Terrific brief vidcast with Gov. Walker from the Heritage Foundation. He’s one of my favorites for 2016. For me, he’s proven his mettle with how he handled the unions in Wisconsin and surviving the recall, doing so with resolve, maintaining a steady, focused demeanor, and without becoming a cartoon figure or blowhard. I look forward to hearing more from him and seeing how he stands up to the heat of the national arena!
Three governors have faced recall elections in U.S. history. Wisconsin Republican Scott Walker is the only one to survive – and with a larger margin of victory the second time around.
How did he do it? Walker visited Heritage for an interview with Jackie Anderson to talk about what’s worked in Wisconsin and the path forward for conservatives. (Hint: It doesn’t require moving to the middle.)
As he considers a run for the White House in 2016, Walker is touting his successful reforms and recounting his story in a new book, “Unintimidated: A Governor’s Story and a Nation’s Challenge.”
Remember when Gov. Palin sought to make sure surplus funds went back into the people’s pockets and not into bloating the government? Hearing Gov. Walker talk reminded me of that. It is “easy” to talk of cutting back when the government is in big debt trouble (right Gov. Christie?), but when the money is there, the temptation is always to expand the government and pay off the cronies. If your heart and soul tell you that fiscal conservative values and individual rights are the best way for all, then you understand what Walker and Palin are all about. They may at times be forced to make practical and pragmatic decisions which are distasteful, but they will always seek to return to the fiscal conservative core. We can not afford to be naive. Cutting off your nose to spite your face makes breathing difficult and brings no gain. So watch Walker, but beware of judging him too soon. On the other hand, it is important to recognize that not all Republicans are fiscal conservative, though some will accept the mantle to suit their needs for power.
In New York and New Jersey, the power of the Democratic Party machine is very strong. There is a process one must follow in order to get the nod for political office. Outsiders stand slim chance of grabbing the party banner. It is also true that in both states the Republicans are extremely weak. Thus, a Robert Kennedy Democrat, such as Giuliani or Christie, who know they can’t buck the Democratic machine, will discover they really are Republican at heart, and it’s off to the races. They are shrewd and adaptable. If not for 9/11, would the leadership abilities of Mayor Rudy ever have become known? If not for super storm Sandy would we have seen Christie embrace Obama? New York was devastated by the storm but I do not recall either the Mayor of NYC nor the Democratic Governor of the state crying on the shoulder of the President. Christie is not a Texas or Wisconsin Republican. He’s a Jersey boy, and that’s a whole different breed.