October 31st, 2011: Cains Lack of Professionalism

So the story broke over the weekend that 2 women accused Herman Cain of sexual harassment. They were paid off and signed non-disclosure agreements.  Herman Cain today finally said that, yes, they did accuse him and yes, they were paid. He said this only after denying it never happened and ask telling a reporter who asked him about it “Were you ever accused of sexual harassment.” I am taking Cain at his word that he did not do anything that would be considered sexual harassment. Still, the way his campaign handled this crisis is a prime example of why.
 

The campaign knew this story was coming out 10 days before it did. Instead of getting in front of the story, they were sloppy and behind it the whole time. What they should have done was dumped the story themselves on Friday afternoon. Why then? 1) It’s a holiday weekend. 2) The World Series was that night 3) It avoids all this cover-up that just makes you look stupid. They do that and it’s a minor story.  I mean really there is little here.  But when the open and frank outside the beltway candidate acts coy and blames the media, it sends all the wrong signals and hurts his brand. If his campaign was professional they would have had a plan on tap for when this happened. Instead they look stupid.
 

What Cain did in regards to these charges hurts him very little. How he handled it shows us a lot about him and is yet another example why he is not ready for primetime and not fit to go up against Barack Obama in the 2012 election.

October 18th, 2011: Why cant my phone be dumb?

I hate my cell phone. I consider it a necessary evil in the world today.  I don’t like that people feel they should be able to contact me whenever they want and I am supposed to be ready to answer.  Now it’s time for me to get a new cellphone. AT&T is pushing the iPhone on me. Get a free iPhone 3G with a new two year contract!  My brother has a 4G. My friend just got the brand new 4GS. Part of me says to get one, because its rapidly becoming the only game in town. Most of me is repulsed by the who movement in cell phones to become a device to do everything. I was listening to the Tony Kornheiser Radio show last Friday and he said the following:
 

“Why won’t somebody make a dumb phone. That is what I want. . . See when the people come to PTI, for example, the guest come to PTI, and they all want to take pictures with me and Wilbon. They don’t have cameras. The only people who have cameras are people over 50. The other people all have, iPhones or cell phones or whatever that take pictures. What happened to the concept to the concept of just having a phone. Why can’t I just have a phone. Why don’t the phone people make phones anymore. I don’t understand that, why does it have to come with reservations for 6 at the Palm. Why can’t I just have a phone?.... It’s like when I go to the dry cleaner. OK. I don’t want to go to a dry cleaner who offers me a deal on kitchen cabinetry. I just want that dry cleaner. My feeling is, if this is what you do, do it well. If you have a pet store, just sell pets and pet food, don’t try to sell me real estate in South Florida. So when I want a phone, I just want a phone”
 

I almost shouted “Amen” when I heard that. I want my phone to be able to call people and receive calls. I want to be able to text, though I don’t even need that honestly. Why has the phone and the internet merged? Don’t get me wrong, I see the benefit of being able to access the internet from anywhere. But why has the merged into a phone? Does not the phone suffer when it becomes a swiss army knife? I want to be on a phone that does not break when you drop it and does not drop calls.
 

Two years ago I asked for a phone without a camera and they had none. Why does your phone need to have a camera? As Tony said, most people use their phone as a camera. Personally is repulses me. It’s a horrible quality image. If you want to take photos, carry around a digital camera!  I mean it could have some practical use here and there but there is no way it ought to replace a camera.
 

Sadly most people don’t agree with me. Most people want this one device that does everything. This time I am a holdout and will get a dumb phone.  Next time though, I fear the only phone I will be able to get is a smartphone.  I know I sound like an old man like Tony Kornheiser, but I just want a phone. Honestly, I don’t even want that. But please, just give me a phone.

October 18th, 2011: Cains Foundation

The fact that Herman Cain leads in the national polls for the GOP Nomination will be a funny footnote six months from now. Cain is basically the Morry Taylor of this cycle. Don’t know “The Grizz” as he was nicknamed in the 1996 GOP nomination contest? He was a business man who thought he could spend a lot of money in untraditional ways and with the nomination. He, like Cain, was known for his lack of political correctness.
 

The difference is Morry never was a factor like Cain is today. This is mostly due to the internet age. The tea party wing/extreme right wing base of the party is looking for an alternative to Mitt Romney. It was Trump, he didn’t run. It was Bachmann, but then a better option seemed to come along in Rick Perry. Turns out Rick can’t debate so now they have turned to Herman Cain.
 

So can Cain take advantage? The answer is no. First off, he isn’t even running a Presidential campaign. Last night he was in Tennessee. Why? No clue, Tennessee is a non-factor in the GOP nomination contest. Its primary is on March 6^th, two whole months after the Iowa caucus. Cain ought to be in Iowa, because the only way Mitt Romney does not win the nomination is if someone other than Mitt Romney wins Iowa. He doesn’t have advisors, and he seems to take pride in the fact that he has no foreign policy. His 9-9-9 plan? It has at best with it a very small idea of who it will help and who it will hurt. Personally, I think he just likes the number 9 and taxes because its less than 10, the number typically associated with tithing and the church.
 

All this leads to the fact that Cain has built the foundation of his campaign on something that looks more like a book tour. It’s not a firm foundation (though he is the best candidate to sing the classic hymn of a similar name). So now he has had this rise and repeating the benefits. That will not last long though because the winds will come and shake upon his house and the house will fall like a house of cards. It looks the best for Mitt, who has built an unsexy but solid base. If Cain wants to have any chance, get your butt to Iowa for the next two months. Otherwise all we have here is a glorified book tour.

October 2nd, 2011: GOP Oddsmakers- October Edition

Mitt Romney 4/5- The Tea Party seems to have a flavor of the month all the while Mitt is as steady as a rock. He looks presidential, talks presidential and has a firewall in New Hampshire. The GOP base don’t have to love him in order to nominate him.  (pvs 6/5)
 

Rick Perry 3/1- Rick Perry is falling. But he isn’t dead like the pundits are writing him off. Yes he sucks at debates but he can fundraise and that still means something. You don’t become governor of texas without some talent. (pvs 5/1)
 

Jon Huntsman 15/1-  Huntsman is the best general election candidate. Yet he is finding no traction as of yet. He needs someone to emerge as the right tea party choice so they can have a beatdown in Iowa and then Huntsman would need to have a shocker in New Hampshire. Still, just run a good race and maybe you can be president in  2016 (pvs 8/1)

Chris Christie 15/1- This low because he isn’t running. But until we get a new official denial, he makes the oddsboard. Field really searching for a legit alternative to Romney and right now a lot of people think Christie could be that. (new)
 

Ron Paul 20/1- Ron Paul has the most impressing ve celebrity endorsement list, including Barry Manilow, Vince Vaughn and Chuck Norris. (pvs 20/1)
 

Rick Santorum 20/1- Santorum showing himself to be a fighter in the debates and if someone could pull a miracle who no one is talking about I give it to this fighter from the Keystone State. (pvs 25/1)
 

Michelle Bachmann 30/1- Most people use the Ames Straw poll as a launching point. Sadly for Bachmann it was a climax. Don’t know how she relaunches back into a contender after being knocked back to an afterthought. (pvs 4/1)
 

Herman Cain 30/1- He won the Florida CPAC straw poll? Still don’t know how but he seems to be the new flavor of the month among the Tea Party. He isn’t going to be president but he may parlay himself into a cabinet position (pvs 90/1)
 

Newt Gingrinch 50/1- Getting a little traction in the polls just by getting applause at debates. Still no chance.  (pvs 100/1)
 

Removed- Tim Pawlenty, Rudy Giulani