« BACK  |  PRINT

RS

EDITOR OF REDSTATE

Optimism

By: Erick Erickson (Diary)  |  October 2nd, 2011 at 10:18 AM  | 

RESIZE: AAA

“The President is giving the Republicans every opportunity to shine. But they are all so busy talking down the other guys in the field”

I’ve been dwelling on this for a couple of weeks. Call it, if you will, the “Carville Rule” named for the consultant who came up with it (at least I’ll give James credit). It is simply that the most optimistic candidate wins.

Listening to the debates, listening to the speeches, and listening to the general nature of this election, I have to tell you I don’t think there is much optimism out there. And I don’t just mean optimism among the voters and nation as a whole. There is little optimism in the candidates.

As Peggy Noonan noted this weekend, there is some serious patriotism building up in the men and women at work across this country. Right now they just want someone to rally to. They don’t need Reagan, but they need someone with Reagan’s sense of the American ideal.

They haven’t found that person.

The President says we’ve gone soft. The Republican candidates are fighting it out over immigration and HPV and who is most likely to defund Obamacare — to hell with you people trying to find a job. That issue just isn’t important richt now.

To listen to conservative thought leaders, Texas is a s**t hole, the nation is in the tank, and we’re all going to die bankrupt speaking Chinese. And that’s just the ones who characterize themselves as optimistic.

The only candidate who is getting it right and sounding the right notes is Herman Cain. He is the only guy really connecting with people on a vision of the country that views tomorrow as better than today.

Frankly, most political analysts and the other candidates themselves, rightly or wrongly, view Herman as a flash in the pan who does not have the staying power to win. Again — rightly or wrongly. But because they view him that way, they are not inclined to emulate him, though I hope these latest polls shock them to reality.

It is one reason I actually smiled at the news Mike Huckabee might get in the race. I genuinely like Mike, though I loath what I view as his pro-life statist policies. I’d prefer to put “compassionate conservatism” in the ground once and for all.

But Huckabee celebrates a vision of this country that is better tomorrow than it is today. And we need someone in the race to force the other candidates to look up, not down.

Romney sounds smooth, but like a technocratic operator easing you into a pink slip (or a new BMW).

Has Perry even mentioned America yet or is he still focused on how awesome Texas is?

Michele Bachmann has focused on two notes — repeal Obamacare and shut down HPV vaccines.

Gingrich could do it, but he has no money to get traction doing it, let alone being yesterday’s news.

Santorum is the same, but unlike Gingrich he comes across as too angry and teen-like.

Huntsman does not connect with people. Surprisingly since I haven’t care for him much, if you listen to him, he actually says a lot of the right things, but they just don’t resonate.

Ron Paul is nuts.

Only Herman Cain is hitting the right notes about the future of this country, but he can’t do it all and he is about to get sorely distracted by the media digital rectal exam of his campaign.

The President is giving the Republicans every opportunity to shine. But they are all so busy talking down the other guys in the field, they are not talking up the United States. Whether Huckabee gets in or not, I would encourage each one of the candidates to remember that this nation wants and needs someone right now who is not just a fighter, but also a cheerleader — someone who still sees the shining city on the hill.

I don’t get that from any of the candidates right now except Herman Cain. They should all be doing that.

Tags:

COMMENTS

POSTING RULES  |  LOGIN TO COMMENT  |  REGISTER TODAY
  • lepelerin

    at least with me. He doesn’t sound angry and can get away with being politically incorrect, unlike Bachmann, at least for now.

  • http://www.nighttwister.com NightTwister

    …they are all so busy talking down the other guys in the field, they are not talking up the United States.

    We had that candidate, but he couldn’t gain traction because he wouldn’t talk down the other guys.

    Karma….it’s what’s for breakfast.

  • http://nerds4cain.com Brookhaven

    He’s the only candidate presenting a clear plan of where the country should go.

    Like Reagan, he comes across as believing America’s best days are still in the future, not in the past.

  • http://nerds4cain.com Brookhaven

    I heard EE on his radio show in early spring explain why Pawlenty wouldn’t last. It had nothing to do with his positions.

    It had everything to do with how he organized his campaign. A big money traditional campagin that would have to either start out at the top or immediatly go broke and end.

  • ohiohistorian

    I saw in another blog that “white people won’t vote for Cain”. That is melanin-bias. Herman is an American of African descent, NOT an African-American. He represents my hope for the future, he represents someone who has worked in a bureaucracy (the Federal Reserve) and has been a business leader and turn-around person (Godfather’s Pizza). I have enjoyed listening to him and used to seek him out on the radio (a lot more than Erick, sorry to say; I think Herman is much calmer in his approach to controversy. I want controversy, just not the ranting kind of Mark Levin and Randi Rhodes). Herman has some rough spots, but those can be forgiven as I am looking for a political savior, not another one to save my soul.

  • freentn

    for not violating President Reagan’s 11th Commandment. Since the CNN interview he has become very negative. His mocking of all the Conservatives in the field and endorsing Romney will not endear him with the base. I agree with Brit Hume that Cain will not last.

  • http://www.nighttwister.com NightTwister

    They were more concerned with tearing down Romney and the dems than addressing the problems we’re facing.

  • http://www.nighttwister.com NightTwister

    if he were the nominee. Yeah…supporting Obama in this case exudes optimism…

  • Whacker77

    For the reasons listed, Chris Christie needs to enter the race. Whether people would ultimately vote for Christie is not important at this point to me. Why? Because this field needs a jolt of energy and focus.

    I’ve watched the last three debates and I thought they were generally awful. Rather than debating their plans for America, the candidates harped on ridiculous items like ponzi scheme, DADT, HPV. Where’s the beef, candidates?

    These candidates are screwing up a sure thing and I believe that’s because none of them, save Romney, are really ready for prime time. They’ve all spent so much time in the friendly confines of the Fox studios they’ve forgotten how to be tough campaigners.

    Where’s Perry’s plan for anything? Why is Mitt so timid on tax reform? Christie could bring some foucs to this race.

  • wonkish1

    That Pawlenty fostered the least amount of optimism and excitement among the public.

    So I would actually say that the Carville rule was pretty accurate in foretelling Pawlenty’s fall.

  • http://www.nighttwister.com NightTwister

    Pawlenty was very positive. My argument is, that’s not what the base wants. Yes, many Americans want that, but the hard-core base does not, and they’re the ones that are in the driver’s seat right now. So, what we’re likely to get is an angry attack dog as a candidate that will not play well in the general. That’s my observation anyway.

  • freentn

    vote.

  • fightnright

    to victory – in yesterday’s NYPost::

    Of course the news about fundraising is not so good. Gave me pause as one not fully committed to any candidate (not yet having settled on the ideal algorithm involving electability and conservatism) yet still interested in what Chris Christie can do in the polls.

  • freentn

    he went negative in the CNN interview. Bashing every conservative in the race while endorsing Romney is not optimism.

  • GregInFla

    And why would he, when Cain himself is still running. I would not endorse Perry today when Cain is still running either.

  • avagreen

    I first supported Palin, then Cain (until his numbers were failing and now his stupidly revealing comment about Perry), and have been in Perry’s camp since he declared.

  • freentn

    level. I’d prefer any of the others to Romney and Cain now.

  • florajo

    This is exactly right. The base wants something polar opposite to what traditionally plays well in the general. I don’t see any way around this.

  • freentn

    endorsed Romney and said that he would not support Perry. That is unforgivable.

  • Scope

    He would likely go right to the top in polling, and then would get the vetting all of the top tier candidates have gotten. When the voters find out about his moderate to left leaning positions with green energy, immigration, appointing a muslim judge to a high court, and some other issues, he will then be competing with Romney for the same base of voters. Time to have the moderates split the vote, and then hand the nom. to the best conservative, which is what happened in 08.

    I’m still not sure that Christie will in fact get in. With Fla. moving their primary to Jan. 31, the other four early states will likely start the caucuses and primaries the beginning of Jan. That would give Christie only 3 months to campaign, raise cash, hire ground troops and campaign professionals. There is just not enough time.

    I’ve read that in order to get on some of the early state ballots, one had to be in the race by Oct. end. With the calendar moving up by about a month, does that put the time limit at Sept. end?

  • renl57

    I remember the 1980 GOP convention well.

    The delegates radiated not anger but happiness and confidence. And a vision of the future they believed in. They certainly believed that Carter’s policies were bad for America–but they never accused Carter of deliberately setting out to damage the nation, as I’ve heard some Republicans today accuse Obama of doing.

    In 2004, watching the Howard Dean campaign crash and burn, Rush Limbaugh accurately observed, “Anger doesn’t win elections.”

    Today, the GOP base has a lot of anger reacting to events–Obama is a socialist, the U.S. has been invaded by illegal aliens–but not a lot of thought as to what our positive vision is.

    If we had our way, what would the U.S. look like in 2031? Would it be more prosperous? Would it still be wealthier than China? At peace or at war? Would the least fortunate among us be able to get a second chance?

    In 1982, Reagan gave a speech in which he predicted that Soviet Communism would end up “on the ash heap of history”–and he was right.

    Do we believe that radical Islam will also end up on the ash heap of history?

  • lineholder

    I hope some of them might see this. I think this kind of approach would resonate more with voters than attacking each other does. It would present a VERY stark contrast to Obama’s subtle insinuations about how horrible this country is and it would be inspiring (to say the least) to see Republicans stand a bit more unified in presenting the positive side of what our nation stands for.

  • Scope

    that it was the conservative vote that got split in 08.

  • conservativecurmudgeon

    And I stand by this.

    As for Optimism: Reagan was at once an optimist, and a pragmatist. But, the biggest fear I have is that, ala Ronald Reagan, the farther and faster he climbs, the quicker the consultants will buzz around his ears like mosquitoes, and attempt to feed him stupid, bad and irrelevant advice.

    Also, Cain will be destroyed by the leftists if he is nominated– Clarence Thomas will be Captain Kangaroo compared to what they will do to Herman Cain. I sense, however, that he has the inner strength to fend off the attacks.

    Cain is an existential threat to the Democrat coalition, He could easily siphon off 20% to 30% of the black vote, and that is the doom of their power base. If the democrats sense there is a possibility of this becoming a reality, there is no blood the Democrats won’t spill (metaphorically speaking) to keep this from happening.

    As of this morning, Mr. Cain has my vote.

  • Getting_Back_to_Basics

    Here’s what I would like to see happen (fantasy primary season):

    Chris Christie gets in with gusto and says that, frankly, everyone who has been on the stage has some good ideas and he is the person to synthesize the best of Republican policy proposals. Along with whatever ideas he brings himself, what is wrong with him saying, here’s the platform we need:

    1. We need Herman Cain’s 9-9-9 plan.
    2. We need Santorum’s commitment to life principles.
    3. We need economic advisors like Romney who have actually created jobs in the private sector
    4. We need Perry’s respect and championship of State’s rights
    5. We need Bachmann’s commitment to repeal Obamacare ASAP
    6. We need Ron Paul’s commitment to a smaller, saner military presence around the world and we need to end Afghanistan ASAP
    7. We need Gary Johnson’s important question whether federal drug policy is really working and resources are spent the wrong place
    8. We need Newt’s vision, openness to new ideas, and optimism that there is a better America than we have today

    Of course these are all the things about each of the candidates that I like a lot and I wish I could combine into one candidate.

  • freentn

    candidate who can articulately but forcefully deliver the Conservative message.

    If the base wanted an attack dog then Santorum or Bachmann would be at 30%.

  • sayoung80913

    The same problem that Perry had .People looking for a blank slate to project their hopes and ideals of a dream conservative onto Perry OR Christie have only themselves to blame for building them up in their own mind and then being disillusioned when they do not live up to their own over the top expectations.

    Christie is ANTI- second amendment,pro choice, and believes in AGW. Both he and Sarah Palin have nearly identical stances on immigration as Perry. In short, Christie is a MODERATE republican,not a conservative-except on fiscal issues-he is a more confrontational Mitt Romney and would split the vote with Romney, not Perry. He has slightly less experience as a governor than Mitt has and nearly all of his base would come from the NE-the same as Mitt Romney.

    Unfortunately,neither man can win the south or mid west. To be more precise, we like our guns down here and don’t cotton to killing unborn babies. Ask a Texan or someone from Alabama, Louisiana,or Mississippi if they believe in AGW and you might get a punch in the face from all the unemployed oil drillers or family members down there. Add another smack from the coal miners in West Virginia, or the farmers across the rust belt,Colorado,Wyoming,Kansas,Oklahoma,Nebraska,Indiana-who have to put up with the EPA regulating dust and even seeds ,water,top soil etc. THESE are the people a Chris Christie or a Mitt Romney cannot win. They are fooling themselves to think they have a shot.

    Neither man has ever served in the military, in fact both have law degrees. Which profession has more respect in the U.S. I wonder? Farmer(Perry) or hostile takeover type business men(Romney),soldier(Perry) or lawyer(Romney AND Christie)? The media is hyping Christie because they want to deny us the opportunity for a real conservative-NOPE-not this time.

  • lineholder

    In reference to Cain’s potential to be a threat to the Democrat coalition, have you seen this article?

    http://www.weeklystandard.com/blogs/morning-jay-why-herman-cain-could-be-game-changer_594601.html?page=1

    Also, it looks like Dems are going to try to smear Judge Thomas again. They’ve timed it to coincide with O-Care’s presentation to SC.

    http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-503544_162-20113883-503544.html

    Kagan is the one who needs to be challenged, and I hope we’ll start seeing some emphasis on this from Republicans soon.

  • wbb1950

    Eric, when it comes to evaluating the candidates, I lean toward a two pronged test.

    1, Can the candidate beat Obama?

    2. Can the candidate turn the economy around.

    The first question is sine qua non. And it is a formidable task given the money and the big media enablers. The change they have enacted thus far is not political–it is megapolitical. It is intended to alter the fundamental relationship between the American People and their government. And it is, to that extent, not political but treasonable. (Note: before you judge that statement as extreme I encourage you to read Mark Steyn’s article in National Review which reads like a Pavortti aria)

    http://www.nationalreview.com/articles/278894/soft-nation-mark-steyn

    The second question becomes material only if Obama is defeated. But if that occurs, then we will have to face it, and instead fo being on the side of the American People, big media will keen to tear down the new president. They are utterly incapable of summoning any kind of patriotic impulse–they care only for their bottom line., their perks and their celebrity. And that is the sad truth. Whoever we nominate must have the bold vision, political experience and skill set to turn around this government , and to fend off the slings and arrows of big media who will seek revenge for having defeated Obama,.

    In my opinion, there is only one man capable of meeting both of those objectives and it is Gingrich. Unlike Perry or Romney, Newt would obliterate Obama in a debate. And unlike Caine, Newt understands government and how to utilize the levers of power.

    Big media has done their level best to knock him off because they want to pick the candidate who Obama can beat. They have already picked that candidate, and his name is Romney. But I happen to believe this race is wide open, and it is entirely possible that Romney and Perry will knock each other off. In that case, there will be an opening for Newt, and I do think he will get his campaign in order.

    Interestingly, the debates which big media craves because it puts them in control and brings in ratings, may be the very vehicle that brings them down because Newt has is getting in their face., after that first encounter with the pathetic shill David Gregory. The media will focus on Iowa (which is a bellweather of nothing), New Hampshire (which favors Romney) and South Carolina (which favors Perry), but I think the break point will come in Florida, which is seeking to move their primary forward. That is where Newt needs a good organization–and money. But the earned media he gets through winning the debates will be his best asset. (If he does win the nomination, I hope he selects Marco Rubio–who is the new Ronald Reagan).

    Obviously, I will support whoever the nomiinee turns out to be.

    (Note: I do not include FOX in the definition of big media because, with the exception of OReilly, they have brought us the truth about Obama).

  • izoneguy

    I like Rick Perry’s message much better than what Herman Cain is spewing!

  • freentn

    him with praise and promoting him on all the Liberal LSM shows. dems are NOT afraid of Cain. If they were they would be attacking him like they have attacked Palin, Bachmann, and Perry.

    The dems would love to see Cain as the Republican Nominee.

  • Scope

    was about the greatness of Amer. Starting with his announcement speech at the RS gathering, Perry has been talking about the greatness of Amer. in most of his speeches. He’s talked much about his early years in Paint Creek, and the fact that even someone who started out life with no indoor plumbing can achieve great things. He has talked highly about our military members, and honors every one of them. Most recently he said that the American citizens are not soft, the current president is.

    Perry’s whole campaign started out with uplifting and inspiring speeches about our country being exceptional, he’s talked about us being the freest nation on earth, he’s talked about our liberties. He’s not Reagan, but his earlier speeches reminded me of Reagan’s optimism in the American citizens.

    Every frontrunner gets attacked over and over again, and finds themselves in positions of playing defense rather than offense often enough in speeches and in townhall type events. I recently read that Cain said he was sick of the Ron Paul supporters, and called Ron Paul a “grumpy old man.” I agree with him, but those comments are not staying with an optimistic message. We shall see how optimistic Cain remains with his new top tier status, and the barrage of criticisms he is about to get pelted with, including some of his faux paus from months ago that some have forgotten about. Cain does have a sunny disposition, but we will see if that remains after a more through vetting.

  • freentn

    .

  • freentn

    http://www.rushlimbaugh.com/home/daily/site_081511/content/01125114.guest.html

    http://www.rushlimbaugh.com/home/daily/site_083111/content/01125111.guest.html

  • Scope

    came from myself. I was about to go and link all of the times that Perry has talked about the greatness of America, but decided when you don’t want to see it, my links wouldn’t help anything.

  • izoneguy

    I think Herman Cain’s past is coming back to haunt him….He sounds like a grumpy old man, hurling drive-by stories that he has not fact checked. I would say that Herman Cain is practicing racial demagogy in the same tradition as our current President.

  • lepelerin

    Why would he headline a pro life rally: http://www.lifenews.com/2011/01/24/new-jersey-governor-chris-christie-headlines-pro-life-rally/

  • carolina

    I’ve been saying this all along. We need a positive message about economic growth and our future as a nation.
    Of course we need to shrink the size and cost of govt, but too much austerity talk is a loser.

  • freentn

    !

  • http://www.nighttwister.com NightTwister

    …until she went bat-crazy.

  • florajo

    I’m worried that our focus on opposition, austerity, and economic non-stimulation makes it difficult to simultaneously sound a strong optimistic tone. It ought to be possible. The candidates are struggling to find the formula.

  • Scope

    I knew Cain was going to be on with Wallace this morning, and turned the channel. I have no interest in what this guy has to say. To make a big deal out of what was painted on a rock on a more than 1,000 campsite is an act of desperation against Perry. Seems he only has problems with Perry and Paul, despite the fact that Romney has been in the top tier also, and is not even a conservative as Cain claims to be. There is something very strange about him only attacking Perry, but refuses to say much if anything about Romney. I still believe that he thinks Romney is going to get the nom. and is sucking up to him so Romney appoints him to some high position in his admin.

    Wallace has been anti-Perry since day one. He just can’t help himself in setting the other candidates up with questions that incite attacks on Perry. Notice Perry hasn’t graced the Wallace studio to be set up by him. I’m sure he’s been invited, but probably told Wallace to shove it. Why knowingly walk right into enemy fire.

  • Rich Fader

    …and remembering the posts from Friday and I’m thinking…I love irony.

  • lineholder

    seems to be in fashion right now, LOL.

  • ralphdaily

    In full disclosure I’m an independent and voted for Obama.

    But Reagan was a positive guy and I liked him. He had a warm smile. It’s easier to vote upbeat than downbeat. More candidates should think about that.

  • carolina

    of the whole group. I hope he can get his message past the lamestream media. That is a real challenge, and his debate debacles haven’t helped.
    I’ve put my money where my mouth is.

  • carolina

    of the whole group. I hope he can get his message past the lamestream media. That is a real challenge, and his debate debacles haven’t helped.
    I’ve put my money where my mouth is.

  • conservativecurmudgeon

    They view Republicans in general and Conservatives in fine as a fundamentally racist. They don’t think the Republicans are organically CAPABLE of nominating a black man. They project their own inherent racist viewpoint on us.

    Hence, as of right now, they don’t think it’s even possible for Cain to become the Republican nominee. So, naturally, they can harmlessly shower him with praise.

    For proof of this, look no further than the Blanchard/Lucas gubernatorial race in Michigan in 1986. Lucas was Martin Luther King until the Republicans actually nominated him, and THEN they tore him to shreds.

    So far, the only shilling I’ve seen on behalf of a GOP candidate by the Democrats is for Huntsman and “Dr” Ron Paul. They would love (as they always yearn for) to run against Mush and weirdness. Solid conservatism scares the bejeezus out of them.

  • carolina

    .

  • http://www.whyromney.com Ryan Larsen

    the problem is, no one will be able to match Obama’s over the top optimism of 2007. He may have desensitized everyone with his blinding irrational optimism.

  • sayoung80913

    I was mistaken and you are right, which is a point in his favor.

  • wonkish1

    You’ll be disappointed when this comes out in the news, and I don’t see it not being all over the news with in a couple days.

    Its a shame too because its apparently been sitting there for decades.

  • izoneguy
  • wbb1950

    A year ago, pundit and Pulitzer Prize winning doctor Charles Krauthammer labeled President Obama a narcissist. That observation passed virtually unnoticed because most people interpreted that term to mean that Obama is simply a supreme egotist. After all, that is the colloquial meaning of the term.
    But Krauthammer is not a layman. He is a psychiatrist. Thus, when he uses the term narcissist, he is not speaking colloquially. On the contrary, he is speaking clinically. For in the field of psychiatry, the term narcissist refers to a specific mental disorder.
    However, Krauthammer did not explain the meaning of the term narcissist, much less elaborate on the behavioral pattern it connotes. If he had done so, then perhaps people would have understood the significance of what he said.
    Fortunately, other experts have come forward, confirmed Dr. Krauthamer?s diagnosis of Obama, explained what the medical term narcissist means, and forecast how this disorder is likely to impact his future behavior as president Obama, and now again as candidate Obama with a checkered track record to defend—even with the unconditional help of his big media cronies.
    One of those experts is Sam Vaknin, P.H.D. He defines narcissism as a serious mental disorder characterized by a predictable pattern of behavior. It begins with a grandiose sense of self which draws vulnerable people to him, and a quixotic mission to transform the world in some utterly impractical way. Eventually, a huge chasm develops between his grandiose self image and his failure to achieve the quixotic mission. He is by nature too rigid to change the mission. Therefore, he enters to a destructive phase which begins with deep depression that leads to decomposition and acting out where he lashes out at perceived enemies and takes the country down with him.

    This leads to one ineluctable conclusion: the problem with Obama is not merely political. It is in equal part clinical. And anyone who fails to connect those dots will be stuck in the groove of trying to reconcile candidate Obama with president Obama which is a lifetime exercise in futility.

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

    Did Erick announce and not tell me?

  • lineholder

    I’m not trying to be offensive. I just think Erick has a point. We need to be careful about how much validity we give to MSM reports. They are going to try to discredit Conservatives any way they can, and we can end up helping them by drawing more attention to these reports than they deserve.

  • lineholder

    do we really want to feed into the efforts the MSM is making in a situation like this?

  • wonkish1

    Realize this was already posted here.

    But if Perry can’t plug this thing quick and this gets legs the GOP primary is just going to decide to not want to deal with it and pass on him.

    Its a shame BS like this still gets thrown out there. We live in dirty world.

  • Scope

    is that it isn’t only the MSM pushing these stories, it was Cain himself showing shock and outrage that the Perry campsite would have such a thing. It is trying desperately to bring Perry down for something totally rediculous, and a disgusting attempt to make Perry look like a racist. I am happy that izoneguy, and others are pointing out the truth. The level of “civility” you dream of will not happen anytime soon among the masses, because of these horrible attempts to paint an opponent of something he is not. He has joined the Romney and Obama camps in the politics of personal destruction. Try asking them to be civil, because that is where it must start.

  • Scope

    for weeks, and actually have posted in a manner as to appear that you are also hoping for it. I wish you would cut down on the caffein, and the Perry demise prognostications. You are quite premature with your Perry ideas.

  • Getting_Back_to_Basics

    Christie appears to have a solid record as governor as pro-life. Any governor willing to veto funding of Planned Parenthood is a brave governor.

  • wbb1950

    But the real question is what is the plan, as opposed to trust me. If you want the independents, then you must give them a plan of how you would restore the economy and the country. A plan–not a bunch of hope and change adjectives and exhortations. Something fairly concrete. In 2008 nobody was interested in that question because big media killed any attempt at rational analysis. Today it will be harder for them to hide the truth and call people who want Obama gone a bunch of white racists because so many things are falling apart. They will try to do it again of course but that effort will be in vain.

  • wonkish1

    This is only the 2nd thing I’ve said about Perry!

    The first was that is debate performance was absolutely horrible. Which it was. And I followed it up by saying I hoped he has a better one next time at Bloomberg.

    Now, I read on another site that Rick Perry’s hunting camp is named n***erhead. Yeah, you would naturally think that if this news is true that it would do a candidate in.

    As more is coming out. Now I’ll say I don’t really know how this is going play out.

    But don’t accuse me of rooting for Perry’s demise. Perry is perfectly acceptable to me assuming we don’t see any more repeats of the debate performance he gave on Fox.

    I don’t know how many times I have to say this, but I DONT HAVE A PREFERRED CANDIDATE.

  • Scope

    “Has Perry even mentioned America yet or is he still focused on how awesome Texas is?” especially when Perry talked about how great America is at the RS gathering of all places.

    In the last Horserace analysis posted, I picked up on the statement that went something like- “I’m sorry that I let the media talk me into believing that Perry was the frontrunner.”

    In previous Horserace columns I remember reading that Perry was not yet considered the frontrunner based on a few polls. You wanted to wait to see if he remained at the top of polls for a few weeks which which he did. But now it was only the media, and not the voters polled that made him the frontrunner. If I am not mistaken, there were at least 5 major national pollsters that polled the nation and Perry at one time was in fact on top.

  • lineholder

    Did the MSM ask any white candidates what their response was to the report? No. They asked a black candidate. That was very deliberately done for the purpose of trying to control the narrative. It was a moment when they had a chance at a “twofer”, to try to undermine two Conservative candidates in one blow.

    To what extent we as Conservatives are willing to let them succeed on dictating the narrative of discussions is up to us to determine, not them..

    Our nation’s best hope is for us to persuade others that conservatism is the best way to go. In that context, we aren’t helping our cause by giving these reports more validity than they deserve. I just think we need to be cautious on that point.

  • freentn

    away from the True Conservatives to the democrat favorite Romney.

  • wonkish1

    First I don’t think you know what the definition of “push polling” is.

    But how is me posting polling results of Perry up, Cain up, etc. could possibly construed as something bad.

    I have picked apart 2 polls on here for being bull$hit and guesswhat their results did end up being huge outliers. Otherwise, I’ve just posted the straight details of polls, all of them.

  • David123

    nt

  • fightnright

    but I’m an undecided at this point because I’m ultimately going to be moved by science, not reasoning – that is, careful study of the polls, esp. the head-to-head’s with Barack Obama. That’s what I’ll be watching for in the next few months before I throw my support when the primaries begin.

    I am concerned about Christie’s possible entry into the primary splitting the Romney vote, but it might go the other way, decimating the Romney vote. The early match-up with Obama, showing the still-little-nationally-known Christie approaching Romney as one of the few who can currently best Obama was too intriguing to discount.

    I’d gladly support Perry if his own numbers improve and he takes the nomination. It will NOT be a source of gladness to me however, unless Perry dramatically improves his debating competence and body and facial language, considering the bloodbath that would result at present if he took on the First Orator on the general election stage. Generally an audition for such a talent is make-or-break thing, hard to develop over time because as Mama Rose famously said in ‘Gypsy’, ‘Either ya got it, or you ain’t’. Sure it would be heartening if we could assure ourselves that Perry’s substance over style would drive independents, moderate Democrats and secular right-of-centers who are suffering buyer’s remorse with their ’08 Obama vote, but I fear we are not there yet as an electorate.

    "I think we ought to suspend, perhaps, elections for Congress or two years and just tell them we won’t hold it against them, whatever decisions they make, to just let them help this country recover," she said. "I really hope that someone can agree with me on that. … You want people who don’t worry about the next election." Beverly Perdue, NC Governor

    If you don’t believe that Democrats will do what they say, then don’t
    vote. But be warned: your 2016 vote may not come at all. Vote Republican
    in 2012!

  • runner12

    Obama’s behavior the assessment fits perfectly. It also explains his disconnect with reality and what the American people are facing.

    The reports of his depression, his refusal to reverse what clearly is a destructive path for the country, and his lashing out at those who disagree with him perfectly fit the clinical pattern you described above.

    Excellent observation.

  • drfredc

    At this point, the big difference between Cain and the rest of the GOP hopefuls is he seems to be all about promoting a positive uplifting (out of the box) vision for the Country while the rest seem to mostly be about promoting themselves, and taking down others, with self limiting (in-the-box) visions for the country…

  • runner12

    showing. It was refreshing and full of common sense. That is why I am extremely disapointed in his descent into the gutter with his attacks on Perry.

    First with the “I won’t support Perry” line which no matter how you spin it is a dig at Perry. Those who want to parse words on the word “today” are simply not being honest about the incident. Cain should come out and re-clarify or apologize.

    Now it is reported that Cain is piling on Perry regarding an unsubstantiated hit-piece by a Leftist journalist that as it stands right now is full of blatant lies. I have no idea what was going through Cain’s mind when he answered this question. There are around 100 better ways he could have answered it.

    Whoever is advising Cain to go into attack mode shoud be fired today. He has soared towards the top by staying positive and avoiding the ridiculous infighting. Why he is moving away from what has made him successful is unexplainable to me. I have lost some respect for Cain over his recent actions. He needs to turn it around and fast.

  • Scope

    There is no question that Chris Wallace is more than a little anti-Perry, as many of us read the Kurtz piece which quoted Wallace in a pre-debate Fox meeting talking about how he was going to set Perry up in the debate, and give others the opportunity to attack Perry, in addition to him negatively setting up his questions to make Perry look bad. Wallace is on a war path against Perry for whatever reason, and means to do him as much harm as a candidate that he can.

    Not long into the interview, Wallace brought up the Perry campsite with the offensive term painted on a rock. Cain immediately shook his head up and down, and made it clear that he knew about the rock issue. He specifically said that Perry and his family should never have left that rock there as long as they did. Cain absolutely knew of the story, and had ample opportunity to check into the facts before saying what he did, as did Wallace. It was a deliberate attempt to make Perry look like a racist. It’s not only the lefty MSM, and the liberal rag Wapo that is trying to destroy Perry, he is fighting the horrendous attacks from those supposedly in his own party. Cain will now find out that when you participate in crushing those in your way up the ladder, they are still there when you are your way back down.

  • runner12

    Cain’s communication director just resigned. To be fair, she stated it was for personal reasons. But I do find it interesting.

  • GregInFla

    and the media are helping them in now they phrase questions. Next thing they’ll ask Cain, yes or no, if he will stop abusing Perry’s children.

  • Xasteius

    At least Carter had a sense of patriotism (then).

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

    When Earl Butz resigned from the Carter White House for telling an extremely egregious joke, he resigned for “personal reasons.” Never mind that the “personal reason” could, more accurately, be described as “I’m a dumba$$, and shouldn’t be working in the public sector.”

    I have a feeling that, in this case, the “personal reason” was “I’m incapable of doing this job competently.”

  • Paul Seale

    This post is 100% dead on.

    I would only add, even though I am a Perry supporter, that his focus on differences between him and Romney is a downer.

    I wamt to hear the vision Rick Perry has for America.

    We dont need to name a specific tax plan – just tell us what regulations you would throw off the backs of American people to get us back to work.

    As for Bachmann and Romney, both seem tied up too much in shouting down opposing candidates to provide us much of a positive vision.

    The positive vision thing is what got Obama elected. It is what got Presidents Bush and Reagan elected.

    Somewhere along the line of this primary such a notion disappeared and leaves Americans believing Republicans cannot lead (which means getting things done and providing real leadership).

    I pray to God that someone understands this and catches fire – or we are doomed. Really DOOMED.

  • snowshooze

    If he keeps shooting from the hip and saying things that are just plumb dumb. It appears he is his own worst enemy right now.
    I’d like to think I can see through these little indiscretions, but will allow him to show me where he is really coming from.
    He has all the down home common sense you could want, but once in a while here..he really blows it bad.
    The only one I have real trouble with is supporting Romney.
    And I do not see the point in positioning to be Romney’s stooge.

  • Xasteius

    I guess the message I’m getting from Perry is:

    I have been successful in Texas producing jobs, fighting the liberal wackos (i.e. EPA, etc), and defending freedom. I will do for the country what I did for Texas, but I will defend the borders and get the federal government off your back.

    Of course, I’m speaking strictly as someone who has lived in the shadow of Texas (I grew up in OK), but that’s my 2 cents.

  • californiagold

    The problem is that since the day he entered the race, his opponents, as well as Karl Rove, have thrown negative attacks his way. As a result, Perry’s positive message gets lost in the mud.

    But I do agree that Romney, Santorum, and Bachmann lack and vision for the future. The reason ? Probably because they never had one to begin with.

  • carolina

    (or the loss of the old one) is a big part of the problem. Cain went attack negative after she left.

  • carolina

    (or the loss of the old one) is a big part of the problem. Cain went attack negative after she left.

  • TopGun

    has already been proposed. It is called the Constitution of the USA. We just need someone with moral integrity to respect it and follow it.

  • californiagold

    In 2012, “optimism” won’t sell, rather “competence” will.

    Americans have grown tired of “slick” politicians who make people feel good with slogans that lack substance. In 2012, there’s a possibility the economy will be in much worse shape than it is in now, with Europe and much of the globe in a depression.

    Americans will want a leader who will offer straight talk and solutions, not fancy slogans filled with false hope.

  • tyman

    Greg,

    Unless Cain didn’t understand the question (even I can understand a simple question), Cain said that he would not support Perry as the NOMINEE.

    Wolf’s question was would Cain support Perry were he to become the nominee. I’ve watched it several times.

    “Today” doesn’t mean anything in this context, and since the question posed assumed that the nominee will have been chosen, Cain would no longer be running. Once a nominee is selected the other candidates endorse said nominee or they don’t; it’s that simple.

    That said, Herb Cain stated that he could not support Perry as the nominee. I think Cain understood the question just fine. So, he is saying that in a head to head with Obama, he would NOT choose Perry. That is unacceptable.

    I’ve said it over and over, but yesterday, today and tomorrow I would support Bozo the Clown over Obama.

    Cain has also joined Romney in misrepresenting and just flat out being dishonest about Perry’s stance on illegal immigration.

    I liked Herb Cain and was excited to see him finally do well, but his dishonest attacks on Perry a la Romney are too over the top. It makes me wonder how sincere he is about what he would ACTUALLY do if he gets elected.

    I still can’t figure Cain out: in the spring, he said that Romney couldn’t get the nomination (Google it and find the youtube video). Now, he’s really joining the Romney bandwagon as if he really wants something. I wouldn’t trust Romney if my political life depended on it.

  • freentn

    context because Perry can’t veto “today” a bill that was enacted by overwhelming majority of the Texas Legislature 11 years ago.

  • runner12

    what we are seeing is a reflection of the new communications director for Cain. It is unfortunate. If I were Cain, I would beg the old communications director to come back.

    This negative approach is not working for Cain. It is a complete abandonment of what drew people to him in the first place.

    Get out of the mud-slinging business, Mr. Cain! I think that you are better than this, much better. In fact, I think that all of the candidates should cease the attacks on one another. We need to be the party of positive solutions and a clear conservative message.

  • Scope

    My husband didn’t read this column, but, I asked him about the idea of someone talking an optimistic game, and having a sunny personality to portray that message as our next president. His reply- We already had that message with Obama’s hope and change message, and what has that done for the country. It seems to me that Cain is trying to do a Republican hope and change message, with much substance missing from the message.

  • Scope

    RedStaters is that they are willing to give Cain a pass on things he has said, and get down into the weeds of believing that his comment that “today” he wouldn’t support Perry. Those very same people are not willing to give Perry the same pass. Nope, no can do for some.

  • freentn

    mess by blaming his communications director. The damage is done. He has insulted both the Republican base and the Blacks that he was attempting to get to support him.

    Just as Bachmann and Santorum sunk in the Polls after they started smearing Perry, Cain will sink too.

    But Cain is not in this to win it but in it to do Romney’s Dirty Work.

  • freentn

    with a proven record of success in Government office. There only 3 such successful candidates left in the race Newt, Hunstman and Perry.

    Not even democrats are buying a pig in a poke this time.

  • Bill S

    Anyone who plays the race card is disqualified, and should be disqualified as President, period. I would, reluctantly, vote for him in the general … while holding my nose.

    What a massively stupid stunt for Cain to pull.

  • freentn

    comment. Republicans are very sensitive about being called Racist after all the bull from democrats that we had had to put up with for the past 3 years.

  • TopGun

    Obama’s over-the-top-optimism was just that, over-the-top-optimism. Selling the truth won’t be difficult…unless the seller does not believe in the truth.

  • TopGun

    was a Narcissist too.

  • http://www.nighttwister.com NightTwister

    no_text

  • circlegranch

    with his knee jerk response to the stupid rock issue. I think Perry would gladly talk about America and his vision for us but he’s constantly swatting the gnats that are intent on taking him out of the race. I, too, feel like Romney is trying to sell me a car, Bachmann has clearly made a deal with him to help in the defeat of Perry. What a mess and don’t ya know the Dem’s are loving every minute?

    For those that think Perry has nothing to talk about Texas, let’s take a very abbreviated at what he’s done recently in Texas and then ask ourselves if any of this would be a good thing for the country as a whole:

    At the last legislative session this summer, he signed some pretty impressive legislation. Here’s a few….

    A bill calling on the US Congress to adopt a Balanced Budget Amendment; a bill called the Emerging Tech Fund which will get medical research, treatment and cures to Texans faster; a bill called College Credit for Heroes that helps soldiers and families get degrees faster, a bill that extends property tax exemptions for fully disabled vets and makes sure wherever they might move in Texas, it will apply, a bill requiring photo ID at polling locations, a bill strengthening private property rights and eminent domain protections, a bill to improve veteran access to healthcare, a bill to ensure active duty deployed vets get their votes in time and those votes are counted, a bill to crack down on human trafficking and stiffer penalties for those doing it, a bill to reduce Medicaid costs, a bill to extend tax exemptions for small businesses until 2014, etc, etc. During the same session he signed a balanced budget for ’12 and ’13 without raising taxes, allocating more than half of the state budget toward education and preserving the state’s $6 billion Rainy Day Fund.

    The S&P raised their credit rating in Texas in ’09 due to Texas’ large and diverse economy and projected anticipation of that increasing in the future. A week ago the DEvelopment Counsellors International and Area Development Magazine declared Texas as having the best business climate in all 50 states, also DCI named Texas as “Best in Class” for state economic development organization.

  • GregInFla

    Do you mean something by saying “Herb” constantly?

    And, if that’s what you interpret it as, why would CNN not ask Huntsman or Ron Paul or Santorum or Bachmann that question? I’d love to hear Bachmann’s answer to that one, Herb.

  • Bill S

    See here.

    It’s not clear why Palin started this, but it was pretty obviously intentional.

  • The_Gadfly

    before he went positive, he told the base to go to the back of the bus and STFU.

  • http://www.nighttwister.com NightTwister

    no_text_

  • kimberlyhaney

    I sent him money early in his campaign. His attacks on Perry both in the CNN interview and now this ridiculous statement about a rock on a hunting lease from three decades ago? Stick me with a fork…I’m in Perry’s camp. Sent Rick Perry money this morning. If the rest of you that are outraged at this do the same, that will send the right message.

  • freentn

    him money too just to help fund a Truthful Response to the False Smears of Mitt Cain.

  • Jim Tomasik

    and not a very good one at that.

  • Danielle Davis (ocleverone)

    I was sipping coffee when I read your response. A BIG 5 to you!

  • supergirl2911

    why is 5 the like button? Just curious. On my phone g would be easier.

  • westcoastpatriette

    .

  • momofthecastle

    just three years ago. I ‘d like to see him finish that job. I don’t want another unknown in the White House.

  • supergirl2911

    nt

  • arthurmanger17

    Erick Erickson is quoting Peggy Noonan is a round about effort to gin up support for Perry. Peggy Noonan? I commented one Erick other post equating Gain with Sharpton that next we might see him on MSNBC calling anybody that criticizes Perry on his in state tuition for illegals a racist and here he is quoting Peggy Noonan. Peggy Noonan, you got to be kidding me Peggy Noonan. I’m stunned Peggy Noonan? Can MSNBC be far behind? Peggy Noonan while I’ll be damned Peggy Noonan.

  • izoneguy

    I now live in a neighborhood that was farmland in 1990.
    I use to ride my bike here in the 80′s when there was nothing here.
    I have seen the development and experienced the lows as well.
    People are finally waking up and fleeing the socialism of the blue states.
    I meet new people every week from all over America that are moving here.
    It sounds like some places are just ghost towns now.
    I was having a conservation with a mom at a kids BD party.
    She had just retired from the Air Force and just moved to Texas from near Seattle. She grew up in Oklahoma and liked the hotter weather but decided on
    Texas. So, she was saying how much harder the schools in Texas are.
    Her daughter & my son are both 7th graders and have some of the same classes. I have heard this from many parents that have re-located here.

    Obama would have everyone think that Texas is a backwater cesspool.
    The parents complaint now is that they have to actually get involved with their kids education!

  • daniel22

    Right now I am and have been sorting through the campaigns of the various characters of the Republican primaries.
    What is so unforgivable for Cain saying that he would not support Perry? I believe that he has the freedom to support whomever he chooses or not. If the conservative base is going to demand and expect lockstep fealty then it is doomed. My question would be as to why. Is there something about Perry that is that bad or something in Cain’s character that does not allow it.

  • mspector

    And I wish we would stop.

    American conservatism is factionalized. In some ways, that’s a good thing; there is serious intellectual life in our political wing. But in other ways, not so good. We are seriously accustomed to broadcasting each others’ deficiencies rather than publicizing our common perspectives. In this sense, we are becoming not unlike the Communist/socialist left in the 70s and 80s, one sect after another splitting to the left, ultimately culminating in a divorce.

    The debate format does not help, inasmuch as it is intended to highlight the issues that divide us rather than those that unite us. And we need unity, at least unity of purpose. And even that seems hard to identify these days.

    As the most recent example, much as I like Herman Cain, it bothers me that he jumps on the “Perry racism” bandwagon on this business about the stone. It sounds not unlike Obama’s castigation of the Cambridge police officer. I would much rather he had said “that kind of thing is beneath contempt, and I find it hard to believe that Gov Perry would be at all associated with it.” Make your point, but in a way that does not divide.

    The bottom line is that there are many issues, but at its core this election is about the statist and divisive policies of this administration. Regardless of whether we think a fence or more boots on the ground are what we need on the border, surely we can all agree on the fundamental change we need to accomplish on those precepts. If we can unseat Obama we can take care of the rest amongst ourselves. If we cannot, we are impotent and really have nothing to say at all.

  • johnlincoln

    Christie/Rubio…..That’s what it will take, like it, or not.

  • gekster

    from:
    http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0511/55793.html

    excerpt.:
    “I?m certainly not a scientist, which is the first problem,” he said. “So I can?t claim to fully understand all of this, certainly not after just a few months of study. But when you have over 90 percent of the world?s scientists who have studied this stating that climate change is occurring and that humans play a contributing role, it?s time to defer to the experts.”

    What are your thoughts.

  • thirstyboots

    He’ll say that he was the first governor to pull his state out of the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative. In the end, what matters is if he’s a conservative record.

    Here’s what Christie was saying about the issue last year:

    ?I?m skeptical,? he said. ?I?d be honest with you, I don?t know. And it?s probably one of the reasons why I became a lawyer and not a doctor, or an educator or a scientist. Because I can?t figure this stuff out. But I would say at this point, that has to be proven and I?m a little bit skeptical.?

    ———

    So, he’s not a scientist so he can’t know for sure as the issue is clearly complicated; he’s skeptical about the current conventional wisdom and, more importantly, as a conservative politician he doesn’t think the government should be involved in trying to solve a putative problem – and his record is consistent with his views.

    What’s the problem with this stand?

    I’m all in for Christie if he enters the race. He isn’t perfect but he’s far better than any of the other candidates.

  • avgjo

    I don’t like him because the little I’ve watched him, he seems to play too easily into a type of populism which could easily dovetail with a ‘conservative’ form of class warfare. Beyond that, i don’t know much about the man, but I am very curious as to what Mr. Erickson is referring to.

    Thanks in advance for the help.

  • avgjo

    You’re exactly right.

    It’s the same with Gingrich. Yeah, he said stupid things about global warming. So did Christie. Yeah, he sat on a couch with Pelousy. Tom Coburn attacked Tea Partiers and FOX to defend her. He made that weird comment about Paul Ryan’s plan. Romney signed Obamacare lite, flip-flopped on abortion and lied at the last debate about changing the editions of his book.

    Point is, they’re all flawed (they’re human). Yet, some can do no wrong, and others can do no good.

    I don’t get it.

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

    but there are a few of them who are not total candidates,

    What I mean by that is that they are good only on a few issues.

    Ron Paul, is great on fiscal issues, not much else,
    ditto gary johnson.

    Santorum resonates with the hyper social issues crowd, but does nothing for anyone else.

    Bachmann had almost the perfect blend of fiscal and social issues, but she blew it by being too negative on other candidates and by not being able to answer some simple questions.

    Romney is the worse of the lot to me. Why? not because of anything he has said, or any of his positions, but because I just cannot trust him.
    NOT AT ALL.

    Sorry, I can’t trust the guy, he has been all over the place and has changed his opinions on a variety of issues fairly recently.

    After all the times we have been betrayed in the Republican party, can you blame me for being wary?

  • avgjo

    And I agree with you on Romney.

    And I sure as heck don’t blame you for being wary.

    I’ll vote for a republican in the general. Even though I think Romney would drive the country over the cliff at 45 mph vs. Obama’s 100 mph, I’d still vote for him. It’s just weird how inconsistent views on the various candidates are. Take any supporter of any GOP candidate and a supporter of another. Each could truthfully and fairly point out serious flaws in the other candidate. But that won’t help us at all. We need to focus on which one’s flaws will least interfere with getting America back to the right path.

  • Change Jar Conservative

    Learned Optimism is a book that changed my life at a crucial time.

    The author talked about the most optimistic candidates winning on a consistent basis.

  • Change Jar Conservative

    He thinks government should tell you what to eat.

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

    nor has he met a tax increase he didn’t like.

  • Scope

    which many are focusing on today, will change by next week, or next month. Currently the whole conversation has been drawn to immigration, which factually is somewhere down around 6th or 7th on the priority list. It has been seen by some as a way to attack Perry on his, by some, perceived weakest issue. The point is to try to take Perry out as quickly as possible before he gains to much support. A week or so ago it was the vaccination issue, and his use of executive orders. How terrible, even though every president, and Governor has used them much more than once. VA Gov. McDonald used an executive order to require all state vehicles to use alternative fuels, yet he is high on the list of VP choices for many.

    In the end, when all the dust settles, I can only hope that people don’t flock to the polls to vote for whoever is at the top on that day. I personally have gone with Perry because I have researched his record, as well as all of the other candidates, and his 10 year record impresses me as being the best person in the race, who is mostly favorable to the main issues that I hold dear. I just wish that the voters would look at where someone has been, rather than putting the total focus on where they say they want to be. I’m not sure where Romney will be tonight, let alone in 2012. He is surely the blank slate in the race, because you never know what he will support, or not support tomorrow. Much too risky for my taste.

  • aesthete

    was a run-on sentence of Huck supporting big government programs and the taxes to pay for them, while criticizing those who opposed these deviations using his faith. Taxes and spending both went up at a greater rate than other states, and Huck was a participant, rather than opponent, of this trend. If you want more specifics, I’ll post some tomorrow. (I’m pretty busy all day today and won’t be able to post much today.)

  • GregInFla

    Michael?

  • GregInFla

    Any answer besides yes may not be tolerated by freetn.

  • Scope

    Don’t you realize that you and everyone who protests constantly accomplish nothing. If the site moderators have no problem with freentn comments he/she will continue to do what he/she does. If you don’t like the posts, ignore them. There are some comments here that make my hair stand up, but many just ignore those. Why? The thing that most don’t seem to realize is that the more attention you give some, the more they post. Ignore freentn.

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

    when I was a little bit rough around the edges.

  • tyman

    Yes, I just thought it was so funny when Sarah Palin did it, and it’s quicker to type.

    She just kept saying it…Herbcain, Herbcain…like it was one word.

    If I understand your question, I think CNN asked Herb because he was the flavor of the week. I don’t think what the other candidates think is consequential, at this point, because they aren’t enough of a news story.

    The major point is that CNN probably sensed Herb’s suck up to Romney about VP during the debate meant something and CNN, as part of the LSM, has an agenda: to fracture the conservative base during the primaries so they can go after Romney in the general.

    If you don’t think they’ll do that, here’s a post I read by someone at NRO and it says it well…

    “…the media are just holding their fire on Mittens until the general. Then, they’ll open up and smear his religion, his flip-flops, his social status. By the time they’re done with him, he’ll be tarred another crazy rich Republican theocrat simpleton… just as the media does with *every* Republican candidate.”

    It’s like this poster read my mind. Rest assured, the media will have a field day with Mittens just like they had with McCain. I remember David Letterman making fun of him just a few weeks before the election. It upset Mark Levin so much (and Levin is no lover of McLame, as he calls him) that he called Letterman a “buck toothed freak…that’s right I said it”.

    Remember how McLame used to be the media darling before he got the nomination? How’d that work out? The same thing will happen to Romney. Oh, the LSM is going to have a field day with Romneycare.

  • gekster

    that keeps biting you, and just before you swat him, he takes off, but keeps coming back to bite again, just in a different place
    The only way to get rid of him is to nuke yourself in off.

    And just so you know Scope, there are two of them, using the same monicer
    A first shifter and a second shifter, who sometimes pulls overtime.
    Look at the morning postings and then the evening postings.

    A couple of times the morning guy didn’t tell the evening guy what was up,

    (it’s not illegal, per se, but why)

  • lineholder

    possible answer to last question is here:

    http://www.redstate.com/erick/2011/10/02/maybe-stephanie-mccrummen-just-likes-using-the-n-word/#comment-131234

    Read down through a few.

    Other than that, gekster, I think there are just people who find the cut-throat heat of politics appealing.

  • Jim Tomasik

    There are two different styles of writing. It cannot keep it’s lies straight either.

  • freentn

    our throats that is exactly what will happen. The LSM destruction of McCain will be mild in comparison to what they will do to Romney. McCain was blemish free compared to Mitt.

  • intensity

    ….any true republican wll be a Rick Perry supporter.

  • GregInFla

    thus I was asking freentn (correct this time) the question. Sorry if I confounded everyone here, especially you, Scope.

  • ihateliberals

    The media and the Democrats have set the agenda for the GOP instead of it being the other way around. they have these guys slinging mud and no one can shine while doing that. While Reagan did sling some mud he concentrated on what he was going to do to fix the Carter fiasco. When debating with Carter or Mondale he concentrated even when the moderator tried to redirect him he stuck to task. One famous line when attacked by Mondale was “There you go again”. then he got back on task and told the people what he was going to do not so much of what Mondale or Carter did wrong. All of these current guys are so stuck on destroying each other that no one is gong to win. When GHW Bush called Reagan’s economic plan VooDoo economics he didn’t’ attack Bush he came right back and told us why his plan would work. It’s like the GOP has forgotten everything that Reagan taught them. That is why the GOP is having such a hard time shinning mainly because THEY AREN’T!. I thought for a while that CAin might pull himself up and run with the big dogs and then he had to pull the race card. bad bad move. We dont’ need to hear anymore about race we need to hear how you are going to fix this economy and make us strong again. Please all of you candidates go back and learn from the master Ronald Reagan. One of my favorite sayings I came up with when I use to train IT managers is “Never wrestle with a Pig…All that happens is you get dirty and the Pig likes it”.

  • gekster

    He is a drive by poster.

  • Scope

    You didn’t confound me. I just asked why some are so obsessed about one poster in particular when there are some that are brain dead. Check out the recent Palin diaries for classic examples.

  • avgjo

    ….

  • timkellogg

    they don’t believe we have it in us to nominate Cain. We are all so racist, of course it will never happen. They will give him non-issues to comment about to make him appear opposed…meanwhile someone among us here at RS keeps trying multiple methods of being what they assume we all are…yeah, buddy, Herman is just like Powell in ONE way…sorry, I know I should ignore him but he just won’t shut up…Fact is, I could beat Obama right now, if I could make myself stay in the race after they dug up even a little of the dirt folks could dig-up on me, so I’m awful sick of hearing/reading how we need to settle for Romney or be stuck with four more years of the socialist-in-chief…

  • shaunappleby

    Having watched the 2008 campaign in detail his trajectory seems to most clearly resembles Cain’s at this point. With the exception of Cain’s Ames Straw poll debacle (Huckabee came in second to Romney (32%) at 18% to Cain’s lame fifth) the general course of the polling seems about par to date. What, with Michele Bachmann apparently out of the race, do you reckon his chances are in Iowa?