On Scott Walker

[H2O Man]

I thought it might be interesting to hear various forum members’ opinions on the newest republican candidate for president, Scott Walker. I have assumed that, as uniquely unqualified as he is on anything that might remotely be associated with foreign policy, his goal in competing in the republican primaries would be to secure a position at the bottom of their ticket. And, should Jeb Bush secure his party’s nomination, Walker would have to be considered as a potential vice presidential candidate.

Yesterday, however, I had a long discussion with my west coast brother. He considers Walker to be among the most likely winners of the republican contest, and believes that Walker would be the most difficult republican to beat in the general election. While I haven’t thought of Walker in this context, I do agree 100% with my brother that Scott Walker should never -- under any circumstances -- serve as our nation’s president.

Briefly, to the best of my ability, let me review some of the reasons my brother thinks the republican party will go with Walker. First, he doesn’t have the baggage of scandals that Chris Christie has; the aggressive yap of Trump; or the natural stupidity of Jeb. (He reminded me that I had previously said Jeb is more intelligent than George W., but noted that he hasn’t shown that yet. I reminded him that this is, by any measure, a low bar to begin with.)

My brother also pointed out Walker’s economic policies and beliefs. He’s anti-union, especially anti-teachers union, and is acceptable to the heads of large corporations. This includes his having the support of people such as the Koch brothers, who seek to buy politicians to place in offices that can be helpful to their industries.

Also, my brother believes that Walker’s appearance will help him. Among the first things people see when looking at him is that Scott Walker is a white man. Certainly, the republican party has become so diverse in recent years, that they are comfortable selecting potential leaders from that rare group in American politics: the conservative, white males. So we really shouldn’t be surprised if the republicans go with a white man in 2016.

His presentation tends to feign rational thinking, and has less free emotional range, than most of the other republicans. Think about it: when confronted with the damage his policies have done to the working people of Wisconsin, Scott Walker has shown no emotional at all. He comes off as entirely sincere in not caring, even a tiny bit, about the struggles and hardships of others. This is a huge selling point among republicans.

More, while I believe that people shouldn’t be judged upon their appearance, the truth is that in national politics, they often are. Now, Willard “Mitt” Romney was okay in simple photographs -- his picture could be used on the inside, back cover of a book as the author -- when viewed on film, he makes people uncomfortable. Likewise, think about the difference between a still photo of Rick Perry versus the curious film clip of him with a bottle of syrup.

What do you think of him?

[SummerSnow]

1. Well he does lie the loudest next to Trump

[panader0]

2. I'm watching his speech.

I can't believe the American people would elect this man. Scott Walker is a mere mouthpiece for rich, bigoted,
anti-union folks. He is nutz. He is an empty page, despite the backing of the Koch brothers, I don't think he has a chance.
I think his audience is paid for. America has already moved past his views.

[ladjf]

9. Good post! nt

[mcar]

15. I watched part of his speech

Said to SO: this guy terrifies me.

He is a complete whackadoodle but I can see the "regular guy" " I want to have a beer with him" memes developing now.

If he becomes the front runner, watch and see the numerous articles positing that a college degree ain't all that.

Plus he is owned by the Koch brothers.

[H2O Man]

35. Good points.

The "regular guy" bit could be effective.

[forthemiddle]

25. I have seen him,

Up close and personal, win 3 elections in 4 years.
I live in the belly on the beast. Mid Wisconsin the Fox River Valley, and what I have seen and heard that the everyday Republicans don't want another Bush. They are sick of dynasties.
My prediction is that it will be Walker or Rubio, and I think both will give Clinton a run for her money.
People are sick of the Cintons and the Bushes and really want something new. Love him or hate him Walker is young, a new direction. Same with Rubio.

[H2O Man]

36. Interesting.

I think that some of the qualities that many of us find offensive -- and rightly so -- may well be the very points that the republican machine could make into selling points. Your post, if I understand it as intended, warns us of exactly that.

[forthemiddle]

47. Yes, that is how I intended it

It is a warning. I also see him as more the "guy you want to have a beer with" and if you look at history that is the person that has generally won. Going back to at least Reagan.
Bush 1 might be the only exception to that rule. Otherwise Reagan, Clinton, Bush2, and Obama were all MUCH more relateable than their opponents.

[joshcryer]

50. He's never run in a competitive race.

The recall didn't happen during the GE and his wins were in midterm years other than that.

He exploits the low turnout of midterms and non-GE races.

Put him in a GE and he will lose.

[forthemiddle]

54. it wasn't 2008 or 20012 levels

But Wisconsin mid term election (unlike the rest of the nation) was at historical highs. It was the the highest turnout for a midterm in 63 years, and he still won by the same percentage.

Obama election turnouts have been inspiring, but I am honestly not sure we will see that turnout again.
Obama was so inspiring to young people, to minorities, to just about everyone that wanted a change! Before that in 2000 and 2004 Gore, and Kerry won Wisconsin by less than .05%. That is razor thin. In fact, with all the talk of Nader spoiling Florida in 2000, there is another factoid that didn't matter in the end. Had Buchanan not been on the ticket, Bush would have beat Gore.

We will see if 2008 and 2012 were true changes in Presidential results, or a blip on the screen because of the wonderful candidate.

Don't count out Walker (or IMHO Rubio) for that new younger, more charismatic candidate than Hillary (whom I am not a fan of). I don't see her rallying the base like President Obama was able too.

[IADEMO2004]

51. Have you heard of Sen. Joni Ernst?

Koch employee and nothing else.

[calimary]

3. I think very little of him.

Already did, but hearing it out of his yap just confirms my earlier opinion.

YUCK-A-ROONEY-PIE!!!!

WE are running... the royal "we". So he can "wee" on most of America - the part that isn't the koch brothers, I suppose.

He's sweaty. Reminds me of richard nixon. And another DUer, London Lover Man, pointed out - liars are sweaty.

But I do like the possibilities he opened up in the meme/framing department: "Job Craters." He was trying to use that musty moldy old meaningless "job creators" cliche that the GOP always runs into the ground.

I think we can do a LOT with that "Job Craters" thing he just handed us!



Please proceed, governor.

[H2O Man]

37. If the American public

is paying attention, Walker would stand no chance at all. But I think that the media could be used to make Walker seem a credible candidate. Hopefully, what comes out of his mouth will sink his campaign.

My brother recently returned from Ireland. He said that seeing Scott Walker makes him want to return to the Old Sod. Without commenting on Ireland, which is obviously a beautiful land with wonderful people, it is a shame that the quality of shitheads like Walker can make good people seriously consider leaving this country. But our system is currently so sick, that it is actually possible for a Scott Walker to be nominated by the republican party.

[3catwoman3]

80. I I had an Old Sod to return to, I could...

...be seriously tempted. Leading up to the 2008 election, I actually contacted an on-line friend from Canada to ask if there were nurse practitioner jobs to be had where she lived.

[progressoid]

81. "If the American public is paying attention..."

That's what I thought about Bush too. I couldn't imagine the country falling for that idiot.

To paraphrase W, I misunderestimated the stupidity of the American voter.

[BeyondGeography]

4. Right now he doesn't even carry his own state

http://m.wisn.com/politics/new-poll-finds-clinton-leads-walker-in-wisconsin/32404306

He also seems capable of Perry-style gaffes on substance, particularly on foreign policy, then there's the Koch Bros. fealty. Of course, that stuff might not matter if the base has a crush on him, but Republican primary voters most always end up choosing the candidate who gives them the best chance to win and he's not there yet.

[H2O Man]

38. Thank you.

Really, thanks for a common sense answer. I hope that you are correct.

[0rganism]

44. he carried WI 3 times as governor, i think he could find a way to do it again

Koch bros fealty isn't just to wear the jersey, if you know what i mean - they're friends with benefit$$$.

[flamingdem]

5. He is NOT a gifted speaker

Why are they praising him for this speech

[riversedge]

27. I listened to most of his speech-found it boring-probably because I heard so much of it before...

I have seen him deliver speeches better before-he did seem rather flat to me today. Also, there ws so much union bashing and praise from his cronies who introduced him that it was sickening.

[H2O Man]

55. I think that the

bar has been set very low. There are very few truly gifted speakers in recent years, in American politics. Quite obviously, President Obama is outstanding in his ability to communicate.He is one of the most gifted speakers in our nation's history, and that's not limited to politicians. But there isn't anyone else who ranks high, even among politicians.

[3catwoman3]

6. In that speech, he blew every damn dog whistle that...

...gets the rabid right drooling and foaming at the mouth.

He makes my skin crawl.

[JCMach1]

10. Me too... despise at first sight... going to avoid his speeches in future

with a passion...

[mcar]

16. He hit all the RW talking points

Didnt he?

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

7. I believe your brother is incorrect on several points.

First, Walker is as dumb as a box of hammers - probably at least as dumb as the Bush brothers. And he looks even dumber than W. For example, he was handily fooled by a prankster pretending to be one of the Kochs (and the stupidity and fawning were spectacular): http://www.politico.com/magazine/story/2013/11/i-punkd-scott-walker-100033.html#.VaRBpUX7omU

Second, he's every bit as corrupt as Christie but the Wisconsin media (mainly the right-wing Milwaukee Urinal-Sentinel) barely covered any of his dirty doings. But here's some information about that: http://www.progressive.org/news/2014/10/187897/scott-walker%E2%80%99s-corruption-problem and http://www.dailykos.com/story/2015/06/21/1395233/-Chicago-Tribune-picks-up-big-Walker-corruption-story

Third, Walker's appearance won't help him. He's white, but he looks really stupid.

He also lies every time his lips move, and many of his lies are so blatant and obvious that even a lame media (prostitute) like Wolf Blitzer could catch him on them.

And finally, what has happened to Wisconsin since he became governor is the Dem candidates' best weapon against him. Wisconsin has gone right down the toilet economically, and there are plenty of statistics to prove it.

You might argue that he's the perfect Republican candidate: Stupid, corrupt, and mean as a snake. But he's very, very beatable.

[GusBob]

39. Good post and points

He looks dumber than W

You heard it here first: this will be the end of his political career

He won't be welcomed back to wisconsin

[Greybnk48]

57. +1000 everything Velveteen said and more.

The media has barely laid a glove on Walker despite plenty of scandal swirling around him. I haven't gone through velveteen's links yet, but one thing that bothered me about Walker way back was that when he left his position in Milwaukee as County Executive, he and his crew emptied all of the filing cabinets and destroyed the records of his entire tenure there! http://www.jsonline.com/news/milwaukee/113099989.html

Another big thing is that,as noted, he is mind-numbingly boring in a nasally, adenoidal voiced way. Horribly boring. Go to sleep boring. He also is a religious fanatic which he will begin to show. He is part of a "talking in tongues" sect and believes God talks to him. There is a major Huckabee-esque creep factor there.

And third, and superficially for sure, women are repulsed by him. He's does not come across well with women. He's cross-eyed and most people notice he has "dead" eyes. As a DUer pointed out several years ago, offset baldspots do not occur naturally. They are most often the result of habitual, neurotic hair pulling. Trichotillomania.

[pstokely]

64. any of them can steal it again

nt

[JCMach1]

8. what a vile human being, the smarmy kid in school you wanted to see mauled by bears

on the field trip...

[hifiguy]

13. He certainly has an eminently punchable face.

And you nailed it. The kid who broke all the rules himself in school and immediately ratted out anyone else who did so. A weaselly little snitch.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

66. Eddie Haskell. The Germans have a word for it:

Backpfeifengesicht - a face that needs to be punched.

[hifiguy]

67. That is it: he's Eddie Haskell.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

68. "You're looking lovely today, Mrs. Cleaver."

[Cleita]

11. I take him seriously. I think he's the only Republican who could

win over a Democratic candidate because of his track record in actually pushing his agenda through, his money funnel back to the Koch Bros. and his ability to be congenial and make sense on the surface to the average non-politically minded person.

[H2O Man]

17. Right.

I am old enough to remember Nixon, Reagan, and Bush2 being elected and re-elected; hence,the concept of "that jackass could never get elected president" doesn't carry much weight with me.

We should always recognize the potential danger of candidates like Walker.

Thank you!

[Cleita]

30. Rachel Maddow just nailed him.

She's not taking him lightly either. If you can catch a rerun of her show on M$NBComcast. She's got him pegged.

[H2O Man]

34. Thanks!

I will be able to catch the late re-run; my daughter is watching soccer now, and there's no way I'll get the tv until it's over!

[H2O Man]

48. I caught the re-run.

Rachel did an outstanding job.

Thanks for bringing that to my attention.

[hifiguy]

12. He has the blessing and money of the Kochtopus.

That he has basically destroyed Wisconsin is an inconvenient fact the media will never, ever point out. He is a pathological liar on a Nixonian scale, and shows some decidedly sociopathic personality traits. He lacks empathy, intelligence, and critical thinking skills but he is very good at taking and enacting the orders from the people who own him lock, stock, and barrel, the Koch brothers. IOW he's the very embodiment of everything most dangerous about modern reichwingers.

And as far as "on" him goes, allow me to suggest a very large, very hungry and very angry kodiak or grizzly bear. Or both. Let the bears go at him and sort it out for themselves.

[H2O Man]

49. "Nixonian scale" ....

It's odd: he reminds me of a younger Nixon. Not that I think he has Nixon's talents -- like him or hate him, Nixon had a grasp of world politics. But in terms of the slime factor. When I look at Walker, I keep seeing Nixon.

[KamaAina]

76. 'Kochtopus' FTW!

[PeaceNikki]

14. I'm a proud Wisconsin Democrat. What do I think of him?

Guess....

[H2O Man]

18. I can guess.

But I'll always much prefer hearing it from you!

[PeaceNikki]

21. I think he's evil and skilled at mustering up evil in voters.

I just think he looks stupid. Like an idiot. So much so that it angers me. And it infuriates me that so many people LIKE him... that they don't see it.

I think he'll have a rough go of it on the national stage. He's got a lot of skeletons, no college degree and he's fucking cocky.

I hate him.

[H2O Man]

22. Interesting.

When I boxed as a young man, I often found advantages in attacking my opponent's strength. From your description, it sounds like what his strengths are among republicans, could become his weaknesses in a general election. Is that accurate?

Thanks!

[PeaceNikki]

23. Maybe? I think he'll be attacked by there media and that could

give him a bit of a writing class, preacher's son, don't have no edumacation appeal to idiots.

I hate what he and all of the tea baggers have done to my state.

[3catwoman3]

40. Where in Wisconsin, PeaceNikki?

We live not too far south of the border in one of the redder Illinois counties - McHenry county. Our sons, now 25 and 22, both went to Carthage College in Kenosha.

[PeaceNikki]

72. I am in the infamous Waukesha County, Lake Country.

I lived in DuPage County for a number of years in my youth as well so I am both a cheesehead AND a flatlander.

[3catwoman3]

73. Is that the county that magically keeps finding uncounted votes on computers...

...and in people's trunks?

We should consider an IRL lunch at a midpoint somewhere like Lake Geneva or wherever. (Just the kind of thing we tell our kids never to do - meet someone you only know on line -

[PeaceNikki]

74. Some of my bestest IRL friends are folks I have met here.

Yeah, we need to arrange a meet-up, we used to do them once a year or so but coordinating is like herding cats.

[3catwoman3]

75. I am fortunate enough to only work...

...2 days a week, so I am pretty "herdable."

[Blue_In_AK]

43. I think he looks stupid, too,

or dull. I don't get his appeal.

But then I don't get the appeal of ANY of those clowns.

[Worried senior]

70. I'm with you PeaceNikki

The thought of him getting thru the primary makes me ill.

I will be 70 in a couple of days but still would like to have a few years to enjoy life and with him in charge I'm afraid it will be a nightmare.

[Agschmid]

19. He is the most formidable of the current crop of GOP candidates.

If he wins the nomination we have a BIG battle ahead of us.

[H2O Man]

20. I agree.

Thank you.

[n2doc]

24. Walker matches up nearly perfectly with the average Repub voter

...In other words, the ideology of the average Republican voter now matches up nearly perfectly with the ideology voters have assigned to Walker. He isn’t too extreme for the party; the other candidates are more moderate than the average Republican voter.

So why did the party nominate more moderate candidates in 2008 and especially 2012, even as the party has become more conservative? We can’t be sure, of course, but electability probably has a lot to do with it. The most successful conservative challengers who emerged in recent years were probably seen as unelectable by party actors and voters. Huckabee and Santorum have made numerous inflammatory comments and had either never won in a swing or blue state or gotten trounced the last time they ran in one.

Meanwhile, other potential conservative alternatives (see Fred Thompson, Tim Pawlenty and even Rick Perry) who could have made a serious run for the nomination went nowhere because they flopped on the campaign trail. Walker could end up in this group, given that his campaign so far hasn’t been regarded as very strong, though it’s far too early to know whether he’ll ramp it up once he’s officially in the race.

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.

http://fivethirtyeight.com/features/scott-walker-wants-to-cure-his-party-of-its-weakness-for-moderates/

[H2O Man]

56. Very important information.

Thank you.

[spanone]

26. i guess scott walker proves that even the insanely inept can dream of being president too.

[H2O Man]

58. There have been

a few people who were, for all intent and purposes, unqualified to be president, who have actually won elections to that office, in my life time.

While it sounds a tad snarky, the old "would you buy a used car from this man?" bit about Richard Nixon really had a lot of truth to it. While he had the intellectual capacity, and the experience in DC, his personality should have prevented him from being elected twice.

I have mixed feelings about Gerald Ford. But there really is no serious case to be made that Ronald Reagan was fit for the office. Yet the most extreme case is obviously George W. Bush -- who certainly didn't win the 2000 election, and likely didn't actually win in '04.

If George W. Bush could be president, than literally anyone can. And that, sadly, leaves us wondering what went so horribly wrong in our country? How can a shit stain like Scott Walker even be considered as a nominee?

[spanone]

59. ...or donald trump...????

[H2O Man]

61. Yikes!

It is unnerving to think that the republicans were willing to place Sarah Palin a heartbeat away from the Oval Office. That is something that the American public should never forget.

And you are right, of course,about Trump. It amazes me -- though it really doesn't surprise me -- that Trump is doing so well in the current polls.

[ananda]

28. He's an ugly meanspirited idiot carrying water for the Kochs and their ilk.

He is an utterly disgusting human being without an ounce of decency.

[H2O Man]

29. Almost word for word

what my brother said about him!

[hifiguy]

69. A shitweasel who continues to fill

a desperately needed void.

[abakan]

77. ^^What you said^^

[LiberalElite]

32. If God forbid he gets elected - then we'll REALLY

have that revolution.

[H2O Man]

60. It would show

the true extent of the pathology of our country, that's for sure. And it would be a clear indicator that dangerous forces have severely damaged our system of government.

[JonLP24]

33. I haven't looked at polls in over a month

The first thing I think there are so many candidates it is difficult to try to handicap but for Jeb Bush he has favorable deficit by about 20 points or so and the Bush name itself I don't see him as a likely winner. Scott Walker has around 50% favorable, IIRC, ratings and polling first place as well in a lot of states so out of all of them I see him as the most likely to win the nomination. I haven't seen much of, if it all of his presentations what I couldn't figure out how he was winning in Wisconsin. Republican voters seem to like the guy with the favorable surplus plus poll numbers I see him as a contender and likely winner of the nomination.

None of the Republicans and few politicians seem like they genuinely care. Mitt Romney was a candidate most Republicans didn't like but there was an "Anybody but Obama" so many didn't vote for the guy they liked but the guy they felt was the most "electable". This year, I don't see them seeing a "Bush" as electable but I don't know what Republican voters like. I don't get why they do support the likes they do such as Jan Brewer or Chris Christie.

[H2O Man]

62. You raise key points.

It is obvious why, for example, people like the Koch brothers will back a snake such as Scott Walker. And to identify the economics behind Jeb's candidacy, etc.

What is more difficult to understand is why working class people, who are registered republicans, would even consider supporting any of their party's current candidates. How could they possibly identify with a Trump, Bush, or Walker, and believe that they share common beliefs and values?

Thanks. As always, I find your contributions on DU to be interesting, and well thought out.

[herding cats]

41. I think it's going to be between he and Jeb for the Republican nomination.

They're both going to be extremely well funded, and they're both a danger to the Democratic nominee in the GE.

If either, or both, of them can resonate with the Republican base enough to rally the troops, we're going to have a fight on our hands. Of the two of them, I actually think Walker can motivate their base better, it's what he does well, but Jeb has a better chance of pulling off winning the GE I'd think. Jeb has a chance at appealing to a broader array of voters than Walker. I still wouldn't discount Walker, though. If you can get the Republican's fired up against our candidate they can get a substantial amount of their voters to the polls who wold vote for a ham sandwich so long as it as a R behind it's name and not a D, things are going to be tough.

I was around for the 2000 election, when it was widely said the buffoon from Texas didn't have as much of a chance as he had brains in his head. Well, he won the nomination, and then he kept it tight enough that Florida swayed it for him in the GE. I know it came down to the Supreme Court ruling, but it was still due to Florida being so close. It wasn't Bush's personality, or his charisma that helped him, that's an excuse which came into play after he was elected, after 9/11, when people were validating their votes for him in my opinion. It was the simple fact that he wasn't a Democrat. No matter what was taking place in our country at the time, where the economy was, or if people were doing better than they had been 8 years before, if he was the right person to handle foreign affairs, etc. Republican's spent the entire previous two terms of Bill Clinton making the word Democrat a pejorative in the minds of specific people in this country. It resonated, and the end result was two wars, trillions of dollars in debt, two Supreme Court justices, housing bubble, economic collapse brought on by the financial crisis/scandal, and a subsequent recession which teetered on the cusp of another global depression.

After all that, there are too many American's who are no smarter than they were in 2000. Far too many. I will never again discount a seriously flawed Republican candidate by assuming the majority of voters actually use their brains, or even think about their own well being before voting. They don't care about their own well being, and they appear to have no ability to formulate theories for themselves if history is to be believed.

2016 is going to be more about that propaganda, and less about their candidate, I expect. Walker has strong support from the Koch brothers, so he's not out of it just because we find him to be devoid of normal emotions. They can get those from their base to blast alongside him in commercials if need be. Most voters don't watch the debates, or even the campaign speeches of the candidates. They see commercials on TV and they watch what the media and social media present to get a feel about their choices, that's all.

[H2O Man]

63. Absolutely on target!

You nailed it, as usual. It is vital that we understand that serious character flaws in their candidates do not result in the republicans taking an objective look at them. Rather, the republican masses tend to vote based upon emotions (generally, hate and fear), and are more influenced by gaudy commercials than by facts or insightful analysis. And that is exactly who a character like Scott Walker can win political office.

Thank you!

[Blue_In_AK]

42. Doesn't he have some legal improprieties

that he's dealing with?

[0rganism]

45. he's as dangerous a ratfucker as ever walked the planet

look what he's done to Wisconsin, and the people there (who aren't all slackjawed conservative yokels) elected him THREE TIMES in four years. Koch connections aside, he knows how to win in a swing state.

when you factor in the Koch money bomb, he's going to have an excellent run in the primary as their favorite. it won't make as much difference in the general (Kochs always drop a huge GOP gift on the nominee anyway) but he's got the backing to stick out the primary to the end, and a personality that wins with conservatives.

speaking of which, he's that rare bird who's genuinely committed to both economic and social conservatism. he comes across as a 100% True Believer, and that sells both candidates and policies (due to our whore media bending over backwards to give counterfactual republican ideals a lion's share of the airtime -- the same reason his criminal connections won't be covered)

i get the vibe that he's a lot shrewder than he lets himself appear on camera -- he comes off kind of dull and slow, but conservatives seem to like that. he can flaunt his lack of a college education -- again, a big winning point with anti-education republicans. some people look at his hand and see a bunch of low cards; i see a guy who's biding his time, drawing for a straight flush.

watch out for Walker - he's like Trump, but not as obviously ridiculous, and very very electable.

[nadinbrzezinski]

46. This will make the race even less predictable

here

http://reportingsandiego.com/2015/07/13/scott-walker-launches-bid-for-the-white-house/

I usually do not post our election coverage but some of my reasoning is there.

[raging moderate]

52. Cellophane-wrapped cossetted little candyface puppet.

That is how Scott Walker looks to me. He has a weak chin and a wobbly mouth, not structurally so much as operationally. Life has been made easy for him. It should be possible to make this clear to enough American voters to get him defeated at the voting booths. He reminds me of George Bernard Shaw's description of a man who cannot fade, because he has never bloomed.

[hankthecrank]

65. Maybe why he is so pasty white

I bet when he stands in the sun there is no shadow

Empty empty doesn't even cast a shadow

[3catwoman3]

78. Maybe no reflection in...

...a mirror, either. He and the Koch brothers would certainly suck the country dry.

[HassleCat]

53. Anything can happen

Many people voted for George W. Bush and Dick Cheney, one dumb as a rock and the other devious as a snake, so you could tell me Mickey and Goofy were the GOP ticket and I couldn't say with any certainty they couldn't win. We did draw the line at McCain and Palin, which illustrates we will not put up with absolutely anything.

[Zorra]

71. He's an imminent threat to all life, just like every other republican candidate.

The only thing I feel I need to understand about him, and the rest of the republican field, is how to undertake the most effective non-violent course of action to prevent Walker, or any of the rest of them, from getting near the WH.

No matter which one of them wins the nomination, if elected he will be Ronald Reagan and George W. Bush redux times 2 with regard to the deliberate widespread ugliness, death, and destruction he will do everything in his power to wreak upon the universe.

[scrabblequeen40]

79. Agree that he's the strongest GOP candidate

His biography is appealing to their base in all the same ways it annoys liberals. I lived in Milwaukee when he was the county executive. He's created an image of midwestern wholesomeness and stubborn simplicity, natural extensions of his lack of a college degree, and his over-the-top religiosity. These attributes contrast favorably (among simple-minded conservatives) against educated candidates who like to explain stuff. There is a dangerously high concentration of low-info voters who prefer faith to facts, who are easily frustrated by complicated explanations and who distrust/dislike/begrudge people who are smarter. In other words, he's perfect for the GOP. This worked well to put Bush II in office. Walker also has the added bonus of being younger, if not prettier. In the real world, Walker is a loser. He would never survive working a real job because he lacks a work ethic and is surprisingly dumb. But as we all know, politics is where many losers find victory. I can't stand the bastard, and relish the opportunity to see his ass handed to him on a steaming platter. Bring it on.

[progressoid]

82. Hey, scrabblequeen40!

You should post more often. I like your style!

[Octafish]

83. Image

Reality: The racist dog whistle sounds out of hearing's range while the uneducated young white guy attracts the biggest voting block of them all, the Ignorami.

[libpride_15]

84. His eyes may appear to hypnotized by zombie Reagan..

But he's strictly not ready for the big leagues. He'll prove to be one of the slow kids in the race.