Patterico's Pontifications

7/13/2015

Scott Walker Officially Announces

Filed under: General — Dana @ 3:36 pm



[guest post by Dana]

Scott Walker is the latest, and last, top-tier candidate to enter the 2016 GOP presidential race:


“In the Republican field, there are some who are good fighters, but they haven’t won those battles. And there are others who’ve won elections, but haven’t consistently taken on the big fights,” Walker said in an announcement video posted Monday. “We showed you can do both. Now, I am running for President to fight and win for the American people.”

In recent polling data , Walker continued to lead the the GOP presidential pack in Iowa:

Walker is the top choice of 18% of poll respondents. Six other candidates are battling for second place, including businessman Donald Trump and neurosurgeon Ben Carson at 10%, Sens. Rand Paul and Ted Cruz at 9% and former Florida governor Jeb Bush and Sen. Marco Rubio at 8%.

Several more candidates register at 5% or less.

While Walker maintains a lead over the growing field, it is shrinking from earlier polls. He was the top choice of 21% of respondents in May and 25% in February.

The poll also tested favorability ratings and other perceptions of the candidates. Walker again scored high, with 66% of respondents claiming a favorable view of him, against 8% with an unfavorable view.

Walker will be focusing specifically on building an operation in Iowa with aggressive campaigning and a refined conservative message.

However, given that Walker took time off the campaign trail to bone up on national affairs and foreign policy, he is behind in fund-raising as well as having been absent from making appearances in the critical states of New Hampshire and South Carolina. His poll numbers in those states have slipped as a result.

One of Walker’s stated goals will be to first build on and shore up the Republican conservative base.

If anyone is curious as to how the left feels about Walker and his announced candidacy, look no further than what AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka had to say:

Scott Walker is a national disgrace.

It’s always helpful when the left reveals its fear. Clearly the bitterness of defeat at the hands of Scott Walker in Wisconsin hasn’t faded. And that’s a good sign for Walker and conservatives.

FYI, recognizing the top three candidates are Bush, Rubio, and Walker, Hillary’s camp sees Walker as most useful to her campaign:

When all is said and done, Democratic strategists looking at the three most realistic general election matchups for Hillary Clinton would be able to create their most winnable narrative around Walker. Walker is a staunchly conservative, middle aged white man with no real pizazz as a candidate and no appeal to anyone outside of Republican’s base constituencies. If Clinton is matched up against Bush or Rubio, it’s going to be a lot more challenging to paint that kind of picture of her opponent.

This after Clinton went after Bush, Rubio and Walker during a speech on economic policay today. Regarding Walker:

And lastly, Clinton went after Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker — who just entered the presidential race today — for his “mean-spirited, misguided attacks” against workers.

“Republican governors like Scott Walker have made their names by stomping on workers’ rights,” she said.

Here’s hoping Walker continues to stomp away at Democracts and their failed policies as he campaigns for the 2016 nomination.

–Dana

51 Responses to “Scott Walker Officially Announces”

  1. Hello.

    Dana (86e864)

  2. “Scott Walker is a national disgrace.”
             —AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka

    He should list this on the top of his endorsements.

    Hillary’s camp sees Walker as most useful to her campaign:

    Or at least that’s what they’re saying. 1) we’d be fools to believe them; 2) what do they know? They’re not showing themselves to be great geniuses in their own campaign.

    Milhouse (a04cc3)

  3. I think we can be most assured that Walker will use Trumpka’s “endorsement” in his campaign. It will stir the base and again show that he has proven himself a fighter unafraid of the enemy, no matter how big and powerful. Wisconsin is one of his greatest accomplishments.

    Dana (86e864)

  4. I’m glad Walker is officially in the race. He adds a lot to the Republican Party.

    DRJ (1dff03)

  5. I agree with you DRJ. Now my only concern is that the field is too crowded. If I had my druthers it would be immediately narrowed down to the following:

    Cruz — serious movement conservative, can articulate our principles
    Walker — strong gubernatorial credentials, has been repeatedly battle-tested
    Rubio — young, articulate, and appears to me to have great political instincts
    Fiorina — she has the private sector experience and is willing to attack
    Paul — the libertarian perspective needs to be represented in the party
    Perry — I’m liking him more and more, though I suppose being a former governor of TX will remind people too much of GWB

    God bless Jindal, Santorum, Kasich, Christie, Carson, Bush and the rest, but I would like us to choose among the six names listed above. And I assume that Carly Fiorina probably won’t gain traction, but I do love that she is going after Hillary! every chance she gets.

    JVW (8278a3)

  6. Clinton went after Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker — who just entered the presidential race today — for his “mean-spirited, misguided attacks” against workers.

    There are plenty of government employees — in Wisconsin and elsewhere — who don’t deserve to be called “workers” under any definition of the word. Walker understands this, and he is actually trying to do something about it instead of playing the cynical go-along-to-get-along game.

    JVW (8278a3)

  7. Or at least that’s what they’re saying. 1) we’d be fools to believe them; 2) what do they know?

    The great British race car driver, Stirling Moss, used to rub his hands with glee if it started to rain at the beginning of a race. He hated the wet as much as anyone else but it put the willies up the competition.

    Gazzer (ee3742)

  8. The debates will winnow the field down, JVW, even if there are multiple debates. We need to see how they handle pressure and, fortunately, the debate moderators seem to be better than in the past.

    DRJ (1dff03)

  9. JVW, those are a good six, but Jindal, Carson, and Bush are all serious contenders who should be included. First of all your list is short on governors and long on Senate freshmen (and we’ve just spent a painful 6.5 years seeing how that goes). Carson is needed, if only so he can use the line “for goodness sake it isn’t brain surgery” at least once. And you need to have someone in there for the establishment types; Bush was a decent governor and would probably make a decent president.

    But I settled on Walker at least 2 years ago, and have not yet seen sufficient reason to change my mind. I haven’t liked some things about him, such as his pandering to Iowans on ethanol, but no candidate is without flaws.

    Milhouse (a04cc3)

  10. Ethanol is a big deal, it’s a joke and every farmer knows it.

    mg (31009b)

  11. Richard Trumka is a fat-ass sleazy union whore

    happyfeet (831175)

  12. The Electoral College math is tough for any GOP nominee. Walker gets Fox News fired up and-not many others. When Walker goes after teachers, cops and firefighters, he’s going after the exact voters a GOP nominee is gonna need to pick up midwestern swing states . The election goes through the R man getting more typical white people, middle and working class people, in his column than did Romney and McCain did. And worse, for all the love GOP Inc. has for the Chamber of Commerce and Club for Growth, the big biz people are in the Dem column anyway . Instead we’ll get some nominee that hosts Entrepenuerapalooza 2016 at the convention, Shelly Adleson’s money and happytalk about the “nation of immigrants”.

    Frankly spare the chance of Cruz channeling the best of Trump, I’m genuinely terrified.

    Bugg (5f4a83)

  13. Does Walker changing his mind on immigration concern anyone?

    Dana (d85ff0)

  14. I’ve run into people who say what you’re saying, Bugg. One very conservative friend even said he would vote for Hillary instead of Trump. I don’t see Trump staying in the race for more than a few months — let alone winning the nomination — but I’ve been known to guess wrong about elections. I think it’s a sign of how dissatisfied Republicans are that they think Trump has a chance.

    DRJ (1dff03)

  15. I’ve also run into people who don’t know who Walker is, so it’s probably too soon to start making predictions. That’s one benefit of debates. They get people interested in politics in a more intense way.

    DRJ (1dff03)

  16. “Shelly Adleson’s money and happytalk about the “nation of immigrants”.”

    A couple of facts; Adelson’s employees are about the only non-union hotel workers in Vegas and they love him. It must be a good place to work.

    Two Carson is a nice intelligent guy but has no chance and no one would pay attention if he were white. He is the anti-Obama but that’s not enough. Kasich is a serious guy but needs a better haircut. Jindal is serious but has not done well speaking.

    The immigration issue will be big for the Rs and I hope the candidates figure out how to address it. Fiorina has the best response I’ve seen.

    Mike K (90dfdc)

  17. National Soros Radio says that Obama’s dream of a fiercely trannied-up army of he she self-mutilators is a step closer to for realsies!

    Pentagon Weighs Allowing Transgender People To Serve Openly In Military

    tune in next week for to hear sergeant tranny say: load em up and strap em on boys! It’s trannytime!

    happyfeet (831175)

  18. When Walker goes after teachers, cops and firefighters, he’s going after the exact voters a GOP nominee is gonna need to pick up midwestern swing states .

    Actually, Bugg, one of the criticisms of Walker’s collective bargaining reforms — and an largely valid one in my opinion — is that he exempted cops and firefighters (apologies for linking to an Eleanor Clift piece) from his reforms. Certainly police and fire unions have been known to play hardball in order to extract nice benefits in their contracts. On the other hand, one can argue that the police and firefighters do actual work more dangerous than pushing papers or entering data and at least have their more controversial actions exposed to and second-guessed by the public. Unlike, for instance, the desk clerks at the DMV.

    JVW (8278a3)

  19. exempting nasty racist coptrash and fat-ass loser “firefighters” is morally wrong

    these losers already retire at like 42, and 99 percent of them fake up some disability on top of that so they can double dip

    they make me sick to where i feel nauseous

    happyfeet (831175)

  20. We face 2 related threats: Obama has done his best to undermine America, and another Democrat president of the same or similar ilk could well put the stake in Uncle Sam’s heart; and the interests of federal government employee unions represent the major obstacle to systemic reform. The Washington political class, both parties, are united in opposition to government of, for, and by the people. The fix is in, and they’re all doing just fine and dandy – livin’ large on the taxpayer’s dime.

    We the people need a champion from outside the traditional political parties, not an insider of any stripe, to change the trajectory of American government. An insider can’t do it, not in a positive way. Not is a way that energizes our economy, strengthens our military, respects our rights, and enforces our laws.

    I say Give Trump a Fair Chance, let .him campaign, debate, and see what the voters have to say.

    ropelight (3238b4)

  21. We in the military don’t quit until even the VA can kill us.

    Steve57 (4c9797)

  22. Mr. Trump is a trashy whore just like America Mr. ropelight

    there’s no reason he can’t be president

    happyfeet (831175)

  23. A lot of WI teachers found out they had much more money in their pockets after Walker’s reforms. Union leadership hates Walker but there are apparently a considerable number of “former” union members who supported him for re-election once they understood what his reforms meant to their family finances.

    http://www.newsmax.com/US/Wisconsin-teachers-unions-membership/2014/10/20/id/601715/

    elissa (2c5e7f)

  24. Elissa,

    I think that’s why the unions worked so hard to stifle Walker – they didn’t want their people to even have the opportunity to fully hear what he intended, let alone understand what the outcome of of his policy would beget them. If they did, then the gig was up.

    Dana (86e864)

  25. Exempting the police and firefighters unions from reform was not a morally consistent position, but I like to think it was a pragmatic calculation that if he included them he had no chance of success. He needed the police to make at least some gesture towards enforcing the law against the union rabble, and that meant he had to have their union at least neutral. Fighting them and the firefighters and the other public sector unions all at the same time would probably have been worse than futile, it would have discredited any prospect of reform for a generation. So exempting them was price that had to be paid. And that’s the sort of hard decision I’d want a president to make too.

    Milhouse (a04cc3)

  26. Absolutely, Dana. And (unsurprisingly) the majority of national media either never bothered to understand it fully, or purposely parroted and recorded the union’s hysterics.

    elissa (2c5e7f)

  27. If I had my druthers it would be immediately narrowed down to the following:

    Cruz — serious movement conservative, can articulate our principles
    Walker — strong gubernatorial credentials, has been repeatedly battle-tested
    Rubio — young, articulate, and appears to me to have great political instincts
    Fiorina — she has the private sector experience and is willing to attack
    Paul — the libertarian perspective needs to be represented in the party
    Perry — I’m liking him more and more, though I suppose being a former governor of TX will remind people too much of GWB

    God bless Jindal, Santorum, Kasich, Christie, Carson, Bush and the rest, but I would like us to choose among the six names listed above. And I assume that Carly Fiorina probably won’t gain traction, but I do love that she is going after Hillary! every chance she gets.

    JVW (8278a3) — 7/13/2015 @ 4:01 pm

    JVW,

    I am not sold on Rubio. How do you explain his Gang of Eight involvement?

    I think whoever is the nominee, they would be smart to offer Fiorina VP slot. She’s fearless and can be attack dog, as well as bringing a unique outside perspective – and of course, meets the gender requirement.

    Dana (86e864)

  28. Walker/Cruz, Walker/Rubio or Cruz/Fiorina in 2016!

    Colonel Haiku (2601c0)

  29. We should have an American President. Walker is the one that best fits the description.

    nk (dbc370)

  30. Great I am running against alfred e newman. Hillary Clinton now she wins easy on the immigration issue against this bozo.

    Hillary wins in 2016! (ac0c2f)

  31. So with respect to Hillary what is the female version of bozo? bozette? bozoette? bozorina?

    elissa (2c5e7f)

  32. Pagliaccio femminile.

    nk (dbc370)

  33. Bozotrix.

    ropelight (3238b4)

  34. Exempting the police and firefighters unions from reform was not a morally consistent position,

    Disagree. Now, if you want to talk about prison guards’ unions in California, we can talk.

    Mike K (90dfdc)

  35. If the Fox News GOP debates were held today, and using their screwy formula, here is where the candidates stand.

    In: Jeb Bush, Scott Walker, Ben Carson, Marco Rubio, Rand Paul, Mike Huckabee, Donald Trump, Ted Cruz, Rick Perry and Chris Christie.

    Out: Rick Santorum, Carly Fiorina, John Kasich, Lindsey Graham, Bobby Jindal, George Pataki and Jim Gilmore

    It would appear that Rick Santorum might possibly get a spot.

    This also clearly assumes that Trump will still be in the mix.

    It would be shameful if Fiorina weren’t heard from in a debate. To lump her in with George Pataki (does any voter outside of NY even know who he is?) and Jim Gilmore is a shame. She has more name recognition at this point in time than either of them.

    Dana (86e864)

  36. I know public union membership plummeted after the reforms and people had a choice, so I think it can easily be said Walker was pro-worker and anti-union boss.
    I think there is a lot of public sentiment that localities should have the power to reward good teachers and get rid of bad ones and bad school administrators, and unions stand in the way. I heard Walker make claims of various test scores improving in Wisconsin after the changes. (I have no idea how legit that is).
    Police unions are a bit of a different thing, as the rank and file generally see the police hierarchy as extensions of mayoral politicking, and feel they can’t trust them to act in the rank and file’s best interest if politically expedient, so feel the need for the union. I can’t say I blame them.
    I know people on the far left who think Walker is the devil incarnate and has somehow destroyed Wisconsin.

    MD in Philly (f9371b)

  37. Bozotrix is good.

    elissa (2c5e7f)

  38. 30.Great I am running against alfred e newman.

    Perry, I wasn’t aware you were running. If you were, you couldn’t beat Alfred E. Newman.

    Hillary Clinton now she wins easy on the immigration issue against this bozo.

    Quite possable if you leftists get your legions of illegals to vote five times each therefore stealing the election (again) through fraud. But the more likely senario is Hillary! is soundly defeated by a real American and she, her hound dog husband and her spawn are forced to slither back into the muck from which they came. Good riddance.

    Bye, bye Hillary! (f4eb27)

  39. BTW, does your wife allow you up this late Perry? It’s past 10pm EDT. I’m impressed.

    Bye, bye Hillary! (f4eb27)

  40. It was a stem-winder.

    askeptic (efcf22)

  41. MD in Philly (f9371b) — 7/13/2015 @ 7:01 pm

    He certainly put the screws to the Leftist/Liberal Paradise.

    askeptic (efcf22)

  42. The winner of the Iowa caucus almost never wins the nomination on the GOP side. You can’t ignore it because a poor finish could possibly cripple your campaign, but actually winning it appears to be meaningless. Maybe this time will be different.

    Gerald A (949d7d)

  43. I truly thought that Walker had announced a while ago.

    JD (ed4da1)

  44. I love it, if the trumpeter wins the nomination, republicans will vote for bill’s wife. Don’t ever tell me I have to vote for the nominee again. Republicans are the lowest possible nominator. Good luck with these fools. Cruz/West 2016. The rest are republican suck-ups. Except the trumpeter – he is pissing in the wind, but makes me proud that someone notices the border is the no. 1 problem in this once great nation. Walker will be corrupted by team r, it’s what they do.

    mg (31009b)

  45. GayFeet made me laugh!!! We are all aware that DIRTY SCOTT WALKER hates, Teachers, Public Unions, Puppies, Children, more children, and wymyn. He hates PRETEND WYMYN and TRANS-TESTICLES too. He hates and hates and hates Children and wants people to STARVE!!! He hates OLD PEOPLE, because he is friends with Paul Ryan and he HATES CHILDREN and WYMYN TOO!!! Not to mention SCHOOL TEACHERS, WHOM he hates the most!!!

    Have a synopsized THE LIBTARD/MARXIST/CLOWN play book yet??

    Gus (7cc192)

  46. Despite the fact he’s an ‘effin Republican and will bow to the Chamber whenever they threaten, i can vote for this guy because some good will result.

    That is absolutely not the case with most of these sucks.

    DNF (208255)

  47. milligram wrote:

    I love it, if the trumpeter wins the nomination, republicans will vote for bill’s wife. Don’t ever tell me I have to vote for the nominee again. Republicans are the lowest possible nominator.

    If The Donald wins the nomination, it will because he won the most actual votes in the primaries; that’s just the way it works.

    My choice is Scott Walker.

    The mathematician Dana (f6a568)

  48. Am I the only one who wants to throw up at the sight of Trump’s “hair”?

    nk (dbc370)

  49. never thought about it, nk,
    there are already too many other things that have that affect on me,
    and now this is added:
    http://www.powerlineblog.com/archives/2015/07/munich-for-our-time.php
    The insult to injury will be when Obama, Kerry, and the mullahs share a Nobel Prize…

    MD in Philly (f9371b)

  50. Just saying that republicans have stated they will not vote for trump if he is the candidate. But they want me to vote for the clown in the clown bus that they want. Cruz no problem. trump and the rest of the bus loads. forget it. boosh and rubio makes me vomit.

    mg (31009b)

  51. 50. This time out i have no obstacle whatever in caucussing with the Potemkins in my local.

    Humiliating these neighbors who stand up for the GOP is my solemn vow.

    DNF (208255)


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