Could Herman Cain Be the Next President Ronald Reagan?

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Newt Gingrich has self-destructed. His ridiculous and mean-spirited attack on Rep. Paul Ryan makes Richard Nixon look as large-hearted as Ronald Reagan. And it makes Bob Dole look like a winner and statesman. Wheel him off stage to catcalls, folks.

Now Tommy Thompson has become the Flavor of the Hour. Expect the Liberal Drivebys to play him up big. It is only too easy to imagine what a boring, plodding fiasco any presidential campaign by him will be. John McCain’s 2008 run will look like a paradise of energy and charisma compared to that.

As for Mitt Romney, now campaigning so courageously and forcefully against the very ObamaCare program he pioneered and implemented in his People’s Republic of Massachusetts: Eric Idle memorably summed him up on “Monty Python’s Flying Circus – “Say no more, Squire.”

It is easy to tell, in fact, what conservatives want when you just go and ask them. They want a second Ronald Reagan.

But what does that actually mean?

It doesn’t just mean having a candidate who will reverse a lifetime of wishy-washy liberal U-turns (Romney), gave $50,000 to a Rahm Emanuel campaign (Donald Trump) or has no stomach to even enter the race (admirable but too often naive and too kind Mike Huckabee). It means bringing to the 2012 campaign the strengths and qualities that then-Governor Reagan brought to the 1980 one.

What were those qualities?

First, President Reagan was a physically big man and he was getting on in years. He was almost 70 when he took office, making him the oldest-ever elected president.

Far from being a disadvantage, this proved to be one of his greatest strengths. Reagan already had a lifetime of experience in the movie industry, even running a major union, the Screen Actors Guild, and then in the business world promoting General Electric before he ever became Governor of California.

What a contrast to Romney, Bobby Jindal, Mitch Daniels and all the other perfectly capable and honorable governors who never had a life or identity worth the name outside politics before their ghost-writers took them in hand.

Second, of course, Reagan was "The Great Communicator." Nearly a quarter century after he left the White House, his great phrases still resonate in our memories. Is there any candidate in the current crop that stands out from the rest in the courage, clarity and resonating wit of his utterances as Reagan always did?

Indeed there is.

Only Herman Cain, who officially announced his candidacy on Saturday, of the current crop of Republican candidates has the moral stature, the record of achievement, the outspoken wit and candor, and the simple courage to speak his mind that were the hallmarks of the Great Reagan. Only he has proved to be an eloquent and effective public spokesman without fear or hesitation in championing those same principles.

Only Cain of the current crop of actual or potential presidential candidates has already produced a withering phrase that wilts his rivals and turns them pale. “How’d That Work Out for Ya?” has already become a potent national watchword comparable to “Tear down this wall!” or, more recently “It’s the economy, stupid.” And Cain has hardly gotten started.

Like Reagan, Cain can look back on a lifetime of continuous, consistent achievement in a remarkable variety of fields. He has been a specialist on computer systems and ballistics for the U.S. Navy. He created Godfather’s Pizza and built up the company as its first and most outstanding CEO. He even ran the Federal Reserve Bank in Kansas City.

Already, back in 1993, Cain played a crucial role in sinking the chaotic mess of Bill and Hillary Clinton’s proposed comprehensive health care plan. Who therefore could be better qualified now to lead the charge on what will be one of the defining issues of the 2012 campaign – ObamaCare?

President Obama has a resonant voice and that was enough in 2008 to sink John McCain, who didn’t have a voice at all. But no one can remember a single word Obama has ever said – and he says so many – except, of course for the vacuous “Yes, We Can.” Cain can match that by simply and truthfully asserting “Yes, I Did.”

Cain’s resume has a lot more weight and substance than the president’s six months or so as a community organizer in Chicago. Well, American independent voters, when you thought that was enough experience for the presidency, How’d That Work Out for Ya?

Like Reagan, Cain is charming, reassuring, good-natured and delivers knock-out punch-lines. He really is another Great Communicator. If anything, Cain is being taken seriously by the liberal media far more quickly – to their credit – than he is by the Jurassic Dinosaurs ruling the GOP – the same geniuses who gave you Bob Dole and John McCain, and who never dared raise a peep when George W. Bush rolled up a then-record federal debt, produced his prescription program fiasco and plunged eagerly into liberal nation-building in Iraq and Afghanistan. Well, conservatives, How’d That Work Out for Ya?

Black conservatives have especially outstanding track records of sticking to their guns and their principles when they rise to positions of real responsibility. Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas is the stand-out example of that. So is Tom Sowell. Cain has always shown that quality too. That is why he offers the best hope of rescuing this great nation from financial meltdown and ruin.

Cain’s ideal running mate, therefore, would be Rep. Paul Ryan, who has shown more courage and willingness to put real rein-in-the-deficit measures on the table that would work in the real world than any other Republican. And that is why Cain-Ryan would be the GOP dream ticket for 2012 and the only real hope conservatives have of sending the president back to the arms of Rahm Emanuel in Chicago after only one term.

Conservatives need to take a deep breath and carry out what Albert Einstein famously called a Thought Experiment.

They need to stop and just imagine what any campaign against president and his loyal “mainstream” media will be like if Tommy Thompson, Mitt Romney or any of the other “mainstream” contenders wages it. In political terms, every one of them would be no more than a Dead Man Walking.

Then think instead of how Cain would rally the grassroots and get the independents of the center laughing and then nodding their heads thoughtfully as the Next Great Communicator’s message sinks in.

Just stop and think How That’ll Work Out for Ya.

http://www.foxnews.com/opinion/2011/05/22/herman-cain-president-ronald-reagan/

[Pooky 3,830]

No, he can't.

But he can be the first Herman Cain.

[Danno 1,228]

Cain / Ryan 2012

HAs a nice ring to it.

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

Cain / Ryan 2012

I know it's painful but you ought to warm up to the reality that viable candidates like Daniels and Christie and perhaps Jeb have warmed up to some time ago - you don't just go and beat a sitting President. That's why none of these guys is jumping into the race. It's much more difficult if your party is getting less popular with the voters which the GOP currently is - thank you Tea Party and thank you Paul Ryan. There will not be a GOP President in 2012 and perhaps not even a GOP majority in the House.

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

Horatio Cain?

[Danno 1,228]

I know it's painful but you ought to warm up to the reality that viable candidates like Daniels and Christie and perhaps Jeb have warmed up to some time ago - you don't just go and beat a sitting President. That's why none of these guys is jumping into the race. It's much more difficult if your party is getting less popular with the voters which the GOP currently is - thank you Tea Party and thank you Paul Ryan. There will not be a GOP President in 2012 and perhaps not even a GOP majority in the House.

I have long predicted Obamer would be a two termer, but if he is to be beaten... it won't be by a moderate.

To unseat a president you need to present change not adjustment.

[scandal 951]

I know it's painful but you ought to warm up to the reality that viable candidates like Daniels and Christie and perhaps Jeb have warmed up to some time ago - you don't just go and beat a sitting President. That's why none of these guys is jumping into the race. It's much more difficult if your party is getting less popular with the voters which the GOP currently is - thank you Tea Party and thank you Paul Ryan. There will not be a GOP President in 2012 and perhaps not even a GOP majority in the House.

The conundrum about the 2012 race as it's shaping up is that the GOP's chances are just terrible ... so terrible that as you point out no self respecting Republican wants to be associated with the campaign. The only thing worse than their chances are the Democrat's chances. No party in post-WWII US history has retained office amidst a shitty economy with unemployment stubbornly near 10%, high gas prices, 2 (or 3 - depending how you count 'em) foreign wars. Obama would be a sure loser under these circumstances, except for the Republicans inability to effectively oppose him. Weird one, for sure.

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

The conundrum about the 2012 race as it's shaping up is that the GOP's chances are just terrible ... so terrible that as you point out no self respecting Republican wants to be associated with the campaign. The only thing worse than their chances are the Democrat's chances. No party in post-WWII US history has retained office amidst a shitty economy with unemployment stubbornly near 10%, high gas prices, 2 (or 3 - depending how you count 'em) foreign wars. Obama would be a sure loser under these circumstances, except for the Republicans inability to effectively oppose him. Weird one, for sure.

True - no party has ever been lucky enough for the other side being busy digging their grave rather than cashing in on the weak economy.

[Danno 1,228]

True - no party has ever been lucky enough for the other side being busy digging their grave rather than cashing in on the weak economy.

Seems odd that... if what you say is true: the GOP is digging their grave, that Team Obama is in retreat on which states they can hope for.

Democrats Scale Back 2012 Map

http://www.rollcall.com/issues/56_125/Democrats-Scale-Back-2012-Map-Obama-Battleground-205766-1.html?pos=hmp

[웃 910]

Doesn't matter who is against Obama, it is a +/- 3% race either way. Going by the mid-term elections I'd say the GOP will probably unseat Obama. You don't get much worse a pick than McCain. And he only lost by 6%, and this was at a time Obama was at the height of his stardom. I've never seen people so star-dazed in my life. They thought the world was gonna be reborn in a majestic way. Everything was gonna change for the better. In the end nothing really happened.

[Saddle Bronc 124]

Cain / Ryan 2012

HAs a nice ring to it.

seconded tentatively

(and as for second RWR--no thanx, I suffered enough from the delayed aftereffect of one of the first one's bad decisions)

Edited May 24, 2011 by Saddle Bronc

[Danno 1,228]

Doesn't matter who is against Obama, it is a +/- 3% race either way. Going by the mid-term elections I'd say the GOP will probably unseat Obama. You don't get much worse a pick than McCain. And he only lost by 6%, and this was at a time Obama was at the height of his stardom. I've never seen people so star-dazed in my life. They thought the world was gonna be reborn in a majestic way. Everything was gonna change for the better. In the end nothing really happened.

Your points are well taken.

- McCain was absolutely unpalatable to the base (will the next candidate be much better?)

-Even with the huge media push Obama did only win by a limited margin.

-Obama has disappointed many and only has the consistent loyalty of the Black community.

All that said, I still think a sitting president with mainstream media support still has a huge advantage

couple that with the GOP's lack of capitalizing on their advantages and you have 4 more years of Obama.

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

Seems odd that... if what you say is true: the GOP is digging their grave, that Team Obama is in retreat on which states they can hope for.

Democrats Scale Back 2012 Map

http://www.rollcall.com/issues/56_125/Democrats-Scale-Back-2012-Map-Obama-Battleground-205766-1.html?pos=hmp

That article doesn't contradict at all what I'm saying. In fact, it supports my point. Take FL, for example. The state was swept by the GOP in 2010 electing veto-proof majorities to the state legislature and putting GOP candidates in all elected state offices from the governor on down.

And what is the President's re-election campaign doing? Targeting FL to put it into his column in 2012. And it's quite doable. Not because Obama or the Democrats are very popular here but because Floridians are quite disgusted with the GOP after the first legislative session post the 2010 election ended. So disgusted, in fact, that conservative Jacksonville just elected a Democrat mayor - unhinkable just a few short months ago.

The hole that the GOP is falling into is the hole they dug for themselves. And not just here in FL. Now add the GOP approved plan to eliminate Medicare and roll back the donut-hole closure, coverage extension to children and other PPACA benefits and you will find that the GOP will have a hard time hanging on to the House, let alone move their candidate into 1600 Penn Ave come Jan 2013. They don't even have any credible candidate to present as of yet.

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

-Even with the huge media push Obama did only win by a limited margin.

365 electoral votes where 270 are needed to win is not a limited margin - it's 68% of the electoral vote. Now 271 or 286 electoral votes would be a limited margin. Those were the margins that W accomplished in 2000 and 2004, respectively. Get that, Bush managed to get re-elected after having won only 271 electoral votes and a minority of the popular vote in 2000. As you may remember, W wasn't exactly popular in 2003/2004.

[Danno 1,228]

365 electoral votes where 270 are needed to win is not a limited margin - it's 68% of the electoral vote. Now 271 or 286 electoral votes would be a limited margin. Those were the margins that W accomplished in 2000 and 2004, respectively. Get that, Bush managed to get re-elected after having won only 271 electoral votes and a minority of the popular vote in 2000. As you may remember, W wasn't exactly popular in 2003/2004.

You avoided the popular vote. Back then you guys could ONLY talk about the popular vote when "W" ran his first election. Now that Obamer is here you are back focusing on electoral votes.

MAny states were close, very close to tipping those states electoral votes over to McSame.

With the Senate almost surely to go Red, the GOP wins no matter who is in the white house.