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Herman Cain is officially running for President

Yes we Cain

Herman Cain, a conservative radio host and former business executive, has officially entered the 2012 presidential campaign.

You can watch Cain’s “Presidential Announcement” video below:

Gallup reports that of all the announced and potential Republican candidates Gallup tracks that have name recognition below 50%, only Cain creates strong enthusiasm among those who recognize him.

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COMMENTS

  • altexas

    but it is exciting.

    • lineholder

      I keep telling myself, “Don’t get caught up in the emotional part of it…think…use logic and reason…be rational”, etc. etc.

      But more and more everyday, I’m realizing just how intelligent this man truly is. He impresses the dickens out of me right now, and I’m curious to see how the general public responds to him as his name recognition increases. He may very well turn out to be “the people’s candidate”.

      • http://www4.webng.com/rickbull/lostlucky/ rickbull

        It is not the emotion that draws us to Cain, it is his common-sense take on the issues. But it IS emotion that gets us to the polls, when we the candidate that is right for us.

        I, personally, have not been this enthusiastic about any candidate since Ronald Reagan in 1980. It’s nice to know that it CAN happen more than once in a lifetime.

        • lineholder

          Look at what happened in 2008…people in our country riding an emotional high about “first black President” coupled with “hopenchange”. Bad choice and it’s costing us plenty. Regardless of what my own emotions are, can our nation afford to repeat that error in judgment? No.

          So I’ve held back so far, waiting to see how things unfold before making a commitment.

          But Cain has taken an incredibly intelligent approach in presenting himself to the public so far…right track vs. wrong track. It isn’t as prevalent in his announcement speech as it has been in some of the other speeches he has made, but the message is there all the same.

          Getting back on the right track. Getting back to principles on which this nation was founded. Getting back to rule of law vs. rule of man. Getting back to the economic freedoms that will let our nation succeed. Smaller government. Less government intervention. Less government regulation. More empowering of individual citizens.

          That’s smart, given the right track vs. wrong track polls. It lets him appeal to a broad spectrum of voters, regardless of where their priorities might lie (i.e fiscal vs. social issues). This message could be difficult for Dems to combat, because it resonate with their own base in a lot of ways.

          It just sort of blows my mind to see intelligent that approach truly is. Will it translate into something more substantial? I don’t know. We’ll have to see.

          But so far, I like what I’ve seen of Cain, and I agree with Erick when he says “don’t underestimate the man”.

          • http://www4.webng.com/rickbull/lostlucky/ rickbull

            The 0bama voters were driven entirely by emotion–they were not listening to what the man said, they only heard “hope and change,” but did not hear what “change” he meant to institute. Had they listened to his politics instead of his rhetoric, a good portion of them would not have voted for him.

            I like to think that we at Redstate.com (most of us, anyway) listen to what our candidates have to say–all of what they say, and make an informed choice. It is, however, the passion (emotion, if you will) that gets us out campaigning and voting.

            Emotion has its place in politics, but it should not be what makes our choice: it is what drives us once we have made our choice.

          • lineholder

            has to offer, I don’t want to see us make the same error in judgment in 2012. There’s just too much at stake.

          • http://www4.webng.com/rickbull/lostlucky/ rickbull

            we HAVE to nominate the right candidate this time. The future of our great nation may very well depend on it.

          • lineholder

            First point of business is finding a candidate who will connect with the voters to the greatest extent that it gives us a chance to beat Obama. Also I saw this comment posted over at HA a little while ago:

            “I was listening to Rush?s week in review today and he said that Obama is dying to run against a moderate so that he can run as a conservative. He?s right. Those of us on both sides politically informed enough to realize how ridiculous the idea of Obama as conservative is are very small in number. He could tell a lie that massive and most Americans are stupid enough to believe him. Especially if he?s running against one of the many sensibly moderate milquetoasts too afraid too attack him and his record.”

            Pulling from Clinton’s playbook on that one, presenting himself as having shifted to the right.

            Which means that we need someone who can appeal to a broad enough spectrum of voters to pull in the votes, stay to the right, and present Obama’s record in a very firm but factual way.

          • http://www4.webng.com/rickbull/lostlucky/ rickbull

            I troll the liberal websites (as I am sure many in these parts do), and here is the skinny on The Won:
            He’s deporting illegals at a faster rate than at any time during the Bush administration;
            He has not stopped any of the warrantless wiretapping;
            Still has troops in Afghanistan;
            Still has troops in Iraq;
            Has now involved us in yet another Middle Eastern war;
            Still using powers of the Patriot Act;
            Guantanamo Bay is still housing enemy combatants–I could go on.

            The trick is that he is acting and performing his job like a pseudo-right-winger, and, as a result, has more than half the liberal community ready to PRIMARY his sorry butt, just like they did Carter in ’80. And just like Carter, 0bama will still win the D nomination, but the true Left may be so disenfranchised by November, 2012 that they may stay home rather than vote. The drawback to his plan is that we on the Right know that 0 is not one of us, and any moderate with at least half a brain also knows that 0 is not conservative–and the left already knows that he’s acting too conservative for them.

            The right candidate with the right message can take the White House from The Won, and Herman might very well be that candidate.

          • acat

            If only because, unlike Carter’s day, the Dems have clearly lost their generations-long hold on the House, so absolutely must retain *some* branch… and the 2012 election map has to have the Dem Senators very upset.

            At some point, my bet is that the b-side of the Chicago Way comes into play – that’s the part where nobody gets to the top of the heap without somebody knowing enough to bring ‘em down… and if enough Dem senators want the community organizer gone, he will go. Maybe Rod Blagojevich will get lucky after all….

            Mew

          • http://www4.webng.com/rickbull/lostlucky/ rickbull

            otherwise — and they know this — we on the Right would be throwing their obvious racism right back at them, and they would seriously alienate a good portion of the black vote. Whom do they have to run? Jesse Jr.? Puh leeeze! They lost 15% of the black vote to Republicans last November — how much more can they afford to alienate?

          • acat

            “Secretary Of State Hillary Cliinton”.

            Experience? Check.
            Gravitas? Gotta be better than Obama….
            Twofer? Yeah, we get Bubbal too!

            And don’t forget just how bad Bill’s performance was for Obama. That was worse than “phoning it in”… He’s still got ties to the Senate Dems, after all, and if they want him … he may come out in full-on campaign mode.

            Mew

          • http://www4.webng.com/rickbull/lostlucky/ rickbull

            While the Lefty bloggers are talking a big game on primarying 0bama, the DNC won’t have the cajones to let Hillary get very far. They will tie themselves up in knots with their white liberal guilt, and 0bama will still be their nominated candidate.

          • acat

            One of two avenues… either Cain getting enough traction, at which point they can claim to be “post-racial” and “looking at quality of character, not colour of skin”… (i.e. they’ll have to downplay race if it’s Cain vs Obama anyway…) or …

            Blago has some real dirt, and the power to make it stick. At that point, it puts Obama into Nixon’s shoes… guilty, or guilty-by-association, and unable to effectively run.

            Mew

          • http://www4.webng.com/rickbull/lostlucky/ rickbull

            But I still think that doing so would disenfranchise the black vote–either turn them Republican or give them incentive to sit this one out.

            If they do opt to boot 0bama, I have my blue “Archie Bunker for President” sign ready to stake my yard.

          • lineholder

            Already, it’s running the leftist grinder mill that it’s the second term that will make the difference, not this one.

            If conservatives can’t agree on anything else, we better be united to the last man, woman and child that we will do everything we can to make sure that there is no second term for Obama.

          • http://www4.webng.com/rickbull/lostlucky/ rickbull
          • dudette

            mistake—romney could be a bigger one and pawlenty is a non starter for me. he does not have the telegenic quality needed. neither did daniels. palin, cain both have it. cain would make o look like a total wuss and would love to hear them debate. cain served in the navy at least, o never been near any mlitary service…o is so unqualified and disastrous i think anyone can win against him.

          • http://www4.webng.com/rickbull/lostlucky/ rickbull

            just that this election is so critical, we can’t afford to make any mistakes. If Cain is the right choice (and he looks better than any of the others to me, right now), then we would be making a big mistake if Cain was not our nominee.

  • dontell
  • Doc Holliday

    all he has to do is what he just said, keep America strong by supporting and defending the Constitution.

  • dmacleo

    but some are pretty darn good.
    to me Herman is the man that is pretty darn good.
    perfect?
    of course not.
    willing and able to learn from his mistakes and from others?
    everything I see tells me yes.

    blunt while being polite?
    yes, no mincing or politicizing words just to tell people what they want to hear.

    • lineholder

      He addressed the issues being faced head on back when Hilarycare was being presented, and I’ve little doubt at this point that he would do the same today.

      But he’s got this dignity about him in the way that he deals with people that makes it plain that he isn’t going to his way to be offensive to them. personally..he’s just dealing with the issue at hand in a honest, direct, straightfoward manner.

      As odd as it may sound, I’m finding that kind of honest response very refreshing right now. I’m so sick of the mind games, end arounds, back door deals and playing of politics from every angle known to mankind that I could gag and vomit.

      • dmacleo

        his honest responses are refreshing to us because they are the way many of us speak and because most politicians don’t.
        I find him to be inspirational

  • luvnthebigsites

    That guys like Krauthammer and many others in the elite “axis of stupid”<– (TM?) so called conservative media cant get behind a patriot like Herman Cain. Ya know… I bet if Jesus Christ returned to earth and announced a bid for POTUS it wouldn’t take 24 hours for somebody over at NRO to Poo Poo his chances. How hard is it to say a few kind words for someone that is NOT an establishment candidate 17 months out? Is it really that hard? Where not talking trump here…

    *Sigh*…Boils my blood.

    • http://www4.webng.com/rickbull/lostlucky/ rickbull

      And, yes, he is going to side with establishment candidates rather than taking any chances on the new guy.

      And, on a note of levity, he probably wouldn’t be the first to get behind Jesus Christ, since Charles is Jewish. Once the Herman Cain locomotive gets rolling, however, even the Conservative media will have no choice but to jump aboard. We can’t let the media pick our candidate–WE need to make that choice clear this time.

      NO MORE MCCAINS!

      • Doc Holliday

      • http://impudent.edublogs.org/ kyle8

        He always seemed right down the middle straight fiscal, social, conservative and somewhat of a war hawk.

        • http://www4.webng.com/rickbull/lostlucky/ rickbull

          He is:
          fiscally conservative
          pro-choice
          pro-embryonic stem cell research
          anti-government expansion
          opposed to foreign intervention except where our interests are served.
          pro-Israel (obviously), but supports a 2-state solution
          anti-death penalty
          pro-energy taxation to promote conservation

          That really doesn’t sound like a Republican to me; Libertarian is the best description that fits.

          You have read his columns, haven’t you?

          • Doc Holliday

            Then Stossel and Judge Napolitano are Pat Robertson and James Dobson.

            btw, since when are anti-death penalty, pro-energy taxation, pro Israel, and opposed to foreign intervention except where in our interest are served famously Libertarian views?

            btw, anyone who supports military action when our interests are not served, is unfit for office.

          • acat

            “Libertarian” is now what you call someone who doesn’t believe exactly what you want all Conservatives to believe.

            Both words, “Conservative” and “Libertarian” have lost their meanings, and are now thrown around as labels and epithets. See also Libertine.

            Mew

          • gpclaw
          • Doc Holliday

            or simply a way to diminish libertartians, to make them the enemy.

          • acat

            I look for two things in an ally. Will he pull the trigger? Will he aim at my enemies?

            It’s good to demand purity in politicians, but madness to demand it from our fellow voters. To illuminate, he vote of an atheist communist who believes Obama doesn’t go far enough is just as useful at unseating him as the vote of a libertarian.

            It’s interesting to me to see just how many who should be allies would rather aim at me.

            Mew

          • http://www4.webng.com/rickbull/lostlucky/ rickbull

            is like nailing jello to a wall. Ask five pundits what a Libertarian is and you will get five different answers; and I never said that I disagreed with Krauthammer’s limited support of military intervention; it was simply one example of how his political views are all over the spectrum. He defies political definition, but given the views that he has, he appears (at least to me) to be more closely aligned with the Libertarian Party than with Republicans or Democrats. That’s my opinion, and if you have a different opinion, well, this is America: we don’t have to agree on everything.

            That being said, I will state emphatically that I have the utmost respect for Krauthammer, and read every one of his columns that I can find. He is a brilliant pundit, and a voice of reason and calm that can overpower the rants of screaming liberals.

            btw: I am also a regular reader of John Stossel’s columns, and thoroughly enjoy his take on the world of politics as well.

          • acat

            And I’m far from the only one.

            Since this is well on its’ way to a threadjack, I’ll suggest that we either take the discussion over here:

            http://www.redstate.com/socrates/2011/02/12/how-to-tell-if-youre-not-a-conservative/

            or just drop it.

            Mew

          • http://www4.webng.com/rickbull/lostlucky/ rickbull

            At this point, it’s a difference of opinion, and since the aforementioned post (/how-to-tell-if-youre-not-a-conservative) hasn’t seen a comment since shortly after Valentine’s Day, I will second the motion to drop it.

            I think we’ve pretty much established that we have different definitions of libertarians and conservatives, and that everyone but luvnthebigsites and thibodaux likes Charles Krauthammer.

            All in favor?

          • acat

            I also choose not.

            And I’d say that I take Krauthammer for what he’s worth – that is, a sometimes thoughtful, very inside-the-beltway voice that I sometimes agree with.

            Mew

    • thibodaux

      that people like Krauthammer don’t have something polite and kind to say. I really have no use for anyone inside the beltway. I lived there from 2002 to 2007. Had to get out before you read about me in the paper. Now I’m far enough away to be safe.

  • chbroussard

    I don’t know if any other declared or potential Republican candidate could be a bigger contrast to Obama. Maybe it’s time for a candidate without the hamstrings of being a political animal. It’s time for someone who will use plain old common sense and just do the right thing for our country. Of all the others in the field, Mr. Cain gets my vote.

  • Old_Crow

    than conservative (small government) ideals. He’s a smart guy and does a great job debating around a table of liberal commentators.

    Its been a long time since he’s been to a BBQ with non-city folks. There’s another world of conservatism out there that he doesn’t know. Day-to-day stuff that folks live and breathe in the rural heartland of America.

    (Yeah I’m from NY, but I hate NY)

    • acat

      Charles is pretty bright, but he’s also a member of what we used to call Country Club Republicans. That is, the “old money” GOP that the Libs routinely bash when they say things like “The GOP is the party of big business” .. nevermind that it stopped being true decades ago, there are many billionaire Dems now.

      The point here is, Charles’ worldview is very insider. I’d call him a very “estabishment” kind of conservative, and he doesn’t seem to do much to get out of that circle. Same is also true for George “No Blue Jeans” Will.

      Mew

  • traversecityconservative

    …was the day that McCain introduced Sarah Palin and I got to hear her speech. We’ve got some great patriots out there.

  • paramedichess

    I like Cain, but I am keeping my powder dry. In order to gain my support, he needs to do three things. First, he has to show himself to be a fundraiser. Whoever we nominate will be going up against the billion-dollar president, and has to have the resources to fight the fight. Second, he has to show that he can get beyond the one-liners and offer significant and substantive policy proposals. I don’t mind voting for someone who has never held office, but they have to show they have a good understanding of how the wheels of government work and how to make change happen through the awful Washington machine. Third, as his stock rises, the left will begin to pay attention to him, and thus begin to attack him. He is going to have to prove able to defend himself and keep his opinion numbers in the positive (this was Palin’s undoing). If Cain can do these three things, I think he has the potential to be an outstanding candidate, and possibly an excellent president. (On a side note, he needs to get a new website…my daughter could put together something more impressive)

    • blooch

      You stole my comment.

      Right now, he’d take GA easily…but right now is a long way out. Let’s see what this green room greenhorn learned from the tut-tuts about his Afghanistan stance. Bill Bennett and Byron York were fretting about that, but a few days later, Cain was on Bennett’s show, so I don’t think there’s an Establishment lockout, just some healthy vetting and skepticism. And I think the website problem is shoestring budget stuff. I kind of like that, but I know it needs to be fixed.

      Sauron’s eye is now locked on him, for sure.

      • 20jan2013
  • madjayhawk

    I am a Romney supporter basically because I think that we need seasoned executives like him running the country. We do not need political hacks who look at everything through their own political self interest prism. We need someone who will work for the country and not some special interest group. Romney, I think, is such a person.

    However, I was very very impressed with Cain’s speech in Atlanta. He is on my radar. He has the credentials I like in a presidential candidate. He has the fire and the passion. He has the ability, I think, to unite this country and to lead us to bigger and better things. And, best of all, he is a true blue conservative.

    We will look forward to the debates where we can compare the candidates side by side. I just hope that the fine folks in Iowa and New Hampshire do not kill his candidacy before it really has a chance to show us what kind of person he is. (We need to change the nominating and primary process – desperately.)

    • Tom Anderson

      Romneycare and all the flip-flops hanging around his neck.

      That is to say a man with great experience at bringing so called lost-causes back from the brink of disaster.

  • abeldred

    Herman Cain is under the radar of the MSM and the establishment GOP and that is just fine. Let them haggle over the likes of Romney, Huntsman and Daniels. The candidate that is going to shine and be able to take on Obama mano y mano is Cain. Let’s just see how truly ludicrous the media and the lefties look when they call Cain a racist. Huh?? I believe that as he gets more name recognition (and there’s still plenty of time before the primaries) he will show himself to be the guy to beat. Cain/Bachman looks good to me.

    • thibodaux

      you on that 1. I’d vote for that!

    • acat

      as long as they can. They know treating him seriously will start the heads popping all over liberal-land.

      Mew

      • http://908StraightSt.wordpress.com/ mbecker908

        He can not only handle the MSM, but I’m pretty sure he’s capable of doing a Bibi on them and taking them to school.

        I would expect TPaw to be able to hold his own, I would have thought Daniels would have been able to but I’m beginning to question that, given his proclivity for jamming feet in his mouth. I have zero confidence in any of the other potentials to do anything else but get eaten alive.

        • acat

          He’s picked a very tough row to hoe. One that desperately needs it, and one that he’s singularly suited to, but it’s going to make a lot of people uncomfortable before he’s through. And that’s a Good Thing.

          Mew

          • http://908StraightSt.wordpress.com/ mbecker908

            I’ve EVER seen. Heh.

          • lineholder

            There could be an element of danger in this for Cain that other candidates might not face. He’s an intelligent man, and I would say he’s already considered that possibility, and made the choice to run for President anyway.

            It speaks volumes about the man’s character.

        • 20jan2013

          or he could really take Obama to school!

          • 20jan2013
  • blaze422

    It amazes me how few of my friends are familiar with Cain. Chris Wallace has him one on one tomorrow morning. Am I crazy to expect a bounce in the polls next week?

    • Lamplighter331

      When Cain was asked whether he supported the “Right of Return” for Palestinians, he was caught flat footed. He did not know the issue. He was not aware of what it was. He compounded the error by saying it was something that could be “negotiated” and that he, in fact, supported it, but not on Palestinian terms.

      Look, I like Herman Cain, but his team has got to get on the ball here. This was a major screwup, both in how it looks to the issue of the day (Obama’s horrid Middle East speech) and in how Cain looks, from the perspective of not being very up to speed on foreign affairs.

      I’m an amateur political junkie, but I can tell you what the right of return is, and why it’s suicide for Israel to even contemplate it.

      Not a good start for the Cain express.

      • lineholder

        That’s twice now that Cain has let foreign policy issues become an obstacle. And given that this was such a high-profile issue this week….yes, Cain’s response to the situation was a fail.

        I agree with your assessment…his team better get up to speed and quickly if they want a chance to do well in this election.

        • Doc Holliday

          there was no fail. He simply needed the guy with notes to explain the question more clearly. Yes, you are nitpicking.

          • lineholder

            http://blogs.abcnews.com/thenote/2011/05/herman-cain-blunders-on-palestinian-right-of-return.html

            This has been high-profile all week, what with Bibi being in town taking Obama to task and all.

          • lineholder

            If Cain wants to earn the support of conservatives who question his credentials, he needs to be up to speed on what’s going on, Doc.

      • Lamplighter331

        It didn’t take long for the lefties to jump on Cain’s error:

        http://thinkprogress.org/2011/05/22/herman-cain-right-of-return/

        • dudette

          for screwing up Middle East history and having to be taught on TV by Bibi

        • Doc Holliday

          Here is the transcript:

          “Where do you stand on the right of return?” asked Wallace.

          “The right of return? [pause] The right of return?” asked Cain.

          Wallace then offered more information, “The Palestinian right of return.”

          “I think it should be negotiated,” Cain replied.

          Wow, a Macaca moment, he is toast!!! NOT, nor was Maccaca a big deal, it was only a big deal when Repubs went wobbly.

          btw, I think after Krauthammer and Wallace we must assume FOX is anti-Cain. This could change but it is a fair assumption at this point.

      • Doc Holliday

        Americans don’t care about that stuff. The fact is the Fox guy tried a gotcha on Cain, no question about it. He did not say Palestinians, he just said what is your position on Right of Return.

        Cain said it was up to the Israelis to decide, and that is the exactly right answer. Obama would have gone and an on about all the differently victim groups, the Israelis, the Palestinians etc. Cain said the right thing.

        Someone downthread said “Right of Return” is the key issue in the Middle East peace process. No, the key issue is they all want Israel destroyed. Right of return is just one of the back up methods if explosions don’t work. It is a way to make Israel a formerly Jewish state.

        Here is the Wikipedia description of “Right of Return”. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Right_of_return

        Wow, it is based in International Law, specifically the UN Universal Human Rights Declaration! Man, that is certainly important to we libertarian-conservatives!

        • lineholder

          If Cain wants to win this, he’s going to earn the confidence and respect of conservatives who have their very justifiable doubts about his lack of experience in politics. And this might have been a chance to move in that direction, that’s all.

          • Doc Holliday

            I was being too defensive. I know the MSM will not rest until ALL of our candidates are marginalized and made to look unfit for office. I guess my radar is very sensitive to these attacks. Every serious Republican candidate will sooner or later get the Macaca treatment

            I just saw the GE video on Reagan and was reminded how badly our field looks compared to the great one. This is not idol worship, I believe our nation DESERVES someone who can at least remind us of Reagan, we need someone who knows foreign policy, domestic policy, AND has a vision for getting this nation off the mat and putting us back on top.

            I actually called Cain out for gaffes in the Repub debate here http://www.redstate.com/erick/2011/05/05/gutsy-calls-and-pride-before-falls-eers/

  • phenry

    And Krista Branch is apparently on board.

  • ningrim

    I actually like him better in interviews than on the stump.

    He should give speeches more like he does interviews.

    Less dramatic preacher, more dinner table common sense.

    Also, if Palin decides she isn’t running, I wonder if she might be waiting to see how Cain performs before endorsing him.

    I don’t see any of the other candidates inspiring her (maybe Rick Perry), and she is known to endorse long shots.

  • rugbyrugby

    I could have done without the opening scenes of the video, an obvious attempt to relate with rural folks like myself. I do not know who was doing the editing, but him yanking his hand back when the cow’s nose touches it, doesn’t scream “comfortable on the farm.”

    • Tom Anderson

      I think it’s in there not to try to pander to rural folks, but to emphasize that he started his life’s journey on a farm.

  • Darin_H

    so hopefully that bodes well for his appeal to independents. She pays less than zero attention to politics outside of listening to my rants, she only heard him because she was doing something else in the room when I was watching the SC debate, he was the only one that caught her attention.

    • lineholder

      did she mention anything in particular about Cain that caught her attention?

      • Darin_H

        I can’t remember what the specific areas during the debate were (it was a couple of weeks ago and we have a 6 week old baby girl, so my memory is shot right now), but she really liked him, and I was shocked that she even said anything about any of the candidates.

  • lineholder

    Herman Cain
    From Team HC: You hear it here first! Our boss, Herman Cain, will be the FIRST 2012 Republican presidential candidate on ?Huckabee? following the Governor?s decision not to run for president. Tune in next Saturday for this exclusive interview and don?t forget to watch FOX NEWS SUNDAY tomorrow morning at 9 a.m. EDT!

    • acat

      Reaching out via Huck’s show – to Huck’s army of supporters – is potentially a very good move.

      Mew

      • lineholder

        BTW, the area where he announced his candidacy holds 12k, and it is being reported that it was fully packed and running over.

        Not bad this early for someone with low-name recognition.

        • acat

          To get the radio show he has, he’s got enough name recognition to draw people in. He’s not Rush or Hannity, but he’s not nobody….

          The point is, there are definitely people who have known of Cain, have listened to him for some time, and who are willing to get active and get stuff done.

          The media would rather this not be true, and unlike in the case of Sarah Palin, have decided to ignore Cain and hope he goes away. I don’t think this will work any better than ignoring Palin did .. if anything, it may backfire even more spectacularly.

          Mew

          • lineholder

            it could definitely backfire in a hurry, acat, probably more so than the MSM could imagine.

            And maybe I should have included a sarc indicator when I made the comment about low-level name recognition. What name recognition Cain has he’s definitely earned. It isn’t because he’s had the Repub Party rooting in his corner or had a big-labor organization sending out memos, that’s for sure.

          • acat

            My sarc detector broke, so I just take everything seriously unless it’s clearly tagged. I have some of the most interesting conversations that way…

            Mew

  • jayp

    Who is that girl in the bottom right corner holding a picture of? It looks like Obama to me.

  • edwyrd

    listened to him on radio for a year prior to his presidential run.
    He likes the libs when they uncle tom him! just wait for the libs to put the bullseye on him. He will eat them for lunch!

    • lineholder

      I’ve heard this mentioned in the tone that this is something that would be injurious to Cain and he wouldn’t be able to overcome it, etc. But he’s already been getting it for a while, just for being a solid black Repub. He usually laughs it off and goes on his way. It doesn’t phase him in the least for libs to throw this kind of rhetoric his way. If he has to take a stand on it he can, does and will. But it doesn’t intimidate him at all.

  • pantera

    that’s why they voted for him…he promised free healthcare, increased welfare,housing,a free chicken in half the pots,, no war,national respect,blah blah blah…

    wall street gave cause they want to have the lil guy regulated out of bizz…

    and then there was the black thing but mostly just the democrat
    vs republican…

    republicans ran a rhino didn’t help.

    now to Herman Cain…i voted for him here in georgia and would do so again…hes a real man and standing beside barak it would be obvious and he can speak with the black preacher voice.
    and that speech style is very ”emotional”

  • 20jan2013

    How ironic–why didn’t anybody tell me all we had to do was drop the “Mc” to find a great candidate?

  • akafroman

    nt

    • lineholder

      Cain’s getting the chance to make himself known on his own terms, and it is working relatively well for him, too.

      • akafroman

        I was hoping that people would see his picture and say “who the heck is he?” and then they could find out on youtube…youtube was what converted me

  • rightwingmom52

    If they voted for O in 2010 but support Cain in 2012, are they racist again? If they voted for McCain but support Cain in 2012, are they still racist? Or are they like me and skin color doesn’t matter?

    I know the answer. Just wondering if the media and liberals will ever figure it out.

    • lineholder

      they won’t own up to it. Liberals won’t either. It takes away one of their most favorite tactics of yelling raaaaccciiisstt as a means of trying to control the narrative.

  • keepourrepublic

    The kind of support that Hermain Cain is getting seems like the kind of support Obama got early on in his campaign. Didn’t we all have a real problem with America electing a man who had no record?

    As Conservatives we should be conservative and not trust a candidate until we can verify his credentials. I’d love to see Hermain Cain become a governor of a state so we could see how he would govern. Without that kind of information he is a mystery meat. Who knows what he’s going to do?

    What exactly is there to suggest that Hermain Cain in office won’t be a Progressive Republican? Nothing but words. Haven’t we spent the past several years mocking a man who has been nothing but words? Hermain Cain has no record in office. All we have are his words.

    His running a corporation properly does not indicate anything as to how he will be in office. Many candidates have good private sector experience before they get into office and prove themselves to be Progressive Republicans.

    His invoking God likewise does not indicate how he will govern. A lot of really religious republicans find it really easy to be a Progressive Republican. Basically because a lot of the republican base think it’s okay for an elected Republican to be socialist leaning if they talk about God a whole lot. I can’t verify this about Cain because again, he has no record in office.

    In the video above Hermain Cain doesn’t mention liberty once. He doesn’t mention property rights. He doesn’t mention individual liberties. He doesn’t hit on those key words that would suggest he has a deep understanding of limited government principles.

    Hermain Cain seems like he is the Obama of the right. Charismatic with his base, possesses no record to suggest he will do as he says, and yields followers who ignore that he has no record on the basis of his charisma.

    • cpaguy

      Cain has real world experience. As a business person (years in corporate America and getting my own business off the ground now)…I appreciate that a thousand times more than government experience.

      I have seen too often how politicians have no basis in reality. Most have gone from college, to law school, to lawyer, to government. That is not the path of one who has much real world experience.

      You see the inept bottome feeders in business too (the bosses who only get by off the toil of their staff…but take all the credit & $) or education (terrible administartors) or even the neighborhood association.

      Cain is somebody who has performed all his life. He is not an actor….like all of these politicians. We know what he will do based on what he has accomplished in life.

      He is not somebody who has come to politics based upon the back slaps of buddies and the toil of campaign managers. He is self-made. Like many of the founders of this nation.

      • keepourrepublic

        A lot of politicians have real word experience before they get into office and disappoint.

        You want to build Hermain Cain up by tearing down politicians generally. That is not a point in his favor.

        Your third paragraph seems like you’re agreeing with me.

        You say that Cain “performs” but is not an actor. That doesn’t make sense. And a lot of peoples favorite hero is Ronald Reagan, an actor. Again that’s not a point.

        Hermain Cain ran a company well. What else? Where’s the beef?

        I’m not arguing that Hermain Cain is not self made. I’m saying that being self made does not at all indicate how he will govern. To make your point you need not only show some correlation between self made men and how they will govern, but also that how they govern is as you say Hermain Cain would. If anything you should find that self made men govern even more widely from each other as has been their own individual paths to success because they too can fail in office.

        • onemovoter

          Seems like all Ron Paul types have is to tear down other candidates instead of trying to build up Ron Paul. People here who have looked into Herman Cain really like both his 40 years of business experience as well as his ability to speak coherently and inspirationally. There isn’t that much difference in the majority of stances between Ron Paul and Herman Cain. The problem with Ron Paul is the way he presents himself. I like a lot of what he says, but he grates on me more than listening to Obama does in the way he talks.

          I’m guessing this is why 90% of the posts in support of Ron Paul are those denigrating other candidates instead of being positive on Ron Paul. That’s why he won’t get more than 10% when the votes start happening.

          • keepourrepublic

            I am making two points:

            ? We have no idea how Hermain Cain will govern and….
            ? Conservatives are falling in love with Hermain Cain just as many people fell in love with Obama.

            You presume that I am a Ron Paul supporter. I am not. In fact I agree with you that Ron Paul has a personality that can get in the way.

            Try to avoid fighting strawmen.

    • ohiohistorian

      Obama had no executive record. He HAD a political record, as anyone who had read what he did in the Illinois Senate on the “Born Alive Act” there can see. He has a record of being the head of a foundation that handed out money. Beyond that, nothing.

      Herman Cain has been an executive (Godfather’s Pizza) who brought a company back from bankruptcy (that is where this country is now, so the experience would be helpful). I have listened to Herman on the Atlanta station for a long time, and you can read his writings on places like townhall.com. In fact, the only comparison I can see between Cain and Obama is the baritone timbre of their voices. All else weighs heavily in Cain’s favor.

  • traversecityconservative

    and that’s INTELLIGENCE and knowledge of our candidate. Obama won because he was the first “black” candidate with a shot to win and because people decided “hope and change” was an actual policy. I can’t tell you how many of my Democrat relatives were only able to quote “hope and change” when I asked them why they were voting for Obama. They were Bush haters, plain and simple, from the unbiased media reports during his presidency. They had absolutely what they even had hope for. Herman Cain’s voters are very passionate. I’ve never spent so much time and money on a politician. He’s a regular guy, I trust him and I agree with 99% of what he says. The only candidate that I see who could beat him for the nomination is Palin (who is my second choice). And I still don’t think Palin is actually running. With her support, she could really put him over the top. I’m listening to Fox right now and they are as idiotic as the Dems calling Cain a “long shot.” They have no idea what’s going on out here in the real world. I have already up to 12 on the number of liberal friends and families who’s I’ve converted from Obama voters to Cain voters.

    • keepourrepublic

      ? “Herman Cain?s voters are very passionate.”

      Going on emotion not calculation. Just like Obama’s voters.

      ? “He?s a regular guy, I trust him and I agree with 99% of what he says.”

      That’s what is said of every candidate ever elected to office.

      But I’ll break that down ever further: You know many regular guys who are CEOs? How many actual regular guys would you trust to be in office? You like his words. Again just words. Why should everyone trust your judgement, when you can’t back up that judgement other then to say you like his words?

      • lineholder

        And no, we can’t afford to ride an irrational emotional high in 2012. I’ve already made that comment myself.

        But we do need a candidate that can appeal to a broad enough spectrum of voters and generate the enthusiasm that it would take to get those voters to the voting booths in 2012 so that we can beat Obama.

        Putting the “experience vs. enthusiasm” factors that play into this situation into place to determine which has a higher priority right now isn’t as easy as it seems, because a candidate could have all the experience in the world but if they can’t get voters to the booth…we’ll have another 4 years of Obama.

        • keepourrepublic

          ? “But we do need a candidate that can appeal to a broad enough spectrum of voters”

          Has Hermain Cain demonstrated this? Nope. The only election he was in was a GOP primary where lost with 26% of the vote in a three way race.

          ? “and generate the enthusiasm”

          He can generate enthusiasm among social conservatives sure. He can also pull a certain type of uninformed voter who responds to his charisma. That is not an enthusiasm profile that fits a limited government conservative. It actually fits a profile of a Progressive Republican.

          What is the point of electing a Progressive Republican? I thought the whole point was to oppose socialism.

          • lineholder

            that just because Cain has business experience this automatically makes him a big-government, grow government, Progressive Republican, you’re wrong. (And I really hope these blanket generalizations come to an end soon). He’s made it plain time after time that he is pro-American (he despises socialism) and believes in limited government. Check that out for yourself, because it is the truth. He’s been preaching this philosophy at the top of his lungs for a couple of years now, okay?

            Moving on to other things…

            Erick has mentioned himself that the general public is in an anti-Washington frame of mind, and I basically agree with that statement. What it means in the context of the election is that the general public may be more open-minded to considering a populist type of candidate than it has been for a long time. They’ll go with an outsider who presents the basic philosophy they are looking for before they’ll go for another status quo politician (regardless of experience) in a heartbeat. That’s just the frame of mind that exists right now.

            It isn’t all up to you or me or anyone else on this site or any other site. It’s up to the American people as a whole who they will choose. And I don’t think either party is going to very successful at controlling the narrative and dictating candidates this time around. The anti-Washington environment is too prevalent right now.

            If this anti-Washington trend continues to remain as strong as it has been recently…Cain could very well turn out to be that populist candidate. The biggest problem he could end up facing is those of us on the conservative side of the fence who can’t reconcile his lack of executive experience in the realm of government.

            We could end up being our own worst enemies here if we aren’t careful, because if the general public gets behind Cain, he could very well open the doors to engaging the broad spectrum of voters and generating the enthusiasm that it takes to get voters to the booth in 2012 so that we can beat Obama.

            But Cain does has to present himself as a credible candidate. There’s no doubt about that. If he doesn’t, the enthusiasm will fade away into nothing, and our chances to beating Obama in 2012 will depend on the experienced candidates we do have in an anti-Washington political environment. Which probably won’t go well for us, At all.

          • keepourrepublic

            If he believes in limited government then why didn’t he spend as much time on limited government in the above video as he did making it clear that he is a social conservative? He is making it clear that he is a social conservative before any other type of conservative.

            You conflate a person claiming to be Pro-American with being anti-socialist. FDR was Pro-American and yet he was also a socialist. Bush was Pro-American, but yet gave us Medicare Part D and No Child Left Behind, both big expansions of our government.

            As I said above, “His invoking God likewise does not indicate how he will govern. A lot of really religious republicans find it really easy to be a Progressive Republican. Basically because a lot of the republican base think it?s okay for an elected Republican to be socialist leaning if they talk about God a whole lot. I can?t verify this about Cain because again, he has no record in office.”

          • acat

            Or, if you want it simpler, one word. Primaries.

            Social Conservative cred comes before, in the order, small-government cred.

            On that note, there really isn’t a small-government litmus test state.. Probably used to be up in New England somewhere, but the last of the rock-ribbed repubs from that area have been overrun by refugees from the Peoples’ Republic of Taxachussetts….

            Anyway, point is to win the primaries, Cain needs to make sure he’s got his social conservative cred on full display. He can circle back to small government cred to win the general.

            Mew

          • keepourrepublic

            The Republican Party pays lip service to limited government principles. Why is that? The Republican Party nominates candidates who will not fight for limited government. Because? As you say, limiting the size of government is not a priority to social conservatives who form a solid voting block in primaries.

            So riddle me this: how is a process that eliminates the precise kind of people we need help us to get out of this mess?

            It’s possible that we could get a candidate who is as strongly for limited government as he is a social conservative, but the plain fact of the matter is the system you advocate results more often in social conservative candidates who pay lip service to limited government principles. Then social conservatives act surprised when the GOP doesn’t have a spine for limiting government.

          • lineholder

            Those are the kind of statements that someone who has a general bias against social conservatives would make, using blanket generalizations to imply that all social conservatives are actually big government advocates and therefore are not trustworthy when it comes to considering a means of reducing the size of government.

            Believe it if you want to. That’s you choice. But I would like to ask how you plan to remedy the situation as it stands? You have admitted yourself that social conservative form a solid voting block in the primaries. If you see that as being such an impediment, what suggestions would you offer to remedy that?

          • keepourrepublic

            because you don’t see this as a problem for the Republican Party.

            I don’t know how serious social conservatives think limiting government is. Some are functionally for big government, while some are not. What I do know is that when it comes to electing candidates they find that, as acat said, “Social Conservative cred comes before, in the order, small-government cred” and that results in weakening the GOP credibility on limited government.

            If you want your car fixed do you go to your neighbor who is primarily a gardener and works on his own car as a hobby? Or do you go to your neighbor who is a certified mechanic? One is going to do a better job then the other at fixing your car. Who exactly do you think it’s going to be?

            As it is I don’t know how to remedy the situation. I have seen fellow republicans who I agree with on everything else turn hard against a candidate because of social issues. And that was for an office that could do nothing about social issues.

            If you know that a candidate is a Progressive Republican would you vote for him in the primary?

            Knowing that a proven method for Progressive Republicans to get into office is by being the most socially conservative in the race do you a) try to make sure you’re not going to get conned by that or b) don’t worry about it and hope for the best?

            What do you think that most social conservatives are going to to do? Many social conservatives think that Herman Cain is oh so dreamy. He mouths some words about limited government and they are satisfied assuming like acat does that, “He can circle back to small government cred to win the general.”

            Would you as a social conservative like a candidate that is strongly limited government, but then swings around when it is convenient to touch on social issues for your votes? No. And it doesn’t work any better the other way around.

            But this isn’t 2000. This is 2012 we’re talking about. A lot of disaffected republicans formed the Tea parties because of big government and they see the republican party as part of the problem. We need a rock solid limited government Republican candidate for president this time around. Are you going to go with a candidate that might well be a Progressive Republican? Or are you going to verify that he’s not?

          • http://theminorityreportblog.com Repair_Man_Jack

            The Republican Party pays lip service to limited government principles. Why is that? The Republican Party nominates candidates who will not fight for limited government. Because?

            The GOP fails to practise the Gospel of limited government because Big Government allows them to hand out patronage as well. The SoCons have very similar fiscal views to most other Conservatives. They don’t get represented once a candidate gets on K–Street anymore than FIscons or DefenseCons typically do.

      • lunaticrex

        …but you seem to have something against him. I don’t pretend to know what that might be. Why does the glass have to be half-empty? It could well be that HC will be the man we’ve been waiting for. Are we to forgo an opportunity to get our nation back on track because “we just don’t know how he’ll govern?” Not me. Herman has my support because he lacks executive experience. That lack means he also lacks D-C.-itis. He has held jobs. Successfully. Wildly successfully.

        He does need to get up to speed on foreign policy, that’s true. He needs advisers and staff to guide him along. As someone else said, I know what right-of-return means, because I am a political junkie (among other reasons); I’m not worried that Cain didn’t know.

        Note: It is troubling that he failed to grasp the importance of BO’s Thursday speech in the context of his run. That should have told him to catch up on the Israel / Palestinian issue before he announced.

        He will get his act together. Right now, he’s the only announced (or expected) candidate I can support. No offense to any Romney, T-Paw, Palin or Newt supporters. They all have their good points, but some have deal-breakers (at least for me – Newt and Mitt for sure).

        • keepourrepublic

          Trust, but verify is a very conservative principle. I would like to trust that Hermain Cain is not a Progressive Republican, but we cannot verify this to be true.

          And the longer that I have paid attention to republican politicians and have been active in my local republican party the more I have come to understand a simple rule of thumb: expect someone to be a progressive republican until they prove otherwise.

          The argument that we should vote for someone because he lacks experience is one that was fielded by Obama supporters. Again, not helping the case that he’s not the Obama of the right.

  • utahtim

    Mr. Cain’s response to the Right of Return question on Fox: “I don’t think the Israelis have a problem with the Palestinians returning” was pretty awful. Foreign policy seems not to be his thing. I wanted to like him as a contender, but it’s pretty important for a president. The odious outfit Think Progress is already jumping all over it. If there’s a silver lining, it’s for Newt in that this gaffe should push his gaffes off the front page for awhile.

    • cpaguy

      Really, the Israel/Palestine issue is not one the President of the USA is going to be of much help with.

      The US has been at it since the establishment of the Israelli state…to consistent and predictible failure….so I don’t see how it is actually relevant given that the USA is in a fiscal crisis, and solving the problems of Israel is not going to help with that.

      However, it will help the Cain team prepare for future debates and TV appearances. Unlike Palin (who was forced upon the national scene with 100% name ID off the bat), he will have a few months to hone is message and develop policy stances on things that Presidents have absolutely nothing to do with (but for whatever reason the media seem to think is important).

  • concap

    Watched Fox News most of the morning, heard them say a lot of things second-rate at best about Cain.

    I don?t think he will get a lot of help in the beginning from any media, left or right.

    I think Fox News is run by the establishment.

    • lineholder

      As much as I like Cain, he had an opportunity to redeem himself this morning on foreign affairs issues and blew it. After all the talk that’s gone on this week about the Israeli/Palestine crisis and the “Right of Return”, Cain responded as if he was totally oblivious to the fact that this is the underlying issue involved in the crisis.

      With his experience in business, I have no doubt that the man knows what having a competitive edge can ultimately mean. But he’s not helping himself any right now with these kinds of responses.

      • concap

        in the military dealing on the defensive side of Nuclear, Biological and Chemical warfare my MOS, most of which was with a top secret clearance, Cain has no clue what so ever, even to base a personal opinion on, let alone one he could stick his neck out on and run on.

        He is doing every thing correct when it comes to talking about a defensive military platform. Nothing.

        Obama ran his mouth, told the people what the wanted to here just to get elected, only to find out nothing he said could be done. Not one. All of the Bush policy in regards to foreign military ops. are still in affect.

        Would you rather Cain just ran his mouth, spouting foreign policy not based on no facts, just to get elected?

        People who run Cain down on this issue are just nit picking and are trying to swim up stream against the flow with out getting jumped on by others.

        Know one else running at this time has the clearance need to base a foreign military policy on and are talking out of their B-Hind when they do.

        That?s why I am not interested in anyone else?s opinion here on RS. There opinions? are what they would like them to be, not what it can be.

        Staying in, or getting out, is the only personal opinion any one can say with out all of the facts.

        May is ask, what is your foreign policy shord of staying in or getting out and what are the top secret facts they are based on that Cain may not have access to?

        • lineholder

          If you think I’m trying to knit-pick at Cain…you’re wrong. If you think I’m trying undermine Cain…again you’re wrong.

          When I look at the situation as a whole, I see a strong possibility that Cain has the greatest potential of all the candidates currently running on the R side. I respect the character and integrity of the man. I respect the message that he is presenting to the American people. And a part of me wants to go way, way off the deep in end in support of this man. Understood?

          But the comments that have been made about his experience in the realm of politics are valid, concap, okay? So I’ve been waiting to see how well he would do and to what extent he could hold his own.

          I want to see him prove his critics wrong. What’s more, I firmly believe he’s capable of doing just that. Get it? And if you don’t know what loyal opposition is, then maybe it’s a concept you should learn how to recognize.

          • lineholder

            talking this nonsense, but I’ll get over it. Tomorrow.

          • concap

            I thought we were only talking foreign affairs, that of which you are apparently not to happy about when it comes to Cain. I did not say any thing about the rest abilities.

            I can tell by reading your other posts you like Cain, and that?s great, so do I. (have you read my profile?)

            My comment on this was only in regards to his foreign policy or lack of and nothing else.

            You did not answer what it is you would like for him to say when it comes to a foreign policy even though he has no facts to base it on.

            Please don?t get defensive, I?m not trying to start anything, just would like to know what it is you and the others are looking for or would like to here in regards to a foreign policy.

            Thanks

          • lineholder

            in order for Cain to overcome some of the concerns that conservatives have about his realm of political experience, he needs to be able to earn their respect and confidence? I do. And I think it’s possible that he could. He may still be able to do it. And if he had been on top of this, he might have.

            http://blogs.abcnews.com/thenote/2011/05/herman-cain-blunders-on-palestinian-right-of-return.html

            Just try to think about it in this context…the trip made by Bibi to the WH where he very firmly took Obama to task, and he discussed why the differences between Israel and Palestine can’t be as easily resolved as it might seem, and part of the reason has to do with Right of Return. All of this went down this week. So this was high-profile, this week.

            It was just a missed opportunity, that’s all. And I want him to have that chance, concap.

          • lineholder

            that I am on people I don’t give a rip about. That’s just me.

          • lineholder

            I probably need to back away from this for a while. Sigh!! I know myself too well. I can get fiercely loyal and fiercely protective if it comes right down to, and it is a bit overwhelming to other people. I’ve seen it more times than I can count.

            That being said, I’ll watch and wait and keep my mouth shut for a bit. Good night all.

          • concap

            they were all Cain?s. Just plain farmers and business men
            ( not professional politicians) who would go to Washington take care of the affairs of the country and then go back home.

            It worked out ok back then, why not now? Why must they all be professional politicians?

            Cain is just a plain citizen just like the rest of us.

            Why are you side stepping the question about what it is you would like to hear from him in regards to an over all foreign policy with out knowing any of the facts.

            Thanks

          • concap

            the rest is just a general statement.

          • lineholder

            The response that Cain provided in the debates about overall foreign policy didn’t bother me that much. His background is in his business, and I know enough of how about people on a management level think to know that they usually don’t take a cast in stone approach to much of anything. They gather the data about situation at the time that it is needed and identify what their options are accordingly.

            I get that this would be a natural thought process for Cain. That didn’t bother me, okay? It might bother other people, but it doesn’t phase me in the least.

            The situation today bothered me, because it was directly related to a high-profile case that went on this week. Right of Return isn’t negotiable, concap, not in the context that Palestine is wanting to achieve. That’s pretty much so what Bibi took Obama to school on.

            I hope this answers your question.

          • concap
  • cpaguy

    After watching the interview…he did draw a blank on the palestinian right to return issue (which isn’t good from a presentation standpoint).

    However, his answer was correct. Its an issue that the various parties will have to settle among themselves. The problem with Palestine is that outside parties (Arab and Anglo alike) have always gotten in the way of a deal.

    Let them solve it. Our intervention has not helped at all. Clinton thought he got close, but all he did was allow Arafat more time to steal from his people and reject the best deal the Palestinians will ever get.

    On foreign policy, I found it interesting that Mitch McConnell had the exact same message overall and in particular to Palestine/Israel (Wallace didn’t ask him about the right to return…lol…I’m pretty sure Chris knew that would be a “gotcha” question). I wonder if the elites will pick up on that (I doubt that…just like with Palin).

    Overall, his foreign policy answers were solid (though he will have to hone his message throughout the campaign). His view that it would be insane to have a specific strategy in regards to fights we are already in is spot on.

    His defense of the Fair Tax was terrific. Not that I’m a big fan of that particular solution (not an opponent either)…but coming up with tax solutions is how we actually begin the real process of true tax and spending reform.
    I am glad he took a tough interview right off the bat (Chris Wallace was certainly on his game…hope the other Candidates are treated the same).

    It helps him understand that the campaign is real now. It also helps his staff learn how important it will be for them to manage messaging.

    • lineholder

      but he’s going to have to stay on top of things better than this. We aren’t talking about a vague ambiguous foreign affairs issue that someone would have to have a PhD in history to know…we’re talking about a current affairs event that was high-profile, highly publicized this week!!! And comparing him to McConnell? Okay, it is not in Cain’s favor to do that.

      If Cain wants to win this, and there’s a chance that the general public could be looking for more of a populist President this term, he has to present himself in a credible context. If he doesn’t, those of us who are at least paying attention to current affairs will see the same kind of flaws that I saw this morning.

      In the context of character, he’s got what it takes. But if he doesn’t bring his best, and that means staying on top of what’s going on around him, then the enthusiasm he has generated even at this point could turn into a flash in the pan and be gone in the blink of an eye.

  • cpaguy

    It was a “Gotcha” Question. Wallace is known and respected for it.

    The right of return has not at all been in the current discussions of the issue. Though it is an issue…though I think it is moot, because Israel will/can never allow it. However, the USA can’t decide that issue for Israel.

    It was a wonkish question that Wallace knew would stump him (and 99% of other politicos if asked on the spot).

    McConnell is establishment and he had the same exact answers on Israel and foreign policy in general. He just didn’t get a “gotcha” question. Not comparing them in general, just showing the true colors of how the establishment presents things.

    Ultimately, it won’t hurt Cain beyond this week, won’t impact his support base, and will help focus himself and staff for a historic fight.

    • lineholder

      I disagree with you about the Right of Return situation, but we’ll let that be.

      Cain’s capable of more than he delivered this morning, and I don’t doubt that in the least. So I’m hoping he will bring it on strong from this point forward. A lot of conservatives are questioning his lack of executive experience in government, and given what the last two years have been, I don’t blame them in the least. It makes me a bit uncomfortable myself, to be genuinely honest with you.

      And I guess that why I see it as being that much more important for Cain to succeed in presenting himself in the most credible context he possibly can.

  • nelsdr

    Mr Cain is a ?real? conservative candidate. Let us pray that the ?real? conservative candidates do not end up dividing the conservative vote so that an ?establishment? candidate ends up being the nominee! We do not want the left, the media or the establishment selecting our candidate. I believe Mr Cain could win in the primary, if we conservatives, or so-called ‘values voters’ vote or value?$?! He will raise the bar in any debate and maybe a lot of people will learn something many of us already know! He is a ?real? conservative candidate.

    • lineholder
  • Doc Holliday

    isn’t that why Israel put up the wall, to keep Palestinians from returning with bombs?

  • partyof1

    I understand that Herman Cain is not a professional politician, but he’s anything but an average citizen. Most people don’t have masters degrees in computer science, or anything else for that matter. Most people have never been ballistics mathematicians for the US Navy. Most people have never been a CEO and most CEO’s have not had the kinds of success that Herman Cain has. Most people have never been chairman of a federal reserve bank.

    Government experience is important, but it’s not all-important. Cain has the kind of credentials that neither Obama — who spent his entire life either in Indonesia, academia, or government, nor Mitt-the-father-of-Romneycare can match. Not with a thousand speeches.

  • lineholder

    Can’t help but ask…what did you think?

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      tonight was as honest as it gets. Hannity questioned him on his response to Chris Wallace on the Right of Return issue, and pointed out that Cain hadn’t seemed to be aware of what the issue entailed. Cain said that this was true. He said that he had tried to prepare for questions that he thought Wallace might ask him but hadn’t focused on the Right of Return issue.

      He went on to discuss the specifics with Hannity, including Cain’s viewpoint of what is currently taking place.

      For someone who may not know much about foreign affairs, his assessment of the situation was pretty astute. Good for him. Owned to up having a blank slate on this, and filled the gaps in his own very unique way.

      • concap

        I thought of. Hope it helped.

        As it turns out, the Palestinians were asked to leave by their own leaders in 49 and said they would come back and wipe out the Israel?s later. Who knew.

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          I know I came across hard on this yesterday, and I hope you didn’t take any of it personally.

          I really like the way Cain dealt with it tonight. I know that we aren’t accustomed to having politicians who display this kind of honesty. Most of them blow smoke and talk a bunch of nonsense about things they know nothing about 99% of the time.

          Cain’s different. It takes a big man to own up to when he’s in the wrong on something, and Cain let it be known that he’s a big man. And then recouped big time by sharing what he’s been researching on the subject. That was smart on his part, I think.

          • concap
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            Took a few minutes to think it through. It’s possible, concap.

            I agree we’re likely to see a very significant shift to the right. The last two years have given Americans a true taste of what it will be like to live under the authority of a socialistic government. That isn’t what they want, which is pretty much so being indicated in the wrong track vs. right track polls.

            The Dems aren’t going to just back down on this socialist dream of theirs. They are too close to achieving their goals now. And the Repubs…rather than standing true blue to the principles on which this nation was founded and saying “He**, NO”, they’ve been wiffling around and teaching the newbies who might be willing to take that stand how to “play nice” in the realm of politics. Yeah, and we’re supposed to respect them for this?

            So neither party is actually trusted to do what needs to be to move us back in the direction of the right track. But a significant portion of the public would rather move back to right than go further to the left.

            And here stands Herman Cain, the conservative outsider who is very pro-American.

            It’s going to be an interesting election season, concap.

    • concap

      he is straight up honest. I really think you will not get a foreign policy out of him. At least not in any detail. He is not a BSer.

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        I’m not looking for him to spell out a cast-in-stone foreign policy. Actually, it can be wiser by far to take the kind of approach a business person would take, i.e., that they evaluate the facts that exist at the time, with all the various factors involved in the situation being taken into context, determine what their options are, then go from there. I’ve seen a lot of breakthroughs happen that way, concap. So it doesn’t bother me.

        Some people may be looking for a cast-in-stone standard response on foreign policy. I’m not.

  • schlick01

    I’ve liked at first Herman Cain and how he approachs the crowds to speak about our values and our countrys goals. I only have one big concern that no one has addressed yet though.
    He ran the Kansas Federal Reserve for awhile. The only thing I remember about the old days of the Rockerfellers and Rothchilds alignment splits of the countrys different banking areas was to narrow down the locales to better manage THEIR interests on that local scale.
    With him coming out of that banking background, that association with the NWO really has me wondering if those creeps have once again put one of their horses in the race. They control more than most people would ever believe, and putting US presidents in office isn’t too hard if you own both horses!
    Maybe it’s nothing with him, but until that association question gets investigated further, I’m leary of ever backing him. I like him for now, but that question just dogs me to no end.
    Anyone have other info on his past associations with the banking elite??

    • http://www.hakubi.us/ Neil Stevens

      Schwa?

      Care to elaborate on what you mean by “association with the NWO?”

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        NWO? Rothchilds? Rockefellers? I know what this sounds like, and if it is what I think it is…that’s so far removed from the truth in Cain’s case as to be laughable. But I’d rather have this person provide further information about what they are referring to.

      • gekster

        http://nwoconspiracy.org/tag/bank/

        or this?
        http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_World_Order_(conspiracy_theory)

        just guessing here.

      • http://908StraightSt.wordpress.com/ mbecker908

        And I’m all in for Cain! Extra pickles please.