The Other McCain

"One should either write ruthlessly what one believes to be the truth, or else shut up." — Arthur Koestler

HERMAN CAIN ANNOUNCEMENT
UPDATE: SUSPENDING CAMPAIGN
UPDATE: Therapeutic Vengeance

Posted on | December 3, 2011 | 75 Comments

2:10 p.m. ET: My 12-year-old son Jefferson asked, ‘What does ‘suspending’ mean?” It means “quit.” Cain will still be on the ballot in several states. He could, if he chose, resume the campaign at some future point, but in general, “suspend = quit.”

The good news? J.D. Gordon is now unemployed.

More good news? My “sources close to the campaign” can now speak on the record about who was responsible for screwing up.

And finally, for those of my friends worried about my future diplomatic career, it’s still morning in Vanuatu. IYKWIMAITYD.

UPDATE 3 p.m. ET: Major media headlines via Memeorandum:

Herman Cain suspends his campaign
for 2012 GOP presidential nomination

Washington Post

‘Plan B’: Herman Cain Says He’s
Suspending Campaign

ABC News

Herman Cain Suspends His Presidential Campaign
NY Times

Cain suspends campaign, vows
to work from outside the race

The Hill

Churches seek wider consultation
as Vanuatu ratifies WTO

Radio New Zealand International

Iowa law enforcement officials could not immediately confirm rumors that several of the remaining 2012 GOP presidential candidates have sought restraining order to prevent J.D. Gordon from coming anywhere near their campaigns.

UPDATE 3:30 p.m. ET: Linked by Bob Belvedere, Fausta Wertz and Nice Deb — thanks! And to all my friends wishing to console me in this moment of profound sorrow: Hit the freaking tip jar!

UPDATE 3:45 p.m. ET: Linked by Donald Douglas at American Power and by Conservative Hideout 2.0.

NOTE ON THERAPEUTIC VENGEANCE

UPDATE 6:30 p.m. ET: The disappointment of our hopes requires psychological healing, and my healing process has involved focusing my rage on J.D. Gordon. This is my fault and not J.D.’s. He showed himself a Christian gentleman by calling me on the phone just now to address my anger head-on.

More will need to be said, to explain all the misunderstandings, but it seems that I have unfairly blamed J.D. for things that were not his fault. Putting Robert Costa on Tuesday’s conference call and leaving me out? That was somebody else, and J.D. didn’t even know that media (including a Fox News reporter) were on the call until it was over.

As to the general errors of the messaging/P.R./communications operation under Gordon’s tenure . . .

Well, “extenuating circumstances” would be one way to say it, although those less charitably disposed toward Gordon might say “excuses.” Gordon spent 93 days in a crucible of nonstop crisis and, in retrospect, he never had time to fix everything that needed to be fixed, including many things that were not his fault — and being hated by some people merely because he wasn’t Ellen Carmichael.

Those of us in the press corps who admired Ellen Carmichael’s work — when she worked for a candidate best known as “Herman Who?” — are necessarily prejudiced in her favor. As my disappointment turned to rage this week, and I sought a scapegoat on whom to focus all my pent-up frustration with the failures of the Cain campaign . . .

Well, J.D. drew the short straw. And it was unfair to blame him, uniquely and personally, for destroying the Cain campaign.

But if life was fair, Obama wouldn’t be president and I would have been invited to speak on a panel at BlogCon.

I’ll try to explain more about my feelings, and what happened to the Cain campaign, when I’ve gotten some sleep. And switched to decaf.

So I’m sorry to disappoint those who were looking forward to a bloody death-match beween J.D. and me. But I hope you enjoyed a laugh at my ballistic fury.




** PREVIOUSLY **

1:45 p.m. ET: “I am not going to be silenced and I am not going away! . . . Plan B: I call it ‘TheCainSolutions.com.'”

1:42 p.m. ET: Cain says he is suspending his campaign.

1:41 p.m. ET: “I am at peace with my God. I am at peace with my wife. And she is at peace with me.” Chants of “Gloria! Gloria! Gloria!”

1:40 p.m. ET: “False and unproven accusations . . . It hurts the American people.” Chants of “Herman! Herman! Herman!”

1:39 p.m. ET: “I am the very first to own up to my mistakes . . . I handle it my way.”

1:38 p.m. ET: “I am proof that a common man can lead this country.”

1:36 p.m. ET: “We can say, I’m in the Final Four.”

1:34 p.m. ET: Cain jokes that his name recognition is now “probably 99.9 percent.”

1:32 p.m. ET: Cain’s verb tenses indicate he will quit?

Jazz Shaw at Hot Air doesn’t link me.

1:30 p.m. ET: Cain says his supporters are not “warm weather supporters.”

1:29 p.m. ET: Herman Cain takes the stage. “Well, you all are great. . . . I love y’all, too.”

** PREVIOUSLY **

We are awaiting Herman Cain’s appearance at an event where he is expected to announce whether or not he will continue his campaign for the 2012 Republican presidential nomination.

UPDATE: I’ve been told that Cain’s speech is actually likely to begin at 1:30 p.m., instead of the announced 1 p.m. time. The cable TV networks are full of speculation of what Cain will do if he quits. My sources say: “Full speed ahead.”

UPDATE II: Invocation prayer by Alveda King. The pledge of allegiance by Col. Michael Steele.


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Comments

75 Responses to “HERMAN CAIN ANNOUNCEMENT
UPDATE: SUSPENDING CAMPAIGN
UPDATE: Therapeutic Vengeance”

  1. Joe
    December 3rd, 2011 @ 1:04 pm

    HA has the live embed.  You should have that too.  Is J.D. screwing things up again? 

  2. Stacy McCain Live-Blogs Herman Cain’s Annoucement « The Camp Of The Saints
    December 3rd, 2011 @ 1:06 pm

    […] can following it by clicking here. Share this:TwitterEmailFacebookMoreStumbleUponRedditDiggLike this:LikeBe the first to like this […]

  3. Mike Rogers
    December 3rd, 2011 @ 1:08 pm

    And check out the free breathless coverage nonstop on NBC and CNN!
    Is this “Block being Block” as the master strategist at work?
    You cannot buy his kind of coverage

  4. Zilla of the Resistance
    December 3rd, 2011 @ 1:19 pm
  5. Zilla of the Resistance
    December 3rd, 2011 @ 1:23 pm

    Now the “smart people” on Fox say Cain is dropping off the ballot but will tour the country to promote 9-9-9, the “smart people” say he will do this as a compromise with his wife. I would be OK seeing Cain continue to run if only to make the self proclaimed media “smart people” eat it. they are now speculating that Herman is arguing with Gloria behind the curtain. Those “smart people” on Fox are a bunch of dumbasses.

  6. Anonymous
    December 3rd, 2011 @ 1:28 pm

    Nobody knows nothing…but we will now…

  7. Zilla of the Resistance
    December 3rd, 2011 @ 1:29 pm

    yep, here come Herman and Gloria now…

  8. Joe
    December 3rd, 2011 @ 1:35 pm

    So far so good.  Message is more powerful than money…

  9. Joe
    December 3rd, 2011 @ 1:36 pm

    Of course it is only as good if Herman spins this on the offensive and starts proving these allegations to be false. 

  10. Joe
    December 3rd, 2011 @ 1:44 pm

    He is suspednding his campaign at about 1:42.  Well that is it. 

  11. Joe
    December 3rd, 2011 @ 1:45 pm

    Okay here is the good news (for what that is worth)–Herman Cain says he is not going to shut up and go away.  Okay.   I guess I wait to see Plan B. 

    The only good thing is J.D. Gordon should be out of a job. 

  12. Anonymous
    December 3rd, 2011 @ 1:49 pm

    Too bad Cain is quitting.  But I like that he’s going to stick around and fight. 

    OK, MSM, you’ve achieved your goal.  But he’s not going back to the plantation.  HAHAH!

  13. Joe
    December 3rd, 2011 @ 1:49 pm

    So who is Herman going to endorse?  Mitt?  Newt?  Michelle?  (fair to say probably not Perry). 

  14. Ford Prefect
    December 3rd, 2011 @ 1:49 pm

    The campaign leadership ran this run for the presidency into the ground. It’s unfortunate that this is the way they had to be fired.

  15. Zilla of the Resistance
    December 3rd, 2011 @ 1:51 pm
  16. omega_six
    December 3rd, 2011 @ 1:54 pm

    🙁

  17. Anonymous
    December 3rd, 2011 @ 1:54 pm

    Well, he has money in the bank, and probably a reasonably bully pulpit for the near term.

  18. Ford Prefect
    December 3rd, 2011 @ 1:56 pm

    Not a lot of good top tier candidates left to choose from.  Does anyone think that Perry will now rise again?  I can’t see Cain fans moving to either Newt or Romney.

  19. ThePaganTemple
    December 3rd, 2011 @ 1:56 pm

    So I guess its “full speed ahead”-off the campaign trail, that is. If I was Herman I’d be eating out a few days until Gloria has time to cool off. Otherwise he might be just a few short tuna sandwiches away from a major gastroenteritis attack.

  20. Mike Rogers
    December 3rd, 2011 @ 1:56 pm

    He needs to take these people down regardless.

  21. Anonymous
    December 3rd, 2011 @ 1:57 pm

    If I had to put a bet on it, my bet would be on Newt. Fellow Georgian, did the “Lincoln-Douglas debate” thing together, and Newt would have no problem integrating just enough of “9-9-9” into his schtick to make for a deal.

  22. Joe
    December 3rd, 2011 @ 2:02 pm

    I suspect the same thing knappster, but he endorsed Romney in 2008 and there does appear to be some sympatico going with Bachmann.  Still, Herman wants to be relevant and wants to pick who he thinks will be the winner.  And Newt will not be as swarmy judgmental at the Romeny folks (how can he?). 

  23. Anonymous
    December 3rd, 2011 @ 2:08 pm

    Thank God the NBA is starting up again.  That will hopefully distract me from the collapse of this nation.

    I assume RSM will now try to figure out a way to make everybody feel good about Santorum’s desire to force morality upon us.

  24. Hugh Vaughan-Williams
    December 3rd, 2011 @ 2:15 pm

     I hear there’s rioting in the Streets of Vanuatu that  makes  Tahir Square look like a food fight.

  25. richard mcenroe
    December 3rd, 2011 @ 2:16 pm

    GOP job you don’t want now: “Hi, I’m from the Republican African-American Outreach Committee and I’m here to OW!”

  26. Anonymous
    December 3rd, 2011 @ 2:21 pm

    I was giving HC the benefit of the doubt up until the last one… his story is fishy, Stacy- paying her bills and 4am texting, I dunno.
    And while he’s not the only candidate with fidelity skeletons, recent cover stories sound weak, making him at least appear dishonest… as he lost momentum at the worst possible time

    As noted here previously, his campaign was also poorly ran and dealt with the bimbo challenges in a most amateurish fashion

    As Browns fans like me and Condi say (every year)… ‘Oh well’

  27. ThomasD
    December 3rd, 2011 @ 2:21 pm

    I suspect most Cain supporters will prove to be of the ‘not Mitt’ variety.

  28. Susan
    December 3rd, 2011 @ 2:22 pm

    Darling, since your blubbered ass is permanently glued to your barcalounger and your are incapable of unsucking  your sorry-assed eyeballs from your TV Entertainment Addiction then you have no right to complain about the collaspe of this nation.

  29. Zilla of the Resistance
    December 3rd, 2011 @ 2:24 pm

    The Rick Santorum Express to the White House and Vanuatu awaits.

  30. Herman Cain Suspends Campaign (Video) « Nice Deb
    December 3rd, 2011 @ 2:26 pm

    […] RS McCain provides further analysis: Cain will still be on the ballot in several states. He could, if he chose, resumethe campaign at some future point, but in general, “suspend = quit.” […]

  31. ThePaganTemple
    December 3rd, 2011 @ 2:28 pm

    Yep, right. People should stop patronizing sports so we can contribute to the collapse of yet another segment of the economy. How brilliant!

  32. ThePaganTemple
    December 3rd, 2011 @ 2:30 pm

    Kentucky is going to whip your guys asses. Whoever they are RAWRRRRRR Go Big Blue!

    Oh you said NBA, never mind.

  33. Zilla of the Resistance
    December 3rd, 2011 @ 2:32 pm

    Stacy, every place in the world is at risk from islamic supremacist conquest, including Vanuatu. With that in mind, this post from May might be useful to you regarding the candidate who is strongest against the jihad menace:
    http://zillablog.marezilla.com/2011/05/how-about-rick-santorum-for-president.html

  34. Fausta's Blog » Blog Archive » Cain suspends campaign
    December 3rd, 2011 @ 2:44 pm

    […] The good news? J.D. Gordon is now unemployed. […]

  35. Bob Belvedere
    December 3rd, 2011 @ 2:50 pm

    Have you watched the show Snapped?

  36. Doug Hagin
    December 3rd, 2011 @ 2:51 pm

    Perry is the best guy running if folks will just take the time to notice.

  37. Doug Hagin
    December 3rd, 2011 @ 2:51 pm

    If Cain endorses Romney, or Newt…. My head will go BOOM!

  38. Bob Belvedere
    December 3rd, 2011 @ 2:52 pm

    Don’t worry, Hugh, I know for a speculative fact that Stacy has a Plan B!

  39. Herman Cain “Suspends” Campaign: It Looks Like the End for the Hermanator » Conservative Hideout 2.0
    December 3rd, 2011 @ 3:19 pm

    […] that he was “suspending” his campaign for the Republican Presidential nomination.  R.S. McCain has a correct interpretation… 2:10 p.m. ET: My 12-year-old son Jefferson asked, ‘What does ‘suspending’ mean?” It means […]

  40. Donald Douglas
    December 3rd, 2011 @ 3:21 pm
  41. Anonymous
    December 3rd, 2011 @ 3:26 pm

    He might….

    He can’t endorse himself…so…

  42. Mike Rogers
    December 3rd, 2011 @ 3:28 pm

    Some Cain fans will move to Newt.
    I have two reasons:
    He’ll take the fight to the enemy.
    He and Cain are good friends – might make a joint ticket, especially if Cain clears his name.

  43. Joe
    December 3rd, 2011 @ 3:34 pm

    Who is the top leader of the campaign? 

    The buck stops with Herman Cain. 

  44. ThePaganTemple
    December 3rd, 2011 @ 3:45 pm

    No, I’ve never even heard of it.

  45. Adjoran
    December 3rd, 2011 @ 3:52 pm

    There was a rumor about a shortage of the little paper umbrellas for tropical drinks, but it turns out the shipment was just mislabeled.

  46. Opinador Compulsivo
    December 3rd, 2011 @ 3:57 pm

    Linked  (trackbacks and blogspot doesn’t mix…)

  47. Joe
    December 3rd, 2011 @ 3:58 pm

    I hope that eventually Stacy you get the inside dope of what happened.  Because obviously some things were really well done and some things were insanely badly done.  Credit should go where it is due and blame and warning should go where it is due. 

  48. ThomasD
    December 3rd, 2011 @ 4:01 pm

    Maybe not.

    I suspect that his main reason for suspending the campaign was a lack of funds – they key effect of the ‘scandals’ being the drying up of campaign contributions.

  49. ThomasD
    December 3rd, 2011 @ 4:03 pm

    Newt is a very real possibility.  Romney I strongly doubt.

  50. ThePaganTemple
    December 3rd, 2011 @ 4:07 pm

    Not a good idea. If the RNCC ever hired for a position like that they’d probably send out white guys in blackface and baggy pants armed with banjos and stage names like Razmus.