Patterico's Pontifications

3/1/2015

Scott Walker Answers Some Straightforward Questions

Filed under: General — Dana @ 1:51 pm



[guest post by Dana]

Scott Walker, runner-up behind Rand Paul in the straw poll at CPAC, as well as currently leading in national polls, appeared on Fox News Sunday with Chris Wallace. I’ve posted the more significant portions of the Q&A time. Questions about Obama’s faith and love of country are not included as I don’t believe them relevant in any way. Further, I have also excluded questions about Walker’s clumsily worded response about protesters and ISIS as he has already clarified his statement.

Using ground forces to combat ISIS:

WALLACE: All right. Let’s talk about leadership. You’re president of the United States right now.

Would you commit U.S. ground forces to combat ISIS in any way, shape or form?

WALKER: I believe we should not take any action off the table. I don’t want to run into the war. I’ve got a bunch of bracelets on my wrist, these Gold Star families, people who’ve given them to me at the funerals of their sons. And certainly I’m not eager to go do another one of those — those funerals in the future.

But by the same token, I don’t want any of these men or any other men and women like them to have died in vain. I think when we look at that and say there’s radical Islamic terrorism, it’s like a virus, we needed to be prepared to do what it takes to make sure it doesn’t spread.

WALLACE: You’re president today. You talk about leadership.

Would you commit U.S. ground forces, whether it’s a full-scale invasion, whether it’s Special Forces? Would you commit U.S. ground forces to a combat role?

WALKER: For me to do something like that would require a number of things.

Listening to the chain of command, particularly the Joint Chiefs, your national security advisers and others, as to what’s necessary and listening to the people who are actually out in the field is the best way to do that.

But then also bring together a coalition. Certainly, reaffirming our major asset, our major ally in the region, that being Israel, but also our other allies around the world.

We were just with David Cameron, the prime minister of the United Kingdom, a few weeks ago. I think increasingly, the Saudis and the Turks. There is a way we could put together a global coalition to take this on.

Fiscal conservatism:

WALLACE: You say that you’re a fiscal conservative. But the latest projection, two — two year out projection from the state of Wisconsin is that you’re going to face a $2 billion budget shortfall. That sure doesn’t sound conservative.

WALKER: Well, that’s the state budgeting in the sense that when the fall request came in for every agency, including those that I don’t control came out — I mean the total tally, if I gave them everything.

The budget I presented on February 3rd to the state legislature actually ends that two-year period with a $123 million surplus, just like I finished each of the last four years.

WALLACE: But part of the way that you balance the budget, get rid of the $2 billion budget shortfall, is that you cut funding, state funding for the University of Wisconsin higher education system by 13 percent. You cut funding for the state parks system by 28 percent.

Governor, are those your priorities?

WALKER: What I’m doing with the University of Wisconsin system, a system I care about because I’ve got a son who attends one of those campuses, is I’m giving them the same sorts of tools I gave to public education four years ago. Four years ago, the same critics said that was going to devastate public education. I took away seniority in tenure and now, we can hire and fire based on merit. We can pay based on performance. We can put the best and the brightest in our classrooms –

WALLACE: But the University of Wisconsin says they’re going to have to raise tuition on students.

WALKER: But they’re not. We have a two-year tuition freeze.

WALLACE: I know but they’re saying after that.

WALKER: Going forward, we have a cap on it tied to inflation. And so, we will be much more affordable than just about any other campus in America.

And the reason I point out the schools is they said that it was going to lead to doom and gloom. Our graduation rates are higher. Our third grade reading scores are up. Our ACT scores at second best in the country.

We believe it’s not about austerity, it’s about reform. In Washington, they talk about cutting things. That’s about austerity. And what we’ve done in Wisconsin is push reforms. The reforms that worked before will work here.

WALLACE: While you’ve rolled back collective bargaining rights for public worker unions, during your reelection campaign, you said that a right to work law for private unions would be a distraction.

WALKER: It would bring in another group of protesters in large volume to the capital would distract from all the other things, tax reform, education reform, entitlement reform, UW reform all the things we want to do going forward.

WALLACE: Now, the Republican legislature is fast tracking right to work and you say you’re going to sign it.

Why the flip?

WALKER: Well, it’s not a flip. It’s I was a sponsor in the legislature. I never said I’d veto it. I asked for them not to make it a distraction early on in the session. I presented my budget, I laid out my agenda, they’re acting on that right now. Now is the perfect time.

So, it’s in the midst of the early things they brought up and the things that will come up —

WALLACE: So, why is it the distraction during the election campaign, but it isn’t now?

WALKER: I laid — well, I laid out early on, the things that I wanted to do with education reform, tax reform, entitlement reforms. We’ve been able to lay out on the table. It is a perfect time now because the legislature is not acting on those things in the budget, and will have signed it by next week.

Abortion:

WALLACE: Your critics accuse you of another flip. They note the fact that during the reelection campaign, when you were running against a woman, you ran this ad.

WALKER: There’s no doubt in my mind the decision of whether or not to end a pregnancy is an agonizing one. That’s why I support legislation to increase safety and provide more information for a woman considering her options. The bill leaves the final decision to a woman and her doctor.

WALLACE: Do you believe that a woman has a right to end a pregnancy at any point during those nine months?

WALKER: Well, I think ultimately, I mean pro-life because that’s an unborn child. When I think of the ultrasound picture that Tonette, my wife, and I saw of our first son, who’s now going to be 21 this June, it’s indistinguishable not to recognize that it’s a human life. That’s why I’m pro-life.

My point is we acted on the grounds that we have legally to be able to act under the Supreme Court’s decision. We’ll act that way at the federal level if we were in a position like that, as well.

But ultimately, it is a life.

WALLACE: But ultimately it’s her choice?

WALKER: Well, legally, that’s what it is under the guidelines that was provided from the Supreme Court.

WALLACE: And would you change that law?

WALKER: Well, I — that’s not a change you can make. The Supreme Court ultimately has made that.

I believe in the right to life and I believe that there are other things that can be done at both the state and the federal level.

Amnesty:

WALLACE: Over the years, you have supported comprehensive immigration reform and a right to citizenship for people who pay penalties. And this for the 11 million people who are in this country illegally.

Here’s what you said to a Wisconsin newspaper in 2013.

WAUSAU DAILY HERALD: Can you envision a world where with the right penalties and waiting periods and meet the requirements, where those people can get citizenship?

WALKER: Sure, yes. I mean, I think it makes sense.

WALLACE: Question, isn’t that amnesty?

WALKER: Well, I don’t believe in amnesty. And part of the reason why I made that a firm position is I look at the way that this president has mishandled that issue. I’m one of the governors that joined — I was one of the first governors that joined the lawsuit that has been successful, at least on this initial technicality. And I hope we prevail ultimately throughout the courts.

And then going forward, I think the way you enforce it is not through amnesty. I think the better approach is to enforce the laws and to give employers, job creators, the tools like E-Verify and other things, to make sure the law is being upheld going forward.

WALLACE: The question was, can you envision a world where if these people paid a penalty, that they would have a path to citizenship? And you said, sure, that makes sense.

WALKER: I believe there’s a way that you can do that. First and foremost, you’ve got to secure that border or none of these plans make any sense.

WALLACE: But it’s a little bit slippery here. Back when you were the Milwaukee County executive, you actually supported the Kennedy-McCain comprehensive immigration plan.

Are you basically saying as part of a comprehensive plan, tough enforcement, E-Verify, the 11 million people already here paid penalty, they get citizenship?

WALKER: No, I’m not talking about amnesty. And even I said the reason for that is over time —

(CROSSTALK)

WALLACE: But you said you supported it.

WALKER: And my view has changed. I’m flat out saying it. I’m — candidates can say that. Sometimes they don’t. I’m saying my —

WALLACE: So, you’ve changed from 2013?

WALKER: Absolutely. I look at the problems we’ve experienced for the last few years. I’ve talked to governors on the border and others out there. I’ve talked to people all across America.

And the concerns I have is that we need to secure the border. We ultimately need to put in place a system that works. A legal immigration system that works.

And part of doing this is put the onus on employers, getting them E-Verify and tools to do that. But I don’t think you do it through amnesty.

On being target of the week:

WALLACE: Are you surprised that you have come under so much fire so early? And in a sense, do you see it as a back-handed compliment that perhaps the other side — Democrats, liberals — are afraid of you?

WALKER: Oh, I think there’s no doubt about it. I mean if they look at Wisconsin, we didn’t just win three times in four years. We won the highest percentage of any Republican governor in the country of Republican voters.

But that’s not enough to win the Wisconsin. I had to take almost a 12-point margin with Independent voters in the state of Wisconsin, in a state that hasn’t gone Republican for president literally since 1984, not only when I was in high school, but as I joked yesterday, I had a full head of hair at that point.

To me, I — I think voters recognize that people in the center want, in many ways, what many people in the base of the Republican Party want. And that’s not a litany of issues. What they want is someone who is going to fight and win for them, someone who is going to tell them what they’re going to do and then ultimately go out and lead.

There’s more at the link.

–Dana

70 Responses to “Scott Walker Answers Some Straightforward Questions”

  1. Hello.

    Dana (86e864)

  2. Pretty good answers on all of them although immigration is a bit weak. Nobody will say that what will happen is that, after the border is controlled, for real, we will let those illegals who have stayed out of trouble and paid their bills, etc. stay as legal residents. You can’t say that because nobody trusts anybody on this issue. The criminals and welfare cheats will get deported.

    The Democrats will fight this as they believe, like the Labour Party did in UK in the 90s, that the Muslims would vote Labour. They imported terrible social problems that they cannot yet admit.

    What amazes me is the blacks’ passive acceptance of this push to the back of the bus.

    When I was in surgery practice, we adopted Harry Truman’s motto. He said that a Roman Senator’s decline began when he “Took his friends for granted and tried to bribe his enemies.” You never take your loyal friends for granted.

    Obama’s foreign policy is just the opposite.

    Mike K (90dfdc)

  3. CPAC is an ignorant anti-gay white trash hate group

    and look at them showering the love on anti-vaxxer trash like Paul

    they squick me out, these CPAC people do

    happyfeet (831175)

  4. chica bomb

    happyfeet (831175)

  5. This is the reason I’ve endorsed Scott Walker since the very first time I heard him speak. Not being a college graduate is, to me, just icing on the cake. The most educated people I know and the most educated people in government all see to be the biggest dumbasses on the planet.

    Hoagie (58a3ec)

  6. CPAC is an ignorant anti-gay white trash hate group

    Oh look at you sounding just like a Dem perpetuating a negative – and incorrect – stereotyping.

    Dana (86e864)

  7. Eh… stereotype, not stereotyping.

    Dana (86e864)

  8. Doc, I believe that Gov. Walker has endorsed the use of e-Verify by ALL employers to deal with the post-border situation, and to putting some teeth into the laws applicable to employers who violate the provisions of it.

    askeptic (efcf22)

  9. i can’t belief you just said that

    happyfeet (831175)

  10. i’m the least Dem-like person you know

    i don’t even recycle

    happyfeet (831175)

  11. Heretic!
    To the Gallows with him.

    askeptic (efcf22)

  12. As someone who has been described as to the Right of Attila the Hun, I must confess I do recycle, if there is a CRV involved. I might be a RW Bigot, buy I am Penurious.

    askeptic (efcf22)

  13. Dana–speaking of CPAC did you see this blog post on the fashions of CPAC containing lots of pictures? Some in the comment section weren’t too happy but I kind of enjoyed it.

    http://dailycaller.com/2015/02/27/the-fashion-plates-of-cpac-cat-calls-optional/

    elissa (6ba77d)

  14. i cut back on charity stuff and volunteerings and doing the recycles after food stamp was re-elected

    the only thing i really do anymore is amazon smile sometimes

    happyfeet (831175)

  15. “I don’t believe in amnesty,” Walker told “Fox News Sunday.” ”My view has changed. I’m flat out saying it. Candidates can say that.”

    how telling that Walker can straight-out admit that his views on immigration have changed and the media jumps to the inflammatory “flip-flop” label. However, when Obama changed his views on gay marriage – and for cynical political expediency – he referred to it as “having evolved” and the media ran with that. The right journos called him a flip-flopped, but I don’t recall the left media doing so.

    Dana (86e864)

  16. Eh, I’m using an iPad. And clearly, clumsily so.

    Dana (86e864)

  17. I am Penurious.
    askeptic (efcf22) — 3/1/2015 @ 2:28 pm

    I am surprised you made such an admission to the public…

    I thought his answers were good. I think it was clear that he disagrees with abortion, but he is not going to go beyond what he could or could not do as president anyway.

    I liked the info about the budget, as I had seen the claim that his previous tax cuts had put them into a $2 billion deficit.

    I think he is ready for prime time, and he will make the MSM go into fits of frustration that they will need to make stuff up since they can’t trip him up.

    MD in Philly (f9371b)

  18. Here.

    Dana (86e864)

  19. i’m perfectly comfortable with Mr. Governor Scott Walker’s lifeydoodle idiosyncrasies

    now let’s get this show on the road

    happyfeet (831175)

  20. chop chop, wisco

    you in primetime now baby

    happyfeet (831175)

  21. sunday giggle

    If things never get any worse for Jeb Bush than they did at the Conservative Political Action Conference on Friday, he’s in pretty good shape to make a strong run at the GOP presidential nomination in 2016.*

    because what failmerica wants is more bushfilth rammed up its ass good and hard

    happyfeet (831175)

  22. Let me begin by saying that I like Walker and could easily accept him as the nominee, but can we trust him on immigration? Even if we and he believes what he says now, how long will it last in DC?

    DRJ (e80d46)

  23. oh goodness yes we can trust Mr. Governor Scott Walker

    but if poor cowardly Team R keeps putting stale pusillanimous losers like Boehner and McConnell in leadership, and returning cowardly disgraced brainwashed trash like John McCain to office, to say nothing of Sarah Palin’s other tired geriatric boy toy Orrin Hatch, there’s only so much even a Mr. Governor Scott Walker can do

    happyfeet (831175)

  24. the Republican Party is deeply

    deeply

    troubled

    sick sad and consumed with a lust for young latino boys

    happyfeet (831175)

  25. Walker is the new Cruz for the media street walkers.

    mg (31009b)

  26. When I read the lardass from fox hired Wallace, I lmao His arrogance seeped through all the questions.

    mg (31009b)

  27. The Democrats will fight this as they believe, like the Labour Party did in UK in the 90s, that the Muslims would vote Labour. They imported terrible social problems that they cannot yet admit.

    What amazes me is the blacks’ passive acceptance of this push to the back of the bus.

    No matter how bad things get or become, a large portion of black America will remain firmly of the left. Perhaps the percentages may change, going from 90-plus percent in favor of the Democrat Party to 80-plus percent or — miracle of miracles — 70-plus percent at best. But a huge portion of that community will remain blindly wedded to the left.

    It’s a cautionary tale, evident beyond black America and seen in recent polling data that illustrates quite a bit of the US populace in general apparently subscribing to the idea that liberals/Democrats always deserve more benefit of the doubt no matter how bad they are or how bad things become—ie, Sniper-Fire Hillary triggering warm, gushy feelings, Obama doing better at the 7th-year-mark of his administration than Bush Jr did.

    Euro-sclerosis, Argentina-ism and Mexico Disease all rolled into one.

    Mark (c160ec)

  28. hf

    I think CPAC is light years better than that hate America-fest YearlyKos Markos Moulitsas ran.
    Personally, if I was gay and was neighborly, I’d rather have the Duck Dynasty guys for a neighbor than Markos.
    I wouldn’t ask them to do a Duck Dynasty float in the gay pride parade, but they’d feed my dog and shoot at anyone who tried to steal my TV set and my Glee and Gidget collections while I was off in Brazil chasing latino boys for Carnival

    steveg (794291)

  29. Monroe Louisiana smells like rotting cabbage

    the duck people live in West Monroe where the stank is much less pronounced

    but if I’m a live in louisiana I’m a be more down by the coast

    happyfeet (831175)

  30. sleazy whore Jeb Bush will be as pro-gay as the moneyboys tell him to be

    no more no less

    happyfeet (831175)

  31. there’s probably an algorithm driving this

    happyfeet (831175)

  32. I think Walker held his own. He has no choice, anyway. The MFM are all holding Obama’s.

    nk (dbc370)

  33. Walker like Bush is for amnesty. He’ll softpedal it and talk around it but at the end of the day these nancified GOP candidates will sell out to Adelson and the amnesty cheap labor crowd quicker than a $2 crack whore. I’m done with that. There is no difference operationally between them and Hillary! I will no longer vote for the lesser of evils. Slower socialism is still socialism. I’ll vote for the LIbertarian or Constitutional guy or the crazy ass guy stops me in the street claiming to have invented basketball played on skateboards. I will not vote for any candidate who doesn’t grasp that without serious border enforcement little else will matter.

    Bugg (bd9445)

  34. I believe that Gov. Walker has endorsed the use of e-Verify by ALL employers

    Yes, but he had said he was for legalization before. That’s his old position. I’m for legalization for those who are leading peaceful, productive lives AFTER the border is secure and not before. You can’t say that because nobody trusts anybody.

    Mike K (90dfdc)

  35. the Labour Party did in UK in the 90s, that the Muslims would vote Labour

    An example of the results today on NRO

    From my experiences, I believe that the university is unwittingly complicit in perpetuating such radicalization, as it has often allowed Islamist extremism to go unchallenged. I don’t think the university itself is advocating extremism, but by failing to prevent the advocacy of such ideas, the institution is attracting students who are sympathetic to them. Students who do not identify with extreme Islamist ideology are being put at risk of discrimination, intimidation and potentially radicalization by the university’s failure to properly handle the situation.

    From the university where “Jihadi John” graduated with a degree in computer science, Don’t tell Ms Harf. It will upset her.

    Mike K (90dfdc)

  36. How would you suggest that universities remedy this failure to prevent the advocacy of particular ideas?

    Leviticus (9e85d9)

  37. I’m really not interested in a Scott Walker purity test.

    Right now, we have a President and half the country thinking that the only way to make the country better is to do more of the things the President and the former majorities in the House and Senate have been doing.

    That seems foolish.

    I will vote for whoever can get elected by telling me that he or she will not continue to do these things and roll back the laws and executive orders that have us where we find ourselves.

    Ag80 (eb6ffa)

  38. My daughter has the correct perspective on this: “The President works for the government.” Think about it.

    nk (dbc370)

  39. Leviticus (9e85d9) — 3/1/2015 @ 8:10 pm

    Rename themselves Uno-versities….only the prescribed thought is allowed.

    askeptic (efcf22)

  40. nk, methinks your daughter needs a little help with that “republic” thing.

    askeptic (efcf22)

  41. Heh. I don’t think so. The next President will do to us the same things this one is doing. He might be gentler, and whisper sweeter sweet nothings, but the best we can realistically hope for is that sand does not get in the Vaseline.

    nk (dbc370)

  42. The President may work for the government as nk’s daughter says, God bless her. It’s a wonderful thought for children in Cuba or Nicaragua or Iran.

    If she thinks that, though, it’s about time for parents to remind their children that government only works when free people allow it to function through democracy.

    I’m just saying because that notion came from somewhere.

    The saddest part of those words above is that right now, in the United States of America, someone could take those written words to condemn me and take away my ability to make a living for my family.

    Right now. In the United States of America.

    Ag80 (eb6ffa)

  43. Then if the President does not work for the government, whom does he work for? Walmart? Seriously. Isn’t the government the ruler of the nation and the President merely one its ministers, even if the most powerful one, with a duty to faithfully execute the government’s laws?

    nk (dbc370)

  44. President sleaze works for the insurance companies, banks, unions and anyone who hates hard working middle class white men.
    What is sad is that we hard working middle class white guys have no one in d.c. that gives a flying flock. REVENGE, REVENGE,REVENGE.
    Justified.

    mg (31009b)

  45. How could I forget the no 1 fan of o- sleaze – Criminal aliens.

    mg (31009b)

  46. criminal aliens yuck

    happyfeet (a037ad)

  47. Okay. I read it. I am not impressed. Walker will sell out on immigration just like the rest of the RINOs because he’s sure Hispanics will reward him with their votes. Furthermore, he’s so tight-fisted that he would never appropriate the funds to deport them. This man is not the answer.

    creeper (0bf7ca)

  48. i’ll vote for walker even if i have to do jury duty for a bunch of criminal chicago losers and sit on a nasty chair all day that’s probably crawling with mrsa

    happyfeet (a037ad)

  49. i wonder if you can bring muffins

    happyfeet (a037ad)

  50. Pikachu you really should be at the Medici’s table, Walker was tapped by the Huntress, at a lifeydoodle rally in 2010, as she helped Perry in his primary challenge, something he has never given thanks for, aided Cruz, which he has and helped out Rand, the last is the more dodgy of the choice, but the alternative was the Clique man Grayson,

    narciso (ee1f88)

  51. Yes, yes, you can bring muffins and you can bring “a laptop computer for taking notes”. (Wink, wink, nudge, nudge, portable hot spot, internet, worst that will happen is that you will be kicked off the jury.)

    nk (dbc370)

  52. i think she’s way more effective when she keeps a super-low profile to where people are oblivious to her endorsements and other political positions she takes

    happyfeet (a037ad)

  53. that’s a great tip Mr. nk

    happyfeet (a037ad)

  54. the Medici, (the Younger Bush) is all about amnesty, rotten core, SSM and all that folderall, so pick your poison Pikachu,

    narciso (ee1f88)

  55. You can’t get a gun permit without an Illinois DL or ID from the Secretary of State either, happyfeet. Government!

    nk (dbc370)

  56. i like Mr. Governor Scott Walker just fine

    we should just elect him and let him fix everything however he wants

    besides after McCain and Romney it’s my turn to pick

    happyfeet (a037ad)

  57. crap crap yes i need to get busy on that Mr. nk

    it’s my next thing after i get the whole taxes thing squared away

    happyfeet (a037ad)

  58. Just so you guys understand, askeptic and Ag80. I am very careful not to talk down people in front of my daughter. I try to teach her that you can never go wrong by saying nice things about people. So she’s trying to figure out why I talk down Obama. And even with him, I tell her that I disagree with his policies and praise him for his personal life and the way he’s raising his daughters. So her conclusion is that I don’t like Obama because he works for the government. 😉

    Which, if you think about it, is a pretty deep insight. Even the President is a small cog in the government machinery. The biggest cog but still very small in proportion to the whole machine. Moreover, Presidents come and go every four or eight years but that government juggernaut keeps grinding on, and on, and on.

    nk (dbc370)

  59. == Walker will sell out on immigration just like the rest of the RINOs==

    creeper, to the best of my recollection you are the first person on this blog to call Gov. Walker a RINO.

    elissa (f1e8f0)

  60. Then if the President does not work for the government, whom does he work for? Walmart? Seriously. Isn’t the government the ruler of the nation and the President merely one its ministers, even if the most powerful one, with a duty to faithfully execute the government’s laws?

    No. The US constitution says that the president is the government. “The executive Power shall be vested in a President of the United States of America.” He works for the nation.

    Milhouse (9d71c3)

  61. well he’s supposed to work for the people, to carry out the laws, the Congress writes,

    narciso (ee1f88)

  62. more top men, throwing in their ‘two cents’

    http://althouse.blogspot.com/2015/03/face-nation-laugh-line-when-youre-in.html

    narciso (ee1f88)

  63. Just as the CEO of Wal-Mart works for Wal-Mart, the Chief Executive of the United States works for the United States. Who signs Obama’s check? The Sec. Treas. Both are CEO’s, one private and one public. Now if only the POTUS could run the country as well as a private sector CEO runs his company we’d all be doing better.

    Hoagie (58a3ec)

  64. The US constitution is largely based on the UK constitution as it existed in the late 18th century, modified to correct what the founders saw as flaws in that constitution. The Westminster model of government is based on the UK’s constitution in the late 19th century, by which time it had changed substantially. So, for instance, the US constition does not allow ministers (here called secretaries) to be members of Congress, while Westminster-style constitutions require it. The US president’s role is not based on that of the UK’s prime minister but on that of the king, before the king lost all power to the ministry.

    In the USA the president is the government, and the department secretaries are merely his advisers, whom he appoints and fires at will, and whom he consults individually whenever he chooses. There is no real cabinet as such; “cabinet meetings” exist only for photo ops, and as such only happen a few times a year. They don’t vote, and they have no power. The treasury secretary may sign the president’s check, but he does so at the president’s orders, because he works for the president. So does every pen-pusher at the local social security office.

    In the Westminster model the cabinet is the government, and the prime minister is merely the chairman of that body, first among equals. Thus the cabinet has to meet often (at least weekly), it votes on all matters, and the PM only gets one vote just like any other minister. Whatever the cabinet decides is government policy, and binds all ministers, including the PM, even if he voted against it. That entire concept is foreign to the USA.

    Milhouse (9d71c3)

  65. Well, there’s this. The Keystone pipeline, amnesty, and internet neutrality fiascos, just to name three, are because previous Congresses and Presidents granted combined legislative and executive authority (regulatory, right) to the EPA, DHS, and FCC. Parts of the government juggernaut I’m talking about. Now, Obama may be steering them in the direction he wants, but he is only the nut holding the wheel. (Pun intended) He didn’t build that.

    nk (dbc370)

  66. well he’s supposed to work for the people,

    Exactly. But “the people” is a very nebulous concept, since they can’t speak between elections, so he’s free to do whatever he thinks is in the people’s interest, or whatever he claims to think is in their interest. If he gets this wrong the only recourse the people have is to vote for someone else at the next election.

    Milhouse (9d71c3)

  67. How can Gov Walker reform or limit spending on education as President? I guess he can undo No Child Left Behind and reduce federal support for national standards like Common Core, but most education budgets are set at the state and local level. It seems to me that the most President Walker could do is use his bully pulpit to encourage reforms at the state and local level, but good luck with thzt.

    Unless, of course, he’s willing to use executive orders the way Obama has. Or if he’s willing to eliminate the Department of Education. Frankly, though, I doubt he would do either.

    DRJ (e80d46)

  68. nk 66,

    I see it just the opposite. The current funding for the federal government will expire in September so the GOP Congress will have to address this right before the election. Will they be as useless then as they have been over funding Homeland Security? My guess is yes, because they realize Congress will never be able to reverse the policies of a Democratic President. They want American voters to believe only a Republican President can undo what Obama has done.

    DRJ (e80d46)

  69. My guess is the GOP leadership also wanted to make sure the GOP nominee was already selected and this would be less of an issue during the primary.

    DRJ (e80d46)


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