Scott Walker to drop out?
The report is that he’ll be announcing his departure from the race at a news conference starting at 6 PM.
This makes me sad, because I actually think Walker would have made a good president. It also would have surprised me very much to have been told six months ago that he’d be dropping out so early in the game.
But I probably won’t mourn too much, because he failed to “bring it” to the campaign. I don’t know why that was so; I think it’s more a temperament thing, where his fighting spirit just didn’t come across on a national level. In a different year, with just a few candidates, he might have shone. But he might not have shone even then; his positive attributes just didn’t translate to a broad national appeal, and that would probably have hurt him in the general, too.
His departure will free up his supporters to get behind other candidates. His leavetaking also points out that raising money is a huge, huge factor in today’s presidential races. I don’t see that as a good thing. However, Walker would have amassed more money by this time had he been attracting more voters. People like to latch onto a winner.
I believe that Walker is a very good man. His rise was meteoric, and so was his fall. But it was only a fall from the 2016 campaign; it need not be a fall in any other sense.
UPDATE: This is interesting..
I didn’t watch Walker’s speech live, but Ace reports:
He said that “it was his calling” to “clear the field” in the race. I imagine he probably meant “so that people can gather behind a non-Trump candidate,” but he didn’t say that. Actually, he does say that. Now that I see the video, he specifically calls upon other candidates to drop out so that voters can focus on a “limited number of candidates” who can offer a “positive message” in opposition to the “current front runner.”…
AllahPundit noted that Scott Walker did something very unusual — he called on other (unspecified) candidates to drop out, too.
Here’s the video, which I just watched:
I absolutely agree with him about the importance of some candidates dropping out. I wish one of the earliest ones hadn’t been Walker, though.
I still think Walker would have made the kind of president we need, but he faltered early and never recovered. If he runs in 2018 and wins he may be better prepared in 2020 if another ‘progressive’ wins the 2016 general election. I’m down to 2, Cruz and Fiorina. I gave $100 to Fiorina last month and will continue to make small contributions if she continues to gain support.
A sign of good judgment.
Walker has taken note of how Perry damaged himself — forever.
Walker is saving himself for 2020 and beyond.
The odds of him getting past Jeb Bush were crushed by Wall Street.
Walker’s one of the very few generals taking on a relentless and malicious Left on matters of substance . . . and WINNING. His slow and steady effectiveness just doesn’t sufficiently appeal in a presidential primary season driven by polling and news distortions. Who has the impulse to study a man’s long record in sleepy Wisconsin, when the rich TV star candidate just called the female candidate ugly?
It would be nice to have him as Sec of Labor to deal with the unions. That is what he touted as his crowning achievement.
Now Scott can make even a better record in Wisconsin or as Secretary of Labor in a Carly administration.
I liked Walker. The wrong ones are dropping out!
He was #1 in Iowa in July and now he is out.
Sic transit gloria mundi.
Cornhead, Lizzy:
Crazy roller coaster ride.
I agree that some of the good ones are dropping out. But they failed to reach people. That means something. In politics, it’s the difference between winning and losing. Voters want the sizzle and pop, and candidates have to provide it.
I have many quarrels with the primary system, actually. It was meant to correct other problems and be more populist, but it creates still other problems.
I think Blert is correct. Saving himself for the next go-round. Was getting lost in Trumpmania.
The mods in the last debate pretty much ignored Walker. Too busy stirring up Trump. Walker had to butt in to be heard. Could not get a purchase.
I liked Walker’s speech. He was optimistic about conservatism and encouraged others to get out of the race so we can concentrate on those who have a chance of moving our ideas forward. If those who know they won’t win would be satisfied with being part of a bigger team, we might get some policies we could actually get implemented.
Someone at NRO wrote that we should remember that we also need people in the states to get things done. We can’t be like Trump and call everyone else a loser.
Scott Walker reminds me of Bruce Smith, All American tailback at the University of Minnesota.
Smith led U. of M. to the national championship and became their only Heisman Trophy winner in 1941. He was so quiet-spoken, humble, and unassuming that Hollywood made a movie about him to showcase how a real hero acts. In those days quiet-spoken, humble, and unassuming was greatly admired in this country. In those days actions mattered more than braggadocio. My how times have changed. You can read more about Bruce Smith here:
http://www.minnesotaalumni.org/s/1118/content.aspx?pgid=1307
I had great hopes for Walker because of my knowledge of the way he had quietly, but competently transformed Wisconsin for the better. He was willing to tout his record, but to many he seemed much like Bruce Smith – quiet-spoken, humble, and unassuming. That just doesn’t seem to matter in these days of admiration of smooth talkers and TV reality shows. It’s a shame.
Our loss, but Wisconsin’s gain. I hope he takes some lessons-learned for a future run.
I share your disappointment and agree he didn’t show up to win. He was my pick, but there is no ignoring the Trump momentum. Trump has made all the other GOP’ers look unprepared and unworthy.
My gut feeling about him is that he was better at taking punches than at dealing them out. Yes, he did accomplish A LOT in Wisconsin, but there was one thing I missed: like Bush, he wouldn’t (or I never heard him) Vocally defend American values while calling out the Left for their venomous ways.
Biggest example for me was his silence on the outrageous John Doe persecutions of the conservatives in Wisconsin — people who had supported him.
We desperately need spokesmen for the American Way.
The Washington Examiner jibes him as a player that had thrown his hat into the big ring — but had absolutely no knowledge about national political-economic issues.
Indeed, based on the quotes, it would appear that neo neocon would’ve run rings around him with her extensive knowledge.
Neo, get ready for 2020.
You already have a platform and a base of support.
I share similar sentiments to many of the posters.
I feel disappointed, but all is not lost – WI needs a hero and that’s Scott Walker. He should continue what he’s doing uninterrupted by the presidential race. If he ever decides to run four years from now, or even eight years from now, I think he’ll fair much better than his first time around. As NNC said, Walker didn’t match the more livelier candidates.
@ Beverly –
>>We desperately need spokesmen for the American Way.
The American Way is slowly changing due to indifference and the growing irritation of young leftists towards “The American Way.” They wan to change The Way into their own Way. They want to feel proud of America by turning it into the likeliness of Western Europe.
Remember what some of us said about him getting blackmailed over his family and friends, because he knew what they did to his supporters in Wisconsin.
He did nothing about Wisconsin, who got hammered hard for supporting him, so he may have felt guilt was well. Feeling guilt allows the Left a leverage in.
And of course, there’s no assurances that Walker, either ignorant or powerless to help his supporters in Wisconsin, would have been able to do much better with more power. He himself may have considered this angle, and in that fashion the Left would have broken him. By breaking his supporters, when he didn’t run the Left over to rescue those supporters, Walker may already have been broken.
That’s why he was managed so hard and so well by the GOP on the national scene as well. A person that has been dealt a mortal blow to their confidence by the Left, will be easily swayed by GOP lies and management.
Elections mean nothing because the Left has rigged the system. Almost all of it by now. And democracy is also a deception, it is not the rule of the majority but the rule of the oligarchy.
When the good ones drop out early and the worst ones take over at the last finish line… that’s a bit too convenient at times.
Interesting piece here by John Podhoretz on Walker’s and Rick Perry’s departure from the race, as well as the lackluster performance of others with gubernatorial experience. It ends with this:
The presidency is becoming an entry-level job. God help us.
Well mostly because the American people have become an employer who can’t handle anyone above entry level.
Glad I watched that clip. Class act.
I think the two ring circus of the so-called debates, in which the loudest, and sometimes most obnoxious voice, drowned out the others did him in. Carly Fiorina and Ben Carson were able to transcend that to an extent because they are different, and therefore attracted notice. Many others, Walker and Perry included, just could not break through.
He was my man. I am sad. As in 2012, I think the country loses.
There are still good men, and a good woman, to choose from. I hope a good choice is made.
I’m saving a bottle of champagne for the day when Jeb drops out.
Why did Walker hire these … nit … consultants to run his campaign?
Didn’t do him any good. He didn’t seem to sense it despite the uproar from the base.
G6loq,
I agree, Walker tried at the advice of highly paid ‘insiders’ to not be Walker. After his early rise he became bland and lost the fortitude that won 3 elections in 4 years against the national msm-union-dnc opposition. I’m glad he dropped out. If you can not remain steadfast to your convictions in the heat of the kitchen its time to go home.
Walker peter-principled out. As a candidate, he reached the level of his incompetence. He is a decent guy, but not an alley-cat fighter and, as best I can tell, lacking in an overall motivating vision. He is a tweaker. That showed. He belongs in WI.
I liked Walker and they way he won against intense opposition in Wisconsin. But he needed to get in bed with the GOP establishment in order to run. That was his undoing. His heart didn’t seem to be in it, probably because of the constraints placed on him by his “advisers”. He came across as wishy-washy on illegal immigration, which is now a hot button issue, thanks to Trump.
And now I’m going to make a prediction. Islam is going to become one of the next break-out issues, and the candidates who toe the PC line are going to lose to those who are outspoken against Islam; i.e. Trump and Carson.
Sgt. Mom. has a post at Chicago Boyz that talks about a coming storm of silent but vehement anger from middle America; people who believe their country is being stolen from them. They cite Neo-Neocon’s post This is why illegal immigration has become such a flash point… as one example, of this anger.
Trump, whether by design, or accident, has tapped into that under-current. I suspect design, since his position on the second amendment directly contradicts the MSM narrative on gun control.
Karl:
No–Trump has made Trump seem unprepared and unworthy. His supporters like him for his feisty, fighting, anti-establishment (in their eyes), non-PC attitude.
Trump made Walker seem pallid and bland.
It is a shame about Walker. He’s a very decent man with an inner strength and determination lacking in most politicians. He would have made an excellent President. Has anyone compared Christie with Walker? While almost opposites in personality they both took on government unions and won. Christie’s biggest flaw is the 2nd Amendment. If it wasn’t for that….and his embrace of Obama after Sandy, he might have a chance.
While I was sorry to see him leave because he did accomplish a lot in WI. It left a bit of a sour taste in my mouth when he said he was getting out so someone else can take down the “Front Runner” aka Trump. That made me pause and reconsider my support for him. Do I like Trump? Jury is out on that question. What I do know is that I dislike establishment types that mouth the words of support but have their own long knives.
I would much rather have seen Goober Graham, Krispy Creme, or Bushie, whats-his face OH moderate drop out but such was not the case.
And I would have had more respect for Walker as he bowed out had he either left quietly or focused his parting shots toward the areas that are destroying this country. In the end I have to question what Walker’s true views are. And I’m leaning towards one like all establishment GOPs- Just trust me and vote for me. Granted my opinion and $1 will get you a cup of cheap coffee but it is still my opinion 🙂
Trump is sucking the oxygen out of the campaigns of good candidates. In another time Walker could have been successful, but now is not the time. People want to be rabble roused, understandably if not admirably.
Maybe Wisconsin will bode significant enough where we will see Walker on the ticket (and maybe this was considered a more likely outcome to Walker in his timing).
Fiorina looks wonderful, and she paired with several of the other candidates (or with a young intellectual like Tom Cotton) looks like a block-buster. BUT, the HP thing is ready made for the usual leftist LIV necklacing. There may be no answer to that, but if there is an answer, it has to lie in aggressively attacking Hillary every minute of every day and not holding back. Or, maybe the answer is that Fiorina has to be the VP candidate.
Cruz is playing the waiting game, which may or may not be the right thing to do (more likely, the only game). Is he keeping his powder dry, or is what you see is what you get? It is impossible for me to understand why he does not get the support of every conservative, if only because he will appoint Scalia and not Kennedy, or several Scalias. Neo said many months ago Cruz lacked “it,” and I thought she was right, then changed my mind, and am changing my mind back again, thinking maybe the Cruz appeal is to a small segment of folks.
Jindal ought to drop out now strictly in hopes of the VP thing. I would be euphoric if he were to become president while I am still alive (alas, a long shot).
Rubio now looks like he is best positioned to steadily rise as the field dwindles. He is coherent in a charismatic way, in a way Cruz is not (alas). It keeps nagging at me, that he would appoint Kennedy, not Scalia, and that he has other betrayals up his sleeve. Do I really, once again, vote for someone who is not the other guy?
Jeb! will be there to the end, with behind the scenes dirty tricks at the ready. Whether that will be enough, only the good sense of the primary voters will show. God I hope not.
Rush is turning me off with his daily Trump touting and end zone dancing. Rush thinks there is no end to Trump, and he may be right, but equally possible (because it is Trump) would be the Hindenberg.
Then again, maybe Trump is the price which must be paid for no Jeb!
PatD Says:
September 22nd, 2015 at 12:16 am
Sgt. Mom. has a post at Chicago Boyz that talks about a coming storm of silent but vehement anger from middle America; people who believe their country is being stolen from them. They cite Neo-Neocon’s post This is why illegal immigration has become such a flash point… as one example, of this anger.
Make that seething anger … think of this huge protests in DC in 2009. Went nowhere but …. is still there.
There is something deeper at play:
We’re turning Japanese now
Islam is a religion of peace.
Gyloq links Daniel Greenfield’s We’re Turning Japanese Now. I don’t see the connection to Trump in this article, but do see Eric Fromm’s influence on Greenfield.
Here’s a quote from Escape From Freedom, Eric Fromm’s best work, that pretty well catches the essence of Donald Trump, and God help us:
“If the meaning of life has become doubtful, if one’s relations to others and to oneself do not offer security, then fame is one means to silence one’s doubts. It has a function to be compared with that of the Egyptian pyramids or the Christian faith in immortality: it elevates one’s individual life from its limitations and instability to the plane of indestructability; if one’s name is known to one’s contemporaries and if one can hope that it will last for centuries, then one’s life has meaning and significance by this very reflection of it in the judgments of others.”
“Trump made Walker seem pallid and bland.” [Neo]
“Trump is sucking the oxygen out of the campaigns of good candidates.” [Tonawanda]
IMO this is the (inadvertent) purpose of the Trump campaign. Perry and Walker are out (both of whom had enviable track records). The next will perhaps be Graham, Santorum, Pataki and Jindal.
Fiorina, Carson and Cruz continue to improve. This test of their mettle in the primary system will, I hope, temper them for the real campaign against Clinton or Biden. Trump is forcing the issue and causing opponents to make their mistakes now. What doesn’t “kill” them in the primary makes them stronger in the general election.
Now, the only question is: Can any one of them eventually turn the tables on Trump himself to jump from second, third or fourth place to first place in the polls?
The Other Chuck Says:
September 22nd, 2015 at 11:25 am
Very good quote!
I fear that this campaign will only add to the reluctance of successful and effective politicians who lack a blustering ego and style to enter the fray.
Clearly, character, competence and experience have not been valued by the American electorate since at least 2008. Novelty is in vogue.
Neither Calvin Coolidge nor Harry Truman would likely poll better than 1% today; and would not be invited to the big debate.
Then too, the media will attack anyone who is “bland”, but has the nerve to compete, with a thousand little cuts. After all such people do not generate stories that advance ratings per se; so their only media value is as “whipping boys”.
I am wondering if he isn’t thinking about the VP slot. He got out early enough to stay away from further failure. He’s young enough that 8 years as VP would make it easy to roll right into President in 2024.
I like him, but he really screwed up on the immigration topic. He changed his answers numerous times, which gave me the impression someone was pulling his strings. This doesn’t go over well with today’s voters.
Hoping his leaving encourages some others to do the same.
Besides Trump, Carson is the only one with a clue and the only one smart enough to follow said clue to the logical conclusion.
Florina just showed that she is stupid or craven.
Lurker:
I assume you’re referring to what Fiorina said on the Fallon show about Carson’s “Muslim” statement. Did you watch the segment? It’s here.
I saw it in real time, when it aired last night, and I have no problem with what she said. It was neither stupid nor craven, although you’re free to disagree with it.
She said Carson was wrong to dismiss someone simply on the basis of religion, because the Constitution explicitly forbids any religious tests for office. That’s my position as well.
Now, that doesn’t mean that many Muslims (and many other people) would not be suitable and that it would take a very very unusual Muslim candidate for me to support that person. A Muslim candidate would give me enormous pause, to say the least, but it is not in the realm of absolute impossibility that I could support such a person, although I can’t quite imagine the circumstances (the person would certainly have to be a very “moderate” Muslim, and that would have to have been powerfully demonstrated both in word and deed, with no exceptions. And that’s just for starters.). But the mere fact of being a Muslim could not and should not, as a matter of law, exclude a person from running, and Fiorina is correct to say so.
You’re free, of course, to strongly disagree with her. But understand the strong constitutional basis for her remarks. She is not saying she would support that person, by the way. She’s saying she would not reject him/her merely on the basis of religion.
Neo: “But the mere fact of being a Muslim could not and should not, as a matter of law, exclude a person from running, and Fiorina is correct to say so.”
Looking at the forest and not the trees and given Carson’s soft spoken nature, don’t you think he would follow the same track as you Neo?
That while a Muslim is free to run for office, he would have to have a proven track record before he would consider voting for him rather than he would prevent him from running. And although one of the talk shows mentioned the name of a Muslim that preaches a reformation is needed in his faith, I can’t locate it. For me it is a lot like the comparison between Thomas Sowell and the boy king. While both are African American, the one I would vote for in a NY minute, The other, even if Hell froze over, I would never cast my vote for.
Now perhaps he should go back and clarify what he meant since we all get tongue tied at times and mis-speak ” My Muslim Faith; I mean my Christian Faith”
And though everyone is praising Fiorina for her stand, I’m more curious about how HP sidestepped the Iran Sanctions for millions in HP sales to Iran.
“Carly Fiorina said Sunday that neither she nor Hewlett-Packard should be faulted for the sales of millions of HP printers in Iran when such business was prohibited by U.S. law.”
http://www.bloomberg.com/politics/articles/2015-09-20/carly-fiorina-responds-to-criticism-of-hewlett-packard-sales-in-iran
It is just another fact to consider in the decision making process. Can I trust what this person is telling me?
With Carson, the answer is Yes.
With Fiorina , I’m still evaluating what is being said and what the facts are.
After all, another high profile person told us it was only a few rogue IRS agents in the Cincinnati and we know how truthful he was 🙁
With Carson, the answer is Yes.
With Fiorina , I’m still evaluating what is being said and what the facts are.
After all, another high profile person told us it was only a few rogue IRS agents in the Cincinnati and we know how truthful he was
Being suspicious and paranoid is good, in this modern 21st century Western civilization.
Damn, I thought I’d get at least a disagreement or more likely a slap-down after quoting a prominent member of the Frankfurt School like Fromm. (It’s a good quote though.) What is interesting, however, is the influence his writings apparently have had on someone like Daniel Greenfield. The entire essay, We’re Turning Japanese Now has a theme right out of Fromm, especially his disparagement of capitalist society. From Greenfield’s piece:
To understand where Japan and Europe are, imagine an America decaying with no new ideas, losing its religion and values, losing its economy and finally its sanity, becoming coldly conformist and inhuman, while its families fall apart and its youth retreats into their own makeshift worlds. That reality is closer to home than we might like to think.
And from Fromm’s The Sane Society:
The danger of the future is that men may become robots. [inhuman} True enough, robots do not rebel. But given man’s nature, robots cannot live and remain sane, they become “Golems,” they will destroy their world and themselves because they cannot stand any longer the boredom of a meaningless life.
There’s a lot more in Greenfield’s piece derived from Fromm. When someone like Sultan Knish spouts this stuff it lets you know just how insidious critical theory is and how widespread.