tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6926413038778731189.post2780781553363085976..comments2023-10-16T07:13:12.123-05:00Comments on A plain blog about politics: Presidenting and Rick PerryJonathan Bernsteinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15931039630306253241noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6926413038778731189.post-79619032025997505602011-12-07T08:34:18.156-06:002011-12-07T08:34:18.156-06:00This comment has been removed by the author.rafi007https://www.blogger.com/profile/12462276734293724374noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6926413038778731189.post-12515371348714453252011-10-07T17:03:15.824-05:002011-10-07T17:03:15.824-05:00At a time when the far right is in control of the ...At a time when the far right is in control of the Republican party, a populist Republican is the very last thing we need. Of the two, Perry is the most likely to tell any given constituency to kiss it. Romney on the Tea Party's leash, like Cantor, is a recipe for disaster. Either way, business leaders should be realistic: if the Republicans win the White House, the US will become the enemy of the world. Our brand will suffer; our alliances will become less convenient.Action Justinnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6926413038778731189.post-70837732322148309572011-10-07T02:08:21.241-05:002011-10-07T02:08:21.241-05:00I've re-read the linked posts, and I'm imp...I've re-read the linked posts, and I'm impressed by the analysis of the incentives faced by presidents. I'm puzzled about the take-away.<br /><br />Bush was elected to a second term as governor of Texas, by a bigger margin than when he won his first term. What was the ex-ante clue that Bush would be a bad president? <br /><br />Your argument suggests sticking to governors, since even the longest legislative career doesn't test a candidate's executive decision making.<br /><br />This reminds me of something I've been wanting to ask since a discussion of Giuliani we had long ago. There are several American cities with populations larger than the states of Arkansas and Georgia. Why is governor of a small state more of a qualification for the presidency than mayor of a big city? <br /><br />A governor's constituencies are more diverse, and more representative of the country as a whole. Any other reason?David Tomlinnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6926413038778731189.post-86521257593932079472011-10-06T23:30:47.793-05:002011-10-06T23:30:47.793-05:00Eric,
We certainly disagree, but I don't see...Eric, <br /><br />We certainly disagree, but I don't see my position as naive. I fully agree that Perry and Romney certainly appear to adopt positions to advance their positions. I just disagree about whether that's a good thing or not; I mostly think it's fine. Noble, no, and I'm not sure about admirable, but generally functional.Jonathan Bernsteinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15931039630306253241noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6926413038778731189.post-78096014412392421132011-10-06T23:16:44.789-05:002011-10-06T23:16:44.789-05:00Jonathan -- you are so effing naive. While True B...Jonathan -- you are so effing naive. While True Believers are a dangerous lot as far as governing goes, so are Shape Shifters like Perry and Romney. It's not like their policy positions evolved over time due to reflection and the advice of experts. They evolved into what they are solely based on the direction of the political winds. Nothing noble or admirable about that; it's actually quite disgusting, no matter who the politician is -- and I'm aware that Obama engages in the same sort of tactic and I don't like it in him either.<br /><br />At Charlie -- that is not "presidenting," that is manipulation and unscrupulousness. It's cynical to suggest that a president's main function is to hoodwink those who elected him and in delaying their shock when things don't happen as they'd hoped.Eric Potruchhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08683788523604028511noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6926413038778731189.post-6173664354663820002011-10-06T14:19:54.814-05:002011-10-06T14:19:54.814-05:00Perry needs a Sister Souljah.
presidenting is th...Perry needs a Sister Souljah.<br /><br /><br />presidenting is the art of doing the exact opposite of what your base wants, then winking at them and saying it will be ok. Obama doesn't have it. Bush -- in spades. Perry -- who knows.<br /><br />ANyone in politics knows that 95% of the battles are with your own side.charlienoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6926413038778731189.post-48160219948157040962011-10-06T13:16:16.366-05:002011-10-06T13:16:16.366-05:00Jonathan, I think if you're going to start ver...Jonathan, I think if you're going to start verbifying nouns, you really should consider "governoring" as well.<br /><br />I daresay that "I don't know that he's been great at governing" would sound a lot better if instead you wrote "I don't know that he's been great at" governoring.<br /><br />Cheers.Greg Haohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01805996565667458046noreply@blogger.com