Media

‘Uh, el Nino?’: Rick Perry Offers up Top Ten Excuses on Letterman


NEW YORK (AP) — Republican presidential contender Rick Perry laughed about his debate performance with David Letterman, gamely poking fun at himself Thursday by giving the TV audience “Top 10 Rick Perry Excuses” for being unable to remember the three federal agencies he would eliminate.

One reason for his brain freeze Wednesday on stage with his GOP rivals: “Hey, listen. You try concentrating with Mitt Romney smiling at you. That is one handsome dude,” Perry chuckled during his segment with the comedian.

At the debate, Perry could only come up with the names of two of the three agencies he had promised to get rid of if elected president, ending with a grinning, “Oops.”

Perry later said he would eliminate the Commerce, Education and Energy departments.

He also acknowledged that he had “stepped in it” during the debate.

The Texas governor is trying to turn the stumble into an opportunity. He is asking supporters to pitch in a few dollars for every agency they would abolish.

Perry’s Top 10 excuses on Letterman:

10. “Actually there were three reasons I messed up last night. One was the nerves, two was the headache and three was, and three, uh, uh. Oops.”

9. “I don‘t know what you’re talking about. I think things went well.”

8. “Hey, I was up late last night watching ‘Dancing With the Stars.’”

7. “I thought the debate was tonight.”

6. “Hey, listen. You try concentrating with Mitt Romney smiling at you. That is one handsome dude.”

5. “Uh, el nino?”

4. “I had a five-hour energy drink six hours before the debate.”

3. “I really hoped to get on my favorite talk show, but instead I ended up here.”

2. “Hey, I wanted to help take the heat off my buddy Herman Cain.”

1. “I just learned Justin Bieber is my father.”

Comments (97)

  • dirtypolitics
    Posted on November 11, 2011 at 9:36am

    I like individuals who can laugh at their mistakes. I agree with Newt. Perry is basically a good man.

    Is he done?

    Not by a long shot. Hope he heeds Newts advise about doing a lot of Town Hall meetings. That is the way the Teleprompter in Chief practices, right. Obama has been doing it since he ran for State Senate and never stopped doing it (campaigning) even if he is supposed to work. His only respite from that is when he signs something or plays golf.

    Report Post »  
    • Founding Father2
      Posted on November 11, 2011 at 12:54pm

      CAIN, PERRY, AND ROMNEY ARE UNDER THE BIGGEST ATTACK BY THE LIBERAL MEDIA

      Perry is under attack, by things he did to himself but are blown out of proportion. He isn’t the best debater and maybe not the best for president but the attacks he is under are overboard, President Obama has done way worse.

      Cain of course is under attack for the allegations of sexual harassment, since there is no evidence and these seem to be baseless claims.

      Romney is under attack by a campaign started back with Ted Kennedy that Romney flip-flops. Kennedy used that same tactic on all of his competitors but Romney is the only one to make it big afterwards. Come to find out most of these claims are unprecedented as well: http://www.thedailycandidate.com/projects/nov/flip_flop_central.html

      THIS IS THE LIBERAL MACHINE TRYING TO PICK OUR CANDIDATE AND WE NEED TO CHOOSE THEM FOR OURSELVES WITH ALL THE INFORMATION.

      Report Post »  
    • JRook
      Posted on November 11, 2011 at 3:23pm

      He left out I got the list of three from Michele Bachmann.

      Report Post »  
    • simbasmom
      Posted on November 11, 2011 at 3:32pm

      I agree.

      Report Post »  
  • Insuranceman
    Posted on November 11, 2011 at 9:24am

    A close contest at the debates which one of these guys is least flawed and wacky.

    Report Post »  
    • Eggcellent
      Posted on November 12, 2011 at 10:53am

      That would be Ron Paul. He has laid out a specific plan to RESTORE our country and CAN remember which “Alphabet Agencies” he would phase out. He is NOT an isolationist, but believes in FAIR trade. He believes in the Military, but for OUR protection, not to be meddling in OTHER countries. ANY proposal from EITHER side in Congress must be vetted according to the Constitution, and discarded if it does not measure up. O’Reilly, FOX, and MSNBC eliminated him from their polls because his supporters voted (1 person, 1 vote) their 1st Amendment Right and he came out overwhelmingly on top of every poll they ran. There was nothing stopping the supporters of the other candidates from doing the same thing! Please don’t let the MSM choose your candidate! We did this once before and ended up with Obama.

      Report Post »  
  • sapper
    Posted on November 11, 2011 at 9:23am

    Depressing election cycle again. Perry is a strong evangelical christian and solid conservative but can’t debat to save his life, Cain is solid conservative non-politician and a christian but I hate his moronic 999 plan, 99% of what Ron Paul says I agree with but the 1% makes him sound like a damned ******, Bachman is a strong christian conservative but somehow doesn’t seem to have any real plans on how to actaully do anything, Romney and huntsman are RINOs, Newt is the smartes guy on stage with best handle on how to actually get things done but is plagued with having boffed half his staff members while a Representative and Santorum is probably second smartest guy on stage but comes accross as a whiny attention hound and why the hell does he talk like his jaw is wired shut then smile like a cheshire cat? I like Newt the most but not sure he can be elected with the skeletons in his past. Would love to see him in one on one debate with Mr. teleprompter.

    Would love to see a real conservative simply say yes I want to get rid of all government functions not outlined by the Constitution, no I don‘t like muslims and don’t give a damn if they don’t like that and same goes for gays. We need to get out of UN and if we cut Medicare, Medicaid and SS overnight we could pay off our damned debt in a couple of years and be the strongest economy on earth once again. Call out the lib retards as the communists they are and read from the manifesto to prove it.

    Gee maybe I should run

    Report Post »  
    • CCHMoore
      Posted on November 11, 2011 at 9:56am

      Cross your fingers – on both hands – that Romney doesn’t make it through!

      Report Post »  
    • mikehipkiss
      Posted on November 11, 2011 at 3:38pm

      I‘m curious about why you would call Herman Cain’s tax plan “moronic”? From what I have learned about it, I think its genius.

      Report Post »  
    • carlylekruppe
      Posted on November 11, 2011 at 4:37pm

      um, medicare and ss are not entitlements; they have been paid for by private citizens and we can not just toss them aside

      Report Post »  
    • Dismayed Veteran
      Posted on November 11, 2011 at 5:18pm

      Carlylekruppe is correct. Social Security and Medicare are not entitlements. Check your pay stub some time and notice you and your employer were the funding source.

      Report Post » Dismayed Veteran  
    • 4blackhorses
      Posted on November 11, 2011 at 5:46pm

      In your post you effectively point out each Republican candidates inadequacies and end in “Gee maybe I should run.” Why? Or more directly why should I vote for you?

      You fail to say if you are a Christian, Conservative, have a tax plan, how intelligent you are, what party you belong to or if you prefer “riding the fence” and what you look like.

      There is no offense mean’t here, my friend, but I have to wonder how much research you personally have done on each of the candidates. Also, if judging the next Leader of our country is based upon looks or charisma, haven’t the people already made that mistake in electing Obama?

      To rid this scourge in government, we voters need to be totally EDUCATED in our voting.

      Report Post »  
    • chris vrahnos
      Posted on November 11, 2011 at 9:42pm

      Maybe you should.If you did I might vote for you.Wile you are at it git rid of the unions,do away with forien aid and any other money that doesn’t apply to government function.

      Report Post »  
    • AmazingGrace8
      Posted on November 12, 2011 at 7:19pm

      Dismayed Veteran

      If you are not self-employed in the private sector, on your pay stub, your employer paid all the social security and all the medicare dollars. Sure you put in the hours to get a pay check but you did not create the job your employer created so you could work and earn a wage. A portion of what your employer paid you, by law, went to the government but still it came out of the same kitty. When I first heard about this line of thinking many years ago, didn’t quite follow, but thought about it and a light came on !!!

      Report Post »  
  • reynosa98
    Posted on November 11, 2011 at 9:12am

    I have been a big supporter of Governor Perry & will continue to be regardless of the way things turned out in the debate the other night. Like one of my ol’ daddys used to say “it’s not what you say son but how you say it” and believe that pretty much sums it up . I thought he handled himself very well up until he had that “steer in the headlights” moment. I believe RICK PERRY is still the man for the job, and has the leadership, experience, vision & toughness to get things done, but he needs to keep his “boots on the ground” & outta his big mouth, & stop talkin‘ about what he’s gonna do & start doin’ it. He IS after all, the ONLY guy up there that is still a active governor. Go to Floorida & back RICK SCOTT on the WELFARE TESTING LAW. GO to IOWA & KICK SOME FREELOADIN’ FARMERS FATASS. They‘re the maine reason we got O’Bama to BEGIN WITH. Go back to Texas & FRY SOME MEXAKINS. Take Sarah Palin to South Carulina with you & BANG HER ON THE CAMPAIGN BUS. Spend some of that donor money & let’s party till the primarys baby. Go to Dallus & have a Tea Party in GB’s back yard then have a BATTLE OF THE (Bands) ALAMO re-enactment, Texas style. And don’t forget to remember to bring your guns, too, cause we‘re gonna need somethin’ to BBQ. Hook up with HERMAN & take him to a STRIPCLUB IN SAN ANTONIO. Hell, he probably already knows most of the girls there, anyways. Loosen up RICK, you only got two more month to run for President, but you got the rest of your life to be

    Report Post »  
    • MR_ANDERSON
      Posted on November 11, 2011 at 9:33am

      He just took the national stage, was put under spotlight, and given a microphone in order to try and repair the damage done.

      He made a joke out himself, which was worse than the 53 seconds.

      I’m not looking for a President to make a joke out of himself. I understand laughing at one’s mistakes, but that doesn’t mean be the court jester.

      Report Post »  
  • reynosa98
    Posted on November 11, 2011 at 9:09am

    I AM a big supporter of Governor Perry & will continue to be regardless of the way things turned out in the debate the other night. Like one of my ol’ daddys used to say “it’s not what you say son but how you say it” and believe that pretty much sums it up . I thought he handled himself very well up until he had that “steer in the headlights” moment. I believe RICK PERRY is still the man for the job, and has the leadership, experience, vision & toughness to get things done, but he needs to keep his “boots on the ground” & outta his big mouth, & stop talkin‘ about what he’s gonna do & start doin’ it. He IS after all, the ONLY guy up there that is still a active governor. Go to Floorida & back RICK SCOTT on the WELFARE TESTING LAW. GO to IOWA & KICK SOME FREELOADIN’ FARMERS FATASS. They‘re the maine reason we got O’Bama to BEGIN WITH. Go back to Texas & FRY SOME MEXAKINS. Take Sarah Palin to South Carulina with you & BANG HER ON THE CAMPAIGN BUS. Spend some of that donor money & let’s party till the primarys baby. Go to Dallus & have a Tea Party in GB’s back yard then have a BATTLE OF THE (Bands) ALAMO re-enactment, Texas style. And don’t forget to remember to bring your guns, too, cause we‘re gonna need somethin’ to BBQ. Hook up with HERMAN & take him to a STRIPCLUB IN SAN ANTONIO. Hell, he probably already knows most of the girls there, anyways. Loosen up RICK, you only got two more month to run for President, but you got the rest of your life to be Govern

    Report Post »  
  • TWO BITS
    Posted on November 11, 2011 at 9:00am

    I liked Perry’s comedic delivery. Maybe he will adopt Palin’s palm notes technique before the next debate. Governor Brewer had a similar occurence in one of her debates. That hardly makes her a blonde bimbo…unless of course, that is one’s inclination to begin with.

    Report Post » TWO BITS  
  • dcart888
    Posted on November 11, 2011 at 8:55am

    Well this pretty much sums up Perry run for POTUS
    It’s a JOKE
    Time to go back to TX

    Report Post » dcart888  
    • Detroit paperboy
      Posted on November 11, 2011 at 9:24am

      I watched that debate , and i like perry but i think he is done…. It was painful to see him up there like a deer in the headlights, not to mention that New Hampshire speech last week where he looked drunk or stoned, watching it was plain strange….. Stick a fork in him, hes done.

      Report Post »  
    • mbrat42
      Posted on November 11, 2011 at 1:10pm

      Detroitpaperboy: If you still think he was drunk or stoned during NH speech, you are doing exactly what the media wants you to do. His speech was funny and refreshing. The montage most people watched, and based their opinions on, was a hatchet job. When I saw the montage I was shocked, but when I watched the whole speech I was even more shocked. The montage showed Perry’s jokes out of context, showed punchlines with no joke, and jokes with no punchlines. I suggest you watch the whole thing. That is unless your mind is closed and you intend on choosing who the media tells you to choose.

      Report Post »  
  • rml720
    Posted on November 11, 2011 at 8:47am

    Perry has some good ideas about how to fix this mess we’re in. His big problem is communicating them during debates.

    Report Post »  
    • Insuranceman
      Posted on November 11, 2011 at 9:23am

      Yes Perry is brilliant perhaps he could stand in for Romney during the presidential debates?

      Report Post »  
    • prlim
      Posted on November 11, 2011 at 5:32pm

      I think you said it just right. My vote goes to Rick. He is real, like the rest of us.

      Report Post » prlim  
  • lukerw
    Posted on November 11, 2011 at 8:16am

    My wife has Strokes and it affects her memory… and I would not vote for her to be President EITHER!

    Report Post » lukerw  
    • cessna152
      Posted on November 11, 2011 at 8:32am

      This is so lopsided… you have freaking idiot Joe Biden and Marxist in chief that say some of the dumbest things and you don’t hear a peep. A “Conservative” messes up (we are all human) and it is plastered 1000X over the MSM.

      Report Post » cessna152  
  • Gonzo
    Posted on November 11, 2011 at 8:07am

    Why do conservatives continue to go on shows that mock them?

    Report Post » Gonzo  
    • Insuranceman
      Posted on November 11, 2011 at 8:21am

      Next debate big red noses, seltzer bottles, polka dot outfits and they all arrive in same small car. Bachman does not have to sit next to Hermie.

      Report Post »  
    • Cape_Lookout_RW_Extremist
      Posted on November 11, 2011 at 8:33am

      Great Point Gonzo! What I don‘t get is that these are the issues we’re talking about when the Department of Defense is about to be gutted. There should be an all out uprising against congress right now. How can a super committee represent the American voter? Why isn’t all of congress involved in these budget cuts? This default may cut one trillion from DOD. Screw Perry and his debate skills. We are about to be made more open to attack from a foreign country than any time since Pearl. November of 2012 may be too late.

      Report Post » Cape_Lookout_RW_Extremist  
    • UrsaMajor
      Posted on November 11, 2011 at 9:16am

      Because most TRUE conservatives can laugh at themselves and the mistakes we make.

      Because we are HUMAN.

      And we don’t have to live politics 24/7 like fanatical, Israel-hating Ron Paul supporters or Neocon Progessive nerds.

      It’s called, “having a life.”

      Report Post »  
    • UrsaMajor
      Posted on November 11, 2011 at 9:23am

      But, hey, if YOU folks want to live your lives worrying about what a bunch of left-wing Fascist Democrat and Republican talking heads determines the end of a candidate’s run, go ahead!

      Report Post »  
  • ares338
    Posted on November 11, 2011 at 7:59am

    Slick Rick was finished anyway!

    Report Post » ares338  
    • Insuranceman
      Posted on November 11, 2011 at 8:29am

      Last man standing Mitt. Oh the purple faces and verbal gymnastics to get you all behind him. But most of you have pride and integrity . Ah just funning you of course you don’t.

      Report Post »  
  • Ialmostforgot
    Posted on November 11, 2011 at 7:45am

    So now they will portray Mr. Perry as a clown.

    Report Post »  
    • Gonzo
      Posted on November 11, 2011 at 8:32am

      He did it to himself really. He needs to dop out and try to hold on to a shred of dignity.

      Report Post » Gonzo  
  • david3755
    Posted on November 11, 2011 at 7:40am

    Anyone can have a brain freeze in a high pressure situation but going onto a liberal hack tv show requries some thought and I think he failed the good judgement test here.

    Report Post »  
  • 4321
    Posted on November 11, 2011 at 7:36am

    By BY Rick can we get so garlic for that Texas Toast? what a dummy

    Report Post » 4321  
  • NewHampshireNancy
    Posted on November 11, 2011 at 7:26am

    Looked like a migraine moment to me.

    Report Post »  
  • lgccac
    Posted on November 11, 2011 at 7:21am

    Obama says there are 57 states. I say there are 50. Who is right?

    Report Post »  
    • GeneTracy
      Posted on November 11, 2011 at 10:47am

      You are, but Obama probably blames “W” for his gaffe.

      Report Post » GeneTracy  
    • righthanddrive
      Posted on November 11, 2011 at 2:06pm

      Ooops, I hope you realize you just tagged yourself a racist for disagreeing with BHO. But have no fear. Get even by voting BHO out in 2012.

      Report Post »  
  • mikee1
    Posted on November 11, 2011 at 6:50am

    Perry should quit. Not because of a few slipups. But the rinos have us eliminating ourselves and throwing the election to RINOROMNEY. THIS MUST NOT HAPPEN. We must pick a conservative. I like Paul or Bachmann, but others prefer someone else. If Cain, who is also good, does not knock the scandal bs out of the park with lawsuits and attacks on them, he should drop out too. Newt is old news. Should be big in the cabinet, along with Cain. Santorum is too low in the polls. Have Levin choose between BACHMANN, PAUL, CAIN.

    Report Post » mikee1  
  • Living In NYC
    Posted on November 11, 2011 at 6:48am

    Please Rick quit making a fool out of the Republican Party and Conservatives, why in the world would you subject us to these foolish stunts.

    Please take a break and grow up and try running in 2020 when you can act like a President that brings pride to the United States … not foolishness!

    Report Post » Living In NYC  
    • 100 Million Patriots Standing
      Posted on November 11, 2011 at 7:12am

      I don ‘t care so much what he says or how he says it….as the saying still goes…“actions do speak louder than words”. and Perry has plenty of RINO actions in his history closet.

      Obama would use Perry’s lack of debate skills against him and make him appear totally incompetent and foolish…. because for many,….they will judge a book by it‘s cover’.

      Report Post » 100 Million Patriots Standing  
    • HKS
      Posted on November 11, 2011 at 7:26am

      Well, here’s the deal. Rick is a another victim of the left’s game plan. They want to pick Obama’s running mate and they have decided on Romney. They think he will be the easiest to crucify in the media during the general election giving The big O his second term. They did a good job on Rick but he did help them some. Just like Michelle and now Cain, like wow they certainly don’t want to loose their race card. I see Newt as the sleeper, just sit back keep a low profile until election day. I don‘t think The big O wants anything do do with him because he’s to smart and will back O into a corner in a debate.

      Report Post » HKS  
    • zorro
      Posted on November 11, 2011 at 9:47am

      HKS…you’re right on. How the heck are conservatives supposed to defend Romney if he is the nominee? Obama can actually tell the truth for once and all we can do is sit there and go, “Yeah. It’s true. He did do that.”

      We’ve been played like fiddles. Republicans have made it clear…this is a race about style, not substance.

      Report Post »  
    • 4truthofit
      Posted on November 11, 2011 at 5:47pm

      LIVING IN NYC
      The conservatives are the ones making fools of themselves…look at the changing polls, can any of us pick someone we agree with and put our full support behind them and show the dems and both sides of the media we will stand where we think WE should stand period! This is the real issue here….And for those who want to throw ANY candidate under the bus, is just playing into the loser game! Can any of us just think for ourselves??

      Report Post »  
  • ColoradoMaverick
    Posted on November 11, 2011 at 6:36am

    I don’t know now, maybe I will give Perry a second chance. I still think he should have blamed it on the “failed policies of the last 8 years”. Works well for Obama.

    Report Post » ColoradoMaverick  
  • Bill Rowland
    Posted on November 11, 2011 at 6:12am

    Who among us has not been at a loss for words. Has anyone not had a brain freeze?

    OMG

    Report Post »  
    • Dodgerblueboy3
      Posted on November 11, 2011 at 6:23am

      Actually it‘s kind of refreshing to see a plain spoken candidate that can admit he’s human. Rick did that without a teleprompter!

      Report Post »  
    • loriann12
      Posted on November 11, 2011 at 6:37am

      Resist we much….

      Report Post »  
  • TexasKnight
    Posted on November 11, 2011 at 3:49am

    Some of those are quite funny.
    Perry does understand that he needs to appeal to all audiences. There are many people that get all their news from Leno/Letterman. Their vote counts as much as those that educate themselves.
    Perry is far from a Rhino, but nowhere near the best choice the GOP can put up. Newt/Cain/Bachman in any order. If we want to regain some international status, maybe Cain/Bachman with Newt taking over Hilliary’s job.

    Report Post » TexasKnight  
    • 1froglegs
      Posted on November 11, 2011 at 4:09am

      Newt is a RINO. Did you hear his condescending remark about Global Warming on Hannity yesterday. Him and Cain both have character issues. One is an adulterer and the other an accused harasser. Perry is one of the only candidates that can run on what he HAS DONE, rather than what he WILL DO.

      Report Post »  
    • Mil-Dot
      Posted on November 11, 2011 at 5:04am

      I love the State of Texas and Texans in general. They are my kind of folks. But to be honest with you, Perry does not seem to have too much upstairs. I guess if you have had people blow smoke up your butt your whole life telling you how good looking you are you don’t have to study as hard to succeed. Being a guy, I cannot credibly comment on whether or not Perry is “good looking”, I can’t see it, maybe years ago he was. Bottom line, I think he is not very intelligent, and kind of goofy.

      Report Post »  
  • Libertarian B 4 Libertarians Were Cool
    Posted on November 11, 2011 at 3:14am

    Of course Perry couldn’t remember… He doesn’t believe his own BS he spews… He’s the consummate RINO and forgot his talking points….. Time for Ron Paul, and damned right he can win!

    Report Post » Libertarian B 4 Libertarians Were Cool  
    • TEXASGRANNY73
      Posted on November 11, 2011 at 3:55am

      No he can’t.

      Report Post »  
    • Theodwulf
      Posted on November 11, 2011 at 5:15am

      Ron Paul is seen by independents as some crazy little man, Ross Perot part deux!

      All Ron Paul can manage is to ensure an Obama victory. Libertarian ideology doen’t have that wide of an appeal, accept that as a fact. If you support Ron Paul , you are supporting the Communists by proxy.

      Report Post » Theodwulf  
    • GayDem4Beck
      Posted on November 11, 2011 at 6:25am

      Demand – Right We CAIN Win in 2012

      Report Post » GayDem4Beck  
    • qpwillie
      Posted on November 11, 2011 at 7:42am

      Libertarian B 4 Libertarians Were Cool,
      Surely you don’t mean the same Ron Paul who thinks all we have to do is make friends with Iran. That reminds me of the old story where a lady found a snake which had came out too early in the season and was overcome by a clod snap. The woman took him and got him warmed up and fed. After she had him all nursed back to health, the snake bit her. While the venom rushed through her veins, she said “How could you do that after all I’ve done for you?”. The snake replied “Lady, you knew I was a snake when you brought me in here.”

      Snakes do what snakes do and terrorists do what terrorists do.

      Report Post » qpwillie  
    • Will4Freedom
      Posted on November 11, 2011 at 7:51am

      Thudwulf said “Libertarian ideology doen’t have that wide of an appeal, accept that as a fact.”

      I’ve always wondered why folks can praise all the other candidates for their conservative ideas, even if they’ve only been talking about them for the last couple years, but they blast Ron Paul for the same ideas. And RP has been talking AND VOTING those same principles for 30 years.

      I don’t agree with 100% of the Libertarian views, but when you compare the few things I don’t agree with with the HUGE flaws the other candidates have…. I would welcome a Libertarian president with open arms. At least I can count on him doing what’s right for the country and NOT what right for lobbyists.

      Report Post »  
  • Daddymac10
    Posted on November 11, 2011 at 3:09am

    This is serious business trying to unseat Obama and Rick Perry is busy clowning around. It’s time to quit, go back to Texas to govern, and stop wasting our time..

    Report Post » Daddymac10  
    • TEXASGRANNY73
      Posted on November 11, 2011 at 3:54am

      If Rick were Pres. he would inherit the TOTUS and never ever be mistaken for human error.

      Report Post »  
  • One Man Progressive Wrecking Crew
    Posted on November 11, 2011 at 2:50am

    There’s not one good one on the entire net!! I tried em all on GOOGLE and they’re all handheld IPHONE VIDS> SEE BS’s is just a preview. I ban those channels here so I didn’t watch it but would have had it been here! lol

    Report Post » One Man Progressive Wrecking Crew  
  • Founding Father2
    Posted on November 11, 2011 at 1:54am

    Looks like the video went down. Here is another link to the video: http://www.thedailycandidate.com/video/2011/nov/perry_top_ten.html

    Report Post »  

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