I’ve lived in Wisconsin for 21 years. For nearly all that time, the state has been one of the most liberal in the country…home to Russ Feingold, the city of Madison, and Tammy Baldwin.
And, yet, now Wisconsin has become the launching pad for some of the most influential conservatives of our generation: Governor Scott Walker who defanged the government unions and and became the first governor in history to survive a recall.
Ron Johnson – an unknown businessman who dethroned liberal lion Russ Feingold to become one of the nation’s most conservative senators.
Reince Priebus – the head of the Republican Party in Wisconsin is now the head of the Republican party nationally.
And Congressman Paul Ryan is running to be Vice President of the United States.
How did so many Conservative powerhouses come from such a liberal state?
I think I know.
I’ve been calling it the Fremen Factor.
The Fremen are a tribe of desert warriors in Frank Herbert’s novel Dune.
In the novels, the Fremen were able to conquer the entire galaxy because they were raised in one of the most hostile environments imaginable-a world where mere survival required constant vigilance, discipline, and a willingness to fight.
I think something similar happened in Wisconsin. The political environment here has been so hostile to Conservatives for the last two decades, that any politician determined to be a Conservative in Wisconsin had to be tougher and more committed than they might have been in a state like Texas.
In the Dune novels, the man who lead the Fremen to victory was named Paul.
I wonder how Mr. Ryan would feel about taking on a new nickname?
Note: Edited to correct Reince Priebus’s name.
August 13th, 2012
Governor Walker is not running unopposed. It would be truly awful if the guy running against him for the Republican nomination won because the Republicans didn’t think they needed to vote.
May 7th, 2012
…than Newt Gingrich accepting a Cabinet post from Mitt Romney is Mitt Romney offering him a post in the first place.
April 12th, 2012
…if the John Doe investigation into Governor Walker’s time as Milwaukee County Executive suddenly comes out with some very damaging accusations right before the recall election:
Media Trackers is able to confirm that 43 current employees of the Milwaukee County District Attorney’s office signed the petition to recall Governor Scott Walker. A total of 70 names on iverifytherecall.com matched the names of current employees at the Milwaukee County District Attorney’s office, but not all could be completely confirmed at the time of publication. The employees signing the Walker recall petition range in stature from a Deputy District Attorney, to at least 19 Assistant District Attorneys, and a host of support staff.
via Milwaukee DA’s Sign Walker Recall Petitions – 620 WTMJ – Milwaukee’s Source for Local News and Weather.
April 9th, 2012
…next to his “Stand with Walker” sign.
March 28th, 2012
Falk says state needs to heal – JSOnline.
I think someone needs to explain to Ms. Falk that you don’t heal something by reopening old wounds.
March 12th, 2012
…but I love that Jonah Goldberg has been referring to Newt Gingrich as Newtzilla.
January 25th, 2012
A great post about why Newt is more electable than Mitt:
The Three Reasons Newt Is More Electable Than Mitt | FrontPage Magazine.
I don’t know why anyone thinks Mitt will have an easy time beating President Obama. As far as I’m concerned, viagra sales clinic the fact that Mitt’s candidacy would totally take Obamacare off the table as an issue is enough reason all by itself not to nominate him.
January 25th, 2012
I understand why the folks at silent E speak would say with “over 300 million people in this great country and this is the best we can do?”
But I feel compelled to point out that the group includes the Governor of one of the largest and most successful states in the country, cialis generic cure an ex-Speaker of the House of Representatives who lead the historic GOP take-over of the House, viagra and an ex-Governor who was also a hugely successful businessman and helped rescue the 2002 Olympics.
Any of those three have vastly more relevant experience to be President of the United States than the current officeholder (or his competition did) when they ran.
Hell, all of them are arguably better qualified than Bill Clinton or George W Bush were when they were candidates.
Just who the hell are we comparing these folks to?
January 4th, 2012