Center of Gravity Poll #3: Results
The Logo ·
Oct 14, 2011 at 11:55pm
Ricochet Members pick Cain over Romney, 46% to 26%, in a classic trade-off of ideology vs. electability. While Romney is seen by 90% of Members as electable, 78% don't think he's conservative enough. In contrast, two-thirds see Cain as electable and a majority think he has "no serious flaws."
RAW RESULTS (click to expand)
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Re: Center of Gravity Poll #3: Results
The "too flawed in other ways" category was created for Newt Gingrich.
Apr '11
Re: Center of Gravity Poll #3: Results
Herman Cain has never held political office, this isn't a serious flaw? I like Cain, and won't hesitate voting for him if he is the candidate; quite possibly his lack of political experience is no worse a flaw than not being conservative enough, not being able to debate and having enough baggage to fill a land fill, but this is a serious flaw and does need to be taken into consideration.
Political office is different than running a business, it requires a different skill set and Cain would have to learn these skills. With any luck, he'd be a natural and would pick up these skills quickly. But I'd rather not rely on luck for our next president.
Jan '11
Re: Center of Gravity Poll #3: Results
The question comes down to two considerations. Who will do the best job, and who is capable of landing the job.
From the results above, it seems picking who will do the best job hinges on the choice between someone who is competent but not as conservative as you'd like or someone who is acceptably conservative but potentially not competent enough. My bet is on the former, namely Romney.
As to who is most electable, most able to land the job, that seems to be Romney as well. I concur with the sentiments of the Ricocheti on that point.
That makes Romney the obvious choice to me. With a different field I'd love to come to a different conclusion, but these are the weapons we've been offered to go to war with.
Edited on Oct 15, 2011 at 4:57amJan '11
Re: Center of Gravity Poll #3: Results
I'd also just point out that when 42% think Cain has too many flaws and only 55% say he doesn't have any serious flaws, stating that the poll shows Cain doesn't have any serious flaws mischaracterizes the results somewhat. What the results actually show is that Cains capabilities are in serious doubt.
Edited on Oct 15, 2011 at 5:29amMar '11
Re: Center of Gravity Poll #3: Results
Nope - that's a positive, when you consider our political class (as Mr Cain himself famously said, "how's that workin out for ya").
Given the choice between Mr Cain and the politically "experienced" Mr Romney, who believes in man-made-global-warming, it's a no-brainer.
Oct '11
Re: Center of Gravity Poll #3: Results
Newt is so bright and verbally brilliant but his ego has proven repeatedly not to understand sucess in a measured way. Too bad his head doesn't stay the same size
Dec '10
Re: Center of Gravity Poll #3: Results
If Romney was not in the race (and the default winner) would Herman Cain even get half a glance? If you picked a few random governors, a representative or two, maybe throw in a senator for fun, and Cain, wouldn't he normally be laughed completely out of the race for lack of experience? Yes, he sounds good. Yep, he's got a few specific proposals that are palatable. But, he would poll beside Santorum if Romney wasn't herding primary voters toward him with the sheer power of his mechanical smile, manufactured laugh, and Mattel® manufactured hair.
Oct '10
Re: Center of Gravity Poll #3: Results
As far winning the coveted Rico-demographic, the message seems to be:
Romney - steady as she goes, they'll never love you anyway;
Perry - don't give up yet, this could snap back;
Cain - the sale isn't made yet;
Gingrich - time to pivot to that book-tour.
Dec '10
Re: Center of Gravity Poll #3: Results
Why not use the Solyndra model for nominating our candidate?
The Vision: Today’s progressive opportunity is Green (Romney) and crony socialism our way of life (GOP establishment); joined together, good intentions are their own reward, results are ignored (Democrats’ candidate reelected).
The Competition: Fossil fuel industry (conservatives).
The Strategy: Already smothered with regulations (mandatory first primary in tiny Northeastern state), choke off the competition with a few more (move primary voting to unheard of dates to disrupt tea party organizing efforts).
The Financing: Well connected bundlers siphon government grants (Karl Rove squeezes GOP cronies “Romney's campaign has largely been reliant on big money donors from New York, Utah, Massachusetts, and Texas”).
The Product: High-tech components (managerial technocrat) that cost more to produce than the price the market is able to pay (efficiently directing government intervention--still beyond our means).
The Results: Bankruptcy (bankruptcy).
The Alternative: In the place of wasting our country’s future in taxpayer subsidized sinkholes that blight the landscape with acres of slow responding panels, drill here, drill now (reject the liberal illusion, elect the conservative).
May '10
Re: Center of Gravity Poll #3: Results
Dear Logo, How many members participated in the first poll? I see 489 and 464 votes were cast in the last two polls, but can't find a number for the first one. I'm disappointed I can't vote, and am wondering how many more have the same problem.
Dec '10
Re: Center of Gravity Poll #3: Results
Katie O, is there a way you can disable your anti-scripting addons for just long enough to vote in the polls?
Mar '11
Re: Center of Gravity Poll #3: Results
I have always had trouble with this argument. Saddam Hussein had a vast amount of experience governing, in assessing him should that be considered an asset? If an individual's experience in public office was implementing policies I detest and laws I abhor why in the world should holding that political office be considered a plus?
As the primaries go on the absence of such "skills" is looking more and more like a positive not a negative. I'm warming to the rookie.
I don't shoot a man for being incompetent in the Devil's work. I shoot him for being competent in the Devil's work. - Laurence Van Cott Niven
May '10
Re: Center of Gravity Poll #3: Results
King Prawn...I have no idea what that means...but thanks for trying to help :) I did monkey around with my security settings and shut off my pop up blocker trying to vote in the last two polls, to no avail. I'm wondering, since I had no problems with the first poll, how many more members participated in that format.
Apr '11
Re: Center of Gravity Poll #3: Results
Perhaps, but then those governors aren't in the race are they? And as has been previously discussed on Ricochet, that unwillingness to prioritize the needs of the nation ahead of other concerns could itself be seen as a flaw in their character.
Sep '10
Re: Center of Gravity Poll #3: Results
The dude enacts a clear toad in Romneycare and he still gets credit for being a competent political leader? What would he have to do to be declared an incompetent one?
Dec '10
Re: Center of Gravity Poll #3: Results
Brian Gillis
Perhaps, but then those governors aren't in the race are they? And as has been previously discussed on Ricochet, that unwillingness to prioritize the needs of the nation ahead of other concerns could itself be seen as a flaw in their character. · Oct 15 at 10:21am
I agree concerning specific non-running governors. However, consider Cain in light of random other GOP elected officials. Is Cain as appealing in any set of circumstances other than the current ones? That is my final hang up on Cain. I can't imagine getting excited about him if there were other viable contenders. Rather than being a victim of circumstances he is receiving great benefits from the circumstances.
Apr '11
Re: Center of Gravity Poll #3: Results
Roberto
I have always had trouble with this argument. Saddam Hussein had a vast amount of experience governing, in assessing him should that be considered an asset? If an individual's experience in public office was implementing policies I detest and laws I abhor why in the world should holding that political office be considered a plus?
As the primaries go on the absence of such "skills" is looking more and more like a positive not a negative. I'm warming to the rookie.
While I agree with your point, someone who is good a politicking may have very bad ideas, the other side of the coin is, someone with very good ideas may not be able to do anything with them if they are bad at the politics side. Politics is a game, you have to win votes, buy votes and convince people they should sometimes vote against their instincts. No matter how good your ideas are, if you can't get the votes to get your ideas passed, they don't matter. This is a learned doing the job. We have no evidence Cain would be effective in this regard.
Jan '11
Re: Center of Gravity Poll #3: Results
I wasn't able to vote on this poll either. I also still have problems staying signed in. I don't know why it's so hard to get this site to work across platforms, other sites and forums I use work just fine. It's been an ongoing problem and it doesn't seem to get fixed no matter how many people raise the issue. I'm kind of over it really. It shouldn't be so hard to use a site that you pay for.
Edited on Oct 15, 2011 at 12:37pmMar '11
Re: Center of Gravity Poll #3: Results
Punumba!
Roberto If an individual's experience in public office was implementing policies I detest and laws I abhor why in the world should holding that political office be considered a plus?
Politics is a game, you have to win votes, buy votes and convince people they should sometimes vote against their instincts. · Oct 15 at 11:53am
Hmm but is it the same game no matter what your goals are? Is it all just "politics"? If my policies are, "Free candy and puppies for everyone!" is politicking still the same as if my policies are, "Everyone is going on a diet and the puppies are going to the pound".
If your political career consisted of the former rather than the latter I'm rather dubious the skills just translate over and many of our current politicians, as well as some of our current potential candidates, only seem to have experience with the former. I am not sure how useful such "skills" are.
Re: Center of Gravity Poll #3: Results
Katie O, there were 440 people who participated in the first poll.
Can you please email support@ricochet.com with your browser and version number?