The American Spectator : Raising Cain in Florida

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Raising Cain in Florida

He owes it all to Rick Perry's collapse.

TAMPA -- OK, so maybe the Republican presidential nomination fight isn't a private affair between Mitt Romney and Rick Perry after all. Lobstah and four-alarm chili will have to make room for pepperoni.

In a weekend political rodeo in Orlando that included a straw vote on the part of nearly 3,000 conservative Florida Republican activists, Romney underperformed. But Perry got absolutely waxed among growing doubts that's he's the un-Romney so many conservative voters are looking for.

The conservative Republicans at Presidency 5 were supposed to be Perry's crowd, not so much Romney's. Romney does better with the regular, less-red meat run of Florida Republican. But in addition to a weak debating performance, Perry used the sure-to-fail tactic of lecturing his base, calling those who opposed his Texas DREAM-Act (which includes in-state tuition rates to illegal aliens) "heartless." It was down hill for Perry after that.

To the surprise of political experts everywhere, the runaway winner in Saturday's vote was former Godfather Pizza CEO Herman Cain at 37 percent. Perry was second at 15, with Romney third at 14. Rick Santorum was fourth with 11 percent. National weird uncle Ron Paul got 10 percent, Newt Gingrich 8. Jon Huntsman punched above his weight at two percent. The amazing disappearing Michelle Bachmann was almost off the screen at one percent.

"This is a sign of our growing momentum and my candidacy that cannot be ignored," Cain said after the results were known.

Well, yes. But it's unclear how much Big-Mo Cain will get from this impressive Florida win. It will surely have happy consequences for his short-term fundraising (unhappy ones for Perry's), and he'll be getting more media attention next week than last. But will it last?

It would be a mistake to think of Cain's weekend victory as a fluke. He's enormously engaging, an inspirational speaker, and a man of real accomplishment in the business world. The line in his stump speech about how he's "not a professional politician" always get big applause.

This weekend's vote may have been partly a reward for Cain's boffo debate performance Thursday and a moving speech Friday. But Cain's platform, which he is good at articulating, is unambiguously conservative by any standard. He is, as we Southern recovering Episcopalians are fond of saying, a mensch. He's for real, and may well have staying power.

Perry, on the other hand, is showing signs of stress fracture, and may well be on his way back to AAA ball. His reason for being in the race was as the conservative who could win. The guy Republicans not comfortable with Romney could get behind. But the more Republicans learn about his immigration policies, which include his dreamy DREAM-act and opposition to a border fences, and about his requirement that all government school girls in Texas be vaccinated against a sexually transmitted disease, the more many of them wonder how conservative Perry, a Democrat until 1988, really is.

Creeping ideological doubts aside, Perry's stock also went down thanks to yet another poor debate performance. At various points in Thursday night's services, Perry looked somewhere between lame and lost. He just didn't look as smart as Romney, though both of them at times looked like a bickering old married couple. We've already elected one inarticulate former Texas governor as president.

During Friday's speeches, Perry pounded the theme that Americans aren't looking for the "slickest" candidate, or the one who is the most skilled debater. An understandable line for him to take considering his Thursday night fumbling. But it availed him not much. Perhaps many who voted for Cain or another candidate than Perry feared that in debates with Barack O'Barnum next year, Perry would have his butt handed to him, as he did Thursday night.

Now the sun will shine more brightly on Herman Cain, and many conservatives are eager to see what he will do with this opportunity. Those with the merest familiarity with political history understand how perishable the bumps from straw votes, caucuses, even primaries can be. Cain picked up a clear and impressive victory Saturday. He will have to build on it if he's to have any hope of replacing our current socialist president.

Whoever wins the Republican nomination for president will have a good shot at Florida's 29 electoral votes. A Quinnipiac poll released last week shows 57 percent of Florida voters disapproving of the job Obama is doing as president, while only 37 percent approve. The poll shows that if the election were held last week (and how many conservatives in America wish it were?), Romney would beat Obama 47-40 in Florida while Perry would lose 42 to 44. But as fresh as these poll numbers are, the events of Presidency 5 show just how short political lifetimes can be, and leave Herman Cain, now a contendah, looking for a rematch.

About the Author

Larry Thornberry is a writer in Tampa.

Letter to the Editor View all comments (119) | Leave a comment

Pecos Pete| 9.26.11 @ 7:26AM

"He's enormously engaging, an inspirational speaker, and a man of real accomplishment in the business world."

"Cain's platform, which he is good at articulating, is unambiguously conservative by any standard."

Why are more people NOT supporting Herman Cain? Who else among the Republican candidates can we use the above two quotes to describe?

Cain is a real conservative.

JP| 9.26.11 @ 7:34AM

You will get your answers in due time. We shall see what he will do with his new found fortune. Perry illustrated how easy it is to get to the Right of Mitt. The question is can, Cain do it in such a way without appearing cartoonish (a la Perry)? Perry biggest problem is he tried too hard to be the folksy-rural-Elmer Gantry-populist. Surprisingly, many of the Christian Right didn't warm to his bombast. The problems we face are too important to nominate someone like Perry.

Bill A| 9.26.11 @ 3:19PM

The big difference is Cain is not trying to be anyone. He is just Herman Cain. I first heard him on radio about ten years ago and he has not changed his tune to suit a run for office. Cain will live or die with his own truth. It intrigued me when he first announced his run for office and I still consider him the most desirable candidate at this time although we have a long way to go.

DGinGA| 9.26.11 @ 3:38PM

Exactly right, Bill! Herman Cain is Herman Cain. He is the same guy with the same message I have been listening to here in Georgia for years. That's why so many other politicians fail. They are phonies. That's one of the reasons I don't like Romney. He is too slick by half. He also has a past performance that is decidedly east coast liberal. Probably why he is so popular with the media and the New England Republicans. But get him out here in the heartland and we can smell a phony a mile away. But the Herminator - like him or not - is the real deal. If you don't know who he is or what he stands for, take another look. You won't be sorry.

Bill A| 9.26.11 @ 4:47PM

I did not care for Romney when he was our Governor and the Mass Healthcare is abysmal.
His good points as Governor was that he wasn't a Democrat, although in this state, where 80% of the lawmakers are Democrats, it is difficult to be effective as a Republican. Meanings are different here. Ted Kennedy was the "conservative" Senator from Mass. God help us !

Melvin| 9.26.11 @ 7:35AM

Like I note below Pecos Pete Herman isn't a company man to the RNC. This is the problem that we have had all along. The Republican Party elders like some omnipotent glitteratti extend their fingers so the Republican candidate can come and kiss their fingers and be blessed.
If Conservatives want to give both political parties Hemorrhoids then elect Herman Cain to run as a Republican.
There is no candidate out there and even Barrack Obama that cannot compete with Herman. Herman would eat boy blunder in a debate for an appetizer.

Jack von Bauer| 9.26.11 @ 8:16AM

"Why are more people NOT supporting Herman Cain? "

I guess because they had not thought he could win the nom. Until maybe now.

I suspect plenty of people support the conservatism Cain articulates, but they really want the person who can defeat the full-on, but crypto-socialist.

Drunken Sailor| 9.26.11 @ 10:01AM

You nailed my reasons Jack. I like Herman Cain, just didn't see his message or his numbers catching on. This weekend may have changed that. We will see if it continues. Straw polls sometimes don't mean much and canidates numbers will bounce around (especially with this many canidates). Only time and performance will show us who the best bet is. Let's hope the process works.

loulou| 9.26.11 @ 11:16AM

Because the media and the GOP elites treat Cain as a side show. Neither want Cain to get the nomination because he is CONSERVATIVE.

DGinGA| 9.26.11 @ 3:44PM

Lou Lou, you have hit it on the head. The media and the GOP cocktail party establishment don't want Herman Cain. He has not "paid his dues." It is not "his turn." Well I have news for the kingmakers in the GOP. Unless you want to spend another four years wandering in the political wilderness of your own making, while Barack Obama destroys this country, you better get off your high horses, come to the REAL America and learn to embrace people like Herman Cain, Sarah Palin, Allen West, Paul Ryan, Marco Rubio, et al. We didn't want Mittens Romney in 2008 and we don't want him now. So stop warming up the soggy cucumber sandwiches in the microwave and come out to the real America for some beer and pizza! Vote Herman Cain, the Pizza Man. He delivers!!!

Sean| 9.26.11 @ 9:23AM

Herman Cain
1. Supporter of TARP
2. Endorsed Romney
3. Against auditing the FED
4. For national sales tax without repealing income tax.
5. Worked for the FED

not very conservative.

Prester John| 9.26.11 @ 9:56AM

Herman Cain:
Is pro-life
Does in fact support Ron Paul's efforts to audit the Fed
Is for repealing Obamacare
Wants to truly secure the border
Is pro-Second Amendment
Has been there with the Tea Party from just about the beginning
Was there to support Gov Walker in Madison.

Not perfect, but certainly better than the others by far.

Sean| 9.26.11 @ 11:34AM

He has changed his mind on the FED audit and I think he is way better than Romney or Perry from some of what he says. Saying that though I would like him for a lower office to see how exactly he votes before I trust him with the Presidency.

Also I would like to see him address his support of TARP.

Ted| 9.26.11 @ 12:08PM

I would like to hear his reasoning on TARP. Many good conservatives got caught up in the "sky is falling" rhetoric in 2008 and supported it.

SpiralArchitect| 9.26.11 @ 4:19PM

Saying that though I would like him for a lower office to see how exactly he votes before I trust him with the Presidency.

Just like we 'did' with Zero?

How long in the US Senate & doing what??

Someone once said "How's that working out for ya?"

Sean| 9.26.11 @ 4:42PM

I think everyone knew what Obama was up to based on his time in the Senate.

A few years in a lower office will give us a good indication on Cain. Does he vote for stuff like TARP, debt ceiling raises, unbalanced budgets ect.

Clint| 9.26.11 @ 5:05PM

"Presidential hopeful and former Kansas City Federal Reserve chairman, Herman Cain, has flipped his position on auditing the Federal Reserve from being “not necessary” to now championing calls for the move.

“Some people say, we ought to audit the Federal Reserve,” Cain said on the Neil Boortz radio show on December 29, 2010. “Here’s what I do know: the Federal Reserve already has so many internal audits, its ridiculous. I don’t know why people think we’re gonna learn this great amount of information from auditing the Federal Reserve.

“There’s no ‘hidden secrets’ going on in the Federal Reserve, to my knowledge,” Cain continued. “and I tell people, you know, we’ve got 12 Federal Reserve banks, find out which district you’re in, call them up and go from there!

“We don’t need to waste money with another ‘commission,’ or an audit that’s not necessary.”

Cain’s statemnt did not sit well with members of the Tea Party, whom the Republican is said to represent, and a growing consenus within the Party against a loose monetary policy. Online conservative magazine World Net Daily labeled Cain an “elite bankster” who “is far too financially and economically dubious to be given any serious thought as a conservative presidential candidate.”

In an attempt to quell growing distrust, Cain issued a new video that praised Texas Republican, Ron Paul, for his calls to audit the Fed.

“I am thankful to representative Ron Paul for his consistant and steady pressure on the Federal Reserve,” Cain said. “and as chairman of the Subcommitte of Domestic Monetary Policy, he will have oversight of the activities of the Federal Reserve, including, the ability to require an audit of the Federal Reserve Bank. Congressional oversight, and not more commissions appointed by the president, will bring more accountability to the Federal Reserve on behalf of the American people.”

The Tea Party Rebellion Is Here.

DGinGA| 9.26.11 @ 3:56PM

Sean, clearly you don't know what you are talking about. Herman Cain may have been in favor of TARP when it was about getting the toxic assets off the books of the financial institutions, cleaning them up, repackaging what was left and then reselling. Because THAT is what TARP was originally supposed to be. But once Bush signed it, the Dems made it a free-for-all bailout of their favored business cronies. Keep in mind, the DEMS controlled Congress in 2008.

I don't know what you mean when you say Herman endorsed Romney, because I don't remember THAT from 2008, and he sure as heck hasn't done it this year. Romney has never embraced the Fair Tax, which Herman is very much in favor of. Which brings me to Point #4 of your post, the national sales tax. He DOES NOT believe in a national sales tax without significantly changing the income tax. In general, Cain believes in the FAIR TAX, but he knows the left has demagogued it so much that the Fair Tax would be an almost impossible sell in 2012. The Fair Tax, in its pure form, ABOLISHES ALL Federal income tax. ABOLISHES the IRS. Every person in the United States would be able to keep every cent of their earnings. Every person in the United States would be able to CHOOSE how much Federal tax they pay by choosing how they spend their money. Same with every business. Cain believes in this, but has proposed his 9-9-9 tax program as a first step toward a complete abolition of the Federal Income Tax. As to your point about having worked for the Fed, I consider that a positive job qualification. Having been an insider, I bet Herman Cain understands the Fed one heck of a lot better than YOU do! Perhaps you'd be well advised to listen more and shoot your mouth off less.

Sean| 9.26.11 @ 4:31PM

Oh I see TARP was originally suppose to be good, but those sneaky liberals used it for bad. Sorry that just doesn't fly. You do not give government hundreds of billions to prop up private companies. That isn't conservative, or free market.

http://004eeb5.netsolhost.com/hc098.htm
There is Cain's column supporting Mitt Romney

The only way to have a national sales tax and not have also an income tax is to amend the Constitution. If he naively thought that TARP would be good. He is really naive to think that politicians would not institute a high income and sales tax later on. The Fair Tax can not be instituted in steps like that. You can not have both sales and income tax without a huge threat of liberals taking advantage of that in the future.

Margie| 9.26.11 @ 8:20PM

He wasn't against it.
Herman Cain in his own words:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uiAkeFJXwUk

Bruce| 9.26.11 @ 10:00AM

Too many conservatives don't really want a conservative. They want a RINO they think is a conservative. If this weren't true, why would we be playing the game of "Well, he'll be better able to reach across the aisle?"

Alan Brooks| 9.26.11 @ 5:28PM

Cain is a bootlicking uncle Tom.

Alan Brooks| 9.26.11 @ 6:55PM

I don't say Cain is bad, but neither was Bush;
they are both merely the old GOP in new wineskins. Nothingburgers.

Margie| 9.26.11 @ 8:21PM

That's a lie, Alan, and extremely unfair.

Alan Brooks| 9.26.11 @ 8:51PM

Unfair? as unfair as you are to Catholics? esp. Catholics who helped America so much after 9-11?
UNGRATEFUL, too.

Margie| 9.26.11 @ 9:41PM

Alan,

The truth is never unfair but it is the friend of those who love it.
I love the truth so I'll never stop speaking it. And it would be nice if you were a bit ore genuine concerning this matter, but sadly you have joined with the others here who try and make it something it isn't~ in saying I'm unfair to "Catholics".
I choose to defend the Word of God rather than to coddle feelings.
And besides, I don't have a problem with individual Catholics, unless they are despicable liars themselves.
It is an issue of DOCTRINE, Alan.
You are smart~ you know that.

I doubt very much that you yourself are "a good Catholic", are you?
Hardly anyone is. Why? Because it's a ungodly Religion and a cult by which no man can attain the righteousness which comes by Faith in the Son of God.

Religions can't save you, Alan.
And no one is good but God alone.

"Jesus said to him, "I am the Way, and the Truth, and the Life; no one comes to the Father, but by Me.
If you had known Me, you would have known My Father also; henceforth you know Him and have seen Him." Jn. 14:6 & 7.

Joseph| 9.26.11 @ 9:45PM

Alan,
You mentioned the word Catholic and Margie the Mullah pops up from her rock with her anti-Catholic bigotry. Boy what a surprise.
Hey Margie, still reading those comics from Jack Chick?

Margie| 9.26.11 @ 10:45PM

Go away, Troll. He asked me a question, and I answered.
Still following the lies of the Devil Joseph?

Joseph| 9.27.11 @ 6:53AM

MullahMargie.
You never miss an opportunity to spew your hate and bigotry. As long as you do I will respond.

Margie| 9.27.11 @ 1:35PM

The truth isn't hatred.
But it IS considered hatred by those who hate the truth.

"For the Word of the cross is foolishness
to the ones perishing, but to us being
saved it is the power of God.
For it has been written, “I will destroy
the wisdom of the wise, and I will set aside
the understanding of the understanding
ones.” Isa. 29:14. 1 Cor. 1:18 & 19.

chuck| 9.26.11 @ 9:44PM

Go perform some self-fornication you racist bastard!

Melvin| 9.26.11 @ 7:29AM

Say what many will about Herman. The one aspect of him that blows, the Lobsta,and the Chili man out of the water is....Herman isn't part of the establishment elite.

Alan Brooks| 9.26.11 @ 6:52PM

"Herman isn't part of the establishment elite."

That's what you said about McCain, the "Straight-Talk Express" guy.

Larry| 9.26.11 @ 7:30AM

Herman Cain has been my choice for many, many months.

Did anyone hear that loud noise Saturday night? That was the sound of the Obama "Cain is an oreo, traitor to his race, Uncle Tom" machine revving up into high gear.

I look forward to Mr. Cain continuing to do well and eventually showing Comrade Golfer to be the lying, know-nothing, socialist, amateur that he truly is.

oldfart| 9.26.11 @ 7:51AM

And with the intellectual giants, such as Morgan Freeman on the side of the Great Pretender, how can the Demo-craps possibly loose the WH? I normally don't watch debates during the primaries but by default watched this one. I am not a big fan of Romney but was impressed with his performance. It occurred to me that the combination of two successful business leaders such as a Romney/Cain ticket would be fantastic. And anyone who thinks that a successful CEO is NOT a politician knows nothing of what happens at the top. For the most part, to get there you have to not only be business savvy BUT also a good politician. I can see Vice-President Cain sitting as President of the Senate telling those blow-hards to get the point then shut up and sit down!!!!

9thID| 9.26.11 @ 10:31AM

A Socialist at the state level is still a Socialist, and Romeny's voting record is being Pro-Nannystate, Pro-Abortion, Pro-Gun Control, and Pro-Gay Activism. Romney is Obama in sheep's clothing...

loulou| 9.26.11 @ 11:18AM

"A Socialist at the state level is still a Socialist"
Good point!

RINO Romney could have vetoed the Romneycare bill.

Alan Brooks| 9.26.11 @ 8:52PM

"Morgan Freeman"

eh? Morgan Fairchild?

Old Soldier| 9.26.11 @ 10:36AM

A Cain - Obama debate may be the most wonderful I can imagine.

Stefan Stackhouse| 9.26.11 @ 1:47PM

There is a simple answer to that crew. Simply ask them if they think America is ready for a SECOND African-American President. That should shut them up real fast.

DGinGA| 9.26.11 @ 4:00PM

I do not believe the problem with Obama has anything to do with him being black. It has to do with him being a Socialist who is in w-a-a-a-y over his head. I do not believe Herman Cain is the most qualified of the current Republican crop because he is black. I believe in both cases being black is irrelevant. It's about what the candidates believe, what they plan to do. It's about their vision for America, and whether that vision is in line with yours. Don't you think it's high time we got past race in this country?

Keith D. Rodebush| 9.26.11 @ 7:38AM

Why can't you people just give credit where it's due and then save all of your snide comments for Obama? Herman Cain has been steady, thoughtful and represents a real citizen politician which is exactly what we are looking for. Get on the Cain train and quit dismissing this great American and his intelligent followers!

Dan Hirsch| 9.26.11 @ 11:59AM

Keith,

Reacting to a little political give-and-take the way Obama reacted to someone caricaturing his elephant ears is not so helpful; remember, Obama came back with 'knock it off, they made fun of my ears on the playground and I didn't like it then, either.' Then even Maureen Dowd, NYT, chided him for his thin skin, saying 'we're just trying to toughen you up.' He didn't like that either. That one doesn't like much, come to think of it.

I'm thinking that Herman's skin is thicker than BHO's by a far piece. I bet Herman can take a punch - we know BHO can't. I say swing away, swing away.

DTOM

Stefan Stackhouse| 9.26.11 @ 1:48PM

I am just SO looking forward to seeing Herman take Obama apart, piece by piece!

Larry| 9.26.11 @ 7:41AM

Note to Rick Perry: You can't be a conservative if you favor ANYTHING for illegal alien invaders.

NedB| 9.26.11 @ 9:54AM

I disagree. You can be a conservative if you favor one thing for Illegal Aliens.

A one way ticket back the the third world hellhole they came from.

Or California. ;)

Larry| 9.26.11 @ 10:34AM

You are correct sir. :-)

Bulgaricus| 9.26.11 @ 7:42AM

As I've said before, the only people worth 2 bits for the republicans are Cain & Palin. Regardless of who wins the nomination, I'm writing 'em in as prez & vp. Cain is no one's fool & makes professional politicians like Perry & Romney look like the stuffed shirts they are. Vote for Cain! Let the other 2 guys be as crooked & mealy mouthed as the politicians they truly are!

Ted| 9.26.11 @ 8:29AM

Cain and Palin are excellent. Santorum is also quite under rated.

Larry| 9.26.11 @ 8:47AM

I've always liked Santorum. I'm liking him a lot more now that Romney and Perry have been in the spotlightl.

Ken (Old Texican)| 9.26.11 @ 7:49AM

I hope each of you will read the linked column here.
See, I'm afraid the beltway crowd will eat Mr. Cain's lunch.

http://townhall.com/columnists.....ration_lie

GW| 9.26.11 @ 11:39AM

Uhh, this had nothing to do with Cain. It was a terrible defense of Perry which basically called all Mormons racists.

VBMax| 9.26.11 @ 12:25PM

Ken, I read the linked article but it didn't change my mind. If Perry can't articulate a conservative position for his policies, he's not going to get my vote. As I've said before, the ability to speak clearly and firmly about your positions is almost as important as the positions themselves. And to do it without insulting your constituency. I haven't written him off yet but he's got to rise to the occasion.

The Big E| 9.26.11 @ 4:43PM

Ken,
I respect you a lot and love your posts, but all this article does is provide a lame defense for a policy Perry obviously cannot defend himself. I don't live in Texas, and I don't know what engine drove the policy in question, but if Perry cannot defend a policy which he seems to view as an accomplishment then he's got a real problem. Can he not defend his policy because he really didn't understand it and just viewed it as a political feather in his cap? Or does he understand it but lack the ability to articulate his defense? Either of those possibilities is, in my opinion, more devastating to his candidacy than the policy itself, and makes me question whether he is up to the job of President to begin with. I'm not saying a President has to be a genius on all policy issues, but he needs to at least understand the policies he's promoting. And if he cannot articulate his position of a crucial policy issue in a clear and persuasive manner, then he will be ineffective as a leader, as he will be unable to persuade people to back him up when the going gets tough.

I'll vote for him over Obama in a heartbeat. But Thursday night, Perry lost my support in the primary.

Margie| 9.26.11 @ 8:24PM

The beltway crowd? You mean a bunch of self-righteous liars?

Some people think they can bear false witness against others and get away with it. They think that by their words they have the power to destroy.
But God sees through it, and His Will is always done.

Hold on to your hat, bud.

Timothy L. Pennell| 9.26.11 @ 7:52AM

It's about time.
Herman Cain is EXACTLY the man to beat Obama. A businessman who knows how to get things done. Knows how to turn thing around.
As the Boy, raised in Indonesia, is wont to say: Let's do the MATH.
All of the Republicans + All of the Conservatives + some of the Democrats and Liberals, who would otherwise be afraid to be called a Racist + a lot of the Black Vote who only see COLOUR, when they look at a Politician = LANDSLIDE.
Get the Picture?

oldfart| 9.26.11 @ 8:01AM

That picture wll get the Blue Ribbon.

Mr ED| 9.26.11 @ 7:54AM

"This is a sign of our growing momentum and my candidacy that cannot be ignored," Cain said after the results were known.

Wanna bet? The beltway/media PundicRATs can and will do their very best to marginalize and destroy his candidacy before he becomes too much of a threat to their cozy, incestuous little world. All the clear thinking PundicRATs know Cain doesn't have a chance, so let's put the focus back where it belongs, on our latest RINO flavor of the month.

And lets face it, Perry was just awful in that debate. I really had no opinion of him (other than the usual pundicRAT drivel I had heard previously) before I watched that debate but, he for all the world reminded me of the tounge-tied horribly inarticulate Bush. I am not trying that anyone is as inarticulate as Bush was but, Yikes! Not again!

Jack von Bauer| 9.26.11 @ 8:07AM

The Krauthammer will be praising Cain with faint damns tonight --- I can hear him now pontificating in his unique way that Cain is unelectable.

loulou| 9.26.11 @ 11:20AM

Krauthammer is a Beltway elite and a former Democrat who worked for Walter Mondull. He's got dinner invitations he does not want to jeopardize.

Jack von Bauer| 9.26.11 @ 11:45AM

"He's got dinner invitations he does not want to jeopardize."

Yep, the beltway reps gotta sing for their supper.

Mike D.| 9.26.11 @ 10:05PM

Krauthammer is a condecending putz, pure and simple.

Lawrence of Lutz| 9.26.11 @ 7:58AM

The primaries are months away, don't let one debate or straw poll count you in or out.
I.E. "Don't count your chickens before they hatch"

canuckistani| 9.26.11 @ 4:22PM

Bachmann won the Iowa straw poll.
'nuff said.

How about an end to Straw polls everywhere? The meetings are completely stacked adventures and the Cain-ites are simply misfits attempting to make their point...only too many of them made their point and now we have Cain back in the news.

He has been a talking head for nearly 17 years, never held an elected position, was part of the losing Dole campaign and failed to make hay in own state senate campaign.

He bitches about the Fed, but he willingly joined it.

The dems will also dig up his dealings with Aquila during the Enron debacle and the unseemly PPPs that he advocates.

For a man who hates government. he worked for the navy, the Fed, Dole and played footsy with a unility company for years. Perhaps he is only for government when it benefits him.

antidote| 9.28.11 @ 1:21PM

"Perhaps he is only for government when it benefits him."

Absolutely, just like all Repugnantcans!

James Douglass| 9.26.11 @ 8:06AM

While Rick Perry may have self-destructed this past week or finally showed things that would give people pause, to say that is the only thing that brought Herman Cain to the forefront is not correct.
As a person who has listened to Mr. Cain on the radio for quite a few years and has read about him and his life I am confident that these debates are the best thing for the American people and the worst thing for the Republican Party's establishment.
Herman Cain is the real deal and the more people hear and see of him the more they like him. I think he has the winning strategy for the election and America.
James Douglass
Garden City, Kansas

Jack von Bauer| 9.26.11 @ 8:10AM

Perry is reverso-Obama.

People forget how poorly and incoherently Barack "uh--mmm-- well, blah" Obama DEBATED in the primaries. Even Clinton, hardly the slickest debater by a country mile, cleaned his clock.

Remember when he promised to invade Pakistan for crying out loud? C'mon.

The difference was he has BIG MEDIA on his side.

Bob| 9.26.11 @ 8:30AM

Hey Republicans, what happened to your darling and adorable right wing candidate Michele Bachmann? Didn't she win in Iowa? My guess she is back in nursery school taking remedial US history/geography lessons.

Stefan Stackhouse| 9.26.11 @ 9:41AM

This electoral cycle is a little bit like Warhol's "everyone gets 15 minutes of fame".

Kishego| 9.26.11 @ 2:58PM

If Michelle were to receive the nomination, I would vote for her enthusiastically. She is worlds better than the communist in cheif will ever dream to be.

Clint| 9.26.11 @ 8:38AM

" The Rasmussen Reports daily Presidential Tracking Poll for Sunday shows that 20% of the nation's voters Strongly Approve of the way that Barack Obama is performing his role as president. Forty-three percent (43%) Strongly Disapprove, giving Obama a Presidential Approval Index rating of -23 "

Red Bubba| 9.26.11 @ 8:44AM

Perry hit the nail on the head in the debate when he picked Cain/Gingrich as his hypothetical running mate. A Cain/Gingrich ticket would be unbeatable.

Stefan Stackhouse| 9.26.11 @ 9:44AM

No, Gingrich on the ticket is the one thing that might doom a Cain run for the White House. Tap Gingrich for Secretary of State once he gets in. Cain should pick Bobby Jindal as his VP and drive all the affirmative action mavens into a coma.

Dan Hirsch| 9.26.11 @ 12:04PM

How about we all get out our old McCain/Palin stuff and just cross of the "Mc." Fast, cheap, easy.

Also first woman VP...

Also, come to think of it, first real black President...That debate is going to be fun for the next fifty years, if Mr. Cain does the job...

DTOM

Kishego| 9.26.11 @ 3:01PM

Bobby Jindahl is awesome and would be a benefit to any that would run with him. I would truly love to see a Cain/Rubio ticket though. It would be an unstoppable jugernaut.

VBMax| 9.26.11 @ 10:48AM

Gingrich is not going to be the VP on anyone's ticket. A Gingrich/Cain ticket might make sense.

GW| 9.26.11 @ 11:42AM

Gingrich is probably the best debator in the group, and Cain is probably second. Just think a VP debate between Gaffe-a-minute-Biden and Gingrich. It's laughable to even imagine.

Louis Jenkins| 9.26.11 @ 9:19AM

And now we have Cain in the spotlight. Isn't it odd that Bachmann, Perry, and Romney have each had their moment in the Sun? Now Cain is having his. Of all the potential candidates I like Palin and Cain. Palin hasn't declared, so that only leaves one person. Cain has stated that the 2nd Amendment is up to the states to decide, not the Federal Government, but the second amendment is a God given right. A negative comment. One of Cain's foreign policy statements is, if you may call it that, that he will have no Muslim in his cabinet. A big plus. Cain says that we have to put people back to work without government programs to defeat this malaise our nation is in. Another big plus and decidely pro-private business. Cain is against the mega-depts that rules our government. Cain is the guy to watch. While he is an ex-CEO it doesn't mean he's stupid. He is an inspirational speaker, and that is what our nation needs.

canuckistani| 9.26.11 @ 4:30PM

Aquila, Fed, Navy - seems to be pro-regulated sectors in my view....
And as a creator of minimum wage jobs, he's a superstar.

A pizza in every oven!

The Big E| 9.26.11 @ 4:52PM

About 10% of the country (give or take a few tenths) would be thrilled to have a minimum wage job right now, since the policies you love so much have left them with none whatsoever.

And why should you care whether he worked for the Fed or the Navy or any other piece of the government, after all, you think government is the answer to all our ills, right?

You think there's something shady there? That should be no problem for you, since it's OK for Solyndra to take half-billion taxpayer dollars in exchange for big donations to Obama's campaign, and since it's OK for GE to turn a 15 billion dollar profit and pay no income tax in exchange for their support of the anointed one's policies.

Sean| 9.26.11 @ 9:23AM

Herman Cain
1. Supporter of TARP
2. Endorsed Romney
3. Against auditing the FED
4. For national sales tax without repealing income tax.
5. Worked for the FED

not very conservative.

Old Soldier| 9.26.11 @ 10:38AM

Endorsed Romney over who? McCain? Me too.

Prester John| 9.26.11 @ 10:39AM

Not perfect, but certainly better than the others by far.

Dan Hirsch| 9.26.11 @ 12:11PM

Sean;

I find your desultory cutting and pasting posts rather unhelpful. This is a conversation, not television - listen and respond, don't just drone on like a commercial on the idiot box.

DTOM

Ken| 9.26.11 @ 10:09AM

I need some help from the author. What's a "recovering Episcopalian" ? Do you mean Anglican?

GW| 9.26.11 @ 11:43AM

+1, confused about that phrase.

irish19| 9.26.11 @ 11:56AM

It's my understanding that Episcopalians are the U. S. equivalent of Anglicans or C of E.

Dan Hirsch| 9.26.11 @ 12:17PM

Maybe recovering from the whole gay bishop ordination thing that greatly upset a lot of Episcopalians, which is the US Anglican Church. But after the whole gay bishop thing, not so much any more-they've fragmented.

Or maybe he's thinking that the Episcopalians were somehow damaging to his faith or person, maybe incredibly strict stern and unreasonable.

Heck, I dunno! Mr. Thornberry, let's hear from you! Come on in the water's fine! We don't spit, well not too much...

DTOM

I an sympathetic.

DTOM

JohnC| 9.26.11 @ 10:12AM

Please explain how Cain is unambiguously conservative. He is adding a whopping 9 % sales tax and keeping the federal income tax. Thus many consumers will be paying a whopping 15% or more state tax -- a killer for consumption and the economy. Surely a lower flat income tax with no federal sales tax is a much better option.

Cain also punts to the state on advocating a chaotic immigration enforcement plan and hence our national security, yet this is a major Federal responsibility.

Plus he was a member of the Federal Reserve and has yet to criticize Helicopter Ben for printing monopoly money for the last 3 years.

And I am not absolutely sure but believe that Cain is against E-verify.

Cain it appears is another RINO Globalist posing as a conservative.

Drunken Sailor| 9.26.11 @ 11:55AM

I think you might want to read his 9-9-9 plan. It reduces income tax to 9% and that means across the board. Not like we have now where everyone is divided into tax brackets. That will actually increase revenue and make sure everyone has skin in the game. His plan basically is a combination of the fair tax and flat tax. Plus he does mention how the Fed is simply printing money to re-elect Obama. Interesting reading.

http://www.hermancain.com/999plan

Sean| 9.26.11 @ 1:18PM

You can't have both a income and sales tax. That leaves open the door for massive tax increases in the future. Either reform the income tax or, get rid of it and add a sales tax, but do not have both. Having both in play has been a leftist goal for years.

Drunken Sailor| 9.26.11 @ 3:17PM

I understand your conceren but I also am thinking that if the lower income brackets also had to pay the 9% income tax and the sales tax, they would quickly learn and convert to the "Reduce goverment spending" thinking. My concern would be the incremental raising of taxes that the goverment always seems to do.

canuckistani| 9.26.11 @ 4:32PM

Can you say "Underground economy"?

More cash registers will be left open and an all-cash economy will return. Cain will have to triple the IRS bench-strength.

The Big E| 9.26.11 @ 4:54PM

"More cash registers will be left open and an all-cash economy will return."

And if that starves the ravenous beast even more than, frankly, I view it as a positive side effect.

Derek Leaberry| 9.26.11 @ 4:55PM

Not only do I agree with your statement, I would add to it that, unless it retains the current child tax breaks, Cain's plan is anti-family.

Rod Brooker| 9.26.11 @ 10:27AM

So a plurality of the "activist" Republicans of Florida, who attended a meeting and voted, prefer (another) high-powered corporate CEO who has never before run for any office. Been there, done that at the state level, my fellow Floridiots, and the result is Gov. Strangelove in Tallahassee, who at last count is the least-approved politician in the State's history. It's a fine line between CEO and dictator, but a big, bright line between governor and dictator, something the incumbent gov doesn't grasp. So let's run another one of these zero-experience CEOs for president, maybe with Strangelove as the pick for veep. Yeah. That's the ticket.

The Big E| 9.26.11 @ 12:08PM

Yeah, especially since the guys who have made a career out of politics and run for many offices have done such a WONDERFUL job.

Prester John| 9.26.11 @ 2:48PM

The Big E:

BINGO

Kishego| 9.26.11 @ 3:08PM

Don't confuse the type or lack of experience Cain has with that of owebummbler. Owebummbler was only experienced at community organizing and race baiting. You can see it every time he speaks. Herman Cain is a self made man that has a ton of real life experience and common sense that is needed in Washington right now. You cannot compare a Smart Car to an Escalade just because both will get you from point A to point B.

Derek Leaberry| 9.26.11 @ 11:49AM

Hopefully the Republican elites will get the message that open border immigration and radical demographic change are opposed by the bulk of the Republican voter base. Perry promised to be Bush-lite on immigration and that has earned Perry an Inauguration Day in Austin in 2013.

Linda| 9.26.11 @ 12:13PM

At least it's given Cain an opportunity to be heard...and I'm kinda liking what I'm hearing. The media has already decided a year before the elections who the winner should be and they're trying to convince the voters of that. How about just presenting the facts and letting the voters be educated and informed and make up their own minds.

JohnC| 9.26.11 @ 12:42PM

Cain is not any better then Perry on immigration. As president, he would do a Pontius Pilate and let each state enact their own plan -- thus guarantying open borders for our two biggest states California and Texas. Former Fed / Pizza guy Cain wants cheap labor and is a closet globalist.

canuckistani| 9.26.11 @ 4:44PM

You nailed it.

Illegals need someone to pay cash for their work...start there. Starve the beast.
Offer incentives to open a business to an audit that all employees AND contractors have valid SSNs and then hammer down on employers after a phase-in period. This is textbook supply side econ: cut the supply of cash jobs, thus cutting the demand to cross the border illegally.

Want to go further? Open up a job bank for federal benefits recipients: you're from Mississippi and jobs are in Texas? Incentives to move there and a stopwatch on the end to benefits if they refuse to move. Their choice. Same goes for training programs.

Welfare babies? Real cash money for spaying of mothers on the dole, or penalties and forced adoptions of infants born into poverty.

Getting the emotion out of these public quandaries is what conservatism should be about. Not a scolding about the heartlessness of pissed off tax payers.

These are all choice propositions, not government mandates that allow problems to metastasize decade after decade.

Jim Hlavac| 9.26.11 @ 2:03PM

Somehow the image of Perry & Romney as "both of them at times looked like a bickering old married couple" is the strangest vision I've heard in a long time; I will probably chuckle at it for days. Still, if we are to have figurative gay marriages (they are both men, no?) and the Republic survive; may as well have it in real life, eh?

Meanwhile, can any 7 to 10 people (how many running? I don't know; it seems to shift, and some of them, are they running, or just getting their faces on TV?) be more disapppointing as potential candidates?

If any one of them gets the nod, Obama might well win yet, and if they win, they might well be one term presidents themselves; for none speak of any fundamental changes; but instead worry about rearranging the deck chairs.

chemman| 9.26.11 @ 11:42PM

They are both from the Nixon Wing of the Republican Party. National Defense Conservatives but progressives in all other ways. In this age of terrorism I'm not even sure how strong their National Defense credentials are.

Clint| 9.26.11 @ 5:11PM

Herman Cain Was Against Auditing The FED, Before He Was For Auditing The FED.

“We don’t need to waste money with another ‘commission,’ or an audit that’s not necessary.”

In an attempt to quell growing distrust, Cain issued a new video that praised Texas Republican, Ron Paul, for his calls to audit the Fed.

The Tea Party Rebellion Is Here.

Margie| 9.26.11 @ 8:28PM

Herman Cain doesn't sit well with your ilk.
He sits just fine and dandy with REAL conservatives.
LOL.

Mazzuchelli| 9.26.11 @ 5:41PM

The best man for the job is Newt Gingrich. He's touring the country speaking to American exceptionalism. He's a true intellectual and a man of vision.

chemman| 9.26.11 @ 11:44PM

Two thoughts: Nancy Pelosi and Global Warming.

Jim Mulcahy| 9.26.11 @ 6:10PM

RE: He owes it all to Rick Perry's collapse.

No, he doesn't. Why didn't Ron Paul or Michele Bachmann win, then? Cain is articulate and has a clear message. Please give him some credit.

Al Adab| 9.26.11 @ 6:54PM

Since we all know what we currently have, we must find the best of the alternatives. Remember, as we consider candidates, that perfection is the enemy of success.

Timothy L. Pennell| 9.26.11 @ 7:06PM

Nite| 9.26.11 @ 7:15PM

Perry did not articulate his positions very well, however, this article trots out some of the same garbage repeated over and over. Gardisil, was done by EO with an opt out. It was not passed by the Legislature, so NOT ONE DOSE was ever given. This happened 4 years ago and is a dead horse. Bachmann made a fool of herself over this non issue. The TX Dream act was tuition only and passed with a veto proof majority of both TX houses and only 4 NO votes. There are LOTS of legal Hispanics in TX and this was important to them. Some of the children of illegal aliens are LEGAL. They have to pay for their own tuition. Republicans are in control of both TX houses. Now as to the fence. Perry says that a fence makes sense in urban areas, but not rural areas. TX shares 1200 miles of border with Mexico. It would take billions and billions to build a fence. The ranchers don't want a fence to keep their cattle from water. Sometimes the border line is in the middle of the river. Perry has asked Obama repeatedly for troops and aviation assets, but Obama has refused everything. Currently Perry has teams of National Guard, TX Rangers, and two other groups making up the teams down on the border. TX has been out over 400 million so far. This article also mentions that Perry was a Democrat until 1988. So what? I was too. We both were conservative Democrats and now Republicans. Perry is social and fiscal conservative, pro-life, defense hawk, and a good friend to Israel. These things are important to me. The so called debates, the first two anyway were by liberals whose job it was to knock off Perry. He is the one who scares Obama because he has a resume. Perry and Obama have been butting heads over TX issues for several years. TX is a very large state with unique issues. Since I am from that state, I am frustrated about the really uninformed comments about our Governor and the state in general.

Southern_Comment| 9.26.11 @ 8:06PM

You left off, that he also believes in business moving forward, all business and understands the damage that unions have done. I am still concerned about his immigration stance, but he has said things that make sense (always thought the wall was a ridiculous idea) and shows thought as well as an understanding of what is at his disposal should he become President.
I do like Herman Cain though. I listen to him whenever I can and have been thoroughly impressed by him.
I'm not worried about his lack of experience in politics as he was a CEO. That means he had to deal with other professionals at a fairly high level - that's something that was not part of a community organizer's job description.
So I'm torn Perry (as a Texan I'm leaning towards him) or Cain - who to tell you the truth I don't think will make it to the big stage, so might just have to pull the lever for him and see what happens.

VBMax| 9.26.11 @ 9:55PM

Ok, well maybe Perry should hire you to speak for him at the debates.

gary siebel| 9.26.11 @ 10:42PM

You are mistaken if you think the Gardisal thing is a non-issue. It shows how Perry is/was bought and paid for and, as I recall, he won the election before last with less than 50% of the vote.

John Barton| 9.26.11 @ 9:14PM

Cain has no real chance but the conservatives are so desperate they are willing to resort to almost anyone.
Face the facts-Romney is going to be the Republican nominee-in spite of the howling by the right wing of the party. And as an Obama supporter, I perfectly happy with a Romney presidency. He is the closest thing to a progressive in this field, and given that Obama probably can't be reelected due to the economy, I'm perfectly happy to accept Romney in his place. I think a Romney presidency wouldn't be all bad. I may even vote for him.

gary siebel| 9.26.11 @ 10:31PM

I think the intense personal dislike of Obama by the Repubs have led them into making a fundamental political mistake, namely, starting the 2012 campaign in Spring of 2011. They will tear themselves apart by the time Nov 2012 rolls around, and they deserve it because of the Tea Party's inexcusable intransigence. Someone should remind them, ala Goldwater and the John Birch Society, that unlike Weimar Germany, Tea Party folks will not be able to take over the country with just 35% of the vote.

As far as Mr Cain is concerned, to the best of my recollection at the moment, the only President ever elected without having served in elective office previously was ... George Washington? (And even he was elected CnC by Congress.)

Mr Perry: Open mouth and stick in foot, leg soon to follow.

Huntsman: Wrong time to be Mr Nice Guy. That's Obama's thing. Joining Pawlenty soon.

Bachman: Fervor without depth, education, or extensive wit.

Newt: A bright, hopeless case. But pontificating should be left to pontiffs.

Romney: Has Bob Dole's "fire in the belly" to be Prez, shifty and smart enough to capitalize, but just wanting to be Prez when you grow up doesn't mean you get the job.

Ron Paul: Ultimately a peculiar case. I wonder if he has ever read Madison's Notes, or even the Constitution, or even American history. Amusing one moment, disconcerting the next.

Potentials: Palin knows she can't take the heat but loves the publicity; Christie looks good from a distance; Daniels is p--sy whipped.

Did I leave anybody out? There are so many it's hard to keep track.