Quick Hits on the GOP Candidates, Past and Present

The Regular Guy was on the road with the Regular Son and the Regular Dog for Thanksgiving, so we didn't get much blogging down.   What did I miss?

Herman Cain.  Herman Cain is "reassessing" his candidacy after the story broke that he may have had a thirteen year affair.   Doesn't it seem to make sense that the same kind of man who thinks he can get away with having an affair in the first place, later thinks he can get away with running for high public office without having the affair come out?   Stupid is as stupid does.    As for Cain, if this gets him out of the race, good.   He wasn't qualified to be President, and his presence in the race was always a distraction.   

Chris Christie.  Chris Christie was never qualified to be President either, but at least he knew it and didn't run.   But what he is qualified to do, and does perhaps better than any other Republican politican, is give good sound-bite.   Christie this week laid into President Obama about the collapse of the Super-Committee, asking the question about Obama that begs to be asked:  "what the hell are we paying him for?"




Newt Gingrich.  The Manchester Union-Leader has endorsed Gingrich for President, saying in an editorial that "America is at a crucial crossroads. It is not going to be enough to merely replace Barack Obama next year. We are in critical need of the innovative, forward-looking strategy and positive leadership that Gingrich has shown he is capable of providing."  Well, maybe.   I have a hard time believing that Gingrich is the answer.  I can't help thinking that people are simply pining for Gingrich to debate Obama.   But debates have been given a heightened importance in the GOP primaries because there's nothing else going on.   In the general election, I don't think Gingrich's debate performances will be enough to lift him pass his own baggage.   And we have to win.   We just have to.  

Sarah Palin.  Apparently people are still trying to draft Sarah Palin to run for President.   It's.  Not.   Happening.    Fuhgedaboutit.   



Mitt Romney.   Meanwhile, Mr. Inevitable can't get over 25%.    If Cain, bows out, look for Rick Perry to get a second look, picking up much of Cain's supporters, who, if they were going to go for Gingrich, would have done so already.   

Leading me to the obvious conclusion:  you can't beat somebody with nobody.   Obama loses to a generic Republican over and over.   But we can't run a generic Republican.   We have to run an actual person.   And he's got to come from among these three men:   Romney, Gingrich, Perry.    The remaining candidates -- Bachmann, Cain, Santorum, Paul, and Huntsman -- aren't serious, and should bow out.   Then the question will boil down to whether either Gingrich or Perry can convince people that they could be a viable candidate against Obama.   If not, then Romney will be the default candidate.