Rick Perry, "Drunk," the Critics Claim

At the Cornerstone speech in New Hampshire. I'm including two videos: The "highlights," as cut together by opponents, and the full speech. I think the full speech, while being boring (as it doesn't just focus on the alleged drunken moments), disproves the drunk claims.

He doesn't seem drunk to me. He never slurs, and he speaks coherently. What is odd is that he's a lot sillier than usual, indulging in a teasing sort of comedic delivery. A goofy delivery in patches. Very goofy.

For what it's worthy, I don't think he should do this, because people aren't taking him very seriously at the moment, and so he doesn't need to goof it up. Maybe Romney could benefit from that sort of thing. (It's useful to play against type, but not so useful to play into type.) But Perry can't.

But drunk? Nah, just being goofy, with a teasing sort of humor that is... alas, Bush squared.

One example of that is when he discusses his Cut, Balance, and Grow plan and begins making lurching, Frankenstein/Dumb Guy hand gestures. But what he's doing, obviously, is spoofing the idea that he must have a quick bumper-sticker brand name for his plan, and is "Cut, Balance, and Grow." He's kind of leveling with the audience in noting that such branding efforts are inherently dumb, and mocking himself for going along with the required dumbness.

Drunk? Doesn't seem like it to me.

One question, though, is why is he so goofy/frisky? Talking with Ben Domenech, who's seen him this way in Austin once, he's guessing he's just tired and overdoing the "show energy" thing.

The "highlights:"

The full speech:

posted by Ace at 02:42 PM

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