November 5, 2014

Scott Walker says he wants to "build the economy from ground up that’s new and fresh and organic."

"The difference between Washington and Wisconsin—the folks in Washington like this top-down approach that’s old and artificial and outdated and says that government knows best."

A quote from last night's victory speech, featured in a Slate article subtitled "Why no one can beat Scott Walker."

I like "fresh and organic" as a way to refer to free enterprise. That's new. Also quoted in the article is the old-fashioned rhetoric: "First off, I want to thank God.... I want to thank God for his abundant grace and mercy.... Win or lose, it is more than sufficient for each and every one of us."

Meade — who apparently watches me when I'm watching Scott Walker on television — says "I don't remember ever seeing you look so thrilled at something on TV." I appreciate sincere modesty and moral values, whether they are based in religion or not. And I appreciate it when I feel that a politician is speaking on that level and from the heart. And I'm saying that as a law professor who has taught Religion and the Constitution for over a decade and who really believes deeply in the separation of religion and government.

37 comments:

rhhardin said...

Epstein and Yoo mp3 mention Walker, in discussing a good Republican direction.

KLDAVIS said...

As I often say to the missus, "I love watching you watch whatever it is you're watching." Couldn't care less about a good number of the shows, but her reaction to them is often priceless.

n.n said...

First, I prefer a man who defers to God than one who serves gods or mortal wannabes. Second, I prefer God's religion or moral philosophy to the libertine alternative that competes to replace it. Finally, individual dignity and intrinsic value should be the oldest, yet are the freshest, concepts to grace humanity. Fresh and organic, indeed.

traditionalguy said...

Walker comes from an evangelical tradition that seeks to save sinners by preaching the word of God as Savior to them and inviting them to become a part of the community of faith. That is basically an unselfish activity that has rewards.

Walker is not shy about inviting others into receiving those rewards.

Big Mike said...

You have a good man there in Madison. But while he's thanking God he might spare a few words for a Democrat party leadership that couldn't be bothered to vet Mary Burke before they put her up.

richard mcenroe said...

Mary Burke was the Democrats' Meg Whitman, with comparable results.

Brent said...

Ann, with no E, I too believe in separation of religion and government. But, I am curious, as a constitutional law professor, do you believe it is Constitutionally mandated to the extent interpreted by current Supreme Court law?

In my opinion, the establishment clause seems much more limited than interpreted. Though I do believe it is best for freedom and democracy to have fairly strict separation, I don't think it is historically or constitutionally mandated.

Anonymous said...

The combination of "from the ground up" and "organic" suggests that he's going to start by spreading manure.

MadisonMan said...

Big Mike, the Party Leaders said Mary Burke was a good candidate, so it must be true. Why, they even squashed all opposition because she was so ready! Who needs a Primary?

I dislike having candidates rammed down my throat.

furious_a said...

"from the ground up"

What about from the middle out?

furious_a said...

Mary Burke was the Democrats' Meg Whitman.

Meg Whitman actually accomplished something (Daddy didn't have to hire her) over her business career. And she as yet to take a two-year snowboarding sabbatical.

MadisonMan said...

says "I don't remember ever seeing you look so thrilled at something on TV."

February 22 1980?

Okay, okay, so he wouldn't have been watching you then.

Unknown said...

I've liked Scott Walker a great deal ever since the Wisconsin union protests of 2011. It seemed like he handled all that with grace.

rehajm said...

fresh and organic sounds lefty. I suppose it will play well with rural lefties and urban farmers market goers.

Any crossover he can get.

Hagar said...

When I hear "organic," I think of fresh, steaming manure.

Wilbur said...

I was more thrilled when Daddy Bush told Dan Rather to stick his Iran-Contra question up his ass. So to speak.

I was more thrilled when my Illini came back from 15 down in the last 3:15 to defeat Arizona to get into the 2005 Final Four.

I'm more thrilled whenever a jury has come back with a guilty verdict.

I've got no skin in the Walker game but I understand how you feel. He sounds like a good man.

Grackle said...

You would think that people would learn something from so many having been crushed out on Obama.

David said...

Walker The Boyfriend.

FullMoon said...

Mary Burke was the Democrats' Meg Whitman.

Meg Whitman actually accomplished something (Daddy didn't have to hire her) over her business career. And she as yet to take a two-year snowboarding sabbatical.


Meg Whitman has done some serious stuff.She is not some average person. Enough of a threat that she was attacked with obvious bullshit by Gloria Allred et al. The Dems were scared shitless of her.

RecChief said...

I haven't seen Garage Mahal in a couple of days, and this post seems tailor made for him.

Anyone call the local sheriff's office to do a welfare check on him?

Dantes said...

He better reconsider his support for amnesty if he wants to play in the big leagues.

Diamondhead said...

I just watched his acceptance speech, and he has a real nice presence on stage. Hope he runs for President.

TJ Swift said...

"organic" has been used to describe the free market since at least Hayek.

Once written, twice... said...

Ann, it sounds like Walker caused a thrill to run up your leg.

Once written, twice... said...

Ann, you should do a thought piece on whether it is is a cliche that you have drifted to Republicanism in your old age.

Rusty said...

Free markets are a natural result of human interaction. They are, therefore, organic.

richard mcenroe said...

"If a man is not a socialist at 20, he has no heart.

If he is still a socialist at forty, he has no head."

richard mcenroe said...

Meg Whitman ran ads in English telling Californians she supported immigration restrictions. Then she put up billboards in Spanish telling the Latino community she supported amnesty, apparently in the assumption that no gringos spoke Spanish.

Then she had her own goons intrude into phone banks all over the state, insisting the volunteers include a pitch for her with the candidates they had actually volunteered to help. I know, I was there when they did and I remember the clicks as registered Republicans hung up at the mention of her name. She poisoned the downticket.

Whitman, Fiorina and the national party that forced them on the state leadership killed the CA GOP, not Schwarzenegger.

William said...

You have to take into account that baldness is a progressive disease. He looks presentable now, but who knows what ravages this disease will afflict on his appearance. It's not a sure bet Walker will attract the female vote. My money is on Paul. He should give interviews in his hospital scrubs, preferably after doing a lengthy operation to restore the sight of some poor blind old man or, better yet, an impoverished child. A weary surgeon in his hospital scrubs has the same effect on women as a kindergarten teacher in a push up bra has on men. Plus Paul already has a wig which he wears with dignity and grace, so there's no chance of him going bald.

Æthelflæd said...

His ability to win this election after surviving the recall is politically impressive, and he strikes me as competent and likeable. Run, Scott, run.

Alex said...

You have to take into account that baldness is a progressive disease.

Baldness is not a "disease". It's a recessive gene, nothing more.

MayBee said...

I love the word "Fresh".

garage mahal said...

Walker The Boyfriend.

Creepy statism. Walkerism is the cult and Walker is the televangelist.

Bobby said...

Richard,

I think the CA GOP was "dead" well before Whitman and Fiorina (2010) or the reign of Schwarznegger (2003-10). Certainly, Meg and Carly did little to resuscitate the CA GOP during their failed runs, but if we look at the results of the CA GOP in statewide elections going back to 1988:

Presidential Elections Won: 88
Presidential Elections Lost: 92, 96, 00, 04, 08, 12

Gubernatorial Elections Won: 06, 03, 94, 90
Gubernatorial Elections Lost: 14, 10, 02, 98

US Senator Elections Won: 88
US Senator Elections Lost: 92, 92, 94, 98, 00, 04, 06, 10, 12

Lt-Gov Elections Won: n/a
Lt-Gov Elections Lost: 90, 94, 98, 02, 06, 10, 14

Attorney General Elections Won: 90, 94
Attorney General Elections Lost: 98, 02, 06, 10, 14

State Teasurer Elections Won: 94
State Treasurer Elections Lost: 90, 98, 02, 06, 10, 14

State Controller Elections Won: n/a
State Controller Elections Lost: 90, 94, 98, 02, 06, 10, 14

That's a record of 9-44 (which would be firable even at a school like Washington State or Vanderbilt), especially since most of those wins were either 20 years ago or the result of a celebrity candidate. I've plotted by percentage of votes received and by seats in the State Senate and State Assembly, and the results are all the same: the rapid collapse of the CA GOP occurred in the mid- to late-90s, probably as a result of something (or some things) that occurred in early and mid-90s. Unfortunately, California Republicans differ sharply on what that something (or things) was/is, and have thus far been unable to get out of the spiral.

--Bobby

Drago said...

garage mahal: "Creepy statism. Walkerism is the cult and Walker is the televangelist."

LOL

The totalitarian lefty cultists are very "concerned" about possible "creepy statism" and potential cult leaders!!

LOL

Thanks for the laugh garage.

Remember, indictments at any moment...

Indictments at any moment...

Indict...(you get the idea)

(Feel free to replace with "Serenity Now")

President-Mom-Jeans said...

Hey there bitchtits, how was your November 4th?

We missed you, fat boy.

Tina848 said...

My company uses the term organic growth to mean new customers or expansion of services to existing customers. He might mean to bring new companies and expand existing ones.