Posted on 10/14/2011 5:40:45 AM PDT by IbJensen
Karl Rove doesn’t think Herman Cain stands a chance of being POTUS. Bush’s number one consigliere said as much on Fox Thursday night.
But is he right? I sure don’t know, but I certainly have a suspicion why Karl thinks what he does. The Herman Cain candidacy is a direct threat to his occupation. Rove — arguably the reigning monarch of political pros — went on to register his disapproval that Cain was wandering around Godforsaken places like Tennessee flogging his book, when any serious candidate should be pressing the flesh where it counts — to wit, Iowa, New Hampshire, and South Carolina.
Worse yet, the candidate isn’t raising any money (or not enough to have flashing neon signs that say “9…9…9…” like Burma-Shave along every highway in America — not that we have to be reminded).
Now I have no beef with Rove. In fact, I rather like him, having interviewed him for PJTV. But it’s obvious that times have changed and that Herman Cain is running a very canny media campaign virtually all by himself. Yes, I know he has a staff, but you do get the sense this man is his own thing, which is part of the tightrope walking fun. Can he make it to the other side — Pennsylvania Avenue — without falling? Whatever the case, Rove and others like him (the sorry David Axelrod, the Carville-Matalin duo, etc.) are in danger of becoming, if not extinct, at least more marginal than previously assumed.
Here’s another data point: A couple of months back, Newt Gingrich’s entire campaign staff — including Dave Carney, the putative “next Karl Rove” — split and decamped for Texas, soon to join Rick Perry’s campaign. What happened? Today Gingrich is rising in the polls — apparently on the strength of his debate performances — and Perry, who started strong, is, at least for now, in trouble.
Again, I have no beef with Carney. I’ve met him too and he seems to be a fine fellow. Quite bright.
So what’s going on here? The more powerful the political pros, the worse the campaign? Or is it really about the candidate in our non-stop media world? I tend to think it’s the latter. Given the amount of coverage they all get, it’s hard to imagine they need help in getting exposure. Maybe they need help in getting a little anonymity. (That’s particularly true in the current president’s case.)
And what about money — the legendary mother’s milk of politics? Well, it too might not be as important as it is cracked up to be. Cain, as noted, has spent very little (at least until now) and Jon Huntsman is the richest guy to run since, well, John Kerry. Maybe Huntsman’s even richer. And look where it’s got him, duking it out with Rick Santorum for the privilege of keeping Gary Johnson out of the debates (unfairly, in my estimation).
We may all hate our media — they are even less popular than politicians — but they are ironically diminishing the importance of money in politics. No money? No pros? What’s next? Actual democracy?
Of course, I have overstated it, but I think not by a lot. What also may be going on is that the American public — at least on the Republican side — is very engaged. They know we are in a crisis and they are paying strict attention. They don’t need pros and they don’t need advertising to attract their eyes. Their bank accounts already woke them up — and if not that, a friendly reminder from the neighborhood jihadist.
Does this mean that the candidates should all strip down and fire their advisers? (Be like Herman, not like Mike.) Well, in one sense, that wouldn’t be a bad idea. But in these dire economic times, with everyone so concerned about jobs, putting all those political pros on the unemployment lines could be heartless. And no candidate — Rick Perry would be glad to remind you — wants to be accused of that.
I will support Cain. I like everything he says.
I like Perry, I like his track record.
I don’t like Romney. He is machine. The party structure likes him, the MSM call him “inevitable”. Every “party Republican”, whatever, “inevitable”, if elected, goes native.
GOES NATIVE. This is what people who care, dislike about the current Republicans. Once elected, Democrat light.
Machine hates outsiders.
If we are going to have an expanding Government and collapsing economy, It may as well be rightfully under another America-hating Democrat or a globalist like Romney who would continue this practice of sticking his nose into the world.
Cain=Huckabee
Romney=McCain
Should Cain succeed in breaking the political mold then he will have done us a great service.
Interesting point.
Bachmann=Palin, sort of.
Cain is surging IN SPITE of all the talking heads. He is doing everything opposite from their advice.
He is his own man
His rationale?? Rove prefers a rich-white-liberal-big business-big government liberal like Romney?
Couldn't disagree more
Cain is surging IN SPITE of all the talking heads. He is doing everything opposite from their advice.
He is his own man
Paul=Larouche
Running a Pizza company where the toughest decision is to open or close a Pizza joint and to increase or reduce the price of a Pizza is not a qualification to run the most powerful government in the history of mankind. The decisions that the President make affect the lives of all Americans and in many cases the entire world and Pizza CEO does not qualify to make these decisions the same way a community organizer showed us that he does not qualify to do this. Having a degree in Math does not qualify someone to be a President. Being a good debater does not qualify someone to be President because a President does not enact polices in 30 seconds sound bites and does not negotiate with Congress in 3 seconds zingers, Presidents do not govern by debates.
If Herman Cain is the nominee, I would not vote for President on the ballot. I would just vote for Congress and the elected offices down the ballot.
The big advantage Cain has over Huckabee is he doesn't have a record to run on -- or away from. As a political talker, he's never had to put the rubber to the road, so there's nothing hanging around his neck (except 9-9-9).
I love that the American people are waking up and are engaged in this campaign. It isn’t about the moneyed campaigns, and it keeps good people from running. If we really want to throw off the political elite ruling class and get back to letting elections being about the best candidate winning, the emphasis on fund-raising and who has the biggest war chest/machine has to be sidelined. Maybe I’m idealistic but that is what democracy and America was supposed to be about. I find the ‘retail’ campaign of Herman Cain refreshing.
I hope we can get beyond money and powerful camaign organizations and let the next leader be elected by WE THE PEOPLE. Let the best man or woman win.
I hope.
Just curious, but how is Cain = Huckabee? I thought that Huckabee was more moderate in his views, except on social issues.
Oh, don’t worry , he’s a pro alright, 999=666.
“Who, pray tell, is yelling “Stop” today? It sure isn’t Washington Republicans. Now, don’t misunderstand me—these days, I believe there is generally no question about which party to support. I am a proud, albeit frustrated, Republican. I am frustrated because Republicans have so often been part of the problem in Washington, rather than standing on principle to give voice to the American people. We should not endeavor to be better than Democrats only by default—that is, “Democrat Lite.” Rather we should endeavor to demonstrate that we believe in something bigger than ourselves.” p.140
Perry, Rick; Newt Gingrich (2010-11-15). Fed Up!: Our Fight to Save America from Washington . Little, Brown and Company. Kindle Edition.
Your ignorance of Cain's resume is total. Rather then continue to scream this same ignorant bile on thread after thread, try actually learning some things about Cain
lol. Which is sort of like saying Paul=Paul.
Romney is definitely in the same boat McCain was in last time. The base doesn't like him, but he could win by default.
Cain, because he has no record, has a chance to do what Huckabee couldn't do--get enough of the conservative vote to compete. Perry is clearly done. Can Gingrich or Santorum compete? Will those two plus Bachmann hang around long enough to keep Romney competitive against the base? We shall see.
Thank you for proving the point. Your opposition to Cain is wholly emotional and is not based on any rational thought
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