I was a Cain supporter and donor, but have been hoping for this, so we can unite behind the clear “anyone-but-Mitt” candidate, who won’t embarrass us in the debates, whose dirty laundry has been aired, and who is a grown up who has demonstrated a long-term understanding of conservative principles.
It’s Newt. He has his definite weaknesses, but so did Reagan, who would have been excoriated by some purist whiners here.
Supported Herman at the beginning and have moved to Newt because he is armed and ready for battle. Think he might even get Herman’s endorsement (even though he WAS an insider).
Herman Cain is superb; a realist and a fighter. He has not given up - he has reloaded. I admire his ‘solutions’ from the outside. Aligning with his supporters against the ‘media and Washington insiders’ is the way to go. This might be the TEA party leadership headquarters for pulling a real organization together OUTSIDE the GOP.
There are many conservatives who may not have supported his candidacy, but they sure as hell will support his organization.
What a concept - he’s brilliant.
What I underlined in your statement is so very true.
As for Newt, although I've always liked him, and will be forever grateful for how he led the Republicans back from the wilderness in the House, I'm on the fence about him as our potential nominee.
The thing about Newt is he's an idea man, but one that seems to flit from one shiny new idea to another. No question he's brilliant. Absolutely none. But like many brilliant people, he often seems to lack a grasp of the practical. He seems to get overwhelmed by the practical, which is a key reason why his colleagues in the House finally pushed him out. Mentally, he's somewhere up there in the clouds instead of down here on the ground with the rest of us.
I'm so disappointed in Perry. He appeared to have all the right qualities we'd need in a nominee until he failed so miserably in the debates. Sigh.
Certainly I can be wrong about this, but my current view is that if Newt becomes our nominee, Obama's odds of being reelected will be at least 75-25 in favor. Double sigh.
And yet Mitt Romney simply has never been able to light a fire under the Republican base. If the dominant opinion of Romney here on FR is representative of the Republican primary electorate as a whole, he won't win the nomination. But if he does simply by being the last man standing, Romney's odds of beating Obama are less than Newt's, in my opinion, because he won't have the enthusiastic support from our side that will be necessary to win.
I too, have been a Cain donor and have not, been hoping for this.
Now looking beyond Mr. Cain, I would have a very hard time considering Newt-”I am more in the Alexander Hamilton-Teddy Roosevelt tradition of ‘conservatism’-Gingrich. Hamilton, was in favor of bigger government (and a gov’t.-owned bank etc.) and ‘central’ control. Old Teddy, became a leader in the ‘Progressive Movement’ on the RINO side as did (a little later) WOODROW WILSON on the Democrat side, and we ARE STILL living with the burdens of their ‘Progressive’ actions.
Further, as Newt sees that he is gaining in poll stature, his arrogance and narcissistic personality is ballooning. We are already contending with a very similar personality in our White House. We do not need an Obama-like RINO-Republican replacement for the next extremely important four years.
with you 100% maybe not enthusiastically behind him, but after a debate or two I will be.
“a grown up[sic] who has demonstrated a long-term understanding of conservative principles”
C’mon - you can’t be serious... He’s completely morally corrupt! He has sided with the socialists on so many issues over the years that it’s sickening - Global Warming, Amnesty for ILLEGAL Immigrant CRIMINALS, etc...
As for all of his dirty laundry already being aired - what does that even matter? You don’t think the Dems REMEMBER what they did to make him leave a little over a decade ago? I’m in my late 30s and I TOTALLY remember how hated Newt was - on BOTH SIDES back then.
Not embarrass us? This whole situation already HAS been an embarrassment, and continues to be such.
I was a Cain supporter too. He could have done much better in how he handled this. When you do not have the will to fight for the presidency, much less fight false charges, your time is done. Not fair but just the way it is. He is a good man and has done the right thing for himself and his family. I wish him well.
I agree with your post #28.
Gingrich is a RINO, as evidenced by his recent statements on abortion.