Posted on 02/22/2011 9:59:01 AM PST by milwguy
A head-on collision with the labor movement has turned the rookie Republican governor of a Midwestern state into an overnight superstar.
Barely a month after his inauguration, Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker already has prospective presidential candidates stampeding to help him. In today's turbocharged political climate, fueled by constant chatter on cable television and the Internet, can talk of a vice presidential bid be far behind for the man who two months ago was a little-known county executive?
“If you had suggested that about Scott Walker 10 days [ago] it would have seemed incomprehensible,’’ Byron Shafer, political science professor at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, told National Journal. “Stay tuned and ask me again in another 10 days."
Walker was the lead guest on Fox News Sunday; on Monday, MSNBC boasted of a “cable exclusive’’ with him. He's become one of the most sought-after politicians in the country ever since his plan to balance Wisconsin's budget by slashing labor costs sparked days of protests by tens of thousands of union workers in the state capitol.
Likely presidential candidates from Rick Santorum to Tim Pawlenty to Mitt Romney have clamored to offer support. Organized labor is a favorite target of the right, making Walker's fight a popular rallying point. Not to mention that budget balancing has become sacred political ground for the Republican Party.
Enhancing Walker's potential as a kingmaker: His state's potentially pivotal role in 2012. Wisconsin hasn’t voted for a Republican presidential candidate since Ronald Reagan in 1984, but close elections in 2000 and 2004 have made it a battleground state.
America needs someone who stands up for America’s survival.
We must all sacrifice. Obama says so.
It only took his powerful response to the police strike to elevate Calvin Coolidge. Of course, Coolidge had been a major state player for more than a decade.
Looks like Walker got thrust into a Reaganesque position. Don’t think he’s going to fold — most of the people of Wisconsin have his back and the GOP’s back, and are fed up with these schoolchildren masquerading as teachers. Now THAT is what I call (well as close to it as you can get in a republic) “DEMOCRACY.” It has got to be so ironic to those who spew the word and have no idea what it actually means.
Does this mean that the school year will be extended well into the summer..? I sure hope so...
WALKER! Wisconsin RANGER!
He’ll be a rising star if he doesn’t cave. If he does, he’s toast.
Are you in Milwaukee? If so, what’s the word on the street...are folks saying Walker is going to win?
Coolidge is also a caution. Before buoying Walker up to the post of national hero ready to right all of Obama’s wrongs, I’d want to know more about his philosophies. Though it would be tough for Walker to be WORSE than the Huckster or the Mittster.
Wisconsin needs him and all of our Repubs. We have a really strong bench coming up.
Pray for America
Walker’s sudden rise is more a comment on the dearth of leadership in this country than anything else. There were similar spasms of enthusiasm for Scott Brown and Arnold immediately after the elections that put them into office. Recall also some such flurries for Fred Thompson and Giuliani. It may be that Walker is the real deal but it will take time to find out. I am very encouraged by his adamant stand in the present situation and if he can see this through to a successful conclusion it will go far to elevating him to the national stage. But I don’t know anything about his stand on other matters. But it sure would be nice to discover a principled conservative with courage who is competent, articulate and persuasive. I hope Governor Walker fits the bill. Such people are few and far between.
You will find NOTHING that is not conservative about Walker. Immigration, Right to Life, Fiscal sanity, etc. He is a midwest CONSERVATIVE not a RINO.
Cue Nancy Sinatra... these boots were made for Walkin’, and that’s just what they’ll do — one of these days these boots are gonna Walk all over you... meaning the Big Eared Kenyan
Eagle Scout, son of a Baptist minister, and not a hint of scandal in his past. He is the real deal, you will not see him back down, it is not in his DNA to not stand for what he believes, no matter the pressure.
I would just add that he has been on MSNBC, a hostile network, not just FOX. He relishes the chance to go toe to toe with the liberals and if you watch the Morning Joe interview today, he not only slaps down their points, he takes a shot at Chuckie Schumer, who was dissing him just before he came on.
Watch for yourself and see how confident he is under pressure
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KgOmpIR7Uns&feature=player_embedded
I’d say buy that guy a beer, but Baptists don’t drink.
bookmark
One more point......Walker walks the walk. When he was elected County Exec in Milwaukee County, he said the salary was out of whack for the job. Over the next 8 years he gave BACK almost half his aalary or $370000 over 8 years. Name ONE other politician who has done that (Walker is NOT wealthy, has 2 kids in high school)
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