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.
So this proves the point that Perry as three times governor has enacted, approved, and kept business friendly policies that made Texas prosperous. He fought regulations that handicapped businesses. This is what we greatly need in a President.
Careful about slamming red meat eaters.
There’s lots of us out here -——& WE VOTE!!!!
Manufacturing, agriculture, high tech, retail, and healthcare sectors would pay 15% in corporate tax. Financial sector would pay 25% in corporate tax.””
No different than NObama—picking out whom you like & whom you dislike & taxing them accordingly.
When you tax on a basis of whom you like & whom you do not, those higher taxed entities will cease to exist.
At the end no matter how much overrating and spinning you do it is a Pizza business that hires low paying jobs to cook a dough with tomato sauce, cheese and some topping, so let us stop the silly joke of overrating what it takes to run and make it as a qualification to run the United States government because it is not, not even close.
All sales tax systems have a minimum amount of sales you must make before you have to start collecting sales tax.”””
As a life long bookkeeper who has prepared a great number of Sales tax returns, we collected & paid sales taxes on each & every transaction. Small & large alike.
I have never heard of your reference to ‘not collecting sales tax until you have sold a certain amount’.
Herman Cain saved Godfather’s Pizza by ‘shuttering hundreds of restaurants’
Is America ready for The Herminator?
In a 40-year business career, perhaps his greatest feat was turning around the struggling Godfather’s Pizza chain, in part by closing numerous branches. He was also a board member of a major energy company when it was successfully sued by employees for nearly obliterating the pension fund on risky investments.
There is more to his record...this is a start.
He fought regulations that handicapped businesses. This is what we greatly need in a President.””
You are refusing to recognise that Cain is trying to say the same thing. He is trying to elinimate bottlenecks to getting the economy going.
Boy, are you proving your complete ignorance of any kind of business!!!
Most of the comments I made could also be applied to a plumbing business, a landscape/nursery business, an auto repair shop,—you pick one.
Yeah let us have Joe the Mechanic running for President because he has run a car repair shop. He is qualified because he has run a business. (super extreme sarcasm).
I’m not sure of the threshold, but in GA a “business” must have something like $300 a year in sales before they have to start colleting sales taxes (don’t know the exact number off the top of my head).
I doubt any of the people you were keeping books for were that small. The subject was will kids that have a lemonade stand have to report sales taxes. The answer is no they won’t.
After her performance in front of the NH House the other day, I can’t imagine it will be for much longer.
Perry is certainly a “DOER”
He done give away stuff to illegals becase we are “heartless” if we don’t agree with him
If someone believes they would be a quality executive in republican goverment, we have 50 state houses. Why not govern one of those and prove yourself in AAA league, before reaching for THE JOB?
I realize that ain't happening with Cain, who lost a GA primary for a non-executive position. Im just saying as a party, it's pretty lame that neither the GOP nor the Tea Party can offer up one credible, competent executive with truly relevant experience, and a good record to boast about.
If we're all so smart, how come we are so unable to do that? I wouldn't think it too much to ask a national party, or a national movement.
At least, the prediction that Rush would be a Romney supporter didn’t materialize. It will be Rick Perry who is the nominee, you know that guy you call a dunce. Texas was last in the recession and now first out of the recession, that is what that dunce did. ;o)
btw, I appreciated your response very much. I recognize your moniker, though I don't recall the exact nature of our tussles. Hopefully I was at least semi-decent to you. You never know. I get cranky.:-)
I know my antifederalist rants, and my aggressive critiques of the Constitution and Federalism can come off like the proverbial turd in the punchbowl,.Sometimes maybe I harp on a theme too long and overplay my welcome.
Yet I've survived here (knock wood). I've only had one or two time outs ever. My discussions on the aforementioned subjects are probably some of my best contributions. They are purely directed at the cause of LIBERTY, and, dare I say it, challenge conventional conservative thinking in ways that are substantive and fundamental. I don't think I lay down silly or frivolous arguments.
And over the years, I learn, and much of that learning comes from the grist mill that is Free Republic, and the hearty give and take that occurs here daily.
So anyway, it's a wine-soaked rant, forgive me. I just meant to get back to you to let you know I appreciate your conciliatory and friendly reply to my message. Cheers.
“Romney=McCain”
Is this supposed to be a positive?
OK so in a nutshell, you don’t think Cain is qualified to be President so you will refuse to vote for him against a President who has demonstrated himself to be unqualified and despite his four years in office, still less qualified than Cain.
Got it.
Very insightful comments.
Your points about Cain never holding elective office are well taken, but this is one of the most ignorant statements I have ever read on FreeRepublic. Sorry.
I am a Cain supporter, by the way.
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