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.
You bet, and in 8 years as Milwaukee County Executive, he’s been up against unions before.
If he caves now after all he’s said, his political career will be finished. He won’t, but not for that reason. He won’t cave because he is a man of conviction - a true leader.
Exactly.
Stand firm, Gov. Walker! Just like Ronald Reagan did with the air traffic controllers back in 1981...
And of course Coolidge was a known entity. His speech as Speaker of the Massachusetts House was an inspiring statement of the purposes of republican government. Moderately progressive in a “Taftian” way. Avoids the reefs of TR and the rocks of Wilson. How our country would have benefited if the similar views of Hughes had been taken to the White House. Taft rather than Wilson would have led the US delegate to Paris in 1919.
And of course Coolidge was a known entity. His speech as Speaker of the Massachusetts House was an inspiring statement of the purposes of republican government. Moderately progressive in a “Taftian” way. Avoids the reefs of TR and the rocks of Wilson. How our country would have benefited if the similar views of Hughes had been taken to the White House. Taft rather than Wilson would have led the US delegate to Paris in 1919.
Walker will never cave!
Walker is a big tea party man and is like Palin! Scott Walker is the only man in politics that is like Sarah Palin! He tells the truth, does what he says and is conservative in all areas! The Governor of New Jersey can’t touch Walker on his conservative credentials!
Scott Walker will be the next Reagan after Palin! He will make the conservatives proud! Believe me down the road pissant won’t like him too!, when he runs for President! GOD BLESS Scott Walker!
This guy needs...absolutely needs a swift kick in the nuts!
This guy needs...absolutely needs a swift kick in the nuts!
Scott”Rino”Brown didn’t come close to doing anything like this and has proven he is not even close to doing anything like this time and time again.
Both of your posts are very encouraging. And I assume you are a Milwaukee local and have watched him up close. Heaven knows this nation is in desperate need of real, principled leadership. Christie in New Jersey holds to his fiscal conservative points but from what I see he is no conservative in many other areas. If Governor Walker fits the bill - and your description seems to support the notion that he does - then he will certainly have my support.
Either you left off the sarcasm tag or you haven't spent much time down south!
Wow! Awesome clip. Thanks for posting.
This IS in Wisconsin, right???
You mean Wisconsin Baptists don’t drink? ;^)
They want to be like Jesus and drink pure fresh grape juice, straight from the fermentation-free vineyards of Welch’s.
I hope that you’re right - for Wisconsin, for Walker himself, but also for the country. This is the opening battle of CWII. It is largely peaceful (other than the SEIU thugs), but which ever side wins here can look forward to more wins down the pike. Many other states are in the sad fiscal condition that WI is in, and if they cannot control costs and do so very, very soon, then the jig is up. At that point, either the Feds back them up (in which case I’m seriously considering not paying my taxes), or the states go belly up (even though they cannot legally do so).
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