Posted on 02/23/2015 1:52:16 PM PST by 2ndDivisionVet
Scott Walker was not planning to outsource the job of defining his presidential campaign to Rudy Giuliani, a last-minute add-on to his New York speaking appearance. But that is exactly what transpired. While unplanned, Giuliani expressed a question of fundamental importance within the Republican Party, which allowed Walker to define himself unmistakably.
Giuliani defends his original claim in a Wall Street Journal op-ed today. In it, Giuliani argues that Obama is “criticizing his country more than other presidents have done, regardless of their political affiliation,” and likewise fails to express “a fundamental belief in the country’s greatness and the example we set for the world.” Both these claims are false. Previous presidents have criticized American historical failures and misdeeds as sharply as Obama, or even more so. Likewise, Obama has repeatedly emphasized his belief in America’s uniqueness and contributions to world peace.
But to conceive of this “debate” in the most literal terms misses all its importance. The question at issue is the right-wing conviction that Obama represents a unique and alien threat to American life. Versions of this belief have held, in descending increments of paranoia, that Obama concealed his overseas birth, that he has concealed his religious beliefs, and that he is vaguely plotting to harm America. Rush Limbaugh openly confessed to rooting for Obama to fail, his reasoning being that Obama was not actually trying to restore economic health — his goal was to weaken the free enterprise system in order to instill government social control. (“Democrats want to destroy this economy to their benefit, to create more and more poverty, to create more and more homelessness, to create more and more dependency on the federal government.”) The conviction has important strategic implications for the party. Since Obama did not merely believe in different policies but was pursuing a secretive and sinister agenda, it followed that there was no point in negotiating with Obama at all. And this is the strategic course most Republicans followed.
The significance of the debate is the signal it sends about Walker’s relationship to the base. Other Republican candidates have distanced themselves from inflammatory questions about Obama’s patriotism (or his true religious beliefs, which Walker likewise declined to ascertain, before letting his press secretary issue a pro forma statement that Obama is a Christian).
Walker has spent the last several days defining his place on the political spectrum. He courted Grover Norquist and Norquist’s allies, who are seeking a more conservative challenger to Jeb Bush, whom they distrust for his refusal to sign Norquist’s pledge to refuse any tax increase of any size under any conditions. He has likewise taken a more uncompromising tone on abortion and immigration.
While paranoid suspicions about Obama are not a direct policy issue, they serve as a proxy for positioning within the Republican Party. The reaction of fellow conservatives bears this out. Lindsey Graham, a Republican senator who has tried without success to broker deals with Obama on climate, immigration, and other issues, unambiguously contradicted Giuliani. (“I have no doubt that he’s a patriot.”) Bobby Jindal, who is trying to carve out an identity as the spokesman for the right, has gone to comical lengths to attach himself to Giuliani’s sentiments — first issuing a formal statement through his spokesperson that he would not condemn Giuliani, even though nobody asked, and then, when that failed to yield the hoped-for reaction, writing Giuliani a letter of congratulations. Jeb Bush and Marco Rubio both issued statements disavowing any questions of Obama’s motive, in keeping with the mainstream profiles they are trying to cultivate.
Walker dismissed the question of Obama’s religion as a gotcha game by campaign reporters fixated on trivia. It is certainly inconvenient for Republican candidates to face questions that force them to define their relationship with the most stark-raving-mad beliefs of the conservative base. But that relationship is the most important question the candidates will navigate, both during their campaign and while governing. Free-floating paranoia is not an esoteric point of trivia; it is a central feature of conservative-movement thought. Perhaps by mistake, Giuliani made the last several days the most edifying time of the campaign so far.
There's no dealing with them - they need to be defeated, whatever that takes.
The Left is also encouraging many conservatives to support Walker because of the inanity of the attacks on him. It seems like the more the media tries to trap Walker with these gotcha questions, the more support he draws with his responses.
Makes me kinda hope they keep it up for a while, although I suppose at some point he’ll step in it and give them something they can twist and use.
Man oh man Gov Walkers got ALL their sphincters so tight you couldn’t pull a pin out of their arse with a tractor!
You are much too sentimental Papa.
If Walker had nerve he should say tongue in cheek that he wants to fundamentally transform black culture.
The most stark-raving-mad belief I can think of is “socialism will work this time.”
“The real truth is that adherence to the Constitution is the unbiased standard to judge whether a federal official loves our country. Many fail that test. The real question is, “When will the American People demand that standard once again be met?””
I’m afraid a majority of Americans are not familiar with The Constitution (or actually hate it) and choose the government they believe will help them the most in the short run. A very short sighted and selfish electorate is what we have. And as far as I’m concerned, short sightedness and selfishness are characteristics of LOSERS. Only a loser would want redistribution of wealth because they are not willing to hustle their own groceries.
HAHA, dropping Norquist’s name will win Walker lots of friends, or FRiends, here. That's like the kiss of death.
BTW a Kind and gentler Rudy
Rudy Giuliani: My Bluntness Overshadowed My Message(I cannot read President Obama’s mind or heart) WSJ ^ | Feb. 22, 2015 | Rudolph Giuliani
I’m hoping there’s enough of a remnant in a state somewhere that would rise up and assert constitutional state sovereignty.
I’m trusting the Lord for some kind of miracle, not unlike the birth of America, for a rebirth of freedom at least in sector of this country. I have reason to believe something good will happen that will last a few more decades before it all goes south.
And BTW, when it all goes south, it will be darker than anyone can imagine, but it will also be a short shrift followed by the Lord himself coming back and establishing something even better than the America which man with something as magnificent as the Constitution and our free republic failed to manage. I look forward to that day as well.
Walker has been playing in the left’s backyard his entire life. His first race was against Gwen Moore who did beat him, after that he’s won in Milwaukee County for assembly and county executive, then governor.
He’s had four years of special prosecutors giving him a detailed exam of everything they could get their hands on.
I’ve had to ask him questions over the years, including asking about a fellow Republican’s felony indictment and Walker has always answered with ease.
He understands what they are trying to do and is, in my opinion, playing them, giving them enough to put his name out, yet answering in a way that wins over those inclined to vote for him. Every time, he starts with a common sense non-answer, then turns the conversation back to why the questioner is asking the question.
He is both an Eagle scout and a master of political ju jitsu. He has surrounded himself with the controversy over Obama, gotten the conversation to focus on him, yet he hasn’t said anything truly controversial and he has made people realize the media is covering for Obama all in one package.
The time between now and our death is only a vapor of a breath compared to the longevity of that kingdom.
Yes, but all of Heaven watches to see how we overcome during this short vapor of time we are here. Although in so many ways it will be better for us in Heaven, right now we’re on the playing field and all of Heaven is in the stands cheering us on. For whatever reason, WE are the center of attention because lives and God’s reputation are at stake.
Lord, may we by your grace, power, and anointing bring the goodness of your grace and forgiveness through Jesus Christ to many and may there be a rebirth of faith and freedom in these last days before you come. Amen.
” There you have it. That’s how the left and GOPe think of you and me. “
Of course....they HATE us. I believe McCain threw the election so he could die in his Senate seat, “Jacking” conservatives.
” HAHA, dropping Norquist’s name will win Walker lots of friends, or FRiends, here. That’s like the kiss of death. “
Can I say it ?
” UNEXPECTED “
LOL
Buh bye, Walker
I’m with you PapaNew.
Let us truly be instrumental in revival.
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