That’s my take as well.
Honestly, other than his stance against the Unions, I’m not to savvy about Walker. What’s his stance on illegal immigration?
That is generally a decent indicator.
He used to support a path to citizenship but his stance seems to be stiffening. He’s more in line with border security and taking the lure away now.
“Honestly, other than his stance against the Unions, I’m not to savvy about Walker. What’s his stance on illegal immigration?”
His stance on illegal immigration doesn’t make any difference. The issue was settled when the GOP agreed to fund Obama’s executive amnesty. The only decision for the next President is whether or not to secure the border and stop the flow, or keep it open and let millions more “citizens in waiting” to come in. The two Republican presidents we’ve had since Reagan (father and son Bush) were both easy on border enforcement and illegal immigration. Quite frankly the Republican Party surrendered on illegal immigration this year and no Republican President going forward will be able to reverse what has been done.
On most other issues his positions are conservative. Plus he is a fighter. He has taken on the unions and won in union state. He has slashed government spending. He beat back a strongly organized and funded recall effort by the left. Unlike Bush, McCain, Romney, and other Republican leaders he responds forcefully to the left’s attacks on him and his policies.
There are so many things broken and destroyed in this country and no conservative politician can deal with every issue. Instead of demanding ideological purity on every issue, I’m asking if the candidate will stand up and fight on any issue he feels is critical to good governance. With respect to Jeb Bush, the answer is no. Walker and Cruz have demonstrated they will stand tall in the face of a vicious and sustained assault by Democrats and their allies in the media.
Walker has executive experience. He’s managed a government bureaucracy and he has beaten Democrats at the governing game. Cruz has no executive experience. He will stand tall and not back off his positions. However, he has no legislative victories.
From my perspective the highest priority is fiscal responsibility. We have to bring the budget into balance and stop accumulating debt. If we don’t, we’ll lose reserve currency status for the dollar and our economy will ultimately collapse. Entitlement spending must be reigned. The battle to accomplish this task alone will consume any President. Gay marriage, immigration, abortion and other issues are secondary to this one.
Walker is the only GOP candidate I see who has demonstrated an ability to fight for and achieve responsible budgeting and spending by government. He has actually taken on the bureaucracy and still lives.
Looking at Cruz versus Walker, I like where Cruz stands on more issues. However, on the one issue I think matters most, Walker has a strong record of fiscal responsibility and the battle scars to show for it.
Walker opposes illegal immigration, as he’s stated innumerable times. That fact seems to have escaped the notice of some FReepers.
I tend to use the second amendment as my "indicator." It is a good way to identify those that agree with me that government is really the enemy, or at least the potential enemy. If you oppose guns, you are either uneducated or the enemy. If you are ok with guns, but emphasize hunting or personal protection, then you are likely just uneducated. If you acknowledge that guns protect citizens from enemies, foreign and domestic (including the government), then I agree with you.
I use this when selecting books for my kids' schooling. I use this when listening to politicians. I use this when identifying friends (and enemies).
The problem I have with using illegal immigration is that in many parts of the country it is not a significant local issue. I moved from Southern California to Wisconsin. Night and day the difference is. Funniest thing to me was seeing white people doing landscaping.
With Walker focusing on Wisconsin problems it probably never entered his mind as an issue. Now that he is looking at national issues, he is having to form an opinion on this and many other non-Wisconsin things. It appears that he is forming correct opinions. Unfortunately a "gotcha" attempt, along with selective quoting, makes it seem he is softer than he appears to really be.
It will be interesting to watch as he figures out his positions on these things.