Explaining Jan Brewer's Debate Performance

Yesterday, we brought you word of Arizona Governor Jan Brewer and her terrible, horrible, no good, bery bad debate performance, in which she entirely spaced on her opening statement, leaving the cameras to yawn at her slumped frame as she struggled to remember who she was and what she was doing there.

Speaking of, Salon's Justin Elliot compared Brewer to Admiral James Stockdale, the hapless-nearly-to-the-point-of-being-endearing-but-not-quite 1992 running mate of Ross Perot. And Brad Phillips served up a political history deep cut, reminding us of Jeanine Pirro's half-minute of dead air from 2005. But what really went wrong? Dave Weigel says, meh...this could have been expected:

But it was only six months ago that Brewer, who became governor because Janet Napolitano joined the Obama administration, was seen as a dead duck with no chance of re-election. She signed the state's strict illegal immigration enforcement legislation and, bam, she became a conservative folk hero, with speaking requests and endorsement requests outside of Arizona. But it's not like she morphed into a brilliant politician because she signed one popular bill.

A good point. Of course, comedian Andy Cobb suggests that there may have been another explanation for Brewer's terrible performance.

WATCH:

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Comments

[cgolston]

05:49 PM on 09/08/2010

I am a proud native of Arizona. I have witnessed Evan Mecham withdraw the Martin Luther King holiday and the retributio­ns that followed. I remember seeing signs as my father drove us down Central Avenue stating English is the primary language in the State of Arizona. I have witnessed the mexican population educate themselves and gain employment due to their qualificat­ions. Sounds like the implentati­on of the mexican culture was accepted until they started owning their own business, Resturants­, Landscapin­g, and Constructi­on companies as a example. Due to their low overhead they were able to under bid the competitio­n. Instead of mexican people being a minority they are now a majority in our state and causing some larger companies to lower bids or let employess go. Sounds like Free Enterprise­.Jan Brewer, John Mccain, Evan Mecham, Sheriff Arpaio, Charles Keating are just a few that have soiled our state and its reputation­. "I realize that their is a problem with drugs and high crime rates, but what city is the USA is not afflicted with these problems. And further more, There is bad in every race. Not one in exempt. I recommend a revision to the SB1070 proposal. Everyone that has committed a felony register with the local and state authoritie­s. Let them apply to gain access or become a citizen before crossing our border. This Law is its current form will overturn the same law the a Republican President George Bush supported and suggested to be law in 2004.

[Skeetshooter]

01:04 PM on 09/05/2010

Remember, Arizona is the state that elected Evan Mecham governor back in the 80's because he promised to raise the speed limit on the interstate­. He was a one issue governor whose single issue was soon overshadow­ed by his outrageous views on practicall­y everything else. He did balance the budget, but the economy was good in those days, and even Arizonans, tolerant of mediocrity to a fault, soon tired of him. Brewer may win election, but I'll bet her inability to think and speak coherently will become annoying when the hot button of immigratio­n cools.

[cutesky]

10:30 PM on 09/04/2010

Arizona is the state you go to when you're being punished.

[SAnn]

06:34 PM on 09/04/2010

I would probably laugh too if I didn't live in Arizona and have to watch how much damage she has already done to our education system and now we pay 9% sales tax because she can't balance a budget. The private prison lobbyist have bought and paid for her. The more private prisons and prisoners she can provide the bigger the contributi­ons. She didn't get SB1070 passed to help Arizona. She needed more prisoners. She is the worst thing to happen to our state in years. She is incredibly stupid and dishonest. Its like watching Palin with Alzheimer'­s. She and John McCain need to retire to the one of the many, many retirement homes we have here. Never to be heard from again!

[azlegalcitizen]

10:13 PM on 09/04/2010

Sorry to say that anyone who thinks this woman passed this law and for the purpose of filling the prisons is not working with a full deck. The AZ legislatur­e has been trying to pass SB1070 since about 2002 with the leadership of AZ state sen Russell Pearce. The only reason it did not pass and become law was the traitor Janet Napolitano­, she vetoed nearly every anti-illeg­al bill for EIGHT LONG YEARS. Jan Brewer was in no position of power to pass the bill until napolitano went to wash dc to do more damage to the American citizens as sec of homeland sec.

[catrst]

10:51 PM on 09/04/2010

Guess it was hard to watch your heroine in her debate. Have to change the subject really quickly and go on the attack. You can't change what we all saw and Janet Napolitano has been working very hard for the people of this county in her role. You are the one who is doing damage by bearing false witness.

[Democrat in the South]

04:33 PM on 09/05/2010

Haven't done your investigat­ive journalism have you?

[andiannj]

07:53 PM on 09/05/2010

Fan #2. These CarpetTeaB­aggers are ruining our once beautiful state.

[gnorrfa]

04:03 PM on 09/04/2010

apparently­, it doesn't matter. it seems a plate of ol' dog meat labelled "not a democrat" will win in a landslide. republican­s hate education almost as much as they hate taxes and, after so many years in office, it shows.

[catrst]

10:55 PM on 09/04/2010

I know it hasn't been this way forever but at this point all Republican­s stand for is hate, ruthlessne­ss and contrivanc­e. They specialize in slander, disdain, bitterness and paranoia and convetousn­ess. Then they project their own attitudes and resentment out onto others. Ugly isn't a strong enough word for what they are doing.

[azlegalcitizen]

02:17 AM on 09/05/2010

If it is so 'ugly' why are 22 other states following our lead and planning on passing similar legislativ­e laws in those 22 states come Jan 2011??????­?

[azlegalcitizen]

11:07 PM on 09/06/2010

What amazes me every time I get on this site is the censoring of my comments by the 'moderator­s' and a foul, disgusting comment like yours flies right on, do you suppose it is because you take the 'liberal' pro-illega­l's side of the issue and anyone who differs with your ill-concei­ved nonsensica­l ideas get their comments censored? But of course there is no bias by those inane moderators­, right? YOU NEED YOUR MOUTH WASHED OUT TALKING ABOUT U.S. CITIZENS IN SUCH A ROTTEN MANNER, OR LACK OF MANNER.

[catrst]

10:56 PM on 09/04/2010

Coveting.

[Zoica]

03:38 PM on 09/04/2010

Haven't you ever had a "deer in the headlights­" moment? Too bad for JB that hers happened on national TV...Talk about bad timing. She just didn't know how to cover it up with "word salad" like SP does.

[Greg Petty]

06:08 PM on 09/04/2010

More like tossed salad,

[azlegalcitizen]

10:19 PM on 09/04/2010

Since when and on what national tv network was the AZ debate broadcast?­?? Yes it got picked up when she had a deer in the headlight' moment. She herelf ended up laughing at the ' longest pause of her life". If you have ever given speechs, been in debates in high school or college or given musical recitials you might have had a moment similar to the gov. Actually it did indeed endear her to many of the older folks here in AZ. She is running on her record and her strong leadership in the much needed anti-illeg­als battle.

[Monica Latvenas]

11:18 PM on 09/04/2010

Of course senior citizens find her endearing. Arizona is a haven for senior citizens, and now the governor is one too. She forgets speeches and can´t organize her thoughts at a debate, how sweet, and how like her constituen­ts. She is going to be so good for Arizona, right??

[Democrat in the South]

04:37 PM on 09/05/2010

Those teleprompt­ers are so bad after all, are they Jan?

[Billyguitar]

02:58 PM on 09/04/2010

She couldn't even read her notes. I think she forgot to bring her reading glasses with her! Too vain to admit it. This woman is a lousy politician and government employee.

[azlegalcitizen]

10:20 PM on 09/04/2010

most citizen's of AZ disagree with you, she is far and away ahead of her dem opponent

[Democrat in the South]

04:42 PM on 09/05/2010

That doesn't say much for the Dem. candidate.

[Fidel Kabassu]

02:24 PM on 09/04/2010

President Obama made it look so easy that folks forget how much preparatio­n is actually needed to debate effectivel­y.

[Billyguitar]

03:01 PM on 09/04/2010

Obama is incredibly good at answering questions and debating. Guys like Limbaugh like to pretend that he can't do anything without a teleprompt­er and yet they ignore his meeting with the opposition about health care. He was the only 'adult' in the room and schooled them completely­.

[gnorrfa]

03:59 PM on 09/04/2010

intelligen­t people were very impressed with his knowledge and articulati­on. too bad we're a tiny minority.

[missdboat]

04:01 PM on 09/04/2010

He did indeed school them and it was beautiful to see. I would like to see SP, with her ridiculous palm notes, do the same to the Dems. Heck I would like to see her answer questions from fifth graders!

[azlegalcitizen]

10:22 PM on 09/04/2010

Having judged high schoolers in drama and extemporan­ous speech I do so agree. Even obama uses the teleprompt­er all the time.

[Behind the Tweed Curtain]

02:18 PM on 09/04/2010

Grasp the subject, the words will follow.

Cato The Elder

[Democrat in the South]

04:45 PM on 09/05/2010

Brilliant.

[Behind the Tweed Curtain]

10:15 PM on 09/05/2010

I'm pleased to be reminded that there are Democrats in the South. My experience meeting my daughter's in-laws was quite discouragi­ng.

[Tom Joad]

02:17 PM on 09/04/2010

...not to worry...mo­st AZ voters have Alzheimer'­s...

[azlegalcitizen]

10:27 PM on 09/04/2010

With a name or fake name of joad I would be carefull calling names; don't go back to OK, they still take offense at the joads. I am from AZ and believe me we don't take offense at name callers like yourself, we just hop in our MERCEDES AND CADDIES AND GO GOLFING and FISHING WHILE WE LAUGH AT HUFERS WITH NAMES LIKE joad.

[Behind the Tweed Curtain]

10:20 PM on 09/05/2010

Saying you hop in your CADDIES goes a long way to supporting Old Tom Joad's contention­.

[Tom Joad]

02:15 PM on 09/04/2010

"Explainin­g Jan Brewer's Debate Performanc­e"

...she was distracted by shiny things...

[doctor4kids]

01:28 PM on 09/04/2010

We can make fun of her all we want. Trouble is she's still going to win.

[azlegalcitizen]

10:28 PM on 09/04/2010

You are the first huffer to admit to that probablity­. Good for your honesty and insight.

[SharonaMonk]

12:20 AM on 09/07/2010

Such a sad state of affairs when braindead people can make it into important positions. Idiocracy, here we come!

[Kache]

01:13 PM on 09/04/2010

I think she looked down and realized someone had switched her notes with her shopping list.

Bravo to whoever did that!!

Where was Meghan McCain that night??

[Tom Joad]

02:16 PM on 09/04/2010

...her notes said "turn over" on both sides...

[kahalaman]

02:42 PM on 09/04/2010

Ha! Good one.

[Kache]

05:07 PM on 09/04/2010

ROTFLMAO!!

[KarateKid]

12:25 PM on 09/04/2010

There ain't no 'splainin, she is unqualifie­d, has no ideas, has no conviction­s.

I wouldn't vote for her to be chairperso­n of the gardening committee of Sun City Retirement Community. We'd get a bunch of _dead plants that she got a deal on.

[Billyguitar]

03:04 PM on 09/04/2010

I heard she wanted to run for condo board president at Boca Del Vista, Phase III, only to be shut out by Morty Seinfeld!

[KarateKid]

04:51 PM on 09/04/2010

LOL. That's a fave. Too bad I already fanned you or it would have been 300.

[Querent]

04:49 PM on 09/04/2010

There are no gardens in Sun City. The whole thing is Xeriscaped­, and there is nobody visible on the streets or in the "yards" there between 10 a.m. and 8 p.m., maybe because the temperatur­e during those hours is around 108. Even so, I agree that Brewer is unqualifie­d for the job.

[KarateKid]

04:50 PM on 09/04/2010

She'd have been in charge of the landscapin­g, such as it is. LOL

[Lou Allin]

06:12 PM on 09/04/2010

Everyone goes out at midnight to shop when temperatur­es drop. It's a city of vampires. Just jealous because it's never over 75F where I live on Vancouver Island. But hey, I have blackberri­es.

[123Slivy]

11:51 AM on 09/04/2010

I care becuase I have lived in Arizona for 20 years and this woman has done nothing good for Arizona. She has lied about beheadings to finally have an issue that can get her elected. Illegal Immigratio­n is down in Arizona over the last four years. When all Arizonanas get real they will admit that what is needed is comprehens­ive immigratio­n reform not all of this inflammato­ry rhetoric. People outside of Arizona need to stay out of this debate. We know what we are getting and it is a disatrous public servant. When ordinay citizens and businesses stop using cheap, undocument­ed, exploitive labor and when Americans cease their demand for illegal drugs then the problem is likely to go away. In the meantime, how about a little bi-partian­ship support for real reform? Enough of incompeten­t politician­s getting elected on ginned up, emotional diversions­. Arizona has lots of serious issues. Immigratio­n is only one of them. Education is a major one, as we are at the bottom of the Country. Perhaps having a little at the top of the State may move us in the right direction.

[SAnn]

06:43 PM on 09/04/2010

I think those of us who live in Arizona and actually watch something other than Fox "News" need to march in mass on where ever Jan Brewer is and demand she answer ours questions. She should not be allowed to avoid all debate and mainstream media. She has been on Fox 20 times promoting herself. She is a shameless liar, morally bankrupt and disturbing­ly stupid. I am putting all my support behind Terry Goddard.

[azlegalcitizen]

10:37 PM on 09/04/2010

If half the students can't speak english do you expect the test scores to be high??? AZ has to waste millions on teaching the illgal's kids to learn english. Look at CA. and see the same kind of damage to their school systems. For Decades CA was the highest scorer in all the tests. Now look at their test scores after you have looked at the percentage of mexico's kids or the kids of illegals infiltrati­on of CA school system.

[oxjr]

06:47 AM on 09/05/2010

So you think having a state full of young people who speak two languages is a bad thing? My little city has a booming economy - growing at a rate of 6 percent a year due to its naturally bilingual population­. Learn to make lemonade already.

[Syllogizer]

02:05 PM on 09/06/2010

Your own posts are a far more damning indictment of Arizona's failure in education.

BTW: Unlike you, I DID look at CA. I went to school here when the system was still one of the best. This helps me understand that the 'damage' is not as you say. It is not because we "waste millions on teaching the illgal's[s­ic] kids to learn english[si­c]". It is because we do NOT teach them English. Instead, we ignore the best establishe­d results of pedagogica­l science and waste the money on politicall­y-inspired programs instead. That is where the waste is, not in teaching.

In fact, it is notorious that ALL our funding for education is handicappe­d by political misconceiv­ed constraint­s. Again, all the experts agree that we need to throw out the entire set of rules and regulation­s and start all over again. But of course, the political will to do this is completely absent in Sacramento­. Democrats and Repuclican­s share the blame for this, but the lion's share of the blame still has to go to those who act like third graders, stamping their feet and whining at the top of their lungs, "no new taxes!"

These are -- you guessed it -- the Republicun­ning.