Looks like Rick Perry has found a good excuse for missing the Palmetto Freedom Forum, where he was sure to face some tough questions: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/0..._n_949164.html

While I'm not in any way minimizing the disastrous nature of the wildfires in Texas, I'm a bit puzzled about what he feels he'll be able to accomplish there, especially since he feels things will be good enough two days later so that he can attend the GOP debate (where he'll be in a much less critical venue).

If I was small-minded, I'd say he was "chicken", but I'm not small minded enough to say that. Still, I'm reminded how Bill Clinton always seemed to have some sort of crisis appear on the world scene every time things got a little hot for him personally.

- Jack

 

Another non issue played up by the media pundits.

 

X2.

The huffpost. Need I say more?

 

Stealth, I wouldn't call it, "being played up". After all, he WAS scheduled to be there and if he doesn't show, it's good to know why. The link I posted made no derisive comments about his decision, they just said he was going home.

You could argue that I was playing it up though. That would be entirely fair. I just wonder if he's really going to have the wildfires under control by Wednesday, so he can attend the debate with a clear conscience? If, he single-handedly manages to do this, then I rather expect he'll be a shoo-in for President! (Heck, I'll even vote for him!)

- Jack

 

Did you even read it Frank? Show me where it casts blame on him for not showing up.

- Jack

 

C'mon Jack, you're smarter than this. The blame is implied.

I do however feel it is politics, just as last week with Obama and Irene. Politicians like to project an image of being in control.

 

So it's OK to play it up, Jack? IIRC that's not the intent of the P&R section.

 

No implied blame at all, Frank. However, I agree with your second statement.

- Jack

 

Stealth, I THINK the intent of the P&R section is a forum where we can discuss OUR take on the events that happen. It simply happens to be my opinion that Gov. Perry found a very convenient excuse to dodge a potentially difficult venue. I voiced that opinion, and I may be the only one to have it.

- Jack

 

You're the one who said you were playing it up. Don't shoot the messenger.

 

I would bet that if he did not go back during a time of state crisis, he would be chastised for not caring enough about his state to interrupt his campaigning. He is damned if he does and damned if he doesn't.

I think it's stupid that politicians go view natural disasters and such and I think it is stupid that some people seem to get some benefit from their being "blessed" by the politicians, but that does seem to be the case.

I am not particularly a Rick Perry fan, BTW, so I am not defending his actions, just expressing my take on it. He is all politician, for sure.

 

They get criticized for going or not going. Honestly the criticism either way is ridiculous, by anyone.

 

Every high profile politician has one thing in mind when a natural disaster hits: Do whatever it takes to prevent a media roasting like G. W. Bush received after Katrina.

Last I heard, 500 homes had been destroyed. Not cancelling an event would certainly be portrayed by the media as insensitive.

On Wednesday, you can bet Perry will work a mention of the fires into a response. He will have a carefully crafted paragraph that strikes a balance of sensitivity and control. It's an opporutnity to appear presidential.

Never let a crisis go to waste.

 

Jack it's starting to look like maybe you have taken the baton from Habibi while he is on his respite!

On Rick Perry's deal, like mentioned earlier he is damned if he does and damned if he doesn't. My personal take is he is doing the right thing here but is going to take a whipping for it. This is nothing more than a death by media sentence and I'm sure you will see many more attempts at lynching him. After all the MSM has to do their part in protecting the thrown for the annointed one. Kind of like the old question.....Have you stopped beating your wife yet?

Media politics plain and simple, as evidenced by the way you have brought it up here. The slant by the press is clear. Could have been Perry will be unable to attend......instead of PERRY "BACKS OUT". Words have meaning and power in how they are used.

 

I think you are saying the first line "tongue in cheek"? At least I'm taking it that way.

But again, I just went back through that link I posted. Nowhere did it even imply that "Perry backs out". Read it! I challenge you to find anything in it that is derogatory. The article seemed very fair and understanding of why he felt his place was in Texas.

I would have agreed, except for the fact that he still plans to attend the debate day after tomorrow. I can't quite wrap my head around the possibility that the wildfire disaster is going to be all "fixed" by then, especially knowing its scope. If he won't be needed then, why is he needed now? Yes, he's "damned" either way, but that Huffington Post article certainly cast no aspersions on him. And, I seriously doubt his not showing up for the Palmetto Freedom Forum is going to hurt him politically either. However, I suspect he felt he might have been hurt by attending.

It simply looks to me like he chose a route that would minimize damage to his campaign. I cannot fault him for that, but I can certainly express my opinion of it. I honestly was looking forward to hearing his responses to the questions his fellow Republicans were going to ask of him. I'm disappointed that he "ducked" those questions. (Again, that is MY word, based on my perception of events. It should not be construed as representative of anyone else's perception.)

I brought up the subject because it feels fair to do so in a political forum. I notice no hesitation on anyone's part in bringing up similar comments against the "other side".

And, if you really look at what I've posted in the past, I'm quite willing to take issue with the Democrats too. They deserve an enormous amount of blame for the last 2.7 years.

But, a "political" forum is not a "love the Republicans" forum.

- Jack