1. So the advice to Romney about not choking is sound. He certainly shouldn’t be attacking Perry. David Brooks on THE NEW HOUR gave him the ridiculous advice of trying to taint Rick wtih corruption, of portraying him as just another Delay. It doesn’t seem to me that Perry is particularly corrupt. If he is, though, it’s not for a fellow Republican to engage in the politics of his personal destruction.
2. Still, Perry might implode on his own. But so far, it seems that his quick-draw characteristics are endearing him to likely Republican primary voters. Proudly displaying his God and his gun aren’t hurting him, neither is his mega-skepticism about climate change caused by members of our species.
3. Lots of Republicans—including some very influential ones—have actually told me that any Republican could beat Obama now. That I doubt. If the economy is about as it is now and the president remains at the same level of cluelessness, the election between Barack and Rick would be very close. If Perry wins, it will be basically a “negative” victory, more a repudiation of the incumbent than a mandate for some reform agenda.
4. Perry is not a creature of the TEA PARTY. Despite his symbolic baggage, he’s basically a typical small-government, low-services Republican. Not that there’s anything wrong with that. But he seems short on his own ideas and is far from a “policy wonk.”
5. So would he be a check on or a guide to a Republican Congress that might be bent on enthusiastically passing too much refashioning and downsizing too fast, with no real popular support or understanding? There are arguments for and against DIVIDED GOVERNMENT. But the president—as a person—still needs to be a check on legislative excesses.
6. Thoughts like that might cause me to be for Romney. Except for this: David Brooks did also make the good point that Romney was a credible candidate in 2008, because of the relatively large number of moderates voting in Republican primaries and caucuses. That electorate, studies show, is going to be way more conservative this time. This time, Romney couldn’t win one-on-one against anyone but Huntsman. (And it’s hard to see how Huntsman, of course, makes it more than a couple more months.) So if Perry falters, he’ll be replaced by someone not named Mitt or, for that matter, Michele.
7. HERE are some soft thoughts by me on teaching, research, and stuff for the underemployed out there.
While I have you, can I ask you something? I’ll be quick.
Twenty-five thousand people subscribe to First Things. Why can’t that be fifty thousand? Three million people read First Things online like you are right now. Why can’t that be four million?
Let’s stop saying “can’t.” Because it can. And your year-end gift of just $50, $100, or even $250 or more will make it possible.
How much would you give to introduce just one new person to First Things? What about ten people, or even a hundred? That’s the power of your charitable support.
Make your year-end gift now using this secure link or the button below.
