Posted on 03/09/2015 8:38:11 AM PDT by SoConPubbie
Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker, R-Wis., was speaking to Iowa farmers over the weekend and, as the Washington Examiner's Rebecca Berg reported, he shifted his position on ending the mandate that fuel contain ethanol.
Though he previously indicated opposition to the mandate, now visiting Iowa as a likely presidential candidate, Walker said, "It's something I'm willing to go forward on, continuing the Renewable Fuel Standard." The fact that he later floated the possibility of phasing it out didn't help the damage that was done to his reputation.
The ethanol mandate has little rationale beyond being a big government regulatory handout to farmers, many of whom happen to reside in a state with the first presidential nominating contest.
Walker's move not only was a deep disappointment to economic conservatives who, based on his record in Wisconsin, see him as a principled supporter of limited government, it also undermines one of the central rationales of his candidacy.
The governor vaulted to the top of Republican presidential pack based on his record of fighting special interests, particularly public sector unions. The logic of his candidacy is if he was willing to stand up for what he thinks is right — in the face of an organized campaign to destroy him by the national Left — then he can do so on a larger stage.
The concept of "political courage" was a theme of his 2012 recall election in Wisconsin, and this time around, he's trying to highlight this character trait as a way to make up for his lack of experience with national and foreign policy issues.
"If I can take on 100,000 protesters, I can do the same across the world," Walker said at the Conservative Political Action Conference last month in response to a question about the Islamic State.
Though it was clumsily worded, the message he was attempting to send was that even though it may take him some time to get better up to speed on international affairs, he's demonstrated the character to be commander in chief.
Along these lines, my colleague Byron York also quoted Walker at a Club for Growth conference last month as saying, "Foreign policy is something that's not just about having a Ph.D or talking to Ph.Ds. It's about leadership."
Despite his well-deserved reputation for bold leadership in Wisconsin, on the campaign trail so far, Walker has started to become more defined by his pandering.
The comments to Iowa farmers come in the wake of his reversal on immigration and his muddled answers on the Export-Import Bank, Department of Homeland Security funding and other issues. His goal seems to be to avoid offending anybody. True, this, to some extent, is to be expected in any presidential campaign.
But if one of the arguments Walker is going to make to those who say he isn't ready for the international stage is that, like Ronald Reagan before him, he's a governor with strong convictions, he's going to have to take stands that are unpopular among some audiences. And the fuel standard seems like an easy one.Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, spoke at the same conference, but he came out against the standard. "There are a lot of politicians who are going to tell you whatever you want to hear," Cruz said. "I'm willing to bet I'm not the only person here who's been disappointed with politicians in Washington, who's tired of people blowing smoke."
Whatever support Walker may have lost among the Iowa agricultural community by taking a similar line, he would have gained respect among economic conservatives and reinforced his Image of somebody willing to fight special interests.
To turn his own argument against him: If Walker can't stand up to Iowans, how will he stand up to the Islamic State?
What we see is Walker being hoisted on his own petard. He's back-tracked on two significant issues; the media didn't make that up.
We have no idea how “the crowd” reacted to Cruz, but ethanol is the golden calf to Iowa. Iowa gets little on gov’t grift; the coasts get billions in welfare and EBT funds.
Iowa makes out quite nicely, from agricultural subsidies, crop insurance programs, as well as the ethanol mandate. But OK, say you're right. If Walker is changing his position to suit the voters of Iowa then what positions will he change to suit the voters in Texas and Pennsylvania and California and Michigan? We don't know what he won't change to pander for votes. That is not what I want for president.
“Ethanol use in engines as an additive is a personal effrontery to me, its having caused me so much trouble with my small engines and O2 sensors on 4 vehicles thus far. To me, pandering to a bunch of Iowa farmers and processors really gets my goat.”
Gaffer, you’ve broken the code. Farmers have been “feeding at the government trough” for decades. They need to be weaned off of all the subsidies they get. The old song “I don’t plant cotton, I don’t plant taters, cuz I get paid by the legislators, for growin nuttin,” is all too true! Seemingly, everyone is bent on getting something for nothing from the government. But I guess I understand even a guy like Walker finds it necessary to pander to various groups if he is to have any hope of getting elected, and despite this stuff, we could do a whole lot worse (can you say JEB, Huck, Rubio).
..let Cruz start to pull ahead and they will do the same thing to him.
This is not good for Walker. And I've been a huge backer of Walker since he first got elected.
Walker said that he is in favor of a gradual phase out of ethanol.
I’ve become very proficient and knowledgeable about how to repair the effects of it in small engines, particularly in 2-cycle engines. With them the effects of ethanol are more drastic because of the small carburetor holes and the very thin gaskets used, some involving reed-like action to work properly. Coupled with replacing gas lines better suited to caustic fuel....
That really happened. All of the other wanabees have speeches/positions/promises...no tangible action.
Scott Walker will prevail in spite of Leftist whiners and Libertarian wackos.
No more lying, pandering, shifting, scumbag politicians.
Tell the truth, stick to your principles, be very confident, and you will probably win.
If we cannot win on the precepts of freedom and small government, the founding principles, then it is time for a social reboot.
If he panders on corn welfare he will pander on everything else.
It is a commodity. The seller doesn't change his price for the buyer. They buyer doesn't pay more than the market price.
Later? As in the next sentence? LOL
About one-third of corn used for ethanol ends up as cheap animal food anyway. Ethanol actually subsidizes that animal feed.
Corn acres had been declining for decades until ethanol. Iowa will grow corn regardless of ethanol. Areas outside the Corn Belt will be the producers that cut back.
It’s like surgery. The surgeon is going to tell you how to fix your problem
He’s going to do some wacky things to you and it’s going to hurt and it will cost a lot even with insurance
You’re going to agree go his terms because the time for trusting quacks is over
The guy who confidently and with a record to prove it will get the job and to do the job it will take an enormous intellect he’ll be up against a lot of complications fighting a long growing disease
And that is NOT Scott walker no way
Put him I. Charge of the job of getting rid of corruption in unions. Good that’s necessary. It’s number 53 on a list of items killing this country
Taking your odd analogy to the next step, if the wacky doctor says he's going to remove my appendix, then say he's not going to remove it, and says he's going to remove a tumor, then say he's decided the tumor can stay, then I'm not going to agree with him because he could well be a quack. I'm going to look for a doctor who diagnoses a problem and then stays with the course of treatment.
Thank you for appreciating the wackiness - you are going to go with a guy with a proven record, who doesn’t entertain discussions, he’s too busy, and who is enough of a discriminating b****rd to have only a top notch surgical team including the all important anesthetist
Yes
Correct, Dr. Ted Cruz.
Then you better damn do well in the other 49 States whom are tired of paying to have their motors and mileage destroyed.
If THIS is what it takes to get into office, the GOP can HAVE Walker....principled my @ss.
He’s the guy who is not afraid or in any other way hindered to tell you you have a problem and one that needs to be fixed, now. You know you have a
Problem but no one that can fix it has stepped up. Now here he is and you’re going to go along with his lead
It’s a metaphor
But these things parallel each other- health and well being of the sick person: MD:: H & WB of the sick nation: statesman
Admit the problem honestly, learn it’s nature, develop a plan based on history and logic, gather cooperative, like-minded personnel and materials, fix it. Practice Self discipline, Close the door to distractions, obstacles, infectious agent. Scrub up, gown up, turn on the classical music and get to work. Check on pt in 24 hrs then 48 then a week, be working on the next pt
It’s going to happen sooner or later later is when it’s worse- the deficit the corruption the government school brainwashing. The dynastic corruption, imbedded chronic infections - Bushococci, Clintonaureus
Does the surgeon have to be cute and charismatic? No and preferably not
Well it’s not Scott walker, not Romney nor methicillin-resistant bushaureus,
not rand Paul even though he is a medical doctor it’s a statesman not a politician that is called for. And they are rare
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