While few would agree with me, I think that attacking Rick Perry (there’s even an online form to help) is strategically the smartest thing Team Obama could do right now if the goal is to get Perry on the ticket.
Not only is Obama’s popularity at an all time low, but among Republicans, negative attitudes towards the president could not possibly be worse. Republicans (myself included) are sick of gnashing teeth, and eagerly await any opportunity to actually sink their fangs into actual flesh. There is therefore no better way to help Rick Perry win support among Republican primary voters (and thus the nomination) than for the Obama campaign to go out of their way to attack him now, which they are doing.
If we assume Obama wants Perry to be the opponent (as has been widely reported — although that may be reverse-reverse psychology) then it follows that this is a smart move, because there is already a burgeoning Perry bandwagon, and this will give it momentum.
OTOH, if they don’t want Perry to be the candidate, nothing could possibly be more stupid.
It is of course possible that they are that stupid. It is possible that they know Perry would be tough to beat, and actually think that attacking him now is the way to stop him. If they are that stupid, 2012 ought to be an easy race for the Republicans to win.
Except I don’t think they are. Obama came out of nowhere to defeat Hillary Clinton, who had been considered a shoo-in. He has been an awful president, but it does not follow that he has forgotten how to win a political campaign.
But what do I know? I’m just thinking out loud, and I admit I’m a skeptic when I see a bandwagon.
Comments
5 responses to “Reverse psychology? Or reverse-reverse psychology?”
He beat Hillary by gaming the system early on and looking unbeatable for the later rounds.
For instance, according to Hillary supporters, in Iowa he bused his supporters in to vote and also had people tell Hillary supporters (wearing pins and stuff) to go to the wrong caucus.
I really think she was surprised he acted like a Chicago machine pol. Which made me laugh.
He won the general because the NYTimesWashPostCNNABCCBSNBCetc. morphed fully into Minitrue and McCain played his role of good loser very well.
I just don’t really think they’re all that smart, they know far too much to learn anything.
I guess, sigh, Perry is to be the anointed one. Palin’s “campaign event” speech will probably be her swan song endorsement of him. We are all to swallow the cool aid and elect a crony capitalist good old boy from Texas. I miss Molly Ivins pithy remarks. She gave us “shrub” for GWB. Channeling Molly might give us “dumbo” for Perry, which would apply equally well for the entire Republican electorate if they nominate this religious crackpot.
Not only don’t I think Perry is dumb, neither did the Air Force.
From economics professor James Miller:
http://singularitynotes.com/2011/08/16/rick-perry-has-a-high-iq/
I’ve spent a lot of time reading about IQ and I find it almost inconceivable that Perry doesn’t possess a well above average intelligence because otherwise he would never have become an Air Force pilot. Since Perry did not come from a rich or politically influential family him becoming a captain in the US Air Force must have meant he did well on the aptitude tests the Air Force gave him, and these tests were almost certainly IQ tests, although probably not explicitly labeled as such.
I think people who believe Perry to be “dumb” are misunderestimating him. From all accounts, the man is a consummate campaigner… if Obama’s team really wants to face Perry in the general election, they either have one helluva foolproof master plan, or else they are WAY misoverestimating themselves.
Now, judging from past experience, which of those two scenarios is more likely to be true? Hmmmmmmmmm…
Part of Rick Perry’s plan to build a huge commercial corridor linking Mexico and Texas to the Oklahoma border involves using federal money. The proposal is both for highway and rail construction. It also would link ports on the south Texas coast to west Texas. To achieve this the state of Texas would confiscate land directly and also give eminent domain authority to the private developers who would end up the final owners of the toll roads and rail lines.
This kind of thing is nothing new. Hell, that’s how our transcontinental railways were built in the 19th century. Except then much of the land was barren open space. In Texas it is now mostly all private. To “purchase” the property the developers are going to authorize part ownership – stock in the company – in place of you know, actual money, and the value will be eminent domain determined. It’s a sweet deal for the crony capitalists who don’t have to bargain with private citizens. As President, Perry would be in a position to ram this project through.
This is Rick Perry’s kind of free enterprise. It is in line with his edict to inoculate all public school children with a new herpes vaccine. The hammer of the state determines what is right, in partnership with corporations.
You are right, Eric, he is not dumb. But he apparently thinks most people are – to not see through his happy warrior schtick. Also, I wonder what the far right will think when they find out he is a Bildeberger, not that there’s anything wrong with that.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Bilderberg_participants
This Ron Paul Youtube commercial gives a good outline of the project. (I’m NOT a supporter of Paul nor of the video’s conspiracy theme, but the facts as outlines are accurate.)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yXdhph3pwXk