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Campaign Crawlers
Veepin’
Not too early to think ahead.
The vice presidency of the United States was once infamously compared to “a bucket of warm spit” by the 32nd man to assume that office, John Nance Garner, who served under Franklin Delano Roosevelt, a president who did much to fill that bucket. Perhaps more to the point and certainly more elegant were these words from our first VP, John Adams: “My country has in its wisdom contrived for me the most insignificant office that ever the invention of man contrived or his imagination conceived.”
So prescient was Mr. Adams, that in modern-day America, the motive and methodology for choosing a VP as a running mate are more important than any qualifications the candidate himself may actually possess. More often than not, a veep is chosen for his appeal as a “Favorite Son” from an important swing state, or one that would be unlikely to go for the top of the ticket without his presence on it.
And curiously, sometimes a veep is considered for some mysterious quality he may possess which is lacking in the character of the presidential nominee; as if this may be transferred from one to the other by osmosis. Who can forget the endless declarations that Dick Cheney was selected by George W. Bush’s “handlers” for his “gravitas”?
Still, for all the insignificance of the office and the attendant foolishness that sometimes surrounds the choice, picking the right veep candidate can make a world of difference. Witness the buzz and excitement generated when the candidacy of John McCain was invigorated by Sarah Palin; strange bedfellows indeed, but such is the way of vice-presidential politics.
And although we haven’t even narrowed down the presidential field yet, it’s never too early to start eying up the veep parade. So, what potential partnerships can we expect to materialize in the coming months? Just for fun, let’s limit ourselves to the so-called second-tier presidential candidates and see how that shapes up.
Going by the Favorite Son Theory, none of the current presidential hopefuls hails from what could truly be called a swing state, unless you wanted to include Pennsylvania and Minnesota in that description. Should a Rick Santorum or a Michele Bachmann serve to carry these states as the veep candidate, it would be more for their conservative ideology than any home cooking.
And that’s the fascinating thing about the 2012 race. Sometimes a presidential candidate will select a running mate who can soften some of his sharper stances and make him more palatable to those oh-so-important independent voters. But if we exclude the two Libertarians in the race — if only because they harbor views abhorrent to both the right and the left — nearly all of the GOP aspirants claim to be solid conservatives.
Now many of might question the veracity of some of these claims, but this field contains not one pro-choicer or anyone else who purports to be anything but a fiscal and social conservative. No Rudy Giuliani to muddle the family values issues, or a John McCain to represent whatever the heck it is that earns him his “maverick” designation. So none of the front-runners need pick another in order to strengthen his conservative credentials, or to appeal to the moderates. What does stand out is that there are a few of them who do bring unique characteristics to the VP table; particularly Santorum, Bachmann and Herman Cain.
While it’s true that Santorum is despised by the media in Cheneyesque proportions and is therefore probably unelectable for the top spot, he could attract a large chunk of American Catholics who make up nearly 25 percent of the population. He also brings a sincere belief in the goodness of this country; a sentiment that continues to elude Barack Obama.
Michele Bachmann, at this stage of her career, is more valuable as a veep than a presidential contender. Although her debating skills leave a lot to be desired, she has an innate optimism that has made her a Tea Party favorite and could put her over as a viable running mate. Of course, it doesn’t hurt that she is a woman, and an attractive one at that.
But probably the most intriguing of all is Herman Cain. A self-proclaimed political outsider and all around firebrand, he is the kind of man who could draw independents by the sheer power of his personality. And despite the fact that he is a black conservative destined to be written off as an Uncle Tom, perhaps the most important reason to consider him is to dream of what a Biden/Cain vice-presidential debate might look like; the heart beats faster just in the imagining.
Many have opined that the 2010 midterms and last month’s special elections are harbingers of a dramatic change in American politics. If this is so, what could be more demonstrative of this than one of these three on the GOP 2012 ticket: a Catholic who demonstrates that the Democratic Party no longer represents the values of the Faith; a woman who happily eschews the feminist label; and an African American who is the antithesis of what the reverse racists in this country define as “blackness.”
How’s that for diversity?
Letter to the Editor View all comments (109) | Leave a comment
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Sean| 9.28.11 @ 7:21AM
A new Haris poll is out showing only Ron Paul and Romney beating Obama.
http://www.newsmax.com/TheWire...../id/412375
Seems the leftist diversity bug has infected Lisa Fabrizio.
Drunken Sailor| 9.28.11 @ 12:30PM
And a new Rasmussen poll out shows Paul 10 points behind Obama (down from dead even last month). In the text it shows Romney tied with Obama and Perry trailing by single digits.
In other words, lets not read to much into a single poll. When several of them start agreeing, that might be a trend.
Drunken Sailor| 9.28.11 @ 12:30PM
Forgot to add the link.
http://www.rasmussenreports.co.....44_paul_34
Clint| 9.28.11 @ 1:41PM
Associated Press-GfK poll: Ron Paul the most favorable GOP candidate
A new national poll of the general population has revealed that top tier candidate Ron Paul is the most favorable choice in the Republican Presidential nomination race.
Ron Paul 37% favorable vs 36% unfavorable = +1
Mitt Romney 39% favorable vs 41% unfavorable = -2
Rick Perry 33% favorable vs 36% unfavorable = -3
Michele Bachmann 35% favorable vs 43% unfavorable = -8
The Tea Party Rebellion Is Here.
Occam's Tool| 9.28.11 @ 6:58PM
That doesn't seem to have anything to do with the latest FoxNews Poll:
"After three September debates, Herman Cain is in the top tier, Rick Perry has stumbled and Mitt Romney's holding steady.
Three September debates have shaken-up the race for the Republican presidential nomination. Herman Cain has jumped into the top tier. Rick Perry’s stumbled. Mitt Romney's holding steady.
And Michele Bachmann is hitting bottom. That’s according to a Fox News poll released Wednesday.
The new poll found Cain’s support has nearly tripled among GOP primary voters to 17 percent.
That’s up from 6 percent before this month’s debates, and puts him in what is essentially a three-way tie with Perry and Romney.
Click here to see the full results from the poll
Cain has benefited not only from his debate performances, but also significant media attention after winning the Florida Republican Party’s straw poll on Saturday.
Perry now garners 19 percent, a drop of 10 percentage points from a month ago. That puts Romney back in the top spot with the support of 23 percent. Last month Romney was at 22 percent.
Newt Gingrich recovered some ground and now stands at 11 percent. Ron Paul receives the backing of 6 percent now compared to 8 percent before the September debates.
Bachmann registers 3 percent support, down from 8 percent in late August and a high of 15 percent in July.
The nomination preference question included only the names of announced candidates
Read more: http://www.foxnews.com/politic.....1ZI5FmOdc."
My goodness, 6 percent. Ron Paul's support is going down faster than a Paulbot on a Jihadist.
Brush your teeth and wash your faces between Johns, boys.
Clint| 9.28.11 @ 10:13PM
Uh Oh !
Screwball Israel Firster, Tool Job's Girlfriend Isn't Voting For Herman Cain.
"FRAUD: Herman Cain Does 180 on Islam, Would Appoint Muslims to Cabinet
By Debbie Schlussel
After coming out strongly against Islam and appointing Muslims to his cabinet, Republican Presidential candidate Herman Cain reversed course completely. Yup, the guy is a total fraud, a complete flip-flopper. Buh-bye, Herman."
http://www.debbieschlussel.com.....o-cabinet/
Occam's Tool| 9.28.11 @ 7:02PM
Rassmussen has the most accurate polls, and it doesn't agree with Terrorist Catamite Clint:
Wednesday, September 28, 2011 Email to a Friend ShareThis.AdvertisementThe Rasmussen Reports daily Presidential Tracking Poll for Wednesday shows that 22% of the nation's voters Strongly Approve of the way that Barack Obama is performing his role as president. Forty-one percent (41%) Strongly Disapprove, giving Obama a Presidential Approval Index rating of -19 (see trends).
The president trails a Generic Republican by three but leads Rick Perry by six and Ron Paul by ten. Brand new numbers for a match-up data between the president and Herman Cain will be released later today. The president enjoys a very slight advantage over Mitt Romney and leads Michelle Bachmann by double digits.
Just 9% give Congress positive ratings and 71% favor term limits.
If taxes are raised to reduce the deficit, 62% expect the money will be spent on new government programs instead of deficit reduction. Overall, though, 73% doubt any kind of deficit reduction agreement will be reached before Election 2012.
The Presidential Approval Index is calculated by subtracting the number who Strongly Disapprove from the number who Strongly Approve. It is updated daily at 9:30 a.m. Eastern (sign up for free daily e-mail update). Updates are also available on Twitter and Facebook.
Overall, 46% of voters say they at least somewhat approve of the president's job performance. Fifty-three percent (53%) at least somewhat disapprove. "
Down by 10 against OBAMA! Perhaps the stench of the filthy Galveston beaches is coming through.
Wow, Paul's support is dropping faster than a Paulbot's trousers around a jihadist! BOHICA, Paulbots. The long dark night of your souls is starting. Welcome to your Winston Smith moment.
Clint| 9.28.11 @ 8:52PM
Duuuuhhhhh !
Do Your Homework, Screwball Israel Firster Propagandist, Tool Job.
Results for the eight companies in FiveThirtyEight’s database that released at least 10 polls of (2010 ) gubernatorial and Senate contests into the public domain in the final three weeks of the campaign, and which were active in at least two states.
The most accurate surveys were those issued by Quinnipiac University, which missed the final margin between the candidates by 3.3 points, and which showed little overall bias.
The next-best result was from SurveyUSA, which is among the highest-rated firms in FiveThirtyEight’s pollster rankings: it missed the margin between the candidates by 3.5 points, on average.
Rasmussen was in eight place with a 5.8 average error rating.
The Tea Party Rebellion Is Here.
Drunken Sailor| 9.29.11 @ 9:51AM
Would that be the same SurveyUSA that shows Paul in 5th place?
http://www.surveyusa.com/clien.....9516575817
Prester John| 9.28.11 @ 9:11PM
Could you please post a link for this poll? I was unable to find it.
And please be so kind as to tell us what Herman Cain's numbers were.
In case anyone is interested, Herman Cain has consistently had the highest favorable/unfavorable numbers among Republicans and Republican leaning independents with a plus 25 compared to a plus 6 for Ron Paul (this is pre-Florida debate and strawpoll).
http://www.gallup.com/poll/149.....ility.aspx
Thanks.
Prester John| 9.28.11 @ 9:16PM
Oops, made a mistake. The latest numbers (early Sept) are actually plus 22 for Cain and plus 7 for Paul.
Cosmo| 9.29.11 @ 2:14AM
Santorum has a problem...At every debate if you look closely you can see a spectral figure just behind him and to his left...Arlen Specter, the man he helped elect over Pat Toomey in 2004.
Clint| 9.28.11 @ 1:38PM
"Gallup National Poll: Obama In Dead Heat With GOP Challengers
Kyle Leighton | August 22, 2011
President Obama's national approval rating has never been lower, and it's starting to drag him down in head-to-head matchups against his potential GOP rivals in the 2012 election. Gallup polled the President against former Mass. Gov. Mitt Romney, Tex. Gov. Rick Perry, Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-MN), and Rep. Ron Paul (R-TX). Each trial heat produced a statistical tie among registered voters."
The Tea Party Rebellion Is Here.
Drunken Sailor| 9.28.11 @ 1:56PM
Clint, You do realize this is late Sept almost Oct right? Both polls you showed were in Aug. Much has changed since then. When I said many polls showing the same thing I meant in the same time frame. Not random polls cherry picked over several months. So far no one canidate is running away with squat, regardless of your or my preferences.
Clint| 9.28.11 @ 2:19PM
Duuuhhhhhhh !
Harris Poll: Ron Paul, Mitt Romney Would Top President Obama
The State Column | Staff | Wednesday, September 28, 2011
" Released on Tuesday, September 27, the latest Harris Poll surveyed 2,462 adults and was conducted between September 12 and 19. According to the poll, if Texas Congressman Ron Paul wins the Republican presidential nomination he would beat Obama by 51 percent to 49 percent in the general election."
The Tea Party Rebellion Is Here.
Clint| 9.28.11 @ 2:31PM
Wednesday, September 14, 2011
Poll Watch: Reuters/Ipsos 2012 Presidential Survey
Reuters/Ipsos 2012 Presidential Survey
Barack Obama 49% (48%)
Mitt Romney 43% (40%)
Barack Obama 49%
Ron Paul 42%
Barack Obama 50%
Rick Perry 42%
Barack Obama 51% (50%)
Jon Huntsman 37% (30%)
Barack Obama 54% (53%)
The Tea Party Rebellion Is Here.
Drunken Sailor| 9.28.11 @ 2:46PM
That's better. If you have new polls that show what you want why in the hell do you keep using old ones? Of course it says IF Ron Paul wins the nomination. He has to win that step first.
Clint| 9.28.11 @ 3:12PM
Because It Helps To Expose Your Uninformed Bloviations, Drunk.
Drunken Sailor| 9.28.11 @ 3:24PM
Sure it does. If that's what helps you sleep at night Clint. But just so you know, people aren't fooled by old info. Good Luck
Clint| 9.28.11 @ 3:52PM
Apparently, Those Dr. Ron Paul September Polls Musta Done The Trick.
Thank You.
Bye Now.
Occam's Tool| 9.28.11 @ 6:09PM
Paul is going down faster than Clint on a Jihadi! He didn't do so well in Florida, if I recall.
Bibi From Tel Aviv.| 9.28.11 @ 7:48PM
Come to me, my chubby little Bibibot, Occam's Cocktail Weiner.
I want to munch on you.
Yummy,Yum, Yum !
Occam's Tool| 9.28.11 @ 7:04PM
DS, Please see the latest Rassmussen polls I put on the blog. Paul is down by 10 against Obama on the Rasmussen---the most accurate polling organization there is.
John| 9.28.11 @ 7:24PM
Why are you so happy and giddy that Obama is beating Ron Paul. I thought you were a Republican. Does this mean you will vote for Obama over Paul if Pau is nominated.
Clint| 9.28.11 @ 8:19PM
"Texas Congressman Ron Paul is within 4-percentage points of beating US President Barack Obama in a new CNN poll, a position the Republican has held in other polls for the past several months.
In the poll taken between September 23-25, Obama beats Paul 51-47, just shy of the margin of error, plus or minus 3 points."
The Tea Party Rebellion Is Here.
Drunken Sailor| 9.29.11 @ 9:53AM
OC,
I see that but you won't convice Clint. I also see the one of the organizations Clint mentioned in his earlier rebuttal to you has Paul in 5th place. Even behind Newt.
http://www.surveyusa.com/clien.....9516575817
Cosmo| 9.29.11 @ 2:12AM
Republicans are loaded with VP talent this year..
Bachmann, Cain, Rubio, Martinez, Gingrich, Palin,
Christie, Sandoval.
Alan Brooks| 9.28.11 @ 9:21PM
Cain = Bush in blackface.
donserge| 9.28.11 @ 7:54AM
The only polls that would be relatively accurate right now (13 months prior to the election) would be internal White House polls and one can get a clue as to their results by what the president and his advisors are doing and saying. Their actions tell me they know they are in big trouble.
W| 9.28.11 @ 8:01AM
How about Romeny-Cain.
Alice Moore| 9.28.11 @ 8:35AM
I like Cain-Romney better.
Clint| 9.28.11 @ 8:59AM
Wall Street & The Ruling Elite are setting us up for their frontman, Mittens Romney.
Rise up in Rebellion.
NedB| 9.28.11 @ 9:31AM
Why not Cain/Bachman?
Harry the Horrible| 9.28.11 @ 10:51AM
I like Cain / West, myself.
Old Soldier| 9.28.11 @ 11:52AM
Cain / Jindal
YeloStalyn| 9.28.11 @ 6:42PM
Cain / Any other conservative?
Prester John| 9.28.11 @ 9:14PM
Cain and Nikki Haley from South Carolina.
Then sit back and eat popcorn while we watch the MSM's and Dems' collective heads explode.
Alan Brooks| 9.28.11 @ 9:22PM
"I like Cain-Romney better.
Winchell-Mahoney.
Ivan Ivanovich| 9.28.11 @ 8:37AM
W; You beat me to it. I hate when that happens. Oh but I see now you are talking about a guy named Romeny, so I can still be first and say Romney-Cain. I think this is the perfect way to beat Obama. Two good looking guys that no one can call racist and have a good track record. May I say it's like black and white.
W| 9.28.11 @ 7:31PM
Ivan, every week there is a new favorite. First Bachman, then Perry, now Cain. I like all three and thought Perry could be the nominee, but he appears slow. He could come back though, get some rest, brush up on the questions.
Cain does seem to have some of the Reagan touch by answering questions in a direct , common sense manner. And I like his privatization of SS by using the Chile model.
You can take credit for Romney.
Matthew Quigley| 9.28.11 @ 9:18AM
How about Romney goes back to RINO land and we forget he even exists?
hummer| 9.28.11 @ 11:28AM
AMEN! I agree with the term "Obama-Lite".
JayDick| 9.28.11 @ 4:01PM
Most important requirement in choosing a nominee: one who can WIN!. If Romney has the best chance, he's my man. Now, if I were selecting the next President on my own, I'd be pretty partial to Cain. But I'm not sure (yet) how he'd fare against Obama and all the forces who will support him.
Dan Hirsch| 9.28.11 @ 9:19AM
SAVE MONEY!!!
Get out your 2008 paraphernalia, and just cross out the "Mc" Perfect!!!
It'll do until my bumper stickers get here:
"Honk if your for Herman!
Honkies for Cain"
DTOM
JimH| 9.28.11 @ 3:26PM
Citizens for Cain?
Cain is able?
Cainiacs?
VBMax| 9.28.11 @ 4:03PM
Good ones JimH!
carnot| 9.28.11 @ 7:06PM
Cain is Able?
Nick| 9.28.11 @ 11:54PM
Cain's Mutiny, works for me.
YeloStalyn| 9.28.11 @ 6:43PM
It's actually Honkies for Herman according to Neal Boortz... he's even got the bumper stickers made I think.
Pecos Pete| 9.28.11 @ 8:27AM
"... dream of what a Biden/Cain vice-presidential debate might look like; the heart beats faster just in the imagining."
Change that to a Cain/Obama debate and we would be talking some real excitement.
Old Soldier| 9.28.11 @ 11:53AM
Yes! That's the one I want to see!
GOFORIT| 9.28.11 @ 8:31AM
Cain would be better as President... with Bachman as the VP. That would throw the liberals for a loop.
Ivan Ivanovich| 9.28.11 @ 8:48AM
Let's nevermind throwing anyone for a loop and just get a strong ticket that can beat BHO so bad that they stop this crap.
JayDick| 9.28.11 @ 4:03PM
Spot on. And carry a bunch of new Republicans into the Senate.
Mike Hawk| 9.28.11 @ 8:57AM
VP nominees have never been so much about enhancing a ticket as mollifying the internal party factions. As a rule if you won't support the POTUS nominee, the VP makes little matter. McCain was a bit of an exception. Had he nominated a RINO or Lieberman, he would have lost almost instantly. As it was , Sarah Palin was everthing he wasn't, but that was not enough to save a lackluster campaign with a squishy 'moderate' head of the ticket. VP is also generally the end of your political career unless the POTUS dies in office and then it is no guarantee of re-election. Without a solid nominee for POTUS, VP pick means little. WIth a strong candidate it can help, but it is not the winning factor. In the end we are still voting for the head of the ticket. We do not select the VP nominee at the polls.
emilio lizardo, PhD| 9.28.11 @ 9:52AM
So true. As of now Romney gets the nomination, running mate irrelevant, the tea party squirrels stay at home or vote for a third party candidate, real or imagined, and BHO wins. No cross over votes for Romney from the dissatisfied on the Left, and 98% of the black vote goes to BHO, who wins big and the country's downward spiral accelerates.
Dick Nome| 9.28.11 @ 10:10AM
Tea Party people do not stay home. They are the active ones. It's the disillusioned RINOs and 'moderates who stay home.
Occam's Tool| 9.28.11 @ 6:19PM
"We have no special constitutional powers, unless you consider the extraordinary rights accorded every U.S. citizen by law, in which case we are amply empowered to go about our business."
Thank you, Emilio.
Bruce| 9.28.11 @ 9:01AM
Please DON"T put Romney on the ticket in any way, shape, or form with Cain. That would just dilute Cain's message. Leave Cain at the head of the ticket for the economic policy and find a could foreign policy person for VEEP. Put Romney in charge of Treasury or Commerce. Bring C0ndoleeza Rice back at State. Ask Schwarzkopf to be Defense.
JayDick| 9.28.11 @ 4:05PM
Which one would be stronger against Obama? Right now, it's Romney, but that could change; actually, I hope Cain emerges as the stronger candidate, but it hasn't happened yet and it might not.
loulou| 9.28.11 @ 9:51AM
Outdated column or a "push" piece.
Herman Cain will be selecting his VP running mate.
Note to Fabrizio: Stop pushing Romney on us.
Rogue Elephant| 9.28.11 @ 10:36AM
Santorum might attract the Catholic vote? What, because Catholics are a bloc of identity voters. While there may be pockets of this, I think you overstate the phenomena (insultingly so).
Sean| 9.28.11 @ 11:18AM
But you wouldn't get the Margie vote.
Joseph| 9.28.11 @ 1:36PM
We don't want that vote.
Margie| 9.28.11 @ 1:42PM
Now now you lying Catholics~ Sean and Joey~
Before telling you punks to once again stuff it, although instead of stuffing it you COULD always actually do what's called REPENT:
Read my posts, butt wipes.
I have posted many times very favorably for Santorum.
Now~ get lost.
Drunken Sailor| 9.28.11 @ 1:59PM
"Now now you lying Catholics"
But you like Santorum? No offense meant Margie but you have me totally confused.
Margie| 9.28.11 @ 3:29PM
DS:
I have never had a problem with individual Catholics, except when they lie, like the above liars.
What I will always have a problem with, as does the God of the Bible, is their false doctrines.
Individual Catholics aren't the issue, as the above liars must try to present in order to destroy me here. It is the doctrines of that Religion~ they are false.
Rick Santorum has the issues right, he's running for President. His doctrinal beliefs aren't going to run the country.
If they were, and we lived in a different country and a theocracy, I wouldn't vote for him because his Religion is a false one, and I wouldn't want that to be the law of the land.
Catholicism has ruined a lot of people over the centuries.
But we don't live in a theocracy, thank God!
The sole purpose of the Catholic liars here is to try and present me as something that I'm not~ a hater, a bigot, a viper, et al.
What I hate is false doctrine~ and they KNOW it. But they will persist in their attempts at the ruination of my person because I stand on the Words of the God of the Bible, and reject Catholic doctrine~ and oyu see, NO ONE is "allowed" to do that!
LOL.
Joseph| 9.28.11 @ 3:58PM
DS,
Don't be confused, Margie is a bigot, and not very bright.
Joseph| 9.28.11 @ 3:57PM
We don't take orders from a Mullah. Buzz off bigot.
Margie| 9.28.11 @ 4:00PM
Christians don't take orders from, nor are they defined by, lying scum.
Now buzz off yourself, punk.
Joseph| 9.28.11 @ 4:16PM
True, I agree, but you are not a Christian. You are the cult of one.
Von Mises Jr.| 9.28.11 @ 10:50AM
Cain/Bachmann is the Libertarian "Dream" ticket. The Republican "Liberal" Establishment hates both of them.
I saw Herman Cain speak at a RGGI event next to the WTC and Nannie Bloomberg turned off his mike. I have seen Bachmann speak a few times and she is dynamic and thoughtful. But when she won the Iowa Straw Poll, the MSM could not be found.
Romney, Newt and Huntsman are the want-a-be Dole/McCain establishment candidates. They are there to do the RNC's bidding for the Republican elite Ruling Class.
Sean| 9.28.11 @ 11:21AM
Cain supported TARP. I doubt that is very libertarian. He has no problem with big government, even if its unconstitutional, as long as he can manage it more efficiently.
Clint| 9.28.11 @ 1:44PM
Cain was against auditing The FED, before he was for auditing The FED.
Seek| 9.28.11 @ 11:15AM
Cain will not -- I repeat, not -- siphon off black votes in any meaningful way. Blacks can be counted on to vote Democrat, especially with Obama in the White House. All nominating Cain for Veep will do is cause many whites to stay at home, seeing his presence on the ticket as affirmative action pandering, an attempt to find "our Obama."
Herman Cain is a fine businessman, but he has no political experience. And his statements have a certain recklessness to them. We conservatives should look elsewhere.
hummer| 9.28.11 @ 11:32AM
No political experience is exactly what we need! We have had enough of the RINOS and elite establishment! Also, I agree, the Tea Party is NOT the ones who will stay at home, we will make our voices heard!
Old Soldier| 9.28.11 @ 11:59AM
I don't care if Cain siphons off black voters or not. He will win Independents including the guilty whites.
Seek| 9.28.11 @ 2:27PM
Right. Just like another GOP conservative black wannabe, Alan Keyes, did in that Illinois Senate race in 2004 against a guy named Barack Obama.
Dan Hirsch| 9.28.11 @ 2:51PM
Alan Keyes was a flown-in candidate who entered very late in the race because the very credible Republican Senate candidate was kneecapped by the Democrats and the Chicago Tribune very late in the election cycle.
The two situations are so far apart as to be useless as predictor of the future.
Remember in every race Obama ever won, his first, stronger candidates were taken out through legal maneuvers, dirty tricks, or other shenanigans. 2012 will be only the second real election he will ever have faced. And a Cain candidacy completely dismantles BHO's stated campaign strategy of attacking his GOP rival. Cain has and will call BHO out for his failures, his hubris, and his class warfare. And Barry will sound pretty lame responding by calling Herman Cain a racist...
DTOM
JimH| 9.28.11 @ 3:30PM
Was the Republican candidate the one with the messy divorce with 7 of 9 (Jeri Ryan)?
Old Soldier| 9.28.11 @ 4:06PM
No - he had the affair with 7 of 9. Thanks to her Barrack Obama isn't still in the Illinois Assembly voting "Present".
Dan Hirsch| 9.28.11 @ 2:37PM
Seek;
Boy you sure see a lot of racism out here!
I don't. Oh did you see Drudge reporting that Herman is now only 5 pts behind BHO?
And in late October 1980 Reagan was 10 pts behind Jimmy Carter. Remember who won that race?
Also, if you think that CEO's aren't political you must have never worked in a corporate environment. You only have to sell yourself and your programs to the stock market, institutional investors, your board, your employees, your customers, your vendors, the government regulators, etc.
The biggest difference is a CEO has a lot more latitude than the President. Oh, yea, and a CEO can be de-elected at any moment.
Cain was also Chairman of the Kansas City Federal Reserve - he obviously has firsthand knowledge of running large government institutions...
Sorry, but I respectfully disagree with your thought that we should look elsewhere.
DTOM
PS
Besides, what happens to the claim that the Tea Party is racist when Herman Cain supports the Tea Party?
They are back in the corner shouting "Uncle Tom." I say we win that battle, hands down.
DH
Bob| 9.28.11 @ 1:03PM
It is an insult to write about the one woman and the one black in the race for the Republican Party nomination as interesting Vice Presidential candidates. Bachmann is excellent in debates and the fact that she is good looking is a condescending comment. As for Cain? Also second class right? A woman or a black can't seriously contend for the top spot...well at least not those two right? It just so happens that those two are more identified with the Tea Party and the Republican establishment doesn't like them or it because they see it as a threat to their permanent power. I am disgusted with this column.
Drunken Sailor| 9.28.11 @ 2:01PM
Breathe Bob. I took it as they were mentioned as VP picks because as of now they are still in the "Second Teir" of the canidates running. Sometimes a cigar is just a cigar.
Dan Hirsch| 9.28.11 @ 2:41PM
Drunken,
I'm with Bob on this one.
Winning the FL straw poll, and beating the combined polling of the supposed two front runners does not define "second tier;" it describes breaking out...
Notice that FL just moved their primary to January 31!
DTOM
DTOM
Drunken Sailor| 9.28.11 @ 2:51PM
Guess we will have to agree to disagree Dan. Winning a staw poll just doesn't mean much. Look at Ron paul winning the Iowa poll. He is still barely in third place and lately even in 5th place according to some polls.
I really like Herman Cain and would easily vote for him. I just don't agree with Bob that simply because the author used them as examples for Veep means that he thinks Cain is a second class citizen. That seems to be a liberal trick of screaming racism where none exist. If I am wrong then I owe Bob a apology and would be just as offended as he is.
Dan Hirsch| 9.28.11 @ 2:59PM
Yeah, it is a thin complaint. But the same thing hit me.
If Lisa wrote this before the FL straw poll and Cain's subsequent polling performance, then I may be skating on thin ice.
If she wrote it afterwards, the ice I'm skating on is decidedly thicker. Especially when we consider how much disdain there is for the Tea Party amongst the mainline, centrist, statist Republicans, like John McCain and Chris Christie.
DTOM
Drunken Sailor| 9.28.11 @ 3:15PM
Agreed. I am waiting to see if Cain finally gains traction. He is one of my top two choices right now. Even if he doesn't win I think Lisa has a good point in he would make a excellent VP. Another site thinks so as well with different reasons why.
http://www.americanthinker.com.....ntage.html
Occam's Tool| 9.28.11 @ 6:12PM
I like Cain winning, and having Allen West as his VEEP. When I play roulette, I always BET ON BLACK! (Not RED, like our current POTUS' nbackground)
Margie| 9.28.11 @ 3:35PM
Bob,
Don't forget: Herman Cain is a Bible believing Christian.
While Bible believing Christians have no problem voting for Catholics, some Catholics have a "problem" with wanting to see the success of Bible believing Christians.
JayDick| 9.28.11 @ 4:17PM
Among his other achievements, Cain is a Baptist minister. I don't buy the bit about Catholics having a problem with evangelicals. Some Jews have this problem, but most of them vote Dem no matter what.
Joseph| 9.28.11 @ 6:19PM
Herman Cain is a Baptist which means he is in a real religion, not a made up cult of one.
Margie| 9.28.11 @ 9:07PM
I did say "some."
michael eiseman| 9.28.11 @ 2:15PM
Cain/Rubio 2012
After 8 years of recovery under Cain, Marco Rubio would be perfectly ready having been seasoned as VP for 8 years.
Just say NO to RINO!
Dick Nome| 9.28.11 @ 3:32PM
VP is not the waiting room for the WH. We need Sen Rubio as Senate Majority leader not as a sacrifice for political expediency.
JayDick| 9.28.11 @ 4:19PM
Actually, VP is often (not always) the waiting room for the WH, or at least a party nominee.
Rubio will most likely be president some day. Why not accelerate the process by making him VP?
Beau Blotz| 9.28.11 @ 7:01PM
I doesn't work that way. Most sitting VPs nominated for POTUS to succeed the Pres. lose. BUsh 41 is an exception. Nixon lost in 1960 and hjhad to work 8 years to overcome that. VP is not a stepping stone to the Oval office.
Beau Blotz| 9.28.11 @ 7:03PM
BTW getting nominated doesn't count especially when you lose. The Senate is not a stepping stone to Oval Office either.
Margie| 9.28.11 @ 3:36PM
God's People for Herman Cain 2012!
aware| 9.29.11 @ 6:39AM
Watch out Margie, the Perry cheerleaders, so loud in their praises for their savior just 2 short weeks ago, are now slinking away with egg on their faces.
Plan 999 from outer space will end up doing only one lasting thing......give us a sales tax AND an income tax. I'm sure we can count on the rates NEVER rising above the 9% foot in the door starting point, right?
Oh, and Cain is now backing away from auditing the Fed claiming "audits" have already proven all is sunshine and daisies. See now that he is a "credible" candidate how the change occurs?
Be sure to keep the face shield on cause those eggs can hurt when they come flying in.
Margie| 9.29.11 @ 10:55PM
I do not believe anything you have said.
And, as you know, I am well aware (speaking of), no pun intended, that our candidates are flawed in one way or another.
As I've said before, there's good, better and best, and the worst thing we can do is re elect Obama.
Louis Jenkins| 9.28.11 @ 4:37PM
Cain is a person one can believe in. However, it is best to allow him the nomination first, and then allow him and his handlers to pick their VP. As long as the nomination doesn't go to Romney or Perry we should be satisfied.
jacky | 9.29.11 @ 2:50AM
Go for it, Sarah, with all the God given gusto you posses!
aware| 9.29.11 @ 6:14AM
Column has all the qualities of a 9 year old's letter to Santa Claus.
Bob| 9.29.11 @ 2:03PM
You guys have to remember who is attempting to orchestrate this Kubuki politcal theater. The richest zip codes in the United States are orchestrating it and a whole lot of them are packed in solid, in a big greasy doughnut that fits squarely over Washington D.C.. They don't think in terms of "red" and "blue" even though they made up the fake colors for us dummies out here to know which team we're on. The color they love is "green," our tax money. It is making both parties filthy rich in perpetuity...and they don't want anything to upset their national deep fat fryer. This is why they have attacked Sarah Palin continuously the way they have, they attack Michele Bachmann, they will attack Herman Cain more assidulously now that his numbers are up. beware the Republican Party puppet masters, they have got to be thrown out, they are so far in bed with the Federal Government that they say "we can't reduce the emergency federal spending baseline from 2009 which added more than$1trillion/year to the budget...because there isn't the appetite for that kind of distribution of pain." This is the pain that is killing America, this outrageous government spending. And the "pain" that cutting it back would inflict, would be inflicted on them and their extortion/bribe "friends," that is the Republican party today. They are as corrupt and responsible for what has gone on in Washington as the Democrats are because they will not stand up against what is making them rich and powerful at our expense. There is only one answer for them. Straighten up immediately, get out, or you will be thrown out in primaries if that is how we have to do it.
insomniac| 9.29.11 @ 4:52PM
MARGIE'S 5 K GOLD PLATED RULES
Judge not, lest ye be judged by Margie.
Do unto others as you would have them to unto you - - unless they are Catholics. Then, just do them in, if you can.
Love thy neighbor. Except if he is Catholic, set his house on fire.
Margie| 9.29.11 @ 10:57PM
Catholic punks like you do absolutely nothing but lie continually.
Lotsa luck with it, kiddo.
Bo| 9.29.11 @ 6:30PM
Cain and/or Bachmann as VP will sure delight the MSM. They can trumpet the dumb things they say and ensure Dear Leader Barack a 2nd term.
Bob| 10.4.11 @ 11:21PM
The MSM is dead. No one believes a word they say.