At GOP Debate, Rick Perry Can’t Remember Third Agency He Would End As President

Yeah, this was bad. And what's even more ironic about Perry many flubs during these debate is the fact that the person he's often most compared to, ex-President George W. Bush, knew how to stick to talking points and charm viewers during debates way better than people ever gave him credit for. You don't have to be a brilliant speaker to win debates, you just have to make sure the people watching feel you're more credible and sincere than the other guy and that's how Bush beat Gore and later on Kerry, even though on the surface each one were "smarter" than Bush was. If Perry still has a shot after this debacle he should go back and study the Bush debates:

Rick Perry has become famous for his poor debate performances, which contributed largely to his fall from the top of the GOP polls, but he has topped himself tonight. With a good head of steam going answering a question from Caterpillar CEO Douglas R. Oberhelman, Perry ground to a halt as he tried to explain the three government agencies he would eliminate. “Let me tell you, it’s three agencies that are gone when I get there. Commerce, Education, and the um, what’s the third one there?”


Mitt Romney tried to help, offering “EPA?”


That wasn’t it, according to Perry. Given another chance to list them by moderator John Harwood, Perry tried again.


“The third agency I would do away with…the…ahh…Education…ahh…Commerce, and, let’s see,” looking down at his podium, “I can’t, the third one. I can’t. Sorry. Oops.”


A few minutes later, Perry did recall the lucky third agency: The Department of Energy. Yeah, how’s the Governor of Texas supposed to remember that one?


It was painful to watch. Maybe Perry ought to consult with Sarah Palin before the next debate, if he’s still in the race after this.

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