Smiling faces, sometimes . . .

Saturday. Sofa. Coffee.

I enjoyed the World Series. My criteria for support in each game was which team had to win to make the series continue through the maximum seven games, because I had no dog in the hunt (a colloquialism that means I have no investment in the outcome of a contest, or in this case, I was not a supporter, or detractor, of the Cardinals or the Rangers). I just enjoyed watching the games, so my main concern was that the series continue for my entertainment.

Which brings me to the horse race for the Republican Presidential nomination. I love this stuff. I hope it continues for awhile. Looks like it will. Santorum is moving up on the outside on the far right even as we speak. Gingrich is bullying his way into position. Perry is tentatively holding his own. Bachman trails the pack but still denies it and will never be out of shouting distance. Not because she is close to the pack. She is just loud. Ron Paul is running his own race, refusing to be told what course to run. And Mitt Romney is boxed in against the rail to his left by every other rider to his right.

But for today Herman Cain is in the lead. And he is in Alabama. So let's talk about him. Seems like a really nice guy. His educational achievements are impressive. His life, family and religious experience resonate well with America.

He has a world class smile.

I don't know how these things happen, but when being referenced in articles, blogs and broadcast news, his name is generally followed by the appellation "former CEO of Godfather's Pizza." Until I looked it up I thought Cain probably still had flour dust on his apron from walking straight out of the pizza kitchen to run for president. Actually he resigned from the position in 1996, some fifteen years ago, after overseeing the fall of Godfather's from a #3 position nationally to #5, and a fall in annual sales of $10 million dollars over the ten years he ran the joint, first as an employee of Pillsbury, then as a part owner. It seems that the modifier after his name would be something more recent and perhaps represent a more successful experience, but for some reason that hasn't happened.

On the other hand, Herman Cain, the Washington lobbyist who attempted to prevent smoking bans for restaurants just doesn't seem so folksy.

And Herman Cain, the Washington lobbyist who attempted to prevent strengthening DUI laws by the lowering of blood alcohol content standards, just doesn't seem so "Washington outsider."

That's what Herman Cain did, and did right well, after he resigned from Godfather's Pizza. He was a Washington lobbyist. He made a lot of good and rich friends. He is gifted at making rich friends, like the Koch brothers, of Americans for Prosperity (AFP) fame.

Perhaps a more appropriate appositive following his name would read, especially after the now famous defiant smoking ad of last week,

"Herman Cain, lobbyist for tobacco and alcohol interests and friend of the uber rich . . ."

I suppose that didn't play as well in focus groups.

Another interesting, and now revealing, part of Cain's resume', is his work with Burger King in the '80's. He was a successful manager. He really was. Frustrated with a lack of authority to make any real changes in his 400 restaurants, like pricing and menu, he looked for something, an innovation, to increase sales.

He basically taught his employees to smile. And sales went up. The prices were exactly the same. The same artery clogging, empty calorie filled, nutrition deficient but addictably tasty menu was being offered.

But it was offered with a smile.

And the people bought it.

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