The Hermann Cain Problem
If you're a regular on this blog you know that I'm far more likely and willing to comment on European - especially German - politics than on the American side of things, but the latest remarks by Republican contender Hermann Cain have forced me to back out of that corner. I'll preface the coming rant with the statement that I couldn't care less about Cain's party affiliation: Republican, Democrat, Disney. For all I care he could run for the American Association of Reverse Albinos. It's less about the man and more about the content of his words. I also don't care about the allegations of sexual harassment brought forward against him. The way I see it, sexual harassment is such a broad and wobbly term that it's a small wonder that we don't hear this type of accusations laid at the feet of all contender, given how sexual harassment for the media (not for law enforcement, just that we're clear on that point) means whatever the hell they want to mean it.
I won't pretend to know or understand the U.S. political process and political parties as well as an American citizen. I consider myself reasonably well informed, but for all intents and purposes, this is an outsider's comment. And this outsider is scared shitless.
Scared shitless because leadership for the nation which had leaders not so long ago who had a classical education and could read the great Greek tales in their tongue is now being contended by people like Hermann Cain or led by empty frauds like Obama. I'm scared shitless that a man running for the office of the most powerful democratically elected person on the planet could have zero knowledge of the fact that America's largest global competitor is a nuclear power - and has been so for over 45 years. I'm scared shitless that a man like this could find himself forced to deal with volatile regions of the world like the Persian Gulf or Central Asia, because even with the best corps of advisors this will be a nightmare, for the world and for the USA.
Nothing indicates to me that this man has the knowledge and the wisdom to be able to deal with Ahmadinejad or utilitarian technocrats like Hu Jintao or macchiavellan politicians like Vladimir Putin. Giving such a dolt access to the presidency, that's a nightmare for all of America's allies. Reagan was no great intellectual, but at least he read everything he could get his hands on about the USSR and communism to be able to form a position. What little Cain has spouted on China and the world at large makes me worry that the man was unaware until a few months ago that there was a world outside the United States!
The part of the world that is paying attention to all this is sitting there like the proverbial mouse confronted by the snake. Only, you're not a snake. Looking at the "quality" of leadership personnel you're putting on stage (except Gingrich, who at least 9 out of 10 times seems to know what he's talking about) - not claiming our's is better -, you look more like an 800 pound drunk super gorilla playing baseball in a China shop. Given the increasing tensions around the world, I hope you appreciate the rest of the globe's concern about you possibly electing a complete idiot into the White House. Because, we could do with a little stability and coherent global leadership once in a while, you know?
And secondly, we already have superiority in terms of our military capability, and I plan to get away from making cutting our defense a priority and make investing in our military capability a priority, going back to my statement: peace through strength and clarity. So yes they're a military threat. They've indicated that they're trying to develop nuclear capability and they want to develop more aircraft carriers like we have. So yes, we have to consider them a military threat.He has since then gone on record that he meant something different, which isn't a big surprise. If I had put my foot into my mouth like that I also would rush to claim that I did mean something else after someone with the knowledge of a High School kid explained matters to me.
I won't pretend to know or understand the U.S. political process and political parties as well as an American citizen. I consider myself reasonably well informed, but for all intents and purposes, this is an outsider's comment. And this outsider is scared shitless.
Scared shitless because leadership for the nation which had leaders not so long ago who had a classical education and could read the great Greek tales in their tongue is now being contended by people like Hermann Cain or led by empty frauds like Obama. I'm scared shitless that a man running for the office of the most powerful democratically elected person on the planet could have zero knowledge of the fact that America's largest global competitor is a nuclear power - and has been so for over 45 years. I'm scared shitless that a man like this could find himself forced to deal with volatile regions of the world like the Persian Gulf or Central Asia, because even with the best corps of advisors this will be a nightmare, for the world and for the USA.
Nothing indicates to me that this man has the knowledge and the wisdom to be able to deal with Ahmadinejad or utilitarian technocrats like Hu Jintao or macchiavellan politicians like Vladimir Putin. Giving such a dolt access to the presidency, that's a nightmare for all of America's allies. Reagan was no great intellectual, but at least he read everything he could get his hands on about the USSR and communism to be able to form a position. What little Cain has spouted on China and the world at large makes me worry that the man was unaware until a few months ago that there was a world outside the United States!
The part of the world that is paying attention to all this is sitting there like the proverbial mouse confronted by the snake. Only, you're not a snake. Looking at the "quality" of leadership personnel you're putting on stage (except Gingrich, who at least 9 out of 10 times seems to know what he's talking about) - not claiming our's is better -, you look more like an 800 pound drunk super gorilla playing baseball in a China shop. Given the increasing tensions around the world, I hope you appreciate the rest of the globe's concern about you possibly electing a complete idiot into the White House. Because, we could do with a little stability and coherent global leadership once in a while, you know?
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