Meanwhile…
…Scott Walker declares himself a candidate:
Now the criticism will resume at a new pace—including from the right.
I like Walker. He’s one of my favored candidates, and has been for a long time. He combines conservatism with the ability to win in a blue state. He’s a bit bland, but he’s got that midwestern affability that I think will come across quite well, especially when conbined with his record of accomplishment in an executive role.
What’s more, he’s very young-looking. Don’t knock it. Of course, he’s not the only young-looking candidate, Rubio being a prime example.
[NOTE: I’ve written about Walker’s change of stance on amnesty before, here.
I believe that the first time I wrote about Walker with approval as a possible national candidate might have been in this 2012 article, when I described him as one of several up-and-coming conservatives from blue states: “Reagan’s Children.”]
“I just don’t know” – A of S
And there’s the irritating rub. Has anyone any doubts as to where Democratic presidential candidates or Bernie Sanders stand. If there is a doubt it’s the presumption that, if anything, they will move further Left. All any on the Right can presume, based on prior performance, is that their candidates will tack liberal/Left as well. The doubts on the Right are not conferred willy-nilly, they are earned.
George Pal:
The doubts about Walker’s conservative bona fides have not been earned. His actions speak quite loudly, and those actions were taken at great risk to him, in a blue state.
I, too, like Scott Walker. The Left fears him; and that is a good thing.
I just hope the right doesn’t damage him too much. He will need everything he can get to take on the leftist establishment – both in and outside of government.
Neo-neocon,
Mine was a generalization made particular by you. Indeed his actions vs the Left in Wisconsin belie the generalization. And it’s no small thing with the likes of me that he fought — more than most anyone, I would have a fighter. But the slew of issues is great and he must prove himself. It’s no fault of his — the doubt — it’s the fault of the GOP. As he is part of the Party, he must deal with the doubts it has repeatedly engendered and fostered among its repeatedly disappointed constituents.
He’s still my frontrunner, but there are others who would be acceptable: Cruz, Perry.
I’m looking forward to two events in particular: Jeb dropping out of the race, and the day Hillary falls behind in the polls of swing states.
We have an opportunity to fix things, but we need a leader who will stand up to our own establishment.
Someone who will not allow Boehner and McConnell to let Obamacare, et. al. stand.
I like Walker, and I like what he’s managed to accomplish as governor of WI despite the recall circus.
“I can’t spare this man. He fights.”
— Abraham Lincoln, refusing to fire Gen. Ulysses Grant
Lincoln might have added: he fights, and he wins. That is rare enough that we truly cannot spare any of it.
Gov. Walker gives the impression of being too nice to fight down-and-dirty with the likes of Hillary. But let’s not forget that Walker stood up to the worst, the absolute worst, that Wisconsin Democrats could throw at him — and, with three elections in four years, they kept scraping the barrel further and further, looking for more dirty tricks to use against him. He took it all, won handily, AND implemented a conservative agenda that had to be seen to be believed.
He’s a governor, he has an enviable track record, AND he’s already stood up to political fighting at its dirtiest. He’s my favorite for the GOP nomination.
(And it doesn’t hurt that he bears a passing resemblance to Chris Evans…)
More power to him. He’s gonna need it.
My only concern is that the USA today cannot afford him. Walker seems cut from the same managerial cloth as Romney. Good, ethical men, ambitious and productive. We saw how that turned out.
We may need a fire-breather this time, an earth-shaker. We are now like Greece: the right things must be done NOW or the struggle will be much longer, much more painful, and the outcome even more uncertain.
If we ever negotiate equitable trade deals, Walker will remain a viable candidate.
And so you finally have to come out and admit that you are for Walker. We knew it already after reading your post dissing Rand Paul. First the negatives:
1. He was for amnesty before he was against it.
2. He will incur the wrath of every union in the country which in a national election will mean a mountain of money to overcome.
3. He is a college drop out going against extremely well educated and brilliant opposition in the primary – Ted Cruz. Can you imagine a debate between the two? Does the word mincemeat come to mind?
4. He lacks charisma and national name recognition.
5. He doesn’t have a war chest.
6. There are plenty of pictures out there with Walker standing next to Sarah Palin when she campaigned for him in Wisconsin. In other words, lots of red meat for the left.
And the positives:
1. He’s not Rand Paul.
2. He has a nice family.
3. He’s got Rush Limbaugh in the pocket.
4. He made a nice record for himself in Wisconsin, but at the expense of alienating every union household in the entire country.
IMO, he hasn’t a snowball’s chance in hell of winning a national election. But, he’s a nice guy.
Walker/Sessions does it for me, but anybody except Jeb is probably the most hope and change I can expect.
Well, it would have been nice if he hadn’t flip-flopped on ethanol, too. Maybe Jeb! will pick him for VP.
I want the Republican nominee to be the one with the best chance of beating the horrible Democrats, but without being as weak on immigration as Jeb Bush. Walker has shown that he can win elections and govern once elected. He’s my favorite. Rubio might be better able to attract young voters and Hispanic voters, which could be the deciding factor in winning the general election. I also like Rick Perry.
The other chuck:
I finally admit? You’re not a very careful reader, are you?
First of all, I’ve been talking up Walker and saying he is either my favorite or one of my top choices for well over a year.
Secondly, I gave a link at the end of this post to an earlier piece I wrote about Walker”s change of position on amnesty.
Frog said, “We may need a fire-breather this time, an earth-shaker. We are now like Greece: the right things must be done NOW or the struggle will be much longer, much more painful, and the outcome even more uncertain.”
And that’s really what we need isn’t it. A bona fide conservative who also can move people. The GOP better look very hard at why Trump has traction right now. I think it’s his “fire-breathing” and being totally unafraid of being non-PC. There’s a lot of us fed up with that bullshit, and want a serious candidate who is not afraid of stating a position loud and clear and telling the media, pundits, academia to “eff” themselves.
I forgot to mention Ted Cruz. He is great at debating with positions I like. But, I fear that the Democrats would successfully demonize him as a racist warmonger.
I followed what went on in Wisconsin very closely and Scott Walker won me over, and I think he has a likeability factor not to be underestimated in today’s politics, when so much voting seems to be based on emotional, “gut-level” reactions.
This likeability is right there with a down-to-earth toughness arising out of actually knowing who he is — a great distance from the untrustworthiness of, for instance, a posing, posturing Trump.
There’s a lot of “bully-worship” out there. I’d rather have someone who can take a licking and keep on ticking, who will still be there tomorrow and continue to fight even if things look hopeless.
That doesn’t really change how he allowed the Left to destroy his supporters in Wisconsin.
micklos said, “in today’s politics, when so much voting seems to be based on emotional, “gut-level” reactions.”
Hey, micklos! Where you been? You think voters are in graduate school? Today’s politics isn’t really different from yesterday’s politics. Most voters are chicken-brained. The rest of them are ignorant.
Walker is a politician, a species known for the occasional flip-flop. If you want purity in a candidate you are not being realistic. I like Walker not just because he stood up to public employee unions; I feel he is still grounded in the values of small town main street and its been a long time since we have seen that on the national political stage with the exceptions of Palin and Ernst.
Y,
Not sure a governor has the legal means to stop local DAs from harassing his supporters.
Give the GOP a viable competitive full-spectrum social activist movement to guide them and the candidates will abide.
Calling for the GOP candidates to lead the way is passing the buck. The duty to rearrange the arena is the people’s, organized as activists.
When I read George Pal’s “there are a slew of issues, and he must prove himself” my response is just “Good Lord”.
The man has proven himself. You may not be with him on some issues; and he may change his stance on some issues. Even the revered Reagan would compromise here and there to achieve progress; or would give in on a lesser issue to get consensus on a higher priority one.
Doctrinaire conservatives–and doctrinaire liberals of course– helped bring us to the brink; particularly in 2012. I just hope that they will not do it again.
Look at the whole man or woman. Pick the one who best shares your basic values, who is a proven leader, and has a chance to win.
As I’ve said before, he lacks presidential hair. So does Cruz. Laugh if you want, but you know I’m right. That said, I do like Governor Walker’s tenacity and record. I also closely followed the organized Left’s attacks on him (Ann Althouse did a very good job chronicling those) and know he’s tougher than he looks (or sounds). Still, I’m afraid he’s no match for the MSM.
IMO the candidate with the best ‘Honey Badger’ credentials is Carly. And we do need a honey badger.
I heard some of Glenn Beck’s radio show while I was driving around today and really enjoyed it… the guys were having people call in and say why they supported Donald Trump for president — not why they liked him, but why they supported him for president. They all thought he would secure the border. That was it — secure the border. It did not matter that he is not particularly believable about this, or that he has been a donor to Hillary Clinton, or that he has said all sorts of things about all sorts of issues over the years. SECURE THE BORDER. This leads me to believe that for a significant number of voters, a believable promise and plant to secure the border will secure their votes. I hope someone from GOP central was tuned in…
I really like Walker. How can you say he’s bland? Bland enough to win three elections and stand down the most horrible union demonstrations recent years!
Carl, you’re right about his hair. Lopsided. Seems like his wife would say, “Honey….”
It’s a crying shame that we have to have these American Idol-type considerations, but remember the Kennedy-Nixon TV debate and Don Hewitt’s scurrilous role (read up on it if you’re too young to remember it, as I am). The fact that Nixon wasn’t telegenic that night doomed him.
Gail Finke:
But he IS bland.
Donald Trump is not bland. Scott Walker is bland (and that includes his name), as in mild-mannered, not showing strong emotion, that sort of thing. But he is strong (you can be strong and bland), tough, and sticks to his guns.
In fact, in terms of his actual life and what he has accomplished, he isn’t bland, he’s colorful. But his demeanor and the way he presents himself is bland.
It isn’t a sign of weakness to be a nice guy.
Neo:
But his demeanor and the way he presents himself is bland.
True, in a Will Kane/Gary Cooper way. You are right that he is a man of high integrity and fortitude, virtues lacking in most politicians. As to leadership, remember Will Kane’s failure when he tried to get the townspeople to back him? That is Walker all over. He lacks the ability to inspire – from what I’ve seen.
The Other Chuck:
Nothing like Will Kane, who was the strong, silent type.
Scott Walker is hardly the silent type.
Will Kane was a Westerner (as was Gary Cooper, by the way), Scott Walker is the quintessential midwesterner (although born in Colorado, his family moved to the midwest when he was a toddler and he grew up there). Nice guy, salt of the earth.
Will Kane’s failure to inspire the townspeople was not his fault, it was the townspeople’s. And Scott Walker has inspired plenty of people in Wisconsin to work for him and vote for him, which is good enough. Who needs a cult of personality?
The Other Chuck: “He lacks the ability to inspire — from what I’ve seen.”
What?!
He has been elected TWICE to the governorship of his state.
He won over 50% of the vote both times.
He fought a recall election – and won!
He turned a budget deficit into a surplus.
He took on powerful unions and made his state a “right to work” state. While this is still in the court system – give him credit for not giving up.
He signed into law “voter ID.” This requires voters to show a government issued ID before casting a ballot. Not only did he do this; but, the law passed the scrutiny of the supreme court!
And, he has done this without a college degree. Why doesn’t he have a college degree? Because he dropped out to work for the Red Cross when offered a fulltime job. (Everyone I know who has dropped out of college has gone on to better things after realizing that college wasn’t giving them what they needed/wanted. Just ask Mike Rowe what he thinks of the attitude “everyone needs a college degree”)
And, finally, you want a “leader” who inspires? The guy rides a motorcycle!
okay, that last one was a bit flip (although true, he does ride a motorcycle); but, can you honestly say that none of what he has done is inspiring?
Give me substance over style any day. And isn’t it sort of folks voting for “style” that gave us the likes of Clinton and Obama? While it was substance that gave us the likes of Reagan.
Okay, I’ll stop with my Walker rally now. Just be aware that no politician is ever going to be perfect and that I do fear too many on the right will find fault and trash the best one because he isn’t “good enough.” Which will just gives us more of Obama or Clinton.
Not sure a governor has the legal means to stop local DAs from harassing his supporters.
A citizen under the gag order leaked the probe to the public via a blogger.
Walker isn’t tough enough on unions to do what ordinary citizens do, then what’s the point to him being given the power of the throne?
“Take a number”
“Me and my public understand each other perfectly. It doesn’t hear what I say, and I do not say what it wants to hear.”
-Karl Kraus
There was no real victory for civilization in 1945. And Germany was not uniquely guilty prior to 1945. All of civilized mankind is implicated in a disaster that is still ongoing. The destruction of our intellectual and spiritual life has continued up to this very day, only we have failed to recognize the symptoms. As Voegelin explained more than a quarter of a century ago, “There is yet no end in sight so far as the disintegration of society is concerned, and consequences that may surprise are possible.” – Nyquist
Walker isn’t tough enough on unions to do what ordinary citizens do, then what’s the point to him being given the power of the throne?
Yup!
He might get Trumped!
Maybe that would be what it takes … burp.
I blame the voters ….
Walker as a logistical commander, would be fitting for his skills. As a war leader that is entrusted with the destruction of our enemies, wiping them from the Face of the Earth, and thus securing our land and people… such a person cannot do the job when he fails to protect his own subordinates in his home state.
A person that wields the power to destroy his enemies to protect his people, must be ruthless beyond the beyond. If he lacks even the Will to crush his home state in favor of the oppressed people in that state, then what makes people think he has the guts to Kill the Left?
They don’t have the guts, not even to push the button like Hussein does all the time.
A democracy? Is that what people think they are playing in now.
This is a Demoncracy, a government for and by Demons. Try not to delude the people into thinking they are in a democracy or a republic. That was their ancestors.
Walker/Fiorina. Two smart fighters.
For those who think Walker is bland, I say team him with an assassin (figuratively speaking).
I am not interested in hair. I am not particularly interested in personality; although I know you must some, or at least do a credible imitation in front of the camera, to get elected these days. (I wonder how much personality Abe had?) I am interested in proven leadership, a compatible political philosophy (in general terms), and demonstrated character.
Walker is my guy unless he proves otherwise.
When I first saw Walker I thought he was too low keyed, weak even. But as I followed his adventures in Wisconsin it became clear that he was a fighter and a winner. The entire left attacked and smeared him, mobs in the thousands occupied the state house. Yet he still won.
His calm is Reaganesk.
He is clearly in the top few candidates to consider.
I watched Walker being interviewed on Hannity last night. I was impressed. He has energy, his positions on the issues are good (not perfect, but good), and he genuinely wants the job.
I’m waiting to see how things shake out in the first debate before I start getting too invested in any one candidate.
I keep being mightily impressed by Fiorina. She just hits all the right notes and is fearless. Walker and Fiorina as running mates would be a mighty attractive slate.
He may not have presidential hair, but he’s kinda’ midwestern cute. May pull in some of the LIV women.