The Other McCain

"One should either write ruthlessly what one believes to be the truth, or else shut up." — Arthur Koestler

He Only Steals From the Best

Posted on | August 11, 2011 | 11 Comments

NEWTON, Iowa
When I showed up at the state capitol Tuesday for the Tim Pawlenty event, T-Paw had already split the scene and I found myself talking to Joe Garofoli of the San Francisco Chronicle, who explained that Pawlenty had avoided reporters’ questions while making his early exit.

Joe and I started talking about the hot Texas coeds “Americans for Rick Perry” activists in attendance, and I shared my “Phantom Menace” view of the long-rumored Perry candidacy. Like all great journalists, Joe shamelessly steals brilliant stuff like that:

We will shamelessly steal from conservative blogger The Other McCain and say that Gov. Rick Perry is the Phantom Menace of the GOP presidential scrum. Dude just announced that he’s GOING to announce that he’s going to run for prez…and everybody’s trying to figure out how to respond. Announce that he’s going to announce…it doesn’t get more meta than that.
Now comes word that Perry will be in Iowa Sunday speaking in Rep. Michele Bachmann’s hometown of Waterloo. Oh, it’s on now…

You’ll notice that Joe linked me twice in that post, which is two more links than I’ve gotten from Allahpundit recently. But don’t get me started on that . . . Here is Joe’s video of T-Paw not answering questions about Rick Perry:

“We’re not doing a scrum,” Pawlenty says. “Scrum” being slang for “answering questions at an impromptu press conference” — which all the other candidates are doing at almost every stop along the way.

Tip for GOP media strategists: If your candidate doesn’t do “scrums,” reporters will get pissed off and start writing trash about your campaign, just for spite. I’m not saying it’s fair for reporters to do that. I’m just saying that’s what they do. It’s a matter of “is,” not “ought.”

Category: Fear and Loathing in Iowa, Journalism, Rick Perry, Tim Pawlenty

Comments

11 Responses to “He Only Steals From the Best”

  1. Charlesmartel41
    August 11th, 2011 @ 7:28 pm

    My fantasy GOP candidate looks and acts just like Romney and has Romney’s business experience.  But, he’s not a RINO or a Mormon.  Sadly, he doesn’t seem to exist.

  2. Anonymous
    August 11th, 2011 @ 7:41 pm

    So because Cain isn’t a white Yankee he won’t make it?

  3. Steve in TN
    August 11th, 2011 @ 7:42 pm

    Well, Perry is presentable like Romney, but in a manly West Texas sort of way.  He ain’t Mormon. Waiting to see about the RINO part, but a coyote seems to think he ain’t.

  4. ThePaganTemple
    August 11th, 2011 @ 7:46 pm

    My ideal candidate is a knock-out in stiletto heels and fishnets.

  5. DaveO
    August 11th, 2011 @ 7:49 pm

    Can’t handle a scrum, can’t handle a 3 am phonecall from the NSA.

  6. adolph.stephens
    August 11th, 2011 @ 8:12 pm

    Pawlenty’s best strategy would be to stay off camera all together, as he comes across as the Potsie Weber of presidential politics.  Republican metrosexual, Not impressed.

  7. Charlesmartel41
    August 11th, 2011 @ 9:34 pm

    Cain lost me when he caved on the mosque issue.

  8. ThePaganTemple
    August 11th, 2011 @ 10:47 pm

    He doesn’t strike me as a metrosexual, he just strikes me as a humorless, droll bore.

  9. ThePaganTemple
    August 11th, 2011 @ 10:47 pm

    He doesn’t strike me as a metrosexual, he just strikes me as a humorless, droll bore.

  10. Bob Belvedere
    August 12th, 2011 @ 11:45 am

    He’s such a Potsie.

  11. LIVE! AMES STRAW POLL COVERAGE: Fear and Loathing at Hilton Coliseum UPDATE: BACHMANN WINS! : The Other McCain
    August 13th, 2011 @ 8:10 pm

    […] FROM AMES!Aug. 11: Dave Weigel on the Undecided IowansAug. 11: Romney Shuts Down a HecklerAug. 11: He Only Steals From the BestAug. 11: Mitt-Mania In Des MoinesAug. 10: Sarah’s Coming to IowaAug. 9: Mitt Romney Comes to Des […]