonymous says:
The person Texans put in the governor’s office for 10 years is out of the closet and it ain’t pretty. A little self-reflection is in order — both for Texans and for Republicans. What a disaster this group of pseudo-politicians is! George Will tries to destroy the only one with half a brain that stands any chance of being elected. And the only one who’s really qualified garners about 1% support. What a joke of a party!
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Vernon says:
I have to agree with the Colonel. It’s got to be painkillers. That’s the most reasonable explanation.
But from a campaign point of view, if painkillers are the God’s honest truth behind the bizarre behavior, is it better to be honest about it? Or, is it better to leave it out there and keep saying that Perry was passionate about his words?
A minor legal drug issue vs. unpredictable and unexplained weirdness. Any experts out there who care to educate me on which would be the better tactic?
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Vernon Reply:
November 1st, 2011 at 9:34 am
Sorry, I meant to say ” I have to agree with Anonymous at 9:01 am.”
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JohnBernardBooks Reply:
November 1st, 2011 at 12:16 pm
so was your “mistake” due to painkillers or just a mistake?
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Bill says:
Another sign of Perry’s good luck: although this video is making the rounds, the Herman Cain scandal is dominating the news right now. If the Cain story had not broken, this video would have received much more coverage than it has.
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Anonymous Reply:
November 1st, 2011 at 9:58 am
the only problem is that this video will just keep playing over and over again – and in pieces. The “gold” snippet will be used on radio talk over and over because it just sounds so silly…
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Richard says:
The Govenor of Texas has less power to govern than any Govenor on the US. Stemming from reconstruction and the carpetbaggers to keep more power to the citizens of Texas. It did work by the way. Other politician from Texas running for president has better ideas anyway. Go Ron.
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t tyler texas says:
This Rick Perry may be new to a New Hampshire or national audience, but it’s not new in Texas. If I’ve seen it before, and I have, I’m sure others have too.
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Bill Reply:
November 1st, 2011 at 9:48 am
I haven’t seen it before, and I’ve lived in Texas for 10 of Perry’s 11 years.
Of course, the rest of the country needs to understand that Perry has taken a very low profile approach to governing the past 11 years. We don’t see him regularly. He might as well be a recluse in the governor’s mansion or the rent-a-mansion. During campaign years, the only glimpse of Perry that most people saw was the carefully scripted Perry-image of the television commercials.
I’m not saying Perry has no power–but most of that power has been exercised through the power of appointment to government positions and committees. He demands loyalty over competency and cronyism over fairness.
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Anonymous Reply:
November 1st, 2011 at 11:22 am
I have, too.
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Another Wilco Voter Reply:
November 1st, 2011 at 1:26 pm
I’ve definitely seen it. He spoke before one of the local medical associations’ conferences a few years ago and it was obvous he was in a similar state of mind as he is in the Cornerstone video. It was quite the topic of conversation for the rest of the conference.
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Cameron says:
Bill- this is not good fortune for Perry. If the video did not exist the fall out over Cain would have fallen in Perry’s lap.
Trust me, enough people have seen the video and his candidacy is no more.
I’m rejoicing in all the money raised now has been poorly spent. Perhaps, the superPacs unintended consequences are tying up big money early for foolish ideas. Might be a win for the people.
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Whoa Nellie! says:
I noticed that he also fell into the lazy, stupid Dubya speech pattern of saying “nuke-yoolar” when the word is “nu-clee-ar”. Way to play to the Dogpatch vote, Li’l Abner!
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HoustonGuy says:
Rachel Maddow on her show last night played highlights from the Perry video and concluded it signaled the end of the Perry campaign for the presidency. I agree. Who would want this boob having access to the button that would launch a nuclear attack or response to one?
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garyfan Reply:
November 1st, 2011 at 11:11 am
That’s “nuke-yoolar” to you, buddy.
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Robert Morrow says:
For blog readers who do not know, former state representative Glen Maxey is one of the top gay activists in Austin, TX. I suspect he knows a lot of things about Rick Perry that readers of the Drudge Report will know one day soon.
Rick Perry is mentally collapsing. He is used to winning and winning and winning. He has never lost a polical race – ever, go back to the 1980′s, probably Texas A&M or high school.
Rick Perry did NOT want to run this presidential race. Anita saw a burning bush who told her to tell Rick to run. She also saw signs from 2 fleece left on the ground as a sign from God for Rick to run. Unfortunately, the “burning bush” was a divine symbol of a Perry campaign bus torched with 1,000 gallons of kerosene poured in it and set on fire. The fleece were divine symbols of Anita, the billionaires and the political groups leading a lamb to the slaugherhouse.
Rick Perry, who is completely unable to handle losing, has to always be in the lead and a “winner,” who is very insecure in his public image is a man who is staring at his imminent personal and political destruction. The political destruction has already occurred; the personal will occur within 8 weeks, maybe one week.
Rick Perry, unlike Ron Paul, does not have a strong inner core. He is not one to stand in the gap and fight the army.
Rick Perry is basically just freaking out. He can’t handle what is occurring. He can’t handle what is about to come.
There is absolutely NO money coming in. The poll numbers are beyond bad. Rick Perry has become a national laughingstock.
I just hope he does not commit suicide. Maybe his inner circle, who along with burning bush Anita prompted this fiasco, ought to sit him down and say don’t do anything crazy; it’s just politics.
But Perry is going to have a lot of explaining to do to people like Alice Patterson and Susan Weddington, name 100 others.
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JUICE says:
Dave at 6:43 a.m. FTW.
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Julie says:
I can tell you one thing for sure. Perry will not have a repeat performance. He’s not happy with himself over his goofy appearance. He was not drunk.
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michael Reply:
November 1st, 2011 at 11:04 am
just having a bad idiot day
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michael says:
howard dean got canned for much less bizarre actions…get this guy out of my sight…he is making ME stupid
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Patricia says:
I vote snockered. And I agree with Robert above, Perry is having a hard time facing the fact that he is not going to easily win this prize. He’s grown too used to the all too malleable Texas electorate, but he’s in the big leagues now.
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Kenneth D. Franks says:
A repeat performance is not necessary or will be needed. Twenty five minutes of this behavior is enough in and of itself as it was recorded.
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Credentials says:
“I think I get it. I wish I didn’t.”
LOL Mind in the gutter much? From what I know, he’s referring to an old saying about how really isolated farms have their own tomcats because they’re too far away from any other farm for the cats to wander onto someone else’s property. It’s a figure of speech, and not unheard of. Clearly you and many others have never heard of it before, but some of us have.
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AreYouKiddingMe says:
I don’t know why anything this guy says or does is a surprise to anyone in Texas. He is a nut, and the only way he is still governor of Texas is because of all the Kool-Aid drinking Republicans in our state who will voter for ANYONE with an “R” in front of their name. He makes us all look stupid…
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irsubr says:
I too was uncomfortably reminded of Richard Nixon. It was something about the expansive yet awkward arm movements and his self-congratulatory gesturing. He seemed to think he was doing far better with the crowd than he actually was. I saw a video earlier this year where he was far more serious (yeah, let’s use that word) but squirming, like his back was giving him fits. I know that feeling well.
As for the tom cat remark, I had not heard that before, but took it to mean farms were very far apart. Tom cats are territorial and fight, so surviving tom cats mean too far apart for any serious damage to occur. Plus, there’s the yowling that tends to get on the neighbor’s nerves.
I found it overall to be most disturbing.
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Anonymous says:
If you can’t see whats going on you aren’t looking. He knows his days in government are over. He knows he can make alot of money on the speaker circuit IF he is known as an interesting speaker. This is certainly interesting – down right silly actually. Bookings will begin as soon as the campaign runs dry of funding. Pretty darn smart actually. I wish him well.
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angelo says:
FWIW, they talked about this on the Dunnam & Miller show (#1 rated morning radio show in DFW) today and reported that a “source” from inside the Perry campaign was saying that Perry was nervous before the event and had 2 shots of whiskey to calm his nerves. Whatever it was, Perry certainly appears to have been channeling his inner Aggie Yell Leader/generic effeminate youth minister. Truly bizarre.
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The Mustache That Dare Not Speak Its Name says:
I miss Dolph Briscoe.
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Harry Reply:
November 1st, 2011 at 5:29 pm
Even crazier….so do I!
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Mondalejones says:
Occum’s razor would dictate this is a manifestation of the effect of pain killers associated with recent back surgery. Am I really starting to feel sorry for Slick Perry? Would much rather have Perry defeated on the basis of his record of taking care of the powerful and his wrong ideology.
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Friendly Neighborhood Spiderman says:
Glen Maxey was also the last elected ‘Inspector of Hides’ in Travis County. In a nod to small government, once elected, he abolished the office. Thought you would want to know.
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Anonymous says:
Great as my schadenfreude may be, and regardless of the reason for his antics (I’m also leaning toward the painkiller explanation), the people who were with him and allowed him to step in front of a mic in that condition should be fired instantly. In this day and age, how the HELL is that allowed to happen??
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Top Shelf says:
Our governor gave a very strange speech to my organization back in 2005. Not quite as effette as this effort but full of strange pauses, looking up at the ceiling in apparent wonderment and weird hand gestures. I think the painkiller theory is probably on the mark. This speech is already being talked about and isn’t going away any time soon. Aw, the wonders of technology!
Carney and co. need to figure out a way for him to exit. Of course, they will likely ride this horse until the campaign is out of money and they all get paid.
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Anonymous says:
Everyone is looking for an explanation for Perry’s unbalanced behavior…….Unless he was struck by lightening or had a stroke, THERE IS NO EXPLANATION. Drugs and/or alcohol are not an excuse. He is running for the President of the United States of America. Either you are are fit…. or you are not.
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Robert Morrow Reply:
November 1st, 2011 at 8:40 pm
Agreed. The next thing they will say he was choking on a pretzel.
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brooksbeast says:
Listening to Fox News tonight: they thought Perry was simply loosening up — and the audience gave a standing ovation! They did not see a problem. Another view. I wonder if Perry could come back to Texas to truly serve – humbled, defeated, and ready to leave a legacy.
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Anonymous Reply:
November 1st, 2011 at 10:57 pm
Humbled?? Oh, you crazy, romantic dreamer…
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Nothing new says:
I don’t think this was all that strange. @top shelf said it. If you have ever seen Rick off the cuff, then you would know this is not that uncharacteristic. He can be really goofy, which is part of the reason he has good retail skills…he is comfortable being informal even a little weird.
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Anonymous says:
So what IS the procedure for removing a sitting Texas governor? Just curious…
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JohnBernardBooks says:
Lemme make sure I understand the rantings…If Perry doesn’t use a teleprompter, doesn’t say “corpseman” instead of corpsman, and isn’t an incompetent, condescending, bore he doesn’t resonate with the leftie posters here?
go figure
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Craig says:
It’s a sad thing to watch the implosion of his candidacy right before our eyes. He at least Herman Cain hasn’t done anything wroooooooonnng. Oh, wait I guess he has.
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RC says:
Lighten up I thought it was funny and he did get a standing ovation!
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Seriously? says:
I dont know why everyone is shocked by this. Anyone who knows him or has been around him for 5 minutes knows that this is the REAL Rick Perry…feminine tendencies/mannerisms and all.
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