The Herman Cain fan thread

[Ben Sones]

Huntsman would beat Obama, I think.

I think he very well might, but he's never going to get the nomination. Too electable.

[madkevin]

Today in Herman Cain Says, Herman Cain says "Presidents don't need to, like, know stuff." (http://www.outsidethebeltway.com/herman-cain-im-not-supposed-to-know-anything-about-foreign-policy/?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+OTB+%28Outside+The+Beltway+%7 C+OTB%29)

[MatthewF]

I love the picture on that page. I don't know why, but the way's he's posing with that bigass grin on his face with sunglasses is just hilarious.

[RepoMan]

“I want to talk to commanders on the ground. Because you run for president (people say) you need to have the answer. No, you don’t! No, you don’t! That’s not good decision-making,” said Cain.

Words fail me.

[CLWheeljack]

On the one hand, he's right that the President can't possibly be an expert in all domains, and so it is the President's job to be just informed enough to select good advisors, and to have enough information to effectively judge the advice they give him.

On the other hand, he's an idiot.

[Hanacker]

On the one hand, he's right that the President can't possibly be an expert in all domains, and so it is the President's job to be just informed enough to select good advisors, and to have enough information to effectively judge the advice they give him.

On the other hand, he's an idiot.

Yeah, sometimes I think we expect our candidates to know a little too much about every issue and be a little too immune to making mistakes, but they need to know more than Cain apparently does to understand what their advisers are saying.

[Brettmcd]

http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/ticket/herman-cain-loosen-federal-marijuana-restrictions-160520011.html


Looks like Cain wants the states to make their own decisions about medical marijuana, which is a good thing. The raids that are currently being done by the DEA are wrong and should be stopped.

[Scuzz]

http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/ticket/herman-cain-loosen-federal-marijuana-restrictions-160520011.html


Looks like Cain wants the states to make their own decisions about medical marijuana, which is a good thing. The raids that are currently being done by the DEA are wrong and should be stopped.


I believe Obama was going to let the states do their own things with weed, but then decided to change his mind shortly after being elected.

[Brettmcd]

I believe Obama was going to let the states do their own things with weed, but then decided to change his mind shortly after being elected.


Yes one of many areas where candidate Obama and president Obama have become completely different people.

[Hanacker]

Supporting states rights to allow medical marijuana isn't death in the Republican party these days? The article says most of the other candidates support it as well.

[Jason McCullough]

I finally watched that Libya video (http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/11/16/jon-stewart-herman-cain-libya_n_1096905.html?ref=fb&src=sp&comm_ref=false#sb=491194,b=facebook). Holy cow, he knows literally nothing about what happened in Libya. The followup outside where he's chewing food is amateur hour comedy too.

[RepoMan]

Supporting states rights to allow medical marijuana isn't death in the Republican party these days? The article says most of the other candidates support it as well.

At first I had no idea why Obama's DEA was coming down on med MJ. But, to their credit, they do seem to be targeting ones that are just drug-dealing fronts first.

A friend of mine (NOT ME) in Seattle has a med MJ certificate, and his provider shut down entirely yesterday during the local raids -- they are trying to play it by the letter of the law, and evidently the feds left them alone, so that at least is good. Seattle police have been told (by voter initiative) that marijuana law enforcement should be their lowest priority, so the feds actually may have a role to play here in preventing the entire med MJ system from becoming the biggest mob front in history.

[Scuzz]

Here in Central California virtually every dispensory has been closed down by the cops. The city and county keep talking about making them legal but never seems to agree on what their limitations would be.

[MatthewF]

There's one on like every corner here in the valley.

[RepoMan]

It looks like they actually have a pretty clear boundary here now (http://www.seattlepi.com/local/connelly/article/Marijuana-raids-define-a-danger-zone-for-2272971.php) -- stick to the med MJ law and you're OK; sell to any yaboo off the street and you're busted.

Meanwhile, in Cainville, nothing is happening between the ears.

[Mark Asher]

I believe Obama was going to let the states do their own things with weed, but then decided to change his mind shortly after being elected.

One of his more baffling decisions. I can't imagine the left or the moderates care about medical weed. Libertarians certainly don't. How can he possibly lose votes by ignoring it?

[BlueJackalope]

One of his more baffling decisions. I can't imagine the left or the moderates care about medical weed. Libertarians certainly don't. How can he possibly lose votes by ignoring it?

Seems to fit in with his pattern of shitting on his core support in a quest for the approval of people who are never going to approve of him.

[Brettmcd]

Seems to fit in with his pattern of shitting on his core support in a quest for the approval of people who are never going to approve of him.


What groups was he looking for approval from? Many of the republican candidates even support medical MJ according to the article I posted.

[BlueJackalope]

What groups was he looking for approval from? Many of the republican candidates even support medical MJ according to the article I posted.

The mythical "swing voter" who just needs assurance that Obama wont lets pot heads run wild in the streets before supporting him.

Y'know the guy. The one who doesn't exist.

[charmtrap]

I just want to immortalize this Herman-ism here:

“We need a leader, not a reader.”

Yeah...he said that.

[Jamie Madigan]

And this is painfully relevant. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C9f1TYyvEx8&feature=player_embedded) NUMBER THREE!

[RepoMan]

GAH.

Meanwhile, Nate Silver points out that everyone might be wrong about Cain being un-nominatable. (http://fivethirtyeight.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/10/27/herman-cain-and-the-hubris-of-experts/)

[Gus_Smedstad]

And this is painfully relevant. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C9f1TYyvEx8&feature=player_embedded) NUMBER THREE!
Great clip, and as you said, relevant.

[Canuck]

And this is painfully relevant. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C9f1TYyvEx8&feature=player_embedded) NUMBER THREE!

Awesome. Question is, was that some kind of coincidence like the Pokemon quote or is Herman Cain actually some kind of genius who enjoys slipping in pop culture references under our noses while laughing at America?

[Case]

GAH.

Meanwhile, Nate Silver points out that everyone might be wrong about Cain being un-nominatable. (http://fivethirtyeight.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/10/27/herman-cain-and-the-hubris-of-experts/)

That was dated October 27th. The momentum has already shifted.

[Damien Falgoust]

Awesome. Question is, was that some kind of coincidence like the Pokemon quote or is Herman Cain actually some kind of genius who enjoys slipping in pop culture references under our noses while laughing at America?
I wish someone with the skills to do so would do a montage of these things, alternating the pop culture quote with the Cain quote.

[Lum]

Cain: The Taliban run Libya (http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-250_162-57328103/cain-suggests-taliban-running-libya/).

[W Wiley]

Facts are stupid things. And have no place in republican politics.

[bloo]

Cain: The Taliban run Libya (http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-250_162-57328103/cain-suggests-taliban-running-libya/).

Not Uzbeckibeckistanistanstan?

[ShivaX]

Not Uzbeckibeckistanistanstan?

Anything with "stan" at the end is the enemy of America, but yet not worth knowing the names of the leaders of.

[Calistas]

Doesn't matter from 30,000 feet with a payload of bombs.

[RepoMan]

Facts are getting the best of them
Facts are nothing on the face of things

Didn't know Cain was such a Talking Heads fan.

[Ben Sones]

CAINCAINCAINCAINCAINCAINCAIN!!!

[Sammich]

"I said to his physician assistant, I said, 'That sounds foreign -- not that I had anything against foreign doctors -- but it sounded too foreign,"

HALLELUJAH! (http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/11/21/herman-cain-holy-land-experience_n_1105725.html)

[RepoMan]

http://notracistbut.com

THE IRONY, IT BURNS ME! Anyone have some ointment or something? Biblical ointment preferred.

[Jamie Madigan]

I swear, I could not make this stuff up myself if I tried.

[Brian Rubin]

HALLELUJAH! (http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/11/21/herman-cain-holy-land-experience_n_1105725.html)

OMGWTFisthisIdon'teven...

[corsair]

Not Uzbeckibeckistanistanstan?

Isn't that next to Uzglennbeckistan?

[Murbella]

Did Cain seriously support racial profiling on tonight's republican debate? I can't be 100% sure because i didn't catch all of it, but it STRONGLY looked like he did from what i saw. If so, that is pretty ironic and funny hearing an African American male advocating racial profiling as a means to finding people more likely to commit crimes.

It is a pretty safe bet that if some cop pulled him over for being black, he would be on CNN within the hour complaining about it.

[Mark Asher]

I'm sure Cain supports profiling dirty Arabs, non-Christians, and liberals.

[billt721]

I'm sure Cain supports profiling dirty Arabs, non-Christians, and liberals.

I'm sure it's not just him - that sort of plan will work just fine in large parts of the south. And what a fucking waste of time. First, stuff like that serves as a nice recruitment message for potential terrorists. But beyond that it makes the assumption that terrorists are complete morons who won't be able to figure out that they need to use people who DON'T look like Muslims (whatever the US decides a Muslim looks like) to do their work.

[Bahimiron]

I'm beginning to wonder if the whole Herman Cain thing isn't some ploy on the part of someone high up in Republican leadership who just happens to be a huge Keenan Thompson fan.

[Murbella]

I still can't believe he could seriously be so blind though.

Didn't he use basically the same argument, target blacks because they have a higher crime rate? I could see some rich white guy using that argument but come on.... Nobody called him on it either, even though the other republican candidates seemed to rightfully disagree with him, mostly.

[Adree]

Take it from someone who has lived in Georgia and heard him when he subbed for Neal Boortz or his own godawful radio show - the only thing black about Herman Cain was the bumper music on his show.

[mrmolecule88]

Third woman to accuse me of having an affair, Cain says. (http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2011/11/28/breaking-cain-third-accuser-to-come-forward/)

Squealing on the squealer?

[RepoMan]

It's called getting ahead of the scandal. After getting head during the scandal, presumably.

[Lum]

Actually it leaked before that.

http://www.myfoxatlanta.com/dpp/news/ginger-white-claims-affair-herman-cain-20111127-es

His defense is... interesting, to say the least.

[RepoMan]

Whoa.


"Mr. Cain has been informed today that your television station plans to broadcast a story this evening in which a female will make an accusation that she engaged in a 13-year long physical relationship with Mr. Cain. This is not an accusation of harassment in the workplace – this is not an accusation of an assault - which are subject matters of legitimate inquiry to a political candidate.

Rather, this appears to be an accusation of private, alleged consensual conduct between adults - a subject matter which is not a proper subject of inquiry by the media or the public. No individual, whether a private citizen, a candidate for public office or a public official, should be questioned about his or her private sexual life. The public's right to know and the media's right to report has boundaries and most certainly those boundaries end outside of one's bedroom door.

Mr. Cain has alerted his wife to this new accusation and discussed it with her. He has no obligation to discuss these types of accusations publicly with the media and he will not do so even if his principled position is viewed unfavorably by members of the media."

Um... what the??? So, basically, if his wife doesn't divorce him over it, he doesn't have to admit to any affairs? Didn't Clinton try that one at one point? I don't remember it working out very well for him.

Ironically, Cain's position is not a bad one in principle. Too bad for him that's not how politics works in this country anymore....

[Scuzz]

The public's right to know and the media's right to report has boundaries and most certainly those boundaries end outside of one's bedroom door.


Are we talking about the American media here? He doesn't know them very well, does he?

[mrmolecule88]

UNLESS HE WAS BUGGERING LITTLE BOYS AMIRITE

[Jamie Madigan]

Wait, just to be clear: He was married when this supposed "13-year long physical relationship" happened, right? If so he doesn't think that infidelity on the part of a presidential candidate is a legitimate news story?

He is NOT for real. He's performance art writ large.

[Mark Asher]

How did Clinton handle allegations of extramarital affairs when he was a candidate in '92'? Did he admit to some of them or did he refuse to discuss them? I remember there were plenty of stories but he managed to be elected anyway.

Hey, 13 years means he's a loyal adulterer!

[Lum]

He refused to discuss them at the time and when the first credible accuser, Gennifer Flowers, came forward he flat denied her claims even though she had answering machine tapes of his calls (which Carville claimed were doctored).

To date he's only admitted to affairs with Flowers and Lewinsky.

[AaronSofaer]

If Cain's wife had gone on camera and said "Y'know, I don't see why you guys are nattering on about this totally unimportant topic; the man certainly keeps me happy, wink wink, now how bout that 9-9-9"...

... it still wouldn't have blown over because America has a fascination with penises.

[Calistas]

Guys, it was only a physical relationship! Leave Cain Alone! The woman was no more than an animated fleshlight for him, those sorts of relationships don't count!

[Skipper]

He's now "reassessing his run." Where there is smoke, there is fire. I'd bet a dollar or two that that's not the only mistress.

He defines skeezy CEO in every sense. Nothing else to see here, this one is done.

[Lum]

http://www.nationalreview.com/corner/284321/breaking-cain-reassessing-candidacy-robert-costa

[Erik J.]

Aaaaaaand done. Next up, please.

[awdougherty]

Unfortunately we already know about Newt's extramarital affairs. Maybe someone can unearth the overlooked dude to get him out?

[MarchHare]

If Cain withdraws, where will his supporters go? Newt because he's currently the strongest "anybody but Romney" candidate? Bachmann, because anyone who currently supports Cain is clearly drawn to insane nutters who shouldn't even be in the race? Someone else?

[Scuzz]

If Cain withdraws, where will his supporters go? Newt because he's currently the strongest "anybody but Romney" candidate? Bachmann, because anyone who currently supports Cain is clearly drawn to insane nutters who shouldn't even be in the race? Someone else?


Probably Newt because he isn't Romney.

[Rightbug]

What's also interesting is that Cain's camp yesterday said it was consensual whereas today he's saying that they were just friends. Apparently the consensual defense did not play well with the one-person focus group that is his wife.

[RepoMan]

EEEEEEEEEE HEE HEE HEE HEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!

The only sad part is this thread will soon come to an end, because the dude is flaming out before our very eyes. The unbelievable "this is not appropriate for media investigation" response nailed his coffin shut and buried it under a mountain. How the fuck he thought he could get away with that as a GOP candidate -- the party that spent two years practically impeaching Clinton for having "a private consensual relationship" -- is a mystery for the ages.

Edit: Damn, how many women did this guy fuck, while supposedly monogamously married??? (http://www.latimes.com/news/politics/la-pn-end-line-cain-train-20111129,0,3910345.story)

As each new allegation has surfaced, Cain has continued to suggest that there is more to come. He spoke to Blitzer in almost mathematical terms, as if being accused of harassment and infidelity was a simple matter of probability.

“I mean, think about it, Wolf. You go through life and you believe that you have some people that are friends. And when someone that appears to be a friend turns around and concocts this story, you've got to question, the hundreds of thousands of people that I have met in my life,” Cain said. “A hundred thousand people could possibly come out.”

Emphasis added. This guy is the new John Edwards. Only thing missing is a paternity lawsuit, and I wouldn't be surprised to see one of those soon.

[Valentine]

All those pornos based on pizza delivery had to start somewhere

[John Many Jars]

Hey did anyone order a LARGE SAUSAGE

[Kolonial]

Hey did anyone order a LARGE SAUSAGE

"How much do I owe you?"
"That comes to $9.99. And may I just say, you're looking fine-finety-fine today, miss."

[corsair]

Where is Cynthia Plaster Caster when you need her? Now she would have provided specific evidence.

[Jason McCullough]

Best primary flameout ever.

[jerri blank]

Fuck. We're going to get Mitt by attrition. The GOP primary has been interesting and fun to watch, at least.

[Ed Solomon]

Fuck. We're going to get Mitt by attrition. The GOP primary has been interesting and fun to watch, at least.

Are you kidding? With Newt in the game, I think shit is about to get real. Newt will either self-destruct spectacularly or Mitt will have to stop playing all defense.

[extarbags]

Santorum still has his turn coming to him.

[jerri blank]

Are you kidding? With Newt in the game, I think shit is about to get real. Newt will either self-destruct spectacularly or Mitt will have to stop playing all defense.

Newt might self-destruct, but isn't most of his dirty laundry already out there?

[ReptileHouse]

There's a lot of Newt dirty laundry, yes. That doesn't necessarily imply there's not a bunch more, though.

[BlueJackalope]

Best primary flameout ever.

Edwards I think has the more spectacular arc, as he was actually on the Democratic Ticket in '04. But it seems like most of the really gruesome stuff came out after he left the '08 campaign trail.

http://images.nymag.com/news/politics/edwards100118_6_560.jpg

[Ben Sones]

Yeah, I think the Edwards burnout was a pretty big one, especially since people actually liked him. Newt's burnout will be much less memorable, because nobody likes Newt fucking Gingrich. The single factor driving his current popularity is his spotless track record at not being Mitt Romney. But like the rest of the idiot brigade before him, he's soon going to step off the landing craft and into the crossfire of real campaigning, where he will be lucky to last three seconds.

[Jason McCullough]

Edwards didn't really flame out in 2008. He just got lost in the noise when Obama hit it big.

[Ed Solomon]

Newt might self-destruct, but isn't most of his dirty laundry already out there?

Yes, but I was thinking more of Newt just being Newt. He can be kind of a big baby when pushed.

[RepoMan]

Mitt already stopped playing all defense. He evidently just bashed Newt for being, what was it, a lifelong politician. As opposed to Mitt's business experience, I guess. Not a bad tactic, really.

And the fact that we are talking about everyone but Cain in the Cain thread pretty much says it all. Buh-bye, Herman! Take the pizza with you!

[IainC]

Herman Cain decides he's fed up of people saying he doesn't know anything about foreign policy and so helpfully diagrams who are BFFs and who the US probably shouldn't trust. He does this with a Facebook infographic because it apparently shows how 'entrepreneurship and freedom can light up the world with friendship' and is totally not the first result he got when doing a GIS for 'map of the world'.

Source (www.hermancain.com/issue/foreign_policy_national_security)

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-kYzUC_5uMZk/TtZu4T_Mi4I/AAAAAAAACVE/8nmTu6ckdWY/s1600/cain.jpg

[CLWheeljack]

Some thoughts:
1) That cannot be real. Holy shit that is real.
2) That's a neat map. I didn't realize how much Malaysia and Indonesia love Facebook.

[mrmolecule88]

Why does google want to translate that page to Afrikaans for me?

And why has our "special relationship" with the U.K. declined under Obama? He literally has no reasons. Does he just expect people to swallow such bullshit?

[Kolonial]

Some thoughts:
1) That cannot be real. Holy shit that is real.
2) That's a neat map. I didn't realize how much Malaysia and Indonesia love Facebook.

When Cain says "Friend," he means "Friend."

[John Many Jars]

It might as easily indicate that if we get our enemies on Facebook they will become friends.

[CLWheeljack]

And why has our "special relationship" with the U.K. declined under Obama? He literally has no reasons. Does he just expect people to swallow such bullshit?

Wasn't there a manufactured controversy about some bust that was on display in the White House that he returned to the British, since it's loan period was over? That's pretty much all I got.

[extarbags]

Ha, that map. Is he going to glue it to a piece of poster board for his eighth grade social studies class?

[Bahimiron]

Does identifying Mexico as a friend and partner rather than a friend and ally indicate that he wants America and Mexico to be more than just friends?

[mrmolecule88]

Wasn't there a manufactured controversy about some bust that was on display in the White House that he returned to the British, since it's loan period was over? That's pretty much all I got.

Ah, right, I forgot.

Hilariously - or depressingly, it's your choice - Cain apparently hasn't seen his wife since the allegations about the affair surfaced.

Guess she went to go stay with her mom.

[Telefrog]

Does identifying Mexico as a friend and partner rather than a friend and ally indicate that he wants America and Mexico to be more than just friends?

Ominously, Brazil is only a friend and not an ally or partner.

Look out, Brazil! It's a short trip to Cain's "adversary regime" list!

[RepoMan]

God, I'd love to see Putin's version of this, or Jiabao's, or Obama's. Only problem is, they're all too fucking smart to show theirs to anyone.

[Rightbug]

Hey, let's not judge this until we hear back from my 5th grade social studies teacher.

Edit: Dammit -- Beat to the punch. Remind me to read to the end to the thread ;)

[Jamie Madigan]

It's like he's playing KFM with the world.

[Kolonial]

China’s government is also well aware that it was the famous military strategist Sun Tzu, said “attack the enemy at the weakest point.”
Let that sentence sink for a bit (including the typo, why not?).

[Rasputin]

Honestly, we're lucky that he doesn't think China's best military strategist is General Tsao.

[Mark Asher]

Why has the Republican party managed to produce so many idiots? I don't recall the 2008 primary season producing Republican idiot candidates.

[charmtrap]

Hard to argue with this ad:

http://teamcoco.com/video/herman-cain-economy

[extarbags]

Why has the Republican party managed to produce so many idiots? I don't recall the 2008 primary season producing Republican idiot candidates.

The 2008 primary season included such deep-thinking geniuses as Ron Paul, Tom Tancredo, Mike Huckabee, Rudy Giuliani, and Alan Keyes.

[Mark Asher]

I don't even recall who Tancredo is, but the rest of that list still seem a peg or two above Cain and Bachmann. Those two are clowns.

Alan Keyes, for example, I don't recall as being just out and out stupid, though I didn't follow him. I just thought him an extreme right-winger.

[BlueJackalope]

Why has the Republican party managed to produce so many idiots? I don't recall the 2008 primary season producing Republican idiot candidates.

I suspect everyone has thought for a very long time that it would be Romney or Perry, (especially once Huckabee, Christie and to a much-much-much-much lesser extent, Palin, ruled out runs).

Most of the other candidates are essentially publicity whores and/or looking to sell books and drive up speaking fees. (Ron Paul is probably the true believer and Huntsman is probably positioning himself for 2016.)

That Perry has failed so spectacularly and so early has left a void that has elevated the likes of Trump (who was never going to run), Cain and now Gingrich. That Huntsman, who has real experience, no known baggage* and doesn't scare swing voters, hasn't had a run yet is indicative of how skewed the GOP primary has become.


*that I know about.

[BlueJackalope]

The 2008 primary season included such deep-thinking geniuses as Ron Paul, Tom Tancredo, Mike Huckabee, Rudy Giuliani, and Alan Keyes.

During a 2000 GOP Debate, Gary Bauer tried to make an issue out of Alan Keyes willingness to jump into a Rage Against the Machine mosh pit.

After clarifying he didn't know anything about their music, Keyes said -


. . . do you know the real test of dignity? The real test of dignity is how you carry it through hard times. I think I learned that from my people. We went through slavery, when we didn't have the outward signs of what others would call dignity, because we understood that dignity comes from within. And that whatever circumstance you are going through, you can carry that dignity with you, and no one can take it away.

So I think you may have a misunderstanding of dignity. It doesn't come from what you do in a mosh pit. It comes from what you do as a result of the convictions of your heart. And I'll leave it to the American people to judge the convictions of my heart.

Now, Alan Keyes is bug-house but I have always really liked that answer.

Also, fuck Gary Bauer.

[Raife]

Also, fuck Gary Bauer.

So he's a "friend"?

[W Wiley]

Why has the Republican party managed to produce so many idiots? I don't recall the 2008 primary season producing Republican idiot candidates.
Looking back the above ground nuclear tests in the 50's were a huge mistake.

[Calistas]

No mention of NZ or Aus? I am feeling taken for granted now! But unlike Cain's wife, our Mom doesn't want us back :(

[Scuzz]

That Huntsman, who has real experience, no known baggage* and doesn't scare swing voters, hasn't had a run yet is indicative of how skewed the GOP primary has become.


*that I know about.


To many republicans Huntsman is a democrat pretending to be a republican.

[RepoMan]

Oh shit, son! Motherfuckin' Cain was paying off this new lady behind his wife's back! (http://www.unionleader.com/article/20111201/NEWS0605/111209989)


MANCHESTER - Herman Cain acknowledged Thursday that he repeatedly gave Ginger White money to help her with "month-to-month bills and expenses" without telling his wife.

In fact, the embattled presidential candidate said, his wife, Gloria, "did not know that we were friends until she (White) came out with this story" alleging that the two had a 13-year extramarital affair.

http://i42.tinypic.com/5cqwp.gif

What in the HELL is someone with all these skeletons in his closet doing running for president? Especially the skeletons that are still alive?

[Erik J.]

Ego is a hell a drug.

[Dawn Falcon]

What in the HELL is someone with all these skeletons in his closet doing running for president? Especially the skeletons that are still alive?

Selling his book. Srsly.

[RepoMan]

Yeap, suppose you're right.

[Mark Asher]

Is there another Republican debate soon? I'd love for Cain to turn to Newt and say something like, "These reports are dogging me, man. How did you get past all your infidelities, Newt?" And then he could turn to Perry and say, "And you, Brother Rick, how did you deal with all the gay rumors?" Maybe he could finish by turning to Romney to say, "And just because you're Mormon, that doesn't mean you're part of some cult, does it?"

If he's going down, why not go down with a bang!

Folks, we'd better enjoy this. I doubt we'll see another campaign season like this.

[Murbella]

I thought 9% was the tax rate he thought everyone should pay, not the number of women he cheated on his wife with?

[Omniscia]

I saw my first Herman Cain bumper sticker today.

It was on a red Honda Odyssey which also featured an anti-Obama sticker, an anti-abortion sticker, and a sticker for our most-recent Republican gubernatorial candidate.

[Valentine]

I thought 9% was the tax rate he thought everyone should pay, not the number of women he cheated on his wife with?
I though "9-9-9" was his tax plan, not the number of women he's had affairs with.

[Guido Jones]

That Huntsman, who has real experience, no known baggage* and doesn't scare swing voters, hasn't had a run yet is indicative of how skewed the GOP primary has become.


*that I know about.

Mormon

[Tin Wisdom]

You've got to say that in a spooky voice:

"Mooooorrrmaaaan!

[Tin Wisdom]

Stupid double posts.

[IainC]

I though "9-9-9" was his tax plan, not the number of women he's had affairs with.

Actually it's Cain showing off his foreign policy bonafides by speaking German while simultaneously responding to charges of sexual misconduct.

[Woolen Horde]

The news is a twitter that Cain has a "huge announcement" Saturday.

Let's have a contest! What will he announce? (The more outlandish, the Cainier!)

[RepoMan]

He's leaving the campaign and spending his remaining funds on FREE PIZZA FOR EVERYONE!!! ...if you buy his book.

[Mark Asher]

He said he's going to announce what his next steps are but he won't say he's in or out. Sounds like nonsense to me.

His campaign did launch a "Women for Cain" organization. As if he needed any help finding women.

[MarchHare]

He's going to sweeten the pot even further and replace 9-9-9 with 8-8-8. The base will go nuts.

[John Many Jars]

It'll win him some Chinese votes.

[mrmolecule88]

It's not a joke about JMJ's penis I DON'T UNDERSTAND IT

[Rightbug]

America is leaving its wife for its "special friend" Great Britain!

[Linoleum]

http://29.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lvl8r3ee291qavqqoo1_500.gif

[Lum]

OK, that's not a real thing. But this is. As in, it's the front page of the Herman Cain for President web site.

http://lumthemad.net/images/caingoesblack.jpg

My god, it's full of cain.

[Valentine]

Anyone remember "NewsRadio" and the plot they had where the billionaire boss ran for president just to meet women?

[mrmolecule88]

Live announcement coming soon. (http://video.msnbc.msn.com/nbc-news-live/45534539#45534539) Hilariously, one of the speakers praised Cain as a "hands-on" leader!

[mrmolecule88]

He's going to stay in, betting it right now.

[mrmolecule88]

I never held a political office!

*Crowd goes wild*

FUCKING HELL. What the fuck? What the flying fuck? What happened to all that community organizer shit?

[JD]

IT HURTS THE AMERICAN PEOPLE!

Also, "we know that these false and unproven allegations are not true." Phew! Unlike other false allegations. Cain wreck.

[mrmolecule88]

OH SHIT IT'S OVER

[mrmolecule88]

Looks like suspension's the choice. Very smart move by Cain.

[John Many Jars]

It's not a joke about JMJ's penis I DON'T UNDERSTAND IT

8 is the Chinese lucky number!

[mrmolecule88]

AHAHAHAHA he's requoting the pokemon thing, isn't he!

JMJ is my favorite

[Cubit]

Looks like suspension's the choice. Very smart move by Cain.

Smart move? It was the only move. He wasn't raising much money before all of this. Suspension is just a prereq to him dropping out anyway.

[shift6]

So if God "told him to run", does this mean God actually wanted him to come clean to his wife about dalliances and to also teach him a little humility? Because then I say to God: approved!

Also, what does this mean for nearly every other GOP candidate whom God "told to run"? Some of my FB/G+ friends asked if God is trolling. I don't think so; I think God's setting up the GOP for a big fat fuck you. In which case I say to God: approved!

Is there a pool on how much coverage God's fuck you to the GOP is going to get in the news?

[Sebmojo]

Smart move? It was the only move. He wasn't raising much money before all of this. Suspension is just a prereq to him dropping out anyway.

It's an injoke. Search for the first "Sarah palin" thread, it's the OP.

[Lum]

Suspension = dropping out. He can't literally say he's dropping out or he'll lose funding.

[TurinTuramba]

Rumors Of Extramarital Affair End Campaign Of Presidential Candidate Who Didn't Know China Has Nuclear Weapons (http://www.theonion.com/articles/rumors-of-extramarital-affair-end-campaign-of-pres,26801/)

[Murbella]

The whole situation is just kind of funny.

I keep hearing on the news that he is suspending his campaign because it is the best thing for his wife, but just because he suspends his campaign, doesn't mean he didn't have an affair(s) or sexually harass various women. The only real difference as far as his wife is concerned is she won't constantly hear about his sexual adventures on CNN, he still will have done them.

[jerri blank]

The real reason he dropped out was the release of this VERY damning video of him from 1986 (http://FunnyOrDie.com/m/6buo).

[kerzain]

The real reason he dropped out was the release of this VERY damning video of him from 1986 (http://FunnyOrDie.com/m/6buo).
I can sexually harass people's pizza from much further than 8 inches away.

[mdowdle]

I'm going to miss those Mike Tyson parodies.

[corsair]

http://cdn.comicartfans.com/Images/Category_1486/subcat_96964/Train%20Wreck%20Back%20Lo%20Res.jpg

[Murbella]

indeed. Sadly the election will be significantly less funny now without CAINCAINCAINCAINCAINCAINCAIN.

That herman cain sexual harassment training video is insanely funny.

[Jason McCullough]

That video totally upgraded my opinion of Funny or Die.

[CesspoolofHatred]

I'm just sorta laughing at all the people here who are automatically going like "OH CAIN SUSPENDED HIS CAMPAIGN THAT MUST MEAN HE'S GUILTY OF MASS ADULTERY".

[Black Isis]

I'm just sorta laughing at all the people here who are automatically going like "OH CAIN SUSPENDED HIS CAMPAIGN THAT MUST MEAN HE'S GUILTY OF MASS ADULTERY".

I suspect it's more the closing-in-on-a-dozen women accusing him of sexual harassment and claiming to have had affairs with him that make most people suspect he's an adulterer.

[mrmolecule88]

I'm just sorta laughing at all the people here who are automatically going like "OH CAIN SUSPENDED HIS CAMPAIGN THAT MUST MEAN HE'S GUILTY OF MASS ADULTERY".

It's funny, because I'm laughing at all of those people who cited "moral values" as the deciding factor in their presidential vote and who derided Obama as "inexperienced."

Good thing it's bizarro world, amiwrong?

[strummer]

I'm just sorta laughing at all the people here who are automatically going like "OH CAIN SUSPENDED HIS CAMPAIGN THAT MUST MEAN HE'S GUILTY OF MASS ADULTERY".


By "here" do you mean your actual physical location? Because I read no such posts here (as in this message board).

[Anaxagoras]

OH CAIN SUSPENDED HIS CAMPAIGN THAT MUST MEAN HE'S GUILTY OF MASS ADULTERY

[RepoMan]

OH CESSPOOL SUSPENDED HIS BRAIN THAT MUST MEAN HE'S GUILTY OF MASS INSANITY

[Dean]

OH ADULTS CAMPAIGN FOR SUSPENDERS THAT MUST MEAN HE'S GUILTY OF CAINING!

[AndrewM]

The best part about the collapse of Cain, which I'm sure others have pointed out, is that his supporters are all fleeing to Gingrich, who is for certain an adulterer. But I guess nobody has accused him of harassment, so that's a step up.

[RichVR]

Fuck. We're going to get Mitt by attrition. The GOP primary has been interesting and fun to watch, at least.

Gingrich until the press wakes up.

[Hugin]

Gingrich until the press wakes up.

Well, Gingrich until everyone in the Republican party remembers that no one likes Gingrich.

[kerzain]

Gingrich, until people realize that they're supporting Gingrich.

[Timex]

Huntsman is scheduled to debate Gingrich one on one, which should get him some much needed publicity. Should be a good chance for him to make folks at least realize who he is.

[W Wiley]

Mitt means fish sperm.

[Lum]

I wonder if Cain will still show up for debates anyway.

[Timex]

Did he show up for the previous debates that he participated in?

[CesspoolofHatred]

OH CESSPOOL SUSPENDED HIS BRAIN THAT MUST MEAN HE'S GUILTY OF MASS INSANITY

Hey, I'm PROUD of the fact that I have voices totaling nearly a dozen vying for supremacy in my mind. Makes me feel important.

[Wisbechlad]

Mitt means fish sperm.

No - that is milt...

[mdowdle]

No - that is milt...

I just learned something due to Herman Cain. Who'd a'thunk it?

[Tin Wisdom]

Mitt means fish sperm.
Sure, but ten years ago it meant the opposite.

[Mike O'Malley]

The opposite? I'm missing it. Fish eggs?

[Omniscia]

(Psst. He's calling Mitt a flip-flopper.)

[Mike O'Malley]

OhhhHHHhhh.

[Ben Sones]

I have taught my one year old son to say CAINCAINCAINCAIN, so I'm actually a bit disappointed that Cain is calling it quits.

[Murbella]

His campaign was taking too much time out of his real job, sexually harassing and picking up random women.

[RepoMan]

Alas for the end of this thread, but before we go, this fine recap from the LA Times (http://www.latimes.com/news/politics/la-pn-cain-train-review-20111205,0,2228278.story?track=icymi) containing many tidbits that even I, OP of this thread, hadn't heard:


Aug. 11: During a GOP debate in Ames, Iowa, Cain offers some pearls of wisdom, telling the audience, "A poet once said, 'Life can be a challenge, life can seem impossible, but it's never easy when there's so much on the line.' " The "poet" in question turned out to be disco queen Donna Summer, who recorded a song featuring those lyrics for "Pokeman: The Movie 2000."

http://www.latimes.com/media/photo/2011-12/190704540-05141854.jpg

That was my birthday, too! It's like he was giving me a birthday present that I just now got in the mail. Awwwwwwwwwww.


Oct. 18: A video of Cain singing a reworked version of John Lennon's "Imagine" hits the Internet, providing his insurgent campaign with even more media attention. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tJaPXsDZ7bg&feature=player_embedded) The lyrics went like this:

Imagine there's no pizza
I couldn't if I tried
Eating only tacos
Or Kentucky Fried
Imagine only burgers
It's frightening and sad

TOO AWESOME. Good luck with the marriage, there, Herman, we'll miss you.

...And I now realize those lyrics are almost the only thing I will ever have agreed with Cain about.

[guppy]

The Onion posted the best headline they've ever had, I think, for Cain's campaign suspension:


Rumors Of Extramarital Affair End Campaign Of Presidential Candidate Who Didn't Know China Has Nuclear Weapons

The amazing thing about it is that it isn't satire. It's literally true. It's not fake news, it's just... news.

[W Wiley]

The state of my country makes me sad.

[JeffL]

So, let's see, rumors of affairs force Cain's numbers way down and drive him out of the campaign.

And Republicans flock instead to a guy who cheated on a couple of wives, left them when they had cancer and MS, and was the subject of a large ethics investigation that led to his resignation from the House.

OK.

[Valentine]

Yeah, being black had nothing to do with it

[Mark Asher]

Yeah, being black had nothing to do with it

Did it? He was black when he was leading in the polls.

I suspect if the infidelity stories about Gringrich were just now surfacing he'd take a dive in the polls, too.

It also didn't help Cain that he denied just about everything, and then kept saying more women were likely to come forward. Oh, and the 13 year gal was just a friend. A friend he was making monthly payments to. That his wife didn't know about.

[ydejin]

Did it? He was black when he was leading in the polls.

I suspect if the infidelity stories about Gringrich were just now surfacing he'd take a dive in the polls, too.

It also didn't help Cain that he denied just about everything, and then kept saying more women were likely to come forward. Oh, and the 13 year gal was just a friend. A friend he was making monthly payments to. That his wife didn't know about.

Yeah, I'm going to definitely vote no on black having anything to do with it. I see no racism involved in this case.

There's plenty of examples of white politicians getting into similar trouble, most famously Gary Hart and the Monkey Business as far as Presidential Candidates go. Plenty of other examples at other levels of government too.

I'm still rather surprised that they're flocking to Newt, but I think the difference is everything is already known about Newt. There's no shock factor, and no evidence of a campaign that's flailing about in the water, in the process of drowning.

[Timex]

It's always possible that a terrible campaign loading popular support stems from it being a Tribble campaign with a terrible candidate.

You can't call republicans racist for dropping support for Cain at this point. It's not like Cain got "more black" all of a sudden.

[Valentine]

No, I just think the GOP knows a black man wouldn't fly on their ticket nationwide. Once the tokenism that allowed a candidate with no previous elected position experience whatsoever to get on stage in national debates wore off (or was scrubbed violently off) everyone jumped ship ASAP.
Or maybe I'm just too cynical about the Republicans.

[Mark Asher]

No, I just think the GOP knows a black man wouldn't fly on their ticket nationwide. Once the tokenism that allowed a candidate with no previous elected position experience whatsoever to get on stage in national debates wore off (or was scrubbed violently off) everyone jumped ship ASAP.
Or maybe I'm just too cynical about the Republicans.

I think a lot of conservatives are no more racist than a lot of liberals.

It's also possible that if Cain had handled all this differently and done a mea culpa he might have not had his poll numbers erode as much. I'm sure he would have taken a hit, but he might have weathered it. Or not perhaps.

I think the rapid decline in Cain's polling numbers is also due to conservative voters not really being in love with any of the candidates. It doesn't take much for them to switch loyalties.

[Valentine]

I think a lot of conservatives are no more racist than a lot of liberals.
...eeeeeehhhhhhhh......

[Brettmcd]

No, I just think the GOP knows a black man wouldn't fly on their ticket nationwide. Once the tokenism that allowed a candidate with no previous elected position experience whatsoever to get on stage in national debates wore off (or was scrubbed violently off) everyone jumped ship ASAP.
Or maybe I'm just too cynical about the Republicans.


I think in this case you are being too cynical, its the way he handled the issue that has hurt him so much, not that he is black.

[Aeon221]

Herman Cain, I CHOOSE YOU!

*Herman Cain uses RAPE on Jigglypuff! It's SUPER EFFECTIVE!*

[Lizard_King]

So, let's see, rumors of affairs force Cain's numbers way down and drive him out of the campaign.

And Republicans flock instead to a guy who cheated on a couple of wives, left them when they had cancer and MS, and was the subject of a large ethics investigation that led to his resignation from the House.

OK.

I think Cain's candidacy had an exceptionally long run, regardless of his personal issues, and those just happened to coincide with the "what next" moment as he was really having to deal with the big stage. I wouldn't regard the infidelity as a key variable except insofar as his reaction to it was grade A "don't take this joke any further" fuel for everyone involved.

I think it's clear that if the traditional GOP leadership was actually running this fiasco, it would look a lot different, and I disagree with Valentine that Republicans suddenly woke up and realized Cain was black. His race is definitely a thing, but it's a complicated thing with a lot of weird math for politicians.

[Jason McCullough]

The polls (http://fivethirtyeight.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/12/06/other-than-that-mr-cain-how-was-the-campaign/) look like scandal and nothing else.

As to why Gingrich gets away with it: it was a long time ago, it was serial monogamy with a, uh, bit of overlap, and he's a far better liar than Cain.

[bloo]

As to why Gingrich gets away with it: it was a long time ago, it was serial monogamy with a, uh, bit of overlap, and he's a far better liar than Cain.

Long time ago, yes. Serial monogamy? Not so much if you read the recent stuff posted in the Newt forum, at least during the 70s or whenever. More, screw anyone at any time he can get away with.

[Valentine]

Okok, I cede the point. I just never understood why he was allowed to be up there in the first place and attributed it to tokenism.

[RichVR]

Come on. How many republicans do you think were all for Cain on the Let's See If Our Black Guy Can Beat Their Black Guy bandwagon?

There are some broken dreams in that party right now.

[Timex]

We just had a thread about how terrible a candidate Cain was, and now people are saying, "how could people support Gingrich but not Cain, if not for racism?!"

How about this... Cain was a terrible candidate, who seemingly knew nothing about anything. All of his personal slime aside, Gingrich is not, by any stretch of the imagination, a stupid man.

[Valentine]

We just had a thread about how terrible a candidate Cain was, and now people are saying, "how could people support Gingrich but not Cain, if not for racism?!"
You calling me fat?

[RichVR]

Gingrich is not, by any stretch of the imagination, a stupid man.

All of his slime aside, amirite?

[Murbella]

We just had a thread about how terrible a candidate Cain was, and now people are saying, "how could people support Gingrich but not Cain, if not for racism?!"

How about this... Cain was a terrible candidate, who seemingly knew nothing about anything. All of his personal slime aside, Gingrich is not, by any stretch of the imagination, a stupid man.

Gingrich is not, by any stretch of the imagination, a decent man either. With Cain, people think it is highly likely that he is a scumbag, with Gingrich, people know he is without any doubt.

Aren't republicans all for electing people who they would like to have a beer with? I'd think most people would just as soon hit him over the head with a beer bottle than drink it with him.

[Ben Sones]

How about this... Cain was a terrible candidate, who seemingly knew nothing about anything. All of his personal slime aside, Gingrich is not, by any stretch of the imagination, a stupid man.

It's true that he was always a terrible candidate, but his supporters didn't start jumping ship until the infidelity stuff bubbled up. Cain has been making foolish gaffes and proposing idiotic policies since day one. If the GOP primary voters cared about that stuff, he never would have gotten popular in the first place.

[Kolonial]

All of his personal slime aside, Gingrich is not, by any stretch of the imagination, a stupid man.
I'm not sure I would go that far. He's an educated man who is also a blowhard and an egomaniac, a combination which doesn't exclude him acting stupidly. In fact, his political career is so littered with stupid acts the majority of political watchers are assuming another will surface in the next few months and torpedo his campaign once and for all. It's become a bit predictable.

Does committing stupid acts regularly make him a stupid man? I'm not sure the imagination needs to be stretched too far.

[Jason McCullough]

538 points out the obvious (http://fivethirtyeight.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/12/07/gingrichs-unimpeachable-conservative-credential/) that I didn't see.


I have seen a lot of other commentators bring up versions of this point, but there is a reason why Republicans, especially conservative Republicans, see Newt Gingrich as by far their most qualified nominee and why they have been willing so far to excuse his periodic lapses from conservative orthodoxy.

The reason is simply that under Mr. Gingrich’s Congressional leadership, the Republican Party finally broke the New Deal coalition that had dominated American politics for more than a half-century, moving policy substantially to the right. That is a pretty impressive credential.

[unbongwah]

I just never understood why he was allowed to be up there in the first place and attributed it to tokenism.
He knew how to work a crowd, his "9-9-9" plan made for a catchy sound-bite, his "neophyte outsider" status made him stand out in a crowd of experienced pols at a time when "politician" is a four-letter word to a lot of people - I can understand how a lot of people thought (or at least hoped) he'd be a breath of fresh air.

Unfortunately for him, he lacks substantive policy ideas or, like, basic facts (http://www.theonion.com/articles/rumors-of-extramarital-affair-end-campaign-of-pres,26801/) about the outside world; and he managed to take a sledgehammer to his own credibility with every accuser who came forward - to paraphrase someone else (possibly speaking about Bill Clinton at the time), it's not the crime which gets you in trouble, it's the cover-up.

All of his personal slime aside, Gingrich is not, by any stretch of the imagination, a stupid man.
Perhaps not, but he's more than willing to say and do plenty of stupid things - either because he can't help himself, he actually believes in them, or he's willing to pander to the peanut gallery to get what he wants. But I'll save that for the Newt thread...

[Scuzz]

Come on. How many republicans do you think were all for Cain on the Let's See If Our Black Guy Can Beat Their Black Guy bandwagon?

There are some broken dreams in that party right now.

If Cain had managed to get himself elected it wouldn't have been long before the far right was demanding to check his birth certificate. As someone who votes republican the "birthers" are to me the most embarrassing group in the GOP.

[MatthewF]

If Cain had managed to get himself elected it wouldn't have been long before the far right was demanding to check his birth certificate. As someone who votes republican the "birthers" are to me the most embarrassing group in the GOP.

I'm not so sure about that (http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/11/01/ann-coulter-herman-cain-our-blacks_n_1069172.html).

[Scuzz]

I'm not so sure about that (http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/11/01/ann-coulter-herman-cain-our-blacks_n_1069172.html).



"Our blacks are so much better than their blacks," she said, speaking of Democrats. "To become a black Republican, you don't just roll into it. You're not going with the flow...and that's why we have very impressive blacks in the Republican party."


You think Coulter has slept with Cain. :)

[Murbella]

You think Coulter has slept with Cain. :)
Cain probably just grabbed her ass when she went out to get pizza.

[JeffL]

I think Coulter is a Democratic plant. No one can be that incredibly offensive and stupid in real life. Sure, Bachman and Perry are idiots, but even they pale in the shadow of Coulter. She is exploring brave new worlds of audacious idiocy.

[Kolonial]

She is exploring brave new worlds of audacious idiocy.
Well, she kind of has to. She's plants a stake on her territory, a territory that really only exists because she creates it. As others move toward it, she has to go further. When things get a bit stale with current events (ie. a republican dominated congress with a republican in the White House), she has to cast her net backwards, hoping to snag a subject about which enough people give enough of a shit. Nixon, McCarthy, whatever.

[Calistas]

It's a political version of The Oregon Trail.

[MatthewF]

I think Coulter is a Democratic plant. No one can be that incredibly offensive and stupid in real life. Sure, Bachman and Perry are idiots, but even they pale in the shadow of Coulter. She is exploring brave new worlds of audacious idiocy.

If it really is satire, she's brilliant at it. I mean, hell, she's been at it for 15-odd years; I would honestly laugh my ass off if at some point down the line she goes "just kidding! I can't believe all you bigoted hillbilly fucks thought I was for real!"

[ShivaX]

If it really is satire, she's brilliant at it. I mean, hell, she's been at it for 15-odd years; I would honestly laugh my ass off if at some point down the line she goes "just kidding! I can't believe all you bigoted hillbilly fucks thought I was for real!"

As funny as it was on Boondocks, I don't think its going to happen.

[unbongwah]

She's the living embodiment of Poe's Law.

[Calistas]

http://28.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lvwq7asXG41qc8jh0o1_500.gif

http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lvwq7asXG41qc8jh0o2_500.gif

[lesslucid]

Great as that gif is, until you hear the pronunciation that Cain gives to "Pokie mon" you haven't lived. Also, the whole thing is gold.

[Calistas]

Cain could arguably be a less pokey mon!

Badoom-Tish.