Of HPV, Immigration, And Too Many People Debating

Okay Rick Perry, welcome to the big leagues.

Mitt Romney, stylistically, looked and sounded great.  He had some meat on the bones in his answers, and pushed Perry hard.  Perry can handle himself okay, but he was clearly tiring of being ganged up on by people who won't have a chance of being president.  The Texas governor needs to find his voice more on this issue of the HPV vaccine, but more-so the immigration issue.

So here is my thought of HPV - its an honest mistake.  As I recall, Bill Bolling was pushing for something similar, as were other states.  My wife, who is pretty a-political, was annoyed with the way Bachmann and Satorum was going after Perry.  Her thought was that you really can't be that mad at Perry for trying to prevent cirvical cancer, however heavy-handed he was.  Perry needs to push back harder and come up with a zinger, because there was a simple opt-out - and some reading I did on this and part of the reason Perry did this was to get the vaccine on Texas Vaccines for Children program, which I think meant families wouldn't have to pay for it.  But it was still a giant mistake, and I'm not sure how many times Perry has to admit that before everyone just calms down.  He needs to nip this in the bud.

On the rostrum, Romney played it best.  He left it alone, let the anklebiters cut him up for him . . . Santorum has the political cred with social conservatives and was most effective.  Bachmann, for me, came off as shrill.  I believe she undercut her maternal outrage by bringing up the supposed crony capitalism behind the move, accusing Perry of issuing this order to enrich his lobbyist buddy for Merck.  Its a nasty slime from Bachmann, and I lost a ton of respect for her by leveling this charge.  My disgust is largely due to Bachmann's own funny timing of her outrage that coincides with her growing irrelevance in the race thanks to Perry.  But Bachmann herself is pushing the limits of believability too, as she is pushing debunked science that the HPV vaccine causes mental retardation, something that has upset parents of special needs.  In addition, she apparently stayed quiet in Minnesota so her outrage seems a bit selective.   In a way, I am glad this issue is out there because its best that Perry learn to deal with it from friendly fire to test him with what the Chicago mob wants to do with him.  I can believe Santourm's outrage much more than Bachmann - who is so blatantly grasping at straws just so she can try and climb back into this.  Too me, she looked desperate last night and its clear Perry makes her essentially irrelevant. 

The pile-on continued for Perry on immigration.  Look, he is right - we simply cannot argue with a straight fact that building a fence from Galveston to San Diego is in any way practical.  What he didn't do is properly communicate how difficult his job in Texas is concerning this issue.  While the Feds sit around and do nothing about illegal immigration in any way, he's stuck with the consequences - crime, poverty, and all that comes with it.  He can make a compelling case that might at least make people understand the need for his support of in-state tuition for illegals.  Unlike other states like, oh say, Massachusetts, you can look tough on this issue because you don't have to deal with it.  What Perry is stumbling over himself to say is that we need to close the boarder and have a real conversation about what to do with the people that are here now.  Its weird that Perry, the hardliner supposedly, is the one taking the more "nuanced" approach to this issue.  He needs to frame this as close the boarder and win their hearts and minds afterwards.  If nothing is done, then we have a permanent class of immigrants uneducated, uncaring about this country, and one that will become a permanent welfare class.  Now, I'm not sure I even buy that line of thinking but if your governor of Texas you can use this issue to make the rest of the folks on that dias anklebiters and look like a nuanced leader. 

As for the debate itself, it was better than the last CNN affair - but really Fox News has this down.  But its starting to get ridiculous with how many people who won't be the nominee are allowed up there.  Huntsman embarrassed himself several times while Santorum has been given enough time to get his message out and his numbers haven't moved one bit.  They need to go.  Gingrich is fun at these, and looks like he is having fun, and he does add real substance.  But his numbers aren't moving either.  Add Herman Cain - who I adore - to that list.  If I ran the debate I would limit participation to Rick Perry, Mitt Romney, Michele Bachmann, and Ron Paul.  They are the only ones constantly polling well in the big states and the only ones with a real following.  This need for cable channels to be "fair" is pretty ridiculous - everyone knows who the big dogs are, and the others should have to work to get into these debate.  You should be allowed in just because your a candidate. 

Here are my very basic thoughts:

• I used to think that a unity ticket of Perry-Romney or Romney-Perry was going to happen, but now I'm not so sure.  Some think Marco Rubio is a lock, but I had a crazy thought after this debate:  what about Newt Gingrich for VP?  He's smart, a fantastic debater, and a fearless attack dog.  Its almost as if Gingrich's talents match better with being VP rather than Prez. 
• Ron Paul is the bravest politician in America, he is simply fearless no matter how crazy he might get.
• Herman Cain better be in the next GOP cabinet.
• I do love Rick Santorum, but he's going nowhere.
• Jon Huntsman absolutely embraced himself last night.  I was thinking perhaps he could be secretary of state, but I'm not sure he won't be anything more than a punchline after last night.
• Michele Bachmann is getting desperate, and I'm not sure Republicans want to see her using Democrat talking points in attacking Rick Perry.
• Rick Perry really needs to go to debate school.  His prepared stuff was good, but he needs to work harder at knowing what is coming and how to deal with it.  Your in the pros, now.

Comments

[Willie Deutsch]

Well Huntsman and some of the others need to be knocked out of the debates. Huntsman is polling 1.4% on RCP. We really shouldn't have to hear from him if he is gaining absolutely no traction.

[Noticed]

Is that Newt for VP line a joke? Granted, he is a great debater who knows issues, but he also has a way of being so smart he loses arguments with himself.

The veep thing is a bit too far off, but since you brought it up, I would venture that Bobby Jindal would be a pretty good choice.

[NoVA Scout]

Don't mention anyone for VP that you wouldn't want to see as President.