A few related video comments:

Putin's thoughts on the removal of Gaddafi six months before he was killed:
http://videosift.com/video/Putin-Who-gave-NATO-right-to-kill-Gaddafi

Some suggestions that the war in Libya was over water more-so than oil:
http://videosift.com/video/Libyan-War-Is-For-Water-NOT-Oil

You're right. That would have been a great response. But he didn't do that, did he? He did exactly what Henning said he did -- knee jerk rejection of anything Obama does or did, without using critical thinking or judgment.

And Cain didn't answer the reporter's follow up question -- there wasn't anybody in charge of the opposition. That is known. So what would you have done then, different than Obama?

As someone who has hung around business people some, I hear "business speak" -- what do managers do in business? They gather information and make decisions. Good managers gather good information. Herman Cain was talking boiler plate biz talk, with attempts at sounding In Charge and Manly. POTUS is not a fricking fracking business manager. He/she has a much bigger job than that.

Cain hasn't a clue. And he doesn't even know he doesn't have a clue.

>> ^My_design:

I don't see it that way at all. He is merely stating that he doesn't feel Obama spent enough time assessing Qaddafi's opposition. However he also states that he is not privy to what assessment Obama may have done, if any. Especially since Obama is getting the praise for it all when it was supposed to be a United Nations operation. But that is a whole different thread...
I think it's a pretty fair answer in all. You ask a question about how someone may do something differently, knowing full well there is no way they could have all the information about it. He's not in the government...yet.
The response I would have liked to have seen would have been:
"How the hell can I question what the President did or didn't do? I don't have top secret clearance yet. But I would have hoped that he spent plenty of time researching and understanding Qaddafi's opposition so we don't wind up with some puppet government like all the other failed puppet governments we've put in place before. Only time will tell if the United Nations and Obama screwed the pooch on this or not."

At least he knew where Libya is and who was in charge. Better than some of the politicians we've had in the past. Looking your way there Bushy boy...
>> ^HenningKO:
"Even tho I know nothing of the situation now or how it was assessed by Obama at the time and I approve of the results, I would have done a better job."
Pure obstructionist stream of consciousness.

I don't see it that way at all. He is merely stating that he doesn't feel Obama spent enough time assessing Qaddafi's opposition. However he also states that he is not privy to what assessment Obama may have done, if any. Especially since Obama is getting the praise for it all when it was supposed to be a United Nations operation. But that is a whole different thread...
I think it's a pretty fair answer in all. You ask a question about how someone may do something differently, knowing full well there is no way they could have all the information about it. He's not in the government...yet.

The response I would have liked to have seen would have been:
"How the hell can I question what the President did or didn't do? I don't have top secret clearance yet. But I would have hoped that he spent plenty of time researching and understanding Qaddafi's opposition so we don't wind up with some puppet government like all the other failed puppet governments we've put in place before. Only time will tell if the United Nations and Obama screwed the pooch on this or not."

At least he knew where Libya is and who was in charge. Better than some of the politicians we've had in the past. Looking your way there Bushy boy...
>> ^HenningKO:

"Even tho I know nothing of the situation now or how it was assessed by Obama at the time and I approve of the results, I would have done a better job."
Pure obstructionist stream of consciousness.

>> ^quantumushroom:

There is no libertarian equivalent to run to.

Somalia. ;-)

I wouldn't call it a phantasy so much as a small blueprint for national survival, because despite what the libmedia proclaims, America won't make it as a clone of a Euro-peon nation. Speaking of which, why doesn't the American Left just pack up and move to where health care and everything else is ALREADY free? There is no libertarian equivalent to run to.


>> ^GenjiKilpatrick:

::blink blink::
So thaaaat's what @quantumushroom's fantasy world looks like.
meh..

You're 100% correct. This is Republidorks' race to win or lose. Apolgies to SK, but the Right seems to have forgotten the face of their fathers. If so, fk 'em, let the whole thing crash.


>> ^Psychologic:

@quantumushroom
Just curious, how do you feel about the general state of the Republican primaries? IMO, that's a big part of the problem. How on earth is Cain near the top? Romney I can at least understand, but Cain seems lost outside of his tax plan.
It doesn't matter how much people dislike Obama, there has to be a reasonable alternative for him to lose. The problem seems to be that no reasonable alternatives can make it through a Republican primary (by reasonable, I mean to the general population, not a particular ideology).

@jmzero

Thanks for the question.

It's still too soon to tell anything, but of those you mentioned:

Perry - still has a shot, but probably won't get it together in time. Tied with Romney for title of 'King of Mediocrity' but not as good as Cain.

Bachmann - no chance niche candidate

Romney - a stiff and foolish to boot (re: disaster nicknamed Romneycare). Uninspiring but with great hair. Will spend slightly less than Obama but at this point, who cares, we're underwater. Would be tepid improvement over Obama, if only because businesses could breathe a sign relief from endless communist assaults.

Cain - not an insider, doesn't need the money, knows there's a Constitution to be obeyed (even if in theory), has real world business experience. All the shit thrown at him by the left for 'lack of experience' was mysteriously absent when the voting "Present" senator Kenyawaiian was running. All the shit thrown at him by the left over a few meritless sexual harassment complaints mysteriously absent when Filth "suck this or lose your job" Clinton was running. Would be MASSIVE improvement over Obama, if only because businesses could breathe a sign relief from endless communist assaults, plus conservative minorities make the left apoplectic.

As an alternative to all of these, I would make a damned fine Emperor. Have a pleasant evening!


>> ^jmzero:

The only flaw in Cain is he doesn't seem to know the reach of this corrupt regime's media shills.

@quantumushroom
Is Cain your favorite among the current Republican candidates? If not, who? (And possibly why, if you're up for it)?
For myself, I'm not a real fan of Cain (and I think he'd have problems in a full campaign) - but I'd definitely pick him over, say, Bachmann or Perry. If I were voting in the Republican race (which I will not be - I'm Canadian), I'd probably go for Romney. I don't agree with him on everything (I'm less of a social conservative) and he's a little bit prone to triangulation rather than true leadership, but the political waters are so thoroughly poisoned right now that I think perhaps a lukewarm, compromise President might be the best option (among either party). He's not perfect, but he's who I'd pick if you asked me right now.
Anyways, you represent a viewpoint that isn't terribly well represented on VS and I think there's lots of people that would be interesting in hearing where you stand (which you may have written elsewhere, but which I and possibly many others haven't seen because we may not be reading in those other places).

>> ^dag:

I remember in 7th grade, my geography teacher - Mr. Reekie, (who was also the JV football coach) told us all that World War 3 was about to start in Poland because of Lech Wałęsa's solidarity movement. It scared the shit out of me, and stuck with me as a small scar - even as a 42 year old man.

I remember being similarly (and in retrospect, needlessly) terrified in 85-86 when the shit was going on with Libya (culminating in bombing). I would have been 6-7 at the time. I remember riding the bus home after school, looking out the window at the horizon, and being afraid that one day bombers were just going to come screaming overhead and destroy/kill everything and everyone. I didn't understand that Libya was a tiny speck of a country with an insignificant military, and I didn't understand that a tiny backwoods town in upstate NY would not be a valuable military target.

>> ^Drachen_Jager:

This is what happens when you only watch Fox News for information. You try to recall facts and find you don't know any.


hey, man, a factoid is at least half fact!

>> ^jmzero:

Yeah... the problem here isn't that he "has to think about it" or something. Thinking is fine. Not being able to call every detail to mind is fine. It's probably a good thing if someone actually tries to respond to a specific question rather than just brain-dumping talking points generally associated with an issue.
But his visible train of thought here calls to question his ability to do the job (which will require the ability to state himself clearly in high pressure situations), his knowledge, his preparation, and - generally - his commitment.
Surely he knows this specific question is coming; how, at this point, can he not be ready? If you had a list of likely questions, I'd say a question on Libya would be at least in the top 20. Questions on your specific health care plan would be top 5 (and he flubbed that one last week).
He doesn't seem serious about this, and that just doesn't work.


Yep.

He starts off with a hesitant: "President Obama supported the uprising..." And then he has to actually pause to ask "Correct?". He then says I need to clarify to make sure we are talking about the same thing.

What????

How can anyone know so little about a major and current military campaign expect to be taken seriously as a Presidential candidate? A team of well trained experts around you can not overcome that level of ignorance and apathy. If you know that little, how can you tell an actual expert from some backwater nutter in a suit who's urging you to bomb Brazil before it invades it's Liberian neighbors.

More importantly, how does he manage to survive drinking while thinking at the same time, it would seem a significant challenge.

Perfect synthesis of five minutes of rambling. If only he could have said just this! Would have been more honest.

Loved this comment.

In reply to this comment by HenningKO:
"Even tho I know nothing of the situation now or how it was assessed by Obama at the time and I approve of the results, I would have done a better job."
Pure obstructionist stream of consciousness.

They way the sifters carry on, would it make a difference? THEY'RE ALL THE SAME PARTY, MAN!

I don't like Obama policies. My personal contempt for him is aimed at his bizarre personal contempt for the USA.


>> ^GenjiKilpatrick:

@quantumushroom
Would you like Obama if he changed parties?

If it was Obama stumped on a question, you would have a long list of excuses why he flubbed: heat exhaustion, campaign exhaustion, global warming, tired from playing golf, Republicans drugged his arugula, racism, racism, hidden racism, the illuminati...

Also, as someone who does not get his "news" from biased a-holes in the libmedia, I'm willing to give the man the benefit of the doubt. Cain is still a success.

The only flaw in Cain is he doesn't seem to know the reach of this corrupt regime's media shills.





>> ^BicycleRepairMan:

What the fuck are you on about? Theres a huge difference in what Obama does in that video, He's struggling to make a point, sure, and he forgets a few words, which is actually pretty rare coming from him, his speeches are pretty flawless, even the ones without teleprompters (BTW, do you even remember that last president?) But basically, he fails to make the point clearly, and he ends up mangling the sentence and loose the point, fair enough
But Cain doesnt trip up words or forget a phrase: He has no clue what to say, or even what his opinion is supposed to be on this topic, this extremely relevant, important topic, and he doesnt know what he himself thinks about it. And apparantly, he cant make up his mind until he knows what Obama thinks, so that he could "think" the opposite, but then he doesnt know what Obama thinks either, so he's fucked.
>> ^quantumushroom:
Don't the last 3.5 years speak for themselves?
If not, there's always this.

Obama without Teleprompter
You were warned, America. Not by the libmedia, of course.
Bonus! Algore at Monticello
CAIN/HYDRANT '12

>> ^Kofi:
Brain process:
Do I agree with Obama about Libya? Does not compute. Return up one level.
What did he do in Libya? Does not compute. Return up one level.
What is Libya? Does not compute. Return up one level.
Who is Obama? Does not compute. Return up one level.
How can I disagree with him without knowing the above? Does not compute. Return up one level.
Adjust jacket. Does not compute. Return up one level.
Say "Niggerhead"

And que QM's response to this video:
"I'd still rather than this guy than Nobama HUSSEIN BinBama. A fire hydrant could do a better job ................ ......... blah blah blah"

Yeah... the problem here isn't that he "has to think about it" or something. Thinking is fine. Not being able to call every detail to mind is fine. It's probably a good thing if someone actually tries to respond to a specific question rather than just brain-dumping talking points generally associated with an issue.

But his visible train of thought here calls to question his ability to do the job (which will require the ability to state himself clearly in high pressure situations), his knowledge, his preparation, and - generally - his commitment.

Surely he knows this specific question is coming; how, at this point, can he not be ready? If you had a list of likely questions, I'd say a question on Libya would be at least in the top 20. Questions on your specific health care plan would be top 5 (and he flubbed that one last week).

He doesn't seem serious about this, and that just doesn't work.

>> ^BicycleRepairMan:

What the fuck are you on about? Theres a huge difference in what Obama does in that video, He's struggling to make a point, sure, and he forgets a few words, which is actually pretty rare coming from him, his speeches are pretty flawless, even the ones without teleprompters (BTW, do you even remember that last president?) But basically, he fails to make the point clearly, and he ends up mangling the sentence and loose the point, fair enough
But Cain doesnt trip up words or forget a phrase: He has no clue what to say, or even what his opinion is supposed to be on this topic, this extremely relevant, important topic, and he doesnt know what he himself thinks about it. And apparantly, he cant make up his mind until he knows what Obama thinks, so that he could "think" the opposite, but then he doesnt know what Obama thinks either, so he's fucked.
>> ^quantumushroom:
Don't the last 3.5 years speak for themselves?
If not, there's always this.

Obama without Teleprompter
You were warned, America. Not by the libmedia, of course.
Bonus! Algore at Monticello
CAIN/HYDRANT '12

>> ^Kofi:
Brain process:
Do I agree with Obama about Libya? Does not compute. Return up one level.
What did he do in Libya? Does not compute. Return up one level.
What is Libya? Does not compute. Return up one level.
Who is Obama? Does not compute. Return up one level.
How can I disagree with him without knowing the above? Does not compute. Return up one level.
Adjust jacket. Does not compute. Return up one level.
Say "Niggerhead"

And que QM's response to this video:
"I'd still rather than this guy than Nobama HUSSEIN BinBama. A fire hydrant could do a better job ................ ......... blah blah blah"




Amen.

Don't bother with mushroom though, it's 99% confirmed that he's just trolling for the lolz.

The most painful part of the video is watching him try to buy time as he tries to remember the talking points his minders made him memorize. He knows the key words are Libya and Obama, which slowly leads him to remembering something about an uprising, which leads him to remembering that questioning the opposition was the important talking point. Unfortunately he takes so long trying to remember these little keywords, while mumbling about them, that it becomes apparent for all that is the extent of his knowledge of the subject. That his planned attack on Obama then becomes his failure to get all the facts first is just a whole separate level of insanity.