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Divide and Conquer Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker’s divisive message for winning the White House.
Slate ^ | January 28, 2015 | Jamelle Bouie

Posted on 01/29/2015 2:55:05 AM PST by Cincinatus' Wife

By the somewhat tamer standards of the Midwest, Scott Walker’s speech to the Iowa Freedom Summit last Saturday was a smorgasbord of red meat. In just 20 minutes, the Wisconsin governor shed the persona that brought him to the stage—the stern but affable accountant—and re-emerged as a conservative warrior who defeated the unions, defunded the abortionists, and beat back the liberals to win three statewide elections for governor.

His message, in short, was that he was effective, unwavering, and uncompromising. There was no need for outreach or a “big tent.” With the right conservative message, Republicans could win elections—and win them in blue states—on their own.

You could call this the Walker Way—victory through polarization. As my colleague Alec MacGillis described last year in the New Republic, it’s how the former county executive became governor, survived a recall attempt, and won re-election. And if Walker can capture the nomination, it’s how he might win the White House, too.

Before heading there however, we should step back and look where the GOP stands in national politics.

[SNIP]

If any candidate could run a rigid campaign of polarization—aimed at winning as many white voters as possible—it’s Walker. His language is already there. In his Iowa speech, he touted voter-identification laws and portrayed disadvantage as a pure product of personal failure. “In America the opportunity is equal for each and every one of us but … the ultimate outcome is up to each and every one of us individually.”

Walker, in other words, represents the other path: The chance to win without broadening your base or changing your priorities. Victory, but at the price of greater racial polarization. It’s a seductive vision—and an inherently divisive one.......

(Excerpt) Read more at slate.com ...


TOPICS: Constitution/Conservatism; Crime/Corruption; Editorial; Politics/Elections; US: District of Columbia; US: Iowa; US: Wisconsin
KEYWORDS: 2016; 2016election; districtofcolumbia; divideandconquer; election2016; iowa; racism; scottwalker; wisconsin
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To: lucky american

Yup...when you’re catching flack...


21 posted on 01/29/2015 5:18:08 AM PST by Eric in the Ozarks (Rip it out by the roots.)
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To: Menthops

Pretty much. Romney had Obozo against the ropes after the first debate, when he went after the Kenyan’s jugular. In the Rasmussen and Pew polls on October 7th and 8th 2012, Romney was ahead of Obama by 4 points. For some strange reason, Romney decided to loosen his grip on the Kenyan’s throat. He just stopped going after Obozo over Benghazi and Obama’s other crimes.
Don’t let me even start on McCain. All he had to do was go after Obozo hard over Bill Ayers, Jeremiah Wright and Obama’s other terrorist/criminal links.
This is why we need Cruz. Good luck trying to get Cruz to ease off when he has Hilary see to rights. He is going to take Hilary and the MSM on, and give them a whopping they will never forget.


22 posted on 01/29/2015 5:18:57 AM PST by SmokingJoe ( "Ted)
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To: Cincinatus' Wife

WALKER / CRUZ all the way !!!!!!!! Walker has been raked over the coals and succeeded!!!!! This guy has something, I do not live in Wisconsin but the courage he has shown is amazing!!!! Screw a college education the POTUS has one and NOT a lick of common sense!!!!! WALKER is a winner in a BLUE state that is ALL I need to know!!!!!!


23 posted on 01/29/2015 5:20:57 AM PST by Kit cat (OBummer must go)
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To: Cincinatus' Wife
Walker's right. 2016 will be won or lost based on whether the Republicans can enthuse enough of their base to show up and vote.

Pandering to Dem constituencies will lose FAR more votes from the base staying home, then it will gain from the very few who switch sides.

24 posted on 01/29/2015 5:23:21 AM PST by PapaBear3625 (You don't notice it's a police state until the police come for you.)
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To: Cincinatus' Wife
His message, in short, was that he was effective, unwavering, and uncompromising.

Noooooooooo!

He has a Facebook page. Most of the comments are from liberal trash talkers.

Our American Revival

25 posted on 01/29/2015 5:24:32 AM PST by Excellence (Marine mom since April 11, 2014)
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To: Menthops
Walker is the Man! He can take the heat and he can defeat the demons of the Left. He will even vanquish the Cruz Zombies who seem to surface every time Walker gets some love.
26 posted on 01/29/2015 5:35:50 AM PST by Awgie (truth is always stranger than fiction)
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To: Menthops

Cruz is a great speaker, no doubt, and easily bests Walker.

Walker easily bests Cruz in the historical record of successful governing.


27 posted on 01/29/2015 5:36:00 AM PST by Balding_Eagle (The Gruber Revelations are proof that God is still smiling on America.)
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To: Boomer
You could call this the Walker Way—victory through polarization.

Wrong. You don't win 3 elections in 4 years by being polarizing. He did it by selling people a conservative message, then following through.

I like him as well because he's shown the path to victory in a blue state and does extremely well with independent voters.

The GOP has got to take at least one of the BIG swing states this time or else the path to victory is very narrow. One of either OH, FL, or VA is crucial. I'd take aim at either OH or FL and obvious choices there are Kasich or Rubio. (Although it's conventional wisdom that people don't vote for a VP.)

28 posted on 01/29/2015 5:50:10 AM PST by randita (Obama entrusted the transformation of the best healthcare system in the world to a scam artist.)
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To: Cincinatus' Wife

You scared, Jamelle?


29 posted on 01/29/2015 6:05:33 AM PST by Impy (They pull a knife, you pull a gun. That's the CHICAGO WAY, and that's how you beat the rats!)
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To: Cincinatus' Wife
Every time the Republicans run a true conservative, who runs as a conservative, they win big.

Of course the last time they did that was with President Reagan

Regardless of what the nattering nabobs say, this country is still mostly conservative. Most people believe that the government should get out of our face and that people should earn their own way if they can. We are a generous people (to a fault) but we don't like slackers.

If Scott Walker runs as a conservative he'll win at least 45 states, maybe 47. (I write California, New York and Illinois off as the major ghetto areas drag down the rest of the state. Although, Ronald Reagan did win all three of those states so there is always hope))

30 posted on 01/29/2015 6:09:42 AM PST by John O (God Save America (Please))
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To: randita
Wrong. You don't win 3 elections in 4 years by being polarizing. He did it by selling people a conservative message, then following through.

You are exactly right. The successful candidate will express a consistent conservative message. It is the message, not the messenger who will win. As long as a conservative doesn't come across as a bumbling idiot or a phony, the message resonates. Rick Perry, whether a fair assessment or not, came across as a bumbling idiot. Mitt Romney, on the rare occasions when he said something conservative, came across as phony because it was obvious to the listeners that he was trying to speak a foreign language.

IMO, Walker, Cruz, and Palin can deliver the message because they really believe it. They won't get tripped up by off-the-cuff questions because they don't have to try and remember their script but can just answer from their own heart.

31 posted on 01/29/2015 8:26:00 AM PST by CommerceComet (Ignore the GOP-e. Cruz to victory in 2016.)
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To: SMCC1

Too many college smart setters in DC. We need a college drop out like Walker to show us the way.


32 posted on 01/29/2015 1:54:59 PM PST by 1010RD (First, Do No Harm)
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To: CommerceComet

I have always been impressed with Rubio and his consistent delivery of the conservative message. He and his family have lived the American dream, so he speaks from the heart.

He’s green now, but if he runs for FL governor and proves himself, then he will rise to the fore. But I would support him as VP, if it means getting a leg up in FL which is a MUST win for the GOP 2016.


33 posted on 01/29/2015 5:56:42 PM PST by randita (Obama entrusted the transformation of the best healthcare system in the world to a scam artist.)
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To: Cincinatus' Wife
I would not underestimate Walker. He is on fire for this. He understands the importance and the urgency of what he must do. As the son of a pastor and an Eagle Scout he is imbued with the virtues and character of American Greatness.

Scot Walker (and all of us) will struggle mightily over the coming campaign. The ugly face of the demonic secular elitist America-Hating Left will roar and convulse in a violent attempt to keep it's teeth sunk deeply into it's host. But I fully expect Mr. Scott Walker to anticipate and counter the predictable death throws of the beast, and become the next POTUS.

34 posted on 02/02/2015 6:33:28 AM PST by Awgie (truth is always stranger than fiction)
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To: Cincinatus' Wife

Here, let’s “divide” it along its true lines.

Are you for Christ, or the Anti-Christ.

Choose and vote accordingly.


35 posted on 02/02/2015 6:34:47 AM PST by MrB (The difference between a Humanist and a Satanist - the latter admits whom he's working for)
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