Anyone think Scott Walker might be Presidential material?

[MaggieD]

St. Paul, Minn. — Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker announced his budget plan today which would cut more than $4 billion from Wisconsin's state spending, balancing his state's $3.6 billion deficit over the next two years - without raising any taxes or fees.

http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2011/03/01/wisconsin-budget-protests/

Depending on how this all plays out, I think the Republican Party might have a new fair-haired boy...

But he's sure going to have to hang tough.

Thoughts?

(I posted this in the Loft not remembering who can and can't post here; but I thought there might be a more civil discussion by putting it here.)

 

[Chappy]

Certainly, Scott Walker thinks he's presidential material. I think not. I think his star is setting a little further each day 14 Democratic state senators sit in Illinois.

Scott Walker doesn't like all those smelly protester's cluttering up the capitol building?

“Well, you know, nobody's ready for democracy. It's kind of a messy business. It's not perfect. It's not as efficient as a dictatorship.” — Secretary of Defense Donald H. Rumsfeld​

 

[Real Korimyr #9]

He's certainly got the onions for it, but I don't think a person can win the Presidency with as much opposition from the unions as he'll receive. It's one thing to not be their preferred candidate, but it's a whole different story when they actively hate you.

 

[Slartibartfast]

Protests, politics and Wisconsin's state budget | Minnesota Public Radio News

Depending on how this all plays out, I think the Republican Party might have a new fair-haired boy...

But he's sure going to have to hang tough.

Thoughts?

(I posted this in the Loft not remembering who can and can't post here; but I thought there might be a more civil discussion by putting it here.)

Absolutely not, one of the best skills of an effective president is the ability to compromise. What he is doing is grinding the government of Wisconsin to a halt with his unreasonable demands.

 

[MaggieD]

He's certainly got the onions for it, but I don't think a person can win the Presidency with as much opposition from the unions as he'll receive. It's one thing to not be their preferred candidate, but it's a whole different story when they actively hate you.

That's very true. I wonder...

Absolutely not, one of the best skills of an effective president is the ability to compromise. What he is doing is grinding the government of Wisconsin to a halt with his unreasonable demands.

Excellent point about the ability to compromise. 'Course I don't agree with your last two words... ;-)

 

[Slartibartfast]

Excellent point about the ability to compromise. 'Course I don't agree with your last two words... ;-)

Granted, there are those who do not agree with those two words, however, enough agree with them in this country that there is a real need for compromise here. Whether or not someone agrees with a particular policy doesn't change the fact that they share this country with other people that they have to work and live with every day.

 

[Fiddytree]

Here's the thing, I believe Americans love someone with.....balls. Walker has that. However, Americans, and especially the media (lord, especially these people) tend to grab hold of anything current and run off wildly into prediction land, where they wish to predict the next 20 years because of one incident that likely would not be as meaningful as they are making it to be.

Walker could eventually get there, but I tend to think in terms of a decade or two before someone is just "ready" for the post. The man is 43 years old, just assumed the office of governor, and garnered attention because of one (though large) issue. He needs time to build a useful political coalition and a damn good public profile. The media would seek to grab any man that gets the monthly headline and put them in a leadership position shortly thereafter. That is not political reality, it is journalism utopianism and overreach.

 

[spud_meister]

Here's the thing, I believe Americans love someone with.....balls.

So Palin does have a chance. :mrgreen:

 

[Slartibartfast]

So Palin does have a chance. :mrgreen:

Palin is quite obviously female, I think you are referring to that blond chick with an adam's apple. can't remember her name.

 

[WI Crippler]

Granted, there are those who do not agree with those two words, however, enough agree with them in this country that there is a real need for compromise here.

I disagree. Obama did not run on a campaign of compromise (although he seems open to it in practice). In fact his slogan was "Change". If compromise were a determining factor for the American voter, Sen. McCain would have won in a landslide due to his very strong history of reaching across the aisle. People don't see a candidate and say " wow, he seems like a middle of the road guy, I think I'll go for him/her." People buy the rhetoric, the slogans, and the dirt.

Although I like someone finally having the cajones to stand up to unions, Walker simply doesn't have the experience of governening to make me comfortable with him(or any other junior governor/legislator) running the country.

 

[Slartibartfast]

I disagree. Obama did not run on a campaign of compromise (although he seems open to it in practice). In fact his slogan was "Change". If compromise were a determining factor for the American voter, Sen. McCain would have won in a landslide due to his very strong history of reaching across the aisle. People don't see a candidate and say " wow, he seems like a middle of the road guy, I think I'll go for him/her." People buy the rhetoric, the slogans, and the dirt.

Although I like someone finally having the cajones to stand up to unions, Walker simply doesn't have the experience of governening to make me comfortable with him(or any other junior governor/legislator) running the country.

Yes, but if you alienate half the population, you aren't going to get much done. In both the cases of Obama and Bush, they have shown the ability to compromise when confronted with a strong group with different opinions about what is right and wrong. This guy can't and as a result, he has created a revolt that he could have easily avoided at no financial impact to the state. Heck, he is taking uncompromising stands on things that don't really help his mission.

 

[WI Crippler]

Yes, but if you alienate half the population, you aren't going to get much done. In both the cases of Obama and Bush, they have shown the ability to compromise when confronted with a strong group with different opinions about what is right and wrong. This guy can't and as a result, he has created a revolt that he could have easily avoided at no financial impact to the state. Heck, he is taking uncompromising stands on things that don't really help his mission.

I haven't seen any polling on Scott Walker, but I wonder how his approval rating amongst Wisconsin residents, rates against the often poor ratings both Obama and Bush have had despite their compromising abilities.

You, me, some other people here can certainley see the value of compromise in certain situations. But I think it would be a mistake to not recognize the power of polarizing politics/politicians. I think its growing.

 

[Slartibartfast]

I haven't seen any polling on Scott Walker, but I wonder how his approval rating amongst Wisconsin residents, rates against the often poor ratings both Obama and Bush have had despite their compromising abilities.

You, me, some other people here can certainley see the value of compromise in certain situations. But I think it would be a mistake to not recognize the power of polarizing politics/politicians. I think its growing.

His rates have been dropping since this whole thing started. Wisconsin Do-Over? Scott Walker Would Lose if Election Held Today, Poll Finds While it seems there is a 60-40 split in Wisconsin in favor of the unions. However, union approval is also going down. People do not seem to like the fact that a hornet's nest was stirred up more than they care about the issues themselves, at least thats what I think is going on.

But I agree, polarization is growing.
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