by Maisie Allison
Earlier this month Chait blamed Rick Perry's campaign for bringing back conservative identity politics, defined by a "postmodern approach to objectivity" and the notion that "there is no such thing as truth, only truths from the perspective of a social group." (Friedersdorf had similar concerns.) Now Jonah Goldberg is expressing weariness:
I think conservatism needs to spend less time defending candidates for who they are, and more time supporting candidates for what they intend to do…folksiness isn’t a substitute for seriousness, and I have very little patience for those who pretend otherwise.
Jennifer Rubin nods, and goes further:
Perry hasn’t said very much as yet about what he actually wants to do should he make it to the Oval Office. What does he want to do on taxes, the debt, spending, entitlement reform, immigration reform and the rest? I dunno. I hope we find out and learn that behind that bravado there is a forceful intellect, a yen for reform and a steady temperament…If nothing else, Perry should take a look at Sarah Palin’s disapproval rating with Republicans; the lesson there: Republicans can love your act and abhor the idea of your being president.
Curt Anderson accuses Perry's critics of "arrogance." Seth Mandel maintains that Perry can win the nomination on both policy and personality. Meanwhile, Philip Klein remembers Carter's strategy against Reagan in 1980, and refuses to believe that Perry will self-destruct (he adds: "None of this is to say that Perry is the next Reagan"). And Perry reminds Robert Mann of Goldwater (he too made "ill-considered" comments).
(Video: Fox & Friends anchor Clayton Morris says that Perry's climate denialism is "resonating" and "gaining traction, facts or not.")
The Dish 