July 13, 2015

Scott Walker announces his candidacy with a video that stresses winning while sticking to principles.



Line most likely to cause the home viewer to heckle out loud: "In Wisconsin, we didn't nibble around the edges...."

Here's the NYT article on the announcement. Excerpt:
After his remarks here [in Waukesha], Mr. Walker will visit the four early nominating states — Nevada on Tuesday, South Carolina on Wednesday, New Hampshire on Thursday and Iowa for a three-day “Winnebago tour.”

The recreational vehicle reflects a Midwestern, Everyman image of Mr. Walker that he has highlighted on the campaign trail with his stories about riding his beloved Harley-Davidson motorcycle and shopping for discount clothing at Kohl’s.

“He has an instinct, because he is so middle class, of absorbing information and facts and putting it through that middle-class filter,” said Ed Goeas, a senior adviser to Mr. Walker and veteran pollster. “Most people I work with are in one of two categories: You walk through an issue with them and they say, ‘Here’s my position,’ or you walk through an issue with them and they say, ‘Here’s my position, but what do the polls say?’” Mr. Goeas said. “The unique thing about Scott is, and I’ve never seen this with anyone else, he does a gut check after taking a position. He says, ‘Tell me, if we do this, if this is the solution, the one test I want to run is, will this make people’s lives better?’”

50 comments:

Meade said...

... "will this make people’s lives better?’”

i.e., will this cause garage mahal's head to explode?

Tank said...

Let me know when he announces his real, final, not-going-to-change-for-a-decade position on immigration. I did not see it on his website. Is his position still evolving? What exactly are his immigration principles? Will he hire Trump to build a wall? Will he put troops at the border? Does he think immigration laws should be enforced? What is he going to do about all of the illegals that Zero invited in? Does he have an evacuation plan for them?

Michael K said...

garage will be a useful indicator. Let the outrage begin. I still like Walker and Jindal. Trump is also an indicator. When you are getting flak, you are over the target.,

Dad29 said...

By the way, Winnebagos are made in Iowa.

David Begley said...

In Wisconsin, we nibble on cheese.

Brando said...

For some reason I thought he'd announced a few weeks ago.

Anyway, it's hard to say how he'll be perceived by the GOP electorate. We're in a cycle where a conservative former Florida governor is considered the liberal in the race, and a longtime Clintonite crony capitalist with a long history of supporting liberal politicians is being considered the great right wing hope because he spouts some nonsense about charging the Mexican government for every illegal immigrant that crosses our border (please tell me more about how you don't think this is a sendup of what leftists actually think of the right). Walker it seems could occupy any part of the spectrum in a race like this.

Lo Pay said...

I don't hate Scott Walker, but I have to wonder why he thinks not finishing his degree won't be a limiting factor. I really think he is running for other reasons, like setting himself up for some type of appointment in a future Republican administration.

Blue Ox said...

In the mid 90's, a woman named Ann Wynia ran for Minnesota's open US Senate seat. She named the rv she traveled in the "Wynia-bago". Minnesota's lefties deemed this racially insensitive and she was forced to rename it the "Ann Van".

I am not making this up.

TreeJoe said...

The thing I enjoy most about Walker is that he truly plays on a national stage in his actions and words, yet he's soooo different in his thought process and engagement from almost every other politician that you can see the pundits and talking heads struggle to cope with him.

MadisonMan said...

Winnebagos aren't made in NE Indiana, the RV capitol of the world?

How is Wynia-Bago racially insensitive?

I have lots of questions.

garage mahal said...

... "will this make people’s lives better?’

Will David and Charles pat me on the head and wire me money?

Blue Ox said...

How is Wynia-Bago racially insensitive?

It was deemed offensive to Native Americans by lily-white Minneapolis liberals.

In context, this was during the same time that public schools were being forced to change the names of their mascots and the sensitivity police were out in full force.

Mark said...

Lo Pay, he has always been running for VP.

Original Mike said...

"Will David and Charles pat me on the head and wire me money?"

They do give a lot of money to good causes. Somehow, however, I don't think you qualify.

Original Mike said...

Why did he make a new video when he could have used that song video?

kjbe said...

Nice logo - looks a lot like America's Best.

garage mahal said...

Nice logo - looks a lot like America's Best.

It is America's Best logo. I wonder when they ask for it back?

Kyzer SoSay said...

I like the video. I do think Walker needs to work on his "fire 'em up" tone, and his Midwestern inflection might draw some sneering from the MSM, but I think we've seen what happens to people who bet against Walker.

trumpetdaddy said...

"...we've seen what happens to people who bet against Walker."

They lose. Badly. Repeatedly. Humiliatingly.

Just ask Garage.


Scott Walker's greatest attribute is his ability to make Democrats his bitch, then pimp-slap them until they beg for mercy. All with a smile on his face and without ever really raising his voice. This is a valued attribute amongst Republicans.

tim in vermont said...

He waited way too long for this.

But I do like it that he owns so many Wisconsin lefties dream time.

CatherineM said...

I was surprised when the announcements for Bush and Walker were made because it seemed like they were already running.

My local CBS radio 1010Wins mentioned Walker's announcement by saying he made abortion harder to get and failed to create jobs promised and Wisconsin has a slow growth economy, one of the worst. At least they are being impartial.

Curious George said...

Thanks you Madison liberals for all those scenes from the Capitol.

garage mahal said...

Feel the excitement. Can you feel it.

Birches said...

Brando just nailed it.

tim in vermont said...

Feel the excitement. Can you feel it. - garage

That's fear you are feeling there lefty. Denial is the longest river in the world.

garage mahal said...

I'm fearful watching Walker's slow mo train wreck on the national stage won't be as gratifying as it should be.

The Godfather said...

I hope Walker can get angry. Because what the Democrats are doing to this country ought to make you angry.

Curious George said...

"garage mahal said...
I'm fearful watching Walker's slow mo train wreck on the national stage won't be as gratifying as it should be."

LOL Says the guy that's 0-5. Reminds me of the joke that end's with a bear saying "You're not really out here to hunt, are you"

Curious George said...

"Mark said...
Lo Pay, he has always been running for VP."

Our resident retard is now "Mr. Insider."

I seriously doubt Walker would agree to be a Veep if asked by a nominee, and doubt even more that a nominee would ask him. The last governor GOP VEEP candidate was Palin, but she did not run for POTUS. Before that it was Spiro Agnew in 1968. For the Dems it was 1924.

Executives don't like being subordinate. The like to lead. Not follow. I DO understand why that concept would be lost on you.

Pookie Number 2 said...

Feel the excitement. Can you feel it.

Perhaps when (maybe "if" is more accurate) you grow up, you'll base your vote on something other than your jejune emotional response to packaged superhero politicians.

garage mahal said...

Profile on candidate Walker

Birthplace: Tea Party comment thread

Greatest Strength: Possesses image and political credentials necessary to appeal to both Koch brothers

Personal Beliefs: Reasonably well-concealed

Labor Union: Longtime member of Local Elected Officials 438

Personal Hero: Sixth-grade teacher who inspired him to strip educators of collective bargaining rights and dismantle publicly funded higher education

Greatest Accomplishment: Stood up to people who make living pulling others from burning buildings

House Band: The Walkettes

Gubernatorial Record: First governor in history to raise enough out-of-state funding to overcome recall challenge from own constituents

Chief Political Rival: Those who want to make a living wage


trumpetdaddy said...

I love watching Garage cry.

It warms the cockles of my heart. Enjoy getting beat again, loser. Getting beat is what you're best at, right? Maybe this time Walker will use the lube first, yes?

So you hope, anyway.

Oso Negro said...

Establishment backup because of squish position on immigration. That is how it is. Now if he challenges El Chapo mano a mano, I will be impressed.

Curious George said...

"garage mahal said...
Profile on candidate Walker

Birthplace: Tea Party comment thread

Greatest Accomplishment: Stood up to people who make living pulling others from burning buildings"

Our other resident retard fails to know that Scott Walker was kicking Democratic ass long before the creation of the tea party, and exempted fire fighters from Act 10 provisions.

garage mahal. The poster child of fail.

garage mahal said...

Enjoy getting beat again, loser

The rest of the country isn't as stupid as Wisconsin. Even in this dumb state Walker is in the low 40s in job approval. The closest doofus will get to POTUS is recently shaking Obama's hand.

Doug said...

Like Scott Walker a lot, but WHEN OH WHEN are we going to get politicians to stop promising they'll "fight"? I want a president who will promise to govern like an adult.

Curious George said...

"garage mahal said...
Enjoy getting beat again, loser

The rest of the country isn't as stupid as Wisconsin. Even in this dumb state Walker is in the low 40s in job approval. The closest doofus will get to POTUS is recently shaking Obama's hand."

The only way you'll have a governor other than Walker is:

1) He becomes POTUS.
2) You move.

So is you're right better plan on getting the double-wide off the jacks and heading for some tax hell.

garage mahal said...

1) He becomes POTUS.
2) You move.


I doubt Walker even finishes his term after flaming out in 2016. Of course we'll get another crazy teabagger in Rebecca Kleefisch, who thinks gay marriage will result in people marrying tables, so small consolation there.

Rusty said...

Meade said...
... "will this make people’s lives better?’”

i.e., will this cause garage mahal's head to explode?


Alas. It will be a hollow pop.

Meade said...

"we got to keep him in Madtown"

Pookie Number 2 said...

I doubt Walker even finishes his term after flaming out in 2016.

I can't imagine that even you believe that your Walker predictions have any value at all (besides entertaining your betters).

Meade said...

from fivethirtyeight.com:

"Walker doesn’t have the electability problem of a Buchanan, a Huckabee or a Santorum. Like Reagan, Walker was actually elected governor of a swing state4 more than once. Walker was re-elected in 2014 even as almost all the voters saw him as conservative or very conservative. On our 0-to-100 ideological scale, he scored a 75 among likely Wisconsin voters in the final October 2014 Marquette University Law School poll. That gives him a talking point that recent conservative challengers didn’t have.

But the question remains whether Republican primary voters, weighing the chances in the general election, will balk at someone as conservative as Walker. Republican voters have plenty of other candidates to choose from who are more moderate and match up with the ideology of the last few nominees. Walker is clearly betting that the more conservative Republican Party of today will help him defy recent history. If he pulls it off, he’ll be the most conservative Republican to be nominated since Reagan in 1980."

Curious George said...

from fivethirtyeight.com:

"But the question remains whether Republican primary voters, weighing the chances in the general election, will balk at someone as conservative as Walker. Republican voters have plenty of other candidates to choose from who are more moderate and match up with the ideology of the last few nominees."

Uh, the last few GOP nominees lost.

traditionalguy said...

The three GOP political groups that all claim Walker for their own are each being besieged now with well written hit pieces that Walker be must secretly from one of the other two groups and is only acting out a part to be attractive to the other two groups.

But Walker keeps on doing his trick and smiling.

He portrays a conservative values Evangelical Christian who acts like a common sense moderate Northern Midwesterner while pushes a west coast Reagan style economic Conservatism.

To those who say Walker cannot be all three at once, Walker just keeps on smiling and making it look easy.

Freeman Hunt said...

How soon are we allowed to set up call centers on his behalf? That's all I need to know.

garage mahal said...

Oops.

Can you say plagiarize? Hahaha

Gahrie said...

If he pulls it off, he’ll be the most conservative Republican to be nominated since Reagan in 1980.

They say that like it is a bad thing.

Anthony said...

How is Wynia-Bago racially insensitive?

It was deemed offensive to Native Americans by lily-white Minneapolis liberals.

You mean the Social Justice Wynias?

Birches said...

He portrays a conservative values Evangelical Christian who acts like a common sense moderate Northern Midwesterner while pushes a west coast Reagan style economic Conservatism.

But IMMIGRATION! TRUUUUUUUMMMMMMMPPPPPP!!!!!

Drago said...

garage: "Can you say plagiarize? Hahaha"

LOL

Wisconsins least successful middle school hero chimes in with a real zinger! It will be many moons indeed before the burn from that observation wears off!