WEEKEND EDITION – November 18, 2011
It appears that Rodeo Rick Perry’s brain freeze is contagious as the pizza baron, Herman Cain displayed symptoms while trying to remember what he knew or didn’t know about Libya. But after the laughter is anyone paying attention to what they are trying to say? Mitt Romney continues to preach the gospel of “job creation”, citing his own record as a job “creator”. However, his record as a “creator” of jobs is sketchy at best. Meanwhile Newt Gingrich is continues to tell us not to believe our lying eyes. He claims to be an anti-establishment candidate even though he had a disastrous tenure as Speaker of the House and has hauled down millions of dollars as a D.C. lobbyist/consultant. What a guy!

Brain Freeze as Head Fake

During a recent interview Herman Cain went through an incredible brain freeze that made Rodeo Rick Perry seem statesmanlike in comparison. As he tried to come to grips with a softball question about Libya he commented that a lot of things were “swirling around” in his head. Late night comics and political commentators had a field day. After all, Herman Cain is the gift that keeps on giving right along with the rest of the G.O.Tea Party presidential clown cavalcade.

But there is a real danger of dismissing the message that is being conveyed, no matter its mangled condition. On the matter of foreign policy, the pizza baron was looking to mention that he had invited the 88-year old Henry Kissinger to be his Secretary of State. He is obviously willing to dismiss the sketchier aspects of Dr. Kissinger’s past as they relate to Vietnam and Cambodia.

Mr. Cain’s brain freeze also precluded him from elaborating on his comment regarding the possibility of China becoming a nuclear power. A “possibility” that has been a fact for over forty years.

Meanwhile, Rodeo Rick Perry’s brain attack distracted everyone from his passionate call to dismantle the Departments of Education, Energy and Commerce. This neo-anarchist approach to governance got only passing notice amidst the guffaws, hoots and catcalls. But not one of the other Republican candidates disavowed the idea that tearing down the federal government would do very little to help the people of the United States.

Perhaps the G.O.Tea Party strategy is to distract us with their big noses and floppy pants while they follow a strategy that will spell gloom and doom for most of us when the laughter stops.

Present at the Creation?

Mitt Romney is passionate in presenting his record as a job creator during his time as the head of Bain Capital, a private equity firm. What Mr. Romney neglects to mention is that the business model that he pursued at Bain had a lot more to do with wealth creation, as in wealth for his partners and himself.

Bain Capital engaged in acquiring companies, mostly with borrowed money, selling off assets of these companies and collecting huge fees that the acquired companies would pay by borrowing to the extent of their credit limits. When these companies were depleted of every available dime they would then be sold to another firm.

Ask the employees of some of the Bain companies how many jobs Mitt Romney created while they were laid off. Ask the employees of Bain companies how they liked their pensions being transformed into thinly capitalized retirement funds all to the benefit of the greater glory (and profit) of Bain. And ask the residents of towns that saw key businesses evaporate once the tentacles of Bain (and Romney) were affixed.

Certainly some companies acquired by Bain did grow and prosper. Certainly Bain grew and Romney prospered. But the Good Ship Romney left a lot of shattered lives and broken dreams in its wake.

The New Newt

Newt Gingrich has been suffering from a full-blown identity crisis. He has claimed to be a champion of family values. The fact that he divorced his first wife as she was recovering from cancer surgery is conveniently overlooked by Newt. The fact that he castigated President Clinton during the Monica Lewinsky spectacle while participating in an extramarital affair is seemingly of no account to Newt Gingrich.

Now Mr. Gingrich is presenting himself as a Washington outsider. A neat Newt trick since his resume includes a disastrous stint as Speaker of the House of Representatives in……Washington. And now it turns out that Newt Gingrich has been paid millions of dollars as a lobbyist and consultant for FNMA, Freddie Mac and the United States Chamber of Commerce in…………..Washington.

Presumably, Mr. Gingrich can claim to have reinvented himself because he says so. In Newt World, the facts clearly don’t matter.

Have a great weekend!