Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker is no stranger to
controversy, nor to making tough decisions with fractious colleagues to
accomplish great reforms.
controversy, nor to making tough decisions with fractious colleagues to
accomplish great reforms.
After his election in 2010, financial strains on the Dairy
State’s budget forced the governor to reform the collective bargaining rights
of public employees. The global, unionized backlash flooded Madison and instigated
Democratic lawmakers to flee the state, thus attempting to deny Walker and the
state legislature’s Republican majorities the quorum to pass Act 10.
State’s budget forced the governor to reform the collective bargaining rights
of public employees. The global, unionized backlash flooded Madison and instigated
Democratic lawmakers to flee the state, thus attempting to deny Walker and the
state legislature’s Republican majorities the quorum to pass Act 10.
Walker worked with every member of his party, and
maneuvering pass illegal challenges, they passed the key reforms which fired up
limited government activists, distraught conservatives, and Tea Party affiliates.
maneuvering pass illegal challenges, they passed the key reforms which fired up
limited government activists, distraught conservatives, and Tea Party affiliates.
Walker and four state senators faced a recall because of
measures, yet he survived, keeping his GOP caucus together as strongly as they
could. He defeated the recall in 2012, with his party winning back strong
majorities in Madison later that year.
measures, yet he survived, keeping his GOP caucus together as strongly as they
could. He defeated the recall in 2012, with his party winning back strong
majorities in Madison later that year.
Governor Walker has recognized the peril of dissent within a
party’s ranks, yet brought together every member to promote the future welfare
of the state Wisconsin.
party’s ranks, yet brought together every member to promote the future welfare
of the state Wisconsin.
With this background in mind, the Wisconsin Governor appealed
to all members of his party to work together against Democrats first before
holding members within the party accountable for not towing the platform
accurately.
to all members of his party to work together against Democrats first before
holding members within the party accountable for not towing the platform
accurately.
| Walker: Guest on Mike Huckabee's talk show |
Speaking
with former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee, Walker confirmed his agreement
that Republicans not focus on taking
down other Republicans.
with former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee, Walker confirmed his agreement
that Republicans not focus on taking
down other Republicans.
“Well, your exactly
right for a lot of people, especially many of the people who helped elect us
share our concerns. The Federal government is too big, too expensive, too much apart
of our lives.”
right for a lot of people, especially many of the people who helped elect us
share our concerns. The Federal government is too big, too expensive, too much apart
of our lives.”
Leadership is all about consistent messaging, and defining
the goals as well as the opposition. Not indicting Republicans, Walker lays out
of the platforms of the GOP, and encourages everyone to stand tall on it.
the goals as well as the opposition. Not indicting Republicans, Walker lays out
of the platforms of the GOP, and encourages everyone to stand tall on it.
Walker recalled the victories of the statewide Republicans:
“In 2010, we not only elected
Republican governors, we elected Republican majorities in our legislative bodies,
and that made all the difference. We not only won, but we got big, bold reforms
done. Why? Because we had a Republican team in place. In Washington, we don’t have
Republicans leading the way on true reform. The focus should not be focusing on
fighting Republicans in primaries for the house or the senate.
Republican governors, we elected Republican majorities in our legislative bodies,
and that made all the difference. We not only won, but we got big, bold reforms
done. Why? Because we had a Republican team in place. In Washington, we don’t have
Republicans leading the way on true reform. The focus should not be focusing on
fighting Republicans in primaries for the house or the senate.
I submit that much of
the disorder in Washington starts with the fact that Tea Party candidates swept
the majority in 2010, and the Establishment leadership did not take into
account their drive for reforms beyond the rhetoric. The Republican Party in
Washington D.C. is facing more growing pains than the statewide caucuses because
unlike the several states, the federal government still gets to print fiat
money ad infinitum to paper over the national debt. Pushing against federal
interest groups is a near impossibility without unity. Besides, the Republicans
only control the House, and no party can govern from one half of one branch of government.
the disorder in Washington starts with the fact that Tea Party candidates swept
the majority in 2010, and the Establishment leadership did not take into
account their drive for reforms beyond the rhetoric. The Republican Party in
Washington D.C. is facing more growing pains than the statewide caucuses because
unlike the several states, the federal government still gets to print fiat
money ad infinitum to paper over the national debt. Pushing against federal
interest groups is a near impossibility without unity. Besides, the Republicans
only control the House, and no party can govern from one half of one branch of government.
| GOP Big Wins Across the Country |
But at least they can prevent the other party from promoting
their own, unconscionable policies.
their own, unconscionable policies.
Huckabee returned to Walker’s efforts in Wisconsin, asking
if he would have accomplished anything if he had to fight his own party.
if he would have accomplished anything if he had to fight his own party.
“No not at all. I
think’s that true with what happened in Michigan, with right to work. It’s true
in reforms you see across the country, where republicans lead state legislative
bodies and hold governorships. We had help from the Republican Establishment,
form a lot of grass roots, the Tea Party – we’re going to help you put power back in the hands of the
people.”
think’s that true with what happened in Michigan, with right to work. It’s true
in reforms you see across the country, where republicans lead state legislative
bodies and hold governorships. We had help from the Republican Establishment,
form a lot of grass roots, the Tea Party – we’re going to help you put power back in the hands of the
people.”
One more time, Walker emphasizes the many good things
accomplished by his Midwestern, conservative colleagues. He puts the focus on
the taxpayers, the people, and praises the three groups which liberal interests
and media bias want to distract and divide: the Republican Establishment, the
grassroots, and the Tea Party. While the Tea Party is learning the importance
of organized, tactical efforts, the Establishment is learning that they cannot
stray from principle, and the grassroots is learning to organize ally these
somewhat disparate (though hardly desperate) influences.
accomplished by his Midwestern, conservative colleagues. He puts the focus on
the taxpayers, the people, and praises the three groups which liberal interests
and media bias want to distract and divide: the Republican Establishment, the
grassroots, and the Tea Party. While the Tea Party is learning the importance
of organized, tactical efforts, the Establishment is learning that they cannot
stray from principle, and the grassroots is learning to organize ally these
somewhat disparate (though hardly desperate) influences.
Despite his disagreements with the latest Ryan-Murray budget
compromise, Walker shared:
compromise, Walker shared:
The real answer is not
to attack Republicans who pushed for reforms in the house.
to attack Republicans who pushed for reforms in the house.
But he maintained a respect for the diligence which
Americans have for their leaders, when they do not pay attention to their
duties in office and their constituents abroad:
Americans have for their leaders, when they do not pay attention to their
duties in office and their constituents abroad:
After in a year from now,
if Republicans hold the Senate and the House, and they still get nothing done,
then it’s time to hold people accountable.
if Republicans hold the Senate and the House, and they still get nothing done,
then it’s time to hold people accountable.
| Get Republicans in office, then hold them accountable. |
Exactly. Get the right people in office first, then get the
right people to do the right thing.
right people to do the right thing.
Republican unity for limited government, local control,
individual liberty, and fiscal discipline cannot be put aside in 2014 as
partisans chase away the best candidate in the pursuit of a good one. Walker’s
example as governor and his statements as a guest commentator should engage all
conservatives, disaffected as well as disinterested, to fight against the
opposition Democratic Party this year, take back the US Senate, and hold the
newly-installed Republicans members to the party standard in the next.
individual liberty, and fiscal discipline cannot be put aside in 2014 as
partisans chase away the best candidate in the pursuit of a good one. Walker’s
example as governor and his statements as a guest commentator should engage all
conservatives, disaffected as well as disinterested, to fight against the
opposition Democratic Party this year, take back the US Senate, and hold the
newly-installed Republicans members to the party standard in the next.