There's a big difference between the behavior of a candidate in a primary and that of someone serving in office. After they are elected all politicians wind up becoming more centrist by default. However, I'd still argue that Obama is much more closely connected to his party's ideals than Cain is to the Republican values. At this point Cain is supposed to be pandering to his base, so his lack of comprehension of even basic Republican values doesn't jibe.

I haven't been following him that much because I don't think he'll amount to much more than a sort of cautionary tale in the next 5 years and then he'll be forgotten, but what I have seen of him makes me wonder how Republicans sit in a room with the guy. He has nothing in common with any of them philosophically other than his apparently shameless desire for self-promotion and self-interest. He's laughably pathetic as a candidate. I can only speculate that he's got some sort of backroom negotiation savvy or--I suspect--he's got friendly enemies in the right places. That is, people owe him. That's the only intelligent explanation for his prominance.

There is, of course, another explanation. The Republicans are playing the race card. They've been tragically inept at that in the past at issues involving race, and Cain appears to be a continuation of that self-same process. Of course, that's not a particularly powerful card to play these days, but I don't think the current leadership of the Republican party have caught on to that fact either.

A vote for a blank Republican poster isn't really an endorsement of Republican values. Rather, it's a simple call for more rapid change combined with the age old political adage: "It's the economy, stupid." That's going to be Obama's only real problem in 2012, no matter who the Republicans put up against him.

...and now Ginger White.

Accusations true or not, we can see an obvious pattern of approach by politician and media.

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Off to Singapore for a spell!

Personally I don't care who boffs whom. That's been going on since we evolved as a species and it will continue for as long as our form exists. The list of U.S. Presidents who had affairs while in office is almost as long as the list of presidents.

HOWEVER - Bill Clinton lied to a grand jury about his infamous history, which denied Paula Jones her right to due process in court. His sin included a felony against another U.S. citizen.

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"The nearest thing to eternal life we will ever see on this earth is a government program." - Ronald Reagan

Someone please tell me why he has to ask his wife? Makes no sense to me. I would think he would ask his advisors, supporters or and contributors.

Unless she is the one who wears the pants in the family or is perhaps learning a/the truth?????


peace out, >^,,^<

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The poor object to being governed badly, whilst the rich object to being governed at all. G.K. Chesterton

You mean, why does he have to ask his wife about dropping out? It's just that namby-pamby way politicians are expected to behave these days. Of course he doesn't care what she actually thinks. He's been cheating on her right and left for years.... All he really needs to know is whether she's going to go for a big, public divorce or not.

That said, I think she does wear the pants now, at least insofar as that she could turn the conversation to his lack of character at any moment by calling the press and announcing that she's filing for divorce. There's no gag order on her.

Cain must have smeared himself (or was he smearing her?). Kitten, you are right that we can't expect people to be more than human. It is hard not to enjoy someone's downfall when they have showed over and over that they have no compassion. He and all the GOP have the belief they hold the moral high ground. If you lay down a really hard law for someone else don't be surprised when the same measure is meted to you. I was just thinking about George McGovern. I hope he is healing from his fall. But, just think how different the country might have been if he had been elected instead of Nixon. The presidency fell from our esteem because of him and we are still suffering from that disrespect within and without.


peace out

Hopefully Mr. Cain is the first of several dominoes to fall. There are two people with the intellect and the experience to be President among the gaggle of pretenders:

Romney and Gingrich. Personally, of the two, I'd prefer Newt. Some time ago, Drew started a thread about the Republican field of Presidential Candidates, and at that time Newt was a distinct long-shot.

It would be a relief indeed to have two intelligent people argue their positions coherently. There is a chance of that outcome in an Obama V. Gingrich campaign.

This isn't to take anything away from Romney, he's got the ability too. Just my preference.

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"Be without fear in the face of your enemies. Be brave and upright that God may love thee. Speak the truth always, even if it leads to your death. Safeguard the helpless, and do no wrong". (Knight's Oath, Kingdom of Heaven)

Your contest of the person challenging President O'Bama seems to be a very old argument.
It reminds me of the Roundheads vs. the Cavaliers of old.
But this topic may belong elsewhere.

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Off to Singapore for a spell!