General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsThe Progressive: Walker Has "The Right Stuff" For GOP Presidential Bid
http://www.progressive.org/news/2015/02/187992/walker-has-right-stuff-gop-presidential-bidSeen in this light, all of the extreme, unconstitutional, and potentially illegal actions Walkers administration has undertaken make a twisted kind of sense. His slash-and-burn policies of the past four years have nothing to do with responsible state governance. But they do signal to billionaire GOP campaign donors that he is willing to ride roughshod over the needs of the people in Wisconsin to prove that he can do the two things required of any contender for top office: Concentrate power in the executive office and redistribute wealth upwards.
Those were the hallmarks of the George W. Bush administrations and they have been the twin pillars of Walkers reign as Wisconsins Governor. After four years of administrative power grabs, regressive social policies, and massive tax cuts and giveaways to the wealthy, it is clear that Walkers view of the people, institutions, and resources of Wisconsin amounts to not much more than grist for his political ambition mill.
Rolling back voting rights, environmental and consumer protections, workers rights, health care, food and housing supports for people in need, and womens rights while systematically dismantling public education are not the actions of an administration that plans on sticking around to manage the fallout.
Octafish
(55,745 posts)Jebthro and Eddie Munster: the pair is still not worth a bucket of warm spit, but they don't mind.
Jackpine Radical
(45,274 posts)He not only has the (far-)"right stuff" for the Tea Party, but the moneyed folk know he is theirs.
The bankers get their deregulation, fossil fuel industry ditto, he'll push to outlaw wind turbines (has virtually done so in WI), etc.
To refresh an old lawyer joke,
What's the difference between a rat & Scott Walker?--There are some things you can't bribe a rat to do.
Octafish
(55,745 posts)Walker needs time to get his bachelor's straightened out, otherwise he'll pull a Dan Quayle when asked, "Why didn't you finish college?"
I feel sorry for most rats. That one, not so much.
Jackpine Radical
(45,274 posts)JEB's problem is that he's not quite wacko enough for the Tea Party. Immigration, for one thing.
Walker, on the other hand, sucks in the rubes, rednecks and other assorted semiliterates in the population. They LOVED the way he beat down the teachers & state employees.
A vote for Walker was a vote against all those teachers who had tormented them all those years ago.
A vote for Walker was a chance to give all those wiseass state bureaucrats a comeuppance.
So, actually, Walker's educational history might play as a strength in some crowds.
It's that old Adlai Stevenson thing about "every thinking person"
LondonReign2
(5,213 posts)Before he dropped out of course. Asshole ran for student body president. The school paper came out against him for unethical behavior. Little pecker hasn't improved since then.
Jackpine Radical
(45,274 posts)LondonReign2
(5,213 posts)What stands out in my memory is him personally and what a nasty little weasel he was even then.
dhill926
(16,339 posts)not to be shallow about it (although it is national politics we're talking about), but he's a goofy looking fucker. Maybe VP but prez? I don't know.
Jackpine Radical
(45,274 posts)But apparently not everyone sees him that way. The media keep describing him as attractive. Maybe they're trying to realign our perceptions, like they did with Cheney's sneer (describing it as a wry little smile).
dhill926
(16,339 posts)because I think he is dangerous.
Jackpine Radical
(45,274 posts)That's what I been trying to tell people.
hifiguy
(33,688 posts)no one else has - the full backing of the Kochtopus and its billions and organizational clout. Which he should have - he is a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Kochs. (Just as HRC is of Wall $treet and her bankster BFFs. What a fucking depressing election 2016 is going to be. Shitty and shittier is no choice.)
Jackpine Radical
(45,274 posts)NightWatcher
(39,343 posts)Shoot him off the planet and watch our collective IQ tick up by a few points.
vankuria
(904 posts)That we could actually have a Pres. who is a college dropout??? Very sad commentary on our country.