Perry is very far from being dumb and clueless.  He’s ad libbed in venues much more difficult than these “debate” stages.  Noticed how many national TV shows that he was able to be interviewed on today, and ended it with a spot on Letterman.  He stays completely on message every time.

You are correct about 9-9-9, or is it 3-3-3 or is it 9-0-9?  Will it be formula 409 before it is all over.

Something that Perry is gradually letting out about the Keystone XL is in really only replaces the crude coming from Venezuela.  There are a total of 13 refineries configured in the U.S. to take that crude as their primary feed (and one in St. Croix)  outside of that such extra heavy crude on the world market gets discounted as it is only good for blending stock.  Keystone XL will hit Chavez in the nads.

Perry has been very careful not to overstate his Energy and Jobs plan’s employment numbers.  What he does know is that the city were the major engineering firms have their petrochemical offices is Houston.  Right now in Houston if you are an engineer, you have a job unless you have an IQ of drool.  They are all backlogged with work to start in states like OH, PA & WV.  1.2 million is a lowball number.  All that is needed are the promised executive orders by Perry and the No. 1 raw material for manufactured products will not stop.  That material is liquid/gaseous hydrocarbons.  It is not about energy for jobs.  Many of those will be union jobs  Think of the Reagan base, and you get Perry’s.

I dont know if I’m convinced on the “Rope-a Dope”. But what surprises me is the the more Cain shows all he has to say is “9-9-9″ and speak in broad generalities, the more people become more visceral in their defense of him, when it is pointed out. It’s actually troubling…we saw this happen in ’08, now the conservatives want their own flavor.