Herman

Cain

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January 14, 2008

Presidential Campaign Inspires a Big ‘I Told You So’

Now that the presidential derby is about half over, and Super Tuesday for primary voting is three weeks away, it is instructive to review what I shared with interested readers on May 21, 2007, about the presidential race. Not because “I told you so” makes me feel good, but because I hope more people will be informed voters on Super Tuesday instead of stupid voters.

All of the media pontification about the implications of the Iowa caucus results and the New Hampshire primary results is super hype. The real test of who might be emerging as the ultimate nominee of the Republican and Democrat political parties, respectively, will be February 5, 2008. On that day we will have the voting results of 25 states instead of just two, based on millions of voters instead of a few hundred thousand.

The media super hype leading up to Super Tuesday is just a desperate need to create a sensationalized story in the absence of a real sensational story for the day. That’s what boosts circulation and ratings. And even though one war casualty is one too many, the success of the surge strategy in Iraq is not as exciting to journalists as huge war casualties.

Here’s what I told you in May 2007:

“When you consider which candidates have actually been in a significant leadership position, such as heading a business, a major city or state, Giuliani and Romney are the only two of the six front runners. Being a senator is significant, but it is very different from being directly responsible for setting organizational priorities, achieving objectives, generating revenue, establishing and managing a budget, cutting costs and directly impacting people’s jobs and careers.   

Add former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee to that description.

“As this presidential race continues to unfold, we begin to see only snippets of potential leadership ability or the lack thereof among the candidates. But educating the public on these snippets takes time and a lot of money to overcome the gap between ability and popularity.”

Nothing has changed.

“All three Democratic front runners have pledged ‘universal health care’ to the public, and neither has any idea how much it would cost, or the devastating impact of such an idea on the overall economy and taxes we pay. None of them are about to let the voters in on that dirty little secret if it might cost them some popularity votes.”

Nothing has changed.

“All three Democratic front runners have also renewed their usual assault on the free market system, which has produced unprecedented economic growth in the last six years. They want to confiscate profits from successful businesses and spend stockholders’ money on more dysfunctional government programs.”

Nothing has changed.

“The Republican front runners at least acknowledge that there are serious problems facing programs such as Social Security and Medicare, even though the Republicans did not do anything about it while they had the congressional majority and the presidency.”

Nothing has changed.

“They (Republicans) also understand the importance of leaving free market dynamics alone, and making the Bush tax cuts permanent in order to sustain this healthy economy.”

Nothing has changed.

“I am optimistic that a second-tier or undeclared candidate may emerge to energize the focus on solutions and real leadership ability.”

Mike Huckabee emerged and focused on the FairTax.

“I am also optimistic that informed voters will make the best decision for the country.”

I sure hope so. That would make me feel real good!

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