Was Rick Perry high as a kite when he got all flaky in those debates, etc?

[MADem]

His people deny it vociferously, of course.

http://trailblazersblog.dallasnews.com/archives/2012/04/report-rick-perry-allegedly-us.html

"It became an open secret that he was using painkillers in sufficient dosages to keep him standing through the two-hour debates," the eBook says, according to The Daily Caller.

The eBook also describes the "manager of a rival campaign" encountering Perry singing "I've Been Working on the Railroad" in the bathroom before a New Hampshire debate..."The campaign manager made a hasty exit; as the bathroom door closed, he could hear Perry still merrily singing away: "I-I-I've been working on the ra-a-i-i-l-road, all-l-l the live-long day," the excerpt says.

In mid-December, Perry acknowledged that lingering side effects from the surgery had left him "pretty fatigued" and that he became "different candidate" after recovering more fully. He also admitted in February that his campaign suffered from him having the surgery so close to his presidential bid.

But Perry's aides have been adamant in denying the governor's use of painkillers, particularly in connection with his public debates and speeches. And the governor himself dismissed the rumors in November, after an animated speech he gave in New Hampshire.

[denem]

1. Kennedy and Nixon were seated

and after a question, would walk to the lectern.

I'm not sure what point you are making, FDR and JFK had bad backs.

[MADem]

3. Good grief.

Try this: Read the link.

The "point" I am making is that this story has been published, and I am providing it for fellow DUers to read and make sensible, relevant comments about it if they so desire.

What was your point in giving us an unasked for Kennedy-Nixon history lesson? You think they were on the same painkillers? (I'll bet they weren't). What did that debate between the nominees fifty two years ago have to do with a report about a SPECIFIC Republican candidate in a Republican --not nominee--debate, high as a kite?

Your post has no real point. Distracting, derailing, but nothing to do with the post or the link.

The topic is Perry and painkillers, not Nixon or Kennedy.

[denem]

6. Ferry underwent back surgery in July 2011.

JFK suffered from chromic back pain throughout his adult life. "There was hardly a day that went by that he didn't suffer terribly," Jack "had osteoporosis of the lower back, causing pain so severe that he was (at times) unable to perform simple tasks such as reaching across his desk to pull papers forward, or pulling the shoe and sock onto his left foot"
http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/story?id=125593&page=1#.T3rFWu1vljg

There is one class ( and only one ) approved and effective forf the treatment of chronic pain: Opioids.

If Perry's medics gave him too high a dose, or if such was required, he would be, as you put it 'high as a kite'. My point was, and is chronic pain does not disqualify one to be President or to be a good president.

Perry would have been a bottom of the barrel President, with or without pain medication. There is a fair chance he would have been a better President than Romney who (I presume) will never get that opportunity. That's how highly I rate Romney.

If you want to poke fun at chronic pain, go ahead, but watch you back. Opioids, all opioids, induce hallucinogenic anesthesia.

[MADem]

12. You failed to pull the string in your initial commentary.

Had you put your second post first, it would have made a bit more sense in the first place.

I thought TENS units did the trick for some, as well--not just opioids. Jerry Lewis swore by his, and he was in very bad shape. You need a prescription for them, and they are FDA approved.

Nowadays, there are other options: http://www.tensproducts.com/TENS-Unit_c_61.html

They are also doing work on this score, http://pain-topics.org/pdf/OpioidAntagonistsForPain.pdf but that's still an off-label usage, AFAIK.

And for the record, no one is "poking fun at chronic pain." Get off that horse and take the chip off your shoulder. If you'd read the link in the first place, instead of making assumptions, you'd know that. The question--like it or not--is entirely valid. Americans do have the right to know if their leadership is drugged--a leader's right to medical privacy stops when he or she is making decisions under the influence of quite possibly an overabundance of drugs of any sort.

[Drunken Irishman]

2. Reminds me of this scene from The West Wing...

[MADem]

4. "I wasn't supposed to take them both?" nt

[sarge43]

7. "Was I just saying something?"

Great scene and I imagine the cast had a lot of fun with it.

[charlie and algernon]

10. Toby, Toby, Toby, Toby, Toby. Toby's a nice name.

[Skittles]

5. naw; he is just stupid

[sarge43]

8. Yeah, you don't need pills for The Stupid. n/t

[tanyev]

9. I'd never seen him act that goofy before.

[MADem]

11. I think he was high, myself. He can deny it all the live-long day.

I can't claim to know what the guy was like, normally, but he seemed "extra-flaky," even for someone with the claim to fame of being Porgie's successor.

[Mopar151]

13. Compare him to the world standard of stoned:

Baked, broiled, or fried? Chuck Barris........

[MADem]

16. Barris seems much more ... lucid! nt

[Major Hogwash]

14. Surgery for what??

My friend said he was obviously under the influence when Perry was at that one press conference. He said it was Perry's handlers' fault for not yanking him off of the stage when Perry started rambling.

[MADem]

15. Supposedly, his back...? nt

[Major Hogwash]

17. Yeah, right.

And Perry was still popping pills for it 6 to 7 months later!!
How did he hurt his back?
Did he fall off of his horsie?

[MADem]

20. Maybe he fell off the crapper after taking a serious strain.

I'll be honest--I didn't know about his bad back until I read this article, and someone on this thread brought up the surgery.

We know his predecessor Porgie didn't fall off HIS horsie--he was afraid of 'em.

[SoFlaJet]

18. I pegged him as an oxycontin user

especially that day up in New Hampshire when he was so obviously high on them that he was acticg goofy-they do tend to make you a little giddy

[MADem]

19. Good for you!

I will say I don't know enough about pharmaceutical addictions--I came up in the coke and H era -- this newer stuff makes people behave a bit differently, I think.

[libodem]

21. Back surgery

Isn't all it's cracked up to be. Mine failed. Second day post surgery, I had a gruff OT, female come to my room and rush me out of bed. When I straightened to stand something tore or popped loose. I've never been okay since. I have constant sciatic pain in my left leg, clear to my foot. Every step hurts from my foot to the small of my back. Pain meds are for taking the edge off and that's all. They never fully relieve the burn. Then there is the neurontin type, nerve deadeners and muscle relaxers, antidepressants, and antiinflamatories. Nothing gets me remotely high. Perry just seems like a goof ball smart aleck, too cool for school. Just smarmey personality no hat and no cattle.

[MADem]

22. Ouch--sorry for your pain, that can't be fun.

Pity they couldn't just cut the one nerve causing the pain and leave everything else as it is. We're a way from that skill, I think.

[libodem]

23. Thank you sister girl

I finally got SSD on Tuesday. It's been 10 years and two back surgeries. Dooood, I never acted like an ass, like Rick Perry, goofy Gus.. I think maybe he got powdered up or smoked some wacky-weed.

Now, I can pay for a star again.

[Cali_Democrat]

24. Awwww man....I miss Perry.....he was so entertaining

Not only were his gaffes legendary, but he even said he wanted to re-invade Iraq during one of the debates. Even his repuke opponents were taken aback.

[MADem]

25. He was funny, I will give him that~! nt

[timesup]

26. Why deny, it's a reasonable excuse.

I have been loopy from prescribed pain meds before, more than twice, BFD.

Just should have admitted it and be done.

Otherwise, htf can you explain it?

Temporary insanity?

Reps are stooges.

More pissed off at this Michigan state house story pushing through laws, obviously illegally, mentioned by Rachel tonite.

[MADem]

27. It probably would have been better for him if he had so done.

Of course, we prefer leaders who can "maintain" even if they are feeling a bit easy.

Start a thread on your issue, if no one else has yet. I'll bet many would like to discuss it.