Posted on 11/19/2011 8:52:46 AM PST by UniqueViews
Poor Rick Perry. His "brain freeze" is indelible, otherwise it would forever be eclipsed by Herman Cain's more cringe-inducing meanderings on Libya.
At a meeting with the editors of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Cain was asked whether he agreed with President Barack Obama's handling of Libya. You would think he had been asked who is the president of Ubeki-beki-beki-beki-stan-stan, Cain's joshing description of a prototypical gotcha foreign-policy question. What ensued was the longest five minutes of an editorial-board meeting ever.
As the inspiring outsider-businessman, Cain needn't sound like he's auditioning for the chairmanship of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. But is it too much to ask that he sound like he reads the newspaper every day?
Republicans tend to be defensive of their own when they are criticized for substantive superficiality. They remember that "they said the same thing about Ronald Reagan." But Reagan was a two-term governor and repeat presidential candidate who had exhaustively thought through his views. He proved it's possible to be fearlessly anti-establishment and well informed at the same time. Herman Cain has yet to manage it.
(Excerpt) Read more at realclearpolitics.com ...
I have EQUALLY found that unwillingness to research issues by a columnist MANY FREEPERS, in this election cycle, with ample resources to do such is a sure sign of underlying bias...particularly when attacking 'anyone not Mitt."
Constant posting of proven misinformation, the truth of which is easily accessible, is rampant and beneath the precepts of FR. And yet, they are allowed to continue what becomes deliberate smears, no better than the mainSlime media or demRat Socialists.
Truly disheartening.
Cain understands the tension between the two tendencies but hasn't considered it deeply enough to have formulated a specific proposal. Much the same could be said of his positions on foreign policy which, although they are not completely formulated, does not mean that his philosophical instincts would not deliver a beneficial result, particularly because he HAS demonstrated the skill to hire good people and motivate them to do good work.
Agreed. Rich Lowry is part of the NE elitist republican establishment and Hannity is right there with them.
No, but it is a redoubt of the very GOP "moderates" that blew a conservative majority by failure to control its urge to sate its corporate benefactors, the people who give money to BOTH sides. That taint of corruption and the compulsion to "reach across the aisle" is what gave us a Democrat majority with a Marxist President.
So no, I'm no fan of The National Review.
Rich Rove is just doing what he is told.
Here's another thought. Prior all this Cain "stuff" ( for lack of a better word) there was considerable speculation about a possible GOP ticket...the idea ofCain/Gingrich was widely embraced. Now, because of all these issues, were Newt, Perry, or Mitt to win the nomination, I don't think that any of them would pick Cain as a VP, because it would resurrect all the questions about Cain's readiness ( which, after all, is the prime funcion of the VP) and the nominee and the campaign would start off behind the 8-ball, with questions about their judgement.
So, we should ask..can a person who won't be considered for the VP spot continue to run for the top slot?
Damn good one, I do believe you may have struck brown gold with that one. LOL
With a very few exceptions, the Romney-bot weenies running Bill Buckley’s old mag are a disgrace to its founder, and in any case are irrelevant outside of the cocktail-party-and-country-club circuit. Mark Steyn, you need to trade up.
I used to listen from time to time to Herman Cain’s radio show in Atlanta. At the time, it bothered me that he did not seem to have the breadth of knowledge—or interest—of other commentators on many of the issues that came up. Instead, he relied on his personality and wit; sometimes it worked, often it fell short. I think that is Lowry’s observation here as well.
The media can said or write whatever they wish and makeup whatever they want. But, I am voting for Herman Cain.
Hate on him all you want but we Southern conservatives take care of our own.
And during that period, Mr. Cain's discussions of the details of current events were approximately 30% as thorough as fellow WSB host Neal Boortz. I attributed it to Cain's style at the time.
Lowry's condescending "evaluation" of Cain also may reveal much about himself and the criteria he uses for measuring leadership ability.
What did his little commentary contribute to national thought and judgment on Cain?
Citizens who long for an authentic leader may use another standard by which to measure a man whom they wish to influence the future liberty of their Republic.
Some may even remember a story from an ancient text which records another potential future leader and lawgiver's response to a call to serve, when he objected: "I am slow of speech and slow of tongue,"(Exodus 3:2-4:17)
American liberty cannot survive another leader who is measured by superficially high-sounding sound bites and know-it-all evaluations from media spokesmen who, themselves, may lack understanding the qualifications of a true leader.
Thanks. That is why it is critical that Cain really get this under control while he still has a chance. Right now I and others support him because I know who he is but he needs to prove who he is to the electorate. I want him to come back because he has an amazing communication talent and an amazing story when he unleashes it but it is clear that the campaign is taking its toll and it won’t get better. Nothing is more disappointing than promise wasted. The unfortunate irony is that he handled the sex harassment stuff fairly well even given the chaos the problem is it weakened him with ‘blood in the water’ so to speak and the sharks are now hitting him. That he is still hanging on is testament to what he could be but running for president isn’t a race about trying hard. He has to be in it to win it and that means getting organized. I figure he has till the end of November to get things together going into Iowa. Also If I were him I’d put together a big feel good campaign pre-Christmas event. Maybe invite the other candidates even to a non debate venue for just a good time.
Hey but that is how I’d do it. You leverage your strengths and when your strength is going directly to the people you need to focus on that like a laser. Cain needs to show he is bigger than the Cain caricature before it is cast in stone and his chance is lost. It would be a pity because he has survived far too much adversity and worked far too hard to find himself turned into an object of ridicule.
Lex,
You’ve got a few years on me, but you have used them wisely. I agree with you fully. Richie and most of the other political pundits live in a world where everyone tells them how smart they are. Yet, how many have ever had to put their money where their mouth is?
BTW, I first voted in 1972 and could not believe that McGovern lost. Ah to be so young and stupid!
It's become far more establishment Republican than conservative.
Bet you watch FNC at least three hours a night and think that it's conservative too.
"Conservatism" must, in order to be anything at all, mean "conserving," or preserving the essential ideas of liberty which underlie and form the foundation of the Declaration of Independence and Constitution.
Future generations of America, given the advantages of technological accessibility to the writings of America's Founders and their predecessors in devotion to ideas of liberty, may rue the day when supposed thought leaders of 2011 focused on frivolous things and helped to extinguish the light of liberty.
See my posts 34 and 39.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.