Topic: Herman Cain Speech at Value Voters Summit

[IronDioPriest]

This is an excellent speech. I think Herman Cain has hit his stride. Watch the first 5 minutes of this speech, and if you're looking for a conservative candidate to give you hope that we can win with a conservative at the top of the ticket in 2012 - and if you're anything like me - you will find yourself 30 minutes later, a step closer to confidence that Herman Cain might just be that candidate.

Frankly, I'm blown away.

Herman Cain Speech at Value Voters Summit

[charlesoakwood]

"I have three problems with the Dodd Frank bill, the first is, they didn't write oversight of Fanny and Freddy.
The second is, Dodd & Frank.

woooo 

[charlesoakwood]

Throw out the existing tax code  
and replace it with my 999 plan.    

[trapeze]

The thing to remember with Cain (or any of the candidates) is that there are no perfect nominees. There never are.

For me, Cain has some definite weaknesses.

 - Cain was a very strong advocate for TARP.

 - Cain has a tendency to say "something" when he apparently does not know an issue. He is prone to gaffes.

 - Cain has never held elective office (some may see this as an advantage but it would be a plus if he had been elected at least once and been held accountable by voters for keeping promises, etc.)

And there may be other issues with Cain that will emerge when he is placed under the closer scrutiny that comes with being a top tier candidate. Maybe not...the Lawrence O'Donnell interview may be indicative of sparse findings in opposition research and if that's all they have it will be bad for the left.

Cain's best shot will be to promise that he will surround himself with experts, especially with people from business. I, for one, have had quite enough of a president who has hired staff almost exclusively from within the ranks of academia.

One of the things he could do (if he is the nominee) would be to announce some of his cabinet picks prior to the general election. GWB did that in 2000 by claiming that Powell would be in his cabinet. There were one or two others but Powell is all that I can recall at this time. Anyway, that could work for Cain, too. It might help to overcome the "viability" or "electability" issue. A strong Dick Cheney-type pick for veep would serve him well.

[John Florida]

The thing to remember with Cain (or any of the candidates) is that there are no perfect nominees. There never are.

For me, Cain has some definite weaknesses.

 - Cain was a very strong advocate for TARP.

 - Cain has a tendency to say "something" when he apparently does not know an issue. He is prone to gaffes.

 - Cain has never held elective office (some may see this as an advantage but it would be a plus if he had been elected at least once and been held accountable by voters for keeping promises, etc.)

And there may be other issues with Cain that will emerge when he is placed under the closer scrutiny that comes with being a top tier candidate. Maybe not...the Lawrence O'Donnell interview may be indicative of sparse findings in opposition research and if that's all they have it will be bad for the left.

Cain's best shot will be to promise that he will surround himself with experts, especially with people from business. I, for one, have had quite enough of a president who has hired staff almost exclusively from within the ranks of academia.

One of the things he could do (if he is the nominee) would be to announce some of his cabinet picks prior to the general election. GWB did that in 2000 by claiming that Powell would be in his cabinet. There were one or two others but Powell is all that I can recall at this time. Anyway, that could work for Cain, too. It might help to overcome the "viability" or "electability" issue. A strong Dick Cheney-type pick for veep would serve him well.

 But can he be called a liar?Unlike our dear leader.

[charlesoakwood]

I'm looking forward to the Oct 11 debate.  
There should be a debate every week.  
More of the most telling events and affects have come from or by the debates.  
How they interact, how they respond - not the picture perfect answer but
all the intuitive things one obtains from observing the response.  
And the interaction and observing that.

[trapeze]

I'm looking forward to the Oct 11 debate.  
There should be a debate every week.  
More of the most telling events and affects have come from or by the debates.  
How they interact, how they respond - not the picture perfect answer but
all the intuitive things one obtains from observing the response.  
And the interaction and observing that.

I wouldn't mind a debate a week if they were something other than the mostly farcical affairs that we have so far been treated to. I am, of course, referring to the way that the media has treated the debates...not as debates but as a way to incite conflict where little to none exists.

[charlesoakwood]

Debates for adults would be refreshing.

The panels are probably no more farcical than congress or some other human obstacle (state dept) to
the president getting his point across.  For me those dunces are obstacles for the participants to overcome.
How they deal with and or overcome them is part of my interview.

Every different situation and question illuminates an aspect of the candidate it is up to the viewer to perceive it.\
As canned and candied as the debates are other than their past performance this is the most candid view we will get.

[LadyVirginia]

The problem is that the people running the debates, the candidates (with some exceptions) and the viewers are not up to the task of real debates. 

They probably wouldn't know a real one if it hit them in the face. 

[charlesoakwood]

Some folks don't have much more to say than that quip or hit they were taught others take a while to
get going, while folks, like gNewt, can talk it with every syllable.  Alternating long and short form debates
would be interesting.

[IronDioPriest]

...For me those dunces are obstacles for the participants to overcome.
How they deal with and or overcome them is part of my interview.

Every different situation and question illuminates an aspect of the candidate it is up to the viewer to perceive it...

That's why I was eager to repost Cain's "interview" with Lawrence O'Donnell. As awful a human being as O'Donnell is, and as ridiculous as his questions and attitude were, I thought Cain handled him brilliantly. He showed how he will face the enemy, and at least in this one instance, he passed the test to my satisfaction and then some.