Freedom Line Blog

This is, I guess, my week to focus on Herman Cain. Jennifer Rubin does a good job providing the right focuses (foci?) this morning. As I wrote last week, Cain merits some serious vetting. I really really like the guy; I’ve liked most of what I’ve seen from him for 17 years now. I think his basic economic proclivities and understandings are right on target (even if I have doubts about the long-term impact of 9-9-9). But he’s running for president. It’s a huge job. Is he ready for it? I certainly think he has some of the experience needed, and all the intelligence needed, and the character needed, and most of the right principles needed. But is “some” of the experience enough? And is he temperamentally suited to political give and take while still maintaining his principles? Some people do the principles without the politics; some do the politics without the principles; but a great president must be able to do both.

I don’t know the answers to these questions. I think he may have the stuff of greatness in him. But the vetting must be thorough.