The Washington Post declares @ScottWalker a leading 2016 contender

**Posted by Phineas

And how do we know that? Because they’ve launched the official smear campaign. From Jim Geraghty:

The story […] points out that of the two criminal investigations mentioned in the lead, one “is closed and found no wrongdoing by the governor” but has “the potential to embarrass him.”

One revelation is that “e-mails show he knew county officials were working closely with campaign officials.” Of course, the problem isn’t county officials and campaign officials “working closely” — the public official’s schedule and other matters require communication between the two offices. The problem is when taxpayer dollars are used for campaign purposes, or if public employees work on campaigns on the taxpayer’s dime. One complaint is that the county officials used private e-mail accounts for political communications with the governor, allegedly to “shield political business from public scrutiny.” But if the county officials had used their official work accounts, wouldn’t they be doing campaign work on a taxpayer-funded and supplied e-mail account? The effort to avoid the scandal is being cited as a scandal.

The other investigation is examining “possible illegal political coordination during the 2012 recall election.” Both investigations were begun by Milwaukee district attorney John Chisolm, a Democrat, and it will not shock you to learn there is no investigation of union activity during the recall.

Read the rest as Jim recites a litany of questionable private political use of public funds and property by the Obama camp, about which the WaPo wrote nary a word. Why, it’s as if they were covering for the Democrats….

Nah. Couldn’t be.

This is the opening salvo in a campaign similar to what was launched recently against Governor Christie in “Bridge-gate” and years ago against Sarah Palin: the Democrat-MSM establishment (but I repeat myself) will reveal whom they fear by whom they attack and they will attempt to destroy that person. After 2008, Governor Palin was savagely attacked in the press to the point that she was ruined as a broadly popular potential candidate. In the New Jersey bridge brouhaha, the press devoted so much coverage to Governor Christie that one would think he had committed mass-murder in downtown Trenton. Coincidentally, he’s also been touted as a leading contender for 2016. What was at worst a regional controversy was treated as a national scandal, while Benghazi, the IRS, the FCC… Outside of Fox, not so much.

Congratulations, Governor Walker. They fear you!

PS: On the question of 2016, while it’s still way early, I’m generally in the “governors before senators” camp, and I’d be very happy with any from among Perry, Walker, or Jindal, in no real order. And, who knows, a dark horse Republican governor might become a real contender. We have an excellent bullpen. This isn’t to diss our 2010 or 2012 classes of senators, many of whom have great promise, themselves, but I’d prefer they serve a term or two in the Senate and then as a governor, before running for president, to get some executive experience. I’m a bit wary of electing freshmen senators to such a a tough job, for some reason…

(Crossposted at Public Secrets)

8 Responses to "The Washington Post declares @ScottWalker a leading 2016 contender"

Francis W. Porretto says:

February 20, 2014 at 5:03 pm

I hope he declares. He strikes me as an honest man who says what he means.
Sefton says:

February 20, 2014 at 5:51 pm

The Republicans should do their own “Man Who Never Was”.
Setup a decoy to draw the fire then hit the beach where the Dems and MSM least expect it.

“…but I’d prefer they serve a term or two in the Senate and then as a governor, before running for president, to get some executive experience. I’m a bit wary of electing freshmen senators to such a a tough job, for some reason…”

The only problem with that is we may not have the time. I think ideology is the key here.
Drew the Infidel says:

February 21, 2014 at 5:31 am

The impact of leftists rags like the “Washington Compost” and that has-been published in NY is not to be given credence as in days past since most people get their news and opinions elsewhere and Fox News has been voted the #1 network for twelve years running.

It is interesting to note also that Fox has more liberals working for it than all the other networks combined have conservatives.
Carlos says:

February 21, 2014 at 8:35 am

Walker isn’t going to be thoroughly trashed like previous Repub “leading” candidates. That’s because the LSM has already taken its best shot(s) at him over the union stuff, and he survived that very handily.

Would he be my first choice? Nope.

But he’s got to be miles ahead of whomever the Demo jackasses running the Repub “leadership” will decide is “best” (i.e. – most like a Democrap).
Tuerqas says:

February 21, 2014 at 11:58 am

I live in Wisconsin. Walker is a better than average Republican. He works on fiscal matters, regardless of ‘danger’ and he should be commended for it. You say you prefer someone with more executive experience. I strongly prefer a Governor too, but not so much because of the experience. Every Senator/Congressman learns to ‘play the game’, where a Governor can come from a much lower profile background and can often get away with making his own game. While Walker has these virtues, to me he also seems to be an establishment man, which is a serious strike against him. The better Presidents, IMO, have been the ones with the least partisanism and the most git’r done.
Dan says:

February 21, 2014 at 2:22 pm

Walker hasn’t ducked for cover yet.
Adjoran says:

February 22, 2014 at 3:40 am

Walker is a very strong contender if we go by the record. He fought against the odds, stood on principle, took the blows, and persevered.

The administrative experience of a Governor or top General should be a prerequisite. The federal government of the USA is the largest enterprise on Earth, bigger than the entire economies of any nation except for Japan and China. It isn’t unreasonable to ask that someone demonstrate the ability to run an organization larger than a congressional office staff before applying for the biggest job in the world.

Besides Walker, we also have strong potential candidates in Jindal and Perry. Kasich has lost most of his allure to the base, although that might actually help in a general election. Martinez could also be considered.

Senators without executive experience have never worked out well, and can be complete disasters, as recent experience shows.
ST says:

February 22, 2014 at 11:44 am

Carlos wrote:

Walker isn’t going to be thoroughly trashed like previous Repub “leading” candidates. That’s because the LSM has already taken its best shot(s) at him over the union stuff, and he survived that very handily.

And they’re still throwing the kitchen sink at him, but I think he’ll weather it nicely.

Comments are closed.