Cain't Help Myself: Comparing and Contrasting, Part Two
To echo Dave Carter, this is not, repeat, not an endorsement. The only thing I'm endorsing at the moment is Barack Obama's resounding defeat at the polls in 2012--and Paul Ryan, who I am, actually, officially endorsing, and you heard it here first; we just have to solve the little problem of his not being a candidate.
I agree with Paul Rahe: "I think highly of Herman Cain, but he is politically unseasoned, and he knows far too little about the larger world." So I'm not going all schoolgirl here again or anything. But I just read Cain's Dear Skeptics column and again had that "I just like this guy" feeling. There's something about him that's genuinely charming. It doesn't mean he's qualified to lead the Free World, but it sure does highlight the power of "genuine" and "charming," especially among a field of candidates so patently lacking in both.
And this video completely cracked me up:
I'm cautious of him now for all the obvious reasons, but I might, if he acquits himself really superbly in the coming months--and learns faster than I expect anyone realistically can--be willing to entertain the thought of a Ryan-Cain ticket. After all, Ryan looks like he's in pretty good health.
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Feb '11
Re: Cain't Help Myself: Comparing and Contrasting, Part Two
Cain should take to saying inter alia "I have two black parents, Obama has only one" as part of his "real black candidate" line.
Jun '10
Re: Cain't Help Myself: Comparing and Contrasting, Part Two
That video is great. He's charming and smart and sharp and honest. We know he's a fast learner, given his rise in the business world.
I'd have no hesitation (assuming, as you point out, that he doesn't reveal any terrible flaws over the campaign marathon) supporting him as a VP, especially under Ryan. Look at the current VP. I think it would be hard to find one less qualified than Biden!
May '10
Re: Cain't Help Myself: Comparing and Contrasting, Part Two
Keep your eye on him. He is a fast learner.
Jun '10
Re: Cain't Help Myself: Comparing and Contrasting, Part Two
"I agree with Paul Rahe: "I think highly of Herman Cain, but he is politically unseasoned, and he knows far too little about the larger world."
Wow, that is exactly what George Will and Charles Krauthammer said the last couple of days about Sarah Palin. I like Herman Cain also. I like Sarah Palin. I have nothing against Tim Pawlenty (although he doesn't get my juices flowing). I also like John Bolton and Michelle. Bachmann. Only Bolton qualifies on the "larger world" question.
You know what I don't like? i don't like the media tearing down our candidates and telling us which nebish Republican should be our candidate so they will be certain to lose. Unfortunately it's not just the enemy liberal press corps. It is often our supposedly very own guys. Maybe the problem is too much air time and too many column inches to fill. But opinions are like special parts of our anatomy...everybody's got one. Last night Krauthammer stated his disappointment that Sarah Palin had not used any of the last 21/2 years to "study up". I thought to myself, "has he not been paying any attention?"
May '10
Re: Cain't Help Myself: Comparing and Contrasting, Part Two
Well, as much as I would like to have a President with the acumen, knowledge, and worldview of a John Bolton, I'm not sure it's necessary to rule out Herman Cain for not being so.
What makes any of the other candidates, or potential candidates, that much more convincing on foreign policy? How many of our presidents in the past 100 years entered the office with extensive, credible foreign policy experience? I count 3: Ike, Nixon, and H.W. Bush. Moreover, many of the major watershed changes (for good or ill) in US foreign policy were enacted by presidents who were relative neophytes in terms of FP experience prior to entering the office (McKinley, Wilson, Truman, Reagan, W. Bush). This inexperience did not necessarily make them a bad president.
What's important, in my view, is that a candidate has the right mentality, an ability to learn and adapt, and enough understanding to appoint the right people (something I wish we actually had more transparency on during the campaign).
Edited on Jun 1, 2011 at 8:26amMar '11
Re: Cain't Help Myself: Comparing and Contrasting, Part Two
Now that Pawlenty seems to be shooting himself in the foot, by being a Rino squish, I would put Cain as 3rd choice, behind Paul Ryan (who is not running), and Sarah Palin (who probably is).
Sarah Palin seems to have mastered the art of driving the media mad, and connecting with "ordinary" people, rather than the "intellectual elite". Cain has similar appeal, but Sarah Palin is the real deal.
May '10
Re: Cain't Help Myself: Comparing and Contrasting, Part Two
He would certainly make a good VP.
I haven't counted him out for President either. As Kofola points out, the other candidates all have serious flaws as well, and none of them has demonstrated a keen understanding of foreign policy and history.
Knowledge is important, but wisdom is more important. A leader doesn't need to be an expert on everything (Who can be?), but does need to be able to make timely and wise decisions with the knowledge his advisors provide. A businessman like Cain is used to making large-scale decisions based on reports.