Posted on 02/05/2015 3:03:38 AM PST by Cincinatus' Wife
Unlike Rand Paul, Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker does not believe the GOP needs an ideological update. Unlike Marco Rubio, he doesn’t represent a more inclusive future for the party. Unlike Jeb Bush, he is not a known member of the Bush family.
That just about makes him the most natural candidate for the GOP in 2016. He fought in deep-blue Wisconsin on core conservative movement values — and he won. Finally, here is a true believer who is also competent at politicking and governing.
At least that’s the pitch that's being made this week, as Walker enjoys his first wave of 2016 buzz. It also puts him in a position to be the hero of a story conservatives tell about themselves.
America’s different ideological camps all use stories to explain where the country is today and why. Many progressives think things have generally just gotten worse, in all ways but social issues. Since the rise of Nixon and later Reagan, they see right-wing triumph everywhere. Tax rates falling, welfare rolls slashed, wages stagnating, inequality increasing, Koch brothers smiling. Obama appealed powerfully to liberals, and the 00’s “netroots” in particular, because he was cast as a transformational president like Reagan.
The conservative movement’s narrative is one of frustration. Liberal ideas are proven failures. Where conservative ideas have been tried, they have flourished: look at broken-windows policing in New York City, or the light-touch regulatory burden that makes Houston a magnet for middle-income families. More and more Americans call themselves conservatives. And conservatives have generally been good at putting Republicans in positions of power.
But instead of a massive downsizing of Washington to Swiss canton–size, the presidents conservatives elect sign stuff like The Americans with Disabilities Act, or Medicare Part D. They work with Teddy Kennedy on No Child Left Behind. These laws not only expand the reach of the federal government, but invite further liberal expansion in efforts like ObamaCare or Common Core.
Why? Some conservatives blame a Beltway culture of lobbyists and influence-peddling. Others cite a lack of courage and conviction. They say we need a “true conservative,” but with the stones to win.
This is where Scott Walker saunters in and casually tosses his cape over his shoulder. His “budget repair bill” was not just a conservative tweak of the tax code — it was a very canny effort to weaken public-sector unions in Wisconsin. Many were predicting that Wisconsin’s strong labor heritage, combined with a public backlash against Walker’s confrontational politics, would unseat him. Instead, he became the first governor in American history to survive a recall.
His story fits right into that self-flattering conservative narrative of frustration. Walker didn’t try to charm Wisconsin’s liberal establishment with some Kenny G-soft-jazz conservatism; he threw liberals into a dark cramped room and turned Metallica up to 11. He stood for what the movement believed in, and he won not just an election, but a structural reform of Wisconsin’s politics that tips the game-board in a conservative direction. He expanded school-choice initiatives. He did not set up an ObamaCare exchange in Wisconsin, rejecting federal dollars. He signed a Voter ID law. And then he won re-election in a state that went for Obama by 7 points.
This is the story that “movement” people of any type like to hear: if you show your backbone, explain yourself clearly and loudly, the people will rally behind you.
This isn’t to say that Walker doesn’t have challenges. Although the conservative movement’s views are widely shared across the party, the movement is not identical to the GOP. National parties tend to be more forgiving of (and even anxious to have) an unorthodox candidate after eight years of exile from the White House. This leaves an opening for a Jeb Bush, or if every butterfly across the globe flaps just right, a Rand Paul.
Walker has deficiencies of charm and geography compared to Marco Rubio. The Floridian senator is not only a more attractive stage presence, but far more likely to drag his state into the red column in a 2016 race. Rubio also at least provides the hope of moving the needle among non-Republican demographics in a way that Walker does not.
But after the 2010 and 2014 elections, the GOP may settle on a story that Romney was uniquely charmless and Obama uniquely charmed, and that the only change the party needs is a leader from the Republican wing of the Republican Party. Walker fits that bill.
Not looking for a hero, just someone willing to say and do what they say they believe in, and bloody their knuckles to get it. That’s what the leftists do, and I want to see the rightists do this also.
Walker has been my #1 choice for a good while now. Glad to see the GOP noticed the disturbance in the force.
I need to know his position on wetbacks.
Nope.
Walker is clearly someone we can coalesce around early in the process and send Bush, Christie, etc. packing.
No, he’s not.
Walker has been impressive, definitely top tier. How about a Walker/Cruz ticket. That would bring out the conservative base in a big way, IMO. Also, I believe Walker could pull in the independents.
On the campaign trail they could do a great good cop/bad cop routine and keep the dem nominee completely off balance. It would be fun to watch!
Pundits of all political stripes are trying to pigeon-hole and define Walker.
Rush says his appeal is that conservatives have been paying attention to his battles in Wisconsin; the electorate sees a fighter in Walker.
It appears that the Left hates and fears Walker - and so does the GOP-e.
The rest want to know more - or already know more.
He looks good on some things so far but let’s wait a bit before we canonize him, shall we?
His position on the persons who are in this country without either green cards or residency permits, whether an overstay on visa, or entry by extralegal means:
Scott Walker has indicated that there may be a path to legal residency and possible citizenship, but only after a very long time period and “proving up” that the applicant is a worthy candidate for those privileges, but on the short term, it involves payment of fines and fees, and with no “chain migrations”, but limited to only immediate family, parents and children, no cousins, uncles, aunts, or in-laws.
A compromise, to be sure, but not a sweeping “You’re excused” amnesty, with no penalty or repercussions.
And none of this would be enacted UNTIL the border is fully supervised and controlled as to entry and repeat crossings.
Cruz or lose
“Is Scott Walker the hero the conservative movement has been waiting for?
Nope. “
Nope, he’s no Reagan. But of the bunch, I rate Cruz at the top of the list and Scott second. However, I think Scott can probably appeal to more center/right voters than Cruz. Sadly, theres just not enough voters in the Right Quartile of the voter spectrum to carry the day and deliver Cruz.
I agree completely.
I heard he was divorced, was going to grant amnesty, and was talking about Bush as his runningmate in a bid to appease the GOP elites. Also heard he supported selling arms to Iran to win their support in something.
Not sure I can support such a candidate.
No. He is wrong on immigration.
He’s much better than what we currently have (then again. that ain’t saying much) but he is not the fix to the problem.
You have the ticket backwards..
Cruz would be MUCH better at the top of the ticket and flip/flop Walker when it comes to immigration.
Not in my top tier. Second tier maybe. Maybe.
We can work out the details later, we already agree on who we want on the ticket! B^)
Notice 95 percent of the article is about Walkers battle scars that were televised nationwide on Fox,and well earned,monumental it was riveting television,and he won against all the depraved leftists strategy from the ages.
Then they tell us about how the pretty boy and lightweight from Florida Rubio would probably be the one to turn the country red. What a joke
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.