Posted on 04/07/2016 7:42:11 PM PDT by GoKnow
Why so much emphasis on the results of the Wisconsin primary in which Trump’s lead narrowed by a mere 30 delegates?
Let’s put Trump’s loss into perspective by considering conditions unique to that State.
We all know Trump faced a negative onslaught from Wisconsin talk radio, with Levin & Limbaugh offering their own body slams. Not to mention Walker, Ryan, Priebus attacking Trump while exalting Cruz, day in and day out. Trump couldn’t breathe in or glance sideways without someone castigating him. Yes, he did commit some unforced errors, but this would be typical of any campaign.
I was raised in Wisconsin. It’s a depressing place to live, a provincial back water. Folks there for the most part don’t take much interest in the positive movements of mainstream America – and vice versa. People who want to make headway with their talents and potential get the hell out of there and don’t look back. Most never return.
For all intents and purposes, the Wisconsin GOP vote reflects the State’s native provincial mentality. I find it remarkable (but par for the course in the Badger state) that some 28,382 Wisconsinites actually voted for candidates who had already dropped out of the race, sending the message that they didn’t care a whit who won as long as they could register their provincial Wisconsin opinion.
All those votes for Cruz further illustrate how deep Wisconsin’s provincialism runs. These voters apparently weren’t cognizant of Cruz’s pitiful prospects going forward nationally. Or they did not care. Much of the vote was simply a spiteful, self-righteous “no Trump” vote; “we’ll show him about his bad manners and the hell with what happens after that.” Job loss, economic decline be damned. Many voters were so lacking in prescience that they obeyed Walker’s Cruz endorsement even as he prefaced it with the statement that none of the current candidates would be the nominee. They clearly had no clue or concern that a vote for Cruz was tantamount to a vote for Hillary and a third Obama term.
Walker, who exudes Wisconsin provincialism in spades, couldn’t get a foothold as a Presidential candidate on the national stage to save his soul. In fact, Wisconsin has never produced a President. Just a few failed candidates: Bob LaFollette in 1924 and, more recently, Tommy Thompson for a brief time in 2008. Ryan’s failed bid for VP extends the Wisconsin Presidential curse.
Is it any wonder? Historically, can you think of any Wisconsin-grown cultural/political icon other than perhaps Frank Lloyd Wright or Vince Lombardi or Joe McCarthy who has made a permanent mark on the American culture at large? Neither can I. (Orson Welles was born in Kenosha, WI, but moved to Illinois at age 4.)
And as for Reince Priebus, he will be gone and forgotten within a decade … or much sooner.
You say the Wisconsin results spell doom for Trump? DON’T BET ON IT!
He can always get the SC to prosecute Cruz and the superPACs after he wins :)
I agree with a lot of that, but why go after Walker so hard after he dropped out since the guy had three or so tough elections to stay in there.
I rather get Trump, but just as Cruz Talked New York values, Trump went overboard on Walker criticism and voters made him pay some IMO.
Cruz mostly wins the exclusively white states (home state Texas excepted); Trump does better with mixed demographics. Also Wisconsin is about as far from our southern border as you can get.
It’s over and done and Cruz is about to get shellacked in the next 5 or so states.
Did you read that Wisconsin exit poll where 34% of the Republican voters said they will never vote for Cruz, or Trump?
34%!!
Wisconsin. The bastion of the Republican Establishment machine. 34%! Yikes.
They vote Cruz to get a contested Convention to nominate their native son, Paul boy Ryan. Mr. Open Borders himself.
Mr. Give Obama Everything He Asked For.
Instinct, in that Walker joined forces with Cruz, and Trump saw both of them as "hitting" Trump, so he "hit back." Trump hasn't figured out the finer points of manipulating the electorate.
Criticizing Walker was about as dumb as the Cruz’s New York values comment
I did not understand the attacks on Walker, he was a good governor for a liberal loony state. Just because Walker supported Cruz, should not have been a reason to attack him.
I think Trump learned from that mistake
I believe the Walker stuff sank him there. It was one of the “on the street” interviews where a couple voters commented about Walker and thought he did a good job in WI
He in the case could have done less.
He got it more out there hitting Walker by 1000% than Ted could have by announcing the endorsement.
Yeah, that wasn't smart.
I have not seen anyone say that, where are you getting this crap?
Trump supported Walker very much financially in the past-
Cruz helped pay off his campaign debts
I guess your idea is to post something ridiculous that nobody has said and then argue against it.
Trumps ceiling is 45% maybe.. With just him and Cruz Cruz will come out on the winning side every time.. Better ground game and he knows the RULES!
Third in New York and Maryland
I saw a idiot from Club for Growth saying Kacish and Cruz were the only Conservatives in the race and only ones who can beat Hillary
They just can't beat Trump LOL
The author is an a$$. My daughter returned after stints ib DC, cinncy, and Charlotte. She worked at Rand Corp and has a masters in public health. Her family loves it hear and would never leave. Both her grade school kids (boy and girl) play ice hockey.
Wisconsin is a wonderful place to live.
It’s an original piece. Deal with it. It’s not crap simply because you’ve not heard it articulated before. Try to keep an open mind.
Just curious. Who did your daughter vote for?
Wisconsin was an anti Trump vote and not a for Cruz vote. I agree that Trump’s anti Walker comments didn’t go over well.
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