Posted on 08/16/2015 5:17:30 PM PDT by 2ndDivisionVet
It may be that Scott Walker’s “moment” came sometime in March or April. That was when the governor’s campaign for the Republican presidential nomination was going from strength to strength. He was racing ever upward in national polls, establishing a solid lead in the first caucus state of Iowa, and moving up on supposed front-runner Jeb Bush in the first primary state of New Hampshire.
It seemed that nothing could stop him.
Then Republicans started paying attention.
Walker was already losing momentum before the Donald Trump surge, and before the Fox News debate that appears to have again reshuffled a Republican race that is starting to smell like the 2012 contest in which partisans constantly switched their loyalties among flavor-of-the-month candidates (Herman Cain, Newt Gingrich, Ron Paul, Rick Santorum).
The Fox debate was crucial for Walker, who needed to renew his candidacy. Instead, he renewed a sense that he was not ready for prime time.
The problem was not that the governor stumbled in a dramatic way — although his attempt to explain away his failure to deliver on past promises with “aim high” platitudes was painful. What tripped up Walker was that there was nothing dramatic — good or bad — about his performance.
He was drab and predictable on a stage where it was hard enough to steal attention from Trump. Other candidates made their mark with rhetorical flourishes (Florida Sen. Marco Rubio), by positioning even further to the right (Texas Sen. Ted Cruz), by showing a little humanity (Ohio Gov. John Kasich), or by adding what passed for humor to a generally humorless experience (former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee).
But Walker made no mark. He sounded like what he is: a political careerist looking to add another line to his resume. The Huffington Post’s analysis summed things up: “Walker, the Wisconsin governor, came off flat.”
After the debate was done, the right-wing pundits who spent the spring pumping up the governor’s candidacy were distracted by new shiny pennies.
The same went for the Republican base that had, briefly, been so enamored of Walker.
When the dust had settled, the polling analysis website FiveThirtyEight headlined its assessment of “clear losers” in the debate with a reference to Walker. “(The) polling is clear,” the data review explained. "Walker is the only candidate who lost ground in every single post-debate poll. In Iowa, where Walker had been leading, just 5 percent of voters said his performance was the most impressive of all the candidates. Walker’s debate night was bad enough that he has lost his edge in Iowa to Trump.”
Actually, it’s worse than that. A week after the debate, a new CNN poll had Walker falling to third in Iowa (behind Trump and Ben Carson). A new Boston Herald poll had him tied for seventh in New Hampshire — behind, among others, former "also-rans" such as Kasich and Carly Fiorina.
If this keeps up, Walker may have to start worrying about how he will finish in next spring’s Wisconsin primary.
Walker was too timid. He had a slight niche with his linking immigration to jobs, but Trump has come out with the master plan. Walker is dropping like a stone.
*sigh*
What’s a feller to do when it seems the whole world is captivated by flash (or bombast) over substance?
Trump has outflanked the GOPe’s
And boxed in the RATs.
That’s why they met months ago and they probably planned to tag team everyone from the start.
I don’t entirely trust Trump, but I have to agree with you about his crossover appeal. I think with the nation in such dire straits political ideology is going to be thrown out the window. I wish it wasn’t so because if Trump is elected and he’s successful he won’t be touting it as conservatism because he’s not a conservative. I’m so angry at Speaker Bonehead and Mitch McSellout. If there was ever a golden opportunity to forward conservatism it would have been the last six years, but those two bought off idiots did nothing but go along with the administration. In the process they tainted the conservative brand with many Americans by their non-actions. Does a Trump presidency mean we conservatives have to keep our ideology on the back burner because there will be many times that man will do things that border on liberalism.
Folks, this is from the Capital Time newspaper in Madison, WI. Read the header: “Your Progressive Voice”
They hate Scott Walker. He defeated the unions, cut the budget and signed pro-live legislation.
The left is engaged in divide and conquer media coverage.
Find a better source of input than reading socialist newspapers.
I don’t have answers to this. However, Trump does have some conservative ideals. We never know what any candidate will do once elected. Look at what has happened since Boehner and McConnell took the reins of the Senate. It has been a catastrophe. So, I guess it’s a crap shoot. Trump might even move more to the right than he has ever been - surrounding himself with good advisers like Jeff Sessions. So, in this political climate - it’s anyone’s guess. I think crossover appeal is going to matter very much in 2016 to counter the voting fraud and illegal voters.
I’m inclined to agree with you. We never know what happens when these people get to DC. The glare of the media, the big money donors and activists, and other distractions can turn a Mr. Smith wannabe into Mr. Moneybags real quickly. I hope if Trump is the next president his focus will center entirely on the middle class of this country. Both you and I can agree the Republican and Democratic parties have long abused and neglected the largest and most productive group of Americans.
His rapid and matter-of-fact speech pattern
Does him no favors. It does not play well on TV.
Hope so. He’s obsequious, not very bright, and the quintessential lap dog and needs to step aside. Let the men handle this Scotty.
I hope not. I like Scott Walker.
Failure is not in Trumps DNA. As a matter of Pride in himself and Country, he will do everything in his power to make this country successful and bring us back to greatness. That is why I want Cruz on his team to guide him through, along with a top notch team of advisors, movers and shakers.
Scott Walker: Nice guy, just no fire in the belly. Plus, I think the story about his wife and 2 sons being big supporters of gay marriage probably hurt him also. His numbers started down after that.
Scott Walker: Nice guy, just no fire in the belly. Plus, I think the story about his wife and 2 sons being big supporters of gay marriage probably hurt him also. His numbers started down after that.
Walker best pals with R Prebius who he helped get the gig and Paul Amnesty Ryan and George Will.
With Walker we would get a completely unleashed Uniparty .
This won’t go over too well for that Ohio babe, but I suspect she’ll keep trying.
Walker will do just fine....probably trying to pick his cabinet now....His loss of a few points to Trump is just a temporary thing fueled by the popularity contest now going on.
Any other Repub candidate COULD be experiencing a surge in the polls like Trump—if only they were willing to come out for DEPORTATION and closing the border, etc.
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