It's all in the spin, isn't it? The article points out that it was all the megadonors from around the country that helped Scott Walker win the recall election in Wisconsin. Not the Wisconsin voters. And it is wrong to phrase what happened as the "unions" trying to recall Walker. It was us, the people of Wisconsin who lost out to megamillionaire GOP donors. The man lied about everything he campaigned for. Just like he is lying now that all his changes are a success. No matter how much was poured into an election today, he would lose. He has stepped on his supporters as well as those who do not support him equally. It is embarrassing that he is riding to popularity on the belief that Wisconsin is in a better place because of him. It will take decades to repair the damage this fool has done.
3
And just think. None of these millionaires and billionaires expect anything in return should the candidate upon whom they're bestowing their largess manage to win the presidency. No sir. No grubby quid pro quos here. Just good old fashioned Supreme Court-approved First Amendment-certified free speech.
4
Why all the fuss?
Walker is selling his soul to the flat earth society just as Romney did, and no amount of money stopped Romney from losing, and embarrassingly so.
Jeb sells out, too, but to a lesser extent.
As such, Jeb will be the nominee, and lose to Clinton.
It's not hard to figure that out.
Walker is selling his soul to the flat earth society just as Romney did, and no amount of money stopped Romney from losing, and embarrassingly so.
Jeb sells out, too, but to a lesser extent.
As such, Jeb will be the nominee, and lose to Clinton.
It's not hard to figure that out.
4
Are we ever going to get a story of whether the policies that Walker enacted work. Are teachers generally satisfied without collective bargaining. Easy to recruit new teachers. Economic growth good enough. Are businesses more interested in locating to Wisconsis now that circus a right to work state. Are Wisconsinites happy with Scott?
2
Most of the teachers took immediate retirement when Act10 went through, the rest dropped the union only because they were forced to fork over more money to the health care and benefits, they had no money left to stay in the union. Several businesses have already moved to MN as did a number of people due to higher wages in MN. Last week a new poll showed only 41% of WI favor Walker overall, 73% are very upset with his cuts to the university system and 76% very upset with the K-12 cuts. He literally did a 180 on most who voted for him by doing opposite what he said he would do. Wi went from 11th in the nation to 49th in economics in the last several weeks. If you google you will find all the info you need to answer your questions
7
The difference between Clinton's raising of money from the 1% and Walker's doing the same is that Clinton's donations will amount to policy that help far more people than will Walker's policies.
After all, it is the Democrats fighting to protect Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, the climate, public education, medical research, outer space exploration, well-earned and well-deserved pensions, and, in the process, passing numerous tax cuts for small businesses and ensuring access to health insurance.
Republican donors want Walker in office as a way of benefiting themselves, and themselves only, at the expense of everyone else. I really wish Republicans would stop the paternalistic finger-wagging about living within one's means while stealing from my wallet on behalf of the 1%. Why should I have to subsidize billion-dollar corporations?
Again: Why should I have to subsidize billion-dollar corporations?
The Republican playbook: Just wrap yourself in the flag, wave the Bible, shriek the most mean-spirited, outrageous denigration you can think of, steal bread from the mouths of the babies whom you demand to be born, and bam! You're a "real" 'murican, according to the Republican base.
Indeed, it's so easy, I almost don't blame the 1% for taking advantage. Privately, even they must marvel at how little they have to do to convince people to sacrifice themselves at the altar of the 1%.
After all, it is the Democrats fighting to protect Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, the climate, public education, medical research, outer space exploration, well-earned and well-deserved pensions, and, in the process, passing numerous tax cuts for small businesses and ensuring access to health insurance.
Republican donors want Walker in office as a way of benefiting themselves, and themselves only, at the expense of everyone else. I really wish Republicans would stop the paternalistic finger-wagging about living within one's means while stealing from my wallet on behalf of the 1%. Why should I have to subsidize billion-dollar corporations?
Again: Why should I have to subsidize billion-dollar corporations?
The Republican playbook: Just wrap yourself in the flag, wave the Bible, shriek the most mean-spirited, outrageous denigration you can think of, steal bread from the mouths of the babies whom you demand to be born, and bam! You're a "real" 'murican, according to the Republican base.
Indeed, it's so easy, I almost don't blame the 1% for taking advantage. Privately, even they must marvel at how little they have to do to convince people to sacrifice themselves at the altar of the 1%.
9
It's too bad that The Upshot focuses as much on money as the general media does. Not a word about 2 of the most important issues in this race: who is the most qualified front runner, and which candidate would morph into the best leader of the world's largest democratic state? Money l, such as focused on in this irrelevant column, may make the world go round. But money doesn't buy this nor most offices. . Just ask Mitt Romney.
The comments here are amusing in their hypocrisy. Most left leaning commentators criticizing Walker are oblivious to the fact that Hillary is on track to raise far MORE money from the same 1% class of political donors.
This is depressing. Can we stop calling our system a "Democracy" and call it what it is: an Oligarchy? (Just like Russia)
5
Ummm, obviously people have not seen the article that came out about Scott Walker's debt - credit card debt in many thousands - perhaps up to $100,000, including Sears of all places.
Looks like his $1 sweaters from Kohl's aren't quite enough to help his debt ratio.One report says his worth is MINUS $72,000.
One of his newly elected Assemblymen in Wisconsin has introduced new food stamp legislation that would forbid food stamp recipients from purchasing shrimp, lobster, and shellfish. Also, they need to spend 2/3 of their food stamp money on chicken, beef, fresh produce. Thinking Representative Robert Brooks whose bill this is, should have a little grocery shopping tip chat with his boss, the governor.
Scott, stop taking those Koch brothers out to eat and putting it on your charge cards!
Looks like his $1 sweaters from Kohl's aren't quite enough to help his debt ratio.One report says his worth is MINUS $72,000.
One of his newly elected Assemblymen in Wisconsin has introduced new food stamp legislation that would forbid food stamp recipients from purchasing shrimp, lobster, and shellfish. Also, they need to spend 2/3 of their food stamp money on chicken, beef, fresh produce. Thinking Representative Robert Brooks whose bill this is, should have a little grocery shopping tip chat with his boss, the governor.
Scott, stop taking those Koch brothers out to eat and putting it on your charge cards!
4
Most expenses for the pre-campaign that Scott Walker is running are hard to cover with campaign donations, so that debt may have all been incurred in the past few months. Would you rather he have a non-transparent "charity" to pay his bills?
Maybe he could make it up from a Russian uranium magnate.
His Our American Revival group dishes out those expenses.
The 1% sees in Scott Walker a way to increase their wealth and reduce the influence and power of the institutional sectors of the 99%, as he did in Wisconsin. Why else such a confluence of wealthy donors and PAC's. My greatest fear is that a man who proclaims himself an evangelical Christian, for whom his God provides wisdom and guidance in what he does, will function under the banner of "Deus vult."
3
Scott Walker will make a great candidate and an even better president. His common sense approach to administration will make life better for all Americans.
2
Keep kidding yourself.
"Forbes named Wisconsin one of the 'worst states' for business in December of 2012. Wisconsin is 44th for overall economic performance and 39th for business climate."
http://www.politicususa.com/2013/06/06/economy-killer-scott-walker-takes...
"Scott Walker’s popularity in Wisconsin has recently hit a very bad patch, with the famously objective Marquette Law School poll just last week showing him at 41/56, and worse yet, trailing Hillary Clinton by double digits. Walker’s most recent budget is also getting panned by big majorities of Wisconsin voters."
http://talkingpointsmemo.com/cafe/governor-savior-myth-2016-election
"Forbes named Wisconsin one of the 'worst states' for business in December of 2012. Wisconsin is 44th for overall economic performance and 39th for business climate."
http://www.politicususa.com/2013/06/06/economy-killer-scott-walker-takes...
"Scott Walker’s popularity in Wisconsin has recently hit a very bad patch, with the famously objective Marquette Law School poll just last week showing him at 41/56, and worse yet, trailing Hillary Clinton by double digits. Walker’s most recent budget is also getting panned by big majorities of Wisconsin voters."
http://talkingpointsmemo.com/cafe/governor-savior-myth-2016-election
5
Walker's approach to administration is power grabs, he wants no laws that will stop him from doing what he wants.
3
He's a puppet for the Kochs and ALEC. A Walker presidency is literally a Koch presidency. Even worse than Reagan and the Annenbergs. At least they had a conscience of sorts. The Kochs are sociopaths and so is Walker, who has turned the tables 180 degrees on the people who "elected" him.
1
Other candidates eager to unseat Mr. Walker in the race to collect enormous sums of money from the richest donors could also note that Mr. Walker remains under investigation in Wisconsin and that several of his employees have been found guilty of various improprieties. Of course, that particular approach would be unseemly for Mr. Perry and Mr. Christie, who also face investigations and possible charges. It would be absolutely appropriate for journalists to note, however.
9
Exactly, the only reason why he has not announced yet is because he can't. Not until he knows for sure the DJ investigation is shut down. He recently introduced a referendum in the latest election, April, to change the position of the chief justice in his favor as the current one would in no way stop the investigation. The wording was written in a way to confuse voters as to what they were really voting on a yes or no question. They voted yes to ousting the current one even tho she was scheduled to be in position until 2019 and he now will be replacing her with who he wants within this week as the DJ investigation gets underway soon thereafter. Suspicions here? Yep, it is a way to get him off he hook. He runs the laws in WI.
2
Should we now just cancel the elections and declare the person who brings in the most money POTUS!?
1
Let's pause for a moment and ask why someone so boring, mediocre, and hackneyed as Scott Walker could ever reap so much money from corporate donors. Why would anyone want this automaton of a politician at the helm of the most powerful country in the world?
The answer: It's precisely because Walker is an automaton--a man stunningly devoid of original ideas or intellectual precision--that these donors like him. He will unquestioningly implement their policies. He will jump to execute their rent-seeking strategies. Not only will he defer to their vicious ideology, he will love every minute of it. He is their Manchurian corporatist.
The answer: It's precisely because Walker is an automaton--a man stunningly devoid of original ideas or intellectual precision--that these donors like him. He will unquestioningly implement their policies. He will jump to execute their rent-seeking strategies. Not only will he defer to their vicious ideology, he will love every minute of it. He is their Manchurian corporatist.
17
"The answer: It's precisely because Walker is an automaton--a man stunningly devoid of original ideas or intellectual precision--that these donors like him. "
Really reminds me of Reagan. Yes, Democrats were convinced Reagan was slow and stupid. They still think that way, 30 years after he played them like a fiddle.
Really reminds me of Reagan. Yes, Democrats were convinced Reagan was slow and stupid. They still think that way, 30 years after he played them like a fiddle.
4
...of course one really should do Reagan historical documentation; see power behind:
http://www.amazon.com/Supermob-Korshak-Criminal-Associates-Americas/dp/1...
"Investigative reporter Gus Russo returns with his most explosive book yet, the remarkable story of the "Supermob"--a cadre of men who, over the course of decades, secretly influenced nearly every aspect of American society. Presenting startling, never-before-seen revelations about such famous members as Jules Stein, Joe Glaser, Ronald Reagan, Lew Wasserman, David Bazelon, and John Jacob Factor--as well as infamous, scrupulously low-profile members--Russo pulls the lid off of a half-century of criminal infiltration into American business, politics, and society. At the heart of it all is Sidney "The Fixer" Korshak, who from the 1940's until his death in the 1990s, was not only the most powerful lawyer in the world, according to the FBI, but the enigmatic player behind countless 20th century power mergers, political deals, and organized crime chicaneries. As the underworld's primary link to the corporate upperworld, Korshak's backroom dominance and talent for anonymity will likely never be equaled. And as Supermob proves, neither will his story…"
http://www.amazon.com/Supermob-Korshak-Criminal-Associates-Americas/dp/1...
"Investigative reporter Gus Russo returns with his most explosive book yet, the remarkable story of the "Supermob"--a cadre of men who, over the course of decades, secretly influenced nearly every aspect of American society. Presenting startling, never-before-seen revelations about such famous members as Jules Stein, Joe Glaser, Ronald Reagan, Lew Wasserman, David Bazelon, and John Jacob Factor--as well as infamous, scrupulously low-profile members--Russo pulls the lid off of a half-century of criminal infiltration into American business, politics, and society. At the heart of it all is Sidney "The Fixer" Korshak, who from the 1940's until his death in the 1990s, was not only the most powerful lawyer in the world, according to the FBI, but the enigmatic player behind countless 20th century power mergers, political deals, and organized crime chicaneries. As the underworld's primary link to the corporate upperworld, Korshak's backroom dominance and talent for anonymity will likely never be equaled. And as Supermob proves, neither will his story…"
I never said he was stupid. And I don't think he's slow.
I said that his deportment makes him the perfect servant to execute the whims of the real masters of mankind. He spouts his lines like a flawless computer of commercialist ideology. It's obvious and tiresome.
I said that his deportment makes him the perfect servant to execute the whims of the real masters of mankind. He spouts his lines like a flawless computer of commercialist ideology. It's obvious and tiresome.
3
America's founders never wanted ordinary citizens to have education or the vote . That is why they denied women, or men without property from voting. Not to mention un whites.
We speak of the founders so fondly but in all actuality they were like the wealthy that has the hand up Walkers back. They never want for the average man/woman to have a say in governance, they have all the money, hence all the answers.
You see the results today. Walker will send it even further into deluded oblivion, being a third rate politician. With the comportment of a puppet....
We speak of the founders so fondly but in all actuality they were like the wealthy that has the hand up Walkers back. They never want for the average man/woman to have a say in governance, they have all the money, hence all the answers.
You see the results today. Walker will send it even further into deluded oblivion, being a third rate politician. With the comportment of a puppet....
7
Well, OF COURSE top Republican donors have given Walker money.
He promised them he would destroy the state's unions, and along with them the state's middle class.
Those donors wish nothing more than to have a two class system in place with them at the top, and everyone else fighting for minimum wage jobs.
People wondering how they are going to feed their families don't have a lot of time for political activism or voting, and that's just how they want it.
He promised them he would destroy the state's unions, and along with them the state's middle class.
Those donors wish nothing more than to have a two class system in place with them at the top, and everyone else fighting for minimum wage jobs.
People wondering how they are going to feed their families don't have a lot of time for political activism or voting, and that's just how they want it.
11
All you have to do is look at all the major cities that have been democrat strongholds for many decades to see how they have achieved just what you described.
O.K. Let's start with Duluth, Minnesota (Democrat governor) and Superior, Wisconsin (Republican, Scott Walker, governor) and compare employment rate, job growth, household debt and household income - to see what they have achieved: http://www.nytimes.com/2014/01/13/us/twinned-cities-now-following-differ...
2
Scott Walker is just another Sarah Palin, without the bikini.
14
Scott Walker's going to be the next president.
3
Did you mean another hockey mom without the lipstick?
Bernie Madoff was also skilled at getting rich people to give him money...
4
To vilify unions is like vilifying teachers.Yes there may be some that are guilty of misconduct, but to dismiss their importance in the establishment of an educated middle class is absurd.
Walker is so very unqualified, he reeks of "puppet"...
By the way, how about police unions? Currently they are an antagonistic and contentious group in relation to culpability and citizen rights.
Walker will never denounce law enforcement unions, he will repudiate all others as evil. The harbinger of America's middle class was unionization.
If Walker wins in 2016 you better believe the U.S. will begin a downward spiral that will stop the world spinning on its axis...
Walker is so very unqualified, he reeks of "puppet"...
By the way, how about police unions? Currently they are an antagonistic and contentious group in relation to culpability and citizen rights.
Walker will never denounce law enforcement unions, he will repudiate all others as evil. The harbinger of America's middle class was unionization.
If Walker wins in 2016 you better believe the U.S. will begin a downward spiral that will stop the world spinning on its axis...
14
"...believe the U.S. will begin a downward spiral that will stop the world spinning on its axis......"
Hmm, so Obama was going to stop the rise of the oceans and he was going to heal the earth, and you say Walker will spin the world off of its axis. I notice Walker is not so conceited as to say that, too bad Obama was not humble, like Walker.
Hmm, so Obama was going to stop the rise of the oceans and he was going to heal the earth, and you say Walker will spin the world off of its axis. I notice Walker is not so conceited as to say that, too bad Obama was not humble, like Walker.
2
Humility , like loyalty ( see W) is highly overrated. Especially when it's as disingenuous was Walker's.
1
Walker is your puppet. I am no fan of Hillary, and I can't stand the fact that getting elected in this country costs a gazillion dollars. That said, all you really need to do is look at how Scotty's policies are affecting Wisconsin, and you have enough data to indicate he shouldn't run for dog catcher, let alone President.
Of course they have.
They've gotten a taste of overseas cheap labor. Think they're not going to push for the same conditions here?
Walker is their perfect candidate, a younger version of George W. Bush, an unthinking, yes-sir sieve who will do whatever his puppet masters tell him to do, without a single thought about history, without a vision of any kind for ensuring that the nation is as robust as it can be for as many people as possible.
Bottom line: the Republican party has morphed into a simple-minded collection of business types who seek to legislate a very narrow market on behalf of their wealthy donors (including those who profit from war), and then themselves once they leave office.
As such, they do everything possible to keep everyone else out of the market while trying to convince said everyone else that the government is the culprit.
Unfortunately, the Republican base eagerly laps up such drivel, believing that carrying water for the 1% translates into personal wealth.
It's all just so sick and pathetic.
They've gotten a taste of overseas cheap labor. Think they're not going to push for the same conditions here?
Walker is their perfect candidate, a younger version of George W. Bush, an unthinking, yes-sir sieve who will do whatever his puppet masters tell him to do, without a single thought about history, without a vision of any kind for ensuring that the nation is as robust as it can be for as many people as possible.
Bottom line: the Republican party has morphed into a simple-minded collection of business types who seek to legislate a very narrow market on behalf of their wealthy donors (including those who profit from war), and then themselves once they leave office.
As such, they do everything possible to keep everyone else out of the market while trying to convince said everyone else that the government is the culprit.
Unfortunately, the Republican base eagerly laps up such drivel, believing that carrying water for the 1% translates into personal wealth.
It's all just so sick and pathetic.
22
Wonderful! I find it absolutely delightful that the billionaires are backing the worst candidates with the most money, clearly illuminating both their arrogance and warped vision for America--best of all? Leaving less money available for a viable candidate. Any of these extremists standing next to Hillary Clinton guarantee her winning the presidential election. May all of Koch's candidates meet the same fate that Newt Gingrich met.
9
"Corporations are people, my friend.....and unionized people are not people, my friend"
Scott Walker 2015
Scott Walker 2015
26
Republican Puzzle, Part 331b
Who's worse and in what order: Rick Perry, Scott "Koch Puppet" Walker, Random Paul or Jeb "Not Another!" Bush?
Who's worse and in what order: Rick Perry, Scott "Koch Puppet" Walker, Random Paul or Jeb "Not Another!" Bush?
10
Gov´t Perry of Texas sets the example of remarkably crass politics. His state is ranked first for the number of people with no healthcare coverage at all ... fully a third of its population ... a condition which he has deliberately precipitated by refusing provisions of the ACA.
10
The best candidate that a democratically elected system can buy . . . An oxymoron, or what?
Who does America think they're kidding with that antiquated and cliche notion about it being such a proud democracy? To preach that we are is embarrassing, to say the least; but completely consistent with everything else that we practice.
Who does America think they're kidding with that antiquated and cliche notion about it being such a proud democracy? To preach that we are is embarrassing, to say the least; but completely consistent with everything else that we practice.
11
The unions decided Walker had to go? They may control the democratic party, but they should never have tried to control the republican party too. Their mistake.
Unions still haven't figured out how to be helpful to their workers in a global economy. No wonder they're in trouble.
Unions still haven't figured out how to be helpful to their workers in a global economy. No wonder they're in trouble.
5
Right, everyone knows that big corporations who ship jobs overseas control the Republican party.
5
The union movement was born at a time when workers were being cruelly exploited by unscrupulous industrialists during the industrial revolution. A healthy middle class eventually emerged as a positive force for democracy and fairness. In america this all began to unravel with Reagan´s supression of the air traffic controllers strike. And alas, the GOP has been hellbent on destroying unions ever since.
With the gradual weakening of union clout, it´s no surprise that median household incomes have barely budged for 30 years while in stark contrast income growth for the top privileged 10% has grown by 75% since 1980 and counting. In 1980 the average CEO made 25 times what an average worker made; now it´s 400 times. And tax revenue as a percentage of GDP (disproportionately benefitting the wealthy) are at unprecedented lows as public debt takes up the slack.
Frankly union busting is not good for the country, and the naivety of Wisconsin and Michigan voters to get conned by the GOP canard that somehow unions are evil is akin to biting off their noses to spite their faces.
With the gradual weakening of union clout, it´s no surprise that median household incomes have barely budged for 30 years while in stark contrast income growth for the top privileged 10% has grown by 75% since 1980 and counting. In 1980 the average CEO made 25 times what an average worker made; now it´s 400 times. And tax revenue as a percentage of GDP (disproportionately benefitting the wealthy) are at unprecedented lows as public debt takes up the slack.
Frankly union busting is not good for the country, and the naivety of Wisconsin and Michigan voters to get conned by the GOP canard that somehow unions are evil is akin to biting off their noses to spite their faces.
20
It's called a global economy. If only democrats were a bit more familiar with it.
At least corporations have figured out how to compete. Unions have done, what, exactly? Tried to prevent them from competing?
That's hardly a winning formula for a country that has no choice but to compete.
There will be no future for the American worker if he cannot become more competitive. A bigger safety net will not help them in the long run.
At least corporations have figured out how to compete. Unions have done, what, exactly? Tried to prevent them from competing?
That's hardly a winning formula for a country that has no choice but to compete.
There will be no future for the American worker if he cannot become more competitive. A bigger safety net will not help them in the long run.
1
"It’s also worth mentioning that although the top 250 donors have given large amounts of campaign cash, presidential candidates will need to raise money from tens of thousands of individuals in amounts large and small."
Really? What proportion of total campaign dollars to Mitt Romney in 2012 came from small donors? According to OpenSecrets (http://www.opensecrets.org/pres12/candidate.php?id=N00000286), only 18% of his total contributions came from "small individual contributions," usually ones under $200 that are not required to be itemized in FEC filings. Small contributions consisted 33% of the total raised by Barack Obama in 2012 (http://www.opensecrets.org/pres12/candidate.php?id=N00009638), better than the Republican but still heavily unbalanced in favor of wealthier contributors.
"Outside" spending in support of Romney totalled over $400 million, three times President Obama's figure (http://www.opensecrets.org/pres12/#out). Most of that money is untraceable, of course.
Really? What proportion of total campaign dollars to Mitt Romney in 2012 came from small donors? According to OpenSecrets (http://www.opensecrets.org/pres12/candidate.php?id=N00000286), only 18% of his total contributions came from "small individual contributions," usually ones under $200 that are not required to be itemized in FEC filings. Small contributions consisted 33% of the total raised by Barack Obama in 2012 (http://www.opensecrets.org/pres12/candidate.php?id=N00009638), better than the Republican but still heavily unbalanced in favor of wealthier contributors.
"Outside" spending in support of Romney totalled over $400 million, three times President Obama's figure (http://www.opensecrets.org/pres12/#out). Most of that money is untraceable, of course.
16
It has been my contention that elections are a waste of time and money, not to mention an ever-increasing period of mental torture for the public. For optimum efficiency--and to benefit the country--we should simply pit presidential hopefuls against one another in a fund-raising campaign. The one who raises the most money wins. The proceeds are deposited directly into the federal coffers to support operation of the country, with special consideration to infrastructure and healthcare (because I want healthcare supported)
8
Great analysis by Derek Willis. I can see Walker's position. While, with some candidates, wealthy business donors will want to "kick the tires", it probably feels to them that they have already driven Walker's vehicle around the block. They hate labor and Walker has delivered a big blow against it. Other candidates can only deliver the dance.
the money is staggering. We voters are simply mortal fools to put up with this. We erroneously believe that we are living in a Democracy. The only assurance we get is that the wealthy pretty much leave us alone; they determine our candidates and we vote for them. Individuals do contribute, to the chosen candidates.
In the terms of merchandizing, Walker has the product while the others are in the preliminary marketing phase. He has a popular resume that other candidates will find dificult to overcome. Even his not having a degree attracts primary voters.
The primary season is going to be interesting.
the money is staggering. We voters are simply mortal fools to put up with this. We erroneously believe that we are living in a Democracy. The only assurance we get is that the wealthy pretty much leave us alone; they determine our candidates and we vote for them. Individuals do contribute, to the chosen candidates.
In the terms of merchandizing, Walker has the product while the others are in the preliminary marketing phase. He has a popular resume that other candidates will find dificult to overcome. Even his not having a degree attracts primary voters.
The primary season is going to be interesting.
6
He has the uncanny ability to be the ideal yes-man: no conscience about what he's doing to the masses
15
It is telling that being uneducated is potentially a plus with the Republican base.
23
And he doesn't have any foreign money flowing in with questionable connections to certain outcomes that aren't always in the US' interests.
That might just play well with voters too.
That might just play well with voters too.
2
That's what counts in the US version of exceptional democracy, who owns the candidate. Pathetic.
17
Walker is another panderer-supreme. That someone so unimpressive and vacuous can be taken as a serious contender is a shameful comment on the Republican field
36
As a Democrat, I am praying that Scott Walker will be the nominee.
12
Uh, no you don't. This guy is teflon coated, and he is very, very dangerous. He gives speeches which appeal to Reagan voters and make as little sense as Reagan did.
And we are still living with Reagan's legacy.
And we are still living with Reagan's legacy.
14
This is consistent with the latest testosterone-level readings from the misogynist wing of the RP; actually the whole lot. What better way to stand up to Hillary than put up a guy who beat up unions with pretend brute force (out-of-state money) and bashes immigrants with just enough racism to get away with it. It will be fun to watch these primitives go after Hillary on what they believe to be her principal weakness, her gender.
15
Many people here are sour or complaining because Scott Walker did not stay in college to finish his degree. He seems to have gone pretty far without getting his degree. As a matter of fact he has probably accomplished more than most people who have degrees. What was he going to learn in his senior year that would help him in life and be a better President? Look at Obama. He has more degrees than you can shake a stick at and is in line to become the worst president in US history.
3
I don't think damaging the economy and the educational system of an entire state is much of an accomplishment. I'd bet money that you can't point to anything good that Walker has done for anyone other than his corporate owners.
G.W. gave us two wars and a recession. I can't think of any other President who has done that much damage to so many people.
President Obama has gone a long way towards repairing that damage (no thanks to Republicans).
You can spout hate speech all day long but it will never be true.
G.W. gave us two wars and a recession. I can't think of any other President who has done that much damage to so many people.
President Obama has gone a long way towards repairing that damage (no thanks to Republicans).
You can spout hate speech all day long but it will never be true.
21
First of all, I don't care if Walker ever got his degree, and I didn't see a single post prior to yours that referenced that.
Second, and more importantly, before you start with the Faux News "Obama is the worst president ever," answer these questions:
1) How many wars did Obama start? How many did he end?
2) What was the unemployment rate when he took the oath and what is it now?
3) What was the Dow at when he started and what is it at now?
Don't forget to also answer these questions for Obama's predecessor.
Really--this country needs a few more "worst presidents ever" like Obama to get back on track. People like NYChap are incapable of seeing reality from inside their Faux Bubble.
Second, and more importantly, before you start with the Faux News "Obama is the worst president ever," answer these questions:
1) How many wars did Obama start? How many did he end?
2) What was the unemployment rate when he took the oath and what is it now?
3) What was the Dow at when he started and what is it at now?
Don't forget to also answer these questions for Obama's predecessor.
Really--this country needs a few more "worst presidents ever" like Obama to get back on track. People like NYChap are incapable of seeing reality from inside their Faux Bubble.
27
You have to be kidding
16
Giving money to these Rep. candidates must feel like you're shopping at Walmart. I suppose you can feel good about having bought something but you will always have to worry about the quality of your purchase.
13
Don't forget the larger picture: that by voting for Walker or shopping at Walmart, you are doing irreparable harm to the planet and to our descendants' odds of living in a better world.
10
As if money has not always been a part of this mix! Nevertheless, Mr. Walker presents as an undereducated man with little or no credentials to be in the race in the first instance. The 7th grader who was taller than the rest of the boys!
9
It is appalling to contemplate that such an enemy of ordinary working Americans is a viable candidate for the presidency, at least at this early stage. What on earth is the matter with us?
52
Also, a man who (for whatever reason) did not graduate from college (dropped out/left in his senior year) attempts to slash and burn one of the crown jewels in our national public higher education system, the University of Wisconsin.
Heckuva job Scottie!
Heckuva job Scottie!
70
The sad thing about this column is how it takes as an eternal "given," that unlimited campaign spending is the way our democracy now works. It's set in capitalist stone. No questions, no hope of change, just right wing business as usual, hold the regulations, please.
23
Please stop using the terms the right wing has coined to frame the debate in their favor. There is ABSOLUTELY NOTHING related to the "right to work" in the policies of Gov. Walker. He serves as the puppet to his well funded donors who want him to advance their business, business, business, anti worker agenda.
He was re-elected in the off year mid terms in 2014 as a result of a relatively low turnout. Please ask the majority of the citizens of WI how they feel about their Governor today.
He is another wolf in sheep's clothing. He claims to be concerned about the Sikhs who were massacred in his state and yes is virulently pro-gun at any cost, not even for sensible measures to prevent gun violence.
He is a hypocrite with a smooth exterior. That's about it.
He was re-elected in the off year mid terms in 2014 as a result of a relatively low turnout. Please ask the majority of the citizens of WI how they feel about their Governor today.
He is another wolf in sheep's clothing. He claims to be concerned about the Sikhs who were massacred in his state and yes is virulently pro-gun at any cost, not even for sensible measures to prevent gun violence.
He is a hypocrite with a smooth exterior. That's about it.
64
Scott Walker has been a great Governer and will be a formidable Presidential candidate, and you can be certain that his fundraising apparatus is nowhere near as corrupt as the Clintons. Hillary Clinton is by far the most ethically challenged presidential candidate of our lifetimes. There is not a single Republican running who even comes close.
3
Check the economic stats in Wisconsin. Walker has been a disaster for the state.
I know that it takes a kind of magical thinking to be a Republican (I was one once) but sooner or later you have to realize that just making things up and saying them doesn't make them true.
I know that it takes a kind of magical thinking to be a Republican (I was one once) but sooner or later you have to realize that just making things up and saying them doesn't make them true.
29
Re ''Scott Walker has been a great Governer ... blah blah''???
Just take a look at how Walker has ruined Wisconsin...what used to be a great, progressive, forward thinking state he has turned into a cesspool awash in the money of corporate interests and a race to the bottom of cheap labor and massive education cuts ($300 million to the University system alone) while he scrambles to find $250 million in taxpayer backed funding for a Milwaukee Bucks basketball arena. If ever there was a corporate thug, Walker is it.
Just take a look at how Walker has ruined Wisconsin...what used to be a great, progressive, forward thinking state he has turned into a cesspool awash in the money of corporate interests and a race to the bottom of cheap labor and massive education cuts ($300 million to the University system alone) while he scrambles to find $250 million in taxpayer backed funding for a Milwaukee Bucks basketball arena. If ever there was a corporate thug, Walker is it.
23
TPierre Changstien:
"There is not a single Republican running who even comes close."
*****
There is not a single politician in either party, running or not, who comes close to Hillary in terms of potential criminality except for the ones who have been indicted (ex., Bob Menendez).
"There is not a single Republican running who even comes close."
*****
There is not a single politician in either party, running or not, who comes close to Hillary in terms of potential criminality except for the ones who have been indicted (ex., Bob Menendez).
2
Isn't 'fundraising' from millionaires and billionaires the very essence of democracy and constitutional republicanism ?
It is truly heartwarming to see these oligarchs contributing to the common good through legal bribery that 99.9% are economically excluded from.
I can't wait for Scott Walker to represent a tiny number of rich Americans and their feudal interests.
It is truly heartwarming to see these oligarchs contributing to the common good through legal bribery that 99.9% are economically excluded from.
I can't wait for Scott Walker to represent a tiny number of rich Americans and their feudal interests.
68
You must be truly mad at Hillary then?
1
"I can't wait for Scott Walker to represent a tiny number of rich Americans and their feudal interests."
And the rich girl, uber-funded Hillary will represent soemthing better? Can she please stand up when giving a speech or is it bad knees? Enough of that charade. I don't care who has the most money, I don't care who proclaims to be on the right side of history, the Democrats are creating chaos in order to win.
And the rich girl, uber-funded Hillary will represent soemthing better? Can she please stand up when giving a speech or is it bad knees? Enough of that charade. I don't care who has the most money, I don't care who proclaims to be on the right side of history, the Democrats are creating chaos in order to win.
I don't know a lot about Mr. Walker. What I do know tells me he is an even more driven by avarice than was reagan. I expect all his other traits are just as bad or worse than reagan's.
27
you would be correct
3
Now there is a campaign slogan. Vote for the man who is owned by the most billionaires!!
57
The wealthy donors love his union busting/ anti-education mentality.
51
Perhaps we should make changes to the System so that the President of The United States of America could spend less time Serving the needs of Money, and more time Serving the Needs of People. Same could go for Scott Walker.
40
I think of all the time and energy Obama has spent fundraising versus governing and couldn't agree more.
3
doesn't take that long to read the word 'no' sent back to him by the republicans. He could have spent even more time fundraising.
9
Do you read the news? So, so many times when Obama has tried to move the country forward, his political opponents have obstructed and thwarted our country to an actual shutdown.
Keep watching more Fox Opinion.
Keep watching more Fox Opinion.
Too bad these top 250 are throwing their money away. Following the publication of Governor Walkers state budget, even his Republican pals in the state senate are pushing back on his more radical proposals; all out of the standard Libertarian, big money, textbook. Walker wants to essentially hand the University of WI over to an "independent board", appointed of course by the governor, cut 100's of millions of dollars in public school aid while opening the floodgates on charter shools, and get rid of the scientists at the state DNR. There many more little adders like this in his budget that are clearly the work of agents of some of these donors.
The messages that are delivered to our residents in WI include news items released by news media outlets set up and paid for by guess who; more big donors. If the news they present and the words that Mr. Walker has spoken were factual, he might have a chance at advancement up the food chain. Right now, he is either doomed by his own party or being set up as cattle food to Hillary.
The messages that are delivered to our residents in WI include news items released by news media outlets set up and paid for by guess who; more big donors. If the news they present and the words that Mr. Walker has spoken were factual, he might have a chance at advancement up the food chain. Right now, he is either doomed by his own party or being set up as cattle food to Hillary.
47
The cynical nature of Big Dollar Politics is made all the more insidious by the current "Money Primary" in the 2016 Presidential race.
Regardless of the Political Party, the current pursuit of ever larger sums of money to conduct next's election has to be considered a sign of a declining democracy.
When money is all that matters, policy issues are an afterthought, and the voters are treated as "target groups" for division and manipulation.
Our country and our values of fairness and equality are under direct assault.
Regardless of the Political Party, the current pursuit of ever larger sums of money to conduct next's election has to be considered a sign of a declining democracy.
When money is all that matters, policy issues are an afterthought, and the voters are treated as "target groups" for division and manipulation.
Our country and our values of fairness and equality are under direct assault.
25
"Roughly half of the nation’s top 250 Republican donors have given money to Mr. Walker in his campaigns for Wisconsin governor." That doesn't count the number of business interests from outside the state that also donated money. Yep, those of us who paid attention in Wisconsin recognized that Walker was bought and paid for by interests outside the state. Too bad most of the voters did not do so. However, all is not lost. Walker's campaign promises are proving hollow, his approval rating continues to decline, his economic policies are failing and he changes his position weekly (or more often depending on who he is addressing). When his own Republican legislature is now questioning his priorities and his governing ability, you know something is wrong. Other than union busting, he can't run for president on his record in Wisconsin.
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@Tom
I just want to remind you Geo W nearly bankrupted Texas as governor. It took them years to dig out of the hole he put them in. And he got anointed President by the Supreme Beings...
Logic rarely plays into this farce. But big money seems to be able to implant any lunatic message it chooses as long at it tags it on to religion in some way.
I just want to remind you Geo W nearly bankrupted Texas as governor. It took them years to dig out of the hole he put them in. And he got anointed President by the Supreme Beings...
Logic rarely plays into this farce. But big money seems to be able to implant any lunatic message it chooses as long at it tags it on to religion in some way.
8