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The vanilla power of Republican Scott Walker
The Los Angeles Times ^ | February 2, 2015 | Jonah Goldberg

Posted on 02/03/2015 11:52:20 PM PST by 2ndDivisionVet

Vanilla is the most popular ice cream flavor in America, not because it is the best (that would be coffee) but because it is the least objectionable. Put another way, vanilla is the most acceptable to the most people; it's not many people's favorite, but nobody hates it..

And that's why Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker is the vanilla candidate.

A new Des Moines Register poll has Walker in first place — narrowly — among likely Republican caucus-goers. With Mitt Romney included in the poll, he was the respondents' first choice with 15 percentage points. Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul was second with 14 percentage points and Romney with 13. With Romney out, Walker's lead rose to 16 percentage points and Paul's to 15. First place in a tightly packed field is better than any of the alternatives, but it's not that big a deal this far out.

The big deal is the vanilla factor. According to Jennifer Jacobs of the Des Moines Register, 51% of caucus-goers want an “anti-establishment candidate without a lot of ties to Washington or Wall Street who would change the way things are done and challenge conventional thinking.” Meanwhile, 43% prefer a more establishment figure “with executive experience who understands business and how to execute ideas.”

Walker is in the golden spot. He can, like Bill Murray in the movie “Groundhog Day” listening to Andie MacDowell explain the perfect man, reply “that's me” to almost everything Republicans want....

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


TOPICS: Constitution/Conservatism; Editorial; Government; Politics/Elections; US: Iowa; US: Wisconsin
KEYWORDS: 2015; 2016election; amnesty; bush; cruz; election2016; gop; randpaul; scottwalker; tedcruz; walker; wisconsin
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To: PapaBear3625

I wasn’t “arguing” for Ted Cruz in that instance, I was poking a hole in that “most successful governor/young Ronald Reagan” nonsense, especially since I worked for President Reagan and resent all the comparisons that people throw about, willy-nilly. There is no Ronald Reagan on the scene today. Not one. But that’s okay, there’s no George Washington or Thomas Jefferson, either.


101 posted on 02/04/2015 7:10:07 AM PST by 2ndDivisionVet (The question isn't who is going to let me; it's who is going to stop me.)
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To: onyx

Scott does not do everything correct and I love Cruz. I would vote for Scott Walker.


102 posted on 02/04/2015 7:11:51 AM PST by bmwcyle (People who do not study history are destine to believe really ignorant statements.)
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To: 2ndDivisionVet
I’ve worked for several flag officers, in and out of uniform, including the late General Al Haig, who were CFR and in some cases in other, less well-known groups. Does that taint me?

Now you've gone from (#92) "Now if you’d told me that Senator Cruz worked at the CFR, I’d scratch my head", to "I've worked for CFR members".

Tell me, did you "scratch your head" over the people you worked for?

It's not that I have anything against CFR, but you are doing an awful lot of "bobbing and weaving" here.

103 posted on 02/04/2015 7:17:21 AM PST by PapaBear3625 (You don't notice it's a police state until the police come for you.)
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To: 2ndDivisionVet
Vanilla is the most popular ice cream flavor in America, not because it is the best (that would be coffee) but because it is the least objectionable.

Rather, it is because it has the most universal appeal and most easily goes with other flavors.

104 posted on 02/04/2015 7:23:37 AM PST by daniel1212 (Come to the Lord Jesus as a contrite damned+destitute sinner, trust Him to save you, then live 4 Him)
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To: PapaBear3625

Almost everyone above O-5 or GS-15 now has some relationship with those groups. It’s inevitable. No one came up to me and said “ ______ we want you to tell us which generals you want to work with and which you have a problem working for, so we know where to assign you.” That ain’t how it works.


105 posted on 02/04/2015 7:27:09 AM PST by 2ndDivisionVet (The question isn't who is going to let me; it's who is going to stop me.)
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

I can’t help but feel that Walker is nothing more than a setup by the gope. And I will not support that disgusting group of people.

Once they realized Christi, Bush, weren’t going to cut it they trotted out Romney. When that didn’t work, its Walker. Then try to garner support with a phoney baloney poll. I will only vote for someone who has already proven he/she has fought the enemy. The enemy is also the R party.


106 posted on 02/04/2015 7:29:00 AM PST by magglepuss (Don't tread on me)
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To: VRWC For Truth
Walker is 100% GOPe. Third term of the Booshies.

You have my curiosity. What are some of the GOPe things Walker has supported, campaigned for, or helped enact?

107 posted on 02/04/2015 7:39:43 AM PST by Balding_Eagle (The Gruber Revelations are proof that God is still smiling on America.)
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To: Balding_Eagle

Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker (R) has been an outspoken opponent of Obamacare, challenging its constitutionality in court and rejecting federal funds to expand Medicaid under the program. But that doesn’t mean he backs the current House GOP strategy to risk shutting down the government over the issue.

Had he been in the senate, looks like he would have been another squishy R senator.


108 posted on 02/04/2015 7:49:56 AM PST by magglepuss (Don't tread on me)
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To: ifinnegan

I agree. Why the use of vanilla? I get what he is saying, but there is nothing vanilla about winning 3 elections in 4 years in a deep blue state.


109 posted on 02/04/2015 7:52:36 AM PST by KC_Conspirator
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To: onyx


110 posted on 02/04/2015 7:55:12 AM PST by trisham (Zen is not easy. It takes effort to attain nothingness. And then what do you have? Bupkis.)
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To: magglepuss

The information you provided doesn’t support the conclusion you posted.

Do you have something more substantive?


111 posted on 02/04/2015 8:00:48 AM PST by Balding_Eagle (The Gruber Revelations are proof that God is still smiling on America.)
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To: Balding_Eagle

So you don’t think that is proof enough. whatever. I haven’t seen you show where he has taken on the establishment. I am just as much against the establishment as I am the left. So there ya go. I will not vote for or support any candidate that doesn’t meet that criteria. You can do what you please.


112 posted on 02/04/2015 8:18:53 AM PST by magglepuss (Don't tread on me)
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To: magglepuss

you should go to youtube and listen to his Iowa speech - the biggest applause Scott Walker got was when he explained that during his governorship they DEFUNDED PLANNED PARENTHOOD!!!! NO other GOP guy has been able to do THIS for those precious babies! He’s got my vote!


113 posted on 02/04/2015 8:51:17 AM PST by princess leah
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To: princess leah
I have listened to his Iowa speech when it was posted. I am not saying I think he is a bad man. I am saying, I want proof of fighting the establishment. The gope plays too many games. There are far too many good people who get in, and then get turned.

I specifically question the poll that came out. I don't trust the gope as far as I can throw them, and have I said I will not vote for or support anyone but someone who has had a history of fighting the establishment. I already posted up thread his comments on not supporting Ted Cruz in defunding Obamacare because he thought it too risky to shut down the govt. This is NOT the type of candidate I am willing to support. Had he come out and supported Cruz in his efforts, I could be persuaded. But looks like another squishy republican. I would really suggest everyone getting behind a candidate with a proven track record of fighting the establishment, or we will be saying Madame President Clinton, because without that, there are just not enough votes left to make it over the finish line. Honestly, the ball is in your court, not mine.

114 posted on 02/04/2015 9:20:01 AM PST by magglepuss (Don't tread on me)
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To: magglepuss

Well said.


115 posted on 02/04/2015 9:21:32 AM PST by trisham (Zen is not easy. It takes effort to attain nothingness. And then what do you have? Bupkis.)
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To: magglepuss

When you are taking flak, you are over the target. The GOPe are the problem, and not the solution.


116 posted on 02/04/2015 9:29:56 AM PST by VRWC For Truth (Roberts has perverted the Constitution)
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To: sickoflibs; 2ndDivisionVet; stephenjohnbanker; BillyBoy; Impy; NFHale; GOPsterinMA
>> What is the point of ONLY supporting those who have lost every single battle against Dems and then blaming their own own failures on their team for their losses?
Unlike the others Walker has beat them on their home ground that drive libs nuts..
Yes, Walker is going to disappoint me many times over.
But he sure won't be an Obama 2.
Get us someone better than him who can beat Jeb and then Hillary.
Get us a shown winner.
<<

Excellent point. Your post demonstrates why so many conservatives are leaning Walker at this point. He had a proven record of winning in an entrenched RAT state AND of enacting AND fighting for conservatives principles in aforementioned RAT state. (I refuse to use the media assigned colors for "blue state")

Can we "trust him" 100% not to support some form of amnesty? No. But unless some Tancredo-style candidate enters the race, there really is no candidate we can trust 100%, and if there was a hypothetical Tancredo-style candidate, its extremely unlikely that person would be able to make it thru the primary, let alone the general election.

Walker is not perfect and there is no doubt some times he will stray from conservative orthodoxy and disappoint us. But he certainly would be 1000 times better than Obama and 100 times better than Jeb.

I can at least say I "trust him" to be MORE conservative overall on immigration that several candidates that were endlessly hyped as conservative saviors by the Levin crowd and self-appointed Tea Party leaders, such as Marco Rubio, Liz Cheney, Rand Paul, and Rick Perry. For example, one of Walker's first acts was to move to cut in-state tuition for illegal aliens in Wisconsin (which had become law before he was Governor), whereas Rick Perry happily signed it into law in his state, and continues to defend it. (and remember, Perry represents a far more conservative constituency than Walker does).

But NOW they're "concerned" that Walker might not be strong enough on immigration. Gee, wish why they been as "concerned" about it when they were touting the others. Any comment that Rand Paul might not be reliable on the issue with his libertarian background was meet with jeers of "you must want the RINO to win!"

117 posted on 02/04/2015 9:38:08 AM PST by BillyBoy (Impeach Obama? Yes We Can!)
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To: magglepuss
Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker (R) has been an outspoken opponent of Obamacare, challenging its constitutionality in court and rejecting federal funds to expand Medicaid under the program. But that doesn’t mean he backs the current House GOP strategy to risk shutting down the government over the issue. Had he been in the senate, looks like he would have been another squishy R senator.

Would the government shutdown have really had a chance of eliminating Obamacare? Or would it only have been grandstanding in order to get cheers from your base?

Walker picked battles he thought he could win, and pushed through to victory.

118 posted on 02/04/2015 10:01:40 AM PST by PapaBear3625 (You don't notice it's a police state until the police come for you.)
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To: BillyBoy

Things have changed since the 2010 elections.

We were told endlessly that we needed to take the house in 2010. Thanks to hard work, and yes sometimes nose holding we did. Nothing happened. Then it was, we need the senate too to accomplish anything. We make that happen, and what good does it do?

First Mississippi, then Boehner... We tried, we really tried. We have done everything the R’s asked of us, and in return we have been stabbed in the back.

Why, seriously should I think it would be any different with a candidate that they are more than likely supporting. I say that because of that stupid bogus poll they put out about Walker.

I know you probably mean well, and are as afraid for our country as I am, but this path is not working.

The left is here to take the willing to socialism, the right is here to take the unwilling to socialism. No more for me. Either way we are going to the same place.

For my vote, anti-establishment only need apply.


119 posted on 02/04/2015 10:05:25 AM PST by magglepuss (Don't tread on me)
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To: PapaBear3625

Would the government shutdown have really had a chance of eliminating Obamacare? Or would it only have been grandstanding in order to get cheers from your base?

Walker picked battles he thought he could win, and pushed through to victory.

Walker could have said he was not in the senate and will let them make that decision. But he didn’t. He took a side. He sided with the establishment.

Look, if you like the Boehner and McConnel, well good on ya. but I don’t.


120 posted on 02/04/2015 10:09:47 AM PST by magglepuss (Don't tread on me)
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