Althouse: But did Ron Paul cry "wristhold!"?

September 8, 2011

But did Ron Paul cry "wristhold!"?

"During a commercial break, Perry walked up to Paul's podium, physically grabbed Paul's wrist, and pointed at Paul's face with his other hand."

(Photo at link.)

48 comments:

Anonymous said...: Personal space bubble violation!

But then, according to SOME people, any physical contact is Ron Paul's fault for not backing up.; 9/8/11, 4:05 PM
edutcher said...: Good for Perry.

The Romulan says something he doesn't like and he confronts him.

That kind of fight he'll need once the propaganda machine gets going.; 9/8/11, 4:05 PM
ndspinelli said...: Creepy v Creepier; 9/8/11, 4:07 PM
Naut Right said...: "Dude, you're drilling my brains out!" Perry
"Hey! Not so hah-arrd!". Paul; 9/8/11, 4:17 PM
coketown said...: Technically they were all on the same podium. Perry moseyed over to Paul's lectern. And oh my God that's not even a grab! Perry is resting his hand on Paul's limp wrist. Like, "Hey, partner. Settle down." This faux-dramatic language is ridiculi. "The Rape of the Wrist." Durr. But I'm sure it'll give the Paulistinians something to bitch about.; 9/8/11, 4:20 PM
Fred4Pres said...: Did he badger him too?; 9/8/11, 4:22 PM
Original Mike said...: I think it's more the lecturing finger in his face than the wrist "grab".; 9/8/11, 4:26 PM
SteveR said...: Cookoo CooKoo CooKoo; 9/8/11, 4:27 PM
Lem Vibe Bandit said...: Ron Paul should have stepped back, so as not to infringe on Perry's personal space ;); 9/8/11, 4:31 PM
victoria said...: Ew, Perry gives me the creeps.

Back away from the old man, Rick. Show some respect.
Any person who doesn't lose sleep over the fact that he may have executed more than one innocent person is not who I want sitting in the oval office.

Creepy dude.

Vicki from Pasadena; 9/8/11, 4:33 PM
Cedarford said...: 1. Unwanted touching!
2. Creating an unsafe debate working environment!
3. Elder abuse! (Ron Paul is 76)

Sidenote: List of Republicans that would like to put Chris Matthews in a chokehold and squeeze hard and long - if they could get away with it.

1. Rick Perry
2. Newt Gingrich
3. Rick Santorum (though he would pray for Matthews soul while choking him out)
4. Michelle Bachmann
5. Ron Paul
6. The Goddess of the Yahoos, Her Palinesque Majesty.

Too mellow to choke Matthews out even if they could. Perhaps too mellow for the Religious Right Base:

1. Herman Cain
2. Mitt Romney (it wouldn't look Presidential!)
3. Gov Huntsman; 9/8/11, 4:35 PM
jungatheart said...: No video?

"...but[Perry] wrote a really fancy letter supporting HillaryCare," said Paul [during the debate]."

hee hee; 9/8/11, 4:36 PM
Anonymous said...: Two Texans sortin' it out the Texas way-

Should probably learn to write an op-ed, or sue, or ban something, the New England liberal way; 9/8/11, 4:36 PM
roesch-voltaire said...: I am surprised that in reflex Paul didn't gently put his hands around Perry's throat in response to that hand in his face.; 9/8/11, 4:39 PM
Original Mike said...: "I am surprised that in reflex Paul didn't gently put his hands around Perry's throat in response to that hand in his face."

Perry parried that (chuckle) with the wrist hold.; 9/8/11, 4:43 PM
edutcher said...: victoria said...

Ew, Perry gives me the creeps.

I know. It's called manhood.; 9/8/11, 4:44 PM
garage mahal said...: I am surprised that in reflex Paul didn't gently put his hands around Perry's throat in response to that hand in his face.

That would be the most natural and appropriate thing to do.; 9/8/11, 4:45 PM
Kensington said...: Leaving aside the "assault" verbiage, it bothers me that Perry put his hand on him. In combination with the finger in his face, it makes Perry look a bit sketchy, like, you know, the kind of guy who'd bully an old man.

He can't just keep his hands to himself?; 9/8/11, 4:45 PM
Ann Althouse said...: "I am surprised that in reflex Paul didn't gently put his hands around Perry's throat in response to that hand in his face."

Come on. Admit it! That would have ruled. I'm not saying put the kind of pressure that would make his eyes bulge. I don't want to hear him gasp for a breath. Just enough to feel the warmth on the sides of Ron Paul's neck. The old temperature-gauge-touch we know so well in Wisconsin.; 9/8/11, 4:46 PM
Chip S. said...: Perry's attacking our vulnerable senior citizens!

Next thing you know he'll be wheeling Krauthammer off a cliff.; 9/8/11, 4:48 PM
Right is right! said...: If Ron Paul is not given a fair shot by the Republican Establishment this time around then I think many true conservatives will be sitting out the 2012 general elections. I know I will!; 9/8/11, 4:49 PM
Original Mike said...: "Next thing you know he'll be wheeling Krauthammer off a cliff."

:-); 9/8/11, 4:53 PM
garage mahal said...: The old temperature-gauge-touch we know so well in Wisconsin.

Or the new Wisconsin Floor Stomp. Ryan is focused!; 9/8/11, 4:54 PM
Fred4Pres said...: Ron Paul teaches young Rick Perry...; 9/8/11, 4:55 PM
Fred4Pres said...: Ron Paul goes off!; 9/8/11, 4:59 PM
Paddy O said...: "many true conservatives will be sitting out the 2012 general elections"

Like they sat out for 2008.

Thanks for Obama you vapors ridden "conservatives"!

By letting Obama get re-elected, you are by definition not a true conservative. You're a religious devotee to ronpaulism religion.; 9/8/11, 5:01 PM
J said...: Dr Paul's got issues but that looks like elder abuse. File on the hick Doc.; 9/8/11, 5:06 PM
Gumby said...: Paul should have screamed "Police, Police", just like Anne.; 9/8/11, 5:15 PM
SteveR said...: Paul should have screamed "Police, Police", just like Anne.

Anne who?; 9/8/11, 5:45 PM
Strelnikov said...: Indian Burn.; 9/8/11, 6:25 PM
traditionalguy said...: Maybe Perry was holding Paul so Paul couldn't flee to Mexico.

Someone has to act until the walls are finished.; 9/8/11, 6:27 PM
bagoh20 said...: You guys comparing this the the WI Supreme Court should notice that the analogous action would be if Perry (the aggressor like Bradley) were to now claim he was assaulted by Paul. Paul clearly slapped Perry's palm with the back of his hand. "He bitch slapped my hand!" Call the cops.; 9/8/11, 6:43 PM
Carol_Herman said...: HA! HA!

Drudge actually ran the picture. But without explanation.

As to "wrist hold" ... let him go file a complaint!

I actually thought it was the finger wave ... that was done on purpose!

("Hey, camerman, follow me.")

We need the 3 Stooges. And, a Noogie.; 9/8/11, 6:51 PM
Carol_Herman said...: Next time, every contestant should get one of those long foam "bats."; 9/8/11, 6:52 PM
Cody Jarrett said...: MD 20/20, Carol, or Four Roses?

wv: auntem.

Man. I'm not in Kansas anymore.; 9/8/11, 7:01 PM
David said...: I thought it was Bachmann who chocked.; 9/8/11, 7:03 PM
ryanshaunkelly said...: the RP army now teaching
the meaning of Blowback

Neocon Rick Perry
Heart of Darkness; 9/8/11, 7:25 PM
Carol_Herman said...: You know it was actually funny to watch these contestants giving their opinions about science. Like they're the classified "experts." NOT; 9/8/11, 7:36 PM
Carol_Herman said...: Let's say "one of them is having a presidential moment. And, one of them is NOT."

Probably, as soon as the picture was taken, Ron Paul knew the visual didn't run in his favor.

Everybody would see the finger wave as an aggression where Perry thought he looked better. (But he didn't look like Galileo.)

Ron Paul calls attention to his wrist. Does this make Perry look like a bully?

He certainly does not look like a scientist.

Meanwhile, Bachmann fell out of contention.

Is this good news for Sarah Palin?; 9/8/11, 8:04 PM
roesch-voltaire said...: Althouse you are good at taking the temperature of your bloggers and raising their blood pressure a bit-- that was a clever line and you are right the gesture would have ruled.; 9/8/11, 8:28 PM
Lucius said...: Ron Paul is a political quack, but all the same this is not a confidence-building moment.

Perry looks arrogant and paternalistic. Who is he to get all macho and in the guy's space?

He may be a frontrunner but that's all the more reason, not less, to settle himself down and not get riled by an also-ran. Who is also (for better or worse) a Congressman and an adult, who doesn't need some other dude pointing a finger in his face.

Visceral intuition: don't put your damn hand on me, you old perv!; 9/8/11, 8:43 PM
Jose_K said...: pointing to his support for Al Gore’s presidential bid in the 1980s, including twice calling the governor a “cheerleader.
Reagan supported FDR and was , actually, a cheerleader; 9/8/11, 9:14 PM
Jose_K said...: This comment has been removed by the author.; 9/8/11, 9:14 PM
Steve Koch said...: Perry kind of reminds me of LBJ in this action. LBJ would get close to his antagonist and then lean way forward so that the other guy had to lean way backwards.

I wonder if Prosser started to push Bradley in the chest and at the last instant realized that he was about to cop a double judicial feel so he adjusted his hands upward. In any event, Prosser screwed up when his hands ended up around Bradley's throat.

It is unusual for a GOP pol to have as much fire as Perry. If he does that to Obama, the Secret Service will probably taser Perry.; 9/8/11, 9:25 PM
Carol_Herman said...: Actually, Perry comes off as a bully.

And, least likely to win any Galileo prize.

Perry looks petty. And, not in control of his temper. What set him off? Did the doctor call him a girl?; 9/8/11, 10:28 PM
Anonymous said...: What's the big deal. It's the way Texans communicate. I find it refreshingly genuine.; 9/8/11, 10:31 PM
SPImmortal said...: Any person who doesn't lose sleep over the fact that he may have executed more than one innocent person is not who I want sitting in the oval office.

-------

Nobody's going to lose sleep over your empty conjecture.; 9/9/11, 1:49 AM
SPImmortal said...: Ron Paul is a closet truther idiot, but Perry shouldn't be doing that sort of thing.

It's like Obama slying giving his debate opponents the finger. Kids stuff.; 9/9/11, 1:51 AM