Posted on 09/28/2011 5:12:15 AM PDT by IbJensen
The secret of Herman Cain is that he seems — at least to me — genuinely to be a mentally healthy human being.
This is no small thing, particularly in the world of politics — even more so presidential politics, where large dollops of nearly clinical narcissism are necessary to propel the ambition needed to run for this most powerful of offices.
As most of us know by now, Cain leavens his narcissism with generous jolts of humor — much of it self-deprecating — that make him, at this moment anyway, the most engaging figure on the political scene.
But beneath the humor is the more serious tale of a self-made man who has pulled himself up by the proverbial bootstraps — a “po’” boy (not a poor boy), as he describes himself in his just released autobiography campaign manifesto, This Is Herman Cain: My Journey to the White House.
Cain also describes himself in the book as a “CEO of Self,” at once making fun of his well-known CEO status with Godfather’s Pizza while emphasizing his own determined self-actualization. Cain is a guy who from the beginning of his life aimed to improve himself and succeeded.
A “CEO of Self” is a man who knows what his real goals are and does not let life’s inevitable vicissitudes, large and small, fair and unfair, public and private, racial and otherwise, deter him. He makes that very clear as he explains his way of dealing with discrimination during his youth: “I chose as CEO of Self to remove the barriers rather than to allow the barriers to remove me.”
He just kept on trucking. When unable to get a haircut because the barber would not cut the hair of black people, he bought himself a pair of clippers and cut his own hair. He does so to this day. (Take that, John Edwards!)
This is the same man who put himself through Morehouse College majoring in math, got a masters in computer science from Purdue (while improving academically), plotted rocket guidance for the Navy, started in business at Coca-Cola, then went on to turn around the fortunes of Philadelphia’s Burger King franchise, take over the aforementioned Godfather’s Pizza chain, become the head of the National Restaurant Association, be appointed to the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City, and host a radio show into the bargain. And, of course, he defeated the Big C.
The only thing this man seems to have failed at is politics. He lost an earlier run for the Senate from his home state of Georgia.
This doesn’t necessarily disqualify him from the presidency, nor does it truly disqualify him that he has had absolutely no elected experience. That may even be an advantage, as Cain has puckishly pointed out on several occasions.
But we certainly do have a right to wonder what he would really be like as president. Cain seems to realize this because he provides us with a preview in his new book. The title of chapter 12 is “The Cain Administration: The First Ninety Days.” The following passage caught my eye:
As in every executive position I’ve ever undertaken, I will determine the parameters of my activities. And while I respect those who have served before me, I will not follow in their footsteps. I will create new footsteps.
I will reduce the number of protocol-oriented events that presidents are seemingly required to attend. At a time of deepening national crisis, I simply cannot afford to allocate valuable time to things that do not advance solutions to this nation’s problems. That’s why I have decided to sharply decrease the number of inaugural night balls. Instead, Mrs. Cain and I will host a series of celebratory occasions, and they will be spread out during my first months in office.
My guest lists for state dinners and other important occasions will be light on A list celebrities and heavy on normal Americans who work each day to restore our nation to greatness. And unlike the practice of certain previous administrations, there will be no “paying” guests staying in the Lincoln Bedroom.
Once each month I plan to invite small groups of average citizens to join me for dinner and conversation. As someone who will have to spend most of my working hours in Washington, these events will make it possible for me to take the nation’s pulse on the pressing issues, as well as to stay connected to the people.
Sounds as if there won’t be a lot of golf.
This Is Herman Cain also includes an appendix spelling out the candidate’s stands on the issues. Its final section — My Candidacy, Against the Odds — contains the following in bold face:
1. I don’t claim to know everything: 2. I don’t pander to groups; 3. I am terrible at political correctness.
Not bad for starters.
I think the more that conservatives get to hear and see Cain the more they will gravitate to him. It’d be a hoot to hear Obama and Co. calling him racist – even better to hear Cain’s retorts. It takes some of the ammo out of their arsenal. Nothing like fighting fire with fire eh?
“The only thing this man seems to have failed at is politics. He lost an earlier run for the Senate from his home state of Georgia.”
And as pretty much everyone in Illinois learned in grade school, pretty much the same thing happened to some guy named Lincoln.
I hear a combination of Ronald Reagan (and believe it or not post-racist period George Wallace) when I hear this man talk. Self deprecating, elevating the common man, praising small government, attacking stupid Washington, taking potshots at the elite know it all limousine liberals and media, down to earth, folksy, mixing it up with the people, and unflinching when in the hotseat with lib interviews out to crucify him, but they can’t seem to do it and he just shrugs or laughs it off. A fascinating political phenomenon, Herman Cain, and he is not even a politician for petes sake. These kinds do not come along very often. The world is FULL of slick “Willards” and “Ricks”, but this Herman is something else, I’ll tell ya. This is what makes it so UNCONVENTIONAL. It will be an UNCONVENTIONAL YEAR 2012 for sure.
At least through the primaries... so long as he’s still in the game.. Herman Cain’s my candidate. He says what he means and means what he says, and IMO has the highest level of credibility of the lot of them.
We’ll know the regime regards Cain as a threat when the “media” starts directing its fire at him. He’ll be a tougher target than his fellow candidates.
The thing I like about Cain and Palin is that they don’t mince words
I am tired of the Wimpy GOP politicos acting like a bunch of cowards when dealing with the MSM and afraid of offending them less they be treated badly ( as if they aren’t already)
It is time to confront the MSM and the DEMs head on
Especially after Obama became writ large on the stage, I’ve said that one of the necessary functions of a candidate having had experience, of some sort beyond “Community Organizer,” is that not only does it show some level of competence, it helps us know whether or not the person is crazy.
A crazy person, or someone with some kind of personality or emotional or identity disorder, is not going to be able to successfully run anything. Oh, sure, the classic psychopath can often run a business brilliantly, and at a very high level, HOWEVER there will be people willing to come out of the woodwork and say “that dude may seem successful, but there’s something wrong with him.”
If a person has never been tested in these normal situations, there is no one who stands as a “witness” to his mental/emotional health status.
And, as we’ve seen, that’s very important.
Obombo, debating someone like Herman Cain and without his teleprompter, should come off looking like Daffy Duck.
To think that this crooked Marxist-Muslim will get a pension for the rest of his unnatural life, like Carter and Clinton, is just so damned aggravating!
:: My guest lists for state dinners and other important occasions will be light on A list celebrities and heavy on normal Americans who work each day to restore our nation to greatness. ::
How do we get JimRob an invite?
This guy is terrific. Absolute class act.
If, and when, people start believing that this guy might just have a shot, he could be a real contender. I think everyone likes and respects him immensely, but simply believe he has no chance. If that perception changes, (and the Florida win might have started that exact change), watch out!
In the Debates, he and Newt clearly had the best messages and best style. Newt - love him; too much baggage and doesn’t seem like a hard worker. Cain seems to have it all. That passage about his style if elected is truly refreshing.
Everybody is prepared for a Palin candidacy -— knives sharpened and research complete.
Nobody is prepared for Herman Cain.
These are two rare people that have arisen at the same time in history.
Cain can tackle the behemoth we call gov’t from the inside.
Palin can tackle the behemoth we call gov’t from the outside.
Together, they can help restore some of the constitutional character of our nation while educating the public about it.
I would so vote for this good man. In fact, I already did so in his senate run.
Excellent question!
Just pre-ordered this book for my Kindle.
A po’boy is french bread filled with fried shrimp or catfish. Mmmm, po’boy.
This magnificent man of color, red white and blue, gets better with every debate. We are witnessing “A Man For All Seasons” coming into his best stride. God has sent to these United States of America, a chosen son in Herman Cain, who has the honest potential within him to stride with the American Greats of the ages, Washington, Lincoln, Reagan!!! Godspeed, Herman Cain, the common people of America stand with you and behind you!!!
Which is why Mr. Cain cannot be the nominee.....he doesn’t fit in the RINO mold!!
jch10 wants an invite too.
“Which is why Mr. Cain cannot be the nominee.....he doesn’t fit in the RINO mold!!”
Cain doesn’t need to worry about RINO’s, there horns are being grounded down to nubs, there teeth are falling out, and they are quickly heading for extinction. All due to the effect of the Tea Party.
“A po’boy is french bread filled with fried shrimp or catfish. Mmmm, po’boy.”
Not so fast.....
http://www.parkwaybakeryandtavernnola.com/Parkway_Bakery_Tavern_New_Orleans_LA.html
This is the absolute best roast beef po’boy trhat I know....
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