Last night's presidential nomination debate in Rochester, MI was a disaster for Rick Perry, as he experienced a temporary memory loss while attempting to name the third of three federal agencies he would close if he were president. While on the one hand, he has warned the public that debating is not his forte, on the other, he reinforced the impression, already strong among certain segments of the voting public, that he is simply not very bright. Having experienced what is commonly known as brain freeze myself, I have more than a little sympathy for Gov. Perry. We all forget names or items on a list from time to time. But Americans searching for strong presidential leadership are not comforted by a candidate who doesn't seem to know what his own radical reform plan consists of. And, to be honest, there is a widespread bigotry in much of the country against people who speak with a Texan accent. Just as many Americans assume someone speaking with a British accent sounds intelligent,...(Read Full Post)