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Manhattan Diary by Cahir O'Doherty

Rick Perry demonstrates we need the Department of Education at debate

Posted on Thursday, November 10, 2011 at 08:52 AM

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Rick Perry

If you're going to call for the dismantling of a federal agency, it would help if you look like you don't actually need it. But at last night's GOP debate candidate Rick Perry looked like a dim bulb, to put it charitably.

When asked Perry proudly claimed he would eliminate three federal agencies: Education, Commerce and the uh…uh…uh…

This man wants to be President of the United States. I don't think he'd make a good candidate for a Rotary Club.

It astounds me that we are even considering candidates this unfit, this ideologically extreme, this blatantly in favor of corporations over the public, these candidates who tailor their political positions to suit the whims of whoever might vote for them, but this is the 2012 GOP field.

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A candidate for President should know what he or she stands for and wants to say surely?

Have we reached the point where your affiliation, who you align yourself with, matters more to Americans voters than the positions you can actually remember you stand for?

It's not that much to ask that you take the time to discover what your policy positions are, surely? Shouldn't you know your own agenda?

Oops? I can't recall which federal agency I intend to eliminate, but I will see, you just watch me? I mean to say, for God sake, is that the best the GOP can offer us?

Rick Perry has said he believes the American Revolution was fought in the 16th century. He still wants the President to produce his birth certificate. He call's evolution a 'theory that's out there.' He has said that Juarez is the most dangerous city in America and that President Bush did a terrific job defending us from freedom.

If I was a GOP supporter I'd find it hard to even contemplate my options never mind pull the lever for them.

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MICHEAL | Nov 14, 2011, 07:03 PM EST

MegK311, you need to look into the good economy that is not in Texas. Perry has the worse record in the country for supporting education & the disabled. Texas is the lowest in the country for low wages & high unemployment. What he says is NOT the facts. He has the ability to streach the truth.

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MICHEAL | Nov 14, 2011, 06:57 PM EST

We have putting up with this kind of stupid actions since Bush was elected to the presidency. He has shown his lack of ability to put 2 sensible sentences together this total time.

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McNamara31 | Nov 14, 2011, 11:31 AM EST

michaelidaho John Huntsman has been prepared, intelligent,well briefed in all matters of foreign policy; so can you tell me why the members of the GOP fail to give him any respect in the polls?

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MegK311 | Nov 11, 2011, 11:09 PM EST

Rick Perry like many of us had a moment when he lost his train of thought. I am sure all of you critics have done this at one time or another. You conveniently forget all the blunders Obama has made especially when he doesn't have his teleprompter. When he has his teleprompter in front of him he makes great speeches written by someone else. Take it away and he has his foot in his mouth, Then there is Joe Biden, good old Joe makes one blooper after another. You who are so quick to criticize are hypocrites. Rick Perry has been elected Gov of Texas 3 times and Texas is one of the few states that is doing well in todays economy. Shame on all you who have nothing better to do than try to ruin someone who is better than you are. As for me I am keeping an open mind and eventually I will decide who I will support..... Anybody but Obama.

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michaelidaho | Nov 11, 2011, 08:35 PM EST

Cahir nice job cherry picking the weaknesses of the weakest Republican candidates (e.g. Bachmann, Gingrich, Santorum, Perry, etc.). How about a nice balanced approach and write about Mitt Romney or John Huntsman? Then again, this would require too much objectivity and analysis. Instead, you feed us with your ignorant, anti-Republican drivel.

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eiriamach | Nov 11, 2011, 01:10 PM EST

The USA was the second nation in modern history to decide to educate its entire population, yet we have never funded schools adequately for such an ambitious task. Perry and his GOP "colleagues" understand the gross folly of setting up universal public education that does not educate, but it still does not occur to them to support schools and develop the curriculum. When he and his colleagues can reach financial and career heights (aren't they all millionaires and mostly CEOs?) without being able to draw on facts of history or civics, with no appreciation of the arts or humanities, and with little but scorn for the accumulation of scientific knowledge, of course they will be anti-intellectuals opposed to universal education at public expense. The American public school system has had two purposes: to maintain republican institutions through an educated electorate (citizenship training) and to promote the wealth of the nation (essentially vocational training). It's time to re-think and re-imagine. Instead of focusing on political and economic benefits as such, we might belatedly consider the development of the mind and the advancement of culture as goals of education. Who can watch these GOP candidates without noticing the absence of informed debate and intellectual power? Wouldn't you like to hear them discuss ethics in business and personal life and quote an occasional line of poetry not drawn from the Pokémon Theme Song?

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Phaenius | Nov 11, 2011, 11:01 AM EST

The Department of Education was to commemorate the failure of public education in America, by encouraging same to remain so in all the States by Federal fiat. Perry and most of you are as much a victim of it as I. However, folk can learn to educate themselves, and that is, for the most part, the salvation of some. I would wish we stuck to the original plan of government being only a gun or sword by the management of the force of the community for the protection of the innocent life, liberty, and possessions of the people. Divest governments of charity and education, and figure out THEN which of the unnecessary Federal Departments we can abolish. Hopefully the State and Local governments can also divest themselves of all things charity and education. What has a gun to do with charity and education in the first place?

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TheOldPerfessor | Nov 11, 2011, 09:13 AM EST

Actually, the Department of Education was created in 1979 - seven years after Perry completed his education with a BA in Animal Science at Texas A&M. Facts matter.

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AengusOg | Nov 11, 2011, 08:30 AM EST

The Dept. of Education has produced Rick Perry and his followers as well as Barack Obama (How many states are there?)

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badolan | Nov 10, 2011, 08:35 PM EST

Idiot. God help us. No rational person can defend this guy (again). I'm embarrassed for him. The GOP has turned into a circular firing squad with complete nimwads for candidates. These folks can't be the best they can offer. Seriously?

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oaklongan | Nov 10, 2011, 06:21 PM EST

The current GOP lineup put Laurel and Hardy to shame. "Clowns to the left of me, Jokers to the Right...here I am back in the middle with you..."

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oaklongan | Nov 10, 2011, 06:16 PM EST

seanomelbourne...heh,heh,heh. YOU made my day! Jamcelt...gotta LOVE YA'! Give Rick Perry a Tin Foil Hat, unless he was wearing his well-worn invisible one...a pyramid over his head might help, in a pinch.

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seanomelbourne | Nov 10, 2011, 05:13 PM EST

Rick Perry having a senior moment thank God he does'nt have his finger on the trigger.

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pflynn70 | Nov 10, 2011, 04:41 PM EST

Mayoman, It's because of dangerous idiots like you who voted for this clown is why were in such deep crap. Maybe you should try and read some intelligent news print rather than the likes of the Daily Kos or shite like that. And you call me a idiot?

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seanomelbourne | Nov 10, 2011, 04:31 PM EST

God help the rest of the world if one of these clowns occupy the white house.

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